Sad Bastards Wanted

Francey Russell longs for the nearly extinct sad bastards in American cinema: "Whatever happened to real men in cinema, and when?" She presents a screen history of the angry, sometimes inarticulate men typified by Nicholson and Brando (and even later, Patrick Swayze--yes, that one) and how these men have all but disappeared and replaced by Valium-popping guys like the one played by Zach Braff in Garden State.

Which then reminds me that you can get a copy of Rick Moody's novel Garden State --which doesn't really have anything to do with the Braff's film with the same title, I think--from the newly-opened Fully Booked in The Block in SM North. But sadly, you can also get from there a copy of Mitch Albom's new novel that basically tells you that you should live a full life. As if that's not bad enough, "For One More Day" sounds like a diva song title, the kind that will have revved up motorbikes, thunderclap and lightning incorporated in the song and goes "Oh, baby baby baby." Sure, it makes for great videoke entertainment really. But then again, who buys books for their potential videoke entertainment value? So you can console yourself about this last thought by sitting in their cafe and get warm. That cafe must be the only place above freezing in that area.