Snobbin: Beautiful Trash in the Pop Culture Gutter

5. Simple Like Silver (2021) Shot entirely on an iPhone, Damien K. Lahey's microbudget black and white film is a small arthouse wonder. It tells the intersecting stories of three characters, all dealing with life-altering situations. I learned about the film because Cristina Marsillach, who plays Lucia, starred in Dario Argento's  Opera (1987). Told through voiceovers, the narrative unfolds slowly, but the luscious cinematography is so engaging that the film would be worth watching without the eventually connected narrative arc. The bright Florida setting offsets the horrific obstacles that the characters face, yet the film provides glimmers of hope within their connections. Through Lucia's interactions with the young boy, Joe, (Hudson Sims) the film approaches catharsis. Severin Films released a deluxe Blu-ray edition in 2024 that is worth seeking out. 4. The Flowers of Saint Francis (1950) Filled with scene after scene of pure joy,  Roberto Rossellini's filmic seri...

While listening to Green Day's recent BBC Sessions  recordings, I rediscovered several of Warning's best tracks, including the profound "Church on Sunday," a song that feels like a panacea after Insomnia and much of Nimrod . Many people focus on the negativity and anger of Green Day's music, but even in the most negative songs, Billie Joe's lyrics engage through humor and hopefulness. At first, musically, the song feels like just another three-chord Green Day anthem of defeat and broken relationships. The version on the BBC Sessions includes a plaintive saxophone line that underscores, yet rebuts the challenge in Billie Joe's voice and breaks into full euphoric swing during later choruses. The call-and-response aptly resembles the tug and pull of aging relationships.   "Church on Sunday" maintains its analysis of enduring relationships that grow despite stress and change. Compromise is key to success in most life connections, and Billie Joe apt...

I rub my sleepy eyes and clean the last dishes. My week at the cabin is over, and I slowly pack the car. I'll be back in a few days when I will have to say bye for another year. The river is low again, but the grass is green, and the day is cool. More rain is in the forecast. I take a deep breath, lock the door, and move on.

Early Morning coffee in the kitchen. Jim is making eggs.  I hear a clutch of conversation when I wake up. Peter, Donny, Josh, Matt, Joe. I let the discussions hang. I get up to take my morning walk, skirting other hungover zombies.