Documentary OD

I got up bright and early yesterday to start my day the yoga way. I was pretty tired due to the new schedule, Perren went to work when I got home so I settled into my favorite spot, in the recliner chair beneath comforter, and cued up some instant netflix. I should start by the fact that I watched Capturing the Friedmans for the first time last week. Thats a pretty fucked up scenario right there, in my opinion because I don't get the impression that Mr. Friedman committed the crimes that he went to jail for. He seemed like a pretty weird guy, with an admitted kiddie porn problem, but I've got to say I am with the defense on the point that there is no way he or he and his son could have abused boys to the extent that it was alleged they did without a whole lot of concrete evidence.

So last night, I first watch Public Enemies, Johnny Depps latest based on the life of John Dillinger. A decent flick, a fascinating life from the 1930s so I read up some on Mr. Dillinger and associates after the film. Then I stumble across something on the instant flix called Off The Grid: Life on the Mesa, a docu about an off the grid community in the middle of the new mexican desert. I can't say that it was absolutely fascinating, but I could not look away. In part because this motley crew lives about 25 miles from santa fe so I was waiting to recognize some hippie or nutcase from my time there ( I didn't). Basically a group of several hundred damaged PTSD veterans, hippies, crack heads and alcoholics who want to live completely on their own terms. They don't call 911, they call 357, as in 357 magnum... yeah.. and some chose to raise their kids here, one single mom who appeared to be approaching 60 (hard living?) with what appeared to be a 2 year old. She, Mom, has a 5 point star tattooed right between her eyes.

Again, I couldn't look away...

Next, I moved seamlessly into Brothers Keeper, a documentary about the 4 Ward Brothers of Munnsville, NY and the court case in which one brother was accused of killing the oldest brother. THESE guys have lived in the same 2 room house their entire lives, they can not read or write, except their names (i think), and they speak in this hardcore rural dialect they mumble which is nearly impossible to understand. They were all in their 60s when the oldest died and homicide accusations were made (in 1990). Its pretty unbelievable how these guys live, and an absolutely heart breaking bit of footage with they shyest, anxiety ridden brother on the stand at the trial - Oh, My, God... Thankfully, its only for a few minutes and the judge puts an end to it. This brother, named Lyman, is the one I most wanted to meet, if only to give him a hug, or at least try to. Apparently, for their entire lives until they became part of a court room media circus, they would wear their same clothes for months at a time. They were dairy farmers, hence, some pungent odors abounding. So maybe a hug would be out of the question. Anyway, the community rallies around the brothers, and they have this neighbor who is just great, I forget his name but he helped them and often talked for them and is/was a smart guy who could see what was going on with all the media and legal whirlwind. He accented teh documentart thru out with comments such as "complete Bullshit" and "what the fuck is that? ,who the fuck do they think they are"?

I kind of want to see Up In the Air, b/c I like me some George Clooney.

Anyway, some weird shit in these documentaries, I sense I ought to take a break, and so the Hangover is next on my Netflix....

peace out, blogalish -