Zander’s Weblog

A light-weight though enjoyable documentary about the life and work of Howard Zinn. This film should be a good introduction for those unfamiliar with Zinn’s philosophy and work. The real gold is in reading his works.

Lynn V. Foster’s book condenses the centuries-long and amazingly complex history of Mexico into a crisp 256 pages. Very readable and quite interesting, a tribute to both Foster’s style and the inherent appeal of the material. For example, you’ve got to admire Santa Anna for his persistence–he grabbed (by force if necessary) the presidency 11 times between 1833 and 1855. And did you know that remittances home by U.S. immigrants is currently one of the largest sources of foreign revenues (13 billion in 2002), second only to oil exports?

Did you believe things as a child that you have since learned are not true? Have you changed and grown during the last 10 or 20 years? Has the world changed? Was there such a thing as laparoscopic surgery or the iPhone or a computer disk drive with no moving parts 20 years ago? And when you go to a foreign country do you get the impression that people are not like you–that they think and speak and behave quite differently? So now try to place yourself back 2000 years, into a very different culture–one struggling to survive in a difficult environment–and try to imagine what they were thinking when they wrote what they did in the bible. Do you think they spoke like kids in California today–that they used words in the same way–to mean the same things we do? They didn’t even have a word or concept for homosexual (word not created until 1869).
Today it is well established that one’s genes (not even imagined in 33 AD) are more important in determining sexual orientation than, say, right or left-handedness. And that the prenatal hormonal environment has a strong influence (as a woman bears more male children, the odds of gay offspring climb since she builds antibodies to male structures).
Many people have little cause to concern themselves with these questions, but if you do this is the best recent film on the subject and well worth a viewing.

A fun, high-energy documentary, that takes a look at Joe Strummer and The Clash from start to finish. Lots of interview footage with the likes of, among many others, Brigitte Bardot, Bono, Steve Buscemi, John Cusack, Johnny Depp, Matt Dillon, David Lee Roth, and, of course, Joe Strummer. Gives you a whole new appreciation for “Rock the Casbah”. My only wish, not being the best with names/faces/famous people, is that they would have tastefully displayed the names of the people appearing in the interviews. Here’s a great cover by the Algerian rocker Rachid Taha:

If you’ve read Micheal Pollan’s book “The Omnivore’s Dilemma: A Natural History of Four Meals” the issues addressed in this movie will be more than familiar. The tone, however, is rather younger, more superficial, and lighter. Both are quite enjoyable, and highlight problems most folks would rather not think about. I’d suggest you read the book first, then watch the movie to get the aroma and visuals.

I watched the 3-episode PBS documentary–next I’ve got to read the book! I especially enjoyed episode 2, with its re-enactment of the taking of Peru by the Spanish in the 16th Century. All in all very interesting material, but a bit watered down with all the usual television documentary gift-wrapping and repetition. I’m certain the book will be better. One thing I’m wondering whether the book covers is something I thought missing from the “big three”, which should be included in a “big four”: avarice.

A very well made documentary that puts us in the shoes of the immigrants. Other players in the drama are also given some air time (police, aid workers, government officials, vigilantes), but the main focus is on the migrants themselves. One comes away with a much better understanding of how complex the situation is. Poverty and lack of opportunity (employment, educational) seem to form the root. Starving people are always hugely motivated to find resources. In so doing, they expose themselves to the depredations of several classes of vultures. All parties involved eventually develop vested interests in the status quo. I am not optimistic.

Interviews with members of the resistance in Iraq, filmed about 4 years ago. The motivations given were certainly plausible, even predictable. Bush et al. were idiots for going there. Leaving is the best and only option.

Fleshes out, in more ways than one, and in Errol Morris’ inimitable style, what little we gleaned from the news reports of the day. But as the film’s title suggests, SOP is unlikely to change (nor are governments or military establishments). Given the subject matter I feel guilty mentioning the stunning cinematography, and Danny Elfman’s great music, but there you have it.

Wonderful bio-pic of an explosively prolific artist/musician who drifts between genius and bipolar disorder.