And Josh Lucas, Bale's costar in AP, was one of the names being bandied about for the role of Harvey Dent in The Dark Knight. Can you imagine what that would be like?

"Oh, my god. Batman, do you want me to fry you up some f*cking potato pancakes? Some latkes?"
"No, Two-Face, just cool it with the anti-Semitic remarks."

Alright, that's enough of that.

Logic Hat Online- logichat.org

Over the last two nights:

Secret Window - Except for the actual moment of the official reveal, which was like a Simpsons parody scene, I thought this was a fun, well-constructed thriller.  And since I wasn't sure if they were telegraphing a twist or a red herring, I was happy to just be drawn along without having to figure out what the deal was.  (In retrospect, the screwdriver should've been the clearest tell.)

The Passenger - Throughout, I was thinking "there's no way Lynch hasn't watched this".  Nice slow pacing and minimalist dialog.  I get a little sense that the film was a big setup for the long scene at the end, but that's okay.  I'll definitely watch it again a couple of times, and it makes me want to give Blowup a second chance.

The Assassination of Richard Nixon - A primary reason I can't enjoy most reality television is that I find awkward and embarrassing behavior way too uncomfortable to watch without cringing and covering my eyes and curling up into a squeamish ball.  So this was not an easy film to get through, at least for the first half.  The script construction was a little by-the-numbers, but it was all put together well, so that wasn't too much of a problem.  The most interesting thing to me was the tension between Bicke's beliefs about dignity and humanity, and how we relate to them (and therefore him) even as we're watching him fall apart, which leaves us in a strange place -- but I guess that's what anti-heroes are about.

Rosemary's Baby - I have to imagine how watching the film would be for an audience that didn't already know the ending; I've never seen it before, yet I had that background knowledge built-in.  Very Hitchcockian -- even though it was made in 1968 (like me!), it combines the classic Hitchcock look and style with a 70s sensibility in a way that Hitchcock himself failed to do (except maybe in Frenzy).  I found Rosemary a more compelling character than I expected, which is lucky given that Mia Farrow basically carries the whole film, despite good performances from others.  (Also, in her pixie cut with her hollowed-out makeup she looks totally hawt!)  I'll watch this a few more times as well, and will never, ever watch the sequel.

V for Vendetta

Flashy but boring. 

I assume Booth's V viewing was in preparation for today - Guy Fawkes Day. "Remember, remember, the fifth of November."

Carnivale, Season Two, Episodes 1 - 4

It's been a while since I watched S1, but the season recap refreshed my memory, and I was assimilated right back into the narrative. As with TP, the main storyline keeps me involved while my interest lags during the additional character stories. But I appreciate the texture.

John Carroll Lynch has done quite a job these past couple of years of freeing my image of him as Drew Carrey's transvestite brother.

Thank god for Best Buy: both seasons for 40 bucks.

Logic Hat Online- logichat.org

Flashy but boring has more appeal than just plain boring though, don't you think?

Now we watched Disc 1 of Prime Suspect 7.  The last Prime Suspect.  I have loved this series since I happened upon it on a return flight from London many moons ago.  Since it was a BBC television program, I hadn't expected to ever see it in the US but a year later it was there on PBS.  PS1 was so wonderfully special and satisfying.  Love Helen Mirren.

PS 7 is heartbreakingly poignant as Jane Tennison's career is coming to a dismal end.  Since I have to wait a day or so for Disc 2, I'm not giving it a full review but I have loved and ached through the first part.  

Not so flashy but totally human and honest.  Can't beat that combo.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Meryl Streep would have made it too comical and Glenn Close would have made it too demonic.  But the one plus as an American version would have been I could have understood the language!  Regretably, this DVD does not come with my fave feature -- subtitles that translate British into everyday English. Helen Mirren can be understood but that's probably because she's lived in Cal-ee-for-nee-ya for some time now. 

If any of you have seen Prime Suspect 7, maybe you can tell me WHAT kind of accent that was coming from the missing girl's mum and dad.  The place I've heard a similar accent before was from the stoned out Scottish guy on the streets with David Thewlis in Naked.  I kinda like the sound of it and found myself mimicking it while watching but do I know what he was saying?  Nope.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Then get yourself there, Booth.  Don't forget... I watched your Jacques Tati movie.  Okay, only one of them.  But I did watch it all the way through.

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

"Every day holds a new beginning and every hour holds the promise of an Invitation to Love." 

Hahaha, I was thinking I might have misinterpreted your post.  See, I thought you were quoting "The Party" in order to say that you didn't think the crazy guy on the streeet with David Thewlis in Naked was funny because you hadn't seen -- "hadn't been there" -- that movie.  I hadn't realized you were actually giving a "Last movie, a little more in-depth" review of The Party. 

But you're right.  It wasn't that funny.  Peter Sellers was funny and like all truly funny actors, you want to laugh every time you see his face.  But no.  The Party was not very funny.  But yes, it probably couldn't hurt to get yourself to 1968 California. 

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Well, not to belabor the point but...

Did you see the film Naked?

It had some amoozing moments -- amoozing characters -- although the subject matter was dark.  The guy with the strongest accent in the movie was a funny scene.  But see, you weren't there...

Oh I'm not going on.  Sufficeth to say I laugh at funny foreign accents in film.  And I try to ape their voices. 

+++++

Does this mean you're coming to California?

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Make sure you get in touch with me before you come to town and I'll take you for one of my famous I Heart LA tailor-made tours making sure we drive past one of the accent eliminator signs so you can take the #. 

I didn't know Alaskans had accents...

Susan 

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin

Reign Over Me

My wife chose it, and I thought it'd be some weepy chick flick.  It was actually really good.  Probably a 7/10.  Sandler was convincing in this serious role.

Prime Suspect 7 - Part II

What can I say except that I loved this entire series. The Final Act was superb. Of particular note was the young actress who played Penny -- Laura Greenwood. When I checked IMDB, I saw she was in that V-Vendetta movie but little else. She was born in 1991 meaning she has many years for an extraordinary acting career if she keeps her head. Cute spunky little girl who holds her own with the "Queen" Dame Mirren.

There was only one extra -- a behind the scenes. It had scenes from each of the past seasons of PS plus comments from the ex-cop woman on whom Detective Inspector Jane Tennison was based.

Like The Sopranos, it's a little sad to think I'll never see another new season of Prime Suspect.

Okay, Booth. That's a good description of Naked. Plus you've given me a clue to your home with the accent elimination comment. Is your real name Angus MacDonald?

I liked the film all the way through.  It had some of my favorite cinematic touches...

1. Good actors I'm not familiar with.

2.  Itsy bitsy movie ads in the local papers.

3. Language - words to sort through and meaning to mull over.

4.  No car chases or special effects.

5. A gritty real-ness that came THIS close to falling into the type of film I don't like -- that dead-dark-depressive type film peopled by the despicable. David Thewlis steps over that line many times but hangs on to a shred of humanity. In his uber-cruelty there remains a shred of the decent human. At least that's the way I remember it. It's possible that a different actor playing that role might not have been able to sustain my empathy for his character. But I was just so taken by watching and listening to him that I did not end up wanting to slit my wrists at the end.

     
“Half a truth is often a great lie.”

Ben Franklin