Y'know that Yes song, "Owner of a Lonely Heart"?
This may just be our imagination, but we think a semi-comatose orangutan could play the guitar part. Hell, WE could probably play the guitar part!
Saturday, July 9, 2011
Friday, July 8, 2011
Why We Love "Breaking Bad"
One of our favorite filmmakers is the Coen Brothers. (Yes, we know there are two of them, but they're a two-for-one deal). "Miller's Crossing," "Fargo," "The Big Lebowski". . . the list goes on and on. As you can imagine, then, we adore the television show the Coen Brothers produced(even if they were calling themselves Vince Gilligan when they came up with it), "Breaking Bad."
We just finished watching season 3 on DVD, and we have concluded that, right now, "Breaking Bad" is quite simply the best show on television.
Let's start with the acting. We have raved in this space about two-time Emmy-Award winner Bryan Cranston. Over the last three seasons, we have watched his character, Walter White, transform from mild-mannered high-school chemistry teacher to hardened, take-no-prisoners mastermind in the Southwestern drug trade. His performance is seamless. And as good as Cranston is, he is supported by an ensemble that provides acting lessons week in and week out.
The two other central characters in the show are Walt's wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), and Walt's on-again-off-again partner in meth production, Jesse Pinkman (Emmy winner Aaron Paul). Like Walt, these characters have sweeping story arcs. Skyler spends the first two seasons pregnant, struggling to support Walt as he faces terminal cancer yet at the same time wondering where the money for his treatment comes from and worrying about his increasingly erratic behavior. When she discovers Walt's secret life, she is torn between her impulse to turn him in or at least distance herself from him and her realization that he has, after all, adopted criminality as a way to provide for his family after his inevitable death.
Jesse undergoes even greater transformations. When we first meet him, he is a lowlife high-school dropout selling chili-pepper infused meth on the streets of Albuquerque. When he partners with Walt, he begins to develop a sense of pride and professionalism in his criminal pursuits: If you're going to cook meth, it might as well be the best meth possible. After witnessing the death-by-overdose of his true love, Jesse gets clean, but rather than turning over a new leaf, the newly sober Jesse becomes even more coldly rational and efficient in his criminal planning. . . .
Except.
Even while implementing a plan to sell drugs to members of a recovery group, Jesse becomes outraged--truly, morally outraged--when he hears of a gang using children as hitmen and drug-runners. When he confronts Walt about his own complicity in these activities--"Are you OK with this?!?"--the moral center of the show has completely shifted from the former upstanding citizen to the junkie drug dealer. It is no mean feat for a television show to pull off such a smooth and, yes, believable transition.
Among the supporting cast, Bob Odenkirk plays Saul Goodman, Walt and Jesse's criminal defense lawyer--which is to say their defense lawyer who is, himself, thoroughly criminal. Never has a sleazy lawyer been so enjoyable to watch. Giancarlo Esposito is terrifying as Gustavo Fring, an apparently upstanding pillar of the community who also happens to be the biggest drug kingpin in the Southwest. And in season 3, we see quite a lot of Jonathan Banks as Mike, Gustavo's enforcer/fixer, who in an episode entitled "Half Measures" recites one of the best monologues we've heard on television.
In recent years, long-form dramas have frequently been compared to novels. "Breaking Bad" is the most classically novelistic of these shows. For three years, we have watched the unfolding of one single story. The very first episode provides the tale's unambiguous starting point: Walter White's diagnosis with terminal cancer. Eveything that subsequently occurs follows like a series of dominos knocked over by that first moment. Furthermore, in the story's beginning, is the embryo of what we can only assume will be the show's end: Walt's death. The man is living on borrowed time. In season 3 his cancer seems to be in temporary remission, but we the viewers know that Walt will most likely die in the end. We ache for him as he struggles to do what he can for his family. And, religious or not, we feel terror for the state of Walt's soul: How far down the road to perdition will he travel? Would it be better for him to die before whatever decency he once possessed is gone for good?
Aside from these questions, the most fascinating aspect of the series is the ever-shifting relationship between Walt and Jesse. They have a partnership, a friendship, even a sort of father-son dynamic--and at times they also truly despise each other. Whatever their relationship, though, it is apparent these two men have--in a show that often deals with chemistry--an unbreakable electromegnetic bond. What they are willing to do for each other makes the ending of season 3 one of the most thrilling cliffhangers in TV history.
Some people we have spoken to express reluctance to watch "Breaking Bad." They are turned off by its depiction (though we hasten to mention--not its glorification) of the world of meth dealers and junkies. We acknowledge that the show can be brutal at times. Nevertheless, if you have not already started watching this show, we suggest you give it a try. Season 4 starts a week from Sunday. We suspect, if you get your hands on the DVDs of seasons 1-3, you will watch them very quickly. The most addictive thing in "Breaking Bad" is not the meth, it's the show itself.
We just finished watching season 3 on DVD, and we have concluded that, right now, "Breaking Bad" is quite simply the best show on television.
Let's start with the acting. We have raved in this space about two-time Emmy-Award winner Bryan Cranston. Over the last three seasons, we have watched his character, Walter White, transform from mild-mannered high-school chemistry teacher to hardened, take-no-prisoners mastermind in the Southwestern drug trade. His performance is seamless. And as good as Cranston is, he is supported by an ensemble that provides acting lessons week in and week out.
The two other central characters in the show are Walt's wife, Skyler (Anna Gunn), and Walt's on-again-off-again partner in meth production, Jesse Pinkman (Emmy winner Aaron Paul). Like Walt, these characters have sweeping story arcs. Skyler spends the first two seasons pregnant, struggling to support Walt as he faces terminal cancer yet at the same time wondering where the money for his treatment comes from and worrying about his increasingly erratic behavior. When she discovers Walt's secret life, she is torn between her impulse to turn him in or at least distance herself from him and her realization that he has, after all, adopted criminality as a way to provide for his family after his inevitable death.
Jesse undergoes even greater transformations. When we first meet him, he is a lowlife high-school dropout selling chili-pepper infused meth on the streets of Albuquerque. When he partners with Walt, he begins to develop a sense of pride and professionalism in his criminal pursuits: If you're going to cook meth, it might as well be the best meth possible. After witnessing the death-by-overdose of his true love, Jesse gets clean, but rather than turning over a new leaf, the newly sober Jesse becomes even more coldly rational and efficient in his criminal planning. . . .
Except.
Even while implementing a plan to sell drugs to members of a recovery group, Jesse becomes outraged--truly, morally outraged--when he hears of a gang using children as hitmen and drug-runners. When he confronts Walt about his own complicity in these activities--"Are you OK with this?!?"--the moral center of the show has completely shifted from the former upstanding citizen to the junkie drug dealer. It is no mean feat for a television show to pull off such a smooth and, yes, believable transition.
Among the supporting cast, Bob Odenkirk plays Saul Goodman, Walt and Jesse's criminal defense lawyer--which is to say their defense lawyer who is, himself, thoroughly criminal. Never has a sleazy lawyer been so enjoyable to watch. Giancarlo Esposito is terrifying as Gustavo Fring, an apparently upstanding pillar of the community who also happens to be the biggest drug kingpin in the Southwest. And in season 3, we see quite a lot of Jonathan Banks as Mike, Gustavo's enforcer/fixer, who in an episode entitled "Half Measures" recites one of the best monologues we've heard on television.
In recent years, long-form dramas have frequently been compared to novels. "Breaking Bad" is the most classically novelistic of these shows. For three years, we have watched the unfolding of one single story. The very first episode provides the tale's unambiguous starting point: Walter White's diagnosis with terminal cancer. Eveything that subsequently occurs follows like a series of dominos knocked over by that first moment. Furthermore, in the story's beginning, is the embryo of what we can only assume will be the show's end: Walt's death. The man is living on borrowed time. In season 3 his cancer seems to be in temporary remission, but we the viewers know that Walt will most likely die in the end. We ache for him as he struggles to do what he can for his family. And, religious or not, we feel terror for the state of Walt's soul: How far down the road to perdition will he travel? Would it be better for him to die before whatever decency he once possessed is gone for good?
Aside from these questions, the most fascinating aspect of the series is the ever-shifting relationship between Walt and Jesse. They have a partnership, a friendship, even a sort of father-son dynamic--and at times they also truly despise each other. Whatever their relationship, though, it is apparent these two men have--in a show that often deals with chemistry--an unbreakable electromegnetic bond. What they are willing to do for each other makes the ending of season 3 one of the most thrilling cliffhangers in TV history.
Some people we have spoken to express reluctance to watch "Breaking Bad." They are turned off by its depiction (though we hasten to mention--not its glorification) of the world of meth dealers and junkies. We acknowledge that the show can be brutal at times. Nevertheless, if you have not already started watching this show, we suggest you give it a try. Season 4 starts a week from Sunday. We suspect, if you get your hands on the DVDs of seasons 1-3, you will watch them very quickly. The most addictive thing in "Breaking Bad" is not the meth, it's the show itself.
Thursday, July 7, 2011
Adwatch
Today we heard an ad for a singles' club: The ad invited people to call if they were "single, divorced, or new to the area."
Sooo. . . If people are new to the area, they can join this hook-up service regardless of marital status? California sure is a friendly place!
But an even more disturbing commercial is one we saw on TV for Abilify, an anti-depressant. In the ad, an obviously morose cartoon lady is followed around by her "depression." Upon taking the wonder-drug, though, she shakes off her stupor and enjoys such pleasures as a family picnic.
Here's the problem, though: Her "Depression" is adorable! It's this floating black blob with big googly eyes. And when cartoon-lady starts to get better, Depression starts to shrink and look sad.
Depression just wants to be loved! What kind of heartless monster must this woman be to want to off him?
If our depression were so cute and cuddly, we would be happy to have him around.
Image from archive.no-ip.org
Sooo. . . If people are new to the area, they can join this hook-up service regardless of marital status? California sure is a friendly place!
But an even more disturbing commercial is one we saw on TV for Abilify, an anti-depressant. In the ad, an obviously morose cartoon lady is followed around by her "depression." Upon taking the wonder-drug, though, she shakes off her stupor and enjoys such pleasures as a family picnic.
Here's the problem, though: Her "Depression" is adorable! It's this floating black blob with big googly eyes. And when cartoon-lady starts to get better, Depression starts to shrink and look sad.
Depression just wants to be loved! What kind of heartless monster must this woman be to want to off him?
If our depression were so cute and cuddly, we would be happy to have him around.
Image from archive.no-ip.org
Wednesday, July 6, 2011
Overheard on the Radio
According to some official types, carbon monoxide is the number one cause of accidental poisonng deaths in the United States.
Kind of raises the uncomfortable question: What's the number one cause of INTENTIONAL poisoning deaths in the US? We just want to know what to watch out for.
Kind of raises the uncomfortable question: What's the number one cause of INTENTIONAL poisoning deaths in the US? We just want to know what to watch out for.
Tuesday, July 5, 2011
Spin Cycle
Speaking of Lance Armstrong, we mustn't judge him too harshly for using performance-enhancing drugs. Not that he DID use performance-enhancing drugs. But IF he did, we wouldn't blame him. Can you imagine the pressure he experienced growing up? His name was LANCE ARMSTRONG, for Pete's sake! Was he supposed to NOT become a superstar athlete? Would anyone take seriously, "Lance Armstrong, CPA"? He had to do whatever it took to excel at sports.
Blame the parents.
Blame the parents.
Monday, July 4, 2011
No-Good Do-Gooders!
If there's one thing we can't stand, it's brussels sprouts. But if there are TWO things we can't stand, they would be brussels sprouts and stealth-marketing for controversial causes. Obviously, private corporations (or at least their board members) have the right to endorse whatever charities or causes they choose. If Domino's Pizza and Wendy's want to contribute to pro-life organizations, if Target wants to donate to anti-same-sex-marriage candidates, if Apple wants to give money to support puppy liquefaction--well, that is their right. All we ask is that they be up front about it. Customers have a right to know about the loathsome causes companies support so as to make informed decisions before patronizing them.
If we had known that Dominos supported pro-life organizations, that wouldn't have stopped us from ordering the double-size portion of Chicken Kickers, but we would have done so with an appropriate amount of self-consciousness.
Yesterday was the last straw. We opened up a refreshing Jones' Fufuberry Soda, and as we brought the sweet, sweet fufu to our lips, we happened to glance at the bottle cap, whereon was printed this:
Fuckers! If we had only known. . . . Now the Solipsist is going to be forever linked with the anti-juvenile blindness crowd. We don't even want to think about the mailing lists we just got on!
If we had known that Dominos supported pro-life organizations, that wouldn't have stopped us from ordering the double-size portion of Chicken Kickers, but we would have done so with an appropriate amount of self-consciousness.
Yesterday was the last straw. We opened up a refreshing Jones' Fufuberry Soda, and as we brought the sweet, sweet fufu to our lips, we happened to glance at the bottle cap, whereon was printed this:
"You just helped save a child's eyesight. Thank you."
Fuckers! If we had only known. . . . Now the Solipsist is going to be forever linked with the anti-juvenile blindness crowd. We don't even want to think about the mailing lists we just got on!
Sunday, July 3, 2011
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