Reflections on films, politics, and everything else.

Photo courtesy of the author It’s interesting how time changes our views. When I was in college the first time around, it seemed a fine thing to not always get the assigned readings done. Many of the times what seemed like my best grades were due to being freed up from the facts in the readings. Of course now, I wonder if I might have gotten even better grades by having a clearer understanding of the issues that would have allowed me to respond and challenge what was said in a more coherent way. Just like I’d now prefer the President of my country to actually read his daily briefings himself and know what he’s talking about rather than just making stuff up and hoping he’s right . Recently I heard a podcast with Robert Reich who mentioned that a large number of strangely divergent people were born in 1946 ( the Baby Boomers ). His rationale for this was that they were the product of their fathers coming back from World War II in 1945. What I found most interesting a

                                                                Frances McDormand in “Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri.”Fox Searchlight Pictures I rather belatedly saw the front-runner for Best Picture of this year’s Academy Awards, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri . When the film first came out, I heard mixed responses, and put off seeing it. I did find it curious that it seemed to have staying power that other films weren’t having, even without special effects and explosions. Immediately after seeing the film I liked it more than I thought I would. Even more interesting is that I keep thinking about it. I’ve seen all the other best picture nominees this year, and while I enjoyed them all, this one I think will last with me the longest. On the surface, the film seems simple – a mother has had her young daughter raped and killed, but no one has been arrested. She can’t get answers, so out of frustration she rents billboards reminding the community