Jason Haskins's Blog, page 39

Finding the right balance between writing and a social life

“I should never be left alone with my mind for too long.”-Libba BrayThere was a moment not too long ago I came to the realization I’d been spending too much time alone with my own mind.
I was taking a few minutes away from my daily writing when the epiphany occurred. I had stationed myself in front of the t.v., mindlessly (or so I thought) watching an episode of less-than-stellar show. The show itself is not important. What’s important was the simple fact that on the night in question I found myself talking to the t.v. show. I asked a question of one of the characters on the show and, in a different voice, answered my own question.
I panicked. How long had these conversations with myself been going on? Why were my collectible bobbleheads moved from their shelves and placed in a circle? To my surprise, I hadn’t taken the life-size cardboard cutouts I’d acquired from my days of working at a movie theater out of storage. Finding them in my apartment may have sent my mind into a tailspin.
Relief now washing over me, I knew it was time to reclaim my social life. And fast. I just needed to figure out how.Don’t forget about the outside worldThe life of a writer, as many of you are well aware, requires a fair amount of solitude and isolation in order to accomplish goals and to complete assignments. Habits of writers vary but if you are committed to writing, hours will be spent at a desk or in front of a computer crafting a sentence, a stanza, or a story until it’s just right.
Sometimes, those hours alone turn into days. Days stretch into weeks, weeks into months and soon you realize you haven’t left the house in months except for reasons involving the bare necessities in life. Your social life has become non-existent and you’ve stepped into a world in which talking to yourself has become the norm.
As valuable as dedicating yourself to your craft is, there is also great value in retaining a shred of a social life. At the very least, even if being social isn’t quite your thing, there are plenty of places to go write that don’t involve sitting in the confines of your home. Getting outside might be the first step in reclaiming your sanity.Find a local watering holeA local bar or pub can not only be a great place to be social, but these places can also be a great source of inspiration. Now, I’m not saying you should go out and drink like Charles Bukowski. In fact, it’s highly recommended that you don’t delve that deep into the liquor bottle. Having a drink at a bar, whether it be alcoholic or not, brings both the writing aspect and social life together to the same spot.
Plus, as far as cliches go, the ol’ watering hole is far better for studies in character than your average coffee shop.Locate other writersNo matter what type of writing you do, whether it be blogging, freelancing, playwriting, or fiction writing, a fair amount of time will be spent by yourself. It’s the harsh realization that many writers will come to accept as they develop their craft.
One way to combat the isolation and actively hold a connection to the social world is to join a writers group. Chances are that if you’re a writer you know other writers within your community. A simple look into your local paper (or its corresponding website) might bring you the information on said groups. Worse comes to worse you can always start your own group and bring the writers to you.
Even meeting twice a month can help keep your sanity in check and even help with your writing. Being able to bounce ideas and discuss characters, projects, and stories with like-minded individuals can lend itself to incredible discoveries. In addition, you’re given the chance to interact with someone other than yourself or your cat. Good for the stories, good for the soulAs writers, you know how hard it can be to shake up your writing routine. Having even an iota of a social life doesn’t need to interfere with the routine.
Of course, writing groups and going to the aforementioned drinking establishments are only a few suggestions, each that have worked for me in the past in breaking up the monotony of isolation. You can make more time for friends, hang out with a significant other, go to a concert or music festival or join a knitting group, it doesn’t matter. Finding that right balance between being a writer and having a social life is the key.
It may seem like the furthest thing from your mind but having a social life (or even directing a play to break up the routine) helps to create the world, the characters, and the stories that you desperately want to write about. Not being alone with your own mind and participating in a social life brings a breadth of knowledge and experience. Without it, you’re simply left talking to your television, hoping it doesn’t one day respond back.

Counting down the days until Nevada Day

Nevada Day is fast approaching. Have you picked out your costume yet?
Autumn is here. Leaves are doing their annual impressions of a chameleon, before dropping from the trees and collecting in piles on the ground. This is one of the many signals we are creeping ever closer to an important fall holiday: Nevada Day.
Nevada entered into an union with the United States on October 31, 1864. Since then, the day is marked nationwide by a celebration of candy, costumes, and general shenanigans and debauchery.
Each year, on October 31, millions of Americans--kids and adults alike--throw on a costume to celebrate this amazing day. Children even go door-to-door in their costumes, soliciting chocolate and licorice to honor the state of Nevada.
Adults have re-inserted themselves into the fun over the past ten years. Many have decided to partake in the celebration of Nevada by dressing the skimpiest costume they can find. These costumes are aptly titled "Sexy Pirate", "Sexy Cop", and even "Sexy Ballerina". Men, meanwhile, walk around in over-sized banana outfits or even fake mustaches. Hilarious!
After all of these years, I still find all of this a strange way to recognize Nevada's birthday. It's okay for Nevadans, but other for other states? It should be a day filled with parades and celebrations, not a day marred with talk of witches, ghouls, goblins, and ghosts.
Even worse, haunted houses and the occasional haunted corn maze are popular attractions for this time of year. Do people really believe Nevada Day to be a spooktacular filled day? What's so scary about a state entering the union to help supply the North in the Civil War?A day with many namesBelieve it or not, many people call this day Halloween. Upon hearing this, I dug out my Encyclopedia set. To my chagrin, I remembered I only owned the books covering letters A thru G. A silly mistake on my behalf.
Believing this term "Halloween" was simply regional vernacular, I decided to research even more on the subject. Turns out, this term is used nationwide. (From sea to shining sea, if you believe that.)
Other names for Halloween include: All Hallow's Eve, All Saints' Eve, and Spook-tacular Fan-dacular. I don't know what any of those mean but they sure sound fun! 
Well, fun if it was any other day. It has one name: Nevada Day. That dates back 153 years which I'm sure is a lot longer than this thing called Halloween.
Whatever people call it, I'm glad they take a moment to recognize Nevada Day.Fun facts about Nevada DayNevada Day is considered the third biggest party day, after New Year's Eve and Super Bowl Sunday.The Owl is a popular image for Nevada Day.If you see a spider on Nevada Day, they say it's the spirit of Abraham Lincoln looking over you.'Nevada Day' was the title of a two-part episode of Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip .There are so many interesting facts about Nevada Day I couldn't fit them all here. I do have a joke for you: What holiday is after Nevada Day on Dracula's calendar? Fangs-giving.Movies to watch on Nevada DayTo get in the mood on Nevada Day, here are a few movies that should help get you in the spirit:
TremorsOceans 11Waking up in RenoHocus PocusThe Rocky Horror Picture ShowThe StandThe episode(s) of Friends where they go to Las VegasThe list is a plentiful one. There's even some movie series called Halloween that is centered around Nevada Day. Crazy.
Thanks for stopping by. All of this new information means I can't wait for Nevada Day this year. It should be a blast!

Photo credit at the top of the article: flickr.com
Facts about Halloween were gleaned from across the internet. For more fun, visit here.
Be bold. Be kind.
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A flag less ordinary: respect, honor, and protesting

Another Sunday morning and another day in which the Tweeter-in-chief continues to spend more time on social media creating a divide rather than bridging it.In the cozy offices of--let's be honest, probably the room of his vacation estate--the 45th president of the United States tweets at will. There is no regard for others, no intelligent musings, no thought of others ravaged in Puerto Rico by back-to-back hurricanes, and he tweets with very much a blatant racist overtone.
There is no need to share these tweets here. The focus lately has been on athletes, primarily those from the NFL who continually to PEACEFULLY protest during the national anthem by taking a knee. 
Why? Because inequality and racism are still very present in the year 2017. And it's being fueled by the man who sits in the highest seat of power in the United States.
A country's flag is supposed to be representative of the people within in it. If groups of people do not feel represented--or put down by other groups of people--then they have a right to peacefully protest it. 
They are not protesting or disrespecting our military, our veterans, our people who fought to protect the very freedoms and liberties provided to us. They are simply using their given platform to bring the attention of injustices and inequalities to light.
Are people like Colin Kaepernick or Michael Bennett burning the flag? Are they dropping the flag to the ground and covering it in dirt? Are the putting the flag on beach towels, beer cans, bikini's, t-shirts, and paper plates? 
No.
In fact, Bennett himself was recently part of the profiling and mistreatment that happens to far more African Americans than we ever hear about.
As a white male, I cannot speak for their experiences. I don't know what it's like to be profiled or to be looked at sideways or to be spit out or have racial epithets thrown my way. Or to be shot at, beaten or killed because the color of my skin. 
I can't even pretend to know that feeling.
Dialogue is important, not creating banal and divisive tweets asking for the firing of the protesting athletes. Or dismissing teams and athletes who are refusing to accept White House visits. It's an abuse of power and it's not helpful in any way, shape, or form.
The issue is an important one, but instead of tweeting, ol' 45 should try leading this country. Maybe behind the scenes he's doing more (the hopeful part of me) but his public persona indicates he is not. Not one simple tweet indicating if the United States is doing anything for hurricane ravaged Puerto Rico (an American territory, part of the United States). 
Decrying athletes and their right to protest quicker than calling out nazi's and white supremacists shows the president's true colors. (Not like we hadn't already seen them). It's a sad state of affairs the administration has created, slowly destroying and setting back a nation in the process.
And this isn't even going in depth about the important words of Jemele Hill, LeBron James, Steph Curry, and more. Prominent athletes and celebrities continue to speak out and to act, giving back more to their communities than ol' 45 has done.
If those decrying the protest truly believe athletes should stick to their profession, then you would have never elected a reality television star to become president in the first place.
Continue to kneel. Continue to bring meaningful conversation. Continue to be bigger people than the man who sits behind the resolute desk.
My support is with the people who fight for the progress, who fight for equality and who fight for the change for the better. 
I stand with you.
Be bold. Be kind.

Switching 'The Journey of Now' newsletter to email format

Where you one of the tens of people asking where The Journey of Now's newsletter went?
Don't worry. Relax. I have an answer for you.
Normally, once I've written a blog post or updated my web site, I post a link to various social media outlets. In the past, this was a good way to spread updates on my writing career, updates in the theater world, or simply newsletters on this blog.
I've found--as of late--many of these posts are getting missed due to various algorithm changes or simply the amount of stuff populating social media feeds.
So, in an experiment I will be officially launching next week, I've decided to try my hand at an email newsletter (to be sent out every four weeks or so).
I detailed this over at the Jason Haskins website last month but figured I'd give a shout out on my blog as well.
The email newsletter will serve as a way to not only provide updates on what's going on in my world, but to also share the collection of blog posts I've written between newsletters. I will include a little of what went into newsletters on the blog, such as what I'm reading, listening to, watching, etc. 
The main focus, though, will to be simply share my writing, what's new and what's upcoming regarding my books, plays, etc. and generally what I'm up to in the working world of movies, theater, and fiction. I will still be posting links on Twitter, Facebook, and Instagram, but figured these emails might be a nice way to connect with people who may not be on social media as much these days.
If you'd like to subscribe (if you haven't already), simply email me at jrhask14@gmail.com with the subject line SUBSCRIBE. Even if you try the newsletter once and then hit UNSUBSCRIBE at a later date, my feelings will not be hurt. (All part of the joy of doing one's own PR).
Appreciate you stopping by to read. In lieu of my time being spent creatively on a variety of other projects, this will serve as the regularly scheduled blog post for the week.
Be bold. Be kind.
Follow me on TwitterFollow me on Instagramphoto credit: Jason Haskins

USMNT drops qualifier thanks to sloppy play of back four

The momentum the United States Men's Soccer Team accumulated over the past nine months ran into wall in dropping their World Cup qualifier to Costa Rica.One of these days, the USMNT will step onto the pitch in a big game and play to win instead of simply playing not to lose.
For the first 20 minutes in Friday's World Cup qualifier, it looked like the team was ready to do that very thing. A good showing here would make the 4-0 shellacking the absorbed from Costa Rica in November a long forgotten nightmare.
The team was attacking, making some pretty great runs while overcoming a few sloppy passes from their back four. There was a fluidity to their passing, something I'd seen very little of from the United States over the years. 
They looked like a real team. A team that had been unbeaten in 14 matches since the return of head coach Bruce Arena.
Then, one bad formation--and a questionably placed kick from Tim Howard--later, the bottom fell out. The USMNT allowed a goal and suddenly reverted back to looking like they did during the end stages of Jurgen Klinsmann's reign.
They played too much one v. one ball against a team that has now allowed only four goals through seven qualifiers. Passes suddenly were a touch off. Opportunities were consistently missed by a late pass or a failed late run.
The result was a 2-0 loss and the suddenly grim proposition of a World Cup in 2019 without the United States. It's not quite there yet, but the early stages of life support have set in. 
On to the game.First halfChristian Pulisic was on full display in the first 20 minutes, continuing making runs down the right wing. He was showing good possession, giving the Ticos defense all it could handle, even drawing an early yellow card from Costa Rica.
A few missed calls--notably Jozy Altidore being pulled to the ground in the penalty box--plus good runs mixed with a lack of finished kept the score knotted at zero.
In the 30th minute, the sloppy play of Geoff Cameron, Tim Ream and the defense caught up with team USA. A dropkick from Tim Howard, looking for a teammate on the left sideline, was intercepted by Costa Rica's Bryan Ruiz. 
Ruiz found Marco Urena, who was able to beat Ream and then find a difficult angle to score past Howard. 
The final 15 minutes of the first half presented very few opportunities for the USMNT and they went to the locker room down 1-0.Waiting on DempseyThe question on most minds was when--not if--when Clint Dempsey would be inserted into the game.
Arena let his starting 11 try to redeem themselves and Ream almost did. On a corner kick from Graham Zusi, Ream's header ended up just sailing over the crossbar. 
More quick starts ended with bad passes and missed opportunities for the U.S. Costa Rica was more than happy to sit back and let the USMNT make their own errors.
Dempsey entered the game in the 64th minute and moments later almost helped get the United States all square at one. His free kick attempt deflected to Pulisic, who had his shot deflected by a Costa Rican defender that nearly found the back of the net if not for a great save by Tico goalie Keylor Navas.
Minutes later, a woeful pass from Cameron in the defensive third was intercepted by Urena who sprinted up field with the ball and easily beat Howard for his second goal of the game.
Navas made another great save in the 81st minute, stopping an Altidore attempt.
The veteran striker picked up a late yellow card, which means he will be out for the Honduras match on Tuesday.
On the verge of consistently becoming a top-tier team for years now, the USMNT took a step back with the loss. It wasn't a completely horrendous showing by the men, but one they will need to quickly forget about before taking on Honduras on Tuesday.
Both teams are tied in third-place with 8 points (with three games remaining). Panama can create a three-way tie if they draw with Mexico and even bump the U.S. further down with a victory over El Tri.
Costa Rica won a Word Cup qualifier against the USMNT on U.S. soil for the first-time since 1985.
photo credit: Wikipedia
For more on sports and pop culture, follow on Twitter: @jasonrh_78

The Circumstances of Arrival

Devoid of color, a wash of gray. 
A single human sporting layer upon layer of clothes. Pacing.
Desolate remnants of a full life.

"Oh. Hi there. Didn't see you arrive. Have a seat. There's the rocking chair. Yes. The boulder will do.
Can I get you something to drink? To eat? I have Xanax as well. I think it's Xanax. Seems to do the trick on lonely nights.
What's that? You can't stay? Sorry to hear that. Was looking forward to some company. What can I do you for?
You want to hear it? Let me take a look at you... Hmm... Yes. You look young enough. Probably don't remember a lot, do you?
Lookout!
Sorry. It's a reflex. Be warned.
The broad details you've heard, I'm sure. Word of mouth likes to spread the deeds and the misgivings. It's like wildfire.  Really it's how it all begin anyhow. Hatred. The approval of hatred. There was a sense of entitlement by people of power, a desire to divide and to lie, subsequently stoking these wildfires.
Oh. Superiority already existed. All sides were weakened by it. A moral superiority. A race superiority. A religious superiority. Me? I didn't care for most it. I fell in the moral superiority camp, I suppose. They entitled, they were wrong, they did this, but what did I do? Nothing. I said a few words, I gave a few dollars, but when push came to shove, I walked away.
Yes. I suppose it's a good thing I lived to tell it about. What if I had done more? I could have shoved. There's a violent streak resting in all of us. I felt it. Multiple times. Screaming at the television at actions and words deemed unfit for our great country. Yet...
It was unlocked with the advancement of social media, emboldened by a man in American who valued himself above all others. A man who lacked empathy and compassion.
Yeah. It's a trait you'd like to believe all humans carry. The idea--in one way or another--in which all people are able to find a sliver of it in their hearts to look out for one another.
It's still a dream, really. Turns out we're not all the same. Empathy and compassion are lost among many. Perhaps they never had it to begin with.
Progress was halted... Are you sure know one has told you this? I know I'm just a stop along the way and I appreciate the company, but stop me if you've heard it. No? It started slowly, a word here, an action there. The groups of those lacking grew, feeling it was their birthright. They didn't have to hide in their secret corners anymore, didn't have to cover their face. They had this idea they were the marginalized ones, the ones profiled, the ones being held back.
Multiply. Multiply. Multiply.
The attacks. The violence. The deaths. 
The streets run red, the skies ashen and everyone on the run. On the run. On the run. And I've killed so many, when I had to, but mostly I run. But now I help. I collect. I yearn for the future. I pass along--What's that?
You've got to get going? That's fair. Best to stay moving. 
I won't be bothered. I've got a nice little set up here. I know we're spread out in these zones, these pockets and we're all strangers, but keep resisting. People are doing fine work in sector 10, I hear, chipping away at the walls of sector 11.
You're on the way to join now? Good for you. Never stop reaching out to your friends, your neighbors, even those who are different. Lift them up, okay? Use it...
Glad you were able to pass through. Hey, if you see Michonne in Sector 7, send my best. I miss our long talks. We are all of one blood. Keep the hope of better times alive."
Alone. A slice of blue streams wide.

Movies of 1997, part three: Blockbusters, duds, and more

photo courtesy of flickr.com
Films released in 1997--and later nominated for Academy Awards in 1998--rightfully have a foothold on their place in history. The same can be said for certain blockbusters from the same year not named Titanic.When I started this little project, my main goal was to discuss the 1998 Academy Awards and what great movies were represented that year. I had no idea it would unleash a three-part series, mostly because there were so many good films released in 1997 I'd simply forgotten about over time. The movie about a disaster at sea can cause these things to happen.
In all actuality, during those the last three years of the 90's, I was consuming movies and films at a rapid pace. Between living at home the year after high school and not really knowing anyone in my semesters at Boise State, a lot of my time was spent watching movies from not only 1997 but further back as well.
I do believe the films of 1997--classics, blockbusters, and duds alike--all have had an effect on not only what interests me, but also what I like to write about. Outside of what we've previously discussed, 1997 introduced audiences to an Ice Cube eating snake (Anaconda), a sequel to a horror film satirizing horror films (Scream 2), a movie from Babyface (Soul Food), Jim Carrey unable to tell a lie (Liar, Liar), and a dog who could play basketball (Air Bud).
Many of these deserve posts of their own. In some cases, I've left that responsibility up to others. (See: Air Bud ). We'll do our best to do a quick fly-over of some of the more important ones.Put the bunny back in the boxNicolas Cage had bounced around between comedy and drama throughout much of the 1980's and 1990's. That changed in 1996 with the release of The Rock.
How would Cage top himself? Simply by releasing two action movies in 1997: Con Air and Face/Off
Con Air even produced a hit that some say rivaled the song from the little sinking ship movie.

Cage--despite having two action-packed films--did not have the blockbuster market cornered in '97. That still belonged to Will Smith.
Smith--who a summer earlier had delivered the world to safety from aliens--was back in 1997, also protecting the world from alien takeovers. This time around he was teamed with Tommy Lee Jones. Men In Black not only produced another summer hit for Smith, but the former Fresh Prince also produced a hit song to populate the clubs with: 

Men in Black was the second-highest grossing film of 1997. Other blockbusters from the top-ten in 1997, including The Lost World: Jurassic Park (a highly underrated sequel), My Best Friend's Wedding, and Tomorrow Never Dies have been pushed to the dusty corners of 1997.  
Even the star power of Harrison Ford and Air Force One is sometimes forgotten about. Not because it's a bad movie (it's not) because the ridiculousness doesn't quite match that of Con Air.
It should also be noted that in 1997--as far as blockbusters go--the special editions of the original Star Wars trilogy were released, further relegating some movies to footnotes of cinema in 1997.A Tarantino follow-up, a Cusack, and a SlyJackie Brown was a pretty good film. And like many of the films nominated for best picture, had an outstanding cast from top to bottom. Audiences held it--at the time--up to comparison of Quentin Tarantino's previous film, Pulp Fiction. Critics and non-critics like use previous films as a barometer to measure a work of most creative types and Jackie Brown was no different.

The aforementioned cast is headlined by Pam Grier and Samuel Jackson and could have gone toe-to-toe with any of the casts from the films nominated for Academy Awards. As it stood, only Robert Forster was nominated for an Oscar (best actor in a supporting role; both Grier and Jackson were nominated for Golden Globes).
Michael Keaton, Bridget Fonda, and Robert DeNiro also were in the cast in this film based on the Elmore Leonard novel Rum Punch. The film marked a return to the spotlight for Grier and was given high marks for her performance. 
DeNiro would play second-fiddle, it seems, in two films in 1997. Cop Land was also jam packed full of great actors, but it was Sylvester Stallone who stole the show. In fact, many initially thought Stallone would win an acting award for his performance. The movie on a whole doesn't quite hold up, but it is still one of the better performances of Stallone's career.
Also doing double-duty in 1997 was Minnie Driver. Along with Good Will Hunting, Driver appeared alongside John Cusack in Grosse Pointe Blank. I loved this moved in the late 90's/early 2000's but for some reason never owned it and haven't seen it in 15 years. It was one of those hidden gems I came across and ranks high on favorite films of Cusack. He plays a down-on-his-luck hitman who falls in love with Driver upon returning home for his class reunion. Highly recommend it, if you get the chance and haven't seen it....And the restHere is every other movie that came out in 1997... Kidding. 
To this day, I will still contend that Nothing to Lose has a great soundtrack, Money Talks was prime time Chris Tucker (who was also in Jackie Brown), and Starship Troopers was one of the worst acted movies of all-time (is that what makes it so great?).
Starship Troopers was a movie consisting of actors who made appearances on Saved by the Bell and prime time soaps like Melrose Place and Beverly Hills 90210. And of course, the movie also marked the re-emergence of Neil Patrick Harris. 
1997 also gave us George Clooney as Batman (Batman and Robin), Matt Damon as a young lawyer in a film with Danny DeVito (The Rainmaker), and a movie I loved for the longest time but can no longer watch (I Know What You Did Last Summer).
I could go on and on, but will leave you with my top-ten films from that year. (Some of which I found no room for to discuss, but make my list nonetheless.) Thanks for stopping by.
Boogie NightsGood Will HuntingL.A. ConfidentialAs Good as It GetsJackie Brown TitanicGrosse Pointe BlankBreakdownScream 2The GameThe Movies of 1997 and the 1998 Academy AwardsMovies of 1997, Academy Awards of '98: Part two
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Movies of 1997, Academy Awards of '98: Part two

photo: en.wikipedia.org
Films from 1997--especially many going onto the 1998 Academy Awards--have stood the test of time and continue to entertain people 20 years later.Last week we began a journey in exploring a few favorite films released in 1997. Narrowing the scope, we focused on the nominees for best picture at the 1998 Academy Awards. (Sans The Full Monty, substituted here by Boogie Nights.)
These films might have dominated the evening in any other year. Going up against a love story set against the backdrop of a sinking ship, it seems other films did not stand a chance.
Except they did when it came to acting statuettes, leaving Titanic to take home 11 Oscars but none for their actors.
Instead, actresses from the two other films we're looking at, L.A. Confidential and As Good as It Gets, went home with an Oscar on Academy Award night 1998.God himself could not sink this shipAfter all of these years, it is still Billy Zane who steals the show in Titanic. Setting aside he is poorly written as an asshole for reasons unknown (other than he is rich), Zane is wonderful as the movie's main villain (along with the pesky iceberg).

For all the sappy, dead-on dialogue, Titanic was still a film to be marveled at. Technologically it was ahead of its time and director/writer James Cameron has proven to be cutting edge when it comes to using the newest (or creating his own) technology for a film. 
The history of the Titanic was an added aspect--for me--in seeing this film. It is considered one of the greatest shipwrecks in history and being able to see this new footage of the wreck drew me in as a viewer almost immediately.
While the rest of the three hours is half fabrication, half facts and rarely fails to entertain. And the film notably helped send the careers of Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet into a completely different stratosphere. DiCaprio--who wasn't nominated in '98--would finally win his Oscar for acting in 2016 when he won for The Revenant. Winslet--who was nominated for best actress in '98--would go on to win an Oscar in 2008 for The Reader.
The film would eventually become the worldwide highest grossing movie of all-time until passed by Cameron's Avatar. (Titanic is currently in third-place domestically, behind Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Avatar.)
Not to mention, the original soundtrack provided the hit "My Heart Will Go On" by Celine Dion, becoming the theme of thousands of proms as the millennium came to an end.Off the record, on the QT and very hush, hushFrom the moment of Danny Devito's opening voice over in L.A. Confidential, I was hooked. The story was much more than a simple crime drama, keeping its claws in you until the very end. It helped that the cast--from top to bottom--were completely invested, with the movie more than helping along the careers of many who at the time were unknown.

The actors in question? Russell Crowe and Guy Pearce. Both had acted in films, but neither was considered a household name.  Writer Brian Helgeland spoke a little about this process in a recent Austin Film Festival On Story podcast. To get a movie made with these two actors, names like DeVito, Kevin Spacey, James Cromwell, and eventual Academy Award winner for best actress, Kim Basinger would need to tag along for the ride.
Even Basinger had fallen off the radar after her appearance in Batman eight years earlier. Her performance and subsequent award nomination/wins placed her back in the spotlight and she appeared in multiple films over the ensuing years.
Based on the novel of the same name by James Ellroy. L.A. Confidential is directed by Curtis Hanson and written by Helgeland, with Hanson sharing a writing credit. They were awarded an Oscar for best adapted screenplay. The film is a throwback movie, a crime noir tackling the corrupt police system (something Los Angeles was still experiencing in the 90's) dripping with racism, domestic abuse, hookers, and heroin.
All of these factors teamed up to put on display an acting showcase for the ages. Spacey may have had better performances in Seven and The Usual Suspects, but he fits in perfectly with the mix of young and old ensemble. This depth of talent in this movie is right up there with Boogie Nights and the next movie on our list.Sell crazy someplace elseThe center of As Good as It Gets, Jack Nicholson, is an acting force all on his own. He won his third Oscar for his work in this film and has been nominated for 12 Academy Awards. Nicholson, though, better get to work if he wants to see his decades long streak of getting nominated not end. (Going strong since the 60's).

Nicholson is at the top of the totem pole of acting in this movie. He plays a popular writer, one who suffers from a mighty big case of OCD. 
His solitary, private life takes a turn when, through a series of events, he becomes involved with a waitress (Helen Hunt) with a sick kid, a depressed artist (Hunt--for her work--was awarded an Oscar for best actress and then would never be heard from again. Okay, stretching the truth on that one. She has appeared in films over the years, mostly independent or smaller projects. Working on a long-running television show (Mad About You) and book ending that with a box office smash (Twister) and an academy award for As Good as It Gets, Hunt is allowed to pick her projects with due care.
Even Kinnear was a revelation in this movie. In the role of a suffering artist and recent subject of a hate crime, Kinnear was given a best supporting actor nomination, but in such a stacked field winning was always going to be a long shot.
Throw in Cuba Gooding, Jr (fresh off a win himself for Jerry Maguire) and Skeet Ulrich (fresh off the success of Scream) in a role drastically cut down but one in which he nails, the acting pool gets to be pretty deep. (Shout out to Shirley Knight and Yeardley Smith).
As Good as It Gets, much like the others films, brings together a collection of characters who may never cross paths and turns them into a dysfunctional family. They are are different and unique in their own ways, but also caring, compassionate and watchful in these same different ways. It's a theme that runs through most of the films and a staple of some of the best films of all time.
Thus wraps up part two of our series. If you are thirsty for more, come back next week when we discover the list of recognizable movies from 1997 is much more extensive than previously thought.
Part one: The movies of 1997 and the 1998 Academy Awards 

The movies of 1997 and the 1998 Academy Awards

photo: pixabay.com

The year of 1997 in cinema might be one of the greatest of all-time, leading to a 1998 Academy Awards ceremony in which almost every nominated movie had a legitimate shot at winning. Of course, there was a monster iceberg movie standing in the way.A sinking ship. Hijacked airplanes. Murder. Porn stars. Aliens. John Travolta.
These are only a taste of what films released in 1997 had to offer audiences. Subject matter was sprayed in every general direction, allowing for fans of all genres to sit up and take notice. And looking back at this year, many of the movies listed were ones that influenced and impacted me in some way and a few are still on my list of all-time favorites.
For a quick reminder, here is a sampling of what movies were released in '97:
TitanicL.A. ConfidentialBoogie NightsJackie BrownCon AirAir Force OneGood Will HuntingMen in BlackAs Good as it GetsFace/OffMy Best Friend's WeddingAmistad*Many of these were nominated in one way or the other for the 1998 Academy Awards. And it's not on the above list, but Starship Troopers also received a nomination.

The race for best picture in the '98 Academy Awards was between five movies: Titanic, As Good as it Gets, The Full Monty, Good Will Hunting, and L.A. Confidential.
It was in the other categories as well that other fights were being held. Best supporting actor went to the late Robin Williams but Burt Reynolds performance in Boogie Nights was just as (if not more) deserving.
Though she lost out to Helen Hunt, Helena Bonham Carter burst onto the scene with her performance in Wings of a Dove. And a couple of fellas from Boston wrote their way into the big-time.
Matt Damon and Ben Affleck--still lesser to Freddie Prinze, Jr. and Matthew Lillard as far as bromances go--and their movie Good Will Hunting was a main reason I turned to writing as a career.
In December of 1997, I was finishing my first semester at community college with still no clue as to what I wanted to do in life. To say I became obsessed with this movie is an understatement. I bought the soundtrack, the script, and basically followed everything these two were doing. (Of course, it was only later I discovered they'd been slogging away in Hollywood for years. But still.)
Good Will Hunting pushed me in the direction of something I'd always done: writing. And this film, along with Titanic, Boogie Nights, and L.A. Confidential, pushed me in the direction of wanting to get into the film industry.
On a larger scope, I still held a connection to action films like Air Force One or Face/Off. Even Con Air held my attention, though it's a little harder to do with these films in the present day. Enjoying the occasional spectacle is okay, but over time substance in film, for me, has taken precedence.
Of the best picture nominees, two of them are on my all-time top 20 list. I only saw The Full Monty once, shortly after it's release on VHS so I will not be discussing it in detail. Just know it became one of the monster hits of its time, even spawning a Broadway musical.
In its place, I will discuss Boogie Nights. And that's where we'll begin.A big, bright shining starPaul Thomas Anderson had been a relative unknown outside of Hollywood circles at this time. He had one film under his belt--Hard Eight--and was launched into the stratosphere with his movie about...the porn industry. 

The film, though, was about so much more. It was about family and how--dysfunctional or not--will grow and fail together. It is about finding those friendships and passions that drive a person, that complete their life, and the hard, fast fall of fame.
Set in the San Fernando Valley of the late 1970's/early 80's, the film is primarily centered around the porn industry and the rise and fall of Dirk Diggler. Along the way, he encounters fame, the power that comes with it, followed by a steep downfall and ultimately, redemption.
I count this movie among my top-five of all-time. PTA is still one of my favorite filmmakers and writers, for that matter. He has gone on to quite the career, with hits such as Magnolia, Punch-Drunk Love, There Will be Blood, The Master, and soon-to-be-released film about the fashion industry. (And supposedly the last film of Daniel Day-Lewis.)

Boogie Nights helped turn Mark Wahlberg into a movie star. Prior to that, he'd made a few films, notably Fear with Reese Witherspoon, but Boogie Nights gave him the bump he needed. It also helped to be surrounded by a stellar cast.

Starting with Reynolds. 

Disputes between Reynolds and PTA are well-documented. Fact is, the film helped bring Reynolds new acclaim. A long tenured career aside, Boogie Nights gave the veteran actor a character to really sink his teeth into. He briefly capitalized on a return to the spotlight, but has not had a great a role since.

William H. Macy, Phillip Seymour Hoffman, John C. Reilly, Julianne Moore, Heather Graham, Ricky Jay, Alfred Molina, Thomas Jane, and Don Cheadle. Getting any of those names to appear in your movie is something to be proud of. Anderson got them all.

All are integral to the story being told and each bring's a character to life, no matter how minor or major the part. For many of these actors, they continued to work with PTA over the years and were given more opportunities because of these independent movie that could. 

A movie that soon found itself in direct competition with the next film on the list.

Chuck I had a double burgerOne of my favorite scenes in this movie is when the four boys are driving around. The car-ride is silent, it's early morning (I think) and Casey Affleck is simply staring out the window, watching the city pass him by.
In a way, this short scene sums up a lot about Good Will Hunting: Not remaining idle and letting the world pass you by.

This is one of the broader meanings of the movie. Like Boogie Nights, Good Will Hunting is also about friendship and family. It's a different kind of family, but one that's tight knit all the same.
Similarities don't stop there. Good Will Hunting also took a couple of stars from Massachusetts in Ben Affleck and Matt Damon and helped elevate their celebrity status. They co-wrote the film as a way to give themselves the parts they weren't getting in Hollywood. And getting paired with director Gus Van Sant didn't hurt, either.
Their writing was good, in fact, they haven't teamed together to write anything since. In all fairness, both have had their own careers to worry about, but come on fellas.
I digress. A supporting cast of Williams, Minnie Driver, Cole Houser, and the younger Affleck help to make this movie go. Williams was deserving of the Oscar for best supporting actor (even though a tie with Reynolds would have been nice). His performance ranks up there as one of the best of his career, though his turn in World's Greatest Dad years later rivals that as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting.
Driver would also earn a nod for her work in the film as did Damon for best actor. 
Another similarity between this movie and Boogie Nights is the excellent soundtracks both provided. While Boogie Nights focuses on hits from the 70's/80's, Good Will Hunting's soundtrack is driven by original music. Music written and performed by the late, great Elliott Smith. 
The music of Smith cuts to the soul and was a perfect addition to this movie. He might have even garnered an Oscar for his song Miss Misery if it weren't for that darn Titanic movie and Celine Dion's My Heart Will Go On.
As we can see, despite the quality of films populating the landscape, there was very little that was going to stop the behemoth that was Titanic.
In part two, we will look at 'Titanic', 'As Good as it Gets', and 'L.A. Confidential'. What's up with Billy Zane? And whatever happened to Helen Hunt? Stay tuned as part two goes up later this week.

July coming at you with medium heat

The newsletter is a (sometimes) monthly post in which I take a look at what I've enjoyed as of late in pop culture. The following is volume 1, issue 3.Hello friends. Welcome back. 
It's been a bit longer than thirty days since I've sat down to do a newsletter. This is partially because I've been putting a lot of focus into finishing the first draft of The Blue Gem. It is also due to the fact I've written about other stuff over the past few weeks and the newsletter is partly used as a way to still write when other topics are eluding me. 
This is not to say I don't have something brewing. Hopefully coming later this weekend, I will once again travel back to the late 90's to examine some very important movies from that time.
As it is, I spent way too much of any free time watching stuff I've seen before. I've mentioned it before, but even with more than a handful of great stuff being made out there, I find myself stuck watching t.v. shows I've seen, listening to music I've memorized, or thumbing through books I've already read.
I promise I am doing my best to break the cycle. A balance of new and old is probably for the best. That being said, there were a few new things I had a chance to get into since we last spoke.WatchTo probably no one's surprise, I watch Game of Thrones. Up until season five, I was always a season behind. I'm glad I made the choice to stay on track, mostly do the sheer amount of spoilers crawling across the internet.
Two episodes into season 7 and I will say this: I'm a little disappointed. I realize the show is winding to it's conclusion, but there's been a lot of TALK (stuff you think would have been done on long boat rides across the sea). And where once a sprawling world was conceived, even other lands seem all within a mile of each other.
Minor gripes, I know. The final scenes of the first two episodes have had me wanting more so I suppose the creators are doing something right.
I also started watching Big Little Lies , also on HBO. It's a seven-episode season and I'm currently three episodes in. The performances by all five lead actresses are outstanding, probably the best thing I've seen Reese Witherspoon in since Election. The construct of it is interesting, though a few of my guesses on things have come true so I'm a little leery of where the path leads. We'll see.
I haven't been to the movies in ages. I am going to remedy that and will keep you posted. ReadWere you aware A Feast for Crows is a long book? I was and am still surprised. 
Needless to say, I am about 60% through it. 
This is also due to the fact because I start other books at the same time. I've added a few more of The Walking Dead graphic novels to my belt. And I've also started Finest Hour: The Battle of Britain. I am a sucker for history books centered around World War II. And knowing a lot of the U.S. history, I decided to venture out into the world.ListenI'd like to be able to tell you I've discovered some hip new music that everyone should go listen to.
I haven't.
Outside of the songs already on my iPod and listening to film scores on YouTube or Pandora, no new music has been heard. I might be the one person left who still hasn't heard Despacito.
...So I went and listened to some new music. This Ringo guy seems like he's gonna go places with this Paul fella.
Podcasts have been in the same boat. I have a nice collection I listen to throughout the week, but do have a few suggestions for new ones I'm looking at. Here is a sampling of those currently on listening rotation (all currently available on Stitcher):
The Fall Line: a true crime podcastPod Save the WorldWith Friends Like ThesePod Save AmericaLiterary DiscoThat Baseball ShowYou Must Remember ThisThin Air PodcastThanks for reading, following, skimming, or generally eyeballing. Feel free to share this blog (not necessarily the newsletter, but other posts within) if you enjoy. 
And for sports fans of Boston area teams or Boise State, give Chowder and Champions and Bronco Nation News a like, follow, etc. if you haven't already to stay up-to-date with news and more.
Be bold. Be kind. 
Jason
"Doubt thou the stars are fireDoubt that the sun doth moveDoubt truth to be a liarBut never doubt I love."- Hamlet