Sunday, February 23, 2014

Serious Jibber-Jabber - Ken Burns

Conan sits down and talks to Documentarian Ken Burns ("The Civil War", "Baseball", "Lewis and Clark", etc.) about speeches, Lincoln, Presidential History and the history of our nation.

I've said this about other interviews in the past but I'll say it again because it's true.... an hour-long interview with a Documentarian is a big commitment but it really is worth it. It's a great interview.

Saturday, February 22, 2014

IMDB 250 - Three Colors: Red (1994)

Three Colors: Red (1994)


"Three Colors: Red" feels like the quintessential foreign movie. It's slow, deliberate, nothing but conversation and it deals with weighty philosophical ideas. It's also a French language film set in Switzerland and has a Polish Director.

A model in Geneva hits a dog with her car and looks for the owner. She finds the owner is a retired Judge who now spends his time listening in to his neighbors phone conversations. She's disgusted but also clearly drawn to the man and attempts to know him.

Although this movie is from 1994, it looks like it's from 1984. It looks and feels like Director Krzysztof Piesiewicz's other work "The Decalogue". That's not a criticism exactly, just an observation. In fact, I liked "The Decalogue" so much that I enjoy it. It must be a particular camera or type of film he used.

"Red" is part of a trilogy in which some of the characters in one movie show up in the other two. There's also a suggestion that some of the characters are actually the same character, but at a different point in time. The "Three Colors" trilogy, and this film, are about the interconnectedness of all of our lives and about the way all of our lives are disconnected as well. And it's all up to chance, destiny or serendipity as to which lives touch which others.

8/10.
Total "Top 250" Movies Seen: 375.

Thursday, February 20, 2014

Conan Delivers Flowers

For Valentine's Day Conan helps deliver flowers. Though some people call it "Valenties Day".

Conan's hair is outta control in this one. It's like Catherine O'Hara in "Waiting for Guffman".

Wednesday, February 19, 2014

Tonight Show - Brian Williams Raps

Jimmy Fallon is back with another episode of "Brian Williams Raps" and this one is extra special. You gotta love "Rapper's Delight", everyone loves "Rapper's Delight". It's basically the law.

Tonight Show - Harry Styles Interview

On Jimmy Fallon's second night as host of the Tonight Show an audible was called. Kristen Wiig was scheduled to be the second guest but at the last second, Harry Styles (of One Direction fame) suddenly became available. So he cancelled Kristen Wiig and chose to interview Harry instead.

The result looked like this:

Conan Remembers Sid Caesar

Conan had a show to honor the comedy legend Sid Caesar who passed away last week. His first and only guest was Mel Brooks who wrote for Caesar on "Your Show of Shows".



Watch the full episode here. They did a great job of choosing and showing clips of the great sketches (and editing them down because of the kids and their attention spans).

But I thought I would link one of my own favorites that wasn't covered by Conan. Here's the Clock Sketch:


You can see the direct line from Caesar's German doubletalk and Conan's German impression as well as the Clock Sketch to SNL's Tunnel of Love Sketch.