Change Your Image
johnkick
Reviews
The Hills (2006)
Reality-show Valium
Watching the people communicate on this show is like experiencing the shadow world that lies between sleep and wakefulness. Shallow words are spoken, followed by long pregnant pauses, meaningful looks and toothy smiles. There is waiting and then more waiting for something. It would be even more freakish than it is, if not for the fact that the women have such model-perfect looks and are a pleasure to look at. However, this would be intolerable and even hellish if regular-looking people pulled this. Conversation has been edited down to very feather-light fluff. Ambiance is always as tasteful as a romantically-lit, high-tone restaurant or a smart little clothing boutique. It's one long perfume commercial.
Hounddog (2007)
Southern Gothic with lots of Symbolism
Southern Gothic story abounds with lots of Pre-Raphaelite imagery, and too many snakes to shake a stick at. Dakota's character is filmed in many Pre-Raphaelite shots, and she has that sense of calm longing on her face that has been made popular by the Pre-Raphaelites. In contrast, two of her main antagonists, her Grammie and her father, appear as Medieval country bumpkins in their last scene with her. It's pretty clear, there is a sub-textual analogy to the Renaissance and the Dark Ages, here. During her rape, one of Dakota's hands are pierced with a nail. This obvious Christ-like reference is strengthened later, when she appears in bed, with her white underwear bunched and puffy, as if in swaddling clothes, or even a Christ mounted in contorted agony on the cross. Snakes infest her garden of Eden. They are everywhere. The only way to survive being bitten is too spit the poison out, which she does metaphorically, when she takes a deep breathe and belts out the Blues. Visually, this Southern eden is filmed claustrophobic-ally. Besides tall grass and bushes, even the very trees work together to obscure the sun. Some have praised the Blues players as the light in Dakota's world. One reviewer rightly suggests this is patronizing, a stereotype of the magical Negroes in Vagger Bance? In any event, they free Dakota from this wicked Eden. By the way, Dakota's character is no Saint but a survivor. She knowingly lets her father be killed by not warning him about a snake.
Friends (1994)
I am shocked people like this.
I could never get past the concept of people with good jobs choosing to meet after a hard day of work and happily chattering, endlessly. They are always happy or warm. This formula is set in stone. This corporate branding does not deviate from message. It is just not at all credible in the least bit. My suspicion is that this series was targeted for young women who seek ultra-happy escapism, where never is heard a discouraging word. The only character that even remotely moved me was Monica, because she almost seemed to not be just a caricature at times. None of the other actors ever were anything but caricatures to me. Don't get me wrong, meaningless chatter can be great. I dearly loved Seinfeld, but I could never "get" why anyone derived enjoyment from Friends. I was so baffled, I sat through several shows from start to finish, and not even a tiny spark ever happened for me at any time. It wasn't funny. It wasn't clever. Character depth was virtually non-existent. What planet am I living on that people liked this?