Movies Watched -- A Dirty Carnival (2006)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

In Korean. 141 minute running time so at least 45 minutes too long. Korean gangster movie / soap opera … I have no idea why this was in my queue, but I quickly went to 32x fast forward. A waste of one of my precious few Netflix DVD rentals before they disappear altogether.

Can I like you?

Movies Watched -- The Lighthouse (2019)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

109 minute running time so could have shaved 10 minutes off, but I liked this one, it’s a green-go. Same guy who made The Witch (Wouldst thou like to see the World?), which I also recommended (though I can’t find the blog post now … maybe lost on the old Cialis Wordpress site). Madness and old-timey language are things Eggers likes. Lot of humor in this. Wonder if the sound design was informed by Leviathan, which I also liked. Not sure if the young guy had the acting chops to do this movie, but Dafoe was great. John Farr recommended this too, as did my masseuse, pre-COVID. I’m glad I finally saw it. Recommended!

Screeeeeeeech

Movies Watched -- Owning Mahowny (2003)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

105 minute running time … the story of a bank manager from Toronto who had a gambling problem and embezzled from the bank to cover his debts … until he got caught. Philip Seymour Hoffman is pretty good and Mini Driver is definitely cute … it wasn’t good enough for me to recommend, though John Farr did. John Hurt plays a good sleazy casino man; his best role of course was in The Elephant Man.

I promise.

Social Determinants of Health Screening

Added on by C. Maoxian.

Why was I asked these questions before an upcoming appointment with my doctor? Can anyone explain to me?

  • Within the past 12 months, you worried that your food would run out before you got the money to buy more.

  • Within the past 12 months, the food you bought just didn’t last and you didn’t have money to get more.

  • In the past 12 months, has lack of transportation kept you from medical appointments or from getting medications?

  • In the past 12 months, has lack of transportation kept you from meetings, work, or from getting things needed for daily living?

  • In the last 12 months, was there a time when you were not able to pay the mortgage or rent on time?

  • In the last 12 months, how many places have you lived?

  • In the last 12 months, was there a time when you did not have a steady place to sleep or slept in a shelter (including now)?

“For more immediate support related to food, housing, transportation and other social services, call 2-1-1.”

I had no idea this existed, but I do pay 38% of my income to the tax man….

Movies Watched -- XXY (2007)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

In Spanish. 86 minute running time. The story of a girl was was born with BOTH female and male sex organs, which must be like a one in a billion thing … further muddies the gender confusion/dysphoria debates that now abound … Director Lucia Puenzo is an Argentinian nepo-baby (her dad is Luis Puenzo) … I wasn’t too thrilled with this … there was a brief “Boy’s Don’t Cry” scene which was much milder than BDC — that one scarred me for life. This was NOT a John Farr recommendation and I have no idea why it was in my queue. You can give it a miss for sure.

I’ll show you mine if you show me yours … hold up! wait a minute! somethin’ ain’t right!

Movies Watched -- In a Better World (2010)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

In Danish. 118 minute running time so at least 20 minutes too long. I got this in part because John Farr recommended it, but mainly because I was so blown away by Trine Dyrholm’s performance in Troubled Water that I wanted to see more of her acting (and her great tits). It also starred Kai Proctor (from Banshee), whom I’ve always liked. Anyway, the story was sort of contrived, I wasn’t too thrilled with it … it’s not bad, in the old days I’d give it a “yellow” consider seeing it rating. But it ain’t a green-go for sure. Yes, “the ethics of nonviolence in the face of sociopathic evil and rage” is interesting, but this was made by a woman…. it won the Oscar for best foreign film in 2010.

You killed him you psychopathic monster…

Movies Watched -- Rapt (2009)

Added on by C. Maoxian.

In French. 125 minute running time so at least 30 minutes too long. Kidnapping movie. I wasn’t thrilled with this. Boring and you kind of wanted the kidnappers to kill this guy. I did laugh when the cops would open ransom envelopes with their bare hands and run to drop box locations in train stations. Pointless in the end. No idea why John Farr recommended it. I certainly don’t.

Vie difficile