Letters from the Inside, Michael Swango, #8

Dear KK---

Sorry for the delay in responding to your series of sparkling letters! I could truly listen to you all day and then some... Unfortunately I had some legal letters to take care of--and they always take longer than one thinks. I had hoped to get this out to you on Thursday. Depending on time, this may or may not be another two-part letter. C'est la vie.

Let me begin by telling you that the stamps are amazing, with your (to me) "iconic" photograph! Do you know many people who take advantage of that unique option from the post office?

I'm actually not surprised at your comments re "SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK". Before it came out there was quite a bit of buzz over another film by Charlie Kaufman--whose body of work was fairly impressive: "Being John Malkovich"; "Adaptation"; "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind".

A note on "Being John Malkovich"--to me just an amazing film--so original, and despite its totally bizarre premise-hung together very well. I barely recognized Cameron Diaz at first!

Anyway, then "SYNECDOCHE, NEW YORK" went to the critics. And the Times Manohla Dargis gave it this astonishingly brilliant review-calling it one of the best films of the year, and giving Oscar nods to almost everyone in the film. However: the general criticism was summed up best by a reviewer I saw on TV, who said, that "if ten people saw the film: One would absolutely love it and nine would hate the film and probably walk out before it was over.

*Brief Digression: Because you mentioned a shared fascination wit names. Your name is delightfully alliterative-so I mist ask you -- what was your maiden name? Not so quick off the tongue? My name: not so much.

A name I think is also great: EDNA ST. VINCENT MILLAY I have the same fascination with words--some are just beautiful to see and pronounce, period: INCANDESCENT ++, MESMERIZE

* As you've probably learned by now, my letters & even sentences tend to wander & digress considerably. I guess I treat letters as more of a conversation. My role model must be Laurence Stern & Tristam Shondy!

Back to your most-appreciated comments on the film (you are the first person I know who has actually seen it). It sounds as though Kaufman became "too clever by half", to use a once popular phrase. My understanding was that as Hoffman/Cotard began building his "model" of New York City, it gradually grew larger and larger & more & more complex until it eventually consumed everything in his life. plus I gather there was a lot of self-referential circular logic; i.e.-A true-to-life "model" of Cotard's New York would also include Cotard building a model of New York, and so on...mirrors within mirrors.

Sounded very ambitious and very difficult to pull off. And I tend to believe your reaction than a single review by a clearly "smitten" Ms. Dargis.
Thanks-If I get a chance to see it, I will tell you what I think.

On the brighter side, it appears "Sunshine Cleaning" lived up to its good reviews. I did see "Junebug" and agree with you on the film and Ms. Adams. So many movies, so little time. I am impressed by the number you see. Then again, only in New York or L.A. would you even have the chance! : Regarding the ones you mentioned:

>I also saw a review of "Goodbye Solo" apparently the story of a Senegalese cab driver in Winston-Salem, NC and his interaction with a "mysterious white Southerner." Sounds original and well-written.

>"Education of Charlie Banks" - Fred Durst's directorial debut-the "At the Movies" reviewers seemed to like it.

>"Shall We Kiss?" (French). This one I have not heard of; but I am a huge fan of French cinema. Past & current.

Did You See Kristen Scott Thomas in the French Film : "I'VE LOVED YOU SO LONG". In the film Thomas is a pale, wan woman released from a French prison after serving 15 years for killing her six-year old son. [Why she killed him is only revealed later...] We see her slow, painful attempts to reintegrate into society-living, with her younger sister, and the sister's skeptical husband & their two children.

Kristin Scott Thomas is another actress who I will watch in almost any film. Here she is just riveting-playing her role obviously underweight, pale skin and no makeup. (It's on DVD now).

I hesitate to recommend it, since "PRIMER" was clearly not your cup of tea. :-) But that's one of the reasons. I am so intrigued & fascinated-you have strong & intelligent opinions & I love that.

Digression: Anything you wish to talk about is simply fine with me. It sounds like you've had enough of the "male perspective" on things to last you a lifetime-but despite being where I am presently, I've lived a very full life in every sense of the word--places, people (male & female) emoticons, travels. So feel free to go in any direction you want, KK, I'll follow.

Hope you don't mind me giving my personal reactions to your "Out of the Box" columns / and (when you send them!) your "Unbearable Heaviness of Being" diary-cum-blog. To me to whole point of what you write is to shine a light on the vast array of human experience for each person who read it.

Back to films: Thinks for the additional comments on "Two Lovers". It seems like Gwyneth Paltrow hasn't been in many films lately. "PROOF" '05 [film adaption of the play.] was interesting [I'm a mat geek, what can I say?]I have not seen "Possession", but wanted to beacause it was directed by Neil LaBute.

Joaquin Phoenix is always worth watching. Until he grew the giant beard in this latest incarnation [ is it a hoax, or not? ] I'm sure "the ladies" watched him on scrren for more than just his acting.

I think I'm the only person liked M. Night Shyamalan's "The Village" ...

Two fascinating Phoenix films-both under-appreciated in my opinion: "Clay Pigeons"; and the harrowing, brutal film, "8MM". You cannot make a film about a "snuff film" and not have it to be brutal & bleak & disturbing. But good-or so I thought.

"Walk the Line": I think the reason he wasn't more honored for his work in that film was because co-star Reese Witherspoon seemed to overwhelm the critics-and of course took home the Oscar for "Best Actress."

Ran acorss, the enclosed items concerning two current films:

>LYMELIFE-"the late - 70s set Long Island cousin of "American Beauty."

>"BAADER-MEINITOF COMPLEX" (German) (German cinema also a favorite of mine.) [Actually, as you can probably tell there are very few films I would not go to see with you or watch on DVD!]
***

In watching again the first & second seasons of "Lost" - I think the episode that clinched it for me was early in the 2nd Season: "ORIENTATION." That's the one where they showed that bizarre & utterly mesmerizing training film from The Dharma Initiative. To me, that opened up so many questions-and I haven't stopped asking since.

Not sure if you saw the most recent two episodes. There is a fascinating conversation about the island's time travel. Miles (or it it the other "scientist"?) Miles (or is it the other "scientist"?) believes that where they are NOW IS their "present" - but for the child Ben and all the others it is their "past". At the same time?! Clearly a logical contraction - or is it?

<Now you can see why I want to read the script of "PRIMER" to find out exactly what the director thought was going on!> The paradoxes of time travel are endlessly interesting...

I have not seen "9 1/2 Weeks" for quite some time, but I vividly recall the scene with the song "You Can Leave Your Hat On."

A couple of years ago. I saw some photos of Mickey Rourke and did not believe it was the same same-so radically had his appearance changed.

Sorry to drop that comment about Madoff without proper context. If you think of the federal system as a series of funnels--everyone is initially funnelled into intake centers like MCC-essentially pre-trial or pre-sentencing incarnation. Because of that these places are not set up for long-term stays. Once Madoff is sentenced, he will go to a "better" place from his point of view.

Actually, this goes to a larger issue which I want to discuss in greater detail. Let me get my thoughts together and share it with you in a future letter. Essentially it is this: Remember Orwell's famous line from ANIMAL FARM: "All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others" ? To paraphrase: While it may be correct that "all prison is awful", it is also correct that "some prison" is far, far more awful than others. Indeed there are as many degrees of gradation in incarceration as there are degrees of freedom.

KK-Madoff & this subject are clearly much more "serious" than some others-but with no w/p editing possible-my letters often have no rhyme or reason, insofar as level of importance, etc. & order.

***


Continuing with your mini-series of letters.

>I do not know the photography of Cindy Sherman-although her name does sound familiar. Plus I've seen some photo spreads of particular actors/ actresses dressed as various personas. Send a couple of the photos from her exhibition. It sounds like she takes it to a whole other level.

>You know, it may not be Africa, but India is about as exotic as it gets. Do tell me more about that adventure. And it sounds like you have the rarest of all human creatures: someone you can travel with-for long periods of time-without throwing them of the cruise boat or train!

From some of your columns, I had the idea that you were quite the cook! You mentioned chicken curry-did you bring back any extra-special recipes or techniques from India/or has that always been a favorite?

My favorites? Can't name one but like you I will name several: Seafood: esp. scallops, crab, shrimp-whether broiled, sautéed, fried, etc. Those "unhealthy" meats-steak & pork. One thing I did in Africa was eat virtually every game meat you can imagine. Ostrich, giraffe, wildebeest. And no-they don't all taste like chicken! however, having lived in the south much of childhood-fried chicken is part of my DNA-the crispier & more deep fried the better. I know-amazing I'm still here; however, the diet here is actually quite balanced and healthy.

I must get this in the mail, but I still have more to talk about & discuss from your letters. Mainly those brilliant articles you so kindly sent: "Author, Author" by David Sedaris, "Hell Hole" and "Sex and the Single Bed" by KK.

By the way, I truly love the New Yorker. Feel free to share anything from that magazine at any time.

So I will get those comments out to you pronto. "Part 2"

I ran across this column by Michael Wilson from the Sunday NY Times. [I see it on occasion]. It reminded me so much of your column, I thought I would send it along. You've probably already seen it & read it, but on the off chance that was one of your busier weekends...



Like I said-More to follow shortly. Stay warm, stay safe, and hope to hear from you again soon. Look forward to more of your columns and your BLOG/diary (exactly what do I call it?!)

P.S. We must talk about these migraines.

[Ed.: He enclosed the aforementioned film reviews and this article from the NYT, which I had, indeed, already read: Who Ordered Gigli?