“It’s hard to be humble when you as great as I am.”
I’ve just finished watching an interview with Muhammad Ali from 1972, pulled from the archive and broadcast tonight on RTÉ One. The programme was called “When Ali Met Cathal”, and it’s a simply outstanding piece of television.
Ali was an interviewer’s dream. Such an iconic character. So intelligent, so opinionated, so charming and disarming. He made for great television. And I’m so glad somebody in RTÉ decided to broadcast this piece again tonight as I’d never seen it before now.
Shot in glorious black and white, in front of a live studio audience, it holds up impeccably. Cathal O’Shannon posed the questions, with a light amiable touch. And it certainly was a great encounter. Ali just lets go with his thoughts on everything from racism and slavery to the fame of The Beatles and on to the cult of personality in modern sport. He was also very aware of his Irish audience and craftily tailored many of his answers to suit. Confident, delightfully arrogant, and sharp as a tack; the man talked a lot of sense. It makes for really engaging viewing.
Also his self-composed poetry about the the black man’s struggle for equality and his delivery of same were remarkable. I wasn’t aware he had written such telling verses. Cracking stuff altogether, his projection along the lines of Gil Scott Heron meeting Allen Ginsberg in a boxing ring.
Another great thing about the programme is this… there were no gimmicks, no explosions, no house band, no viewers prize. Just an extremely compelling one on one interview. Granted not every interviewee is Muhammad Ali. Yet it still serves as a reminder that TV does not have to be all-singing, all-dancing. In fact simplicity is rare. But very often, simplicity works.
It’s just the way of the streets…
Having read Rosie’s short and sweet review, I went to see the Irish movie Kisses last night at the stunning Lighthouse Cinema in Smithfield. It’s flawed, sure, and not strikingly original but that said it’s a fine, tender movie. Well worth a tenner of your hard earned.
Written and directed by Lance Daly, Kisses tells a Dublin story in a real, true to life way and it’s rare enough we see such on our big screens. It’s not twee or patronising and for that, and more besides, it must be commended. Here comes the pigeonholing… Prosperity meets Pavee Lackeen meets Les Amants du Pont-Neuf meets Somers Town. All on the mean streets and canals of Dublin, carefully told with the right accent.
When I got home I stumbled upon a new Louis Theroux documentary on BBC2. Called Law and Disorder in Philadelphia, it’s a really fine, engaging doc. Theroux joins the Philadelphia Police Department patrolling the most dangerous neighbourhoods of one of the most violent cities in America. Ross Kemp on Gangs it isn’t. Thankfully.
As he takes to the violent, crack infested streets, with Philadelphia’s rapid response team, Theroux is way out of his usual quirky comfort zone. Yet it really works. His trips in the backs of squad cars took him from addict to dealer to killer to corpse. The level of access was amazing and the insight given frightening. There were no holds barred as Theroux spoke to cops and killers in equal measure, resplendent in his stab vest.
Theroux has a way of getting people to trust him, confide in him and engage with him. Even when standing beside a recently deceased, freshly OD’ed junkie. A shocking yet compelling portrait of a city where drug dealers work on every corner. In “Killadelphia” homicide and thug life are “just the way of the streets”.
By its very nature America is a very fragmented country but this doc shone new light, for me at least, on how broken urban America actually is. Broken in a way that no-one, Barack Obama included, will ever fix or even finetune. The American dream has a dark underbelly and a lack of faith in the police and “the system” itself mean neighbourhoods, black ones in particular, won’t be in any state other than disarray for a long time yet.
And it set me to thinking of how good we have it here in Ireland, in relative terms. Of course we have our societal ills along similar lines. And the film Kisses details much of those ills in a realistic, gritty way. Heroin problems and homelessness are there for all to see in inner city Dublin. And of course our papers have headlines blazing about Gang Wars etc. But we’re nowhere near the shocking implosion seen in Theroux’s Philadelphia doc.
Here, there’s much less a gap between government and people. Our institutions seem closer to those on the ground. Our welfare system does have its merits. And our police don’t carry guns. It all just seems more normal and stable. Not quite dreamland but it could be a whole lot worse.
One final thought… Philadelphia’s junkies seem so polite, eloquent and engaging in comparison to their monosyllabic, monotonous, skaggish Dublin cousins. Why is that I wonder?
Raw when new, ripened with age…
There was sex. And lots of it. There were drugs. And there was rock n roll. With some fine electronica thrown in for good measure. All washed down with plenty of booze. There was love, mostly unrequited, lust, fire and rain. And lots of smashing plates.
And so it goes. Raw finished last night. There have been good and great Irish drama series in recent years (Bachelors Walk, Love is the Drug, Pure Mule etc) but I feel Raw has raised the bar. It looked and felt like a proper series. Not perfect I know but no series is (Sopranos, Entourage included!). it’s flaws were what made it human, maybe. It wasn’t strikingly original yet it still felt current and vibrant. Dublin looked fantastic, modern and thriving. Adjectives which could equally be applied to Raw on the whole.
So Mal left his knives behind him, downed a brandy and walked off into the night. Geoff and Pavel finally got it on in public. How romantic. Laura will be delighted! But JoJo and Bobby didn’t. Series 2 anyone?
One criticism is, I feel, JoJo didn’t develop enough as a character, didn’t overcome any obstacles or learn anything about herself. And for that matter Bobby didn’t really either so they’ve a way to go if another series gets the green light.
And Tiny finally spoke. “I told you so”. Great stuff! Give that lad his own series.
I thought the choice of track (Ian Brown’s The World Is Yours) for the culmination of the closing scene was spot on. A great track. Epic but not over the top. Hats off for that choice and for the series’ soundtrack which was generally excellent. Bring slowly to the boil and stir. Indeed.
On the RTÉ microsite, Raw was described as “a warm and exhilarating 6 part ensemble relationship drama set in the most highly charged of environments”. And it did exactly what it said on the tin. It certainly simmered for six episodes. I’m sure it’ll be back. For some it can’t come soon enough.
Watch all episodes here.
Me No Raw…
I didn’t get to see last night’s episode of Raw due to circumstances beyond my control that are way too boring to go into here!
Was it any good? Were there lots of smash bang wallop moments as predicted by the previous week’s teaser? Fill me in!
Howd’ya like them apples?!?
Raw, Image (c) rte.ie
So episode 3 of Raw was on last night. I thought it was the best yet. The writing was/is very sharp. Some cracking one-liners and put downs. The tension and drama are coming along nicely, narrative arcs are well on the way with new twists and turns to complement them.
The setting for last night’s episode, the customer-less empty restaurant with the rain and wind lashing outside, gave the scenarios a real claustrophobic feel, they were almost trapped within the restaurant. And this worked a treat.
The performances have been generally quite good. Keith McErlean as Shane is excellent. Understated and subtle. Charlene McKenna as JoJo is always close to the edge but never over the top, a fine actress. And the rest of the characters are well cast, well directed and well played. A well chosen, on form ensemble.
Something I questioned earlier was the chemistry between Bobby and Rebecca but even that is developing nicely. And even Geoff has become less of a one dimensional, stock character. He has more depth now which is no harm. One downsight was Mal’s post-cocaine high. It was way over the top in forcing home the point. A bit of easy plotting from the writer’s, as a character device it was a little stereotypical and could’ve been handled in a more subtle way.
Raw still proves to be quite divisive with audiences, particularly over at LouderVoice. Some love it, some can’t stand it.
I was wrong about the look of Raw. It looks really good. Nicely shot, smooth grading work, peaking not an issue as I previously thought. So hats off to those involved.
One last thing on Raw, I wonder do they give away a little too much with their “on next week’s show” teaser?
The Apprentice, Image (c) tv3.ie
The Apprentice on TV3 was much slicker than I expected in truth. Very nicely shot and lit. Lovely aerial shots and tightly cut for the hero and villain approach. The contestants are very aware of themselves and how they are portrayed. And businessy type people can be highly irritating, full of buzz words and morkeshing speak. They all know the format and how it works. But the real drama is watching them squirm and blame each other for failing to close the big deal. The deal in question, selling a few bananas.
And sometimes it’s hard to take Dr Bill seriously; Tom Dunne’s fault really.
But all in all The Apprentice is somewhat engaging. And again, like Raw it’s always more engrossing when the accents are familiar and local. I reckon it’ll do very well ratings wise and about time TV3 produced something home-grown to such a high standard. Their website is quite nice too, fairly comprehensive.
Last night I also watched Massive on BBC 3. It’s an alleged comedy starring Ralf Little and Johnny Vegas but it’s neither original nor funny. In fact I’ve seen it before, every scenario, every character, the bigger picture. It’s not big and it’s not clever as Bryan Boyd might say.
Raise your raw skinny fists to Hopeland….
On Sunday evening I braved the biblical downpour that befell Dublin and made my way through the Iveagh Gardens to find comfort in the very cosy Spiegel Tent to witness The Electric Picture Palace. And I wasn’t disappointed. Well not by the music anyway. 3EpKano were superb. Subtle yet cinematic. Always starting sparsely before building gently to stunning crescendos. I was suitably impressed. And the sound of the rain hitting the tent provided the perfect compliment.
Musically 3EpKano strike me as a cross between Godspeed You Black Emperor and Sigur Rós, sans vocals. That said they are their own band with their own sound. Had I the talent or the dedication, they’re the kind of group I would love to be part of. Here’s a video…
I was however disappointed by the visuals. They were supposed to be the foremost element of The Electric Picture Palace. So much so that 3EpKano were literally hidden behind the 2 projector screens. I understand Donal Dineen had technical issues but that doesn’t explain some of the poor visuals work. It’s almost as if he didn’t know the music at times or how it would develop. Instinct and timing are central to good visuals at a gig and neither of these were in strong supply. Some of the visuals were quite effective but technically the display left a lot to be desired. Transitions were poor, use of layering and FX unimaginative, and there was over-reliance on the same stock clips.
I expected better given Dineen’s talent and having read this before the gig. He’s a fine DJ. And his work on early No Disco was often pioneering but maybe visuals are not his forte. This felt like a vanity project for him but if you’re gonna put yourself on a pedestal in this way back it up with some substance. A lighting rabbit and some unimaginative visuals weren’t enough. In this instance it would’ve been better served if the visuals supported the band and not the other way around.
The Paddy McGuinness gig last night in the Olympia was ok. Nothing more nothing less. As mentioned in a previous dispatch the ticket was free and expectations were low. There were some laughs but the material wasn’t top notch and McGuinness owes a huge debt to Peter Kay for his career as a whole but also for his delivery style and type of material. I like comedy with a bit of originality, a bit of edge and McGuinness provides neither. That said he’s a likeable enough stand-up in a cheeky chappy, Northern England, working class kinda way. But all in all a mediocre gig that finished at quarter past ten. If I’d paid €30 for a ticket I’d be disappointed.
When I got home I watched a bit of TV. Unfortunately I didn’t get to see episode 2 of the divisive Raw last night due to the comedy gig but I watched it this morning. I thought it picked up nicely where episode one left off. Similar energy and drive, characters and arcs are developing nicely. Again some flaws but not enough to get in the way of the enjoyment. Some nice twists. And again some well chosen music on the soundtrack. From The Ronettes to Jape, Hanson to the Chemical Brothers. Good work. Watch episode 2 here.
Last night I also watched The Dark Side of Fame with Piers Morgan. It got up close and personal with comedian Jim Davidson and pulled very few punches. Davidson doesn’t come out of it with much credit. Wrecked a few marriages and blames everyone but himself for his indiscretions and general arsehole-ish ways. In fact he’s quite a detestable human being. He’s shown to be racist and homophobic in equal measure. An online forum described him as thus… “I think Hitler and Ian Huntley would be more tasteful.” But I couldn’t help pitying him. An interesting programme. The kind of show Ryan Confidential wishes it could be.
Read Mike Ashley’s statement regarding the state of affairs at Newcastle Football Club. It’s very interesting, well worth a gander. Just goes to show how quickly it can all go sour in Premiership football and how money can be literally thrown away by the million.
Raw? It does exactly what it says on the tin…
From rte.ie (c)
Some dictionary definitions of the adjective raw…
Uncooked. Powerfully impressive. Not processed or refined. Cruel and unfair. Outspoken; crude. Stark. Naked. Fresh.
I tuned in to the new drama series Raw on RTÉ last night. And I was certainly impressed. Maybe not powerfully so but it’s early yet. Raw certainly felt fresh and, in ways, unrefined. And in that same vein, it also felt, at times, crude and outspoken, but that’s in no way meant as a criticism. Drama shouldn’t feel safe and warm at all times. A bit of bawdiness is sometimes necessary to stir up emotion, create tension and drive conflict and Raw doesn’t fall short on of any of those.
RTÉ’s blurb describes Raw as thus…
A six-part drama series set around the heady world of a top Irish
restaurant. Sharp and contemporary, Raw explores the true friendships,
bitter rivalries and unexpected passions that emerge in the
heat of the kitchen of an up-and-coming Dublin restaurant
And it’s not far wrong. Irish audiences want to see Irish settings, Irish characters, Irish stories and naked Irish skin. And Raw ticks all the necessary boxes.
Raw deserves a wide audience. It felt organic, it felt like a real, grown-up drama regardless of its nationality. The direction was spot on, nicely cut and very well cast. Good location work too, Dublin looked great. The music worked, wasn’t overly invasive. In fact the choices of Neo-Supervital and Underworld on the soundtrack were inspired.
There were mostly positives but some flaws. Particularly the unoriginal relationship, and moreso, the lack of chemistry between Bobby and Rebecca. Some plot points were a little loose, some devices formulaic but there were unexpected twists and turns that worked a treat.
I’m not entirely sure if I love the look of the show (ie, the cinematography). There’s lots of high contrast, high key exposures and video doesn’t usually like too much peaking, HD or otherwise. I’ll have to have a look at the second installment before I make up my mind. That said it was nicely shot, framing and shot selection were spot on and the camera moved when it needed to. It was also nice to see some of Maser’s fine work featured. I wonder was he consulted?!?
Home-produced drama has been improving year on year. There have been some duds but plenty of successes, on both RTÉ and TG4. So both must be commended. So much so that I feel, in Ireland, we make better TV drama than we do cinema. But that’s for another post, another day.
We’ll see how Raw develops but for the moment I’m liking the menu. All in all an appetite-whetting starter.
Episode One can be watched here.
On another note, the Raw microsite on rte.ie is really quite cool. Some nice behind the scenes interviews, tracklistings, downloadable ringtones (?) and even some cookery demonstrations. So hats off to those involved for such a professional endeavour.
