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# Some Poetry and Movies
- URL: https://tombeaverbooks.ghost.io/some-poetry-and-movies/
- Published: 2026-06-27T16:35:52.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-27T16:35:52.000Z
- Author: Tom Beaver
- Tags: Memoir, #Import 2026-06-27 21:39

*Feb. 14*

Letter to Rob — Read some Billy Collins tonight. Yes, I like his stuff. Not striking me like I described to you, as too easy and thin. If anything, I’m a little bummed out that it’s almost too much to my liking: that is, too close to what I’m wanting to write—indeed, what I do write, though I don’t often take it this close to being a done poem. I aim to read poetry more often. I’ve also started one of Updike’s collection of art reviews. Exercising my art-viewing eyes and taking in some concepts about visual art.

Two recent films I liked: *The Spectacular Now* and *Whiplash*, both starring Miles Teller, an appealing young actor. Character studies both, and both a bit unusual in structure. No 30-minute considerations of cows, but one very long drum solo—the opposite of non-adrenalized and boring. In *Spectacular Now* I loved how this high school boy is finally understood to be the opposite of what you assumed. Not a glib manipulator but someone who, in his mother’s words, loves everyone.

Some other American films I’ve seen lately and rate high: *Once Upon a Time in Hollywood, Django Unchained, The Greenbook, The Help, Aloha, The Descendents, Hidden Figures.*

Love the first Wonder Woman movie, though the long final battle was, while spectacular, was just the obligatory handjob at the end of a superhero story. And there were formulaic touches all through. What makes the movie is really a stretch through the middle. Diana constrained into Victorian dress and squired about London—and she cooperates, but give her the least provocation and she is fully her fierce self. Then a moment where this indomitable warrior swoons over a baby she passes. And then a scene where you think you’re just enroute to a big battle scene and all of a sudden Diana has had enough—she’s going into battle *now*. The movie goes from 55 mph to 100 mph in a heartbeat, and then to 150 mph. The great thing about this movie is that Diana is not a character who develops. She is completely amazing, period. The arc of the story is the other characters, and us, realizing one unhesitating intervention at a time what a wonder on top of wonders she is.