Thought for the Day

A Black Legionnaire

I cannot tell you how much Mad Max (2015) felt like every other lame late 80s/early 90s adventure film---except. With the single and staggering exception of a uniquely unparalleled vision. It speaks in visual poetry, from the sere line of the desert against the sky, the rust-colored sand whirling beneath wheels, the blue velvet of the night, the intricate and brutal steel hulks of the rigs. It took me half the film to realize there wasn't even that much dialogue, because everything I was seeing spoke.

I've talked before about how sometimes it can be useful to look at art through the question of priorities. An artist can't have a fully-developed romance, a complex plot, an intricate character study, and fully fleshed-out world in a single work---so where are they investing the most energy? (You could expand this list indefinitely, to be fair--- writers and poets can put the lyricism of their language first; artists could put the material nature of their oils or clay on display; podcasts or movies can focus on soundscapes, etc.) Still, there's no question to my mind how George Miller answers that question. It's in every frame.

☽ People hum or whistle without realizing. Half the time it’s the same tune on loop until someone else points it out.

☽ Nervous habits aren’t always obvious. Some tap their foot, others pick at labels, twist jewelry, or re-check their phone screen that hasn’t lit up.

☽ Everyone mispronounces a word. Even smart characters have at least one word they’ve been saying wrong their whole life.

☽ Sleep habits are personal. Some sprawl like starfish, some curl into tiny balls, some talk, kick, or even laugh in their sleep.

☽ Food quirks add personality. Characters might hate crusts, eat fries before the burger, or insist on separating all the M&Ms by color.

☽ People zone out mid-conversation. Not out of rudeness, sometimes their brain just… drifts. A perfect chance to show inner thoughts sneaking in.

☽ Signature laughs are a thing. Snorts, wheezes, silent shakes, a laugh can tell you as much about a person as their dialogue.

☽ Everyone has a “comfort item.” A ratty hoodie, a chipped mug, an overplayed playlist, something small that makes them feel safe.

☽ Body memory is real. Someone might instinctively check their pocket for keys, tug their sleeves down, or crack knuckles without thinking.

"There is a sun within every person." --Rumi