the prestige
no, this isn't a post about pressure cookers :) but a there is a lot of stuff boiling around in my head this time.
i just read a really unique book by Christopher Priest. Its called "the prestige". Its a tale about two 19th century magicians in a lifelong feud trying to outdo and kill each other at every step. The book is really cool. It manages to weave in this sense of the 19th century world with the intrigue of magic and magicians; but eventually as it twists and turns, it remains no longer a simple period story but turns into something else entirely. Its sci-fi, fantasy, period tale and thriller. Its quite bizarre, but very entertaining.
one of the interesting things in the book is about the technique of magic. He talks about "the prestige" or the final act of the magic trick. It is the illusion, the grand finale, the lie and the successful presentation of the lie as "magic". Priest of course, explains this way better than I can, but then hes a writer. The prestige, becomes a metaphor for the book and the lives of the characters. But it also becomes so much more. To me, it felt like it permeated all of the book. Almost everything about these central characters was wrapped in deceit and illusions. Yet, they were normal (well, almost) people. Makes me laugh a lot, because sometimes i feel we go through something similar all the time in our lives.
Haven't you all (i consistently like to ackowledge the two other people who read this ;) ever had moments in your life, when something you've known to be true and real for so long suddenly shatters all in one moment? Sometimes someone you know is responsible for it, sometimes it is something beyond your control, a death maybe, or a shocking truth that you didn't know. Well, I had an experience like that a while ago. Self analytical as always, i look back at myself and my reactions and see how wildly i was groping to keep the illusion alive. I didn't want my life and my reality to change, I couldn't handle it. I know now that it is a human reaction, we all cannot stand a sudden change or a sudden loss that we are forced to deal with. Denial. I also know now that we all would prefer to be in a state of illusion than face reality. The world is a better place that way.
What we know as "growing up" is basically a series of harsh realities of human life that we learn to accept and live with. Its ripping the bandage off painfully every time, all the time and then when we've done it enough, the pain isn't as harsh as before. Soon, we get used to it and it doesn't matter anymore. That is "the prestige" of our lives. A giant illusion that we love to show everyone, that nothing can hurt us or affect us. Its not a trick i can do too well i'm afraid. the other illusion is the one that other people cast on us. The only time you can see people at their crudest, most vulnerable, disgusting self is when their reality is shattered and they struggle wildly trying to get back on their own two feet. No one likes to show that side of themselves.
Something like war often brings that side out. Last weekend I saw a movie called Jarhead. Its by the director of American beauty, Sam Mendes. It was really good. If theres one movie that makes me want to respect the American Marines, its probably this one. Why? because there was no propoganda. There was none of that "we are american soldiers and we're fighting for the side of righteousness". There was no Hollywood grandstanding and no anti/pro-war stance or preaching. It was the tale of one Marine and his experiences in the Gulf War of Bush Sr. It was a disturbing, annoying, frustrating, sad, and ultimately pointless and scarring experience. But thats what war is. Its pointless and scarring. As a viewer you feel the frustration. You're not going to see any glorious act of heroism here. There is no big battle. In fact our heroes never get to kill anyone. These are all normal average joe americans in a war they are not prepared mentally to deal with. But then, how can you be? How can anyone anticipate and be ready for war? And thats exactly what makes these people worthy of your respect. They're not heroes. Hell, heroes are supposed to be brave and smart and courageous. Whats the big deal about that? But when you see average, messed up, flawed people going through this, you identify. You know how you'd react if you were in that situation. And it helps make war even more real for us. The barrier between the average viewer and the fakeness of the hollywood screenplay reduces a little bit more than normal. I bet the average movie goer will not like this movie. It has none of the masala success elements. To me, this movie does a great job. Watch it if you get the chance.
I also saw SawII on sunday. I won't talk about it. It was disturbing to watch and enjoyable. But it was also tripe.
Tonight i get to watch Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang. I'm happy.
I just re-read my entire post. I'm bipolar.
i just read a really unique book by Christopher Priest. Its called "the prestige". Its a tale about two 19th century magicians in a lifelong feud trying to outdo and kill each other at every step. The book is really cool. It manages to weave in this sense of the 19th century world with the intrigue of magic and magicians; but eventually as it twists and turns, it remains no longer a simple period story but turns into something else entirely. Its sci-fi, fantasy, period tale and thriller. Its quite bizarre, but very entertaining.
one of the interesting things in the book is about the technique of magic. He talks about "the prestige" or the final act of the magic trick. It is the illusion, the grand finale, the lie and the successful presentation of the lie as "magic". Priest of course, explains this way better than I can, but then hes a writer. The prestige, becomes a metaphor for the book and the lives of the characters. But it also becomes so much more. To me, it felt like it permeated all of the book. Almost everything about these central characters was wrapped in deceit and illusions. Yet, they were normal (well, almost) people. Makes me laugh a lot, because sometimes i feel we go through something similar all the time in our lives.
Haven't you all (i consistently like to ackowledge the two other people who read this ;) ever had moments in your life, when something you've known to be true and real for so long suddenly shatters all in one moment? Sometimes someone you know is responsible for it, sometimes it is something beyond your control, a death maybe, or a shocking truth that you didn't know. Well, I had an experience like that a while ago. Self analytical as always, i look back at myself and my reactions and see how wildly i was groping to keep the illusion alive. I didn't want my life and my reality to change, I couldn't handle it. I know now that it is a human reaction, we all cannot stand a sudden change or a sudden loss that we are forced to deal with. Denial. I also know now that we all would prefer to be in a state of illusion than face reality. The world is a better place that way.
What we know as "growing up" is basically a series of harsh realities of human life that we learn to accept and live with. Its ripping the bandage off painfully every time, all the time and then when we've done it enough, the pain isn't as harsh as before. Soon, we get used to it and it doesn't matter anymore. That is "the prestige" of our lives. A giant illusion that we love to show everyone, that nothing can hurt us or affect us. Its not a trick i can do too well i'm afraid. the other illusion is the one that other people cast on us. The only time you can see people at their crudest, most vulnerable, disgusting self is when their reality is shattered and they struggle wildly trying to get back on their own two feet. No one likes to show that side of themselves.
Something like war often brings that side out. Last weekend I saw a movie called Jarhead. Its by the director of American beauty, Sam Mendes. It was really good. If theres one movie that makes me want to respect the American Marines, its probably this one. Why? because there was no propoganda. There was none of that "we are american soldiers and we're fighting for the side of righteousness". There was no Hollywood grandstanding and no anti/pro-war stance or preaching. It was the tale of one Marine and his experiences in the Gulf War of Bush Sr. It was a disturbing, annoying, frustrating, sad, and ultimately pointless and scarring experience. But thats what war is. Its pointless and scarring. As a viewer you feel the frustration. You're not going to see any glorious act of heroism here. There is no big battle. In fact our heroes never get to kill anyone. These are all normal average joe americans in a war they are not prepared mentally to deal with. But then, how can you be? How can anyone anticipate and be ready for war? And thats exactly what makes these people worthy of your respect. They're not heroes. Hell, heroes are supposed to be brave and smart and courageous. Whats the big deal about that? But when you see average, messed up, flawed people going through this, you identify. You know how you'd react if you were in that situation. And it helps make war even more real for us. The barrier between the average viewer and the fakeness of the hollywood screenplay reduces a little bit more than normal. I bet the average movie goer will not like this movie. It has none of the masala success elements. To me, this movie does a great job. Watch it if you get the chance.
I also saw SawII on sunday. I won't talk about it. It was disturbing to watch and enjoyable. But it was also tripe.
Tonight i get to watch Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang. I'm happy.
I just re-read my entire post. I'm bipolar.
posted by sam i am at 11:09 AM
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