Late Lamented Hipster Salad

People were embarrassed to order it because of the dumb name, but it was the best salad Wegmans ever had, and it’s sad that they discontinued it:

Movies Watched -- Rear Window (1954)

114 minute running time so Hitchcock probably could have trimmed about 15 minutes off, but this is considered a classic, deservedly so. The value of war buddies, Princess Grace slumming in Greenwich Village, burly Raymond Burr as bad guy. Recommended, “green go.”

Vinny Canby wrote in 1983 that the movie is still a joy. He makes the good point that: “Air-conditioners would mean closed windows, and ‘Rear Window’ is completely dependent on open windows.”

I’m not much on rear window ethics.

Movies Watched -- The Iron Ministry (2015)

80 minute running time … a documentary and sort of a performance art piece in a way… filmed on trains in China between 2011 and 2013 … I lived in China from 2005 to 2015 and I also spent my junior year abroad there and did a year of post-grad study … anyway, I’ve experienced everything that the filmmaker captures — the sights, the sounds (including Kenny G. and a lot of phlegm being coughed up), the textures … and I love the earthy humor of the Chinese. People who’ve never been there may find it fascinating (and appalling).

J.P. Sniadecki (born in 1980) speaks really good Chinese, even better than mine (which at its height was pretty good). Looks like he did a year of language study at 华师大 (his junior year abroad) and a year at 清华 … he may have been living full time in China from 2008-2010 (it’s a blank on his resume).

I watched all the bonus material, which must have been stuff he cut out so the film wasn’t overly long … enjoyed it all, but makes me happier than ever that I’m not in China now.

个位旅客

Movies Watched -- Flame and Citron (2008)

In Danish and German. 136 minute running time so at least 30 to 40 minutes too long… Danish resistance in WWII … the story of two guys, heroes of the resistance … it’s OK, not bad, it just isn’t great and it’s overly long … it’s a John Farr recommendation, which means it’s never *terrible,* but still, I wasn’t super thrilled, especially given the length. Has Mads Mikkelsen and his weird, effeminate mouth in it, as well as a bunch of other Danish stars whom I half recognize. You can skip it.

Look, a drawing of Conan O’Brien

TV Shows Watched -- Prime Suspect (1991)

Around 3.5 hour running time … I re-watched the original season of Prime Suspect that aired nearly 30 years ago now, and it stands the test of time, largely because of Helen Mirren’s performance … interesting to see younger Tom WIlkinson and a very young Ralph Fiennes … the rented garage with the clamps on the wall has long scarred my memory … deservedly considered a classic; see it if you haven’t. I don’t think I’ve seen one of the later seasons.

Someone at the Guardian said it well: “Bleak, brutal and beautifully rendered, this was British crime drama at its absolute best.“

George has always been a bit of a lad.

Movies Watched -- Easy A (2010)

92 minutes, so the right length … stars bug-eyed Emma Stone … plays a high schooler in California … there are some funny bits, but it’s sort of a ridiculous storyline, and I wasn’t thrilled. She would not be an “unknown” in high school given her looks. Give it a miss.

The Jews and I have a lot in common. Fashion-wise. And stuff. [Gluck directed]

Movies Watched -- Millennium Mambo (2001)

100 minute running time, so the perfect length, but this was pretty terrible and a complete waste of time even on fast forward, It stars then 25-year-old Shu Qi, who is very beautiful and can convincingly smoke a cigarette (after cigarette), but there’s no story here … t’s just a blank, who cares? The only thing I can think is that the old director, Hsiao-hsien Hou, is a bit of a perv and wanted to give her a lot of camera time, which she certainly got. But oh boy, full red, total avoid.

我该怎么办？[you can quit chain smoking for one thing]

Taking a Closer Look at Another Madaz Trade

Madaz was kind enough to share his screen footage from a trade he made in KRTX. You can open the enlarged chart below (by clicking on it) as you watch the video in another tab for a better understanding of this five minute scalp. Enjoy!

View fullsize

Click to enlarge

Earlier:

A Method to His Madness

Dissecting a Madaz Play

One Disaster and One Near Disaster

Studying Madaz's Trades in $SES

Movies Watched -- Prince of the City (1981)

168 minute running time, nearly 3 hours long! so at least 70 minutes too long…. corruption in the NYC police department … one cop turns informant and you’re never really sure why … interminable story, I can’t imagine watching it all at normal speed … lead overacts like a madman … not interesting … only thing of note is how awful New York City looks: trash-strewn, dirty and gray. Give this endless, on and on and on movie a miss!

Ciello de Rozzo

Movies Watched -- Witchfinder General (1968)

86 minute running time so the perfect length, but long sequences of horse riding through the countryside to pad it out means you can fast forward large sections … Vincent Price plays a witch-finder in 17th C. England … lots of gooey orange fake blood shed …low budget … pretty lame all around, definitely give it a miss.

Perhaps in the quiet of your room tonight, you might be able to help me prove him guiltless.