Rupert Murdoch made a bold and, what some consider, sensitive decision to drop the OJ Simpson book and interview special. Bowing to public uproar and complaints, he reaffirmed the precedent of media treatment towards Mr. Simpson in place since the globally televised verdict. Book the Juice and then back away when the lightning bolt shorts out the switchboards. Right now, the OJ walked story in first person is not safe, or even feasible, prime-time subject matter. True, OJ is free to live his life, sign autographs, spend his protected retirement money, but the public does not stomach his face on a big screen–even after eleven years of quiet time.
And sentiment might not shift quickly. Or ever.
If he did it, maybe being the most infamous man in the world who can’t get an interview is part of his punishment. That the people on the other side of that big glowing box don’t want him inside their living room, laptop or iPod, just might be the image haunting him most of all.
A site, reloaded
There’s a few tweaks left to do, but I’m happy with the look and feel of the new site. With all this network admin business at my job, I forgot I like coding, and did quite a lot of it the last few days. Feedback and comments are welcome, so feel free to chime in.
Although the Final Three are working hard on their suggestions–well, two of them anyway, the third won’t get their packet until Wednesday–I’m off for the rest of the weekend.
Next
Now that the novel is en route to the Final Three for feedback and comments, a few stats caught my attention.
Writing time: 25 months
Pages: 340
Drafts: 4
Word count: 88,880 << eights are good luck, eh?
The site overhaul continues, and is happening in the background as I write this entry. Hopefully by Friday I'll cut over to the new design.
The Departed
Gritty. Real. Masterful. Violent. The Departed is a great classic to be, with a fine script, a skilled director and a dead on cast. Literally a trifecta for the audience, this film delivers what the ads and reviews promise–a great story.
The Departed burrows into the Boston underworld where criminals and cops intersect–and sometimes collaborate–and it does so convincingly. Matt Damon plays the understudy to crime boss Jack Nicholson, and as an adult becomes a state trooper who serves both the state and the mob with equal zeal. Leo DiCaprio is a fresh cadet from a connected family who accepts the challenge of a deep cover assignment with one purpose: infiltrate the lair of the very criminal Matt Damon protects.
Chock full of memorable lines and visual imagery, the story ramps up early and and flies through the gates fast. Each scene does what it needs to and plays well. And Jack Nicholson still has the chops, and alone justifies the ticket price.
What works about The Departed:
1) Direction. Can’t say this enough. A director can take a good story and make it great, which is what Scorsese has done here.
2) Script. Tight and well planned.
3) Actors. Expertly cast and all believable.
4) Soundtrack. Usually I don’t notice the soundtracks, but this one is unusual. The Rolling Stone’s Gimme Shelter appears twice, piecemeal style. That’s rare in movies today, where studios cram as many titles as possible to keep the royalty gravy flowing.
What needs improvement:
Not out on DVD yet.
Verdict: Theater full price and DVD purchase.