I Still Don't Know Jack

Last night, I watched "You Don't Know Jack", starring Al Pacino as Dr. Jack Kevorkian, or Dr. Death, as he was called.

Al Pacino was perfect in the role. After the first few minutes, you think you're really watching Kevorkian. He sounded exactly like the doctor, too. I have seen Kevorkian on several talk shows, before and after his unfortunate incarceration, and Pacino must have spent a tremendous amount of time listening and learning the doctor's speech patterns.

John Goodman played Kevorkian's long-time medical technician, the guy who turns on the gas. He came across as someone who didn't particularly relish what he was doing. I don't know if the real-life med-tech felt that way, or if Goodman was letting his own feelings show. But, the med-tech abetted Kevorkian for years, and if he didn't approve, surely he would have left.

This is one of Dr. Kevorkian's paintings. I'd feel a whole lot more sympathetic if he just painted landscapes. All of his paintings are full of blood and gore. Shudder.

I think we were supposed to come away with a better understanding of what drove Dr. Kevorkian, but, frankly, I didn't buy his reasoning. He made some interesting points, but I still believe the man was the most successful serial killer in history, and deserved every minute of prison time he served, and maybe more.

Stay tuned.

The Big Lebowski

The other day, I watched "The Big Lebowski." Yes, yes, I know it's an old movie, but back then, I wouldn't have fully appreciated the Coen Brothers. But, now I do, and I find that scary, but there it is.

Jeff Bridges (Lebowski, or as he preferred, "Dude") and John Goodman (professional Vietnam vet, flashbacks and all) are the perfect, though odd, couple. Bridges is mellow and Goodman is over the top.

Dude gets caught up in a situation he can't control, because for some reason, someone steals his favorite living room rug, and he sets out to find it. Don't ask. I still don't know why the rug was stolen, but it's as good a reason as any to explain the case of mistaken identity, which puts Dude on the path of destruction that is the rest of the movie.

The plot is full of twists and turns that I can't begin to describe, one more absurd and hilarious than the last.

I have been described as someone with a mind like an unmade bed, and this is what you might need to enjoy this romp. Also, if you can't tolerate a story where none of the characters seem to be able to utter a complete sentence without the "F" word, probably, you'll want to give this one a pass.








Stay tuned.