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Things on a Monday
1. Saw Mystic River. This film is above average, with a stunning set of performances by most of the cast, and Clint Eastwood's deft hand as a director holding things together. Sean Penn's Golden Globe award was well-deserved, and he has clearly turned into a great actor. But a coindidence-filled plot in what is, to some degree, a murder mystery, and a somewhat hit and miss performance by Tim Robbins weaken the film. OK, now I will accept that this is more about what personal tragedies does to three friends and their lives than about whodunnit, but the story turns on far too much happenstance. Can't blame Eastwood or the screenwriter for that, as this is based on a novel, but when any attempt to link the pieces in a meaningful way is tossed out, the film loses its strength.
I can still recommend it, though, for strong cinematography (actually filmed in Boston and not Vancouver), Eastwood's deliberate but successful pacing, and a cast that includes Penn, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne and Marcia Gay Harden. Fishburne, BTW, is playing something of a jerk and one with a sense of humor, a nice change of pace for those of us who've seen the humorless Morpheus a little too often. Also look for a scene stolen by film and Broadwasy legend Eli Wallach (who is uncredited).
2. Bob Keeshan, aka Captain Kangaroo, passed on. I have only vague memories of his show, as it ended a long time ago, but I was a regular viewer. So the following odd gloss on that name, on Captain Kangaroo, is not meant as disrepsectful in any way...
CAPTAIN KANGAROO DIES
Australia mourns Hero
Captain Kangaroo, Australia's legendary costumed hero, died Friday at age 84 after a long illness. The Captain, whose real name remains a secret to this day, is best known for his efforts along side ANZAC troops during World War II, and for his battles against street crime during the 1950s. The announcement of his passing was made through the Royal Australian Army, which maintained ties with him over the years of his retirement.
Purportedly a native of the Outback, Capt. Kangaroo burst onto the scene in 1939, fighting local crime in Melbourne. Initially wearing a red and blue costume loosely based on that of a circus acrobat, he changed his look to a more military version with the start of the Second World War. Not particualrly concerned with naming himself - though confidantes report that he called himself the Battling Brawler at first - Australian newspapers took note of his web-belt and gave him his famous name.
In a rare 1966 interview, Capt. Kangaroo admitted that he began his career simply to fight street thugs who newcomers to Melbourne too rough a time. "It wasn't meant to be all that serious, or a career. But when the war came, I know what I had to do." Kangaroo, clad for much of the war in a modified army unform with a red and blue sash, became the symbol of the fight against Hitler and the Japanese empire to thousands of enlisted men and to children of all ages. His acrobatic skills, which lent credence to the idea that he was actually raised in a circus, and his hard-eyed determination, inspired many soldiers to follow his lead and go into battle brave and undeterred.
For much of the war, Kangaroo fought saboteurs and spies, with only occasional trip to war zones (as he lacked the proper training). Late in the war, however, he was sent to several islands held or contested by Australian and ANZAC troops, partially on a morale-building tour, but also in part to take his unique and unconventional style into battle. A famous 1945 photo shows him meeting with General Douglas McArthur, though the circumstance of the photo remains murky. After the liberation of the Philippines, Kangaroo visited and made a rare public appearance outside his homeland, alongside the General.
After the war, Capt. Kangaroo returned to his original goal of fighting crime, and returned to his blue and red military style uniform. While most active in Melbourne, Kangaroo would surface in most of Australia's major cities from 1946 till 1962, often making a dent in local crime rates but also butting heads with local police. The official position of the federal government towards him was more tolerant, with several MPs and Prime Minsters attempting to prove to the public that he was their friend. Kangaroo tried to sidestep all this, claiming that he was just trying to make his home safer.
In 1962, with a body apparently battered by years of fighting, Captain Kangaroo announced at a press conference - the only one he ever conducted - that he would scale back his efforts and would seek a protege to continue his work. That protege, nicknamed "The Wallaby" by the media, was the controversial Lt. John Hodges, a young former soldier who impressed Kangaroo at first with his skills and determination. By 1966, however, the partnership turned sour, leading to Kangaroo's shocking interview on Australian television in which he declared that Hodges - who forsook a secret identity a year earlier - was too reckless. Kangaroo temporarily resumed a fuller "schedule" of patrols, creating what most police considered an unhelthy rivalry.
In 1969, the situation came to a head, with Hodges publicly castigating anti-Vietnam War protests. Kangaroo, according to some as pro-war as Hodges, felt that such statements were beyond the scope of public figures and crimefighters, and issued a statement to that effect. Hodges was incensed and sought out his former associate. What happened at that meeting is unknown, but most believe the two came to blows, after which an ashamed Kangaroo gave up his costume. It is also believed that Kangaroo soundly beat Hodges in this fight. Hodges would continue his own career until a fatal car crash in 1974.
During the many years of his retirement, Kangaroo retreated into his secret identity, though he now cultivated friendships with many military men and police officers with whom he had worked over the years. His 1982 book, "I Served My Nation," revealed little about the man under the domino mask and dashing but false mustache, yet restored his reputation. A 1986 film and a subsequent TV series loosely based on Kangaroo's WWII adventures further restored his fame. He would often appear in documentaries about the war period, but refused to revisit the rest of his career.
Speculation about Capt. Kangaroo's true identity has never abated. But when pressed, he would simply reply "I'm who I am. Isn't that enough?" A 1972 theory connected him the Regency Traveling Circus, but no reliable evidence ever emerged. At the time of the Capt. Kangaroo series' popularity, 64% of those surveyed indicated that they didn't care who he really was.
A state funeral for Captain Kangaroo is planned, followed by a burial with full honors at a military cemetery. It is expected that the Prime Minster, as well as more recent Australian heroes such as "Crocodile" Dundee, Steve Irwin, and the Tasmanian Devil, will be in attendance.
I can still recommend it, though, for strong cinematography (actually filmed in Boston and not Vancouver), Eastwood's deliberate but successful pacing, and a cast that includes Penn, Kevin Bacon, Laurence Fishburne and Marcia Gay Harden. Fishburne, BTW, is playing something of a jerk and one with a sense of humor, a nice change of pace for those of us who've seen the humorless Morpheus a little too often. Also look for a scene stolen by film and Broadwasy legend Eli Wallach (who is uncredited).
2. Bob Keeshan, aka Captain Kangaroo, passed on. I have only vague memories of his show, as it ended a long time ago, but I was a regular viewer. So the following odd gloss on that name, on Captain Kangaroo, is not meant as disrepsectful in any way...
CAPTAIN KANGAROO DIES
Australia mourns Hero
Captain Kangaroo, Australia's legendary costumed hero, died Friday at age 84 after a long illness. The Captain, whose real name remains a secret to this day, is best known for his efforts along side ANZAC troops during World War II, and for his battles against street crime during the 1950s. The announcement of his passing was made through the Royal Australian Army, which maintained ties with him over the years of his retirement.
Purportedly a native of the Outback, Capt. Kangaroo burst onto the scene in 1939, fighting local crime in Melbourne. Initially wearing a red and blue costume loosely based on that of a circus acrobat, he changed his look to a more military version with the start of the Second World War. Not particualrly concerned with naming himself - though confidantes report that he called himself the Battling Brawler at first - Australian newspapers took note of his web-belt and gave him his famous name.
In a rare 1966 interview, Capt. Kangaroo admitted that he began his career simply to fight street thugs who newcomers to Melbourne too rough a time. "It wasn't meant to be all that serious, or a career. But when the war came, I know what I had to do." Kangaroo, clad for much of the war in a modified army unform with a red and blue sash, became the symbol of the fight against Hitler and the Japanese empire to thousands of enlisted men and to children of all ages. His acrobatic skills, which lent credence to the idea that he was actually raised in a circus, and his hard-eyed determination, inspired many soldiers to follow his lead and go into battle brave and undeterred.
For much of the war, Kangaroo fought saboteurs and spies, with only occasional trip to war zones (as he lacked the proper training). Late in the war, however, he was sent to several islands held or contested by Australian and ANZAC troops, partially on a morale-building tour, but also in part to take his unique and unconventional style into battle. A famous 1945 photo shows him meeting with General Douglas McArthur, though the circumstance of the photo remains murky. After the liberation of the Philippines, Kangaroo visited and made a rare public appearance outside his homeland, alongside the General.
After the war, Capt. Kangaroo returned to his original goal of fighting crime, and returned to his blue and red military style uniform. While most active in Melbourne, Kangaroo would surface in most of Australia's major cities from 1946 till 1962, often making a dent in local crime rates but also butting heads with local police. The official position of the federal government towards him was more tolerant, with several MPs and Prime Minsters attempting to prove to the public that he was their friend. Kangaroo tried to sidestep all this, claiming that he was just trying to make his home safer.
In 1962, with a body apparently battered by years of fighting, Captain Kangaroo announced at a press conference - the only one he ever conducted - that he would scale back his efforts and would seek a protege to continue his work. That protege, nicknamed "The Wallaby" by the media, was the controversial Lt. John Hodges, a young former soldier who impressed Kangaroo at first with his skills and determination. By 1966, however, the partnership turned sour, leading to Kangaroo's shocking interview on Australian television in which he declared that Hodges - who forsook a secret identity a year earlier - was too reckless. Kangaroo temporarily resumed a fuller "schedule" of patrols, creating what most police considered an unhelthy rivalry.
In 1969, the situation came to a head, with Hodges publicly castigating anti-Vietnam War protests. Kangaroo, according to some as pro-war as Hodges, felt that such statements were beyond the scope of public figures and crimefighters, and issued a statement to that effect. Hodges was incensed and sought out his former associate. What happened at that meeting is unknown, but most believe the two came to blows, after which an ashamed Kangaroo gave up his costume. It is also believed that Kangaroo soundly beat Hodges in this fight. Hodges would continue his own career until a fatal car crash in 1974.
During the many years of his retirement, Kangaroo retreated into his secret identity, though he now cultivated friendships with many military men and police officers with whom he had worked over the years. His 1982 book, "I Served My Nation," revealed little about the man under the domino mask and dashing but false mustache, yet restored his reputation. A 1986 film and a subsequent TV series loosely based on Kangaroo's WWII adventures further restored his fame. He would often appear in documentaries about the war period, but refused to revisit the rest of his career.
Speculation about Capt. Kangaroo's true identity has never abated. But when pressed, he would simply reply "I'm who I am. Isn't that enough?" A 1972 theory connected him the Regency Traveling Circus, but no reliable evidence ever emerged. At the time of the Capt. Kangaroo series' popularity, 64% of those surveyed indicated that they didn't care who he really was.
A state funeral for Captain Kangaroo is planned, followed by a burial with full honors at a military cemetery. It is expected that the Prime Minster, as well as more recent Australian heroes such as "Crocodile" Dundee, Steve Irwin, and the Tasmanian Devil, will be in attendance.
no subject
As for the Captain, he did spend time in the Marines at the end of WW II. I'm not sure if he saw combat. The story about him and Mr. Rogers with the troops at Iwo Jima is pure urban legend.
no subject
That's...um... embarrassing...
...because I wrote the following sentence in an article that appeared in today's Spectator, not knowing...
"In an unexpected swelling of support from young leftists angry with President Bush for everything from civil rights to solar flares, Howard Dean shot to the top of the polls in the Democratic primaries after spending much of the early campaign neck-and-neck with Captain Kangaroo."
*hides* That's not good