Lions for Lambs. Can a movie get you to think? I know it can for me. I’ve mentioned stuff like The Nines, and other things like The Secret or What The &*%$ Do We Know. Some of that is not mindless drivel. Thus I need to take a swipe at the new movie Lions for Lambs. It’s likely you’ve seen the trailers or at least heard that Meryl Streep is in the ranks with Tom Cruise and Robert Redford in this new movie. The brief of it is: three angles on viewing America, war and apathy. It’s time to say trident. While it’s no state secret that Redford is highly capable of directing amazing stories, it is here he’s met his match. I get the message. It’s muddied and befuddled with no clear stance – sorta like our current dealings in Iraq [no clear reason, and no clear stance]. With all the possibilities to come right out and make a powerful statement, it got lost and ended up doing only one thing. Leaving the average audience member with a clear feeling of – so what.
Half way through the movie I was paying more attention to the pictures in the offices than on the acting. I’m at a loss as to why I even drifted from the acting other than it was very wordy. Lots of speech, not much action to back up the words. That is if you don’t count the two students that felt compelled to do something prior to the story line. Despite the lack of direction I get one thing, I did have to think about it. To that end, it might just do you some good to see it. Don’t worry the theater won’t be packed. Hell it was opening night and there was probably less than 10% capacity in the theater I was in. Streep, Cruise, Redford, apparently aren’t enough of a name draw to pack them in. No wonder it’s hard to justify pushing people to act, let alone think.
I also found myself in the middle of that dark theater thinking to myself about a new song I’ve got called Stand Up. I could tell the movie’s message wasn’t justifiably getting through. Does music stand a chance to do the same. All I know is that I’ll have to truly work the lyrics and the melody to death to make sure the meaning pounds it’s way through in a package that is terribly hard to resist. It’s possible. Oh yes, it is possible. Much like Wayne proved that oh yes, she will be mine and then she was. See this is the kind of strange messaging connections the movie was making. Disjointed.
Just If I is something of the opposite. It’s a terrific song that sends a clear message about a boy and a girl. Where the boy is working out how he can change himself so that he can get the girl he wants. Just If I could can the world. Want to change the world? Start with a smile. Then do something bold. Be bold with something you can be honest with yourself about. Was it Goethe that said be bold and mighty forces will come to your aid? I’ll bet it’s true with one stipulation – the part of the boldness taken has to be justified as morally good. Right?
What can I say about Seth that I haven’t said before. He’s a smokin bassist who has a knack for writing some pretty catchy tunes. Notwithstanding is my favorite of his CD’s. Lots of gems on it. If you haven’t heard of him before, I’m betting you’re compelled to hear more now. Do explore. Do buy. Do make a change in someone’s life by supporting their art. That’s a pretty good message to be sending into the universe right there. All you have to do is think: Just If I could. You can!