2010, Pt Two: Movies!

Okay, I had a whole line-up of films I'd wanted to talk about, but instead I'm just focusing on one for now:

Sweetgrass

That embedded video's pretty tiny; for a bigger version, try this link.

I don't know if you'll get the chance to see it on screens that are big enough, as the release seems pretty limited, but it is just awesome. So fascinating. And pretty. And funny. And just cool.

Now, we saw the director recorder at a Q&A, and he explained that they tried to not make it too pretty, but come on, it's Montana, how can it not be pretty?

Speaking of it's Montana, it's Montana. I've seen some movies that have captured some of the feel of Montana--of course, there's A River Runs Through It, and Brokeback Mountain (okay, that's Wyoming, but close enough). But nothing has ever come close to this. Felt more like the Montana I know than anything short of being there...

Which is especially remarkable since I have absolutely no experience with sheep except in my suit coats and on my dinner plates; and I haven't spent much time near Big Timber. But something about it, you know?

And even aside from that, it was just such a cool experience. As Manohla Dargis said in the Times, it's a "wonderful" and "essential movie."

I really think you should see it, reader.

Rainier, Snowier

While I, ahem, tidy up that post on movies we've seen, here are some pics from our trip to Mt. Rainier:

The aptly named Paradise Valley.

I'm standing on Paradise Valley Road, which, as you can see, is closed in the winter. (Or is it spring now? Well, you know what I mean.) During the summer? Jam-packed with people and cars. Crazy how quiet it was out there. We saw maybe 6 people in the two hours we spent out there on Tuesday...

This fox seemed to like the quiet too:


Hit lots of fog and snow on our first day:


Emily took this great photo:



And then we realized we were on an unmarked trail, so we turned back & drove down to the National Park Inn for dinner. Buffalo meatloaf: not bad.

Why not stay up at the Paradise Inn?

Doesn't open until late May; I think you can see why.

Visitor Center, also closed for the season:



Next day we had a great hike, thanks to the guidance and maps provided by a helpful park ranger.

Paradise Valley.

Get some idea here of how deep the snow gets on the road this time of year:


Possible candidate for a new profile picture:

What do you think, reader?


One last pic: Emily standing on a bridge over Paradise River:

This Too Shall Pass

I know it's been a while, and this isn't much, in some ways. But it sure is awesome: