Evening Post: Mad Men and The Thing

I'm trying out a late night post because I've been struck with a little inspirado...not really, I was hoping by writing that I would be, but oh well. Instead I'm just going to share some of my favorites as of late. I've been staying in a bit this week and I've discovered some pretty neat stuff...

MAD MEN

Yeah, I know...way late on getting on the bandwagon. I tend to be a bit of a skeptic when it comes to shows that win a ton of Emmys, Global Globes, and whatever other beauty contests TV shows can win. I don't tend to enjoy award winning shows but Mad Men is a definite exception for me. Before I saw it, I couldn't get a hold of what people liked about it. They would mention the clothes and setting and little else. It is witten well and acted well but again those don't give you a full picture better than saying the clothes are neat. I'm going to try to put it into words what I like about it.

At this point (after nearly completing the fist season on Netflix) I think what I like is that the rules are presented pretty clearly. The rules in present day shows won't reflect reality (even though they clam to be based on it) and there will be conflicts that just don't make any sense and dilemmas will come off as petty and vapid. In Mad Men, I sort of get why things are petty and accept it. There are very clear rules between men and women and I can understand why certain things are said and why certain things are happening. But although I think the writers, director, actors, et al do a great job of setting up the rules I think there is another reason why I have an easy time perceiving the rules of Mad Men. Being set in another time period sort of allows me to think outside of the universe as I know it and piece together the little I know about the era. It's easy to accept that Don Draper is a charming hero that is also misogynistic and cavalier. It's easy to except that Joan is jealous and vacuous but still attractive and desirable. It's very comforting not having to apply my politics, my values to a show; I can remain distance because it doesn't reflect a time I live in. It's as if I can become each character and understand their motivations without feeling internally conflicted. Sure, I still hate certain characters and like others but the whole show just sort of washes over me. I get absorbed but not frustrated or annoyed. I'm not sure if Mad Men is a true reflection of the time period; it's frankly not important that it is. It's sort of like science fiction; the world of Mad Men is like an alternate reality that is easy to embrace because the people aren't three eyed aliens and they wear clothes from a decade I've seen before. It also has mystery, drama, great music, interesting shots and of course wonderful sets and costumes. For anyone who has seen and like it, I'll say I'm engrosssed as all those intense far-off stares all the characters seem to do.

Boy, I really do like Mad Men because I wrote more about it than I originally planned. I'll end with a movie I saw again recently. If you haven't seen The Thing, it is a beautiful monster film...I know beautiful seems like a weird word but it's masterful how they used puppets and makeup instead of CGI.

Addendum: Also, Cole Phelps is in it!

THE THING (1982)