You should always try to watch Indiana Jones with a trained archaeologist at your side. My savage Corkonian friend Jurgen joined me and according to his expert opinion, it is not actually a documentary-standard film. Quite a lot of it mis-represents the reality of archaeological research. Day to day, it is much more exciting than the film depicts. But maybe it was just duller back in the 1950’s, when the movie is set.
Basically, it seems to me that it is a George Lucas movie (technically referred to as travesty) that even the genius of Steven Spielberg couldn’t save. Starting with that negative and introducing the herculean capabilities of the True Bearded One leaves a merely adequate movie.
We also went to see Gone Baby, Gone. I got a text message from an elder in my church telling me to go see it. Technically, he is my boss. So I downed tools and ran to the cinema. “Send the bill to the Presbies!” I shouted as I ran into the cinema. I aspire to be a very dutiful employee.
It really is terrific. Those Affleck boys know how to grab your attention, keep it, even shock you and all of this without being in anyway gratuitous. It’s a crime drama. A kind of Streets of San Francisco without big cars, 70s suits, Michael Douglas or indeed the streets of San Francisco. I used to watch the Streets every week with my 80-something turbo-Catholic nanny as a child. Formative I tell you.
Affleck’s, Patrick Kenzie is the ultimate Catholic hero. Totally unassuming in his heroics. Utterly concerned with what one ought to do. He sets about avenging some dreadful crimes and in the process uncovers more than he really wants to. I really loved the ending, which had a note of true realism that transcends the verisimilitude we usually gladly settle for. I know it means we have to stop making fun of Ben Affleck as Matt Damon’s dumb stoner friend, but this movie rocks. Cue Betamaxnomates telling us its a pile of shite.
Your Correspondent, His quest in this blog is not archeology, it’s a race against evil
