A Brief Sabbatical (Thanks to James Woods)
Okay, so I was all ready to talk about how I love the MGM HD channel because it allows me to revisit movies I haven't seen in years. Films like: Southern Comfort, Coffy, The Burning, and Interiors. And I was all ready to write about how the other night they showed this film called Cop, starring James Woods in one of his best performances, directed by James B. Harris who used to work on Kubrick's films from the 50's and 60's (most notably writing the screenplay and producing Paths of Glory), and how the film was standard serial killer vs. cop fare except for the fact that the film had this alluring, sleazy, Dirty Harry-esque exploitation aesthetic that made it impossible to turn away from (not to mention Woods' amazing performance). I was all ready to talk about a film called Cop, a film from the 80's that seems so insignificant in 2009 (I mean why talk about it?), a film that I'm sure not a lot of people have even seen, or if they have, barely remember; however, as I started writing some notes down I realized...I just don't have the time for this. Follow my jumbled thoughts after the jump...
You see, I love this blog and I put a lot of love into it. It's hard for me not to come to it every morning and try to write something for it...I treat it like a discipline, something I feel I should do every day to keep me practicing at this thing called writing. I realized last night, however, that I can't keep coming to the blog every morning when I have piles and piles of educational journals to read for graduate school. So I think I need to step back from the blog for a moment.
Fellow Olson and all around great guy, Rick is having similar issues with his blog, although here he opines that the blog is more of a daunting task than creative outlet (which he already has every week). For me it's the opposite, although I definitely understand how Rick feels...this blogging community I've come to know, a community full of intelligent cinephiles who have enriched my film-going experiences, can finicky at times. Hell, I'm as guilty as anyone when it comes to actually commenting on someones piece...sometimes I do it and sometimes I don't. I feel like this blog is more for me than anyone else, though, so whenever anyone comments on here it really just leaves me in a state of awe that people care enough to read what have to say and then actually comment on it. Very surreal. But I also know that I deserve it, too. Sure that may sound arrogant, but I put a lot of work into this blog and a lot of love into most of my pieces, so I don't think that the responses I get are unwarranted...I'm still grateful for every single one of them, though.
And I guess that's why it's so hard to walk away from this thing, even for a month or two, because like Rick says in his piece, this whole blogging enterprise feeds the ego. Which I think is okay to admit...it's what keeps me going on days I don't want to talk about anything. So, I'm setting the blog aside for about a month. I'll return in the middle of December when I will be on break from graduate school and on a winter break from work (one of the perks of being a teacher...). I still would like to finish my "Revisiting 1999" project (I have about four movies left to talk about), and I'll have a ton of movies to talk about when I return (It's the end of the year so there's always tons of movies to talk about) to the blog, and of course, I'll do the obligatory ten-best lists (one for this year and one for the decade).
I'll still lurk around on other blogs and continue my daily reading of all the fine blogs out there...hell, I may even break my own sabbatical and return every now and then with a Question of the Day, because those are easy and quick to produce, and wouldn't take my focus away from what I should be doing.
Looking at all the reading and lesson planning and assignments I have to do for school is making my head hurt...it's already making me wish I didn't have to leave the blog...even if it is only for a month. A month doesn't seem that long...and in reality it isn't, but this is something I look forward to every day, so...I'll miss it. I'll see you all around December 10th.
Kevin, I totally get where you're coming from. These blogs start out as cathartic vessels and quickly become all-consuming obsessions! It's like having a job you love... but don't get paid for, (what a crime). Good luck with your month-long voyage! We'll see you when you get back ;)
ReplyDeleteTake it easy, my friend. We'll all be here when you get back.
ReplyDeleteAs for COP, isn't that a great little down 'n' dirty cop thriller? It's actually a loose adaptation of one of James Ellroy's earlier novels. Reportedly, he hates it but I think it's a pretty astonishing film in the sense that it is so un-PC in retrospect and James Woods' character makes no pretense of being unlikable and yet the actor's charisma kinda makes you root for him.
Woods had some really fascinating roles in the '80s with SALVADOR, BEST SELLER, and TRUE BELIEVER. All worth tracking down and checking out.
Meredith:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words. I look forward to returning mid-December.
J.D.:
ReplyDeleteThanks for the kind words! I stupidly omitted that the film was based on an Ellroy novel -- it certainly has that seedy, noirish, Ellroy feel to it. I'm with ya 100% on Woods in the 80's, but especially this movie which takes an undeniably unlikable character and makes him into the hero -- not even an antihero -- just the hero of the story. I have a friend who works in corrections and she claims that a lot of the people she works with are so volatile that it's obvious (and I guess there's research to back this up, she said) that people who work in corrections or for the police have the personality traits of criminals -- some just choose to harness that and apply towards protecting society against those types, and others can't do that and become criminals. It's pretty fascinating.
I was also reminded of Kurt Russell's role in Dark Blue (which I also saw on MGM HD)...a little more generic than what Woods was going for with Cop, but a crazy performance nevertheless.
I love the MGM HD channel, hehe. I look forward to returning to the blog in mid-December.
Kevin, I couldn't imagine blogging when I was doing my graduate work. But I know what you mean about craving comments (Thanks for yours on Il Divo, by the way). Do what you need to and come back soon, and I'm glad to know you'll still be reading the rest of us.
ReplyDeleteBTW, it looks like I need to watch COP sometime.
Thanks, Samuel. I think you would dig Cop. If you get the MGM HD channel (or have OnDemand) it's playing all month.
ReplyDeleteWhat a wimp -- I seem to remember playing lots of Heroes of Might and Magic and watching plenty of wrestling, Baywatch, and Don West with you while I was in grad school.
ReplyDeleteOh, and don't you wish you had taken that ad money from the diamond guy now?
Enjoy Alienator, errrr, I mean reading scholarly journals ;)
I know! I'm a wimp. And yes...I should have taken the ad money, hehe.
ReplyDeleteKevin, there are far more important things in your life than this diversion, much as you like it, and as much as you have been enriched by it and have met some wonderful people. Yes, graduate school is a million times more important, and you need to focus there. A number of others besides Rick have pulled back (Alexander Coleman is a perfect example) and I've noticed as of late as I'm sure you have that the comment totals are way down on most blogs, and posting has become sporadic in all but a few. Over saturation is never a good thing. But I know you have a passion for this, and both you and your brother Troy (as of late I've come to realize what a truly great brother you have there, and I say this sincerely not as any kind of brownosing) have brightened the blogging community up with your tireless partcipating and wide-ranging knowledge and enthusiasm.
ReplyDeleteYou need a break. You deserved a break. Will speak to you soon.
What Sam said.
ReplyDeleteBlogging certainly takes a lot of time and effort ... how much "work" it is depends on the blogger. As I said in response to a similar post on another blog: This isn't the slave ship in Ben-Hur, so stop rowing the oar for a while.
What I look for in bloggers -- besides thoughtful, engaging, entertaining copy -- is the sense that they want to be there. When bloggers start posting things just to feed the monster, just to keep up, it becomes pretty obvious pretty quickly.
So don't be that guy. Take a break. Do the work you've got to do. Post when you have time and energy. Don't worry about it when you don't. The blog, and your audience, will be here when you get back.
Sam:
ReplyDeleteThanks as always for the kind words. I look forward to continuing to lurk around your blog leaving comments when I feel compelled to. I'll see ya back here in mid December!
Jason:
ReplyDeleteYou're right, this whole blogging business should never be a chore, and I don't think it ever really has become one for me (otherwise I would have no problem with just abandoning the whole damn thing), but I my dilemma is I like TOO much, hehe, and I feel like I need to take this break to focus on the things that are obviously more important.
I'll miss my creative outlet, and the way in which I engage with other cinephiles, but I look forward to returning in mid December where there will be plenty of good film to talk about.
I'll continue to swing by The Cooler, eagerly anticipating your rant on Children of Men. Thanks for the kind words, Jason.
Hey, my friend. Have a nice break. We all need to do what we need to do. As the movie to which at the moment I am paying only minimal attention to would have it "Whatever Works."
ReplyDeleteKevin J. Olson:
ReplyDelete"I have a friend who works in corrections and she claims that a lot of the people she works with are so volatile that it's obvious (and I guess there's research to back this up, she said) that people who work in corrections or for the police have the personality traits of criminals -- some just choose to harness that and apply towards protecting society against those types, and others can't do that and become criminals. It's pretty fascinating."
Agreed. I think it is that allure that also fascinates filmmakers like Michael Mann who certainly explores that sometimes thin line between cop and criminal. I find it endlessly fascinating to see play out in films... Also, Sidney Lumet's cop corruption films explore this in great detail also.
I quite enjoyed DARK BLUE as well. I mean, it's got Kurt Russell in it! But that crazy scene where's driving in the middle of the LA riots is quite harrowing and intense.
Thanks, Rick. I payed minimum attention to that movie too! Hehe.
ReplyDeleteJ.D.:
ReplyDeleteYou're right, that is probably what draws people like Mann to that kind of material, the thin line, as you put it, between criminal and cop. It's always intrigued me, too. I just added Lumet's Prince of the City to my queue last night because I haven't seen it (always wanted to, but just never got around to it)...I look forward to watching that in the coming months.
That scene you mention from Dark Blue is one of the only moments that really sticks out to me in regards to that film. It was a so-so film with a great freaking performance by Kurt Russell.
PRINCE OF THE CITY is a good one! But my fave Lumet cop corruption film has always been Q & A if only for a ferocious performance by Nick Nolte.
ReplyDeleteI was also reminded of Kurt Russell's role in Dark Blue..a little more generic than what Woods was going for with Cop, but a crazy performance nevertheless.
ReplyDeleteInteresting blog as for me. I'd like to read a bit more about that topic.
ReplyDeleteBTW look at the design I've made myself A level escorts
Wow, Kevin, you're getting comments from escort services now...you HAVE arrived!
ReplyDeletenot a live (level) escort, but still...there's such thing as italian horror? for mr it's alain delon and the Mafia.
ReplyDeleteMan, I suck. I gotta check out what's going on in my blog circle more often.
ReplyDeleteWell, I guess you'll be back in about a week and a half, Kevin, and I'll be there when you return. And believe you me, I understand why you're doing this.
Kevin---looking forward to reading your new posts once you're back in the saddle. This is a great blog--viva Hugo Stiglitz! Though I have to confess, a Paul Naschy Makes Movies companion blog would not suck either :-)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Joe. I'm glad you like the blog. Always nice to know there are other Italian horror (and Hugo Stiglitz!) fans out there. Look forward to seeing ya around here.
ReplyDeleteHello Kevin!
ReplyDeleteJust wanted to drop by and touch bases with you. Hope all is well with school, and look forward to you re-opening shop. You are missed.
Hey Sam:
ReplyDeleteI should start posting again in the next couple of days. Thanks for dropping by!
I think it's a pretty astonishing film in the sense that it is so un-PC in retrospect and James Woods' character makes no pretense of being unlikable and yet the actor's charisma kinda makes you root for him.
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