Leave something good behind...
Monday Newsletter: 4/11/2022
I finally watched the documentary about Anthony Bourdain. Yes, I have read all about the controversy of using Bourdain’s voice using AI. If you enjoyed Bourdain’s books and shows and approach to travel and eating, it’s still worth a watch in my opinion. Like Bourdain himself, the documentary is warm and harsh and inspiring and confusing all at the same time.
More than anything, it was good to see him again. The documentary has been in wide release for about a year now but it’s taken me some time to see it. Partly why I had not watched it before is that I wasn’t going to theaters for a while (thanks, Covid), but I also had to emotionally prepare myself to see it (and I didn’t even know the guy!). While it drags a smidge near the end, and minus the weird AI stuff, I think this is a documentary that AB would have been proud of in a way. It presents an incredibly complex person who helped advocate and showcase people that we often ignore, who at times spoke roughly with those dearest to him, who had a job that 99% of us would seemingly envy, who also couldn’t get past a severe depression that alienated and isolated him.
I think, more than anything, that the impression I was left with as the credits rolled is that he had amassed an array of interesting and loving friends along the way and that point also speaks to the kind of life he lived. With that realization too, was a corresponding sadness that even a large community of family and friends can’t always keep the demons away. Sometimes, in our darkest moments, we let other things win and that shuts other voices out. It’s not a necessarily a happy ending, we all know that of Anthony’s life, but his death and the manner in which it happened shouldn’t be his lasting legacy. His desire to connect, while fighting through so many personal obstacles, should speak to us about the types of lives we can live. Whether we travel widely or not, we can learn more about each other through questions, through sharing meals, through curiosity that pushes past the surface. I think AB tried to keep it real as often as he could and I’ll always appreciate that about his life. I’ll let him have the final say, because it’s a lesson I’m still trying to learn:
“Travel is about the gorgeous feeling of teetering in the unknown. Travel isn’t always pretty. It isn’t always comfortable. Sometimes it hurts, it even breaks your heart. But that’s okay because the journey changes you; it should change you. It leaves marks on your memory, on your consciousness, on your heart, and on your body. You take something with you. Hopefully, you leave something good behind.”
Watching | Reading | Listening
Winning Time (HBO Max) - So it took this show about three episodes to get cooking, but I’m savoring all the flavors now: John C. Reilly feels born to play Jerry Buss, the actors playing Magic and Kareem (Quincy Isaiah and Solomon Hughes, respectively) are killing it, and I love seeing a Tulsa native (Tracy Letts) steal the show in so many of his scenes. It’s hard for me to tell at this point if people would enjoy this series if they weren’t already basketball fans or somewhat versed in L.A. Lakers lore, but it’s definitely right up my alley.
Our Flag Means Death (HBO Max) - Executive produced by the versatile Taika Waititi and developed by David Jenkins, OFMD is a wonderful little show that centers on a ragtag group of pirates led by “The Gentleman Pirate” Stede Bonnet, played by Rhys Darby. I guess I’m just a sucker for comedies made by New Zealanders, because this is an absolute treat! If you need a lowkey watch that’s brisk and lighthearted, this is your match.
Slow Horses (Apple TV+) - Gary Oldman plays an oft-flatulent leader of a group of failed British spies who become embroiled in a botched plan directed by MI5. I didn’t really need to be sold on anything after hearing this bit and it has not disappointed thus far. Like Winning Time, it has so many facets of things I already love. Oh, and Kristen Scott Thomas is in it too! Also, let’s have a toast for HBO and Apple for holding it down on the weekly releases. I’m not a binger by trade and the slow rollout of shows makes me so happy. It also, sadly, makes me feel somewhat accomplished…
Conan Needs a Fan (Team Coco) - I’ve been a long time listener of “Conan Needs a Friend”, but as of late I’ve been tuning in to his other weekly podcast, “Conan Needs a Fan”. It’s usually a quick 15-20 minute interview with a selected fan featuring Conan, his assistant Sona Movsesian, and his producer Matt Gourley. I love the friendship between the three of them, but it’s been fun to hear Conan interact with admirers directly. The fans usually have some unique hobby or vocation to talk about, and while of course filled with lots of humor, I get the sense that Conan is just a really good person who loves meeting new people. If you need an additional podcast for later in the week, I would recommend giving this a try.