Sunday, March 26th, 2006

Sunday Cleaning – Volume 28

After a 13-hour flight across half the world (or thereabouts), I am not sure what day it is or really even where I am. But I think I saw some movies on the plane.

George Clooney / Good Night, And Good Luck

A talky, highly political black and white film seemed rather an odd choice for an in-flight film, but I certainly wasn’t complaining. The multi-Oscar nominated film about newsman Edward R Murrow taking on Senator Joe McCarthy was terrifically engrossing if a little tough to hear at points over the rumble of the 747’s engines. It was understated and still fiery in its way. The integration of archival footage of McCarthy and the hearings with the rest of the film was seamless. David Strathairn was amazing as Murrow – intense and driven, yet quiet and contemplative – and George Clooney continues to impress the hell out of me as both a director and actor, though I still can’t get over his early early Golden Girls guest spot which I channel surfed past a couple months ago. Bonus: hearing the dialogue that R.E.M. included in “Exhuming McCarthy”, off of Document – “At long last, have you left no sense of decency?”

Ben Younger / Prime

Synopsis – recent divorcee hooks up with young hunk, and tells her therapist about it, who happens to be hunk’s mother. Hilarity ensues. Okay, not really hilarity, more like tepid formulaic romantic comedy. What could/should have been an interesting premise isn’t really milked for all its worth, instead all the characters are allowed to remain realistic, sympathetic and rational. Which I suppose is what some people are looking for in a rom-com. Maybe I was just in the mood for something a little more Farelly Brothers? I dunno. Not bad but not especially interesting, either. Though it did do its assigned job and killed a couple hours on the plane. Maybe I was too distracted by the fact that apparently Uma Thurman is now being cast in roles as “the older woman”. Say what?

By : Frank Yang at 8:56 am
Category: Uncategorized
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  1. Tim says:

    Were there snakes on your plane?

  2. Frank says:

    yes. yes there were.

  3. Tim says:

    Excellent :)