Evanston: The Birth of Tragedy; THE GUARDIAN
Evanston: The Birth of Tragedy; THE GUARDIAN
Many of you will recognize Paul Rothko’s early painting, “The Birth of Tragedy,” inspired by Friedrich Nietzsche’s book of the same name. It now is on our wall and brings me increasing comfort and inspiration.
Hollywood has a long history of failing to make good movies about the sea. THE GUARDIAN is the son of OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN, and considering when that was first released the timing is about right. This time the branch of service is the Coast Guard.
Under Bush The Elder’s futile war on drugs, I had several unpleasant experiences with the Coast Guard, who were perhaps against their will compelled to become policemen rather than life savers. They invaded my home several times, as the Supreme Court said they had the right to do, but could not have if my home had been on land rather than water. Most of the time they were polite, but sometimes they weren’t.
When Bill Clinton became president, most of this ended. Perhaps since 9-11 boardings have resumed, though for different reasons. I don’t know. I haven’t had a boat in American waters since May of 2001, and though the Coast Guard can legally board a U.S, documented vessel any where in the world, they don’t have much of a presence in New Zealand.
THE GUARDIAN is about Coast Guard rescue swimmers--the good guys. It is completely predictable; but the action sequences are very well done; and as someone who has often been in boats with waves breaking over them, I think the film captures the force of a storm at sea better than any other movie I can think of.
(The painting alluded to above doesn’t exist. The paint does: samples I rolled on yesterday for Carol to consider as she decides what color I am to paint the walls. Looks like a Rothko to me.)
Monday, February 19, 2007