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Jayne Mansfield Story (1980) (DVD)
by BlackSwan
Plot:
TV biopic based on the life of 1950 and '60s the "blonde bombshell" Jayne Mansfield (Loni Anderson). Beginning with Mansfield telephoning her ex-husband, Miklós "Mickey" Hargitay (Arnold Schwarzenegger), shortly before she is involved in a fatal car crash, the story then tracks back to the beginning of her ... career. Mickey takes us through the story of a brunette who copied the icon, Marilyn Monroe, dyed her hair blonde and secured movie deals through her talent for courting publicity. Mansfield also had a very troubled life that included alcohol abuse and eventually ostracizing her family and all those who close to her, as she became obsessed in trying to shake the image that made her famous...
Review:
Believe it or not, there are some people who argue that Arnold Schwarzenegger is a proficient actor. It is appropriate that the man who symbolized the style over substance extremes of 1980s art began his serious acting career in a biopic on the life of Jayne Mansfield. His only real qualification for landing the role of Mickey Hargitay is the fact that they were both Mr Olympias. The title I chose for this piece was "Personalities Frozen in Amber" in reference to the clever observation made in this film. However, take one look at Schwarzenegger's performance and try to tell me that his onscreen "personality" has thawed in anyway! Perhaps I am being unfair - I'd watch him any day over the equally unimpressive and even more egocentric Steven Seagal - but it is a shame that a film like this, which seems to make a genuine effort to rise about its lowly station like Mansfield did in her later career, will probably only ever be remembered as a footnote in Schwarzenegger's immensely successful career.
The Jayne Mansfield Story is otherwise adequately acted and struggling with a TV budget, does a good job trying to convey a balanced account of one of tinsel town's casualties. The woman does not get a good retrospective press and it is usually quite rare for a production like this to go against the popular grain. Makers of TV movies are unlikely to get much in the way of critical acclaim and can pretty much draw a line under the profits they make. Mansfield is seen as either the personification of the "dumb blonde" or a cynical manipulator and courtesan to whoever could further her career. It's a misogynistic and rather naďve summary whichever way you look at it. Not struck down at the height of her success like her inspiration and rival, Marilyn Monroe nor allowed to mature into a loveable institution like fellow blonde starlet, Diana Doors, Mansfield died when her career was on the slide. Since then a tawdry and macabre mythology has built up around her. Anton La Vay, the founder of the Church of Satan, claimed to have had sex with her and that she was a member of his Objectivist/pseudo-occult hybrid religion. The nature of her death - that she was decapitated - is gruesomely exaggerated. The Jayne Mansfield Story doesn't lower itself to reference these fables and perhaps this is part of the reason why it hasn't attracted much attention.
Mansfield's public persona is presented as the greatest performance of the real woman's life. The great feminist author Angela Carter once compared the fragile blonde femininity of Monroe and her clones with the Marquis de Sade's heroines - explaining how the male of the species can be easily played and manipulated by this type of faux vulnerable image. This film sees Mansfield play this tactic like a master, wrapping studio executives, the media and paying audiences around her carefully manicured finger. However, once the lights are off she can switch to the driven and ambitious businesswoman who takes her career in both hands, making all the decisions in her life and the lives of those closest to her. The downside of this is a type of selfishness that costs just about every successful artist, especially when family are involved. Although the film is clear that Mansfield was the archetype behind her design it gives credit to her suffering family friends who gave her unyielding support until she actively turned on them. As frustration grew with her inability to secure a role beyond being the sex interest in lowbrow comedies, Mansfield turned to alcohol.
The strength of this particular picture is that it reveals Mansfield's third layer. This is not something pop pundits or celebrity historians really focus on and it's certainly not the image of the star that has endured. It's an area I guess we only hear about through those closest to her and those who took a particular interest in the star's real life. Mansfield's flaw is comparable to that of Tony Hancock's or Jim Morrison's. She is driven by a self-obsessed desire to be better loved and appreciated by her audience. After fame and money she wants respect from her peers. This is the path that Marilyn Monroe somehow achieved and the film is blatant about Mansfield's feelings towards Monroe's career and how it impacted on her life. The woman who first inspired her approach to showbusiness quickly became the source for her pain as her envy for the icon's successful transition into serious work slowly works its poison.
Those who watched from a theatre seat with lit critical pen in hand saw Mansfield's frustration over this matter as an example of a spoilt brat trying to hit above their weight, but we can see that other elements made it especially hard for her succeed. In a man-dominated world, Mansfield used whatever method she saw was available. Unfortunately it was the incredibly limited position as a distilled Monroe clone. Unlike powerful female actresses before her, like Bettie Davis and Joan Crawford, she hadn't started from a position of unique strength, but jumped on a trend and continued with it until it became stale. Like many artists, Mansfield allowed her art to permeate into every region of her life. Unfortunately her skill wasn't in acting. It was performing to create publicity. She was an early prototype for the Jordans and the Paris Hiltons of the future, but unlike these far less talented cultural descendents, "The Jayne Mansfield Story" presents an individual that doesn't realize grasp this fact. Perhaps in reality she was deluded, but the film provides an altogether more sympathetic reason for this conflict. Generating publicity was an instinctive talent of hers. Born into a time where women had few choices, she learned how to exploit her physical charms and to get attention as a means for survival. She mistook the vehicle she was using, public image, with something else, acting, and therein we find that naivety comes in many different forms.
"The Jayne Mansfield Story" is a made-for-TV picture that carries a lot more weight than the medium usually provides. Aside from the cringe-worthy performance by a certain future Governor of California, it is ably acted and flows at an even pace. Loni Anderson is a very convincing Jayne Mansfield, portraying her well as the giddy and giggly sex symbol as well as the totally different mother, wife and businesswoman. The usual restrictions of a TV movie of its time means that despite Mansfield being known for her sexuality little is revealed that would put the film above a PG certificate. This is perhaps another factor that ensured it wouldn't even get a cult following. Nevertheless, it is better for it and I can see a modern re-imagining getting itself lost in these aspects, and ultimately losing the more meaningful aspects of the story. It is well worth a watch for anyone who is interested in the layers beneath Hollywood iconography.
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JAG - Season 8 (DVD)
by Kary
JAG season 8
Background:
I first discovered this as a teenager when I was suddenly introduced to the wonders of Sky TV, I was gripped right from the start. I found it quite hard to find the episodes in order on the TV so eventually I decided this wasn't good enough and I would start from season 1 and work my through as ... they've gradually been realised. Even though the series is several years old (2002) it is only now being released in the UK on DVD but I'm glad they've finally got there.
JAG follows the Judge Avocate General office based in Virginia. These are a team of lawers that investiage crimes from the Navy and Marines. Surprisingly this never gets boring and they cover all sorts of crimes and storylines.
The Team:
The main boss, the actual JAG, Admiral Chegwidden is played by John M Jackson. He demands respect from his team but inspires it through his actions.
Cmdr Harmon Rabb, Harm, is played by David James Elliot. He is unable to stay out of the centre of the trouble but you can always trust him to come to the right conclusions.
Col. Sarah MacKenzie, Mac, is played by Catherine Bell. She and Harm often work as a team and are very close friends. She has a very level head but occasionally her emotions will take over. Often used to calm situations and reach a diplomatic resolution.
Other characters include:
Patrick Labyorteaux ... Lt. Bud Roberts, Jr.
Chuck Carrington ... P.O. Jason Tiner
Karri Turner ... Lt. Harriet Sims
Nanci Chambers ... Lt. Loren Singer
Scott Lawrence ... Cmdr. Sturgis Turner
Zoe McLellan ... P.O. Jennifer Coates
Together these people make JAG.
What I love about this program is the relationships between the character. How likeable they all are and how emotionally involved you get in every case. There is also an element of suspense as you never know the who is the "goodie" until the end but you can be sure that the court will reach the right verdict.
Season 8:
I'm going to try and write this very carefully in order not to give anything away.
Season 8 has to be my favourite season of JAG so far, the background stories really bring out the characters and show their strengths and weakness. There is much more development than previous seasons and also much more going on. You never quite know what's going to happen, not just with the main story but the characters. As one story reaches a natural dimming another one emerges yet all the while in the background something is simmering. I also like how this season has involved all the characters much more, everyone is getting their moment and their story.
Season 7 ended on a real cliff hanger with one of the characters in a critical condition and season 8 continues on from this story. For the first few episodes this is very prominant in all the storylines as we follow the matter through. How everyone deals with the situation and the feelings. However, of course there are the usual cases and incidents to contend with. These episodes of JAG really make you take a step and think about the reality of the situation. There is also an episode thrown in that is dedicated to the nurses during the second world war. Bringing them to the forefront. TV rarely deeply affects me but by the end of this episode I was crying. It was very moving and thought provoking.
In this season we see developments in both Harm and Macs' careers as they experience new things and as usual both are pushed. Harm gets himself in trouble almost on an episodly basis and everyone else fits around him.
I don't want to say much more about this season because I don't want to spoil it. If you are a JAG fan, this is definately worth watching and the best so far. If you haven't seen JAG what are you waiting for? I love it and I know other people that do, I can't get enough. Oh another thing to mention. This season also sees the introduction of the hit program NCIS. They are introduced as there are joint episodes that bring the expected suspense.
So Great program, Great season.. get watching!!
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Jonathan Creek - Complete Series 1-4 Boxset (DVD)
by birdcharlotte
Jonathan Creek is a very clever mystery programme that grips you throughout the episode and leaves you thinking about it for hours after.
The main character of the programme is, obviously, Jonathan Creek (played by Alan Davies). Jonathan is a creative consultant for a magician, he makes the magicians acts. For example, we see ... him make a prop which allows a girl to disappear. Whilst at an after party, he accidentally bumps into Madeline Magellan (Caroline Quentin). An aspiring journalist who is looking for her big break.
The two soon start to work together to solve several different mysteries, including; finding a stolen painting and working out how a man can disappear from a building with no windows or doors. It is quite obvious from the beginning that Jonathan does most of the work and Maddy takes the credit in her writing. However, the two work as a team and you soon grow to love Maddy.
The way that the mysteries are solved is incredible, someone can say a word and it will spark a train of thought in Jonathan which then leads to the mystery being solved. This can leave you thinking for hours and wondering how he managed to work it out.
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