BJ Hoff's GRACE NOTES

For Those Who Like American History--and Those Who Don't

For those of you who enjoy American history, who love to dig into biographies, novels, and films about our past and the people who launched America and helped to build it--and for those of you who don't love American history and think you want nothing to do with it ... I recommend the book, John Adams, and the HBO series based on the book, which was recently released on DVD.

Before you moan and groan, let me dispel any notion that you'll be subjected to a dry and dusty experience to sleep through. The Pulitzer Prize winning book by David McCullough is absolutely riveting, and the DVD series--although it contains some noticeable differences in mood and highlighted scenes--is excellent in its own right.

I'll admit that I rented this not knowing quite what to expect and wondering if any mini-series could do justice to McCullough's outstanding book. I hadn't watched much more than the first few scenes before I relaxed and knew we were in for one of the more pleasurable film experiences we've enjoyed for years. By the time we came to the end, I almost felt as though I ought to bend a knee to Laura Linney, who portrayed Abigail Adams--what a spectacular performance she gave--and pay homage to Stephen Dillane, who made Thomas Jefferson "come alive" as no other actor has in any film (that I've seen) in which the complex Jefferson appears in a key role. As for Paul Giamatti, who portrayed John Adams, it took me awhile to be comfortable with him in the role, but he seemed to "grow into it" after a few scenes, and if he wasn't exactly "brilliant" as Adams, he was certainly believable and many-faceted. "Brilliant" I'll reserve for Laura Linney. I don't have an abundance of aesthetic distance at the best of times, and this was an instance where I forgot entirely that I was watching an actress at work. She was that good. 

There's also a delightful interview in the special features section with David McCullough, who clearly loves what he does. Never mind that he's an author who never settles for less than excellence--there's no missing the fact that he has great fun with every aspect of the work. It's worth renting the DVD simply to watch the interview and get a glimpse into the mind and heart of one of our finest living historians and authors.

BJ 

Good Acting + Good Stories = Good Movies

My husband and I have been indulging ourselves in an old movie marathon over the past few weeks. It's been great fun to see for the first time some of the real film classics or enjoy again a number of those always worth a rerun. We're not great television watchers--and with the dearth of programming these days, it's a good thing. Even before any remaining quality tv went down the tube (sorry ... couldn't resist), we watched mostly movies instead of weekly programs--except, of course, for 24, which we've really missed, and Friday Night Lights, also sorely missed.

We still have several films to go from our somewhat extensive list, but included among the ones we've watched so far are Citizen Kane (for the third or fourth time at least); Ben Hur; The Desert Fox, with the late great James Mason; Anatomy of a Murder (James Stewart); Rear Window (the vintage film with James Stewart and Grace Kelly); Judgment at Nuremburg (Spencer Tracy and Burt Lancaster); Inherit the Wind (also Spencer Tracy); The Man Who Knew Too Much (James Stewart); The Big Country (Gregory Peck and Charlton Heston); Gaslight (probably one of the greatest suspense movies of all time); The Longest Day; Tora, Tora, Tora; Gone with the Wind; The Postman Always Rings Twice; On the Waterfront; Charade; Mildred Pierce; To Kill a Mockingbird (my favorite movie ever); My Fair Lady; The Sound of Music; Singin' in the Rain; Fiddler on the Roof and lots more: musicals, dramas, westerns, war films--so many movies, so little time!

One thing the best of the best hold in common: good stories. Stories that grip you, with actors portraying fascinating characters, plots that are heavy on suspense and wonderful atmosphere. They shine like gems among the bleak, grim, lackluster movies of today, so ridden with gratuitous violence, hopelessness, lack of story and strong acting, and not a hint of redemption. 

My list continues to grow, and I'm very open to suggestions if you'd care to offer any.

BJ

Heroes

No, this has nothing to do with the TV show by the same name. In truth, I've never seen the show, don't even know what it's about, other than what the clips provide--a number of characters with extraordinary powers. I think one of them can fly. That would seem to qualify for "extraordinary."

What happened was that a couple of posts at Patrick Mead's wonderful blog -- Tent Pegs --set me to thinking about the people we see as heroes and why we view them as such. We find them on film and tv, in books, and in real life. 

We have a saying around the Hoff house when we read or hear about the latest international rumble of war or terrorist threat: "Where's Jack Bauer when you need him?" You know a tv show has made it when its "hero" jumps into your mind as you're reading the morning newspaper. Another series rapidly rising on my favorites meter is "Bones." I'll admit I have to avert my eyes now and then during the more gruesome scenes, but I can't resist the dark humor and fascinating investigative work of this classy police procedural (based on the novels of Kathy Reichs). The hero isn't the cool, savvy, if somewhat loopy FBI agent, Seeley Booth, as you might expect, but rather Dr. Temperance Brennan ("Bones"), a highly skilled forensic anthropologist who also writes novels on the side (doesn't everyone?). "Bones" is a slightly unsuspecting, even naive scientist who keeps to herself (and her lab), forsaking the limelight as she lets her work spin the heroics. The cast is nothing less than brilliantly conceived--this is one of the few shows going that explores the humanity and the heart of each cast member--but Temperance Brennan is the real, albeit reluctant, hero.

Some of my favorite heroes from the pages of books: way too many to name. They would have to include attorney Jake Brigance from John Grisham's A Time to Kill; the anti-hero, Owen MacCarthy from Thomas Flanagan's wonderful The Year of the French; Rabbi Judah Hirsch from Pete Hamill's Snow in August; and a few of my own unlikely but favorite lads: Jonathan Stuart from the Mountain Song Legacy series; Michael Emmanuel from the American Anthem series; Evan Whittaker and Morgan Fitzgerald from the Emerald Ballad series.

Film heroes: well, Rhett Butler from Gone with the Wind, is a given. And then there's George Bailey from It's a Wonderful Life; Jack Ryan of Patriot Games; Reardon (played by Kiefer Sutherland) in To End All Wars; and--well, that's enough. Too many more to list. Just think of some of the bigger-than-life characters portrayed by film icons, some men, some women.

"Real" heroes from history: Abraham Lincoln, Dr. Elizabeth Blackwell, Dr. Jonas Salk, Florence Nightingale, Dorothea Dix, D. L. Moody, Billy Graham.

Personal heroes: My husband. My grandfather.

Perhaps, though, the real heroes are those who clean up after the rest of us, who work quietly and unnoticed behind the scenes, who do the dirty, thankless tasks of life that keep our nation and the other nations of the world working and moving, and provide whatever decency and safety that exist in these treacherous and uncertain times. You know who they are. Take a minute and say 'thanks.' 

Feel free to add your own heroes to the roster here. 

BJ

Jack's Back

Well, I couldn't stand it. I watched and recorded. It was nice to see that the writers haven't lost their touch. And neither has Jack. Except that "Jack's back" has taken on a whole new meaning this season. What did they do to him in China, anyway?

An interesting article by Stephen King about the show (published on AOL) included this:

"There are more thrills and suspense in the first four hours than most series can pack into a single season. Or an entire run of show, for that matter. I got those four episodes from EW Central Command and planned to dole them out over the course of maybe a week. Instead I ended up watching all of them that same night ..."

As I mentioned in my other entry about 24's return, I think one of the reasons so many writers get hooked on the show is because we find it nearly impossible to resist a cliffhanger. Just have to know what happens next. Besides, some of us still like to see the good guys win. (Although "good guys" in this particular show is a somewhat relative term.)

So--tonight's the rest of it. And, yes, I'll be watching. Something tells me you will be, too.

Especially if you're a writer.

BJ

Jack's ... Almost Back

All right already. I've had enough reminders of this sent my way today to inspire me to issue one of my own. Sunday and Monday nights. 8:00 pm, EST. Four hours of 24. Yes, four hours. 

I've never been an "action" fan--not with tv or movies. Have always gone for the character-driven dramas, sci-fi, or historical epics--or musicals. But Angie Hunt insisted that she could hook me on this one--and she did, last season. I haven't been the same since. It's a disease.

It intrigues me, though, how many writers are fans of 24. I think it must have something to do with the fact that we can't resist a cliffhanger.

So you've been reminded. Hubby and I won't watch this until we record all four hours, so don't you dare tell me anything until I've seen it for myself. 

BJ

Inquiring Minds Want to Know ....

The only folks who seem to have no opinion about what's really going on with Lost (that's the TV show, for anyone just groping their way out of a cave) are those who don't watch it.

There are as many differing ideas as to what the show is all about as there are tacky commercials by its sponsors. The only thing I know for certain about Lost is that it's the only show on television that we'll make an effort to tape if we're not going to be at home to watch it. My personal take on the show? I don't have one--because I don't think even the writers know what's going on or what's going to happen. I get the feeling they're just winging it, writing from one episode to another, as curious as the TV audience as to what all this is about.

Not really a bad thing, when you think about it. A lot of us write our novels that way, so why shouldn't TV writers do the same? It keeps it interesting and fun for them as well as for the viewers, and it leaves plenty of opportunity for weekly surprises and changes of direction.

For more on this surprisingly popular series, check out Robin Lee Hatcher's blog entry here .

If you have your own theories and would like to share them, I'm all ears.

You are watching it, aren't you?

BJ