There is a moment not far into Clint Eastwood’s most recent movie, “Gran Torino,” where the audience sits up straighter. It’s the first of many times in the movie when Eastwood reaches for a gun. Already gripped by Eastwood’s brilliant portrayal of bitter Korean War vet Walt Kowalski, and layered subconsciously on top of all his other satisfyingly violent roles, the viewer … [Read more...] about A Gratifying Ride
Archives for Winter 2009
No Place Like Home
In “Cannery Row,” arguably the most lyrical creation by America’s finest writer, John Steinbeck reserves some of his most evocative prose for a description of the Great Tide Pool at Point Pinos—that window into a microcosmic universe at the northernmost tip of the Monterey Peninsula, where Doc Ricketts used to gather specimens for his laboratory. “It is a fabulous place:when … [Read more...] about No Place Like Home
A Sea of Contrasts
Gritty, stinky yet prosperous industrial district. Mythologized parable of post-World-War-II California life. Abandoned, rusty, dangerous no man’s land. World-famous tourist attraction with a curious mix of old and new, kitschy and classy, high tech and old school. That’s Cannery Row: a miasma of contrasts; a place with a dramatic past peopled with a cast of unique, … [Read more...] about A Sea of Contrasts
Table for Two
For some people, romance means a single red rose or a heart-felt poem. Others count on candy hearts and greeting cards to make their sweetheart swoon.And for some romantics, true love means a truly passionate display of emotion—rose petals on the bed, a custom-made diamond ring or words of devotion written in the sand for all to see. On Valentine’s Day, the sky is the … [Read more...] about Table for Two