Ricochet is the best place on the internet to discuss the issues of the day, either through commenting on posts or writing your own for our active and dynamic community in a fully moderated environment. In addition, the Ricochet Audio Network offers over 50 original podcasts with new episodes released every day.
Hollywood Revolution: Conservative Spinoffs
Proceeding from Gary’s revolution (let’s be sure to pin it all on him and Titus, if there’s trouble), this should be a fun and hopefully productive prompt. What is a film or TV show premise that you had high hopes for but was spoiled by leftism or by any heavy-handed propaganda?
As you know, no challenge is so daunting as a blank slate. “Hey, you should make a conservative film!” Well, that’s … not helpful. We can’t all be script writers. But let’s at least attempt to get the ball rolling with some ideas.
The goal is not to come up with overtly political stories. Rather, it’s to present familiar tales in ways more amenable to the Right’s values.
For example, maybe you enjoy grandiose disaster movies and you just want one without the theme of climate change.
Perhaps you would like a spacefaring story that doesn’t claim we had to leave Earth because humanity stinks and we ruin everything. Maybe curiosity and ambition are reasons enough to search the stars.
Or you might want a romance in which characters don’t jump into bed just because they enjoyed a day together.
The more specific you can be, the better. Name a film or two that had great but wasted potential. Name a show that started out well but fell apart when the usual bunch took over in later seasons. What stories are worth retelling … only without the nonsense this time?
Published in Entertainment
You are unfair, sir and/or madam; the writers have done an extensive review of the existing literature and film and know very well that all priests are hypocrites and molesters and all nuns are hiding a terrible secret often involving a hidden birth and a Crisis of Faith.
Also, Irish priests say ‘beggorah’ while Spanish ones say, ‘Dios!’
Ever seen the movie Hail, Cæsar!?
I have but I am failing to make the connection.
There is a great scene where the studio exec is meeting with a rabbi, an Eastern Orthodox priest, a Roman Catholic priest, and a Protestant minister to consult on the film. I love that film.
I only saw it the once. I looked on in amazement as Clooney was being slapped for being a commie. Indelible.
Worth seeing again, no? Just for that alone.
Defo.
I know I’ve mentioned it so often that, by now, people on Ricochet must think this is the only book I’ve ever read. But a movie needs to be made of Joan Samson’s novel: The Auctioneer. Certainly you couldn’t find a story with a more conservative/libertarian message. (I’m convinced the story is set in about the year 1967. I’d stick with that time setting or earlier in making a movie.)
I’m also interested in more movies that are cartoons for adults. I can’t think of the name of it right now, but does anyone remember the cartoon movie about the girl whose family helps her to leave Iran ? I only remember that the title is the name of the main character, the girl, and begins with the letter: P. I liked it a lot, even though I wasn’t crazy about the drawings of the cartoons.
Come to think of it, The Auctioneer could be done as a cartoon movie. (The artist might look at some of Andrew Wyeth’s pictures of houses and people in Maine for inspiration in portraying the Moores, and their farm, in Harlowe, New Hampshire.) Another book that absolutely should be a movie, and might be less expensive to make as a cartoon, is Andrew Klavan’s The Identity Man.
I think you’re thinking of “Not without my Daughter” (1991) staring Sally Field.
No. That wasn’t a cartoon. (I heard it’s a good movie. Glad you reminded me of it, since I’ll now remember to see it.)
Re: # 69 & 70
Persepolis (2007) Just looked it up.
Asked and answered! I’d like to see an animated adaptation of a remarkable experiment that deserves much more attention, when Amity Schlaes’ already fascinating bio of Wendell Wilkie, The Forgotten Man, was turned into a graphic novel. It’s already an amazing visual collaboration and a grown-up, intelligent story that could challenge the finest of filmmakers.
I took a look inside at Amazon. It’s fantastic. There’s no excuse for that not being a movie.
Sorry, I wasnt using your use of the term “Cartoon” literally. I was thinking of a “Cartoon for Adults” as a movie with a very stark or simplistic moral universe… Like “taken” for example. You hurt my daughter, and I’ll burn down your world. Or almost any of the Arnold Schwarzenegger movies but particularly “Commando” with Rae Don Chong.
How about a modernization and reboot of the Play (which was made into a movie) “State of the Union” perhaps as a tv series? It could be imagined as republican reboot of “west wing” as well. But unlike “West Wing”, I wouldnt want the debates to straw men or dishonest. I would want to debate the outcomes of real policies against their strongest arguments. West Wing never gave the republican position a fair hearing. I wouldnt want to do that.
I have often thought Hollywood could do better at this. An audience can often accept that a story belongs to a contrary protagonist if one’s own side is at least fairly represented.
The worst is when one side makes its argument and the other character only nods along in dumb defeat. At least have the decency not to hide a monologue with strawmen.
It’s like using expensive actors to burn someone in effigy.
The greatest difference between now and the 90s era West Wing, is that there is no longer even a pretense of debate. Neither side is attempting to convince the other of anything…
Damage Control – TV show
Focuses and follows the exploits of damage control sailors on board a fictional deployed Navy vessel. As I understand the role, the jobs and situations vary from clogged toilets to engine/munitions fires… on a floating city/community. Think if JAG and Chicago Fire had a baby. Ordinary people doing extraordinary things…. then going back to unclogging pipes. There would be a lot of opportunity for character development: for enlisted characters, young adults who otherwise might not have opportunity making the most of their potential, officers balancing a title vs true influence and leadership.
Whitehaven – movie vs miniseries
The story of the American Revolutionary War effort by a fledgling American naval force to attack the British Empire in Britain. John Paul Jones would be a mix of the character of Jack Sparrow and Tony Stark: brilliant, bold, risk taking. True story that I definitely missed in history class and could be told well on screen.
Both context allow for patriotic overtones and achievement against great odds, and other conservative themes.
@davecarter would have to be consultant on both or it’s a non-starter.
Make a strong, well publicized effort to staff the tech department–camera, sound, digital–with veterans of the armed forces photographic and motion picture services. They do great work and deserve the chance.
Added bonus to provide opportunities and also start developing production talent from non Hollywood background.
I’m intrigued by the idea of an all-vet film company.
All of us have marveled at the amazing photos and video clips posted by the armed forces, of night carrier landings, stunning overseas locations, human interest snapshots of young men and women in some of the most intense environments one can imagine. These pictures and videos are usually taken by people in their twenties, who got their training from Uncle Sam, not a civilian film school. Why shouldn’t they be filming the big action pictures? They already know how and they’re great at it. People who’ve accustomed themselves to working in and around nuclear submarines, missile launches and parachute jumps aren’t going to be intimidated by Universal Pictures.
Besides, this should be a non-ideological no-brainer for Hollywood. Liberals always insist they make a distinction between war and the Americans who fight our wars.
I’m pretty sure you have allowed as how Hollywood unions don’t send out goons to disuade non-union workers, but such a thing would be entertaining in this instance.
Don’t know how its done today, but when I went to USC’s film school in the early 1970’s there was a big contingent of Navy guys taking classes there.