Ida Lupino reading.In a very interesting post, Richard Wheeler discusses the reason he finds himself unable to enjoy many movies and televisions shows. He feels a disconnect from the cynicism such fare exhibits toward mankind. Any attempt to portray life in a more positive light is regarded as sappy.
I have to agree with him. Over a lifetime, I have watched the trend toward a misanthropic take on everything grow. My daughter often reminds me that labeling a movie "sentimental" was a common insult in our household as she grew up. Did we do her any favors by promoting this view?
What's wrong with making movies about people who are kind and generous? I know we want to see characters as multi-dimensional, but have we gone too far with it? Have we, in fact, reduced them to one-dimensionality we sought to avoid if only the at the opposite end of the spectrum. Is it easier and more fun to make characters weak, evil, degenerate?
Can you think of some movies or TV shows for Mr. Wheeler and myself that see humanity more positively and are still interesting and compelling? FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS manages to create many likable characters that still seem realistic. What about a movie about well-meaing if not noble people? I'd say JUNO did this pretty well. What else has a benevolent view of mankind?
30 comments:
This might be a factor in why "the bad guy" is always the most interesting character (Satan in "Paradise Lost," etc.)--there's so much more that can be done graphically with evil than with goodness, and it's hard to present goodness without going over into sticky sentimentality. I used to love to watch the old BBC series "All Creatures Great and Small" about veterinarians in rural England in the 1930s: Decent people trying to do their best. As for today, I'm not sure.
I think Kevin Smith does a great job of mixing compex, interesting characters with ultimately positive outlooks with the darkness and sarcasm I enjoy as well. Also most of the Judd Apatow movies strike a nice balance between this.
I think the main problem is too many writers and filmmakers portray "good" people in a sappy way. There are ways to make a character positive without making him sickening. THE WIRE is a great example. It's full of good people fighting the good fight for not a lot other than to feel a job well-done. They're flawed, but the work to overcome those flaws.
The ticket- and book-buying public has to bear the brunt of the blame here. Listen to people who aren't writers talk about TV shows they like. They love one-dimensional, "good" people. TOUCHED BY AN ANGEL. DR. QUINN, MEDICINE WOMAN. They're like a toddler's favorite blanket to a lot of people. They don't want them to have flaws, which makes the character, and the show, pretty sappy to the rest of us.
That was a terrific show. I think the British are less afraid of sentimentality than we are.
Fprgetting Sarah Marshall and I Love You, Man are a good example. But, of course, I love those two actors. Both excel at sweet.
Gilmour Girls was a show that pulled it off, too.
A bunch of unwatchable shows for me, Dana. What about the Waltons? Did that manage to avoid too much sentimentality with pretty feisty adults.
I grew up on SNL and a steady dose of cool cynicism that, I found out, didn't work all that well in real-life adult, professional situations (work, community, etc.). It's hard to find the balance. I agree that British television often does a fine job --I'm thinking Doctor Who.
There are plenty who find him too treacly, but Aaron Sorkin does a marvelous job of balancing nuanced characters and a sense of idealism. THE WEST WING is a sterling example of good television with a mile-wide sentimental streak.
In the British version of LIFE ON MARS, Sam was more distraught over his circumstance thus the series worked better for me. British comedy also seems more sentimental--and I mean that in a good way.
West Wing was a very good show (IMHO) although I found Bartlett to be a bit sanctimonious. The other characters were easier to take.
Avoiding lying about what humans are and do is the ticket. We are only rarely (and each of us infrequently) thoroughgoing bastards or selfless treacle-pots. There are a Lot of shows and films that have dealt with people like that, and they tend to be among my favorites...Sorkin's shows tend to be best when they hew closest to what he actually knows something about, such as SPORTS NIGHT. THE WEST WING was sentimental about how government works, which does no one any good at all. Rather as, say, Obama as Second Coming of Hitler OR Jesus is not helpful.
Bootless nihilism can attempt to shock, but grows tiring, indeed, at least as quickly as saccharine frippery.
Nice last sentence, Todd. You're an inspiration.
On of the recent shows that I have come to enjoy is Leverage. Think the A-Team as writen by Donald Westlake. A group of loner criminals find new lives by working as a team and helping people. It is fun, a bit edgy, and at it core about what you get by giving
As any journalist (if you can find one these days): good news doesn't sell.
Kind, caring, happy, well-adjusted people who do good things... for some reason these aren't entertaining enough for the masses, whereas explosions, gang violence, brutality on both sides of the badge, unfaithful men and women, killing, rape nd all the rest fascinate most viewers. Even reality TV isn't often about nice, happy situations. Pain in all it's forms is what sells.
We live in the Age of Irony and Cynicism, Patti. Sentiment is "uncool." Take, for example, THE GOOD WIFE, where the plucky wife goes back to work after her wayward politician hubby gets sent to prison. No wallowing in hystronics for the good wife: she just slaps the scoundrel and moves on to the court room. The irony is the wayward husband is Mr. Big from SEX AND THE CITY. Wheels within wheels...
Yes, I've seen Leverage a few times. Always liked Timothy Hutton.
I am growing afraid THE GOOD WIFE is just another courtroom show-albeit a good one so far. I had hoped it would take a serious look at the plights of the woman standing next to the politician. Perfectly cast.
I don't want perfect people but perhaps ones that are trying to do the right thing. Can we find a way to make that interesting?
ONCE AND AGAIN. The only Herskovitz/Zwick series since THIRTYSOMETHING to last through a season, much less three.
I'm with you on wanting more interesting stories, Patti. Part of the problem is captured in the TNT tagline, "We know drama." But the current definition of drama embodies characters emoting all over the place (and acting violently). I'd like to see "smarter" stories, like the episodes on MAD MEN, where the audience is challenged to figure out what's going on. I find Betty Draper's mood swings dramatic (and unpredictable).
Betty Draper is the most enigmatic character I've ever seen on TV. I thought I had her figured out--but I am not so sure. She only feels alive in dramatic situations--like the ones in Rome. And now Sally is exhibited the same sort of behavior. The person they see in the mirror is more real to them than the one when they look away. Or something like that.
Patti, you mention THE WALTONS back up in the earlier comments. I haven't seen it in years (decades, even), but I remember it as an excellent series with enough dark undertones to balance out the goodness, at least at first. It was about the Depression, after all. But it ran out of steam before it was over, unfortunately.
It did sag at the end, James, because it must have been on ten years.
But if you look at the early years, all of the adults had a dark side to them, which balanced their goodness. And the children made mistakes. But in the end, they rallied.
All this opens the question of why I need to care about the protagonist. Other viewers or readers don't seem to need to. But if I can't connect, because there is no difference between protagonists and antagonists, the story fades away from me. I'm very much in the minority here. Most people don't need to connect with, or crawl into the heart of, the protagonist.
I think in certain types of books/movies/TV, I do need a good man/woman to hold on to. But in some cases, a damaged, if not totally evil, protagonist can suffice--if he is interesting and original. If over time, we understand the reasons behind it. I am thinking of Dexter, for instance. His venom is directed at evil people-a reflection of something inside him.
Patti,
I think that we as a society are perhaps morbidly fascinated by "bad guys." I'm not sure why; I don't have a strong psychology background. But I really do think that has a lot to do with this trend.
My husband likes to pick on me for this, but I like NUMBERS. The mystery component isn't always the most original, but I really like the family component to the show. It's kind of like a cozy, without the amateur sleuth and cat.
I haven't seen it too often but I like the threesome too. The math scares me off.
Well, you know I'm going to com ein here with the John Sayles movies, but really, they're all about peopl at least trying to be good.
Think of Joe Morton in City of Hope, or Chris Cooper and Elizabeth Pena in Lonstar and all the miners in Matewan.
Of course, the fact none of those movies are very popular says something, I guess.
There's a show on TV in Canada now called Being Erica which is a kind of one-woman personal Quantum Leap in that each episode she gets sent back in time to "correct" or at least better understand a pivotal point in her life. It's getting some very good reviews and it isn't too cynical.
Another Canadian show that got a lot of press last year, Little Mosque on the Prairie was a pretty good show about a small town in Canada in which the church rented space for the mosque. Not too treacly (for TV) and bumping up on some real issues but still a sitcom.
Someone said awhile ago that Hollywood doesn't understand conflict, just confrontation.
I love John Sayles movies especially the early ones. (everyone always likes the early ones by any director, I know). I think we get that Erica show in Detroit. Gonna check it out.
All Ealing comedies, especialially Passport To Pimlico, Mash (Film&TV series) Being There, A Bronx Tale, Kes, Brassed Off, Gergory's Girl, That Sinking Feeling, Life Is Sweet
Speaking of Ida Lupino, I've just begun a big research project on her film "The Hitch-Hiker."
One of the ones she directed, right? Never seen it. If it's on netflix, I'll add it to my list.
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