LINES OF THE DAY

". . . But the past does not exist independently from the present. Indeed, the past is only past because there is a present, just as I can point to something over there only because I am here. But nothing is inherently over there or here. In that sense, the past has no content. The past -- or more accurately, pastness -- is a position. Thus, in no way can we identify the past as past." p. 15

". . . But we may want to keep in mind that deeds and words are not as distinguishable as often we presume. History does not belong only to its narrators, professional or amateur. While some of us debate what history is or was, others take it into their own hands." p. 153

Silencing the Past: Power and the Production of History (1995) by Michel-Rolph Trouillot

Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Do You Even Have the Patience to Laugh at Atlas Shrugged Part I ?

It is so off-the-wall, yet so very bad. So boring, yet not even unintentionally comic. So dumb they don't even know what year they're in.

Surely, not even the most ardent Rand kool-aid drinkers can stand to watch this without falling asleep.

It streams now, on netflix.

I wanted to hang on until Armin Shimerman (Principal Snyder from Buffy) showed up, but I couldn't.

In the meantime I'll be watching the last two episodes of Boardwalk Empire's season one (2010). This one wins without challenge the award for the best television series watching in these last four weeks: Justified, Game of Thrones and Boardwalk Empire. Except for Treme, which is in a class all its own, it's also the best series I've watched in the last two or three years. Downton Abbey was ridiculous and very bad. I never could get beyond season 2 of The Vampire Diaries. Sons of Anarchy stalled out (needed to clean its carbs maybe?). Hell on Wheels, with that tired old wife and kids in the refrigerator of the Confederate Hero lone blahblahblah, black side kick -- argh. The Young Sherlock Holms -- well Jeremy Brett's The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes still has all my Holmes love. I still love The Good Wife, particularly for its timely issue court cases. I still love White Collar, for its escapist fluff, bantering, non-angsty love songs to New York City. Perhaps Good Christian Bitches, er, Belles, as it was renamed, if it calms down some, might come in for regular watching.

But Boardwalk Empire has them all down on the mat in comparison, from directing, to dialog, to acting, to mise en scene, to costumes, to stories, to history. Additionally the big boardwalk stage set is in Red Hook and I've walked it. :)

4 comments:

Foxessa said...

Nor is there any guarantee that because Boardwalk Empire was so good in its first season the second one will be better or even as good, or, even not good at all. Cos that's how it goes with series, whether on screen or in print. You have to give 'em a go to find out. Xena and Buffy , The Wire and Deadwood (though Deadwood never got finished, and The Wire's last season was truncated, as well as filled with people we didn't know), spoiled us.

Which is why I'm so in awe of the very few series who carry a generally very high quality all the way through -- and actually finish too, like Katherine Kerr's Deverry did.

T. said...

I'm going to have to check it out.

Currently loving Shameless. The first season just came out on Netflix.

Arun said...

Brett was a very masterly Holmes.

Have you read the book "Bending the Willow: Jeremy Brett as Sherlock Holmes" by David Stuart Davies. This book is a must read for fans of the Granada adaptation and/or Jeremy Brett.

Cheers!

Foxessa said...

I did not even know about the book, Bending the Willow. Thank you so much for the heads up! I will pass on the info to others too.

Love, C.