daralad

Will you love this as much as it loves itself? Thats quite an ask cos this show sure loves itself in a self refefential, smug, knowing kind of way; at least thats the way it comes across to me.

There have been shows before where actors and celebrities have played themselves in parody form (none better than the superb larry sanders show) in order to lampoon the industry, but that alone does not a good show make, it still needs to be funny (like the larry sanders show) and whilst the studio is knowing and probably kind of accurate, its just no rib tickler, daft in places ifvim honest. Now the great thing about a show that's hilario is that it delivers laughs to all, but this mainly delivers knowing nods to chums in the industry who make up a tiny fraction of the audience of a successful show.

And while i can appreciate the skill involved in shooting an entire episode in one shot, making sure to pepper the script with references to other 'oners', it felt a bit gimmicky by the end.

Its not that this has nothing to offer, it has Kathryn Hahn, Bryan Cranston and Catherine O Hara, but it falls well short of what a cast and budget like this should be delivering. After 3 episodes i dont think ill be bothering to watch any more.

The great sage once said "The universe does not explain itself to the monkey, but the monkey may explain itself to the universe".

And so the monkey jabbered away, till those jabberings took form in the shape of stories, and those stories developed structures, themes, universal truths and fairytalian motifs, that are evident in the earliest cultures from the four corners of the world.

But in the Avant Garde movie age these accepted structures are not necessary to tell the tale and get the point across. Meaningful dialogue with plot points and exposition are not always needed to emphasise the fickle nature of life where every conversation is not tightly scripted and intent is not immediately apparent. And so it is with Days of Heaven where words and dialogue are sometimes drowned out by machinery and background noise, or snippets of conversation can drift along the breeze of a hazy sunny evening with no obvious audience. Motives are less obvious but they gradually come to light as opportunities arise and are grasped.

In deliberately saying less one can say more about many elements of different lives, and inconsequential behaviour can suddenly become meaningful. It is true that this broad, panoramic approach can cater to the thespianic inadequacies of some of the cast, soz Rob, but others can just float along on it.

The narration, a feature of so many Mallick movies, fills in the gaps where required while not labouring any particular point, just keeping the pace rolling and ensuring the viewer nows that the great wheel of time keeps rolling.

And then there is the beautiful Summer evening light.

There is a world where the sun shines every day, sweet baa lambs bleat in the pasture, a rainbow traverses the sky and bunnies hop hither and tither.

Michael Haneke does not live in this world.

In his realm the sheep and rabbits are feasted upon by soul wraiths with seven faces each more terrible than the last, the sky has given up hope and the elements shriek "Why?"

And it is from this realm that the bundle of joy that is the Seventh Continent comes. Give up hope all ye who view this for it does not bode well, no it does not bode well at all. The characters know this from the beginning and have accepted their fate as they plod through the monotony of everyday existence, with many mundane scenes repeated, as they advance slowly toward the inevitable end. Exceptional acting is not necessary in this gloomation as the camera work and direction leave no room for hope, not the slightest sliver, which no doubt pleases Haneke.

What of the story you say? Aye, I have heard of them, but this be more a thing that happens, like an avalanche in the distance that only fools would get too close to, but you can hear it's rumble and can be in no doubt that it means only one thing: Doom!

Doom, Doom, Doom, Doom! And a 6/10 from me.