Editing History and a Zombie Gay fairytale


 All of us rewrite history 

Ask my ex mother in law that one, she was a friggin expert on the subject..anyway
Yesterday I went to see The Fabelmans which has been hailed as Spielberg’s oh so personal homage to cinema and his upbringing.
I enjoyed it , with reservations 
The reservations came from Spielberg’s need to re-edit and if not re write, reshoot those vital and cinematic moments that punctuate all of our lives when growing up.
As a small child we see Sam ( Steve) recreate the famous train crash from The Greatest Show On Earth as we are introduced to his Elf like mother Mitzi ( Michelle Williams) a former concert pianist who still protects her hands by not washing up a dish, and who chases a tornado with her children in the car. 
She is this ethereal character who despite being incredibly selfish, and at times depressed is shown, in a rather affectionate spotlight and centre stage. Sam’s father (Paul Dano) is benign and sweet as the man who finally accepts that his best friend Uncle Benny ( a restrained Seth Rogen) is the true love of Mitzi’s life.
It is clear that Spielberg’s childhood was unconventional to say the least, so it would be forgivable for the audience to accept how his love of cinema helped rewrite and certainly re-edit reality .

Labelle ( right)


The trouble with the whole film is that certain parts are simply not true. I listened to Lauren Lavern’s detailed interview with Spielberg on Desert Island Discs last year, where Spielberg admitted that he didn’t speak to his father for many years, a fact not even eluded to in the movie.
When a film makes the point of re-editing reality, does not the final version feel all a bit sanitised ? 
Perhaps that is what Spielberg was wanting to get across? 
It’s overlong by 30 minutes too 🥲
Having said all this Gabriel Labelle gave a gentle and intelligent performance as the 16 year old Spielberg  and Michele Williams was incredibly moving and restrained as the rather lost Mitzi.

Bill and Frank in The Last Of Us


The Last Of Us is now on episode three on Sky Atlantic 
This is a big budget, rather sprawling re working of a popular video game set in the zombie apocalypse where the undead sport feather like growths on their faces and where Joel ( Pedro Pascal) has to protect teenage Ellie ( Bella Ramsey) who is immune to the infection and who may be humanity’s only salvation .
It’s a bleak watch to be sure and until episode 3 ( shown last night) I wasn’t really happy with how things were going.
Last night the tables turned and we were introduced to two new characters Bill and Frank.( Nick Offerman and Murray Bartlet) 
Bill, is a survivalist, the only character to remain in his tiny town of just a few streets. He had amassed a stockpile of weapons, gasoline, food and know how to fortify his home but after years of solitude is lonely as he enjoys the finer things in life which he can’t share. In one of his traps he captures the middle aged, garrulous Frank, the only survivor from a group from the city and suddenly the bleak zombie drama takes a severe right hand turn into a gentle and thoughtful character study about the love affair between two middle aged men.
It was quite, quite charming and wonderfully played by both actors who really made you believe that such an unlikely pair could make a go of things.
Wonderful and incredibly moving television 




40 comments:

  1. I watched "The Last of Us" last night. I loved Bill and Frank. Watching Bill fortify his home with electric fencing, traps and surveillance systems was beyond enjoyable for me. "The rebuild" is always my favourite part of the post apocalyptic theme. Then, watching Frank's ecstatic expression after taking his first bite of Bill's gourmet dish, (after a hot shower and clean clothes), put me in a post apocalyptic euphoria. This episode was the one that fully pulled me in as well.

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    1. The attention to details made it …especially the strawberry bush

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    1. I was crying buckets. How strange for me

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  3. I saw someone else write about Bill & Frank and how lovely that episode is. The Last of Us would normally not be my kind of show, but I think I will give it a try.

    Love,
    Janie

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  4. Barbara Anne2:04 pm

    Sweet clip of Bill and Frank, but think I'll never watch a zombie movie . That's just me.
    It's been ages since I was in a movie theater.
    Bah! Typos!

    Hugs!

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  5. Yorkshire Liz2:12 pm

    That was a lovely, oh-so-hesitant and rather lovely kiss between Bill and Frank. So realistic. Thank you for sharing.
    Interesting to see your review of The Fabelmans (Spielberg casting himself as A Fable(d) Man. Oh, dear.) Too much ego and sentiment, as usual. So will probably scoop a hatful of Oscars.
    From The Times review: "...oddly humdrum. This mid-century, middle class, middle interest American divorce makes for a strangely unsatisfying movie experience. Some of the ingredients are nonetheless compelling and possibly account for the film's prominent place in the awards season race. Modesty, alas, is glaringly absent throughout."

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    1. Liz , ultimately , I was disappointed , which was sad

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  6. My son was telling me about these characters as I know these actors from other parts they have played. Having just seen Murray in the 1st season of "White Lotus" and remembering Nick from "Parks and Rec", I was impressed by how different these characters are from those. What a tender scene!

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    1. Their relationship was detailed and sensitively shown …beyond many art house movies I have watched

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  7. I've never seen "The Last of Us" (I'm trying to avoid renewing NOW TV) but that certainly seems like a surprising plot twist! Maybe I should watch it after all.

    Thanks for the Fabelmans review. I'm sure I'll catch it at some point.

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    1. I would like you to watch this single episode steve

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  8. Loved the little clip, but I won't be watching the series. You lost me at zombie apocalypse I'm afraid! xx

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    1. I would recommend you just to watch this stand alone episode

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  9. Clearly, Spielberg created a sanitized big screen version of his family life. Perhaps a future book will be more telling. I have known a few unlikely pair make a good go of things. Odd couple combinations can and do work. Is the message: Always be open to the possibility.

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    1. I’m not sure of Spielberg’s motivation , I get the child’s view of reality is pretty different to the reality but his comments on the children of divorce ( ie ET ) have been scathing re the men and poignantly damaging to the child

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  10. Oh, Bill and Frank made me cry. And the homophobic gamers got a well-written episode outside of the cannon of the game.
    I am watching the series cause Pascal is a DILF and I like looking at him. The zombie/spores/runaround is just icing on the Daddy cake. Win/win.

    XOXO

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    1. I shed a tear too, it was beautifully observed, gentle and kind to everyone ..I adored it

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  11. I think most of us are guilty of rewriting some of our history, my Mum as she gets more and more forgetful is doing this with a vengeance now. Unfortunately for her I have a very good memory, but fortunately, although I could keep correcting her unless it's something important that she needs gently reminding of for a reason, I just keep quiet. There's really no need to cause more confusion. Alan has gotten into the habit on the way home of asking about some of the reminiscences to find out which ones are right.

    I hope The Last of Us comes to Netflix or Prime in the near future as I would really like to see this and don't have Sky Atlantic.

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    1. I don't comment often but would just like to say your Mum is fortunate to have a daughter as understanding as you. My aged relative has dementia and thinks his parents are still alive, we go along with that otherwise we would be causing grief and sadness each time he was told the truth. We let him share his happy memories even if we know they're not always accurate.

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    2. Nice comment and lovely reply ….kindness seems to be the theme here

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  12. I have had to listen and also be told complete untruths about not only myself but other innocent people - The nonsense has suited the individuals spouting the c**p to cover up their guilt - Several years ago I began to deliver them the true events x 💥

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  13. I think I recall you saying this before, it's obviously something that still simmers deep inside. Sometimes, although it may be hard, it's better to let those insecurities go and live the best life you can.

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    1. The above comment was in reply to 'flis'

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    2. I do thankyou - insecurites are within the guilty 💃

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    3. Anonymous6:58 pm

      flis ...something else that could help if you can also let the people go....out of your life..forget them..go on making you the most important thing in your life. You deserve to be happy.
      Sorry for butting in ...love from here.

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    4. Thankyou - I do not wish for my people to go from my life 🤗

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    5. Anonymous8:20 pm

      How does this flis character make johns blog all about her/him/them day after day. Why dont they get a blog themselves and leave this one to the person that matters i.e. john.

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    6. I have not asked Anyone for any comments lady 🤦

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    7. The Fairytale Post - their comment at 3.47 x

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    8. Anonymous7:18 pm

      Traveller

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    9. Traveller7:21 pm

      Bollocks! Put comment in wrong place! Meant to say “whatever” Anon, it’s John’s blog and, as he says below he loves all comments except for those from abusive arseholes. So, my advice would be just chill and enjoy this wonderful blog.

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    10. I have seen that name here and on another ladies blog - I have not left that person any messages .

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  14. I know - reminds me of those big bully girls at school - Luckily I have means of escape x

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  15. If a film re-edits reality so comprehensively, it's a bit of a fraud. Better to make a film that brings up similar issues and events but doesn't pretend to be an authentic documentary of a real person.

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  16. Traveller8:35 am

    Thank you for those reviews. Was thinking the Spielberg might be worth a watch based on some other reviews I have read. Someone called it a masterclass. However based on what you have said I suspect I would be disappointed as well.

    The Last of Us sounds excellent. Don’t have Sky Atlantic but will put it on the list to watch when I have access to it.

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  17. My blog tends to help not rewrite my history. I may not put everything in it, but it is hard to rewrite what is written at the time.

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  18. I enjoyed the romantic episode with Frank and Bill. Nothing like the game Last of Us. Bill is just a side character and doesn't die.All you see of Frank is his hanging body.After Tess dies its just Ellie and Joel and they missed out the total acceptance of each other which is in the game. Instead they chose to make this episode by playing on the fact that Bill is gay. If you haven't played the game it doesn't really matter.

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I love all comments Except abusive ones from arseholes