Movie Talk - 50th Anniversary of JAWS and more

For the past 2 or 3 weeks, I have been watching Northern Exposure which is 25 years old this summer, in JUly. It ran for 5 years from 1990 until 1995. Back when we had VHS, I boufht the series in a video club I joined and wasted hundreds of dollars on. Who knew that the obsolenescence of various media was around the corner. I have somewhere two storage tubs of videos that I couldn't bear to throw away, although I did throw away all my home videos because: 1.they were on a small format for my camera, and 2.they needed a caddy to play on a vhs equipped tv and the caddies were no longer available, and then the video tv were gone too. One summer in a radical cear-out necessitated by my small home and my tendency to save things, out they went. I do regret it. But you just can's save everything.

Every time I watch Northern Exposure, I am chrmed and touched and impressed by the complex and affectionate portrayal of the characters. They become like friends. Each time, I notice things I didn't think of before. Always in the past I have LOVED Chris of KBHR because of his erudite philosphical and artistic take on things and how he shares ith with his audience, never assuming they won't understand. He doesnt' patronize or talk down to his audience, he trusts them to make of it what they will. This time through (probably my dozen time through the entire series) I took note of the way Ed Chigliack understands the world through movie plots and narratives. I would say that I have understood the world through the prism of European authors who captured my young mind before I was twelve and marked it indelibly.

Often I have noted here in this blog how I rummaged through the ccollections of European classics in my Grandmother Lyon's basement bookcase. She let me read them all and they were way too old for me but I was ready! I read deMaupasant, Boccacio, Doestoyevsky. Edward Bulwer Lytton wrote the Last Days of Pompeii and to my last days, that will haunt me. I actually got to visit Pompeii when I was married back in the early 1970's.

But movies also have taught me quite a lot. This summer marks the 50th anniversary of JAWS, from the novel by Peter Benchley which was based on the New Jersey shark attacks in the early 20th century.

I think one of the plot engines that sticks with me is how the honorable and intelligent 'everyman' sheriff tries to protect the people whie the greedy businessman mayor is ready to sacrifice them for the profit of the season. This battle between the common good and greed is going on all the time all over the world and in particular in our own country which has been sold down the river to the greediest politician of all time - Donald Trump. That is one superlative he really does deserve.

But what is more rare is the exploration of GOODNESS to be found in TED LASSO, a contemporary and award winning series about a coach who puts the emotional welfare of the men in his team above winning - how rare is that! Northern Exposure, too, in its own more divided way examines how good people strive to do good in a complicated world filled with challenges to their character and their intentions. There is the struggle between the greedy selfish businessman, as always, in the form of Maurice Minnefield, the grandiose bellicose braggart and bully who exemplifies the persona so on display in our nationald theater at present.And there is Dr. Joel Fleishan, struggling with his ego and his ambition but always doing the best he can for his patients. Probably the most kind and thoroughly good character is Chris of KBHR. He is generous, non-judgemental, accepting and helpful to all. In some ways he reminds me of Ted Lasso.

Anyway if you are looking for something to watch, amazon video has Northern Exposure for free, and apple tv has Ted lasso which you can binge for free for a week and cancel your subscription before you get charged a monthly subscription fee. I am not sure about jaws, but I am about to find out. For some time, I have refused to subscribe beyond pbs and amazone, because I use amazon frequently for so many household and art supplies that it pays for the subscription in gas and delivery. I hate to shop and I love to have my stuff delivered to my porch in a day or two!

Happy hot day tv viewing and if you want to chat about the shows, you can reach me at:

wrightj45Wyahoo.com