What Are You Watching

[A Lark Ascending]

Finally got round to:

[patricia]

Finally got round to:

And what did you think of it?

[A Lark Ascending]

Enjoyed it but found it a bit hagiographic/sentimental.

If I'd been in charge I'd have skipped the assassination (which felt a bit bolted on) and maybe panned forward to a Reconstruction scene of how the 13th A and it's successors worked out in practice. Not the feel good intention of the film, I realise.

We do similar things here with our national myths - big fuss about how wonderful we were ending the slave trade, rather less on how we sustained and got rich on it over a couple of centuries.

[patricia]

Enjoyed it but found it a bit hagiographic/sentimental.

We do similar things here with our national myths - big fuss about how wonderful we were ending the slave trade, rather less on how we sustained and got rich on it over a couple of centuries.

Exactly. There does seem to be a lot of unseemly self-congratulations when talking about Lincoln freeing the slaves in America. Africans wouldn't have been slaves if they hadn't been taken from their homes and shipped off to the West to build the wealth that resulted.

Similarly, I find myself being amazed at BP's ads, patting themselves on the back, touting the millions of dollars they are investing in the Gulf. They created the circumstances in which the obscene destruction happened and they only did something having been pressured to make restitution.

Unbelievable chutzpah, IMO.

Edited August 15, 2013 by patricia

[A Lark Ascending]

I suppose what did surprise me was how similar it was to the traditional Hollywood historical bio-pic - feeling the need to make a grand moral statement. The bit at the start where the two black soldiers recite parts of the Gettysburg address seemed very much of that tradition.

I wouldn't be too hard on it - it was mainstream popular entertainment, not a historical thesis and things always get telescoped, famous phrases cherry-picked etc in that sort of film. But I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

How did it do in the cinemas? Its drama was very debate based rather than action focused. Could imagine a lot of UK audiences getting restless.

[patricia]

I suppose what did surprise me was how similar it was to the traditional Hollywood historical bio-pic - feeling the need to make a grand moral statement. The bit at the start where the two black soldiers recite parts of the Gettysburg address seemed very much of that tradition.

I wouldn't be too hard on it - it was mainstream popular entertainment, not a historical thesis and things always get telescoped, famous phrases cherry-picked etc in that sort of film. But I couldn't help feeling a little disappointed.

How did it do in the cinemas? Its drama was very debate based rather than action focused. Could imagine a lot of UK audiences getting restless.

I'm not sure how it did at the box office, but there was certainly a lot of publicity about it both before, and after it's release. Having Daniel Day Lewis play the title role couldn't have hurt it's chances. Usually, when he's on the screen, you can't take your eyes off him.

I still remember his role as "Bill the Butcher" in Gangs of New York. Scorcese cast him in a role tailor-made for broad gestures in a film that was meant to elevate Leonardo di Caprio to adult roles. With Day Lewis chewing up the scenery, good luck with that.

Edited August 15, 2013 by patricia

[A Lark Ascending]

I liked Gangs of New York. Prior to that film I had only a dim idea of the Draft Riots or the depth of anti-Irish resentment.

The Civil War era film scene that sticks on my mind is the opening of Cold Mountain when the mine is exploded and then the guns turned on the Union soldiers in the crater. I'd assumed it was fictional until reading about Petersburg last week.

[Shawn]

Finished watching season 2 of Continuum on Syfy. Very enjoyable series, it may be a low-budget Canadian series but it manages to make more of an impact than most other sci-fi shows on TV right now.

Now getting ready to start watching season 2 of Aaron Sorkin's The Newsroom.

[erwbol]

So I finished my Sopranos marathon in time for Breaking Bad's final eight episodes. Currently watching House Of Cards season one.

In the end, House Of Cards was not for me. I think I'll skip any subsequent seasons.

I just began watching Sons Of Anarchy season one. Looks promising.

[jazzbo]

Sons of Anarchy is a show I didn't want to watch and reluctantly started a few years ago and I confess I love it. I'm very disappointed that there is so little about motorcycling and motorcycles in the show. But I've been fascinated with the way the writers and creator craft the season, building up plot and misdirecting my expectations, etc. Very clever writing and directing and decent acting.

[A Lark Ascending]

Intriguing thriller set in rural New Zealand with Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men in the main role, Very strange.

[jlhoots]

Intriguing thriller set in rural New Zealand with Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men in the main role, Very strange.

Want to see this. Waiting for a US DVD release. Has been listed as forthcoming at Amazon US for months.

I like "strange".

[A Lark Ascending]

One of those series where no-one is normal. Everyone seems to have disturbing pasts (and presents!). Reminds me of those films set in inaccessible communities in the Appalachians. Or Wales.

Edited August 20, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[erwbol]

OK, Sons of Anarchy wasn't meant to be.

After dinner, I watched Breaking Bad season one episode one. I'm going to have a Breaking Bad marathon alongside the final eight episodes of season 5.

There are enough allusions to just season 1 episode 1 in season 5 so far to make this exciting. Brilliant.

[Shawn]

The Newsroom - Season 2.

[patricia]

OK, Sons of Anarchy wasn't meant to be.

After dinner, I watched Breaking Bad season one episode one. I'm going to have a Breaking Bad marathon alongside the final eight episodes of season 5.

There are enough allusions to just season 1 episode 1 in season 5 so far to make this exciting. Brilliant.

I'm watching "Breaking Bad" on Netflix and have purposely not watched the new season on TV. My curiosity about how this all ends is almost unbearable, but I'm staying strong. The evolution of the two main characters as the series progresses is nothing short of brilliant!! They are real people, which is the highest praise I can give actors in a long-running role.

Season 4 is just as well written and well acted as the earlier ones. These people are not riding on the coat-tails of their previous accolades for the series. They bring it with every line and every scene.

The only series, for me, that comes close is BBC's "Luther."

[A Lark Ascending]

Had this on the magic machine that stores TV programmes for nearly a year and finally got round to it.

Read the book sometime towards the end of the last Ice Age so only vaguely recall the story. As with all these TV adaptations suffers from a sense of being compressed and hurried through but I'm enjoying it. A bit Downtown Abbey.

Edited August 25, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[erwbol]

Intriguing thriller set in rural New Zealand with Elisabeth Moss from Mad Men in the main role, Very strange.

One of those series where no-one is normal. Everyone seems to have disturbing pasts (and presents!). Reminds me of those films set in inaccessible communities in the Appalachians. Or Wales.

Sick subject matter. Of course the pervs got what was coming. This is television.

[jazzbo]

Is it sicker than Hannibal?

[mjb]

Seasons 2 and 3 of a Canadian series, "The Newsroom" and the follow-up series, "Escape From The Newsroom."

This series ran in the U.S. some years ago as well, I think on PBS and it is excellent.

Ken Finkleman, who wrote and starred in the ongoing story of the most dysfunctional news organization imaginable chose to have no laughtrack and have the whole cast play their roles totally straight. It's hilarious, once you get into the rhythm of the utter madness.

I sent a copy of the first year of the series to a friend in New York and he was intrigued as well as amused by it's originality.

Highly recommended.

Absolutely agree Patricia.

Ken Finkleman is a national treasure (Airplane II, Grease 2, Good God and a Fellini obsession notwithstanding!)

Did you see his Good Dog - same character different environment? Different but I really really liked it.

Then Good God - so over the top and (sadly, considering the topic) stunningly obvious. Shockingly awful.

[patricia]

Seasons 2 and 3 of a Canadian series, "The Newsroom" and the follow-up series, "Escape From The Newsroom."

This series ran in the U.S. some years ago as well, I think on PBS and it is excellent.

Ken Finkleman, who wrote and starred in the ongoing story of the most dysfunctional news organization imaginable chose to have no laughtrack and have the whole cast play their roles totally straight. It's hilarious, once you get into the rhythm of the utter madness.

I sent a copy of the first year of the series to a friend in New York and he was intrigued as well as amused by it's originality.

Highly recommended.

Absolutely agree Patricia.

Ken Finkleman is a national treasure (Airplane II, Grease 2, Good God and a Fellini obsession notwithstanding!)

Did you see his Good Dog - same character different environment? Different but I really really liked it.

Then Good God - so over the top and (sadly, considering the topic) stunningly obvious. Shockingly awful.

Yes, I did see "Good Dog" and it carries on with Finkleman's personality as a self-absorbed, picky narcissist. I loved it. The actress who plays his much younger girlfriend [Lauren Lee Smith] is also in another Canadian series, "The Listener, " which is into it's fourth season. The humor in "Good Dog" as in "The Newsroom is typically Canadian, understated and witty.

My friend in NY was thrown off a little bit when there was no laughtrack on "The Newsroom", but laughed anyway.

I agree with your assessment of "Good God."

Edited August 25, 2013 by patricia

[A Lark Ascending]

"Gypsy Soul" a BBC 4 programme about flamenco.

Probably too simplistic for the specialist but as someone who knows little about the music I found it really interesting. Great to see really young kids getting completely absorbed into the music and dance. And they used bits of Sketches of Spain in places as link music between scenes. Nice section filming a religious procession in Seville (Corpus Christi?) which seemed like the sort of event that inspired 'Saeta' on SkofSp. I also leant how to pronounce Cadithhhh.

There was also an interesting documentary a couple of days back about how 'World Music' as a marketing genre came into being in the UK.

Both on replayer for those with access.

Edited August 26, 2013 by A Lark Ascending

[Shawn]

Nothing. Taking a break until the fall season starts.

[A Lark Ascending]

Excellent new documentary on the March on Washington for the 50th anniversary. I'd seen very little of the footage shown previously.

Now if they could just get round to putting out 'Eyes on the Prize' on DVD.

[jazzbo]

Sons of Anarchy, Season Five Blu-ray. This was intense on broadcast. Enjoying the discs as much.