15 Feet

21st Century Heartache

2008-04-16T20:00:00.004-04:00

This post was originally created as a snarky dig at ABC for ABC. However when I pushed "comment" they asked me to "sign in" and I figured that if that was the case I might as well post it here where I can more easily pat myself on the back regarding how bitter I sound, as opposed to having to scour the thousands of "comments" on ABC's website only to read someone misspell, "right on" after my

Hirshhorn Diaries--12

2008-04-01T10:43:00.004-04:00

"Woman", Willem de Kooning, 1965The example above was one of a series on display at the museum. Ah, de Kooning. A sometimes disgusting talent. Visceral paintings of female viscera. His women, rendered pink and red split; flayed open as if on some sadist's dissection table. Lips partially removed. Cheeks peeled. Tears in the sex. Glorious misogyny, rendered with the disturbing accuracy of

Endgame (?)

2008-03-13T14:05:00.012-04:00

Once upon a time (five weeks ago), in a land far, far, away (California), a prince and a princess met with their subjects and shared with them their optimistic (and slightly differing) vision for the future. It was a hopeful vision for a land that had, for the last 8 years, been withering in “The Darkside”. It was a wonderfully civil discussion. The mood was cordial, and the prince and princess

Best of: Movies

2008-02-14T12:45:00.010-05:00

If there is blame to be had by posting a "best of movies '07", in Febuary '08, let that blame fall on Charlottesville, a small hamlet in central Virginia, not known for its vast selection of art-house movies. That, and a real job that pays:1. There Will Be Blood: I’ve already written about why this is the best movie of the year (here), but I would like to take this moment to mention

Hirshhorn Diaries--11

2008-02-10T13:30:00.000-05:00

"Reclining Figure: Internal and External Forms (Working Model)", Henry Moore, 1952There is nothing easy about Henry Moore. Anyone interested in complicated expressions of form would be wise to focus on Moore's work and not on the Colorformistas the Hirshhorn was celebrating this go around. Moore is a tactile genius, able to elicit a strong and irrepressible desire to touch and examine--to

Super Tuesday!

2008-02-05T12:56:00.000-05:00

As an independent voter and a person who has long distasted group-think, I have to admit that, watching the Democratic debate the other night, and listening to the crowd react to Hillary’s “It took a Clinton to clean-up after the first Bush…” line, I was stunned. As someone who voted for Bush in 2000 (and has had to live with it for 8 years), I found the fact that Clinton could be so glib

Hirshhorn Diaries--10

2008-02-03T12:54:00.000-05:00

"Woman (Personage)", Joan Miro, 1947One of the more hilarious sculptures in the museum. Some kind of sex-penguin with a lady-bug vagina and a crunk booty. Has objectification ever been so cute?

There Will Be Blood: Thoughts

2008-02-01T13:15:00.000-05:00

If The Godfather made epic the underbelly of the American Dream, and Citizen Kane made dark the ego and entitlement of privilege, There Will Be Blood has, at last, provided an irrefutable account of the scorched earth between, shinning a head-lamp-light on the corruptible relationships at the heart of the rest of us. As far as protagonists go, Michael Corleone, having risen to the top of his

Hirshhorn Diaries--9

2008-01-27T13:33:00.000-05:00

"Soft Night", by Arshile Gorky, 1947A painter who is undeniably talented and important, but one whom I find, more often than not, I'd rather read about than spend hours contemplating. With the exception (of course) being this piece: a disquieting gray exercise with essential splashes of color that hint at an underlying wish reacting against an imposed paralysis.

Hirshhorn Diaries--8

2008-01-22T10:54:00.000-05:00

"Video Flag", by Nam June Paik,, 1985-96 (watch a grainy video of it here)I could stare at Paik's video-drone art for hours, relishing the retinal punishment and mulching of my cerebrum. Like some benign Cronenberg-hell, Paik's work invites (and traps) observation: An electric pop-hole, sucking in anyone who looks.

Hirshhorn Diaries--7

2008-01-21T10:51:00.000-05:00

"Sky Light", by Alma Thomas, 1973.Sadly, I could not find an image of this. Painted a few years before she died, "Sky Light" is one of those paintings that has the unique ability to induce a sense of vertigo when looked at for prolonged periods of time.

Best of: TV

2008-01-17T14:58:00.000-05:00

Since I don’t have cable, the following is a list of the best TV shows I watched (on DVD) all year (Netflix is awesome): 1. The Wire (Season 3&4): While not being as literary as The Sopranos, or as beautiful as Deadwood, The Wire is, without a doubt, THE MOST IMPORTANT SHOW IN THE HISTORY OF TELEVISION. Much like Paul Thomas Anderson did this year with There Will

Hirshhorn Diaries--6

2008-01-13T12:14:00.000-05:00

"Head of Woman", by Pablo Picasso, 1909Let us pause a moment to, once again, observe Picasso's "Head of Woman". A sculpture that--paired with Rodin's "Balzac"--will remain, for museums around the world, the equivelent of Skittles and Snickers at a gas station.

Best of: Reads

2008-01-03T13:02:00.000-05:00

What follows are the best books/articles/reviews I’ve read all year: 1. Under the Banner of Heaven by John Krakauer: One of the more mind-boggling and terrifying books I read all year. A must read for anyone obsessed with the blotchy path of religious/political history between the crucifixion, Constantine’s dream, and ascension of Charlemagne. If at any time you’ve wondered how a

Hirshhorn Diaries--5

2008-01-01T15:18:00.000-05:00

"Torso of a Young Man" by Constantin Brancusi, 1924If by "young man" you mean large, smooth, thick, bronze penis--then, yes...

Best of: Music

2007-12-10T14:22:00.001-05:00

The top five albums I bought in 2007:1. Boxer by The National: A late edition to my music collection, but something that has dominated my headphones more than any other record all year. The first two-thirds are as perfect as anything I’ve heard in a long time. And while the last quarter of the album begins to fray around the edges, it still recalls Nick Cave-esque musings

The Hirshhorn Diaries--4

2007-12-09T12:45:00.000-05:00

"Sick Boy" by Medardo Rosso 1922The lost art of figure sculpture. Some starved child finally warm in death and the ill omen of a century of war.

The Hirshhorn Diaries -- 3

2007-12-08T11:00:00.000-05:00

"Crouching Woman" by Auguste Rodin, 1881I am always stunned when reminded the year Rodin died: 1917 (77 years old). His method of expression, as well as the importance of proportionality in his work (even given its slight exaggerations), always has me thinking he were the grandchild of Michaelangelo, and not an artist born more than 300 years later. The fact that there are actual photographs of

Tennessee: 14, LSU: 21

2007-12-02T22:50:00.000-05:00

I remember saying to people, "I'd rather get blown out than have a chance to win it and lose". Well, I lied. I'd rather win. You would have thought holding LSU to one (that's right) offensive touchdown would have lead to a victory. Well, it didn't. And since it didn't, I feel nothing but resentment and anger at the two people responsible. Eric Ainge, for playing like a douche. And God, for

Tennesse: 34, Arkansas: 13

2007-11-11T14:11:00.000-05:00

As far as I'm concerned, a miracle. I'd like to take this oppourtunity to thank two people instrumental in this victory. First off: A shout-out to Arkansas coach Houston Nutt, who seemed unwilling to give the ball to Darren McFadden, despite his 22 carries for 126 yards and a porous Tennessee defense, resulting in, for the first time all year, the press not immediately anointing someone who has

The Hirshhorn Diaries: October 25, 2007-3

2007-11-08T11:30:00.000-05:00

"Mountains and Sea" Helen Frankenthaler, 1952The halos (resulting from the oil stains), as well as the largely abstract landscape, make it an ideal painting for some UCLA earth sorority (a compliment).

Best Band Name Ever!

2007-11-07T18:17:00.000-05:00

StigmatalingisProps to my boy Landry. Those of you who have watched Friday Night Lights (the show) know exactly how hilarious this is.

The Hirshhorn Diaries: October 25, 2007-2

2007-11-06T11:34:00.000-05:00

"Round Rainbow" Olafur Eliasson, 2005Click here to see a grainy video of Eliasson's sculpture.Like some Lynchian experiment, only through light. Simple and compellingly intricate: a crystal(?) ring spins in front of a framed spotlight, slowly bending unified streaks of refracted light and rainbow eclipses that never break or blink. Pink Floyd's Dark Side of the Moon album cover if it could dance.

The Hirshhorn Diaries: October 25, 2007-1

2007-11-04T14:17:00.000-05:00

"Untitled" by Robert Irwin, 1960'sAn acrylic disc, painted an opaque white, cast in surrounding overlapping shadows by two spotlights that negate the circle at the center--an effect that can only truly be appreciated in person, resulting in a negated 3-dimensional clover. Irwin's use of light and shape to influence color results in a powerful effect: a disappearing silver bar that bisects the

Tennessee: 48, Arkansas State: 27

2007-09-23T13:39:00.000-04:00

What do you want me to say, it was Arkansas State. Our offense looked great. Kudos to Ainge for, again, being the (literally) brightest player on a wildly erratic team. Most Valuable Player B would have to be Lucas Taylor, who, for the first time, looked like a real receiver, displaying, on two occasions, some serious sticky-fingers and an unrelenting desire to get the ball into the endzone,

The Historical Conquests of Josh Ritter: Thoughts

2007-09-18T13:12:00.001-04:00

Socially conscious white-boys with a guitar and a pad of paper are a dime a dozen nowadays. Luckily Bob Dylan came along and saved white America from Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons, reminding us that, while we might not have created rock and roll, we did invent modern poetry. Idaho born Josh Ritter seems to be part of the same Mid-Western Review that includes such artists as

Tennessee: 20, Florida: 59 (Ouch...)

2007-09-16T13:55:00.000-04:00

Awful. Just plain misery. Take everything I said about the Cal game (here), subtract any optimism I may have had, and add: At least Eric Berry had a good game (well…with exception of that touchdown that was thrown just over his extended hand); and: Austin Rogers, instead of looking like Steve Largent, with his alligator arms and blatant chest-deflections at critical points during the game,

Sky Blue Sky: Thoughts

2007-09-11T12:13:00.000-04:00

In case you haven’t heard, allow me to be the millionth person to say (before discussing Wilco’s most recent album) that Jeff Tweedy, the long time maestro/face/ voice of the band has… given up prescription pain killers. I mention this simply because most people who decide to talk about Wilco’s newest (and mellowest) album, Sky Blue Sky, feel it relevant. Listening to the album, I couldn’t help

Tennessee: 39, Southern Miss: 19

2007-09-09T13:26:00.000-04:00

A rejuvenating performance by the Vols. Hopefully it was enough to fend off Appalachian State (thank you Ducks!) and keep us in the top 25. Erik Ainge looked like a mini-Manning (only much taller), distributing the ball across and (finally) down the field with fantastic accuracy and making sophomore Austin Rogers look like Steve Largent resurrected. Ainge’s stats would have been better if his

Datarock: Thougths

2007-09-06T11:54:00.000-04:00

Who would have thought—despite debuting almost twenty years ago on the tail of punk music—that new wave would have outlasted grunge? Starting as far back 1978, with the evolution of Blondie and Elvis Costello and the debut of bands like Talking Heads and Joy Division, we’re still reaping the benefits; while grunge, although having birthed two of the most significant bands of the last twenty-five

Partyisms

2007-09-04T10:48:00.000-04:00

Get ready for music. Oh, and an interlude concerning Tony Snow:"Elvis Presley ain't got no soul.Jimi Hendrix is rock and roll.You may dig on the Rolling Stones,but everything they did they stole.Elvin Presley ain't got no soul.Bo Diddley is rock and roll. You may dig on the Rolling Stones,but they ain't come up with that shit on they own.Who am I... Who am I..."-Mos Def

Tennessee: 31, Cal: 45

2007-09-02T15:32:00.000-04:00

We lost. We could have won. But it could have been worse. Erik Ainge looked extremely competent, if not a little gimpy when throwing over fifteen yards. Arian Foster, at times, looked big and fast like the Lawrence Phillips of old Nebraska, but he seemed to run out of steam too quickly and too often, on two separate occasions when it seemed like he could have scored—something Cal never looked

Superbad: Thoughts

2007-08-30T14:00:00.000-04:00

I dedicate this post to The Dropcloth and her dearly departed Augustus: It is good advice, if one wishes to maintain their credibility, to avoid the dreaded “overstatement”, less one be thought simple, or worse, gullible. It is with such thoughts in mind that I can say, without equivocation, that Michael Cera is…the funniest man alive! Being aware that Cera is only 19 and hardly “

Partyisms

2007-08-28T12:23:00.001-04:00

"Act your age, not the size of those pants." -Full Force

Stardust: Thoughts

2007-08-19T19:06:00.000-04:00

Matthew Vaughn’s long gestating fantasy epic, Stardust, would love to be elevated to the venerable heights of that other classic fantasy film full of expertly timed cameos—The Princess Bride (itself recently turned 20, huzzah!); and try as Stardust does to attain such sweet heights, it falls short…but just barely. Sadly, the energy propelling Stardust is far too reliant on the well timed

The Simpsons Movie: Thoughts

2007-08-18T13:13:00.000-04:00

Fans of Fox’s The Simpsons will find much to like in The Simpsons Movie. Everyone—and I do mean everyone—is here, and how good a movie it is will largely depend on your relationship with the source material. I myself greatly enjoyed seeing my favorite animated show make the belated leap to celluloid following numerous other inferior cartoon staples (South Park, Bevis and Butt-Head… Jimmy

Harry Potter and The Order of the Phoenix: Thoughts

2007-08-14T13:08:00.000-04:00

Here is a list of the Harry Potter films from best to worst: 1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban 2. Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire 3. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix 4. Harry Potter and the

Ratatouille: Thoughts

2007-08-13T14:07:00.000-04:00

At some point the etymological root of the word “consume” (to eat/drink) evolved to include the desire accumulate (absorb) items; as if the catalyst to horde relics of our monetary means had somehow become a carnivorous task, an impulse as base and as intrinsic as our desire for sustenance, and a word, sprouting offspring with additional appendages, became “consumerism”. It is within

The Bourne Ultimatum: Thoughts

2007-08-10T13:01:00.000-04:00

A bizarrely specific box office “report” recently asserted that—pound for pound—Matt Damon was the most profitable actor in Hollywood, a fact that, until The Bourne Ultimatum, I had refused to accept. Damon and his elfish good looks seemed too ordinary for such a title. Whereas Tom Hanks owns his askance geekness, and Tom Cruise his unbalanced and crooked face, or even the way Brad Pitt

Sunshine: Thoughts

2007-07-30T12:57:00.000-04:00

There was a time when all men knew of God was The Sun. Bathed in God-light, mankind was warmed and invigorated, and, inspired with its restless energy, they traveled across the earth as God watched, sleeping as It slept. Man was a loyal disciple of the Sun until discovering fire, and, with the harnessed the power of light and heat, were free to more without God’s blessing and warm their

Transformers: Thoughts

2007-07-28T13:18:00.000-04:00

Say what you want about Michael Bay, but (by God!) don’t call him cheap. There is no denying that the man knows how to spend $100+ million dollars, and this time (in a film produced by Steven Spielberg) it’s Hasbro’s money that gets tossed into the blockbuster machine. What emerges from this meeting of the focus groups is probably one of the loudest, most colorful and clueless, movies of the

Upcoming

2007-07-20T12:25:00.000-04:00

15 Feet will be taking a much needed break from politics in the upcoming weeks, starting with movies, movies, movies, with thoughts on Transformers, Ratatouille, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, Sicko, and, possibly, Sunshine. Followed by: music, music, music, and thoughts on Datarock, Wilco, Ryan Adams, The White Stripes, and Nick Cave. Plus an announcement regarding the first 15

Wrangling the Angler: Part Four

2007-07-19T13:44:00.000-04:00

Today concludes the four part examination of the various quandaries raised by the Washington Post (here) regarding Vice President Cheney’s involvement executive branch decision making; Regarding Cheney’s role in challenging the science protecting a group of endangered fish in the interest of farmers hit hard by drought in a swing- state that resulted in the death of over ten

Wrangling the Angler: Part Three

2007-07-12T15:08:00.000-04:00

Today, part three of a series of posts pondering the recent philosophical, historical, and moral quandaries raised by the reportage of The Washington Post regarding the Vice President and his influence on the executive branch. Part One can be found here. Part Two can be found here. Today’s discussion relies largely on the VP’s role in shaping the economy: Regarding Cheney’s Feb. 6 2003

Wrangling the Angler: Part Two

2007-07-10T15:45:00.001-04:00

Today: Part two of my thoughts regarding the legacy of Vice Presidential power and Dick Cheney, focusing on the VP’s efforts to expand Presidential authority in dealing with “enemy combatants”: Regarding John C. Yoo’s assertion that the “CIA guys” were going to have real difficulties getting “actionable intelligence” from detainees: Welcome to war, Mr. Yoo. I’m sure if you

Wrangling the Angler: Part One

2007-07-09T15:38:00.000-04:00

A few weeks ago, I asked readers to check out the Washington Post’s series of reports on Vice President dick Cheney (“The Angler”) and his impact on the executive branch (here). Today begins a four part series of ruminations inspired by Barton Gellman and Jo Becker’s stellar reporting. There is no new information here outside of what The Post offers, and yet, many philosophical questions

The Road: Toughts

2007-07-06T13:20:00.001-04:00

“He said the right dreams for a man in peril were dreams of peril and all else was the call of languor and death.”- Cormac McCarthy, The Road. If it has been said, then so must the narrator of Cormac McCarthy’s The Road dream the most perilous dreams: a dark cave inhabited by a “translucent” beast with eyes “white and sightless like the eggs of spiders”, or the way the blistered feet of Gods

It's a boy!

2007-07-04T10:50:00.000-04:00

At this moment, I have, in my hands, a copy of Junot Diaz's long anticipated first novel, The Brief Wondrous Life of Oscar Wao. The means by which I came across a copy are top secret (unless you know me personally, then you could probably figure it out). Many of you thought this day would never come (okay, maybe it was just me). The drop date is Sept 07, but I've moved it to the top of my read

Bullets

2007-07-03T12:12:00.000-04:00

Everyone’s favorite temperamental sheriff (and current cinema cyber-genius), Timothy Olyphant, is, apparently, also a top notch sports reporter. Okay, maybe “top notch” is a bit of a stretch. Still, his daily sports broadcasts for Indie 103.1 FM are hilarious, as well as the perfect reminder that Olyphant is exactly as cool as he seems in the pictures. Click on this

Live Free or Die Hard: Thoughts

2007-07-02T12:04:00.000-04:00

To say Bruce Willis is an analog hero in the digital age, is to say we live in an age when terrorists (as well as rouge government agents) are more likely to be foiled by striking at their hard drives as opposed to their faces. If this is indeed the age we live in, then let me be the first to say it... This age blows. It’s been a while, but thankfully John McClane (not to be confused with John

Is This the End: The N.E. Epilogue

2007-06-29T11:39:00.000-04:00

So that we can finally move on as a society, here it is: The most complete New Edition playlist out there, arraigned in the best order possible. 1.2 hours of classic (R&B) boy-band goodness, as well as further proof that Ralph Tresvant is one of the all-time R&B front-men. The below songs are culled from one greatest hits record and two reunion albums, meaning you could save a lot of cash if you

Required Reading

2007-06-28T11:09:00.001-04:00

It was my intent to write my thoughts regarding the new Die Hard movie (I’ll get to it next week), but recent events have left me quite shaken. Announcements yesterday of a congressional investigation into the office of the vice-president was welcome news, and, while reading Permanent Damage by Steven Grant, I clicked a link he provided a found myself reading series of reports that the Washington

Coverage

2007-06-27T12:53:00.000-04:00

The first book jacket I remember that inspired me to buy a book outright was Underworld by Don Dellilo (as a hard cover!). At the time, I had no idea who Delillo was, and, sadly, to this day, still haven’t read it (outside of an excerpt in an anthology), even though I have managed to read other books by him (hey, it’s really long!). Below I’ve listed the best cover induced buys, along with

A Contest! A Plug!

2007-06-26T12:12:00.000-04:00

Two things today:1. CONTEST: Here it is! The first ever 15 Feet contest! Click here for a link to what has to be the most B-Spectacular preview ever, starring Sylvester Stallone in, you guessed it(!), John Rambo, in, wait for it… John Rambo! I don’t know what’s more awesome: the fact that most of the movie looks as if it were filmed in the backyard

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer: Thoughts

2007-06-25T12:18:00.000-04:00

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before: A large, all-powerful, entity decides to destroy the earth but is stopped by its son, who, after walking briefly among the humans on earth, rebels and sacrifices himself so that mankind can live on. If you skipped the post title and guessed this was the plot to Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, you get a gold star (acceptable answers could have

A Prelude: Humor and Rock and Roll. (Nick Cave)

2007-06-21T12:01:00.000-04:00

Before we can get to “The Mercy Seat”, some things have to be said:It was with four albums under his belt that Nick Cave (along with loads of help from The Bad Seeds), recorded what would be a breakthrough album for him, 1988’s Tender Prey. On four previous Bad Seed records, as well as on numerous goth-punk Birthday Party (band) records and EP’s, Nick Cave struggled to find his funny bone. But,

In praise of things Scarlett! (Sarcastic)

2007-06-20T12:33:00.000-04:00

Thank the Gods! Just in case you’ve been missing Scarlett Johansson and wondering what happened to her after Justin Timberlake ran her off the road for cheating on him (did anybody other than me find it peculiar that Justin went from “crying a river” , to driving a cheating girlfriend off the road in a fiery explosion? When, exactly, does that switch happen? How many relationships can your

The Best of N.E.

2007-06-19T15:15:00.000-04:00

Before getting into Nick Cave, I realized I should probably close the door on New Edition. So, here they are: the five best albums by former members of New Edition. I’ve also taken the liberty of compiling 2 playlists (one dance, one sexy-time), and in an effort to build a friendly blog community, I will happily burn copies for interested readers, providing I am

Homework

2007-06-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

Spreading a little internet love today. Two things: Steven Grant wrote one of my favorite comic book mini-series of the eighties, the five-part Punisher: Circle of Blood, which featured, as I’m sure he knows better than anyone, the iconic cover artistry of Mike Zeck (why Zeck isn’t getting more cover-work, I don’t know). He also wrote the first

Ocean's 13: Toughts

2007-06-14T13:27:00.000-04:00

Warning: The following piece contains an unusual amount of bracketed thoughts (but, then again, so does the movie). Huzzah, George Clooney and Brad Pitt are backs as… George Clooney and Brad Pitt (because, seriously, character names? come on) in Steven Soderbergh’s Ocean’s 13! Thank God. If there is one thing these three have been able to do with mixed results in the Ocean series, it's coaxing

Grinderman: Thoughts

2007-06-13T12:29:00.000-04:00

My face is finished, my body's gone.And I can't help but think standin' up here, in all this applause and gazin' down, at all the young and the beautiful,with their questioning eyes:That I must above all things love myself.That I must above all things love myself.That I must above all things love myself. No, that isn’t Christina Aguilera singing words of self-affirmation, but Australian

Finale!

2007-06-12T13:01:00.000-04:00

It’s amazing the way people behave when they don’t get what they want. Is it any wonder video stores organize their shelves by categorical grouping in order to help us make up our minds, while any movie that offers a complicated experience and happens to be in a different language gets dumped into foreign? It’s a sad fact that no American film studio could have made Hot Fuzz, or Shaun of the Dead

Knocked Up: Thoughts

2007-06-06T14:37:00.000-04:00

Much has been overstated about the hilarity of Judd Apatow’s new comedy Knocked Up, a movie about slacker-Jew Ben Stone’s (Seth Rogen) lucky (and fertile) encounter with a woman, Alison Scott (Katherine Heigl), who is well out of his league. This isn’t to say that there isn’t any funny in this movie, there is (with lines like: “You look like Robin Williams’ knuckles”, and a solid performance by

Upcoming

2007-06-05T12:19:00.000-04:00

Ugh, complications have lead to a dearth of posts. Hopefully things will be back on track tomorrow. Still here is a list (not necessarily in order) of what is coming up:Thoughts on Knocked UpThoughts on The RoadThoughts on HostelI am a RepublicanI am a DemocratAn introduction to MelvilleAnd the first ever 15 Feet contest!! No purchase necessary!

Pirates of the Caribbean: At World's End: Thoughts

2007-06-01T14:11:00.000-04:00

Stuff to do today, so I'm neglecting the usual links:The first Pirates film benefited from low (almost non-existent) expectations. Disney, clearly with one eye on the film and the other on their feud with Michael Eisner, was distracted just enough to allow Jerry Bruckheimer to hire that guy who made The Ring (Gore Verbinski) and allow him to cast Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow (as opposed to

The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil: Thoughts

2007-05-29T18:53:00.000-04:00

When I read George Saunders' novella, The Brief and Frightening Reign of Phil, it was around the time former Serbian leader, Slobodan Milosevic, was being laid to rest in his home town of Pozarevac, Serbia. Much of my thoughts centered around the relationship between real world atrocities and how writers address such issues in fiction, something any writer who is politically minded in the

The Best and Brightest

2007-05-28T18:24:00.001-04:00

Two inspiring quotes from over the weekend: “Williams showed his entire package tonight against the Spurs.”—Mark Jackson, ESPN commentator; in reference to the outstanding play of Utah point-guard Deron Williams (and former Illinois stand-out) during Game 3 of the Western Conference Finals. To think, in Utah--of all places! This probably goes a long way towards

Shrek 3: Thoughts

2007-05-26T13:13:00.000-04:00

I was never a big fan of the first Shrek film and its tired message of acceptance, which too often felt like an extended Mike Myers sketch culled from the cutting floor of So I Married an Axe Murderer (a great movie) and the Austin Powers flicks, with its un-Pixar-like animation, and woefully out-of date Matrix jokes (once Scary Movie went there was it really necessary to continue?); and if there

Bad Editions

2007-05-24T14:19:00.000-04:00

First things first: Ralph Tresvant is one of the most underappreciated front-men in all of R&B. Allow me to explain. When Bobby Brown came out with Don’t Be Cruel (one of the best R&B albums of all time) in 1988 after splitting from New Edition, we felt his pain. How was this crooked-teethed grinding dancing explosion not the lead singer? The answer was simple: harmonics. What many of us

28 Weeks Later: Thoughts

2007-05-23T16:16:00.000-04:00

America is a nation prone to oversimplification and overreaction, often to the detriment of the international community who have no other choice but to stomp to the beat of the big bad bully as it imposes its will, and who can, when unappreciated, lash out in frustration. I know all of this because I’ve seen 28 Weeks Later, the uneven sequel to 28 Days Later, a film that followed the beautifully

Wolfowitz gossip!

2007-05-22T11:52:00.000-04:00

The governments of Europe must have taken a deep sigh of relief this past weekend upon finally receiving the resignation of Paul Wolfowitz from the World Bank. Apparently Wolfowitz tendered his resignation on the condition that the Bank would “acknowledge” that any mistakes made had been made under “good faith”. It’s clear that the Bank didn’t have to do this, that they could have continued

Bad Tenet-s

2007-05-21T12:17:00.000-04:00

In the May 21st issue of The New Yorker, Jeffery Goldberg examines the fallout of George Tenet’s new memoir, At the Center of the Storm: My Years in the CIA, in which Tenet attempts to set the record straight on a number of things, most notably his role in manipulating intelligence in the lead up to the war in Iraq. It would be nice if Tenet acquitted himself admirably, articulation a sign of

No Country for Old Men: Thoughts

2007-05-18T12:10:00.000-04:00

It’s a busy weekend this week, meaning I won't be able to post for the next few days. I’m posting an old review I wrote about Cormac McCarthy’s No Country for Old Men that was originally published in the Virginia Quarterly Review (also in that issue: three awesome stories, and an amazing essay on Vincent Desiderio's painting, Sleep--no link, you'll just have to order the issue) It’s a bit old,

Spider-Man 3: Thoughts

2007-05-17T11:44:00.000-04:00

Here’s a drinking game. Slide Spider-Man (the original) into the DVD player and take a drink every time Toby Maguire blinks. Seriously, try it and then get back to me… You should be hammered around…oh, the third viewing or so. A lot has been made about Maguire’s hair in the most recent Spider-Man (3) film, but if anyone wanted to see real acting, they’d focus less on the hair (after all,

Take that Rolling Stone!!

2007-05-16T11:57:00.000-04:00

Rolling Stone Magazine has released the top 15 "worst albums by great bands" list. On it is pretty much the cover catalog of the magazine's last twenty years of favorite white boys. Sure the article title reads "bands", but it pretty much goes without saying that if you aren't white or 50 Cent (has he made a truly good album?), you ain't making the cover. Of course it's not

In Persuasion Nation: Thoughts

2007-05-15T20:44:00.000-04:00

Still recovering from thoughts on Wolf Creek, so I'm posting an old review I wrote about George Saunders' (not really) new collection, In Persuasion Nation. It may be a few days before I can get to Hostel, but I'll get there eventually:Even though George Saunders’ most recent book of short stories, In Persuasion Nation, is his most uneven collection to date, it is one of the most essential

Nailed

2007-05-15T12:09:00.000-04:00

In the May 18th issue of Entertainment Weekly (can't find the link), Scott Brown, in his weekly Hit List column, writes: #3: Kid Rock reportedly gives parenting advice to K-Fed, "Don't feed them after midnight...hold up--that's Gremlins."Of course it is, K-Rock. Of course it is. Ah, poor rap-rock... Someone should start a fund for those

Wolf Creek: Thoughts

2007-05-14T22:06:00.000-04:00

Bear in mind, much of what follows is based on a single viewing of a film seen almost two years ago. This isn’t to forgive my own subsequent inaccuracies as much as to stress the profound disturbances elicited by this movie that I still hold dear. Perhaps we’ll just start at the beginning. My memory is a little fuzzy, but I’m almost positive I remember an acknowledgment in the opening credits

Origin

2007-05-13T20:58:00.000-04:00

Please allow me this one “dear diary” moment. This whole thing started because I have a hard time sleeping. Mainly because I find it necessary to think through things when I should be writing them down. I've never been one for journals. As a writer this is a bad habit. I can’t count the number of stories/essays I formulated in my mind while my body would be better served in deep REM. It

The Mission Statement

2007-05-13T19:55:00.001-04:00

My name is Sean McConnell and I am a writer you’ve never heard of. The purpose of 15 Feet is to provide thoughts and ruminations on a variety of topics: movies, music, books, art, news, etc. It is my goal to avoid (as much as is possible) the tendency to make this some kind of personal diary (shudder), although I admit that it will be very difficult to remove myself (i.e. personal experiences)