How To While Away A Monday In January

The Husband & I had the best of intended plans to make it to a showing of The Artist today, a rare day off together. We each barely made it out of the house for our individual errands. We took a nap in the early afternoon & then chose to stay in for a movie. We watched The Help. I didn't intend to enjoy it. I wanted to remain cynical. I had not read the best seller that the film was adapted from, but I knew what to expect from the film version... Pure Oscar Bait Hollywood Sap. I felt it would be a little trite & twee &, possibly, offensive.

Tate Taylor

Emma Stone stars as a young writer exposing the injustices suffered by black housemaids in 1960s Mississippi in the adaptation of Kathryn Stockett’s novel by openly gay screenwriter/director Tate Taylor, his very first full length feature. Stone: “I didn’t live through the ’60s, so one of the ways I was able to really understand that struggle was by looking at what’s happening in America now with the gay community.”

Plans change & preconceived notions are blurred. I loved The Help. I give it a strong B+ on the Steve Report Card. What a lovely experience to watch Sissy Spacek & Cisley Tyson doing quality work in 2011! Terrific roles for women of different races & ages, acted with real commitment & class. I say just hand Octavia Spencer a golden statue. Viola Davis’ Aibileen trembles with a world weary world view & compromised pride of an intelligent woman forced to serve a dangerous & unfair world.

I was cautious because civil rights-era films are usually rousing works. The Help is an easily funny, well acted, sincere film that makes you angry when it’s supposed to, & makes you sad when it’s appropriate. It’s recommend it.

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We then shook off the moving experience of viewing The Help by watching something more typical of the offering I use tune in to- Blazing Saddles. Always a favorite at Post Apocalyptic Bohemia. I couldn't be bothered to get up & do something constructive because I'm Tired:

Here I stand, the goddess of Desire

Set men on fire

I have this power

Morning noon & night it's drink & dancing

Some quick romancing

& then a quick shower

Stage door johnnies always surround me

They always hound me

With one request

Who can satisfy their lustful habits

I'm not a rabbit!

I need some rest!

I'm tired,

Sick & tired of love

I've had my fill of love

from below & above

Tired

Tired of being admired

Tired of love uninspired

Let's face it

I'm tired!

I've been with 1000's of men

again & again

They promise the moon

They always coming & going

Going & coming

& always too soon!

I'm tired

Tired of playing the game

Ain't it a crying shame?

I'm so tired

God dammit I'm tired!

I'm tired

Tired of playing the game

Ain't it a crying shame

I'm so tired

Tired of being admired

Tired of love uninspired

I've been with 1000's of men

Again & again

They sing the same tune

They quote Byron & Shelly,

& jump on your belly

& bust your ballon!

I'm tired

Tired of playing the game

Ain't it a freakin shame

I'm so...

Let's face it,

Everything below the waste is kapput!
Brooks
1973