Some Poetry and Movies
Feb. 14
Letter to Rob — Read some Billy Collins tonight. Yes, I like his stuff. Not striking me like I described to you, as too easy and thin. If anything, I’m a little bummed out that it’s almost too much to my liking: that is, too close to what I’m wanting to write—indeed, what I do write, though I don’t often take it this close to being a done poem. I aim to read poetry more often. I’ve also started one of Updike’s collection of art reviews. Exercising my art-viewing eyes and taking in some concepts about visual art.
Two recent films I liked: The Spectacular Now and Whiplash, both starring Miles Teller, an appealing young actor. Character studies both, and both a bit unusual in structure. No 30-minute considerations of cows, but one very long drum solo—the opposite of non-adrenalized and boring. In Spectacular Now I loved how this high school boy is finally understood to be the opposite of what you assumed. Not a glib manipulator but someone who, in his mother’s words, loves everyone.
Some other American films I’ve seen lately and rate high: Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Django Unchained, The Greenbook, The Help, Aloha, The Descendents, Hidden Figures.
Love the first Wonder Woman movie, though the long final battle was, while spectacular, was just the obligatory handjob at the end of a superhero story. And there were formulaic touches all through. What makes the movie is really a stretch through the middle. Diana constrained into Victorian dress and squired about London—and she cooperates, but give her the least provocation and she is fully her fierce self. Then a moment where this indomitable warrior swoons over a baby she passes. And then a scene where you think you’re just enroute to a big battle scene and all of a sudden Diana has had enough—she’s going into battle now. The movie goes from 55 mph to 100 mph in a heartbeat, and then to 150 mph. The great thing about this movie is that Diana is not a character who develops. She is completely amazing, period. The arc of the story is the other characters, and us, realizing one unhesitating intervention at a time what a wonder on top of wonders she is.