On Loss and Losers

 

Acknowledgement to our local Minnesota Public Radio classical station for a full day of mourning and tribute songs in honor of 9/11. Glorious. None more so than this from the Henry V soundtrack, “Non Nobis Domine.” Nothing mourns and consoles like Latin.

Although Donald Trump would probably call it music for losers.

And what a scene from Henry V in that video, from the 1989 version directed by the star, Kenneth Branagh. In one continuous tracking shot (incorporating layers, with the foreground and background adding different details in different scale), depicting the entire story of the Battle of Agincourt, how it was fought, by whom (each primary character making an appearance), and the results of the battle.  Masterful.

Branagh did get Oscar nominations for Best Director and Best Actor, but didn’t win either. Yep, he’s a loser. Which may have facilitated his ability to appreciate this song.

Note, Oliver Stone beat him out for Best Director with Born on the Fourth of July (my tribute to which is here). Daniel Day Lewis beat him out for Best Actor in My Left Foot.

MY SHOULDER TRUMP: This guy Branagh? He couldn’t beat a guy who was acting with one foot. You call him masterful? Gimme a break. I’ve seen better acting in foot powder commercials.

https://youtu.be/JKkpyRo4n0o

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  1. Douglas Inactive
    Douglas
    @Douglas

    Although Donald Trump would probably call it music for losers.

    Is this man living rent free in your head so much that you even have to insert him into posts about 9/11 music? What in the world does Donald Trump have to do with this topic? At all? This is the second front page post in as many days throwing in a gratuitous crack at Trump when the topic had nothing to do with him. It makes his critics look petty and whiny, all while they insist the he has no class.

    • #1
  2. Jon Gabriel, Ed. Contributor
    Jon Gabriel, Ed.
    @jon

    What a brilliant scene from a brilliant film. One of my favorites. I really need to watch that again.

    • #2
  3. Brian Ward Member
    Brian Ward
    @BrianWard

    Douglas: This is the second front page post in as many days throwing in a gratuitous crack at Trump when the topic had nothing to do with him. It makes his critics look petty and whiny, all while they insist the he has no class.

    For the record, the HWX podcast is being threatened with a boycott by others because I ‘m a raging “Trump fanboy”.

    Like him or hate him, his antics are funny.  His comments are received at his rallies with laughter that Louis CK would be envious of.  Watch the first debate, same thing.

    Let’s embrace the funny together, then vote or don’t vote for him accordingly.

    • #3
  4. MarciN Member
    MarciN
    @MarciN

    Music always gets to me when I think I’m in control of my emotions.

    This was beautiful. Thank you.

    • #4
  5. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Nothing speaks to tragedy like Barber’s Adagio.

    • #5
  6. Maureen Rice Inactive
    Maureen Rice
    @MaureenRice

    There is footage from a helmet-camera of part of the action for which USArmy Capt. will Swenson was awarded the MoH. it is an evacuation of a wounded Sgt. Kenneth Westbrooke; in the midst of the mayhem, at the door of the helicopter, Swenson plants a kiss on the side of the sgt’s head. There is a resonance between the pretend and the reality.

    • #6
  7. Brian Ward Member
    Brian Ward
    @BrianWard

    Also of critical importance, wrong link in the post for the foot powder commercial!

    • #7
  8. Dad Dog Member
    Dad Dog
    @DadDog

    Brian Ward: And what a scene from Henry V in that video, from the 1989 version directed by the star, Kenneth Branagh. In one continuous tracking shot (incorporating layers, with the foreground and background adding different details in different scale), depicting the entire story of the Battle of Agincourt, how it was fought, by whom (each primary character making an appearance), and the results of the battle. Masterful.

    Exactly; spot on description.

    BTW: that’s a young Christian Bale being carried by Branagh.

    One of my desert island ten films.

    “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.”

    • #8
  9. Ball Diamond Ball Member
    Ball Diamond Ball
    @BallDiamondBall

    Brian Ward:

    Douglas: This is the second front page post in as many days throwing in a gratuitous crack at Trump when the topic had nothing to do with him. It makes his critics look petty and whiny, all while they insist the he has no class.

    For the record, the HWX podcast is being threatened with a boycott by others because I ‘m a raging “Trump fanboy”.

    Like him or hate him, his antics are funny. His comments are received at his rallies with laughter that Louis CK would be envious of. Watch the first debate, same thing.

    Let’s embrace the funny together, then vote or don’t vote for him accordingly.

    Does this mean you’ve beaten back the Hinderaker/Hewitt axis of strident moderation?  By Golly, I’m going to subscribe to HWX again.  Someday, you clowns will thaw out and re-form the Northern Alliance.  Boycott, my left foot!

    I’m conservative.  I’m *supposed* to pine for what’s gone.

    I’ve never set foot in your state, or the one next to it, but I know Keegan’s, just steps west of Hennepin & University, is where to go for a beer.

    • #9
  10. Pencilvania Inactive
    Pencilvania
    @Pencilvania

    Oh, thank you for this music.  What a beautiful reminder.

    • #10
  11. Hank Rearden Inactive
    Hank Rearden
    @HankRearden

    Brian Ward Although Donald Trump would probably call it music for losers.

    An ignorant remark.

    Henry V WON at Agincourt. Victory and its cost is what you are seeing in that scene, not losers.

    Donald Trump uses the word “losers” for those who won’t defend the country or won’t do their duty in office.

    • #11
  12. Brian Ward Member
    Brian Ward
    @BrianWard

    Hank Rearden: Hank Rearden Brian Ward Although Donald Trump would probably call it music for losers.

    An ignorant remark. Henry V WON at Agincourt. Victory and its cost is what you are seeing in that scene, not losers. Donald Trump uses the word “losers” for those who won’t defend the country or won’t do their duty in office.

    It is virtually impossible to see the Branagh version of Henry V and not understand who won at Agincourt.  (Plus, I didn’t go in cold on military history before my first viewing).   So, ignorance does not explain the remark.

    Also, your list of qualifications for being a Trump loser is far too narrow, as evidenced by this partial list of those dubbed as such by the Donald.

    And if Henry V teleported to 2015, sized Trump up, and happened to ay something on the order of:  “Thine face is not worth sunburning.” or ““Men of few words are the best men.”

    What would Trump call him?

    • #12
  13. Carey J. Inactive
    Carey J.
    @CareyJ

    Brian Ward:

    Hank Rearden: Hank Rearden Brian Ward Although Donald Trump would probably call it music for losers.

    An ignorant remark. Henry V WON at Agincourt. Victory and its cost is what you are seeing in that scene, not losers. Donald Trump uses the word “losers” for those who won’t defend the country or won’t do their duty in office.

    It is virtually impossible to see the Branagh version of Henry V and not understand who won at Agincourt. (Plus, I didn’t go in cold on military history before my first viewing). So, ignorance does not explain the remark.

    Also, your list of qualifications for being a Trump loser is far too narrow, as evidenced by this partial list of those dubbed as such by the Donald.

    And if Henry V teleported to 2015, sized Trump up, and happened to say something on the order of: “Thine face is not worth sunburning.”

    What would Trump call him?

    Inarticulate. It should be “Thy face is not worth sunburning”.

    From The Avengers:

    • #13
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