Welcome to DU!
The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards.
Join the community:
Create a free account
Support DU (and get rid of ads!):
Become a Star Member
Latest Breaking News
General Discussion
The DU Lounge
All Forums
Issue Forums
Culture Forums
Alliance Forums
Region Forums
Support Forums
Help & Search
Tom Yossarian Joad
Tom Yossarian Joad's Journal
Tom Yossarian Joad's Journal
April 16, 2024
Weekly drops. The first one played well for me.
'The Sympathizer' challenges U.S. 'savior complex' in Vietnam War, stars Hoa Xuande and Sandra Oh say
The stars of the HBO series say that the show reframes the narrative to center the plight of Vietnamese people who lived through it, rather than on the sacrifices of American soldiers.
The fall of Saigon has been a commonly depicted subject across Western media, but the portrayal in the new HBO drama series “The Sympathizer” — in which panicked families attempt to flee Vietnam under heavy fire — barely features any American GI. And that’s no coincidence, cast members say.
Hoa Xuande, who plays the main character only known to viewers as “the Captain,” and Sandra Oh, who plays his love interest, the sharp Sofia Mori, said that the show is meant to challenge dominant perceptions of the war. It reframes the narrative to center the plight of Vietnamese people who lived through it, rather than on the sacrifices of American soldiers.
“Depictions of the evacuation, especially through the American media … is the GI soldiers pulling ‘helpless’ Vietnamese people to the helicopters,” Xuande said. “It’s that savior complex that Americans have … that they’re at the forefront of this story helping, Vietnamese people who couldn’t apparently help themselves.”
/snip
more at https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/sympathizer-sandra-oh-hoa-xuande-rcna147587
The Sympathizer. Downey? Izzat you?
Weekly drops. The first one played well for me.
'The Sympathizer' challenges U.S. 'savior complex' in Vietnam War, stars Hoa Xuande and Sandra Oh say
The stars of the HBO series say that the show reframes the narrative to center the plight of Vietnamese people who lived through it, rather than on the sacrifices of American soldiers.
The fall of Saigon has been a commonly depicted subject across Western media, but the portrayal in the new HBO drama series “The Sympathizer” — in which panicked families attempt to flee Vietnam under heavy fire — barely features any American GI. And that’s no coincidence, cast members say.
Hoa Xuande, who plays the main character only known to viewers as “the Captain,” and Sandra Oh, who plays his love interest, the sharp Sofia Mori, said that the show is meant to challenge dominant perceptions of the war. It reframes the narrative to center the plight of Vietnamese people who lived through it, rather than on the sacrifices of American soldiers.
“Depictions of the evacuation, especially through the American media … is the GI soldiers pulling ‘helpless’ Vietnamese people to the helicopters,” Xuande said. “It’s that savior complex that Americans have … that they’re at the forefront of this story helping, Vietnamese people who couldn’t apparently help themselves.”
/snip
more at https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/sympathizer-sandra-oh-hoa-xuande-rcna147587
April 14, 2024
My admission: (match it if you dare)
Filled our large bong with Annie Green Springs and then drank it after several bowls.
(Yeach)
Back in the 70's so I'm guessing the statute of limitations has passed by a bit. 
April 14, 2024
Lots of twists and turns,
Anthracite on Netflix
I found it to be a surprisingly good black mystery from France. Six episodes of 45 minutes.
Lots of twists and turns,
April 13, 2024
If you have never seen this then you have truly missed THE classic thriller from 1967.
You can catch it for free on TUBI.
March 23, 2024
3 Body Problem: series created by David Benioff, D. B. Weiss and Alexander Woo
Just finished the first episode and am thinking this is going to be one of those that will talked about for some time to come. Streaming now on Netflix in a complete 1st season release.
A good spoiler free review here: https://www.npr.org/2024/03/22/1239945610/3-body-problem-review-netflix-sci-fi
March 22, 2024
In the tradition of Troma Films and Ewe Boll, Only to be watched with edibles. Hubcap
Remarkably cheap film making that includes all the schlock one could ever want. Streaming on Tubi for free or for a few bucks on Prime. Knows what it is and revels in it.
March 16, 2024
It's been years, if I try to tune out the very dated synth music let me see if it holds the test of time.
John Carpenter's 1986 film Big Trouble in Little China was a box office failure during its original release. However, it has grown to become a beloved cult film in the years since. The movie follows truck driver Jack Burton, played by Kurt Russell, as he stumbles into the mysterious world of the Chinatown underground, home to an ancient sorcerer who attempts to free himself from a centuries-old curse. The film is a martial arts action-comedy, but it also functions as a commentary on the white male power fantasy in cinema. Jack Burton has all the trappings of a typical leading man who would serve the stereotypical wish-fulfillment role, yet the film undercuts that power ideal at every opportunity.
Watching Big Trouble in Little China on AMC+, ask me anything!
It's been years, if I try to tune out the very dated synth music let me see if it holds the test of time.
John Carpenter's 1986 film Big Trouble in Little China was a box office failure during its original release. However, it has grown to become a beloved cult film in the years since. The movie follows truck driver Jack Burton, played by Kurt Russell, as he stumbles into the mysterious world of the Chinatown underground, home to an ancient sorcerer who attempts to free himself from a centuries-old curse. The film is a martial arts action-comedy, but it also functions as a commentary on the white male power fantasy in cinema. Jack Burton has all the trappings of a typical leading man who would serve the stereotypical wish-fulfillment role, yet the film undercuts that power ideal at every opportunity.
March 12, 2024
Three seasons now streaming.
From Wiki:
Grace is a British television crime drama series, based in the English city of Brighton & Hove, that stars John Simm in the title role of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a dogged detective who, haunted by the disappearance of his wife some years previously, solves a variety of cases.[1]
The series, based on the bestselling novels by novelist Peter James,[2] was adapted by acclaimed screenwriter Russell Lewis, with a pair of films, comprising the novels Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead, filmed in 2020 for broadcast in 2021.[3] Dead Simple, broadcast in March 2021, attracted an estimated 7.2m viewers, which made it the fifth-most-watched programme for the week of 8–14 March, according to BARB.[4]
Following strong viewing figures for the opening episode, a second series of three films was then commissioned in 2021, with broadcasting beginning in May 2022.[5] A third series was subsequently commissioned in 2022, with filming beginning in August 2022 and broadcasting starting in March 2023.[6]
Enjoying Grace on Britbox great mystery/cop show
Three seasons now streaming.
From Wiki:
Grace is a British television crime drama series, based in the English city of Brighton & Hove, that stars John Simm in the title role of Detective Superintendent Roy Grace, a dogged detective who, haunted by the disappearance of his wife some years previously, solves a variety of cases.[1]
The series, based on the bestselling novels by novelist Peter James,[2] was adapted by acclaimed screenwriter Russell Lewis, with a pair of films, comprising the novels Dead Simple and Looking Good Dead, filmed in 2020 for broadcast in 2021.[3] Dead Simple, broadcast in March 2021, attracted an estimated 7.2m viewers, which made it the fifth-most-watched programme for the week of 8–14 March, according to BARB.[4]
Following strong viewing figures for the opening episode, a second series of three films was then commissioned in 2021, with broadcasting beginning in May 2022.[5] A third series was subsequently commissioned in 2022, with filming beginning in August 2022 and broadcasting starting in March 2023.[6]
Profile Information
Member since: 2003 before July 6thNumber of posts: 19,227
