A couple interesting pieces in the local paper related to film. Melonie Diaz is a promising young actress, who will pop up a lot this year, had a supporting role in Be Kind Rewind. Also, I agree -- dubbing of foreign movies (including American ones) is rarely a good thing -- not only does it sound funny, it is fake. And, something is loss in translation. Besides, part of the charm of foreign movies are foreign languages! OTOH, though sometimes B&W is chosen and/or colorization is done poorly, directors generally did not choose to avoid color films. Purists might be upset, but colorization can be a lot less annoying than dubbing.
Meanwhile, in the depressing news department, Brett Favre coming to the Jets is not the only bit of news that came as a surprise when I passed by it. It turns out that John Edwards did have an affair, so the rumors that he had some love child was not totally ridiculous. One more victory for the tabloids, I guess, though he was stupid to lie about having an affair. "No comment," fine -- even, good. This includes trying to be cute, and figuring the errors in the story will save you. But, when you cheat, you leave enough signs to be caught. Now, he looks like a total cad, and his family is hurt by the public exposure that is only worsened by the lying. Some will even suspect he really is the father.
I really don't want to know that he had an affair. The fact his wife has cancer makes him look like an asshole, but people with sick spouses have affairs. Those who spend a lot of time away from their families and/or on the road, especially if they have the opportunity via close working relationships with members of the opposite sex also have affairs. It is often not some marriage ender either -- it depends on the couple and situation at hand. Morally, it does lead me to think somewhat less of the guy. But, deep down, who figured Edwards was some kind of saint or anything? The thought he was a bit of an empty suit, even if one who did enough to respect, was always a lingering suspicion.
Still, you have to be honest about such things. Other people I respect probably have some similar skeleton in their closet. Humans and all. Likewise, it doesn't suddenly make it a "public" matter. It wasn't bjs in the White House after a history of bad behavior in that department. (You know the rest ... again, lots more trouble there, in some ways of a public nature.) And, the guy no longer is running for President. The fact Edwards had a shot for some Cabinet role (at most) is not really compelling enough to suddenly make an old affair public news. I think many deep down think so too. Not sure we as a society are quite willing to admit it. Now, we must hope that he can get past it, and manage to continue to do some good, publicly and privately.
Elizabeth knew about it for some time. She too wishes it was kept private. Oh, it was not a disqualification in my eyes for the presidency. His earlier support for the invasion, and Clinton's continual failure to take responsibility ... more of one. Pragmatically, in a close race between attractive candidates, it might have some small role to play. It was easier by the end that he had no chance. Oh, some was upset the papers didn't go after this story more and more quickly. It was more important than his haircuts, true enough, though one bitten and all .... To the degree the papers, like me, didn't see the public interest in this whole thing (especially if they figured no love child was involved), thanks for small favors.
Anyway, it is all very depressing, but overall, just not very newsworthy. A bit of gossip, a bit more pain, but for a family that lost a child and is fighting cancer, even there, this is just not that important.