My Poor Brain

Winter is here. The snow came down all day and night and covered everything. I was watching Kill Bill Vol.2 and then everything shuts off: no electricity. I looked out the window and see that everyone across the street has lights on. I went outside and it was just my side of the street that was out. I walked a little further and it was just about 20 houses that were out in a small area of town. I figured since it was such a small area that no one would really notice for a while.

I went back inside and my mom had a lantern set up and was knitting. I asked her to grab me a candle and she gave me an open flame, left it up to me to make sure I don’t knock it down. I brought the candle into my room and it set a very sexual mood, so I threw on my iPod, blew out the candle, and went to sleep. I woke up in the morning and the electricity had come back sometime in the night. Otherwise I would have had to go take a shower at my Grandma’s house because there would be no hot water in ours. I guess that support bar would be a plus in hers.

Everyone at work has been on my ass about dressing in Christmas cheer. I grabbed a long sleeve green thermal shirt with the “Famous Stars and Straps” logo on it. I got that shirt last year for Christmas and never felt the need to wear it until this year. Thanks for the gift Mom.

After work I called up Alex and we decided we were going to Wendy’s for some disgusting food. I got to my car in the driveway and shoveled that shit out. Twenty minutes later and my arms hurt, my lungs hurt, and my hands were frozen because I forgot to buy gloves this year. Alex, Ian and I went to Wendy’s and ate disgusting food. I told them I wanted to see “Slumdog Millionaire”, and they aren’t big movie types so I went with me and my movie loving self.

Slumdog Millionaire
The first obvious signs that this movie was going to be good was the entire internet saying so, and the Oscar considerations helped. The second sign was all the people walking out of the 7:00 showing discussing how great it was.

As soon as the movie sets its tone it really gets moving. Every scene was incredibly effective in telling the story and developing the characters in as little time as possible. There are films that are written in a slow paced, moody style, and Slumdog Millionaire is not one. The film covers this boy’s journey through life and covers so much ground in such at such a great pace, yet doesn’t feel rushed in any way. Jamal is the main character who gets to be on the Hindi version of Who Wants To Be a Millionaire. He answers all questions, and has to come back the next night to answer the final question to win 20 Million Rupees. He gets arrested the day before he is supposed to answer the question on suspicion of cheating. No one believes a slum kid can get this far on the show.

This film is not about Who Wants To Be a Millionaire, however. This film is about how you do not need to be a genius to know all the answers, you just need to experience life. It is about remaining true to what you believe in and not giving up. Most of the time Jamal was forced to take action, but there were times that he could have fallen under his bad luck and didn’t. Most of us have a lot more chances to not do anything and less chances to actually do something.

I love seeing films like these. There can be so much junk out that is just meant to keep you distracted from whatever is happening in the world. Just movies that don’t inspire, or deliver a new message, or a new take on an old but important message. These are the films that matter, and I guarantee that half the people I ask about it will say they never heard of it.

The best of everything is never mainstream, you’re going to have to look harder.