As incisive as McTeague, by Frank Norris, Moravia performs a dissection of human fallibility within the framework of external pressures. In the novels, though the object is always meaningfully and maddeningly obscured, the drive for clarity is precise. When the omniscient narrator is removed, complicated internal dialectics become flattened and baffling on screen. Instead, the audience needs to succumb to the aftereffects, pure visual interpretation, become mere humans wallowing and wading through the muck as best we can. Remarkable how much gets lost in and without language.
It occurs to me that American TV doesn't have the rich history of historical drama that the British boast of. Boardwalk Empire remedies the fault, with an over reliance perhaps on "shocking" sex scenes and sometimes clunky characterization, but making up for it with a cannily cast Steve Buscemi as Enoch "Nucky" Thompson, kingmaker and gangster extraordinaire, as well as Kelly Macdonald as his scrappy, vulnerable mistress, the widow and mother Margaret Schroeder. Gretchen Mol's turn as Gillian Darmody is largely a disappointment for such an interesting figure. However her son and Al Capone conspirator, James "Jimmy" Darmody, played by Michael Pitt and who is a deadringer for Scorcese favorite DiCaprio, but, thankfully, much more deadpan, is getting more compelling as the series continues. Freaky bible thumping cop, politicking, bootlegging, suffragettes, racism and lovely period costumes complete the picture. With the slow pace and multiple subplots, the show is just starting to scratch the surface of these people, but it seems like an extended viewing will pay off.
On the other hand, I'm tired of zombies already. Or to be precise, all of the living. For godsakes give the man a gun so he can shoot himself already.
The Goal: Hopefully to lead budding oenophiles towards an assured recognition of their own taste preferences rather than inculcate what is "good."
I think this approach would also serve as solid practice when navigating all sorts of pedantic obsessions that might cross ones path in life such as opera, pizza, late 90's trance, contemporary fiction, French New Wave films, and politicians - in other words, all topics subject to subjectivity and dominated by intimidating eggheads.
While it's great to be informed, it's better to Be open. Be methodical. Like what you like. Even if what you like is Twinkies. Those Comp Lit skills ought to come in handy somehow.
Imminent Releases at the Top of my Personal Playlist:
Dragon Age II
Alice: Madness Returns
Diablo III
Rock of Ages
From Dust
Cargo
In the Works, or Games to Also Consider:
In tandem with eagerly awaited Game of Thrones HBO series, an RTS game by Cyanide.
Carbine Studios unannounced offering that looks eerily similar to Avatar.
Neverwinter Online. Sweetening the bitter aftertaste of Final Fantasy XIV.
Project MyWorld. May be too much social media for me, but I'm curious to see how this concept pans out.
Stellar Dawn Online
Captain Morgane
Bastion
Darkspore
Mass Effect 3
For 2012:
Bioshock: Infinite
Dragon Age II
Alice: Madness Returns
Diablo III
Rock of Ages
In the Works, or Games to Also Consider:
Neverwinter Online. Sweetening the bitter aftertaste of Final Fantasy XIV.
Bastion
Mass Effect 3
For 2012:
Bioshock: Infinite
Deathly Hallows I shows our intrepid children grown up and using all the skills they have worked hard to acquire and trading in on all of the moments, magics, and friendships of the first 5 books in order to overcome obstacles instinctively. Watching them do this is intensely satisfying - Harry easily banishing the eaters with a well practiced Expecto Patronus spell - and sometimes devastating - Hermione casting obliviate on her parents and her attackers. Draggy but true to book in the middle, with a grungy, dingy look that makes the impending doom seem more oppressive.
Is it just me? Or is Alan Rickman, like, really hot? Rickman has a slavering pungent and boyish quality that somehow captures an appealing repugnant perversion. Plus hes funny as hell and often repectably statuesque.
Is it just me? Or is Alan Rickman, like, really hot? Rickman has a slavering pungent and boyish quality that somehow captures an appealing repugnant perversion. Plus hes funny as hell and often repectably statuesque.
