Post by klep on Aug 6, 2018 6:39:52 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 8/6: Broadcast News
JOURNALISM WEEK!
Note: This week's essay contributed by Joseph Walls
“I think I should be alone for a while.”
“I understand. I think I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks.”
There are quite a few films about journalism, especially ones set in the US. Usually, journalistic films have a point, something they’re headed towards, like toppling a governing power or exposing an unseemly truth. I guess the unseemly truth in this one is that people, even the good ones, aren’t perfect. A very telling scene in the movie is when Jane (Holly Hunter) is helping Aaron (Albert Brooks) prepare to anchor the weekend news as a last ditch effort at pleasing the higher ups at the news corporations. Aaron isn’t quite the anchor type, and his shoulders show it, so Jane pulls out the shoulder pads in her jacket and gives them to Aaron. Her target is clear, to help a friend. But once she has a moment alone, she pulls at her shoulders, where the pads once were, unsatisfied.
It seems that the film is less about journalism and more about dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction with love primarily but it also touches on dissatisfaction with intelligence (Tom), exposure (Aaron), and the current state of things and the projection of what’s coming (Jane). But they’re all dissatisfied with love. The dissatisfaction shows greatest in the glances, not the words, of which Brooks is a fan. Brooks is the wordiest writer that bridges the gaps between Sturges and Sorkin and damn does he do the damndest to get those glances in the most perfectly sad and longing way, right in the middle of fight.
There’s not much to distinguish the film visually, though there are some fun diopter shots. The biggest strength of the film is it’s sense of humor: zany, naturalistic, wry, mean at times, and the worst of all: indicative. In a scene where Tom’s coverage of rape is showing, Aaron, who has been presented as the smarter of the two men, makes jokes about a crying woman recounting the night she was assaulted. It’s indicative of Aaron’s cynicism and misogyny. The cold open of the film indicates Tom’s lack of intelligence and drive. And Jane anchors the whole show, bursting in to tears every morning.
This movies reports on the reporters, in a way that doesn’t often get done. It’s mean, it’s funny, it’s romantic, and it’s realistic. It’s almost truthful. Near the end of the film, Jane and Tom embrace and kiss. In most romcoms, there’s a crowd to be had applauding, but with Jane and Tom, it’s secret and by the end of the film it isn’t. For a romcom, or something often perceived as one, there’s no normal happy ending. And I love that.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 8/13: The King of Kong
Witness the titanic battle between two men battling an ape for global supremacy! This documentary chronicles the surprisingly fierce battle to hold the world record high score at Donkey Kong. Join us next week for our discussion! The King of Kong is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 8/7: Mission: Impossible
Next week the podcast takes on one of the longest-running franchises in film history with Brian DePalma's film launching the Mission: Impossible series in 1996. Join us next week for our discussion! Mission: Impossible is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
JOURNALISM WEEK!
Note: This week's essay contributed by Joseph Walls
“I think I should be alone for a while.”
“I understand. I think I’ll go with you.”
“Thanks.”
There are quite a few films about journalism, especially ones set in the US. Usually, journalistic films have a point, something they’re headed towards, like toppling a governing power or exposing an unseemly truth. I guess the unseemly truth in this one is that people, even the good ones, aren’t perfect. A very telling scene in the movie is when Jane (Holly Hunter) is helping Aaron (Albert Brooks) prepare to anchor the weekend news as a last ditch effort at pleasing the higher ups at the news corporations. Aaron isn’t quite the anchor type, and his shoulders show it, so Jane pulls out the shoulder pads in her jacket and gives them to Aaron. Her target is clear, to help a friend. But once she has a moment alone, she pulls at her shoulders, where the pads once were, unsatisfied.
It seems that the film is less about journalism and more about dissatisfaction. Dissatisfaction with love primarily but it also touches on dissatisfaction with intelligence (Tom), exposure (Aaron), and the current state of things and the projection of what’s coming (Jane). But they’re all dissatisfied with love. The dissatisfaction shows greatest in the glances, not the words, of which Brooks is a fan. Brooks is the wordiest writer that bridges the gaps between Sturges and Sorkin and damn does he do the damndest to get those glances in the most perfectly sad and longing way, right in the middle of fight.
There’s not much to distinguish the film visually, though there are some fun diopter shots. The biggest strength of the film is it’s sense of humor: zany, naturalistic, wry, mean at times, and the worst of all: indicative. In a scene where Tom’s coverage of rape is showing, Aaron, who has been presented as the smarter of the two men, makes jokes about a crying woman recounting the night she was assaulted. It’s indicative of Aaron’s cynicism and misogyny. The cold open of the film indicates Tom’s lack of intelligence and drive. And Jane anchors the whole show, bursting in to tears every morning.
This movies reports on the reporters, in a way that doesn’t often get done. It’s mean, it’s funny, it’s romantic, and it’s realistic. It’s almost truthful. Near the end of the film, Jane and Tom embrace and kiss. In most romcoms, there’s a crowd to be had applauding, but with Jane and Tom, it’s secret and by the end of the film it isn’t. For a romcom, or something often perceived as one, there’s no normal happy ending. And I love that.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 8/13: The King of Kong
Witness the titanic battle between two men battling an ape for global supremacy! This documentary chronicles the surprisingly fierce battle to hold the world record high score at Donkey Kong. Join us next week for our discussion! The King of Kong is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 8/7: Mission: Impossible
Next week the podcast takes on one of the longest-running franchises in film history with Brian DePalma's film launching the Mission: Impossible series in 1996. Join us next week for our discussion! Mission: Impossible is available for rent on Amazon Video, though it is not free for Prime members.