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