Strokes from Other Pens

Letter to the Editor,

Sam Peckinpah and standoffs. Sam was a prolific filmmaker whose movies were violent, character driven adventures with unsympathetic male leads. Flawed men but strongly principled who had outlived the times they understood. They were hard bitten. They were men of arms. They also understood you can avoid a gunfight if you can manage a good standoff. A good standoff is where you convince the other their win will be too costly, so best you back off with a wry comment. This cleans the slate for both and the right conclusion usually ensues. You’re really god at this if you can...