A Statement About Strange Trends

This is just a quick note to speak about the curious fact that the 3 best films I have seen this year have centered on pregnant women. Not only that, but all three pregnancies are unwanted and unplanned. The fact that all three of these films can also be classified as comedies makes this even stranger.

Knocked Up, the first of these films I saw (first by a scant 48 hours) is of course the Judd Apatow super-comedy that was the perfect piece of counter-programming for the summer of the threequel. The couple do live happily ever after a long and hormonal courtship. The A-word is never mentioned, and actually, neither of the A-words are mentioned; the girl simply has the baby and builds her life around it.

Waitress which came 2 days later is about, shockingly, a waitress who gets pregnant after a bout of drunken (and unplanned) sex with her domineering, chauvanistic husband. While there are moments in this film of jolting poignancy and soul-searching, the overall tone is light and bright, and once again termination and adoption are never considered.

Juno, the third film in this series that I had the pleasure to view this evening, is about a 16-year-old high school student who gets pregnant after her awkward first encounter with the boy who will become her high school sweetheart. Both of the A-words are mentioned, considered, and (nearly) carried out (I'll let you guess which one she doesn't do). While less raunchy than Knocked Up and certainly more intellectual, I would venture to say that this is actually the funnier film.

So what does it all mean? We have three unwanted pregnancies from disasterous one-night stands, three happy (though different) endings, and three fully developed, strong, admirable female characters. Two of the films were directed by men. There is something here about a new-wave of feminist development, the idea that while men are not necessary, when we have a choice they are nice to have, and something about acceptance of new liberal attitudes (the films end with an unwed couple, a single mother, and two happily 'sexually active' teenagers, respectively), but I am just too tired to complete the thought.

More later.

A Statement About The Office, and Why It Is Amazing

It occurs to me that in the time I have been writing this sad excuse for a blog, I have not mentioned The Office, one of my favorite but seldom-mentioned shows.

'Why is it seldom-mentioned?' you ask? Well, to begin with, it is not an under-watched show, which you all know I am much happier to talk about. The Office has a healthily obsessed audience with more than healthy ratings, and, quite frankly, the support of every critic in the country. It doesn't need me to tell you how good it is, or to tell you to watch it on DVD.

However, this does not diminish its awesome-ness. I had the misfortune to miss the first and second seasons on TV (the first due to an ignorant refusal to watch what was sure to be a 'bad remake,' and the second due to the fact that I was abroad). Thusly, I watch them a season behind on DVD. Thusly, I am only now wrapping up the stellar and hilarious Season 3.

The truest mark of its quality, in my mind, is the appreciation that most Brits have for it, a sure sign that the American adaptors are doing something right. The British Office ran for 2 very short seasons and ended with a Christmas Special, but the fact that the American writers are in the middle of their fourth, much longer, season (with still amazing reviews) shows that they have successfully taken the formula and made it their own.

How? Further development of secondary characters, more delving into the personal lives of the characters (without losing the office itself as the focal point) and, of course, Steve Carell. Steve Carell owes the beginning of his career to the Daily Show (http://www.thedailyshow.com/ search 'Even Stevphen. Yes, spelled like that), and his ascent into the upper echelons of comedy to The Office. As long as he remembers that and sticks around, I don't see how they can go wrong.


PS- There's also the improv-actors as secondary characters thing, and letting the actors run the show thing, but that's another story for another time.

A Statement About the Rugby

Yes, the rugby. I'm sorry, but there is little else to write about at the moment (although I did go to a London Film Festival event this afternoon, but I feel it would be better to comment on the Festival as a whole at another time).

So, tomorrow England will play South Africa in the Rugby World Cup Final. It should be noted that since meeting the aforementioned Ginger in 2005, when not disparaging new, innovative franchises, he only speaks of the 2003 England World Cup victory. I also have to add that until about 2 weeks ago, I saw no evidence that England was a world-class team. At all. And then Jonny Wilkinson took the pitch.

Having been plagued by injury almost constantly since that legendary 2003 drop-goal, I had never seen him play until 3 weeks ago. His presence on the field electrified the England side-- suddenly they were better, stronger, faster, and they quickly dispensed with one of the most feared teams in the tournament (that would be the Australians. Good bye wallabies!)

At any rate, a month ago you could not have convinced ANYONE that the English would make it to the final (or that the French would beat the All Blacks, or that the two would meet in one seriously breathtaking semi-final match), but tomorrow, they have a chance at winning. Seriously.


(NOTE: This has not, repeat HAS NOT turned into a sports column. I just needed to state my case. Thank you.)

And a shout out to Josh Lewsey, second only to Jonny in hotness, who scored that INSANE try in the first 2 minutes of the France match, but who will be on the bench due to injury. We will miss you.

A Statement About the Merits of the New Bond Franchise (and another post to keep 'the masses' happy)

The other night after getting into an argument with a certain Ginger (aka 'The One who is usually wrong about all things cinematic') about the new Bond film, Casino Royale, and then after having to watch it again to prove him wrong (again), some things occurred to me that I feel compelled to share with all of you readers out there.

Here's the thing: The next Bond film is the twentieth. I believe that the title is even something like 'Bond: 20.' This makes him undoubtedly one of the most enduring characters in cinematic history. While the franchise revamp was extremely controversial, I am forced to point out that it was one of the smartest things MGM could have done. By recreating the character, by starting fresh with the raw, original Bond (and with someone who can actually act as opposed to showing up and being charismatic), they have ensured our interest for at least the next five installments, further ensuring Bond's legendary status.

Unlike the Ginger, I am in full support of unformed, untutored Bond and the fact that we now get to watch this fascinating character find himself again. Bring it on.

Well...

OK, so once again it's been a bit longer than I like between posts, but lots of things are happening, and, well, there's not much we can do about that.

It is now time for a lecture about how amazing the film Juno is going to be. Let's review: The director of Thank You For Smoking. Jennifer Garner. Jason Bateman. Michael Cera. And Dwight from The Office. ALL IN ONE MOVIE. It seems almost too good to be true that all of my favorite people are going to be in the same place at the same time, and that, in fact, Jason and Jennifer are HUSBAND AND WIFE. Everyone ever must go see this film or we cannot be acquaintances anymore.

I suppose that's all for now. Shall make a valiant effort to ensure that there is less than 2 weeks between posts next time.