Film & Television

[Nique]

I'm not really sure what I want this thread to be about specifically, but I think a lot of us enjoy talking about tv and movies from a somewhat more critical perspective.

I'm re-watching some shows via Netflix. Right now I'm almost finished with Malcolm in the Middle. I think inverting the typical family sitcom from a lower-middle-class perspective became it's own trope as soon as The Simpsons hit the air but the structure of Malcolm in the Middle was pretty interesting and the show is another really good example of a single-camera/ no laugh-track sitcom. I think one of the show's strengths from seasons 1 through 5 were the parallel stories about Francis in nearly every episode. There was so little 'filler' within any given episode that every one felt like a 45 minute show rather than the 22 minutes used. It was showing signs of loosing steam once the fifth kid came along but there are still a lot of strong moments.

For example, in the season 7 opener the family visits Burning Man and everyone thinks that Hal is performing an art piece skewering the 'banality of suburban life' when he's just obsessing over the fake lawn he's set up around their RV. There was something very common about the punchline but the joke was so well executed that I couldn't help but admire it. And I was also laughing out loud.

Anyway, talk about some aspects of good film, or explore a specific show.