Bostonist caught the new George Clooney flick, Men Who Stare at Goats, last night. Despite being a little over the top, the film is an often-entertaining (if ultimately somewhat pointless) ride through the PsyOps of the New Earth Army, with The Dude as guide (you could pretend that Jeff Bridges is playing a different character here, but he's really not). From killing goats to locating long-lost idols and nemeses, the psychic abilities of Clooney's character ("Jedi warrior" Lyn Cassady) prove remarkably effective, at least within the fictional realm. The film's a sort of Fear and Loathing in Baghdad with a little Catch-22 mixed in, plus some Kevin Spacey going borderline Nazi (it's mostly the mustache, but he's also quite an asshole to his fellow Earth Army members). Perhaps more important than Cassady's excessive tan and his appropriately groovy mental prowess, though, is the subtle yet sustained presence of Boston in the film.

Our fair city first surfaces when Lyn attempts to explain his preferred methods for getting into psychic mode. "Drinking helps," he admits, then adds that music does too, one of his favorite tunes being Boston's "More Than a Feeling." The song comes up again later in the film, a reminder of both the necessarily subjective, feeling-based nature of both PsyOps and war in general, as well as of the 1970s vibe surrounding the New Earth Army ("I will eat your green skin" is one of the Jedi warriors' vows to Mother Earth).

Boston comes up again when military contractors rescue Cassady and company from a dire situation in the desert. We're cited as an important market for corporate product right before an inter-contractor fight opens fire at an Iraqi gas station (at which the contractors' SUVs arrived by pushing aside citizens' cars). Gee, doesn't it make you feel good to support these contractors with both tax and after tax dollars?

Some critics are slamming the movie for not taking a clear satirical stance, but maybe they're missing the point. War doesn't make much sense, whether it's waged by rich contractor assholes with guns or hippies with eagle feathers: was this movie about a particularly absurd form of "warfare" really supposed to? If nothing else, it's at least possible to close your eyes and slip away into enjoyment of Clooney's cloud-bursting eyes during the film.

Boston Blotter: Cops Chase Armed Man, Officers Stabbed

-- Boston Police arrested a man with a gun on Thursday after chasing him on foot. The suspect was driving "erratically" near Egelston Square and attempted to park in front of a hydrant. Police determined the owner of the car was unlicensed, prompting officers to try to stop the car. The operator of the car exited the car and fled. Officers pursued the suspect, observed he was armed. After refusing to drop the weapon, police took it away during a physical struggle. The suspect faces various assault and weapons charges. [BPDNews.com]

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Bite Size News, November 6: Soldiers Remembered Edition

  • Marine Capt. Kyle Van De Giesen's funeral was held today in North Attleboro. He was killed in Afghanistan on October 26. [WCVB]

Randazza Served and Pwnd Glen Beck in 2009

A quick update on the Glen Beck WIPO case. The verdict is in, and Gloucester attorney Marc J. Randazza's totally killer pleadings were sufficient to convince the WIPO panelist to deny Glen Beck's complaint against the website GlenBeckRapedandMurderedaYoungGirlin1990. Since Randazza regrettably did not write the decision, it is not particularly hilarious, but it is pretty scathing. We, as Americans, should be happy that Frederick M. Abbott, panelist for the Geneva-based WIPO court, has more reverence for the First Amendment than Glen Beck does. [Legal Satyricon]

This Week In Booze: If You Build It

When life gives you beer cartons, make beer carton libraries.

Photo of the Day, November 6, 2009: Goodbye Teddy

jameswilsonphoto has another great Film Friday shot. This photo is much like his others with great contrast and a good use of available light. The framing of the shot works well and makes the subject of the photo appear larger than life.

   

Have you ever needed that perfectly in-between place to dine in Watertown? Somewhere nice, but not too expensive. Somewhere you can dress up if you want, but without high fashion expectations. Somewhere tasty, but not overwhelmingly gourmet. If so, we've found that Stellina is a slam-dunk for all of these criteria.

Friday Happenings

Movies Argentinian cinema is in great shape these days, and Lisandro Alonso is a big reason why. The HFA runs through the young director's four films this weekend to give Bostonians a glimpse at a promising talent who is not screened often enough in this country. The series kicks off today with Los Muertos (2004), which follows "the enigmatic journey of a newly released convict through the sweltering heart of the jungle," and Fantasma (2006), a companion piece that follows the star of Los Muertos as he wanders through Teatro San Martin looking for the premiere of his film. Alonso will be on hand to tell you why. Harvard Film Archive, Carpenter Center, 24 Quincy St., Cambridge, 7 p.m. $12. More information.

Stylish Bostonians Have Nice Clothes, Lack Self-Awareness

Bostonist is so glad the New York Times and Co. didn't nuke the Boston Globe back in the spring, because then we would never have had the sublime pleasure of reading the interviews with 2009's "25 Most Stylish Bostonians" (so named because, we presume, the "25 Most Stylish Bostonians Who Have More Money and/or Cooler Jobs Than You" was too long). We were especially taken with João Ribas, whose outstandingly obnoxious quotes like, "I have an abhorrence of both consumer culture and infantilism, which is why I don’t own a pair of jeans" make him sound like a character out of a Decemberists song.

Sports Redux: A Fair Point

It's one point. A shootout loss. One goal. The Bruins will gratefully take it right now. With the offense struggling to even find the goal, let alone put the puck in it, and with swine flu racing towards the team, it's time to think about baby steps.

Boston Blotter: Heroin Like Swine Flu You Have To Pay For

-- Public health officials released a report today calling heroin and OxyContin addiction an "epidemic" in Massachusetts. The report calls for a public health campaign on the scale of the fight against H1N1 to combat the problem. The report estimates that 3,265 Massachusetts residents died from opiate overdose between 2002 and 2007. [Globe]

Bite Size News, November 5: Winners & Losers Edition

  • Mayor Menino wants to "take more risks" in the next four years. [Boston Globe]
  • Flaherty and Yoon are keeping their options open. [Boston Globe]
  • Town of Amherst votes to accept two Guantanamo Bay prisoners as residents -- if they're released. [Christian Science Monitor]
  • Bruins: Krejci Has H1N1

    David Krejci had the H1N1 virus, won't play tonight and is day-to-day. Peter Chiarelli predictably said the team is taking sufficient precautions to prevent the spread of the H1N1 virus. Claude Julien and his club are down with Chiarelli's take. Julien says other teams don't care about the problems facing his team. FYI, Canadiens in Boston tonight.

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