DON'T THINK TWICE

DON'T THINK TWICE is the the definition of an indie movie. Its subject matter is about an improv theater group, the indies of theater. The storyline is about the joy of artistic creation—in this case improvised comedy with audience participation—and the challenges of same. It's pretty serious for a comedy, and pretty funny for a serious flick.

The cast should get a SAG award nod for ensemble acting, without which the movie wouldn't work since it's all about an ensemble. A fictitious improv group called "The Commune" that works incredibly well together while individually dreaming and at times scheming to make it to the big time, a parody of Saturday Night Live called Weekend Live.

There are no movie stars in it, (except for a cameo by Ben Stiller playing himself) unless you count Keegan-Michael Key made famous for his TV sketch comedy with his partner Peele both of whom recently starred in a movie that didn't do so well. The rest of the cast is also known for TV gigs if at all, but the breakout star is Gillian Jacobs as the best of the troupe who has different ideas about success.

The rest of the cast—Kate Micucci, Chris Gethard, Tami Sagher and the film's writer/director and part of the ensemble cast Mike Birbiglia—are all terrific. And Biglia's movie making is so sweetly artisan, both personal and unsensational, DON'T THINK TWICE feels almost like a home made documentary, its artistry underplayed and reality influenced. What can I say, I enjoyed it and am glad it got made.

TIME FOR SOME MUCH NEEDED HUMOR (THANKS ELIZABETH DIPALMA FOR PASSING THIS ON)

QUOTE FOR THE TIMES

LOVE ME SOME PHOTO BOOTH PHOTOS

Me in NYC in a long sheepskin overcoat an admirer actually gave me and with Miles, my oldest son, then five, (making a funny face as he always did), me thirty-three in 1975 in NYC when he began living with me for good, he wore glasses until around age ten or twelve, which the eye doc said he would after an operation when he was two...and then never again...

CAPTAIN FANTASTIC

This movie was highly recommended by many and various friends. They were sure I'd love it, and they were correct. Despite some inconsistencies and contrivances CAPTAIN FANTASTIC is so delightful and refreshing, while still dealing in depth with some pretty serious subjects, I can't recommend it enough.

I have to admit that I'm a big fan of Viggo Mortensen since the first tine I saw him on screen and was relieved to see a male lead with old Hollywood screen charisma, the kind that can display a gentle and flawed yet still manly character, and none of that contemporary trend of being boyish, or in comedy flicks, even adolescent despite playing grown men.

I could rave about all the actors, which must be credited in large part to the director/writer Matt Bass, who is also an excellent actor which may have something to do with his directing chops, that and the cinematography, the big screen totally mesmerizing rugged landscape scenes, being politically incorrect but from the farther left perspective for a change, (the only nudity being finally only male, also for a change, pointed out by my friend Rachel), and more, but just go see for yourself.

POST BRAIN OP POETRY

Here's a link to a recording that's just gone online of a reading I did (at Manhattan's DIA series run by Vincent Katz, whose introduction is also worth listening to) in early 2011, a year and a half after my brain was operated on...it's a fair chunk of time to devote to listening to any poet, but if you indulge me for the first several minutes I think it becomes pretty compelling or at least engaging...

LATISH NIGHT MINI-RANT

My take on polls this election season is they can't be relied on even more than usual. I suspect many who will pull the lever (or press the button or whatever election machine they vote on has) for Trump as a protest, or because they want to see what happens and secretly desire some kind of dramatic even chaotic, change, even it is hurts them, will not admit their choice to any pollster, after all the outcry against Trump even from his political or natural allies...even more reason to not only vote against Trump but to get out the vote against him by working to elect Hilary....because any other choice is a de facto vote for Trump...and if you don't get she's better than him for The Supreme Court, women's rights, minorities and immigrant's rights, kids, Social Security, pensions, etc. I'm afraid you're out of touch with reality or deciding your ideals mean more than having a rightwing Supreme Court or privatized Social Security or a diminishment instead of expansion of the rights of women and minorities and immigrants etc...