Muzzy Strumpet Abraxas

Algiers. Some forty plus years ago, Bonne had a book shop in San Francisco called Club Algiers. Algiers the movie is the namesake. She apparently had been conducting a film screening adventure (keep in mind, this was before VCRs and DVD players). I watched it for the first time the other day and discovered its appeal. It begins with a very long and protracted discussion of the alsatia that Algiers' Qasba was. A richly diverse haven of outcasts and criminals who operated outside of the law. A subtle emphasis was on the fact that its residents operated outside of the boundaries of the state's laws, but within their own set of codes. Reminds me of Christiana, or of Alcatraz. Beyond that, though, there was the recurring theme of existential bondage. There was a constant revaluation of what it meant to be free. There was bondage and there was freedom from bondage, and then there was bondage. Hilarious nihilism ensues.

Noise. I'm a sucker for existential films, and this one hits the spot. It explicitly takes is philosophical/existential cues from Hegel. It deals with the issue of conformity in a much better way than Zombie Strippers. The only difference between this actor and us followers, is that this dude actually did something about his issue. I was particularly pleased to see that the individual was willing to own up to the consequences of his actions, ala Gandhi.

Pepe le Moko. This is the film that led to the remake reviewed above, Algiers. I've yet to watch it, but am excited to do so. Stay tuned.

Black Books. Holy shit. Such a great television series. I hate to admit that I have a little part of Bern, Manny, and Fran in me. Indeed, there's a little bit of Bern, Manny, and Fran in all of us. "This is bliss!" "I live in a shoe." "Corner-shop piss." "Naughty rice cake!" "Manny!" "Fran, I'm coming Fran." "Girls, girls, girls." "Should I bring this?" "Argh ... ." "I'm afraid I'm gonna have to let you go." "Robot prostitute from the future!" "Who's ever heard of a wicker toilet?" Makes me want to own a bookshop that does not seek to make money.

Finding My Way To Authentic Living, featuring Hubert Dreyfus. This movie is a fantastic foot in the pond of existentialism. It is especially nice insofar as it is aimed at a nice a broad audience, as it is an interview being conducted by a 13 year old kid. Existentialism as the anti-philosophy philosophy. Hits up Pascal, Kant, Kierkegaard, Nietzsche, Heidegger, and the Greeks. Two controversial points: 1) science misses an essential piece of reality, and 2) "Berkeley is the best place period." --And 3) the absurdity of conforming to the Christmas Card culture. To become a better human being.