Get Out of Jail Free

He would urge a slight objection now and then, but finally he would agree--agreement is the best weapon of defense--and the matter would be buried.
-Franz Kafka
"Investigations of a Dog"

NOLA (USA, 2003)
Screened: May 8, 2003, Tribeca Film Festival
Director: Alan Hruska

Nola is an aspiring songwriter who flees her trailer-trash existence and an abusive stepfather in Kansas to pursue her dreams in New York City where she also hopes to find the father she never knew. Directing his first film at age 69, Hruska imbues Nola with a wit that turns the romantic comedy genre on its cynical head.

My Comments: 3 STARS

I guess the 69-year old Director thought he had something here. I was hoping he did but it was a let down. The actress who played Nola (Emmy Rossum) was very good. The music was an extra special treat. I owe 'Gloria W F Cohen' who happened to get a promotional CD. I liked how Nola had such hope about finding her biological father in NYC; however, it seemed too far-fetched. It was too unbelievable that one of the supporting characters would end up to be her father. The script could have used ten more re-writes to spark up a more magnificent movie. The courtroom scenes were so 'ho-hum' even if the Director has forty-five years experience as a trial lawyer. I say, "Go back to law or learn to spruce up the lackluster story."

Twenty-five years ago today:

January 8, 1985
Tuesday

Carl Brooks was in a good mood today. I like him despite his hyperactive mood swings and boyish ways.

Cindy Chow was a bitch (because she didn't give me credit for the sale of two 800 WATS Lines that I gave to her). Those orders are complex, so I had her help me but I didn't think she'd take the credit for the sale. On the other hand, she is very sweet to me on other occasions. I do like that.

Stephanie Bautista, my boss, was sweet. I thought she was hinting about a lunch date with me. As it turned out she just wanted me to get some baby gift wrap for June, a sweet black woman, who is having a little critter.

I had a 'yogurt-to-go' and then ordered a sandwich for lunch. I sat with Colleen Young, a twenty-three year old Assistant Manager who kind of has a 'sparkle in her eye' when she looks at me. I kind of like that one.

As January 13th draws near (this coming Sunday) I wonder if I will be hearing from Christopher Cordellos again. I plan to call his mother on that day to get the scoop whether I hear from him or not.

The Assistant Manager, Lee Chandler, was a real creep today. He gave me a chunk of crappy orders to fill on Joanna Weems. She was my first RCF order. It's a damn HERBALIFE DISTRIBUTOR in Orinda, CA. I hate to do unnecessary work created by someone else.

It was nice of the lady in Piedmont to invite me to the Benefit Guild Designer's SHOWCASE on March 9th in Piedmont. Some customers can be really "cool".

After work I went to mom's and she was biting her nails off because Dad had not come home, yet. I tried to calm her nerves. We took a drive to my house. As I parked my car I thought I saw Wade Franklin Hyder, the guy who works at Pacific Fresh in Concord (the one I met at Baxter's on December 22nd). My heart pounded in a scary sort of way because I was with my mother--but it wasn't him.

And as it turned out, Dad was not at my pad napping as my mom had hoped. Mom kept thinking the worst thoughts. Then I began to worry, too. We learned at 7:50PM that he was at the Oakland City Jail.
"I'll be let out soon," Dad told mom via telephone, "just call Del Monte at ten o'clock and inform them that I have the flu."
I telephoned the City Jail and learned that he was jailed for drunkenness in public. (?) This was a surprise but a relief that he was not hurt in any way.

Mom and I watched Part III of THE THORN BIRDS. While driving home I thought how much I loved actress Rachel Ward. Richard Chamberlain is only 'okay'.

He said things in a low, calm voice, trying to instill confidence in her, trying to send warmth and sympathy through the hand he held.
-Nial Kent
"The Divided Path"