Couple of recent viewings…

Last night, Mad Hot Ballroom, the documentary that follows a couple of schools as they work with children competing in the city-wide 5th grade ballroom dancing competition. Like Spellbound, it focuses on how this kind of competition embodies the American dream and hope of success, particularly for immigrants. The ballroom dancing brings another element into the picture – how that activity teaches values that these children would not be learning anywhere else, because our culture doesn’t value them: respect, restraint, attentiveness and a sense of formality.

Taken as a whole, I think I liked Spellbound better for one simple reason: the interviews with the children. 5th graders can only say so much and are only so articulate, and most of these children came from similar backgrouns. The Spellbound young people were a bit older, more articulate, and came from wildly diverse backgrounds – there was more to interest than simply the suspense of the competition.

Tonight the 1946 version of The Postman Always Rings Twice.  Film Noir? Well, yes, but time really is not kind to the careful, yet ironically over-dramatic emoting of Lana Turner and John Garfield. Hume Cronyn, as an attorney, breezes in with a natural, theater-honed manner that’s far easier for the modern viewer to take – almost a relief. Relief punctured by the pretty wretched "I get it now!" ending of Garfield on his way to the gas chamber, which I’m trusting was not part of Cain’s novel. No, if I’m going to raise some Cain, give me Double Indemnity any time.