Thursday, January 30, 2014
Writing
I was just reading a friend's blog (which you can find here), and it has inspired me to try to write more. I don't just mean that I want to blog more, though I do want that. It would be great to find a way to turn writing into a devotional practice like my friend has here. I'll keep in touch with my progress and ideas in the future. Hopefully this becomes something.
Monday, January 13, 2014
The "Thumbs Up" and "Thumbs Down" on the Golden Globes
The Golden Globes have an odd reputation. On the one hand, they represent the beginning of the film awards season. But on the other hand they are often a joke. That's not to say that the winners are undeserving or that the honor means nothing. Between the odd award categories and the crapulous celebrities, the Globes just doesn't demand the respect that the Academy Awards does. Every year, without fail, the Golden Globes end and I find myself with more questions than answers about what to expect at the Oscars. Here are my "thumbs up" and "thumbs down" moments of this years Golden Globe Awards.
"Thumbs Up": Tina Fey and Amy Poehler
I'm really glad that HFPA had the common sense to ask these two to host the awards again this year. They are hilarious in a fairly tasteful way. Their George Clooney Gravity joke was one of the highlights of the night.
"Thumbs Down": Gravity not winning Best Motion Picture, Drama
I put a thumbs down for Gravity not winning as opposed to a thumbs down for the fact that 12 Years A Slave did win, because I mean absolutely no disrespect to 12 Years A Slave. I have yet to see the film (mostly cause of my aversion to graphic violence and nudity), but I have nothing but the utmost respect for the subject matter that this film takes on. Personally, I found Gravity to be a triumph in film making, and can't help but root for it this awards season.
"Thumbs Up": Amy Adams' win for Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy
If you aren't already aware, Amy Adams is one of the greatest actresses of our time. Few actresses perform the range of roles that Adams does, and yet she has been chronically neglected awards season after awards season. Always the nominee, never the winner. It was nice to see her put a check in the win column. It's even more impressive that she did it up against Hollywood darling Meryl Streep. Oscar nominations are announced this week, and I really hope to see Adams' name on that ballot over Streep's. Streep gave a good performance this year, but Adams gave a better performance and has gotten little recognition for it.
"Thumbs Down": Sandra Bullock not winning Best Actress in a Motion Picture, Drama
I like Cate Blanchett a lot, and in previous awards years, I've rooted for her to win. This year though, she just didn't give the best performance. Bullock's performance had subtle physical and emotional aspects that no other actress can touch this year. Not only does Bullock carry most of the film on her own with one of the most emotionally aware performances I've ever seen, but she does it all while tied to a bunch of contraptions that could probably be mistaken for torture devices from the Saw films. Blanchett's performance is worthy of a nomination, but her role comes off as more of a caricature than an actual person. But being a woman nominated for a role in a Woody Allen film is like having a golden ticket come awards season. Be sure, Blanchett will win any and every award, despite Bullock's flawless performance.
"Thumbs Up": Frozen winning Best Animated Feature Film
It was a no-brainer. No animated film came close to the same caliber as Frozen. Add on top of that the fact that HFPA didn't even nominate Monsters University, the only film with a ghost of a chance of winning against Frozen.
"Thumbs Up": Jennifer Lawrence's win for Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Before Lawrence became a household name and one of America's most well liked actresses, she was a mostly unknown actress giving an Oscar-worthy performance in Winter's Bone. I've been following Lawrence's amazing career ever since. American Hustle wasn't the best film released this year, but Lawrence was definitely a highlight, and I wish her all the success in her career. Her acceptance speech was charmingly affable and humble. That's nice to see in a person that could be sitting on a very high horse right now.
"Thumbs Up": Alfonso Cuaron's win for Best Director - Motion Picture
Gravity is the kind of film that takes a lot of vision, heart, and dedication to fulfill its potential. Nobody could have taken the vision for this film and made it come to life like Cuaron did here. This film is one of those works of art that you just can't help but marvel at and say to yourself, "How did he ever think to do that the way he did?"
"Thumbs Down": Steven Price not winning Best Original Score
The beauty of Price's score for Gravity is that it captures the emotion of the film as it is happening. Yes, most scores do this, but Price's score has the added task of filling in for the lack of sound since the film takes place in outer space. In Gravity all you have to supplement the explosions and fly debris in the background is Price's score, which does the job perfectly.
"Thumbs Down": U2 winning for Best Original Song
This was a clear case of HFPA giving its popular celebrity friend Bono a pat on the back. This award clearly should have gone to either "Let It Go" from Frozen or "Please Mr. Kennedy" from Inside Llewyn Davis. These two films, and their respective songs, had the most creative and professional approaches to music of any films this year.
"Thumbs Down": Drama Awards for Television
Unless Alicia Florreck gets a sex change and turns her new law firm into a way to start selling meth, The Good Wife won't win awards. I'm aware of this, and fully expected Breaking Bad to take home most of these awards over The Good Wife. The tragedy of The Good Wife is that its protagonist has too many ethical standards, and not enough male genitalia for her show to be considered the best on television. Hollywood will always value the white man with a bad boy complex over a woman of any kind, and that speaks to the amount of progress still to be made with gender equality. Let the rest of us know when you're ready to accept a strong female protagonist, we'll be over here watching The Good Wife at the top of its game.
"Thumbs Up": Brooklyn Nine-Nine winning big
Between this show's win for "Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy" and Andy Samberg's win for "Best Actor in a TV Series, Musical or Comedy," Brooklyn Nine-Nine was the surprise of the night. It's nice to see the Globes honor one of the few new comedies that wasn't just pandering to the CBS and HBO styles of "comedy" that seem to draw in all of the awards. This show has its flaws, but it's one of the most consistently funny on television. It was also a bonus to see Andy Samberg's total shock when they announced that he had won. Rarely do you get to see an acceptance speech from someone who genuinely didn't expect to win, and his was perfect.
"Thumbs Up": Amy Poehler finally gets the recognition she deserves
Amy Poehler is the heart and soul of Parks and Recreation, a show which arguably deserves a few "Best TV Series, Musical or Comedy" wins itself. At this point, I never expected Poehler to get the recognition she deserves. Maybe it was HFPA's new found appreciation for Poehler as their host that put her over the edge, but nobody can say that this award was undeserved. Poehler is a marvel as Leslie Knope, it's about time somebody wrote that on a trophy for her.
Monday, December 30, 2013
Top 10 TV Shows of 2013
2013 brought a series of triumphs and upsets to television. While many critics lauded cable and online dramas, sitcoms started to fall out of the spotlight. As sad as it is to admit (being the passionate sitcom lover that I am), this shift is starting to become an accurate picture of television. In 2013 most cable and network channels (with the exception of Fox and TBS) opted to do away with the more daring sitcoms in favor of mainstream sitcoms that they thought would draw in bigger audiences. This "CBS" way of thinking resulted in the most unimpressive set of new fall sitcoms in over half a decade. Many dramas on the other hand took 2013 as a chance to flip the script and create some of the best moments on television in years. My love for sitcoms means this list will definitely be more comedy heavy, but dramas occupy many of the higher spots this year. Two of my top five shows are straight forward dramas, and one is a crime drama with heavy comedy elements if that gives you any idea of 2013's lack of sitcom strength. There are a few spoilers ahead, but I tried to keep them as minimal and vague as possible.
Honorable Mentions:
Honorable Mentions:
Community: Yes, season 4 was a ghost of the Dan Harmon run show, but I don't think that every single episode was a complete failure. Some of the mishandled episodes still had slightly rewarding messages. I thought "Heroic Origins" was a decent attempt at an origin story for the study group. The episodes "Cooperative Escapism in Familial Relations" and "Herstory of Dance" are two episodes that I actually thought were pretty great. The "re-Harmonized" season 5 writers must agree to a point since Brie Larson's character from "Herstory of Dance" is being brought back this season (which I am very excited about). All I'm saying is that I've seen this season on some "10 Worst" lists this year, and it shouldn't be there.
Psych: If I had another space on this list, it would probably go to this show. A few highly questionable plot choices in season 7 have it sitting here. Not a bad season, just not the best the show has seen. This show is television's best take on the "Sherlock Holmes" formula, even if the show has never explicitly admitted that that is what it's doing.
Ground Floor: Bill Lawrence's first post-Cougar Town sitcom has shown a lot of promise, but shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Mindy Project have just been on longer and had more of a chance to prove themselves. I look forward to seeing where this one goes. Briga Heelan has been the standout cast member so far.
Elementary: The appeal of this show to me is all about Lucy Liu's Joan Watson. I like the female take on the traditionally male character, and watching the way her character develops a relationship with the emotionally distant Holmes is the main draw here.
Psych: If I had another space on this list, it would probably go to this show. A few highly questionable plot choices in season 7 have it sitting here. Not a bad season, just not the best the show has seen. This show is television's best take on the "Sherlock Holmes" formula, even if the show has never explicitly admitted that that is what it's doing.
Ground Floor: Bill Lawrence's first post-Cougar Town sitcom has shown a lot of promise, but shows like Brooklyn Nine-Nine and The Mindy Project have just been on longer and had more of a chance to prove themselves. I look forward to seeing where this one goes. Briga Heelan has been the standout cast member so far.
Elementary: The appeal of this show to me is all about Lucy Liu's Joan Watson. I like the female take on the traditionally male character, and watching the way her character develops a relationship with the emotionally distant Holmes is the main draw here.
10. Brooklyn Nine-Nine
From the same minds that created the proven sitcom juggernaut Parks & Recreation, Brooklyn is easily the most impressive new comedy of the fall 2013 season. It took a while to find its footing, but Brooklyn has some very impressive writing aided by a diverse cast of characters. Not every joke lands, and the characters sometimes come across as more of a "character type" than an actual person, but the heart of a show like Brooklyn is the writers' ability to sometimes sacrifice the joke for a genuine emotional connection with the characters. Brooklyn Nine-Nine has some growing up to do, but that puts it miles ahead of most new shows this year.
9. The Mindy Project
Dr. Mindy Lahiri has a vain and shiny outside, but a warmly neurotic and nerdy inside. In 2013, The Mindy Project made for some great TV. The series that struggled to find its main cast and direction in 2012, came into its own in 2013. The driving force in the show is Mindy Kaling, who has some of the most hilariously subtle nuances of any actress on TV. The show excels in its handling of the will they/won't they romance between Mindy and her coworker Danny. Mindy has slowly grown to see that Danny is more than the hard exterior that he puts out to the world, and Danny in turn has grown to see that Mindy is a strong and caring woman. The scenes where these two characters find each other alone and see each other in their emotional nudity are some of the best moments of TV in 2013.
8. Go On
The most devastating cut of the late spring renew/cancel season was Go On. This show was easily the most witty, daring, and heartwarming series to emerge since Community and Cougar Town. I think Go On was the victim of many tragic judgments and misunderstandings. First, people apparently can't watch Matthew Perry without seeing him as Chandler from friends. Yes, there are similarities between Chandler and Ryan King, but what was really great about King was that his character grew out of a major life tragedy. In fact, that's what made the entire premise great. Second, many people who saw the show thought that it was either too mainstream, or not mainstream enough. I didn't see it as mainstream or non-mainstream. It was simply a show about a sometimes bizarre subject matter that embraced its identity instead of hiding from it. It was far more creative than the laugh track laden CBS comedies, and had wits enough match up against NBC's sitcom royalty. The show had its flaws, but overall it found a balance between humor and pain that few other shows, sitcom or drama, have been able to.
7. Enlightened
Enlightened is another sad case of a show that ended too soon. It didn't go out without making one last final declaration of defiance, however. Season one of the show lacked direction and focus, but season two knew exactly what it wanted to accomplish and did it beautifully. In an industry that admires male characters falling apart, Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern) is a refreshing change of pace as the highly flawed woman working tirelessly to make herself and the world better. In season two we see Amy taking on the company she works for by trying to expose all of their illegal and unethical practices. It is a journey unlike any other show on TV this year, right down to the final episode in which we see Amy confront everything that she has been fighting. Seeing Amy's triumph in that final episode was easily one of the most satisfying moments on TV.
6. New Girl
New Girl started to find its voice in 2013. The writing was quicker, wittier, and more charming than in years before. Another smart development in the show was making Winston a bigger character. I had always thought that Winston was one of the funnier characters on the show, but in 2013 I kept hearing people say how much funnier they thought he had become. It was a good development, until for some odd reason they decided to stop and focus on returning character, Coach. I understand how appealing it must have been for the writers to develop a character that they never had a chance to develop, but losing Coach was the biggest stroke of luck that New Girl ever got as a young show. Unlike the beautiful blend of levelheadedness and craziness that embody Winston, Coach comes across as smug and hard to relate to. Adding Coach was just one of a few unusual plot twists, such as the increasingly frustrating Schmidt and Cece situation. I can't see any logical conclusion to that situation on the horizon. Overall though, New Girl is one of the funniest shows on TV in a long time, and I have no doubt that the writers have some vision of where they are going, and that there will be many laughs along the way.
5. Cougar Town
Cougar Town had a lot to overcome this year. After being put on hiatus, then postponed, and finally cancelled by ABC after a lackluster (in ratings, not quality) third season, the show was given a very risky pick-up by TBS. What TBS knew that ABC apparently didn't was that promoting a show is a necessary step if you want viewers. I will be the first to admit that the show had a few minor struggles in season 4. Overall it was just slightly less witty and charming than it had been in past seasons. Let's be clear though, it was nothing close to the Dan Harmon-less Community debacle. For the most part, Cougar Town deserves a round of applause for moving to a new network and changing show runners without becoming something that fans could no longer appreciate. To be certain, Cougar Town is in the top tier of TV comedy, and season 4 was no exception. The highlight of the season was easily the origin story episode "Flirting With Time," a hilarious and extremely charming look at how the group met and changed each others lives in ways they never knew. I'm looking forward to what this show can bring in 2014.
4. Castle
No show's consistency impressed me more in 2013 than Castle. There wasn't a bad episode all year. Being in its sixth season, this is the point where you might expect most shows to lose their edge. This isn't the case with Castle. The smartly timed and perfectly carried out relationship between the title character and his detective partner Kate Beckett gave the show new life going into the fifth season and continuing into season six. What really makes the show shine however is the way it perfectly balances tongue-in-cheek humor with whodunnit crimes worthy of a Dashiell Hammett novel. There hasn't been a crime solving couple with this much chemistry and humor since the film adaptations of Hammett's The Thin Man. The writing for the show is also excellent. Castle's edge over other crime dramas is that the writers come up with genuinely interesting mysteries for their characters to solve each week. Other shows either lean far too heavily on the science and procedure of it all, or they bait audiences with tasteless gore. Castle was all about the whimsy and genuine mystery in 2013.
3. Parks & Recreation
Parks & Recreation has the biggest heart on TV, and in 2013, no show had more consistent laughs (though Cougar Town came close). The genius of this show in 2013 is that we saw each character reach their goals (Season Five), and then have them taken away in some form (Season 6). This show is never better than when it makes its characters the underdogs, and season 6 has done exactly that. The jokes are great and plentiful on Parks, but its the heartfelt moments that will stick in people's minds. Watching Leslie essentially give up her seat as a city councilwoman to defend the right of the Eagletonians (a group she notoriously despises) to vote, is easily one of the best moments TV moments of not just this year, but any year. That moment encompasses what Parks is all about. Doing the right thing despite self interest. Leslie Knope is the hilarious modern day Atticus Finch, and TV desperately needs that.
2. The Newsroom
Most critics have a fairly hefty disdain for The Newsroom. Those who don't, seem to pass it off as mediocre. My theory is that many dislike it because it has the gall to tell people that there are right and wrong practices, and that it's about time we stop being so complacent about the wrong ones. Critics love a show that displays the many shades of wrong, but hate being told there are any definite rights and wrongs in the world. The Newsroom is more than just a lesson on morals, and season two proved exactly that by not leaving any character a high road to take after the disastrous report on Operation Genoa. Much like Parks & Recreation, every character spent the season facing multiple failures and having to find strength in humility. The show's greatest asset is Aaron Sorkin's amazing penchant for writing the fastest and wittiest dialogue on TV. The episode, "News Night with Will McAvoy" is a self-contained masterpiece of character dialogues, that highlights all of the show's best qualities. Unlike most cable dramas (except Enlightened), these characters are growing up instead of sinking down, and it's refreshing to watch. The critics are white noise at this point. The Newsroom built on a great first season with a better second season that culminates in the perfect two part finale. It ends with a torch of hope in an ocean of turmoil.
1. The Good Wife
I have never seen a show turn a solid, awards garnering, premise on its head like The Good Wife has done this season. The result is a smarter, more intense, beautifully written show that caught just about everyone off guard. First, you have to give credit to Robert and Michelle King as creators/showrunners. Most people wouldn't have the guts to take their critically acclaimed show and turn it into a whole new animal after five seasons, but they took a huge risk that has thus far turned out to be the best decision they ever made. The best two arguments I can give for The Good Wife being the best show of 2013 are the episodes "Hitting the Fan" (yes, that title means exactly what you think it does) and "The Decision Tree." In, "Hitting the Fan," Will, Alicia's boss, mentor, and former lover, finds out that Alicia has been planning to leave Lockhart-Gardner and take clients with her to start her own firm, Florrick-Agos. An explosion goes off. This episode shifts the entire balance of the show. Friends are now enemies. The line between hero and villain is blurred. Alicia betrayed Will, but in many ways, Lockhart-Gardner had repeatedly betrayed Alicia. "Hitting the Fan" starts off a season long war between the two firms that creates some of the most quick witted, emotionally intense, and oddly laugh out loud hilarious moments the show has ever seen. By the time the show reaches "The Decision Tree," both firms have had ample opportunities to bruise each others' egos, and it has been ugly. The tension of Will and Alicia's unspoken, and at this point highly unobtainable, love for each other reaches a head in this episode. Will tries to hurt Alicia in court by bringing up a discussion they had during their secret relationship together. There is a scene in the episode in which Will tries to play out in his head how he thinks his courtroom examination of Alicia will go. He imagines himself trapping her in lies as a revenge fantasy, and there has never been a more clear look into the mind of a man who is burdened with the anger of a love lost than in this scene. Both Josh Charles and Juliana Margulies give the best performances of the series in this episode. The emotional depth these actors reach is astounding. The episode ends with a giant cliffhanger that leaves one character doing a spit take in the very last second of the episode. That spit take just about sums up this season of The Good Wife, so far. No show has me more anxious to tune in each week, and never have I been so glad to have no idea what to expect when I do tune in.
7. Enlightened
Enlightened is another sad case of a show that ended too soon. It didn't go out without making one last final declaration of defiance, however. Season one of the show lacked direction and focus, but season two knew exactly what it wanted to accomplish and did it beautifully. In an industry that admires male characters falling apart, Amy Jellicoe (Laura Dern) is a refreshing change of pace as the highly flawed woman working tirelessly to make herself and the world better. In season two we see Amy taking on the company she works for by trying to expose all of their illegal and unethical practices. It is a journey unlike any other show on TV this year, right down to the final episode in which we see Amy confront everything that she has been fighting. Seeing Amy's triumph in that final episode was easily one of the most satisfying moments on TV.
6. New Girl
New Girl started to find its voice in 2013. The writing was quicker, wittier, and more charming than in years before. Another smart development in the show was making Winston a bigger character. I had always thought that Winston was one of the funnier characters on the show, but in 2013 I kept hearing people say how much funnier they thought he had become. It was a good development, until for some odd reason they decided to stop and focus on returning character, Coach. I understand how appealing it must have been for the writers to develop a character that they never had a chance to develop, but losing Coach was the biggest stroke of luck that New Girl ever got as a young show. Unlike the beautiful blend of levelheadedness and craziness that embody Winston, Coach comes across as smug and hard to relate to. Adding Coach was just one of a few unusual plot twists, such as the increasingly frustrating Schmidt and Cece situation. I can't see any logical conclusion to that situation on the horizon. Overall though, New Girl is one of the funniest shows on TV in a long time, and I have no doubt that the writers have some vision of where they are going, and that there will be many laughs along the way.
5. Cougar Town
Cougar Town had a lot to overcome this year. After being put on hiatus, then postponed, and finally cancelled by ABC after a lackluster (in ratings, not quality) third season, the show was given a very risky pick-up by TBS. What TBS knew that ABC apparently didn't was that promoting a show is a necessary step if you want viewers. I will be the first to admit that the show had a few minor struggles in season 4. Overall it was just slightly less witty and charming than it had been in past seasons. Let's be clear though, it was nothing close to the Dan Harmon-less Community debacle. For the most part, Cougar Town deserves a round of applause for moving to a new network and changing show runners without becoming something that fans could no longer appreciate. To be certain, Cougar Town is in the top tier of TV comedy, and season 4 was no exception. The highlight of the season was easily the origin story episode "Flirting With Time," a hilarious and extremely charming look at how the group met and changed each others lives in ways they never knew. I'm looking forward to what this show can bring in 2014.
4. Castle
No show's consistency impressed me more in 2013 than Castle. There wasn't a bad episode all year. Being in its sixth season, this is the point where you might expect most shows to lose their edge. This isn't the case with Castle. The smartly timed and perfectly carried out relationship between the title character and his detective partner Kate Beckett gave the show new life going into the fifth season and continuing into season six. What really makes the show shine however is the way it perfectly balances tongue-in-cheek humor with whodunnit crimes worthy of a Dashiell Hammett novel. There hasn't been a crime solving couple with this much chemistry and humor since the film adaptations of Hammett's The Thin Man. The writing for the show is also excellent. Castle's edge over other crime dramas is that the writers come up with genuinely interesting mysteries for their characters to solve each week. Other shows either lean far too heavily on the science and procedure of it all, or they bait audiences with tasteless gore. Castle was all about the whimsy and genuine mystery in 2013.
3. Parks & Recreation
Parks & Recreation has the biggest heart on TV, and in 2013, no show had more consistent laughs (though Cougar Town came close). The genius of this show in 2013 is that we saw each character reach their goals (Season Five), and then have them taken away in some form (Season 6). This show is never better than when it makes its characters the underdogs, and season 6 has done exactly that. The jokes are great and plentiful on Parks, but its the heartfelt moments that will stick in people's minds. Watching Leslie essentially give up her seat as a city councilwoman to defend the right of the Eagletonians (a group she notoriously despises) to vote, is easily one of the best moments TV moments of not just this year, but any year. That moment encompasses what Parks is all about. Doing the right thing despite self interest. Leslie Knope is the hilarious modern day Atticus Finch, and TV desperately needs that.
2. The Newsroom
Most critics have a fairly hefty disdain for The Newsroom. Those who don't, seem to pass it off as mediocre. My theory is that many dislike it because it has the gall to tell people that there are right and wrong practices, and that it's about time we stop being so complacent about the wrong ones. Critics love a show that displays the many shades of wrong, but hate being told there are any definite rights and wrongs in the world. The Newsroom is more than just a lesson on morals, and season two proved exactly that by not leaving any character a high road to take after the disastrous report on Operation Genoa. Much like Parks & Recreation, every character spent the season facing multiple failures and having to find strength in humility. The show's greatest asset is Aaron Sorkin's amazing penchant for writing the fastest and wittiest dialogue on TV. The episode, "News Night with Will McAvoy" is a self-contained masterpiece of character dialogues, that highlights all of the show's best qualities. Unlike most cable dramas (except Enlightened), these characters are growing up instead of sinking down, and it's refreshing to watch. The critics are white noise at this point. The Newsroom built on a great first season with a better second season that culminates in the perfect two part finale. It ends with a torch of hope in an ocean of turmoil.
1. The Good Wife
I have never seen a show turn a solid, awards garnering, premise on its head like The Good Wife has done this season. The result is a smarter, more intense, beautifully written show that caught just about everyone off guard. First, you have to give credit to Robert and Michelle King as creators/showrunners. Most people wouldn't have the guts to take their critically acclaimed show and turn it into a whole new animal after five seasons, but they took a huge risk that has thus far turned out to be the best decision they ever made. The best two arguments I can give for The Good Wife being the best show of 2013 are the episodes "Hitting the Fan" (yes, that title means exactly what you think it does) and "The Decision Tree." In, "Hitting the Fan," Will, Alicia's boss, mentor, and former lover, finds out that Alicia has been planning to leave Lockhart-Gardner and take clients with her to start her own firm, Florrick-Agos. An explosion goes off. This episode shifts the entire balance of the show. Friends are now enemies. The line between hero and villain is blurred. Alicia betrayed Will, but in many ways, Lockhart-Gardner had repeatedly betrayed Alicia. "Hitting the Fan" starts off a season long war between the two firms that creates some of the most quick witted, emotionally intense, and oddly laugh out loud hilarious moments the show has ever seen. By the time the show reaches "The Decision Tree," both firms have had ample opportunities to bruise each others' egos, and it has been ugly. The tension of Will and Alicia's unspoken, and at this point highly unobtainable, love for each other reaches a head in this episode. Will tries to hurt Alicia in court by bringing up a discussion they had during their secret relationship together. There is a scene in the episode in which Will tries to play out in his head how he thinks his courtroom examination of Alicia will go. He imagines himself trapping her in lies as a revenge fantasy, and there has never been a more clear look into the mind of a man who is burdened with the anger of a love lost than in this scene. Both Josh Charles and Juliana Margulies give the best performances of the series in this episode. The emotional depth these actors reach is astounding. The episode ends with a giant cliffhanger that leaves one character doing a spit take in the very last second of the episode. That spit take just about sums up this season of The Good Wife, so far. No show has me more anxious to tune in each week, and never have I been so glad to have no idea what to expect when I do tune in.
Thursday, December 5, 2013
Review: Christmas Is Here by Brandon Heath
Added to the list of traditional Christian songs are; Away In A Manger, Go Tell It On The Mountain, Silent Night, and O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard On High. Heath does a good job of covering all of these songs, but none of them stood out to me as the best versions I have ever heard of these songs. If you are looking for an awesome version of Go Tell It On The Mountain (tied for my personal favorite Christmas song), then you're better off going for Francesca Battistelli's version. That being said, if you aren't looking for near perfection with any of these songs, Heath does a good enough job of covering them for the casual fan.
The lone traditional secular Christmas song on the album is The Christmas Song. Nobody comes close to doing this song as well as Nat King Cole. That being said, I have heard and loved a lot of covers of this song, and Heath's version is just as good as any of those.
What really makes Heath's album worth owning are the original songs. Well, at least most of them are worth owning. The Day After Thanksgiving, an attack on celebrating Christmas before Thanksgiving, is easily the worst song on the album. I'm partial, cause I think complaining about when people start celebrating Christmas is just pointless and stupid. If you are a Scrooge who is into that sort of thing, then yes, the song has an okay sound to it. I would just like to point out that this album came out in October. Just A Girl is an interesting take on the night of Jesus birth from the perspective of the Inn Keeper who denied Mary and Joseph a room. A lot of times when people do original songs about this subject, it comes out as cheesy or overly sentimental, but Heath does a really good job of not going overboard with this one. The stand out on the album for me is Momma Wouldn't Lie To Me. This fun, hilarious, and well written song is reason enough to buy the album.
Track Listing:
Track 1: The Day After Thanksgiving
Track 2: The Christmas Song
Track 3: O Little Town of Bethlehem
Track 4: Just A Girl
Track 5: In The Bleak Midwinter
Track 6: Momma Wouldn't Lie To Me
Track 7: Away In A Manger
Track 8: Go Tell It On the Mountain
Track 9: Silent Night
Track 10: O Come All Ye Faithful/Angels We Have Heard On High
Thursday, November 14, 2013
Serve the Niche
I have odd tastes. The shows I watch have low Neilson ratings, the music I listen to is almost never on the top 40, and you probably haven't seen (or even heard of) most of my favorite movies. Like I said, I have odd tastes. I'm a niche man. Most people don't see the value in what I like, but there is a small group of us that does. Niches are often overlooked by marketers and companies that are looking to sell to the "Top 40" crowd. I think this is a mistake, and I think the internet is the answer to fixing it.
A Japanese gaming company created a game this year to celebrate the 15th anniversary of a franchise. This franchise was once popular in the United States, and is still very popular in Japan. By about the middle of the last decade, this franchise no longer had the mass appeal in the U.S. that it had when it first started. For this reason the Japanese company has so far decided no to release the game in the U.S. I understand the reasoning. If the franchise is no longer popular enough to reach a mass audience, it probably is not cost effective to manufacture and distribute the game to the small niche that desires it.
I think there is a different answer though. All major gaming systems have internet capability, so why not sell the game to English speaking customers through digital download? That would eliminate the cost of manufacturing and distributing the physical game. This company could be profiting from the U.S. niche of gamers who want the product simply by translating it into English and offering at a downloadable game on the device.
This idea goes beyond just video games. TV shows are another area where companies could be making a profit off of niches. One of my favorite shows is the 90s sitcom Just Shoot Me. I have the first three seasons on DVD. There were seven seasons of the show, but I only have three on DVD because they stopped producing the show on DVD after producing season 3. I'm guessing that between manufacturing the DVDs and distributing them, that the company that owns the rights to Just Shoot Me wasn't making much of a profit. If these companies wanted to make a profit off of the fans of shows like Just Shoot Me, why not offer all of the seasons of the show for purchase by digital download or internet streaming? Again, this avoids a lot of the costs associated with serving the niche through DVD sales, but it companies could make money off of die hard fans of the show. I would probably pay a little too much just to have access to the entire series. If you want my money as a consumer, the ball is in your court to start serving the niche.
Sunday, November 3, 2013
Review: Francesca Battistelli Christmas
I was talking with my friend recently about some Christmas albums that come out this year, and said I would let her know if they were any good. She suggested that I just write up the reviews on here, and so I am. The first album on the list is Francesca Battistelli Christmas. This album actually came out last year and quickly became one of my Christmas favorites. There are two reasons I'm reviewing it this year. The first is that I had every intention of reviewing it last year, but all of my writing time was consumed by my work on the campus magazine. The second reason is that this year, Francesca released the album as a two pack with a DVD of a Christmas concert she performed in Nashville. So, my first album review on here will actually be an album/DVD review.
Francesca Battistelli Christmas:
Francesca Battistelli is the kind of artist you want making a Christmas album. First of all, she has an amazing voice that lends itself perfectly to Christmas songs. She is also not one of those singers that feels the need to make every old song "her own." Many artists I really like have turned me off of their Christmas albums because they changed the arrangement of classic songs way too much. When Batistelli changes up the arrangement of a song, it is nothing drastic, and usually accentuates the natural qualities of the song instead of trying to alter them.
The songs on the album are a good mix of traditional Christmas songs and Battistelli's own original Christmas songs. As I said above, her voice is perfect for singing the traditional songs. With songs such as "The Christmas Song", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", and "Marshmallow World," Battistelli adds punches of energy to the album by giving them an up tempo feel. This is especially effective with "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" because these songs were originally slower songs that even had a bit of a somber feel to them. I like the somber feel of the originals, but this energetic feel also works really well. I also love how Battistelli changes the line from "if the fates allow" to "if the Lord allows." As someone who doesn't believe in fate, I personally relate to this change more.
One of the aspects of Christmas albums done by Christian artists is that they have more traditional Christian Christmas songs. For me, this is where Battistelli hits her sweet spot. Songs such as "What Child Is This? (First Noel Prelude)" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" are slower more emotive points in the album. These songs are where Battistelli's vocals really shine. In the other two traditional Christian songs, "Joy To The World" and "Go, Tell It On The Mountain" Battistelli strips down the music to a more acoustic sound and really lets her vocals carry the songs. This works really well because it gives the songs a free feeling, but still maintains the seriousness of the messages within the songs. It is worth mentioning that "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain" are my two all time favorite Christmas songs, and I think she handles them perfectly here.
The final aspect of the album are Battistelli's four original songs: "Heaven Everywhere", "Christmas Is", "You're Here", and "Christmas Dreams." A lot of times, I'm not a huge fan of modern original Christmas songs. The classics are amazing and these days it seems like few have the ability to write new Christmas songs that are enjoyable to listen to and that have a message worth spreading. Battistelli's original songs, however, have both of these qualities. "Heaven Everywhere" is an emotive reminder of the spirit of Christmas and how we should carry that on throughout the year. There is also a very well placed transition that Battistelli does into "Angels We Have Heard On High" in the middle of the song that sounds great and adds another dimension to the song. The song "Christmas Is" is a fun song about Christmas traditions with an awesome shout out to A Charlie Brown Christmas. "You're Here" is a very well written look at Jesus Birth through Mary's eyes. Finally, "Christmas Dreams" take a look the excitement of Christmas from the perspective of a parent with small children. All of these original songs add a personal touch that makes the whole album even better.
Overall, I could not recommend this album more. It has quickly become a classic for my Christmas playlist.
Track Listing:
Track 1: The Christmas Song
Track 2: Heaven Everywhere
Track 3: Christmas Is
Track 4: What Child Is This? (First Noel Prelude)
Track 5: Marshmallow World
Track 6: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Track 7: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Track 8: You're Here
Track 9: Joy To The World
Track 10: Christmas Dreams
Track 11: Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Christmas Live In Nashville:
Being such a fan of Batistelli's Christmas album, I was really hoping that this added concert DVD would be just as special. After watching it, I was not disappointed. The concert has mostly the same lineup of songs as the album, but with a few songs in a slightly different order. It is great to see Battistelli sing these songs, because you can see the sheer joy and excitement she has for Christmas music. Battistelli's vocals do not falter during the concert either, something I often worry about with live recordings.
The benefit of having the DVD is the added content from Battistelli. In between songs, Battistelli gives you some insight into why she chose certain songs for the album, or what personal connection she derives from some of the songs. It makes the album and the concert that much more meaningful. There are also segments of the DVD where it cuts away from the concert and shows interview clips of Battistelli answering questions about her feelings and memories of Christmas. After the concert is over, there is also a series of interview clips you can watch that were not shown during the concert. These clips give viewers an added insight into Battistelli's relationship with Christmas.
It is worth keeping in mind that the two disc CD/DVD combo is a few dollars more than just buying the individual CD, but I think it is money well spent. If you really want to avoid paying too much for it, get it from your local Christian store when they have a sale on it or a coupon that applies. That's what I did. After watching the concert DVD, I knew right away that watching it would become an annual Christmas tradition.
Francesca Battistelli Christmas:
Francesca Battistelli is the kind of artist you want making a Christmas album. First of all, she has an amazing voice that lends itself perfectly to Christmas songs. She is also not one of those singers that feels the need to make every old song "her own." Many artists I really like have turned me off of their Christmas albums because they changed the arrangement of classic songs way too much. When Batistelli changes up the arrangement of a song, it is nothing drastic, and usually accentuates the natural qualities of the song instead of trying to alter them.
The songs on the album are a good mix of traditional Christmas songs and Battistelli's own original Christmas songs. As I said above, her voice is perfect for singing the traditional songs. With songs such as "The Christmas Song", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas", and "Marshmallow World," Battistelli adds punches of energy to the album by giving them an up tempo feel. This is especially effective with "The Christmas Song" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" because these songs were originally slower songs that even had a bit of a somber feel to them. I like the somber feel of the originals, but this energetic feel also works really well. I also love how Battistelli changes the line from "if the fates allow" to "if the Lord allows." As someone who doesn't believe in fate, I personally relate to this change more.
One of the aspects of Christmas albums done by Christian artists is that they have more traditional Christian Christmas songs. For me, this is where Battistelli hits her sweet spot. Songs such as "What Child Is This? (First Noel Prelude)" and "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" are slower more emotive points in the album. These songs are where Battistelli's vocals really shine. In the other two traditional Christian songs, "Joy To The World" and "Go, Tell It On The Mountain" Battistelli strips down the music to a more acoustic sound and really lets her vocals carry the songs. This works really well because it gives the songs a free feeling, but still maintains the seriousness of the messages within the songs. It is worth mentioning that "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" and "Go Tell It On The Mountain" are my two all time favorite Christmas songs, and I think she handles them perfectly here.
The final aspect of the album are Battistelli's four original songs: "Heaven Everywhere", "Christmas Is", "You're Here", and "Christmas Dreams." A lot of times, I'm not a huge fan of modern original Christmas songs. The classics are amazing and these days it seems like few have the ability to write new Christmas songs that are enjoyable to listen to and that have a message worth spreading. Battistelli's original songs, however, have both of these qualities. "Heaven Everywhere" is an emotive reminder of the spirit of Christmas and how we should carry that on throughout the year. There is also a very well placed transition that Battistelli does into "Angels We Have Heard On High" in the middle of the song that sounds great and adds another dimension to the song. The song "Christmas Is" is a fun song about Christmas traditions with an awesome shout out to A Charlie Brown Christmas. "You're Here" is a very well written look at Jesus Birth through Mary's eyes. Finally, "Christmas Dreams" take a look the excitement of Christmas from the perspective of a parent with small children. All of these original songs add a personal touch that makes the whole album even better.
Overall, I could not recommend this album more. It has quickly become a classic for my Christmas playlist.
Track Listing:
Track 1: The Christmas Song
Track 2: Heaven Everywhere
Track 3: Christmas Is
Track 4: What Child Is This? (First Noel Prelude)
Track 5: Marshmallow World
Track 6: O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
Track 7: Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas
Track 8: You're Here
Track 9: Joy To The World
Track 10: Christmas Dreams
Track 11: Go, Tell It On The Mountain
Christmas Live In Nashville:
Being such a fan of Batistelli's Christmas album, I was really hoping that this added concert DVD would be just as special. After watching it, I was not disappointed. The concert has mostly the same lineup of songs as the album, but with a few songs in a slightly different order. It is great to see Battistelli sing these songs, because you can see the sheer joy and excitement she has for Christmas music. Battistelli's vocals do not falter during the concert either, something I often worry about with live recordings.
The benefit of having the DVD is the added content from Battistelli. In between songs, Battistelli gives you some insight into why she chose certain songs for the album, or what personal connection she derives from some of the songs. It makes the album and the concert that much more meaningful. There are also segments of the DVD where it cuts away from the concert and shows interview clips of Battistelli answering questions about her feelings and memories of Christmas. After the concert is over, there is also a series of interview clips you can watch that were not shown during the concert. These clips give viewers an added insight into Battistelli's relationship with Christmas.
It is worth keeping in mind that the two disc CD/DVD combo is a few dollars more than just buying the individual CD, but I think it is money well spent. If you really want to avoid paying too much for it, get it from your local Christian store when they have a sale on it or a coupon that applies. That's what I did. After watching the concert DVD, I knew right away that watching it would become an annual Christmas tradition.
Friday, October 25, 2013
I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas
Have you looked at a calendar today? There's nothing significant about October 25th, except that I find myself thinking about how Christmas is only two months away. You know when people talk about the metaphorical "happy place"? Mine is Christmas. It's two months until Christmas, and Christmas is already on my mind. Before you start thinking I'm crazy, it's not like Christmas is all I'm thinking about. Every once in a while, my mind just wanders to this place.
I start thinking about how great it would be to throw a small Christmas party for friends and family. Just a small group around a Christmas tree, playing board games, having a great time simply being in each others company. Sometimes I start thinking about my favorite Christmas TV specials and movies. They all represent what I love best about the Christmas season.
When I was a kid I got excited about Christmas because of toys and all of the excitement of the season. Christmas is kind of a playground as a kid. Now I love the season because it represents three of my favorite things: Jesus, family, and giving. Is it strange that at different points in the year I yearn for the lights of a Christmas tree? Probably, but really what I'm yearning for is the time of year when Jesus, family, and giving are actually considered a norm. If you ask me, it's a little strange that those things are not more present throughout the rest of the year.
P.S.
This whole post was written while listening to Vince Guaraldi's instrumental version of O Tannenbaum from the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. The jazzy sound of the piano playing that song always catches my ear in the scene where Charlie Brown goes to find a Christmas tree.
I start thinking about how great it would be to throw a small Christmas party for friends and family. Just a small group around a Christmas tree, playing board games, having a great time simply being in each others company. Sometimes I start thinking about my favorite Christmas TV specials and movies. They all represent what I love best about the Christmas season.
When I was a kid I got excited about Christmas because of toys and all of the excitement of the season. Christmas is kind of a playground as a kid. Now I love the season because it represents three of my favorite things: Jesus, family, and giving. Is it strange that at different points in the year I yearn for the lights of a Christmas tree? Probably, but really what I'm yearning for is the time of year when Jesus, family, and giving are actually considered a norm. If you ask me, it's a little strange that those things are not more present throughout the rest of the year.
P.S.
This whole post was written while listening to Vince Guaraldi's instrumental version of O Tannenbaum from the A Charlie Brown Christmas soundtrack. The jazzy sound of the piano playing that song always catches my ear in the scene where Charlie Brown goes to find a Christmas tree.
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