communication breakdown

Pleasure and Pain

Well, I can breathe a sigh of relief. Thursday was my (first) yearly performance evaluation, and it went well. Really well, actually. To be honest, probably better than I deserved, but that's probably just my perfectionism kicking in. I'm thrilled that it went so well, but not just because it means I'll be getting some kind of salary merit increase (TBD until it gets approved soon). More important to me is that I'm being perceived as someone who does good work, and is a good team player. That's very important to me. It's in my nature to be a perfectionist and to leave a good impression on those who I interact with. It really gives me a strong sense of confidence to know that those I work with trust me and don't consider me to be just "the new grad", as is common at many other places. At the moment, I'm extremely happy with my "work life". Now, if I could only get Medtronic to pack up and move down to Atlanta...

In not-so-stellar news, my back is hurting. I was out playing tennis on Thursday, which was a good thing. In fact, I was playing really well, which is a very good thing, since I'm still trying to get back into the swing of things (no pun intended) after a long time without playing. However, about halfway through our time on court, I remember serving and something just didn't feel right. Slowly I started feeling a minor pain in my low back. Being stubborn as I am, I didn't consider it a big problem and figured it would go away. Well, it didn't. It didn't really get worse that night or on Friday, but on Saturday I showed up for TaeKwon-Do training and that was probably my dumbest move yet. I assumed that it was just tight, and that I could stretch it out and make it feel better. Well, after stretching it was hurting more than it had the last couple days, and then I started doing stuff like this:

and then it was hurting even worse. I guess I learned my lesson - don't be a hero when it comes to your back. I'm going to take it easy for a day or two and see if it improves. My main concern is losing a lot of training time, which I can't afford if I'm going to test in November.

I spent a ton of time this week watching Wimbledon, and it once again helped confirm how much I love my DVR. Not only can I record all 10 hours (or whatever) each day, but I can watch it at my leisure, and then fast-forward through the commercials and even past the down-time between points. "Wow, an amazing point - I'm going to watch that again". "Wow, this set is boring - I'm skipping ahead to the next one". Surely this is how God would watch TV if he wanted to.

In other work-related news, I was invited to join the Georgia Tech campus team for the upcoming year. I'll be part of a team of GT graduates that will help recruit new grads to come to Medtronic. I'm looking forward to the opportunity, not just because it will give me a chance to participate in GT-related events (such as career fairs), but also because I think I have a good perspective as a native Southerner who has braved the great North, and I hope I can help bring great minds to a great company. Speaking of GT, Medtronic has more of a GT flavor nowadays - it seems there's been several grads hired lately. All the other guys I work with just roll their eyes when they hear a GT grad has been hired, but we all know why: plain jealousy. Our kung-fu is the best, baby...

My lease is coming up for renewal soon and I've been tossing around the option of moving in with a co-worker who just bought a house. Though the location would be a little better, I don't think I can bring myself to do it - I remember a friend of mine told me right after I moved up here: "If you get an apartment by yourself, you'll never want a rommate again." I think she was right - I'm not sure I can give up the freedom of space and the level of cleanliness I'm used to (exception: marriage). I think I'm going to renew the lease for a year, and after that, who knows? At that point I might be ready to get a house of my own, or I might be ready to leave town and move back South. Only God knows what the future holds...

Movie Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004)

[ 7 / 10 ] When watching the newest Harry Potter film, it doesn't take long to realize that there's something different going on than we've seen before. Alfonso Cuaron, director of the excellent "Y Tu Mama Tambien" (2001), brings a completely fresh perspective to the series, and perhaps injects just the spark that is needed in this, the third movie in the series. I greatly respect Christopher Columbus and really enjoyed his two offerings to the series - you can't help but feel that Cuaron feels like an outsider looking in to the Potter franchise. Nevertheless, he does a good job with what I consider to be pretty difficult source material to adapt...

As Harry prepares to begin his third year at Hogwarts, he receives some troubling news: Sirius Black, the infamous, murderous wizard-criminal, has escaped from Hogwarts. Even worse - his supposed goal is to kill Harry...

This story is considerably darker than the previous two, and I think in the task of capturing this darkness on film, Cuaron is a much better choice than Columbus. He has a gift for capturing human emotion, and as we saw in "Y Tu Mama Tambien", his eye for good camerawork is superb. Both of these talents really come to light in this film.

Be forwarned: there are some real changes in this film - not just from the way the first two movies were directed, but even serious deviations from the source material. As to the latter - some plotlines are removed partially or altogether, while others are "re-imagined" through directorial artistic license. Literary purists might be tempted to raise a fit, but those who have not read the story will likely be unaffected. A key departure from the story is Quidditch - while I would argue that it was a predominant theme of the book, it takes a backseat to more pressing action in the film. I mention this merely to be thorough, not to be critical.

Now, to the former - specifically, Cuaron's directorial style. From start to end, there is a tension which hangs over this film. It is more serious and more grown-up, mirroring the development of the main characters. We see very little of the safe and comfortable confines of Hogwarts - for the most part, the movie takes place outside of the castle, either in the mysterious neighboring town of Hogsmeade, or in the sweeping countrysides around the castle. It is here that the camerawork really shines - the scenes have a distinct English flavor to them and really make it feel that Hogwarts is set right in Britain - which, curiously enough, it is...

The film necessarily must be darker because of the nature of the story - the danger is more serious, more persistent, and more ambiguous than ever before. Cuaron really makes this danger palpable - between the ever-present Azkaban guards (dementors), the close calls with Sirius Black, and the appearance of other magical characters, it feels that the students are never really safe. I think this characteristic is well-adapted from the book.

As far as the acting is concerned, I would say it was pretty good overall. The lead trio are good as always, and David Thewlis is excellent in the role of the new, mysterious Professor Lupin. Gary Oldman even does well in limited time as Black, though he is probably not given as much screentime as his character warrants. On the flipside, I was not overly impressed with Michael Gambon as the new Dumbledore, and I really couldn't stand Timothy Spall as Peter Pettigrew. With Dumbledore, I can't tell if it was that his lines were poorly chosen, or if I just can't get over the loss of Richard Harris.

So, why is it that I seem to be one of the few people who don't think this is the best Harry Potter yet? (UPDATE: Apparently Roger Ebert agrees with me. I knew there was something I liked about him...) To be fair, I really enjoyed it, most likely because it's hard to go wrong with great source material, especially for a capable director. However, when I've both seen a film and read the book on which it's based, I can't help but compare the two. I guess at times I can be one of the literary purists that I talk about above - I expect films to be faithful (notice I didn't say exact) adapations of their books. Cuaron takes some great liberties with the script, and I applaud him for his efforts, but I don't agree they were all necessary.

Another chief complaint of mine deals with the main conflict of the film, which takes up at least half of the movie. At times this part of the storyline gets confusing in the book, and I felt it was important that this be filmed very carefully. However, after seeing the film, I couldn't help but feel that a certain amount of the magic and suspense captured in the book was lost in this part of the film. It is certainly given enough attention in terms of time, but I don't feel its essence was recreated appropriately. It's hard to put this into words, and you'll likely have to just see it for yourself and make your own decision.

And I suggest that you do see it for yourself - it still makes for great fun at the cinema and is well worth the price of admission. The spirit of humor which permeates the book is still there, and the adventure is still riveting. But I can't help but feel that this was a missed opportunity to make an unbelievable movie, based on the quality of the book which it adapts. Maybe I'm wrong - after all, I think great books can never be adequately captured into film anyways. But you have to stick with your gut instinct, and I definitely felt much more fulfilled by the book than the movie.

(In case you're wondering, I currently feel the first film was the best of the series. I feel that it does a spectacular job of capturing the magical wonder and the refreshing originality of the book...)

Movie Review: Mystic River (2003)

[ 8 / 10 ] Three childhood friends, reunited in the worst of circumstances. Sean Penn, suffering from the loss of his daughter, is the cornerstone of a story focused on grief, redemption, and forgiveness. Penn is Jimmy Markum, a man with mysterious affiliations and a troubled past, but is a family man nonetheless. His daughter's death is more than he can bear - but as if this wasn't enough, his old friend Dave (Tim Robbins) is the prime suspect...

Mystic River is saturated with human emotion and conflict. It permeates literally every scene of the movie. Confronted with horrible events in both the past and present, the characters try to come to grips with their problems in their own ways, with mixed results. Each actor masterfully labors over their role, and the result is nothing short of impressive. Penn captures his character with an expert touch and really thrusts himself into the role. His scenes of coping with his daughter's death are probably the best he's ever done. But his is not the only story here. There is Dave, the simple family man with an unbelievable horror in his past, trying to clear himself of the charges. Sean (Kevin Bacon), the last of the childhood trio, is the cop running the investigation. His conflict is subtle yet important enough - he must balance his desires to be both a friend and a professional in order to get the job done.

When you get right down to it, this is a basic murder-mystery. But what makes the film great are the extra layers of complexity which are added to the story. These are real characters with genuine emotion - the film would never have worked if the caliber and quality of its acting were anything less than brilliant. Penn and Robbins were deserving of their Oscars - Marcia Gay Harden deserved her nomination nod as well.

Eastwood has done a tremendous directorial job here. The camerawork is excellent and it was a wise idea to be on-location: the film really captures the less glamorous side of Boston life. He clearly has great command of the script and knows exactly what he wants out of his characters. A director's job is to make everything and everyone work together - and given the difficulty of the story and the authenticity needed from each actor, the quality of the job done here is no small feat.

The conclusions to be drawn here are as complex as the storyline itself. It is no simple story of a murder, the perpetrator, and the victims. Each character is a protagonist, with real issues, concerns, and motivations. Not everyone receives, or deserves, a happy ending. But in real life, when does this happen anyway? The film deals with complicated, grey-area issues - after all, most of our biggest conflicts in life are not straighforward or easily solved. Mystic River will probably leave you with as many questions as answers; if you're the kind of person who relishes such situations, you will likely enjoy it.

Book Review: Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (Book 3) (1999)

[ 9 / 10 ] The third book in the Harry Potter series is without a doubt the best thus far. The tone of the book is significantly darker than the first, and definitely has a more "grown-up" feel to it. Any adults who have lost their sense of youth and have avoided this series because they are "kids' books", take heed: such claims no longer hold any water...

The books opens with familiar beginnings - Harry's dreaded summer days at the Dursleys'. In his younger days, Harry had bided his tongue and accepted the constant abuse and neglect from his adopted family. But from the start we see a new, older Harry Potter - he's nearly 13, almost a teenager, and beginning to develop that sense of independence to go along with his "healthy disregard for the rules". A visit from Uncle Vernon's sister, who says some some horrible things about Harry's parents, pushes him to the boiling point: he has had enough. Harry packs his things and leaves home in the middle of the night, carrying his trunk and owl behind him.

This seems serious enough, since he has nowhere to go. But Harry eventually makes his way to the wizarding world only to find out that his problems are just beginning - Sirius Black, a murderous criminal who has spent 12 years in the wizard prison of Azakaban, has escaped. Even worse is the reason he supposedly escaped: to kill Harry Potter...

Harry and crew make their way to Hogwarts and find some big changes. There are two new professors - the mysterious Professor Lupin, who Harry & Co. meet on the train, and Hagrid, who is teaching Care For Magical Creatures. Perhaps the biggest change, however, are the presence of the Azkaban guards, terrifying creatures who are posted at every entrance to Hogwarts in search of Sirius Black. Their chilling presence puts a damper on the magical innocence of the school.

The guards, and the persistent thought of Black's escape, provide a constant sense of tension for the students and readers alike. Just as we start to forget that Black is somewhere out there on the loose, something happens and and we realize how frightening it is to spend every minute looking over your shoulder.

All of the elements that made the first two books such a success are still here - the relationship between Harry/Ron/Hermione, the feud between Potter and Malfoy, the eccentric professors, and even quidditch. For those who love the quidditch aspect of the books, you will not be disappointed - it is definitely given more focus here than in either of the previous books. Concerning professors, the two which we see the most are Lupin and Professor Trelawney, the Divination teacher. Trelawney is either a gifted seer or a nutty quack, depending on who you ask. She makes crazy predictions throughout the book, and noone likes going to her class - but it seems that there's more to her than meets the eye.

Lupin really steals the show as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It doesn't hurt that he actually knows what he's doing, which is a welcome change from his predecessors, Lockhart and Quirrell. More importantly, however, is that he is a warm and compassionate Professor - he takes a real liking to Harry, and seems to understand him. He volunteers his personal time to help Potter with a personal problem and the relationship that forms between them is the first real bond we've seen between student and professor (with the exception of Potter and Dumbledore, which I consider to be of a different nature altogether).

Another sign that the children are growing up is that they are starting to show some real emotions, seen here through the feud between Ron and Hermione that persists for a large portion of the book. This is different than the teasing which we see in the first book - there are real emotions involved here, as both are upset and blame the other for the problems (with Harry caught in the middle). I think this is an excellent addition for the character development of the Trio, because it really develops their friendship as being multi-dimensional - every good friendship has trials, and becomes stronger as a result of them.

What I like best about this book are the several major questions which appear early on, but aren't answered till the end, leaving you wondering and guessing throughout the story. What is the deal with the myserious Lupin, and what is his relationship with Snape? What is the truth behind Trelawney's predictions? Why does Harry keep seeing bad omens throughout the story? How does Hermione stay on top of all her coursework, when she's taking several more classes than everyone else? And last but not least - where in the world is Sirius Black?

I want to throw in a comment here about two other characters which I really like - Fred and George Weasley. I'm not often a fan of characters in a film or book which are just there for comic relief. But I'm willing to make an exception for these two, because they are just so darn funny. And I don't mean smile-and-maybe-laugh-to-yourself funny, I'm talking about laugh-out-loud funny. I'm pretty sure that I had a good laugh every time these guys had a line in the book, which is a fair amount in the early parts of the story. Plus, I get the feeling that these two are going to take on more significance down the road in other books. But at this point in the evolution of the story, they're just pure fun, and I'm OK with that.

In conclusion, everything you want in a story is here. Action and adventure. Laughter. Genuine suspense and a great story. Excellent, imaginative writing (i.e., the Marauder's Map!). There's even an ending which isn't perfectly wrapped up with a hopelessly happy ending, which I can respect - we know there's more books in the series, so why must every book be a story unto itself? I loved this story, and I'm really excited to see what J.K. Rowling has in store for the rest of this series...

Movie Review: The Last Samurai (2003)

[ 6 / 10 ] Tom Cruise's latest epic presents the story of an American looking for redemption in a country preoccupied with honor and duty. Cruise plays the part of Nathan Algren, an American captain with a harrowed past. The story takes place in the late 19th century, during the American-Indian wars - soon after Little Bighorn and the fall of Custer. Algren is haunted by persistent memories of ravaging Indian towns and killing women and children. At the start of the film we find him depressed and dejected, no longer serving in the army but instead making pitches for a gun salesman in a small Western town...

He is approached by a Japanese noble named Omura, and his former captain, Colonel Bagley (a man Algren hates for ordering him to commit the atrocities which follow him) - and they make him an offer he can't refuse. The Japanese Emperor has decided that his country's war machine needed modernization - weaponry, trained soldiers, and updated military strategies. Japan offers to pay Algren handsomely to travel to the East and train the new Japanese army in the ways of modern warfare. Helping a country which has long since depended on the individual efforts of samurai warriors will be no small task, but Algren clearly has no better alternative, so he consents to the request. Thus the stage is set for the central focus of the film.

Algren arrives to find a poorly-prepared Japanese army. He begins his task of getting them into shape, giving us a few glances of his prowess in regards to warfare and military training. However, the campaign is thrown into confusion when Colonel Bagley prematurely orders the troops into battle against a rebel samurai force which has respectfully defied the Emperor as a protest against the "changing of the guard" being led by Omura. Against his own wishes, Algren grudgingly agrees to lead them into war against the "outdated" samurai, but as expected, the unprepared soldiers are massacred and Algren is captured by the samurai rebels.

From here the whole focus of the movie shifts, and unfortunately, becomes quite predictible. The leader of the samurai, Katsumoto, takes an interest in Algren and desires to learn all he can about his "enemy". A strange relationship begins to grow between the two, and Algren himself changes as he becomes accustomed to life among the samurai. Eventually his whole perspective changes, and as he learns more about their way of life, he begins to sympathize with their plight.

The film is really about the battle between tradition and change. It also places focus upon duty, redemption, and forgiveness. While it makes a valiant effort at justifying its claims, it does so without taking any chances or trying anything new. The main story, in its base form, has been done countless times by better films. There's just nothing new here that makes this film special.

Perhaps the highlight of the film is the filming itself. The sets and costumes are extremely well-done, the locations are perfectly chosen, and the cinematography is stellar. Feudal Japan in all its beauty is captured marvelously throughout the movie.

The acting also isn't bad - Cruise is probably about as good as he can be. There are some moments where he's just plain out-of-place, but for the most part, he plays the role with a quiet dignity. The woman playing the role of Katsumoto's sister Taka is very good in limited exposure. Even the Emperor Meiji does well with minimal screentime, depicting himself as equal parts confident "god on earth", and confused, misguided young man. But Ken Watanabe is the brightest star as the samurai Katsumoto. He is intense yet compassionate, a fierce warrior but at the same time a loyalist and a scholar. He expertly guides his character through the plot, undergoing as much of a transformation as Cruise's character, but you can feel his pain and the weight of his sorrow. In my opinion, he was the real protagonist of the film.

As you would expect from this kind of movie, the fight scenes are well-done, especially the fantastic night ambush scene in the samurai village. There's plenty of action, but an epic lives and dies on the emotion and struggle of its characters, and the quality of its story. Here is where The Last Samurai ultimately falls short. It's a compilation of countless other culture-clash films, and in its conclusion, even becomes somewhat pretentious, depending on your interpretation of the meaning of the movie's title. It's entertaining, but the return on investment leaves something to be desired.

The Championships

Today marks the beginning of one of the best events of the year. Yep, you guessed it: The Championships, Wimbledon. So, you're not a tennis fan? Well, time to start. Wimbledon is so much fun because it is completely different than everything else in the sport. It is the only major tournament on grass. It has tons of (somewhat archaic) traditions that have existed for ages - bowing before entering/exiting the court, all-white outfits, no advertisements on any of the courts, etc. Not to mention the fact that it is undisputedly the single most respected tournament in the game. ESPN will be showing countless hours of it over the next two weeks. Be open-minded and give it a chance - I bet you'll enjoy it...

In other news - my first official performance evaluation at work is this Thursday. I'm not worried about it, because I've had plenty of informal feedback over the course of the year, and my manager has hinted to me that it should be a good evaluation. But I still have a little anxiety until it's out of the way, just because I've never done one of these before. I'm ready to get it over with.

I trained outside again this weekend, and got a chance to work on some of my required breaks for my upcoming test. Boy, I have a long way to go. Some of the breaks are really difficult and will really challenge my abilities. But that's the whole point, right? Plus, I just found out that our school instructor, who was planning to test the same time as me, won't be able to attend because of a work conflict. It was nice to have a "partner-in-crime" who was going through the same stuff I was, but now I'm kinda on my own. It will make things a little harder, but I'm still confident I can be ready and do a good job. This weekend I should be travelling to Wisconsin on Sunday for a black belt workout. It should be a good opportunity to ask some burning questions I have, as well as a time to train with others at my same rank.

Finally, in case you've missed it, try and catch "Joe Schmo 2" which is airs on Spike TV, Tuesdays at 10:00 PM EST. Let me preface this whole thing by saying how much I hate reality TV shows. That's what makes the Joe Schmo Show so great - it is a parody of these shows. In case you're unaware of the premise - the first Joe Schmo was a fake reality show, where everyone on the show was an actor except for one guy. They did normal reality show "stuff", like contests and evictions, competing for a cash prize, all the while filming the unsuspecting guy 24 hours a day. The actors played stereotypical roles that are common on reality shows - "the rich bitch", "the asshole", "the gay guy", etc. It was simply hilarious. They're trying a second season, and I'm not yet sure if it will turn out as well as the first, but it's worth a try. The twist this time is that there are two schmoes - a guy and a girl. The fake show which they are on is really a combination Bachelor/Bachelorette type thing. The first episode was last week and was decent, but I suspect it will get better. Check it out...

Book Review: Harry Potter (Books 1-2) (1998/1999)

[ 8 / 10 ] I must admit that it is hard to objectively review these books on their own merit, since I saw both movies before reading them. I hate to see a movie before reading the book from which it is adapted - it colors my perceptions of the characters and leaves little to my own imagination. That is why I have reviewed these two books together, and will review the others separately...

Harry Potter has a horrible life. He is an 10-year-old boy who has been living with the Dursley's (his Aunt and Uncle) since shortly after his birth, when his parents were killed in a car crash. They resent his being there, and make no attempt to hide it. Harry lives in a closet under the stairs, while the Dursleys shower their love on their disgusting son Dudley, whose favorite pastime is picking on Harry. He never had any friends or things of his own to enjoy. But shortly before his 11th birthday, an owl visits the Dursley residence, and Harry realizes that all is not what it seems: he is a wizard, and has been invited to attend the best wizarding school in the world. His life is about to change forever...

It's easy to sympathize with Harry. Nobody deserves to be in his situation - and while the Dursley's might be a little over-the-top in their disdain for Harry, in today's world they are not all that unrealistic. When something good finally happens for Harry, you can't help but be happy for him. It also helps that Harry is a very humane character. There's a little bit of all of us in him - he has the typical boyish charm, but he is also very considerate, curious, loyal, and even a bit mischievous. Everyone can find something to like in his character.

Harry's luck is also good fortune for us - we get to come along for the ride. His school, Hogwarts, is a fun and enchanting place, with surprises around every corner. A hat which speaks to people. Dinner tables which fill themselves with food. Ghosts (some friendly, some naughty) that roam the halls. There is something fantastic and unbelievable in literally every chapter of these books.

Another particularly interesting place is Diagon Alley, the wizarding market hidden in the middle of London, to which we are introduced in the first book. It's fun because we see it through Harry's eyes, for he is as much a newcomer as we are, so every turn brings a new surprise.

Just as interesting as the things in Hogwarts are the people. There's Harry's friends, Ron and Hermione, who might as well be nicknamed Night and Day. Ron is clumsy, not overly bright, willing to break rules for a friend. Hermione, by contrast, is the teacher's pet, always concerned with doing the right thing. Harry sits right in the middle - while they don't all start off on the right foot, they form a strong bond of friendship that will undoubtedly last throughout the entire series. Then there is Harry's nemesis at school, Draco Malfoy, who is his opposite in every way. There's more than just boyhood competition between these two - Malfoy really has it out for Potter, and is perfectly snide every chance he gets.

We can't forget about the Professors, either. Like the students, their personalities run the entire gamut. There's the warm and trustworthy Headmaster Dumbledore, the stern but caring McGonagall, the introverted Quirrell, and the cold disapproval of Snape. While the subjects they teach are interesting, what's more profound is to see how the Professors and Students interact in this world that is so foreign to us. While on one hand, it seems like any normal school, that couldn't be any further from the truth.

The first book, like the beginning of any series, is very introductory in nature. Harry's relationship with the Dursley's is fleshed out, he finally makes his way to Hogwarts, and the story focuses on his coming to grips with his new life. While there is conflict, it takes a back seat to the magic innocence of Hogwarts life. The second book, however, is much more dark - the focal point of the whole story is a hidden underground lair, an unseen monster, and the death of students. Harry grows considerably through his trials as he begins developing into the wizard he is destined to be.

I want to close by addressing the belief, held by some, that these are "kids books". Sure, for the purposes of categorization, you can label them that way, and perhaps that is their targeted audience. But I am a firm believer that good books have no age limit or restriction. A good book is characterized by a captivating story, well-developed characters, and excellent writing techniques - these things appeal to people of all ages. I have read some "children's books", such as the Chronicles of Narnia or The Hobbit, which surpass many boring books written for an adult audience.

In short, these are fun books for adults and children alike. Sometimes you read to expand your horizons, to challenge yourself - other times you read to escape, to imagine, to have fun. If your goal is the latter, then these books will not disappoint.

Movie Review: The Conversation (1974)

[ 9 / 10 ] Gene Hackman is Harry Caul, the premiere surveillance expert in the business. He can bug anyone to get the information he needs. He has made one big mistake in his past. He's about to make another...

The film revolves around Caul. We first meet him in the performance of his duties - he participates in the surveillance of two young people in a courtyard, engaged in a discrete conversation (for which the movie is named). After getting the information he needs, we follow Caul back to his office where we see that surveillance is more than just a job to him - it's a way of life. He is so engrossed in his work that he has no time for personal relationships. He is also paranoid almost to the point of delusion - his office is enclosed in a caged fortress, his apartment door is bolted with several homemade locks, and he fears that he is being watched. Yet he also harbors a strong religious devotion and struggles with a moral dilemma regarding his work. Truly he is a complex character that Hackman plays subtlely yet perfectly.

As you might have guessed, the plotline revolves around the conversation Caul tapes in the courtyard. After analyzing the tape (using home-grown devices he built himself), he begins to realize that he might have put these people in danger by recording their rendezvous. And it wouldn't be the first time this happened - he is haunted by a past mistake of his which brought harm to unsuspecting innocents. He begins to contemplate destroying the tapes, and this leads to a chain of events which culminate in a fantastic conclusion.

One of the interesting sub-plots in the movie is in the handling of the conversation itself, and Caul's reaction to it. Though the conversation is short, we hear bits and pieces of it throughout the film. Little by little, more of the exchange is revealed. Some bits are repeated over and over, but begin to be more significant as we receive more supporting information. We are truly in Harry's shoes - we have to figure out the puzzle when he does. But the film is also a discourse on perception, because we hear the conversation through Harry's interpretation of what he hears. However, perception is not always reality...

To reveal anymore would give away more than you or I would like. I will end by adding two more points. First, there is a small part near the end of the film where Caul comes face-to-face with the consequences of his actions. This is a phenomenal scene - one of the best (and most tense) I have seen in a while. Surely this is Francis Ford Coppola giving us a homage to Hitchcock, and he captures the suspense in a way Hitchcock could have admired himself.

Second, the soundtrack to the film is dead-on. It is a simple and beautiful set of piano solos, but musically it reflects the mood of the movie well - subtle, yet haunting. To me it was reminiscent of the way piano was used in "Eyes Wide Shut" and "Road to Perdition". It's amazing how effective a single instrument can be...

The Conversation is simply a great thriller. But like any great film, it's multi-dimensional. It is also a wonderful character study, and it even finds time to take a principled stand on the issue of privacy. It's hard for a director to make even one great film in his lifetime. Coppola made a living out of it, creating such greats as The Godfather and Apocalypse Now. Some might find it hard to believe that The Conversation could be mentioned in the same sentence as these iconic films, but watch it and I think you will find that it can. The mere fact that it can stand alongside these cinematic giants should give you an idea of just how good this movie is.

Projects

Pretty standard weekend for me. I trained for about 3 hours in the park at Lake Harriet with Christy, a fellow TaeKwon-Do student. It was the first time I've trained outdoors in a long while, and it was very refreshing. You can see where all the tax dollars go - the park areas around the Chain of Lakes are beautiful. For me it was a good mix of teaching and training, both of which are going to be very important for me as I approach my next black belt test in November. By the way, for those unfamiliar with the art of TKD - there are a ton of (very difficult) requirements for my upcoming test. I sat down last week to look at them all, and was just amazed at how much I've already learned and how much I still need to perfect. It's going to be a hard 6 months, but I'm looking forward to the journey...

I guess I decided that I've got too much free time on my hands, because I've pretty much started up three projects simultaneously. The first and foremost of these is the preparation for my test, for obvious reasons.

Secondly, I've been making a halfhearted effort for the last few years at trying to see some of the Top 100 Movies according to AFI. I've decided to make this a more conscious effort, and hopefully complete this list within a year or so. I've already seen about 30 of them, and another 15 or so are already in my Netflix queue, so I've got a good start there.

Finally, something which is more of a long-term project: tackling The Modern Library's list of the Top 100 Novels. Corey, one of my co-workers at Medtronic, tipped me off to this list, and I think it's a worthwhile project. It gives me an incentive to be more consistent with my reading (which has been very sporadic as of late), and the list is a good combination of titles I've always wanted to read but hadn't, and others which sound interesting and/or have historic importance. I'm not going to even suggest a time when I think I might be finished with this - we'll just see how it goes. I've made much less progress on this list (only 3 read so far!!) so I've got a long way to go.

In order to give these projects visibility (and to hold me accountable), I'm keeping track of the progress here and here.

Well, I'm going to go train for awhile, then do some jogging, and then probably chill for the rest of the evening. I'm hoping the storms hold off for awhile - after about 2 straight weeks of raining, the weekend here has been a God-send of warm 70s sunshine. Eat your hearts out, Florida...

Movie Review: The Cooler (2003)

[ 6 / 10 ] William H. Macy is "The Cooler", a man cursed with perpetually bad luck who is hired by a casino to cool off winning tables. While the story takes place primarily in a Las Vegas casino, don't be fooled - it's not a movie about gambling or casino life - in fact, it doesn't have much to do with Macy's "profession" at all. At its core, the movie is about luck and love, and the effect that each can have on the other...

Macy is terrific as the down-and-out wanderer who has consigned himself to a life devoid of happiness. There's not a single movie I've seen him in that wasn't improved by his performance - I'm convinced he's one of the best actors in Hollywood, and I think he could pull off any role. Here he plays every note perfectly.

His luck turns when he meets Natalie, played by Maria Bello (formerly of "ER"). For some reason, she is mesmerized by him, and (with good reason) he can't seem to understand why. Fortunately for his sake he's not so self-deprecating that he refuses to pursue her - he embraces his stroke of luck and their relationship forms the crux of the movie's plot.

The problem is that his luck doesn't stop there. It gets in the way of his job and draws the attention of his boss, the casino manager played by Alec Baldwin. It sets off a chain of events that alters the course of all of their lives.

Frankly, I didn't realize Baldwin was capable of such ruthlessness or depth of acting. He plays the part of an old-school, outdated hardass who refuses to change with such gusto that I understand why the studio was pushing hard for him to win Best Supporting Actor last year.

Two things struck me about this film. The first was the surrealism of it all. It doesn't have the traditional feel of a Vegas movie, probably because you don't see much of the real Vegas - the movie is mired in its underbelly, focusing on the two ends of the spectrum: the shadowy figures who run the casino, and the losers who waste their whole lives in it. It's hard to find a movie believable when there's nothing familiar in the middle to hold on to. This isn't necessarily a bad thing, just interesting. The other thing I couldn't help but notice was the soundtrack. Again, I think it bucks the trend of other movies in its genre, opting for a series of slow blues and jazz tunes which are quite depressing yet effective. I think the music reflected the mood of the film excellently.

As I mentioned before, I liked the movie, but I found it kind of forgettable. Maybe I didn't identify well with the characters, or didn't find the story very interesting. I'm pretty demanding with my movies, and I like them to have an emotional effect on me - in the end, while I found it well-done and mildly entertaining, I can't say it had any such kind of effect.

Long Road Ahead

Well, this was another great weekend. My friend and fraternity brother Adam S. came up to visit, on his way from Georgia to California. I know, it's not the most direct route, but he wanted to take "the Northern Route" to visit some places he hadn't been before. He was only here for a day, but it was wonderful to get to see him again and spend some time together. He's about to embark on a missions trip to South America, so this will be the last time I see him for quite awhile. By now he's back on the road, well on his way to California, then to South America in a couple of months. Please pray for him if you can. Anyways, we had a great time on Sunday, and here are a few pictures of our adventures if you're interested...

In TaeKwon-Do news, I received an email from Mr. McDaniel, the instructor with whom I trained in Wisconsin over Memorial Day weekend. He thinks that I should test for 3rd Degree at the upcoming black belt test in November. This really caught me off-guard. I've been working hard on my requirements, but according to the "rules", I haven't trained long enough at 2nd Degree to test. However, apparently there is some flexibility there and it seems that he believes I warrant the right to an advanced test. I am honored and humbled at this suggestion, and have decided to devote myself to getting ready for November. Those who know me well know that I'm a perfectionist - I do nothing halfway. If I'm going to test in November, I will make sure I display the best of my ability. This means hard training, everyday, for the next 5 months. I'm looking forward to it.

All In

Well, it was a pretty standard week, up until tonight, which was a lot of fun. We skipped out of work early and headed over to a work-buddy's house for a quick grill-out and some bocce ball. I had never played the game before, much less heard of it before moving to Minnesota. But it's actually pretty fun and is kind of like horseshoes for yankees. Anyways, after graduating from being a bocce virgin, we headed out and it was on to the main event: the poker tournament...

About 12 guys from work decided we needed a new way to blow some spare cash, so we figured we'd get together and have a No Limit Texas Hold'Em Tourney. Stakes were low ($20 buy-in), but there was still enough to make a modest pot for the victor. I was familiar with Hold'Em, and poker in general, but had never played in a halfway serious tournament before, so it was learn-as-you-go for me.

We split the group into two tables, with the idea of merging back into one once the field was pared down somewhat. Well, I got smoked on the main table after about an hour and a half. After winning the occasional early pot and then getting bled for about an hour, my stack was slim and I decided it was time to go balls-out and make a move. The guy next to me is betting hard for the first time all night with a nice set of community cards. I had a modest hand worth keeping, but the way he's betting, I'm pretty sure he's bluffing and trying to bully me over. Long story short - I end up going all-in to call his bluff... which wasn't a bluff at all. Thanks for playing moron, go sit in the corner.

I was the 6th person out, last to go before they combined the tables. This turned out to be a blessing in disguise. The 6 of us who went out early started up another table with a $10 buy-in. We just played dealer's choice and actually made for a nice 2 hour game. I pulled down a couple of monster pots, and in the end, wound up making money on the whole. I recuperated the $20 from the first game, the $10 from the second, and made a few bucks profit on top of it. Not a bad comeback, given the way the first game went down. The cool thing about the second game, which ended up having about 8 people by the end of the night, was that it was mostly some of the big-wigs from our software department. At least 5 or 6 of the guys were in some form of upper management, and then there's my scrubby self, right in the midst of things. It was fun to get to schmooze with the guys, and take their money at the same time. Win-win scenario for yours truly...

So yeah, I'm tired now. For the rest of the weekend, it's TaeKwon-Do early Saturday, and then I'm getting a visit from Adam who's travelling up here from Georgia on his way out to California (yes, I know, it's all out of the way - good friend, isn't he?) We'll be hanging out Saturday night and Sunday before he heads out Monday morning. More to report after the weekend's over, I'm sure...

Note: A few days after I wrote this weblog, a new episode of "The Shield" on FX aired, and the title to the show was also "All In". The show wasn't at all about gambling, but I can't help but thinking, is someone in Hollywood checking out my blog? I mean, let's be honest: wouldn't the world be a better place if people listened to me more often? (don't answer that...)