TV Slut Report
Feb. 8th, 2014 11:21 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
shadowkat1. Caught up with some television viewing...ie. I was able to delete quite a few things from my DVR. One of them was the film Hitchcock by Sacha Rogen starring Helen Mirren and Anthony Hopkins. It's an okay film about the making of Psycho - focusing on the marriage between Hitch and Alma. What it did convey was how Psycho was a mess, until they re-edited and cut the film. Emphasizing that in movies - 40% of it is editing and cutting.
Got to me to thinking about what my top five favorite Hitchcock films are. Several weren't that successful when they premiered. Vertigo didn't do that well. And Psycho was his most successful film - which ironically the studio fought him on and did not want him to make, until he agreed to finance it himself, cut his fee, in return for 40% of the proceeds. I think they lived to regret that deal.
Top Five Hitchcock films...
1. Shadow of a Doubt...it's a marvelous film about our cultural fascination with serial murders. Features a great character bit with Hume Cronyn, where he discusses murders with a friend.
2. Rear Window - Jimmy Stewart plays a photographer who is stuck in his apartment due to a broken leg, and watches a murder across the way.
3. Strangers on a Train - a Tennis player meets a sociopath on a train, they discuss the people they wish were no longer bothering them, the sociopath makes a bargain with the Tennis Player, I'll kill your person, if you kill mine. The Tennis Player laughs it off...
4. Vertigo....Jimmy Stewart again...plays a man obsessed with a woman, who he saw die and was unable to save...then suddenly sees her look-alike.
5. North By Northwest - a spy thriller with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint...
Honorable mentions: Suspicion, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and To Catch A Thief
2. Sherlock - Saw the final episode tonight. Was a bit surprised by the twist...which I didn't see coming any more than Sherlock did. Now, understand some of the controversy over it online.
* Mary Watson turns out to be a paid for hire assassin? Whoa. Although I agreed with Sherlock when he told Watson that he tends to pick these personality types. That Watson is attracted to them.
Rather like the actress playing Mary. British series are far more innovative in their casting choices - considering they have less people to choose from. Maybe that's why?
Or less money? At any rate, I can tell the people apart in British shows, while I struggle on an American series. Also people look well like someone you would meet on the street, not like a weird mannequin you might see in a store window or a face on a magazine cover.
They are also permitted to age naturally, and not look like they've had work done.
* I agree with Jane, Sherlock's lies to her were rather cruel. But nice touch having Mary and Sherlock befriend Jane for the same reasons.
* Once again the villain is used as a mirror to Sherlock. Sherlock believes he's a high functioning sociopath - but the writers deliberately insert one with Sherlock's memory and deductive skills demonstrating how wrong he is. Magnusson, brilliantly played by the actor who I've seen before but can't quite place, is highly intelligent, like Sherlock, great at memory, and great deductive reasoning skills...but dead inside. (As an aside, my Aunt who met Donald Trump in person on more than one occasion stated that he had dead eyes. Which explained a lot and also creeped me out.) I rather like this technique of setting Sherlock up against villains who are as bright as he is - Mycroft Holmes (who isn't really a villain, although we aren't quite sure), Mary Watson (again not quite), Magnusson (amongst the few villains that Sherlock hates) and Moriarity.
* Did they really have to bring Moriarity back from the dead? Granted it makes sense, if Sherlock can survive, why can't Moriarity? (As an aside, I prefer Natalie Dormier's take on Moriarity on Elementary - far more interesting character, not to mention more intelligent.)
But this back from dead trend with villains is getting on my nerves.
* I adored Benedict Cumberbatch's parents as Sherlock's parents...that worked rather well.
Also the scenes between Sherlock and Mycroft were splendid. I think Mark Gatniss is a better actor than writer...but that's just me.
It was fun. I enjoyed it.
3. Books that rub you the wrong way, and the right way? And stories you avoid?
Interesting question. Will need to ponder some more. Apparently, I'm not found of books that trivalize human relationships. Nor do I like emotionally manipulative books. (Which is about 90% of the best-seller list).
4. Watched Downton Abbey - the Anna/Bates storyline continues to drag down the series with Bates' manpain. Anna keeps asking how she can help him? Come on. She's the one who was hurt, not him. And I like how she states..."I don't see myself as a victim and don't want to be treated as one." Edith, oh dear, can you be any more insipid? Mary? I weirdly agree with Charles Barnes, she does act like she's entitled and doesn't deserve half of what she has or to exist. Although - I think Mary and Charles is the next romance. They do strike sparks with their banter. Loving the Dowager and Isobel, also Daisy, Ivy, the Cook, Mrs. Hughes.
Racism was handled differently in England than in the US during this time period, slightly less horrible than it was in the US. Which I guess makes sense. The English abolished slavery long before the US did. (And I do mean LONNNNG before.) Not bad, not great, sort of slow. And Lord Gratham is growing on me. He's more likable this season. Mary is less likable.
5. Nashville what works is the Juliette/Avery relationship and everything to do with the music industry, what doesn't is everything to do with Rayna's family - which they appear to be getting rid of, mainly because it wasn't working and didn't fit the story.
Got to me to thinking about what my top five favorite Hitchcock films are. Several weren't that successful when they premiered. Vertigo didn't do that well. And Psycho was his most successful film - which ironically the studio fought him on and did not want him to make, until he agreed to finance it himself, cut his fee, in return for 40% of the proceeds. I think they lived to regret that deal.
Top Five Hitchcock films...
1. Shadow of a Doubt...it's a marvelous film about our cultural fascination with serial murders. Features a great character bit with Hume Cronyn, where he discusses murders with a friend.
2. Rear Window - Jimmy Stewart plays a photographer who is stuck in his apartment due to a broken leg, and watches a murder across the way.
3. Strangers on a Train - a Tennis player meets a sociopath on a train, they discuss the people they wish were no longer bothering them, the sociopath makes a bargain with the Tennis Player, I'll kill your person, if you kill mine. The Tennis Player laughs it off...
4. Vertigo....Jimmy Stewart again...plays a man obsessed with a woman, who he saw die and was unable to save...then suddenly sees her look-alike.
5. North By Northwest - a spy thriller with Cary Grant and Eva Marie Saint...
Honorable mentions: Suspicion, The Man Who Knew Too Much, and To Catch A Thief
2. Sherlock - Saw the final episode tonight. Was a bit surprised by the twist...which I didn't see coming any more than Sherlock did. Now, understand some of the controversy over it online.
* Mary Watson turns out to be a paid for hire assassin? Whoa. Although I agreed with Sherlock when he told Watson that he tends to pick these personality types. That Watson is attracted to them.
Rather like the actress playing Mary. British series are far more innovative in their casting choices - considering they have less people to choose from. Maybe that's why?
Or less money? At any rate, I can tell the people apart in British shows, while I struggle on an American series. Also people look well like someone you would meet on the street, not like a weird mannequin you might see in a store window or a face on a magazine cover.
They are also permitted to age naturally, and not look like they've had work done.
* I agree with Jane, Sherlock's lies to her were rather cruel. But nice touch having Mary and Sherlock befriend Jane for the same reasons.
* Once again the villain is used as a mirror to Sherlock. Sherlock believes he's a high functioning sociopath - but the writers deliberately insert one with Sherlock's memory and deductive skills demonstrating how wrong he is. Magnusson, brilliantly played by the actor who I've seen before but can't quite place, is highly intelligent, like Sherlock, great at memory, and great deductive reasoning skills...but dead inside. (As an aside, my Aunt who met Donald Trump in person on more than one occasion stated that he had dead eyes. Which explained a lot and also creeped me out.) I rather like this technique of setting Sherlock up against villains who are as bright as he is - Mycroft Holmes (who isn't really a villain, although we aren't quite sure), Mary Watson (again not quite), Magnusson (amongst the few villains that Sherlock hates) and Moriarity.
* Did they really have to bring Moriarity back from the dead? Granted it makes sense, if Sherlock can survive, why can't Moriarity? (As an aside, I prefer Natalie Dormier's take on Moriarity on Elementary - far more interesting character, not to mention more intelligent.)
But this back from dead trend with villains is getting on my nerves.
* I adored Benedict Cumberbatch's parents as Sherlock's parents...that worked rather well.
Also the scenes between Sherlock and Mycroft were splendid. I think Mark Gatniss is a better actor than writer...but that's just me.
It was fun. I enjoyed it.
3. Books that rub you the wrong way, and the right way? And stories you avoid?
Interesting question. Will need to ponder some more. Apparently, I'm not found of books that trivalize human relationships. Nor do I like emotionally manipulative books. (Which is about 90% of the best-seller list).
4. Watched Downton Abbey - the Anna/Bates storyline continues to drag down the series with Bates' manpain. Anna keeps asking how she can help him? Come on. She's the one who was hurt, not him. And I like how she states..."I don't see myself as a victim and don't want to be treated as one." Edith, oh dear, can you be any more insipid? Mary? I weirdly agree with Charles Barnes, she does act like she's entitled and doesn't deserve half of what she has or to exist. Although - I think Mary and Charles is the next romance. They do strike sparks with their banter. Loving the Dowager and Isobel, also Daisy, Ivy, the Cook, Mrs. Hughes.
Racism was handled differently in England than in the US during this time period, slightly less horrible than it was in the US. Which I guess makes sense. The English abolished slavery long before the US did. (And I do mean LONNNNG before.) Not bad, not great, sort of slow. And Lord Gratham is growing on me. He's more likable this season. Mary is less likable.
5. Nashville what works is the Juliette/Avery relationship and everything to do with the music industry, what doesn't is everything to do with Rayna's family - which they appear to be getting rid of, mainly because it wasn't working and didn't fit the story.
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no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 09:19 am (UTC)Not just you... Although having said that 'An Adventure in Space and Time' was pretty much perfect so maybe it depends on the project?
Anyway, as I'm sure you've worked out a lot of my cageyness about replying to your previous thoughts was because this episode answered so many of them.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 02:11 pm (UTC)You might be right, it may depend on the project/subject matter. He may do films better than episodic television.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 09:57 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 02:05 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 11:10 am (UTC)I made a point recently of working back through Hitchcock's career, so I've seen the last 20 Hitchcock movies plus "Shadow of a Doubt" (so that covers all the ones you mentioned). My own top 5 would be as follows (though I fear it's a little overly conventional now I come to look at it):
1. North By Northwest (1959)
2. Psycho (1960)
3. Strangers On A Train (1951)
4. The Birds (1963)
5. Rope (1955)
The rest of my top 10 is possibly a little more surprising:
6. To Catch a Thief (1955)
7. Rear Window (1954)
8. The Trouble with Harry (1955)
9. Dial M for Murder (1954)
10. Stage Fright (1950)
I really must watch more of his films. Right now I'm working through the Halloween movies which is a rather less rewarding process. ;)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 02:10 pm (UTC)I can't remember some of his films...Stage Fright (I'm not sure I've seen). And I forgot about Rope - which is actually an excellent film. The Trouble with Harry is his only comedy.
Ah...The Halloween films, yes they would be less rewarding. There were only a couple in that group that I liked - all by the same director, and starring Jamie Lee Curtis.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 05:44 pm (UTC)The only two Halloween films with the same director and starring Jamie Lee Curtis were "Halloween II" and "Halloween Resurrection" (technically "Halloween 8"). I haven't got around to watching "Halloween Resurrection" yet, but so far I've only heard solidly bad reports about that one. I think it's possible that you may have been mistakenly believing that John Carpenter directed the first sequel. He actually only acted as a producer on that one.
Is "The Trouble With Harry" really Hitchcock's only comedy? There are often funny elements in his movies and it hadn't occurred to me that "The Trouble With Harry" might be the only one explicitly in the genre of comedy. Naturally, it being Hitchcock, it's a black comedy. No surprises there. :)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 09:52 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 11:24 pm (UTC)(You definitely mean to say you saw the one with Busta Rhymes in it and not "Halloween H20", the one with LL Cool J in it?)
no subject
Date: 2014-02-09 11:32 pm (UTC)I saw it on television...during an AMC Halloween Marathon (the holiday not the movie).
The other films...I also saw on television. I've never seen them in a theater.
no subject
Date: 2014-02-10 07:38 am (UTC)Ah, that's the seventh one then. All three of those ones you saw had different directors.
And I'm afraid I'll need to correct you just one more time. Jamie Lee Curtis is actually revealed to be Michael Myers' sister in "Halloween 2", though it comes very out of left field in that one so I can absolutely see how you might have missed it.