Post by klep on Jan 2, 2017 10:19:53 GMT -6
MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 12/26: Sexy Beast
NEW BEGINNINGS EDITION!
Starting over can be hard. We go through our lives building connections and ties to the people and places we meet, and the more of those we have the more difficult it is to pack up and leave it all behind. What's more, some of those connections are harder to break than others, and trying to do so can have unforseen consequences.
As Jonathan Glazer's first feature film Sexy Beast opens, we meet Gal (Ray Winstone) as he is luxuriating in his new life in Spain, retired from a life of crime in London. He has a wife he loves (Deedee, played by Amanda Redman), friends, and a pool. He spends his time sunning, swimming, hunting, eating, and loving. It's grand, and he's clearly in his element.
And then Don (Ben Kingsley) calls, wanting him for a job. Don arrives in the film like a whirlwind of terror and menace. He owns whatever room he is in, and his every action serves to remind those around him of just who is in charge. He is, in short, not a man who takes 'no' for an answer, and he is everything Gal tried to escape from.
It's a problem we can all relate to. We grow and change with each phase in our lives and the people we used to associate with lose their luster. We go to college and we don't necessarily want to hear from a lot of people in high school. We get a career and a family after college and some of our friends from college are no longer welcome in our lives. The only real difference between us and Gal is that our undesired past acquaintances probably aren't likely to murder us if we continue to spurn them.
So the next time your high school tracks you down to pester you about the next reunion, take a moment away from your annoyance and be grateful - it could be worse.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/2: The Fountain
At long last we're going to be watching Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain, and I can only hope I haven't hyped it up too much after all this time. Join us next week for a discussion of this film and how it explores Aronofsky's pet theme of the obsessions that drive us.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 12/29: La La Land
The second part of last week's podcast looked at La La Land, which hardly needs introduction at this point. La La Land is still in theaters, and finally in wide release.
NEW BEGINNINGS EDITION!
Starting over can be hard. We go through our lives building connections and ties to the people and places we meet, and the more of those we have the more difficult it is to pack up and leave it all behind. What's more, some of those connections are harder to break than others, and trying to do so can have unforseen consequences.
As Jonathan Glazer's first feature film Sexy Beast opens, we meet Gal (Ray Winstone) as he is luxuriating in his new life in Spain, retired from a life of crime in London. He has a wife he loves (Deedee, played by Amanda Redman), friends, and a pool. He spends his time sunning, swimming, hunting, eating, and loving. It's grand, and he's clearly in his element.
And then Don (Ben Kingsley) calls, wanting him for a job. Don arrives in the film like a whirlwind of terror and menace. He owns whatever room he is in, and his every action serves to remind those around him of just who is in charge. He is, in short, not a man who takes 'no' for an answer, and he is everything Gal tried to escape from.
It's a problem we can all relate to. We grow and change with each phase in our lives and the people we used to associate with lose their luster. We go to college and we don't necessarily want to hear from a lot of people in high school. We get a career and a family after college and some of our friends from college are no longer welcome in our lives. The only real difference between us and Gal is that our undesired past acquaintances probably aren't likely to murder us if we continue to spurn them.
So the next time your high school tracks you down to pester you about the next reunion, take a moment away from your annoyance and be grateful - it could be worse.
OUR NEXT MOVIE OF THE WEEK for 1/2: The Fountain
At long last we're going to be watching Darren Aronofsky's The Fountain, and I can only hope I haven't hyped it up too much after all this time. Join us next week for a discussion of this film and how it explores Aronofsky's pet theme of the obsessions that drive us.
NEXT PICTURE SHOW PODCAST for 12/29: La La Land
The second part of last week's podcast looked at La La Land, which hardly needs introduction at this point. La La Land is still in theaters, and finally in wide release.