Ryan McNeil
My tally this week is a tad low (talk amongst yourselves if more than one-a-day is “a tad low”).
Part of the reason that it’s lower than usual is that I spent several hours during the long weekend finishing off Season Four of The Wire. By “finishing off”, I mean to say that I watched the last six episodes over the course of three days. Once I finished off that show, I moved on to Hannibal to see what all the fuss was about (and I do see what the fuss is about).
Considering my approach to content, there are times that I wish I wrote about the shows that I watch – be they new or older ones on-demand.
Certainly when I watch shows like Mad Men or Sherlock, I come away from them fascinated by their execution and feeling like there’s discussion to be had there. As a writer though, I seldom know where to begin. Putting aside the fact that this space is primarily dedicated to film, it’s the format that throws me. How does one begin to dissect the long narrative? Anything that happens on any given show needs to be considered on its own merit, along with how it affects the thrust of that particular season, then how it comes into play with the series overall. All of that on its own would be hard enough, but when one then considers that precious few showrunners get to tell their stories at the pace they want to tell them (if they don’t get fired first), it feels like a truly daunting position.
I do wish I could do it, since it would take all of that time spent on my couch and give me something to do with it. For now I guess I’ll just have to soak it up and remain a reader of better minds on the topic.
Here’s The Week at Hand…
Screenings
GODZILLA – How did a debate around this movie spring up?
X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST – Fun times. More tomorrow.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Never Seen
THE LOVES OF PHARAOH – Silent Lubitsch makes a Saturday
THE CRYING GAME – Did not see that coming!
OF MICE AND MEN – Even when you know the end, it’s still a bummer to get there.
Blu-Rays/DVD’s I’ve Watched Before
RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK – Always a fun time.
INDIANA JONES AND THE TEMPLE OF DOOM – So just how many think pieces about this movie were published this week?
X-MEN: FIRST CLASS – Is it my imagination or does everyone else hate this movie besides me.
First-Timers: The Tin Drum, A Man and A Woman, The Mission, if…, The Son’s Room, and Marty.
Re-Watches: The Witches, Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, & Tomorrow Never Dances.
I keep forgetting about IF…
I think I’m going to have to make it a blind spot next year just to finally cross it out.
Just watched 3 films this week as I had a cold and a small fever. It’s all gone now.
Firsts:
The Immigrant – Beautiful cinematography and production design. The actors are wonderful. Yay for Marion Cotillard speaking Polish, I always like it when actors dedicate themselves to the job like that.
La Dolce Vita – My Blind Spot this month. Just reviewed it last night. Feeling proud of my writing for once.
Re-watch:
Jackie Brown – Holds up well. Very underrated film, more people should watch this.
I still get thrown for a loop when I think of JACKIE BROWN being considered QT’s “weak film”…although I guess DEATH PROOF would probably take that honour now. Something tells me that it was just expectations coming away from PULP FICTION that got the film such a cold reception.
Long-story-short, I’m due for a rewatch.
Glad to see you got around to LA DOLCE VITA – were you like me and somewhat perplexed by what you saw? I don’t know what I expected…but it wasn’t that! Be sure to send me a link so I can include it in tomorrow’s post.
I’ve had the same thought process about writing about TV shows. The last couple of months I’ve really gotten into watching shows again, and I feel like I should write something but I hardly know what to say.
I don’t know if this has happened before, but I actually didn’t watch a single movie this week!
Are you gonna be okay, man? Do you need a hug?