Change of plans

Well, the long weekend didn't exactly go as planned. Instead of visiting my brother in Chicago I spent the weekend at the gym, working on research at the office, and watching movies with Heather. Remember that meal I cooked on Tuesday? Well, in an amazing coincidence, Heather had one of the worst stomach flus I've ever seen starting Wednesday, with the effects still not completely fought off. Flying was probably not the most brilliant idea, so we postponed the trip.

And before all you wiseasses start in - she wasn't feeling well before the meal I cooked, and I actually have been forced into service as a cook while she's been sick serving scrambled eggs, toast, and crackers like a pro.

We had the chance to watch a bunch of movies - including Enron: Smartest Guys in the Room, Last Days, and Good Night and Good Luck. The three had some similarities: Enron and GN&GL were both about hateable bad guys and the role of silent accomplices & whistleblowers, with Enron's silent accomplices helping to carry out the worst corporate fraud in our history, and GN&GL's Edward Murrow and Fred Friendly daring to stand up to Joseph McCarthy. I loved Good Night and Good Luck, great film, tremendous directing by George Clooney.

Last Days was a fascinating artistic idea from Gus Van Sant. The film is based on Kurt Cobain's last days and follows a rock star trying to recover from drug addiction and the pressures of public life and stardom in a secluded house in the woods. Much of the movie is unscripted and ad-libbed, and the direction and cinematography leaves a lot to viewer interpretation. For example, extended mood shots and shots where the actors are out of frame, the lead character mumbles through the whole movie (we turned on subtitles), and the lack of background musical score leaves the viewer to figure out what's important rather than be led to it. I thought it worked, the main character didn't speak coherently through most of the whole movie but came across as complicated and likable. If you rent the dvd, make sure to watch the "behind the scenes" extras to see more about the artistic concepts behind the film. Cool stuff.

Off to Coral Gables again tonight through Saturday for a fellowship workshop! Wish I actually had time to enjoy the sunny Florida weather.