I had a wicked rant prepared. It dripped vile. It oozed venom. It was a masterpiece of vituperation.
I decided to sleep on it. If the fire still burns on Monday, I’ll post the rant.
Month: January 2005
In Good Company
Dramedies are very risky bets. Audiences can love the comedy but reject the drama, smothering the jokes. Balancing the two demands a mastery of both genres. In Good Company is a masterpiece, a perfect mixture of laughter and seriousness, everything in the right proportion. Not too sweet, nor too sad or funny – just right.
Before this movie, I considered Topher Grace a pretty boy twerp. Still a twerp, he’s a very likeable one with potential. It’s a breakout role for That 70’s Show refugee.
The plot is a little different, but very topical for anyone who suits up for the morning commute. A 51 year old manager ( Dennis Quaid ) finds the new, less qualified boss is half his age. Over his head in debt and a baby on the way, Quaid needs the job. For an added wrinkle, junior dates Quaid’s gorgeous daughter. The only bumper between Quaid and foreclosure is the new boss.
What works about this movie
1) Topher Grace – a good breakout role
2) Scarlett Johansson – wow. Even with bad makeup, she’s on fire.
3) Pacing and humor work in tandem.
4) Good direction
Areas needing improvement
1) More Scarlett
Verdict – Theater full price. Perfect for Twenty somethings.
Coincidence or Fate?
Coincidences are not always the business of chance, for sometimes fate plays a heavy role. Take my lack of an agent dilemma. Friday marks eight weeks since submitting the manuscript with no answer in sight, despite a nudge. The absence of a reply is a reply. A passive reply, in my opinion, but a reply nonetheless.
So before I go cry me a river, I check my mailbox. A letter sent months ago suddenly appeared. A request from an agent for the first 50 pages and a synopsis.
How you like them coincidences, eh? 😉
At last a policy from Europe that doesn’t suck
Once again Britain shocks us colonies by allowing sales of beer at pubs and restaurants 24 hours a day. This breakthrough legislation goes into effect in less than a year. All I can say is, to hell with Atkins. Imagine a nice Newcastle and cheese omelet, sausage braised in Guinness, all washed down with a pint of Bass.
I exaggerate a bit. There’s already place in the United States where the party never stops: the French Quarter in New Orleans, Louisiana. I recommend it to everyone over the age of eighteen with at least one functional kidney. Of course, that’s just one town, not an entire country 😉
Eliminating last call spares the public the unsightly mess of the pub occupants spilling onto the streets at once, rowdy, drunk and in dire need of public restroom. Now drinkers can remain in place, in theory forever, instead of dashing out at 11 PM. Clearly, this reduces the effects of alcohol consumption to the community as alcholics can ignore their families from the comfort of a barstool. Well, that’s my take on the thought behind the law at least. I’m not a barrister, nor do I watch one on TV.
My question is – during the public debates over this legislation – was the possibility of moving last call ahead a few hours considered? Perhaps the 10:50PM cut off time was draconian, an outdated throwback, but somewhere between that point and never was an acceptable compromise. Or was the open tap the only proposal the public backed?
Anyway, a toast to Britain. The sun may have set on your empire, but the beer never shall.