Maybe I just get more grumpy the older I get, but it seems to me that commercial 'breaks' are getting longer, more frequent and more repetitive. The better the film or the drama, the more intrusive and overly frequent adverts grate. In fact I'm joining the box set generation even at my age. Play the drama I want, when I want and no ads!
However, is it possible that a TV channel which guaranteed all advertisements would be run before and after films, drama, in fact all programmes would steal a march on the others and achieve huge popularity? And commercial success? Will anyone have the courage to try it?
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Saturday, 30 April 2016
Tuesday, 19 April 2016
The Drama Contest
More 4 has 'Thicker Than Water' from those loveable Scandinavians who've provided so much great tv in Britain of late and the BBC has 'Undercover'. The first is gripping, as is 'Blue Eyes', incidentally, also current and as was 'The Bridge', 'Trapped' and '1864'. Further back 'Borgen' was excellent too. It's a great time to be a couch potato in the UK.
Compare the best of British and Scandinavian drama with the supposed benchmark of Hollywood and it looks to me as if Hollywood is coming up short. John Travolta produced and acted in 'The People Versus OJ Simpson', which was informative and entertaining just not unmissable.
'Undercover' is very British with highly topical content, and, as a dyed in the wool conspiracy theorist who thinks the police meddle in politics which they should leave alone, whilst letting down victims of crime almost all the time, 'Undercover' could have been made for me. I'm not convinced about UK police ethics concerning race or violence either, so 'Undercover' panders to my suspicions nicely.
However, the Scandinavians win by a short head for me, for years we were indoctrinated that British is best, not necessarily so. After years of travelling to supposedly dangerous places, my boat got burgled back home at Gallions Reach Marina in good old London. One of the things I most regretted losing was a DVD of the movie 'Pelle The Conqueror'. Great acting from Swedish legend of the cinema Max Von Sydow and a powerfully moving Scandinavian story, brilliantly told by all concerned. In fact we Brits think we're outward looking but a lot of Scandinavian history seems to have passed us by. Drama isn't fact but it is providing a degree of education.
I'm a big fan of the UK film industry and mentor to a young British film maker, but the Scandinavian film and tv industries are producing truly great viewing. It's a shame when it's on a commercial channel and spoiled by ads, but still, better than not at all. Thank you to all those involved in bringing Scandinavian drama to our shores, if you've missed it then settle down and take a look soon.
Artwork from the author of this blog.
Compare the best of British and Scandinavian drama with the supposed benchmark of Hollywood and it looks to me as if Hollywood is coming up short. John Travolta produced and acted in 'The People Versus OJ Simpson', which was informative and entertaining just not unmissable.
'Undercover' is very British with highly topical content, and, as a dyed in the wool conspiracy theorist who thinks the police meddle in politics which they should leave alone, whilst letting down victims of crime almost all the time, 'Undercover' could have been made for me. I'm not convinced about UK police ethics concerning race or violence either, so 'Undercover' panders to my suspicions nicely.
However, the Scandinavians win by a short head for me, for years we were indoctrinated that British is best, not necessarily so. After years of travelling to supposedly dangerous places, my boat got burgled back home at Gallions Reach Marina in good old London. One of the things I most regretted losing was a DVD of the movie 'Pelle The Conqueror'. Great acting from Swedish legend of the cinema Max Von Sydow and a powerfully moving Scandinavian story, brilliantly told by all concerned. In fact we Brits think we're outward looking but a lot of Scandinavian history seems to have passed us by. Drama isn't fact but it is providing a degree of education.
I'm a big fan of the UK film industry and mentor to a young British film maker, but the Scandinavian film and tv industries are producing truly great viewing. It's a shame when it's on a commercial channel and spoiled by ads, but still, better than not at all. Thank you to all those involved in bringing Scandinavian drama to our shores, if you've missed it then settle down and take a look soon.
Artwork from the author of this blog.
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Dark Horse
On Grand National weekend I watched the film 'Dark Horse' about the famous racehorse Dream Alliance. I thought I knew the bones of the story and sat down for a feelgood experience. Now I'm not going to give it all away for those of you who haven't seen it, because I recommend you look out for repeats, or a way to get a hold of it.
Maybe I should be ashamed of myself being moved to tears at my age, but I found it the most moving thing I've seen on television in a long while. Jan, the lady whose idea it all was that a Welsh mining town in decline should breed a racehorse was utterly amazing, but she wasn't the only one, led by a cleaner from ASDA with a second job as a barmaid in a working mans club to make ends meet, a syndicate of ordinary people achieved the extraordinary and demonstrated humour, humanity and kindness along the way.
That the horse stole the show goes without saying, but my goodness a tour de force and what a great crowd of regular, decent people behind it all.
Malcolm Snook
Maybe I should be ashamed of myself being moved to tears at my age, but I found it the most moving thing I've seen on television in a long while. Jan, the lady whose idea it all was that a Welsh mining town in decline should breed a racehorse was utterly amazing, but she wasn't the only one, led by a cleaner from ASDA with a second job as a barmaid in a working mans club to make ends meet, a syndicate of ordinary people achieved the extraordinary and demonstrated humour, humanity and kindness along the way.
That the horse stole the show goes without saying, but my goodness a tour de force and what a great crowd of regular, decent people behind it all.
Malcolm Snook
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