Film and TV
The winter demon known as the flu has really ruined my Friday night. The film club is cancelled but I guess on a more positive note it has all been neatly rescheduled to next weekend. I have, I am convinced, a stimulating (next) weekend of film and camp 80′s T.V.
My only slight trepidation is that the film is likely to be from the New French Extremism stable. I found Justine and Salo hard going, not sure I could do dinner straight after. The film travels from mildly entertaining S&M scenes to diabolical and sickening torture. What fascinated me at the time (when I managed to release myself from its thrall) was its soft colours, beautifully lit with beautiful people and as you journey with the film you do become normalised, to some degree, of the horrors that are unfolding. Then normalisation serves no more – as the sexual violence escalates you know there is only one conclusion. All the bonds that have been made throughout the film are broken as the protagonists pursue their extreme fantasies and fetishes.
I remember looking away from the screen at the ICA to see that I was surrounded by the dirty mac brigade. The scenes of torture on screen were preferable.
However whatever film I am subjected to I will recover with V. Yes I love V and am looking forward to the new ‘re-imagining’ of V out soon on SciFi. Although I have to say the trailer and clip looked a bit obvious and predictable.
Who can match the macho, gorgeous but troubled and sensitive Donovan, or the rough diamond that was Tyler fighting for a way do the right thing.
X Files is often cited as the ground breaking modern scifi series however I think that distinction lies with V.
Yes, V is hopelessly flawed, lizard aliens would not be taking tea with grannies and talking about careers and dresses – would they? It seem a bit native in our our seriously trendy and self-aware world but that is no bad thing. Comfort T.V for the winter.
Tomorrow Dr Who…
