Wanting to Live vs. Waiting to Die in ‘Button’

Youth is Wasted on the Young

With a runtime of 2 hours and 46 minutes you expect a lavishly epic film like this to be  fawned over during Hollywood award season-whether it’s good or not.  And with 13 Oscar, 5 Golden Globe, 3 SAG, and countless other film critics award nominations The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is no exception to the rule. 

Aside from it’s uncanny resemblance-in style, tone, and story-to another marathon movie, Forrest Gump, (Eric Roth wrote the screenplay for both films) what I dug most about Button was its unconventional perspective on aging and as unusual as it was, I don’t mean the aging backwards plot twist.  In fact, waiting for Button to get young and die is the least interesting part of the movie. 

In the title character’s New Orleans retirement home the aged residents each hold on to their independence and sense of self.  No, this is not your typical place where the decrepit play tiddlywinks and bide time until their death.  On the contrary we are introduced to the affluent lady who insists on wearing her fancy dresses to a meal on the patio, the woman who swims the English Channel in old age, an accomplished pianist who teaches Benjamin how to tickle the ivories, and the womanizer who continues to mack the younger ladies.  Play on, player.

Though Benjamin is born under the most unusual of circumstances his cohorts are indifferent to his condition as they each are in a moment in their lives where they are accepting life as it unfolds.  Death is an afterthought.  Rather then worrying about the whens and wheres of death’s reach these senniors are more focused on embracing what has been and what will be with no regrets.  What an extraordinary way to go.

D.C. or Bust

They Got This

 

So I’m taking a  mini sabbatical from blogging as I will be attending the 44th Presidential Inauguration this weekend.   What else can I say?  This is history and I want to be there to witness it with my own eyes.  I implore everyone to get active and commit to volunteering in a community service project this weekend as PRESIDENT Obama has tagged MLK day as a National Day of Service.  Yes we can and yes we did!  Let’s keep the revival going!  This is a victory for all of us.  To find volunteer opportunities in your area go to:

http://www.usaservice.org/page/event/search_simple

Happy History Making!

Chris Rock Knows ‘Good Hair’

Don't forget the "kitchen".

Black women know that the “kitchen” refers to that area at the nape of the neck that sweats the most and causes non-relaxed hair to kink up. 

We’ve all seen those elaborate do’s.  Whether pressed, gelled, weaved (sewn-in or glued), pony-tailed, or braided we can’t help but stare in astonishment at the sistah who has no shame in wearing the most flamboyant of hairstyles.  Bonus points to her if her hair, outfit, and accessories are color-coordinated.  You’ve never seen neon- colored braids to match ones shoes or nails?  Yes, these individuals do exist…and Chris Rock wants to have a talk with them.

Rock’s documentary Good Hair is set to premiere at the Sundance Film Festival this weekend.  An analysis of African American hair culture, in Hair Rock, with the help of celebrities like Ice-T, Nia Long, and Kerry Washington explore how hairstyling and maintenance affect the social, emotional, and psychological core of Black women.  As reported by Sundance:

”When Chris Rock’s daughter, Lola, came up to him crying and asked, ‘Daddy, how come I don’t have good hair?’ the bewildered comic committed himself to search the ends of the earth and the depths of black culture to find out who had put that question into his little girl’s head!”

In the Black community the term “good hair” is used to describe a texture that is neither kinky or coarse but rather wavy or straight.  During slavery slaves with good hair, likely mulatto (i.e. the “massah’s” offspring), were associated with being prettier, favorable, and often received better treatment than those who were not of mixed race.  They typically worked in or around the house rather than in the fields with the other slaves who tended to be darker in pigment.  These field worker women often wore scarves and handkerchiefs to manage their woolly manes.  The term is also attributed to African Americans with Native American or Hispanic ancestry. 

Throughout the years as Black women became a significant part of the workforce they relied on straightening combs, texturizers, and the use of other chemicals to give their hair a look that emmulated their white counterparts.  Given the disproportionate images of white women in television and film, Black women too altered their coifs to mirror those flips and bobs made popular by their favorite celebrities .  Even Oprah, in the beginning of her journalism career, donned a wig to cover her kinks when she reported the news. 

If Good Hair is as thought-provoking as Chris Rock is comedic concerning the idiosyncrasies of Black life, it promises to be a hit.  Hopefully its release will open doors in Black households for honest conversation about what it means to celebrate natural beauty (yes, nappy hair is “good” too) and love oneself for who they are and the texture of hair that they were born with.  Though women with relaxed hair are susceptible to problems such as hair loss, burns, and scalp damage individuals relax their hair for multiple reasons.  It is critical however to  examine whether these reasons are rooted in underlying self-hate, false expectations,  or misconceptions about what it means to care for natural hair.

Embracing ones hair type is an individual journey.  I rocked a perm for 17 years before discovering that my nappy hair looked just as full and lustrous when straightened with a flat iron than when relaxed. 

On a cynical note, I’m hoping that this film will educate uninformed hair care “professionals” of other races about what Black women can and can’t do with their hair.  Just yesterday at my visit to a beauty supply store an Asian clerk, a little too eager to describe which products would be appropriate for my texture, told me that locking gel wouldn’t be useful on my hair because it was “relaxed”.   Yes, I thought.  After 27 years, I know so little about my own hair that I need you to tell me that permed hair and locking gel don’t mix.  After explaining that my hair was flat ironed, he looked at me like I had three heads and responded “Really?  Wow” with a tone somewhere between disbelief and awe. 

This begs the question of why there are so few Black-owned beauty supply stores in Black neighborhoods. Let me rephrase, why are there so many Asian-owned beauty supply stores in Black neighborhoods?  I’m sure Chris Rock will tackle those issues with a dose of humor that only he can.

Props to Lieutenant Dan

 

I love when celebrities use their powers for good.  On Saturday, Fox News aired a one-hour special, “On the Road in Iraq with our Troops and Gary Sinise”, which documented the actor’s involvement with the USO and showcased his “Lt. Dan Band”, a group formed by Sinise and Chicago composer, Kimo Williams.  In 1994 Sinise was nominated for Best Supporting Actor for his role of  Vietnam war veteran Lieutenant  Dan  in the film Forrest Gump.  Since the film, the Lt. Dan character has become a popular culture phenomenon and embraced by the military community. 

In the documentary Sinise, an avid supporter of the troops since the events of 9/11, speaks passionately about what it means to relate Lt. Dan’s message of perseverance despite adversity.  A play on words to those who’ve seen the film, Sinise says that he wants to show the troops that Lt. Dan is  ”still standing” at the film’s end.  Check out the a highlight from the Fox special below:

 

done

Into the Wild: New Year, New Courage

Happy New Year, everyone!  As we take this time to reflect on the lessons of the past and resolve to make changes for the future I thought it would be appropriate to ring in the new year with a film that explores what it means to make sacrifices, take risks, and venture into unknown territory.  Don’t you just love this new era of hope and change?

Superbly written, acted, and directed Into the Wild chronicles the true life story of Christopher McCandless (Emile Hirsch), a jaded college graduate who literally burns away his existence (his social security card) and donates all of his life’s savings for the purpose of trekking to Alaska to find himself.  Adopting the moniker Alexander Supertramp and armed with few material possessions, McCandless’s  journey takes him through South Dakota, California, Nevada, and Arizona where he encounters spirited individuals who shape his rebirth. 

It is McCandless’ family that is at the center of his conflict and the catalyst for his quest.  As his sister Carine McCandless (Jena Malone) narrates we discover that Chris is motivated by a troubled childhood in which he endures his parents’ constant fighting and their cover-up of an illegitimate sibling.  McCandless comes to resent  his parents’ emotional abandonment and though they are financially secure, as he puts it, “money emboldened their blindness”.   As  Billie and Walt McCandless (Marcia Gay Harden, William Hurt) struggle to seek answers surrounding Christopher’s disappearance they are forced to reconcile with their own faults in rearing him.

 

Christopher’s rebellious nature notwithstanding he is surprisingly enlightened, focused, and more importantly, open to the life-altering journey in which he embarks. Though his speech at times is peppered the run-of-the-mill slacker jargon (where every sentence is followed by “man”) positive self talk and affirmations are at the foundation of his speech.  “Power is an illusion”, “money makes you cautious”, and “the core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences” are only a few nuggets of wisdom in which he espouses to those whom he encounters.  As Chris is an avid reader and historian Into the Wild  is full of  literary metaphors and other poetic fluff from noted philosophers and writers including Tolstoy, London, and Thoreau.

Towards the end of the film, Christopher gains his greatest wisdom in Ron Franz (Hal Holbrook), a widower, recovering alcoholic, and surrogate grandfather of sorts.  As Franz teaches the art of forgiveness and love Chris begins to examine the true meaning of happiness.  One of the most beautiful moments in the film is during a scene on a mountain in which Franz likens love and forgiveness to the light of God.  Still determined to make it to Alaska, McCandless has a true moment of clarity in which he learns to finally forgive his parents. 

 

At the film’s close, my initial thought was “how could someone so smart be so stupid”.  As Chris made the ultimate sacrifice of leaving everything behind he gave little if no consideration for how his family would be affected.  Though his motives were incredibly selfish it is possible that he would have never encountered his surrogates had he have not left home in the first place.  And just what is the perfect childhood?  Is there such a thing? 

In “Eat Pray Love”, her bestselling biography of a woman rediscovering herself via travels to three very different foreign countries, Elizabeth Gilbert writes in the introduction “Tell the truth.  Tell the truth.  Tell the truth.”  Chris’ imperfect childhood was his truth.  His need to “emancipate himself from a world of distraction”  was his truth and though you or I may not be brave enough to incinerate our existence, abandoning those who abandoned him was Chris’ truth.  Behold, the tragic hero in all his glory. 

McCandless could have saved himself a heap of heartache had he learned to forgive earlier in his journey.  Thus, Into the Wild is a cautionary tale.  For its beautiful depiction of what it means to express boldness and follow ones instinct I give it 3 Siggy’s.  Bring a tissue.