'Moonstruck'

More of a cultural study than a movie. If you really think about it, the plot is really boring, predictable and dumb.

But it's a whimsical, fun look at the Italian-American sub-culture -- how they think, work, live, love and co-exist.

Nick Cage is Nick Cage and Cher is Cher. Neither knock my socks off.

The Italians are a funny group. It's fascinating watching films where their culture is prominent.

The use of food, family and language tends to give them a lot of depth that many American sub-groups do not have.

'One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich'

I was slightly caught off guard by this book. 

Considering it's a first-hand look at the Soviet gulags the Stalinist 1950s, I assumed it would be hell on Earth. 

Don't get me wrong. I do not want to spend one day in a Soviet prison. Then again, I wasn't the worst place in the world. 

In fact, our hero, Denisovich, ends the day on a very high note, with hope and happiness as he drifted off the sleep. Another character, Alyosha, a Christian, sees prison as an ascetic experience, being able to concentrate on God. 

During the work period of the day, the prisoners seem pleased to work, if anything to stave off the cold. But there's a pride in what they do. 

Of course, maybe none of these guys really have anything else to look forward to so the extra bread ration, the Bible, a cigarette or a good day's work gives them peace and comfort where it would clearly not be enough for the free man. 

This book also made me think about crime and punishment. No matter what we think about criminals -- no matter the crime -- we could never truly punish them. Of course, we kill criminals who receive the death penalty, but to say the prison experience could not be made tougher is crazy. But we -- especially Americans -- could never do it. As much as we hate crime, there are certain things we can not take away from the lowest of the low, the scummiest of the scummy. 

'Some Like It Hot'

Joe: Why would a guy want to marry a guy?

Jerry: Security!

Thanks to Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis for their take on gay rights.

****

I get Marilyn Monroe's appeal.

She has big breasts. And she was probably a slut. Perfectly understandable.

'Never Let Me Go'

I often visit book stores and I always say that I could be sold on a book I've never heard of by the book cover or book title.

"Never Let Me Go" initially hooked me because of the title. It sounded so sincere, so desperate.

I don't think the story itself was as sincere or desperate. In fact, the title comes from a fictional song Kaz Ishiguro makes up for his plot. It's a sincere title used in a very unsincere way.

That defines the book. I don't feel Ishiguro captured the true torment and fear and desperation the characters had to have been feeling.

'Raising Arizona'

It's in movies like "Raising Arizona" where I can garner respect for an actor.

Like Nick Cage. The guy hasn't done a thing in his career that I would consider worthwhile. Except "Raising Arizona." I think he's great in it, but I think it's in spite of himself and more due to the burgeoning geniuses of the Coen brothers.

Now, actors and actresses flock to the modern auteurs like the Coens, Wes Anderson, Paul Thomas Anderson, Martin Scorsese, Sofia Coppola and others because they can almost be guaranteed of a well-received film and probably a pretty nice role.

At the time, Cage probably didn't know what he was getting into. Looking back, it's his best role ever.

Nowadays, I can tell who takes their acting jobs seriously when they're signing up to do a Coen brothers film.

'The Conversation'

What a brilliant piece of filmmaking.

Great shots, great acting, great premise, great writing. Another feather in the cap of the great John Cazale.

Most interesting is the idea of space and sound. In "An American in Paris," I noted the use of space when Gene Kelly dances on a 7-foot length of sidewalk, or a table. How the dancing is better because there are boundaries or limits in terms of space.

In sound recording, the goal of Gene Hackman's character and others in his industry were to record by either being hundreds of yards away or inches away. During the conversation of note, men are recording from on top of roofs and nearby apartments. Hackman's character is bugged twice: By his rival with the pen, and finally by the "director's" people somewhere in his apartment or on his person (I believe it to be on his eyeglasses ... the woman took them off the night the tapes were stolen and the eyeglasses are alluded to in the conversation scene).

Also interesting is language. How Hackman interprets the conversation, mixing and matching the different recordings to find the most clear. In the end, he completely misinterprets. The twist happens.

'Slow Train Coming'

Evangelical Christians love to claim Bob Dylan's "Slow Train Coming" as one of their own.

It was/is a victory to them: A secular artist finding God and singing about it.

I think Dylan did find God, but I don't think he was necessarily praising God or even worshipping God. Honestly, considering all the interviews I've read and listened to of Dylan, I can't imagine him being dedicated to anything, more or less thinking about one's soul or the afterlife. I don't think he believes in the cigarette hanging on his own lips.

The thing about Christianity and religion is that you don't have to believe to be religious and vice versa. Dylan is inherently soulful and spiritual. Had the album have Islamic or Buddhist overtones, Christians would be burning this record instead of celebrating the understanding, peace, love and reverence it shows.