Directed by John Lee Hancock
Screening at Village Skycity Cinemas
It would be easy to indulge in cheap cynicism when reviewing "The Blind Side". A movie that landed young Sandy Bullock an Oscar - she beat out Meryl Streep, no less - it has that "Erin Brockovich" feel to it, giving its sweetheart star the chance to shine in an uplifting true story. Bullock plays Leigh Anne Tuohy, a wealthy Memphis mom who adopted a destitute black teenager, inspiring him to both academic and sporting achievement, the latter on the grid iron field.

Fahrenheit 451 is the book, the title of which Michael Moore ripped off for his movie Fahrenheit 9/11. The reason for this is that both works deal with the theme of control of information for political ends.
Fahrenheit 451 is set in a dystopian future where the population is essentially illiterate and is entirely addicted to mindless television. As a result it is easily manipulated by the powers that be into engaging in futile, destructive wars. No doubt Moore saw plenty of parallels between Bradbury's fictional society and the U.S.A as it existed under the Bush Administration.

About two tracks into this album, I was starting to think I should have laid down some candy to lead me back to the proverbial home that is my usual music track list. Home sweet home was so far away from here, in the thick, twisting shrubbery of Indie Pop (had such an oxymoron ever been used before?). In the distance, I could no longer hear the restless machine gun drumming and guitars set to drop D tuning; they were sounds that faded away. But nevertheless, I digress, the journey had begun and so I tried to lose myself in each note sung.

I was optimistic, although armed with reasonably attenuated expectations, as I sat down to Hillcrest High School’s first performance of Monty Python’s Spamalot, with tag line “a new musical ‘lovingly’ ripped off from the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail.” My optimism was rewarded and my expectations far exceeded.