Mr. Husband was getting his drunk on while we were watching The Matrix last night. I had never seen it, and I have to say, not a big loss. I don’t see how a movie can be a mind fuck and have plot holes the size of Courtney Love’s No-No Place at the same time.
Was the set up on that one worth it? I’m not sure.
Anyhow, we paused it when Bill is at the point of his Excellent Adventure where he talks to the Oracle. And she points to a sign above Keanu’s head that says “know yourself.” We started to talk about the whole Athenian market thing, and how it actually meant “know your caste,” not some big trippy metaphysical jive.
Mr. Husband changed directions, in a way.
“I’m trying to talk to other cabbies from other companies. I have this feeling that North End might go under,” Mr. Husband said, after we were done arguing about the correct Latin pronunciation of “know yourself,” a subject that neither of us should feel qualified to argue about.
“Yeah?” I said. “What did you find out?”
“Well, remember that shoot-out that happened at Far West a few months ago?” He was referring to two cabbies from Far West who had shot each other. “This guy who worked there said that the whole company has been ‘taken over’ by Sikhs. The guy who got killed in the gunfight was a Sikh of a lower caste, and he was making more money that the shooter, who was higher.”
“Do you think that’s true?” I said.
“I don’t know. All I know is, that shit won’t fly in this country for very long.”
I always love to hear Mr. Husband’s version of America as this classless wonderland. Mr. Husband is so enduring in his optimism, even after two years driving cab. It’s impressive, really, and kind of sweet.
That’s not as condescending as it sounds, I promise.
Nice story. Optimism would be a great thing to have. Wish I did.
And Courtney’s “No-No Place?” Priceless.
You’re watching an Anime based Kung-Fu/Sci-Fi movie made by Hollywood and you expect PLOT?! ;)
To paraphrase the movie somewhat (which I love, btw): “Do not try to understand the plot, that would be impossible. Simply, try to see the truth: there is no plot.” :)
One of my Film & Television teachers always said it was basically just a bible story.
Think about it, all the major characters are there…
I always expect a plot! Me so crazy.
Oh I agree – I’m a huge fan of the Matrix but the plot holes require a lot of Trinity’esque “suspension of disbelief”. Why enslave humans at all? Why not farm horses for body heat and electricity? They generate TONS more and they don’t generally have a penchant for Kung-Fu or organized rebellion.
On first reading what I got was, “Mr. Husband was getting his drunk on while we were watching The Marxist last night. ”
And I’m like, “Huh. The Marxist. That sounds interesting.” And then you’re talking about Keanu and I’m like, “Weird. ‘Cause, A, I never figured Keanu for a Marxist. And B, I’d think I’d have heard about it Keanu Fuck’n Reeves was in a movie called The Marxist.”
I mean, I was all the way down to “know yourself” before I figured it out.
Fuck’n friday, yo.
Hey man, it’s about how paradoxical and impossible the universe is and everything…man. What plot holes?
Go JohnnyQ!