The Future is Always Uncertain

                “The future’s uncertain and the end is always near” Jim Morrison once said.  For four tough teenagers living in one of the country’s most dangerous cities, their future is one to be shockingly unsure yet somewhat one to live for.  Patrick Sullivan, a nineteen year old Black Sabbath fanatic has one goal and one goal only: to rob Led Zeppelin.  Not only was Led Zeppelin rocks coolest most popular band at the time but they were also the band with a topnotch security full of crazy British dudes.  When Patrick spies a suitcase full of cash backstage at a Led Zeppelin concert in New York, he makes sure that is one aspect he won’t forget to tell his partners in crime once he goes back to Baltimore.  Black Dogs simply tells the story of one of rock ‘n’ roll greatest planned heists.

Written from Patrick’s point of view, he takes the reader step by step carefully telling them how to plan a robbery.  “First, empty your pockets.  Dump anything that makes noise.  No loose change.  No keys.  Don’t even bother with a wallet.  You don’t need it.  If it falls out, you’re fucked.”  Patrick always seems to be the one who thinks before he acts.  Pete or “Frenchy” on the other hand is the guy who goes with the flow and takes things as they come.   Alex is one never to fuck with.  Although he seems like a nice guy, he can fight like a champ.  Lastly, there’s Keith.  Keith seems to be the guy who most of the time doesn’t have a brain.  After ending up in jail for being blamed that he is a Holy Ghost, the town’s most violent gang, his friends do the unthinkable to bail him out.

“Always plan on running.”  For these guys, running is the answer to everything.  Half the book takes place in action.  Running from cops, motorcycle gangs and huge British men is something daring, exciting, and something to look forward to.  The book delivers a sense of fulfillment because the boys tend to know what they are doing and get away with most of the stunts that they pull.  The last stunt is what is going to blow your mind.  Finally arriving in New York with a stolen 1958 Les Paul guitar, the boys

 “Spread your tiny wings and fly away, and take the snow back with you where it came from on that day.”  That’s what Frenchy relied on the day he robbed Led Zeppelin of 203,000 dollars.  He went where no other man had ever gone; he took a guitar case full of enough money to count on the three hour ride home back to Baltimore.  He took something as it unknowingly came to him.

The four boys go on a ride full of ups and downs and pull off what might rock’s greatest robbery.  For some of us Led Zeppelin is a band that we all grew up with.  For others, Zeppelin is a band that brings back memories.  For Patrick, Alex, Frenchy and Keith, Zeppelin is a band that forever changed their lives. 

So What Does “Catfish” Really Mean?

               “Catfish” seems to be the new sample flavor everyone wants to get a taste from.  Why is it all that appealing anyway?  First off, “Catfish” depicts one of today’s greatest inventions; the internet.  Without the internet, a so called catfish would not even exist.  Second, it’s a documentary.  So the events that take place including minor details must all be true…right?

                They say “don’t let anyone tell you what it is”.  This must be because the spoiler is something no one would ever expect.  The film does a great job of misleading the audience on a roller coaster of emotions only to find out what the mysterious Catfish is at the end.  Real events are portrayed and real feelings come about throughout the entire film.  Not only does “Catfish” serve to leave the audience with satisfaction but also to make them question what they are really capable of.

  This film is simply a documentary of a photographer named Nev and his online relationship between a mysterious “Abby”.  His two friends thought it would be interesting to film Nev’s every Facebook comment, every text message and every phone call.   Abby is a young girl who is passionate about Nev’s photography and sends him a painted picture of one of his photographs.  From then on, they are pen pals and a fun bond starts to transpire.  As the relationship progresses and more and more people get involved, the story takes a twisted turn.

                The trailer for this film is somewhat misleading.  It almost looks as if it should be a horror movie.   The marketing for “Catfish” is aimed entirely at the wrong audience and could change one’s opinion to go see the film.  People who like sitting at the edge of their seat will want to go see it.  People who don’t like thrillers will probably not take a chance.   Either way, one must go without knowing too much information because the spoiler at the end is one to look forward to.

                If you’re into social networking like the other 500 million people that are registered on Facebook, there is a chance you will like “Catfish”.  It represents what social networking is able to do; form real relationships with real people.  Today, if you are on Facebook, chances are you are friends with people you know and people you don’t know.  Then there are those people that you develop a one on one connection with.

                Is “Catfish” all it seems to be? Take a risk and go see the film.  It can’t hurt.  It can only open one’s eyes to the reality behind social networking and the truth in society’s technological advances.  One text message, one Facebook comment, one phone call can all lead up to an unexplainable event: one that will never be forgotten.

                True events depict life’s lessons.  Although the ending was extremely shocking, it was also very subtle.  There is a message behind the entire film and in order to appreciate it, one must be open-minded.  “Catfish” grabs the audience by the hand and walks them through a remarkable experience.  After receiving a tiny taste of Nev’s story, “Catfish” will make you want your own story.  So what does “Catfish” really mean?