the cells in our body

Hey guys,

Some new things:

1. This is a different way to look at ourselves
   

2. Reminder: Alberto has a virtual screening with the Big Apple Film Fest - watch anytime between Nov 13-15.
   
   It's also one of only two features picked for a drive-in screening. It's scheduled for their closing night, Sunday Nov 15th, in Hillsdale, NJ. If you do plan on going, write me back and let me know -- will be cool to see you in person.
   
   And if you watch, please leave your review and rating
   
   (Also, the film was called a companion piece to Nomadland)
   

3. Somebody Feed Phil's new season is out (FYI Phil popped up in Curb Your Enthusiasm last season) so I figured it's time to list the NYC sit-down dinner spots I recommend and have tried since reopening began. I realize I must eat more Indian and Chinese.
   R40 (Argentinian) American Brass (New American), Paulie Gee's (pizza), Montesacro Pinseria (pinsa), Raku (udon), Shalom Japan (Jewish-Japanese), TabeTomo (tsukemen), Bessou (modern Japanese), Izakaya Juraku (Japanese izakaya), Saramsam (vegan Filipino), San Carlo Osteria Piemonte (Italian), Maiella (Italian), Bolero (Vietnamese) Oiji (Korean), Mokyo (Korean), Bahari Estiatorio (Greek), Akrotiri Seafood Taverna (Greek), Plado Tasting Bar (Mediterranean tapas)
   

4. I really didn't know Jeff Goldblum is a jazz pianist
   

5. The Queen's Gambit offers some dramatic chess scenes and a lot of material for Anya Taylor-Joy, and the 24-year-old really does rise to it. She's in demand: see here and here.
   
   But it's easy to overlook the basics when it comes in such a shiny package. This is a mini-series that works episode-by-episode, but gets lost overall. Sprawling life stories are difficult, because they need to somehow narrow something so complex down to a clear theme -- a reason for being told. This one goes a lot of different places, and it isn't always clear what Beth is learning along the way. She grows without clear transitions. It seems there's a promising idea in how she buries herself in chess because it's something she feels she can control, but that never follows through. A potentially great character study disintegrates into a series of well-performed events. But watch it and let me know how it made you feel. Again, nicely dramatized chess, and Anya's eyes can carry many scenes.
   

6. Can I try?
   

7. A new long-term project has strangely led me to this Muay Thai fighter's blog, and specifically this piece.  Always question everything.  Now and forever.

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Chris