So, not that I’m obsessed with Reitman and his latest film, Up in the Air but…
We hung out with screaming fans at the “Up in the Air” premiere in Los Angeles tonight at Mann’s Village Theater in Westwood. I’ve been following this project since reading the script before the screening at the Telluride Film Festival this summer. My brother and I snapped these photos.
We sat at BJ’s and ate avocado dippers, talking about “Up in the Air” plot and cast as we watched them walk by. Our conversation went something like:
Why is Jason Reitman so pale?
Because he lives in an edit bay and watches movies all day.
Maybe he’s Irish. Or a vampire.
Holy crap is that Zach Galifinakis? He does Between Two Ferns.
And The Hangover.
Holy crap, that’s Cindy Crawford.
Holy crap, that is Cindy Crawford.
To be entirely honest, after talking about Cindy Crawford, we made a sign that said “Reitman Rocks” and held it up to the window. We know that Jason saw it, but he was busy trying to be polite and witty in front of all the important news cameras. But we know that our sign made his night.
Our waitress was good-humored about our attention out the window. She gloomily described the chaos of the “Twilight New Moon” premiere just over a week ago at the same theater. Anyway…
Prediction: “Up in the Air” will steadily climb to gross box office earnings of $50-70 million by next month (January) as reported by Box Office Mojo. That’s right, I’m estimating no less than 50 and no more that 70 million bucks. Will I be right? Hit up the comments. I’ll buy each commentator a beer or non-alcoholic beverage of choice if I’m wrong. If I’m right, I expect you honorably to return the favor.
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A hundred miles from Des Moines, winding through farm fields and woods, there is a small town with a population of less than 10,000. Why did a group of legendary musicians and artists recently gather there?
One reason: Maharishi. The Beatles had a much publicized dalliance with him. Sir Paul McCartney still sings the praises of Transcendental Meditation. The David Lynch Foundation spreads the virtues of TM as well. So, who was the man whom Paul McCartney still celebrates and who founded an international, quasi-religious organization? With the recent news that Oscar-nominated David Lynch is set to direct a feature film about Maharishi, this interesting character is gaining mainstream cultural relevance.
the Beatles with their guru. From left to right: John Lennon, Mike Love of the Beach Boys, the Maharishi, George Harrison, Mia Farrow, Donovan, Paul McCartney, and Jane Asher.
An out-of-print book by my friend, Jack Forem, is considered one of the definitive books on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi and his meditation method. I offer no attempt to even summarize the movement.
As the Times noted when Maharishi died this past year,
He set out on his international mission to achieve this vision in 1959, beginning in Los Angeles, where he established his movement with an initial following of 25 devotees. From this small beginning the Maharishi over his lifetime developed a global organisation with nearly 1,000 TM centres, property assets valued in 1998 at $3.5 billion and an estimated four million disciples.
It seems there’s a resurgence in interest these last few months. James McCartney, Sir Paul’s son, visited Fairfield. So did the British musical legend Donovan. Other TM dabblers include Moby and Billy Corgan of the Smashing Pumpkins. The list of celebrity TMers (as they’re known) goes on.
The Beach Boys (minus Wilson) bring their good vibrations to the small town of Fairfield, Iowa:
David Lynch makes Transcendental Meditation sound almost like a drug.
The cultural impact of this one Guru is lasting and subtle. Deepak Chopra and John Gray (author of Men are From Mars, Women are From Venus), have drawn from Maharishi’s philosophy, going on to influence such culture-shapers as Oprah Winfrey.
Even his scandals have found their way into pop culture — John Lennon admitted that the song “Sexy Sadie” is about Maharishi, following the Mia Farrow scandal. And how many times have artists covered “Across the Universe” which includes the Maharishi mantra “Jai Guru Deva.” This TV video footage shows them in Rishikesh, India in 1968. I don’t know why it’s in Italian.
Through the consistent efforts of the guru’s passionate disciples, the small town of Fairfield, Iowa has been a vibrant community of free-thinkers, deep-thinkers and kooky-thinkers. Not to mention it was the birthplace of the Rhodes bros.
After learning about his constant involvement with TM, I look forward to meeting David Lynch some day and asking him some good questions. Until then, I’m glad to say that the man makes me think. (See “Absurdly Smarter: Your Brain on David Lynch“)
And I’m a fan of the David Lynch Interview Project. Going on a cross country tour and interviewing a cross section of today’s culture is something I’ve dreamed of doing… David Lynch’s project does it so well.
Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper. - Thomas Jefferson
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
It’s a poignant poem when recited by an elderly person – the old vocal chords crying out against the inevitable dying of the light. After hearing old Mr. James Murdock give an impassioned recitation of this poem at the close of the UCLA Conference on Aging and Technology, I googled it. Sure enough, Mr. Murdock (billionaire owner of Dole fruit company) has recited this poem at the end of other events, including at the Charlotte Chamber last month in North Carolina. Some poems stay with us as personal credos.
I mention this because I think the poem is a powerful expression of what it takes to succeed, in a billionaire kind of way. A bloody, yet unbowed head is a compelling image of human freedom. And what does this have to do with the world of entertainment? There’s an Oscar-buzzing movie by the same title coming out soon, starring Matt Damon. Listen to Morgan Freeman read the last lines of “Invictus” in the movie trailer.
Do you have a poem that you’ve memorized and that you return to? Why do you memorize poetry? Are there any other good movies that feature poetry? Please do share in the comments.
Advertisements contain the only truths to be relied on in a newspaper. - Thomas Jefferson
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