It seems incredible, I know, but I don’t have any interviews in this week’s issue of NOW. Don’t worry, there’ll be plenty next week — and putting them together has been taking up most of my time, so today’s post will be short. I’ll draw your attention to a couple of new films opening at the Lightbox this evening — “Howl”, Rob Epstein and Jeffrey Friedman’s experimental look at Allen Ginsberg and his epic poem, which Susan quite liked, and “Jean-Michel Basquiat: The Radiant Child”, Tamra Davis’ documentary about the visionary artist whom she knew in the 1980s. Fran liked it, but with reservations.
Not much else happening today, other than yet more writing. For your entertainment, I offer Andrew O’Hehir’s terrific takedown of “Secretariat” at Salon, which digs into the ickiness of Randall Wallace’s movie at much greater length than I was able in my tiny 200-word window. Do enjoy it. Oh please let’s do.
That Secretariat review reminds me of the same problems I had with Seabiscuit — which, when it comes down to it, is the story of a rich guy who gets richer by exploiting and profiting off the hopes and dreams of the poor and lower-middle class public during a time of economic crisis. It’s dressed up in “triumph of the human spirit” garb, but its true message is really pretty reprehensible.
I see your point, but I’m relatively okay with “Seabiscuit”, which at least addressed the class divisions of its characters and the cynicism in the way the horse was exploited as a symbol by the Depression-era media.
Now, “Cinderella Man”, on the other hand …