March 9, 2004

Spalding Gray and Paul Winfield are dead today. Each man brought something quite different to the arts. But both brought something I, for one, will carry with me. I mourn their loss.

There is nothing much worth writing about. I could write some happy profiles on some of the happy people I have met in recent days. But I choose, instead, to take a deep breath and to mourn a little.

NOT VENTURA writes: “Jesus, Dave! What I'm ready for you to do is quit writing columns about the Oscars and/or the Passion and/or Disney, or about how the Oscars, the Passion and Disney have peaked as stories. Didn't you used to attend film screenings? We're about to get into a short spring movie season that has the most potential in years! I'm at least intrigued by, and in some cases positively excited for, Spartan, Secret Window, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, Dawn of the Dead, The Ladykillers, Jersey Girl, Hellboy, Envy, Home on the Range, Walking Tall, and Kill Bill Vol. 2. I'm sick of awards bait, I'm sick of Lord of the Rings, and I'm sick of the Jesus movie, but this pre-summer season seems to have a lot in the areas of potential comedy, action, and mindfuck. I could use plenty of all three. When was the last time March and April could collectively boast the likes of Tarantino, the Coens, Kevin Smith, David Mamet, and Charlie Kaufman? Not to mention a teaming of Ben Stiller, Jack Black, Christopher Walken, and Amy Poehler ("bad buzz" and schedule shuffling be damned, how can that not at least be interesting?). I don't want to sound like a hopped-up AICN-style film geek or anything, but buck up! Although if Starsky & Hutch didn't put you in a good mood, maybe there's no hope (and I was disappointed by Road Trip *and* Old School). This May seems like kind of a shrug to me, but the eight weeks prior look like fun.”

DAVID RESPONDS: I’m hoping that as many of three of the movies you mentioned are worth the price of a ticket. Starsky & Hutch was cute enough, but hardly the fodder of lasting memories. I hope to get to about half of your list before I head to Bermuda. Wish me luck, lest I feel the urge to take the ferry myself.

See y’all tomorrow.