Day: May 27, 2020

Our Tijuana dental work completed by 3 pm, we arrived at Poco Cielo Hotel (south of Puerto Nuevo, even further south of Rosarito) at 4:10 pm. We were walking on the beach by 5:30 pm.

This isn’t a good thing to admit, but we melted when we realized that Dimitry’s original La Fonda restaurant, which is right next door, was allowing customers to sit inside and order. It was the first time we’d been to an eatery since late February.

We’re bad people for having done so, we realize, but the place was nearly vacant and the waiters were so grateful we’d arrived. Plus we could sense that God wasn’t frowning at us.

We sat on the outdoor patio at dusk, overlooking the crashing surf and almost weeping about how wonderful it felt to be ourselves again. We apologize to all of the Virusbros out there who are no doubt seething with rage as they read these words.

And forget The Disney Channel…not this horse.

And I don’t mean the Department of Housing and Urban Development. There’s a phrase below that should read “in the ‘80s and ‘90s.”

I’m sorry but it’s time once again to hit the Baja Oral Center. Tatiana and I are currently in the waiting room. All masked and gloved up, Elton John softly playing, antiseptic to the max. Post-procedure we’re heading 50 minutes south to Hotel Poco Cielo, which has moderately fast wifi,

Carl Foreman‘s The Victors (’63) is apparently unobtainable in any home format — no streaming, no DVD or Bluray, nothing. There was only a British DVD in the wrong aspect ratio and wrong running time (146 minutes as opposed to the original 175) that is no longer available.

I never saw it, but the general thematic idea was that “war darkens and destroys and reduces everything to cinders and everyone to despair.” Or something in that realm. The big signature moment was the execution for cowardice scene [below]. Sexuality (vaguely envelope-pushing for ’63) was used as a selling point.

Costarring George Hamilton, Vincent Edwards, Albert Finney, Melina Mercouri, Jeanne Moreau, Eli Wallach, Romy Schneider, Elke Sommer and Michael Callan.

It was a financial bust but a “serious” film. I wouldn’t mind seeing it.

This passage from Terence Blanchard‘s score for Da 5 Bloods is mainstream orchestral. Solemn, going for gut sadness, nothing ironic or twitchy, etc. For African American veterans, the Vietnam War teemed with conflict and trauma and all kinds of random hell. Time to open that box again.