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
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