Comments on: The Importance of Not Being Too Earnest – Follow Up http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/ A mutual support group for SF/F Novelists Thu, 09 Feb 2012 21:39:12 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-9763 S.C. Butler Thu, 30 Sep 2010 01:55:03 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-9763 Liz - Nuanced acting and gorgeous language - absolutely. But I like a story to hang them on, too. There's more to tension than MTV-style action. There is wonderful tension in Pride and Prejudice, for example, and, in the BBC version from a few years back, nuanced acting and gorgeous language too. Liz – Nuanced acting and gorgeous language – absolutely. But I like a story to hang them on, too. There’s more to tension than MTV-style action. There is wonderful tension in Pride and Prejudice, for example, and, in the BBC version from a few years back, nuanced acting and gorgeous language too.

]]> By: liz http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-9761 liz Wed, 29 Sep 2010 22:00:57 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-9761 I saw AMAS when I was ten, and I was blown away by the acting in the scene where Orson Welles as Woolsey confronts Scofield/More. Welles radiated an incredible sense of menace and Scofield made me believe that his character had the strength and intelligence to survive this overwhelming onslaught. AMAS is about nuanced acting and gorgeous language. If you need MTV-style action and folks getting sucker punched, don't go here. I saw AMAS when I was ten, and I was blown away by the acting in the scene where Orson Welles as Woolsey confronts Scofield/More. Welles radiated an incredible sense of menace and Scofield made me believe that his character had the strength and intelligence to survive this overwhelming onslaught. AMAS is about nuanced acting and gorgeous language. If you need MTV-style action and folks getting sucker punched, don’t go here.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7364 S.C. Butler Sat, 24 Oct 2009 02:24:35 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7364 Ah, Braveheart. Most egregiously historically incorrect movie of all time. Ah, Braveheart. Most egregiously historically incorrect movie of all time.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7358 Elias McClellan Fri, 23 Oct 2009 21:07:10 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7358 I see your point about the gimics and I like, say, David Lean as much as anybody. But, as you said, its about taste. I loved 'Good Night and Good Luck,' and tolerated 'Seriana.' I much more prefer 'RichardIII,' to 'Henry IV' and 'Michael Collins' to 'Braveheart.' I love personal, conversational (not sure that works) films that hit you in your thoughts hours or days after you watch them. I see your point about the gimics and I like, say, David Lean as much as anybody. But, as you said, its about taste. I loved ‘Good Night and Good Luck,’ and tolerated ‘Seriana.’ I much more prefer ‘RichardIII,’ to ‘Henry IV’ and ‘Michael Collins’ to ‘Braveheart.’ I love personal, conversational (not sure that works) films that hit you in your thoughts hours or days after you watch them.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7357 Elias McClellan Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:58:57 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7357 Yeah, I get you. I was blessed with very good prof at the University of Houston, named Jackson who guided me when I thought I was a history major. There is a lot of conjecture about Baron Rich and not every body thinks 'AMFAS,' was a fair depiction. But from what I've read, he was a rat at least and possibly a narc in extremis. I think he was a petty little climber as he appears to jump from side to side in the intrigues. Plus, as you stated, he kept his head. In those times, at that level of power, that must be a sure-sign of dishonesty. Yeah, I get you. I was blessed with very good prof at the University of Houston, named Jackson who guided me when I thought I was a history major. There is a lot of conjecture about Baron Rich and not every body thinks ‘AMFAS,’ was a fair depiction.

But from what I’ve read, he was a rat at least and possibly a narc in extremis. I think he was a petty little climber as he appears to jump from side to side in the intrigues. Plus, as you stated, he kept his head. In those times, at that level of power, that must be a sure-sign of dishonesty.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7355 S.C. Butler Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:48:56 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7355 V Woman - I actually enjoyed the movie. I'd say there are far worse Oscar duds than AMAS. But then it's all a matter of taste, isn't it. But I agree with what you say about how a story can be good without really having an antagonist. As long as there's still some sort of tension somewhere. Elias - It's the rare movie that doesn't resort to gimmicks and melodrama. V Woman – I actually enjoyed the movie. I’d say there are far worse Oscar duds than AMAS. But then it’s all a matter of taste, isn’t it. But I agree with what you say about how a story can be good without really having an antagonist. As long as there’s still some sort of tension somewhere.

Elias – It’s the rare movie that doesn’t resort to gimmicks and melodrama.

]]> By: S.C. Butler http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7354 S.C. Butler Fri, 23 Oct 2009 20:44:04 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7354 Elias - And Rich was the only one of the three not to have his head chopped off. Not having read much history about the time, I withold judgment on any of the characters. It wouldn't be the first time Hollywood turned a good guy into a bad guy for the sake of the narravtive. Elias – And Rich was the only one of the three not to have his head chopped off.

Not having read much history about the time, I withold judgment on any of the characters. It wouldn’t be the first time Hollywood turned a good guy into a bad guy for the sake of the narravtive.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7351 Elias McClellan Fri, 23 Oct 2009 16:27:07 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7351 V Woman, I can see your point. Still, I think 'AMFAS' is profoundly great because, of the simple, a-dramatic presentation. Saint Thomas More was not bigger than his principles and ultimately, his principles were not bigger than the political machine. The beauty of the movie is the simplicity and inevitibility of the story. Mark Twan famously said, 'Of course truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction's got to make sense.' It also has to be entertaining. 'AMFAS' director Fred Zinneman was unafraid to present the story without gimics or flights of melodrama. By contrast, consider the Bob Dylan bio-pic, 'I'm Not There.' Oy vey. V Woman, I can see your point. Still, I think ‘AMFAS’ is profoundly great because, of the simple, a-dramatic presentation. Saint Thomas More was not bigger than his principles and ultimately, his principles were not bigger than the political machine. The beauty of the movie is the simplicity and inevitibility of the story.

Mark Twan famously said, ‘Of course truth is stranger than fiction. Fiction’s got to make sense.’ It also has to be entertaining. ‘AMFAS’ director Fred Zinneman was unafraid to present the story without gimics or flights of melodrama. By contrast, consider the Bob Dylan bio-pic, ‘I’m Not There.’ Oy vey.

]]> By: The V Woman http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7341 The V Woman Thu, 22 Oct 2009 17:46:41 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7341 One of my friends and I are endevoring to watch all of the Oscar winners by the end of the year. Neither of us knew the details of the case and we were not wrapped in anticipation of what would happen to the protagonist. There were good speeches and clever arguments, but the movie as a whole was a dud, especially considering some of the other movies that have won. Things don't need to be action packed or sex-charged to be amazing. Some of the better stories are about a person, their principles, and their struggle with those in power. The Life of Emile Zola (1937) is a good example. The speech he gives near the end is 7/8 minutes long. One shot. Amazing. One of my friends and I are endevoring to watch all of the Oscar winners by the end of the year. Neither of us knew the details of the case and we were not wrapped in anticipation of what would happen to the protagonist. There were good speeches and clever arguments, but the movie as a whole was a dud, especially considering some of the other movies that have won.
Things don’t need to be action packed or sex-charged to be amazing. Some of the better stories are about a person, their principles, and their struggle with those in power. The Life of Emile Zola (1937) is a good example. The speech he gives near the end is 7/8 minutes long. One shot. Amazing.

]]> By: Elias McClellan http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7337 Elias McClellan Wed, 21 Oct 2009 21:19:15 +0000 http://www.sfnovelists.com/2009/10/21/the-importance-of-not-being-too-earnest-follow-up/#comment-7337 But Richard Rich, ooo, that's an unsavory little knat of a man. I concur with and paraphrase Dante, the deepest pit in hell is reserved for betrayers and oath-breakers. But Richard Rich, ooo, that’s an unsavory little knat of a man. I concur with and paraphrase Dante, the deepest pit in hell is reserved for betrayers and oath-breakers.

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