Friday

[theodosia]

I have to work for at least a while tomorrow morning, because we've got to check over a bunch of applications after the database files have been moved to a new physical server. In theory it should be a totally invisible-to-users change, and every application should behave just as expected, but I've learned over the years that it pays to be slightly paranoid where applications are concerned. Especially when one certain coworker is loudly confident about how well things are going -- he could give Pollyanna a run for the Misplaced Optimism Nobel.

So I'll go in at 9 and run through a dozen or so applications, checking to see if they operate correctly, talk to each other nicely and play peacefully with the mainframe data. If all goes well, we should be done by noon, and then I can get on with my weekend, which should include a tea party (oh, way too civilized!) and some knitting, et cetera... maybe even a movie? (Corpse Bride on Sunday, anyone?)

Plus, my boss let us out early because we're going to work tomorrow, and just as I was about to skedaddle, veejane contacted me and wanted to know if I was interested in seeing a movie. To which I suddenly found a burst of energy enough to agree, and so in a short time we were on our way over to Harvard Square, a quick meal, and a screening of Capote.

About which -- despite being something of a fan of true crime nonfiction, I've never read In Cold Blood, one of my big oversights, honestly. Not that I don't know the basic facts of the case, nor that Capote spent a long time researching and interviewing, but to see it played out, especially Philip Seymour Hoffman in the title role, giving indeed what I'd consider an Oscar-worthy performance. But the movie is more than a bravura turn -- the supporting roles are also damn good, particularly the unknown-to-me guy they have playing Perry Smith (one of the two killers of the Clutter family, the one that Capote ends up identifying so heavily with).

Afterwards, I said to veejane, "Remind me only to write about safely dead people." To write the book he did, Capote had really to get into the minds of the perpetrators, but because he was such a people person, he got too close, the fact that his subjects were put to death, just destroyed him.

(For fans of Canadian cinema, it looks from the credits like Manitoba stood in for Kansas, and there was the occasional Kansan who had a suspiciously Canadian accent. :-) )

When I get a chance, I'll have to read Capote's book, and also the book this movie was based on, about the writing of Capote's book.

(Also, we got trailers for Brokeback Mountain, and the Johnny Cash movie, both of which look terrific....)

Comments

[tsuki-no-bara.livejournal.com]

corpse bride on sunday, yes please. :> capote and psh got really good reviews. he's always good, tho.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Definitely, then -- Sunday, maybe the second afternoon show at the Somerville Theatre?

[sfmarty.livejournal.com]

I am looking forward to them. I am also looking forward to George Clooney's "Good Night and Good Luck". I got a dvd with Murrow and the McCarthy hearings from Netflix and I had forgotten just how awful McCarthy was. I saw an interview with Clooney where he spoke a bit about being a kid messing about in the newsroom where his father was an anchorman, bet he got the details perfectly. Clever touch using footage of McCarthy so he could play himself. Clooney said people were asking him who the actor was who play McCarthy. Heh.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

The Clooney movie was our second choice if Capote had been sold out. Hope to get to see it soon!

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

>>>lutter family, the one that Capote ends up identifying so heavily with).

Some people even believed that Capote fell in love with Perry Smith.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

One can definitely see it in the movie, even if -- thank goodness -- the screenwriter never spells it out.

[betagoddess.livejournal.com]

No. And probably Tru never spelled it out to Perry, either! =>}

I read the book in the '60's and I've got to tell you! It stayed in my mind for a long, long time. I never read that kind of thing any more. Especially not real life murders. *shudder*

[forodwaith.livejournal.com]

Yeah, parts of it were filmed here, leading to this conversation (http://www.livejournal.com/users/forodwaith/31087.html) between me & Dan last year.

[theodosia.livejournal.com]

Hee! Your DH is definitely a keeper.

(Although, if Chris Cooper were only taller....)

[mswagner.livejournal.com]

"Perry Smith (one of the two killers of the Clutter family, the one that Capote ends up identifying so heavily with)."

"but because he was such a people person, he got too close, the fact that his subjects were put to death, just destroyed him."

Interesting interpretation of the movie. I haven't seen the movie myself, but the articles I've read put a significantly different spin on the events: Capote didn't just identify with Perry Smith. Capote, who was gay, fell in love with Perry Smith. And Capote betrayed Smith, promising lawyers and a reprive that never arrived, because Capote needed an ending to sell his book. He needed for the killers to die.