Sitting up under things

“The goal of my life is to sit up under things,” Ethan Hawke told a packed audience during a screening of his new film Wildcat at the Belcourt on Wednesday. Hawke was riffing on the Flannery O’Connor quote that inspired his new film about the life and work of the mythic Southern writer, a line that has also served as a mantra throughout his career. 

Now firmly in the fifth decade of his career, Hawke has become a Hollywood figure who has cannily navigated industry trends to not only maintain relevance, but make projects on his own terms. Hawke’s deep dive into the work of O’Connor for his third film as a director may seem a bit left field. But, Hawke has never been particularly concerned with breaking away from his status as a Son of the South for the sake of Hollywood stardom.

In fact, that upbringing has informed his approach to work and life. “I thought Flannery O’Connor was up there with Abraham Lincoln,” Hawke said while discussing his mother’s love of the author and the pilgrimages she took to O’Connor’s house in Milledgeville, GA, where the author wrote most of her acclaimed fiction. 

Originally from Austin, TX, Hawke lived much of his childhood in the South before his film debut at 14 in the teen space fantasy Explorers. For most actors, the transition from child star to adulthood can be daunting, but Hawke managed to break through by remaining discerning about his roles even at a young age. Such may explain why Hawke has worked consistently while embarking on several waves of resurgence like the one he is on now. “The world is an extremely unreliable critic,” he said.

For Hawke, the battle between cultivating an artistic voice and the demands of the market was one of the reasons his childhood love of O’Connor remained consistent into adulthood. “She was always at war with herself. She had this dedication to excellence.” 

🏛️ The Legal Governing Age Last week, Metro’s Charter Revision Committee asked Metro staff to draft the language for three proposed Charter amendments. Yesterday, the committee held a special meeting to review the language and next month, the full council will decide whether or not to put them on November’s ballot. Though the committee had little hesitation in approving the language for an amendment designating Metro’s treasurer as the replacement in the absence or vacancy of Metro’s finance director, that wasn’t the case for the amendment lowering the age to run for Metro Council from 25 to 18.

"You've got, like, a God complex whenever you're younger,” said Councilmember Jeff Preptit. “You're not necessarily always fully able to grasp the long-term implications of certain decisions. For most men, your cerebral cortex isn't fully formed until you're 25.” It’s worth noting that the minimum age to run for Tennessee state legislature is 21— an alternative idea that was kicked around by some members during yesterday’s discussion. When all was said and done, the committee voted in disapproval of the amendment’s language; ultimately, the council will have the final say when they vote on the amendment in June. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

🐣 Peep Show An MNPD officer was fired on Thursday for playing the part of Harvey Keitel’s Bad Lieutenant in a local woman’s OnlyFans video, reports NewsChannel5. In the video, the woman gets pulled over for speeding. To get out of the ticket, she exposes her breasts to Harman, whose face is deliberately left out of frame. Unimpressed by the display, Harman says, "Ma'am, it's 2024. I can see tits on the internet any time." “Well, what if you touched them?” the woman replies. You can guess where it goes from there. Apparently satisfied with the interaction, Harman’s character lets the woman off. Maybe I should try this next time I get pulled over. 

Speaking of NC5, Phil “Footman” Williams’ reporting on Gabrielle Hanson’s mayoral campaign garnered the station a Peabody. Entitled “Hate Comes to Main Street,” the reporting’s tone can only be described as hysterical. Peabody judges wrote that Hanson seemed like a candidate “made for the MAGA moment.” Incumbent Moore won the election with more than 80% of the vote. Much ado about nothing. DAVIS HUNT

🔥 Lighting Fires to Fight Fires Another proposed amendment would allow non-US citizens to work for the Nashville Fire Department. Though the Charter Revision Committee took a look at the amendment’s language during yesterday’s meeting, they decided to put it on the back burner until June 13th. 

The revision is split into two alternative options that the council may choose from. The more controversial option would completely remove the term “United States citizen” from the recruitment requirements; this change has the potential to open eligibility to applicants regardless of their legal status. The tamer option would keep the term United States citizen, but add “or lawful permanent resident.”

During discussions, one query that arose was what to do if the fire department rejects a recruit on a work visa. Would turning down a candidate based on their limited eligibility to work in the future be discrimination? Committee Chair Sheri Weiner also questioned whether the charter change would create controversy and steal the spotlight away from other, more pressing proposals, such as the mayor’s transit referendum. In the end, the committee decided to seek Metro Legal’s opinion before weighing in on the amendment language. For a detailed look at other charter proposals that may crop up in the future, check out this rundown from the Banner. MEGAN PODSIEDLIK

🛑 Blocking Roads Don’t Pay Like It Used To Yesterday, Governor Lee signed a law allowing people who block a roadway to be sued for any damages stemming from the blockage. Blocking a road is already a misdemeanor, but the bill wouldn’t require a misdemeanor charge for a road blocker to be slapped with a lawsuit. Considering many prosecutors have refused to prosecute the crime, the bill is a welcome addition.

House sponsor Jody Barrett framed it as saving lives. “Folks that are citizens of this state are injured by these actions,” he said. “There are people who can’t get to the hospital because the only bridge across the river that gets them access to the hospitals that they need.” It’ll also save the lives of the people standing in the middle of the road. Only a matter of time before someone interrupts their little asphalt tea party by refusing to stop. The law goes into effect July 1st. DAVIS HUNT

DEVELOPMENT

• The Arcade lands another food and beverage tenant, Ugly Bagel (NBJ)
• Hermitage motel to be converted to affordable housing (Post)
• West End building last housing Newk’s listed for lease (Post)
• Images released for proposed St. Regis hotel tower (Post)

THINGS TO DO

View our calendar for the week here and our weekly film rundown here.

📅 Visit our On The Radar list to find upcoming events around Nashville.

🎧 On Spotify: Pamphleteer's Picks, a playlist of our favorite bands in town this week.

👨🏻‍🌾 Check out our Nashville farmer's market guide and yearly festival guide.

TONIGHT

🎸 Amy Grant @ Ryman Auditorium, 8p, $46+, Info

🎹 Eric Slick @ The Blue Room, 8p, $22, Info

🎸 Will Kimbrough @ The Basement, 7p, $19.27, Info

🎻 Amos Lee with the Nashville Symphony @ Schermerhorn Symphony Center, 7:30p, $59+, Info

🪕 The Cowpokes @ Acme Feed & Seed, 12p, Free, Info

🍀 Live Irish Music @ McNamara’s Irish Pub, 6p, Free, Info

🎸 Kelley’s Heroes @ Robert’s Western World, 6:30p, Free, Info

✹ WEEKLY FILM RUNDOWN: May 10-16

The latest releases and special screenings hitting Music City this week. For a complete list of upcoming releases, check out our 2024 Film Guide.

Wildcat Ethan Hawke teams up with his daughter, Maya, for his take on Flannery O’Connor’s life and work in a movie as groundbreaking for the biopic as it is for Southern lit on screen. Now playing at The Belcourt. 

Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes The monkeys are ascendant and still having that debate about what to do with all those pesky humans. It’ll be good enough for a riveting matinee, but you’ll still long for the days of rubber suits and Charlton Heston. Now playing in theaters. 

Aggro Dr1ift Nashville’s semi-resident provocateur Harmony Korine offers his polarizing take on the hitman genre shot entirely through a thermal lens. Love it or hate it, this one is can’t miss. Now playing at Tbe Belcourt.  

Catching Fire: The Story of Anita Pallenberg Scarlett Johansson lends her voice to this visually inventive doc about the legendary muse for The Rolling Stones. Playing as part of The Belcourt’s Music City Mondays with a Tuesday encore. 

Mildred Pierce and Mommie Dearest Nothing says Mother’s Day quite like a Joan Crawford tribute that includes the diva’s iconic role as the ultimate stage mama and the cult classic that finds Faye Dunaway playing the screen legend in all her wire-hanger-hating glory. Now playing at The Belcourt.