Wednesday, August 17, 2005

CRASH

I went to see a movie at SM last Friday. It was a movie of Paul Haggis, CRASH (producer of Million Dollar Baby). The editing was good, acting was par excellence. This movie is heavy in dialogue, so I advise that you listen carefully while watching ... ask questions after the movie.

I'd seen the various ways we discriminate against each other in everyday life. I'd seen how we rationalize and excuse it, how we organize our lives so that we dont have to deal with it, and how we deny that discrimination exists. The movie is not really about race or class, it's about fear of strangers. It's about intolerance and compassion; about how we all hate to be judged but see no contradiction in judging others.

We live in a society of fear, where people use that fear in order to control us, and the media uses that fear to manipulate us. The movie wants to discuss that and how that fear resonates and distorts how we perceive the world around us. Our reality is so detached that I think it requires a catastrophic event to make us either feel or acknowledge what's actually going on. We are too comfortable, way too comfortable.

It is a film that escapes genre categorization because it escapes tonal categorization. This is a film about real life. It's also something of a fable and a morality play. And it's a story of hope. There's levity, heartbreak, tragedy, beauty, comedy. You will see in Crash how fragile humanity is in general and how the slightest choice you make, which may not seem that important at the time, can end up having huge ramifications, a ripple effect way beyond yourself.

Probably one of my favorite movies this year!

Wednesday, August 03, 2005

GEORGE CARLIN - POST 9-11

GEORGE CARLIN - POST 9-11

The paradox of our time in history is that
We have taller buildings but shorter tempers,
Wider freeways, but narrower viewpoints.
We spend more, but have less.

We buy more, but enjoy less.
We have bigger houses and smaller families,
more conveniences, but less time.
We have more degrees but less sense,
more knowledge, but less judgment,
more experts, yet more problems,
more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly,
laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late,
get up too tired, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.
We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values.
We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life.
We've added years to life not life to years.
We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have
trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor.

We conquered outer space but not inner space.
We've done larger things, but not better things.
We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul.
We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice.

We write more, but learn less.
We plan more, but accomplish less.
We've learned to rush, but not to wait.

We build more computers to hold more information,
to produce more copies than ever,
but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion,
big men and small character,
steep profits and shallow relationships.

These are the days of two incomes but more divorce,
fancier houses, but broken homes.

These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers,
throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies,
and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill.

It is a time when there is much in the showroom window
and nothing in the stockroom.

A time when technology can bring this letter to you,
and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete.
Remember, spend some time with your loved ones,
because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to
you in awe, because that little person soon
will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you,
because that is the only treasure you can give
with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, "I love you" to your partner and your loved ones,
but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt
when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for
someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak, and give time
to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take,
but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't share this to other people.... who cares?


George Carlin