Hey, Folks-
Hope everyone is well. I can now report that I saw Gravity. Yes, in 3D. I had a weird type of high expectation. A lot of people I respect said it was great but they couldn’t explain why. There was really no critical talk about it or any specific analysis. It was really just, "What? You haven’t seen Gravity yet. You have to see it. It’s great." I didn’t find anything compelling about the ad campaign nor did I have any interest in seeing a "Space" movie. But, not unlike any cultural phenomenon, if I am not part of it I am outside, left out, in cultural limbo, outer space. Unlike the characters in the film all I had to do to get back to Planet Earth was see the movie.
I liked it. It made me feel very isolated and anxious and relieved over and over again. I can get those feelings in real life. Not necessarily repeated in that order or connected and not always with relief, but a lot of money went into me transcending my own feelings into no gravity and broken equipment. It was a very well done movie. I just recently saw 2001 again and the ballet of space vessels is very satisfying when done well. It was done very well in Gravity. I also had no idea what a hurling piece of fragmented satellite shrapnel could do to a man’s head. Now I do. So, there’s that. Also, between us, I love Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Who doesn’t?
On the personal front I think it’s time to get to ground zero of me. Check in with the baseline. I am seriously entertaining the idea of getting off the nicotine lozenges and the caffeine and the sugar, all at once, of course. I also have been entertaining the idea of regular exercise again. I will give you a heads up if I do these things, any of them, so you can prepare yourselves for what I imagine will be a temporary change of tone. Right now it’s just a fantasy, an idea. I do think I want to end the recurring cycles of anxiety, aggravation and relief and return to Planet Marc. We’ll see.
Three shows this week! On Monday Illeana Douglas talks to me about her life and career. She is an intense quirky woman. Love her voice. On Wednesday one of my favorite underrated bands, The Figgs, are all in the garage. It was a little unruly but a good time with some good music at the end. On Friday another unsung hero of modern comedy, Barry Crimmins, talks about his harrowing journey that moved through horrendous abuse as a child to performing for the Sandinistas. Heavy episode. I think you’ll dig it.
Enjoy!
Boomer lives!
Love,
Maron
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