Slumdog Millionaire

Synopsis (from Movies.com):
Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India’s “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?” But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions. Intrigued by Jamal’s story, the jaded Police Inspector begins to wonder what a young man with no apparent desire for riches is really doing on this game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, the Inspector and sixty million viewers are about to find out….

Armando bought the book and has read almost half of it (He reported that there are some major differences between the movie and book).  But he couldn’t wait to see this flick, since it earned an A- by the movie critics.  We saw it at the new Wesley Chapel Cobb Grove 16 (which was surprisingly nice…and I indulged in free popcorn!).  The movie showed us the sad, brutal reality of life in the slums of India and the cost of love that is “written in the books.”  By the end, we were cheering for Jamal with all our might. 

Half of the movie was sub-titled, and I wish it had all been subtitled.  I doubt that the slumdogs of India speak English with each other.  (It bugged me like The Sound of Music bugs me in that way).  It will have you on your knees giving thanks for your good life in America while you’re rooting for the underdog.  This is a Grade: A flick of loss and love which we highly recommend. 

Let The Right One In

I love vampire stories (of course Gary Oldman is my favorite blood sucker), but although it’s not Armando’s favorite genre, he was game when I invited him on a date to see Let The Right One In, a Swedish sub-titled vamp film at the Tampa Theater.

The plan was to meet him at Algusto Tortilla & Salsa for Mexican before the movie.  I was happy that I got out of work early, but I was not happy when I got pulled over on Kennedy.  Once I pulled off the street (and into the parking lot I was look for), the officer leisurely strolled up to my car and asked in movie cop tone, “Do you know why I pulled you over?“  I replied, “Because I’m directionally challenged?“  I said.  “I pulled you over because you went straight from a left turn lane…through a red light.”  “Is that wrong?” I replied.  He took my info and wrote me up a ticket for $206 smackers.  So much for Finance Goal #1.  I wasn’t angry that I got a ticket…I broke the law (which, btw, cannot be redeemed by taking Defensive Driving School).  I WAS angry that I drove the speed limit all the way from USF to UT while pretty much everyone else drove 10-20 miles faster than me, and they’e not in debt $206 dollars.

So anyway, after a very tasty mole chicken dinner we made our way to the old Tampa Theater.  Did you know that the TT first opened in October 1926?  It is truly a creepy place…especially with the organist rising from the catacombs and those tiny bathrooms in the basement.  What better place to watch a foreign vampire flick! 

We settled in the uncomfy chairs for a dark trip through Sweden in the winter.  Twelve year old Oskar who lives with his mother is a fragile kid who gets bullied by three classmates.  He visits his father on occasion, but is otherwise a loner.  Until he meets Eli, the dark skinned beauty who moves in next door.  Mysterious deaths occur in the small town, while the children become friends.  Oskar finds his courage with the bullies and also finds love with the strange Eli.  Oskar eventually discovers Eli’s fate and that’s where the story ends.  Or begins…

This was a typical foreign film with a slow to moderate pace (apparently the Swed’s don’t need non-stop action or frivolous words).  Artsy.  Beautiful.  Tragic.  A+ film…go see it while it’s still in town.

The Wizard of OZ

Last night I was treated to opening night at the Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center’s production of The Wizard of OZ, “the 1939 all-American musical fantasy.” 

 

Joanne gave Kathy and I fourth row orchestra seats to see my all-time favorite story.  This production was a close duplicate of the screenplay, with some additional characters, lyrics and dances, including the Jitterbug, which was cut from the film we all know and love.  Plus, there were some projection goodies that helped make the twister and Wicked Witch even more lifelike. 

I couldn’t help but sing along and recite lines with the cast, and wiped away a tear or two.  Seeing local children as Munchkins and Winkies made it even more charming.  Dorothy Gale (Cassie Okenka) did a fine job plaing the sweet Kansas girl…but the Lion (Jason Simon) stole the show with his scaredy-cat antics.  Of course, Toto (Snickers) got the biggest applause during the curtain call.

Adults can’t help but love this timeless tale, and the production was better than my elementary school’s attempt.  OZ wasn’t nearly as spectacular and extravagant as Wicked, but it left the audience with good feelings and smiles all around.  

to the EDGE: A Man, Death Valley and the Mystery of Endurance

 

Kirk Johnson is a writer for the New York Times who wrote an article on the Badwater Ultramarathon, a 135-mile footrace through Death Valley.  The race, held in July, starts at the lowest point in the Western Hemisphere, 282 feet below sea level.  It stretches out across the desert for the length of more than five marathons, finishing in the Sierra Nevada at the trail head to Mount Whitney, which is the highest point in the lower 48 states.  The temps typically reach 120 degrees or more for the first 50 miles, dropping to freezing at the highest elevations.  Strong headwinds and sandstorms are typical, as are lightening, hail and snow at the higher elevations.  There is a 60-hour cutoff and no support (other than one’s own crew)along the way.

After the death of this brother, and subsequent death of his mother, Kirk decided it was time to see how far he could go.  He had relatively no experience as an endurance athlete (and in fact, despised the athlete’s ego), but after researching Badwater and interviewing its regulars, Kirk was under its spell.  He took a year off work to train for the event and his understanding wife supported him (but did not attend the race).

The book revisits the year of the author’s thoughts, frustrations, and fears of trying to complete this “pinnacle of endurance” ultramarathon.  Kirk recruited a crew consisting of his sister (a runner) and his somewhat estranged brother, in hopes of keeping the family together.  He gives vivid, detailed descriptions of the actual Badwater race, including the laughter, blisters and hallucinations he encountered over the 54 hours and 26 minutes on the road to Mount Whitney.

Kirk is an expressive writer who brings the reader to the center of his Badwater journey.  I related to the trail tears (yes…he cried too!) and the emergence of the “alter-ego” taking over when he thought he couldn’t go any further.  I can’t say the book makes me want to attempt Badwater, but it affirms some of my own thoughts and feelings about endurance sports and how they have changed my life.

The Road

This is Chase’s book, flown from Colorado to Florida by Andy, handed off to Candi and given to me.  I read this 287-page book in six hours.  Couldn’t put it down .

Review:  The man and the child (symbolically nameless throughout the story) are walking through a post-apocalyptic Southeastern America to find something…better.  The land is barren, killed by fires.  There are no animals (one dog along the way), live plants or sea-life.  The air is thick with ash, so much so that it shrouds the sun and moon.  The father and son’s only hope for food is pillaging ransacked and abandoned houses.  The weather is cold and they fight hunger and “the bad guys” (who cannibalize their prey) for their meager existence.

The story begs the meaning of life question.  The man and boy are “each the other’s world entire,” and outside of each other, have next to nothing.  Why do they continue to walk, not knowing where The Road will take them?  And what happens when his partner dies? 

I give The Road an “A.”  The writing is a bit difficult in that the author Cormac McCarthy neglects punctuation, has grammatical flaws, and delineates no chapters.  The language is descriptive yet evasive at times.  

I personally like the book because I have a fascination about being one of the last people on earth.  So many questions arise, so many emotions that, living in suburbia we will never face.  Why are we here on earth, and how long would you fight for your life?  In the end, only maps, mazes and mysteries remain…

Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner by Dean Karnazes

Dean Karnazes, or Karno, has been challenging himself most of his life.  In this book he describes several races, like The Western States 100 (one of the most difficult 100-mile races in the world), the Badwater Ultramarathon (135 miles across Death Valley in the summer), a South Pole marathon and a 199-mile relay race in Cali that he ran solo.  Some call Karno a shameless self-promoter, and though that may be true, it doesn’t discount his accomplishments.   This is an easy read that puts ultrarunning into perspective.

The Way of The Peaceful Warrior by Dan Millman

A ”spiritual saga”…Dan Millman was a successful gymnast in college, but he felt he was missing something in his life.  He met a man he called Socrates, “an eccentric old warrior” who guided Dan in changing his life, helping him find meaning and purpose.

I thought this book offered insights into living a simple, peaceful life.  It gives you something to think about…how you can live more genuinely and find happiness in ordinary things.  Interestingly enough, the day after I finished this story, a fellow Trifueler interviewed Dan. 

You can read his interview with Dan here: http://theoutdoorjourney.com/journey/2007/10/03/going-within-dan-millman-of-the-peaceful-warrior-on-the-endurance-mindset/. 

Book Reviews

I’m adding a new section called Book Reviews.  I’ll review some books I read that I think you may enjoy, whether they’re sports related or otherwise.  You know, like Oprah’s book club…only I won’t be making any kind of profit   Hopefully this way I can pass on some good reading.