The Slap and ABC's Latest Ad Campaign

When a program is as heavily promoted as The ABC's The Slap, it's hard not to become skeptical before the opening credits even begin. After seeing an ad for what seems like the thousandth time, it can feel like you've already seen the whole series and already know all the lines off by heart. Despite this, I was still somewhat hopeful that this eight-part Aussie drama would have something in it worth watching. Friends of mine have read the book and swear by it, and as I've already said, there's always that chance that it will be a good old fashioned home-grown classic.

So what was the verdict?  The cast is full to the brim with familiar names and faces, raising expectations high. All in all, they didn't disappoint.  Most notably, Melissa George has graced us folk down-under with her television prescence again as Rosie, the mother of the child that is slapped at Hector's (Jonathan LaPaglia) birthday BBQ. Aside from bringing attention to the program, the cast's major achievement seems to be portraying characters that you instantly hate, yet not in the way that makes you want to stop watching. As each episode is from the perspective of a different one of these characters, there's an incentive to watch again and find out more about what's going on behind the insufferableness.

Of course,  William McInnes' occasional snippets of narration are a highlight. What more do you need?

The Slap screens on ABC1 at 8.30 on Thursdays (it stole Crownies' spot, sigh).

Image from Borders.

In the beginning, there was a pilot.

Oh, pilots. When I first watch them, I rarely realise how important and mythical they will become to me later on. I can't even remember the first time I saw the pilots I love most. It feels like I've always known the famous lines off by heart, and have always laughed at the outdated haircuts the characters are sporting.  It's the moments that define the show's entire story, the lines that are referred to again and again later on in the series and the meeting of characters that will have epic relationships that make them so freaking special.

The inspiration for this post came from watching one of the greatest pilots ever, the very first episode of One Tree Hill. We meet Lucas Scott and his enemy Nathan. They're enemies who just happen to share the same father. A very un-cheery Peyton and Lucas have their first meaningful, which-one-is-more-brooding conversation. The contrast between those at the River Court and those in the gym is set up so that we know that Lucas has never belonged indoors. Nathan seems to- but maybe it's just the ghost of his father. Brooke doesn't feature at all in the pilot, which is a noticeable absence! Even so, as any dedicated fan will know, the basketball game that closes the show changes many of the characters' lives and is a defining moment in One Tree Hill history.

If you have never seen this pilot, watch it. Once you've watched the rest of the show, go back and watch it again. Then maybe you'll understand.

If not, just ignore me. That's fine too.

Arty Beginnings

Sometimes, movies can be just too arty. Sophia Coppola's Somewhere comes to mind, a film that left both me and my movie going partner with one simple question- 'what?'.

Luckily, Beginners doesn't fall into this trap- it is just arty enough. Whimsical characters and the photographs and drawings that are interspersed throughout the story are simply cute and funny, rather than seeming to scream 'look at me! I'm profound!'. Oliver (Ewan McGregor) is a man in his late thirties who has just lost his father, Hal (Christopher Plummer). Dragged along to a party by his friends, where he dresses as Freud and can't help but take his friendly dog Arthur (who is complete with subtitles), Oliver meets a girl that is equally sad and equally interesting- the beautiful french actress Anna (Melanie Laurent). The movie follows their romance and flashes back to Oliver's childhood and his final years with his father, who came out in his seventies and began a relationship with a younger man.

Each of the different stories complement each other perfectly, explaining why Oliver is who he is now. Plummer is fantastic as a man living the final stage of his life to the fullest, not worrying in the slightest about the years that have passed or the years that won't happen. The closeness that develops between Oliver and Hal is sweet and comforting, while Oliver and Anna's romance is nothing short of lovely: a classic tale of two lost souls finding their place with each other. Of course, one of the highlights is definitely the cute animal: Arthur is a chatty and loyal pet that we can probably all recognise. It's not a movie I'd watch again and again, as it was quite long and heavy at times, but it's definitely worth at least one look.

September on Television

Today marks the end of August, which means a new season begins tomorrow. Usually, we associate Spring with colourful flowers and cute baby animals. These things are lovely, of course, but for those of us in Australia with a particular interest in US television there is another area where new and exciting things are blooming- the return of beloved series and the debut of new ones (which are hopefully soon to be beloved!).

Most exciting are the return of Gossip Girl and the beginning of Hart of Dixie- both brought to you by my television heroes, Josh Schwartz and Stephanie Savage (who were also producers of The O.C).

Gossip Girl is now entering its fifth season, an impressive feat considering its predecessor The O.C only lasted four- and fizzled out after Mischa Barton's departure at the end of season three (if not before). While season three of Gossip Girl left a bit to be desired (too many storylines, Blair's scheming getting somewhat old), in season four it actually seemed to get better. Likable new characters and surprising (but awesome) new love pairings seemed to save this show. The fact that a certain very annoying younger sister barely featured didn't hurt either! The final few episodes were as addictive as the earlier seasons had been- my battered bandwidth can attest to this. While every show has to end eventually, I think Gossip Girl will be around for a bit longer. It returns Monday, September 26th in the US.

On the same night, Hart of Dixie begins. It stars Rachel Bilson, who has probably fared the best post-O.C of all her counterparts. While I always preferred Marissa (read about that here), I still loved Summer for both her rage blackouts and trendsetting boho fashion. Bilson plays a young doctor, which should be a real change from her character in The O.C. This is hopefully a good thing, as a character similar to Summer would no doubt fall short. I have high hopes for this show- how could I not with Bilson, Schwartz and Savage. The O.C and Gossip Girl have something that other TV shows don't- it's than indefinable element that makes them more than just something you watch out of boredom. Let's hope Hart of Dixie doesn't disappoint. If it does, you can always try some more traditional Spring activities- go outside and smell some flowers/cuddle a baby lamb. It's good to have options!

Check out more info on The CW.

Ita!

I'm by no means an Australian Story regular, but the two part Ita Buttrose special over the past fortnight has been a source of much excitement. Like many fans of Paper Giants, since the telemovie I've developed an interest in the Australian media's leading lady. Years later, the story of her career and her time at Cleo is still an inspiration. Last night, we learnt about what happened after ACP. While it might not have always been as successful as the story we got in Paper Giants, it doesn't make Ita any less awesome. In fact, it probably makes her even cooler- she's human, and not everything she's done has changed the world.

Australian Story's 'Ita Tells Me So' showed many sides of an iconic Australian. The successful magazine editor, the journalist, the mother and the friend to Kerry Packer. The interviews and footage with Ita now, as well as flash-backs, added so much to the hint of an amazing life that was Paper Giants. Something tells me it satisfied my thirst for knowledge about Ita Buttrose only temporarily, and I'm guessing I'm not alone. Magazine lover or not, Ita Buttrose is the kind of person you just want to know more about. Maybe because you want to know how to be her, or maybe because you just want to know how she did it.

Check out Australian Story on iView if you missed it.

Have you read the book? *Awkward silence*... A Jane Eyre Review

Confession: I've never read Jane Eyre. This is pretty strange, when you consider that my mother owns six copies of the book itself as well at least three different Charlotte Bronte biographies (did i say three? I meant five). The thought of going to see the latest dramatisation starring Mia Wasikowska, without reading the book first, made me feel slightly inadequate and a bit like I was betraying the family bookshelf. Plus, how would I join in with the post-movie chatter without being able to groan "that didn't happen in it the book", or "Charlotte Bronte would be rolling over in her grave"? Still, I ventured out to the cinema last night with the Bronte-crazed mother as well as my intellectual inferiority complex. And once I got over my frustration at not being able to understand everything about the plot, I absolutely loved it.

The movie opens with Jane (Mia Wasikowska) running through the rain, sobbing, until she ends up being taken in and nursed back to health by a man and his two sisters. When asked her name, she answers "Jane Elliot". For those of us who haven't read the book, an understanding of why she lies won't come until much later in the movie. Disturbing flashbacks detail Jane's early childhood and schooling, and then a much longer flashback shows Jane working as a governess for the handsome, challenging and somewhat mysterious Mr Rochester (Michael Fassbender). All this time-traveling is initially a bit confusing, but once the movie gets going it becomes easier to understand what's happening. The mystery of why Jane ran away slowly unravels as the love story develops, and soon enough it all makes sense.

Mia Wasikowska is brilliant as Jane. She looks quite different to how she's been in other movies and on the red carpet: much less glamorous ("that's how Jane is meant to be!" my mother insists). She portrays a powerful mixture of restraint and passion throughout the movie. Her acting is particularly impressive in the final scenes- some of her lines were said with such intensity that I found myself thinking I want to read that in the book! Now! The parts of the movie that were slightly unexplained are actually a good thing, as presumably it means that viewers will be treated to more than a reiteration of the movie plotline if they choose to read the book.

This is one of those movies that you think about for the entire day after you've seen it, pondering the actions and emotions of characters that really, you only knew for a few hours. All in all, this was definitely worth the bruised ego that comes with an 'I haven't read that classic novel' meltdown.

Please no! Sex and the City TV series 2.0?

Just when I thought Monday couldn't get any worse, out of the corner of my eye I noticed an article my friend was looking at: Sex and the City is rumoured to coming back as a new TV series. This is not good news. Here's why.

The ending to the sixth season of Sex and the City was good. Really, really good. In fact, I might even go so far as to say it is one the best series finales that I have seen. It was an episode that saw Carrie Bradshaw and the girls end up exactly where we all wanted them to be. After all the seasons of drama, things were finally working out, and the best part was that the four main characters had stuck together through all of it. The closing voiceover from Carrie encapsulated so much of what I loved about the show and what it meant: "The most exciting, challenging and significant relationship of all is the one you have with yourself. And if you can find someone to love the you that you love? Well, that's just fabulous."

It was all so perfect. An episode that could be rewatched again and again to just to relive the happiness. Then came the movie. As as a devoted fan of the TV series I found so many elements just plain wrong. After seeing Carrie and Mr. Big finally come to a place where they could be together at the end of the series, watching that be torn apart yet again was quite simply depressing. Not to mention Samantha and Smith breaking up, or Steve cheating on Miranda (who, by the way, was suddenly very glamorous in the movie. Just so not Miranda). Some happy endings just shouldn't be tampered with, and this was one of them.

Then we had to suffer through Sex and the City 2, a movie that was offensive on so many levels that I wouldn't even know where to start. Surely, that was the nail in the coffin that was the story of Carrie and the girls? Could I now just pretend the movies never happened and enjoy the sixth season in peace? I thought so, until this morning. It would be safe to say that after the movies, I hold no optimism about the quality of a new SATC show. The story should have ended years ago. Please, don't let it be true. The perfect ending has been tarnished enough as it is.