Have You Seen The Wire and Read War And Peace?
October 26, 2011 6:56 PM Subscribe
This post was deleted for the following reason: This is just a super lazy cracked-style list that appears to be resoundly disliked. -- jessamyn
My secret is that I don't know enough about any of those cultural touchstones to lie convincingly about having seen/read/listened to them.
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:01 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by Inspector.Gadget at 7:01 PM on October 26, 2011
I thought this was going to be a Cracked list. It was much worse.
posted by 2N2222 at 7:03 PM on October 26, 2011 [20 favorites]
posted by 2N2222 at 7:03 PM on October 26, 2011 [20 favorites]
What kind of people does the author hang with anyway? Sheesh.
posted by onesidys at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by onesidys at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
Phew, good thing they found *the* 7 things about a subject no one outside of the internet cares about. Top X lists are poison.
posted by Doug Stewart at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by Doug Stewart at 7:04 PM on October 26, 2011
I have never read Maxim. There. I said it.
posted by not_on_display at 7:05 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by not_on_display at 7:05 PM on October 26, 2011
I think people stopped lying about "War And Peace" sometime around 1955. Nobody gives a shit anymore.
posted by briank at 7:05 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by briank at 7:05 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
Other great pieces by the same author:
7 honest reactions to things people post on Facebook
10 of the gutsiest performances in sports history
9 fashion items from the 90s due for a comeback
7 ways to know you watch too much porn
7 MTV ‘True Life’ documentaries that should be made
10 important life lessons from Martin Scorsese movies
posted by Doug Stewart at 7:07 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
7 honest reactions to things people post on Facebook
10 of the gutsiest performances in sports history
9 fashion items from the 90s due for a comeback
7 ways to know you watch too much porn
7 MTV ‘True Life’ documentaries that should be made
10 important life lessons from Martin Scorsese movies
posted by Doug Stewart at 7:07 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Stuff White People Like? But even less with the funny?
posted by gwint at 7:08 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by gwint at 7:08 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
And then this one time I was at a party and someone was all like "You don't like NPR" and I was all like "yeah, I do -- I always listen to Terry Gross" and they were all like "no, way, dude -- and I bet you don't even like War and Peace" and I was like "that is beyond the pale."
posted by chasing at 7:09 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by chasing at 7:09 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
"7 random things i thought of in the shower 10 minutes before my deadline."
posted by empath at 7:09 PM on October 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by empath at 7:09 PM on October 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
God I am so tired of that trend in lazy click fodder. "X things" articles are like some "Idiot's Guide to Selling Copy on the Internet" version of content generation. I'll be glad when it goes out of fashion.
posted by darkstar at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
posted by darkstar at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
Watched a couple of seasons of "The Wire"
Read "War and Peace". Twice.
Listen to NPR on occasion
Never saw "Citizen Kane"
Have seen, but don't watch, "The Daily Show"
Not overly impressed with "Enter The 36 Chambers" but, I do realize that Wu-Tang ain't nuthin' to fuck with.
Used to subscribe to the New Yorker. Let the subscription lapse, never looked back.
posted by MikeMc at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011
Read "War and Peace". Twice.
Listen to NPR on occasion
Never saw "Citizen Kane"
Have seen, but don't watch, "The Daily Show"
Not overly impressed with "Enter The 36 Chambers" but, I do realize that Wu-Tang ain't nuthin' to fuck with.
Used to subscribe to the New Yorker. Let the subscription lapse, never looked back.
posted by MikeMc at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011
Wrong. Because the best character in The Wire is Omar.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011 [5 favorites]
I'm not sure what kind of people the author hangs out with, but it sounds like they all suck. I don't know anyone who has lied (or cared) about liking any of these things. Except for reading the New Yorker, but that was just one guy and he was a knob.
7. I haven't seen The Wire. I've started and watched half of the first episode four (I think) times. I've fallen asleep each time. The television continuity geek in me refuses to skip to episode 2.
6. I haven't read War and Peace but I know plenty of people who forreals have read War and Peace. I didn't realize this was The Book To Lie About. If you're going to pretend like you read a book that you haven't read, at least shoot for something believable (and, like, a thousand pages shorter).
5. Don't listen to NPR, don't care to listen to NPR. (Wait, are Click and Clack on NPR? My dad listens to Car Talk and I always enjoy it when it's on. Does that count?)
4. Citizen Kane actually is that good. You should watch it.
3. I don't like the Daily Show and I'm not afraid to admit it.
2. I have never heard of Enter the 36 Chambers, but I like Run DMC and know all the words to Shoop. (That gives this white girl street cred, right? No?)
1. Only for the cartoons.
posted by phunniemee at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
7. I haven't seen The Wire. I've started and watched half of the first episode four (I think) times. I've fallen asleep each time. The television continuity geek in me refuses to skip to episode 2.
6. I haven't read War and Peace but I know plenty of people who forreals have read War and Peace. I didn't realize this was The Book To Lie About. If you're going to pretend like you read a book that you haven't read, at least shoot for something believable (and, like, a thousand pages shorter).
5. Don't listen to NPR, don't care to listen to NPR. (Wait, are Click and Clack on NPR? My dad listens to Car Talk and I always enjoy it when it's on. Does that count?)
4. Citizen Kane actually is that good. You should watch it.
3. I don't like the Daily Show and I'm not afraid to admit it.
2. I have never heard of Enter the 36 Chambers, but I like Run DMC and know all the words to Shoop. (That gives this white girl street cred, right? No?)
1. Only for the cartoons.
posted by phunniemee at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I've never seen Star Wars.
I've never seen E.T.
posted by May Kasahara at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011
I've never seen E.T.
posted by May Kasahara at 7:10 PM on October 26, 2011
To be fair, people who subscribe to the New Yorker MIGHT actually enjoy it if they ever got around to reading it, even once.
posted by hermitosis at 7:11 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by hermitosis at 7:11 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I have a feeling that this list is aimed at someone about 20 years younger than me, because I've done and do half the things on the list (watched The Wire and enjoy NPR, and critically analyzed Citizen Kane), or I don't give enough of a crap about the others to feel the need to lie about it. (War and Peace? Pffft.)
posted by crunchland at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by crunchland at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Porn should have been on the list.
posted by hermitosis at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by hermitosis at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2011
I am kind of thinking "Infinite Jest" is closer to that book than "War and Peace" for our time, no?
posted by padraigin at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
posted by padraigin at 7:12 PM on October 26, 2011 [3 favorites]
A few years ago, some Nimrod spoilt Citizen Kane for me. Never forgiven them. ALWAYS give spoiler alerts, folks, no matter how old the movie.
I haven't seen North by Northwest, either. But I plan to, so nobody spoil that for me.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2011
I haven't seen North by Northwest, either. But I plan to, so nobody spoil that for me.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2011
If I've ever met anyone who cared enough to lie about things like this, chances are we aren't friends and it has never come up.
posted by Dark Messiah at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by Dark Messiah at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
"Wrong. Because the best character in The Wire is Omar."
Omar comin' yo!
posted by MikeMc at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2011
Omar comin' yo!
posted by MikeMc at 7:13 PM on October 26, 2011
New Yorker? Bitch I even read the poems.
posted by theodolite at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by theodolite at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011
If you say that Fresh Air is your favorite show on NPR, anyone who actually does listen to NPR will know you're lying.
posted by louche mustachio at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011 [9 favorites]
posted by louche mustachio at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011 [9 favorites]
These lists remind me of Rainer Wolfcastle's comedy: "Are you noticing how men are always leaving the toilet seat up? That is the joke."
Here is a list of things. Therefore I am a writer. Give a book deal, Dave Eggers.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Here is a list of things. Therefore I am a writer. Give a book deal, Dave Eggers.
posted by Kitty Stardust at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
I wouldn't have to lie about 4 of those things, and don't care about the other 3.
posted by Flashman at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by Flashman at 7:14 PM on October 26, 2011
Here's a new lie for our time : "That was a really well written list about the things people lie about."
posted by crunchland at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by crunchland at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2011
Exactly 3 items on the list could be considered part of pop culture.
posted by davebush at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by davebush at 7:15 PM on October 26, 2011
Watching ‘The Wire’
I've watched a couple of episdoes of the first season. Didn't grab me, though I do have the rest of it somewhere on the "one of these days" list.
Reading ‘War and Peace’
Nope. Is it available for the Nook? Maybe I should try it.
Liking NPR
Cannot stand Terry Gross. I do listen occasionally, though, when something interesting comes up on the Scan button.
Agreeing ‘Citizen Kane’ is the Greatest Film
Watched it. Forgot it.
Loving ‘The Daily Show’
In small doses (like youtube small), it can be entertaining. Never watched a full episode though.
Listening to ‘Enter the 36 Chambers’
Never even heard of it.
Enjoying ‘The New Yorker’
I've read the occasional linked piece, but I'm sure I've never read an entire issue.
posted by madajb at 7:16 PM on October 26, 2011
I've watched a couple of episdoes of the first season. Didn't grab me, though I do have the rest of it somewhere on the "one of these days" list.
Reading ‘War and Peace’
Nope. Is it available for the Nook? Maybe I should try it.
Liking NPR
Cannot stand Terry Gross. I do listen occasionally, though, when something interesting comes up on the Scan button.
Agreeing ‘Citizen Kane’ is the Greatest Film
Watched it. Forgot it.
Loving ‘The Daily Show’
In small doses (like youtube small), it can be entertaining. Never watched a full episode though.
Listening to ‘Enter the 36 Chambers’
Never even heard of it.
Enjoying ‘The New Yorker’
I've read the occasional linked piece, but I'm sure I've never read an entire issue.
posted by madajb at 7:16 PM on October 26, 2011
"I am kind of thinking "Infinite Jest" is closer to that book than "War and Peace" for our time, no?"
I can't lie, I've read "War and Peace" twice but have yet to finish "Infinite Jest" (and I bought it in hardcover when it first came out).
posted by MikeMc at 7:16 PM on October 26, 2011
I can't lie, I've read "War and Peace" twice but have yet to finish "Infinite Jest" (and I bought it in hardcover when it first came out).
posted by MikeMc at 7:16 PM on October 26, 2011
Why, yes, I love NPR.
Actually, it's been 15 years since I've owned a radio. (And 5 years since I've owned a working TV.) I don't miss 'em at all.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:16 PM on October 26, 2011
Actually, it's been 15 years since I've owned a radio. (And 5 years since I've owned a working TV.) I don't miss 'em at all.
posted by Chocolate Pickle at 7:16 PM on October 26, 2011
The best character on The Wire is Erkel.
posted by uncanny hengeman at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by uncanny hengeman at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2011
The other day I was looking to make a saadwich for work, I couldn't find my spread of choice in the fridge so I looked at my girlfriend and said, in all seriousness, "Where the hummus at? Where's the hummus at, String!?"
We are both white, over-educated and we both thought that was funny as hell. That is all.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
We are both white, over-educated and we both thought that was funny as hell. That is all.
posted by 1f2frfbf at 7:17 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
FWIW: Don't like Terry Gross. Diane Rehm is da bomb, though. This American Life is awesome, too, as is Science Fridays.
And I confess to having a soft spot in my heart for Click and Clack...
posted by darkstar at 7:18 PM on October 26, 2011
And I confess to having a soft spot in my heart for Click and Clack...
posted by darkstar at 7:18 PM on October 26, 2011
Well, let's see. I listen to NPR all day long, watch The Daily Show religiously, and read every issue of The New Yorker cover to cover, although I do skip the fiction most of the time.
I'm not sure what this list means to prove, other than I'm someone the author would never invite to a party.
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on October 26, 2011
I'm not sure what this list means to prove, other than I'm someone the author would never invite to a party.
posted by hippybear at 7:18 PM on October 26, 2011
Listening to ‘Enter the 36 Chambers’
Never even heard of it.
Well, I suppose that is plausible. Thanks for your candor.
The best character on The Wire is Erkel.
Well, I suppose that is .... *facepalm*
posted by joe lisboa at 7:20 PM on October 26, 2011
Never even heard of it.
Well, I suppose that is plausible. Thanks for your candor.
The best character on The Wire is Erkel.
Well, I suppose that is .... *facepalm*
posted by joe lisboa at 7:20 PM on October 26, 2011
What kind of sick people lie about the Wu Tang Clan?
posted by elizardbits at 7:21 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 7:21 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why is "dostoevsky" a tag?
posted by phunniemee at 7:21 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 7:21 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Liking NPR
But NPR is a whole collection of different shows. Do I like some of them? Yes! Very much so. Do I dislike some of them? Yes! Very much so.
To summarize: That list is stupid.
posted by grapesaresour at 7:23 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
But NPR is a whole collection of different shows. Do I like some of them? Yes! Very much so. Do I dislike some of them? Yes! Very much so.
To summarize: That list is stupid.
posted by grapesaresour at 7:23 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
someone didn't read war and peace
posted by elizardbits at 7:23 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by elizardbits at 7:23 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I think this is a compelling example of what I've come to call meta-snobbery.
A snob says, "Any intelligent person should read Melville".
A meta-snob says, "Everyone lies about reading Melville. Melville's boring. Nobody reads Melville."
And I think meta-snobbery is both more prevalent and toxic today than old-school snobbery. Meta-snobbery implies not only that what you like is wrong, but that you're disingenuous in claiming to like it. It takes a faux-populist angle, so it seems like the voice of reason. But it's actually elitist on a deeper, more nihilistic level.
"Hipster" is a great example of meta-snobbery.
posted by liminalrampaste at 7:24 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
A snob says, "Any intelligent person should read Melville".
A meta-snob says, "Everyone lies about reading Melville. Melville's boring. Nobody reads Melville."
And I think meta-snobbery is both more prevalent and toxic today than old-school snobbery. Meta-snobbery implies not only that what you like is wrong, but that you're disingenuous in claiming to like it. It takes a faux-populist angle, so it seems like the voice of reason. But it's actually elitist on a deeper, more nihilistic level.
"Hipster" is a great example of meta-snobbery.
posted by liminalrampaste at 7:24 PM on October 26, 2011 [2 favorites]
Why is "dostoevsky" a tag?
Looks like someone hasn't read War and Peace! STONE THEM!
posted by grapesaresour at 7:24 PM on October 26, 2011
Looks like someone hasn't read War and Peace! STONE THEM!
posted by grapesaresour at 7:24 PM on October 26, 2011
God I am so tired of that trend in lazy click fodder. "X things" articles are like some "Idiot's Guide to Selling Copy on the Internet" version of content generation. I'll be glad when it goes out of fashion.Except they will never go out of fashion, because apparently the "must click through the list of things I recognize" part of my brain is immutable. I actually had to block cracked on my Mozilla because I asked myself "god, how much time do I have to waste on lists of stupid shit I disagree with?"
Or in terms that metafilter will understand: xkcd's take
posted by midmarch snowman at 7:25 PM on October 26, 2011
Why is "dostoevsky" a tag?
Because the author of this piece is an idiot.
posted by Jacob G at 7:26 PM on October 26, 2011
Because the author of this piece is an idiot.
posted by Jacob G at 7:26 PM on October 26, 2011
I haven’t seen Citizen Kane, and I absolutely love movies.
I don't understand this sentence. It breaks halfway through.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:28 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't understand this sentence. It breaks halfway through.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:28 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
5 years since I've owned a working TV
Hey, why not get it fixed?
posted by davebush at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011
Hey, why not get it fixed?
posted by davebush at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011
7 Better Pop Culture Things People Lie About That I Came Up With As Fast As I Can Type [insert porno sidebar]:
1. Liking new Radiohead more than old Radiohead.
2. Enjoying yoga.
3. Having reading Ulysses.
4. Being able to taste the difference in wines.
5. Not sticking things up their bums.
6. Not doing drugs.
7. Hating pop music.
posted by jimmythefish at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
1. Liking new Radiohead more than old Radiohead.
2. Enjoying yoga.
3. Having reading Ulysses.
4. Being able to taste the difference in wines.
5. Not sticking things up their bums.
6. Not doing drugs.
7. Hating pop music.
posted by jimmythefish at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011 [4 favorites]
People actually want others to think they read The New Yorker? Willingly?
posted by katillathehun at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by katillathehun at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011
The thing about watching Citizen Kane now is it's like watching Casablanca with someone who has never seen it before. They think the movie is full of cliches and it all feels like it's been ripped off.
The problem is, they are the source for what has been ripped off, so the familiarity precedes the knowledge of the source. It's kind of backwards.
Really, the best thing is to get someone who has never seen them to watch those movies with you, like, 3 times over the course of a weekend. The first time through is generally wasted with the sense of deja vu the person experiences. By the time the third viewing is done, they have gotten beyond that feeling and can appreciate the films in their own right, and thus can begin to appreciate their genius.
posted by hippybear at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
The problem is, they are the source for what has been ripped off, so the familiarity precedes the knowledge of the source. It's kind of backwards.
Really, the best thing is to get someone who has never seen them to watch those movies with you, like, 3 times over the course of a weekend. The first time through is generally wasted with the sense of deja vu the person experiences. By the time the third viewing is done, they have gotten beyond that feeling and can appreciate the films in their own right, and thus can begin to appreciate their genius.
posted by hippybear at 7:30 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I haven’t seen Citizen Kane, and I absolutely love movies.
I don't understand this sentence. It breaks halfway through.
Yeah, you're gonna need to get on that.
posted by sweetkid at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2011
the "must click through the list of things I recognize" part of my brain is immutable. -- Not to mention the fact that a post on metafilter linking to just such a list has generated more than 1½ comments per minute since it was created.
posted by crunchland at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by crunchland at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2011
Surely it's 'whatever is most likely to get your companion back home and into bed with you'?
posted by Abiezer at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by Abiezer at 7:31 PM on October 26, 2011
FWIW: Don't like Terry Gross. Diane Rehm is da bomb, though. This American Life is awesome, too, as is Science Fridays.
Okay, I don't mean to derail, but WHAT!? I respect Diane Rehm's courage to come back from her vocal cord disorder, but tolerating her voice is a hit or miss prospect for me. But Terry Gross is like the Willie Mayes of conversational interviewing. She's not just good, its exciting to watch her play the game. She made Gene Simmons cry for crissakes.
posted by midmarch snowman at 7:32 PM on October 26, 2011
Okay, I don't mean to derail, but WHAT!? I respect Diane Rehm's courage to come back from her vocal cord disorder, but tolerating her voice is a hit or miss prospect for me. But Terry Gross is like the Willie Mayes of conversational interviewing. She's not just good, its exciting to watch her play the game. She made Gene Simmons cry for crissakes.
posted by midmarch snowman at 7:32 PM on October 26, 2011
I thought the link would be about, say, how 83% of people who claim to hate Billy Joel have secretly listened to "Uptown Girl" on repeat, singing along with the oh-whoa-oh-oh-oh-oh backup vocals. In the past week.
That's way more fun than pretending to have an opinion about a book you just don't really feel like reading.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:33 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
That's way more fun than pretending to have an opinion about a book you just don't really feel like reading.
posted by Metroid Baby at 7:33 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Why are many of you engaging this baseless, dumbass article by listing the things you concur with or disagree about? Everything you say could be true and the cretin who wrote it might still be right -- they still might be "7 things in pop culture that people lie about most often."
The better tack is to lie about more things having to do with pop culture, as some of you are doing. But that only affects the size of the complementary population. You also have to go out and kill everyone who lies about these seven things. Then you will have proven the bastard wrong.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 7:35 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
The better tack is to lie about more things having to do with pop culture, as some of you are doing. But that only affects the size of the complementary population. You also have to go out and kill everyone who lies about these seven things. Then you will have proven the bastard wrong.
posted by Clyde Mnestra at 7:35 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Here is the most Upper West Side thing I have ever done: when my wife about 10 hours into labor - there was a long pause - and we listened to Fresh Air podcasts for a few hours while she dozed.
posted by shothotbot at 7:36 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
posted by shothotbot at 7:36 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
The thing about watching Citizen Kane now is it's like watching Casablanca with someone who has never seen it before. They think the movie is full of cliches and it all feels like it's been ripped off.
I don't really find that true for either of those movies. I mean, Rocky, sure, Halloween definitely, sex lies and videotape is tough to see fresh, but the closest Casablanca comes to re-done cliches is that it has a bunch of iconic lines that folks might not realize are from something. The plot doesn't have like a ton of twists that have been mimicked to death. Same with Kane-- you maybe don't recognize how revolutionary the flashback structure, usage of handheld footage, etc. are for 1941, but the intricacies of themes and images and character are just as good as they've always been. The only thing that I can imagine seeming cliched in Citizen Kane is the reveal at the end, which isn't even the point.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:38 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I don't really find that true for either of those movies. I mean, Rocky, sure, Halloween definitely, sex lies and videotape is tough to see fresh, but the closest Casablanca comes to re-done cliches is that it has a bunch of iconic lines that folks might not realize are from something. The plot doesn't have like a ton of twists that have been mimicked to death. Same with Kane-- you maybe don't recognize how revolutionary the flashback structure, usage of handheld footage, etc. are for 1941, but the intricacies of themes and images and character are just as good as they've always been. The only thing that I can imagine seeming cliched in Citizen Kane is the reveal at the end, which isn't even the point.
posted by shakespeherian at 7:38 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
I do think Citizen Kane is the greatest movie, and I can tell you my favorite part. Actually, parts: Bernstein remembering that girl he saw once, Kane destroying the room, the whole opera montage, and the song-and-dance number to Kane at the height of his empire is tremendously catchy.
And I also like NPR. They have their faults and are often toothless, but it beats listening to Clear Channel or talk radio.
And I like the New Yorker, or at least when they have a good reporting article or Talk of the Town.
Team Kilborn? Good god.
posted by JHarris at 7:44 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
And I also like NPR. They have their faults and are often toothless, but it beats listening to Clear Channel or talk radio.
And I like the New Yorker, or at least when they have a good reporting article or Talk of the Town.
Team Kilborn? Good god.
posted by JHarris at 7:44 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]
Well, with Casablanca, if you think it hasn't been ripped off beyond having a few iconic lines, it's possible that you're too familiar with it already and don't realize how often movies across the intervening decades have deliberately mimicked a lot of its scenes in various ways over the years.
The thing is, it's a brilliant movie in its own right. But the last time I tried to watch it with someone who knew movies from, say, the past 40 years but not much earlier, they spent the entire time incredulous that a single movie could contain so many moments which were already familiar to him. It wasn't until a few viewings later that he finally clued in that it is the source of all those other scenes.
It isn't about the plot, it's about the presentation. Same with Kane. That's what has been hashed and rehashed. Their influence extends far beyond mere plot.
posted by hippybear at 7:44 PM on October 26, 2011
The thing is, it's a brilliant movie in its own right. But the last time I tried to watch it with someone who knew movies from, say, the past 40 years but not much earlier, they spent the entire time incredulous that a single movie could contain so many moments which were already familiar to him. It wasn't until a few viewings later that he finally clued in that it is the source of all those other scenes.
It isn't about the plot, it's about the presentation. Same with Kane. That's what has been hashed and rehashed. Their influence extends far beyond mere plot.
posted by hippybear at 7:44 PM on October 26, 2011
On the other hand, I find that I Love Lucy is pretty much unwatchable because A) I've seen every episode so many times, I couldn't bear to watch another one again, and B) every single sitcom made since they were made is just a variation on the same theme.
posted by crunchland at 7:44 PM on October 26, 2011
posted by crunchland at 7:44 PM on October 26, 2011
« Older Assault on the Minibar | One minute and 18 seconds of pure joy Newer »
This thread has been archived and is closed to new comments
It was confusing and boring and way, way too long, just like high school, so I suppose it was more or less a wash.
posted by restless_nomad at 6:59 PM on October 26, 2011 [1 favorite]