BEFORE MIDNIGHT

It’s been 18 years since Jesse and Celine got off that train together in Vienna.  And in BEFORE MIDNIGHT, written and directed by Richard Linklater and starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, both who also co-wrote the screenplay, we meet up with the couple once again.

Before Sunrise was about youth and dreaming and the idea of falling in love the way young people fantasize about it.

Before Sunset was about two dreamers who had one night together who are now in different places in their lives finding each other once again.

Before Midnight asks us and them, can love really last?  That is one of many questions and idea’s raised in the latest film.  All three films are “conversation” films. They are about people talking and in this third installment we get to hear more than just Jesse and Celine talk about sex, love, life and death, but ultimately we get to be alone with them again.  Only this time the once innocent dreamers of love and life are now weighted down by the complexities of life.  Jesse is divorced and has a kid he only see’s during the summer.  His ex-wife is angry that Jesse fell in love with Celine and left her.  Celine is at a crossroads in her own life. The two of them have twin daughters now and Celine is wrestling between being a “domesticated” housewife and her independence as a woman in the working world. 

The conflict in Before Midnight is that Jesse feels guilty over not being a presence in his son’s life.  Celine fears this is the beginning of the end.  Jesse was always an optimist while Celine was always a pessimist, but they made it work.  But tough life choices now interfere with the happy ending that we all want love to have.  What makes this film work is its honesty about how love is a feeling that we navigate through when life happens. And sometimes life is unforgiving, unrelenting and just plain tough.

Both are now past 40, and are so far removed from their youth and innocence.  They feel the pressures of being a parent, being a spouse but also being true to themselves.  What we see for the first time is these lovers arguing.  And they spend a great deal of the film arguing.  But it’s that arguing that makes us wonder if they are going to make it.  It’s that arguing that makes us think about the love’s we’ve had and lost as well as the divorces and heartaches we ourselves have endured.  We want them to stay together because that fits the fantasy, but will they?

The film, as with the other two, ends on an ambiguous note.  There is a great likelihood they will not survive.  Will Jesse really sacrifice what he feels his son needs in order to stay with Celine?  Will Celine understand the importance of Jesse being a father to his son and move back to the States with him, or will they split up?

The three films feel like Apted’s, “Up” series where we revisit the same people ever few years to see where life has taken them.  Sometimes life has been kind, other times life has been difficult and unforgiving.  Jesse is complacent with Celine, but Celine seems fidgety.  She’s always been that way.  What’s so great about these films is that these characters are so three dimensional, and each sequel has shown a great dedication in staying true to these characters.

What’s difficult about Before Midnight is too watch and listen to Jesse and Celine being mean and angry toward each other.  But even the most connected couples have moments and periods of disgust, disdain and resentment toward one another.  Love is not easy and it’s not promised to be there tomorrow.  But it is worth fighting for.  And we get a sense as the camera fades that this couple will fight to stay together.

Sure it doesn’t end as sweet and beautiful as the previous two installments, but it does end honestly.  And the viewer, as with the previous two films, is asked to look inside themselves for what they believe.  The pessimist will believe this couple is doomed. The optimist will believe this couple will survive, and the realist will believe anything is possible.  We take our own experiences into these films and either connect to their experiences in our own way, or feel disconnected.

I cannot recall any other films that have given so much pure sincerity and asked for the viewer to search within themselves for what they believe love is.  I personally hope they make it, but I fear they won’t. 

 

WANTED: Boss with Intelligence

Why is it that the dumb people seem to get to the top in America.  In your average work place it is the moron who gets promoted to manager and then they have no clue how to manage others.

It is very common for a person who has been with a company for many years to get promoted to manager, but just because you know the business doesn't mean you have people skills or managerial skills.  Just because you have written a schedule or know how to unlock the doors to the store doesn't mean your qualified to lead.

And when it comes to a restaurant, just because you own a restaurant doesn't mean you have restaurant experience.

Just because you own a business doesn't mean you have any experience in that business.

Its like buying a guitar and claiming you are the best guitar player in the world.  You need practice and time, and even then you may be only mediocre at best.

People with their ego's and their arrogance only serve to harm the workplace.

You should be a leader, but when you lead ineffectively you're subordinates not only don't to help the company, but in fact want to harm the company.

Mess with a person's money and they'll mess with your business.

A boss who is constantly making changes is a boss who doesn't know what they're doing.

Thursday Letters From Fans and Not....

Here is another edition of fanmail.....

Dear Doctor Teeth-

I found you on Craigslist and was hoping it would be under the man seeking man section, but not a chance. I am very disappointed but hope one day you'll want to "hook up" with me.

James Cargill
LaGrange Illinois

Dear Teeth-

You're fucking weird man.  I love it.  Keep it up.

Greg
Glen Ellyn Illinois

Dear Doctor Teeth-

It has always been my fantasy to have sex with a muppet.  I wonder how your furry hands would feel on my body.  I know I'm cray cray, but you turn me on.  I hope you like the pic.

Jenna
Carol Stream Illinois


Yes Jenna I would like to turn you on. I have sent you my phone number.  See you soon.


Dear Doctor Teeth-

You posted a picture of my fucking girlfriend you muppet cocksucker.  You're a fucking dead man.  And your blog is stupid assed shit.  Get a life.

Trevor Meaner
Niles, Illinois

Deer Creek: What A Day That Was: A Review

The July 4th weekend saw 60,000 Deadheads show up at a place that only seats 22,000.  Do the math.  It was high on energy only it was strange and negative energy.  There was a death threat against Jerry and so much traffic and people that it took us 3.5 hours to drive 3 miles to the show.  WTF!!!  Below is a recount of the set lists of this final Deerk Creek show and what the songs sounded like.

 

 

 

Here Comes Sunshine- A rousing show opener that promised a show we wouldn't end up getting. The band had great harmonies on this one.

Walking Blues- I just don't get Bob's blues songs. They aren't particularly good.

Dire Wolf-  Jerry is alive and the "don't murder me" line was eerie considering the threats against his life.

It's All Over Now- A competent yet uninspired performance of this Stones tune.

Broken Arrow- I guess we have to let Phil sing randomly.

Desolation Row*- Starts off great but the crowd of 2000 people crashed the gate thus rendering this concert infamous in Grateful Dead history. Bob Weir looked as if he wanted to kill someone.

Tennessee Jed- Jerry still doing a good job and giving us a good version of a song that was never my favorite.

Let It Grow- Bob sings it well but as if he just wants to get off the stage.

 

SET BREAK:  It was almost 70 minutes long.  The first row was full of FBI agents in tie-dyes.  The house lights were never turned off making this seem more like band practice than a concert.

Scarlet Begonias -> Jerry and the boys finally return to the stage for a good jam on this tune...

Fire on the Mountain- Jerry officially loses it on stage.  He has no clue what he's doing.  He plays only the third verse of the song and starts playing the most off key, sluggish, meandering "music" I have ever heard him play.  This was like a man tripping on LSD having a heart attack. Just plain awful to listen to.  The band tries to wake him up to no success. Phil even stops playing and tosses his hands up in the air.

Victim or the Crime- Bob looks at Jerry during the opening line, "Patience runs out on the junkie." Enough said.

It's All Too Much- It really was all too much.  Vince does a great version of this Beatles cover that I loved hearing at shows.

New Speedway Boogie -> Jerry comes back to life and gives us a rousing rendition of this early Dead tune.

Drums ->Who Cares
Space ->Who Cares

Attics of my Life -> The crowd erupted during the opening notes. I think the band forgot a verse, but no one cared. It sounded beautiful.

Sugar Magnolia- Bob knows how to end a show and this song never disappoints.

E: The Mighty Quinn- The boys played it well but you can tell they wanted to go home. This concert was a loss for us and for them. Although really not badly performed at all.

 

 

After the show everyone was cranky and disappointed. Dis-allusioned is more like it.  The security wouldn't let us leave.  Suddenly a tour bus came barreling down the road and off the property. It was the band.  They wanted to get the fuck out of dodge as quickly as possible and never look back. Funny thing is there is a story in a Dead Bio Book that states the bus got a mile down the road and then stuck in a ditch and a local farmer had to use his tractor to pull the boys out.  I guess their shitty night went on longer than ours.

 

The next night was cancelled.

The Dead never returned to Deer Creek because Jerry died. One suspects they wouldn't have been invited back although they have said Deer Creek was one of their favorite venues to play.

 

Such a shame and probably the most unfortunately memorable Dead Show I ever attended.

Sign Reads: We're Full Go Home.....IN ENGLISH

When are we going to finally admit that by letting everyone into this country we have made this country unsafe, bankrupt and overflowing?

When are we going to do something real about ridding ourselves of the plague of illegal immigrants?  Notice its always Mexican elected officials who want Amnesty for them. Of course you do; always looking our for your own people.  Why don't you go back to Mexico and be in that government.

I'm tired of the Mexican/American debate.

This is America.
We speak English.
We are here legally.

You are not.
You do not.
And you don't care.

You come here for the welfare and jobs and the free hand outs our stupid fucking government keeps giving you.


Get the fuck out and take most of our elected officials with you.

Soldier's Field 1995: The Final Show

We had fourth row for the show.  We were beyond excited, as most are before a Grateful Dead show.  We spent the afternoon out in the parking lot talking, smoking pot and having fun.

We made our way into the show.....

The moment Jerry took the stage my immediate reaction was, "Ewww! This dude looks awful."  We had just been to a show seven days earlier and he didn't look like this.  It had not been a good week for Jerry.  He was pasty and grey.  He seemed lifeless.

Set 1:
Touch Of Grey- Jerry started off the show with the usual suspect.  He flubbed a lyric or two, which at this point we expected.  His playing was a bit off key, hitting some sour notes.  But it was a decent opening.

 Little Red Rooster- Bob bores the crowd with a random blues tune, done better by most others.

 Lazy River Road- A great song for latter year GD, but Jerry hit so many sour notes during solo's, some downright painful.

 When I Paint My Masterpiece- When Bob cries out, "its been a long hard ride." it was as if we all felt the same way about a summer tour that was mired in death, controversy, and Jerry.

 Childhood's End-  Ok I guess Phil has to sing occasionally.

 Cumberland Blues-  A sweet and well performed surprise.

 Promised Land- Bob forgets the lyrics but in comedic fashion he grins and slaps himself on the forehead. The audience loves.
Set 2:
Shakedown Street- One of the greatest jam's this band can offer is marred by lackluster playing and Jerry mumbling his way through the lyrics.  Did he even know what song he was singing?

Samson And Delilah- Competently played. Never one of my fav's.

So Many Roads-God said to Jerry, "Sing son sing!!!" and Jerry came to life and performed the most heart wrenching version of this song ever.  And the energy in the audience was silent and full of tears.  We had been suffering right along side Jerry and in retrospect this was Jerry unburdening himself of his demons.  The song contained so much power and emotion.

Samba In The Rain- Vince songs are sometimes fun.  This was a very danceable tune.

Corrina- Bob brings the energy back for a great latter day Dead song. 

Drums- I never understood or really appreciated this part of the show. It was time to go to the bathroom or light another joint and sit down for a spell.

Space- Sometimes mind bending, usually just a lengthy tune up by the band.

Unbroken Chain- After so many years the Dead started playing this live, only problem was this was the one song they literally played exactly how it sounded on the album. Fun but uninspired.

Sugar Magnolia- Bob closes the show with some energy and power and rouses the crowd with his, "sunshine daydream..."

Encore:
Black Muddy River- Jerry's voice is very thin at this point, but it serves the song of a man who is walking alone and dreaming of his life gone by.  He makes a minor mistake, but the crowd is back with him feeling his pain and hearing the ache in his voice. Its Jerry's final song live ever.  The musician has been silenced.

 Box Of Rain- Phil the prick forces the band into this song to finish the show.  I found it insulting and robbing Jerry of the perfect legacy of playing the final song at the final Dead show ever. And to be left with Phil's Frankenstein voice as the finality of the Grateful Dead pisses me off to this day.  The only saving grace is that this song is about Death and is suitable for Jerry's passing one month later.


We left the show in awe of the So Many Roads and I silently felt disturbed by Jerry's appearance.  Something was not right, and one month later Jerry died in his sleep.

Its easy to have 20/20 hindsight, but in reality I think a lot of people knew that something wasn't right and the energy seemed to suggest this was the last time we'd see these guys play together.

And it was........

Someone Called Me A Boob

An old woman yesterday called me a boob, a phrase which I haven't heard in a long time. I was wondering if she was calling me this.....





or is she was calling me this...





The nerve of her to call me names at all. I snapped her cane in half and sent her on her way..