RECOMMENDED. <>Movie: “Dog Day Afternoon.” <>Book/Poetry. “Federico Garcia Lorca: The Collected Poems: A Bilingual Edition.”

“Dog Day Afternoon,” a 1975 biographical crime drama film directed by Sidney Lumet, and stars Al Pacino. This is more dark comedy than crime drama though. Based on the Life magazine article "The Boys in the Bank" by P. F. Kluge and Thomas Moore, the movie chronicles the 1972 failed robbery and hostage situation led by John Wojtowicz and Salvatore Naturile at a Chase Manhattan branch in Brooklyn. 

       As Sonny Wortzik (based on John Wojtowicz), this is Al Pacino’s best performance, regardless of 1992’s “Scent of a Woman.” And “Dog Day…” has the best dialogues ever. Example: Sonny: “Is there any special country you wanna go to?” / Sal (John Cazale): “Wyoming.” / Sonny: “Sal, Wyoming's not a country.” 

       Plus, of course, Sonny yelling “Attica! Attica! Attica!” in reference to the Attica (upstate New York) Prison Riot in 1971. The rebellion resulted in the highest number of fatalities in the history of United States prison uprisings, 43 fatalities. The tragic event has been described as a historical event in prisoners' rights movement.

       In 2009, “Dog Day Afternoon” was deemed "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant" by the Library of Congress, and was selected for preservation in the National Film Registry. There’s no dull moment in the movie. Everybody’s having fun. And Chris Sarandon delivered the most compelling gay character internalization ever. Less talk, less screen-time but “loud.” 

       Weekend fun movie watch with friends? “Dog Day Afternoon” is very much recommended. “Attica! Attica! Attica!” 🎬🎭🎬

Book/Poetry. “Federico Garcia Lorca: The Collected Poems: A Bilingual Edition.” An ambitious collection across many years of the poetic works of the Spanish poet. Senor Lorca or Federico del Sagrado Corazón de Jesús García Lorca (1898 – 1936) achieved international recognition as an emblematic member of the Generation of '27, a group consisting mostly of poets who introduced the tenets of European movements (such as symbolism, futurism, and surrealism) into Spanish literature.

       Definitely and absolutely, Lorca is the most powerful influence in my poetry. Beyond his “Cogida and Death” and “Llanto por Ignacio Sanchez Mejias” or “Lament for Ignacio Sanchez Mejias,” his works are virtual jewels: “Ballad of the Moon,” “Before the Dawn,” “City That Does Not Sleep,” “Death of Antoñito El Camborio.” You may want to read the original Spanish versions and read them aloud, for pleasure of the musicality of words. Especially the gacelas and casidas from “Divan del Tamarit,” 1936. 

       In case you’d venture to dig up more of Lorca’s work, start with 1928’s “Romancero gitano,” depicting life in his native Andalusia. My most favorite, and which I can easily relate in re my life in New York City and America per se, is “Poeta en Nueva York,” 1942.

     Federico García Lorca was assassinated by Nationalist forces at the beginning of the Spanish Civil War (1936-1939). 📚✍️📚

RECOMMENDED. <>Literature/illustrated history. Works by Rius or Eduardo Humberto del Río García. <>Music. “Music from Big Pink” by the Band.

Literature/illustrated history. Works by Eduardo Humberto del Río García a.k.a. Rius: Economics for Dummies, Philosophy for Beginners: From Plato up to a Little While Ago, Marx for Beginners, About Che Guevara, Cuba for Beginners etc etcetera. Also, another on Kama Sutra (ha!) “Kama Nostra.” 

       Before there was ever a “Chicken Soup…” by Jack Canfield and Mark Victor Hansen, or “…for Dummies” by Dan Gookin, there was already Rius for Beginners. But, of course, you may argue timelines. As for me, I discovered Rius in 1970s; Chicken Soup/Dummies in the 1990s. 

       Born in 1934 (he passed away in 2017, age 83), Mexican native Rius was born in Zamora, Michoacán. Definitely, he is one of the most popular Mexican cartoonists; I rate him among the top 5 best political cartoonists, all-time. Name some: Martin Rowson, Thomas Nast, Homer Davenport, Charles Werner, Signe Wilkinson, Clint C. Wilson, Sr., Matt Wuerker, and so on and so forth. Rius is a marquee dude.

       His work is easy and accessible, even a 5th grader can navigate the political themes. And the drawings are humorous, witty, and detailed. Reading Marx, Plato, or Che Guevara seemed like “Calvin & Hobbes.” And more. 📚✍️📚

Music. “Music from Big Pink,” the debut studio album by the Band, released in 1968. The Band is my band, a fusion of genres that’s entirely their own: Country, rock, folk, Americana, classical, R&B, blues, and soul. Along with the obligatory guitars, drums, and keyboards, add fiddle, organ, accordion, saxophone, mandolin etc etcetera. 

       My dudes: Robbie Robertson, Rick Danko, Garth Hudson, Richard Manuel, and Levon Helm. Music that feels easy as moonshine in a barn with the street feel of Bleecker Street, bayou grit of Muscle Shoals, and sweet decadence of the French Quarter. 

       Though the album was recorded in studios in New York City and Los Angeles, as inferred, the songs were composed partly in "Big Pink," a house shared by Rick, Richard, and Garth in West Saugerties, upstate New York. This LP came after the band backed Bob Dylan on his 1966 tour. The relationship eventually produced the collaboration “The Basement Tapes,” released much later in 1975.

        What makes “Music from Big Pink” enthralling? The organic quality of the instrumentation, means no overdubbing. Robert Christgau of The Village Voice puts it so succinctly: “Country-soul feeling without imitating it…" and "…human roughness around the edges” although he altogether found the album boring. Could be in some ways. But The Band’s music requires (re)listening as we tend to with good-stuff literature. We flow into it. Other took note the absence or lack of energy, but what “energy” were they looking for? The Band isn’t Led Zeppelin, certainly. Need I explain?

       There have been several “reissues” of the album, remastered gold CD, DVD-audio etcetera with bonus tracks. I don’t pay attention to those marketing-savvy peripherals. I own the original vinyl. My most favorite cuts: "This Wheel's on Fire," “Long Black Veil,” "Tears of Rage," and of course, “The Weight.” The a-capella of Dylan’s “I Shall Be Released" is a no-brainer. 🎼🎹🎼