Homeland Season 3

I’ve got to say – Damian Lewis‘ comments in the new series of Top Gear (Series 19 Ep 1) aired 27th Jan showed some insight into the script strategy of the Homeland writers.

He says after Clarkson asks how it ends – “I don’t know how it ends because THEY don’t know how it ends”and “The headache of me being alive – they’ve got to work out what to do with me”.

I do hope I’m not right in my earlier blog on Season 2…I prayed it wouldn’t be like the 4th/5th seasons of “LOST” and get more and more ridiculous – but I fear Homeland will err this way.

I still hold out hope that there will be some redeeming storyline but…..

Its not just me that finds it increasingly easy to poke fun at what was a brilliant first season  - see the SNL clip http://www.myvideo.de/watch/8842944/SNL_Homeland_Skit. I was pointed there today and found Anne Hathaway‘s “rendition” of Carrie very well-played. Excellent stuff.

Apologies Mr Obama – you may find your support of this drama is more difficult to sustain than the position on Medicare in your second term.

 

Zero Dark Thirty deserving comment (spoilers)

Glued for over 2 and a half hours. Felt equally like strong fiction and a historic story. Dan  (Jason Clarke – he of of  ”The Chicago Code” ) plays a high level CIA agent at the crux of the most controversial scenes where torture is ” routinely” carried out. The concerns of the waiting world are somewhat wasted for me…there is depiction of the famous “waterboarding” acts (always seemed a light word to me for something obviously so cruel – like snowboarding!)- is it glorifying ? No – is it the central theme ? No – does it prove to be the clue to OBL whereabouts? Maybe. But surely these type of events happened – seems right to show it – in spite or because of political angles. The reporting in 2007 that the CIA did carry out  this technique in early 2000 is widely documented. Surely its fare game for the filmmakers?

It was apparent to me there were two stories for the price of one. The first is of a young CIA agent , Maya’s (Jessica Chastain of  the recent “Lawless” and “The Debt’) obsession with finding OBL. Her character was similar to “Homelands ” Carrie – without the cutsie love angle – this broad is seriously focussed – 10 years of focus. After her early introduction and repugnation to torture under  Dan she has no qualms to re acquire the skills when she needs further information from captives in latter years.

 Does Maya exist in whole or in many? There is a rumour she is based on an actual individual – if she is half as dedicated as the screen persona – she needs a medal – or a political position!

There is a huge cast list with cameos by James Gandolfini and even John Barrowman. The story is well told – and describes the frustrations and blind alleys brilliantly.

The second  part of the film centres around the discovery / the politics and the SEALS  raid.

I loved the duelling of the Chiefs when they were deciding to go or not to go – the head of NSA  states this was riskier than when the CIA boss’ predecessor told them to go for the WMD’s in Iraq. Loved that line.How cool are the”fictional stealth H60s? Do they really exist? Though for me when they arrived at the compound in Abbotabad … They were a lot noisier than I felt “stealth” was meant to be ( radar eluding aside)

The helo action was boys own stuff is in the style of  ”Act of Valour 2012 “- loads of military tech – heart bursting door entries and 2 x short sharp shots to the head.

OBL’s death was treated with a certain degree of taste – heard today Columbia Pictures aren’t releasing it in Pakistan (for the mo?)

The director Kathryn Bigelow is obviously out of the running for  a directorial Oscar (solace is she did get one for “The Hurt Locker” ) due to the controversy of the torture- but does some amazing work on this film in giving us a contemporary action movie – and a political thriller all rolled into a a tense, detailed cinematic dream that you end up wondering what was real and what was the storytelling?

You want to watch it ? Course …I knew the ending and loved it anyways.

 

The Pain of RVP

This is looking like a theme in my crisp, new blog…..

I mentally do not see RVP as a Manchester Utd player.

I need closure…but everytime I nearly get it – he does what he does (score the best and most important goals)

Now he cements West Ham’s Cup hopes in a concrete boot – to be dragged from East London and to be buried at Old Trafford. Can’t see United losing in Manchester – but if RVP has his way – he’ll punish and mutilate as well.

I know Arsenal wouldn’t and ?couldn’t? pay him what he wanted and probably deserved -

I know Arsenal would not give him the best chance of winning “stuff”

I know in Arsenal he wouldn’t be “surrounded by champions” or they would spend enough to bring in the guys they need to win trophies -

BUT I still don’t like it.

I have to believe that some day the pain will end – but at the moment – the pain continues.

 

Homeland Season 2

Was I the only sad soul who thought the last season of Homeland was degenerating into a bad version of LOST 5?

If the writers rescue this brand now for series 3, I will be amazed at their  wizardry. I was getting suspicious of where the series was going when Brodie “came out” as a terrorist  - but earlier in Episode 3 “State Of Independence” I was sitting in my lounge incredulous that any scheming terrorist would send a perfect presidential “mole” like Brodie – to pick up a terrorist bomb maker and risk his cover to only, accidentally, kill him in a wood.

The blooming love affair with Carrie the CIA agent was becoming more laughable by the Episode – a more romantic cabin I haven’t seen since the Waltons. Don’t get me wrong Claire Danes is beautiful (IMO) and congrats on the baby by the way.

There was a little drama when Brodie was uncovered as a terrorist – but at the interrogation and when the hand stab happened I actually blurted out “bollox!”.

I’m not going to fully describe the horror of the season finale – but suffice to say Armageddon – and more false twists than a 50′s Rock and Roll dancer. The miracle that was Carrie’s return to the body count room – and the look on Saul’s face could only be scripted by a Coronation Street writer.

I will watch the 3rd Series – if only because I need to know how they are going to rescue the credibility of this Obama endorsed TV show.

 

Bradford v Arsenal in retrospect

It is embarrassing being an Arsenal supporter at the moment. The painful emotion I felt when RVP put that injury time winning freekick in against Man City was gut wrenching. Like the lost love of a memorable girlfriend seen out kissing with her new guy. Would RVP had stayed if offered big money? I feel he also needed comfort there were big signings coming and wasn’t convinced – now he is the Prems most reliable striker and top scorer (Michu aside). He knew the passion to be great – wasn’t there. We all sense Arsenal lack that strategic passion – passion borne out of driven ambition – sense of pride and will to win. That passion seems missing from both the team and management. What happens in training ? Why do we apparently play many players out of position? What does Arsene see in players that supporters don’t? If he gets results Arsene can do what he wants – but if he doesn’t – and 7 and a half years is 7 years to long in my book-  you have to question decisions and policy. The worst decision this season for me was to play the senior squad in the Bradford game.. signaling intent but pressurizing a team that don’t react well to pressure – A lack of, quality (evident as they were unable to break down a resolute Bradford defence) or bottle to score their penalties.

Arsene to step down ? He deserves praise for the past but also deserves the current level of criticism. Arsenal fans need a replacement and policy that resolves all the issues – or Arsene may as well stay.