The song is all about failure. He’s clear-eyed that he’s run out of time. There’s so many things that he could’ve done, but now he’s broken and on his way out. It’s hard to face when things aren’t going to be ok- even these guys feel like failures and they’re rich and surrounded by eager groupies. What does that say for us plebes?
I can only write this from the male perspective. Maybe you keep going to spite your enemies? Maybe you keep going because you still have stupid hope? Maybe you keep going because you’re scared you’ll survive – sort of? Maybe you just keep going because you can’t afford your preferred means to end it? Maybe you keep going because yes it will get worse and yes you are failure, but most people are failures and you figure that you’re not even the worst failure; so, maybe there’s room left to fall? Maybe, like George Carlin suggested, you just don’t have the time to schedule it in?
Whatever your reason, eventually the reason will resolve; so, you need someone to remind you of a backup reason or we will miss you.
Juice WRLD is not really my guy, but my daughter likes him and he did pass way to soon. I think people can see that others value them, but it’s hard to live for other people, when you don’t want to keep going for yourself.
This song always gets to me because I was very in love and in Seattle with everyone I needed in my life. My life has gotten smaller since then, but it’s good to remember the brief times when everything seemed to fit; at least, they seemed to fit.
This movement always made me think of great westerns like Lonesome Dove. The movement never made me think of space or Jupiter. Fun fact, without Jupiter, Earth would be pulverized by meteors constantly. Jupiter is like a big brother.
I have listened to this so many times that I think I should take Jerry Goldsmith’s family to dinner. It has this hauntingly hopeful melody, which is in stark contrast to having a monster shoot out of your stomach.
It’s been fun living life as one of the biggest fans of Charles Bronson in the world going back to around 1984 or 1985 when I first watched DEATH WISH on late night TV with my dad. For most of those years, my positive obsession was just shared with my family and friends. That began to change in 2021 when I met a guy named Eric Todd who ran the Facebook page “This Week in Charles Bronson.” Not only did Eric run the page, but he also hosted a podcast of the same name. I guess through my sheer enthusiasm about finally meeting people who love Bronson like I do, Eric asked me to be part of his show. I can’t tell you how much fun I’ve had joining Eric and his various guests over the last 4 years on the podcast. During that time, I’ve been part of interviews with actors Jordan Rhodes and Robert F. Lyons, actress Jan Gan Boyd, author Paul Talbot, and even Charles Bronson’s niece Lindsay Ireland. Each interview has been special to me, and Lindsay shared with us that her cousin Paul (Bronson’s stepson) listened to the episode that she was on. I never imagined my love of Bronson would afford me the opportunity to meet these kinds of people, and that Charles Bronson’s own family would enjoy our stuff!
The fun continued this past week when Eric and I interviewed Native American author Sherman Alexie, who wrote the screenplay for the movie SMOKE SIGNALS, starring Adam Beach, Evan Adams, Irene Bedard, Gary Farmer, Tantoo Cardinal, and Tom Skerritt. Sherman loves Charles Bronson, and he told us that his dad even looked like Charles Bronson. We discussed some of his movie work, some of his short stories and novels, and the Bronson film THE WHITE BUFFALO (1977). We spend a lot of time discussing films in general, where Sherman introduced us to the movies REC (2007) and MEKKO (2015). We even spend some time talking about the “awesome” James Woods and the “scary” David Morse, who have both worked with Charles Bronson! If you want to know why I put “quotations” on those words, you’ll have to check us out.
So, if any of this sounds fun to you, I’ve linked to the YouTube video below for your viewing pleasure! If you like it, go back and watch some of our other shows and even subscribe! Some of my personal favorite shows are when us Bronson fans just sit around and talk about one of his movies. You never know where the conversations might end up. Heck, some of my favorites are shows I’m not even on! I do apologize in advance for my accent. What do you expect from a guy from Toad Suck, Arkansas?
Happy Birthday to one of my favorite people in the world, Jan Gan Boyd, Charles Bronson’s co-star in ASSASSINATION (1987)!
We’ll be back to that in a bit, but first a little about me. My parents purchased a VCR for our family sometime around 1985 or so. I was about 12 years old at that time, and it’s fair to say that I’ve been obsessed with movies ever since. It’s actually fair to say that I have somewhat of an obsessive personality, so when I latch onto something, I really, really latch on. At the very top of that list is my lifelong fascination with the actor Charles Bronson. To be completely honest with you, it’s a passion that not many people really understand or appreciate. Beginning around 1986 with my discovery of DEATH WISH 3, I would talk about his movies to my friends constantly. Now keep in mind that I was a young teenager and Bronson was around 65, with his best movie-making years well behind him. Charles Bronson was not high on the list of topics my friends wanted to discuss. I’m in my 50’s now, and my old high school friends still tease me about Charles Bronson. I don’t care, because I still think he’s awesome!
As a matter of fact, my obsession with Charles Bronson has only gotten stronger over the last five years or so. Back in November of 2021, I met a guy from Pennsylvania named Eric Todd who had started the “This Week in Charles Bronson” Podcast and Facebook page. After joining the page, we became fast friends. For the first time, through the Facebook page, I had a whole group of friends who love Charles Bronson as much, or at least close to as much, as I do. In the summer of 2022, when my wife and I drove 17 hours from my home in Arkansas to the Mahoning Drive-In in Lehighton, PA, to watch a triple feature of classic Bronson films, Eric asked me to join him on the podcast and while on-site at the drive-in, I recorded my first episode. I thought this would just be some fun social media or podcast activity where us “Bronson weirdos,” as we call ourselves, would discuss our hero and his movies. I never thought it would lead me to getting to meet some of the actors and actresses who actually worked with Bronson in the movies. Boy, was I wrong!
Through my participation with the “This Week in Charles Bronson” podcast and Facebook page, I have met Paul Talbot (author of the “Bronson’s Loose” and “Bronson’s Loose Again” books), Jordan Rhodes (co-star of MR. MAJESTYK and THE INDIAN RUNNER), Henry Brooks (writer of “Charles Bronson, More than a Vigilante, The Musical” ), Robert F. Lyons (co-star of DEATH WISH II, TEN TO MIDNIGHT and MURPHY’S LAW), and Lindsay Ireland (Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland’s niece and author of the book “Why Not Me?”). I have met fellow Bronson fans from all over the country and world. Not only have I met these people, but I’ve also developed some true friendships along the way. Eric and I now plan family vacations together, and if I ever find myself in a city where one of my “Buchinsky Boys” reside, I will definitely find the time to break bread with them. It’s one of the nicest communities I’ve ever been a part of, and I’m thankful for it.
To bring this full circle, one of my favorite people in the world, who I now consider a friend, just so happened to co-star with Charles Bronson and Jill Ireland in the 1987 action film, ASSASSINATION. Back in January of 2023, Eric and I were able to interview actress Jan Gan Boyd. It was such an honor to be able spend some time with her as she talked about working with Bronson, Michael Douglas, Richard Attenborough, Martin Kove, Ted Danson, and even Richard Roundtree. She remained close friends with Charles Bronson up until his death in 2003. If any of you would like to watch that podcast episode, I’ve linked to it below.
I don’t know how many of you enjoy listening to podcasts, but I joined a Facebook group back in 2021 focused on the actor Charles Bronson. The group is called the “This Week in Charles Bronson: Podcast.” We focus on Bronson, but the page is really just a springboard for all kinds of pop culture discussions. Well, one of the things we do is periodically produce podcasts focused on Bronson’s movies, the actors who are in them, the directors, the stunt people… you name it, we discuss it. I’ve been lucky enough to meet actors and actresses who’ve worked with Bronson, authors who write about Bronson, and most importantly, people just like me all over the world who love Charles Bronson. It’s been such a fun experience in my life.
Today, I’m sharing just a snippet from one of our podcasts where we discuss the excellent opening sequence of Bronson’s 1972 action classic, THE MECHANIC! If you like what you hear, listen to the full episode and our back catalogue of episodes on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, etc. Heck, we’d love you to join our Facebook page and get involved. That’s all I did! Before you know it, you could be part of the show! Enjoy my friends!
Through the Shattered Lens 