WCBE 90.5 FM: "Death of a President," "Catch a Fire," "The U.S. vs. John Lennon"

WCBE 90.5 FM
It's Movie Time: "Death of a President," "Catch a Fire," "The U.S. vs. John Lennon"
Co-hosts, writers & producers: John DeSando & Clay Lowe
Air Time: 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, October 27, 2006
Streaming live on the web at http://www.wcbe.org .

Clay

“Death of a President" is kinder to the Prez than it is to the Veep . . .

John

“Catch a Fire" catches the furor of apartheid . . .

Clay

"The U.S. vs. John Lennon" is about trying to give peace a chance . . .

HIT MUSIC, THEN UP THEN UNDER FOR:

Richelle Antczak McCuen

"It's Movie Time" in Columbus with John DeSando and Clay Lowe. .

MUSIC BRIEFLY UP THEN SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

John

I'm John DeSando

Clay

And I'm Clay Lowe

John ("Death of a President" 129 words)

President Cheney!

The faux-documentary Death of a President is not about his military state in 2007 after Bush’s assassination, nor is it really about Bush’s blunders. It is about what the investigation into a presidential assassination would be like from the moment the bullets hit to the enduring mystery of responsibility.

The use of footage from contemporary TV clips to fictionalize, for instance, Cheney’s eulogy of Bush is one of the film’s strengths and warnings. By doctoring images or manipulating evidence, the government itself is in a position to rush to judgment about alleged assassins as it did about weapons of mass destruction.

Death of a President ends up a successful screed against versions of the
Patriot Act that in the future may seriously compromise the rights of
innocents.

Clay (“Death of a President" 128 words)

Well, folks, "Death of a President" uses all the usual TV techniques
(talking heads, archival footage, brooding music, etc.) to help its viewers
imagine what might happen if President Bush were shot and Vice President Cheney took the occasion to expand his powers.

Heavy stuff, eh? But except for its explosive concept and its controversial assassination scene, “Death of a President,” unfortunately, turns out to be a bore. Everything’s of one piece. The narrators and the talking heads drone on and on. The media frenzy is kept at a minimum. And the only moral outrage we really see is that exhibited by the protestors in the movie’s anti-war crowds.

Hey, at least on the evening news, there’s still a chance for us to become a part of those crowds.

John ("Catch a Fire" 129 words)

I’m watching from my balcony.

The powerful Catch a Fire catches the mean spirit of apartheid.
Like Hotel Rwanda, a man risks all he has to help others in need. Fire
explores deeply the conflicts and weaknesses of real-life Patrick Chamusso (Derek Luke) as he gradually becomes an avenger against the white regime, symbolized by Police Colonel Nick Vos (Tim Robbins), the chief of anti-terror operations.

As in Flags of Our Fathers, Catch a Fire shows the flawed nature of heroism and as in Death of a President, it reminds us about the dangers of police detaining and torturing without challenge and the intertwining of personal passion and the larger issue of freedom.

It’s the stuff of epic made real and accessible that doesn’t forget it’s the
small stories that tell the big history.

Clay ("The U.S. vs. John Lennon" 125 words)

Well, folks, the story of John and Yoko Lennon's peaceful protest against the shooting war in Viet Nam was, perhaps, naïve. What could be more innocent than John and Yoko romping in their protest bed, smiling out at the world through their round-owl little glasses? But don’t count them down and out too soon.

Though they were under surveillance by the F.B.I. and on President Nixon’s List of Enemies, they were not cowered, and, as this movie shows, their innocence prevailed even if it did in personal tragedy.

And, for our old generation, John, what could be more nostalgically glorious then hearing them sing “Give Peace a Chance” and “Revolution” while masses of hippies reigned gloriously supreme on the TV and movies screens of America.

But enough of angry protestors, bull-headed politicians, and sweet singing innocents, John, because it's grading time.

HIT DRUMS

John

Holy Harried Heroes, Hooray!

"Death of a President" earns a “B” for its BREACH of faith in democracy . . .

Clay

"Death of a President" gets a "C" because being relevant doesn't forego the need to dramatically COVER your subjects . . .

John

"Catch a Fire" earns an A because APARTHEID is ANATHEMA . . .

Clay

"The U.S. vs. John Lennon" gets a "B" BECAUSE all they're still saying is give peace a chance . . .

DRUMS OUT

John

Clay, all this TALK of the government compromising our first amendment rights makes me reluctant to TALK about the MASTURBATORIUM in next week’s Running with Scissors.

Should I be worried? I'm outta here.

Clay

Well, John, I was always taught not to run with scissors for fear of falling and cutting off my pleasures before I got a chance to use them. Ouch! I’m outta here.
See you at the movies, folks.

HIT CLOSING THEME THEN UNDER FOR

Richelle:

The Award-Winning "It's Movie Time" with John DeSando and Clay Lowe is written and produced by John DeSando and Clay Lowe in conjunction with 90.5
FM, WCBE in Columbus, Ohio.

MUSIC UP, THEN DOWN AND OUT

Copyright by John DeSando & Clay Lowe, 2006