There has been a lot of news this week, obviously. The Court came down 5-4 in favor of marriage equality, upheld ACA subsidies, and let Alito write an opinion on the death penalty (a decision roughly akin to letting a Golden Retriever drive a car, he was so excited by the wind in his face he forgot that he was supposed to be performing a complex task and people will inevitably be hurt). I was also on the road, visiting my grandfather in Wichita, Kansas. Consequently, I didn't end up writing anything for this site. Today, to make up the difference, I'll do a week in brief, a rundown of notable things that I watched, read, or listened to in the last week!
Jonathan Strange & Mr. Norrell has continued to be spectacular. Perhaps the best thing about it has been the deftness of the adaptation. The story flows smoothly, and relevant information that was contained in the book's many historical footnotes has found its way to the screen in such a way as to not break the pace or mood of the narrative. The acting in the supporting roles, which I previously praised but wanted to see more of before issuing final judgment, has been soaring. If you aren't in on this show yet, you should definitely check it out!
Deutschland 83 is the first German language show to be broadcast on US television, and is airing on the Sundance network. If you love The Americans, or trade-craft in general, you should check it out. It is the story of a young communist operative in East Germany (the Deutschland part of the title) in 1983 (the 83 part of the title--the year of Reagan's Evil Empire Speech), and is a wonderful piece of spy fiction. I'll be writing more about it later, but for now you should check it out!
Spy. The new offering by Paul Feig, and starring Melissa McCarthy. A little late to the game on this one (my wife and I saw it at a $4 Nickelodean last night), but you should jump on this while it is still in theaters. Though it is not quite as good as Matthew Vaughn's Kingsmen (still one of the best experiences I've had at the movies in many years), this film is absolutely a triumph for both Feig and McCarthy (whose four film run of The Heat, Tammy, St. Vincent, and Spy is the kind of thing that goes on your Hall of Fame plaque). What shines through here is the generosity of both the director and the star. Everyone is allowed to be funny, and while McCarthy can destroy anyone when she is cranked up to 11 she isn't afraid to take it down and let other actors get their laughs as well. I'd love to see this picture paired with Mad Max in a double-feature, both films highlight women while turning men dressed in the garb of traditional action heroes into secondary characters (Max) or buffoons (Jason Statham's absurdist Rick Ford).
I'll Be Me is a documentary that follows country music legend Glen Campbell on his final tour as Alzheimer's disease advances upon him. Campbell the man slowly fades before our eyes, while Campbell the musician, one of the finest guitar players of the twentieth century, and a masterful singer-songwriter, retains his ability to make and play music. For just over a year, the part of his brain responsible for music remains functional as the rest of him recedes into the abyss of lost memory (I couldn't help thinking of Inside Out as I watched this film). Ultimately, I didn't mind that the film skipped over some of the well-known elements in Campbell's life (though I was taken aback uncomfortably by a strangely needless shot of Campbell's vacant-eyed wife, who is currently the subject of a lawsuit claiming that she is preventing his children from seeing him, saying that she needed to reduce the dose of his medication because it was like "Viagra four times a day.") This film absolutely ripped my guts out. If you have ever loved someone who has gradually slipped away into dementia, I expect it will do the same to you.
Tarzan Alive! and Doc Savage: His Apocalyptic Life were both published by the well known sci-fi author Philip Jose Farmer in the 1970s. Each is the "biography" of a fictional character (Tarzan and Doc Savage, obviously), under the assumption that the fictional works about them are based on figures in the real world. What makes these books interesting is that they posit the existence of what has come to be called the Wold Newton family (whose descendants include Tarzan, Savage, Sherlock Holmes, James Bond, etc.) and is the first example of the notion of the "expanded universe." Worth a read if that kind of thing interests you.
Summertime 06 is the second best rap album I've listened to this year (behind only Kendrick's). I don't have an extended set of thoughts on it at this time (I dislike writing about albums that I haven't been able to spend substantial time with), but if you haven't had a chance to listen to it yet you should definitely check it out. It's awesome, and Staples (who turns 22 tomorrow) is only just starting out. I love this album and can't wait to see what he'll do as he continues to grow as an artist.
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