Lockdown Update Day 192

[elisi]

Tonight we watched The Truman Show. Still as relevant (maybe even moreso) than it was in 1998 (Darcy says we saw it on the opening night, which seems right).

If you haven't seen it - do. The ending... ♥ It's very much what we need right now.

ETA: This reminded me of something else, thinking about the reality TV aspect. Big Brother was first broadcast the year after (1999).

Now the Cherub & I are doing the world slowest Doctor Who re-watch, starting with S1 (Ninth Doctor many months ago). We recently watched Bad Wolf (from 2005) and it starts with the Doctor literally falling into Big Brother - the theme is pumping out, there are the eye symbols all over the walls, and it's like falling into a time warp. It's immediately recognisable. Except. The Cherub (just turned 15, born in 2005) had no idea what it was. Had never heard the music, didn't have a clue until I explained. She'd heard of Big Brother of course, but the effect of it was completely lost on her.

The other point I wanted to highlight was this, from when the Doctor and Lynda-with-a-Y are watching Earth from Satellite 5:

DOCTOR: What's happened to [Earth]?
LYNDA: Well, it's always been like that. Ever since I was born. See that there? That's the Great Atlantic Smog Storm. It's been going twenty years. We get newsflashes telling us when it's safe to breathe outside.
DOCTOR: So the population just sits there? Half the world's too fat, and half the world's too thin, and you lot just watch telly?
LYNDA: Ten thousand channels, all beaming down from here.


Anyway. Go watch The Truman Show.

Comments

[shadowscast]

Oh my gosh, the ending of The Truman Show is extremely high on my list of the most perfect moments in cinema ever.

[trepkos]

Very poignant.

[kerk_hiraeth]

When I think of Big Brother I think of the re-broadcast of 1984; probably in 1984. All I renember of the TV show that's used as a reference on Who were news items about the new phenomenon coming from the Netherlands. I can't even recall hearing the music myself. I recall a lesbian was all over the gay press at the time; there was still a gay press back then. Only glossy lifestyle magazines now, but she lost; it was said, because the one who won promised to give the prize to charity - I think. That really is all I remember; whereas the black & white images of the BBC re-broadcast of it's production of 1984 are still strong enough to evoke emotions even now.

kerk

[promethia_tenk]

I hate and loathe Bad Wolf for exactly this reason: it ages sooooooo badly. I'd probably be less annoyed if it was a skippable middle of the season episode, but as it stands Parting of the Ways is extremely good, and it's shackled to this embarrassment that's irrelevant five years after airing.

(pops up) Hello there

[(Anonymous)]

So. Just dropping by, as I am wont to do once a month. Hi.

The radio silence that you have been hearing is due to the universe constantly coming up with new and inventive ways to keep me extremely busy. For instance, I have recently come to live and study in your beleaguered isle, as I had been planning. AAAAAAAAAH, so many things to do.

I will properly get in touch at some point. Really.


Now that you mention the ending, one of my favourite bits is that tiny moment where it shows his girlfriend watching him on the TV, and she goes "please, God", while, you know, Truman is essentially talking to god. And that's when he makes his decision, because a real god would want man to be free.

By the way, have you seen S1m0ne, also written by Andrew Niccol? Not as well-known, but it's one of my favourite movies.



P.S. That bathtub guy is the best.