tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post5357983609627220424..comments2024-03-28T11:52:29.432-04:00Comments on Cockeyed Caravan: The Ultimate Pilot Checklist: Breaking BadMatt Birdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07319984238456281734noreply@blogger.comBlogger4125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-86108073553025484782020-05-19T12:52:08.442-04:002020-05-19T12:52:08.442-04:00So I'm re-watching and analyzing this pilot. ...So I'm re-watching and analyzing this pilot. <br /><br />At 39 minutes, doctor's office, confirmation of terminal cancer. (Ticking Clocks, Whiff of Death).<br /><br />Walt focusing on and pointing out the mustard stain; is that "subtext" I'm guessing? Talking about one thing, so as to avoid the emotional impact of the actual discussion? Or is that another principle at play?<br /><br />Also the whole exchange portrays Walt's detached frame of awareness, something we see several times throughout the pilot. (Strange sound cues, blunted dialogue sound, extreme closeups, filmed visually disoriented, etc.) Is there a principle / name for that? (I don't believe the script really addresses it, except for example on p 20 -- "The BUZZ is back in his head" -- so it was largely a direction / editing decision it seems.)Cool Fat Burnerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07653551003025139788noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-28559527529441762792015-03-02T14:36:27.092-05:002015-03-02T14:36:27.092-05:00Harvey: Yes, I'd agree that it's quite pos...Harvey: Yes, I'd agree that it's quite possibly the greatest.<br /><br />JS: No, I haven't seen SAUL yet, but I hear good things and I need to get caught up. (One Facebook friend called it the first ever accurate law show.)Matt Birdhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07319984238456281734noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-35997090264064657912015-03-02T11:37:47.861-05:002015-03-02T11:37:47.861-05:00I actually think that, exciting as it is to watch ...I actually think that, exciting as it is to watch and near checklist-perfect as it is on paper, the show doesn't find its true self, its tone and rhythm, for a few episodes -- but, hell, that's largely true of many a great series.<br /><br />For greatest opening of all time? I'm still all in for TWIN PEAKS, which creates its fascinating world with total authority. There's not a single misstep in that pilot.<br /><br />I'm curious if Matt's seen BETTER CALL SAUL yet and has any provisional thoughts about how the spin-off is setting itself up and coming into its own?j.s.noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13294573.post-66413275083511244142015-03-02T09:36:59.315-05:002015-03-02T09:36:59.315-05:00The opening teaser sequence of the pilot is a part...The opening teaser sequence of the pilot is a particular masterpiece. <br /><br />Starting with the imagery of the pants falling gently through the air then cutting to the lunacy of the smoking RV bouncing across the desert, followed by the deadly chaos of the inside of the vehicle, mysteries pile upon mysteries, told through ironic image montage. Then the ludicrousness of Walt in his tighty-whities and the wrenching emotion of his "not a confession" into the video camera of a seemingly timid and frightened man, concluding with sirens and THE GUN. Slam to title card.<br /><br />Holy frijoles.<br /><br />Constantly in motion, full of surprises and mysteries, emotionally involving, and visually striking. Ironies and honest emotion play off of one another to involve us, while mysteries leave us burning to know what happened to get to that point. Hell to the yeah. <br /><br />Is that the greatest opening teaser of all time? I'd vote yes. Harvey Jerkwaterhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07118848012122050416noreply@blogger.com