Buster Keaton Ends Month of Austerity/Captures Hearts.

Alex and I officially ended an arduous month of austerity last night. Unofficially it was broken when we celebrated a friend's birthday last week with "one drink only!" at Saloon in Davis Square. I really appreciated that one drink.
ps. I had a delightful beverage with wheat whiskey, lemon, wheat grass, bitters, and ginger beer. Healthy, yet deviant.

In an attempt to offset major financial commitments including my sweet little sister's wedding and our quickly approaching Grand Tour, we decided to test our skills in economy and penury. No unessential purchases or entertainment outings allowed for thirty days. We even went two weeks without a major grocery shopping trip. Instead we creatively stretched our pantry as a kind of exhilarating challenge. The outcome was some pretty inventive meals that shook up our routine recipe staples. All around, good things.

To ease the transition we went small, a beer and a casual night with the Not So Silent Cinema at the Somerville Armory. We had first seen the band/collective last year around Halloween when they showed Nosferatu (we may have even seen them much earlier back in Philadelphia when some of the band members were part of the West Philadelphia Orchestra: hey dance party!). It was a memorable evening, especially since Nosferatu had been accompanied by an original, live musical performance.

We were excited to see what was in store this time. On the bill: three Buster Keaton shorts. I had never really given Keaton much of a chance, even though I love the Marx Brothers, Harold Lloyd, and plenty of other more modern slapstick, physical comedians. The first film, High Sign, was marvelously entertaining and a good lead into the equally satisfying One Week and The Goat. 

High Sign, 1921.

The results of a "build your own home" kit in One Week, 1920.

Keaton figures out the best way to put the chimney on. 

The Goat, 1921.

Thanks to the Not So Silent Cinema crew I have a crush on Buster Keaton. I suspect that I am not alone. That mournful face, those sweet eyes, and how absolutely badass he is with all of those stunts. Swoon. I'm pretty sure Bruce Lee and Jackie Chan modeled themselves after this guy. 

We look forward to seeing what the Not So Silent Cinema have planned for their next show! We want more!