CINEMANIA:

Being that the subject of our discourse is that there really is no Trouble in Paradise (USA, 1932, Lubitsch) when you are in the hands of a master filmmatist like Ernst Lubitsch.

Ben says:

I can't tell you how much this film entertained and impressed me. Because I am essentially ignorant of the main directorial streams in the development of Hollywood, the foundations Lubitsch laid are only partially appreciated by me. Yet, I fully comprehended Bogdanovich's analysis of the European infusion into the American scene to establish a new model beyond the original one provided by Griffith. That this was achieved through verbal comedy seems to me to be not accidental.

Where Ben and Dan give Secretary (2002, USA, Steven Shainberg) a jolly good thrashing.

Ben sed:

While I guess I agree with you that it would have been inappropriate for Jacob to watch this one, your cautionary advice in this regard misled me about the tone of the movie. It's funny! Quite funny in fact. What is more, it's a nice little love story. Rather sweet, and just quirky enough to be interesting. They are both well cast and work well together, (well well).

Deadwood Season 2 (USA, 2005, David Milch) And but so, what is left but to talk about season two of Deadwood?

Ben sed:

One thing I neglected to mention last review and is even more the case after a even more marathon viewing session for Season Two than I conducted for Season One, the show stands up to being watched this way. Back-to-back, one after another, yes, there is some repetition to ensure comprehension of certain plot lines and character positions in the social fabric.

Deadwood Season 1 (USA, 2004, David Milch)

Where the conversation turns to a discussion of the artistic merits of cussing in David Milch's brilliant televisual feast Deadwood.

Ben sed:

Have you seen the second (third? more?) season of Deadwood already? I suppose rather than a sequal to a novel, it makes more sense to think of a television series in terms of the serialized print media installments of the 19th Century.

Ben and I take a quick gander at Why Orwell Matters, Christopher Hitchen's mostly astute defense of one who really did. Matter. A lot.

Ben sed:

I must conceed that it is a compelling book, especially for one such as I, drawn in equal measure to high theory and common sense. Less pretentiously, I found it educational, full of basic biographical information and compelling historical interpretation.