There are two things about Lady Bird Lake that everybody from Austin knows:
- You don’t call it Lady Bird Lake. It’s called Town Lake. And…
- You can’t swim in it. It’s against the law.
Not that I’m from Austin, but I am a Texan– a former West Texan, to be exact, who has visited Austin many times. Hence my knowledge of Lady Bird Lake.
And here’s another thing about the lake that I know: there are homeless camps in the thickets along its shoreline. Not that I’ve seen them, mind you, but I’ve seen homeless camps along the river of my city; so I know they are there. Same goes for your city.
Sad, but quantifiably true.
So, on February 19, 2013, when Austin police officers were called to a homeless encampment on the shores of Lady Bird lake and to the body of a homeless man, lying face down in the water there, they can be forgiven if they thought it a tragic, albeit unremarkable reality of their job. For even the most seasoned, been-there-seen-it-all cop could have never guessed, that just a month before, the deceased had starred in a critically acclaimed movie and that his performance would be lauded as one of the great cinematic performances of our era.
∼
Director David Gordon Green is known for his love of crime and grime. Yet, his films are beautiful in their own eerie, hyper-realistic way and distinct in the eloquent dialogue of ragged characters chased by demons with human skin. Consequently–much like the preceding sentence–they can be a little overwrought, as can his experiments with novice actors.
Timing is a critical component of acting. It can be taught and improved upon, but it cannot be mastered by technique. Those who have perfected it were born with it.
Casting agents Karmen Leech and John Williams caught wind of that talent when they encountered a nimble little tramp wandering the streets of downtown Austin. The two were scouting for actors–mainly extras–for Green’s adaptation of the Larry Brown novel Joe, starring Nicholas Cage. Roughed up and dirty, Charlie Chaplin he was not, but the two were intrigued by the man’s startling blue eyes that peered discerningly through a veil of white, baby-fine hair, some of it stuck to a nasty gash on his brow.
Still, for all that, it was the way the vagrant spoke–confidently, with a whiskey worn growl–and the grace within the way he moved that beguiled them most. He told them he was fifty-two (though he seemed paradoxically older and younger at the same time) and that his name was Gary Poulter.
And he told them he was an actor.
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Maria MacGuire flew to Austin on a wing and a prayer. Though she was as safe and sound as anyone can be on an airliner and her flight was uneventful, it was the mission of her trip that was fraught and fragile. She flew there to see her big brother.
Maria and Gary’s relationship had always been complicated. Of course she loved him, he was her brother after all. Even as a child she loved him when he threw her down the stairs of their family home. She loved him when he locked her out of the house, his gleeful laughter penetrating the door as she rang the bell, crying, pleading to be let in. She loved him when he choked their little brother and mistreated the family dog.
Terrified and terrorized, she dreaded for her parents to leave their middle class home to go to work. But still, she loved him. And she never told on him.
Her older sister, Debbie, had fonder childhood memories of Gary. Their relationship was different. Debbie was only a year younger than he was, so she had been both his sibling and his friend. They watched Lost in Space together and acted out the episodes. They rode bikes together and played circus in the backyard. Still, he could be mean to her too. Maria couldn’t understand why Debbie liked Gary so much.
But that was then, when they were kids. Before she understood that her big brother was sick.
As it turned out, Maria needn’t have worried about the trip to Austin. Gary was on his best behavior. They met for dinner and reminisced carefully, picking out the morsels of good times, concentrating on the near future. Gary had joined a traveling carnival and that was the reason for her trip: she wanted to see her brother before he left Austin, because this was the first time she’d laid eyes on him in years and with Gary–with anyone yes, but especially with Gary–the last time you saw him might really be the last time.
To be cont’d…
I haven’t seen the film, and don’t know the actor. But I am completely involved already. Nice work, Pam.
Best wishes, Pete.
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Thank you, Pete. It’s a very fine film. Not flawless by any means, but really good. It’s one of Nicolas Cage’s best performances and you know how he is–either really good, or really, really bad.
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I wish I had a sliver of your talent,Pam. I’m hooked and ready for the chapter. And….I think I have “Joe” in my collection.
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That’s very kind of you, Michael. If you haven’t seen it, I implore you to watch it. If you have–it’s well worth a second look.
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I’ll have to double check,its either Joe or Mud that I have.
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As you know, Pam, I love your writing, the way you tell a story. This is off to a great start and I’m looking forward to what you have in store for us next.
Grace and peace to you…
dw
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Thank you so much, DW. You’re kind praise pleases me very much. I enjoy your writing too.
–Pam
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Feels like I’m a fly on a wall…I’m ready for the second installment…
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Thanks Max. I’m working on it…
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Intriguing…nicely done Pam 🙂
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I appreciate the compliment from a writer that I respect. Thanks for reading, June.
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Thanks Pam…kind words 🙂
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https://monthlycritic.wordpress.com/2020/03/06/parasite/
monthlycritic.wordpress.com/2020/03/20/the-invisible-man/ Good to write, read and share in these odd times. Some recent reviews if you fancy reading.
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Great post 🙂 Joe is an underrated film and someone I know who saw it told me that it was like what. you get If you blend plot elements of Sling Blade and Unforgiven with a Neo-Western. Joe is a very good film. Anyway, keep up the great work as always 🙂
P.S. are you doing well during this Coronavirus pandemic? 🙂
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Thanks. I’m doing all right. We have hunkered down, staying inside, having groceries delivered, etc…One of my friends was saying that it’s allergy season and he has headaches, coughing, sneezing every year at this time, but now he’s paranoid about symptoms he would normally shrug off. That’s exactly what I’m going through.
I agree with the analysis of Joe, it does have elements of the Neo-western. The character, Joe is complex and he’s out of step with modern society and contemporary morality–even more so than the characters he associates with. He’s a rugged individualist, frontiersman stuck in the millennial years who lives by a mythical, macho code of ethics that collides with his explosive anger disorder. I really liked it.
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I’d never heard of Gary Poulter, and although I’m intrigued, I’m not going to research him, because I don’t want to spoil the rest of your posts. Fine opening Pam, I’ll look forward to more.
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Thank you, Paul. That’s the nicest compliment that I can think of. Thanks for reading.
–Pam
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Hi, Pam. You always come up with the most fascinating topics! I’ve never heard of this movie with Nic Cage, much less this guy who I am now dying to see in that role. Sounds like a raw natural talent, like you said above, something he was born with. What a waste!
But I guess he had serious problems….which you’ll get into. I already looked him up and saw the outcome of his working with the carnival–omg! What a life this guy had!
And what a face!
You really do have a teasing Pied Piper way about your writing….we’re all skipping after you helplessly down the road to….somewhere, lol !! When’s the next part?
Meantime, hang in there & stay safe, and same to all above.
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Thanks, Stacey. How have you been? Hope you guys are OK. My daughter is in California. Murrieta.
Yeah, dig up the movie, Joe, if you can. It’s very good. Nicolas Cage is great in it. Very restrained. He gives you just a touch of his mania which, paradoxically, is like a hint of sweetness in the otherwise sour. It works.
–Pam
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This sounds intriguing! Looking forward to the next part. Hope all is well!
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Hope all is well with you too, John. Crazy times we are living in. Take a lot of pictures, if you can–and, most of all, take care.
–Pam
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Joe has been one of those films I’ve always wanted to see, stupidly I always forget that. From when it was released to reading it’s name right now, every time I say “I really want to see that!”. Hopefully this time I will finally get round to it. I know I will like it.
Shame as the only two films of David Gordon Green I’ve seen are Pineapple Express and Your Highness. Both are ok but Joe and Prince Avalanche I imagined liking so much more….. Saying that he did get to direct the mayhem of Eastbound and Down. Which had be chuckling bucketfuls.
The picture above of Gary makes me see a mix of Jeff Daniels and Clancy Brown.
“”Yet, his films are beautiful in their own eerie, hyper-realistic way and distinct in the eloquent dialogue of ragged characters chased by demons with human skin.”” Makes me wanna see it even more.
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Aw…Your too kind, Mikey. Maybe it’s because I gave you a scolding the other day. Ha! Yes, I think you will like Joe, when and if you get around to it. But, maybe, not. It’s not for everyone. Green’s style can be a bit grandiose–southern Gothic top heavy, if you will. That said, I love Pinapple Express which steps outside his comfort zone. Another southern Gothic inspired movie from him that you might like is Undertow. I liked it even better than Joe, though I may be the only one. Eastbound and Down? I laugh so hard. It’s great! A bit too raunchy for my taste but very, VERY funny. I haven’t got all the way through the series, but I will, one of these days…perhaps…Good Lord willing.
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