I recently discovered the Loose Leaf Tea Loft, a tea shop/cafe that hosts open mic nights and poetry readings. Bonus: it’s a stone’s throw from the studio (4229 N. Lincoln) and all their events are free. Their next event is a Poetry Cram Open Mic, Tuesday, January 13, 7:30 to 9:30 PM. Get out there and listen to some local flavor, and if you’re feeling brave get up there and share! Check out their website at http://www.looseleaftealoft.com for more upcoming events.
From all of us at StoryStudio Chicago. We wish you health and happiness and great sentences.
Cheers.
I saw this movie on Christmas Eve in a very packed city theatre and overall, although at times lacking details, the movie was good and I would recommend this movie for all viewers.
Good:
The plot, which, I’d have to say, turned out to be the movie’s biggest strength, is very intriguing. A 1944 assassination and coup attempt against Hitler and his Gestapo planned by some of his own soldiers, of which, a central figure is played by Tom Cruise. It was the last of fifteen known assassination attempts against Hitler. And that’s where I myself confess my own ignorance, as I had no idea that any of those organized attempts, with a considerable number of people involved, even took place. Here, of course, I have to clarify and say, by his own soldiers’, that is.
For the most part, I’d have to say the movie’s well researched and convincing and thus, makes it a fascinating viewing. I was also very much intrigued by the what-if speculation on what would’ve/could’ve/might’ve happened if the attempt was successful. The coup itself, in fact, sparked a bit of a debate among some of us after the movie. The year’s 1944. World War II is nine months away from being over. Germany is loosing. Would nine months really make that much of a difference? It’s too late. It’s simply too late. Is it though? Is it really too late? How can it be too late in a time where every minute/second mattered?
So yeah, some of the other intriguing questions came up during and after the movie, along with the question of Germany’s socialism. How it arose? And why it arose? And what it lead to at the end. National socialism vs. fascism. What is the difference? Is there a difference? Then somehow, we also got on the topic of Russia. And the regime there. Was there communism there or socialism? Difference between Stalin and Hitler? Was there really one?
Very good movie. Makes you think a lot.
Not So Much:
I thought the movie lacked character developments, and precisely, the clarification of the motives of these Germans. Who needs the motives, some might ask? Just kill the bastard! True, but we’re talking about German soldiers here. We, as viewers, all want him dead, no doubt, but why do they? Why do they want to eliminate their leader, who they so long and so loyally served?
The movie does start out with Stauffenberg, a German soldier, played by Tom Cruise, forswearing his loyalty to his leader and his country because of the murderous outrages Hitler has committed. That was the only place, unless I missed something, the explanation was offered. But because it’s so late in the war and the fact that Germany’s loosing, it’s still unclear what other motivations are driving Stauffenberg. And what about the other conspirators in the movie? Nothing in the movie is mentioned about their motives.
And last but not least, I’d like to briefly comment on Tom Cruise’s acting, and I will try to do it as nicely as I possibly can. My New Year’s resolution: Be nice! Squeezing my eyes tightly shut, here it goes:
I’m simply shocked and appalled. I personally can’t even begin to understand how he was even chosen for that role. He is a complete miscast as the German soldier. And the acting! Oh My G-d, the acting! It’s not that it’s bad… It is well, um, very bad. I’m totally kidding. Well, sort of. It’s just he tends to overact like he does in most of his movies, making his character seem unbelievable. What saved this movie, I think, was the fact that although he’s a key player in the operation, he actually shares the leading role with some of the others of more compelling performances. I loved him in the movie, Jerry Maguire, though. Two thumbs up for Tom Cruise!
And that’s all.
I can easily guarantee you that StoryStudio will NOT be doing any countdown lists, Best Ofs, or Year in Pictures Reviews. I hate those things. Who needs to re-watch John McCain squirming on Ellen when we have Rick Warren making us squirm for the Inaugural? And don’t even get me started on the latest Britney-Paris-Lindsay-Bradjolina-[INSERT CELEBRITY NAME HERE] debacle. Talking about the Economy makes us just want to cry. We barely lived through the past year and I for one certainly don’t want to have to relive it before I pop that bottle of Champagne to usher in the new year.
Or do I?
Really, what’s the harm in remembering the worst moments of the Campaign without End or watching a replay of the year’s worst tornadoes. Going to see the movie, Milk made me remember how these newsy tidbits can do wonders for waking me up and forcing me to take notice of the world around me. Over the Christmas holiday I was in a sort of news blackout as I was away from my daily New York Times and afternoon NPR sessions. I promised myself I would leave my computer closed unless I absolutely HAD to check out something. (I lasted almost two days.)
I won’t lie and tell you the break from the news calmed my nerves or made it easier to think. I kept worrying about what major catastrophe was happening and I was missing all the details. Kind of sick, I know. But this curiosity about the world can be construed as an important desire to be a part of that world, to not divorce myself from the difficulties we face as a society. It also means that I shouldn’t divorce myself from the achievements we make as a society.
I can tell you I get no greater joy at work than learning that one of our StoryStudio writers has gotten something published. Hell, I even want to celebrate when one of my writers tells me she’s finished a chapter. That’s big news around here, and definitely worth noting. And those who know me will attest to how much I enjoy debating, especially the personal aspects of our political realities. And if I’m all alone in a room somewhere, it’s pretty difficult to get a good argument going.
So while we won’t be spending our time looking backward, we will be craning our necks to look around the corner at 2009 because I for one want to hear a lot of news worth celebrating!
Happy New Year everyone from all of us at StoryStudio Chicago.
We’re all getting ready to celebrate the holidays in our own unique fashions. For me? I spend it with my family, who I love, very much. But for whatever reason, it’s during these trips “home” that I get the most outrageous thoughts and questions running through my brain. While the rest of the clan is playing Tripoli, I’m off in the corner, huddled with a book, a magazine and my notebook which gets lots of action.
It’s not that I’m anti-holiday or anything (although I really don’t like playing games!), it’s more that these times away from the usual routines of life open up my brain, my imagination is allowed to breathe, to relax, to do what it does best: just be.
So while we can be thankful about a lot this holiday season--and here at StoryStudio there is an awfully long list of things to be thankful for-- I will also relish this sacred time to breathe, perchance to dream.
Happy Holidays.
