I'm Only Doing This Blog Because of an Amazing Coincidence

Didn't plan on doing a blog. But, the new phonebooks arrived today. I still wasn't going to do a blog. Doesn't matter how excited I get, I've got a schedule! But then this movie comes on late tonight, the same movie I think of every time the new phonebook arrives. It's called The Jerk. Coincidence? I think not.

It's the story of Navin R. Johnson. Born in Mississippi! :) It stars Steve Martin as Bernadette Peters, or something like that. :) Not really. Anyhow, Navin learns as a young man that he's not the offspring of the parents who raised him, which explains the... skin color difference. He leaves home, makes his way from gas station to midway to unintended riches. At one point, the new phonebook arrives. He gets so excited by seeing his name in the phonebook, he almost wees in his pants! My name's not in this year's phonebook, so not to worry.

But as the story goes, Nathan eventually reaches his demise. "This is all I need! This lamp, ashtray, this magazine, the remote control, and this lamp, that's all I need! Except this!... what are you looking at? You think I'm some kind of a jerk or something?"

It's not a perfect movie, but it's pretty damn good. It was directed by Carl Reiner, but seems to have blatant Mel Brooks influences. If you want some good chuckles and Ultimate One-Liners, catch it!

On A More Serious Note...

There's this movie I'd like everyone to see. It came out around 2003, it's called "Off The Map."

This movie is a painting. It stars Joan Allen and Sam Elliot, as a couple raising their family off the grid in Northern New Mexico. It's the early 1970's, and they have an eleven year old daughter. Valentina de Angelis plays the daughter. The story is narrarated by Amy Brennemen, who is the daughter grown up and tells the story as a memory.

Allen is exceptional as a mother holding a family together. Elliot gives a portrait of clinical depression. Like you've never seen him. I'm not going into plot details. It would be like describing a painting. And I'm lazy. But it holds a special place for me because I've lived out in that country before. Could go back there. All the same, it's a great movie. Off The Map. Check it out! But be patient with it... take it from a jerk!

:)

TG