Pophistory: music, movies, history, and life.
Test your knowledge of the classic songs appearing in movies and holiday television specials with these ten questions (plus a bonus question). How well do you know your Christmas music? Answers and videos of all the songs appear at the end with your score.
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Not long ago, I was driving to work when some jerk was cutting people off and driving recklessly as she rushed on her way. Where I live, such aggressive driving is not uncommon and it annoys me when other drivers think they are more important than everyone else. On this morning, though, as she cut around me, I did not rescind the aggressive driving or even flip the bird as I have been known to do.
Several blocks down the road, I noticed her car parked on the side of the road. She was parked outside a junior high school, and in front of the school there also was an ambulance. She was rushing because she had heard that her child had been hurt. The incident reminded me of one of my favorite quotes, generally attributed to Plato: “Be kind because everyone is fighting a hard battle.”
I thought of the quote and the driver recently while watching The Descendants (2011). Too often, films portray characters as two dimensional, either good or bad. But some, like The Descendants, at least provide a few brilliant moments that remind us that others are just as complicated as we are. These moments in The Descendants were my favorite parts of the movie. We watch George Clooney having a late-night conversation with a teenage boy, who suddenly goes from being a stereotype played for comic relief to a real person. In another scene, we watch a father-in-law yell at his son-in-law played by Clooney, while we wonder why Clooney’s character does not easily respond. But then we see why Clooney held his tongue. He remembered that everyone is fighting a hard battle.
The Descendants tells the story of Matt King (Clooney) whose wife is in a coma from a boating accident. While she is in the hospital, King tries to connect with and understand his two daughters, while he also struggles with a major family and work decision and with a discovery about his dying wife. Many critics have mentioned Clooney’s performance as Oscar-worthy, and it is. The other actors — including Shailene Woodley, Amara Miller, and Beau Bridges — are excellent, and the film makes great use of the Hawaii scenery to help tell the story.
Because I had already heard a lot about the movie before seeing it, the first third of the movie seemed too familiar, but as the movie progressed, I was sucked into a deeper story than I expected. Some of the trailer clips make the movie look like a comedy, but while there are some funny moments, the film is more moving drama than hilarious comedy. The Descendants is directed and co-written by Alexander Payne, who also directed and co-wrote Sideways (2004), About Schmidt (2002), and Election (1999). While all of those movies touch on some similar themes and tone, they each are different, and one should not expect another Sideways. But The Descendants is an excellent addition to the director’s outstanding work.
Some Other Reviews Because Why Should You Trust Me?: On Rotten Tomatoes, The Descendants currently has a 90% critic rating and an 85% audience rating. Leonard Maltin praised the movie, asserting, “Watching a film as mature, moving, original and unpredictable as The Descendants renews my faith in American movies.” One of the few dissenters on the movie, Walter Chaw at FilmFreakCentral concluded that “The Descendants doesn’t just waste my time–it also empties the chamber of an artist (Director Payne) who should be making better movies.” Ouch.
What did you think of The Descendants? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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On November 30 in 1835, Samuel Clemens was born in Florida, Missouri. Clemens, of course, later adopted the pseudonym “Mark Twain” from a term used during his riverboat days and went on to become one of America’s greatest authors.
Twain’s novels — including Tom Sawyer, A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, and the beloved and controversial Adventures of Huckleberry Finn — are classics that capture a certain time period as well as a timeless American spirit. It is no surprise that there are several film versions of Twain’s books, and there even is a Texas high school named after the author of books about kids skipping school.
But I am not sure there is a great film version of one of the novels that fully captures what Twain did with his books. Of course, films often fail in fully capturing a novel, but the films may still be successful in their own rights.
The film versions of Huckleberry Finn and Tom Sawyer are often ordinary children’s movies, even though the former novel was much more than a children’s book. For example, in 1993, a young Elijah Wood starred in a Walt Disney film, The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn (1993).
A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court has inspired various versions on the big and small screen. There is even one with Bugs Bunny.
One of the most successful film versions of a Twain novel is 1949’s musical A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, starring Bing Crosby, Rhonda Fleming, and William Bendix.
But the performance that may best capture Mark Twain is Hal Holbrook’s one-man show, Mark Twain Tonight. The show appeared on CBS in 1967 and won Holbrook an Emmy.
In Holbrook’s spot-on believable performance, he captures the humor and dark satire present in much of Twain’s works. One scene, for example, includes dialogue taken from Twain’s controversial 1903 essay, “The Damned Human Race.”
We always need a Mark Twain, and American writers, commentators, and comedians continue to be influenced by the writer. In 2011, he was honored with a postage stamp. And in 2010 he had a best-seller with Autobiography of Mark Twain, Vol. 1
For a video of the real Mark Twain, check out the video below of the only known video of the man, shot by Thomas Edison.
So on this birthday of America’s great humorist, take some comfort in that Samuel Clemons is still with us, whether it be with the movies, his writing, or his inspiration. The recent parodies of The Pepper Spray Cop, for example, seem to capture our national Twain-ian humor. As Mark Twain once explained, “The human race has one really effective weapon, and that is laughter.”
What is your favorite Mark Twain book or film? Leave your two cents in the comments.
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If you have been too busy pepper spraying shoppers trying to grab that toy you want, here are some of the pop culture stories from the week that you might have missed.
——— Music ———
No Depression featured an interesting story about a recent encounter with Garth Hudson of The Band.
No Depression also featured a nice review of Glen Campbell on his final tour.
Chimesfreedom sends our best wishes to The Bee Gees’ Robin Gibb, who is fighting liver cancer.
The Rolling Stones are releasing an expanded reissue of Some Girls, including a song with John Fogerty.
“Does this mean I can play whatever I want?” — Ozzy Osbourne on getting his own music channel on SiriusXM Radio.
“What I do is more like a poke in the ribs than a kick in the face.” – Weird Al Yankovic in Chicago Tribune profile.
Influential jazz drummer and bandleader Paul Motian passed away last week. RIP.
“Cracklin’ Rosie, get on board!” Neil Diamond will tour this summer to support a greatest hits CD.
If you are a fan of The Swell Season, check out this interview with Marketa Irglova about The Swell Season, the new documentary on the band, and her new solo CD.
WhatCulture! has a review of William Shatner’s new CD, Seeking Major Tom. Below is Shatner’s version of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” with his face in the sky of this crazy official video.
——— Movies ———-
“He’s an older Bruce Wayne; he’s not in a great state.” — Christopher Nolan revealing some information on the upcoming The Dark Night Rises, which begins eight years after the last Batman film. 
Slate listed its top five bad movie songs.
Scarlett Johansson will direct a film adaptation of a Truman Capote novella, Summer Crossing.
A new Woody Allen documentary prompted several stories. One article on the film quoted director Robert Weide on Woody Allen: “He doesn’t think of himself as a great artist.’’ Meanwhile, Salon ranked Woody Allen’s 10 Greatest Films. Personally, I think it is a crime that the list does not include Crimes and Misdemeanors.
Kermit the Frog went to the White House on Tuesday. Also, this past week saw country music day at the White House, which included Kris Kristofferson and Lyle Lovett.
The Artist, a new silent film, opened this week to rave reviews.
An international Laurel and Hardy appreciation society meets every week in California near the Hal Roach Studios.
“The Muppets are sweet and subversive.” — Los Angeles Times review. In another Muppets-related story, Slate discussed “Mahna Mahna” and how music from an Italian soft-core film became the Muppets’ catchiest song.
——— Television ———
Elizabeth Shue will become a regular on “CSI” starting in February, replacing Marg Helgenberger.
CBS signed up Survivor for two more seasons with Jeff Probst as host and executive producer.
Katy Perry will host Saturday Night Live on Dec. 10.
——— Other News ———
Two former death row inmates whose convictions were each overturned after years on death row were married last week.
Finally, the UC Davis Pepper Spray Cop is now a funny Internet meme. Follow this link if you wish to skip the article and go straight to some very funny photos of the Pepper Spray Cop in unique situations, showing the strength of using humor to fight the powers.
What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.
(Some Related Chimesfreedom Posts)
In case you were overwhelmed last week worrying about the NBA lockout or who is the sexiest man alive or the latest on Ashton Kutcher’s problems, below are some of the pop culture stories you might have missed.
———-Music———-
The heart-stopping, earth-shaking,…legendary E Street Band will tour with Bruce Springsteen in 2012 supporting a new album.
In a new interview, Michael Stipe explained why REM called it a day.
“The horror was if somebody Twittered or leaked it.”
Listen to Kate Bush’s new CD 50 Words for Snow on NPR First Listen.
Also on NPR, you may listen to Michael Jackson: Immortal, the new CD of Jackson songs for a Cirque du Soleil production.
The Los Angeles Times reported that Drake’s “Marvin’s Room,” on his new CD Take Care, was inspired by a visit from Stevie Wonder.
The New York Times reviewed the new album by Florence and the Machine.
The Chicago Tribune reviewed a performance by Fall Out Boy frontman Patrick Stump, who played “shiny funkified soulful pop” in promotion of new solo CD.
I like music critic Greil Marcus, so will have to check out his new book on The Doors that was reviewed in The New York Times at the link.
“I’ll be watching you.” Sting released a free app for the iPad that documents his career.
———-Movies———-
Brad Pitt plans to quit acting in three years. I guess they need to hurry up and film Oceans Fourteen.
Officials are investigating actress Natalie Wood’s drowning death from 30 years ago. Although initial reports claimed a yacht captain was blaming Woods’ then-husband actor Robert Wagner for the death, recent reports note that Wagner is not a suspect. But Christopher Walken, who was on the boat with the couple the night Woods died, has hired a lawyer.
Karl Slover, one of the last living actors who played one of the Munchkins in The Wizard of Oz, passed away Tuesday.
The new film The Great Flood features archival footage from the 1927 flood and music from Bill Frisell.
The screenwriter for “The Departed” picked his top 5 British crime and suspense films from the 1960s and 1970s.
Illumination Entertainment is planning a Woody Woodpecker film. (Thanks @VeryAw.) I grew up with the cartoons, so I’m excited that this overlooked character may be revived.
The Atlas Shrugged DVD was released with a back cover mistakenly saying the movie was from a novel of “self-sacrifice” instead of author Ayn Rand’s contrary philosophy of self-interest. Oops!
Andy Buckle’s Film Emporium blog wrote an interesting comparison between two epic World War II films, The Thin Red Line vs. Saving Private Ryan. (Thanks @buckle22.)
Johnny B. Goode! Last weekend, Michael J. Fox reenacted his guitar playing from Back to the Future at a charity event.
———-Television———-
Former first daughter Chelsea Clinton was hired by NBC News.
Charlie Rose is going from PBS to CBS, which is pairing him with Gayle King.
A new mid-season comedy on CBS, “iROB,” will feature Rob Schneider and Cheech Marin.
Ricky Gervais will be back as host of the Golden Globes.
———-History and Other Pop Culture News———-
The new CBS On the Road reported the sad and touching ending to the story of the friendship between Bella the dog and Tara the elephant: Have tissues handy. If you have not heard of Bella and Tara, you might first want to check out an earlier story about the animals.
“Sticks Like Magic!” CNN reports on the interesting background of the toy Colorforms, which celebrates its 60th anniversary this month. I had forgot about Colorforms, which I had as a kid.
Long-lost Air Force One tapes made the day JFK was killed were just discovered and put up for sale.
Nice to have some good sports-related news with Nationals catcher Wilson Ramos rescued safe from kidnappers.
The Houston Astros are moving to the American League. I’m still confused from the Brewers league switch in 1998.
Shout! Factory released a new 11-DVD set of Mr. Magoo cartoons, featuring the voice of Jim Backus.
Check out some New Guinness World Records for 2012.
What was your favorite pop culture story this week? Leave your two cents in the comments.