O Captain, My Captain

Earlier this week, the world lost an amazing comedian, entertainer, and man: Robin Williams.


http://uptownmagazine.com/files/2014/08/o-ROBIN-WILLIAMS-facebook.jpg

I don't want to spend much time talking about the tragic circumstances surrounding his death. My only comment is to say that if you are suffering, at all, from depression, please get help. You are not alone and you are worthy of life, and you deserve to get help. Suicide is not the answer.

Robin Williams spent his time on Earth bringing joy to the world. He was a hilarious man; his ability to do voices and impressions was astounding. I have a special place in my heart for the Genie from Aladdin, which really allowed Williams to show off his excellent talent in creating different characters. "Friend Like Me" and "Prince Ali" are two of my favorite songs of all time.

It was only a few months ago that I saw The Birdcage for the first time, and I thoroughly enjoyed it. It was hilarious, and also revolutionary for its time. Williams' portrayal of a successful gay businessman in a long-term, committed relationship with Nathan Lane's character was unprecedented. And who can forget the wonders of Mrs. Doubtfire? Yes, the makeup helped Williams out quite a bit, but it was his incredible talent for character-creating that really set that movie apart - and made us all laugh!

I also particularly loved Williams' more serious roles, such as Sean Maguire in Good Will Hunting and, of course, John Keating in Dead Poets Society (the movie from which the title of this post came). Williams was a comedic genius, that goes without saying, but he was also a brilliant actor and entertainer in all types of roles. He will be sorely missed.

RIP, Robin Williams.

Focus: Desperate Housewives

I recently spent the majority of my second semester of my freshman year of college on Wisteria Lane, in the wonderful, zany, drama- and romance-ridden world of Desperate Housewives.


https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY1QbkPTZA8Ef4dG4aVYLL7C2rTJIRNjsC_ewRjr_5A9LlDhxxHNC2gwGJ6BvDYWmDkV2xKnylAk0PEhaFcueYMf__MPlu9jHFjG7T9K1msoFb_QasR9gaYXfczGD0RrjG4OVG_UhAELVj/s1600/desperate_housewives_poster12.jpg

What a show. I know, it's not a classic. I'm sure in ten years it won't even be remembered...maybe twenty. But I have to say, I thoroughly enjoyed my Netflix-induced binge of this fantastic soap opera.

Yes, it was a ridiculous show. I often spent part of each episode thinking "Oh my goodness, this is ridiculous and unrealistic and would never happen!" (For example, and here comes a spoiler, at one point a small airplane crashed into Wisteria Lane. This happened a season after a tornado had hit the street. Like, what?)

Yet when you look past the ridiculousness, this show was completely enthralling and entertaining. I never finished an episode without aching to know what was going to happen next; and after all, isn't that why most of us watch TV in the first place? For some (often) mindless entertainment? I love a good documentary, but sometimes it's nice to sit back, relax, and watch a nonsensical but entertaining show with compelling characters and a good murder mystery.

Yup, every season of Desperate Housewives had some sort of underlying mystery, and most concerned a murder of some kind. The characters would go along, living their daily, complicated, romance- and drama-filled lives, and all the time they would be trying to find out the secrets behind their new neighbor, or why their best friend had killed herself (that's not a spoiler, it happens in episode one, season one). It was such fun to watch these characters try to figure out the seemingly impossible mystery, and each season ended in some incredible and satisfying climax.

I also loved the friendship between the main characters - Lynette, Susan, Gabby, and Bree. These four women stuck together through thick and thin, and this always compels me to stick with a show. They each had plenty of their own drama, but they always came together, and friendship helped them win out in the end.

So if you're looking for something entertaining to watch, even if it's not highly intelligent, turn on Desperate Housewives - you won't be disappointed!

Focus: Pretty Little Liars

I love shows that are tinged with drama, suspense, romance, and that feature close-knit girlfriends as the main characters. So Pretty Little Liars is basically a perfect show for me!


http://images6.alphacoders.com/450/450941.jpg

I know I am pretty late to the PLL fan club, since the show has been around for quite a long time. However, wonderful Netflix (see my article about it, An Ode to Netflix) has the first four seasons of it, so I've spent a good part of the summer watching it. Currently I've just started season three, and I am absolutely hooked.

The show has everything: mystery, drama, a little fear, romance, friendship, betrayal... everything that makes it just unrealistic enough that it transports the watcher into another world, but with enough realistic events and characters to make it at least somewhat believable. So much happens in each episode that sometimes it's hard to keep track of it all, but at the same time it all connects together so well. Watching it, you become incredibly invested in each of the characters, and you want them to be OK (or not, depending on which character you're thinking about!).

I love shows that emphasize the importance of friendship and support. Each of the main characters - Emily, Hanna, Aria, and Spencer - are very different from each other, yet they support each other through their troubles, whether it's dealing with A's texts or Ali's killer or just regular boy drama. It sounds strange, but this show makes me appreciate my own friends even more!

I also like how each of the girls has her own distinct personality that makes her relatable to the different people watching. Each has her own issues she's dealing with, and also comes across different problems in her relationship to others. Through all of that, the friendship between them remains strong.

And of course I love the mystery! The journey of discovering what really happened to Alison drives the show, and provides ample momentum for each episode. There's never a dull moment on the show, and it's difficult to stop binge-watching it and get yourself to do something else!

An Ode to Netflix

I don't want to sound like I'm product-pushing here, but I have to take a moment and share my appreciation for the online viewing site, Netflix.


http://blogs-images.forbes.com/merrillbarr/files/2014/04/netflix-logo.png

Netflix is an amazing service that is more than worth the monthly cost. I have a subscription I share with my family, and as a result of having the streaming service, we have cancelled our TV and cable subscription. We just use the Internet, because with the combined efforts of Netflix and other online streaming sites (such as Hulu), we get more than enough to watch.

The sheer amount of options in the streaming library on Netflix is astounding. I always find something to watch, from nature documentaries to teen TV shows to classic movies. Really, it is worth subscribing to. The majority of what I discuss on this blog will be movies or TV shows that I watched on Netflix - it is a fantastic service!

Welcome to Flo's Film Focus!

Hello web surfers! Welcome to my blog. Here I will post my opinions on all things film-related: movies, TV shows, actors, directors, online viewing sites... everything and anything that has to do with moving entertainment! I'm even going to include live plays and musicals. :)

I'll rate and review it all, and you are welcome to read and comment with your opinions as well! I love watching movies and TV, and I really love discussing what I've seen with others. So have fun exploring, and happy watching!

- Flo <3