Review: The History Channel's Grant - three part documentary series

The three-part Grant documentary series on the History channel was an eloquent pioneering effort thanks to its focus on the theme, the importance of Grant’s talents and substance of the era. The dramatic acting scenes were kept at a minimum for effect but I would have wanted more of them and more Grant quotes worked in. The most striking moment was the end of reconstruction highlighted with photos I wanted described more. While President Grant doesn’t get enough credit for wiping out Klan “structure” with the Ku Klux bill he stood by and allowed the end of restoration efforts and further federal arrests of supremacists, bowing to the political pressure of the time. There should have been more of Grant’s reaction to reconstruction and the rise of the southern democrats who are today’s trump supporters. This series, like today’s current events requires more in debt analysis of our nation’s western history; its gravitas of absurdities.

The neglect toward African American justice since this era should be the subject of more honest westerns and documentary series such as this and perhaps it should have been more central to the theme in The History Channel’s Grant but the effort to frame their ideas the way it was presented was a great success especially in humanizing Grant as a true national hero worthy of our 50 dollar bill. Reconstruction efforts lasted from December 8, 1863 to March 31, 1877. 

LURTFWSA & Green Book review

To my sweet Trump loving friends, it is so sad to see you so far gone. Ever think on a past missed opportunity in life as a heavy weight, a mistake that pulled you back somehow as a person? Slow and steady you can guide yourself to truth and a noble nature. In darkness there is always the gift of repentance’s light. Such humility is lacking in a society where militia protest armed in capitol buildings. In this awful month of March 2020, I finally got around to watching Green Book.  An epic film that embraces time and situation, defining both gentlemen linked to the underlining theme; what is my worth? And what is the worth of this nation that hasn’t taken all the bold steps needed to eliminate the virus not to mention the modern take on segregation? The ghettoizing of health care and the environment.

Green Book is a masterpiece on emotion and reasoned drama. Ultra-realism immersed in the art of being human, showing your weakness to another in slow steady confidence, seeing full well with respect and grand admiration at honest struggle. Its striking contrasting now as groups run amok protesting closures unprotected for a short-term gain that could lead to tripling the time in damage. One can easily see the similarities in dystopian anger toward an emergency that should only last a few months if proper testing contact tracing and health care PPE is provided. But this time its not just Black people, now its all you feeble as well as the so-called essential worker. Green Book’s segregation is today’s negligent unprotection, abandonment, even distain for those without means or practical clarity.

The thrill ride toward ultimate action embedded in Green Book’s story makes the film the rightful best picture over A Star is Born who denied us a proper ending of the last song and Bohemian Rhapsody, the more entertaining of the three in 2019 didn’t have the subtle timing throughout its story as was due. You ‘all gotta get out of TV land and embrace film framing. Let scenes breathe for art and love’s sake. Green Book could have been a lot better if the landscapes and sounds were more absorbed into the fabric of the theme, so rich and earnest.  

Coming out of a full-blown constitutional crisis, certain epiphanies appear in the social political atmosphere, one is the lack of focus and clarity in overall messaging. The media is not focusing on the need for all the steps to be taken during an emergency whatever the news is that needs to be questioned and answered repeatedly. What do we need now to save lives? What issue should and must be understood completely? What do we need to do now to save our democracy and our lives? Even king Cuomo dismisses the need for PPE, poo pooing the work of hospitals and senior homes that don’t reach out to him with their needs. This lacks the reasoned regulations required with full inspections of hospitals that should get fined if warranted. Congress throwing money to the states feels like the south won son. Do we need a Green Book guide of free test sites and a road map to inspector general scandals?

Like the Piano man played so eloquently and truthful by Mahershala, progressives have never stressed their most glaring asset, the rise of a powerful middle class especially facing rising health care and higher taxes because of the trump administration. Biden’s central message should be the amount of money the middle class will save. Biden must tout the amount of money his plans would save middle class families and, tax deductions that can not only return to where they were before trump but be added to generously. Environmental incentives, rent control, small business assistance, inclusionary zones and other tax breaks can also help his case. How ironic that democratic policies are described as tax increasing by republicans when they all are centered toward saving families money. Biden should say all families who make under say 200 thousand a year stand to save money? Lots of people like Mortenson’s character are going die in this fiasco response to healing the masses, blocking and, tackling the virus.

And even as Don Shirley and Tony went into the south for their own honor and sense of justice so to should we move forward as progressive democrats ready to implement all that is needed to bring contentment. Congress should open investigations for the sake of history, to at the very least have our objections written, and listed.   

Let us not also forget all those we have turned our backs to; immigrants, dissidents and rebel fighters like the Kurds and Syrians making our approach inhumane in the face of our capabilities. The need for diplomacy should always be the aspiration of any foreign policy but to allow unchecked criminal cruelty and violence against the oppressed is to negate the existence of any defense. Progressives likewise should embrace dissidents with a vow of support financially if not militarily.

Green Book teaches us, we must all repent for our honor and meaning in life as well as face our fears for justice. Even those that still support Trump can come to understand the blatant negligence to say the least. How many will die because of this mistake? Take a breath in and say enough is enough. Let us return to first world status again. LURTFWSA. 

Trump and the Mandalorian 1/1/20

Wow Mando showed Scorsese pretty quick. Look ma its cinema and he’s a super hero. The timing, the realism, the thrill of the rhythmic action was unsurpassed in stylistic drama, frozen in the wrath of duty and substance. Behold. Here is the truth, the way. I have spoken! I was wrong to of ignored it; the absolute rebirth of my kind will begin now because I care for you! It is simply the best action series ever produced, lucky for us it also occurs during a constitutional crisis at the hands of both parties.

I admit I may have a bias to westerns having grown up wanting to be John Wayne. I may punch you to teach you a lesson because it’s a debt you have to pay to justice; our justice as human beings. There is my moral compass, I would gladly give you my other cheek and refrain from fighting you but when you hurt others, there I am reigniting “the way” from our true founding. Yet in real life; the fantasy of truth is lost when not summarily described. While the writers of fiction are within their right and even duty to keep things simple for the audience to understand and relate to, the halls of congress should be void of such vague complacency. The impeachment hearings of 2019 were an insult to our intelligence and moral standing; such obvious articles of impeachment, ignoring at least a dozen or so others. Perhaps the standard set by the impeachment of Clinton lowered the political bar to accepting a political showcase to persuade voters. Just like the Mandalorians, once an enemy of Jedis must have forgotten true honor yet now have a righteous champion taken to the brink of diplomatic standing. The empire holdouts want to take the child’s power or kill it because the truth takes work, in the midst of a corrupt order. Turning on corruption forces the collapse of the Mandalorians. Their race scattered for a pure saving grace; protecting the most powerful Jedi yet seen… a 50-year-old baby.

The current political state of my beloved United States of America is a travesty to Franklyn and Paine. Nothing less than the most articles of impeachment necessary to cover all the violations of the law must be pursued in order for us to have a just republic on paper. Narrowing the focus to two obvious summarizing charges, broadly encompassing obstruction of congress and abuse of power, is a lazy endeavor when at the very least a detailed summary of violations should be chronicled by congress. Though the details are pretty much laid out in commentary I’m sure it wouldn’t take too much effort to list all of Trumps infractions and likely illegal actions. One merely needs to study every day of the presidency picking out the news or occurrences as they happened or when they were found out. There is no need for endless debate and reasoning when the facts are outlined for us. The facts of his speech, his conduct, the accusations, and the Mueller report’s findings are plain to see. All possible impeachable actions must be written down and voted for or against in congress. Whether or not enough evidence is presented and or examined is for the representative or senator to decide for himself and the investigation should remain ongoing nonetheless. Congress is not a court room; it is the law. The way. For republicans to continue to ignore law enforcement, intelligence agencies, and government employees speaking out for justice is to ignore our definition as Americans. How dare the republicans’ debate and make the case that the president is allowed to take up justice (investigating through foreign governments) on his own without even the knowledge of intelligence agencies? It is treasonous insurrection to attack our law enforcement and intelligence officials or ignore their findings repeatedly for corrupt intent.

November’s impeachment hearings were an insult to our collective intelligence; because the idea that something so obvious needs to be laid bare is legislative redundancy and inadequacy. These hearings do on the other hand expose the callus mendacity and obfuscation of Republicans stooping so low as to nitpick such fundamental charges; the presumption of which further delays our understanding of the full account. The only way to undo and purge this nation from the lawless betrayals of the president is to clearly detail all the wrong doings and write new laws protecting us from similar offenses and indiscretions moving forward. The first of these new laws should allow for presidents to be indicted publicly and if there are no sealed indictments against this president then our law enforcement agencies have failed us. In deed only with seal indictments could true justice in retrospect be restored. Pundits on TV, relishing in how politically advantageous the decision for only these two articles is, are ironically living in an obtuse fantasy world. It’s scary to think that the democrats have made it so easy that a group of republican senators could turn on Trump and usher in 20 years of conservative policy through their leadership if they do; no doubt with flowery rhetoric calling out finer points that people could digest, while ignoring the work for truth and justice based on reason; a method laid out in Paine’s vision of how congress should have been. They step away from monumental opinions and basic needs that champion causes and efforts to form laws based on data. Let the debates and endless arguments be in service of detailed improvements moving forward not ulterior motives and petty crimes. List the charges and vote!

Congress needs to take the time to relate to the human condition and its sensibilities in the face of such monumental mendacity. Funny how this can compare to the nature of cinema Scorsese spoke of. The Mandalorian was cinematic from start to finish. Every moment was a detailed account of how the mains characters felt and the actions on screen gripping us with fact-based intensity. While some of the composition could have gone further in placing the action note how the end credits were over sketched storyboards. Epic thrill charted to iconic music expertly composed. The recent Star Wars film had several scenes that met this standard of sensibility but overall it went for the roller coaster ride, playing to short attention spans, cramming in vital character arcs and plots points yet; who would want to see a five hour film flushing out the subtly of the force and its phycological implications? I know I would. Lord of the Rings tried to embrace such accurate depictions of consequences in three parts but failed on physical levels, ignoring several sciences including cinematic timing; obscuring real time action for splashy takes and quick cuts. Every frame should paint a picture, and perhaps every moment on impeachment in congress should as well, abstaining from nonsensical lawyerly run around.

Somewhere along the line we’ve forgotten how sacred our laws are when even the president admits to crimes in public to deaden the effect of judicial exposure, Giuliani almost did as much while in Ukraine as if taunting the media, casting the first stone towards accepting foreign entanglements despite being at the core of our fore fathers concerns regarding the usurpation of power by the commander in chief. Patrick Henry in fact for this specific infraction called for an active militia to serve as an outlet for the people to use to guard against any such tyrannical rule that would hinder rights. Sound familiar? While we aren’t and probably never will be at such a stage of violence, ignoring the subject’s actions merely enables future culprits. Strong anti-corruption statues are what sets us apart as democratic republics.

The Mandalorian is so incredibly timely not only because of the brilliantly written cannon and expanded universe but because it’s something we all need now, desperately. A good time blowing off steam with talent, epic courage and masterful skill. A lone warrior inspires his people to rise up ethically, abandoning their history of corrupt militancy.  Where are our democrat leaders? Are they ignoring the trouncing the labor party just got in England? Not even trying to find some common ground while missing essential buzz words and phrases? You save more with single payer and you get to pick any doctor you want. Have you ever heard our New England Senators say those phrases? Why aren’t they being marketed? Also, Warren and Sanders should embrace a “private option” which likely would still exist even if their plans were enacted but they need to say it. They need to do some proper public relations and the DNC should focus more on protest than rallies. Demonstrations outside McConnell’s and Graham’s offices? The candidates and the DNC need to work with groups like “indivisible” and “BLM” targeting wrong doers urging them to change their approach toward important matters, especially impeachment. The time for the way is now. Who is our Mandalorian to lead the way?

the Joker and Scorsese

One of the greatest directors ever, Martin Scorsese, has given us an opportune statement on the definition of cinema versus so called amusement park thrillers. While his comments are so true and valuable toward the discourse in filmmaking well, his assertion that comic films can’t make the same art is wrong. Todd Phillp’s “Joker” though a lost opportunity to command the stage politically is such an obvious attempt to make emotions cinematic like the masters. “The Joker”, set apart from 

DC comics alone and as an independent film is a masterpiece like Scorsese’s "Taxi Driver" exposing pathological mental illness but it was very much able to take it to the next level of science fiction noir with an untapped substantive relatable perspective. Films like “ex Machina”, “Rogue One”, “Time Bandits”, “Captain Marvel” and yes as Director Gunn suggested even “GOTG”, all work toward unearthing deeply soulful characters yet they all fail to take the powers of the characters to realistic outcomes. While during several scenes they may reach it, overall the action and stunts don’t reflect real world consequences or even accurate science; doing so would make them more like the great war films, “Saving Private Ryan”, “Full Metal Jacket”, “Platoon”, “the Thin Red Line”, “Glory, “Dunkirk” and “Paths of Glory” to name a few.

Wonder woman lep from a building but we didn’t see the bullet wounds and blood she suffered charging the line. Why were we denied her suffering?  The charge during “Avenger’s End Game”, failing to adhere to the rules of the game, offering instead snippets into their arsenal of characters one by one but denying the majority their abilities. That scene alone could have been a film on its own. It wasn’t “Excalibur” or “Gangs of New York”, it was popcorn fun; not steak and potatoes. Most if not all superhero films shoot dramatic scenes the same as their action scenes; as if the dialogue alone is relatable enough. The main focus should be relating the purpose of the characters desires and needs not just spilling them out. The mission of his or her soul can be told while they are running for a battle, the battle within and of its substance therein must be felt like a painting in each scene, from the view of a pensive truthful hard fought will via the actor’s expressions; slow and deliberate; that is cinematic. Tom Hanks telling the troops on Omaha Beach, it’s time to gather weapons and ammo after that massacre’s onslaught; an extra already on the front-line telling Hanks, he was where he was supposed to be all along. The extra followed orders and in obscurity was just a side note much like Ted Danson later on in Spielberg’s masterpiece, ..”Good luck.” “Thank you.” “No, I mean it. Find him. Get him home.” Such heartfelt reality is missing from comic films seemingly for no reason other than the flash and hype. What is most powerful and needing in the human condition? To say that Spiderman, the Hulk or even Batman can’t rise to this level of actualism is false. They are too watered down in their timing, a momentum enslaved to attention spans.

Phillp’s Joker did not glorify the intelligence of the main character. Even off the meds he lacked the wit, and was even unfunny, while desiring to be humorous. The chic of the genre was forgone for gritty existentialism. A text book sociopath. Joaquin couldn’t bear to elevate to super villain status, entrenched in hyper realism as if his soul wouldn’t allow him such an immoral indulgence. Phoenix’s duty to be human exposes the desperate need for more accessible health care for mental illness especially for victims of violence like Arthur Fleck, aka the Joker. The creators have stressed this film is not political; Fleck repeating that in anguish several times during “the talk show scene” an ode to Scorsese’s  “King of Comedy”. While political parallels could exist with Trump and are felt intensely during certain scenes it seems more just a reflection or personal interpretation of our times. This is what makes this film for me a lost opportunity. Too many issues were left unattended politically, socially, psychologically and of course materially neglecting the Joker’s insidious talent. This joker was denied his focus. This could be saved by a sequel but important points were not made in this origin story. The theories of Joker as a fighter of corrupt men who doesn’t kill Batman even after many opportunities still exists but it was not pursued in favor of a random attack against unruly people. His laughing making him vulnerable to agitation, when off his medication, his ultimate mission to lash out against those who are mean to him as if a barometer for how to treat people with respect and kindness in a world where so many ignore or fail to accommodate others selfishly. This is Joker’s mission here again, not against corruption or greed. His motivation unrealistic in scope in so far as its outcomes were left out for possible illusion, reversal. Why? Why didn’t Joker become more adept in his scope as a future millionaire villain? What if the young Batman in this film was our witness to the Joker’s true potential and infamy? While you may say these plot points can’t relate to the human condition and are therefore not cinematic, I say of course they can if the scene is rooted in artful composition. Imagine if such scenes were filmed by Ingmar Bergman. Suddenly young Batman stares longer and walks more deliberately and Joaquin finds his voice on those stairs before he dances.

“The Joker” is among the 5 or so closest comic films that have come to bridging this divide that Scorsese makes, but it ultimately fails to grasp it fully by treating its obligatory comic canon as side notes; not an integral part of a relatable human condition. In comparison, films that have come closer to making these poignant cinematic connections; “ex Machina”, “Rogue One”, and to a father extent “Captain Marvel” and “GOTG” all likewise chose to neglect real time impact and implications of superpowers via intimate meaningful human reactions. Scorsese is wrong to think this can’t be achieved as we can plainly see in many scenes in these films and others.

captain marvel and the stolen narrative

As in the Chinese proverb, from chaos so to can we accomplish something on climate change. Trump and his cohorts can perhaps swallow the bitter pill of banning fossil fuels if they are generously compensated, we the earth, have no choice but to bribe the likes of Trump and the energy companies into converting to 100 % renewables. I see this as our best hope. There is no need for much more dialogue or debate if the ban is set within a reasonable amount of time. Complete conversion to renewables would be an economic boom. Let the lawless take some credit for the change and we might all get what we want; a sustainable planet.    

As such is the perversion we live, fearing democratic leadership as inept in the face of a constitutional crisis. Where’s the gusto for impeachment and for banning fossil fuels?

The specter of Mueller’s eyes when he finally addressed the public, trembled within, afraid to go beyond his own narrow mandate of confirmed intelligence. The same shame was seen later on Pelosi’s face, her denouncing words, neglecting to mention the truth based on law over politics, daunted. Like Captain Marvel, the greatest superhero film ever made, she was spawn likewise inept by a confused system, albeit partisanly corrupt.

We’ve strayed so long from the truth that its absence strangles us in so many ways. Our democracy and justice are aloof in a world nauseated by mounting evidence of lawlessness. Our nation still stuck in a one-party rule thanks much in part to Senator McConnell. Lacking the common sense to energize our economy with renewable energy, and going so far as to neglect much needed bank and investment regulations, ignoring the threat of their collapse again.

The real division of conservative verses progressive, traditional elitism verses reason-based democracy is not framing the debate as it should. The fact trump has not been impeached despite the well over 20 charges he could face is absurdly cowardly, and of course outwardly corrupt. Even the noble effort of Green’s resolution over his fitness for office; was disgracefully voted against.

The freedom Carol Danvers finds inspires us all to use the power we already have within. Brie Larson, just like in her role on the epic film Short Term 12, captures the innocence of Captain Marvel, a true Galahad of our times mired only in the mission before her, in its absolute purist deeds, despite all the killing.

The progressive side also struggles with practical change for the greater good. Any protest without a demand for specific legislative change wastes valuable time. The left’s distain from endorsing and supporting democratic dissent in places like Venezuela and Cuba are shockingly deaf to what should be at the core of every liberal talking point, human rights, dignity and justice. Here lies the theme of Captain Marvel through her direct logic she is able to help the oppressed, seeing them for the first time, a redemption out of awareness.

If this nation doesn’t impeach trump our best bet would be the election of an honest savior like Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren who could win if they get the vote out on the ground to people struggling, perhaps pretending the hood is Iowa or New Hampshire. I want to see Cornel West walking the ghetto for voters and being Bernie and Warren’s intro man at events?! BOTH!!  Acting like, you guessed it, Captain Marvel. Danvers like our current state of affairs is held hostage by an absolute acceptance of fabricated reality. Someday there will be laws to prevent such mendacity on so many levels. In Danvers, her world’s truth is hidden from her, and then it is violently revealed in a suspended virtual state by the good guys.

The narrative has been glossed over for time and stolen, unable to act on certain truths inherent in law. The media is panicking to make sense of Trump’s mountains of detail and spur of the moment breakers like officials claiming not to trust the president, as congress wastes precious pre electoral season time, best reserved for impeachments. Pelosi seems to not see the urgency of now, merely moving forward with hearings, ignoring the simplicity of the argument; namely the amount of charges you can list even just from the Mueller report and for God sakes just vote on it. The politics are insulting in its erroneous jest. Perhaps we’ve strayed so long from truth-based reality that a shadow has cast on Pelosi blinding her to the importance of the subject being on paper. She is acting as if there are no other investigations when she says a senate vote would unjustly exonerate him. The media likewise ignores all the sealed investigations and some of the massive money trails. The recent news that Barr has stopped an SDNY investigation and the idea he may be hindering more of them makes the action of the House that much more important. The truth must be written on paper even if it is dismissed by McConnell.

Not since Rogue One has a rebel film given me this much joy even in the face of such aching despair. The film’s similarity to current affairs may well be coincidental but even just alone, its sheer magnificence, is a beacon in so many ways, Captain Marvel in its complexity and chic style sits on top as the most important and entertaining picture of the genre; a powerhouse not willing to accept a stolen narrative.

Duele mucho que el groupo en la societad que mas me inspire, los disidentes Cubano, ser rewuelte con leaders corrupto en su opinone de discurso estadosnidense, sin conscience de mandate. Various disidentes Cubano que apoyo mucho an cojido con politicos distorsionar sus letras democrata y justo moral civico.

Mozart in the Jungle of False Dichotomies

There is a knee jerk reaction in “the media”, entertainment and, news alike to fall back, start and or, spring off of pretty laced up packages or false dichotomies out of indolence and for effect that is part of the reason why the United States has been hijacked by special interests. Perhaps the greatest dramedy ever on TV, the marvelous Mozart in the Jungle (recently canceled by Amazon after 4 seasons), is a great place to start as an example because of its superb style and themes. Pointing out the erroneous parsing of overall substance morality and justice into a simplistic structure of right and wrong; black or white is the most weighted detriment, besides greed, to every issue. The value and artistic worth of Mozart in the Jungle taps into high art, culture and social responsibilities as well as creative sensibilities perhaps more than any other series has ever done. Jungle dives head first into the value of being human and how each individual struggles to define themselves; spiritually, mentally, emotionally and physically. The series pounded the idea of how we view ourselves in applying the strengths of character regardless of talent or results based ultimately on our own divinity and humanity. Whether it is your compassion, your efforts, your wisdom, your charm, your kindness or what have you; however you fit into the grand scheme of life your value is measured by as the main character Composer Rodrigo De Souza, played genuinely by Gael Garcia Bernal says, “the blood”. This main running theme equating all in life essentially to its divinity or divine natural earthly value is what makes Mozart In the Jungle such an important series. This type of sincere open heart practical compassionate dreamlike orgasmic lust for life exposing many of its purist desires and serene indulgences is extremely rare in entertainment but Mozart in the Jungle is just cake baby. Like a much needed “in and out” or “shake shack” burger at the end of a long week of managerial repression or corporate exploitation but, like Ice Cube said at the beginning of “Body Count”, “in some place like You know, The Cosby Show, Ozzie and Harriet You know, where Cops come and get your cat outta a tree and all your friends died at old age. But you see.. I live in South Central, Los Angeles And unfortunately... S**T AIN'T LIKE THAT!! It's real f**ked up!”. 

Here come the puppy dog, hippie dippy voices saying, ‘well that’s not what Mozart in the Jungle is about, it’s just an escape from reality and a look at how great musicians live and experience life’ but no; when you’re talking about the essential worth of all life and the value of its applications you have a responsibility to iron out consequential realities or the weight doesn’t hold as long and the kids don’t vote because they’re too happy holding an all access source of entertainment in their hands. As the bohemian argued about Ernest Hemingway’s Old Man in the Sea in that silly comedy “Peggy Sue Got Married” there is no meat on the fish when the old man returns. While his courage and struggle may very well define him he comes home without the fish or the help he needs. The questions and problems he faced are left unanswered. Hemingway, much like De Souza is having too much fun snapping his magical fingers to do the work. The worth of substance is in the reality of its application; its cause and effect. Like Edgar Allen Poe’s “Single Effect Theory” on writing, Mozart in the Jungle masterfully holds on to its theme of divinity in all things for almost every line and scene but it’s all fake and contrived without the conditional triggers, gray areas and painstaking guides we all need to get there ourselves. 

Society of course like Mozart in the Jungle is missing the institutionalized instant triggers which react to our immediate needs. One example as written in my last ignored neglected post, even the majestically beautiful March 24^th 2018 March for Our Lives marches on gun control failed to address the need to take out mentally disturbed individuals for isolated treatment. There was no trigger during this campaign to send sociopaths like Nicolas Cruz to a camp somewhere in the jungle, because like the equally beautiful and marvelous dramedy series Mozart in the Jungle; we’re still in a quicksand of dichotomies. It costs too much money to provide proper mental care for students with violent tendencies says the right, while the so called moderates are too afraid to mention it do to poll numbers. 

In sadly the last season of Mozart in the Jungle, unless it’s picked up by another network, an aspiring young drummer can’t afford professional lessons, so our hero the great De Souza takes his shift waiting tables so he can get said free instructions from a pro; the only time surprisingly and immediately discovered available. The young teen drummer is later confronted about his own rebellious draw backs with some welcome tough love by an injured cellist who steps in one day covering for De Souza. She wouldn’t do his shift that day because of his attitude, and that display of angst snapped the kid out of his woe is me doldrums to turn him into a new hero for us. That’s all well and good, the scene brought tears to my eyes but it’s all delivered in a bright red bow marked, fantasy.  The scene got real in the dramatic sense but failed to outline the important social issue of poverty and lack of opportunity. 

People like to add reason and accountability to futile methods and tactics in a world wind of structure based on a lot of BS, gloss and, packaging but practical methods and bullet point steps needed in achieving desperately needed structural changes go mute or worse yet are hidden in undetailed nuance. Like in the great debate between Thomas Paine and Edmund Bruke it’s all left to political or cultural aristocracies dependent on false illusory dichotomies and obscenely neglectful traditions. The problem is not just the basic right vs left, democrats vs republicans, liberals vs conservatives it’s an overall dichotomy of dichotomies found in sub groups as people feel the need to cling to large cliques like blue dog corporate democrats vs progressive liberals, hipsters vs plebeians or “alternate facts” Trumpers vs “moderate” republicans and so on and so forth. The love of easy headlines and one liners has taken over the debate.

Mozart in the Jungle is understandably made for syndication in that the episodes are too short and not drawn to any current news but it’s really a shame we can’t dwell a little more on scenes breathing in the nuances like aroma therapy. Much of the music in the series are just teasers of performances that we will never hear and the moments of contemplation lack important realism or Cinéma Vérité. Perhaps if they ever make a film we’ll get more drawn out goodies that further indulge us in the hipster lives and intriguing musician perspectives as well as get more into the crusts of the problems. The beauty and intensity of the characters are like a drug I need, vicariously living in the realm of timeless art and the worship of a divine art that lives in our most comforting chaste desires. Season 4 ended with an existentialist orgasm realizing the inner workings of identity crisis. Everyone can relate to the psychological struggles of the artist’s failings and complexity. I’ve never loved and wanted to watch a dramedy as much as this one but again; its power to delight and enthrall lacks the consequential reality needed to understand and deal with current necessities much like our media. When we placate the struggles of injustice without exposing the culprits and their deeds; they win and we lose. The power of an immaculate storyline, characters, actors, and expert observance must not play out in vain.

It’s the reliance on our state of mind as progressives that’s displacing our preoccupations. Punditry and faux social media is replacing substance while no one takes issues with immediate concerns. Every day media filler storms love to chat away about the problems with certain mind sets or the changing of current sensibilities when the real issues dragging us down are like massive gashes we are bleeding to death from. One meme recently quipped “inner peace is the new success”, as if complacency with government and corporate exploitation of the truth can’t affect us. We are too busy debating and discussing the nuances of our problems as a society in easily digested dichotomies in order to fill short broadcast news times or quick social media news feeds. The practice of making specific legislative demands or directional and targeting protest pin pointing candidates as laid out in the writing of Saul Alinsky is lost to propaganda for moderates and right wing extremists alike.

Despite being a womanizer, Rodrigo De Souza is a role model of hipster actualization, doing his part in the insanity of corporate dominance with certain bold selfless acts of defiance but the smooth perfect writing of this series much like the best of our network news shows lack the essential drawn out redundancy of truth and justice. When our rule of law or our regulations fail to protect us we must stop what we are doing that entertains and do whatever we can to stop the injustice. De Souza is a super hero, a magical being that talks to Mozart, reflecting and pointing out to all of us the importance of substance in art and life but he like our media fails to describe what in reality is needed. While we may think it’s not their job to direct protest to specific change it’s also not their jobs to normalize our progressive sensibilities. Doing your part on Earth Day or Election Day is meaningless while 30 to 40 percent of the public believe Trump and his republican cohorts’ lies while they attack the environment and the rule of law. As Bono of the great rock band U2 loves to say, “America is an idea”. There is a great reason we love and look to our founding fathers for truth and inspiration. They penned a government by the people for the people in order to allow reason to be the bearer of justice not aristocracy; from the Zen loving hipster left or the fraudulent oligarchic right.