Phone Home

November 3rd - November 9th

Split: A Divided America, Return of the War Room & Shut Up and Sing - Given that I’d taken off work the day after the election in order to nurse the inevitable hangover and jubilation and/or disappointment, I filled up my day with a handful of political documentaries. Split tried to answer some basic questions as to why we’re divided into Blue America and Red America and what we can do about it. Ultimately, I thought the documentary short-shrifted possible solutions. In any case, I think Obama is right in looking at not Blue America nor Red America but the United States of America. There are common problems that would benefit from common solutions. Return of the War Room takes a look back at the players behind the original Hegedus/Pennebaker The War Room documentary. I love the original documentary and watch it at least once every election season. This Return of…provided some interesting “Where Are They Know” factoids that are interesting in light of the recent campaigns. But, really, it was little more than a potential DVD featurette. Shut Up and Sing, the documentary about the fallout over the Dixie Chicks comment about President Bush was a surprise. I had forgotten (how could I?) that moment in time where anybody who criticized the President or the war was branded a traitor (and some, including the Chicks, threatened with their lives). It’s funny how things have changed. Does anybody support Bush now? Now, I surmise, there would be but a precious few who would disagree with Natalie Maine’s sentiments. They just became the scapegoats. Redneck America needed somebody besides Muslims (and themselves) to hate. But then the Dixie Chicks were always so much better than country radio anyway.

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial- It’s probably the first time I’ve seen the movie all the way through since the eighties. It was quite Peter Pan-ish in a way that, sadly but obviously, I’m less able to appreciate 20+ years later. Or I can ONLY appreciate nostalgically. As a prominent movie of my childhood, I find it difficult to say much about. Nevertheless, I do admit that it almost got a little dusty there at the end.