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It must be nice to always believe you know better, to always think you're the smartest person in the room.Broadcast News is a late 80s film about television reporting. It was billed as a comedy, but it turned out to be surprisingly emotive and largely very well written and acted. All the characters were extremely well drawn and I liked the fact that important events in their lives didn't ultimately change them, as fundamentally I don't think people ever really do change that much and it was refreshing to see that portrayed on screen.
There were some scary eighties hairstyles and fashion choices on show, particularly from a very young Joan Cusack, but that didn't detract from the great script.
By far the best character, and equally the best acted was Aaron, the earnest reporter who was constantly overlooked both personally and professionally. During a heated conversation with his best friend about her new love interest, she accused him of being the devil and he defended himself by saying, "I think we have the kind of friendship where if I were the devil, you'd be the only one I would tell."
My other favourite bit came when Jane, the producer, was arguing with her boss about some personnel choices she disagreed with. At one point he retorted, "It must be nice to always believe you know better, to always think you're the smartest person in the room." Her heartfelt reply of, "No, it's awful," was really powerful, and it made me think of more than one person I know!
The epilogue that showed the three main characters "seven years later" was a bit unnecessary and I think the film would have been more powerful had it not been included, but it was excellent overall.
* * *
Yesterday, I went to see Matthew Bourne's Cinderella at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in Islington. Despite booking very late and having very little choice of seats, we had an excellent view, and the performance was only mildly interrupted by annoying children in the seats in front and to one side. The show was very good, extremely clever in the way I have come to expect from Bourne, and lots of fun. While it lacked the power of his Swan Lake (I don't anything will ever match that), it portrayed the story clearly (for the most part) and was very enjoyable.
Cinderella's dance with the mannequin (which transformed into a real man part way through, though he still acted very effectively like a mannequin), the slow motion reverse explosion at the cafe and the pas de cinque (where Cinderella danced with four men simultaneously) stood out particularly, but it was all good. I liked the fact that the corps all got to have individual characters, rather than being regimented and anonymous. I loved the angel, whose sinuous dance moves went perfectly with his orchestration of events, and the very end, where he turned immediately from Cinderella to the next lonely girl who needed his attentions was excellent.
There were a couple of confusing moments, but not nearly as many as I usually find with ballet.
The wicked stepmother won the prize for best dancer and for best dress, in my opinion, though the whole cast was very good.
All in all, a good show, and an excellent afternoon amongst good company.
There were some scary eighties hairstyles and fashion choices on show, particularly from a very young Joan Cusack, but that didn't detract from the great script.
By far the best character, and equally the best acted was Aaron, the earnest reporter who was constantly overlooked both personally and professionally. During a heated conversation with his best friend about her new love interest, she accused him of being the devil and he defended himself by saying, "I think we have the kind of friendship where if I were the devil, you'd be the only one I would tell."
My other favourite bit came when Jane, the producer, was arguing with her boss about some personnel choices she disagreed with. At one point he retorted, "It must be nice to always believe you know better, to always think you're the smartest person in the room." Her heartfelt reply of, "No, it's awful," was really powerful, and it made me think of more than one person I know!
The epilogue that showed the three main characters "seven years later" was a bit unnecessary and I think the film would have been more powerful had it not been included, but it was excellent overall.
* * *
Yesterday, I went to see Matthew Bourne's Cinderella at the Sadler's Wells Theatre in Islington. Despite booking very late and having very little choice of seats, we had an excellent view, and the performance was only mildly interrupted by annoying children in the seats in front and to one side. The show was very good, extremely clever in the way I have come to expect from Bourne, and lots of fun. While it lacked the power of his Swan Lake (I don't anything will ever match that), it portrayed the story clearly (for the most part) and was very enjoyable.
Cinderella's dance with the mannequin (which transformed into a real man part way through, though he still acted very effectively like a mannequin), the slow motion reverse explosion at the cafe and the pas de cinque (where Cinderella danced with four men simultaneously) stood out particularly, but it was all good. I liked the fact that the corps all got to have individual characters, rather than being regimented and anonymous. I loved the angel, whose sinuous dance moves went perfectly with his orchestration of events, and the very end, where he turned immediately from Cinderella to the next lonely girl who needed his attentions was excellent.
There were a couple of confusing moments, but not nearly as many as I usually find with ballet.
The wicked stepmother won the prize for best dancer and for best dress, in my opinion, though the whole cast was very good.
All in all, a good show, and an excellent afternoon amongst good company.
