Okay, Zoom meeting finally ended (only slightly acrimoniously), so I had a chance to review my always list-building BE while lunching outside to the tune of lawnmowers bleating away. I may be one of the only people who was disappointed in the Hart family podcast; I cannot think a documentary would be any better, and it’s for the same reason: there’s no there there. We don’t know why they hurtled off that cliff, we don’t know why they starved and mistreated the children, and while we can speak volumes about the institutional racism that allowed these white women to raise non-white children, that doesn’t get us any closer to understanding those WHYs. There’s just a vast hole at the center. The documentary sounds much worse because the lack of the center is so much more clearly on display. You guys did make American Animals seem so good that I will try that one. Also, appreciation rings (it’s a 90-day Fiancé thing) to Jeb Lund for his cogent critiques and thoughtful notes. Now I’m gonna have to subscribe to HIS podcast, too. Keep those prison documentaries coming; I guess I like scaring myself straight.
May I use this space to vent on a tiny, inconsequential thing-oid from the Broken Harts podcast that bothered me? They kept referring to the vehicle in the final journey by the brand name - not even the manufacturer's name, like Toyota, but like "the Safari" or "explorer" or whatever it was, and I was mystified and had to google to work out what they were on about. JUST SAY CAR. Or minivan or whatever. Some of us aren't American (or car fans)! At least say it once to establish what you are on about before you go back to the brand name! (Not to harp on, but this does seem like a very US-ian thing, so many American properties take pains to tell you that person X drove a bright green 2014 Hooty Tooty Jalopy which I'm sure acts as a class marker to readers in the know but is a touch baffling to outsiders. I'll shut up now and go read Autocar so I can get the references next time.)
I'm really far behind on episodes, but wanted to say a very heartfelt thank-you to SDB for the review of American Animals. I saw the trailer ages ago and it looked like a cookie-cutter "Dumb college dudes do dumb stuff" movie, so I never gave it another thought. But after your review, I was convinced to go back and see it. I watched it last night and it was delightful! The odd touches of surreality were perfect. Also, I'm sure it wouldn't have been as good a film if they hadn't included interview bits with the real people. So yes, I really loved it. Thanks again!
Just flew over here briefly to say Pot Ledom to SDB. Now, back to reading BE.
Okay, Zoom meeting finally ended (only slightly acrimoniously), so I had a chance to review my always list-building BE while lunching outside to the tune of lawnmowers bleating away. I may be one of the only people who was disappointed in the Hart family podcast; I cannot think a documentary would be any better, and it’s for the same reason: there’s no there there. We don’t know why they hurtled off that cliff, we don’t know why they starved and mistreated the children, and while we can speak volumes about the institutional racism that allowed these white women to raise non-white children, that doesn’t get us any closer to understanding those WHYs. There’s just a vast hole at the center. The documentary sounds much worse because the lack of the center is so much more clearly on display. You guys did make American Animals seem so good that I will try that one. Also, appreciation rings (it’s a 90-day Fiancé thing) to Jeb Lund for his cogent critiques and thoughtful notes. Now I’m gonna have to subscribe to HIS podcast, too. Keep those prison documentaries coming; I guess I like scaring myself straight.
May I use this space to vent on a tiny, inconsequential thing-oid from the Broken Harts podcast that bothered me? They kept referring to the vehicle in the final journey by the brand name - not even the manufacturer's name, like Toyota, but like "the Safari" or "explorer" or whatever it was, and I was mystified and had to google to work out what they were on about. JUST SAY CAR. Or minivan or whatever. Some of us aren't American (or car fans)! At least say it once to establish what you are on about before you go back to the brand name! (Not to harp on, but this does seem like a very US-ian thing, so many American properties take pains to tell you that person X drove a bright green 2014 Hooty Tooty Jalopy which I'm sure acts as a class marker to readers in the know but is a touch baffling to outsiders. I'll shut up now and go read Autocar so I can get the references next time.)
I'm really far behind on episodes, but wanted to say a very heartfelt thank-you to SDB for the review of American Animals. I saw the trailer ages ago and it looked like a cookie-cutter "Dumb college dudes do dumb stuff" movie, so I never gave it another thought. But after your review, I was convinced to go back and see it. I watched it last night and it was delightful! The odd touches of surreality were perfect. Also, I'm sure it wouldn't have been as good a film if they hadn't included interview bits with the real people. So yes, I really loved it. Thanks again!