Plays, movies, Irish culture past and present

[nycmermaid]

I'm feeling not so eloquent but I feel I should post about what I've been doing the past few days...I saw 2 Broadway plays in 3 days, and for under $100, which is rare for me and quite cool. One was Talk Radio with Liev Schreiber, which I saw with cynima last Thursday. I liked it a lot, very compelling and funny, a good combination, and Liev is of course great. And on Saturday I saw Translations, a Brian Friel play about the Anglicization of Ireland (meaning how the English went in and decided to rename everything in English instead of Gaelic) and how they started to take control of Ireland right before the Potato Famine of the mid-1800s. I went with my mom and enjoyed that too; even if it wasn't a lighthearted play, I found the topic interesting, and the set design was cool. After the play there was a discussion with some of the actors and an NYU professor of Irish culture, moderated by Angela Pietropinto, a woman who seems to keep popping up randomly in my life -- she was on an episode of Another World that Andrea appeared in and she spoke to my acting class in high school once. You may remember her as the mom in Welcome to the Dollhouse.

I also watched two movies this weekend: Babel and The Science of Sleep. I didn't love either one of them. Babel was another one of those Crash-type movies with lots of different people from different backgrounds and how their lives come together in various tragic ways. I thought the Japanese part was the best. I'm not very familiar with modern Japanese culture but the movie certainly made it look like those kids have a great social culture. (Then again, the same could be said for American teen movies.) As for the latter movie...well artistically it was cool, but I didn't completely get the point of it, and it didn't really have an ending.

I was pretty geared up for the Oscars this year, having seen most of the movies nominated for best picture, plus it seemed like this year there was no clear front runner and an upset could happen. But all the winners were exactly as predicted it seemed, with the exception being that Pan's Labyrinth didn't win best foreign film. It cleaned up in the art categories though, which is fair. Overall though, I have to say, with a few exceptions, that this year's Oscar telecast was one of the most boring and unfunny ones ever. I don't want to blame Ellen Degeneres, because she isn't the only one writing the jokes, but where *were* the jokes? Will Ferrell and Jack Black's song and Seinfeld's routine were the only saving graces. I also wish they played longer clips from each movie.

It's slushy and slippery and generally gross outside, I didn't get enough sleep and I feel very much blah this morning. This Sunday is the Woodside St. Patrick's Day parade. It's going to be my first one, anyone wanna come with? I'm also looking forward to the actual St. Paddy's Day parade in NYC, which is on a Saturday this year, which means there's an opportunity for much merrymaking if anyone wants to join me for that.

Comments

[abitunlikely.livejournal.com]

Actually, my whole family said how great a host Ellen was and how enjoyable the show was. I really like her humor. So maybe it's all subjective.

Alan Arkin was a big surprise, I think to everyone. So it wasn't all the people who were predicted. I don't think people were calling for The Departed to win best picture, either. And director, there was speculation, but no one was certain until his name was called, unlike with Helen Mirren (grrr) and Forrest Whittaker.

Still, I'd watch it all again to hear James McAvoy speak again!

[sarahsez00.livejournal.com]

You don't like Helen Mirren?!?!?!?

[abitunlikely.livejournal.com]

I have nothing against Helen Mirren, but I LOOOOOOOVE Kate Winslet. I didn't see The Queen, but I did see Little Children. And I read someone speaking about the two roles, and they said that Helen Mirren was imitating a person, while Kate Winslet was portraying a character. I knew she wasn't going to win, but it doesn't mean I have to be happy that my poor Kate is always a bridesmaid! Plus, Helen Mirren's speech was awful, holding up the Oscar and calling it the queen. Gag.

[webmd.livejournal.com]

I thought Helen Mirren's portrayal of the Queen was hardly just an imitation. People don't really know the Queen or what she's like, so in that sense she was portraying a character. Does that mean anyone who portrays a person who actually exists or existed doesn't have as hard a job as someone portraying a character who only exists in fiction? I think playing an actual person is harder in many ways.

[abitunlikely.livejournal.com]

I didn't say that. Someone in the industry said it, and it was printed in Entertainment Weekly.

My mother actually saw the movie and didn't think she was so great. But Kate is my sentimental favorite, anyway. If I saw both and could make a decision based on that, I would, but only having seen the one, I'm allowed to root for whoever I like. :b

[sarahsez00.livejournal.com]

You are of course allowed to root for whoever you want. And I love Kate as well, and really hope she wins one someday. But I don't think real person vs. fictional character has anything to do with it. Ideally, thse things would be based on talent but they almost never are - it's usually the big kids version of a popularity contest (Reese Witherspoon last year), who made Hollywood more money (The Departed this year), and who have we screwed over so many times that it would just be wrong to do it again (Marty this year). And Helen Mirren is like 100 and she'd never won before so ta dah! But also, she's kind of the shit.

[abitunlikely.livejournal.com]

But if it's based on that, then how often has Helen been nominated versus Kate? Someone pointed out that Kate is the most nominated actress of her generation. I think maybe even of the last decade.

I think it was set in stone before anyone even walked the red carpet, so I found it refreshing that an insider would have that opinion, especially since it validated a performance that I thought was amazing.

I was actually hoping someone else would win—even if it wasn't Kate—just so it wouldn't be so predictable. My mother saw several of the performances and didn't think Helen was any better than the rest of them. She said Penelope Cruz was so wonderful in Volver.

[webmd.livejournal.com]

Sorry, I thought we were debating. I didn't say you can't root for Kate Winslet. I mean, who doesn't like Kate Winslet? But I don't think it was her year. She'll get her due.

[abitunlikely.livejournal.com]

Well, it's hard for me to debate when I didn't actually see it. But I think that the person has a point. It's like the difference to me, who can mimic an accent after I hear it, between someone who can mimic an accent and someone who can actually put on the accent. I understand why it would be hard to portray someone who already lived, but you do have an example and things to draw off of to fill your performance. English people know a lot more about the queen and what she's like than Americans, don't forget. But to take a character that only exists on paper and make him or her a living, breathing human being who you feel for and laugh with and cry for...

But maybe I'd feel differently if I saw her performance. Of course, I was thrilled when Cate Blanchett won, and she played a real person, so...

[cynima.livejournal.com]

I'm really surprised you haven't seen The Queen. You should see it just for comparison's sake. And considering you're such an anglophile... ;)

[abitunlikely.livejournal.com]

I didn't have time between going to the hospital, freelance, and my trip. I had wanted to see it. I also didn't get to see Volver or The Last King of Scotland (which I had wanted to see before it started winning awards). And I can't go to movies now, so I have to wait for them to come out.

[cynima.livejournal.com]

Oh right, sorry I forgot about all that. Well, considering how quickly everything goes to DVD now, you shouldn't have to wait very long.

[cynima.livejournal.com]

Do you like the Spring Awakening soundtrack so far?

[webmd.livejournal.com]

Well, I listened to it once, and much of the time was in the kitchen not listening too closely. It was okay, but the "Your Junk" song really stuck in my brain. I have to give it another listen. I read the synopsis in the liner notes, and based on them I have to admit I wasn't really interested. Then again, the story of Rent is also quite a soap opera with a lot of depressing points, and I liked it. I need to give it another listen to make up my mind.

[cynima.livejournal.com]

It definitely took me more than one listen to get into it, and there are several songs that really stay with me. I'm dying to see this show, but I'm not sure when I'll be able to go anyway. I'm kind of scared of my upcoming credit card bill :P