Since the temperature was forecast to be near 100, I wasn't unhappy about accompanying Arlynn to the doctor at mid afternoon and losing a day at the floating bookshop. I'm sure sales would have been paltry, perhaps even zilch, and she paid me, although I did not ask for it. Her bills have been arriving and have passed $200,000. She believes they will reach $300,000. She says: "Is it any wonder Medicare is going broke?"
Last night I watched an outstanding independent film, Buried (2010), courtesy of Netflix. The entire 90 minutes takes place in a coffin. It is part mystery, thriller and political commentary, and it worked on all levels except for one brief aspect that seemed outlandish overkill but fell in line with most artists' view of the business world. It is an allegory on the U.S. involvement in Iraq. Those who opposed the war or believe its price was too high will likely think it is spot on. Those of us who supported the war will have to wait years, if not decades, to see if the film-makers were wrong. Given what some pundits call "the Arabs genius for failure," which has been going on for 2000 years or so, no one would be surprised if the entire Middle East fell under the thumb of Islamofascists. The so-called Arab Spring, the current uprisings, may be a direct result of what is taking place in Iraq. Still, it won't be known for a long time if the results are positive. Are the odds even 50-50? Will the Arab Street reject Jihad and embrace Democracy? We should all live so long. Stayed tuned.
Kudos to director Ricardo Cortes, who made a riveting film in a single, cramped setting, and to actor Ryan Reynolds, both of whose previous work I had not known. Reynolds has more than 50 credits, including a guest spot on one of my favorite shows, The X-Files. I do not remember it.
All but one of the links at my alternate website is live: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/
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