by Melinda Snodgrass | May 26, 2014 | TV & Movies
I recorded and watched the film version of Larry Kramer’s powerful play The Normal Heart last night on HBO. Often times a play doesn’t translate all that well to film — long speeches that become agonizing when it’s not live, static staging, but this worked very well. Even some of the long speeches worked because it’s people pouring out their fear and frustration. There was even voice over which I didn’t hate. I usually fine it intrusive as hell, but...
by Melinda Snodgrass | May 25, 2014 | TV & Movies
I’ve been a bit agnostic about Wes Anderson. I really loved the FANTASTIC MR. FOX, really disliked THE ROYAL TENEBAUMS. MOONRISE KINGDOM left me a bit cold, but tonight I went and saw THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL, and I loved it. It has all of Anderson’s stylized quirks, but it works so well in this film. The parade of terrific actors in tiny roles is a delight. The humor is applied with the lightest touch, and at it’s core it’s a celebration of human decency. I also...
by Melinda Snodgrass | May 23, 2014 | General
I discovered I had a whole lot of comments that had stacked up while I was away in Los Angeles. I will be better about checking and approving the messages. I promise. In the meantime, my apologies for ignoring folks for several weeks. Crazy busy and some big changes are pending for me which have occupied a lot of my thoughts.
by Melinda Snodgrass | May 23, 2014 | Blog
Home at last and while I’m tired I’m also restless so it seemed like the perfect night to watch the finale of AGENTS OF SHIELD for a second time. Len and I were doing a great deal of hooting and hollering so I wanted to watch it again with a more critical eye. My initial reaction hasn’t changed — it was too damn easy. (Picture Samuel Jackson saying that in his Nick Fury voice.) I had really liked the shake up to the show — SHIELD has been designated as a terrorist organization. Our little...
by Melinda Snodgrass | May 15, 2014 | TV & Movies
There are just so many way THE BLACKLIST is a mess, but I’ll try to focus my thoughts about this show that has me yelling at the screen every time I watch a recorded episode. Problem one is the fact James Spader completely outclasses everybody else in the cast. If they are going to go with a larger than life star they need to give him worthy co-stars. The female lead in particular is just terrible. She seems to have two expressions and neither of them are very interesting. The problem...
