Cleanup Time: Notes & Quotes from Miscellaneous Scraps of Paper

I have a half dozen half-completed blog posts on various themes from the Founding of America to the Madness of Crowds, the Genomic Revolution and Dylan's "Absolutely Sweet Marie." With nothing quite complete I decided to straighten my office and discard all the scraps of paper the gather on every surface like house dust. Here are some notes from a few of these miscellaneous scraps as they were discarded.

The sources, in many cases, are identified. Unfortunately, some of these are lines from films that I can no longer identify. The best way to enjoy poetry and notes from scraps of paper is to read slowly, in a contemplative frame of mind.

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Sing Your Song 

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Be Your Best Self

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In the immortal words of Popeye, "I am what I am."
Cate Blanchett as Mary Mapes, in Truth

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"The problem with remembering everything is that you can't forget anything."

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Why it is so important to see the night sky.

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A big lie, if repeated enough, becomes truth.

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Notes from End of the Tour

"We can't be direct so we end up saying the weirdest things."

"If you're just operating by habit, then you're not really living."

"Things don't affect people the way they used to be."

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"As great as you are you'll never be greater than yourself."
--Bob Dylan, High Water (for Charley Patton)

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"Not all who wander are lost."
Second line of JRR Tolkien's poem "The Riddle of Strider."

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Favorite Childhood Games

Geography
Battleship
Stratego
Risk
Manhunt

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Do Justly
Love Mercy
Walk Humbly
--Micah 6:8

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And so it goes...

Word of the day: Turgid

Cate Blanchett As Elizabeth Gives Us Much to Think About and Appreciate

This is not really a review of Elizabeth: The Golden Age, but more or less a few observations and an excuse to share a few photos of the costumes Cate Blanchett wore in this film. Purportedly it is a historical biography, but according to the critics, it's more historical fiction. Though it failed to obtain the viewer acclaim of its predecessor (Elizabeth, also starring Cate Blanchett) it does have some elements of note.

When Cate Blanchett's star began to rise in the East, it seemed the heir to Queen Meryl's throne had appeared. Streep has unquestionably been one of the standouts of her generation of actresses. He range seems to know no bounds. Similarly, Cate Blanchett has tackled a similar variety of challenges and seems to excel at them all. (Bonus points for having been Bob Dylan.)

The significance of the film may be that it zeroes in on two of history's major turning points, the destruction of Spain's dominance of the high seas and the birth of what would become a 300 year global empire, and the establishment of Protestantism and the ouster of Catholicism. 

I can't say the film moved me to my innards, but will note that the cinematography was stunning at times and Cate Blanchett's costumes were fit for a queen.

The film did raise questions for me. Did queens also have to dress so extravagantly? Do they ever get to wear "comfortable clothes"?  How many hours a day did Ms. Blanchett have to spend getting ready for each day's shooting?

These were the days when it was still believed the kings and queens were divine, which was at odds with what the Reformers were saying. Elizabeth herself questions the notion.

The conflict between Catholics and Protestants had begun to rage in many parts of Europe. The Huguenot Wars were taking place in France, and the Inquisition had been continuing in Spain. Against this backdrop, many of Elizabeth's advisors wanted her to take action against the Catholics in England. Elizabeth, in her wisdom, sees no advantage in creating more conflict by "forcing" the people to be "politically correct", Anglican and not Catholic. (Sadly this did become the law of the land.)  Elizabeth is adamant and takes a stand for freedom of thought and belief. She is opposed to any kind of inquisition-like response to weed out Catholics. "Fear creates fear. I am not ignorant of the dangers, sir. But I will not punish my people for their beliefs. Only for their deeds. I am assured that the people of England love their Queen. My constant endeavor is to earn that love."  (Great lines. If only all leaders would do likewise.)

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Related Link

The Spanish Inquisition Had a Chilling Effect on Freedom of Speech 

Bringing Up Baby

More than a few times in recent years I have heard Cate Blanchett referred to as the best actress in Hollywood, or heir apparent to Meryl Streep for being most versatile and talented. I've even heard her compared with Katharine "Kate" Hepburn, no doubt due to her gutsy stab at the Kate Hepburn role in The Aviator.

So, as I was poring over the DVD shelf at the library yesterday, I stumbled upon Bringing Up Baby, starring Ms. Hepburn in tandem with one of my brother's favorite actors, Cary Grant. And to be honest, I had no idea what I was getting myself into.

I'll preface my remarks with an aside about young people who won't watch black and white movies. That's right, there are people for whom black and white is old fashioned, or may just represent a style of film they consider dated. Yes, the pacing and sound tracks for some can at times be a bit off-putting. But the same could be said for much of today's film fare. All this to say, Bringing Up Baby is not just another film. If you don't know this movie, you'll find it a delightful surprise from the getgo.

I'll compare watching this film to a kid on a skateboard who grabs the back of a semi for a couple blocks but isn't paying attention as the truck pulls onto a highway and begins cranking it up to sixty, seventy and maybe even eighty. That kid on the skateboard is going to have the ride of his life.

So it is with director Howard Hawks' Bringing Up Baby. I cannot recall ever watching a film with so many consecutive snappy lines and madcap antics in such duration without relief. The banter between Hepburn and Grant is at times an out-of-control firehose, gushing wildly without pause. Even the Marx Brothers films give you places to catch your breath. The pace in this film is relentless.

For the record, "Baby" is a pet leopard, so don't expect the Grant/Hepburn duo to be dealing with a three-men-and-a-baby riff.

Can a film like this be produced today? I dunno. There are efforts made, but unfortunately the vulgarity gets the upper hand with too many of today's comics. And don't get me wrong, Bringing Up Baby has some adult situations and innuendo, but the treatment is altogether different.

Interestingly enough, the film bombed when it was released. It cost a million bucks, which was nothing to sneeze at after eight years of economic depression.

For what it's worth, it's a great heritage piece if nothing else. And a wonderful way to remain distracted while you do your taxes, or balance your checkbook as I was last night.

Check it out, sometime. And tell me what you think.