Say Goodbye to Hollywood

Something about the light of a full moon on frost is very stirring. It conjures up old Transylvanian types of superstitions. It makes me want to tromp off into the woods in search of Sasquatch. I've said it before, the full moon brings out the feral in me. If only I could sleep through the day like some dark, brooding animal - for sure, I don't get sleep at night with that big beam coming from the sky! *yawn... stretch*

Well, once again, Hollywierd has managed to confound me. I know, I know... not a big stretch there. Into The Wild was pretty much ignored for Oscar nominations. Considering that it's a movie that had a profound effect on me - I actually paid to see it a second time - I was hoping others might clue in on it. Alas, Hal Holbrook was nominated as best supporting actor. Hal deserves it, and good on him! Hell, I'd hand the man a statue for reading my grocery receipts. But, the cinematography was completely ignored - I suppose it could be argued that it's difficult to take a bad shot of Alaska, but still! Emile Hirsch did a fine job as McCandless, and he should have been nominated - to watch him evolve and then devolve as "Alexander Supertramp" was entirely believable. What really astounds me, is that Eddie Vedder's soundtrack didn't even get a nod. It's some great music and fit with the movie so very well. Even now, I can't hear one of the songs and not be pulled back into the story. Those were some powerful tunes Eddie wrote - he deserves the recognition.

I guess it just goes to show, unless a movie is filled with sex and violence it's not going to get anyone's attention. Quel damage... what a drag.

I'm deeply saddened by Heath Ledger's death. I've been watching his career since 10 Things I Hate About You. He was a fine actor, and young as he was, able to stand with some big names and not blend into the scenery. What makes a person who appears to have everything so self-destructive? Is it because life is, in some way, too easy? Does it stem from feelings of unworthiness? Fear of success? Pressures of society when one is under the big microscope? Whatever the reason, it's just sad - 28 is far too soon to choose to leave this life. You'll be missed, Heath. I'll miss your wide, easy grin, and opposingly, your dark angry stare. I will miss your talent.

My own thought, and I haven't researched this, so I may be way off base. I can, however, go back to a time in my younger days when I had such inclinations, and recall my own process. But, my thought is that suicidal tendencies come from a well seeded bed of complacency and apathy. They're killers, let there be no doubt. Once we fall into "I don't care" and "It doesn't matter," what is there to make life worth living? More, it's a tough bitch of a ditch to dig out of. One of the things that kept me going, kept me striving, this past year was that I'd daily check my thoughts. I was constantly under my very own microscope.

Take the words of Socrates to heart: "... let no day pass without discussing goodness and all the other subjects about which you hear me talking and examining, both in myself and others, is really the very best thing that a man can do... life without this sort of examination is not worth living ..."