Death Race: Exactly what it should be

We went to see Death Race tonight, and I have to say that I think the Washington Post review missed the point: It's supposed to be a bad movie. The goal of the film is to shove every bit of sensibility aside and simply smash you with testosterone-fueled violence and stupidity. It does a good job of that, and you leave knowing that stuff definitely blew up in an entertaining way.

In unrelated news, if you don't normally read the comments on my blogs, I have to urge you to check out Kyle's remarks on yesterday's quotes. Kyle really should start writing commercials (at least for products for psychopaths).

Finally, and I'll probably plug this once more between now and the event, next Wednesday, August 27, 2008, I'm doing a reading and signing at 7:30 p.m. at Quail Ridge Books & Music. Come on down, and maybe we'll go out for ice cream afterward!

Mamma Mia

Despite Kyle's admonition that seeing this movie could cause all the manhood in my body to vanish, the other night a few of us went to the theater to check it out. I'm not an Abba fan, and I'd read the largely mediocre reviews, but I do like musicals, and I was curious about one particular aspect of the film: Meryl Streep's performance.

I consider Streep to be one of the finest technical actresses of the last several decades. In The French Lieutenant's Woman, she nailed the look on the pier, an expression that Fowles described so beautifully I didn't think anyone could do it. In Sophie's Choice, her agony was palpable. And so on.

The problem is, I've never found her likable, appealing, sexy, or even warm. I can't explain it; I just never have.

Mamma Mia surprised me thrice:

* I actually enjoyed most of it, despite its many flaws.

* I learned that I, too, could star in a musical despite being utterly unable to sing, because Pierce Brosnan did--and, boy, is his singing voice weak.

* I found Meryl Streep likable, appealing, warm, and even sexy.

I do, though, now feel the desperate need to see Death Race. I can't wait for it to start.