a“My darling, anger only hurts the angry.”
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My Grandmother, Honey
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I remember the first time that I met Ray McKinnon. He was sitting on a table at the Cox Capitol Theatre laughing the somewhat goofy laugh that you might expect to roll out of such a lanky physique. I was (of course) as I am with most people that I’m not super familiar with, timid to speak to, or even look at him. This particular sheepishness on my part has been mistaken as snobbery more often than not. But mostly it’s just plain old shy served up with a helping of guard dog. But for some reason Ray just walked right past that orange and black “beware” sign and stopped me in my “let’s not bother the Movie Star” tracks. And I don’t even remember what he said or how he said it. I can only say that I’m glad he did.
I remember the first time that I met Ray McKinnon. He was sitting on a table at the Cox Capitol Theatre laughing the somewhat goofy laugh that you might expect to roll out of such a lanky physique. I was (of course) as I am with most people that I’m not super familiar with, timid to speak to, or even look at him. This particular sheepishness on my part has been mistaken as snobbery more often than not. But mostly it’s just plain old shy served up with a helping of guard dog. But for some reason Ray just walked right past that orange and black “beware” sign and stopped me in my “let’s not bother the Movie Star” tracks. And I don’t even remember what he said or how he said it. I can only say that I’m glad he did.
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People don’t often surprise me but Ray was definitely a lovely surprise. I’ve never met someone so inquisitive. It’s a character trait that I have always been drawn to. But there is something so patient and sincere about his inquisitive nature that it’s almost as if he doesn’t have a care in the world other than listening intently to the answer of the question that he just asked you. Talking to him was not so different than a a glass of wine after a long bubble bath. I could have sworn that the whole world was slowin’ down just to take a breather right there with us.
People don’t often surprise me but Ray was definitely a lovely surprise. I’ve never met someone so inquisitive. It’s a character trait that I have always been drawn to. But there is something so patient and sincere about his inquisitive nature that it’s almost as if he doesn’t have a care in the world other than listening intently to the answer of the question that he just asked you. Talking to him was not so different than a a glass of wine after a long bubble bath. I could have sworn that the whole world was slowin’ down just to take a breather right there with us.
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What I failed to adequately appreciate at the time was Ray’s talent. Don't get me wrong - I loved him in Randy & The Mob! I was SUPER excited to see him in The Blind Side. But it wasn’t until I met Ray McKinnon’s Lonzo Choat that I realized just how exquisite the depth of his talent really is.
What I failed to adequately appreciate at the time was Ray’s talent. Don't get me wrong - I loved him in Randy & The Mob! I was SUPER excited to see him in The Blind Side. But it wasn’t until I met Ray McKinnon’s Lonzo Choat that I realized just how exquisite the depth of his talent really is.
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On Sunday, I made my way over to the Cox Capitol Theatre, snuggled into my seat next to Little Miss Walden and waited patiently (if by patiently you understand that I mean people watching, fashion critiquing, and Shirley Temple sipping) for the Film Fest-inale to begin. And afterwards, the buzz and hum of differing opinions on the “questions that the film leaves unanswered” was as vibrant as the chorus of cicadas that lend such a hauntingly authentic texture to the movie’s East Tennessee backdrop. But for me, the movie didn’t leave any unanswered questions.
On Sunday, I made my way over to the Cox Capitol Theatre, snuggled into my seat next to Little Miss Walden and waited patiently (if by patiently you understand that I mean people watching, fashion critiquing, and Shirley Temple sipping) for the Film Fest-inale to begin. And afterwards, the buzz and hum of differing opinions on the “questions that the film leaves unanswered” was as vibrant as the chorus of cicadas that lend such a hauntingly authentic texture to the movie’s East Tennessee backdrop. But for me, the movie didn’t leave any unanswered questions.
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Lonzo Choat’s a drunk. And a mean-as-a-snake Son of a Bitch when he gets “GOOD and drunk.” Even the movie’s soundtrack knew just when to shut up. And people say that “a drunk’s a drunk” but Lonzo Choat showed us that even a drunk can have big dreams, can wanna be a “good man,” can believe in a better life . . . And can drown all that dreamin’ and wantin’ and believin’each and every day on repeat.
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And then there’s Ludie & Abner. Stuck right there livin’ with him. Clinging to a past life and a pipe dream, respectively, but pretty much on neither account by preference as far as I could tell. What about them?
Lonzo Choat’s a drunk. And a mean-as-a-snake Son of a Bitch when he gets “GOOD and drunk.” Even the movie’s soundtrack knew just when to shut up. And people say that “a drunk’s a drunk” but Lonzo Choat showed us that even a drunk can have big dreams, can wanna be a “good man,” can believe in a better life . . . And can drown all that dreamin’ and wantin’ and believin’each and every day on repeat.
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And then there’s Ludie & Abner. Stuck right there livin’ with him. Clinging to a past life and a pipe dream, respectively, but pretty much on neither account by preference as far as I could tell. What about them?
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Carrie Preston’s Ludie Choat and Hal Holbrook’s Abner Meecham “sing” a two-part harmony that portrays the inner struggle a person goes through when livin’ with a man like Lonzo. A song of the days and moments when, like Ludie, ya think you can climb into his lap, tenderly place your hand onto his face, whisper in his ear, and love him into doing the right thing. When you believe in each and every “new start.” And then of the days and moments when, like Abner, disgust and anger consumes you, destroys you even. And you can only imagine that scaring-the-livin-daylights-out-of-him into doing the right thing is the way to go.
Carrie Preston’s Ludie Choat and Hal Holbrook’s Abner Meecham “sing” a two-part harmony that portrays the inner struggle a person goes through when livin’ with a man like Lonzo. A song of the days and moments when, like Ludie, ya think you can climb into his lap, tenderly place your hand onto his face, whisper in his ear, and love him into doing the right thing. When you believe in each and every “new start.” And then of the days and moments when, like Abner, disgust and anger consumes you, destroys you even. And you can only imagine that scaring-the-livin-daylights-out-of-him into doing the right thing is the way to go.
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Yes, "That Evening Sun" is a cautionary tale. A beautiful one and one that I related to. One that I loved. That reminded me of something else my grandmother once wrote to me . . .
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Yes, "That Evening Sun" is a cautionary tale. A beautiful one and one that I related to. One that I loved. That reminded me of something else my grandmother once wrote to me . . .
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"Be true to yourself. I read when I was a young woman that to be a peaceful old woman at 80 you must be a peaceful young woman at 20”
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Life doesn’t give you an unlimited amount of time to become a peaceful young woman. Which means . . . sometimes the only answer to all those questions (will he ever? does he even? what if I . . .?) is to find yourself a set of keys.
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See it. See this movie! See. This. Movie.
See it. See this movie! See. This. Movie.
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A TOAST to the most beautiful glass-and-leaves-and-loneliness opening shot I’ve ever seen. A Toast to William Gay and Scott Teems. A Toast to Patterson Hood, Drive-By Truckers and Michael Penn. To Walton Goggins and Mia Wasikowska and Dixie Carter and Barry Corbin. To Dually who played Nipper the dog. A Toast to Ray McKinnon who brought Lonzo Choat to life, to Hal Holbrook who made me hate him and to Carrie Preston who made me wish that he would wake up and grow up all at the same time - just for her. Thank you. More please.
aS
(Ooh Girl It Is So) Hot This Week . . .
Catch me at both Out of Order at Theatre Macon AND Crossroads Writers Conference
Hello! . . . Caroletta's Cakes
All my peeps . . . Thank you! Sweet David Hightower, for bringing all the girls in the cast flowers. Awww!!! You're Amazing: Stephanie Shadden, for remembering (and appreciating) me. Leigh & Josh, Baby T-Heart Tinsley, Blake, Tracy Benton & Her Darling Mister, Little Miss Walden, BJ & Gene, my friends Nicole (Designer Tan), Sara Blakely (Spanx) and the whole cast and crew of Out of Order.
A TOAST to the most beautiful glass-and-leaves-and-loneliness opening shot I’ve ever seen. A Toast to William Gay and Scott Teems. A Toast to Patterson Hood, Drive-By Truckers and Michael Penn. To Walton Goggins and Mia Wasikowska and Dixie Carter and Barry Corbin. To Dually who played Nipper the dog. A Toast to Ray McKinnon who brought Lonzo Choat to life, to Hal Holbrook who made me hate him and to Carrie Preston who made me wish that he would wake up and grow up all at the same time - just for her. Thank you. More please.
aS
(Ooh Girl It Is So) Hot This Week . . .
Catch me at both Out of Order at Theatre Macon AND Crossroads Writers Conference
Hello! . . . Caroletta's Cakes
All my peeps . . . Thank you! Sweet David Hightower, for bringing all the girls in the cast flowers. Awww!!! You're Amazing: Stephanie Shadden, for remembering (and appreciating) me. Leigh & Josh, Baby T-Heart Tinsley, Blake, Tracy Benton & Her Darling Mister, Little Miss Walden, BJ & Gene, my friends Nicole (Designer Tan), Sara Blakely (Spanx) and the whole cast and crew of Out of Order.
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