10 Things On My Mind: Does middle age life have a manual?
Ten quick and sophisticated takes on mildly important topics. Join me please.
Near the end of the stellar new film, Materialists, Chris Evans stares at Dakota Johnson’s character with the thunderous confidence of a thousand seas when he’s asked why he loves her so much.
“I don’t know. I just do.”
Some movie lines are expertly written, but don’t have the expected dramatic landing when delivered by the actor. Healthy in concept, without the necessary seasoning, can render a great line of dialogue listless. Evans had it down, though. He was hiding out in the skin of John, a New York theater loverboy who quietly harbors a cynical heart about a handful of essential things. Steve Rogers was gone. Captain America went missing. All you had was Evans pouring his heart out at a wedding he crashed with the woman he loves more than life itself.
Well done, Chris. More roles like this to go with the scenery-chewing Lloyd Hansen roles and the heroic and well-written lead roles, please. Here are nine more things on my mind. It’s been a minute, or six days, since I posted something fresh. For me, that’s an eternity. It’s the longest drought in three to four years, affecting a handful of jobs. Why? Life. The words flow easy and pleasant at times, and then they crash into a wall of “why the fuck am I writing this for?”
With a decreased output of baseball articles and fewer new movies reviewed, the will to climb behind a keyboard doesn’t land as snugly as it has for the past 13 years. Sometimes, it’s best to wait until you have something to say. Here’s what I got.
~A blunt middle finger to the quickness of St. Louis weather’s change in personalities. It went from spring breezy and warm to thermal meltdown in a matter of days. The weekend brought in the 90s, and I’m not talking about Quentin Tarantino bliss and Ray Lankford. Working in a hot warehouse only increases the drips by 250%. Sometimes, I convince myself that my pants are soaked because I just stepped out of a pool.
~Reminder to everybody who owns a pool: Use the damn pool! Don’t let your fear of mosquitoes and hot air deter you from enjoying a beautiful pool. Write this stuff down, or bookmark this post. I’m giving you pearls here. I moved around a pool today like the next hour was on standby waiting for me—a great feeling. Don’t waste the pool access.
~The Cardinals are alive again. I know this from watching more MLB At Bat on my phone app instead of putting in the time to watch the games. Once again, the current way of life doesn’t hold much interest in spending the evening on a couch with three hours to spare on a sport that may require those three hours, like a casino, and give me a few minutes of happiness along with the expected dosage of dread. They are currently beating the division-leading Chicago Cubs, following a week of quality baseball. Nolan Arenado is hitting as expected, but Alec Burleson and Brendan Donovan are carrying the offense. They cost a little over three million dollars combined to employ.
You don’t want to know what Arenado is making, but check back in previous articles to find out. The Cards are staying alive in this playoff picture. The longer it lasts, the more belief you’ll find from the masses. The home games are still too empty.
~Banshee the whatever-number time through is a delight. I am about to enter the third season and discover new parts to savor, as well as revisit existing favorites. Frankie Faison remains the MVP, but it’s a signature pleasure to watch Jonathan Tropper’s seedy, uneven characters unfold and Hoon Lee’s brilliant work as Job, the master computer hacker. Four seasons were just enough, and no show has come close to the action choreography panache of Marcus Young and company’s stunt crew. It’s easily the best thing Cinemax has ever produced. Also, behold the great Geno Segers!
~St. Louis readers, have you tried Bud’s Pizza and Beer yet? If not, may I ask why? Do you like New York-style pizza? They do it right. Do you enjoy great salads that don’t taste like mere gatherings of rabbit food? Then you’ll love the Budgoni. Do you want an atmosphere that doesn’t resemble a dorm party staged during the NFL Draft? Bud’s brings it. Visit them. Get out on the town. Invest a few shekels in the local restaurant scene.
~I love Basil Hayden’s and Russell’s bourbon as much as anyone, but there’s a Jim Beam large bottle that’s only $23. I don’t drink it like a fish, but every dollar counts during these harsh financial times. Mix it with ginger beer and some lime, or drink it neat. Unlike beer, you can’t drink a boatload without seeing the world upside down, and the slow pace only enriches the experience. Cheap bourbon works just fine. I’m not a snob.
~Clive Owen is a “go in anything” actor. He can read the phone book while smoking a cigarette, and that might be enthralling to watch. He doesn’t work a ton these days, and I don’t like that. Art isn’t a robotic production, and I understand the need to explore roles that truly align with your desires. Still, I want more Clive.
~A good follower and friend (and Buffet reader) named Todd asked a good question recently when I made a mailbag request on Facebook. Why don’t I watch and cover more college sports? The short answer is I don’t have enough time, and have never developed a large enough passion for it. Some people rewatch movies ten times. Some people crave college play. Money isn’t a significant factor in their game yet, and the pressure is only starting to mount — but there’s a zeal and verve to their athletic energy that will dissipate with age and responsibility (in sports and non-sports alike).
However, I have never felt the immediate urge to watch. Bandwagon riding at times, but just a non-factor to a guy who doesn’t even watch enough baseball to cover the sport this summer.
~Women I would fight a couple of guys to spend a night with: Scarlett Johansson. I’ll say it. She looks better today than she ever has, and the woman has been a danger to frozen food sections for two decades. She’s in the new Jurassic World movie this summer, and I would skip the movie if it weren’t for her involvement. Acting isn’t necessary here. Just show up, do some badass work, save the day, and look good while doing it. She’s a lady that, yeah, I’d like to watch American Gladiators with late at night while sharing nachos. Also, she seems like a cool lady. Colin Jost, I am coming for you!
Other than that, it’ll be fine. Just keep saying that to yourself. Also, stop whining about The Batman 2 taking so long to arrive. These are the same people who complain about nudity in film and take three extra minutes to order at Taco Bell. Once again, you can’t rush art. One more thing: Do the right thing… as often as you can.
