Sonntag, 5. August 2007
Cross-genres and other ramblings.
Yesterday, while Ian was otherwise engaged, I decided to indulge in the guilty pleasure of a schlock-horror movie. This one was a retro-70’s style number called ”Wrong Turn”. It was, as expected, quite woeful but what intrigued me was the sub-genre cross-references. It was sort of “Deliverance meets the Texas Chainsaw Massacre meets the Blair Witch Project meets Halloween”. I think it’s time for some bolder cross-referencing. How about Mozart meets Tobe Hooper in “The Magic Austrian Chainflute Massacre”? Any other suggestions? I watched “Duck Soup” as a second feature as an antidote.Yesterday we had a broad daylight shotgun holdup at a local mall. What’s going on here? Do we want to end up in Detroit? Not so many years ago, the only people in Sydney who had handguns were the police and half a dozen career criminals. Now they are everywhere, and the courts are handing out sentences for gun-dealing such as $3000 fines or three months imprisonment. I’d give them 20 years.I don’t know what induced me to choose it, as I have almost zero interest in Sadism, but this week I read Neil Schaeffer’s biography of the Marquis de Sade. It was fascinating. He was a childish, infuriating but terribly interesting man who lived through experiences that would have killed anyone else but this uniquely egocentric personality. Not for the squeamish however.I hear that there has been a PBS broadcast in the U.S. of “Angels in America”. Was it a good production? I missed the reputedly excellent Sydney production and would appreciate any feedback on the broadcast.The vile, snide yuppie-queens next door are having their roof replaced so its time to head off before I come down with a hammering-induced migraine.
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14 Kommentare:
I've quite enjoyed your rambling Bill! What interesting and varied topics you seem to know about or be interested in.Just seeing Geoffrey Rush in Quills a few years ago at the cinema was enough to stir an interest in the Marquis. Crazy, genius, hedonist of sorts is the impression I got. I feel i would like to know more, but am a tad hesitant. As you say, not for the squeamish.Sorry to hear about the hold-up. Sending peaceful vibed in the direction of your local area :)Jo :-D
The production of Angels in America is actually on HBO. I caught the first segment, but I haven't been able to synch with the rest of the schedule yet. It seems quite lovingly done, and the cast is MARVELLOUS. Al Pacino was freakin' brilliant as Roy Cohn. I don't recall ever having read the play, so I can't attest to accuracy, but I'm fairly sure that the playwright (Jeffrey ... something) adapted it. I deeply hope to see the rest of it.
Our marvellous free-to-air, no commercials, multi-cultural channel SBS recently screened a French biopic.It certainly helps with authenticity if you have the real Tuilleries or Fontainbleu at your disposal. Besides, de Sade seems to have spent more time with suspiciously-shaped glass flasks than with Kate Winslett look-alikes.The hold-up seems to have sparked a burst of public anger. We are becoming used to family feuds in the suburbs but public shoot-em-ups in a Mall seem too much!
The printed publication of "Angels" reads very easily, much more so than most plays. The last one I remember slipping down so easily was "Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf/"
it was six hours of HBO wonderfully produced stuff. the cast was really incredible and the characters very live. the whiny jewish guy did so well being annoying that I had to remind myself he is an actor doing his job, don't hate him for it... lol. Emma Thompson with 3 or 4 different parts was incredible.
De Sade was mentioned in The History of Private Life. as part of the changes in the sense of self that comes about in the early modern age. But now that you brought the bio up its struck me how faceless the author de Sade is. There isn't any sense of a man with personal experience behind the curtain of words.
we watched ANGELS IN AMERICA in its entirety and were not disappointed. i hadn't noticed it was on, but Sue pointed it outto me and we were off! i might mention that i hate waiting a weekto see the second half. i've never read it or seen a production, but it reminded me again what a fine actor Al Pacino can be. thespecial effects were used to good advantage for the story, too.all in all, it was quite worthwhile.~paul
If you enjoyed "Angels In America", you might enjoy "A Bright Room Called Day", also by Kushner. I didn't find most of the scenes to be as smooth a read, but the Interruptions are fantastic.
I guess "AIA" will make it down here sooner or later. Can't wait.
I meant the script, as I haven't yet seen "AIA". However, I'd love to see "ABRCD" made into a TV show!
Emma's always fab, except in that silly thriller "Dead Again", with Branagh, Jacobi and a giant pair of scissors. What were they thinking?
You've picked up on one of the major themes of the bio.Schaeffer claim that the MdS was a man of such extremes of personality (childish, fawning, dependent / consumed by rage), that his personality had no centre at all, ergo the strange facelessness of both the man and his writing.You're a sharp one mr. hlee.
It thrilled me on the printed page , so I'm aquiver with anticip....ation for the HBO version to reach us here.
hang in there! you don't have to wait for the seasonto be the same, do you?~paul
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