Film man Mick: For those who had been to spend a 12 months on an island and will solely take one film franchise — minimal of 5 movies — which franchise would it not be and why?
Robert Freud Bastin, Petaluma
Film man Robert: James Bond. They’re not my favourite films, however franchises are typically sci-fi, and I by no means watch sci-fi in my off hours, even when caught on an island.
The Bond films aren’t sci-fi and — huge benefit — there are 26 of them. Twenty-six to final me a complete 12 months? That’s not unhealthy. Plus, in contrast to the “Skinny Man” franchise (my first runner-up), they’re not confined to a small span of time, however had been relatively revamped the course of half a century. There’d be plenty of evolving cultural stuff to note, plus the modifications of the varied actors.
Right here’s the most important benefit: I haven’t even seen each Bond film, so there can be just a few left to find. In fact, it’s true that almost all Bond movies aren’t superb, however it’s additionally true that they by no means fall beneath a sure stage. They’d make a pleasant topic for a guide, really, if the sphere weren’t so picked over already.
Hello Mick: I learn your column the place you talked about getting a home in France. How come France and never Italy? Have you ever been to the Dordogne area in France? Lovely there.
Melodie Kennedy, Menlo Park
Hello Melodie: I like France and Italy for various causes. Though my French is best than my Italian at this level, I’ve extra of a pure affinity for the Italian language. I like Italian folks and really feel a kinship with them (I’m 94% Italian, based on Ancestry.com), but typically, I desire French tradition. France is simply extra useful. There’s much less paperwork.
A couple of years in the past, in Venice, town allowed an enormous sun shades commercial (that includes James Franco) to be plastered throughout your complete facade of the Palazzo Ducale. French folks would set themselves on hearth earlier than they’d allow such an abomination. Additionally, France is gorgeous in additional locations. For instance, the distinction between Tuscany and Dordogne: Tuscany is gorgeous, however the hill cities are largely surrounded by trendy Italy. The Dordogne, however, is gorgeous in its entirety, wherever you flip your head.
Expensive Mick: Do you have got any recommendation for a person, age 39, within the throes of a midlife disaster? Asking for a good friend.
Marty Parker, Chico
Expensive Marty: Positive, he can do what I did. What labored for me was listening to Eminem. At 45, I out of the blue turned obsessed. I purchased all of Eminem’s albums, however that wasn’t sufficient, so I learn books about him. Then I purchased eight CD bootlegs of all his unreleased stuff. Then I began entering into everyone affiliated with Eminem — Obie Trice, 50 Cent, Dr. Dre, D12, Proof, Weird, plus Tupac and Biggie, who’d influenced him. I used to be cranking this music across the clock, blasting it in my automobile with the home windows down, insisting buddies hear to numerous songs, making visiting family members watch “8 Mile” and getting all choked up when Eminem launched the poignant single “After I’m Gone.” I used to be turning into “Stan.”
The peak of this got here once I went house to Staten Island, N.Y., and located myself explaining to my aged mom particulars of the meat between Eminem and Ray Benzino because the prelude to taking part in to her, back-to-back, the songs they wrote dissing one another! (I should be a chip off the previous block — she favored it.)
Anyway, after a 12 months of this, the obsession pale. I felt much less offended, although I hadn’t even recognized I’d been offended. I nonetheless assume Eminem is nice, however that music ceased to be an analogue for my psychological state.
Have a query? Ask Mick LaSalle at mlasalle@sfchronicle.com. Embrace your identify and metropolis for publication, and a cellphone quantity for verification. Letters could also be edited for readability and size.
