to archaic latin prases and archane sports references
i got my car back the other day. all the work came to just shy of a thousand dollars, but on the bright side it's running like it's a mere twelve years old.
my hat is off to the makers of the West Wing. fans of the show will tell you that seasons one through four were some of the best television ever aired, but in recent years (pretty much since creator aaron sorkin left the show) it has slipped from an intelligent, witty, political storytelling masterpiece into a shabby half-effort of the original idea. they just kept trying to shock the public with plot twists, social commentary, and the soap opera-ish malaize of eveing drama.
however, tonight's episode (only the first or second since series superpower john spencer died of a heart attack, R.I.P,) made a significant return to the early luster of the show. one shot in particular was filmed with the composition of orson welles--mise en scene on television...damn. Arnie Vinnick (Alan Alda) was standing before a theater with steam billowing out in the background; the top of the screen showed the clean, cool blue light of an arched overhead marquee, and the sides of the shot were framed with small pricks of white light, like stars or christmas lights. Vinnick's silhouette in the steam along with ella fitzgerald, billy holiday, or some lady crooner singing a slow jazz track gave the scene the distinctive flair of the film noir era.
this shot started a visual montage that would make tarantino's best editors cry, reminiscent of prior episodes like "posse comitatus," the season three closer, and "Holy Night," the christmas episode from season four.
my apologies for being nerdy.
further more, the show is ending in two months after seven seasons, and it seems like the producers are returning to the ways of old. now, a shakespearean ending is often considered one where everyone dies, such as in hamlet, but the only way that is possible is because shakespeare wrote long speeches in the last scenes of his plays that allowed all the characters come on stage to be present for a curtain call. well, like the last episode of Seinfeld, the West Wing is taking tips from the bard. the return to the directors of old is just the tip; in the upcoming episodes we will see appearances from toby, sam, amy, and more. we can expect to see all the major characters of the series between now and the last episode, which i am now waiting for with unrestrained excitement. oh yeah, and josh and donna are finally going to do it (for those of you looking for the drama).
bravo to genius television and a working car.
my hat is off to the makers of the West Wing. fans of the show will tell you that seasons one through four were some of the best television ever aired, but in recent years (pretty much since creator aaron sorkin left the show) it has slipped from an intelligent, witty, political storytelling masterpiece into a shabby half-effort of the original idea. they just kept trying to shock the public with plot twists, social commentary, and the soap opera-ish malaize of eveing drama.
however, tonight's episode (only the first or second since series superpower john spencer died of a heart attack, R.I.P,) made a significant return to the early luster of the show. one shot in particular was filmed with the composition of orson welles--mise en scene on television...damn. Arnie Vinnick (Alan Alda) was standing before a theater with steam billowing out in the background; the top of the screen showed the clean, cool blue light of an arched overhead marquee, and the sides of the shot were framed with small pricks of white light, like stars or christmas lights. Vinnick's silhouette in the steam along with ella fitzgerald, billy holiday, or some lady crooner singing a slow jazz track gave the scene the distinctive flair of the film noir era.
this shot started a visual montage that would make tarantino's best editors cry, reminiscent of prior episodes like "posse comitatus," the season three closer, and "Holy Night," the christmas episode from season four.
my apologies for being nerdy.
further more, the show is ending in two months after seven seasons, and it seems like the producers are returning to the ways of old. now, a shakespearean ending is often considered one where everyone dies, such as in hamlet, but the only way that is possible is because shakespeare wrote long speeches in the last scenes of his plays that allowed all the characters come on stage to be present for a curtain call. well, like the last episode of Seinfeld, the West Wing is taking tips from the bard. the return to the directors of old is just the tip; in the upcoming episodes we will see appearances from toby, sam, amy, and more. we can expect to see all the major characters of the series between now and the last episode, which i am now waiting for with unrestrained excitement. oh yeah, and josh and donna are finally going to do it (for those of you looking for the drama).
bravo to genius television and a working car.