American Gangster
Well, what’s
a codger to do? I am pushing 90, hard,
it is wet outside, my balance is shot to hell, I have given away my car – and, except
for football – I hate daytime TV (yes, even the news). Thus it seems that I must reconcile myself to
lots of happy hours with my computer. The problem then arises that often I have nothing in mind to write about, at least nothing
most of the world would want to read.
Moreover, if I don’t watch out I may run out of pictures of Linda. All that being the case I have decided to
launch a new series, patterned on my “Taped Treasures from my Basement”
offerings of a half-dozen years ago.
Having no basement in my new dwelling place (The Willows), nor tapes or
anything to play them on, I’m going to call this series something else,
although I haven’t decided what. (Maybe Pictures you Saw a Long Time Ago, but might
enjoy Again. Nah, too long and too clunky). So, whatever, it will work like
this: If I feel inspired and have a splash of energy still in the tank, after dinner I will pour myself a shot of Bellewood
Farm’s pumpkin liqueur and sip it while viewing an old movie on my iPad. I will chose movies that I liked and that are
old enough so that, even if you’ve seen them already, you might enjoy watching
again. And if you don’t get into them, what the hell - there’s
always Wheel of Fortune.
So anyway,
my first offering is American Gangster,
co-starring two of the best male movie actors of the last several decades –
Russell Crowe and Denzel Washington.
(Did I spell those names correctly?
No matter, you know who I mean.)
Released in 2007, it made me grateful that I have been able to spend
nearly all my life in places like Beaumont and Borrego Springs (and yes,
Bellingham). Supposedly based on a true
story, but clearly Hollywood-ized to woo the Oscar voters, American Gangster was nominated for several Oscars and collected a
few. The director was the ever-reliable
Ridley Scott.
I rate it a
solid B+.
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