davetheanalyzer

Near the end of another month. Of course me trying to be at least a bit social once a day or every other day didn’t work out. This is partly because of my sleep schedule, which has gone wild again and I’m trying to focus on getting back on track and partly because it’s hard to fit it in to my usual habits, and I have a tendency to delay things. Even if a social interaction is likely to be cordial, I’m afraid of screwing up in some way. I’m introverted and don’t want too much social interaction but having some engagement feels nice. Even just making an original post and having someone interact with it in some way leaves me with a better mood. I’ll try to do more next month but a new semester is starting and with online classes, I would have a lot more social interaction there, so my interactions in other Internet places will be more limited.

Finally posted my next We Will Hold On Forever chapter. I know that means part 2 will be posted in August, but I didn’t know if I was going to make posting it or not this month at all. I was going slow revising the next set of chapters and was unsure if they were good enough yet that I could start getting ready for this month’s chapters. I came to the point of “good enough” but I’ll see how they hold up when it’s time for their posting. As for what chapters 19 and 20 contain, I can only say that Things(TM) happen. I look forward to the reactions.

I saw two movies this month. I wanted to see The Farewell but it wasn’t playing anywhere and I didn’t get the nerve to ask the staff at the New Haven theater if they would play that or got around to calling them. I got distracted. Ah well, I’ll try to do better next time. First, I saw Spiderman: Far From Home, which I did enjoy. Like the previous film, it’s a very street level story and it’s fascinating to see how ordinary people cope with the Snap (or Blip as it’s called in-universe). The film deals with Peter still reeling from Tony’s death, and it’s only natural that he would want an ordinary life after what he went through. And part of that includes confessing his feelings for Michelle Jones aka MJ. We didn’t see the moment where he became smitten with her but I didn’t feel like I missed anything with its absence. His funny clumsy moment where he nearly drone strikes his love rival believably build up his feelings of inadequacy.

And Mysterio is the kind of young mentor figure that Peter could become attached to and be manipulated by. I did like Peter had to learn to be his own person and not be the “next Tony Stark.” Mysterio’s case with Stark is an ambiguous in that Stark appeared to steal his holographic technology idea but his perspective might be skewed, since his actions as Mysterio who hurts and kills people for fame indicate that Tony might have made the right decision to fire him. He is willing to do all this damage for his own self-aggrandizement and would kill anybody who could stumble onto his secret. This made him a really personal and threatening villain, who would do anything to maintain the illusion. Of course this gets him killed for his troubles (But does it? I ran across the theory he might have found a way to fake his death and it would be interesting if he continues to dog Peter). I also wonder what happened to his special effects crew after his supposed death, and if some continue to be loyal even after he threatened their lives.

As for the other characters, Ned continues to be funny and supportive, with his quick relationship with Betty funny and showing his dorky sweetness, both traits present when they are able to amicably breakup. With MJ, she continues to be her fun, snarky self but reveals that part of her snark is a result of her social awkwardness, which I like. I also like that she quickly helps figure out Mysterio’s deal. With her as fellow investigator, I’m sure some mysterious with Spiderman would be solved more quickly. I do like the hints of Flash’s background, that his parents don’t give him the attention he wants. “Fury” is harsh and focused on the mission with Peter and “Maria Hill” continues to back him and have snippets of her own views, but there were hints they weren’t who they said they were. I was delighted and amused it was Talos and his wife Soren. The Skrulls were apparently such a threat in the comics yet here they are used to substitute for bosses and employees while they are away. I like Talos’ sheepish message that he got fooled by Mysterio, something Fury would have saw right through. With Peter’s identity revealed, I wonder how that’s going to be handled. I saw some speculation he would have to go on the run after the midcredits scene but I’m leaning toward his name being cleared but having to live with his identity being revealed. That might be interesting to watch, especially with Flash’s admiration of Spiderman and dissing of Peter. All in all, I enjoyed the movie and look forward to the followup.

I also saw The Last Black Man in San Francisco. I came across the film while seeing if the more indie theater was going to play The Farewell and I decided to go see it even without viewing a trailer. I enjoyed it. The story is set In Media Res, so it takes some time to realize what is going on but the story mostly becomes clear past the climatic mark. One of my former professors who I didn’t recognize and still can’t remember, was by chance also was also watching and as someone who lived in San Francisco, she said the mood and pace was like the city. It’s been a bit since I saw the film, so I had to read some reviews and interviews to refresh my memory, but there might be some details I misremember and a few details I reiterate from those sources. The story is mostly about Jimmie and Mont, and a certain Victorian house in San Francisco Jimmie claims his grandfather built. It turns out the film is semi-autobiographical. Jimmie Fails plays a fictional version of himself and he is a pretty stoic, soft-spoken fellow with a lot of struggles going on inside. He is the type to go and improve the house of his grandfather despite the annoyance of the current owners and when those owners get evicted, he and Month move in and clean up and put back in all the furniture.

Jimmie tries to find a way to get the house back and when it doesn’t work he stays in. His friend Mont is an awkward, quirky sort. He studies people and draws and writes out scenes, even complimenting two people trash-talking in a group about their acting. I think he might be autistic, which I also like, because he’s still depicted as a real character and I don’t see many black characters in mainstream films who are portrayed as awkward or soft spoken as with Jimmie. His friendship with Jimmie is quite good. I like they are there for each other, that Jimmie accommodates for Mont’s quirkiness and how they reconcile at the end. Kofi is an apparent former friend of Jimmie’s that reveals parts of the latter’s backstory, who warms to them during his brief stay at the house. He’s part of the group hanging near Mont and Jimmie’s house that talk smack and trash talk among themselves. He does become a jerk when he starts insulting Jimmie as Jimmie goes to move in at the old home. This makes his later fate more tragic. The death of Kofi leads to grief in many, including one person who often quarreled with him. Jimmie’s father appeared to be a jerk, having lost the house, contributing to Jimmie being in many group homes, and him not accepting Jimmie’s attempt to get the house back. But it appears his reticence on the house arena at least had some valid point (As for the real Jimmie, I read he has currently reconciled with his parents, so don’t send any hatemail to the rl parents).

Knowing nothing about architecture and house style history, I believed Jimmie when he said his grandfather built the house. When Mont confronted him by revealing that isn’t true, I was surprised. Mont’s theater performance pushing Jimmie to accept not having the house further reveals that Jimmie had been lying to himself and others about the house’s history, so he could have something to hang onto (At least, I think that was the gist of the motive. I might have some mental gaps there). Eventually, Jimmie seems to accept the fate of the house. His struggles appears to represent the gentrification of San Francisco, which I don’t recall being discussed much directly and the creators said it wasn’t the direct focus but it’s present, as seen with the white owners who were annoyed with Jimmie’s frequent appearance early in the film or the obnoxious tech bros laughing at Jimmie and the naked white man. I was a bit confused by the ending when Jimmie rowed off to San Francisco and left a letter for Mont, but I read some thoughts on how he was going to start anew somewhere else (Again, I don’t remember the contents of the letter). I was saddened their close bond seemed to end in that way. Anyway, this is a film I didn’t search for much info on going in and as a suburban white guy on the opposite coast, there are probably aspects about it that I missed even with what reading I have done. Still, it’s a thoughtful film and I liked it.

That’s all for now. Until the end of August when a new semester starts, see you!