Some see the Dopeness, Some See the Wackness

It is winter in the Midwest. It is colder than (as Tom Waits once said) "The ticket taker's smile at the Ivar Theater."

So what to do? Rent DVDs and hunker in.

We just watched "The Wackness." I really, really, really, really like this movie. I know that is a lot of "reallys," but really, I think it is a very, very good movie. Maybe even "great."

It is one of those flicks that is deceptively small, but really deceptively big. It focuses on a high school age kid. It is kind of a 2008 version of a late 90's version of "The Graduate."

The Wackness illustrates (as per the tag-line) how doing the "wrong" thing can be the "right" thing.

My list of favorite deceptively small movies about deceptively big things includes: "Donnie Darko" (finding God), "Rushmore" (finding forgiveness) and "Dead Man," (the death of the American Myth).

I'm adding "The Wackness" to the list. These movies all feature killer soundtracks which for me can make simple scenes resonate with thunder.

The Wackness also has a great performance from Ben Kingsley. He is truly one of the great actors working today. Also check out "Gandhi," "Sexy Beast" and "House of Sand and Fog" if you have any doubts.

Note to Self: Who do you think you freaking are? Freaking Roger Ebert? How many thumbs up your arse?

The Wackness works for me because my personal dichotomy is always in full force. Which means of course that Sunny always sees the Dopeness and Dumps always sees the Wackness.

Put them together and you get Chicken Salad.

The last song in the movie is David Bowie's "All the Young Dudes" which he wrote for Ian Hunter and Mott the Hoople. Someone has "reconstructed" the track with David singing lead vocals and the Hoople backing him up. Quite nicely done.