Equality Soapbox

Thanks to my DVR, I got to watch last night's episode of BROTHERS AND SISTERS tonight. I don't know why, but it struck me as a very positive episode. Positive for the country that we're living in, that apparently people are getting progressive and accepting. If a network television program (albeit in the 10 o'clock hour) can show two male characters kissing, I think we're moving forward. Probably this isn't news (I guess ELLEN did this years before, right? And I don't even know what other shows have done it... lo siento), but it struck me today.

I also saw Broadway's SPRING AWAKENING about a week ago, and it's similar. Men have been kissing (and more) on stages all over the place before, but now it's happening on Broadway, and it's grand. It's grand if only for the fact that it's equality, proof that W. isn't going to run this country into the ground.

We need to fight for equality, across the boards... race, creed, orientation, gender... we're all here and human and each should be guaranteed the rights that everyone else has. What a crazy thought that was years ago (Civil War, Women's Suffrage, Civil Rights...) and what's crazier is that today, it's still often a crazy thought. We need to respect people no matter their differences from us or others. We're all here together and we need to work together to save this planet and save ourselves from each other. If we don't start now, when will we?

So, wow. On my soapbox, and probably terribly confusing and unspecific and uncohesive and unorganized... but, you get my drift. Fight for equality, and recognize the steps that are being taken already. We just need to start jogging instead of walking.

A Big Dirty Swamp

Barbara Walters tonight named her 10 most fascinating people of the year. Number one, Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi. She said that outside of the war (for which she has called Mr Bush incompetent), her number one priority is draining the swamp in the Capitol. "Maybe it'll take a woman to clean the house."

Wikipedia explains: "Pelosi is the first woman to lead a major political party in either house of Congress, and once formally elected, she would be the first woman to serve as Speaker. She would also be the first Californian or Italian American to hold the post, and the second Speaker from west of the Rockies (behind fellow Democrat Tom Foley of Washington). As Speaker, she would rank second in the presidential line of succession (behind the Vice President)."

Perhaps this is what we need. A woman in charge of something. Maybe she'll make some changes, make people aware, make people find some hope in the political arena of our country. Plus, she's pro-choice, pro gun control, and against the draft reinstituion. Let's hope that we actually can find some hope in Pelosi's new position and her party's success once they take over and begin their era of change in the coming year.

I'm glad she's here, I'm glad I'm here and I'm glad you're here.

"Grand Hotel... always the same. People come, people go. Nothing ever happens."

If only "nothing ever happens." Rather, RFK was assassinated and nothing was ever the same it would seem. Emilio Estevez's BOBBY is gripping. From Anthony Hopkins and Harry Belafonte's first lines about the Grand Hotel through the end of the credits, it is excellent filmmaking. The characters are real, the emotions are universal, the war stories are current. This is what the film industry should be. Always. No exceptions. It was beautiful and tragic, sweeping and innocent. More, it is timely and wholly relevant.

I was pleased as punch with Ms Lohan, of whom you may recall I haven't always been so thrilled. Her performance, and Elijah Wood's eyes (they were bluer than mine for chrissake), surprised the heck out of me. And maybe it wasn't her performance so much as the events surrounding her, and the epic scale of the finale ultimo in the kitchen. But anyway, at least she was comprehendable.

The very funny, very clever actors Shia LaBeouf and Brian Geraghty took their scenes and flew ... sky high. "Look at me." "I am." "Now, look at me ... through my eyes." Pass eyeglasses. Brilliant.

I was captivated by Mr Fishbourne's early scene over cobbler. Talk about taking the text, chewing it up, mulling it around, making it speak on so many levels and at twelve different volumes at once, spitting back out, and having all of that captured in the lens. He did excellent work in his scenes, of which I think there were a total of two? Both bursting with talent, however. Such a marvelous performance.

Hopkins is at the door to welcome the Senator in a really human moment. He's king of the screen in my book -- what I wouldn't give to simply watch him work. He is a fascinating (and terribly imposing, in that you're-my-hero sort of way) persona on screen, and I imagine him to be a real genuine soul in life, too.

So, of course, then there's the end. Again, the filmmaking is rich. Camera work, audio, file footage, editing, et al. are terrific. Kudos to the team behind the screen for making this sequence happen. I'm so thrilled to really agree with JJ about a film. He loved BOBBY and so did I. And I didn't love it because he did, or because I was trying to see in it what he saw weeks before. I really found it incredibly wonderful on my own. As I've hinted at before, to me, it was sad and uplifting at the same time. It's a film of these sort of oxymorons, I think.

It's really important for people to see movies like this, and for Hollywood and the razzle dazzles out there to make them. It's fantastic, because yesterday, I wrote about the hate that PRIMETIME exploited of minorities in our world. I found myself making comparisons here... such beautiful words for these actors to say, such crippling images for our eyes to see... all about the dangers and results of hatred and anger, war and rebellion. What a time to be alive--when in the face of such fear and doubt that Vietnam brought to America, there was someone who wanted to lead, someone who was willing to actually say (in much more eloquent words), "Gosh, we're in a heap o' trouble. Let's figure out what's wrong and fix it. We have to accept and acknowlege our mistakes, then move on and try to do good."

Knowing nothing about the film or Kennedy, I found myself transfixed and contemplative, wanting to know more. And yet, maybe, wishing I wouldn't have to look to the past for a leader who would be frank with the American people. In Prestonburg, Kentucky (not Prestonsburg, which is quite a distance from the other, as I found out this spring), Kennedy told the truth. Things were bad. People were not doing well. Everyone already knew it, so that wasn't the shock, but perhaps that he was man enough to say it to them. AND, he went on to say it didn't have to be like that, it could be better. It was a shame that in a country so blessed with riches as we are, there were places still like Prestonburg. And it's STILL TRUE. Things haven't changed that much. We need now someone who can affect change, who can accept our mistakes, seriously consider the suggestions and criticism of colleagues. We need a visonary, a leader, a go-getter, a person, a human being with a personality that rings true with all of us.

I wonder if it will ever happen. But, I wonder thanks to BOBBY. Go see it. Do yourself a favor.