Bruce Bratton hosts University Grapevine, linking local and campus issues, every Tuesday 7:30-8:30 p.m. on KZSC 88.1 fm.
|
A FEW WORDS FROM PAUL DRAGAVON. Paul's an old friend of almost 35 years. He was a speech therapist for the Santa Cruz County Schools, he ran for City Council, served on the City Parks Commission and was the director of the Manresa Diagnostic Center. He lives in Paradise, California now. We talked about his current view of the future of the USA. Being articulate, intelligent and caring, I asked him to write down his recent reaction to the world situation, so we could all read it. These are his views, read what he wrote and think about it.
"I have been awake at night imagining that if the majority of Americans vote for Bush it will mean that America will get the government it deserves, and that we can expect a country that will be perpetually at war with other nations, isolated among the nations of the world and with a steady stream of coffins arriving in the dark of night and scattered around the country with only local publicity. The Republicans are already pointing out that it is safer for a soldier to be in Iraq than in Detroit. I guess Americans who support Bush accept that. It must be their love of violence that allowed Bush to invade a third-world country that didn't attack us and posed no threat to us. We will all learn to accept that our children and grandchildren will be drafted and sent off to foreign places to fight against non-Christian people. Here in the U.S. we will be encouraged to live in fear of the next terrorist attack. The irony will be that in spite of the cost, we won't go bankrupt as the Arabs will continue to buy our debt bonds because they won't have another good place to invest their oil profits.
Four new Supreme Court justices will be appointed and Roe vs. Wade will be history, though the "good girls" of the wealthy and religious right will continue to be able to get abortions, just as they always have. The poor will be out of luck. Of course, they might be comforted that their children will learn some form of the Ten Commandments from their teacher at school.
Protection of the environment and the protection of endangered species will give way to the argument that "the needs of people come first." Mountain lions will be killed on sight as homes are built deeper in the forest. The unregulated logging corporations will clear cut the old-growth unabated. Already logs so large that only one can fit on a logging truck are being cut in Northern California.
Remember what it used to be like when we were proud of our Country because we helped other countries and never attacked first? We had a real sense of the Four Freedoms. I wish there was some way we could see a show of hands of all those citizens who either are planning to move, or would like to move, out of the Country if Bush wins."
Email this to your close friends.
BARRY BONDS 703rd HOMER. The sun was shining brightly, and daughter Hillary, grandson Henry and I were in the very last row in the very furthest section from the home plate watching the S.F. Giants play the L.A. Dodgers last Sunday in the new SBC Park. Aside from the feeling that three quarters of the base ball fans were going to vote for blood thirsty Bush it was a great day to watch baseball and the view southward toward South San Francisco. Parking by the way is $20 per car, and some people think opera is elitist, or at least expensive. There were 42,549 fans there and our cheapest seats cost $23 each. Opera stars should make that kind of money. Barry Bonds did hit his 703rd home run, but the Giants lost anyways.
MORE ON STOPPING THE COAST HOTEL PROPOSAL AND CONFERENCE CALAMITY. Beth Thurman writes in to say,"I totally agree, we need to fight this building." She went on to include this ongoing problem no one has ever addressed. "I participated in the Coastal Clean Up on Sept 18; we (Holy Cross Elementary parents) helped clean Cowell's Beach. Immediately in front of the Dream Inn, the beach was a huge ashtray. We knelt down and picked up literally hundreds of cigarette butts, and there were thousands remaining. There was hotel- related garbage tossed everywhere. The clean up volunteers all thought that the hotel should take some responsibility for the clean up, they should have someone cleaning in that area weekly, or at least monthly. It was disgusting. I don't feel that the Dream Inn (ok, I know it is the West Coast) is a part of our community.
CELLULAR. Be sure to rent this Kim Basinger "kidnapping-captive-in-the-attic" thriller. Fine car chases around L.A.., which seem to be some kind of necessary movie ingredient lately. But it is exciting, you’ll learn a lot about cell phones and it would have been more exciting than watching the debates.
ZATOICHI, THE BLIND SWORDSMAN. This new Zatoichi film starring Beat Takeshi, Japans current renaissance man (don't ask who bestows those labels) is a lot of fun to watch. Zatoichi is a blind masseuse who became an extremely accurate and fast swordsman. I am a real Zatoichi film fan and am about 1/4 through the original 26 Zatoichi films all starring Shintaro Katsu who created this film legend back in 1962. Therefore I had many fears that Takeshi would ruin the spirit or creativity of this film legend. There's blood galore, spurting from everywhere and an enthusiasm that is truly rare in filmmaking. The Taiko drum dance sequence at the end that brings back all the stars in the film for an encore clog-shoe step is simply stunning. Go see it, by all means, and then go rent about 22 of the original Zatoichi films from Cedar Street Video.
FORGOTTEN. Julienne Moore plays a mother who loses her child, and boy does she ever lose him. You'll never guess where he went, and I'm not sure you should try. The sci- fi element of the script almost becomes a comedy twist but Dominic West who plays the lead in HBO's The Wire, plays Julienne's friend and keeps it all earth bound. Go only if you've seen everything else.
WIMBLEDON. Kirsten Dunst and Paul Bettany, the blue eyed guy from Master and Commander pretend they're professional tennis stars in this cute, pretty, lovey, and predictable studio story. It's better than current sit coms, but the debates will be more exciting.
EXTRA SPECIAL FILMS. Yasujiro Ozu made some of Japan's finest classic films. He made Early Summer in 1951 probing deep into the reconstruction of Japanese families and changing traditions after WWII. You'll never forget it; it is so far beyond Hollywood's sensitivities it will change your concept of cinema. Zero Focus directed by Yoshitaro Nomura in 1961 also show a side of Japanese postwar society but this one's a Hitchcock type thriller only more intriguing. More about the 26 Zatoichi films...see the first two to get a background about Zatoichi's past. See #6 "The Chest Of Gold" for the photography by Kazuo Miyagama who worked with Kurosawa, Kon Ichikawa, and Mizoguchi. But then again they're all fun, and you'll learn a lot more than by watching the debates.
SAUL LANDAU RETURNS. Noted lecturer and author Saul Landau will be at the Capitola Book Café on Thursday, September 30 at 7:30 PM talking about his new book, Business Of America: How Consumers have replaced Citizens and How we can reverse the trend. Folks always forget that Saul is a very funny guy, so you'll have some laughs at his latest view of our society.
MORE FROM MINOTT. Katherine Minott manages to keep laughing in spite of everything. She sent this one in last week. President George W. Bush is taking a stroll around Capitol Hill with a senior member of Congress, when he meets a little girl carrying a small basket with a blanket over it. Curious, he says to the girl; "What's in the basket?". She replies; "New baby kittens" and opens the basket to show him. "How nice" said President Bush. "What kind are they?". The little girl says, "Republicans". President Bush smiles and pats the little girl on the head and they continue on. About three weeks later, he and another Congressional colleague are again strolling around Capitol Hill when he sees the little girl again with the same basket. President Bush says to his colleague; "Watch this, it's very cute" and they approach the little girl. President Bush asks the girl how the kittens are and she says fine. He then says, "What kind of kittens are they?" and she replies, "Democrats". Somewhat abashed, President Bush says, "Three weeks ago you said they were Republicans!!" "I know," she says." But, now their eyes are open".
QUOTES TO QUACK OVER. "Republicans sleep in twin beds, some even in separate rooms. That's why there are more Democrats." -Walt Stanton. "Ninetynine percent of the adults in this country are decent, hardworking honest Americans. It's the other lousy 1 percent that gets all the publicity and gives us the bad name. But then, we elected them." -Lily Tomlin. "The truth is that men are tired of liberty." -Benito Mussolini.
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
STOP THE MONSTER HOTEL. Here's a campaign issue...which of our seven City Council candidates will be honest enough and strong enough to oppose the $35 million dollar Coast Hotel and Conference Calamity Project. Scott Kennedy, Ceil Cirillo, and city manager Dick Wilson are working overtime to get this sand-colored plaster elephant rammed through before the West Cliff neighbors and civilians who use Bay Street know what hit them. Scott, Ceil and Dick claim the city will make money by investing $35 million dollars into this project. They don't say how long it will be before we pay back the $35 million and then start making money from the investment. WE are supposed to make the money back by collecting parking fees from the 600 parking spaces in the six floor parking "stricture". That stricture will tower above the residents living in the neighborhood around the 1000 seat conference center to be located at the corner of Bay and West Cliff Drive. Speaking of fast track, we the people only have until this Thursday (Sept. 23) to offer comments on what we think is wrong with this $35 million dollar elephant. What is blatantly dishonest is the City's pretense at notifying the public about this monstrosity. Only notifying residents in a 100 foot circle from the proposed project is a sham, and the City knows this. They know too that it takes a long time before anyone can fully understand the impact that a large project like this will have. This will ruin the neighborhood for many blocks around Bay and West Cliff, as beach goers park anywhere BUT in the new parking stricture. It will gridlock Bay Street from Mission to West Cliff. They will completely demolish the old Dream Inn and, as was admitted at the Special Joint meeting of the City Council, Redevelopment Agency and the Planning Commission, to build this four building complex that can not possibly, except for great sums of money be environmentally friendly. Hotels it was explained are one of the poorest of all structures in meeting any environmental requirements. Come join the Planning Commission meeting 7:00 p.m. Thursday, September 23 in the City Council chambers. Groups are right now being organized to fight this monster, and it'll be a fight. Get your favorite city council candidate to help you oppose this Coast Hotel and Conference Calamity Project.
COSI FAN TUTTI. The San Francisco Opera moved Mozart's 1790 opera up to a Mediterranean resort town in 1914 and made this the most interesting Cosi Fan Tutti I've ever seen. (that would include four other productions). Soprano Alexandra Deshorties from The Met as Fiordiligi was the hit of the opera with a sharp, clear expressive range of voice and her acting was right there too. If you've never heard a Mozart opera catch one of these last four performances by the San Francisco Opera. Go to www.sfopera.com.
LA TRAVIATA. Everyone was anxious to hear tenor Rolando Villazon in his main stage debut in SFOpera's La Traviata. He looks like an old Sal Mineo but he's got a near great tenor voice that could develop nicely. There aren't any 5 star famous tenors still singing nowadays, except Placido Domingo who's toned down in his old age. So the opera world goes nutty trying to find or label someone the new Caruso or Luciano Pavarotti. Soprano Ruth Ann Swenson makes for a large cuddly Violetta and has a voice that could shatter thin wine glasses, it's that pure and beautiful. This is a grand opera production with songs, dances, and great sadness. Even though this is the most often performed opera in the world you will probably not see a better production than this. Well maybe if you traveled a lot. Try to see this opera, it's a wonderful introduction. There are six more performances, go to www.sfopera.com.
CRASH BURN AND DIE IN THE ATTIC. There's no dance company in the world that has more fun dancing than the Moving and Storage/Crash, Burn, and Die Dance Company. The MSCB&DDC celebrates their 20th anniversary with dance programs at the new venue The Attic. The Attic is upstairs over the Blue Lagoon bar at 913 Pacific. They opened The Attic last week and Moving and Storage once again gave their all in four production numbers choreographed by Leslie Swaha and Therese Adams. From the opener Snow in Berkeley to the longer piece that took up the second half of the evening Clowns versus Ants it was an evening of goof ball fun, mysterious moves, and excellent original live music composed by Graham Connah. Call 459-7970 immediately (they may never answer) or go to the "? Gallery" at 1101 Pacific which is really on Cathcart Street across from the old China Szechwan restaurant.
WHAT THE BLEEP#$*! DO WE (k)NOW? Marlee Matlin who is deaf acts as a tour guide through this film tour of quantum fields, alternate universes, brain chemistry, and other mind bending exercises. The intriguing and far out other world possibilities are unfortunately "explained" or "demonstrated" to us in ditzy, cutesy, ways that are insulting and inane. If you like thinking about things, this is a great adventure film for you. The experts and their ideas are well chosen, but the annoying animated creatures who attempt to show us what it all means are a drag, but go anyway.
EXTRA SPECIAL FILMS. The new ZATOICHI film will be at the Nick pretty soon. Takeshi "Beat" Kitano plays Zatoichi who is the blind masseuse/gangster/samurai. The original Zatoichi was created and played by Shintaro Katsu in 26 films. Shintaro was like Gene Autry or Roy Rogers, there could be no substitute. Check out 10-15 of the original Zatoichi films on DVD at Cedar Street Video they're unbelievably believable.
A DIRTY SHAME. John Waters has done it again. Not only has Waters given us such cinema classics as Hairspray, Pink Flamingoes, Polyester (featuring Odorama), and Pecker, now we're faced with A Dirty Shame starring such Water's own stable of stars like Patty Hearst, Mink Stole, and Tracey Ullman as Sylvia Stickles. The films promotion piece calls it "America's first carnal concussion comedy". By now you should be very aware whether or not you like John Waters movies...this really is another John Waters movie, believe me. I love them and highly recommend this one.
SKY CAPTAIN AND THE WORLD OF TOMORROW. Gwyneth Paltrow is perfect in this super science fiction adventure. So are Jude Law and Angelina Jolie. The scenery, the plot the enemy and the thrills are all perfect and yet...Take a real fantasy like The Wizard of OZ - you can't watch that film without having emotions. Hate or fear of the witch, sympathy for Dorothy, love for Scarecrow and yet...there's none of that in Sky Captain. It's a brilliant takeoff on 1930's weekly serials but you watch it all as a finely created craft, not a piece of art. But it is one of the most entertaining, as in purely entertaining, films I've seen in years. It truly reaffirms (if you need reaffirming) that films can transport you places that no other media can. Do see this on the big screen, as big as possible matter of fact.
ABOUT ART, AND CRITICISM AND WHO NEEDS IT? Or How Do you know It's Good? Marya Mannes wrote But Will It sell? back in 1964. She questions our culture, our critics and what the style of criticism was back then. When you have a few minutes click on this, it'll give you something to talk about at those political fund raisers. http://members.tripod.com/~Karl_P_Henning/nf/itsgood.html. I'm not sure I agree about her Marlon Brando critique but I've sure been thinking a lot about his contribution to theatre after reading this article.
BILL MOYERS GOODBYE SPEECH. Bill Moyers one of the media's finest spokesmen is leaving his job. He gave a speech and tells us more about Bloodthirsty Bush and the approaching Rapture than you want to know. He tells about honesty in newspapers and says a lot about the internet and its potential for keeping us informed. When you have some spare minutes read this, it's important. http://www.tompaine.com/articles/journalism_under_fire.php
LOBA SAYS NO TO WESTSIDE HOME DEPOT. The Locally Owned Business Alliance or LOBA has taken a position against Home Depot opening another mega store in our Westside Industrial Park. Dr. Scott Daly a LOBA official, told me they oppose a Home Depot out at Wrigleys/Lipton site but- there could be other sites such as Harvey West Park where LOBA may not oppose a Home Depot!! Scott did acknowledge that a Home Depot could be a danger to locally owned businesses. That seems to me to be pretty contradictory concept for LOBA, but we didn't exactly get into that.
NOVEMBER BALLOT MEASURES. You can hear Marion Taylor from The League of Women Voters talk about the state level propositions on this very complex ballot that we will face in 47 days. She'll be at The People's Democratic Club of Santa Cruz monthly meeting this Thursday the 23 at 7:30 p.m. in London Nelson Community Center. The PDC voted NO on measure J the widening Highway One, the 30 years of sales tax sham. Go to www.cruzdemocrats.org if you need information on any Democrat Party doings or call 688-2304 for information on the Peoples Democratic Club.
A QUOTA OF QUOTES. "Some Republicans are so ignorant they wouldn't know how to pour piss out of a boot-even if the instructions were printed on the heel." -Lyndon B. Johnson. "Richard Nixon is a no-good lying bastard. He can lie out of both sides of his mouth at the same time, and if he ever caught himself telling the truth, he'd lie just to keep his hand in." -Harry Truman. "When you say that you agree to a thing in principle you mean that you have not the slightest intention of carrying it out in practice." -Otto Von Bismarck
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
PESKY CITY COUNCIL ENDORSEMENTS. The Progressive Coalition outdid itself with John Laird moderating the seven contestants for City Council and a large audience at London Nelson auditorium. SCAN ended up distancing itself as far as possible from, Scott Kennedy, Mark Primack and Mark Who? Fogel. Those guys got the very bottom three places. Ed Porter, Emily and Ryan Coonerty got their endorsement. The People's Democratic Club also endorsed Porter, Reilly and Coonerty. The Locally Owned Business Association or LOBA as you could guess endorsed Coonerty, Reilly, Primack and Kennedy. The GLBT Alliance endorsed Ryan Coonerty, Scott Kennedy, Emily, Tony Madrigal, and Ed Porter. SEIU Local 415 and the Monterey Bay Labor Council endorsed (in order); Tony Madrigal, Scott Kennedy, Emily Reilly, and Ed Porter. I've been informed by attendees at the LOBA morning meeting at Cloud's Restaurant that Kennedy went to new heights to label progressives in Santa Cruz as anti business, and went on to say how pro business he is and what a progressive he has always been. It's exactly attitudes and statements like Kennedy's that create the anti business image that everybody says Santa Cruz suffers from. Aside from fighting big box stores and McDonald's and Borders on Pacific Avenue there's no anti business attitude in Santa Cruz. Other than Kennedy's damned Bush-like misstatements of facts, that is.
MORE ABOUT ENDORSEMENTS. Judy Warner of the Democratic Women's Club tells me they're having their City Council Endorsement Meeting Wednesday morning the 22 from 9:30 to noon at the Harvey West Clubhouse. They invite only Democratic candidates so that must leave out Mark "Who?" Fogel and only the Lord knoweth what party he belongs to. Once upon a time many folks figured the DWC's endorsements were so one sided they must have been stuffed. But Judy says no way. Registered Democrats can vote for DWC endorsements after they belong to the DWC for 30 days. And if members can't attend they can get an absentee ballot after Sept. 11 from Pat Shand (699-2931) or Judy Warner (425-1168) and the ballots must be returned at least one week prior to the meeting, which would be September 15, that's today!!. No proxy votes are permitted.
NORTH KOREA NEWS. Remember that prediction that our Blood-Thirsty Bush will create an excuse to start a war/invasion sometime next month with North Korea? Now we see in last Sunday's Sentinel that North Korea might be preparing its first nuclear weapon test. Blood Thirsty "Bush and advisors have received intelligence reports" and these reports if true "could change the balance of power in Asia", The Sentinel said. The surprise capture of Bin Laden in mid October won't be enough to assure Blood Thirsty Bush of winning, so let's see if the activation of the Pacific fleet offshore from North Korea won't get him four more years.
EARTHQUAKE SURVIVAL NEWS. Several people sent me this radical (in the good sense) news about how to survive earthquakes. Don't get under desks, don't go to doorways, don't stay in your car! Duck and cover and other long held beliefs will get you killed. Click here to read these strategies. Send copies to schools, big building dwellers, anybody whose life you want to save. It's a complete reversal from what all of us Californians have been taught all our lives. I'm not kidding around...read this article. Please.
COAST HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER MEETING. According to Lynn Robinson the Santa Cruz City Council, the planning commission, and Ceil Cirillo's Redevelopment Agency are holding a joint public meeting this Thursday night (Sept. 16) at 7 p.m. in the City Council chambers. There will be a chance to ask questions such as dealing with the huge amount of traffic going up and down Bay Street. You could ask about the size of the proposed six level parking structure for 650 cars that'll take up vast space on the opposite side of the street. Remember that the largest parking structure we have now is the Front and Soquel ugliness which has 450 car spaces. The powers that be say this Conference Center will attract 100,000 tourists annually. I've never met anyone who actually likes the inside or especially the outside of the Dream Inn. Environmentalists have always felt that the Dream Inn was a monument to their failure to organize. And you know that the new Dream Inn will be over 100 rooms larger than the old one. Attend this meeting; there has been very little response from citizens so far. This is way bigger than Borders, the Downtown Plaza, and our other losses. Our Santa Cruz city politicians have been rehearsing together so long they've created our own local version of Beach Blanket Babylon. Don't miss your chance to watch Scott Kennedy, Mike Rotkin, and Cynthia Mathews do their ogling, and drooling over this project from heaven and then they'll sing their song of social programs. Watch next how Emily Reilly, Ed Porter and Tim Fitzmaurice dance sideways and try to look two directions at the same time. Yes, you've seen the show before but try to be there Thursday. Watching this on TV just isn't the same. Call Lynn Robinson at 818-6376 for details.
HURRICANE RELIEF EFFORT FOR CUBA. Hurricane Charley wrought havoc in Western Cuba last month - 4 people killed, 16,000 homes were lost, cattle herds devastated. As of Monday afternoon, Hurricane Ivan is scheduled to hit the same part of Cuba with even greater force than Charley managed to produce. They need help and some local Cubaphiles are organizing a drive for vitamins, medicines and funds. Cuba's need for assistance is particularly critical because U.S. policy on Cuba deliberately closes important avenues for recovery assistance that are open to other countries hit by the recent hurricanes. For example, Cuba will not and cannot, due to U.S. measures - receive any assistance from the Inter-American Development Bank, the World Bank and the Commonwealth. To help, email cubastudygroup@scshop.com or call 465-8272.
EXCLUSIVE BOOK NEWS. Peter Stafford has just finished his latest book, "Heavenly Highs". Peter, as long time Santa Cruzans know, is the author of Psychedelics Encyclopedia and later editions. This new book is on the way to the publishers and contains seven chapters dealing with how to have a positive experience with Yohimbe, DMT, Yage, Kava Kava, Harmaline, Iboga, Nitrous oxide, Salvia divinorum, ketamine and a myriad of other psychedelic substances. It'll be available soon and I'll pass on the information. Peter was also known as the typist from heaven, he never made a typing error. He worked for Jay Shore on Santa Cruz Times and Good Times and with a bunch of us when we started the Santa Cruz Express.
WESTSIDE HOME DEPOT. Yes, Home Depot is going for a third store in Santa Cruz County. They just completed and filed their formal application last week to move into the Westside industrial park using the former Lipton's site. Typically mega stores like Wal Mart and Home Depot open many stores in an area undersell and eventually close out all the little locally owned competition and then close down some of their own stores to force all remaining business into their best locations. I'd guess from here that they want to open their Watsonville store first, then their 41st Avenue store, and finally the Westside Home Depot. About two years after that, they'll close down one or two of those stores leaving 41st as their remaining monster. It also leaves us with fewer jobs a huge loss of money that remains local, and still a suffering social services program.
SHE HATE ME. Spike Lee's newest film goes in many directions, and I liked it. Confusing, dangling plots, but intelligent acting. It is definitely worth seeing. Spike has so much or too much to say in each of his films but here he does manage to pay tribute to Frank Wills, the Watergate security guard and whistleblower who died young, penniless, and no one would hire him. We should give that man (Wills) a monument of his own.
DONNIE DARKO. I liked the shorter, earlier version better. Most Darko fans think the longer film is better. Either way this is one wild trip through a teenager's angst. Jake Gyllenhaal couldn't be better than he is in this. Go but go warned, it's skewed.
BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS. Evelyn Waugh wrote Brideshead Revisited and Handful of Dust, both of which are excellent and serious works. He also wrote The Loved One, a take off on Forest Lawn Cemetery and Vile Bodies, a shattering view of upper class life in Britain in the 30's. Bright Young Things is Stephen Fry's adaptation of Vile Bodies. You'll laugh along with the rich sillies as they party toward death and you'll cringe inside at their vile style of life. It is an amazing film, go see it.
SILVER CITY. Again, I have to state my particular dislike of almost all films directed by John Sayles. Lone Star, Secret of Roan Inish, Passion Fish, Sunshine State, all of them made me leave the theatre angry that I'd spent the time watching them. Casa De Los Babys, Matewan, and Men with Guns were barely ok. With that out of the way, Silver City again made me mad to see such fine actors have to follow Sayles direction. The plot was far too heavy handed even though it's a sophomoric knocking of George W. Bush it still failed to impress me. Maybe it will impress you; many of my friends liked it.
EXTRA SPECIAL FILMS. This new segment will feature mostly little known films, films that were rarely released in the USA, probably foreign with subtitles, maybe violent, bloody, and even not politically correct, but wonderful watching. That's IF you really like films that advance the art of cinema in one way or another. These films are hard to find so I'm getting all of them from the new Cedar Street Video store. That's the one on the corner of Cedar and Maple next to The Bagelry. Try the following; Ichi, The Killer (2001) Japan, dir. Takashi Miike; it's about Yakuza crime. Carnage (2002) France, dir. Delphine Gleize; deals with the remains of a bull fight. The Eel (1997) Japan, dir. Shoei Imamura; Prisoner becomes a barber and talks to his eel. The Isle, (2001) Korean dir. Kim Ki-Duk. Fishgirl hooks a big one. The other good news is that Cedar Street Video rents films DVDS and video tapes on Tuesdays and Wednesdays for only $1 for five days.
POLITICAL QUOTES. I didn't make up this first one but it's too funny to be true. "The main difference for the history of the world if I had been shot rather than Kennedy, is that Onassis probably wouldn't have married Mrs. Khrushchev." -Nikita Khrushchev. "Richard Nixon told us he was going to take crime off the streets. He did. He took it into the White House." -Ralph Abernathy. "Gerald Ford looks like the guy in a science fiction movie who is the first to see The Creature." -David Frye.
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
BACK FROM THE FRONT. We've all been reading online reports from the Republican Convention, including Michael Moore's. Christopher Krohn was reporting from NYC too. Read his final report and see just how much fun and tragedy we were missing by staying at home. But do note in Christopher's report how supportive the New Yorkers were to the protesters.
SPECIFIC PACIFIC CHANGES. Many of these have already happened but in case you haven't been the full length of Pacific Avenue lately, note the following. The Best Of Everything formerly on Lincoln, is moving into Tiffany's "old" place. Some sandwich shop is moving into the former House of Bread by Logos and gee, do we need a sandwich shop on Pacific? What used to be Eclectix is now Ambrosia and serves bubble tea and crepes. The biggest change of all, and it won't be noticed from the street is the new 5000 square feet gallery and theatre space opening upstairs over the Blue Lagoon. It'll be known as The Attic and should be open in a couple of weeks from now with The Moving and Storage Company and Crash Burn & Die Dance Company's 20th Anniversary shows. The gallery will be open by then and the little restaurant will open soon after. Call 427-5540 or 459-7970 for tickets and details.
BIGGEST POLITICAL NIGHT. (A REPEAT ITEM FROM A COUPLE OF WEEK'S AGO) If you want to see how Santa Cruz City politics really works you have to come to the Santa Cruz City Council Candidates Forum. The People's Democratic Club and the Progressive Coalition are presenting the evening. The Coalition consists of S.C.A.N. (Santa Cruz Action Network), The N.A.A.C.P., The Santa Cruz County Green Party, Labor's S.E.I.U. Local 415, People's Democratic Club of course and GLBT Alliance. The People's Democratic Club and the SEIU will make their endorsement vote immediately following this meeting. GLBT Alliance will also be making their endorsements immediately following the meeting so you can bet this will be the most important night in the entire City Council campaign. It's Wednesday, September 8th starting at 7 p.m. at London Nelson Community Center. So far all but one of the City Council candidates have said they'll be there. Deborah Hill of the NAACP told me the organization doesn't make endorsements of individuals, just issues, but individual members certainly do and she did. This will be in the auditorium and it'll fill up fast, get there early.
COMMUNITY TELEVISION HIRES NEW DIRECTOR. Cece Pinheiro of Santa Cruz Community Television phoned to say that it was an unanimous vote to hire Mary Ann Rehberg as the new executive director to replace Geoffrey Dunn. Mary Ann is local and used to work for the County's Children Protective Services. She's been hired as a full time 40 hour per week person. Geoffrey's going to teach her everything he knows and Mary Ann will start October 4th. Other Community Television news is that the franchise agreement with Comcast doesn't run out until 2011. I had also missed hearing about Community Television extending into Watsonville on September 1st, one more part of Geoffrey Dunn's legacy. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that I thought our Community Television station should put out newsletters or press releases letting us know what's going on at the station besides plugs for program content. I have been informed that the station has been doing newsletters and press releases all along. It's just that I'd never seen any in print nor had I ever received any. I'm going to start getting all that now, and I'll pass it on.
TONY MADRIGAL CORRECTION SECTION. Tony Madrigal is running for Santa Cruz city council, which I got right last week. Most other info was not correct. Well I spelled Skyler Porras' name wrong and Skyler says he's Tony's campaign manager and Cliff Tillman is Tony's campaign treasurer. Then I looked up the wrong address for the Campaign kickoff, it's at the Beach Flats Community Center which is at 133 Liebrandt Avenue. It too will be Sunday the 12 from 3-5p.m. I ran into Tony at the NAACP picnic last Sunday. He went on record as being against widening highway one and being in favor of the new conference center by the Dream Inn or whatever they call that hotel.
EMILY REILLY CAMPAIGN KICKOFF PARTY. Wolfgang Rosenberg emails to tell us all that Emily Reilly is having her kickoff party next Sunday from 4-6p.m. at Elaine Gill's house, 219 California Street. There'll be balloons, great music, and probably supporters like; Eleanor Wasson, Katherine Beiers, Ch!p, Ruth Hunter, Denise Holbert, Celia and Peter Scott, George and Gail Ow, Diane Louie, Merrie Schaller, Mike Rotkin, Mary Stagnaro, Mardi Wormhoudt, Marilyn and David Rigler, Darrell and Karen Darling, Cindy Geise, Ellen Farmer, Jane Mio, Cece Pinheiro, Mathilde Rand, Madelyn McCaul, Morton and Donna Marcus, Tony Hill, Debbie Bulger, Jane Weed-Pomerantz, Ralph and Nancy Meyberg, and Bert and Lois Muhly. There are a lot of other names and I'll get as many as possible in later.
ED PORTER'S CAMPAIGN KICKOFF PARTY. I mentioned last week that Ed's party will also be on Sunday the 12th from 1-3 p.m. just a little before Emily's. Ed's party will be at Jim and Sharon King's house 1503 Escalona Drive. Ed's got 9 former mayors supporting him such as Christopher Krohn, Keith Sugar, Sally DiGiralomo, and six more. What I wanted to mention is that if you get a chance ask Jim King about his old job singing and dancing for Pepsi Cola. I saw him do his song and dance over at Harbor High many, many years ago. Maybe if we beg him he'll do his old routine.
MARK STONE CAMPAIGN KICKOFF PARTY. Mark Stone is running against the ardent Republican Stephanie Aquilar up in Scotts Valley. Mark's kickoff party isn't on Sunday!! It's going to be on Tuesday September 14th from 5-7p.m. at the newly remodeled Trout Farm Inn, 7701 East Zayante Road in Felton. Folks like Dave Weiss, Nancy Macy, Rob Slawinski, Mary Hammer, Les Gardner, Annette Marcum, Margaret Leonard, Mark Tracy, John Laird, Fred Keeley, Bob Locatelli, Anna Eschoo, Jeff Matlock and Sam Farr all say great things about Mark and support him all the way. Mark has a great website, check it out at www.electmarkstone.org
DAN HAIFLEYS CUBA EXPERIENCE. Hurricanes in the USA get big time coverage. Dan Haifley of O'Neill's Sea Odyssey was in Cuba for a friends wedding and some Odyssey business. Read his letter. Have you ever been in an argument about whether it's better to live in earthquake country or hurricane country? It's not an easy decision. Anyone come up with an answer?
VANITY FAIR. Reese Witherspoon doesn't act as British as Gwyneth Paltrow of the Malibu Paltrows but she is cute, and does as decent a job of carrying off this very heavy, tricky, complex adaptation of the novel which never was a plot burner or page turner anyway. It's a big costume epic of olde London and what the film does do, if you think about it, it shows us what an independent woman had to do to survive in those bad old days. Go see it.
CRIMINAL. Con versus con versus con ad infinitum, that's the plot. This is a remake of the Argentine hit, Nine Queens and the original was better because it was more sincere, and less hokey. This version was secretly written by Steven Soderburgh and takes place around LA. You'll end up laughing at the final con job then spend 1/2 hour realizing all the plot holes. However, if you like con movies, and I do, go see this one.
SUSPECT ZERO. Ben Kingsley stars in this one. It's about remote viewing and how Ben was trained to spy on people and how he can't stop. Kingsley is one of the finest actors alive today and I hope what he earned on this mess of a film goes a long way to paying his bills between the good scripts he deserves. Wait and rent it, it's not worth the cost of a night out.
PAPARAZZI. Not only is Mel Gibson the producer of this film, and not only does he take a cameo role in the film as the hapless psychiatrist patient waiting in the hall but you get the feeling about every two minutes that this is Mel's own plot. The story is Mel's way of getting even with the paparazzi who have probably hounded him all his professional career. It's not a very good film, but it is fun to watch the film's movie star hero get even with the paparazzi. That would be the paparazzi that we pay to take those nasty pictures we buy in those magazines we never admit looking at.
GLENN LOVELL AND FAHRENHEIT 9/11. Many folks have asked if I ever heard back from Glenn Lovell San Jose Mercury film critic, about why he called Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9/11 "sloppy, illogical, and formulaic". I offered Glenn off or on the record, why that critique, or why those words? Fahrenheit 9/11 is a lot of things but NOT sloppy, illogical and certainly never formulaic. Glenn never replied I'm sorry to say and he wrote me first. You can read some of his columns free by going to the Rotten Tomatoes web site which you should do anyway if you like reading film critics.
BIG BOYS TO OPEN. Actors' Theatre opens its 2004-5 season next Friday the 17th with Rich Orloff's play "Big Boys". The play is described as a Marx Brothers meets David Mamet "comic fable". It is being presented by the 60gRit Theatre Company which has meant some excellent theatre in Santa Cruz so far. They did Sexual Perversity In Chicago, Victoria Station and some others. Big Boys is also described as "two character vaudeville for the 21st Century" so it'll be a fine time. Mick Mize and Joe Peterson are the leads. It plays September 17 through October 27 Thursdays- Saturdays at 8pm., Sundays at 3p.m. Erik Pearson is directing. The Actors Theatre is at 1001 Center Street in the same building where India Joze used to be and where the Red Lantern is now. Call 425-PLAY and deal direct with Actors Theatre or the Civic Auditorium box office at 420-5260 but you'll pay extra there. It'll probably sell out so hurry.
SUGAR RAY HOFFMAN. No one has ever seen Jerry Hoffman of JH 12 Sports sit still. Now he's been going even faster because Miller Lite Fight Night in San Jose has him doing the under card matchmaking for their next big boxing night on September 23 at the HP Pavilion in San Jose. Fight Night at The Tank has Paul "Punisher" Williams up against Arturo Reyes for ten rounds. Kelsey "Road Warrior" Jefferies will fight her toughest opponent Jeri "Fists of Fury" Sitzes for the IBA Jr. featherweight title. Jose Perez Jr. will face Richard Alduenda, Luis Perez goes toe to toe with Israel Sandoval, and Alejandro Perez will fight a four round opening bout in his San Jose Tank Night debut. You can get tickets at the HP Pavilion ticket office, online at ticketmaster.com or charge by phone at (408) 998-TIXS. Better yet call Jerry Hoffman at 688-1604 for tickets.
FREE TO FLY. This is another film about Cuba in the Cuba Study Group of Santa Cruz's ongoing film series. The film was directed by Estella Bravo who made Fidel (2001), Cuba/South Africa: After The Battle (1990), and others dealing with Latin American and Caribbean issues. There'll be a discussion after the film about the 500 page report from the Commission for Assistance to a Free Cuba. This report adds to the restrictions on travel to Cuba and continues damned George Bush's plan on pushing his "post Castro" government. The Meridian News is also sponsoring this evening. The film and discussion are at The Live Oak Grange 1900 17th avenue (near Capitola road) and starts at 7p.m. Call 465-8272 for information.
QUOTES TO USE AT POLITICAL SOIREES. "I never trust a man unless I've got his pecker in my pocket." -Lyndon B. Johnson. "The cardinal rule of politics-never get caught in bed with a live man or a dead woman." -Larry Hagman. "A Fool and his money are soon elected." -Will Rogers. "I never for anyone-I always vote against." -W.C. Fields
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
|
NO ON J'S NEW WEBSITE. Hopefully most folks know by now that Measure J which has been touted as the tax measure to widen Highway 1 won't work. The true costs of widening the Highway aren't known, adding lanes to any Freeway has never helped traffic and this additional tax will actually cut funds that could go to buy new buses, and create alternative transportation needs. There's going to be a kickoff party to celebrate the No on J campaign. It's going to be Friday, September 17 at 4:30 at Katherine Beiers house on 135 Gharkey St. at the corner of Lighthouse. Join us at the party; meet all the people who have done the research on this issue and find out how you can work to make sure Measure J doesn't pass. The People's Democratic Club just endorsed a No on J vote. The new website is no-on-j.com check it out.
JIM HOUSTON'S NEW BOOK. Jim's probably going to vote by absentee ballot because he'll be in Hawaii on Election Day. He's got a new book coming out. It's called "Hawaiian Son", and is his biography of Eddie Kamae. Eddie is Hawaii's ukulele virtuoso and has been the leader of the Sons Of Hawaii band since 1960.
CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN MANAGERS. People who follow local politics know that the people behind the City Council campaigns often reveal more about the candidates than the candidates themselves. For example Cynthia Mathews close friend Carol Fuller is running Scott Kennedy's campaign. Melanie Stern is running Emily Reilly's campaign. Melanie is Tony Hill's wife and Tony is one of George Ow's circle. Tony Hill also hosted Tony Madrigal's campaign kickoff. Ed Porter has a committee behind him and hasn't an official campaign manager yet, but Mathilde Rand, Carl Stancil, Gordon Pusser, Ruth Hunter, Robert Poen, Dick Doubrava, Celia Scott, Liz Pollack, Charlie Keutmann, Wolfgang Rosenberg, and Tim and Ginny Fitzmaurice are all on Ed's consensus committee. I mentioned last week that Paul Wagner is Mark Primack's campaign manager, and you know what that means. Ryan Coonerty's campaign manager is his sister Casey Coonerty, and he has enormous endorsements. Read on.
USA TO ATTACK NORTH KOREA IN EIGHT WEEKS? Last Sunday's International Herald Tribune had a little item that's scary. The United States has scheduled naval exercises of the coast of North Korea at the end of October. Why there, and why at that time? Could it be a setup in case the Bush-Cheney-Rove campaign is in trouble and they 1. want to provoke a genuine North Korean attack on an American ship and retaliate or 2. launch a "preventative" or "pre-emptive" attack against North Korea? Either of these actions would go a long way to assuring Bush's election. About three people sent me this article and I'm not sure who to credit, but thanks and try to get a good night's sleep.
RYAN COONERTY'S CAMPAIGN KICKOFF PARTY. Last Sunday Bookshop Santa Cruz was jammed with even more Coonerty's than usual. Ryan Coonerty held his campaign kickoff. Ryan spoke on his four major campaign points, 1. The environment and the Green belt. 2. Economics and helping small businesses. 3. Affordable housing 4. Social Justice. You can read more about Ryan and his credentials plus a very long list of supporters at his website www.ryancoonerty.org. On his website you'll see such names as Bernice Belton, Kathy Bisbee, Lou Caviglia, Ch!p, Geoffrey Dunn, Barbara Graves, Bonnie Hawley, Bruce Van Allen, Kaitilin Gaffney, Paul Elerick, Darrell Darling, and Ernest Fox, there are too many more to include here, but I will later. His kickoff party included Mardi Wormhoudt, John Leopold, Arnie Leff, Mark Stone, Bert and Lois Muhly, Judy Warner, Celia and Peter Scott, Gary and Marilyn Patton, Glen Schaller, Tom Shanle and Beverly Grova. They all had a great time at the kickoff, and Bruce Engelhardt played some fine guitar. Bert and Lois Muhly are having one of their nearly historic crab feeds for Ryan at their home 717 Walnut Avenue near King, Sunday, September 19 noon to 2pm. Yes, you are invited. Call 426-2798.
ED PORTER'S PARTY. Ed's campaign kickoff party is going to be Sunday, September 12 at 1p.m. It'll be at Sharon and Jim King's home 1503 Escalona. Ed will talk about issues and about what's really happening on our City Council and what we can do about it. Check out Ed's website at www.edporter2004.com he's very upfront with his positions on issues, check them all out. Call 427-0836 for information on his campaign or the party.
TONY MADRIGAL'S CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN. Tony's already had his kickoff party and I don't know who was there. Skylar Porras is his campaign treasurer. Tony told me some of his supporters such as Bruce Daniels, Pat Clark, Cliff Tillman, Leslie Scanagatta, Deanna Purnell, Richelle Noroyan, Geoff Dunn, Roberto De La Rosa, and Dan Haifley. Tony's going to have a meet the candidate party Sunday September 12 from 3-5p.m. in the new Beach Flats Community Center at 200 Raymond Street, the public is invited. Call 295-2518 for information or email Tony at electmadrigal@hotmail.com.
HAPPY DAYS, LIVE ON STAGE. The Autumn Stage Production of Samuel Beckett's Happy Days is a rare event. Beckett's plays like Waiting For Godot, Krapps' Last Tape and Endgame take great skill and a special demanding to do well, so they aren't done too often. Autumn Stage's Happy Days starring Suzanne Schrag currently at Actors' Theatre is excellently done. Schrag as Winnie is a bit timid and remorseful but she carries this off beautifully. Go see it quickly IF you like challenging theatre. It's playing there weekends through September 11. Santa Cruz needs more theatre like this, and more theatre companies like Autumn Stage to present them. Call 469-7977 for tickets.
HERO. None of the writings on this film mentions this, but even the sound track to this magnum opus is beautiful. The music is by composer Tan Dun and the violin is by Itzhak Perlman. The film is just as gorgeous. If you liked the fantasy martial arts in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon you'll be knocked out by Hero. Jet Li is excellent in the plot, which is about assassinating the king that will absorb you too. I haven't been as awe- struck by the spectacle quality of a film since seeing Quo Vadis or Ben Hur back in the 50's. Try to see the film early in the day before the noisy Neanderthal thugs drag their knuckles into the theatre. They're a very rude bunch, and you have them at your local theatre too I'm sure.
OPEN WATER, THE BACK STORY. Last week just for fun I tried spoiling this film. This faux documentary film implies one ending which I revealed, but the real story is even stranger. It happened off Australia's Great Barrier Reef not in the Caribbean as in the film. Seems that the couple whose names are/were Thomas and Eileen Lonergan may have either decided to commit suicide (they left diaries that hinted at that) or they may have decided to just disappear. It happened that another scuba diving boat, full of Italians picked up two extra divers who spoke only English. The Outer Edge Diving Company and others searched for a week. Lonergan's parents took the Diving Company to court and the company was acquitted. It also turned out that the couple asked to dive alone and not with the 26 other divers on the voyage. But see the film anyways; it's thrilling, even though it's only about 2% true.
MEAN CREEK. This is one of a very few films in cinema history that treats teenagers as the human beings that they are. The story involves a school bully and how the people that go to school with him handle his bullying. No I won't spoil this one. The star is Rory Culkin one of the seven Culkin kids, another of whom is Macaulay of Home Alone fame. Mean Creek is dramatic, human, ultimately depressing, but well worth your time and money to see.
WE DON'T LIVE HERE ANYMORE. This is Laura Dern's best role in years. Naomi Watts is great, Mark Ruffalo and Peter Krause do excellent jobs-this is one hell of a film. I look at this film almost like a Greek Tragedy. It's about two couples who are all friends and how they have affairs. It's about love, commitment, and heavy stuff like that. Sort of a continuation of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Don't miss this very revealing, gutsy film.
QUINTESSENTIAL QUOTES. "While we are postponing, life speeds by." -Seneca "I have often regretted my speech, never my silence" -Xenocrates "Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens" -Jimi Hendrix
Bruce critiques films every Friday on KZSC-FM (88.1) on The Bushwhacker Breakfast Club at 8am.
It's free! Click here.
 |
© 2003-2010 Bruce Bratton • info@brattononline.com • HOME |  |