The Horror, The Horror of Apocalypse Now

 

On Saturday night, I went to the Somerville Theatre to attend a screening of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now starring Martin Sheen, Marlon Brando and Robert Duvall.

We were being treated to a screening of the original 70 mm print which did not have any credits. As was the case when the film was originally released in 1979, we were provided with a reprint of a booklet which included all of the credits and a short essay from Coppola. 

On a side note, it is interesting that I watched a Coppola film only eight days after his nephew Robert Schwartzman appeared at the Somerville Theatre to promote his documentary Hung Up on a Dream: A Zombies Documentary. 

There was a very large, young crowd who attended - many of whom who had never viewed Apocalypse Now. After an extraordinarily long introduction to the film by the projectionist who ran the same print nearly half a century ago, the film began. For the next 2 hours and 27 minutes, there was complete silence. I think some people had difficulty processing the film. This does not come as a surprise because it was loosely adapted from Joseph Conrad's Heart of Darkness which I read in high school. Conrad's prose was so dense that our English teacher had to take us through the book page by page to convey its meaning. 

I have seen bits and pieces of Apocalypse Now on TV over the years but had never seen the film from start to finish let alone on a big screen. When you see it on the big screen you get the full impact of the cinematography making it evident why Vittorio Storaro earned an Oscar. 

Set during the Vietnam War, Captain Willard (Martin Sheen) is sent on a mission to by Lt General Forman (G.D. Spradlin) and Colonel Lucas (played by a pre-Star Wars Harrison Ford) to kill Colonel Kurtz (Marlon Brando). They are the two most stoic yet sinister characters in the entire movie. Everyone else around them is volatile and waiting to explode at any moment be Willard's crew as portrayed by Albert Hall, Frederic Forrest, Sam Bottoms and a teenaged Laurence Fishburne (credited as Larry Fishburne) as well as Dennis Hopper, who portrays a photojournalist who becomes a disciple of Colonel Kurtz. 

I would remiss if I didn't mention Robert Duvall's portrayal of Lt. Col Bill Kilgore who utters the movie's most famous, "I love the smell of napalm in the morning....it smells like victory." He too has a manic intensity but is unaffected by chaos and explosions going on around him. Duvall would earn an Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.

For all of Captain Willard's descent into madness as he goes up the river in pursuit of Colonel Kurtz, when Willard finally kills Kurtz, he lays down his sword in front of Kurtz's devotees who follow suit and Willard leaves. Where he goes is anyone's guess. 

Apocalypse Now is one of those movies which does not lend itself to multiple viewings as reflected by Colonel Kurtz's last words, "The horror! The horror!" There are other movies from this era which I would give the same characterization such as Deliverance and A Woman Under the Influence. Yet neither of those movies has the body count of Apocalypse Now. It's not so much because of graphic violence although that is there in abundance. The most horrific aspect of the movie is all of the bodies which Captain Willard finds on Colonel Kurtz's territory - some mutilated, others beheaded with one man hung naked from the waist down. We don't see the violence, but we feel its impact just the same.

Outside of the first two Godfather films, Apocalypse Now is Francis Ford Coppola's most significant work although The Conversation is in the conversation. Although Coppola has had some successful films over the years such as The Outsiders, Peggy Sue Got Married, Bram Stoker's Dracula and The Rainmaker, he has had more misses than hits (i.e. One from the Heart, The Cotton Club, Youth Without Youth and, most recently, Megalopolis). Above all else none of the aforementioned hit movies measure up to his peak from the 1970's. Alas, Apocalypse Now is truly the last great film directed by Francis Ford Coppola. The horror, the horror. 

Mike Huckabee Sure Sounds Like He's Threatening to BDS Israel

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee was anything but diplomatic when he wrote a letter to Israel's Interior Minister Moshe Arbel lambasting Israel for not swiftly approving tourist visas for Evangelical Christian groups. For his part, Arbel disputes Huckabee's claim. Huckabee wrote in part:

It would be very unfortunate that our embassy would have to publicly announce throughout the United States that the State of Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organizations and their representatives and is instead engaging in harassment and negative treatment toward organizations with long-standing relationships and positive involvement toward Zionism and friendship to the Jewish people and the State of Israel.

What chutzpah!!! Huckabee has already falsely stated Israel is no longer welcoming Christian organizations and, for bad measure, is threatening reciprocal actions against Israelis seeking to visit the U.S. 

Would such restrictions apply to former hostages held by Hamas?

For all intents and purposes, Huckabee is taking a page from the Palestinians and threatening to boycott, divest and sanction Israel. In short, Huckabee is embracing BDS and threatening to implement as U.S. government policy.

But why?

Is this a personal agenda for Huckabee to ensure that Evangelical Christian organizations can come to Israel in the hope of converting Jews?

It might be part of the reason, but Huckabee is presumably acting on behalf of the Trump Administration. Given their mercurial nature, it could be about anything though chances are it revolves around money and wanting more of it. Or maybe they think Israel hasn't been thankful enough. Complicating matters further, there's also the optics of doing this in such a public manner rather than behind closed doors. 

Whatever their reasoning, this only reinforces my lack of trust in the Trump Administration (and Republicans at large) where it concerns Israel.

CBS is Cancelling Colbert to Appease Trump

 

This evening, CBS announced it would be cancelling The Late Show with Stephen Colbert effective May 2026. 

The network cited an unspecified "financial decision" as the reason for its cancellation as it evidently will withdraw from late night TV altogether.

I would hazard a guess that its "financial decision" is to appease President Trump so the administration will approve Paramount's merger with Skydance. Earlier this week, Colbert was publicly critical of CBS' parent company Paramount for settling Trump's frivolous lawsuit against 60 Minutes and the network at the beginning of the month. That will not help Paramount's standing with Trump.

There is really no other reason for CBS to pull the plug on Colbert. It is a ratings juggernaut. But the merger is a higher priority. Giving $16 million to the Trump Presidential Library (an oxymoron if there ever was one) is but a drop in the bucket. Trump is going to want a lot more. He wants a scalp and Stephen Colbert's will do just nicely given he is a persistent thorn in the President's side. Although I'm sure Trump would be happier still if CBS were to also cancel 60 Minutes and I'm sure he will make such a demand in the not-too-distant future.

Of course, this represents an end to more than 30 years of late-night programming on CBS which began when David Letterman came to the network in September 1993 where he remained for more than two decades before Colbert took the reins in May 2015 after his successful Comedy Central show. 

Would Colbert return to Comedy Central much like Jon Stewart? Or are networks going to shy away from someone like Colbert so as not to arouse Trump's ire?

What CBS will do after the late local news is anyone's guess although I would not be shocked if someone in the MAGAverse like Charlie Kirk got a time slot.

Mamdani Says He Won't Use The Term "Globalize the Intifada" Again But He Still Won't Condemn It Either

New York Democratic mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani tried to assure business leaders in a closed-door meeting yesterday that he would refrain from using the phrase "globalize the intifada" and would discourage others from doing the same.

This is nothing more than smoke and mirrors. 

That he never utters the phrase in public again isn't the same thing as condemning it - something he has repeatedly refused to do. Indeed, Mamdani also told those assembled that he would not discourage the ideas behind "globalize the intifada".

Globalizing the intifada consists of throwing Molotov cocktails at a Holocaust survivor, attempting to burn down synagogues while congregants are at prayer, vandalizing Jewish owned businesses and concert goers chanting "Death to the IDF".

Simply put nothing has substantively changed. Mamdani will merely attempt to keep his anti-Semitism behind closed doors.

MLB Makes a Mockery of All-Star Game with HR Derby Replacing Extra Innings

This could have been an absolutely fascinating 2025 MLB All-Star Game at Truist Park north of Atlanta.

The NL had a commanding 6-0 lead at the end of six innings. Arizona Diamondbacks second baseman Ketel Marte hit a two-run double in the first inning to give the NL a 2-0 lead. The NL then added four runs in the bottom of the sixth on a 3-run HR by New York Mets slugger Pete Alonso and a solo HR from D'Backs outfielder Corbin Carroll.

However, the AL came roaring back with four runs of their own in the top of the 7th inning via a 3-run HR from Brent Rooker of the Athletics followed by a RBI groundout by Kansas City Royals shortstop Bobby Witt, Jr. 

In the top of the 9th, Witt made his presence felt with a RBI double to make it a 6-5 game. Down to their final out, Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan stroked a single of Mets closer Edwin Diaz to tie the game at 6-6. The NL was unable to score in the bottom of the 9th.

But instead of going to extra innings in the All-Star Game for the first time since 2018, MLB took the easy way out and decided the game by way of HR Derby. Each squad selected three batters who got three swings apiece. The league with the most HR won the game which ended up being the NL on the strength of Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Kyle Schwarber getting 3 HR on three swings. For this he was bestowed with the All-Star Game MVP.

Of course, this was bound to happen as MLB formally dispensed with extra innings in the All-Star Game in 2022. Now that it has happened, it reminds me of why I don't like watching the game anymore. In deploying this gimmick, we have now witnessed the first ever MLB game with no winning pitcher or losing pitcher. Like the ghost runner, implementing a HR derby to determine the outcome of the game cheapens and dumbs down the baseball. 

We could have had something like the 1994 All-Star Game from Three Rivers Stadium in Pittsburgh which went 10 innings with the NL winning 8-7 on a double by Montreal Expos outfielder Moises Alou scoring future Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn with a play at the plate sliding under the tag of fellow future Hall of Famer Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez. It was the NL's first All-Star Game win since 1987. 

But instead, we got this hoo-ha from Rob Manfred. Perhaps he will be tempted to deploy this method in the World Series. G-d help us. 

Because of this nonsense, I prefer to watch old games on YouTube. Right now, I am amid watching a game between the Toronto Blue Jays and the Chicago White Sox at old Comiskey Park which took place on August 22, 1980. I am watching this game in memory of former Blue Jays pitcher Jim Clancy who passed away yesterday at the age of 69. Clancy was the starting pitcher in this game. 

In watching that game, I remember why I loved baseball back then. The AL and NL were separate universes which only met during the All-Star Game and the World Series. Starters regularly threw complete games even if they were on the losing end. The game was played until there was a winner no matter how many innings it took. 

In watching that game, I am also reminded of why I don't love baseball anymore. Of course, tonight's event didn't help matters much.

Will NY Voters Unite to Defeat Mamdani? If Yes Then Will It Be Adams, Cuomo or Walden?

I have not written a great deal about Zohran Mamdani, the Democratic Party nominee for the mayoralty of New York City other than to wonder if New Yorkers would elect an anti-Semite to move into Gracie Mansion.

At the time, with Mamdani's defeat of former NY Governor Andrew Cuomo, I operated on the assumption that Mamdani would face incumbent Mayor Eric Adams mano-a-mano. However, yesterday, Cuomo formally launched a third-party bid. As long as both Adams and Cuomo are in the race, it won't be enough to overcome Mamdani's momentum. 

Of course, both Adams and Cuomo baggage. Adams is certainly beholden to President Trump for fear the DoJ could reinstate charges against him unless he does the White House's bidding while Trump is making friendly overtures to Cuomo. This won't do either of them any favors. 

Under those circumstances, would New Yorkers appalled at Mamdani's anti-Semitism turn to someone without either Adams or Cuomo's baggage such as attorney Jim Walden, who is also running as an independent. Walden has proposed that "free market" candidates coalesce behind a single candidate by September to take on Mamdani. But unless Walden were to ding Mamdani directly in a mayoral debate or found some way to out-organize Mamdani, this is one big, long shot. 

I am bracing myself for the possibility that New Yorkers will elect Mamdani. Should this come to pass, the steady stream of anti-Semitism in the United States since October 7, 2023, will turn into a flood. That I no longer live in New York City isn't enough. If Jews are unsafe in New York, then we are unsafe in all of America.

Jim Clancy Remains One of The Greatest Pitchers in Toronto Blue Jays' History

The Toronto Blue Jays shared the sad news that former MLB pitcher Jim Clancy, who spent 12 of his 15 big league seasons north of the border, passed away today at the age of 69. 

Born in Chicago, Clancy was drafted out of high school by the Texas Rangers in the fourth round of the 1974 MLB Draft. Clancy's relationship with the Blue Jays began when he was the third player selected by the club in the 1976 Expansion Draft. His MLB debut with the Jays came following the All-Star Break during the expansion season of 1977.

Despite some lean years, Clancy would become a mainstay of the starting rotation along with Dave Stieb. In 1978, Clancy led the team in wins with 10. He would lead the club in wins again in 1980 with 13 despite walking a league leading 128 batters. Clancy would be selected to his only AL All-Star Team in 1982 when he won a career high 16 games while leading the Junior Circuit with 40 starts. The only other pitcher who has started 40 games in a season since Clancy was knuckleballer Charlie Hough with the Texas Rangers in 1987. Clancy would lead the AL in starts with 36 in 1984 although he would lead the league in surrendering 125 earned runs. 

Although on the disabled list twice during the 1985 season with an appendectomy and tendonitis, Clancy finally got the chance to pitch in October when the Blue Jays won their first AL East title. Unfortunately, Clancy was the losing pitcher in Game 3 of the ALCS when he gave up a go-ahead single to Steve Balboni while pitching out of the bullpen. The Royals would win the ALCS and go on to win the World Series. 

On a personal note, I saw Clancy pitch at Exhibition Stadium against the California Angels on July 4, 1988 - a couple of days before I flew to Israel for the summer. Unfortunately, Clancy did not have good outing giving up five earned runs in only two innings pitched and taking the loss in an 11-6 game. 

After 12 seasons in a Blue Jays uniform, Clancy signed a 3-year contract with the Houston Astros worth $3.45 million following the 1988 season. Alas, Clancy was ineffective in an Astros uniform and would eventually be sent to the bullpen. Late in the 1991 season, the Astros traded Clancy to the Atlanta Braves. Clancy continued to struggle but would pitch in his only World Series earning a win in relief against the Minnesota Twins in Game 3. It would prove to be his final win in a big-league uniform. He tried to hook on his hometown Chicago Cubs in 1992 but ended up retiring during spring training.

In 15 MLB seasons, Clancy made 472 appearances (381 starts) finishing with a record of 140-167 with an ERA of 4.23 striking out 1422 batters in 2517.1 innings pitched. Clancy's pitching totals with the Blue Jays remain among the best in franchise history. During his tenure in Toronto, Clancy went 128-140 with a 4.10 ERA striking out 1237 batters in 2204.2 innings pitched. Those 2200 plus innings remain the second most in franchise history along with 345 career starts and 73 complete games with only Dave Stieb posting better numbers. Clancy's 128 wins are third most in franchise history behind Stieb and the late Roy Halladay. It is a shame that Clancy was never honored by the Blue Jays in the team's Level of Excellence.

Clancy was certainly among the most durable pitchers of the 1980s. His 317 starts during the decade were third only to Stieb (331 starts) and Jack Morris (332 starts). Clancy's 2017.2 innings pitched were the 8th most during the decade. Yes, it is true that Clancy lost more games than any other pitcher in the 1980s with 126. But it is also true that Clancy more often than not went deep into games completing 61 games which was 7th most in the 1980s. Jim Clancy might not have always prevailed, but he was a competitor who kept his team in the game. He left it all out on the pitcher's mound. R.I.P.