Melancholy Moment -- December 6, 2022

I watch the movie Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy at least once a year. Some years, I watch it more often than that. I don't think I could watch it once a month, but ...

And when watching it, I can re-watch and re-watch the last ten minutes of the film over and over.

The movie happens to be showing on Apple TV+ now through the end of December.

Watching it tonight more than paid for the $6.99 monthly fee. 

I've read dozens of reviews of this movie over the years, and the critics still don't "get it." 

Quentin Tarantino, in his most recent book, names what he says is the "perfect movie." 

For me, the perfect movie is TTSS.  

The last ten minutes of the film carries one through every human emotion, and simultaneously ends with a curtain call with the entire cast. Pretty amazing how the director did that.

And now, a Showtime/Paramount "musical-documentary" -- George Jones and Tammy Wynette. On Apple TV+ the first episode is free. Wow, wow, wow. Link here. 

The series will have six episodes; tonight's episode is "free" on Apple TV+. After the first episode, the final five episodes will be available only on Showtime. 

Jessica Chastain plays Tammy Wynette. From wiki:

Jessica Michelle Chastain (born March 24, 1977) is an American actress and producer.

Known for primarily starring in films with feminist themes, she has received various accolades, including an Academy Award and a Golden Globe Award. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2012.

It's gonna be a late night.

By the way, I completely forgot to mention the best ten minutes all week: Tom Brady and the Buccaneers and the New Orleans Saints, Monday Night Football (last night). No matter what one thinks of Tom Brady, one can't take last night away from him. In the process, he set at least one, maybe two, more records.

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The Georgia Election

It's over. 

And the results should please almost everyone. But they (the results) won't. But seriously, Senator Herschel Walker? Read his bio at wiki. 

And with a 51 - 49 majority, Senator Manchin's one-person ability to bring the US Senate to a halt should be over. Although I suppose it elevates the importance of the second half of the duo: Senator Krysten Sinema. [See below.]

Speaking of which -- Manchin was already neutered -- even before the Georgia election results were known -- and who teamed up to neuter him? The most liberal wing of the Democrat party and ten members of the GOP.

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Post Script

I wrote and posted the original post above last night after the outcome of the George US Senate was known.

I posted it and then brought it down and put it in draft because I want Bakken-related news to be at the top of the blog overnight. 

This morning, a contributor over at PowerLine made the very same observation about Senator Manchin. 

Whoo--hoo!

From that source: 

• These are the first midterm elections since 1934 where the president’s party didn’t lose a single incumbent Senate seat. Appearances to the contrary notwithstanding, Slow Joe must be a political dynamo.
• On the one hand, Joe Manchin is no longer the man. On the other hand, he is up for reelection in 2024 as Democrats face a more hostile map. We can look forward to his departure from the scene one way or another at that time.
  

Not only did Joe Biden "hold the US Senate," an unprecedented achievement given the circumstances, the US Senate is more left-leaning than it was before the mid-terms. I'm not talking numbers, I'm talking philosophy and swagger.

And still another note, after reading the wiki-bio of Herschel Walker, what was the GOP / Trump thinking when they endorsed him?