Tag: TV

Views for Your New Year

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Bramwell (Series 2)

There are MANY surprises and fresh guest stars in the 2nd series of this smart, gritty show starring Jemma Redgrave as Dr. Eleanor Bramwell.  Well-born lady doc Eleanor, while struggling to keep her “baby”–The Thrift (a charity hospital in London) going–is still at odds w/ her protective dad and fellow doc, Robert (David Calder).  Romance comes into Eleanor’s life (FINALLY!!!) in the form of handsome, charming Dr. Finn O’Neill.  The Irish researcher may be her equal in brains and talent.  But love is NOT easy for this pair, thanks to their conflicting natures and ambitions.  And, of course, Robert is NOT happy of his “little girl’s” choice.

 

The House of Mirth (2000)

No, this film isn’t about Brits; the characters are American (as seen through the eyes of novelist Edith Wharton and screenwriter/director Terence Davies) from the turn of the 20th century.  If you liked The Age of Innocence, you’ll definitely find this film (w/ a much lower budget) quite absorbing!  Canadian Gillian Anderson (Bleak House) lifts this movie onto her narrow shoulders and carries you away into the life of beautiful, charming, yet cash-poor, Lily Bart.  Like many singletons before and after her, New York debutante Lily likes nice clothes, having fun (vacations, theater, fine food, etc.) and hopes to marry someday.  But she MUST marry a rich man to maintain her lifestyle!

At the start of the film, Lily has an ambiguous relationship w/ a bachelor of her circle, lawyer Lawrence Seldon (Eric Stoltz).  They speak their minds to each other, but never directly confess their feelings.  One day, a maid sees her coming out of Seldon’s apartment- a VERY scandalous thing at that time.  A married friend, Gus Trenor (Dan Ackroyd), says he’ll help Lily invest her small income in the stock market, but he has more than that in his (creepy) mind.  Then one of Lily’s close friends, the worldly Bertha Dorset (Laura Linney in a wickedly fine role), turns against her.

Lily tries to stay true to herself and her personal morals.  She can’t force herself to marry for money alone.  Lily is not “world smart,” as my mom says; she thinks that people are pretty much what they portray themselves to be.  The director uses a lot of mirrors, keeping w/ the theme of appearance.  It was interesting to see Oz star Terry Kinney portray a cuckolded hubby.  Also, pay attention to the performance of Australian Anthony LaPaglia; it’s low-key, yet very effective.  The soundtrack, compiled by Adrian Johnston (Becoming Jane) sets just the right mood.

 

Miss Julie (1999)

   

Statuesque Brit Saffron Burrows (a former model; Nan in Circle of Friends) and her (shorter) co-star, Scotsman Peter Mullan (The Claim) are captivating in Mike Figgis’ film version of August Strindberg’s play.  Irish actress Maria Doyle Kennedy (one of he main reasons to see the first season of The Tudors) makes a fine contribution as well.  On Midsummer’s Eve in the late 1800s, the servants at a Swedish country estate are cutting loose w/ drinking, joking, and dancing.  The mistress of the manor, Miss Julie (Burrows), joins them in their revelry rather than going w/ her father, The Duke, to visit relatives.  This doesn’t sit well with the footman, Jean (Mullan) and his intended, the head cook Christine (Doyle Kennedy).

Miss Julie gets tipsy and keeps asking to dance w/ Jean, to his embarrassment and annoyance.  She comes into the kitchen and angrily asks why he’s still wearing his “livery” (uniform) when it’s time to cut loose.  Appearance is VERY important to Jean; he takes GREAT pride in his work for The Duke.  He’s well-spoken, has seen some of the world, and doesn’t take stuff from just anyone. 

Eventually, Christine goes upstairs to sleep, leaving the main players together.  Jean and Miss Julie basically go at it- a power struggle between genders and classes ensues.  There is also the latent physical attraction between them.  Clearly, Miss Julie is an angry, depressed young woman.  We learn that her fiance recently broke up w/ her.  She longs for change- to be free from her “cage;” a little bird sits in an actual cage in a corner of the sparse kitchen set.  In one crucial scene, Jean exclaims that HE could take her away!  Though he is of a low class, he could (in time) make her a duchess; she could never make him a duke (being a powerless woman w/o her father’s status/protection).        

More about the play:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Miss_Julie

Wiseguy (Season 1, Part 1)

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It’s cool to see so many ’80s shows coming out on DVD, Hulu, Netflix, etc.  Some deserve a second look, though the cars, clothes, hairstyles may be dated.  One of the shows that recently caught my attention is Wiseguy (a crime drama which originally aired from 1987-1990 produced by Stephen J. Cannell).  Unlike other shows before it, and not many since, the series had several story arcs and focused on the consequences of life undercover.  (Look for a young Annette Bening in this arc.)

Vincent Terranova (Ken Wahl, who acted with Paul Newman and received praise for his natural acting ability) is an agent in the (fictional) organized crime division (OCB) of the FBI.  He’s young (just 30 y.o. at the start of the show), a first generation Italian-American (who can actually speak Italian), and from working-class Flatbush, Brooklyn.  He’s very proud of his heritage and community.  Being very close to his family, they are an integral part of the show; older brother Pete (Gerald Anthony) is a local priest; his mother (Elsa Raven) is a widow in somehwhat fragile health.  We learn later that Vinnie’s father was an honest man all his life; he drove a bread truck, never succumbing to the tempation of easy money, crime, and so on.

In the 2 hr. pilot, Vinnie is released from Newark State Pen after 18 mos.  He’s earned the rep of “wiseguy,” but this disturbs him deeply because his mother refuses to see him.  When he angrily asks his superior officer Frank McPike (Jonathan Banks) why he had to do the full sentence, McPike points out that it had “to look real.”  He’s now supposed to go to his first undercover assignment, but Vinnie insists on time off.  Suddenly, Vinnie’s traning officer is murdered by the older brother of Atlantic City Mafia leader Sonny Steelgrave (Ray Sharkey).  This propels the agent into action.

Vinnie uses his wit, natural bravado,  and boxing skills (he’s a former Golden Gloves fighter like Sonny) to win the respect of the mafioso and enter a new world (“terra nova” translates directy to “new land”).  Sonny decides to take him on as a driver and gives him a huge penthouse suite in one of his hotels.

Vinnie (ideally) calls Lifeguard (Jim Byrnes) every morning with the latest updates on the case, and is provided with quick news from the OCB side. Lifeguard also, under the name of Mike Terranova, provides Vinnie with an emergency contact number without revealing Vinnie’s true identity. (The cover location is “Sailor Hardware”; the codephrase “Uncle Mike” indicates an emergency request for assistance).

As Vinnie rises within the organization, he (naturally) grows very close to Sonny, a man who has a lot of charm and some admirable qualities, despite being a criminal.  He’s not a cartoonish villain.  Eventually, Vinnie becomes Sonny’s right-hand, then a “made” man.  The internal conflicts of the protagonist and the murky gray area in which he operates make Wiseguy very compelling.

 

Related Links

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092484/

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss?url=search-alias%3Dmovies-tv&field-keywords=Wiseguy

Shows I’m catching up on…

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Battlestar Galactica

One of my friends is a HUGE fan of this show; I watched the finale w/ her when it 1st aired.  This summer, I watched a the pilot & 1st few eps of Season 1.  This show hooked me from the start- it’s V well-made & has GREAT dialogue!  I will cont. w/ the series, for sure.  I’m esp. intrigued by Gaius & Starbuck, who seem to be 2 of the MOST interesting characters.

 

 

 

 

Star Trek: Voyager

It boggles the mind that this ST series (w/ the 1st female capt. & one of the most diverse casts) had LOW ratings until that (bimbo) Jeri Ryan joined in S4!  I’m currently in the beginning of S3.  Kate Mulgrew is a TERRIFIC actress- no doubt!  And she had AMAZING chemistry w/ her 1st officer, Chakotay (Robert Beltran).  But this can’t go anywhere b/c she’s his superior officer.  (Loneliness is one of the main themes of this series.)  The Doctor, Neelix, and Kes are V strong/well-developed characters.  The crew of the Voyager has to think on their feet b/c they are hurled across the galaxy where there is no other Starfleet presence.               

 

 

 

  

 

 

Weeds

S4 is more exciting/eventful than S3 which seemed to drag at times.  There a MANY changes going on and still a LOT of laughs.  However, the tone of the show gets darker/more serious as Nancy (Mary Louise Parker) gets deeper and deeper into the drug business.  Ambition/greed gets the entire fam in trouble, as well as Nancy’s ragtag crew and nabes.  Silas and Shane are growing up, rebelling more, and crying out for more of their mom’s attn.  Shootings, fires, and (dangerous) romances can’t keep Nancy down- she manages to survive!  Look for some (unexpected) guest stars, too. 

Update & what I’m watching now

Emma2 Comments

Hi all!

BREAKING NEWS: I just read around 11 p.m. tonight (on Twitter & CNN web site) that Osama Bin Ladin is DEAD!!!  Wow, after ALL this time!  I’m sure we’ll hear more about it in the A.M.

UPDATE ON ME:

I didn’t write ANYTHING on the blog in April, can you believe it!?  I meant to, but was feeling a BIT lethargic (about everything, NOT just blogging).  I REALLY need to concentrate on eating better this month; it seems like I lose motivation easily.  (I feel heavier than when I was in NYC- 2.5 yrs ago.)  Also, I need to weigh myself to see the REAL damage.  Thankfully, I’m still the SAME size in clothing!  But I hate buying clothes lately b/c things don’t look quite right.  

Yesterday, I came across David Garcia’s blog (Keep It Up, David) re: his battle w/ weight and his plan to eat better/exercise.  You may have seen him on Ellen; he was a production assistant on her show.  I added him to my blogroll.  His story is VERY inspirational; he’s lost 150 lbs. in about a year!        

As for the apt/roommate(s) search- it’s on again after a LOOOONG break!  The bad news- rents (in DC metro area) have risen in the past 6 mos.  And this isn’t just in ONE area, it’s everywhere (or so it seems).  Also, I’ve recently decided that I want to find a place where I can have my OWN bathroom.  My mom (yes, she’s still in Indy ‘burbs) keeps saying that I don’t NEED to move, but I WANT to!  I don’t think adults (who have decent jobs/some savings) should live w/ their parents.  (No offense to any singletons who still DOES live w/ their relatives, BUT it’s just not for me.  As some of you know, I’ve lived w/ my Dad since December 2008.) 

WHAT I’M WATCHING NOW:

American Idol (Fox) – My fave is boy-next-door 16 y.o. traditionalist country singer, Scotty McCreery, from North Carolina.  I want to adopt his as my 2nd lil bro!

Game of Thrones (HBO) – This is a NEW series starring Sean Bean (who I love), Lean Headey (a lovely Brit), Peter Dinkage (American), Harry Lloyd (up-and-coming young Brit), and MANY more talented actors of all ages.  I wasn’t TOO impressed with the 1st ep, BUT the 2nd ep totally wowed me!  The sets, locations, and costumes are AMAZING to say the least.   

Law & Order: Special Victims Unit (NBC) – This show, which I watch pretty religiously, is STILL going strong.  They are focusing more on Olivia these days (which I like).  I think it’s irritating to keep switching ADAs, though, and heard that Casey Novak will be back soon.   

Treme (HBO) – Veteran character actor David Morse and Jon Seda (who seems to NEVER age) have joined the emsemble cast for S2 of the critically-loved show.  Go check it out!

“Dresden” (w/ “North & South’s” John Light)

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As you may recall, John Light’s lawyer character in the 2004 BBC miniseries, North & South, was thwarted in love.  Margaret chose Mr. Thornton over Henry Lennox.  In 2006, the Shakespearean-trained actor co-starred in a terrific miniseries set in WWII; it was the most expensive German film made for TV.  It was shot on location in the gorgeous city of Dresden, which suffered from (unnecessary) bombings in 1945, near the tail end of WWII.  As the director says, it’s an antiwar movie; it doesn’t glorify either the Brits or the Germans.

Anna Mauth (Felicitas Woll) is a 24 y.o. German nurse who planned to go to med school, but stayed home to help her father, the director of the local hospital.  She is pretty, hardworking, and full of life.  At the start of Part 1, Anna bravely assists Alexander (a young doc/her long-term bf) in the operating room while air raid sirens wail in the background.  Anna empathizes w/ Maria, her best friend/fellow nurse, who is married to a Jewish man.  She is worried about her (“patriotic”) younger sister, who is dating an official of the Third Reich.

Robert Newman (John Light) is a British bomber pilot who has to bail out of his Lancaster when engines catch fire.  He parachutes down into a field where he and his comrades are attacked by a group of very angry men.  Robert just gets shot in the stomach.  He finds shelter in a shed, removes his jacket, dog tags, and other signs of being British.  Robert dons a rough, long coat and heads toward Dresden.  Along they way, he sees many refugees.  He sneaks into the hospital while the staff are busy handling many incoming wounded soldiers.

This film has it all- family,  romance, mystery, and action.  It is simply riveting, mainly b/c of the four leads’ convincing performances, high production value, and (some scary/realistic) special effects.  Viewers will quickly relate to Anna- a wonderful character who tries to do the right thing.  Woll and Light (who speaks mostly German here) have great chemistry together.  They communicate volumes w/ just their eyes and expressions!