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The Shakespeare Conference: SHK 13.2338  Monday, 25 November 2002

[1]     From:   Martin Steward <MSteward@mds1974.freeserve.co.uk>
        Date:   Friday, 22 Nov 2002 14:20:45 -0000
        Subj:   SHK 13.2328 "Speaking Shakespeare" - American Beauty / Romance

[2]     From:   Sam Small <samsmall@globalnet.co.uk>
        Date:   Sunday, 24 Nov 2002 15:53:45 -0000
        Subj:   Re: SHK 13.2328 Re: "Speaking Shakespeare"


[1]-----------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Martin Steward <MSteward@mds1974.freeserve.co.uk>
Date:           Friday, 22 Nov 2002 14:20:45 -0000
Subject: "Speaking Shakespeare" - American Beauty / Romance
Comment:        SHK 13.2328 "Speaking Shakespeare" - American Beauty / Romance

I agree with Al Magary that American Beauty was not "daring or
original". I also agree that it was "clichéd and strange". But I guess I
am more prepared to see the achievement of something that is both
"clichéd and strange" (surely a paradox) as a triumph. I rather thought
that was the main point of the movie, and it is a quality I associate
with Shakespearean Romance. I did indeed "suggest that one can
'misunderstand' one work because one is unfamiliar with or ignorant of
the existence of the other works" - but the operative word here is
"can", as opposed to "must". What I meant was that, although it is
perfectly possible to appreciate the "clichéd and strange" quality of
the film without any knowledge of Mendes's work with Shakespearean
Romance, it seemed to me that commentators who failed to see this
quality failed because they were unaware of the "Romance" elements in
it.

martin

[2]-------------------------------------------------------------
From:           Sam Small <samsmall@globalnet.co.uk>
Date:           Sunday, 24 Nov 2002 15:53:45 -0000
Subject: 13.2328 Re: "Speaking Shakespeare"
Comment:        Re: SHK 13.2328 Re: "Speaking Shakespeare"

Mike Jensen wrote:

>Assuming the quote is correct, I would remind Mr. Small that Sam Mendes
>did not write *American Beauty*.  Alan Ball wrote it.  Ball created the
>story and the characters.  As the director, Mendes told the story the
>best way he knew how.

As a student of film, Mike Jensen must realise that the director is the
final arbiter of artistic decision on any film provided the producer and
distributor pass it.  Therefore Sam Mendes was entirely responsible for
everything we saw and heard in "American Beauty".  And if Mr Jensen
would stop sulking like a child and read my original post he wouldn't
find himself in such an erroneous position.

Peace.

SAM SMALL
http://www.passioninpieces.co.uk

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