Monday, May 19, 2008
The Englishman's Boy
Based on Guy Vanderhaeghe's book of the same name the author got the opportunity to actually write the screenplay and was given a bit part in the piece as well. The story is told in the present of 1920 in a movie studio backlot and in flashbacks to the Cypress Hills Massacre of 1873. Given the bad light in which the movie business is cast it fell to the venerable CBC to bankroll this production. The exterior shots were actually shot onsite in
This is not a Disney Production; in this series there are no good guys. The basic philosophy that underlies the historical events alluded to here is that the only good Indian is a dead Indian. As the central character of both periods Shorty McAdoo finds himself swept up into circumstances beyond his control on both accounts and ultimately finds himself facing the gallows in symbolic expiation for past sins. The theme here is one of moral individuals drawn into compromising situations by the will to make a living. Finger pointing is an exercise best exercised by those who bear witness from afar. Since the series has not been given sufficient exposure to be widely viewed there are no sites listing bloopers or historical and continuity gaffs. To me the cowboy scenes look authentic, actual cowboys playing the part of extras and the Native people filmed are in the main actual descendents of those involved in the original massacre. I would say the CBC has a winner on their hands here. The pity is that it will not be given wider exposure.
Torchwood
Torchwood is a BBC Wales spin-off from the popular Doctor Who series. The former Captain Harkness—John Barrowman stars. Describing it is a bit of a challenge, the series being one part sci-fi, one part horror, one part mystery, and one part detective series. I finished watching this series a couple days ago but I’m still working on digesting the experience.
Captain Jack Harkness struts the screen as if he owned it. John Barrowman who plays him is rapidly slipping toward middle age, but the character he plays bears the cross of being ageless. One of the issues this series is about is the ramifications of that state of being. This series has sexual tension but its characters are not inherently sexy. The young doctor Owen Harper spends much of his time looking very repressed with a look that betrays the emotions simmering inside. Toshiko Sato is the technical genius of the crew; Ianto Jones the gopher. Gwen Cooper, who joins the group as the series starts, represents our eyes onto the goings-on here.
The Hub, their operations centre, is a combination dungeon, science lab, computer centre and sewer. There is an air of unbelieveability about the way in which they waltz past police to conduct their investigations. This show is testimony to the abuse which flows from being above the law. No agency should be above some form of oversight. The Torchwood Mobile is as much a character in the piece as any of its human occupants. Despite my queasiness I found myself drawn into this series. We should be thankful that public television makes possible programming that would never see the light of day on a private network.
Sunday, May 11, 2008
Eureka
To keep all these absent-minded professors out of trouble add Sheriff Jack Carter who just happens to take a wrong turn into this happy community with his rebellious daughter fresh from a messy divorce.
The series ends up being not so much about the scientists who live in
