A good, moody film

No happy endings.

ajh

This is the face of tolerance?

The preachy Hollywood crowd is going rabid.

I am beginning to really hate Hollywood and what it represents. Mental illness, and that’s what transgenderism is, needs to be treated not embraced. There are two genders, not three or four or forty.

Men trying to become women, and vice versa, is a disturbing trend. Living in Seattle, I have a few friends who are going down this road. Most are men trying to be feminine for whatever reason. Quite frankly I don’t care. If that’s your thing, then fine. But why drag me into it?

It’s fairly easy to play dress up and wear makeup. It makes you stand out from the crowd, and today it is celebrated. We must be accepting of everything, except traditionalism and conservatism, of course.

But going all the way is another story. I’d like to see some data on how many trans men go through with castration.

Obviously there is something wrong. But no one dares broach the subject or forever be deemed a bigot.

Being confused about your gender isn’t something to embrace.

ajh

Sidney Lumet

Sidney Lumet, one of my favorite directors ever, died on Saturday. I heard about it while I was listening to the radio. He had a directing career, television and film, spanning more than 50 years.

Described as “prolific” and “versatile”, he always seemed to be experimenting. He was known for “dabbling in many different film genres.”

I rented his last film, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, from a Redbox. It was a good flick. The man never really seemed to lose his touch. He had a remarkable capacity for making iconic films.

With an all-star cast, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Ethan Hawke, Marisa Tomei, and Albert Finney, it was remarkable to see him still directing and with such passion for storytelling. Finney and Hoffman were spectacular. Finney is just an amazingly talented man, much like Lumet.

Serpico is probably his best film. I just love it. It’s one terrific movie. 12 Angry Men, starring Henry Fonda, E. G. Marshall, Lee J. Cobb, Jack Warden, Jack Klugman, and Martin Balsam, is a close second. It was his movie directing debut, in 1957. Not long ago I finally watched Network. It’s surprising how relevant it remains.

Dog Day Afternoon, about a real-life robbery and its aftermath, wasn’t as spell-binding as the other films I mentioned, although it does provide a good snapshot of America and New York City of that time.

Collectively, his films were nominated for more than 50 Oscars.

God bless Sidney Lumet.

ajh