Cast of Characters:

I've decided to concentrate Letters from the Inside on these main prisoners. I have been posting letters from all and just wanted to take this opportunity to recap on who they are and why they are in prison.

1) Dr. Michael Swango - Swango was a doctor accused of killing up to 60 people via poison. He non-fatally poisoned even more. He is in prison in Colorado for life. There was a book written about him and his crimes called BLIND EYE by James B. Stewart. Click HERE for his Wikipedia entry.

2) Thomas Bart Whitaker - Whitaker is a young man accused of enlisting someone to kill his family. His father survived the attack and has very publicly forgiven him. Whitaker is currently on Death Row in Texas. He recently appeared on Oprah along with his father. His father wrote a book about Whitaker and his crime called: MURDER BY FAMILY Read a brief summary: HERE

3) Sarah Jo Pender - Pender is a woman who had her roommates killed. She was put in prison with a lengthy sentence. I believe eight years into serving her sentence she broke out of jail and was out on the lamb for months. America's Most Wanted profiled her and her escape and she was caught. She then appeared on the show discussing her crime. She is currently in prison for life in Indiana and serving a full year in isolation. You can read more about the case HERE

4)Susan Smith - Smith was convicted of killing her two young boys by putting them into her jeep and driving them into a lake. Read more HERE She is currently serving a life sentence in South Carolina with a possibility of parole in 2024.

***

In addition to these four main inmates, I also have written to:

- Richard Allen Davis - WIKIPEDIA ENTRY. He is currently serving life in California for kidnapping and killing 12-year old Polly Klauss. After receiving his first letter I decided to not to pursue writing back to him. Even so, he sent me another letter. I didn't respond.

- Raffaello Follieri - Most known for dating actress Anne Hathaway, Follieri got a four-year federal prison sentence for swindling people out of millions. I have decided not to include him in this project because he is not like the others. More HERE.

- Ann Miller Kontz - She was convicted for poisoning and killing her Aids-researcher husband. She is currently serving a 25-year sentence in North Carolina. You can read her story HERE

Letters from the Outiside In, KK to Swango, #9 and #10

As I said before, I alternate between typing letters to prisoners and sending small handwritten cards. The typed ones I keep saved on my computer; the handwritten ones I do not have copies of. I won't post all I send to them, but occassionally I'll post what I have sent so you can see my tone and understand some of the topics they discuss in answer. So here are the two last ones I sent to Swango. I will post his letter of reply this week.


Hello Michael,

It is pouring out today. This is one of the few weekends I have nothing planned. I headed to the video store as I wanted to rent, I Have Loved You for So Long. Alas, the store didn’t have it, but it is my next Netflix coming and should be here Tuesday. Imagine my raised eyebrows when later, I opened your letter and saw you reference it. Likewise I was supposed to see Lymelife with a friend but he was detained at the airport and couldn’t make the movie. I will try to go next Friday to see that. It is the only movie currently in theaters I haven’t seen that I want to. Yesterday’s Netflix was Donkey Punch. Are you familiar with it? Three Irish girls are on vacation in Mallorca and meet 3 guys who take them on a yacht they work on. The girl gets accidently killed and the remaining ones battle it out. The boys want to dump her body overboard and say she was drinking and fell; the girls want to report the homicide.

On Saturdays I have a routine. At 8:30pm I walk the dog and pick up the first Sunday edition of the Times. Then I come upstairs and watch America’s Most Wanted and 48 Hour Mystery and onto Sat. Night Live if it isn’t a repeat. On the weekends I usually cook something big and special, but this weekend I’m not into it. I’ll just order something in. I think tonight maybe Peking Duck.

I finished reading the Diane Arbus biography—are you familiar with her and her photography---and tried to watch FUR a movie based on her life. It was so awful I stopped watching after 35 minutes. Ugh. Just ugh. I have to remember to Google her to see her famous photos. I would love to send you pictures from Cindy Sherman and Diane Arbus but right now my color printer doesn’t work and in black and white probably wouldn’t be as good. I may buy a new color printer in the next month or two so we’ll see…

I turn 39 next month. May 16th. I had this dream a few years ago that I was told I would die at 39. It keeps popping back into my head. I have some enemies out there…. I bought a ticket to see a Broadway show that I will see the week of my birthday. It is getting great reviews and a few friends saw it and loved it. It is called God of Carnage and stars James Gandolfini (of Sopranos fame), Hope Davis, Jeff Daniels & Marcia Gay Harden.
Here is the gist: Two ostensibly civilized married couples meet up to sort out a playground fight. The son of one couple (Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis) has broken two of the teeth of the son of another (James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden). At first diplomatic niceties are observed, but as the meeting progresses and the rum flows, huge tensions emerge and the gloves come off, leaving more than just their liberal principles in tatters.
Funny you should mention M. Night Shmayalan. I LOVE all his movies. Most people have panned the last few, but I love him. He writes fairy tales for the old and disillusioned.

I would love to hear more about your incarceration. Why? What it is like there? I realize you are in for life, but if you could get out, what would you do? I have written to another prisoner who is in for life and she is not allowed TV, etc. It sounds like you have access to television and movies. You even mention the food isn’t awful. I suspect it all depends on which jail you are in, but from what I’ve read it is awful. What are your feelings about all of this. Clearly you are an extremely bright man, so you are very aware of the whys and hows and must have some serious feelings about this whole situation. You mentioned you can’t tell me certain things for legal reasons, and I understand about that. But tell me all you are allowed to.

Thank you for enclosing the clippings. I actually read that Times article about Netflix by Wilson when it came out. In this Sunday’s NYT one of my new clients is profiled in the real estate section. It is a very big deal and they are very happy about this.

I am enclosing another New Yorker article—this one written by Woody Allen about Bernie Madoff. It is funny.

I may want instantly on Netflix the old Paul Newman movie: The Drowning Pool (’75). Do you know it?

Are you familiar with the actor , writer and director Eric Schaeffer? He has a show on Showtime called, “I Can’t Believe I’m Still Single…” Prior to that he wrote and starred in a great show on F/X called Starved, a Seinfeldesque comedy centered around 4 NYers with eating disorders. He did six movies: My Life is in Turnaround, Fall, If Lucy Fell, Wirey Spindell, Never Again and most recently, Mind the Gap. I am friends with him and went on a few dates with him. I wrote a very interesting piece about how when I first saw Fall in the early 90s I told my friends I’d date him someday. They rolled their eyes. When I married my husband it turned out his friends were a band that did the music for Fall. Still, they long since lost touch. Then after my divorce, the first blind date I went on was with an audio engineer who was approached by Schaeffer to do audio for his latest movie. The date said Schaeffer was an asshole and wouldn’t give me his number. Thirteen years and 2 close calls but still no meeting. Finally my ex-husband told me about Eric’s new memoir, a book called, “I Can’t Believe I’m Still Single…” I messaged him on Myspace and we met and dated. I did some publicity for his book and we fizzled out. Then later while he was filming the series, I was actually included, mentioned on a few of the episodes. In one he calls me and you can hear my voice. Odd how life works. I got to go to the premiere of the show which was really fun. Anyway, wondered if you knew his work and what you thought of it. He has another season of his show coming out on Showtime.

I entered my dachshund, Mini, in a contest for Pet of the Month and he won! His picture will be in the paper starting on Thursday and run for 4 weeks. When it appears I will try to cut it out for you to see.

You asked about India. I wrote something about my trip that got published. I’ll paste it in here and sign off for now.

--Kelly
***

[Next letter I sent him.]

Hello Michael,

Just got your letter. Today is April 18th. In response to your letter, I have seen Tell No One. Great flick. Very spooky. I always see French movies like that. Love them. I am very familiar with KST’s work. She is such a good actress. I cannot, however, ever get into anything about vampires. I find that ridiculous, even if well-written. I am not about fantasy or willing suspension of disbelief. I have still not seen the Education of Charlie Banks. I think I’m opting to wait until it comes out on video in June.

As for the article I wrote with and about my husband, yes, we had a very volatile relationship once we lived together. Prior, things were very good. I am SO Type A---glad you can see that from my letters---and very anti-drug. That article, while harsh, was something Wm. willingly participated in and those quotes from him were verbatim. He and I had that type of dynamic. He sort of even liked being written about, even if unfavorably. We had similar senses of humor. One of the problems was that my ex-husband was not into reading, studying, etc. I am very exact, on top of bills and goals and quite neurotic. He is very laid back and likes to take shortcuts. Just two different types of people.

Now how about you? I asked in a previous letter---I’m assuming you haven’t gotten it yet---if you were married or had children. Prior to your incarceration did you date much? Did you have a “type?”

Are you familiar with David Sedaris’ books? If not, they are hysterically funny. He writes about his gay life, his wacky family, his travels, etc. I love his stuff. In fact, he just had another published this week in the New Yorker. I’d send it but I’m not sure how you feel about him. This one was about how he was traveling by train, years ago when smoking was acceptable, and how he met a low-life type man who he got a crush on.

In this letter I’m enclosing a piece from New York Magazine—a small snippet from Cindy Sherman, that photographer that I just saw the movie about. I wish you were familiar with her work, and as I said I will try to print some of her famous stuff out when I get access to a color printer. New York Magazine did an issue about famous people and their stories about the first week they moved to NYC. Cindy’s was interesting. I remember mine. The day I moved into NYC to a sixth floor walkup, I lost my job and my boyfriend. Typical NY story. NY knocks you on your ass and only the strong figure out a way to stay here. I’ll never leave. I also lose a bit of respect for those that leave.

I’m glad you appreciated Hell Hole. Clearly you know more about the jail experience than I ever will, but I found it interesting. How does your facility compare? Do you have friends there? Roommates? I want to hear more about what you experience in jail.

You mention a Cistercian monastery which made me wonder if you have a religion. What are your thoughts about God and religion?

I am not familiar with THE KINDLY ONES but will Google and find out what you are referencing.

I am also enclosing a clipping of my dog Mini and the article about him winning PET OF THE MONTH. Cheesy, but so cute.

Lastly, I’m enclosing a blurry snapshot of me I happened upon whilst cleaning out my desk drawer. I send it, even though it is a few years old, so you can see what I look like. I have tons of recent pictures of me on the computer, but again, no color printer, so this is one of the few hard copies I own, aside from a wedding picture, which I would send if you were interested in seeing it.

--Kelly

A Message to Readers

I am not happy with the Tumblr platform. It is not showing the images of the scanned letters,even though I have included them. Pender draws pictures like flowers and clouds on her envelopes and letters; Swango underlines incessantly all over the page. Tumblr isn't showing my formatting of underlining.

I will be moving this to Blogspot shortly. Once I have time to do this and set up a LetterfromtheInside.blogspot.com I will send the few I have given access to this, passwords to get onto to that one.

One other thing. A few entries down, I reference this great recent article in the New Yorker called HELL HOLE. I cannot link to it as you would need a subscription to that magazine to read it. However, if you can get your hands on a copy of it, do so. I have sent hard copy of this article to each of the prisoners I write to and several of them comment on it in their return letters to me. The gist of the 10-page article is that solitary confinement---which my prisoners face---is psychologically damaging and could be considered torture.

Letters from the Outside, In, KK to Whitaker

Dear Thomas,

Hello! I just got your letter and am always so anxious to read them. It sucks that you had someone you wrote to for a year who was being deceptive. What did this pro-Death Penalty fellow hope to gain by writing? How did he finally tell you? Was he mean?

I can only reiterate that I enjoying writing to you and getting your responses so I’m not going to “flake out” and stop writing. There are periods when I’m busier than others so I may not always be so prolific or swift. You owe me no apology. Dude, I’m just the type of person who is going to question and push and all you have to do is tell me to politely cut it out or that you are uncomfortable discussing certain things. I’m very curious by nature. But I am not malicious. I was just trying to understand why you did what you did.

I know that article about my ex-husband was mean and very snarky. However, my ex-husband knew full-well what I was going to write. He agreed to be interviewed for that and his quotes in it are verbatim. We also interacted with each other like that. It was just the nature of our relationship—our dynamic. I was paid to editorialize about my relationship with him. However, you and I do not have an intimate relationship like I had with my husband. Semi-good natured ribbing in the press was something he expected and even kind of enjoyed. This is what I was getting at when I said I may post your letters or parts on my blog, but that I’d offer no editorialization. I didn’t mean that I don’t care or have thoughts, feelings, opinions….What I meant by that is that I wouldn’t ridicule them, agree or disagree, or insert myself into them or your experience at all. If I posted anything you said, it’d stand alone and anyone who read could draw their own conclusions without me trying to sway opinion in one way or another. I entered into writing to you with a very open mind, and I am committed to continuing to do so. I am not going to say anything bad about you either privately or publicly. No reason for me to.

Clearly, I do not condone murder, violence or crime of any sort. But beyond that, you are simply Thomas to me. Someone I think is incredibly intelligent but also very flawed. I’m both of those things too.

As for me, I do not want to get an MFA all that much. I enjoyed applying to Columbia and if on a miracle of a chance I got in, I’d feel like I won the lottery. I didn’t, and so I have no desire to apply elsewhere, like NYU, the New School, etc. I am, however, taking a writing course this summer---a short one—on how to get non-fiction published and how to write a non-fiction book proposal. Speaking of writing, I keep checking MinutesBeforeSix and there hasn’t been anything new there from you in months. What’s up with that?

I’m also signed up for a cooking class. I studied the basics of French cooking a year ago and would like to continue. I enjoy cooking and do it often. It is very relaxing. The classes are fun because they are also social. At the end of the five –hour session you sit together and drink wine and eat the five-course meal you have worked to prepare together.

I went to a Knicks/Nets game last night and had a hot dog. It was fun. I saw Spike Lee pacing courtside. The Knicks won. Tomorrow night I’m going to the Public Theater to see a play. Saturday night a visit with an ex-boyfriend—someone I dated before I was married. Life chugs along. I get bouts of sadness and gloom. I’ve always been like that.

I don’t read supermarket-lit like James Patterson either. And I try to stay away from anything that the masses love. Oprah book club picks=FAIL! I finished the Diane Arbus bio—she was a very famous photographer who committed suicide in the early 70s and was known for photographing “freaks.” I finished your father’s book. I’m now starting on another book—fiction this time—but can’t seem to get into it. I like non-fiction way better than fiction. Reality is always more interesting than fantasy.

I have this continual sense of loss and longing. Always waiting for something that seems like a bit of dust in the corner of my eye. I can’t never focus on exactly what it is. Arghhh… Just so restless all the time.

I entered my little dog in a Pet of the Month contest (this is what soon-to-be 39 year old single women do) and he won, so MINI will be in the local paper. I’ll try to get a few copies and send you the little write-up on him.

My birthday is May 16th, and I cannot believe I’m going to be 39. It sounds so old, yet I feel like I’m caught between being 12 and 100. I thought by 39 I’d feel I was a responsible adult. I just feel like an idiot most of the time. An idiot capable of paying rent, but an idiot nonetheless. I look around and think, “How did I get here?”

Anyway, I hope your arm isn’t causing you any pain right now and that you somehow get another radio. Do you keep letters that are written to you or do you throw them out? Or do the guards take them from you when you are done reading them? Who else do you write to?…I am assuming you have friends from home or people who reached out after reading about your case. I guess you must get hate mail too…

I’ll close by pasting in a piece I wrote about my trip to India. Hope it helps you pass a bit of time.

Be well, --KK

Letters from the Inside, Susan Smith, #2

Dear Kelly,

Hi to you! Yes, I did get your letter along w/the card of your dog on the front. I do so apologize for not writing sooner. I have been going through so much the last couple of months. I've been very stressed and depressed. I got moved on March 12 to a building I hate. Anyone under mental health care was moved to either Phoenix A or Phoenix B. They want all of us living together. I was not happy about the move and though I have adjusted, I still don't like it. On Montague, where I lived before, I lived in a quad with 35 others. I had springs on my bed, I could turn my room light on & off when I wanted, I could use the bathroom in privacy, the locker was bigger. On this building, there's a toilet & sink in the room, the room light stays on from 5:30am until 11:00pm every night, the lockers are 1/2 the size from Mont., the beds are hard metal, and 127 other people share the dayroom. It's 100% different. The only good thing is I only have one roommate whereas I had 2 in Mont. I would rather deal with an extra person than to live back here. Nothing is padded and there are no chairs anywhere except in the game room. It's a hard way to do time. We are stuck here as long as we take medication and I need my meds. We are going to work on making improvements where we can, starting with the light situation. It's ridiculous for these lights to be on 17 1/2 hours a day.

I've really been dealing with some other issues as well and it's just been difficult. Please forgive me for not writing. I'm going to respond to your letter. I do not have access to a computer, but I do have a television. No cable. Just your basic networks. I watch a good bit of tv due mostly to boredom. I watch "Dancing with the Stars," "Cold Case," "Ghost Whisperer," "Castle," "American Idol," "CSI," and "Prison Break." Those are the main shows. Do you watch much t.v.?

I also read The Glass Castle and it was quite interesting. I like to read those type books, too. I haven't read Running With Scissors, though. Is it good? I loved Marley and Me and want so much to se the movie. Have you seen it?

Like you, I love to travel. Unlike you, I haven't really had the opportunity to do much of it. It's a dream of mine to travel all over the world. I love the beach so I want to go to Hawaii, The Virgin Islands, Cayman Islands, anywhere exotic. I'd also like to go to Australia. Love the accent. :)

You mentioned in your letter you were enclosing a story from "Our Town" you had published, but you didn't include it. It was not with your letters. Will you re-send it?

Have you met anyone special in the last 2 months? What happened to your marriage? I'm sorry things didn't work out for you. Marriage is tough and I don't know that I'll ever marry again. He would have to be pretty special.

Today is Easter so Happy Easter to you! Holidays are always hard. It's so beautiful outside & warm. A perfect day for hiding eggs and having fun outside. We always played softball or badminton when the family was all together. I sure miss those times, you know?

I'll close here. Hope all is well with you. I apologize again for not writing sooner. I'll do better. Take care and I look forward to hearing from you again.

Smiles & hugs,

Susan

[Ed.: There is a sticker of a dog pasted onto her stationary. I will take a photo and attach shortly.]

Letters from the Inside, Thomas Bart Whitaker, #4

Dear Kelly,

First off, I want to thank you for sending me that excellent article written in The New Yorker. More often than I like to admit, I feel myself losing it in some ways, and it is somewhat comforting to know that these periods of loss of self-control are common to men held in isolation, and not something specific to me. It is a product of context, in other words, a function of simply being a human being. It is also nice to know that there are at least a few people out there willing to look at these types of issues... Lamentably, very few of them located south of the Mason Dixon line. Nonetheless, I will take progress, regardless of its form. I've been going through one of those...shall we say "off" periods lately, and I owe you an apology. I had a pretty close pen-pal )whom I had been writing for nearly a year) turn out to be a member of a pro-DP organization (the ridiculously named "Justice for All"), and have had to come face-to-face with the realization that our entire relationship was little more than a fact-finding expedition. If I had actually said something negative, I have no doubt that this data would have found its way into the hands of the Attorney General for Texas. I'm just...tired, so tired, of meeting [Ed: illegible] men/women, or people who flake out on me or disappear without a trace. I guess I have entered into all of my recent pen-pal relationships with a sense of fatalism, already imagining how you (or anyone) are going to screw me. Forgive me? It wasn't fair of me to do this. I guess I foresaw a version of your blog where you give me the same treatment you hit your ex with. Yikes. As for the rest of what I meant about my inane "colossal damage" comment, I guess we will cross that path if we come to it.

I guess I should note that my life has been pretty rough lately. I'm on edge. I keep getting kick-doored by the shakedown crew...eight times so far. its been a mystery to me as to why they are so bloody convinced I have some serious contraband, but one of the guards resolved this conundrum last night. Seems someone keeps calling up to the unit, claiming I am calling them on a cell phone. No proof of this allegation is required, indeed, all of these callers have asked to remain anonymous from the prison officials. Reminds me of the old days in the Inquisition when anyone could say anything without proof, and have them tortured. I think they know I don't have anything but...power unchecked does what it wants to the point now where anytime I hear the gate pop, I'm preparing to get run in on. All I would have to do to stop this is stab a guard. See the fucked up lesson they teach? And either way, I lose. Violence is not the path I went to take. And so I get my books torn up, my sheets stepped on, etc. etc. I lost my radio last Wednesday and they are not selling them in the commissary until "maybe" late summer...see why I get a little nuts sometime? Add to that the fact that I can't find an attorney to help me with my medical issues...meh. Pain is a tyrant, and I know I would win a lawsuit against them, but who wants to help an inmate? Certainly not the ACLU; they shot me down, as it wasn't a class action suit (i.e: not enough cash involved.) How much do you charge per hour of therapy? I can pay in Ramen noodles.

I hate pity parties...just trying to explain my last letter, I guess. Sometimes the armor we put on ends up betraying us.

My paralegal course is going pretty well. I'm about sick of contractual law by this point. I had to take a step back from completing my BA. Ordered a book on correspondence courses which was written by an ex-prisoner for prisoners, so maybe I can reboot the whole enterprise with some better data. I also (finally) received my FAFAS form from Uncle Sam, so maybe I can get my hands on a grant of some sort. The fed seems to want to pay for everything else right now :-) I think the possibility of a Texas convict getting a Pell grant to be roughly equivalent to Mahmoud Amzdinz---however-the-fuck-you-spell-this-fuckface's-name-jad deciding to spontaneously attend a Gay Rights parade. But, I would try rather than leave a possible option unsearched. Have you given some thought to maybe working on your Masters at another school besides Columbia? Seems like there ought to be plenty of options in a city like NYC.

What do I like to read? Hm...by this point, anything I can get my hands on. I generally keep my distance from the James Pattersons of the world, so I find books written solely for money or "market" share to be a little too pedestrian. My last order from Amazon consisted of "The Kite Runner" by Hosseini, "[Ed.: illegible] Key by King (a gift for my friend Jeff, whose bday is this week), something by Sagan, and something by [Ed.: illegible] Warrag. I really need to cut back on this shit, but boredom is king around here, and at some point you are going to bow down to him. Seems like I did read something by that author, David Sedaris...a book review, I think. Something about drug abuse? "Going Down in Flames" or something to that affect? Bleh, I am so disconnected, Kelly, it hurts. Every once in a while, you get some table crumbs tossed to you from the living, but otherwise life has pretty much passed you by. You do things to convince yourself otherwise, but the truth never really escapes you. Maybe its not so different in the real world, except the distractions are better.

"Alice" sounds entertaining. There was a pretty decent novella I sometimes watched in Mexico, which took place in Rio. They simply dubbed the Mexican over the Portuguese, also. Can't remember the name of it for the life of me... had a portion of the show filmed in Morocco, also. Most of the novelas were pretty trashy, and it is hard for me to accept a version of reality where everyonej is perfect looking, all the bloody time. It never ceased to amaze me how people with little more than a pot to piss in could become so engrossed in the tales of the ultra-wealthy, without one iota of anger. Didn't they understand that all the rich pretty residents of Mexico City attained their wealth at the expense of the populace? When I asked this, the answer surprised me: of course they knew. They also knew that that was the way things had always been and always would be. Made me sad.

Well, what's new in your life? Work going well? The weather has started to best up so I am staring to brace for the dog days of summer. Take care of yourself, Kelly, until next time.

TBW

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!]
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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.

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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?