Barry Pepper is the model of class and dignity

This guy is the man. I'm watching the Kennedy's mini-series that was deemed too hot for History Channel. People scoffed at the way the family was depicted but 4 episodes in it seems pretty much what I've read. Trying to make a narrative film about anyone's life has to be filled with lies and composites in order to make sense in a 2-8 hour narrative. The thing is well produced but filled with terribly showy performances. This isn't a drama killer per-say, aside from Katie Holmes as Jackie, a showy performance from a girl with little to show is kind of embarrassing.

Kennedy just assigned his "first negro to presidential protection detail." Yes we can America. Yes we can. Uh oh, old whitey's got a problem with it. Kennedy don't give a rip.

Ok back to Barry Pepper. He's playing Bobby Kennedy and has a ridiculous hair cut, but he is holding himself and his facial contortions with grace and dignity that is far more than this extended cable historical drama deserves. He's been in a lot of terrible movies and hasn't always been the best part, but he has done his job and earned his paycheck. I really noticed him in the 25th Hour, which was a scenery chewing performance in a scenery chewing movie (still awesome). But in most other roles he's been reasonably restrained. He played Roger Marris AND Dale Erndhart for crying out loud, and Barry is about the only guy who could make this bastard care about sports. No I haven't seen either of those movies but if they were on netflix I might skim them.

I just looked at IMDB and it turns out he played Tom Ripley in a movie, I must find it. Review forthcoming.

Men who deserve your respect: Matthew David McConaughey

There is something to be respect about a man who knows what he is. I wish I knew who I was and acted accordingly. That is why I am proud to announce the first man who deserves your respect to be Matthew David McConaughey. When Matthew David McConaughey first broke in to real movies like Dazed and Confused and A Time to Kill (he was the one who didn't say "YES THEY DESERVED TO DIE...") people were all like, "This guy is the next pre-fat Marlon Brando!" And hearing humanity's cry Matthew David McConaughey whispered.... "no."

"I am not Marlon Brando, in fact I'm not really sure who that guy is aside from my favorite part of Island of Dr. Monroe. I am a cartoon version of what today's WalMart-woman fantasy man is. I am going to do the easiest movies with the biggest paychecks. I am going to take my shirt off, a lot. I am going to keep working this accent till I make Texan people sound not-Texan"

Matthew David McConaughey has lived up to this statement of purpose for over 20 years in the acting industry. Any attempts to be something more than that rapidly aging hot guy were met with guffaws, not just by movie-goers but by Matthew David McConaughey himself.

In my 27 years I have built up quite the quote book, one of my more recent gems was "I can be more than funny" (which was said with a straight face because I totally meant it and was trying to impress a girl with it). If I were half the man Matthew David McConaughey is I would have said, "I might be able to be more than funny, but why try when being funny gets me paid with the least amount of effort. Alright I gotta go, Lance Armstrong needs me to help him stretch out before his next commercial." God made Matthew David McConaughey a likeably generic southerner, God gave me the ability to string a humorous sentence together; if I could only be as happy with my gifts as Matthew David McConaughey is with his.

But we see that Matthew David McConaughey is a very successful (financially) actor, and I still live in my mother's basement (40% by choice). So some gifts are appreciated by society and some are less appreciated... but unlike Matthew David McConaughey I am too afraid to stake my claim on my God given gifts. Too insecure to be content to be the man that God made me to be. My infrequent quest for self improvement is just a sad joke that only I find amusing (like those 9/11 ones). If I had Matthew David McConaughey's faith I would march my PT Cruiser down to New York, force my way on stage during Amateur Night at the Apollo and present my God given gift.

I'm not going to perform at Amateur Night at the Apollo. The closest I imagine myself coming to it is performing my Cat Poem at the next youth group talent show. Right now I am so on the fence about being who I am that even updating this blog is a stretch. The only reason I update as often as I do is that SLEEPY CRICKET and my lopsided partnership in the blog gives me something to throw back in his face whenever I remember how much better his job and other opportunities are than mine. I think God also made me really good about being bitter so I'm going to follow in the footsteps of Matthew David McConaughey and call him out.

You hear that Jason? I blog more than you. And I just bought a projector for 7% of the price of yours so you can't non-verbally/not-actually hold that over my head any more. Hope you're having fun in Ohio, or as they call it America's Sphincter (my girlfriend.... ahem MY GIRLFRIEND informs me that the sphincter, doesn't just mean an A-Hole... eh whatever you get the picture, if you aren't offended by that, please tell me something else you hold dear so that I may insult that instead. How are you by the way? Are you coming back for the holidays? If I could meet your family at that chinese buffet again that would be fun. I have a christmas card for you but I'm too lazy to mail it.)