The District of Calamity: Movies

Showing posts with label Movies. Show all posts

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

Trump Gets Punchy with "Raging Bull" Robert De Niro

On the eve of the US-North Korea Summit in Singapore, actor Robert De Niro used his platform introducing "The Boss" Bruce Springsteen at the Tony Awards to hurl vulgar invectives at President Donald Trump.

Although this crude message garnered standing ovations from the elites gathered at Radio City Musical Hall, it further alienated many prospective Trump fans as chronicled in Salena Zito's book "The Great Revolt" (2018). Liberal operatives in the mainstream media also cringed at De Niro's raging B.S. as the over the top attack bolstered Trump's brand.

Now that the Singapore Summit ended in seeming success, President Trump can turn to domestic detractors and put them in their places in his own inimitable way. On Air Force One, Trump took to Twitter to troll De Niro using the conceit of playing the punch drunk Jake DeMont from the 1980 Academy Award winning film Raging Bull.

Donald Trump's counter punch to Robert De Niro's Raging Bull

No doubt this will stoke additional enmity from De Niro. De Niro's had Trump Derangement Syndrome for quite a while. In addition, De Niro seems stuck on character acting like Dirty Grandpa.

But a tete-a-tete with De Niro is much like the NFL Take The Knee issue for Mr. Trump. It is a cultural issue that reaches audiences who may be otherwise apathetic to politics. The curt counter-punches feeds Trump trolls who itch for politically incorrect imbroglios but is witty enough to also reach red blooded and blue collar voters who recoil at progressive filth.

Thursday, May 31, 2018

On Tolerance, Pardons, Politics and Dinesh D'Souza

In 2012, conservative polemicist Dinesh D'Souza contributed $20,000 via a straw donor for his friend Wend Long's quixotic campaign to become Senator from New York. His infraction was zealously prosecuted by politically connected US Prosecutor from the Southern District of New York Preet Bharara.

In 2014, D'Souza entered a plea for a one count felony charge. D'Souza's sentence was for eight months in a half way house, five years probation and a $30,000 fine.

This was perhaps the first time that someone was sentenced to prison for a minor FEC infraction. Liberal Harvard Law professor Alan Dershowitz noted that such campaign violations were common and questioned if it was a proper exercise of prosecutorial discretion. Many conservatives believe that Bharara threw the book at D'Souza as payback for cinematic success of "2016: Obama's America" (2012). Bharara was thought to be a front runner to replace Obama Attorney General Eric Holder in 2014.

On May 31, 2018 President Donald Trump announced via Twitter that he would grant D'Souza a full pardon because he was very unfairly treated by our government.

President Barack Obama granted clemency to 1,715 nonviolent criminals, many of them were for drug dealers and even a terrorist. Obama granted more commutations than the prior twelve Presidents. The mainstream media lauded the Obama Administration as being tolerant.

It is dubious that the media accredited Democrat steno-pool will apply the same standards towards President Trump regarding Dinesh D'Souza.

Friday, May 4, 2018

Appreciating May the Fourth Be With You

In May 1977, the original Star Wars film (now known as Star Wars Episode 4: A New Hope) premiered at movie theaters. Practically no one expected the tremendous success of Star Wars, as it grossed $775 million at the box office. But the George Lucas film became a sustained cultural phenomenon.

When Tory politician Margaret Thatcher first became British Prime Minister, the London Evening Standard published a punny congratulatory ad from the Conservative party which played off of Star Wars rebel imagery vis-a-vis Labour's deathgrip on UK politics after 1978-79 Winter of Discontent.

While the politics of the pun's origination may have faded, the slogan became a geek touchstone. It was a catch phrase on Facebook for "Luke Skywalker Day" in 2008. The first organized grassroots holiday was in Toronto, Canada in 2011. Since Disney took over Lucasfilms in 2013, it has become a celebrated ersatz holiday.

It might make you want to sing.

Like lounge singer Nick Winters on Saturday Night Live so many moons ago?

Almost.

But it might inspire the Boogie Storm to make some mad jumps.

Friday, March 2, 2018

Ayn Rand on Atlas Shrugged

Friday, February 9, 2018

Being At Peace With Different Measures of Glory

Athletes from Unified North & South Korean Team at Winter Olympics

The 23rd Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea are themed to be the games of peace. This was accentuated by athletes of the Republic of Korea (South Korea) marching with their Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea (North Korea) counterparts under a unified flag.

Olympic Athletes from Russia for 2018 Winter Olympics

Due the doping ban on Russian Federation, the 169 clean Russian athletes marched as neutrals in red and grey uniforms as neutrals. Any gold medal winning "Olympic Athletes of Russia" will be feted with the raising of the Olympic flag and anthem.

While the 2,952 athletes participating in the Pyeongchang games are the best winter sport athletes in the world, but only a few make it up to the medal stand to receive their glory. For most, marching in the Winter Olympics opening ceremony is the highlight of their careers.

This makes Eric Liddell's admonition about glory all the more poignant.

What is particularly noteworthy of Eric Liddell is not that he was the the Flying Scotsman was the first British Gold Medal winner in track from 1924, or that he was the basis of the film Chariots of Fire (1981), or his steadfast Sabbath keeping, but for dying as a missionary in a Japanese internment camp in China in 1945.

We should all be inspired to run a good race in life and doing our best.

Wednesday, February 7, 2018

Peoplekind, eh?

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Prefers the Politically Correct Euphamism Peoplekind

During a townhall meeting, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau interrupted a constituent pleading for religious liberty to serve underprivileged Canadians to ensure that politically correct language was used.

Helping mankind was considered to be a micro-aggression, so Prime Minister Trudeau offered that "Peoplekind" was preferred politically correct speak. Really? Not even humankind? Does that include canines, as dogs are people too (sic). How about corporations? Well, our neighbors in the Great White North have determined that the free speech in the Charter of Rights can overridden, especially for corporations, where the need can be demonstrably justified in a free and democratic society.

Then again, Canadians have a reputation for priggishly protecting minority rights, as was humorously parodied in Michael Moore's romp Canadian Bacon (1995).

Post Scriptus 02/07/2018 - Several days after the "Peoplekind" comment went viral on social media, The UK Daily Mail reports Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was just kidding about the comment. Sure, he did...check the videotape--NOT! It seems that he'll use the excuse of allegedly making a dumb joke than being considered dumb during a tour in the United States.

The problem with Trudeau's apologia is that his humor relies on a is a reductio ad absurdum. If we are to respect minority rights, should an over-exaggeration be a laughing matter?

Friday, February 2, 2018

On Groundhog Day Predictions

Friday, October 27, 2017

Hillary Clinton as the real Wonder Woman?

Gloria Steinem on Hillary Clinton as Wonder Woman

Unsuccessful 2016 Presidential nominee First Lady/Senator/Secretary of State Hillary Clinton was feted on her 70th birthday by the Women's Media Center. Mrs. Clinton received the first ever Wonder Woman award because: "[S]he seems to have superhuman strength, resilience and courage". Mrs. Clinton was also toasted by the likes of feminist icons Jane Fonda and Gloria Steinem on her natal anniversary.

[L] Jane Fonda [C] Gloria Steinem toasting [R] Hillary Clinton, October 26, 2017

As her campaigned waned and in the unhappy aftermath of the 2016 election, Hillary Clinton has more overtly embraced feminist hermanenutics to understand her defeat. Mrs. Clinton has not shied away from associating herself with Wonder Woman, despite not seeing the recently released DC Comics film (2017).

While many may see it a stretch to liken Hillary Clinton to a superhero, it might still be apt to refer to her as Wonder Woman. After all, consider her answers about Cattle Futures, evasions and lies about bungling Benghazi, Mrs. Clinton's e-mail anomalies, her confusion that 'c' is for classified not cookie, and Hillary dismissing Uranium One connections as "baloney" as well as the excuse making for What Happened (2017) after she lost a sure thing election, Mrs. Clinton well be the true Wonder Women. Considering the source, true is an inadvised phrase-- OK, the REAL Wonder(ing) Woman.

Sunday, September 10, 2017

Jennifer Lawrence on Mother Nature's Wrath

Jennifer Lawrence on Trump and Mother Nature's Wrath

Wednesday, August 9, 2017

Crossing Ghostbusters and Dirty Harry on the 38th Parallel

Admiral James Stavridis analogizes North Korean Threat with Ghostbusters and Dirty Harry

During an interview with Hugh Hewitt on MSNBC, former Southern Command and Supreme Allied Commander in Europe former Admiral James Stavridis used a couple of pop cultural references to illustrate the conundrum vis-a-vis North Korea.

Admiral Stavridis likened the existential threats of the miniaturization of nuclear warheads and ICBMs which can reach the continental United States to the danger of crossing the streams in Ghostbusters (1983).

To illustrate the advancing threat, Stavridis analogized the North Korea situation to the punch line from Clint Eastwood in Dirty Harry (1971): "Do you feel lucky punk? "

Friday, June 9, 2017

Robert De Niro on Graduating

Actor Robert De Niro was the 2017 featured commencement speaker at his alma mater Brown University. He gave a incongruous address was memorable as it seemed so contrary to the hallowed halls of education on the East Coast.

De Niro's pearl of wisdom comparing Trump's America as a "crazy dumb assed comedy" is the cherry on the cake for what one gets now a days for a pricey Ivy League education.

De Niro was scathing about "crazy dumb assed comedies" but that seems to be the genre which he lands most of his roles lately. At least his attire at the commencement ceremony was not as egregious as the schtick in "Dirty Grandpa" (2016).

Thursday, May 4, 2017

George Lucas on Science and Star Wars

May the Fourth Be With You!

Monday, January 23, 2017

The Distance Between Insanity and Genius

Paging CNN Chief Jeff Zucker

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Sign of the Times?: Rogue Won (sic)

Street Artist Sabo on Rogue Won parody of the Disney Star Wars spinoff and Election 2016

In the run up to the premiere first cinematic Star Wars spin-off, famed street artist Sabo graced LA-LA land with a roguish parody which matched up Rogue One with Election 2016.

These faux movie posted popped up all around Hollywood Boulevard. Sabo's signs had a heroic Trump along with Steve Bannon, Ann Coulter, Sean Hannity, Julian Assange, Milo, Yiannopoulos and Gavin McInness.

But Sabo was not the first one to make this connection.

It seems the anti-hero depends up who is telling the story.

Perhaps Disney will update Star Wars episode Five with "The Media Empire Strikes Back". But that may not be a part of the Culture Wars tales.

H/T: Hollywood Reporter

Wednesday, November 9, 2016

Mockingjay Metaphors for Trump Triumph in Election 2016

After the 2013 Election Night results, it seems that the voices of District 12 prevailed over the Elites in the Capitol, or in the District of Calamity (sic).

Happy Hunger Games. May the odds be in your favor.

Sunday, September 11, 2016

Bush Advance Man Brian Montgomery Reflects on 9/11

As America commemorates the 15th anniversary of the September 11th 2001 attacks by Islamic terrorists, the sting of the memory may have grown faint in some circles. Whether it is due to the passage of time or the widespread reluctance to show the terrible videos about planes hitting the Twin Towers of the World Trade Center, the Pentagon and Shanksville PA, killing nearly 3,000 souls that day. So the producers of a commercial showing the collapse of twin towers of mattresses might not have struck them as being offensive humor.

However, Bush White House Director of Advance Brian Montgomery had a slightly sardonic memory of that dark day preparing for an impromptu stop at Barksdale AFB on September 11, 2001, as it seemed like Dr. Strangelove surrealism.

The Secret Service was very protective of the President and were chary about returning to the White House to avoid the possibility of a decapitation strike. This sensibility was reinforced especially after hearing chatter that "Angel" (code name for Air Force One) was "next". So the Presidential entourage was diverted to Barksdale AFB in Shreveport, Louisiana.

It so happened that on that very day, the 8th Air Force based at Barksdale AFB was in the midst of their annual big exercise Global Guardian, including having loaded bombers at the ready. So Barksdale AFB was already proceeding in a THREATCON Delta mode. So when Advance Director Montgomery disembarked from Air Force One, he could see the B-52 Stratsfortress bombers lined up wing-to-wing it seemed surreal.

Bush White House Advance Director Brian Montgomery Recalls 9/11 at Barksdale AFB

Adding to the surreal scene was being met by a military man who looked like ready to roll General Buck Turgidson telling him that the squadron of B-52s were loaded with nukes, no wonder Montgomery thought of Dr. Strangelove.

Better to work with a guy looking like General Buck Turgidson than guy acting like General Ripper. However, to all reports, once the second plane hit the World Trade Center everyone in the military was on war footing.

And despite less than ideal communications on Air Force One, President George W. Bush was able to reach out to Russian Federation President Vladimir Putin. Bush White House Press Secretary Ari Fletcher recalled: "Putin was fantastic that day. He was a very different Vladimir Putin in 2001.America could have had no better ally on September 11th than Russia and Putin. Putin accepted the President Bush's reassurances that America was under attack and hostilities were not directed towards Russia.

President Bush exiting Air Force One on September 11,2001 with "Doomsday Plane" in the background

So despite "Angel" landing next to a fully loaded nuclear squadron of B-52's and being met on the tarmac by a guy who was a doppelganger for General Buck Turgidson, there was little chance on 9/11 that life would imitate art in Dr. Strangelove's (1964) climactic ending.

H/T Politico

Wednesday, June 1, 2016

Blake Clark on Being in the Army

Monday, April 11, 2016

Trumper-tantrums and Veruca Salt

Ben Shapiro on Trump Tantrums and Veruca Salt

Some voters may miss having a "Good Egg" sorter within the ballot box.

Friday, March 4, 2016

On the Angry Man

The 2016 Election Cycle seems to be the year of the Angry Man vote. But Albertanus of Brescia and Rodney Dangerfield both have different ways to take the angry man (epitomized by Sam Kinison) Back to School.

Friday, February 26, 2016

John Leguizamo on Latino Republicans

The quintessential thought process of a Hollywood celebutard on politics-- 1) unfailing allegiance to the Democrat party 2) addition to identity politics 3) presupposing group think 4) intolerance of opposing ideologies while demanding diversity.

As Leguizamo uttered as Miss Chi-Chi Rodriguez in To Wong Foo, Thanks For Everything, Julie Newmar (1995):

John Leguizamo in To Wong Foo (1995)

"Lets throw you two a pity party. Two fraidy ol' ladies. You gotta live live before it lives you, you stupid... You gonna be second class you gonna be second rate your whole life."

Leguizamo's Raid rant is a salsa version of Crabs in a Barrel. Got to pull anyone who is trying to escape back.

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