Week of February 6, Survival of the Illest

This week, I'm all about survival.


1) Kill the Irishman

Every so often, it's important to watch (the first half of) a really bad movie to remind us how incredibly difficult it is to make a pretty good one. For me, this movie is usually directed by Ed Burns, one of the biggest hacks in Hollywood. I have nothing against him personally, but I still don't understand how he became so successful off a shit movie like "The Brothers McMullen." Anyway, that's certainly not the case of this movie, Kill The Irishman. This film is good, and definitely worth watching. It doesn't feel like a big movie and sometimes I got a tiny little amateurish vibe, but the story is compelling and the acting is great. That's because there are only good actors in it: Ray Stevenson, Vincent D'Onofrio, Christopher Walken, even Paul Sorvino makes an appearance. The film is based on the true story of Danny Greene, a Cleveland native with strong Irish roots who collaborated with the Italian mafia and later turned on them quite violently. He is credited with causing the dismantling the Cleveland mob. And that ain't bad. 



2) The Endurance

This is a film that big banks and MBA programs recommend their people view to learn about leadership. Yes, Sir Ernest Shackleton's disastrous attempt to explore the South Pole with a crew of 27 men is the blueprint for leadership under incredible duress. Where was Sir Shack in 2008, huh? huh? This is a great retelling of how Shackleton managed to save the lives of his entire crew after their ship, The Endurance, got trapped in ice. The footage that was captured by the ship's photographer is amazing given the circumstances. 


3) Any Episode of PBS Nova

Every so often, it's important to ponder our mortality. It's also important to remind ourselves of just how very insignificant we are in the universe. "Dust in the wind", Kansas once sang, all we are is very insignificant, tiny little specs of dust in the wind. Nova, one of PBS' staple shows, is a great way to get us thinking that way. All that talk of science and nature and ancient history puts a whole hell of a lot into perspective. When you think of things like dinosaurs being extinct 65 million years ago and the earth being 4.2 billion years old, then place that next to our meager million years, you realize that we will likely be extinct before the official end of earth. And then you go to all sorts of weird places in your mind that make you go "whoah." And then you stop and go back to thinking that you're important because all that pondering is a little intense and scary. But it's good to think for a few seconds, hey, one day, I will disappear from the earth, and the earth won't give a shit.


4) Touching The Void

This one's an oldie but goodie. Plus I'm running out of shit to like this week. So if you haven't seen this beyond harrowing tale of surrival, you are lucky and I am jealous. Because this story is so incredibly insane in its unbelievable-ness that all you can do is believe. Trailer here, but you might as well watch it already.








5) Jay Z and Beyonce's Kid

If this kid doesn't grow up to be president, then God help her.