I’m back… for now
Well… I’m back… for now.
Pardon the absence. February has been a pretty hectic month and for the last couple of days, my head has been fucking frazzled, so trying to write a “blournal” entry has been kind of frustrating.
Recently, I’ve been broadening my horizons by taking more of an interest in sports. I’ve dipped in and out of watching various local football matches over the past couple of weeks. Hell, I even decided to stay up and watch the Super Bowl. Admittedly, I was most excited for Kendrick Lamar’s halftime show (which was fucking awesome, by the way), but I did find myself enjoying the actual game itself, even if I wasn’t really rooting for anyone. I might just pay a bit more heed to American football in the future. Who knows?
I mentioned in my previous “blournal” that I would be seeing The Ferryman on stage, but I also neglected to mention that I had seen War Horse on stage the day before, which in itself was an incredible experience. I remember liking both the book and the film, but the play is a different beast entirely. The stage design and overall atmosphere are fucking brilliant, as is the puppetry used to bring the horses to life. Even with the operators being visible at all times, the horses still felt every bit as lifelike and real as their human counterparts. Absolutely fantastic show and I’m glad I got to see it.
The Ferryman was another brilliant production. Funny, thoughtful and tragic in equal manners, it examines the effects of conflict on a family across several generations. The fact that it was originally written by a British playwright might be a bone of contention for some, especially those who lived through the troubles, and there’s certainly room for discussion to be had on that subject, but I’d say on its own merits, The Ferryman is a powerful piece of work.
Sadly, I haven’t watched very many movies as of late. I did get around to seeing David Lynch’s The Straight Story, which, depending on who you ask, is either the most un-Lynchian or the most Lynchian film he ever made. Either way, it’s such a beautiful film. The story is simple – an old man travels 240 miles on his lawnmower to reconnect with his estranged brother (and it’s based on a true story to boot) – but Lynch tells it with such poignancy and tenderness. Despite what the title might imply, there’s no irony or cynicism to it. It’s easily Lynch’s most earnest and heartfelt film and that’s why I love it so much. It’s the Yang to Blue Velvet’s Yin, and it’s well worth watching whether you’re into Lynch’s work or not, but if you are a fan, I will say this: you will notice those occasional Lynchian flourishes.
Alas, that was a couple of weeks ago and I haven’t watched anything since, although I plan on heading to Belfast with a couple of friends to see The Monkey, which I’m really looking forward to.
By the way, that podcast I keep threatening to inflict upon you all is still coming. It’s not a question of it, it’s a question of when. What will come first? GTA 6 or the podcast? Who knows?
Place your bets now.
