Change Your Image
Nooshin_Navidi
Reviews
Dana Carvey: Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies (2008)
Still crazy funny after all these years
Oh, how I missed Dana Carvey and his antics! And he hasn't lost his touch.
The act is easily one of Carvey's best and laugh-out-loud funny pretty much from start to finish. As always, his political observations & impressions are spot-on and side-splittingly funny, and he spares no one. His Reagan bit is so good, it actually made me appreciate the late president just a bit.
The only part of the act I found a little weak was his Al Gore bit, which started out very strong & funny, but went on too long and lost its way. Reminded me of when Robin Williams goes on one of his characteristically clever-but-exhausting tangents and doesn't know when to stop! But is was an exception to an otherwise solid act.
The "unorganized" religion bit was one of the best parts of the show and completely fresh comic writing. And don't miss the 'Special Features'; both the deleted scenes and the audience "Q & A" are hilarious. If you're from Northern California or lived there, you'll especially relate to some of his references. But that's just a small part of his act.
As always, Carvey never crosses the line into mean-spiritedness, but easily glides in and out of every impression & expression, reminding us of the huge talent we came to know and love before he left the scene due to his heart condition. It's a bittersweet irony that Dana Carvey is one comic who is ALL heart...
~NN
Doug Stanhope: No Refunds (2007)
Surprisingly good...
Don't be fooled by Doug Stanhope's onstage chain-smoking & beer guzzling.
With an act filled with very funny & astute observations and dead-on social commentary; Stanhope's neither an aging frat-boy nor a redneck. He's a thinker, and a good one at that. ***Note of Caution: this act is NOT for the politically-correct, faint-of-heart or the easily-offended.
He spares no one and calls just about everyone on the carpet. Far from being a copycat comic, Stanhope has his own unique stage presence & style, which is at once confident & self-deprecating.
As with other irreverent-but-brilliant comics of his kind, Stanhope hits the nail on the head in one acerbic punchline after another with many laugh-out-loud moments throughout, and turns what might have been cringeworthy topics in less capable hands into pure comedic gold.
~NN
Head Case (2007)
Sheer genius!
I just discovered this on Netflix and can't get over how gifted Alexandra Wentworth is as both the writer and lead actor of this hilarious show.
Funny & snappy dialogue paired with all kinds of visual hilarity, makes for a super amusing look into the "therapy" sessions of Hollywood celebs. The guest stars are all deadpan funny & the regular characters each shine in their own nutty ways. Their office interactions are as brilliant as the ones Dr. Goode has with her famous clients & hapless fiancé.
Pay attention to the "art" behind Lola's desk in all its incarnations, including in the opening credits! And don't miss the little hand-written notations in the illustrated opening credits. More Wentworth genius! Warning: The show is *not* for everyone. If you're easily offended by sexually explicit references OR four-letter words, this show is not for you, otherwise, get ready for a wacky ride.
Funny funny woman! ~NN PS: The funniest episode for me was the one with Joel Madden! Brilliant writing *and* acting from start to finish!)
The Way We Live Now (2001)
Not just another period piece...
For those who've read Trollope's novel, this adaptation might at times feel like a bit of a departure, since like most book adaptations, the film takes some artistic liberties.
But in this case, they work. By turns, this production reminded me of 'The Age of Innocence', 'Angels & Insects', and even those gorgeous Merchant-Ivory films. While this was of a slightly different caliber, the sets and costumes were equally exquisite.
The Melmott family is the most entertaining with a classically surreal Tim Burton sensibility about them--odd & wickedly funny, reminding me of the characters in 'Beetlejuice' & other films with eccentric performances by the the likes of Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, etc. As I'm a sucker for romantically dramatic costumes, I loved all the wardrobe for Mrs. Melmott & Marie's characters as much as their antics! And the over-the-top Melmott mansion was delicious eye candy.
But the rest of the story/characters too were interesting enough to make me want to watch all 4 episodes. My other favorite character is Mrs. H., whose southern accent took a a sudden turn into a British one at times, yet was wonderful and quite watchable.
And last but not least, Cillian Murphy was, as always, angelically entrancing. He and Mrs. H. made a far more interesting (and sexy) couple, but that would have been a different film altogether... All in all, if you're expecting the standard period piece, you'll get one, but with quite a bit more fun & spice thrown in! ~NN
Trumbo (2007)
Be sure to read the closing credits...
For those of us too young to remember first-hand the evils of that horrid period in American history known as McCarthyism and the rampant loss of freedom & justice during its barbaric witch-hunts, this is a profoundly important film to watch.
At a time when terms like "patriot" are increasingly misused, abused and bastardized, the story of writer, Dalton Trumbo, and others like him who suffered grave injustices in the hands of their own fellow countrymen, needs to be heard far & wide and esp. by the young in this country.
I wished they would add this film & others like it to every high-school history-class curriculum, as they are just as relevant today. An immensely moving and heartbreaking story & an absolute must-see (be sure to read the closing credits.)
~NN
Katt Williams: The Pimp Chronicles Pt. 1 (2006)
Positively brilliant!
With the hilarious combination of his voice, his appearance, his gift for physical comedy and his razor-sharp wit, the man goes straight to the heart of comedy and stays there the entire time.
I'm not typically fond of comedians who overuse profanity and slurs, but Katt Williams is one of very few comics in America who uses them well. To perfection actually...
I also really love the rhythmic style of his delivery.
And his bit on "weed" was probably the funniest i've even heard on the subject!
Kat Williams is the new Richard Pryor, except to me, Williams is even funnier. Two thumbs way up!
~NN
Daniel Deronda (2002)
Excellent adaptation despite the slight departure from the book
If you're familiar with George Eliot and have read her books, you'll most likely enjoy this adaptation.
But if you're a George Eliot purist, you may be dismayed by the film's romanticization of Daniel & Gwendolyn's relationship. I personally was okay with it and found it a forgivable artistic liberty, as it was handled delicately and tastefully and did not detract from the heart of the story. In fact, I liked the adapted screenplay for its restraint.
If you're a Jane Austen fan but not familiar with Eliot's work, you might find this story lacking in wit compared to Austen's stories, or just too glum. But George Eliot herself was a very different woman from Austen. The Jewish subplot--something that is also present in Eliot's more famous 'Middlemarch'--is enough to make the two authors different, but the sociopolitical depth and soberness of Eliot's work also sets them apart.
The casting was terrific all around (including the magnificently aging Greta Scacchi), and the costumes & scenery were perfect.
~NN
Henry Poole Is Here (2008)
You don't have to be an atheist to hate this film
Sorry, but this film lost me when blood started coming out of the wall.
The film is classified as a comedy, but the only funny thing about it was that it reminded me of that old SNL skit, 'find the Pope in the Pizza' by Father Guido Sarducci! The Good News? You don't have to be an atheist to be annoyed by this thinly-disguised religious-propaganda film; the hackneyed script & poor acting will do the job.
And sorry, but Esperanza was just plain irritating (and her attachment to "God's face" was only partly responsible for that...) I'm not an atheist, nor do I have a problem with films about God, miracles, faith & hope ('Simon Birch' is one of my favorite movies.) Heck, I can even stomach stories about the stigmata if they're well-written. But a bad film is a bad film. In fact, watching too many films like this might just TURN me into an atheist.
Luke Wilson must have been fooled like the rest of us, thinking he was signing on for a comedy instead of a movie about a grieving filmmaker's religious beliefs, along with the requisite distrust of science...
~NN
In Treatment (2008)
Well-made but short on credibility...
(*This is a Season 1 review only. Hopefully the show got better in the subsequent seasons.*) Being a long-time fan of Gabriel Byrne, I was hoping for a smart & edgy show. Instead I found a well-disguised soap opera.
The pace, intensity and acting are highly engaging, but as a serious drama, it's short on believability. The thing I kept wondering was, 'How can Paul Weston get away with being such a bad therapist?' All the cases are conceivable enough, including Laura's narcissistic acting out (which somehow our good doctor never manages to fully grasp session after session.) But Paul himself is insufferable--both as a person & as a shrink. And not because of hard-hitting questions, but because of his painfully awkward demeanor, emotional cluelessness and disconnectedness from his own psyche. I also had an issue with the crossed boundaries in many of the sessions, most glaringly with Laura, who a real therapist would have referred to someone else in short order. I do get that the writers are pushing the ethical envelope in order to keep people watching, but it's still annoying if you're even remotely familiar with counseling psychology and its protocol & ethics.
Even if you can somehow get past Paul's prickliness, sad smiles & missteps, his "sessions" with Gina are maddening. Why she puts up with him is not a mystery, but a disappointment. Is he paying her for these sessions? If so, then he's completely out of line as a patient when he repeatedly discusses HER life, past, etc. If he's not paying her & they're just having tete-a-tetes as old friends, then she's either a little masochistic, too lonely, or truly Buddha-like in her compassion, as he's a self-absorbed schmuck. By letting herself get sucked into Paul's drama (with or without payment) is Gina really helping him? I stopped caring enough to find out.
If you've never worked with a therapist and one day find yourself in treatment with someone like Paul Weston...RUNNNN.
On a positive note, Diane Wiest & Michelle Forbes are terrific here.
~NN
Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day (2008)
A fun romp & a gem of a sleeper!
Adapted from Winifred Watson's novel by the same name and starring the talented Frances McDormand, this film is a gem. The pace was crisp & whimsical, the acting delightful, and the script full of deliciously witty banter. McDormand has the rare gift of conveying hilarity with her subtle facial expressions alone, and she uses it to perfection here.
Amy Adams holds her own opposite her, hitting just the right notes with her character's requisite over-the-top theatrics & the young-girl tenderness that lurks beneath. Shirley Henderson is so good as the funny and scheming Edythe that she would have stolen the show were she not accompanied by the other two strong actresses. If you liked her in this film, be sure to see her in 'The Way We Live Now', where she also shines, but in a slightly different way!
The sub-theme of WWII was absent in the book and added to the film for creative reasons, and it really worked without making the film heavy or maudlin. I also loved the soundtrack. The period sets & costumes were so gorgeous, I had to keep pausing for a longer look.
Don't miss the Bonus Features on both sides of the DVD.
~NN
The Duchess of Duke Street (1976)
Delicious & Engaging
I knew nothing about this series when I discovered it on Netflix. The first episode intrigued & charmed me enough to keep watching the entire series.
Based on a real story, this is not a typical period piece. Each episode gets richer in both content & style, with each of the characters developing their own interesting & unexpected story. Gemma Jones is magnificent as Louisa Trotter, but by the end of Series 2, all the other regular characters had found a place in my heart also, including the new 'Fred'! I was sad watching the final episode knowing it would be my last glimpse into the wonderful life at the Bentick & its colorful residents and guests. One surprise was how tantalizing all the food was to look at. Not something you see very often in TV shows or even feature films.
The care that was put into such details was evident in every episode. TV shows of this quality and style are truly rare.
Here's to more from its creators...
~NN
Sublime (2007)
Tries to be too many things
The problem with this film is that it's not really a true horror flick, nor is it a very convincing drama. And the script beats you over the head with metaphors and symbols to make its too-many points.
If the goal was to bring to light the damage "fear" can do to us, it didn't work for me. All it managed to do was to make a mockery of the film's valid points (and make me hope never to land in a hospital.) A great film about fear of the unfamiliar and distrust of people of other backgrounds/color/race, was 'Crash'. It dealt with fear, racism, sexism, violence, misogyny, love, sex and human alienation, and managed to do so brilliantly and touchingly while maintaining a consistent level of suspense.
By taking the "horror" slant, 'Sublime' caricaturized the message and the characters. The unrealistic "sexy nurse", the sloppy and again unrealistic banter with the Persian doctor about his nationality/credentials, Mandingo's deranged & angry black-vs.-white racial rants and sadistic acts, were all so over-the-top that all they managed to do was annoy me.
But I still gave the film a few stars because I actually liked Tom Cavanaugh in this role, and the rest of the actors were okay though not great, with the exception again of Zoe & Mandingo, who were both just ridiculous stereotypes instead of well-portrayed manifestations of our deepest desires and fears. I blame neither the actors or the director, but the writer.
I did like the soundtrack quite a bit; too bad it had to accompany such a silly script.
~NN
Strange Culture (2007)
Another must-see exposé about corporate greed
I recommend this documentary because of its chilling story & message and not necessarily for its production value (though it was still engaging.) In the tradition of other films in the genre like Erin Brokovich, Silkwood, Norma Rae, etc., this is another disturbing account of innocent lives destroyed by corporate greed & corrupt motives. Only in this case, art, education and the First Amendment are on trial along with the victim. Respected science teacher & artist, Steve Kurtz, wakes up one morning to find his wife, (dramatization played by the great Tilda Swinton) dead next to him in bed, with the cause of death quickly determined to be heart failure. The paramedics who arrive on the scene notice the art-show-related chemicals & science-lab paraphernalia and alert the FBI which leads to Kurtz being arrested for "bio-terrorism". It's a surreal nightmare for Kurtz who never even gets a chance to properly grieve the sudden loss of his wife.
But things don't end once the "terrorist" charge is cleared due to insufficient evidence. Since his art show was conceived as an exposé to educate/inform the public about genetically-modified food, the powers that be (industry/companies) must make it go away.
Helped by an ambitious prosecutor in search of career advancement & fame, the charge is swiftly changed to something that would stick: Mail fraud. Absurd? Not when powerful industry is involved & would stop at nothing to protect their interests.
Tilda Swinton is wonderful here in the few dramatization scenes she's in. This is a film that will be missed by many, but should be seen by all.
~NN
Eyes Wide Shut (1999)
Not great, but watchable
The use of symbolism in this visually-rich film lent a much-needed dimension to the script, including the dreamlike atmosphere as well as all the symbols of the Illuminati, Priory of Sion, Satanic cults and secret societies.
But... the problem is that symbolism alone is not enough to make a film "great", even one made by the legendary Kubrick. The cinematography was gorgeous, but I found the plot flimsy and patchy.
This film could have been truly great if Kubrick either spent more time on the relationship aspect of it, really developing the main characters, or just skipped the relationship talk and made it a full-on suspense thriller. But it aimed for both, and sadly neither was strong enough to make you take the story seriously...
Kidman is flawless & enchanting in appearance, however her character is poorly written & inconsistent, often over-acting to make up for the lack of depth. Cruise started out surprisingly strong & enjoyably subtle, but, like the story itself, got wobbly as things unfolded and was all over the place. His famous (or infamous) mega-watt grin was *way* overused, so that it became more annoying & transparently manipulative than charming (I know, surprise surprise!) Still, the film was compelling enough to make you want to keep watching. I just wished we could have seen the final cut which Kubrick submitted to WB before his death, but which was never made.
~NN
Griffin & Phoenix (2006)
Worth the tears and sinus throbs
I had no idea what the movie was about since i had queued it ages ago. Well...this was no light-hearted comedy, to put it lightly! I ended up sobbing through the entire second half and kept crying for an hour afterward. I just decided to let myself go with it and embrace it--forgetting what that can do to you the next day--and woke up with a vicious headache.
But it was very good. Amanda Peet was flawless in this role. I love how she never overacts in her films and this was no exception. Mulroney was also very good & I don't usually care for him. Some may call this film too sentimental. To which i say: So what? Be sure to grab a big roll of paper-towels. And make it Bounty (the quicker dryer-upper.) And take 2 Advil ahead of time or you'll pay for it later. I sure did. This is not one of those gratuitously depressing films.
~NN
Stupeur et tremblements (2003)
Whimsical...
While I understand why some reviewers had a hard time with this film, the positive aspects of it far outweighed the negative for me.
The cartoonish feel of the film served it well, especially given Sylvie Testud's whimsical face & sensibilities (most delightfully on display in the scene with her ripping off the calendar page with flourish to the applause of the gathered employees!) Testud plays the part with a childlike sincerity which is on the whole pleasing and watchable, even in light of all the hard-to-watch moments and implausible events.
One simply cannot watch this in a strictly American mindset or it would turn into a farce, and not a very good one. The fact that the film is based on an autobiographical novel lent it more meaning & poignancy than if it were strictly fictional.
~NN
Whatever Works (2009)
Just enjoy the wacky ride!
I couldn't wait for this film after seeing the trailer. And I was not disappointed. Woody Allen is back to funny and this time with an added new twist: Larry David's array of neuroses! Unlike many of Allen's past male leads, David is not meant to play a screen version of Allen but to instead bring his own familiar brand of curmudgeonly and neurotic antics.
More cynical and misanthropic here than on 'Curb Your Enthusiasm', David's selection of funny insults alone are worth watching this for. And in true form, he still shows a soft side and a good heart deep deep deep down! The rest of the cast also shines brightly.
Evan Rachel Wood is lovable & funny throughout, and Patricia Clarkson & Ed Begley Jr. are highly entertaining as the hapless-but well-meaning parents of our southern damselle in distress. A fun romp for those who like vintage Woody Allen but can also appreciate David's own style of humor. Many laugh-out-loud lines and wacky twists & turns! ~NN
Walk Don't Run (1966)
One of the most charming films of the '60s
This film is a remake of a 1940s film, but the supersaturated Technicolor and all the other '60s aesthetics & sensibilities make it an iconic film n its own right.
There's so much that made this movie memorable for me: the dialog, the cast, the location, the music...
this was actually filmed during the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. It was Cary Grant's last film and he is very amusing as Sir Rutland. The rest of the cast are equally endearing & unforgettable. It was funny how many scenes of this movie were still fresh in my mind after so many years, like Christine's kimono, the two Japanese kids on the stairs, the coffee percolator, the hilarious walking marathon, the shoji screens (which themselves were like characters in the story.)
Pure joy!
~NN
Downloading Nancy (2008)
Very well made, but still not for everyone
None of the reviews mentioned this movie being based on true events; a noteworthy fact given the disturbing storyline... The film is definitely not for everyone. It's about deeply troubled people & is VERY dark & very cold, made even more so by the meticulous art direction, camera work & editing.
The cast is terrific, with a heartbreaking performance by Maria Bello who tackles her character with perfect emotional tone and tempo. It's a tough role precisely because it's so disturbing, and if overacted or otherwise played wrong, the character could become unlikeable, maudlin or self-indulgent. Bello manages to be none of these things.
I didn't find the sex scenes gratuitous, or as one critic called it, "S&M soft-porn". In fact I felt the scenes were appropriately restrained. And there were many tender moments & much pathos throughout the film, including in some of the s&m scenes.
As for the question of why Nancy simply didn't leave the marriage, she herself explains this when confronted by Louis with the same question. This is not the story of a woman with normal problems, marital or otherwise. This is the story of a woman who as a child was sexually abused by her uncle for a long time. And her mother exacerbated that emotional damage by blaming Nancy for the abuse. Typical of many sexual abuse victims, Nancy translated the abuse into "being loved", which compelled her to long for it in subsequent relationships. The therapy she finally seeks is too-little/too-late for someone with her type & degree of disturbance.
I was okay with the ending & am glad they didn't decide to lighten things up & make it more commercially viable by going for a "happy ending" & having Nancy live happily ever after w/ Louis. That would be too Hollywood. In real life, some people simply can't overcome the pain of such prolonged and heinous abuse & end up choosing death over life as the ultimate release from unbearable pain...
~NN
Press for Truth (2006)
Chilling and filled with well-researched evidence
On August 6, 2001, the White House received an official memo titled: "Bin Laden Determined to Attack within the United States." The title of this memo is casually uttered by Condoleezza Rice in answer to a question during her testimony before the 9/11 commission. This comes after she poorly & repeatedly dodges important questions about this memo and other similar tips given to her and the administration about the threat and why no measures were taken to prevent the 9/11 tragedies.
This is only one of many disturbing clips featured in this film, which goes on to expose mounds of damning & documented evidence that the Bush administration not only HAD been warned repeatedly about the threat (and specifically about planes used by terrorists as weapons to blow up several important buildings), but that they had already taken steps to protect themselves and their families during their own travels & stays abroad.
Time & time again, Bush, Cheney, Rice, Ashcroft, Fleischer and others in the Bush administration denied ANY knowledge of threats when questioned in interviews & press conferences. The evidence leaves no doubt as to their knowledge & subsequent failure to prevent the attacks. How can there be anyone left in this country who fails to see the atrocity of what was done on Sept 11, 2001, not just by terrorists, but by our own government.
The warnings could not have been more specific, practically connecting the dots FOR the CIA and the administration. We also learn about researcher, Paul Thompson, and his critical role in exposing the multiple conflicts in media reports (beginning at the 29-minute mark.) His research made it twice as hard to watch clips of the press conferences given at the time by Bush & his officials feigning ignorance when they were more than aware of the threats. The media managed to miss lies & inconsistencies in a # of press conferences & interviews. It's impossible to watch this film and not feel outraged.
~NN
Si j'étais toi (2007)
Yes it's a remake, but it's a good one...
I'm not entirely sure why most sites put this under the "Thrillers" genre rather than "drama", but I'm glad i saw it regardless.
Based on the 1998 book 'Himitsu' by Japanese writer Keigo Higashino, this is a heart-strings story with its fair share of humor. But it's definitely a tear-jerker, and a very good one at that. It was shot in Montreal (hence all the French names in the credits) but could be set anywhere in the States.
If you happen to really like Lili Taylor & David Duchovny as I do, then you're in for a treat. The young actress is also wonderful and holds her own against these two veterans. I was relieved that they did not cross the line in this version (you'll know what i mean when you watch the film); it would have cheapened the film and changed the whole message and dynamic.
All in all, a film worth watching.
~NN
The Men Who Killed Kennedy (1988)
If you had to pick just one film about the JFK assassination, this would be the one...
The most detailed & chilling documentary I've seen about the JFK assassination. A disturbing number of credible witnesses, as well as damning film footage & audio clips previously unavailable.
If anyone had any doubts that the Oliver Stone conspiracy "theory" film, 'JFK', was nothing but pure fiction, watch this series. (Be sure to see all 6 parts-- there are 4 available on 'Instant Watching', and the other 2 via mail.) As the film asserts, if it happened once, it can happen again. Suffice it to say that it was happening before and still is. One look at recent politics and we know that government cover-ups are alive & thriving.
The series rekindled my interest in the assassinations of both JFK & Bobby Kennedy, and compelled me to get some books on the subject, including 'Brothers' by David Talbot, which I'm really enjoying. It serves as a great companion to the documentary, further elaborating on all the points made by the film, and in great detail.
~NN
The Dick Van Dyke Show (1961)
An absolute gem...
Every moment of every episode of this TV series is tasteful and clever.
The Petries and their gifted sidekicks could have been plucked from any era; the show and it characters are still relevant over a half a century later. The show was way ahead of its time in terms of the writing and the other creative sensibilities. The stories and the humor are timeless, thanks in part to the creative genius of Carl Reiner.
I'm actually amazed at how daring some of the topics were considering this was aired in America at the end of the 1950s--a very conservative period by all counts. I literally have to ration myself so I don't run out of episodes too quickly. I treasure them & watch them sparingly, and they *always* make me happy. In fact, they're a form of therapy for me.
My favorite episode was Season 4's 'Pink Pills and Purple Parents'. I was actually laughing out loud (versus the usual chuckles, smiles and giggles.) We get to see how funny Mary Tyler Moore was (is) at physical comedy---something we don't always have the fortune of seeing since she sort of played "straight man" to Van Dyke's goofy one. My favorite episodes are of course those written by Carl Reiner, which were most of the ones in the first season. After that, others did the writing and he just produced them. But his influence is palpable. And he does have several cameos sprinkled throughout the seasons. Is that man a genius or what?
Can someone please please produce more shows like The Dick Van Dyke Show?
~NN
Guns, Germs, and Steel (2005)
Well-made but it's more of a review of well-known facts
As much as I enjoyed this film, my enthusiasm was dampened by the fact that most of Diamond's revelations are ideas that were in circulation as far back as a hundred years ago.
I couldn't help but wonder why someone so well-versed in history & anthropology would be triumphant about the "discovery" that Europeans used smallpox to wipe out Native Americans, that guns helped Europeans conquer Africa, or that malaria made it impossible for Europeans to migrate into the center of Africa in large numbers.
Furthermore, his explanation ignores the social, economic & political dimensions of world conquest by Europeans, not to mention the ethical & religious implications of past and present conquests and inequalities, chalking it all up to the impersonal forces of luck and "geography".
His reaction to witnessing the horrors of disease-ridden African children is startlingly naive, leaving one with the question: Why did Europeans set out to conquer Africa, killing hundreds of millions of people in order to spread out & enrich its economies, rather than do the same thing to China?? The Chinese invented gunpowder and had cannons before Europeans even heard of guns. Furthermore, they had a far greater population, a more advanced technology, & more efficient agriculture.
The answer lies in certain structures within European society. Until we figure out what this is and how it still manifests itself in our world, we will never be able to understand why inequality still exists in our world. Nevertheless, Jarred Diamond's optimistic conclusion is sincere. One can see how much he wants a better world.
~NN
Mad Men (2007)
Impeccable...
This is a perfect show in every sense. The opening credits & animated intro are themselves works of art, and the creative direction makes the series so visually exquisite that you can't take your eyes off the screen even for a moment lest you miss one of the many perfect vignettes. The haunting opening music sets the stage for masterful sound design, ranging from each episode's musical selections to the subtlest of ambient sounds. The camera-work is nothing short of stunning; it loves each character and makes even the background action interesting. Talented cast and every character is watchable & believable.
For a period piece, 'Mad Men' is remarkably fresh. The show is set in 1960, following a decade of post-WWII recovery which, with the help of rampant consumerism, transformed America from an industrial society into a "leisure society". One of the most rewarding things about the show is how we get to witness the many cracks which had already begun to form in the manicured facade of the '50s, slowly making way for America's rebellion against the manufactured "good life", and resulting in the social & political upheaval of the 1960s and 1970s.
We get to have intimate glimpses into the various components of this process--money, power, politics, sex, race, gender roles-- in a way that makes us feel as if we're actually there in the room with the characters. The show also does a magnificent job of portraying the simultaneous liberation and objectification of women as consumerism rapidly transformed their role in society.
Each and every well-developed character on this show takes his/her turn to unfold in delicate layers. This unfolding is done with pin-point precision and subtlety, and without ever spoon-feeding us. And every new nugget of information is a highly relevant piece of this very addictive puzzle.
~NN