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Jiro's Dream

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Re: Jiro's Dream

#21

Post by baddox »

csmeder wrote: post #17
fleaflicker wrote: post #14

Earlier quoted context omitted.

This was my reaction too. I was initially inspired by his dedication. But Jiro also illustrates that to reach the top of some crafts your dedication must border on sociopathy.

I would argue the average person's life is much closer to bordering on sociopathy. Jiro is full of energy and happiness at age 85. So many "normal" people are sickly physically and or mentally by age 85. They complain about how things use to be better, they watch fox news, have no passion in their life and feel empty. I see the opposite in Jiro, he seems to be so full. So full of joy, and passion. A simple life doesn…

What makes you think that Jiro is happy? I got no such indication from watching the film.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#22

Post by iandanforth »

I am now $120 poorer thanks to this 'free' movie.

After watching this movie you may be tempted to find your nearest high quality sushi restaurant, sit at the bar and ask the Chef to make you whatever he sees fit. This is a delicious but very expensive idea. I did get to try a number of dishes that I would never have ordered though ... all thanks to Jiro.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#24

Post by edwinnathaniel »

owenjones wrote: post #18
joezydeco wrote: post #13

I watched this movie on a flight home recently and loved it. Loved the man, loved that he found a calling and stuck to it, loved that he never changed a thing and won worldwide acclaim because of it. Then I got home and read Ebert's review. This paragraph hit me like a punch to the stomach and put it all in perspective: "Even at the high prices of his premium fresh ingredients, you realize he must be a rich man. But…

Ebert's comments were a surprise? One of the major themes of the movie is the incredible cost of perfection/mastery. Everyone wants to be the best at something, but so very few are willing to give everything to perfect their craft.

So true, but have to add a bit more...

1) ... but those that want and realized the cost of achieving that decided not to.

2) ... there are only a few handful that decided to pursue it regardless the cost.

Cost here usually means family.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#25

Post by joezydeco »

owenjones wrote: post #18
joezydeco wrote: post #13

I watched this movie on a flight home recently and loved it. Loved the man, loved that he found a calling and stuck to it, loved that he never changed a thing and won worldwide acclaim because of it. Then I got home and read Ebert's review. This paragraph hit me like a punch to the stomach and put it all in perspective: "Even at the high prices of his premium fresh ingredients, you realize he must be a rich man. But…

Ebert's comments were a surprise? One of the major themes of the movie is the incredible cost of perfection/mastery. Everyone wants to be the best at something, but so very few are willing to give everything to perfect their craft.

They were a surprise because I got suckered in by the direction of the filmmakers.

Here's Jiro. Jiro is successful, and let's explore what he does. It's so freaking simple when you look at it, right? He practices and practices. He's meticulous, he's a perfectionist. And wow, look at those Michelin stars. And look at how people line up months in advance to eat at his restaurant.

I was so dazzled by the simplicity and success of Jiro that I totally forgot there could be any cost to this. And the filmakers never took us there. Like Ebert points out, we never got to meet his wife. And what other damage was caused by this drive to success? Was there any at all? Again, something that fully deserved to be explored. Or was the movie just a tribute to the success of Jiro?

My CEO will never be Jiro. He may think he's Jiro. Hell, he also thinks he's Steve Jobs. But when I hear him on the phone again for the nth evening telling his son he won't be home because some VC term sheet has an incorrectly-crossed T...I just have to sit back and think it's not fucking worth it. EVER. No matter how much we worship the IPOs and fuck-you-money-level-exits on HN, there are thousands of kids sitting at home wondering if their parents will be home to tuck them in that night.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#26

Post by utopkara »

If you have a master of a trade in your family, you will know the weight of the title master, and the respect that comes with the excellence in detail. You will also know by example that a master is a person of search and tinkering not unlike a child, while knowing the depth of the trade from both experience and learning from others. Jiro is lucky that he can continue his trade at age 85. We are lucky to observe a real master we can look up to.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#27

Post by mattdeboard »

baddox wrote: post #21
csmeder wrote: post #17

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I would argue the average person's life is much closer to bordering on sociopathy. Jiro is full of energy and happiness at age 85. So many "normal" people are sickly physically and or mentally by age 85. They complain about how things use to be better, they watch fox news, have no passion in their life and feel empty. I see the opposite in Jiro, he seems to be so full. So full of joy, and passion. A simple life doesn…

What makes you think that Jiro is happy? I got no such indication from watching the film.

He said as much, a couple of times. Once that he was happy, the other that he was ecstatic while making sushi.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#28

Post by wdewind »

joezydeco wrote: post #13

I watched this movie on a flight home recently and loved it. Loved the man, loved that he found a calling and stuck to it, loved that he never changed a thing and won worldwide acclaim because of it. Then I got home and read Ebert's review. This paragraph hit me like a punch to the stomach and put it all in perspective: "Even at the high prices of his premium fresh ingredients, you realize he must be a rich man. But…

They agreed to leave his private life out of the film (http://hollywoodonthepotomac.blogspot.com/2012/03/like-jiro-...).

Also, I would rewatch the last few seconds of the film re: is he happy. Just because the man's relaxation time is not part of the film doesn't mean he doesn't have any, and it certainly doesn't mean he's not happy.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#29

Post by wdewind »

noonespecial wrote: post #23

"But just when you think you know it all, you realize that you're just fooling yourself... and then you get depressed." --A Fish Vendor

The look he gives the camera after saying that is priceless.

Re: Jiro's Dream

#30

Post by relix »

petercooper wrote: post #2

This is why I collect screenshots of UI elements and Web pages I think look good (several thousand in the last 10 years). I was the typical "I can't do design!" developer for years, but if you pay attention to and record your tastes then your skill level will slowly begin to close the gap.

How do you collect them, just in a directory or do you use some tool? I also collect sites and web-apps who's UI/design I really like on my personal wiki system, but it has a lot of flaws, i.e. they're not screenshots so if the site changes I lose the UI. Would love to hear how other people manage this.
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