What I have been watching
Jul. 8th, 2019 08:15 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
scripsiI continue to watch George Sander’s movies as I come upon them, and most recently I watched Witness To Murder.from 1954, a film noir with a plot I think you will find very familiar: A murder is witnessed through a window, and no one believes the witness... I first thought this was some kind of rip-off to Rear Window but the Hitchcock-movie actually came after. It is, however, a much better movie, as WTM suffers from some clunky writing, and a very stupid ending. I mean, why would a man who has successfully managed to convince everyone that the heroine is mad and suicidal decide to chase her down the street in plain view of several witnesses? And why, when she knows he is trying to kill her by throwing her out of a window, does she decides to climb up in a highrise under construction? Very silly. With that said I thought WTm was very watchable. Parts of it is excellent- especially the acting. Barbara Stanwyck was a wonderful actress and really makes the most as a woman who has seen a murder no one believes in. And George Sanders, who probably could play polite villainess in his sleep, is in top form here, and genuinely scary.
I also found it interesting to why no one believes Cheryl, the heroine. She is intelligent, educated, artistic, well-liked and has a successful career- she seems very believable. But, she is also an unmarried woman in her forties- if the protagonist in RW is incapacitated because he has a broken leg, Cheryl is rendered powerless just because she is a woman, and a spinster to boot. The murderer has no problems making everyone believe she is mentally unbalanced, a middle-aged woman with a fixation on him, making up things and who, possibly, is both dangerous and suicidal. For the viewer, it’s clear Cheryl is happy with her life, single by choice rather than not, and not more unbalanced than anyone would be if they saw a murder and then was chased by the murderer. She is also very attractive, not only because she is played by Barbara Stanwyck, but also “in-universe”, as both a police officer and the villain is attracted to her. But the movie taps into the idea of the sexually frustrated spinster, the unmarried woman who hasn’t managed to get married and who suffers mentally from it.
So despite not being executed in a fully successful manner, it’s still a very interesting movie. And fans of Barabra Stanwyck and George Sanders shouldn’t miss it.
This clip highlights both the good and bad bits. It begins very nicely and then has a clunky bit about German supremacy, to end with being scary again. The clip ends before the scene ends in the movie, and the cut bit gets scarier with one of the most blatant rape atempt I have ever seen in a movie made under the Hayes Code.
I’ve watched Good Omens and enjoyed it a lot, but don’t have any strong feelings about it. I read the book once, 25 years ago, so I only remember the plot but not much else. Which means I really can’t say how faithful the adaptations are, but as a TV series I liked it. The only bit I actively disliked was the devil being a big bad monster- that didn’t work for me at all.
And I’m fairly sure the success of Good Omens is why Sandman was finally greenlighted. I look forward to that a lot. Can we get Anansi Boys now too, please?
Finished Gentleman Jack and even if I've read Anne Lister's biography now and know what will happen, I really look forward to the next season. Don’t care much for the sub-lot of the farmer family, though- it feels like a feeble and unnecessary attempt to bring in more excitement. But me, I’m there for Anne and Ann and their relationship.
And I’m the only one who felt an urge for a crossover with Doctor Who after realising Peter Davidson is in it?
I’m halfway through The Handmaid’s Tale and feel a little- bored? The first two season really set in stone what an awful place Gilead is, and I don’t need more. At the point I’m much more interested in Emily, Luka and HH and how they cope in Canada than in June and Serena Joy who feel like they are statically moving forwards and backward on the same spot. The silenced handmaids were truly horrific and with a strong symbolic value, but I can’t help thinking how stupid it is to render a person speechless when they are already forbidden to write. The handmaid's purpose is to bear healthy children, and with that, it’s kind of important to make sure a pregnant woman can express how she is feeling, especially if something goes wrong.
To counteract it season 2 of Instinct has begun. It’s a stock criminal TV show, but Alan Cummings is always adorable and I have a soft spot for Naveen Andrews.
Son and I are watching Deadwood. He like sit a lot, which I rather thought he would. We have just started season 2. It’s funny, I have watched deadwood several times over the years, but still, see things for the first time. For example- this time it suddenly struck me there is a strong implication Alma’s father has subjected her to some form of sexual abuse. He is much too touchy-feely when it comes to her, and she is clearly very disturbed whenever he is around Sofia, and eventually lashes out to him about it. There is also the moment where Joanie relates her own history of fatherly abuse, and she and Alma clearly connect over it. It certainly put new light to Alma’s drug abuse.
I also found it interesting to why no one believes Cheryl, the heroine. She is intelligent, educated, artistic, well-liked and has a successful career- she seems very believable. But, she is also an unmarried woman in her forties- if the protagonist in RW is incapacitated because he has a broken leg, Cheryl is rendered powerless just because she is a woman, and a spinster to boot. The murderer has no problems making everyone believe she is mentally unbalanced, a middle-aged woman with a fixation on him, making up things and who, possibly, is both dangerous and suicidal. For the viewer, it’s clear Cheryl is happy with her life, single by choice rather than not, and not more unbalanced than anyone would be if they saw a murder and then was chased by the murderer. She is also very attractive, not only because she is played by Barbara Stanwyck, but also “in-universe”, as both a police officer and the villain is attracted to her. But the movie taps into the idea of the sexually frustrated spinster, the unmarried woman who hasn’t managed to get married and who suffers mentally from it.
So despite not being executed in a fully successful manner, it’s still a very interesting movie. And fans of Barabra Stanwyck and George Sanders shouldn’t miss it.
This clip highlights both the good and bad bits. It begins very nicely and then has a clunky bit about German supremacy, to end with being scary again. The clip ends before the scene ends in the movie, and the cut bit gets scarier with one of the most blatant rape atempt I have ever seen in a movie made under the Hayes Code.
I’ve watched Good Omens and enjoyed it a lot, but don’t have any strong feelings about it. I read the book once, 25 years ago, so I only remember the plot but not much else. Which means I really can’t say how faithful the adaptations are, but as a TV series I liked it. The only bit I actively disliked was the devil being a big bad monster- that didn’t work for me at all.
And I’m fairly sure the success of Good Omens is why Sandman was finally greenlighted. I look forward to that a lot. Can we get Anansi Boys now too, please?
Finished Gentleman Jack and even if I've read Anne Lister's biography now and know what will happen, I really look forward to the next season. Don’t care much for the sub-lot of the farmer family, though- it feels like a feeble and unnecessary attempt to bring in more excitement. But me, I’m there for Anne and Ann and their relationship.
And I’m the only one who felt an urge for a crossover with Doctor Who after realising Peter Davidson is in it?
I’m halfway through The Handmaid’s Tale and feel a little- bored? The first two season really set in stone what an awful place Gilead is, and I don’t need more. At the point I’m much more interested in Emily, Luka and HH and how they cope in Canada than in June and Serena Joy who feel like they are statically moving forwards and backward on the same spot. The silenced handmaids were truly horrific and with a strong symbolic value, but I can’t help thinking how stupid it is to render a person speechless when they are already forbidden to write. The handmaid's purpose is to bear healthy children, and with that, it’s kind of important to make sure a pregnant woman can express how she is feeling, especially if something goes wrong.
To counteract it season 2 of Instinct has begun. It’s a stock criminal TV show, but Alan Cummings is always adorable and I have a soft spot for Naveen Andrews.
Son and I are watching Deadwood. He like sit a lot, which I rather thought he would. We have just started season 2. It’s funny, I have watched deadwood several times over the years, but still, see things for the first time. For example- this time it suddenly struck me there is a strong implication Alma’s father has subjected her to some form of sexual abuse. He is much too touchy-feely when it comes to her, and she is clearly very disturbed whenever he is around Sofia, and eventually lashes out to him about it. There is also the moment where Joanie relates her own history of fatherly abuse, and she and Alma clearly connect over it. It certainly put new light to Alma’s drug abuse.
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Date: 2019-07-08 06:51 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 07:20 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 07:46 pm (UTC)https://youtu.be/zC0VPx9BJYw
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Date: 2019-07-09 07:24 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-08 09:36 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 02:50 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 12:01 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 11:55 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 09:01 am (UTC)I also just finished it, and it was really great! I enjoyed it a lot. (As to the subplot, it's weirdly similar to one in Last Tango in Halifax so probably not so much added for Drama as it must be a Sally Wainwright thing that she gravitates to as a writer for some reason: "oh, btw, one of us murdered an abusive arsehole in the barn a while ago."
And, ha, yes, you can't avoid the small pool of British actors, really.
no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 11:49 am (UTC)And, ha, yes, you can't avoid the small pool of British actors, really.
not small from a Swedish POV. e have about five actors who are in everything. and I'm only exaggerating slightly...
no subject
Date: 2019-07-09 07:49 pm (UTC)