Greetings,
If you're wondering where it all started, it started here with this character. What is "it", you may ask? Well, as we all know, one thing that Law & Order has become famous for, it is switching out cast members at a more regular interval than most shows. Like, for real, I ithink they built a revolving door somewhere just for that purpose. And Max Greevey was the first to go. That kind of makes this character a legend, right? But what about the man behind the myth? Let's find out.
Max Greevey was played by George Dzundza for only the first season of Law & Order. Well, technically, one season and one more episode-ish, but, come on now. Of course, he did go out with a bang, literally. More on that in a moment. At the point that the series started, Greevey had been a cop since the 60's and was once a partner of Don Cragen. Having just been made Sergeant, he got partnered with Mike Logan. They did become quite close friends in their time together, which seems a bit stunning, considering that they had a few differences of opinions.
Yeah, if you recall, Logan was a tad bit Liberal, not to mention agnostic, when it came to several issues. Greevey, on the other hand, was full-on, practicing, Conservative Catholic. They might have had a couple of disagreements. Or more. But I think it's more compelling and emotional when you see two people arguing when you know that they really do care about each other, outside of all the shouting.
When it came to his personal life, Max Greevey was happily married to a woman named Marie with whom he had three children. He also was a bit wary of doctors after he was misdiagnosed with a brain tumor that turned out to be a subdural hematoma. Um, yeah, that doesn't sound so great, but it is not as bad as cancer, apparently. However, it was not this aversion to the medical community that had anything to do with his imminent demise.
Sadly, his last complete appearance was in the season one finale, as he was killed in the opening scene of season two. And right in front of his wife, no less. Honestly, it was really heartbreaking. The acting was spectacular, and everyone did a great job conveying what a loss like this can do. Actually, when I think about it, it was kind of a wake-up call to the audience. Sure, when we watch cop shows, we know people can die on them, but here we are reminded it can be a character we have come to know and love over time. This certainly would not be the last time we'd have to deal with this on Law & Order, but Max Greevey has the honor(?) of being the first.
Whilst we only had one year with him, I liked Max Greevey, and I liked George Dzundza's portrayal of him. I think, what with him having such political and religious differences from his partner, it was one of the first ways they let us know that we were going to get a lot of characters who were going to be different from one another, in pretty much every way possible. It's something I love about Law & Order, and Greevey was a good place to start with it.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, October 4, 2014
Friday, October 3, 2014
Law & Order Character Profile: Mike Logan
Greetings,
Let me make this abundantly clear. When I speak of Mike Logan here, I only speak of the Mike Logan that appeared on the original Law & Order, not...whoever the heck that was who was on Criminal Intent. More on that later, but I just wanted to get everyone started on the right track. Now let's discuss my first crush-worthy character on this beloved series. First, but certainly not last.
Mike Logan was portrayed by Chris Noth from 1990 to 1995. He was your basic working class New York cop with an Irish Catholic background and perhaps maybe a slight issue with his temper. Just a little. No, actually, he might kill you. I'm not even kidding about that. Logan was the first loose cannon we got on the show. He tended to not think before acting, which got him into quite a bit of trouble over the years.
Of course, there always seems to be a reason for such behavior. In Logan's case, he was physically abused by his mother, who was an alcoholic, and sexually abused by a priest. But all of these things from his past have certainly served to shape Logan into the man that he became, for better or worse. He had much disdain for religion, not to mention the political views that went hand in hand with them, and there was much acrimony between himself and lawyers, even the D.A.s he was supposed to be working with. And, when it came to his cop techniques, he sure did stop at nothing to catch the bad guys. Nothing at all. This is kind of what led to his departure.
In the 1995 episode "Pride", he might have roughed up a homophobic politician and gotten himself banished to Staten Island, which is apparently a fate worse than death to Manhattan cops. Apparently, Briscoe even said he was "sentenced to 3 to 5 years" there. Wow. My apologies to the people of Staten Island, just in case it's not that bad there. Anyway, this leads us to the 1998 TV movie, Exiled, where we get to see what had been up with Mike Logan. In the confines of this movie, he is investigating the death of a prostitute which may involve some dirty cops. What a shock for this series. To be fair, I haven't actually seen Exiled in a very, very long time. For some reason, this was not included in my Law & Order Complete Series DVDs. Don't know why.
So, this TV movie was the last time we saw him, up until a fourth season appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where he became a permanent cast member the following year. But we aren't talking about that, remember? Okay, fine, I'll just say this. When I first heard that they were putting Logan on this show, I was excited. But that was before I realized the plan. I was not crazy about the whole every other week thing, which robbed me of half my time with Goren and Eames, and I had this feeling that Logan had changed. I don't know what it was, but he just didn't feel as strong or dark as he once had been. Sure, he still had his classic brown leather jacket, but it was as though, for years, someone had been putting him in expensive suits, driving him around in fancy cars, giving him pricey Scotch and making him date vapid chicks obsessed with clothes. Not that I'm judging anyone or their career choices. Good for him for portraying yet another character that has become iconic...I guess. Still, a little Logan is better than none at all.
Look, Chris Noth is a very talented actor. I like him, and I'm glad he has had so much success. But, whatever he has done or ever will do, to me and many others, he will always be Detective Mike Logan. I certainly hope he doesn't mind. And that this doesn't make him upset. Because, you know, like I said, he might kill me.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Let me make this abundantly clear. When I speak of Mike Logan here, I only speak of the Mike Logan that appeared on the original Law & Order, not...whoever the heck that was who was on Criminal Intent. More on that later, but I just wanted to get everyone started on the right track. Now let's discuss my first crush-worthy character on this beloved series. First, but certainly not last.
Mike Logan was portrayed by Chris Noth from 1990 to 1995. He was your basic working class New York cop with an Irish Catholic background and perhaps maybe a slight issue with his temper. Just a little. No, actually, he might kill you. I'm not even kidding about that. Logan was the first loose cannon we got on the show. He tended to not think before acting, which got him into quite a bit of trouble over the years.
Of course, there always seems to be a reason for such behavior. In Logan's case, he was physically abused by his mother, who was an alcoholic, and sexually abused by a priest. But all of these things from his past have certainly served to shape Logan into the man that he became, for better or worse. He had much disdain for religion, not to mention the political views that went hand in hand with them, and there was much acrimony between himself and lawyers, even the D.A.s he was supposed to be working with. And, when it came to his cop techniques, he sure did stop at nothing to catch the bad guys. Nothing at all. This is kind of what led to his departure.
In the 1995 episode "Pride", he might have roughed up a homophobic politician and gotten himself banished to Staten Island, which is apparently a fate worse than death to Manhattan cops. Apparently, Briscoe even said he was "sentenced to 3 to 5 years" there. Wow. My apologies to the people of Staten Island, just in case it's not that bad there. Anyway, this leads us to the 1998 TV movie, Exiled, where we get to see what had been up with Mike Logan. In the confines of this movie, he is investigating the death of a prostitute which may involve some dirty cops. What a shock for this series. To be fair, I haven't actually seen Exiled in a very, very long time. For some reason, this was not included in my Law & Order Complete Series DVDs. Don't know why.
So, this TV movie was the last time we saw him, up until a fourth season appearance on Law & Order: Criminal Intent, where he became a permanent cast member the following year. But we aren't talking about that, remember? Okay, fine, I'll just say this. When I first heard that they were putting Logan on this show, I was excited. But that was before I realized the plan. I was not crazy about the whole every other week thing, which robbed me of half my time with Goren and Eames, and I had this feeling that Logan had changed. I don't know what it was, but he just didn't feel as strong or dark as he once had been. Sure, he still had his classic brown leather jacket, but it was as though, for years, someone had been putting him in expensive suits, driving him around in fancy cars, giving him pricey Scotch and making him date vapid chicks obsessed with clothes. Not that I'm judging anyone or their career choices. Good for him for portraying yet another character that has become iconic...I guess. Still, a little Logan is better than none at all.
Look, Chris Noth is a very talented actor. I like him, and I'm glad he has had so much success. But, whatever he has done or ever will do, to me and many others, he will always be Detective Mike Logan. I certainly hope he doesn't mind. And that this doesn't make him upset. Because, you know, like I said, he might kill me.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, October 2, 2014
Top 100 Law & Order Episodes: 100-91
Greetings,
Welcome to the first part of this massive list. I don't think I have to give much preface to these. You guys know what you're here for, so let's just get started. Numbers 100 through 91 of my Top 100 Law & Order episodes.
#100. "Stalker" (Season 8) - As much as I like to believe that the people who worked together in the Law & Order universe generally enjoyed each other's company, the occasional disagreement made me wonder. Take this episode where, after a woman claims to have been attacked by a stalker, she later ends up dead. Both Briscoe and Curtis doubted her, but afterward, Briscoe changed his mind. Or he said he did. Curtis, not so much. So what dd McCoy do? He used this difference of opinion to cause even more dissension in the hopes of a conviction. I guess whatever works.
#99. "Mad Dog" (Season 7) - A serial rapist is hoping for parole after believing he has reformed, but McCoy is very much opposed to this, as he tends to be. And guess, just guess, who plays the aforementioned serial rapist? Burt Young. That's right. Paulie, from the Rocky franchise is portraying...this. I suppose it's for all those people who watched him be abusive to his sister, Adrian, and thought, "Come on, man. You can do way worse than that". And he did! Still, a great actor, though.
#98. "Hot Pursuit" (Season 6) - We all know that this show is famous for their "ripped from the headlines" thing, but no one said those headlines had to come from any time in the previous twenty years. In this episode, Amanda Peet gets arrested whilst robbing a convenience store...and she's totally happy about it. Why? Well, apparently, she was kidnapped and forced to commit crimes. Maybe she was even brainwashed...and an heiress. Wouldn't that be zany? Yeah, go ask your parents, kids.
#97. "Vengeance" (Season 2) As entertaining as Law & Order has always been, it can also be quite educational. I personally already knew that not every state had the death penalty, but I learned here that, if a prosecutor and/or the victim's family wants more than life in prison for a perpetrator, they can just up and move the trial to another state. Okay, it's probably not that easy, and there most likely has to be a valid reason for it, but I certainly learned something new. Also, there is a reason why this episode is called "Vengeance" and not Justice.
#96. "Human Flesh Search Engine" (Season 20) - I drive a car. I have a cellphone. I work on the internet. These aren't bad things, necessarily. But they can be misused. A woman, who may be mentally imbalanced, kills a guy for driving and cellphoning at the same time. She finds him because there's a website that takes pictures of people doing not good things and proceeds to assume that maybe the world would be a better place without those people. Apparently, she took it literally. And I like you, Rob Cordry, but you were totes mean in this one. The good news is that I think this was the first episode where Ernie Hudson shows up as Van Buren's boyfriend. Or MANfriend. I don't know. Call him whatever you want; just don't call him not awesome.
#95. "The Serpent's Tooth" (Season 1) - A wealthy couple are...or is murdered and the main suspects are their two sons. This probably sounds familiar, but the show always starts like this. Sometimes, though, they get all twisty and make the story go in another direction. Wow, it's almost like the writers on Law & Order knew how to...write. What a novelty!
#94. "Skate or Die" (Season 19) It's hard enough for cops to get the criminals, and having unreliable witnesses is not a big help. But, sometimes those witness are that way because of things out of their control. Lupo and Bernard run into that here when they have to deal with a bipolar man...on roller skates. What can I say except - New York City! On a lighter note, hopefully, the guy who played him, Brian Gant, was quite entertaining in this episode.
#93. "Born Bad" (Season 4) - People have been arguing the nature versus nurture thing for a really long time. Each side thinks they're right, probably not realizing they're both right. But what happens when you have to use the notion that someone is just plain bad on a kid? Well, frankly, it's kind of heartbreaking, especially when the kid starts to believe it, whether it's true or not.
#92. "Teenage Wasteland" (Season 11) Call me controversial, but I think that everyone should know right from wrong by the age of about four. And even if we can't get the details of that so young, at least, we should all know that luring a delivery man to an abandoned building and killing him is wrong...by the time we're 18! But maybe that's just me. THAT is the controversy of this episode. Not exactly whether or not an 18-year-old should be punished for such a crime, but rather what is an appropriate punishment for this crime committed by someone so young. As this show often does, it makes you think, no matter what side you're on.
#91. "Skin Deep" (Season 3) - If you don't watch America's Next Top Model because you think it shows too much of the ugly side of the modeling industry, news flash, they don't. Nope, believe it or not, they're showing you the best of it. Apparently, there are some seriously sleazy, even dangerous, people in that business, like photographers who take advantages of young teenage girls. A pre-My So-Called Life Claire Danes to be specific. In this case, someone thought he deserved to die. No comment, but sadly, some of this behavior never gets old, does it?
Join me next time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Welcome to the first part of this massive list. I don't think I have to give much preface to these. You guys know what you're here for, so let's just get started. Numbers 100 through 91 of my Top 100 Law & Order episodes.
#100. "Stalker" (Season 8) - As much as I like to believe that the people who worked together in the Law & Order universe generally enjoyed each other's company, the occasional disagreement made me wonder. Take this episode where, after a woman claims to have been attacked by a stalker, she later ends up dead. Both Briscoe and Curtis doubted her, but afterward, Briscoe changed his mind. Or he said he did. Curtis, not so much. So what dd McCoy do? He used this difference of opinion to cause even more dissension in the hopes of a conviction. I guess whatever works.
#99. "Mad Dog" (Season 7) - A serial rapist is hoping for parole after believing he has reformed, but McCoy is very much opposed to this, as he tends to be. And guess, just guess, who plays the aforementioned serial rapist? Burt Young. That's right. Paulie, from the Rocky franchise is portraying...this. I suppose it's for all those people who watched him be abusive to his sister, Adrian, and thought, "Come on, man. You can do way worse than that". And he did! Still, a great actor, though.
#98. "Hot Pursuit" (Season 6) - We all know that this show is famous for their "ripped from the headlines" thing, but no one said those headlines had to come from any time in the previous twenty years. In this episode, Amanda Peet gets arrested whilst robbing a convenience store...and she's totally happy about it. Why? Well, apparently, she was kidnapped and forced to commit crimes. Maybe she was even brainwashed...and an heiress. Wouldn't that be zany? Yeah, go ask your parents, kids.
#97. "Vengeance" (Season 2) As entertaining as Law & Order has always been, it can also be quite educational. I personally already knew that not every state had the death penalty, but I learned here that, if a prosecutor and/or the victim's family wants more than life in prison for a perpetrator, they can just up and move the trial to another state. Okay, it's probably not that easy, and there most likely has to be a valid reason for it, but I certainly learned something new. Also, there is a reason why this episode is called "Vengeance" and not Justice.
#96. "Human Flesh Search Engine" (Season 20) - I drive a car. I have a cellphone. I work on the internet. These aren't bad things, necessarily. But they can be misused. A woman, who may be mentally imbalanced, kills a guy for driving and cellphoning at the same time. She finds him because there's a website that takes pictures of people doing not good things and proceeds to assume that maybe the world would be a better place without those people. Apparently, she took it literally. And I like you, Rob Cordry, but you were totes mean in this one. The good news is that I think this was the first episode where Ernie Hudson shows up as Van Buren's boyfriend. Or MANfriend. I don't know. Call him whatever you want; just don't call him not awesome.
#95. "The Serpent's Tooth" (Season 1) - A wealthy couple are...or is murdered and the main suspects are their two sons. This probably sounds familiar, but the show always starts like this. Sometimes, though, they get all twisty and make the story go in another direction. Wow, it's almost like the writers on Law & Order knew how to...write. What a novelty!
#94. "Skate or Die" (Season 19) It's hard enough for cops to get the criminals, and having unreliable witnesses is not a big help. But, sometimes those witness are that way because of things out of their control. Lupo and Bernard run into that here when they have to deal with a bipolar man...on roller skates. What can I say except - New York City! On a lighter note, hopefully, the guy who played him, Brian Gant, was quite entertaining in this episode.
#93. "Born Bad" (Season 4) - People have been arguing the nature versus nurture thing for a really long time. Each side thinks they're right, probably not realizing they're both right. But what happens when you have to use the notion that someone is just plain bad on a kid? Well, frankly, it's kind of heartbreaking, especially when the kid starts to believe it, whether it's true or not.
#92. "Teenage Wasteland" (Season 11) Call me controversial, but I think that everyone should know right from wrong by the age of about four. And even if we can't get the details of that so young, at least, we should all know that luring a delivery man to an abandoned building and killing him is wrong...by the time we're 18! But maybe that's just me. THAT is the controversy of this episode. Not exactly whether or not an 18-year-old should be punished for such a crime, but rather what is an appropriate punishment for this crime committed by someone so young. As this show often does, it makes you think, no matter what side you're on.
#91. "Skin Deep" (Season 3) - If you don't watch America's Next Top Model because you think it shows too much of the ugly side of the modeling industry, news flash, they don't. Nope, believe it or not, they're showing you the best of it. Apparently, there are some seriously sleazy, even dangerous, people in that business, like photographers who take advantages of young teenage girls. A pre-My So-Called Life Claire Danes to be specific. In this case, someone thought he deserved to die. No comment, but sadly, some of this behavior never gets old, does it?
Join me next time.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Wednesday, October 1, 2014
Law & Order Month Long Extravaganza!
Greetings,
I may have mentioned once, twice, a hundred times or so, that I LOVE Law & Order. It's pretty much my favorite show of all time. And why not? It's amazing. Everything you need to make a show great, it had. I mean, it was on for twenty years, so it couldn't have been that bad. Now I've posted several things pertaining to this franchise. I even did a Top Ten episodes list back in 2010, right after the show got (sigh and teardrop) cancelled. But as I looked back, I realized that was not enough. Not at all. I just kind of threw that list together, just to do it. And that's not good, because I have far too much respect for this show. But I came up with something to fix that.
I am devoting this entire month on my blog to the greatness that is Law & Order. And I'm talking just the original. Love the others a lot, but they'll have to step aside this time. I'll be posting everyday, and, in some cases, more than once a day, so I can cover all that I need and want to. I'm going to be doing profiles where I briefly discuss all the great characters we've had, not to mention all the amazing people who played them. Also, I will, in ten parts, be discussing my personal Top One Hundred episodes. Yeah, you heard me. And I'll be saying some things about the legacy this wonderful show has given us. Oh, and the celebrity name dropping will be out of control. Hey, it's not my fault they kept casting guest stars who were or would be famous. I'm glad they did, though.
Now, if you are a fan, this is for you. I'm not even kidding about that, because there will be spoilers like crazy in all of these posts, both for the episodes and the life cycle of the characters. Still, I could just copy every script of every episode onto this blog (not gonna, though) and I'd still tell you to watch it, because it's all about the experience. That's what Law & Order was. And this is my way to be even a small part of it.
Like I said, I'll be posting every day, so keep up. Best way is to follow me on this blog or the Twitter or the Facebook. I hope all of my fellow fans enjoy this, and, should this ever reach anyone directly involved with the show, I hope they see what respect I have for them and their work, and how grateful I am for this whole adventure.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
I may have mentioned once, twice, a hundred times or so, that I LOVE Law & Order. It's pretty much my favorite show of all time. And why not? It's amazing. Everything you need to make a show great, it had. I mean, it was on for twenty years, so it couldn't have been that bad. Now I've posted several things pertaining to this franchise. I even did a Top Ten episodes list back in 2010, right after the show got (sigh and teardrop) cancelled. But as I looked back, I realized that was not enough. Not at all. I just kind of threw that list together, just to do it. And that's not good, because I have far too much respect for this show. But I came up with something to fix that.
I am devoting this entire month on my blog to the greatness that is Law & Order. And I'm talking just the original. Love the others a lot, but they'll have to step aside this time. I'll be posting everyday, and, in some cases, more than once a day, so I can cover all that I need and want to. I'm going to be doing profiles where I briefly discuss all the great characters we've had, not to mention all the amazing people who played them. Also, I will, in ten parts, be discussing my personal Top One Hundred episodes. Yeah, you heard me. And I'll be saying some things about the legacy this wonderful show has given us. Oh, and the celebrity name dropping will be out of control. Hey, it's not my fault they kept casting guest stars who were or would be famous. I'm glad they did, though.
Now, if you are a fan, this is for you. I'm not even kidding about that, because there will be spoilers like crazy in all of these posts, both for the episodes and the life cycle of the characters. Still, I could just copy every script of every episode onto this blog (not gonna, though) and I'd still tell you to watch it, because it's all about the experience. That's what Law & Order was. And this is my way to be even a small part of it.
Like I said, I'll be posting every day, so keep up. Best way is to follow me on this blog or the Twitter or the Facebook. I hope all of my fellow fans enjoy this, and, should this ever reach anyone directly involved with the show, I hope they see what respect I have for them and their work, and how grateful I am for this whole adventure.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Top Ten Movie Trilogies
Greetings,
So, I hear that "3" is a magic number, and I believe it. Because Schoolhouse Rocks has never lied to me. Anyway, what with all that's been going on in movies lately, building these universes within and without different franchises, sometimes at the expense of the quality of those movies, I really can't take it anymore. I seem to recall a time when you would have a really good film, followed up by a hopefully good sequel, and finally, if you were really lucky, you'd get a third part to end the arc. Yeah, 1,2,3, the end. Not that one, then this one, then that one over there, then another one of these, then they all come together and good luck with that if you didn't watch the other 75 installments. But I digress. I kind of miss the classic, honest to goodness trilogy. We need to get back to that. So, even though no one in power will read this list, I'm still making it. These are the movie trilogies that I find most well made and, more importantly, most enjoyable to me. Let's get started.
#10. The Godfather Trilogy - Okay, if I'm being honest, the reason why this is only at 10 is because it is the one I have watched the least. I actually think I've only seen these films, at most, twice. They just aren't movies I need to watch over and over again, like a lot of people do. However, don't think that means I don't believe they are very good. They are. Clearly, they were made by someone who cared a lot about the story they were telling. I certainly appreciate that. And, yes, I know we are all kind of...whatever when it comes to the third one, but it's not all bad. It's got some moments there, and it did give us an ending. So, good times, I say.
#9. The Hannibal Lecter Trilogy - Let's be honest. shall we? This should really be called The Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter Trilogy. I mean, we had Manhunter in 1986 with Brian Cox as Lecter, which was great. Then, we had Hannibal Rising in 2006, which had a guy I've never heard of playing him. I didn't see it, but I heard it was not that good. So, we all know that Silence of the Lambs was great, and though it was, generally speaking, not so great, Hannibal still had Hopkins doing his thing, not to mention some creepy Gary Oldman. And I love Red Dragon. How can I not? It has Ralph Fiennes AND Edward Norton! And even though the last one is technically the first, because it's a prequel, and we have a bit of a clunker in the mix, it still works.
#8. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Again, these are movies I've only seen a couple of times a piece. Well, actually, I've only seen them all the way through in one sitting a couple of times. I don't know if you know this, but they are quite long. So, I tend to catch them during their many airings on random basic cable channels. I don't usually plan to watch them, but I channel surf and they suck me in. Gotta given them points for that.
#7. The Back to the Future Trilogy - And now for one of the trilogies that remind me of my childhood. Oh, yeah, we watched these a lot. But, then again, I watched Family Ties a lot, so we were clearly a Michael J. Fox kind of household. I have to admit, though, I am not a huge fan of the time travel thing, neither in movies nor television. It just gets messy. Sure, I watch some Doctor Who, but besides that, Back to the Future is the only thing I can deal with where it's concerned. Not to say there aren't plot holes and paradoxes and whatnot, most of which have come to light only in recent years, but there's just so much enjoyment in these films that you barely think about it. Funny thing, the guys who made the first one weren't planning for a sequel...AT ALL. This is quite evident by some of the obvious problems that number two had. But considering how good the third installment turned out, I'd say it was worth it in the end.
#6. The Toy Story Trilogy - I know I've said that I am not exactly a kid person, but am I a kid movie person? Heck yeah! Now, usually, that would pertain to things from my own childhood, which was not terribly recent, but I can enjoy a good movie that was made for a younger demographic if it's smart. I hate when movies and TV shows are made to talk down to children. You know, kids can be pretty smart, and they can get smarter if you talk to them the right way. Also, it makes it easier on the parents who have to watch this stuff over and over again. Toy Story did that brilliantly. I absolutely love the arc of the three movies, and since they spanned over fifteen years, it gave the audience a chance to grow up with them. That is some good storytelling. Good TOYstorytelling! Oh, yeah.
#5. The Red Curtain Trilogy - Now, as we all know, a trilogy tends to contain a story arc that is connected throughout three films. Not the case here. This one contains the movies Strictly Ballroom, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge. They are all directed by Baz Luhrmann, and they all have nothing to do with each other. At least, not narratively. Artistically, though, they are connected. See, Baz Luhrmann's goal was to create three films being told by different motifs. The first is told through dance, the second through poetry, the third through song. I love this idea, and I love the way that he has taken some risks with these films, being so colorful and loud and creative. Works for me.
#4. The Dark Knight Trilogy - Boy, do I love me some Batman! I love him so much that I actually saw Batman and Robin in the theater. Yeah. And that was the last we had of our beloved hero for eight whole years, until Christopher Nolan came along and fixed everything up all nice for us. Gone was the cartoonish Batman of the past, and the Dark Knight had, quite literally, become dark. Wasn't that the whole point to begin with? I know most people regard The Dark Knight as the best, but I think my favorite was Batman Begins. I don't know. Maybe it was all that Liam Neeson. And, yes, I also feel like the last one was hit or miss. They may have ever so slightly fallen into the "Everyone's going to see this anyway, so let's not try TOO hard" trap. Still, that performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Just...God bless him.
#3. The Star Trek Trilogy - I know what you're thinking. Don't I mean the Star WARS trilogy? No. No, I don't. And, yes, this one is a bit odd because of its placement in a larger franchise. In case you don't know, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock and Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home are often considered their own trilogy. And I am considering them one here, too. These three films have a legitimate arc that flows through them. The first Star Trek film had nothing to do with it, and the fifth one for sure had nothing to do with it. So, they sit there, right in the middle, as their own little entity. And I love them. Four is funny and heartwarming, Three breaks the odd numbered movie curse, and Two might be the best sequel of all time. Good times, indeed.
#2. The Dollars Trilogy - Personally, I have always referred to this as The Man with No Name Trilogy. Because, come on now, it's all about the Clint. Now, I do not tend to be a Western movie genre kind of girl, but if he's involved, I usually say "Hey, why not?". Good thing I said that here, because these movies are pretty awesome. They're iconic, even. I don't say that about many films and mean it, but I do here. And let's not forget about the most important thing. Young Clint Eastwood, super hot, need I say more.
#1. The Before Trilogy - If you are a writer, like myself, and would perhaps one day like to write screenplays, here's a piece of advice - WATCH THESE MOVIES! Holy crap! I am not kidding. If you don't know, the Before Trilogy consists of the films Before Sunrise from 1995, Before Sunset from 2004 and Before Midnight from 2013. It is the long and winding tale of Jesse and Celine played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and they were all directed by Richard Linklater. He also wrote the first one with Kim Krizan, but the second and third, he wrote with Hawke and Delpy. I am so glad they decided to do that. These films are, basically, two people talking. That's it. And it is brilliant. How, you may be wondering, can that be? Well, the writers here seem to care about the characters and the story arc. That matters. I know some of you may think that sounds boring, but it's not. We get to see these people first getting to know each other, then reconnecting with each other, then trying to figure each other out so they can move in to their future. I can't even say it enough. This is what all writing for film should be like. Look, I don't care if you have action or CGI or big explosions in your movie, but, if you strip all that away, you should still be left with a fantastic story. That is the foundation, and that is what these three magnificent films can teach us.
So, there you have it. My best of the threes or whatever. Like I said at the start of this, I have come to appreciate a real trilogy more than I ever have, thanks to whatever Hollywood is doing today that they think will last forever. Because I guess they think that people never get bored or get tired of these stunts and move on. Right. The bottom line, just make a good movie. I don't care if you want to connect it all to something else or not. Just make a good movie. Or make three.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
So, I hear that "3" is a magic number, and I believe it. Because Schoolhouse Rocks has never lied to me. Anyway, what with all that's been going on in movies lately, building these universes within and without different franchises, sometimes at the expense of the quality of those movies, I really can't take it anymore. I seem to recall a time when you would have a really good film, followed up by a hopefully good sequel, and finally, if you were really lucky, you'd get a third part to end the arc. Yeah, 1,2,3, the end. Not that one, then this one, then that one over there, then another one of these, then they all come together and good luck with that if you didn't watch the other 75 installments. But I digress. I kind of miss the classic, honest to goodness trilogy. We need to get back to that. So, even though no one in power will read this list, I'm still making it. These are the movie trilogies that I find most well made and, more importantly, most enjoyable to me. Let's get started.
#10. The Godfather Trilogy - Okay, if I'm being honest, the reason why this is only at 10 is because it is the one I have watched the least. I actually think I've only seen these films, at most, twice. They just aren't movies I need to watch over and over again, like a lot of people do. However, don't think that means I don't believe they are very good. They are. Clearly, they were made by someone who cared a lot about the story they were telling. I certainly appreciate that. And, yes, I know we are all kind of...whatever when it comes to the third one, but it's not all bad. It's got some moments there, and it did give us an ending. So, good times, I say.
#9. The Hannibal Lecter Trilogy - Let's be honest. shall we? This should really be called The Anthony Hopkins as Hannibal Lecter Trilogy. I mean, we had Manhunter in 1986 with Brian Cox as Lecter, which was great. Then, we had Hannibal Rising in 2006, which had a guy I've never heard of playing him. I didn't see it, but I heard it was not that good. So, we all know that Silence of the Lambs was great, and though it was, generally speaking, not so great, Hannibal still had Hopkins doing his thing, not to mention some creepy Gary Oldman. And I love Red Dragon. How can I not? It has Ralph Fiennes AND Edward Norton! And even though the last one is technically the first, because it's a prequel, and we have a bit of a clunker in the mix, it still works.
#8. The Lord of the Rings Trilogy - Again, these are movies I've only seen a couple of times a piece. Well, actually, I've only seen them all the way through in one sitting a couple of times. I don't know if you know this, but they are quite long. So, I tend to catch them during their many airings on random basic cable channels. I don't usually plan to watch them, but I channel surf and they suck me in. Gotta given them points for that.
#7. The Back to the Future Trilogy - And now for one of the trilogies that remind me of my childhood. Oh, yeah, we watched these a lot. But, then again, I watched Family Ties a lot, so we were clearly a Michael J. Fox kind of household. I have to admit, though, I am not a huge fan of the time travel thing, neither in movies nor television. It just gets messy. Sure, I watch some Doctor Who, but besides that, Back to the Future is the only thing I can deal with where it's concerned. Not to say there aren't plot holes and paradoxes and whatnot, most of which have come to light only in recent years, but there's just so much enjoyment in these films that you barely think about it. Funny thing, the guys who made the first one weren't planning for a sequel...AT ALL. This is quite evident by some of the obvious problems that number two had. But considering how good the third installment turned out, I'd say it was worth it in the end.
#6. The Toy Story Trilogy - I know I've said that I am not exactly a kid person, but am I a kid movie person? Heck yeah! Now, usually, that would pertain to things from my own childhood, which was not terribly recent, but I can enjoy a good movie that was made for a younger demographic if it's smart. I hate when movies and TV shows are made to talk down to children. You know, kids can be pretty smart, and they can get smarter if you talk to them the right way. Also, it makes it easier on the parents who have to watch this stuff over and over again. Toy Story did that brilliantly. I absolutely love the arc of the three movies, and since they spanned over fifteen years, it gave the audience a chance to grow up with them. That is some good storytelling. Good TOYstorytelling! Oh, yeah.
#5. The Red Curtain Trilogy - Now, as we all know, a trilogy tends to contain a story arc that is connected throughout three films. Not the case here. This one contains the movies Strictly Ballroom, William Shakespeare's Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge. They are all directed by Baz Luhrmann, and they all have nothing to do with each other. At least, not narratively. Artistically, though, they are connected. See, Baz Luhrmann's goal was to create three films being told by different motifs. The first is told through dance, the second through poetry, the third through song. I love this idea, and I love the way that he has taken some risks with these films, being so colorful and loud and creative. Works for me.
#4. The Dark Knight Trilogy - Boy, do I love me some Batman! I love him so much that I actually saw Batman and Robin in the theater. Yeah. And that was the last we had of our beloved hero for eight whole years, until Christopher Nolan came along and fixed everything up all nice for us. Gone was the cartoonish Batman of the past, and the Dark Knight had, quite literally, become dark. Wasn't that the whole point to begin with? I know most people regard The Dark Knight as the best, but I think my favorite was Batman Begins. I don't know. Maybe it was all that Liam Neeson. And, yes, I also feel like the last one was hit or miss. They may have ever so slightly fallen into the "Everyone's going to see this anyway, so let's not try TOO hard" trap. Still, that performance by Joseph Gordon-Levitt? Just...God bless him.
#3. The Star Trek Trilogy - I know what you're thinking. Don't I mean the Star WARS trilogy? No. No, I don't. And, yes, this one is a bit odd because of its placement in a larger franchise. In case you don't know, Star Trek 2: The Wrath of Khan, Star Trek 3: The Search for Spock and Star Trek 4: The Voyage Home are often considered their own trilogy. And I am considering them one here, too. These three films have a legitimate arc that flows through them. The first Star Trek film had nothing to do with it, and the fifth one for sure had nothing to do with it. So, they sit there, right in the middle, as their own little entity. And I love them. Four is funny and heartwarming, Three breaks the odd numbered movie curse, and Two might be the best sequel of all time. Good times, indeed.
#2. The Dollars Trilogy - Personally, I have always referred to this as The Man with No Name Trilogy. Because, come on now, it's all about the Clint. Now, I do not tend to be a Western movie genre kind of girl, but if he's involved, I usually say "Hey, why not?". Good thing I said that here, because these movies are pretty awesome. They're iconic, even. I don't say that about many films and mean it, but I do here. And let's not forget about the most important thing. Young Clint Eastwood, super hot, need I say more.
#1. The Before Trilogy - If you are a writer, like myself, and would perhaps one day like to write screenplays, here's a piece of advice - WATCH THESE MOVIES! Holy crap! I am not kidding. If you don't know, the Before Trilogy consists of the films Before Sunrise from 1995, Before Sunset from 2004 and Before Midnight from 2013. It is the long and winding tale of Jesse and Celine played by Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and they were all directed by Richard Linklater. He also wrote the first one with Kim Krizan, but the second and third, he wrote with Hawke and Delpy. I am so glad they decided to do that. These films are, basically, two people talking. That's it. And it is brilliant. How, you may be wondering, can that be? Well, the writers here seem to care about the characters and the story arc. That matters. I know some of you may think that sounds boring, but it's not. We get to see these people first getting to know each other, then reconnecting with each other, then trying to figure each other out so they can move in to their future. I can't even say it enough. This is what all writing for film should be like. Look, I don't care if you have action or CGI or big explosions in your movie, but, if you strip all that away, you should still be left with a fantastic story. That is the foundation, and that is what these three magnificent films can teach us.
So, there you have it. My best of the threes or whatever. Like I said at the start of this, I have come to appreciate a real trilogy more than I ever have, thanks to whatever Hollywood is doing today that they think will last forever. Because I guess they think that people never get bored or get tired of these stunts and move on. Right. The bottom line, just make a good movie. I don't care if you want to connect it all to something else or not. Just make a good movie. Or make three.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Thursday, September 18, 2014
History of the Eagles - Documentary Review
Greetings,
In case it wasn't obvious from my Top Ten Eagles Songs list, I LOVE the Eagles. They are one of my all-time favorite bands, and this is because of the amazing music, of course. The majority of it was released before was born, yet it all feels so fresh each time I hear it. Because truly good music doesn't stop being good. Yeah, I wonder how many babies being born now are going to be able to say this about any of today's artists in a couple of decades. The answer is none...probably. Anyway, I recently discovered this documentary, and I had to see it. So, let's discuss the appropriately titled, History of the Eagles.
This is a 2013 documentary directed by Alison Ellwood, who has had quite an extensive career as an editor and producer, working alongside co-producer Alex Gibney. He has been responsible for some really good documentaries of late, such as Catching Hell and The Armstrong Lie (watch both of them!). Anyway, this one was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and then aired on Showtime. And in 2013 and beyond, The Eagles were and are on a tour of the same name. Of course, I didn't get to go when they came to my city, because, I don't know, the world hates me or something. Seriously, they are on the list of bands I need to see before I die. Or before they die. Wow, that didn't sound good. Love you, guys. Moving on.
Basically, this documentary can certainly be judged by its title. We are, quite literally, getting the history of The Eagles. Now, this set up has been done before with other subjects, and it really can go either. Some are boring; some are not. This is not. Funny enough, the things they talk about here are mostly things that we already know, and yet the execution is so well done that it still is quite interesting. As you may recall, one of the aspects that I highly praised about The Beatles Anthology was that we got new interviews with the actual Beatles, plus a few people who worked most closely with them. Thankfully, that's what we get here, as well. We hear all these stories and all their sides from all the guys who were a part of the band. Does it get harsh sometimes? Oh, yeah. But that's life and that's the reality of what happened. At least, I hope so, because I'd hate to think someone was lying. Oh, and I'd like to think this goes without saying, but unlike other unauthorized documentaries, of which I am not a fan, we get their music. Tons of their music. Yay.
To be honest, I have heard from certain people, perhaps former band members that were in this film, that maybe it wasn't all that accurate. I mean, maybe, maybe not. I wasn't there, so I can't speak on that. Although, whilst there is still some animosity between the past and the present, I don't think anyone came out of this thing smelling like a rose, on a personal level. Not even Joe Walsh, and he's my favorite. But this band has a history of, let's say, acrimony within themselves. Everyone knows that. Well, maybe not everyone, because one non-professional reviewer said that he or she did not want to know that they didn't get along as a band. My response to that is - WHAT! How does anyone not know about the infighting? Was that not the point of the whole Hell Freezes Over thing? Goodnight, even people who have never heard of the Eagles know about that! Whatever, I'm getting off track.
There's actually not all that much to say about this film, other than what I already have. Point is, if you are am admirer of The Eagles or even if you already know all about them, this is a must watch. You get to hear stories from the guys, you get to hear music and you get to see a really well put together documentary. So, I'll just say it again, I love the Eagles, I love their music, and they should be my friends. Okay, that was a little weird, but you understand.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
In case it wasn't obvious from my Top Ten Eagles Songs list, I LOVE the Eagles. They are one of my all-time favorite bands, and this is because of the amazing music, of course. The majority of it was released before was born, yet it all feels so fresh each time I hear it. Because truly good music doesn't stop being good. Yeah, I wonder how many babies being born now are going to be able to say this about any of today's artists in a couple of decades. The answer is none...probably. Anyway, I recently discovered this documentary, and I had to see it. So, let's discuss the appropriately titled, History of the Eagles.
This is a 2013 documentary directed by Alison Ellwood, who has had quite an extensive career as an editor and producer, working alongside co-producer Alex Gibney. He has been responsible for some really good documentaries of late, such as Catching Hell and The Armstrong Lie (watch both of them!). Anyway, this one was shown at the Sundance Film Festival and then aired on Showtime. And in 2013 and beyond, The Eagles were and are on a tour of the same name. Of course, I didn't get to go when they came to my city, because, I don't know, the world hates me or something. Seriously, they are on the list of bands I need to see before I die. Or before they die. Wow, that didn't sound good. Love you, guys. Moving on.
Basically, this documentary can certainly be judged by its title. We are, quite literally, getting the history of The Eagles. Now, this set up has been done before with other subjects, and it really can go either. Some are boring; some are not. This is not. Funny enough, the things they talk about here are mostly things that we already know, and yet the execution is so well done that it still is quite interesting. As you may recall, one of the aspects that I highly praised about The Beatles Anthology was that we got new interviews with the actual Beatles, plus a few people who worked most closely with them. Thankfully, that's what we get here, as well. We hear all these stories and all their sides from all the guys who were a part of the band. Does it get harsh sometimes? Oh, yeah. But that's life and that's the reality of what happened. At least, I hope so, because I'd hate to think someone was lying. Oh, and I'd like to think this goes without saying, but unlike other unauthorized documentaries, of which I am not a fan, we get their music. Tons of their music. Yay.
To be honest, I have heard from certain people, perhaps former band members that were in this film, that maybe it wasn't all that accurate. I mean, maybe, maybe not. I wasn't there, so I can't speak on that. Although, whilst there is still some animosity between the past and the present, I don't think anyone came out of this thing smelling like a rose, on a personal level. Not even Joe Walsh, and he's my favorite. But this band has a history of, let's say, acrimony within themselves. Everyone knows that. Well, maybe not everyone, because one non-professional reviewer said that he or she did not want to know that they didn't get along as a band. My response to that is - WHAT! How does anyone not know about the infighting? Was that not the point of the whole Hell Freezes Over thing? Goodnight, even people who have never heard of the Eagles know about that! Whatever, I'm getting off track.
There's actually not all that much to say about this film, other than what I already have. Point is, if you are am admirer of The Eagles or even if you already know all about them, this is a must watch. You get to hear stories from the guys, you get to hear music and you get to see a really well put together documentary. So, I'll just say it again, I love the Eagles, I love their music, and they should be my friends. Okay, that was a little weird, but you understand.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Saturday, September 13, 2014
Starting Out in the Evening - Movie Review
Greetings,
Some writers may believe that the worst thing about what we do is if we aren't noticed or appreciated for our work. But, I wonder, how much more heartbreaking it is to not be noticed or appreciated after having been a great success? What must it be like to be forgotten by the ones who once gave you such acclaim? Not easy, I would imagine. Well, that's what is the focus of the brilliant film Starting Out in the Evening.
Starting Out in the Evening is a 2007 film that I'm guessing most people have never even heard of much less seen, and that is depressing. This is amazing. There are a only a few characters in the movie, but the small cast is led by the masterful Frank Langella in probably his best performance ever. He plays Leonard Schiller, a formerly famous writer in the twilight of his life who has been largely forgotten as he has tried to finish his final book. One day, he meets Heather Wolfe, played by Lauren Ambrose, a grad student who hopes to use him as the subject of her Master's Thesis, since he was the one who inspired her to be a writer. She also hopes that, through this, people may rediscover him. Reluctant at first, Leonard finally agrees, as he also hopes this may help to get him some exposure. They begin to have weekly meetings, where he opens up to her about his past and she starts to show more interest in him personally. This leads to them developing into a meaningful friendship and, perhaps, beyond.
Whilst that plot line is going on, we also follow Ariel, Leonard's daughter, played by Lili Taylor. She is a former dancer and current yoga and pilates instructor, who is at a point in her life where she hopes to settle down and start a family, though she just ended her relationship. Around that time, her ex, Casey, played by Adrian Lester, comes to town. She begins to see him again romantically, but she's conflicted because he still has no desire to have children, which is what broke them up before. Ariel is forced to decide what it is she really wants in her life and what, if anything, she is willing to give up.
This film, I find to be more character driven than plot driven, which is fine by me. I actually love that. I mean, there is a plot, but we are more engrossed in what the people are going through on an individual basis. We are gladly pushed into caring about them, because the characters are so well constructed. They're flawed, but also sympathetic and relatable. They are going through specific things, but at the core, they are things through which so many people go. Everyone deals with getting older and going through huge transitions and making important decisions, and all of this can effect us greatly. And this story so wonderfully depicts how these people are dealing with it. You really do find yourself rooting for them to make it, one way or another.
Starting Out in the Evening is very subtle and nuanced and understated. Yeah, Hollywood, making movies like that is actually allowed. I feel as though you've forgotten that. This film is so beautifully bleak, in a way, and that makes it feel very real. While you do hope that everything works out for everyone, you sense that it might not. But that's life, and that's what we're getting here. Also, let me just say again that the tone we get in this film is thanks greatly to the amazing performances by all the actors. Not a weak link in the bunch. That is not easy to do.
So, I know I haven't said much about this movie, but there's really not much to say. This is something that must be experienced. I can say again and again how brilliant it is, but it's a film that needs to be seen, then talked about, rather than the other way around. So, if you can handle a movie with actual characters and no explosions, I am highly recommending this.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
Some writers may believe that the worst thing about what we do is if we aren't noticed or appreciated for our work. But, I wonder, how much more heartbreaking it is to not be noticed or appreciated after having been a great success? What must it be like to be forgotten by the ones who once gave you such acclaim? Not easy, I would imagine. Well, that's what is the focus of the brilliant film Starting Out in the Evening.
Starting Out in the Evening is a 2007 film that I'm guessing most people have never even heard of much less seen, and that is depressing. This is amazing. There are a only a few characters in the movie, but the small cast is led by the masterful Frank Langella in probably his best performance ever. He plays Leonard Schiller, a formerly famous writer in the twilight of his life who has been largely forgotten as he has tried to finish his final book. One day, he meets Heather Wolfe, played by Lauren Ambrose, a grad student who hopes to use him as the subject of her Master's Thesis, since he was the one who inspired her to be a writer. She also hopes that, through this, people may rediscover him. Reluctant at first, Leonard finally agrees, as he also hopes this may help to get him some exposure. They begin to have weekly meetings, where he opens up to her about his past and she starts to show more interest in him personally. This leads to them developing into a meaningful friendship and, perhaps, beyond.
Whilst that plot line is going on, we also follow Ariel, Leonard's daughter, played by Lili Taylor. She is a former dancer and current yoga and pilates instructor, who is at a point in her life where she hopes to settle down and start a family, though she just ended her relationship. Around that time, her ex, Casey, played by Adrian Lester, comes to town. She begins to see him again romantically, but she's conflicted because he still has no desire to have children, which is what broke them up before. Ariel is forced to decide what it is she really wants in her life and what, if anything, she is willing to give up.
This film, I find to be more character driven than plot driven, which is fine by me. I actually love that. I mean, there is a plot, but we are more engrossed in what the people are going through on an individual basis. We are gladly pushed into caring about them, because the characters are so well constructed. They're flawed, but also sympathetic and relatable. They are going through specific things, but at the core, they are things through which so many people go. Everyone deals with getting older and going through huge transitions and making important decisions, and all of this can effect us greatly. And this story so wonderfully depicts how these people are dealing with it. You really do find yourself rooting for them to make it, one way or another.
Starting Out in the Evening is very subtle and nuanced and understated. Yeah, Hollywood, making movies like that is actually allowed. I feel as though you've forgotten that. This film is so beautifully bleak, in a way, and that makes it feel very real. While you do hope that everything works out for everyone, you sense that it might not. But that's life, and that's what we're getting here. Also, let me just say again that the tone we get in this film is thanks greatly to the amazing performances by all the actors. Not a weak link in the bunch. That is not easy to do.
So, I know I haven't said much about this movie, but there's really not much to say. This is something that must be experienced. I can say again and again how brilliant it is, but it's a film that needs to be seen, then talked about, rather than the other way around. So, if you can handle a movie with actual characters and no explosions, I am highly recommending this.
Love and full moons,
Becky the Writer
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