Racing for the Race

I am not sure how Black and White (1999) got into my DVD rental queue at NetFlix. Probably because I really liked James Toback's 1998, Two Girls and a Guy, and wanted to check out his follow-up film. Regardless, this was the first "urban" movie I have ever taken the time to watch in its entirety - and I'm glad I did.

Here' is the NetFlix description of Black and White:
Writer-director James Toback crafted this sprawling New York City ensemble piece to be improvised like live theater, with unique and satisfying results. A huge cast of actors, rappers and celebrities (including Brooke Shields, Mike Tyson, Robert Downey Jr. and Ben Stiller) play out a drama that unfolds as black and white America combine -- and abrade -- on Manhattan's streets.

Here is a more impressive, longer list of cast-members:
Scott Caan, Robert Downey Jr., Stacy Edwards, Allan Houston, Gaby Hoffmann, Kidada Jones, Jared Leto, Marla Maples, Joe Pantoliano, Bijou Phillips, Oliver Grant, Raekwon, Claudia Schiffer, William Lee Scott, Brooke Shields, Ben Stiller, Eddie Kaye Thomas, James Toback, Mike Tyson, Elijah Wood

The film weaves together an interesting array of characters from a huge pool of actors who each get their own time in the spotlight. I have seldom seen a movie that has a large cast yet takes the time (in a 99 minute flick) to delve into each character's mind, emotions and motivations. Everyone struggles with the issue of identity. By the movie's end, friends have killed each other, married couples break up because the guy is gay, whites sleep with blacks and blacks both break and bow to stereotypes. Identity, identity, identity.

There is a long line of young kids that pretend to identify with cultures different from their own. To put it a nicer way, there are plenty of misunderstood youths that identify with surprisingly different cultures. Perhaps the film's most poignant dialog comes from Claudia Schiffer who tells her cheating, basketball player-boyfriend to be true to himself. She explains that if he feels good or bad because of external forces then he will forever be at the mercy of others. Only when his emotions come from the inside, from his own beliefs, will he truly be free. I couldn't say it any better, although I probably could have paraphrased it a little better.

Would you come to a city whose taglines where:

How sweet it is!

You name it... we got it!

Can you feel it!

?????

These blurbs can be found on the "You are now in Brooklyn" signs outside the Battery Tunnel, Brooklyn Bridge and Triborough Bridge. I'd love to be a fly on the wall in the marketing meeting where these were created. My biggest problem is what is IT??? Each line uses the word yet none even hint at its definition. I have been getting more and more sensitive to bad pronoun use. Just yesterday I scalded my students for using the phrase "they have them" as critiques of new business concepts.

I wonder what taglines other cities use. Obviously this is not part of a larger NY ad campaign but merely what the borough of Brooklyn has decided to welcome visitors with. I have to believe there is a better way to do it. Any idea?

Aaron Sorkin is a Hack

Since getting a Tivo for my birthday I have enjoyed catching up on shows canceled long ago. I have reconnected with classics such as Batman, The Larry Sanders Show, Bosom Buddies and Sports Night. That last show was one of my favorites before it got ripped off the air in, I believe, 2000. Sports Night even won TV Guide's "Best Show You're Not Watching" award before cancellation. Written by Aaron Sorkin, who went on to create The West Wing, the show has amazing dialog and interesting, well-developed characters. I think it airs at 3am on Comedy Central.

I just paused the latest episode my Tivo had Tivo'd and jumped on my blog with a fervor not displayed since the last time a CNN anchor screwed up the word Pentagon by saying Pentagram. The reason for this fervor? Well, Jeremy, one of the characters, just gave a little speech that included "...as if it matters how a man falls down... when the fall is all that is left it matters a great deal."

To understand why this is a big deal I will share a small bit on information with you. One of the most popular entries of my blog, arrived at predominantly from Google searches, is THIS, where I use a great quote from my favorite show, The West Wing. What quote is it? You guessed right... "You fool, as if it matters how a man falls down... When the fall is all that is left, it matters a great deal."

My conclusion - Aaron Sorkin has been regurgitating great quotes from one of his shows to another of his shows. My only hope is that The West Wing never wins the "Best Show You're Not Watching" award.

Endings and Beginnings

Today was a big day for the "Self-Imposed Challenges" chapter of my autobiography.

1 - Last trapeze class until the spring.
2 - First on-stage improv comedy performance (our graduation show).

Trapeze is all about timing and following instructions. We practice on the ground every part of a move, making sure our bodies know exactly what to do and how the "right" position feels. We train, listen and use gravity to our advantage.

Improv is all about letting go. Not everyone can be the "crazy" one in a scene. being the "straight" guy is just as important - while it is harder because then you're not the one being funny. In improv we learn a few ground rules, which are more like paths to go down or not go down. Jumping onto the stage, we have no idea what we're about to do. No ideas, no scripts, no plans. Total abandon. In fact, you're not even supposed to try to be funny since most of the time that fails completely. This requires even more trust in the letting go because humor arises when you least expect it - when you let it - not when you fish for it.

I hope everyone takes some time to challenge themselves and do something they've never done before. I have never joined a gym or worked out in my life yet I have taken to trapeze with vigor. You never know. You never know. You never know!