Gran Hotel Seasons 1 & 2

Gran Hotel Seasons 1 & 2 (Edmund Golding, 2011)

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Rating: DSQ=10, SP=8 / DECADENCE (for both seasons)

Scale A=3, Scale B=3, Scale C=4, Scale D=4, Scale E=4

Melodrama, Mystery, 1905, Complex Relationships, Crime

Oh my goodness gracious. WARNING: This show is HIGHLY ADDICTIVE.

I thought I was a binge-watcher when I got sucked into Mad Men and then Breaking Bad. But no. Apparently, I had no idea of the manipulative hold that Spanish melodramatic television creates. The first episode of Gran Hotel was nothing special. In fact, it was a little ho-hum. But just be patient. By the second and third parts I was solidly gripped. It is a show about honor, respectability, scandal, intrigue, forbidden romance, murder, secrets, mystery, more secrets...I almost had a breakdown when the second season was over since Netflix does not have the third season available yet. If only I could speak Spanish...

If you like Downtown Abbey but want a little more "umpf" or scandal, this show is perfect for you.

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The Kings of Summer

The Kings Of Summer (Chris Galletta, 2013)

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Rating: Q=4, P=3 / Thanks But No Thanks

Scale 1=2, Scale 2=2, Scale 3=2, Scale 4=1

Coming of Age, Masculinity, Grief, Parenting, High School, Friendship

This was a fun coming of age film--nothing groundbreaking, to be sure. Most of the dialogue and moments felt real, no hiding or masking what teenage guys are thinking or saying. But occasionally it was a bit too dark  or a little too quirky. The father-son relationship was most fascinating, to me. And running away from home, while not a new concept, is dealt with in a fresh way.

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Boyhood

Boyhood (Richard Linklater, 2014)

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Rating: Q=7, P=8 / Obsession

Scale 1=3, Scale 2=4, Scale 3=4, Scale 4=4

Coming of Age, Subtle, Complex Relationships

I was blown away by this film. It was like a scrapbook of life: we see the little moments, the big events, the meaningful conversations, the awkward encounters, the learning, the fighting, being scared, being curious...everything. It is a long film but necessarily so. I think everyone can connect with this one, so go watch this movie right now. You won't regret it.

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Parade's End

Parade's End (Susanna White, 2012)

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Rating: DSQ=11, SP=5 / Can't Get Enough

Scale A=4, Scale B=4, Scale C=3, Scale D=3, Scale E=2

Based on Novel, WWI, Intellectual, Romance, Complex Relationships, Tradition, Changing Times

I read somewhere that Parade's End was a bit like a "high brow Downtown Abbey." I completely agree. This tale of changing attitudes and societal values before, during, and after WWI is one of the most compelling and understated I've ever seen. The dialogue is rich and complex. It is also delivered astonishingly well by a wonderful troupe of actors, led by Benedict Cumberbatch. It is also a love story full to the brim with tension. There are many moments where the camera lingers on a repressed emotion and you become completely absorbed in that feeling, too. This production really highlights the way human beings cope with their vulnerability: some hide behind a thick shield, some cling to the past, others lash out, still others ride out the storm.

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