Nathan at the pool
Friday, June 30, 2006
"Cash" vs. Cash
VS.
I am a fan of Johnny Cash. I happen to also be a fan of Joaquin Phoenix and Reese Witherspoon. I, however, hated "Walk the Line." I anticipated seeing this film many months in advance, and ended up renting it the first few days after it was released. I was gripped all the way through, and then, pow, it was over....all fall, no redemption.
It took a while for me to even listen to a Johnny Cash album after watching that. I mean, part of the draw to Cash is the "outsider" or "rebellious" aura that surrounds Cash's life, but there is more to the man in black than just the black.
I recently picked up Cash: The autobiography from our public library, and flew through its 300ish pages. This is the literary equivalent to what Cash has created musically since 1955; a collection of stories that cut through the bullshit and "tell it like it is."
The stories alone are interesting, but it is Cash's heart that beats throughout these tales and gives them life. For example, the reader can sense that though Cash loves all his children, he TREASURES the relationship that he has with his only son, John Carter Cash. *As the father of two boys, these stories/passages really hit home*
A critic would (and has) read this autobiography and made comments about how the book feels disjointed, unorganized, and amateurish...but this is what gives the book its charm. The reader gains the sense that he is sitting with Johnny Cash and listening to him tell story after story sitting on his porch in Jamaica, Tennessee, or Florida. You can almost feel the sun shining on your face as you listen to this man share about family, music, faith, pills, fame, love, and friends.
This is the Johnny Cash that the world should remember.
It took a while for me to even listen to a Johnny Cash album after watching that. I mean, part of the draw to Cash is the "outsider" or "rebellious" aura that surrounds Cash's life, but there is more to the man in black than just the black.
I recently picked up Cash: The autobiography from our public library, and flew through its 300ish pages. This is the literary equivalent to what Cash has created musically since 1955; a collection of stories that cut through the bullshit and "tell it like it is."
The stories alone are interesting, but it is Cash's heart that beats throughout these tales and gives them life. For example, the reader can sense that though Cash loves all his children, he TREASURES the relationship that he has with his only son, John Carter Cash. *As the father of two boys, these stories/passages really hit home*
A critic would (and has) read this autobiography and made comments about how the book feels disjointed, unorganized, and amateurish...but this is what gives the book its charm. The reader gains the sense that he is sitting with Johnny Cash and listening to him tell story after story sitting on his porch in Jamaica, Tennessee, or Florida. You can almost feel the sun shining on your face as you listen to this man share about family, music, faith, pills, fame, love, and friends.
This is the Johnny Cash that the world should remember.
Saturday, June 24, 2006
Review: Green Street Hooligans
"Hooligans" is a great, gritty British movie, but how to describe it in one SAT-style analogy...oh, I know.
Green Street Hooligans: "football" :: Trainspotting: "heroin."
Ok, so I came up with that while watching the movie and thought it was pretty funny. The two films are similar for some reason...though I can't place it, must just be the cammeraderie and the (not similar at all) accents involved.
Some of the critics have mentioned that this film is pretty bankrupt due to its lack of a moral, or rather that it does have a moral..."We learn that violence is bad, except when it feels good, or helps solve our problems." Gary Thompson, Philadelphia Daily News.
Something, though, about this movie really involves the audience. Upon sitting here and reflecting a little, I'm upset that the writer/director/filmmaker did a poor job of fleshing out these really gripping and deep characters in favor of a good smash-up.
Elijah Wood gives a great performance as the "Yank" who gets involved with the Green Street Elite. I didn''t know if I could stand seeing Frodo in another non-Tolkien role...in my mind, I have that battling Shelob grimace pasted on any of the photos I've seen since...but he turns from shy, cowardly yankee to a football hooligan with a swagger very nicely. Brilliant performance.
Rating: 3.5 out of 5
RIYL: Transpotting; Snatch; Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels; etc, and it must be mentioned although I haven't seen it, yet, the original football hooligan film, The Firm (1988).
Wednesday, June 21, 2006
Saturday, June 17, 2006
For those of you waiting to hear.
Baby boy #2 came into our lives this morning (Fri, 6/16/06) at 12:10am.
Nathan Kainalu Horsman was born weighing 8lbs 2 ounces. JoAnna received an epidural and delivered the baby as though it was no big deal, after only 10-15 minutes of pushing. We were smiling and chatting in between pushes....kinda surreal looking back.
Both momma and baby are healthy, JoAnna received some medication shortly after the birth to help with nausea and this made her completely incoherent. It was a little sad because she didn't get to hold Nathan very long as she was falling asleep. Dadda was able to have some real good "bonding" time with Nathan while she recovered.
Lucas spent the night with babysitters and was brought to the hospital early this morning to meet his new little brother. He seemed as happy about the situation as any (near) 2 1/2 year old could be. When Lucas and Daddy came home to sleep on Friday night, Lucas said, "Baby baby Nathan, love you." unprompted...so cute.
A word about the name. We felt the need to have some Hawaiian influence on Nathan's name because he was born here. There is some speculation if we will stay, but in all likelihood he will be living the majority of his childhood on the mainland. We wanted him to have a reminder of where he was born. The name "Kainalu" is Hawaiian and means, simply: ocean waves. Also, as a pronunciation guide...ky nall oo.
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