The Wire (or is it Robin Hood?) Comes to BBC2

The Wire has finally made it to terrestrial TV here in the UK. It debuts tonight at 11.20pm on BBC 2, and continues to run nightly throughout the week. If you don't already own The Wire on DVD, make sure you series link it, if you can. Undoubtedly, The Wire is best watched as a marathon, not a sprint, so 3 or 4 episodes in one go is the ideal. BBC 2 have to be commended for at least attempting to achieve a successful small screen outing for the series. Although it's on quite late, at least the episodes aren't stranded in once-a-week time slots.

The Wire has been described as the best TV show ever made. It is groundbreaking in its slow-burning portrayal of a city from the inside out, and a million miles away from the standard police procedural dramas, that now look so empty and fake. In fact, every time me and t'other half sit down to watch anything new on the telly, it's now become de rigeur for one of us to suddenly announce in a huffy voice "It's not The Wire, is it?". In many ways, The Wire has ruined telly for us. Nothing else even comes close to its utter brilliance. But enough has already been written about how good The Wire is. If you haven't seen it, watch it, if you have, you might be interested in my new theory....contextual analysis, if you will. (I'm sorry, gibberish terminology is what abides, alongside the dude, when you've been through 4 yrs of theoretical film studies.)

The Wire is the modern day Robin Hood! Oh yes. Robin Hood is Omar Little, (not just President Obama's favourite character, but my favourite character too. Many peoples, I suspect) who steals from the moneyed up bad guys, and gives to the poor (c'mon, when he was hiding out in that idyllic beach house at the start of series 5, he was giving food away to all the little urchins). Omar's Maid Marian was, of course, his murdered sweetheart Brandon.
Marlo is the evil Sheriff of Nottingham, who will stop at nothing to rid his town of Omar/Robin Hood, and who is also usurping King Richard's throne, in his absence - King Richard being Avon Barksdale.
The supporting cast in this analysis are:
Guy of Gisborn, who has transmogrified into Marlo's henchmen Chris and Snoop and Friar Tuck, who is Proposition Joe.
Now, I was pretty drunk when I came up with this theory, but I'm certain there were other players on my list, and a far more nuanced realisation of the similarities than I've currently got going on here. At least, there was in my head anyway. It would appear I've only categorised the bad guy contingent of The Wire into the theory, but I'm pretty sure it works for the cops too (sorry, polis). Bunk comes to mind as Little John, for instance, and maybe informant Bubbles as Will Scarlett? Unfortunately, my theory does stumble as soon as you try to force McNulty into a Robin Hood character. That guy is true original, and yet the most familiar character in The Wire. Everyone knows a McNulty. And even though he's a fan favourite, and quite brilliant, he certainly ain't no Robin Hood.

Picture: Bunk (Wendell Pierce) and Omar (Michael K. Williams) in The Wire, Blown Deadline Productions/HBO

Michael Sheen Profile

In addition to the last post I wrote, about Michael Sheen's favourite movies (read it here, if it's not below), I've knocked out a brand spanking new profile piece on the acting chameleon du jour. I know it's asking a lot, but you will have to navigate away from Movienoodle - the site that some people are describing as "an utter waste of time" and others call "Movie what?" - to read the exciting, trivia filled article. But it's worth it.

The profile piece has already been published on Suite101 (some might call it my 'real' writing job, but the main difference is just a change of tense, really). Anyway, check out the incredible Michael Sheen Actor Profile article. So groundbreaking in its freshness, you might be tempted to think some of the facts are made up, but I assure you, my friends, my anonymous source was quite adamant that it's all true!

Michael Sheen's Desert Island Movies

Last night I stumbled across a brilliant show on Radio 2 featuring the fabulous and debonair actor Mr Michael Sheen. 'My Life In Movies' takes the central conceit of 'Desert Island Discs' and transfers it to an hour long discussion about a star guest's 6 favourite films. I'd forgotten how wonderful it could be just to listen in to people chatting about films. Granted, Sheen's input and opinions are of far more interest then most, and I probably wouldn't have stayed listening very long if it had been Jordan's 6 fave chick flicks, but as it was the programme was extremely illuminating. Sheen always comes across as a interesting man, and his choices managed to somehow make him even more endearing. He chose 6 well known films, which he spoke about eloquently and with an informative regard to his own life. The films were as follows:

1) The Wizard of Oz
2) A Matter of Life and Death
3) Apocalypse Now
4) Close Encounters of the Third Kind
5) 12 Monkeys
6) Raging Bull

Sheen mentioned how difficult it had been to make his final selection of 6 from a shortlist of about 40 films. He said it had crossed his mind to pick films which made him look like an intellectual, but in the end had decided on the ones that he just loved to watch. They reflected so well on him anyway, he obviously made the right choice. His whole conversation throughout the programme was sprinkled with self deprecating anecdotes and good humour, which made him come across as totally adorable. For a short while, the show is available to listen to again here: Michael Sheen on Chrissy Iley's My Life in Movies, BBC Radio 2.

The only slightly annoying thing to put up with (and this is not Mr Sheen's fault) is presenter Chrissy Iley's infantilising plot synopses of the films he's chosen. Other than that, she's really very good as well, asking the right questions and then giving Sheen plenty of space to discuss and elaborate. I just can't help thinking that anyone listening to a Radio 2 show called 'My Life in Movies', at 11pm on a Tuesday night, is probably already familiar with the plot of 12 Monkeys or A Matter of Life or Death. And even if they're not, I think they're probably going to be just about capable of piecing together any gaps in their knowledge by simply listening to the discussion. Other than that, it's a top show.

Picture: Michael Sheen as Brian Clough in The Damned United, BBC Films

Watchmen - Wasn't That My Idea?

Hmmm, should I bother going to see Watchmen? Reactions are mixed, eh? I kind of like the whole idea of it, the who watches the watchers premise, but then again I haven't read the comic because a)I'm not a boy and b) I am an adult. A grown woman cannot walk alone into Forbidden Planet and buy a comic book. Well, not without massive embarrassment. It's just too silly!

I still want to see the film, mostly because it's been so hyped (thank you Empire) but also because I thought the whole thing was my idea. It sounds very similar to a movie idea I once scribbled down in my notebook. I guess I'm just not a very original thinker. Or maybe it's just one of those universal themes. Heroes the TV show (God, isn't that getting boring now - but I digress) doesn't seem a million miles away does it?

I think I probably know I'm not gonna catch Watchmen. At least not at the cinema, it's just too expensive. Until someone starts paying me to watch films - no sign of that particular dream benefactor - I'm stuck waiting for the dvd. Or the TV premiere. Most of the time I just read about films and imagine I've watched them. Sometimes it's better than the real thing!

Watchmen Poster: Warner Bros.

Steve Buscemi Rocks and Quentin Tarantino has a Death Wish

Isn't Steve Buscemi just the best actor? He's brilliant in everything. If In Bruges had been made in America, Steve would have had to play Ray. His humour is just so dry, and black as a collapsed supernova. The last thing I saw him in (well, heard him in) was the kids film Igor, where he voices the permanently suicidal rabbit Scamper. Igor is a great film, which hasn't received nearly enough praise as far as I'm concerned, but without the sarcastic Scamper, it would have felt very flat. And without the instantly recognisable voice of Buscemi to bring him to life, Scamper would not have been nearly as much fun either. After watching Igor, I couldn't stop thinking about how Steve Buscemi has turned in simply brilliant performances in so many great films. He's like a built in mark of excellence, adding class to:
Con Air, The Big Lebowski, Twenty Bucks, Monster House, Mystery Train, Reservoir Dogs, Barton Fink, In The Soup, Desperado, Armageddon, Monsters Inc, Monster House and Fargo.
Many more too, I'm sure. Those are just the ones I've seen that instantly came to mind. Was he in Pulp Fiction too? I think so. Either way, he was definitely responsible for helping to launch Tarantino. Have you seen him in the rehearsals for Reservoir Dogs? I think they're on the dvd extras, but as I only have a crappy pirate vid, I'm not sure. I have seen them though. I know he was there. From the beginning, man!
Picture: Beth Herzhaft, via Wikimedia Commons.

Which brings me to my previously trailed story about the time I nearly killed Mr Tarantino. It was a long time ago, in a galaxy far, far away. Well, OK then, Nottingham. I had tickets for the surprise film , which was ending the Nottingham 'Shots in the Dark' film festival, 1994. As I said, it was meant to be a surprise film, so we didn't know it was going to be Pulp Fiction right up until the moment Harriet the Chariot (my beloved old banger) nearly smacked straight in to Quentin Tarantino as he was crossing over the road. He hurriedly stumbled away, and my friend looked at me and said "Do you know who that was, you just nearly killed?". There followed much whooping and celebrating, because we instantly realised the film we were attending later on that evening was gonna be the UK premiere of Pulp Fiction. After the premiere, we had a drink with Mr Tarantino (along with dozens of other people too, I should point out. He was very accommodating to the Nottingham audience). I have to admit, I chose not to reveal my identity as the maniac driver of the morris minor that nearly ended his career, and probably just thanked him for coming to the festival, or something very boring like that. But I do like to think, in some small way, I may have helped to inspire Death Proof. And also helped him to learn a valuable lesson about road safety in the UK. Look right, look left, look right again!

David Lynch Exhibition and the Twitter Phenomenon

Having just discovered Twitter - I know, I know, nobody will shut up about it will they? - I am wondering how I ever managed before I started getting daily updates on the weather in LA courtesy of my favourite ever surrealist David Lynch.

March is all set to be a month of revelling in Lynchian visual dystopia for me. He is taking part in a photography exhibition here in England, in Derby. I can't wait to go and see it. I don't think he's gonna be there in person, just his pictures, which is even better, because I won't miss out on my LA weather reports and he can't shatter any illusions by turning out to be grumpy and rude. I'm sure he's not, but you know what they say about meeting your heroes. Don't do it, unless you want to be bitterly disappointed.

Actually, that's probably not strictly true. I have met some fairly cool people, but I've met some numpties too. Stay tuned for the true story about the time I accidentally nearly killed Quentin Tarantino (who was actually quite nice), and coming soon, a blog update about the experience of viewing Lynchian photography stills up close and in big frames. Now, I'll be damned if that hasn't whetted a few appetites!

Plus - Here's an added little extra for those of you who don't Tweet yet (you should try it, it's loads better than facebook, and you can follow movienoodle on there too!) Yes, it's one of David Lynch's Thoughts for the Day: "Life is a festival of disruptions."

Picture: David Lynch in Washington DC, 2007. By Urbankayaker, via Wikimedia Commons, published as part of the Wikipedia project: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:David_lynch.jpg

In Bruges

I have just watched In Bruges. What a film! I'm writing a review for another site, which I'll link in to (Here it is - In Bruges Review) as soon as it's gone live, but for the time being I had to just share a couple of general observations. The first is about the magnificent acting beast that is Mr Colin Farrell. Now I know that many, many people find Farrell an attractive man, although I've never been too keen myself. But honestly, that fella has truly got something. Charisma....screen presence.... call it what you will, Farrell has it in buckets.
This is nothing new, of course, he had it in Tigerland too, and that cameo he did on the TV show Scrubs. Not so much in the anachronistic nightmare Phone Booth, but there you go. Not every film suits his laconic charms. Anyway, the other thing I noticed about In Bruges, which I just can't shake from my mind, came from watching the dvd deleted scenes. There was a flashback to the young nutter Harry, which explained why Ken felt so indebted to him. It was a pretty gruesome scene, wisely cut from the final edit. Not for being too gruesome, understand, but because it was un-necessary to have the characters past history spelled out for us. But in that deleted scene, who should be playing the young Harry. Only bloody Matt Smith. The new Doctor Who! He was pretty good in it as well. Perhaps he won't be the worst Doctor Who ever. Perhaps I need no longer lie awake at night cursing David Tennant for leaving the best programme on the telly in the hands of a young whippersnapper. Perhaps, perhaps, perhaps it will all work out OK.

Picture: Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleason in In Bruges, Blueprint Pictures