The Power of the Dog / My Review

“Deliver my soul from the sword,
my precious life from the power of the dog!”
– The Bible / English Standard Version

See the source image — **The Power of the Dog / the Book.**

This is not a Western.
Yeah it’s got cowboy hats and horses and such …
but as I said in my preview, this appears to be more a
psychological drama than a Western.

I was right.

The Setting could be anywhere really.
And I understand what is being said …
and performances are great.
It’s a tough and lonely world when you’re isolated by your sexuality.
But I found this to be very uncomfortable movie to watch.
And I didn’t feel this Movie was adding anything to me.
And I am responsible for whatever I permit into my consciousness.

If I had been in a Theatre I would have walked out.

And it’s loooong ……… 2 and a half hours.
Whew …

See the source image

I know this will get a lot of great reviews from Critics.
But … don’t say I didn’t tell you.

Blessings to All …

Below is an excerpt from the 1951 Film Scrooge starring Alastair Sim –
my favorite version of Charles Dickens Masterpiece, A Christmas Carol.
I consider this film a Masterpiece as well.
I watch every year and marvel at it. And I always cry. It is a Classic.
For Sim is the perfect Scrooge and immortalized himself
with his wonderful portrayal.
There is colorized version as well.

A few cards I’ve created over the years.

These times are tough for many.
But Christmas … like anything … is still what we make it.
The Cratchits’ knew it well. It’s about Love.
Not presents.
Just who’s present.
Best to You and Yours.

Christmas in the Trenches … John McDermott

Nicely Done John.
McDermott is a bit of an Canadian icon.
A wonderful performer with a great voice.

For his support for veterans’ causes, John McDermott was made an honorary member of The War Amps.
Also for supporting veterans’ causes, he has received the US Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Bob Hope Award. September 2001
Received The Chapel of Four Chaplains ” Legion of Honor Award ” April 2002
Received a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation for his work on behalf of Veterans 2010.
Received five Juno nominations (1993–1998)
Received the Ted Williams Globe and Anchor Award from the United States Marine Corps Semper Fidelis Society. November. 2011
McDermott was called the “worthy heir to the famed Irish tenor John McCormack” (Chicago Sun Times).

Christmas in hte Trenches / Trace Adkins

Christmas 1915 …

Bringing together their affinity for a great popular song with outstanding live performances, Irishmen Damian McGinty, Keith Harkin, Paul Byrom, Ryan Kelly and Scotsman George Donaldson of Celtic Thunder pay homage to cherished holiday favorites on their DVD Celtic Thunder – Christmas. Offering a holiday celebration for all the family, Celtic Thunder Christmas features all-time favorites such as ‘Winter Wonderland”, “It’s Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas” and “Let It Snow”, original compositions such as “Christmas Morning Donegal”, “Christmas Overture” and of course the Celtic Thunder fan favorites the a cappella “Amazing Grace” the poignant “Christmas 1915” and the Gaelic version of “Silent Night” amongst others. Celtic Thunder – Christmas is a diverse mix of international and Celtic holiday classics performed as always with the Celtic Thunder magic.

Christmas Truce …

Then they sadly went back to killing each other.
Everybody could have just put their guns down and gone home and said
“We aren’t going to do this anymore. Why should I leave my family
and home to go kill people I don’t even know?”
But it never stops. And never will.

Reel Cowboys …

My Heroes have always been Cowboys
– Waylon Jennings

From https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/2425

Tom Mix Died Here

Florence, Arizona

Tom Mix was the greatest of the silent-era movie cowboys, and a cowboy in real-life as well. He reportedly could knock a button off of a shirt with a rifle shot, and jump a horse into a railroad box car. He was married seven times to six different women. (MFW: Don’t try this at home folks. This is only for REAL Cowboys.)

But Tom was 60 years old on October 12, 1940, and behind the wheel of a V8 convertible, not in a saddle, when he decided to race north across the Arizona desert to visit his son-in-law. No one knows how fast he was going when he saw the road repair crew, but some say that he was standing straight up on the brakes, trying to stop, when his car flew into the washed-out gully. Tom’s aluminum suitcase was thrown out of the back seat and into the back of Tom’s head (He was wearing his trademark 10-gallon white Stetson at the time). Mix emerged apparently unscathed from the car — which was not badly damaged — took one step, and crumpled, dead of a broken neck.

Tom Mix Memorial Picnic Area.

The gully was renamed Tom Mix Wash as a makeshift memorial. Seven years later the Pinal County Historical Society erected a monument at the remote site. It’s a mortared, cobblestone pile topped with a two-foot-tall black iron silhouette of a saddled but riderless horse, its head bowed. The horse has several holes in it. At first you may think it’s rust — but then you remember that you’re in a desert, and there is no rust, and the holes are in fact bullet holes.

The monument was restored in 1990 when the horse, which had been stolen ten years earlier, was returned and had its first batch of bullet holes repaired. In the early 21st century a single, sheltered picnic bench was built just behind the monument, for those who want to eat lunch in the middle of a desert where Tom Mix died.

I didn’t just randomly pick this Tom Mix image for my Blog Icon.
I genuinely admire Mix as a real Cowboy who became a Film Star.
He really was an amazing character who did many of his own stunts.
The were a few Western Stars in those days – the 20’s –
who were genuine Cowboys.
This kind of Casting stopped after a while – possibly the reason being demonstrated by this famous quote from the
Great Western Film Director John Ford:

It is easier to get an actor to be a cowboy
than to get a cowboy to be an actor.
– John Ford

Yet later on we still found a few Cowboys that became BIG Stars:

See the source image

Ben Johnson the 1971 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor
and the BAFTA Award for Best Supporting Actor for the movie
The Last Picture Show.
The great irony here is that Johnson’s career was started
by John Ford who had originally hired him as a wrangler
to manage the horses for his Movies.

Also Slim Pickens who had an astounding film career

See the source image

started as rodeo cowboy.
Then appeared in nearly 90 Films
and 60 TV appearances
over 40 years.

Go figure!?

Tofino Beach / Day 2

“Seas the day.”

– Unknown

I do love to be beside the seaside
from Kidzone · Anthony England · John A Glover-Kind

The Ocean, in any weather, has it’s primal pull.
And I must obey.

We were only here 3 days,
but just like in Punta Cana, Mexico
we went to beach often.

Other people feel the same way.

The ocean’s flotsam is nature’s artwork.

Henry Moore was here.

No sun? No shine?
No problem.

Yet …
proof of sunshine …

Tofino Beach / Day 1

“You can’t stop the waves,
but you can learn to surf.”

– John Kabat-Zinn

Cool Water / Joni Mitchell and Willie Nelson

As with any outdoor event weather can be a factor.

And it wasn’t sunny.

Not the turnout you’d hope for.

In past years (as below) it was better.

Ironically, bad weather can often make for better surf.

Not sure how the Surfers felt about all this.

The rain probably doesn’t affect them much.
They could hardly get any wetter.

But the extra cold might ??

Musical Interlude / Both Sides Now

Rows and flows of angel hair
And ice cream castles in the air
And feather canyons everywhere
I’ve looked at clouds that way

But now they only block the sun
They rain and snow on everyone
So many things I would have done
But clouds got in my way

I’ve looked at clouds from both sides now
From up and down, and still somehow
It’s cloud illusions I recall
I really don’t know clouds at all

Moons and Junes and Ferris wheels
The dizzy dancing way you feel
As every fairy tale comes real
I’ve looked at love that way

But now it’s just another show
You leave ’em laughing when you go
And if you care, don’t let them know
Don’t give yourself away

I’ve looked at love from both sides now
From give and take, and still somehow
It’s love’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know love at all

Tears and fears and feeling proud
To say “I love you” right out loud
Dreams and schemes and circus crowds
I’ve looked at life that way

But now old friends are acting strange
They shake their heads, they say I’ve changed
Well something’s lost, but something’s gained
In living every day

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From win and lose and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

I’ve looked at life from both sides now
From up and down and still somehow
It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all

“Both Sides, Now” was written By Joni Mitchell
some time before November 17, 1966.
It was released in 1969 on her Album “Clouds”.
But before such Clouds even brushed our ears Joni had paid a legion of dues.
Fame and recognition did not happen overnight.

Joni left home to attend the Alberta College of Art in Calgary 1963.
She was 20.
I found her bio and pic in the College Library Yearbook for that year.
I should have stole it.

I left home to attend the Alberta College of Art in Calgary in 1969.
I was 20.
I knew nothing.
I truly was a blank canvas.
And didn’t even know it.
OH how I wish I could re-win and rewind those lost days.
Long past.

“It’s life’s illusions I recall
I really don’t know life at all”

It seems that there are so few true Artists these days – music or otherwise.
But Joni has truly been one of them.

I surely detect some Van Gogh don’t I Joni?

Bob 'n' Joni — Joni Mitchell, “Self-Portrait with Bandaged Ear,”...

Indeed.

Joni Mitchell - Miles Davis - paintings — **Miles Davis by Joni Mitchell**

Among the canvases: Behind the scenes at Joni Mitchell's home | Joni mitchell paintings, Portrait artist, Portrait art

That’s pretty Canuck Joni!

Joni Mitchell - Taming The Tiger | Releases | Discogs

Ahh some.

TOP 25 QUOTES BY JONI MITCHELL (of 264) | A-Z Quotes

I could go on … and on … and on …

Remember …

In the centre and heart of every Canadian town and city stands one of these.

Never forget.

The Power of the Dog

Okkkkaaayyyy.
An unusual title and this looks a bit different too.
Appears to be more of a psychological drama/thriller
than a Western ???

On Netflix.