Wow, this romance from Jane Austen is light and fluffy even by her standards. This is probably why Northanger Abbey is the least praised of her works, but even without the substance and complexities of Pride and Prejudice or Sense and Sensibility, it is a breezy watch and one I whole heartedly enjoyed.

JJ Feild who looks like a more trust worthy Jude Law stars as Henry Tilney, the man after heroine Catherine's teenage heart. Other men, like his father and the aggressive John Thorpe are after something else from the young lady. One hint, it's green and the root of all evil.

Catherine is, as Austen was in her youth, addicted to trashy gothic romances and sees mystery, ghosts, and intrigue behind every door. It's easy to see how she can get caught up in the fairy tales of haunted mansions when she is invited to Northanger Abbey, a sprawling magnificent castle that is “full of secrets”. ?br/>
The secrets end up being far less romantic and fantastical as she first imagines, but a genuine love between she and Henry does come right out of the pages of the most heart pounding novel.

There's not a whole lot going on here, but everyone is charming, Lismore Castle where they shot Northanger Abbey is stunning, and a little afternoon romance never hurt anybody.

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Posted on April 7, 2008

There are many promising things about John Adams to recommend it. Firstly, it looks amazing. The art direction and cinematography are miles beyond what a history lesson, going for the Emmy type of television miniseries usually aspires to. The acting too, despite myself not being a particular fan of Paul Giamatti's high minded stammering nor Laura Linney's “what fools are men” judgey glaces, is pretty top notch all way round. I am a fan of Danny Huston as Sam Adams, who you may remember from Nick Cave's The Proposition. I also love the hunky, though odd addition of Justin Theroux as John Hancock and I look forward to the appropriately handsome Rufus Sewell as, sigh, Alexander Hamilton.

In fact, so far, it is the surrounding characters that seem more interesting and at times I wish the camera would follow Sam Adams as he gets fired up and brews beer rather than following John Adams to yell at his kids to pick stuff up.

It's great too to get a (mostly) engaging history lesson in what was a very interesting time historically and politically. But therein lies my only problem with the show. It reads too often way too much like a history lesson. I can't imagine everyone at all times spoke in such eloquent speeches. I have only seen the first episode (of seven) so far, but I do hope a little more human elements enter the scene.

Still, for a show that I had really no intention of watching or liking, John Adams has caught my interest.

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Posted on March 24, 2008

It's only fair to start by warning you that the short lived cult show Sapphire and Steel is possibly the most challenging television show I've recommended. It does not pander to the audience with luxuries like explanations or making sense. The pacing is plodding, but the slow speed along with editing, sound design, cinematography and art direction make for a very compellingly creepy and unique atmosphere. Watching it is almost likened to a surreal dream that drifts in and out of nightmare.

It originally aired in 1979 and surprisingly lasted for three seasons, but it's convoluted plot lines left most audiences more confused than enamored and the show nearly faded into obscurity until fans revived an interest in it, and now it's considered a cult classic and a precursor to the X Files. Don't get me wrong with all my warnings, it's a very distinct show and one worth seeing, but often the going is not easy and there is very little payoff after the roughly three hour long plot arcs.

The adventure we watched began with a boy's parents being taken by their house after a nursery rhyme opened some sort of portal in time and ends with a glowing brick and time reversal. Oh, and in between there is a painting that swallows people, a group of soldier ghosts, and spots of light that cause mischief. And by the end I still had no idea what was gong on.

To give you an idea of the craziness in store for you, this is the voice over in the introduction, an introduction worth noting that is just as interesting and amazing visually as the rest of the production:

“All irregularities will be handled by the forces controlling each dimension. Transuranic heavy elements may not be used where there is Life. Medium atomic weights are available — Gold, Lead, Copper, Jet, Diamond, Radium, Sapphire, Silver, and Steel. — Sapphire and Steel have been assigned…….”

That's it. That's all the information you'll be getting. Sapphire and Steel played by Joanna Lumley and David McCallum, are elements who must keep order in Time. He has the ability to freeze ghosts, she can loop time and reverse it to a degree.

It's bonkers, but often chilling, often fascinating, and always unlike anything else you've seen. It's interesting to see that once upon a time makers of television believed audiences could grasp totally out there stuff, but sadly I have to admit, some of Sapphire and Steel is way beyond me.

Available on DVD thanks to A&E.

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Posted on March 10, 2008

Just like The Secret History, the 1981 miniseries adaptation of Brideshead Revisited is a classic Jim and Brittany favorite that has never made it to Brix Picks.?Based on the sweeping novel by Evelyn Waugh, this is a lush, epic miniseries starring a young, dapper Jeremy Irons as Charles, who is reason enough to see this gem.?The lesser known actor Anthony Andrews also amazes with his?dazzling portrayal of the tragic Sebastian (who was my very first Brix Pick for male style icon – high waisted linen pants, crisp tailored button downs, and those golden locks reserved for the haughty and wealthy, sigh).

The first half filled with debauchery and the fervent friendship between Charles and Sebastian is of course more fun that the second half filled with misgivings, regret, failure, and lost and found religion.

As this is widely considered one of the best adaptations to television ever filmed, so the 660 minute running time is totally and completely worth it, I assure you. Especially if, like me, you have a penchant for tales of the woefully rich.

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Posted on February 25, 2008

We watched all 1070 minutes of Ric Burns's exhaustive history of New York City back when we first moved here. It's quite a formidable history to get through but, aside from the unnecessary overviews that begin each episode, it's rather riveting.

The best bits, in my opinion, are about the Bowery Boys (much more interesting than the disappointing Martin Scorsese film Gangs of New York); the construction of the Brooklyn Bridge; Jane Jacobs's battle to protect SoHo from Robert Moses; the depressing destruction of the old Penn Station; and the pre-depression era of unabashed glamour–it seems like this should be essential viewing for anyone that lives here.

The series originally aired on PBS in 1999, 2001, and 2003 and is currently available on DVD.

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Posted on February 11, 2008