Random post time. If I had a dollar for every time I felt time was rushing by, I would be a well, let's just say, a rich man. It seems like I was away for a week or two but my last post was in mid Feb.. that's nearly 3 months back. Time does zoom by.

There is a bit of Lester in everyone's life. Question is about whether you will let the timid one rule or the one with bravado.. or take the middle road.




This video sums up his journey.




Great series but with several open questions that do break the otherwise tight script.

Drifting and living by like Lester Nygaard or Jerry Lundegaard - Fargo is magical.

What a beautiful song!

Sink or Swim - Tyrone Wells

"We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." - Aesop

True that. 

Work has the habit of always sucking joy out of life and nothing is bigger proof of this than when you miss out on the best music that's getting made. Of course, I am not talking the Kanye and Eminem stable of music.

On my way back from work, caught this great track, courtesy of another engaging pastime - listening to Podcasts. Heard this song on FilmSpotting.

Make you Better - The Decemberists. If you dont get reminded of REM, a trip to an ear specialist is in order.

Story of most weekends.

PS: Whoever makes these wisdom puking quotes deserve a mention, at the very least. Royalties can come later.

If your work life forces you to use any of these words, please acknowledge that the soul of the job has  either sold itself or is long dead.

Time is of essence. Time is the perpetrator of the crime, time is the healer, time is the spectator and time is the master. There was a time when I could give my heart and a leg for this beauty here and turns out it has been idling away in the cupboard for more than 3 years.

The only reason this post sounds more profound than what it appears to be is because there are several back stories that I don't have time to discuss. What is however true is that, this is a marvellous invention that I have not been able to use much as I would like to.

Managing to watch a quality Indian movie is quite a rarity. Despite having a very poor opinion about Bollywood, I have spent several weekends watching trashy Hindi fare, if only to keep company with family and provide them a break. My last 3 movies sound like incrementally potent versions of psychological torture that puts waterboarding to shame.

So, watching LunchBox was very refreshing, entertaining and left me with a lump in my throat on a few occasions. Beautifully made with an endearing story and makes you root for the two lonely protagonists. The way the curtains were drawn reminded me of how that great series, The Sopranos, ended. 

A brilliant movie and coming from someone who was making his debut, quite a stunning result. 

The Age of Innocence

Watching a Martin Scorsese's movie without guns, gangsters and seductresses is like imagining a story about Belgium minus the waffles. Just does not happen. And then, there is the additional element of walking into the unknown when you start watching acclaimed movies, not knowing what the plot is and where the story is set.

So, watching late 19th Century England life of the aristocrats with the elaborate finery in dressing, dining, demeanor and opulence.. all in a Martin movie was a jolt to begin with. Add to it, watching the essential American girls like Winona Ryder and Michelle Pfeiffer rambling about in English accents does not make it any easier. Daniel Day Lewis' accent takes you right back to "My Left Foot".

Appreciating the slow pace of the movie over 2 hours does take a toll on you if you are not cut out for the intense romantic fare that this movie is but the last 5 minutes of the movie can melt hearts that have been on perma freeze since the age of the mammoths.

There is a bit of everyone's story in Lewis' life. Dreams that you once harbored for yourself that you gave up for all the good reasons and then having the courage to walk away when you have the chance to confront them, even if that chance comes in 30 years too late. This last scene should only be watched with a handful of super absorbent tissues. All of the agony and heartbreak captured in Lewis' expressions and sublime acting.

There are guitar players and then there are guitar players. This lesson from the Internet Guru of guitar teaching, Justin Sandercoe, breaks down the first minute or so of this classic song from MK. Try getting your head around how creative a person has to be to build something so intensely poignant, melodious and unique.

Every once in a while, there comes along a quote (could be more than one) that makes you sit up and wonder in amazement not just at the content but the pounds of genius it takes to come up with a thought so profound and interesting.

Sample these.. all of them talk about our collective expectations from this stage act called life.

"Be careful what you wish for, it might come true." - Anon
“Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.” - The Dalai Lama
“When the gods wish to punish us they answer our prayers.” - Oscar Wilde
“In this world there are only two tragedies. One is not getting what one wants and the other is getting it.” - Oscar Wilde

Anon and Oscar and Mr Dalai make a good point.

Who does not like travel? I love travel and would love to see the world. However, the only problem is that I have got this ticket from Indigo to a place that I am not too keen on. Indigo - please try Europe next time. I will surely oblige.

Time to listen to some real voice in music instead of auto tuned bullshit.

"Fury" was a great watch. Now, spending two full hours and a few minutes more is not my idea of spending an evening, especially when you are at home and would rather spend that time with kids and ten other things. That was one reason why "This is where I leave you" was abandoned around 28 minutes into play. 

"Fury" was different. Brad Pitt and his cronies pitted against the SS+Nazi Troops just like he was in "Inglorious Basterds" but this one was more earthy, better shot and more relatable. Reviews use the word "visceral" quite liberally to describe the film. Among other scenes, the one with the German ladies over the dining table with eggs and tea was quite interesting. 

That was a good movie seen after a long hush. Several anxieties and worries seem to take over the empty mind, sometimes even enveloping completely my insatiable desire to devour movies.