I know it's not just me asking this question, but how did we get to a place where Arnold fuckin Swarzenegger or however you spell that last name is going to be governor of California? How?
Is't it so bloody obvious that, despite his political orientation, he has no policies at all. Everything he's ever said so far in the campaign boils downn to this formula -
X is a problem. Davis got is to this point where X is a problem. I am a leader. I will help us solve X. Where he should continue with - here is my plan for dealing with X, we hear nothing. NOTHING.
You know I wish all it took to run the state was to point out the problems, but unfortunately you actually have to DO SOMETHING about them. Arnold has shown how stupid he really is. Sure he's got ambition, confidence, and a deliberative craftiness, but the guy isn't even smart enough to be called shrewd.
And now, there's this story in the LA times that he's essentially randomly groped women whenever he got the opportunity and his response is that he was on "rowdy" film sets and he didn't realize his "playful" actions would offend someone. ( link) I didn't realize groping someone's body for sexual gratification against someone else's wishes was just being playful. I also didn't realize harrasment was only harrasment if you offended someone.
God that really pisses me off. Not only is he a dunce, but he's stifler. He's a fuckin' jock at a highschool party. Man somepeople are going to be in for a rude awakening when they get a governmor who's so fuckin' incompetent.
And Arnold, once he destroys CA is going to realize that his political career when no where and he's only made a fool of himself. As Clint Eastwood said to Arnold - "Careful what you wish for, you might get it".
So, I didn't know what to expect with this one. The NYTimes review was very positive, but the SF Bay Guardian review (i usually agree with Guardian reviews) panned the film. I found it a really great film though.
Sure, it was a little indulgent and bubble gumish, but i think it was honest and got at something interesting. The guardian wrote something to the effect of - " Copolla suffers the same delusion as some rock stars thinking that their private day dreams are interesting to everyone when they should be kept to themselves". Ouch. I think that's a bit cynical.
The thing is the girl is sort of naive, though she is supposed to be a well educated new yorker and she is contrasted against the hollow plasticity of the LA chic, she seems and the story itself seems way so californian. New yorkers are either ruder or more anxious. She seemed to be quietly exploring the world around her.
The lack of direction she exhibits though i think can only be of someone who has grown up privileged, culturally, racially and economically. Its easy to wander about without ever feeling the need to at least have a temporary destination when you've grown up with everything. Not to reduce the script to Coppola herself too much, but the story does reveal a certain self indulgence and frivolity.
Despite that, the story is honest and it works. I don't think you can fault someone for writing something that is true to them, even if it at the same time the story is blinkered by a prileged viewpoint. IT's sort of like the wealthy writing stories about the depression of Phillips Exeter. Except this time, everything smells like california tall grass.
My point is i guess that the story is still interesting for people in general. I think everyone can understand longing for someone to connect to, even if not everyone ends up in beautiful, wealthy hotels lounging around without needing to work.
And besides all that crap, Bill Murray is just really fuckin good. He's got a tender wit that makes you want to hug him somtimes and other times just roll over laughing with him. He's really good at the fish out of water bit and the Japenese background gives him so much to work with. He just really get an oscar, though this film won't be the one. Too whimsical for the academy.
The sound track was great too. Phoenix and that guy from My Bloody Valentine do a great job of settiing mood.
Anyway, check this one out it's worth it.