BOLD, COMPELLING FILMMAKING

NO matter how many times I put together/revise my personal top ten movie list, this one is ALWAYS on it.

Breaker Morant (’80).

The film is a story built around the factual trial of three Australian lieutenants who were court-martialed in 1901 for executing several prisoners and German missionaries as a revenge killing, during the Boer War.

Much of the film involves flashbacks to the event in question and the events that led to it.

One of the saddest facts about human affairs is that we NEVER seem to learn from history – many of the same to surface during the Vietnam conflict – ignorant military hierarchy; thus, forcing moral and legal issues against ill-equipped men, women, and children.

Translation: polite rules of military conduct are scrapped in guerrilla warfare…

One of the great endings EVER captured on film!!!

OH, Savannah…

From early morning yesterday, the true Rocky Horror Show…

My wife and I spent most of yesterday, into last night, talking about these numbers.

The mind is just starting to absorb the possibility!

At some point today, we’re ALL expected to get our first look at the statistical models guiding the policy decisions that have led governors and mayors across the country to order more than 250 million people to “shelter-in-place.”

Unsettling may be too mild a term once they’re released.

As the death toll ticked past 3,000 earlier this morning, America was set to overtake that of China, where 3,305 people have reportedly succumbed to the virus [I, personally, believe little-to-z-e-r-o coming out of China], with the Chinese figures – finally – coming under increasing scrutiny.

The United States ALREADY has the highest number of reported infections in the world, with 160,000-plus, and has yet to fully ramp up testing, meaning that many cases are going undetected.

The models used by the White House team are standard epidemiological tools but are NOT precise, as the results can vary widely depending on how closely people follow the guidelines.

Put another way, the assumptions built into the models can shape the results.

SABER-RATTLING NEWS

Time for some sobering news…

Yesterday afternoon, economists at the Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis projected that job losses from the Coronavirus would reach 47 million and push America’s unemployment rate to 32.1% – more than 7 points higher than its Great Depression–era peak.

Holy John Maynard Keynes!!!

But, listen…stand down for a moment…

If one looks closer, the study was largely conducted before last week’s stimulus bill was passed!

Thus, does NOT account for its effects.

The St. Louis report, also, did NOT attempt to project the number of Americans who would stop seeking work out of discouragement, thereby technically dropping out of the labor force and disappearing from the headline unemployment number [a number our government has NEVER had a true handle on since Jimmy Carter].

Still…

Last week, initial jobless claims surged to a record-eviscerating 3.3 million, and economists expect that figure to come in above 2.6 million this week.

What is conceivable/obvious – so far – is that the Fed appears willing to keep corporate America quite flush with cheap credit.

Unfortunately, corporate America is NOT Main Street America!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

NEED a CAB?

Calm down…

I’ve gotten some emails from you folks, last night, asking about whether I will continue with my film suggestions now that the Coronavirus guidelines have been extended to April 30th? 

Hit pause, and relax…of course.

There are millions more in the old Lobsterman’s mental cabinet.

Today’s recommendation comes the magnificent directing talent of Michael Mann.

It’s Collateral (’04).

Tom Cruise plays a killer with an ironic sense of self, a knowledge of jazz, clothes cool enough to get him into GQ and a remorseless will. His Vincent, frosty of hair and beard, feral and fierce, with glittery rat eyes, lives by the code and will die by it.

Vincent, the consummate professional, is in LA to kill five witnesses in a single night and catch the 6:30 am out of LAX for parts unknown.

However, he needs a cab, and he picks Max’s.

Vincent leaves the airport terminal, picks up a briefcase full of firepower and a laptop with addresses and names on the hard drive [pay attention to the exchange], and gets into the cab, which just happens to be Max’s, with the presence of Jamie Foxx.

Together, the two begin an odyssey across the nightscape, from one kill to another, while the camera studies Vince’s sharp suit and black, pointy-toed shoes and Max frets his way through acts of rebellion, quashed easily by Vincent…

Like ALL of Mann’s films, the soundtrack is great.

THE ‘local’ BANKING COMMUNITY

ALL non-essential businesses are shut-down, aunts and uncles…

There is a divesting ripple effect to that that is NOT being talked about enough.

And, it’s becoming a burgeoning issue on the Prairie.

The ranching, farming, dairy, agricultural, oil, wild-catting communities, plus handfuls of small businesses dotting the roads; dirt paths and highways less than 15 miles outside the perimeter of our metroplex are deeply concerned.

Much the same goes for my native of Maine: lobstermen, fishermen, contractors of ALL stripes, coastline diners, day-care homes, and the upstate potato and chicken communities.

Why?

ALL the aforementioned businesses rely on a single institution: the small regional bank.

Most of America’s banks are woven into the local economy and a key source of credit for small businesses.

As the downturn squeezes more industries, community banks must balance helping these businesses with protecting their own bottom lines.

CASH FLOW…

The Coronavirus, unlike previous emergencies, is forcing millions of people to stay home and avoid contact with others. That is depriving our local community banks of one of their hallmarks – face-to-face interactions.

And as small businesses struggle to make payroll or purchase supplies, banks will have to write off some of their debts.

If the downturn drags on, many of these businesses may NEVER reopen, forcing these small-regional banks to swallow multiple losses.

Yes, the stimulus package signed by Trump last week allows small businesses to apply through qualifying banks for Small Business Administration loans – and, the loans can be forgiven when they are spent on payroll, rent or other items.

That said, allow me to conclude by mentioning, after talking to many bankers, locally, as well as wildcat pals, our Small Business Administration, on a sunny day, seems like a confused mass of humanity incapable of answering the simplest of questions, let alone providing essential details.

Sunny day to a tsunami…well, you get the picture! 

 

REALITY is MEANT to BITE!

It was perhaps the most bizarre and disconcerting Coronavirus Task Force update so far.

From the Orange Microbe‘s rambling, blathering opening statement, to his many non-sequitur responses, to his fascination with his television “ratings,” his open disdain for certain members of the press, and his childish, petulant descriptions of his perceived political enemies…ALL very odd.

Donald John Trump retreated, thankfully, yesterday from his desire to relax Coronavirus guidelines by Easter, announcing instead that ALL Americans must continue to avoid nonessential travel, going to work, eating at bars and restaurants, or gathering in groups of more than 10 for at least another month and perhaps until June.

Believe it, or NOT, it appeared he listened to his “better angels.”

Trump’s grim announcement, came just a day before the end of a two-week period in which the world’s largest economy has largely shut down [tanked!!!] with staggering consequences; businesses, of ALL dimensions, shuttered; schools and colleges emptied; and, social life, for the most part, kept at a ‘safe distance.’

The Weave‘s appearance at these crucial daily briefings are riddled with mistruths, accusations against a wide group of individuals, and the inability to let anyone speak on his behalf is hurting the credibility of government.

Trump appointed a task force to deal with COVID-19; why doesn’t he let them give these daily briefings???????????!

While governors and frontline health workers are in a constant fight for life, this thin skinned, narcissist makes it ALL about him.

 

IT’S A WAITING GAME

Like everything else these days, there’s a lot of uncertainty regarding baseball.

To state the obvious, there are many more important issues to discuss during the pandemic, but allow me to mention a few surrounding the sights, sounds and smells of baseball.

First, some positive recognition must go toward MLB and the players’ union for coming to an agreement about salaries and service time.

This way, when/if the season begins, there should be few obstacles in the way of getting things under way.

Assuredly, there would need to be some form of limited spring training to get the players ramped back up; I’m NOT sure what that would equate to, but it will be necessary given the long layoff.

Depending on when the season begins – in May? June? July? – Major League Baseball will need to decide on a revamped schedule.

Previous abbreviated seasons, because of labor disputes, were shortened to 144 games (1995) and between 103 to 109 games (1981).

More doubleheaders, I would think, will definitely come into play.

An expanded playoff format would generate excitement – and could be accepted by baseball purists, given these unprecedented circumstances.

Neutral sites, in the comfort of southern weather or domed stadiums [or both], could be used for the playoffs.

My one cautionary note…please, baseball should NOT last into Thanksgiving week.

By then, attention is on college football rivalries and the remaining weeks of the NFL; NOT to mention the NHL and NBA and, yes, the start of holiday college basketball tournaments.

It’s sounds like I’m being picky…so-o-o what??!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

APROPOS…

There’s a film that I want ALL of you to watch during these turbulent times, and which also happens to be a great favorite of the old Lobsterman.

A Tale of Two Cities (’35) is that movie.

At more than two hours the film feels like a Cliffs Notes version of Dickens’ great novel.

ALL the characters except Sydney Carton [played by the marvelous Ronald Coleman; one of the truly great voices in humankind!] are more or less cardboard cutouts, though Madame Defarge (Blanche Yurka) gets a fiery scene or two that stand out.

It’s a story of love and revolution, despair and revenge.

Carton, a brilliant barrister self-consciously throwing his life away on the drink and self-interest who learns through his love of Lucie Manette (Elizabeth Allan) to make the ultimate sacrifice.

Rage at the aristocrats boils over into a bloodthirsty need for revenge…flushing society during times of need…

Storming of the Bastille…especially after days, weeks and months of self-isolation…few things would be better! 

A FORMAL ADVISORY

Will someone please isolate and group-quarantine Donald John Trump without further delay!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!?

Last night that the Orange Microbe announced he would NOT impose a quarantine ! on New York, New Jersey and Connecticut [Tri-State region] but would instead issue a “strong” travel advisory to be implemented by the governors of the three states.

The announcement on Twitter coming after earlier telling reporters that he was considering a quarantine of the three states in an effort to limit the spread of the Coronavirus to Florida and other states.

The CDC has issued a formal advisory urging the residents of the three states to “refrain from nonessential domestic travel for 14 days effective immediately.”

The advisory, which was posted to the agency’s website and its Twitter account, does NOT apply to “employees of critical infrastructure industries,” the agency said; which includes trucking, public health professionals, financial services, and food supply workers.

Yet another example of how the 45th president NEVER thinks beyond a sound-bite and/or tweet.

A constant state of stupid…

Because of the careless and boorish behavior – at, literally, any given second – of the inhabitant at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, I suspect that we may be headed towards National Guard officials being told by respective governors to collect contact information and inform people coming from New York state that they were subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine; possible jail time; and/or revocation of citizenship.

I can’t, and won’t speak for any of you, but I’m starting to feel a tad like Winston Smith.

 

 

POST-WATERGATE THRILLER

How would you react if everyone you trust is out to eliminate your presence from Planet Earth?

Now that’s required ‘social distancing!‘

My suggested movie for ALL of you this morning is Three Days of the Condor (’75).

A piece of slightly paranoid intrigue.

Conspiracies performed by the Deep State, or within the shadows of it??!

Three Days of the Condor is definitely that type of film. It’s a solid spy film [dealing with  specific issues of the time] that is elevated thanks to director Sydney Pollack and its talented cast, lead by Robert Redford.

Redford plays Joseph Turner, an employee of the CIA, but only as an analyst. He works in an office in New York City where he and others read and analyze anything and everything published in the world. They look for patterns, codes and ideas that might be hidden in books, magazines or newspapers.

One day, when Turner returns to the office after collecting lunch, he discovers that everyone in the building has been murdered. Scared and confused, he runs to a phone box and calls into the office with his code name of Condor, in a very bewildered manner.

A young and beautiful Faye Dunaway is thrown into the mix as a woman Turner kidnaps at gun point…

The great Max Von Sydow plays the hired assassin who is sent to kill Turner…

Enough, see it…