The word of the day for January 30, 2008 is "discontinuous" — adjective — 1 a (1): not continuous [a discontinuous series of events]. (2): not continued : discrete [discontinuous features of terrain]. b: lacking sequence or coherence. 2: having one or more mathematical discontinuities — used of a variable or a function.
We watched a trio of rather quiet movies this weekend. Sometimes it's nice to see something besides America's Funniest Videos.
1. The Grass Harp with Piper Laurie, Sissy Spacek, Walter Matthau, Nell Carter. Also, Jack Lemmon, Mary Steenburgen, Joe Don Baker, Charles Durning, Roddy McDowell. "After his mother's death, Collin Fenwick goes to live with his father's cousins, the wealthy, avaricious, and controlling Verena Talbo, and her compliant, earthy sister Dolly." Set in the early 1930s, this is a charming movie with plenty of acting talent, but not the sort of movie that attracts Oscar nominations
2. The Good Witch with Chris Potter as Jake Russell, Catherine Bell as Cassandra Nightingale. "A mysterious woman comes in to town and inhabits the local haunted mansion, making everyone wonder if she's a witch or 'The Grey Lady'." This one was memorable only in that it was really pushing tolerance for Wiccans.
3. Mansfield Park with Billie Piper as Fanny Price, Blake Ritson as Edmund Bertram (yes, he played Collin Diggory in HP: Goblet of Fire. "At age 10, Fanny Price is sent by her destitute mother to live with her aunt and uncle, Sir Thomas and Lady Bertram." This version downplayed Henry Crawford quite a bit. Still Miss Austen's famous wit showed through.
Other than the low-key stories and that all three movies had children who had lost one or both parents as part of the plot, there was no connection. Still they made for a quiet weekend.
Our quote for the day is from Susan Sontag (b. 1933), U.S. author. “Theatre and Film,” (1966):
If an irreducible distinction between theatre and cinema does exist, it may be
this: Theatre is confined to a logical orcontinuous use of space. Cinema ... has
access to an alogical or discontinuous use of space.
—
Partial cast lists and synopses are from The Internet Movie Database.
2 comments:
The only one of those films I have seen is Mansfield Park
http://journals.aol.co.uk/jeanno43/JeannettesJottings/
I have seen a few renditions of Mansfield Park over the years and have enjoyed each one. I have yet to see this one with Billy Piper in it.
The Grass Harp had quite a few stars in it...it offers the concept that they all wanted to enjoy working with each other on this film and that it was a good story. I have never seen this one but I think I might enjoy it because I like all of the actors in it.
I have never heard of The Good Witch.
quote:
Theatre is confined to a logical orcontinuous use of space. Cinema ... has
access to an alogical or discontinuous use of space.
And that is the magic of cinema. It takes us outside the boundaries...because all that we can imagine can be portrayed there as though in reality. Whereas the theatre is limited and relies on the use of language to expand on the themes and help us to envisage the ideas inside our heads. Helped a bit by the costume and scenery. Just me muttering and musing Jan...lol!
Must watch out for this film The Grass Harp.
Hugs
Jeanie xxxx
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