WCBE 90.5 FM: "The Namesake," "The Lookout," "Reign Over Me"

WCBE 90.5 FM: The Namesake, The Lookout, Reign Over Me
John DeSando & Clay Lowe
Recording Time: Wednesday 1:30 pm, March 28, 2007
Air Time: Friday, 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, March 30, 2007
Streaming live on the web and on-demand at http://www.wcbe.org

Clay

"The Namesake" is a tale of two cities . . .

John

"The Lookout" is not really about a bank heist . . .

Clay

"Reign Over Me" is more Dylan than Sandler . . .

HIT MUSIC(THEME FROM "STAR WARS"), THEN UP THEN UNDER FOR:

Richelle

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

MUSIC UP THEN SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

John

I'm John DeSando . . .

Clay

And I'm Clay Lowe . . .

John ("The Namesake")

Clay, for an example of the word “saga,” see Mira Nair’s [nyer’s] Namesake. She traces a young Indian, Gogol, from his youth through his almost mid-life in New York with the attention to detail we all should hope from our biographers.

Clay

Yeah, well, the devil IS in those details.

John

Nair’s gentle narrative shows that no character’s fate seemscapricious, no culture overwhelming enough to keep a progressive child from emigrating to the New World.

In a way, Nair [nyer] has caught the bittersweet nature of change, embodied in America as the Promised Land and India as the nurturing, safe past. In Namesake both worlds are the province of the adventuresome child, whose challenge is to retain the values of both.

No one who has seen Salaam Bombay or Monsoon Wedding can question Nair’s romantic capture of culture crude and sublime.

Clay ("The Namesake")

Well, folks, Nair's "The Namesake" is based on a three-hundred some page novel that details a Bengali Indian family's move from Calcutta to New York City. Picking up on the novel's theme about the difficulties of cultural transitions, Mira Nair (Nyer), obviously identifies with the plight of the young man whose parents made him the namesake of a Russian novelist.

Neither truly Indian, nor truly American, Gogol thus comes to resent both the loss of his cultural identify and his own inability to more fully
integrate himself into his not so brave new world.

Playing down the exotic cultural differences she so colorfully featured in
"Monsoon Wedding," Nair (Nair) flattens out the differences this time, and forces us to more fully identify with the characters themselves.

John ("The Lookout")


Character? You want character?


You want a heist film? See Dog Day Afternoon. Don’t think the sweet Lookout will carry the same tension because Lookout heavily relies on the character exposition of its protagonist, Chris (Joseph Gordon-Levitt). The heist is just an artful ending to an absorbing study of depression and rehabilitation.

Chris, a rock-star hockey player in high school, terminates that celebrity with a reckless accident that leaves him impaired emotionally and physically. So he’s easy prey for a gang that entices him to help them rob a rural Kansas bank, where he is a janitor.

The Lookout is a small film, an invigorating study of humans under stress. All of us should “lookout” where we’re going, either on a lonely road or in a foolish heist.

Clay ("Reign Over Me")

And all of us, folks, should look out for movies that feature characters more media inspired than real. Case in point, Adam Sandler's psychotically grieving character in Mike Binder's new movie "Reign Over Me."

Seemingly inspired more by Bob Dylan album covers than the events of 911, Sandler's [former dentist] character dresses like Dylan, poses in the movie's poster like Dylan, and walks around with the hang-dog look of Dylan's adopted persona.

Come on, Binder and Sandler, get Real.

Mimicking the persona of a pop cultural icon, and borrowing pop music themes to serve as your movie's theme, has got to show through as shallow and false. And shallow and false it does show through with Sandler failing to exhibit real grief in this (too bad) pseudo-reality based film.

Nice try guys, but there'll be no Grammies this time.

(Pause)

But enough of inappropriate monikering, dufus grievering, and pop-cultural posturering, John, because it's grading time.

John

Holy HAPPENING HEIST, Hooray!

HIT DRUMS THEN UNDER FOR

John (Cont.)

"The Namesake" earns an “A” for brilliantly ANALYZING the notorious melting pot. . .

Clay

"The Namesake" gets a "B" because it's much longer than it needs to BE . . .

John

"The Lookout" earns a “B” for BASKING in characterization . . .

Clay

"Reign Over Me" gets a "C" because COMIC CHARACTERS become only more COMICAL when they try to be too serious . . .

John

Clay, my dentist, Dr. Dan Ward, could show Adam Sandler a thing or two about a happy practice without stress. I'm outta here.

Clay

John, Dr. Dan practiced good on you, and you've got the pearly whites to show it; but I'm cancelling my next visit to Dr. Sandler.

I'm outta here too.

HIT CLOSING THEME MUSIC("AIN'T WE GOT FUN?"), THEN UNDER FOR

Richelle

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 2007 by John DeSando & Clay Lowe

WCBE 90.5 FM: "Flannel Pajamas," "Breaking and Entering," "Premonition"

WCBE 90.5 FM: "Flannel Pajamas," "Breaking and Entering," "Premonition"
Co-hosted. written, and produced by John DeSando & Clay Lowe
Air Time: Friday, 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, March 16, 2007
Streaming live on the web and on-demand at http://www.wcbe.org

Clay

"Flannel Pajamas" is not smoother than silk . . .

John

"Breaking and Entering" is a broken romance not entered for an Oscar. . .

Clay

"Premonition" is full of hunches to die for . . .

HIT MUSIC (STAR WARS THEME), THEN UP THEN UNDER FOR:

Richelle

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

MUSIC UP THEN SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

John

I'm John DeSando . . .

Clay

And I'm Clay Lowe . . .

John ("Flannel Pajamas")

The deconstruction of modern romance, marriage, and divorce is never pretty, as many of us who have lived the scenario can attest.

Clay

No doubt.

John

Jeff Lipsky’s engrossing Flannel Pajamas entertains with an uncompromising screenplay but depressing circumstances—the romantic meeting and disintegration of a marriage through minor character flaws.

Verisimilitude is the strength of Flannel Pajamas.

Clay

Sounds true to me.

John

But an American audience may not warm to scene after scene of mundane dialogue, the weight of which is in the details of failure to listen or to adjust to another’s rhythms.

Hubris wins the day. Pride in this drama hides behind glib talk and sexual longing, both of which fade and should cede to sacrifice and support. All the characters face is self-centeredness, a recipe for loneliness if ever there was one.

Clay ("Flannel Pajamas")

Well, John, to our ancient generation who grew up watching couples
eviscerate themselves in Ingmar Bergman films, "Flannel Pajamas" looks a little bit like child play.

And of course, that's what it is. Two, as you say, rather self-centered adults flailing away at each other. Sometimes grandstanding, sometimes genuinely damaged by the other's barbs and unconcerns.

John

Hmm, was that my wife number one or two? I can’t remember.

Clay

I'm sure I don't know. (continues)

A rather conservative film stylistically - full of one shots, two shots, and
covers; the movie is also dramatically mundane.

Featuring diner shots, office shots, and domestic settings, "Flannel
Pajamas" picks up on the nastiness of Bergman's warring couples. Then copies the endless dialogues of Eric Rohmer to advance the story of the painful collapse of their relationship.

Lacking Bergman's depths, and Rohmer's charms, however, "Flannel Pajamas" will make you think twice before getting involved.

John ("Breaking and Entering")

Twice did it for me. I’m outta that. But here’s another broken couple.

Breaking and Entering is a heart breaker: Juliette Binoche can’t warm up to the charm of actor Jude Law, who walks through another role as a child-like heart hunter. Add to those heartbreaks an ending not even remotely plausible and as romantically unresolved as any recent film’s.

Clay

Just another night at the movies, eh.

John (continues)

The premise is intriguing: Jude law’s architect gets involved with the
mother of a thief who has cat-burgled more than once his building project in London’s Kings Cross district.

The renovation of the “dicey” Kings Cross with Law’s project is symbolic of his need for a do-over. Yes, London looks good to this Anglophile. But in the end, the locale, classy figures of speech, and Underworld’s original score can’t overcome a cold hole in the film landscape that no building can overcome.

Clay ("Premonition")

Well, folks, Sandra Bullock's recent vehicle "Premonition" will have you admiring the actresses stoic talents, but will have you wondering what this movie's all about.

Too confused herself, Bullock's character must face the death of her husband, the maiming of her child, and an endless week that, then, takes it all back.

Part "Ground Hog Day," part "Momento," and the third part "Sliding Glass Doors," Mennan Yapo's "Premonition" is directed with a sure and steady hand. But the screenplay will leave you wondering what Bullock's character has done to deserve all of that suffering.

Maybe that's the point, even when you can see it coming. stuff just
happens. (pause)

Clay (then continues)

But enough of bedroom brawling, loveable break-ins, and ill-fated housewives, John, because it's grading time.

John

Holy Hubris, Hooray!

HIT DRUMS THEN UNDER FOR

John (continues)

"Flannel Pajamas" earns a “B” for its BITTER criticism of modern love. . .

Clay

"Flannel Pajamas" gets a "C" because their analysis is more painful than their
CRIMES . . .

John

"Breaking and Entering" earns a “D” for DUMBING DOWN Juliette Binoche . . .

Clay

"Premonition" gets a "C" because COUPLES CRASH when CAUGHT second guessing . . .

John

Clay, our couples today DIDN’T fare well over the long haul, not like us anyway who stopped hauling long ago.

Clay

Hey, our journey's not over yet, my dear friend. Who knows what might happen just down the road ahead?

I'm outta here too.

See you at Cleveland Film Festival, folks.

HIT CLOSING THEME MUSIC (AIN'T WE GOT FUN), THEN UNDER FOR

Richelle

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 2007 by John DeSanto & Clay Lowe

WCBE 90.5 FM: "The Lives of Others," "Miss Potter," "Zodiac"

WCBE 90.5 FM:
It's Movie Time: "The Lives of Others," "Miss Potter," "Zodiac"
Co-hosts, writers & producers: John DeSando & Clay Lowe
Air Time: Friday, 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, March 9, 2007
Streaming live on the web and on-demand at http://www.wcbe.org

Clay

"The Lives of Others" might have been better called "The Listener" . . .

John

"Miss Potter" is a celebration of Beatrix’s gifts . . .

Clay

"Zodiac" is CSI on steroids . . .

HIT MUSIC (STAR WARS THEME), THEN UP THEN UNDER FOR:

Richelle

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

MUSIC UP THEN SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

John

I'm John DeSando . . .

Clay

And I'm Clay Lowe . . .

John ("The Lives of Others")

Clay, when I saw 2006’s Oscar winning The Departed, I was satisfied it could be the best picture of the year; then I saw Lives of Others, the best foreign film, and I knew it was the world’s best film of the year.

Clay

You've got it. The Departed is great craft, The Lives of Others is great drama . . .

John

It has interesting characters, thrilling plot, superb acting, and thematic weight. It’s East Berlin, 1984, still feeling the tremors of Nazism, in this case the Stasi, a government agency similar to the SS. A coldly efficient information gatherer surreptitiously watches a playwright and his actress girlfriend to get compromising details that would damn him and open the romantic way for the culture minister.

Clay

Bad for him.

John

Few other films could mine as well the rich conflict between the loyalties of friends and lovers and the crushing exigency of survival.

Here’s looking at you, best film of the year

Clay ("The Lives of Others")

Folks, "The Lives of Others" is also about conflicts INTERNAL.

Sure the movie's playwright refuses to write things that might upset the
East German government. But he also discovers his own guilt when his colleague is blacklisted for being more courageous and less cautious than he is.

And sure, the playwright's girlfriend loves him, but she must decide whether or not to betray him in order to save herself.

Finally, the listener, who has them under surveillance, must decide if he should turn state's evidence against them. For, it would seem, his eavesdropping has, ironically, caused him to respect them.

Beautifully acted, written, and directed, "The Lives of Others" is not only a deeply moving film, it is also far more relevant than it should be.

John ("Miss Potter")

Here's a lady who will always be relevant for kids.

As I said a while ago, in Miss Potter, Beatrix (Renee Zellweger) says, "There is something delicious about writing the first words of a story." Yes, it’s a sentimental but endearing biography of the creator of Peter Rabbit. Although we never really get to know the depths of Potter’s genius, Zellweger gives her a sunny optimism that is unusual in our cynical times.

Clay

She would have loved Katie Couric.

John

Potter’s romance with her publisher, deftly underplayed by Ewan McGregor, is about the only dramatic conflict in the story, which tends to imitate its benign little world of rabbits, ducks, and frogs. The touches of magic realism reinforce the romantic aura.

This film deserves praise for gently supporting a proto-feminist writer who resisted the social convenience of marriage in favor of her creative gifts.

Clay ("Zodiac")

Well, John, the social convenience of marriage was a drag on Jake Gyllenhal's character, who was obsessed with the Zodiac killer. Just check out his frustrated wife (Chloe Sevigny), who spends most of the movie trying to hold back her anger.

Praised by current San Francisco film critic, Mick LaSalle, because of the filmmaker's accurate adherence to detail; LaSalle also criticizes that detail when it gets in the way of the drama.

The movie's best performance is turned in by Robert Downey Jr. who plays the Chronicle reporter who originally covered the story. Tormented by his own demons, you begin to suspect that he might just turn out to be the killer.

Who knows, because we never find out.

John

Oh, no.

Clay

A bit of a comedown, eh, after 2 1/2 hours?

But enough of tormented journalists, governmental snoopers, and furry little bunnies, John, because it's grading time.

John

Holy Hares, Hooray!

HIT DRUMS THEN UNDER FOR

John (Cont.)

"The Lives of Others" earns an “A” for ASTOUNDING filmmaking from a first-time director . . .

Clay

"The Lives of Others" gets an "A" because it's ALL ABOUT learning how to live with yourself . . .

John

"Miss Potter" earns a “B” because BEATRIX was BORN to love BEASTS . . .

Clay

"Zodiac" gets a "B" because some BEASTS are more allusive than their hunters . . .

John

Clay, we're not above spying ourselves, me observing the absurdities of government officials and you the welfare of beautiful young women.

There is a difference.

I'm outta here.

Clay

John, a little spying goes a long way, and sticking your nose into somebody else's business can have its downsides.

I'm outta here too.

See you at the movies, folks.

HIT CLOSING THEME MUSIC (AIN'T WE GOT FUN), THEN UNDER FOR

Richelle

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 2007 John DeSando & Clay Lowe

WCBE 90.5 FM: "Wild Hogs," "Bridge to Terabithia," "Amazing Grace"

WCBE 90.5 FM
It's Movie Time: "Wild Hogs," "Bridge to Terabithia," "Amazing Grace"Co-hosts, writers & producers:
John DeSando & Clay Lowe with guest film Kristin Dreyer Kramer
Air Time: Friday, 3:01 pm and 8:01 pm, March 2, 2007
Streaming live on the web and on-demand at http://www.wcbe.org

Clay

"Wild Hogs" is a whole lot funnier than you'd think . . .

John

"The Bridge to Tarabithia" is a bridge to imagination and friendship . . .

Clay

"Amazing Grace" is a heavy handed tribute to Brit abolitionist William Wilberforce . . .

HIT MUSIC, THEN UP THEN UNDER FOR:

Clay

"It's Movie Time" in Columbus with John DeSando, Clay Lowe and today's special guest, on-line film critic Kristin Dreyer Kramer . . .

MUSIC BRIEFLY UP THEN SLOWLY DOWN AND OUT

John

I'm John DeSando . . .

Clay

I'm Clay Lowe . . .

Kristin

And I'm Kristin Dreyer Kramer . . .

MUSIC DOWN AND OUT

Clay ("Wild Hogs")

Kristin and John . . .

Last week I promised that "Wild Hogs" would come roaring into town this weekend blowing smoke out of its tail pipes.  But when it comes to trying to explain what makes the movie funny, it all boils down to: set-up, casting, and timing.

John

I've heard that.

Clay

Unfortunately, the set-up for "Wild Hogs" couldn't be more clichéd.  Four middle-aged suburban men, who play macho on the weekends, hop on their cycles for a cross-country trip in an attempt to recapture their lost manhood.

Kristin

That sounds like trouble.

Clay

Fortunately, the casting was better.  Tim Allen as the anchor, Martin Lawrence as everyman, William Macy as a closet hero, and John Travolta as the clown.   But, even then, you still couldn't be sure the movie was going to be funny. 

So what was left?  Chemistry and timing.

And that's where they got it right, and that's why audiences will be howling.

John ("The Bridge to Terabithia")

Clay and Kristin:

Yes, buddies to the end.

Nothing is as satisfying in this life as friends to share love and imagination. Such is the good fortune of fifth-grader Jesse in the smart film, Bridge to Terabithia, adapted from the Newbury winning children’s book.

This film is unencumbered by the demands of eye-popping computer graphics, although it has some, but is centered on such universal themes as loyalty and creativity.  Jesse is a fifth-grade pariah who befriends an eccentric female classmate. They create a magical forest with a giant troll and menacing squirrels among other exotica.

Kristin

Oh, I do hate the menacing squirrels.

Clay

But I love the exotica.

John

Not all turns out well, as it doesn't in real life, but enough good happens to give hope that the bridge will always help adolescents move to richer lives of friendship and love.

Kristin ("Bridge to Terabithia")

Maybe that bridge will lead them to friendship and love, John-or maybe it'll lead them to a prescription for Prozac.

John

With Clay as co-host I need one every week!

Kristin (continues)

The kids in this movie deal with poverty, death, and merciless bullies. Sure, it's honest, but it's pretty heavy stuff for kids-and for grown-ups, too. With a little more magic-and, yes, a few more effects-maybe it would have been easier to stomach. But, unfortunately, this good old-fashioned family movie isn't quite as delightful and enchanting as its ad campaign suggests.

Bridge to Terabithia does tell a touching story that will hit home with most kids, but it's not as magical as it could be. It's a simple, honest movie-but it might be a little too simple and a little too honest for
younger viewers.

John

Yeah, like our show.

Clay ("Amazing Grace")

Well, folks, the simple truth is that Michael Apted's "Amazing Grace" is an important movie.  What could be of more historical importance than telling the story of the man who helped bring about the abolition of slavery in England?

Unfortunately,  however, because Apted has chosen to direct "Amazing Grace" with more authority than wit, he has unwittingly stripped away most of the movie's passion.

Part of the problem's the casting.  For though he called upon the likes of Albert Finney and Michael Gambon to play strong supporting roles, he cast a rather dull actor to play William Wilberforce.  Imagine the well-intended Al Gore in the role and you'll get the picture. 

John

I dunno; I’m feeling WARM about Goreacle.

Clay

You would.  But it's still too bad that Apted succeeded in documenting the facts, but failed to capture Wilberforce's evangelical passions.

But enough, for now, of  wild huggers, fantastical bridges, and bloodless crusaders, Kristin and John, because it's grading time.

John

Holy Hogsbreath, Hooray!

HIT DRUMS THEN UNDER FOR

Clay

"Wild Hogs" gets a "B" because BOYS will be BOYS even after they've BECOME men . . .

John

"The Bridge to Terabithia" earns an "A" because ADOLESCENTS can be dreamers, too . . .

Kristin

Bridge to Terabithia earns a C for CONTRIBUTING to the despair of a whole new generation.

Clay

"Amazing Grace" gets a C because it failed to COMMUNICATE what it was that made Wilberforce tick . . .

John

Clay,

Kristin and I are kids at heart, so we're going now to explore the dark woods and don't need any deep-voiced, Greek-hatted troll following us!!
I'm outta here.

Clay

Not so, folks. Kristin and I will be the ones running on ahead, and it's little Johnny who'll be wagging his little tail behind him.

I'm outta here too, but ya'll come back again soon, Kristin, do ya heah?

Kristin

Obviously, you old guys are living in a fantasy world if you think you can keep up with me.

I'm outta here too.

Clay

See you at the movies, folks.

HIT CLOSING THEME MUSIC, THEN UNDER FOR

Richelle

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 2007 John DeSando & Clay Lowe