Greetings,
It has been about a month since I first saw this little documentary. I was drawn to it because of the title. See, I like coffee, so a movie called The Perfect Cappuccino seemed right up my alley. I had never even heard of this and, therefore, had no idea what to expect. I just dove right on in and watched. Was it worth it? Let's find out.
The Perfect Cappuccino is about one woman's search for . . . the perfect cappuccino. Surprise! The woman in question is Amy Ferraris, and while that search was the basis for this film, it actually expands into something bigger.
Amy loves coffee, and she LOVES a good cappuccino. However, she has a problem finding that cappuccino anywhere in America. You may think that this is a snobby and unpatriotic attitude, but, newsflash, what you get at a gas station is not a good cappuccino. She knew this already, but a trip to Italy broadened her mind and taste buds even more. In Italy, not surprisingly, really good coffee is not a rarity. It's commonplace. No matter where she went, Amy got a really good cappuccino. Here is where we learn a lot about the great care that goes into preparing these drinks. It is seen as something of an art form, and, judging by the end result, it really is. But why should one have to go all the way to Europe for one of these? This led her to travel around America to delve deeply into our coffee culture.
Guess what it was frighteningly inundated by?
Yes, you can probably figure out what brand I am referring to, though, I'm not sure if I'm even allowed to say the name. Watch this movie and you'll know why I am hesitant to do so. Anyway, Amy is not surprised that this is where most Americans get their coffee, but that didn't stop her on her search. This brings us to one of my favorite aspects of the film.
While on her quest of visiting several small coffee shops, she comes across one in Tulsa, Oklahoma called the DoubleShot Coffee Company, on which a big chunk of the plot is centered. It is owned by a guy named Brian and, as far as how to run a business goes, he and his staff have become my heroes. They are there to give people the product that they sell - coffee. One should never go in and ask for some special order drink filled with everything but coffee. I know a lot of places are into the mentality of "the customer is always right", but are they? These guys are the experts, so why would I or anyone go in like we're the ones who know better? We shouldn't. Perhaps, this attitude may be an acquired taste, but they certainly have gotten a faithful clientele. Their customers go there to get real coffee and real people, and they love it. Due to the fact that he only has one store when he probably could have started a chain, you can see that Brian cares far too much about the quality of what he is doing rather than trying to make the most money. It sucks when someone with that much integrity would be considered an outcast in the business world. (P.S. They do have a website where they sell their beans. Check it out and buy something!)
Amy realizes that, though our coffee culture here is dominated by chains, there are some small places popping up all over the country that care deeply about the quality of their product. They are passionate about coffee. Hey, you have to be passionate about something. Why not this?
So is this a good documentary? I would say yes, it is very good. But I think it's good for a lot of reasons that may cause others to have a problem with it. I know that documentaries were and still sometimes are put into the same category of indie films. By that, I mean they are usually low budget films out of which people do not expect much. Recently, though, it seems that a lot of documentaries have "gone Hollywood". Nothing wrong with that, I guess, but I sometimes prefer things a bit more stripped down and real.
This movie almost feels a little like it was made as a student film. I know that may seem like an insult, but it is done so in such an excellent way that this statement turns into a high compliment. You can feel how much of a passion project this was for Amy Ferraris, so much that it's something of a one woman show. That brings me to the fact that she narrates it herself. Normally, with a lot of documentaries, I expect the narrator's voice to be very professional, in other words, analytical and somewhat cold. Amy's voice may not be one you'd expect to narrate a documentary, which means you might have to get used to it, but I love the way it feels as though a friend of mine is telling me a story about the caffeinated adventure she went on. It is precisely that down to earth feeling that makes this film work extremely well for me. And I love that Amy was, I'll say it again, passionate about this and worked hard to make it happen.
Oh, and what about the burning question? Did she find the perfect cappuccino? I'm no spoiler, so you'll just have to watch. Actually, whether you like coffee or not, this is a film worth checking out.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Friday, July 27, 2012
Thursday, July 26, 2012
Grizzly Man - Documentary Review
Greetings,
Oh, where do I begin with Grizzly Man? I suppose I could start with a spoiler, but would it really be a spoiler since everyone, even people who haven't seen the movie, knows what happens? To sum it up in the simplest terms possible - man lives with bears; man is eaten by bears. If you had to sum it up that quickly, this is how you would do it. Of course, the film is a little more complex than that, and I will do my best to show all sides.
Grizzly Man is a 2005 documentary that was made by Werner Herzog, a man who likes to make movies and likes to narrate them. It takes us through the life of Timothy Treadwell, an animal, particularly bear, enthusiast to say the very least, and through his time spent with those bears over thirteen summers in Alaska. Most of what we see here is footage that Treadwell recorded himself, and it was later found and used for the movie. Consider this a blessing, by the way. I mean, how often do we get a "found footage" movie that is legitimately found footage? Anyway, all of that is interspersed with interviews with family, friends and a few experts, and it ended up being a very well put together film.
Let's talk about the obvious thing first. When the movie came out and since then, it was major joke fodder for practically everyone who saw it. Despite the tragedy of the ending, everything leading up to it seemed to make people either roll their eyes or laugh. I'll admit it. I was one of them. I just did not get what he was doing. I did not get what he was thinking. I'm really not certain that a group of bears could recognize one human from another, much less trust that human. It seemed about as logical as thinking a great white shark is taking revenge out on your family. I also find it hard to believe that he was seeing the same bears every time he went back. All the bears he named, by the way. But it was what he believed.
As I said, most of us knew the deal before we saw this. I know I did, and I went in with the mentality that this was a guy who really loved nature and animals and just had a very tragic thing happen to him. It turns out I was not totally accurate. Yes, Timothy Treadwell did say that he loved the bears and wanted to protect them, and that's fine, if that's what he was doing. I and many people feel like he took it too far. He spent all this time living with the bears in their territory, and he admittedly was breaking laws when it came to where he was staying in the area and how close he got to the animals. He constantly said he respected them. Maybe in his mind he did. But I almost feel like he did not fully respect their power. Sure, he admitted that if one of US messed with them, we would get hurt, but they would never hurt him. Obviously and sadly, he was wrong.
As Treadwell's own footage is shown, it does seem at times that he was really losing it. To this day, I don't know if it was an act or if all of those seemingly insane rants were genuine. I mean, there's passion, but then there is whatever he was doing and feeling. There were times when he was even angry at people who did not want him to be out there, and by that, I am referring to the native people of that land. One even said that he may have been doing more harm than good by making these bears think that all humans are safe. For all the time that their ancestors had inhabited that area, it was always bears on one side, humans on the other, and they do not cross that line without expecting the obvious consequences. Maybe it is some of that Native American blood running through my veins, but I agree. Sometimes the best way to respect and protect is to keep your distance.
Now I don't want to come off as insensitive to what happened. I won't say he got what he deserved like some people have. I just think he paid the price for putting himself into that dangerous situation. Most of all, I have so much sympathy for his family and friends, especially the friend who ended up dying along with him. One of the most powerful moments of the film concerns the tape recording of the actual attack. The camera had been on, but the lens cap had not been removed, so there was only audio, which we, the audience, do not hear. Werner Herzog, however, listens to it on headphones in the presence of the woman, a very good friend of Treadwell's, who was in possession of it. She had never listened to it, but watching someone else do it had a major effect on her. Herzog was clearly shaken, but the look on her face was absolutely devastating and your heart breaks for her. I admired this film maker greatly for advising her to never listen to it, never let anyone else hear it and to just get rid of it.
I know that even now, people still laugh about the situation and mock Timothy Treadwell as they watch the film. But it is something that should be seen, especially if you love seeing nature. The human aspect aside, this film was beautifully shot, including Treadwell's own footage. It is a fascinating story as well, and, in all the times I've seen it, I enjoyed it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Oh, where do I begin with Grizzly Man? I suppose I could start with a spoiler, but would it really be a spoiler since everyone, even people who haven't seen the movie, knows what happens? To sum it up in the simplest terms possible - man lives with bears; man is eaten by bears. If you had to sum it up that quickly, this is how you would do it. Of course, the film is a little more complex than that, and I will do my best to show all sides.
Grizzly Man is a 2005 documentary that was made by Werner Herzog, a man who likes to make movies and likes to narrate them. It takes us through the life of Timothy Treadwell, an animal, particularly bear, enthusiast to say the very least, and through his time spent with those bears over thirteen summers in Alaska. Most of what we see here is footage that Treadwell recorded himself, and it was later found and used for the movie. Consider this a blessing, by the way. I mean, how often do we get a "found footage" movie that is legitimately found footage? Anyway, all of that is interspersed with interviews with family, friends and a few experts, and it ended up being a very well put together film.
Let's talk about the obvious thing first. When the movie came out and since then, it was major joke fodder for practically everyone who saw it. Despite the tragedy of the ending, everything leading up to it seemed to make people either roll their eyes or laugh. I'll admit it. I was one of them. I just did not get what he was doing. I did not get what he was thinking. I'm really not certain that a group of bears could recognize one human from another, much less trust that human. It seemed about as logical as thinking a great white shark is taking revenge out on your family. I also find it hard to believe that he was seeing the same bears every time he went back. All the bears he named, by the way. But it was what he believed.
As I said, most of us knew the deal before we saw this. I know I did, and I went in with the mentality that this was a guy who really loved nature and animals and just had a very tragic thing happen to him. It turns out I was not totally accurate. Yes, Timothy Treadwell did say that he loved the bears and wanted to protect them, and that's fine, if that's what he was doing. I and many people feel like he took it too far. He spent all this time living with the bears in their territory, and he admittedly was breaking laws when it came to where he was staying in the area and how close he got to the animals. He constantly said he respected them. Maybe in his mind he did. But I almost feel like he did not fully respect their power. Sure, he admitted that if one of US messed with them, we would get hurt, but they would never hurt him. Obviously and sadly, he was wrong.
As Treadwell's own footage is shown, it does seem at times that he was really losing it. To this day, I don't know if it was an act or if all of those seemingly insane rants were genuine. I mean, there's passion, but then there is whatever he was doing and feeling. There were times when he was even angry at people who did not want him to be out there, and by that, I am referring to the native people of that land. One even said that he may have been doing more harm than good by making these bears think that all humans are safe. For all the time that their ancestors had inhabited that area, it was always bears on one side, humans on the other, and they do not cross that line without expecting the obvious consequences. Maybe it is some of that Native American blood running through my veins, but I agree. Sometimes the best way to respect and protect is to keep your distance.
Now I don't want to come off as insensitive to what happened. I won't say he got what he deserved like some people have. I just think he paid the price for putting himself into that dangerous situation. Most of all, I have so much sympathy for his family and friends, especially the friend who ended up dying along with him. One of the most powerful moments of the film concerns the tape recording of the actual attack. The camera had been on, but the lens cap had not been removed, so there was only audio, which we, the audience, do not hear. Werner Herzog, however, listens to it on headphones in the presence of the woman, a very good friend of Treadwell's, who was in possession of it. She had never listened to it, but watching someone else do it had a major effect on her. Herzog was clearly shaken, but the look on her face was absolutely devastating and your heart breaks for her. I admired this film maker greatly for advising her to never listen to it, never let anyone else hear it and to just get rid of it.
I know that even now, people still laugh about the situation and mock Timothy Treadwell as they watch the film. But it is something that should be seen, especially if you love seeing nature. The human aspect aside, this film was beautifully shot, including Treadwell's own footage. It is a fascinating story as well, and, in all the times I've seen it, I enjoyed it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, July 25, 2012
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man - Documentary Review
Greetings,
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is another movie about which I had reservations when it came to reviewing it this week. In this case, though, it is because this might be considered less of a documentary and more of a concert movie, since it was based on a concert that took place in Sydney in 2005. But there is so much info about Leonard Cohen himself here, his life and career, that I think it fits the bill.
As I said, there was a tribute concert entitled Came So Far For Beauty that was filmed, I believe, over two nights at the Sydney Opera House. There were several performances by artists who, sadly, I don't think many people have heard of. Not to say they are not talented, but I just don't think any of them are uber-popular, especially in America. But we will get to those performances later.
Let's start with "the man" himself, Leonard Cohen. While the concert was a good thread to hold the film together, I was quite interested in the interviews and past footage that were interspersed throughout. Leonard Cohen graciously took part in the filming of this documentary, agreeing to be interviewed about many of the aspects of his fascinating life. Of course, there were very good conversations with those who have known and worked with him as well, but I found it best to hear it directly from him. Speaking of Leonard Cohen's . . . well, speaking, it truly shows his gift for words that transcends what he puts into his lyrics and poetry. He literally speaks as though what he is saying was written, prepared and beautifully edited in advance, but all of this just flows from him as naturally as his breath. Not only were we privileged enough to hear him speak, but we were also treated to SEE his written work, as well as some of his visual art. All of this was perfectly edited and a great compliment to what was being said as we watched.
Okay, let me talk about the concert and the performances therein. I would call Leonard Cohen the perfect artist to be covered. Even he has said that he does not have the best voice, and, as much of an admirer as I am, I agree. His voice has always been a little monotonous, more so, since he has gotten older to the point where he basically talks his way through his lyrics over music. And that is fine with me, because it is his writing that has always been his greatest strength. So because he does not have this overwhelmingly wonderful singing voice, it is fairly easy for a singer to perform these songs and put their own twist on them. In my opinion, each cover of one of his songs sounds different from the others. I think it's because he gives us the base on which we can vocally build something for ourselves.
The performances here, for the most part, do not disappoint. Some of my favorites are a powerful duet between Perla Batalla and Julie Christensen of the song "Anthem" and a haunting rendition of "Sisters of Mercy" by Beth Orton. But the best of these was a performance of one of Cohen's most beautiful songs, "Tonight Will Be Fine" by Teddy Thompson. I had never heard of this guy before, but now I absolutely love him, and it is this performance I use to rope people into seeing the film. I literally tell them to just hang on until this scene. Even if you don't get into the film that much, which I find impossible, just hang on until you hear him sing this song. It will be worth it.
Now of all the artists featured, there is one that everyone will know - U2. They did not take part in the concert, but they do perform "Tower of Song" along with Mr. Cohen at the end of the film, so I guess that makes it a partial cover. While on the subject of U2, Bono and the Edge were also two of the people interviewed in the film. Admittedly, while I like a lot of U2's music, I am not the biggest fan of Bono. He just talks sooooo much. Fortunately for him, here, he speaks so highly of Leonard Cohen that I was okay with listening and even agreeing.
If you are already an admirer of Leonard Cohen, then this is a film you should certainly see. If you're someone who has always known simply in passing about Leonard Cohen but has wanted to know more, this would be a great way to start. Personally, this film has been an absolute inspiration to me as a writer, so I would also highly recommend it to other writers. We can learn a lot from Mr. Cohen. One thing I appreciate that he always says is that being a writer is, in fact, work. It is a job. It is a profession, whether you are paid for it or not. Again, as a writer and someone whose work is regularly belittled as being not "real" work, I love that he always reminds the world of what exactly goes into what we do. And he is absolutely right.
To finish, and though I hesitate to say this, I think it was actually Bono who summed Leonard Cohen up the best. After speaking highly of Cohen's own humility, the final statement of the film is Bono simply saying, "The rest of us would be very humbled by the stuff he throws away". I cannot disagree.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Leonard Cohen: I'm Your Man is another movie about which I had reservations when it came to reviewing it this week. In this case, though, it is because this might be considered less of a documentary and more of a concert movie, since it was based on a concert that took place in Sydney in 2005. But there is so much info about Leonard Cohen himself here, his life and career, that I think it fits the bill.
As I said, there was a tribute concert entitled Came So Far For Beauty that was filmed, I believe, over two nights at the Sydney Opera House. There were several performances by artists who, sadly, I don't think many people have heard of. Not to say they are not talented, but I just don't think any of them are uber-popular, especially in America. But we will get to those performances later.
Let's start with "the man" himself, Leonard Cohen. While the concert was a good thread to hold the film together, I was quite interested in the interviews and past footage that were interspersed throughout. Leonard Cohen graciously took part in the filming of this documentary, agreeing to be interviewed about many of the aspects of his fascinating life. Of course, there were very good conversations with those who have known and worked with him as well, but I found it best to hear it directly from him. Speaking of Leonard Cohen's . . . well, speaking, it truly shows his gift for words that transcends what he puts into his lyrics and poetry. He literally speaks as though what he is saying was written, prepared and beautifully edited in advance, but all of this just flows from him as naturally as his breath. Not only were we privileged enough to hear him speak, but we were also treated to SEE his written work, as well as some of his visual art. All of this was perfectly edited and a great compliment to what was being said as we watched.
Okay, let me talk about the concert and the performances therein. I would call Leonard Cohen the perfect artist to be covered. Even he has said that he does not have the best voice, and, as much of an admirer as I am, I agree. His voice has always been a little monotonous, more so, since he has gotten older to the point where he basically talks his way through his lyrics over music. And that is fine with me, because it is his writing that has always been his greatest strength. So because he does not have this overwhelmingly wonderful singing voice, it is fairly easy for a singer to perform these songs and put their own twist on them. In my opinion, each cover of one of his songs sounds different from the others. I think it's because he gives us the base on which we can vocally build something for ourselves.
The performances here, for the most part, do not disappoint. Some of my favorites are a powerful duet between Perla Batalla and Julie Christensen of the song "Anthem" and a haunting rendition of "Sisters of Mercy" by Beth Orton. But the best of these was a performance of one of Cohen's most beautiful songs, "Tonight Will Be Fine" by Teddy Thompson. I had never heard of this guy before, but now I absolutely love him, and it is this performance I use to rope people into seeing the film. I literally tell them to just hang on until this scene. Even if you don't get into the film that much, which I find impossible, just hang on until you hear him sing this song. It will be worth it.
Now of all the artists featured, there is one that everyone will know - U2. They did not take part in the concert, but they do perform "Tower of Song" along with Mr. Cohen at the end of the film, so I guess that makes it a partial cover. While on the subject of U2, Bono and the Edge were also two of the people interviewed in the film. Admittedly, while I like a lot of U2's music, I am not the biggest fan of Bono. He just talks sooooo much. Fortunately for him, here, he speaks so highly of Leonard Cohen that I was okay with listening and even agreeing.
If you are already an admirer of Leonard Cohen, then this is a film you should certainly see. If you're someone who has always known simply in passing about Leonard Cohen but has wanted to know more, this would be a great way to start. Personally, this film has been an absolute inspiration to me as a writer, so I would also highly recommend it to other writers. We can learn a lot from Mr. Cohen. One thing I appreciate that he always says is that being a writer is, in fact, work. It is a job. It is a profession, whether you are paid for it or not. Again, as a writer and someone whose work is regularly belittled as being not "real" work, I love that he always reminds the world of what exactly goes into what we do. And he is absolutely right.
To finish, and though I hesitate to say this, I think it was actually Bono who summed Leonard Cohen up the best. After speaking highly of Cohen's own humility, the final statement of the film is Bono simply saying, "The rest of us would be very humbled by the stuff he throws away". I cannot disagree.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
1000 Journals - Documentary Review
Greetings,
From the time I was little girl, I have tried to keep a diary or journal. I would buy a new one each year, start writing in it, then lose interest by around mid-February. Phenomenally, when I was about twenty years old, I got a journal, wrote in it and actually kept it up for a few years. Not a few years in the same journal, mind you, because that would be a really big book. But eventually, I stopped. Not because I had nothing to say, but because I realized that writing about my life in this typical way was not MY way. I would struggle to write about the events of the day in a journal, but then I could easily write ten poems about the same things. So those poems and the lyrics to my songs, they have become like my journal. Forgive the personal exposition, but I thought I should share.
When it comes to journaling these days for me, I am currently doing something I've never done. I'm keeping what could be called an art journal, where I can exercise some of my skills as a visual artist as well as my writing. And what inspired me to do this? Well, it was a little movie called 1000 Journals.
I discovered this movie a while back and was very intrigued by it. I was actually downright flabbergasted that I had not heard of it before then, but I'm so glad I did find it. The film centers around Someguy. Yep, he calls himself Someguy. And I am certainly not judging anyone who chooses to not use their real name. Anyway, he had begun contemplating a simple, but important question - Where did our creativity go? So, in 2000, he had the idea to send 1000 blank journals out into the world and dubbed it The 1000 Journals Project. Yes, where DID our creativity go? Anyway, he stamped each one with an explanation of the project and a website where they could get info about giving and receiving journals. So, some people got them in the mail, some got them from strangers or friends, and some even just found them in one of the random places that Someguy left them. People got these books, and their creativity exploded, just as the creator of this project had hoped for. To be honest, the only negative thing I could say about this idea is that I was not the one who came up with it. I wish I had, because it is brilliant.
The film is basically full of interviews with people from around the world discussing the project and the effect that it has had on their lives. I know that, on the surface, that may not seem like anything entertaining. Still, once you hear the stories that people have to tell, and there are some really good ones here, your curiosity is aroused and you want to hear more. And, as far as the actual journals themselves go, we get a lot of exposure to their contents. We hear people reading from them, see the visual work that has been done and watch as they are worked on by people who want to add more. As an artist, I was thrilled to see people's eyes light up when they were allowed, finally, to be truly creative, knowing that what they had done would be shared with so many others. I was actually pleasantly surprised that so many people were eager to be a part of something like this. I suppose it proves that everyone has creativity hidden away somewhere and all they need is an outlet and someone to give them permission to use it.
Now there is still a 1000 Journals website where you can see entries that have been scanned in, and, initially, it was where you could go to sign up to receive a journal, but I don't think you can get one there anymore. However, since there was such a buzz, Someguy launched the 1001 Journals website, and I believe you can still get yourself into the mix there. I've actually considered getting one, and I just might do it one day. In addition to that and this movie, there is also a book that contains a lot of the entries from the 1000 Journals if you're interested in seeing more.
This is a movie that I would definitely recommend to any artist or anyone who just loves art in general. You truly are able to see what can happen when whatever people may have inside is unlocked. And, since I have always considered all real artists to be family members to one another, I loved to see the sense of community that this project ignited. Believe it or not, I am actually hoping for a sequel.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
From the time I was little girl, I have tried to keep a diary or journal. I would buy a new one each year, start writing in it, then lose interest by around mid-February. Phenomenally, when I was about twenty years old, I got a journal, wrote in it and actually kept it up for a few years. Not a few years in the same journal, mind you, because that would be a really big book. But eventually, I stopped. Not because I had nothing to say, but because I realized that writing about my life in this typical way was not MY way. I would struggle to write about the events of the day in a journal, but then I could easily write ten poems about the same things. So those poems and the lyrics to my songs, they have become like my journal. Forgive the personal exposition, but I thought I should share.
When it comes to journaling these days for me, I am currently doing something I've never done. I'm keeping what could be called an art journal, where I can exercise some of my skills as a visual artist as well as my writing. And what inspired me to do this? Well, it was a little movie called 1000 Journals.
I discovered this movie a while back and was very intrigued by it. I was actually downright flabbergasted that I had not heard of it before then, but I'm so glad I did find it. The film centers around Someguy. Yep, he calls himself Someguy. And I am certainly not judging anyone who chooses to not use their real name. Anyway, he had begun contemplating a simple, but important question - Where did our creativity go? So, in 2000, he had the idea to send 1000 blank journals out into the world and dubbed it The 1000 Journals Project. Yes, where DID our creativity go? Anyway, he stamped each one with an explanation of the project and a website where they could get info about giving and receiving journals. So, some people got them in the mail, some got them from strangers or friends, and some even just found them in one of the random places that Someguy left them. People got these books, and their creativity exploded, just as the creator of this project had hoped for. To be honest, the only negative thing I could say about this idea is that I was not the one who came up with it. I wish I had, because it is brilliant.
The film is basically full of interviews with people from around the world discussing the project and the effect that it has had on their lives. I know that, on the surface, that may not seem like anything entertaining. Still, once you hear the stories that people have to tell, and there are some really good ones here, your curiosity is aroused and you want to hear more. And, as far as the actual journals themselves go, we get a lot of exposure to their contents. We hear people reading from them, see the visual work that has been done and watch as they are worked on by people who want to add more. As an artist, I was thrilled to see people's eyes light up when they were allowed, finally, to be truly creative, knowing that what they had done would be shared with so many others. I was actually pleasantly surprised that so many people were eager to be a part of something like this. I suppose it proves that everyone has creativity hidden away somewhere and all they need is an outlet and someone to give them permission to use it.
Now there is still a 1000 Journals website where you can see entries that have been scanned in, and, initially, it was where you could go to sign up to receive a journal, but I don't think you can get one there anymore. However, since there was such a buzz, Someguy launched the 1001 Journals website, and I believe you can still get yourself into the mix there. I've actually considered getting one, and I just might do it one day. In addition to that and this movie, there is also a book that contains a lot of the entries from the 1000 Journals if you're interested in seeing more.
This is a movie that I would definitely recommend to any artist or anyone who just loves art in general. You truly are able to see what can happen when whatever people may have inside is unlocked. And, since I have always considered all real artists to be family members to one another, I loved to see the sense of community that this project ignited. Believe it or not, I am actually hoping for a sequel.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Monday, July 23, 2012
Catfish - Documentary Review
Greetings,
I was hesitant to do a review of Catfish for Documentary Week for a couple of reasons. First of all, documentaries are generally about something based in reality, something that has actually happened. Well, a lot of people think that what happened in this film is not what happened for real. Second, I can only say so much about this before I start giving away the "twist", but I'll do my best. Let me just say that I believe what happened in this film did, in fact, happen. Of course, it is not "exactly" what occurred. Hello! They're called editors, and even documentaries have them. But I think it is as true to life as it can be. I could be wrong, I realize this, but, as I said in an email I sent to one of the guys involved in this film, I refuse to believe that three adorable boys would lie to me. Thinking that may have gotten me into trouble in the past, but I may be safe here. Moving on.
So this movie centers around three guys from New York. Yaniv "Nev" Schulman, his older brother Ariel "Rel" Schulman, and their good friend, Henry Joost. Twenty-four year old Nev is a photographer and our main "character", while Rel and Henry are filmmakers along for the ride.
The film starts with Nev talking about a little girl named Abby who he met online. Before you start to worry, it's not what you're thinking. Abby is actually an eight year old art prodigy who got some of Nev's photographs, painted pictures of them and sent them to him. Impressed by the talent of this young girl, Rel and Henry decided to start making a film about her art, as well as Nev's interactions with Abby and her family. Oh, yeah, about her family.
Being the responsible and not wanting to look like a creepy internet predator man that he is, Nev asks permission from Abby's mother, Angela, before having any communication with her. This parlays itself into his developing a friendly relationship with the whole family, including Abby's dad, Vince, her older brother, Alex and her older sister, Megan. Her nineteen year old sister who looks like a model Megan. See, sometimes even documentaries need an obvious love interest. As expected, Nev and Megan strike up a long distance, over the phone and internet relationship. Initially, though, he is hesitant to go too far, because Megan is only nineteen, and she lives in Michigan, and she's a virgin. Yes, at some point, she tells him that she is still a virgin. While we are not privy to this conversation firsthand, we are pretty much told point blank in other places.
Now Nev and Megan do seem to have some things in common. Megan is a photographer like him, but she also works with animals and is a dancer and a singer/songwriter. She even frequently sends recordings of herself singing to Nev. However, it is that very act that leads to a turn in the story. Not to spoil anything specific, but the boys discover that perhaps Megan has not been completely honest with them. Turns out, they also start to suspect that this may be an inherited trait. So amid all these suspicions, they decide to full on Nancy Drew it and go to Michigan to find out just what exactly is going on. Well, they go, and they do find out.
Okay, here's about where I have to stop as far as the story line goes, because here is where the "twist" is revealed. And, in my opinion, this part is a very good payoff. Initially, it may seem predictable, but, as things go along, the story goes much deeper and is very rewarding.
I will give a bit of a warning to anyone who might want to check this movie out. Do not go online to look for trailers for it. I've seen some for this movie, before and after, and a lot of them make this film out to be something it is not. Don't get me wrong, the movie is amazing, but it's not THAT movie that you might see summed up in one of these little adverts. I mean, come on, 12 Angry Men is an amazing movie, too, but seeing clips of a spaceship blowing up is not going to give you a good hint as to what it's about. It was just a little misleading. Though maybe that was the point.
While it may seem like a simple story, initially, Catfish has a lot of layers to it. There is a bit of mystery there, but I would call it more of a character study. It goes deeply into how otherwise everyday, ordinary people behave and react when they are put into unexpected and extraordinary situations. And near the end, there is a scene from which the title is spawned, and I found it to be a very poignant moment. Bottom line is, whether you believe that it is all true or not (I still believe it's true!), this is still a very good movie and worth the watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I was hesitant to do a review of Catfish for Documentary Week for a couple of reasons. First of all, documentaries are generally about something based in reality, something that has actually happened. Well, a lot of people think that what happened in this film is not what happened for real. Second, I can only say so much about this before I start giving away the "twist", but I'll do my best. Let me just say that I believe what happened in this film did, in fact, happen. Of course, it is not "exactly" what occurred. Hello! They're called editors, and even documentaries have them. But I think it is as true to life as it can be. I could be wrong, I realize this, but, as I said in an email I sent to one of the guys involved in this film, I refuse to believe that three adorable boys would lie to me. Thinking that may have gotten me into trouble in the past, but I may be safe here. Moving on.
So this movie centers around three guys from New York. Yaniv "Nev" Schulman, his older brother Ariel "Rel" Schulman, and their good friend, Henry Joost. Twenty-four year old Nev is a photographer and our main "character", while Rel and Henry are filmmakers along for the ride.
The film starts with Nev talking about a little girl named Abby who he met online. Before you start to worry, it's not what you're thinking. Abby is actually an eight year old art prodigy who got some of Nev's photographs, painted pictures of them and sent them to him. Impressed by the talent of this young girl, Rel and Henry decided to start making a film about her art, as well as Nev's interactions with Abby and her family. Oh, yeah, about her family.
Being the responsible and not wanting to look like a creepy internet predator man that he is, Nev asks permission from Abby's mother, Angela, before having any communication with her. This parlays itself into his developing a friendly relationship with the whole family, including Abby's dad, Vince, her older brother, Alex and her older sister, Megan. Her nineteen year old sister who looks like a model Megan. See, sometimes even documentaries need an obvious love interest. As expected, Nev and Megan strike up a long distance, over the phone and internet relationship. Initially, though, he is hesitant to go too far, because Megan is only nineteen, and she lives in Michigan, and she's a virgin. Yes, at some point, she tells him that she is still a virgin. While we are not privy to this conversation firsthand, we are pretty much told point blank in other places.
Now Nev and Megan do seem to have some things in common. Megan is a photographer like him, but she also works with animals and is a dancer and a singer/songwriter. She even frequently sends recordings of herself singing to Nev. However, it is that very act that leads to a turn in the story. Not to spoil anything specific, but the boys discover that perhaps Megan has not been completely honest with them. Turns out, they also start to suspect that this may be an inherited trait. So amid all these suspicions, they decide to full on Nancy Drew it and go to Michigan to find out just what exactly is going on. Well, they go, and they do find out.
Okay, here's about where I have to stop as far as the story line goes, because here is where the "twist" is revealed. And, in my opinion, this part is a very good payoff. Initially, it may seem predictable, but, as things go along, the story goes much deeper and is very rewarding.
I will give a bit of a warning to anyone who might want to check this movie out. Do not go online to look for trailers for it. I've seen some for this movie, before and after, and a lot of them make this film out to be something it is not. Don't get me wrong, the movie is amazing, but it's not THAT movie that you might see summed up in one of these little adverts. I mean, come on, 12 Angry Men is an amazing movie, too, but seeing clips of a spaceship blowing up is not going to give you a good hint as to what it's about. It was just a little misleading. Though maybe that was the point.
While it may seem like a simple story, initially, Catfish has a lot of layers to it. There is a bit of mystery there, but I would call it more of a character study. It goes deeply into how otherwise everyday, ordinary people behave and react when they are put into unexpected and extraordinary situations. And near the end, there is a scene from which the title is spawned, and I found it to be a very poignant moment. Bottom line is, whether you believe that it is all true or not (I still believe it's true!), this is still a very good movie and worth the watch.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Good Hair - Documentary Review
Greetings,
I do not have good hair. I can admit that. It's very temperamental and usually never does what I want it to do. Oh, sure, if I spend an hour on it every morning, it might look decent, but I just don't have that kind of time. But it seems that there are some who would say that I do have good hair. I had no idea. And how was this revealed to me? Well, it was Chris Rock and his hilarious 2009 documentary, Good Hair.
As far as I know, the genesis of this idea came when one of Chris Rock's adorable little girls asked him, "Daddy, why don't I have good hair?". The thought of a child asking that seems so sad to me. But that got him thinking about what exactly is good hair. Through many interviews and much traveling, he went to great lengths to find out.
Now as I've said before, I do watch America's Next Top Model, so I know what a weave is, and I know about the pain involved. Same goes for a relaxer, in theory anyway, though I did not know about the exact chemicals. Oh, but I learned. We'll get to that. I actually learned a lot about things I thought I knew.
So Chris Rock visits beauty schools and hair salons to talk to women, and some men, about the things they do in order to get "good hair". What DO they do? Well, first, there are the weaves. I could talk about how painful or time consuming it is to get one, but let's discuss the money issue. I think the cheapest one they spoke of was a thousand dollars. ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! For hair. Okay, fine. I guess if you have the money, then go spend it. Of course, one shop owner did mention that she had a layaway plan for hair weaves, and that amused Chris Rock very much. Next, we have relaxers, which sound to me kind of dangerous. It seems I am right. We even visit a scientist here who displays the actual harm these chemicals can do. He demonstrated this with, what else, a soda can. It was a soda can that could have simply been sliced by an infomercial knife, but, clearly, it was meant for bigger and better things. Anyway, I can mock it, but what I saw that stuff do was frightening.
As the film progresses, Chris Rock takes other pilgrimages. One of them is to a huge hair convention where vendors sell their products and stylists compete in a show that may as well be a rock concert by the looks of it. And, in this world, those stylists are something like rock stars. He also went to India to find out about their massive hair exporting industry. Oh, yeah, forget GOOD hair. Apparently, India has the BEST hair. And women want it badly. Badly enough to pay a load of money for it.
There were a lot of interviews with familiar faces such as the great Maya Angelou, Raven Symone, Ice-T and Al Sharpton, and these provide some of the most amusing moments. But aren't anecdotes always the best thing?
After I watched this film, I found that I had been entertained a lot, but also informed. I personally enjoy learning about other cultures and the way of life for other people. The thing is that when we think of "other cultures" we tend to think of far off lands and whatnot, but here we realize that these are the cultural ways of people that we know, people who are our friends. It made me remember that we don't always know people as well as we think we do, unless we're really willing to sit down, talk to each other and learn from each other. I think it's always worth it.
So all in all, I give this movie a good rating. I laughed, I learned and those two things go very well together.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I do not have good hair. I can admit that. It's very temperamental and usually never does what I want it to do. Oh, sure, if I spend an hour on it every morning, it might look decent, but I just don't have that kind of time. But it seems that there are some who would say that I do have good hair. I had no idea. And how was this revealed to me? Well, it was Chris Rock and his hilarious 2009 documentary, Good Hair.
As far as I know, the genesis of this idea came when one of Chris Rock's adorable little girls asked him, "Daddy, why don't I have good hair?". The thought of a child asking that seems so sad to me. But that got him thinking about what exactly is good hair. Through many interviews and much traveling, he went to great lengths to find out.
Now as I've said before, I do watch America's Next Top Model, so I know what a weave is, and I know about the pain involved. Same goes for a relaxer, in theory anyway, though I did not know about the exact chemicals. Oh, but I learned. We'll get to that. I actually learned a lot about things I thought I knew.
So Chris Rock visits beauty schools and hair salons to talk to women, and some men, about the things they do in order to get "good hair". What DO they do? Well, first, there are the weaves. I could talk about how painful or time consuming it is to get one, but let's discuss the money issue. I think the cheapest one they spoke of was a thousand dollars. ONE THOUSAND DOLLARS! For hair. Okay, fine. I guess if you have the money, then go spend it. Of course, one shop owner did mention that she had a layaway plan for hair weaves, and that amused Chris Rock very much. Next, we have relaxers, which sound to me kind of dangerous. It seems I am right. We even visit a scientist here who displays the actual harm these chemicals can do. He demonstrated this with, what else, a soda can. It was a soda can that could have simply been sliced by an infomercial knife, but, clearly, it was meant for bigger and better things. Anyway, I can mock it, but what I saw that stuff do was frightening.
As the film progresses, Chris Rock takes other pilgrimages. One of them is to a huge hair convention where vendors sell their products and stylists compete in a show that may as well be a rock concert by the looks of it. And, in this world, those stylists are something like rock stars. He also went to India to find out about their massive hair exporting industry. Oh, yeah, forget GOOD hair. Apparently, India has the BEST hair. And women want it badly. Badly enough to pay a load of money for it.
There were a lot of interviews with familiar faces such as the great Maya Angelou, Raven Symone, Ice-T and Al Sharpton, and these provide some of the most amusing moments. But aren't anecdotes always the best thing?
After I watched this film, I found that I had been entertained a lot, but also informed. I personally enjoy learning about other cultures and the way of life for other people. The thing is that when we think of "other cultures" we tend to think of far off lands and whatnot, but here we realize that these are the cultural ways of people that we know, people who are our friends. It made me remember that we don't always know people as well as we think we do, unless we're really willing to sit down, talk to each other and learn from each other. I think it's always worth it.
So all in all, I give this movie a good rating. I laughed, I learned and those two things go very well together.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, July 19, 2012
The Great Pretender
Greetings,
Sometimes I like things that other people do not. Sometimes I like things that other people have not heard of. These "people" of which I speak are the ones I know. And I talk about so many things of which they are so unaware. Maybe it's because I love going against the flow, I'm not sure, but when it comes to television shows, this aspect of my personality leaves me constantly disappointed. I start to watch a show, I like it and it gets cancelled within a year or less. I suppose some people just can't grasp the greatness of some of these series as I do. Of course, there are exceptions, like my beloved Law and Order or Beverly Hills, 90210. And then there are the shows that do last for some time but never become the huge hits that they should be. Rather they tend to develop what has become known as a "cult following". And here lies The Pretender.
The Pretender ran from 1996 to 2000, or 2001 if you count the two TV movies used to wrap everything up. It was a show that would most likely be considered science fiction, but I've always called it "sci-fi with heart". It had a lot of heart. Now this was a series that, if you watched it, you got it. It wasn't confusing to the regular viewer, but trying to explain it to a non-viewer can get a little complicated. Not overwhelmingly so, but if you intend to watch it on DVD reruns, you really have to start from the beginning and not lose the flow. I hate to make watching a TV show seem like work, but it's not. What it is, in fact, is one of the best series ever on television. And I'm going to tell you all about it.
Let's start with our main character, Jarod, played by Michael T. Weiss, a disgustingly underrated actor. He was brilliant. His face could literally go from innocent man child to psycho in about two seconds, an ability that became quite useful here. Not to say that face wasn't extremely attractive. It was. Extremely. What can I say? We girls love a project, and that is what this character was. Now Jarod was a man who, as a child, was stolen from his parents by The Centre (I did not misspell that) which was a think tank of sorts cloaked in a lot of secrecy, and it was in Delaware. Yes, Delaware. The reason that Jarod was taken was because he was a genius and a child prodigy who could easily become whatever he wanted to be. For example, if he read a book on heart surgery, he could flawlessly perform a heart surgery. So The Centre groomed him as a "Pretender". As Jarod became an adult, he realized that his abilities were going to be and had been used for unethical, even dangerous purposes, so he managed to escape from the Centre and the show begins with him on the run. He's kind of like a fugitive who has done nothing wrong. Before I tell you about what he did while on the run, let's discuss some of the other characters.
So any nemesis to the protagonist would be considered the villain of the show. But here we have two types of villains. While they all come from the Centre, they are different from one another. We have ones that are more just opposition who are actually sometimes sympathetic and even compassionate characters. Then we have the serious villainy villains, the real bad guys. Let's start with the nicer crowd.
First, we have Sydney played by Patrick Bauchau, a wonderful character actor who has quite possibly one of the best accents I've ever heard. Sydney was Jarod's mentor and eventual father figure, which we see in regular flashbacks. Despite the objections, he has always been emotionally attached to Jarod, and his desire to bring him back to the Centre is more out of concern for his safety than anything else. Then, we have Miss Parker, played by Andrea Parker. It was apparently destiny. I love this woman so much that I have often been known to say that I want to be Miss Parker when I grow up, and I don't know if I mean fictional or non-fictional. Maybe a little of both. Anyway, Miss Parker also grew up as part of the Centre and was even a childhood friend of Jarod's, but she existed on the other side as her parents were involved in the work there. As an adult, she has become an operative. She can be vicious, wonderfully so, but due to her difficult childhood, which includes the loss of her mother, there are so many times where we feel sympathy for her. I've always seen her as a little girl trapped in a woman's body searching for love and a place to belong. Finally, we have Broots, played by Jon Gries of Napoleon Dynamite fame. He was often comic relief and was constantly given grief by Miss Parker. These three together were a team tasked with finding Jarod and returning him to Centre. Of course, at times, their personal feelings sometimes foiled the plans.
And now for the baddie bads. We have Mr. Parker, played by the late, great Harve Presnell. I miss him so much, if I may say. Mr. Parker was the father of Miss Parker (you'll love the way she calls him "Daddy")and he had a very high position in the Centre. Of all the baddie bads, I think he may have been the least of such. As many secrets as he was keeping and as much as he knew, you always felt like someone always knew more than him. Then, we have Mr. Lyle, played by Jamie Denton, who would later become known as James Denton and rise to fame on Desperate Housewives. Yeah, he was so mean to my Jarod that he is the main reason why I never watched Desperate Housewives. Not the only, but the main. Anyway, Mr. Lyle was a young man who had a checkered past, to put it very mildly. He was quite power hungry and was dangerously determined to get Jarod back. No love lost between these two. Finally, there's Mr. Raines, played by Richard Marcus. Genius actor, by the way. Raines was the big bad, and he was that the entire time, save a fling of "finding God". Yeah, so he was like the Larry Flynt of the show.
So those were the villains and villains not so much on The Pretender who were there on a regular basis. But each week Jarod faced other adversities while trying to make a difference in people's lives. And here's where I can delve more into what he actually did.
While he was constantly on the run, Jarod still found time to aid people in their troubles. So every week he would meet someone who had been wronged in some way, and, since he could fall so easily into any persona, he used that ability to make things right for them. Basically, because he was so innocent after being caged away his entire life and he had this overwhelmingly compassionate heart, his first reaction to seeing someone in trouble was to help them, no questions asked. Of course, he always had fun and interesting ways to give the weekly bad guys their just desserts. If memory serves, he may have used actual desserts to give them their just desserts, a couple of times. That's where the aforementioned psycho face usually came in handy. It was this main aspect of the show that kept it episodic while still having the thread of the ongoing plot.
Now I would be remiss not to mention my favorite thing about this show. See, because Jarod, from childhood, was locked away in the Centre, they only exposed him to things that THEY needed him to know. That was not much in the way of pop culture type things or just the fun things we experience every day. So every week, he would discover some new thing, be it Wheel of Fortune or Silly Putty or ice cream. Man, did he love ice cream! And it was always done in the most hilarious way. Oh, and of course, they never taught him about the sex so we had to have the obligatory, and in my opinion unnecessary "30-something Jarod Loses His Virginity" episode. Why? Now, as to be expected, after the first couple of years this got hard to keep up. I mean, you can only go so long without knowing what Pop-Tarts are, but it was super fun while it lasted.
Over the years, many secrets about the Centre and the people involved with it were revealed, but it was done in a very good way. Questions would be raised and mostly answered in a timely fashion, a skill that perhaps some other shows that shall remain nameless should have learned. And in the end, they did the best thing that could have been done. By the time the fourth season finale came along, the show was still in limbo when it came to renewal, but they still ended on a cliffhanger, complete with a huge explosion. Well, the show did not get picked up for a fifth season, which initially left fans very upset. But they did what every show should do in this situation. They made two TV movies that resolved the cliffhanger and eventually wrapped up the show and the mythology surrounding the ongoing story line and characters. While this probably could not have ended perfectly, and what show does, they really did an amazing job with it. I think so. Now, of course, some fans probably weren't pleased, but I bet that most of us, though sad to see it end, were quite happy with the fact that they took the time and effort to try and reward us for being loyal to them for those four years. It made me feel like they really appreciated their audience, something I rarely feel from a show.
So that was my little tribute to one of my favorite shows, The Pretender. I would recommend this to everyone really. The stories and the characters are so rich and complex, but never overwhelming, and that is exactly what a show like this should be. It keeps your mind going without making it go insane. And, like I said before, it had a lot of heart to it. You actually care about these characters and want to know about them. It's just an amazing show, and I hope everyone checks it out. It is so worth it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Sometimes I like things that other people do not. Sometimes I like things that other people have not heard of. These "people" of which I speak are the ones I know. And I talk about so many things of which they are so unaware. Maybe it's because I love going against the flow, I'm not sure, but when it comes to television shows, this aspect of my personality leaves me constantly disappointed. I start to watch a show, I like it and it gets cancelled within a year or less. I suppose some people just can't grasp the greatness of some of these series as I do. Of course, there are exceptions, like my beloved Law and Order or Beverly Hills, 90210. And then there are the shows that do last for some time but never become the huge hits that they should be. Rather they tend to develop what has become known as a "cult following". And here lies The Pretender.
The Pretender ran from 1996 to 2000, or 2001 if you count the two TV movies used to wrap everything up. It was a show that would most likely be considered science fiction, but I've always called it "sci-fi with heart". It had a lot of heart. Now this was a series that, if you watched it, you got it. It wasn't confusing to the regular viewer, but trying to explain it to a non-viewer can get a little complicated. Not overwhelmingly so, but if you intend to watch it on DVD reruns, you really have to start from the beginning and not lose the flow. I hate to make watching a TV show seem like work, but it's not. What it is, in fact, is one of the best series ever on television. And I'm going to tell you all about it.
Let's start with our main character, Jarod, played by Michael T. Weiss, a disgustingly underrated actor. He was brilliant. His face could literally go from innocent man child to psycho in about two seconds, an ability that became quite useful here. Not to say that face wasn't extremely attractive. It was. Extremely. What can I say? We girls love a project, and that is what this character was. Now Jarod was a man who, as a child, was stolen from his parents by The Centre (I did not misspell that) which was a think tank of sorts cloaked in a lot of secrecy, and it was in Delaware. Yes, Delaware. The reason that Jarod was taken was because he was a genius and a child prodigy who could easily become whatever he wanted to be. For example, if he read a book on heart surgery, he could flawlessly perform a heart surgery. So The Centre groomed him as a "Pretender". As Jarod became an adult, he realized that his abilities were going to be and had been used for unethical, even dangerous purposes, so he managed to escape from the Centre and the show begins with him on the run. He's kind of like a fugitive who has done nothing wrong. Before I tell you about what he did while on the run, let's discuss some of the other characters.
So any nemesis to the protagonist would be considered the villain of the show. But here we have two types of villains. While they all come from the Centre, they are different from one another. We have ones that are more just opposition who are actually sometimes sympathetic and even compassionate characters. Then we have the serious villainy villains, the real bad guys. Let's start with the nicer crowd.
First, we have Sydney played by Patrick Bauchau, a wonderful character actor who has quite possibly one of the best accents I've ever heard. Sydney was Jarod's mentor and eventual father figure, which we see in regular flashbacks. Despite the objections, he has always been emotionally attached to Jarod, and his desire to bring him back to the Centre is more out of concern for his safety than anything else. Then, we have Miss Parker, played by Andrea Parker. It was apparently destiny. I love this woman so much that I have often been known to say that I want to be Miss Parker when I grow up, and I don't know if I mean fictional or non-fictional. Maybe a little of both. Anyway, Miss Parker also grew up as part of the Centre and was even a childhood friend of Jarod's, but she existed on the other side as her parents were involved in the work there. As an adult, she has become an operative. She can be vicious, wonderfully so, but due to her difficult childhood, which includes the loss of her mother, there are so many times where we feel sympathy for her. I've always seen her as a little girl trapped in a woman's body searching for love and a place to belong. Finally, we have Broots, played by Jon Gries of Napoleon Dynamite fame. He was often comic relief and was constantly given grief by Miss Parker. These three together were a team tasked with finding Jarod and returning him to Centre. Of course, at times, their personal feelings sometimes foiled the plans.
And now for the baddie bads. We have Mr. Parker, played by the late, great Harve Presnell. I miss him so much, if I may say. Mr. Parker was the father of Miss Parker (you'll love the way she calls him "Daddy")and he had a very high position in the Centre. Of all the baddie bads, I think he may have been the least of such. As many secrets as he was keeping and as much as he knew, you always felt like someone always knew more than him. Then, we have Mr. Lyle, played by Jamie Denton, who would later become known as James Denton and rise to fame on Desperate Housewives. Yeah, he was so mean to my Jarod that he is the main reason why I never watched Desperate Housewives. Not the only, but the main. Anyway, Mr. Lyle was a young man who had a checkered past, to put it very mildly. He was quite power hungry and was dangerously determined to get Jarod back. No love lost between these two. Finally, there's Mr. Raines, played by Richard Marcus. Genius actor, by the way. Raines was the big bad, and he was that the entire time, save a fling of "finding God". Yeah, so he was like the Larry Flynt of the show.
So those were the villains and villains not so much on The Pretender who were there on a regular basis. But each week Jarod faced other adversities while trying to make a difference in people's lives. And here's where I can delve more into what he actually did.
While he was constantly on the run, Jarod still found time to aid people in their troubles. So every week he would meet someone who had been wronged in some way, and, since he could fall so easily into any persona, he used that ability to make things right for them. Basically, because he was so innocent after being caged away his entire life and he had this overwhelmingly compassionate heart, his first reaction to seeing someone in trouble was to help them, no questions asked. Of course, he always had fun and interesting ways to give the weekly bad guys their just desserts. If memory serves, he may have used actual desserts to give them their just desserts, a couple of times. That's where the aforementioned psycho face usually came in handy. It was this main aspect of the show that kept it episodic while still having the thread of the ongoing plot.
Now I would be remiss not to mention my favorite thing about this show. See, because Jarod, from childhood, was locked away in the Centre, they only exposed him to things that THEY needed him to know. That was not much in the way of pop culture type things or just the fun things we experience every day. So every week, he would discover some new thing, be it Wheel of Fortune or Silly Putty or ice cream. Man, did he love ice cream! And it was always done in the most hilarious way. Oh, and of course, they never taught him about the sex so we had to have the obligatory, and in my opinion unnecessary "30-something Jarod Loses His Virginity" episode. Why? Now, as to be expected, after the first couple of years this got hard to keep up. I mean, you can only go so long without knowing what Pop-Tarts are, but it was super fun while it lasted.
Over the years, many secrets about the Centre and the people involved with it were revealed, but it was done in a very good way. Questions would be raised and mostly answered in a timely fashion, a skill that perhaps some other shows that shall remain nameless should have learned. And in the end, they did the best thing that could have been done. By the time the fourth season finale came along, the show was still in limbo when it came to renewal, but they still ended on a cliffhanger, complete with a huge explosion. Well, the show did not get picked up for a fifth season, which initially left fans very upset. But they did what every show should do in this situation. They made two TV movies that resolved the cliffhanger and eventually wrapped up the show and the mythology surrounding the ongoing story line and characters. While this probably could not have ended perfectly, and what show does, they really did an amazing job with it. I think so. Now, of course, some fans probably weren't pleased, but I bet that most of us, though sad to see it end, were quite happy with the fact that they took the time and effort to try and reward us for being loyal to them for those four years. It made me feel like they really appreciated their audience, something I rarely feel from a show.
So that was my little tribute to one of my favorite shows, The Pretender. I would recommend this to everyone really. The stories and the characters are so rich and complex, but never overwhelming, and that is exactly what a show like this should be. It keeps your mind going without making it go insane. And, like I said before, it had a lot of heart to it. You actually care about these characters and want to know about them. It's just an amazing show, and I hope everyone checks it out. It is so worth it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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