Sweet and LowdownI was thrown out of N.Y.U. my freshman year . . . for cheating on my metaphysics final. You know, I looked within the soul of the boy sitting next to me. Sunday, February 6, 2000
Jack and I had a pleasant, lazy morning, with coffee, croissants, and the Sunday newspaper. I even convinced him to come back to bed for some snuggling after he was properly woken up -- a rare treat! Out of all the movies around, I'd suggested that we go see Sweet and Lowdown, the latest Woody Allen movie. This seemed like something that both Jack and I would enjoy. One factor in its favor: the film was playing at the Varsity, in the University district. Jack enjoys checking out all the used book stores and used CD stores on the Ave, the main drag there, so I knew he'd like that. We drove over and parked (after a somewhat lengthy search for a free space), then wandered down the street looking for a place to eat. We ended up at the piroshky store, and split a plate of dumplings and a baked roll. Jack conversed with the guy working there. This man might have been the owner, since he was Russian. Jack traveled in Europe when he was in the service, but didn't make it to Russia -- that would have been unlikely since this was in the late seventies and early eighties. We made it to the theater, just in time. The lights were already turned down, and we had some trouble finding a seat. Not because the place was full -- we just kept stepping on people or bumping them in the aisle! We did find some acceptable empty seats before the audience rose up in a body and shoved us out the door.
I did enjoy the movie, despite my queasiness about Allen these days. It's a low-key tale about a jazz guitarist in the thirties. The guitar factor is one reason I thought Jack would be interested. Sean Penn does a great job playing an unattractive character, and doesn't insist on winking at the audience or making it seem like "he's not so bad, really." Samantha Morton is one of his girlfriends, very wistful and naive, but with some strength of her own. Jack had the idea that this story was based on a real person, and was wracking his brains to figure out why he'd never heard of a musician who was supposed to be "the second best guitarist" of the period. I felt bad! I hadn't meant to mislead him.
We wandered to various used record and video stores on our way back to the car. Jack did find an anime that interested him. I met an old work buddy at one store. Chris was someone I worked with closely in 1995, but I haven't heard much from him since then. He seems to be doing well. Jack took me back home in time for me to get to the Potlatch committee meeting. Things are falling into place there.
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