Let’s be alone together…
So I took in a movie doubleshot this weekend, and I’m proud to say that neither film involved snakes.
Not that I have anything against that particular phenomena, it’s just — well, to me the whole reason that thing has taken off is that “Snakes on a Plane” just sounds like the most awesomely stupid idea for the most awesomely bad B-movie ever. Like it could be the film that finally knocks “Plan 9″ down from the pedestal. So then it’s a little disappointing that they actually tried to make a good modern action flick from it. Which means that like most good modern action flicks, I’m sure it will be fine fodder for a Saturday afternoon on cable, but I can’t see how the film itself could possilby compare to the *idea* of the film.
So the ones I did see — well Saturday night I saw Army of Shadows, a 1969 French film following members of the underground French resistance (*cough* “terrorists” *cough*) back during WW2. I don’t really have much comment on it, but it was very good, with some disturbing imagery as well as some which inspires.
But going back to Friday night I caught Leonard Cohen: I’m your Man. I thoroughly enjoyed this one, even though I do sort of agree with a few things mentioned in The Scene review — the tribute performances are uneven, the guys from U2 put him on much too high a pedestal, and overall the film is a little too surreal to be a very good introduction to someone who knows nothing of Mr. Cohen’s work. But if you are a fan, go. You will enjoy it. So says both me and the drunk girl who sat down next to me who seemed to know every word. Most disappointing were Nick Cave’s contributions — I’ve always been a fan of his, and was really looking forward to his take, but he really didn’t deliver much here. On the other hand, Perla Batalla & Julie Christensen more than made up for it with a performance of Anthem that gave me chills.
As for me, I can’t say whether Leonard deserves the reputation that he has. Not saying he doesn’t, just saying I don’t consider myself well versed (no pun intended) enough in poetry, folk music, or singer-songwriters to make the call. All I know is that his material has a way of grabbing me by the gut. Here’s one in particular that just sends shivers down my spine; so many of the images speak to me on so many levels:
Baby, I’ve been waiting,
I’ve been waiting night and day.
I didn’t see the time,
I waited half my life away.
There were lots of invitations
and I know you sent me some,
but I was waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.I know you really loved me.
but, you see, my hands were tied.
I know it must have hurt you,
it must have hurt your pride
to have to stand beneath my window
with your bugle and your drum,
and me I’m up there waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.Ah I don’t believe you’d like it,
You wouldn’t like it here.
There ain’t no entertainment
and the judgements are severe.
The Maestro says it’s Mozart
but it sounds like bubble gum
when you’re waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.Waiting for the miracle
There’s nothing left to do.
I haven’t been this happy
since the end of World War II.Nothing left to do
when you know that you’ve been taken.
Nothing left to do
when you’re begging for a crumb
Nothing left to do
when you’ve got to go on waiting
waiting for the miracle to come.I dreamed about you, baby.
It was just the other night.
Most of you was naked
Ah but some of you was light.
The sands of time were falling
from your fingers and your thumb,
and you were waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to comeAh baby, let’s get married,
we’ve been alone too long.
Let’s be alone together.
Let’s see if we’re that strong.
Yeah let’s do something crazy,
something absolutely wrong
while we’re waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.Nothing left to do …
When you’ve fallen on the highway
and you’re lying in the rain,
and they ask you how you’re doing
of course you’ll say you can’t complain –
If you’re squeezed for information,
that’s when you’ve got to play it dumb:
You just say you’re out there waiting
for the miracle, for the miracle to come.
