The Writer's Life 11/22 - Renaissance Man

John Sayles is a modern renaissance man, film-maker, screenwriter, editor, actor, novelist and short story writer. His films are challenging, almost as un-commercial as can be. Last night I watched Go For Sisters (2013), the story of a parole officer’s search for her missing son. The pace of Sayles’ work is usually leisurely. He is more interested in character than action. Lisa Gay Hamilton, Yolonda Ross and Edward James Olmos are the stars. Olmos, looking every bit his 67 years, is outstanding as an ex-cop hired to help find the missing man. There is a lot of tension, suspense and dark foreboding. I had no idea how it would end, and that's a good thing. The film seems to have been largely ignored. Only 267 users at IMDb have rated it, forging to a consensus of 6.1 of ten, which seems too low, although I realize it is unconventional fare likely to attract only fans of the director. He keeps it real, grounded. Those who prefer explosive action should pass. There is barely any commentary on the film, either positive or negative, at IMDb, which is most unusual given the delight some take in criticism. Sayles has received many awards and has been nominated for a couple of Oscars. His most praised film is Lone Star (1996), his most accessible Eight Men Out (1988), a re-creation of the infamous Black Sox baseball scandal. He has 29 credits listed as a director, 35 as a screenwriter, 29 as an actor, and 15 as an editor. He has also written four novels, two short story collections, and a book about his experience making Matewan (1987), which concerns a dark moment in America history regarding unions vs. management. His short story, I-80 Nebraska, won the O Henry Award. His novel, Union Dues, was nominated for the National Book Award. What an impressive canon.

The impossible has occurred seven days apart. Last week Wisconsin RB Melvin Gordon had 408 yards rushing on 25 carries vs. Nebraska, a good team. Today Oklahoma freshman Samaje Perine ran for 427 yards on 34 carries vs. Kansas, a very bad team. Obviously, college football defenses have a long way to go to catch up to the offenses. It's ridiculous, as is reflected in the basketball-like scores of some games.

Taking to the streets each day to sell books, one is bound to see interesting events. In yesterday's bitter cold, there were two incidents that had me chuckling. A woman in sandals, who had just had a pedicure, came rushing past me, obviously anxious to get home. Across the street, a young man, who I assume had just had a haircut, was swatting at his bare torso with a T-shirt, then ran his fingers through his scalp to cast loose hairs into the stiff wind. Nothing like that occurred today, but I thank Jack of Chase, who purchased yet another thriller, and the genteel Asian man who bought three hardcover books. 

Vic's 4th novel: tinyurl.com/bszwlxh

Vic's 3rd Novel: http://tinyurl.com/7e9jty3

Vic's Short Story on Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/k95k3nx
Vic's Short Story Collection: http://www.tiny.cc/Oycgb
Vic's 2nd Novel: http://tiny.cc/0iHLb Kindle: http://tinyurl.com/kx3d3uf
Vic's 1st Novel: http://tiny.cc/rP7o9

Vic's Rom-Com Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/kny5llp

Vic's Horror Screenplay: http://tinyurl.com/cyckn3f

Vic's Blog: http://vicfortezza.blogspot.com/

Vic's Web Site: http://members.tripod.com/vic_fortezza/Literature/