Insurrection Hoax?

Recently, House Speaker McCarthy provided access to the thousands of hours of video recording on January 6, 2021.  For the past couple of nights, Tucker Carlson has aired snippets.  Though he started out with the riotous stuff that we have already seen ad nauseam, he then transitioned to some videos that had not been shown.  For example, the Q-Anon Shaman, the fellow who became the face of January 6th, was escorted through the Capitol by the police.  No, not in handcuffs so he could go directly to jail.  The police appear to be giving him a tour of the building and even open a door for him.  Huh.  That's peculiar.  When the shaman finally got to the chamber where plenty of video has been shown, he thanked the police for their participation.  That seems weird.  Of course, it fits with story of Matthew Martin.  Martin was acquitted of all charges for his participation on J6, which included entering the Capitol, because two officers flanking the door made no effort to stop him.  Didn't anyone tell these two officers to close the doors or at least attempt to turn away protesters?  Then there was Ray Epps.  In testimony, he claimed to have left the Capitol but the timestamped video shows him still onsite.  Of note, Epps was on the FBI most wanted list for 1 day.  He still hasn't been arrested or charged.  For a guy that is on tape insisting that protesters must 'go into the Capitol,' it seems odd that he hasn't been charged.  Then we have the man who actively dragged protesters into the Capitol building.  Officer Sitnick, who was beaten to death by protesters, is shown walking about in the Capitol a half hour after his supposed beating.  Huh.  How come none of this was addressed by the J6 Select Committee?    It's almost as if that was a show trial that only wanted to paint a particular narrative, not find the truth of what happened.

Much of this footage was kept hidden for the last 26 months because it contradicts the established narrative.  None of this excuses those who clearly rioted that day.  However, the idea that a bunch of unarmed protesters came close to overthrowing the government is ludicrous.  CNN reported the far deadlier and more destructive events in Minneapolis as a 'mostly peaceful protest.'

The Westerner (1940)

In west Texas, the cattle ranchers and the homesteaders clash.  During the clash, a homesteader returns fire at some attacking ranchers but kills a cow.  Soon, he is brought before Judge Roy Bean (Walter Brennan) who sentences him to hang.  Soon after, Cole Harden (Gary Cooper) is brought before Judge Bean as an accused horse thief.  His prospects look dim but he notes the many posters of Lily Langtry about the bar and, while the jury deliberates, he tells Judge Bean that he knows Miss Langtry.  Judge Bean soon views Cole as a friend and, when the verdict comes back guilty, he passes a suspended sentence, much to the surprise of the jurors and the mortician.  Cole claimed to have a lock of Miss Langtry's hair and Judge Bean means to have it.

Cole just wants to get out of the area - he has vague plans of riding to California - and save his neck.  However, he stops for the night at the Matthews' homestead.  Jane Ellen (Doris Davenport) lays on the charm to get him to stay on and work the farm.  Thanks to the rancher attacks, it has been difficult to retain workers.  Seeing the state of the homesteaders and having already gauged the ranchers, Cole attempts to play peacemaker through his 'friendship' with Judge Bean.  There's plenty of land for everyone.

The only historical figures in the movie are Judge Bean and Lily Langtry (Lilian Bond).  There is a lot to commended regarding the portrayal of Bean.  He did have trouble with his neck on account of having been hanged.  He was known to fine people based on the amount of money they had in their pockets.  Any fines he levied, he kept.  His saloon doubled as a courtroom.  He did indeed fight in the Civil War as a Confederate.  Brennan is terrific in the role, making Bean amiable, ruthless, and lovestruck.  On the other hand, the climax sees Bean getting killed in a gunfight in Fort Davis.  In fact, Roy Bean died in his bed in 1903 at the age of 77.  As for Lily Langtry, she and Bean never met; his pining for her was unrequited.

Good popcorn fun!

Chinatown (1974)

It is 1937 and Jake Gittes (Jack Nicholson) is a private investigator in Los Angeles.  After wrapping up another case about an unfaithful spouse, he is hired by Mrs. Mulwray to expose her husband's infidelity.  Hollis Mulwray is the director of the water department.  Initially, Jake's investigation finds that Mulwray spends his nights on the beach near a drainpipe.  However, he does finally locate the other woman and gets some pictures.  The following day, Evelyn Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) files a lawsuit against Jake; she is not the Mrs. Mulwray who hired him!  Jake has been setup and Mulwray was targeted for some reason.  Jake wants to know why.

What starts as an investigation about infidelity soon evolves into one about the water supply of Los Angeles, corruption, murder, and a hidden scandal in a powerful family.  Noah Cross (John Huston) is the former partner of Hollis Mulwray and the father of Evelyn Mulwray.  He is rich and powerful.  Evelyn says he is dangerous and Jake should steer clear of him.  Jake finds himself under threat of death at every turn.  Clearly, he is poking his nose in unhealthy places.

The setting is terrific, immersing the viewer in 1930s Southern California.  The acting is top notch.  Jake is a talented investigator but has a habit of jumping to conclusions, some of which cost him.  He is often reckless.  In fact, Evelyn points out that he can't last long with assaults he suffered in the last 24 hours.  One annoying thing was the constant reference to Chinatown.  Chinatown figures prominently in Jake's past but the precise details are never offered.  Then, the last few minutes of the film take place in Chinatown.  So?

"Forget it, Jake.  It's Chinatown."

What is that supposed to mean?

The film is very dark, painting a bleak picture of Los Angeles and the prospects of many of the characters.  Nonetheless, it is a good film and recommended.

Narrative of the Life of Frederick Douglass

Frederick Douglass was born in 1817 or 1818.  He did not know as slave birthdays were not recorded or considered to be important.  He was separated from his mother while a toddler and only saw her occasionally, as she was sent to work on a different plantation.  His mother died when he was around 7 years old.  Of course, it was common to separate children from parents, as that diminished familial ties, which could be a support for a slave.  Better for slaves to view themselves as alone in the world and dependent upon the goodwill of their master.  As far as Frederick's life as a slave went, his was less onerous than most he witnessed.  While still a boy, he was sent to be a house servant in Baltimore.  The lady of the house started teaching him to read.  However, when this was discovered, she was ordered to stop.  She had never had a slave and, by default, had treated him as a person.  As time went along, she adopted the mentality of a slave owner, thus corrupting herself and denying Frederick his humanity.  Frederick came to view slavery as dehumanizing to both the slave and the slave owner.  As a teen, he was sent back to the plantation and tangled with various overseers.  Sent to work the farm of a man noted for breaking slaves, he offered resistance.  To his surprise, the man let it slide.  Had his failure with Frederick become public knowledge, his reputation for breaking slaves would be ruined.  Once again, Frederick was sent to Baltimore and was now taught the trade of caulking ships on the wharf.  He became an independent contractor, finding jobs and receiving pay.  Of course, he had to give all the money to his owner but he did have some degree of independence.  White caulkers did not appreciate him and had beaten him.  His first effort to flee to the north was undermined by another slave.  He eventually did escape, but he does not offer details as it would reveal sources and methods; this narrative was written in 1845.  Once in the north, he still had to be concerned with being grabbed and sent back south.  He relocated to Connecticut and resumed his trade of caulking.  Soon, he was involved in the abolition movement and offered speaking engagements.

The most interesting thing about the book was Douglass's stating that slavery was as spiritually harmful to the slave owner as the slave.  He was particularly irked by religious men who defended slavery or owned slaves.  Despite being a slave, he felt sorry for the woman who set him on the path to literacy; becoming part of the slave owning class, she was twisted from a generous and kind woman into someone who could accept the cruel institution.  This is an excellent read and highly recommended.

The Batman (2022)

The mayor is watching the news report of the debate with his challenger.  He is not pleased with the polls and thinks he should be winning easily.  Suddenly, a man in a mask appears behind him and beats him to death.  Lt. James Gordon (Jeffery Wright) arrives with the Batman (Robert Pattinson) to investigate the scene.  The other cops are horrified that Gordon brought Batman.  Batman surveys the scene, noticing several things that the detectives had missed.  Of particular interest, there is a card left for The Batman.  When opened, it offers a riddle.  What does a liar do when he's dead?  "He lies still," Batman states.  There is also a cypher to solve, which Batman takes to the bat cave.  Soon, there are more corpses and more riddles to solve.  The Riddler (Paul Dano) is exposing some dark secret related to city corruption and all the participants are getting eliminated.

Many of the standard characters appear: Catwoman (Zoe Kravitz), Penguin (an unrecognizable Colin Farrell), and Alfred (Andy Serkis).  Carmine Falcone (John Turturro) proves to be something of an enigma, a man who has a history with Thomas Wayne.  In a dramatic shift from the Christian Bale version, this Bruce Wayne is a brooding hermit reminiscent of Howard Hughes.  There is much more emphasis on Batman's skills as a detective; he solves most of the riddles, is frequently trailing suspects, records all his observations in journals, and discovers important facts through deduction.  He is active by day but not generally in costume.  Paul Dano's Riddler is very different from previous incarnations.  He isn't the cackling psychopath (Frank Gorshin) nor an over-the-top redhaired goofball (Jim Carrey).  This is more Unabomber/Zodiac Killer.

Though long, the pacing is good.  There are a few scenes that didn't work, especially the one where the police transport an unconscious Batman back to the police station without removing his mask, especially since the police are hostile toward this version of Batman.  Good popcorn fun!

Along Came Jones (1945)

A robber (Dan Duryea) is hidden on the side of the road as a stagecoach approaches.  He shoots one of the horses in the leg which cascades into a tremendous crash.  As he moves in to seize the bag of money he is after, the man riding shotgun threatens.  The robber shoots him.  After the driver hands over the money, the robber gallops away.  However, the mortally injured man shoots the robber.  The robber drops his rifle, which has his named etched on it: Monte Jarrad.

Meanwhile, Melody Jones (Gary Cooper) and George Fury (William Demarest) riding south in search of work.  Melody is singing a song, which consists of silly verses and a 'round and a round' chorus.  George thinks Melody has hit his head one too many times.  They arrive in Paynesville where a local notes the MJ initials on Melody's saddle.  Monte Jarrad is said to be a tall slim fellow who travels with his Uncle Roscoe.  Soon, the whole town has jumped to the conclusion that Monte Jarrad has arrived in Paynesville.  Melody is loving all the respect and deference that the townsfolk are giving him, thinking his squinting eyes and standoffish demeanor explain all.  Not until Cherry de Longpre (Loretta Young) calls him Monte and escorts him out of town does he realize it was a case of mistaken identity.  Now he feels the fool but he is also attracted to Cherry.  Not so dull-witted as George things, Melody returns to the Longpre farm to discover why Cherry opted to call him Monte rather than just clear up the misunderstanding with the townsfolk.

Here is an unusual combination of Western, comedy, and romance.  The villain, Jarrad, is a straightforward coldblooded killer who would fit just fine in a more serious movie.  By contrast, Melody can't draw a gun to save his life.  He is more likely to fling it into the dirt than successfully get it out of his holster.  This is who they are talking about when they accuse someone of not being able to hit the broadside of a barn.  However, he does prove to have a keen mind, deducing what is happening behind the scenes on several occasions.  Though Demerest is good in the role, I kept seeing Uncle Charley from My Three Sons providing sage advice to Melody.

This feels like a movie that couldn't decide what it wanted to be.  Just okay.

Is She Saying that Democrats are Racist and Sexist?

Lori Lightfoot, the mayor of Chicago since 2019, placed 3rd in the recent primary for this year's election. Therefore, she will not be included in the April runoff that will decide the Democrat nominee.  When asked about her loss, she said, "I'm a black woman."  The electorate that voted her - a black woman - into office four years ago has had a change of heart.  Of note, Chicago is overwhelmingly a Democrat stronghold and this was a Democrat primary.  The two men who outperformed her are both Democrats.  Therefore, this backhanded accusation of racism and sexism can only be pointed at fellow Democrats, specifically the ones who voted for Paul Vallas (a white man) or Brandon Johnson (a black man).  Maybe the rocketing murder rate has something to do with the voters choosing to try someone else.  That would be my guess.