Dawson's Creek: 10 Years Later, Time for a Reunion

Usually on a monthly basis I pay tribute to great television, not to fault Dawson and his creek, but this post is not about television greatness, but more about a cultural phenomenon.  When Kevin Williamson's Dawson's Creek hit the air back in 1998 it was following on the coat tails of the other high school drama, Beverly Hills 90210.  Williamson's blend of humor, teens who talked to quickly for their own good, and angst created one of the most popular teen dramas of the last decade.  The show's main buy in came from love triangles and a main cast of four, and others who came along for the ride.  My friend Caitlin always helps me to re-visit my past; she did this while I was in graduate school with Felicity, and now a couple years later with Dawson's Creek!

Let's take a look at 10 years later where the cast, and creator are and what they have and have not done:

Kevin Williamson-The creator and real life Dawson.  Beyond Dawson's world Williamson is also famous for writing one of the most popular horror film series, Scream.  Williamson lives mainly within the world of television where he works on another major hit television series the former WB now CW show The Vampire Diaries, and new Kevin Bacon series this spring The Following.  Williamson has knack for creating good television drama, and has helped further develop multiple worlds within television.

James Van Der Beek-Dawson Leary himself was always my least favorite character in the series, and his wooden portrayal never thrilled me, but how can you the Creek without Dawson.  While on the show he landed a sweet movie gig with the often quoted Varsity Blues, but he never really got much out of the movies.  After the Creek ended Van Der Beek did mostly small guest work in television series, and never landed another major role until last spring with the now shelved Don't Trust the B___ in Apt. 23.  One of the funniest parts of this series is that Van Der Beek played himself in the series, and was pretty hilarious.

Katie Holmes-Joey Potter was the girl next door, and while part of the Capeside gang she tried her hand at a variety of film roles, including Wonderboys, Go, Pieces of April, The Gift, and Teaching Mrs. Tingle.  For the most part Holmes tried to shed her Joey skin with small indie films, and most of them were pretty good.  After Dawson wrapped Holmes landed two major roles the much maligned first portrayal of Rachel Dawes in Batman Begins, and Mrs. Tom Cruise.  While being married to Tom, and giving birth to a daughter Holmes rarely took film or television roles.  Since the divorce she has started taking more roles, from film to theatre, and something tells me we will see more of her, most likely on our television screens.

Joshua Jackson-Pacey Witter the bad boy extraordinaire and goofball.  Jackson had a small childhood acting career prior to Dawson with the Mighty Ducks franchise, but it was the Creek which got him heart throb status.  Jackson had some film roles in films like The Skulls and Urban Legend, but he never landed the roles you would expect from him.  Pacey Witter did not garner any major roles until the cult FOX television series Fringe, which lasted from 2008 until 2013.  Something tells me Jackson will be back on television screens soon enough.

Michelle Williams-Moving beyond the original trio Jen Lindley was the bad girl from New York who shook up everyone's lives, and her death at the end of the series was one of the biggest tear jerkers in television history.  Williams is the most successful of the cast post the Creek.  Williams has been nominated for three Oscars for the films Brokeback Mountain, Blue Valentine, and My Week with Marilyn.  Williams won the Golden Globe and Independent Spirit Award for Marilyn; she was fantastic in the role.  Williams has hit it out of the park in other small indie films like Wendy and Lucy, and Take this Waltz; she also recently starred in the major motion picture Oz the Great and Powerful.  Of all the graduates of this show she is most successful.

Outside the Central Characters 

Kerr Smith-Jack McPhee came into the picture in the second episode of the second season as a side to his sister's character Andy, but lasted the longest of the non original younger characters.  After Dawson Kerr has not done much, but small limited television series like Life Unexpected, Eli Stone, and Justice, but nothing impactful.

Mary Beth Peil- Evel 'Grams' Ryan-Grams is one of my favorite characters from this series; she was the central heart of the adult characters within this world.  Peil is a Broadway baby and has done many plays including Follies.  Yet Peil is best known at the moment for her recurring guest role as Chris Noth's mother on The Good Wife.

Meredith Monroe-Andie McPhee-The know it all who showed it the second seasons ended up cracking under the pressure on the Creek, and her career has not had much impact.  Monroe has mainly had small guest starring roles on television series, and one larger role in Criminal Minds.

Busy Phillips-Audra Lidell-Real life BFF of Michelle Williams has made a major splash in television in a post Dawson world on shows like ER, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, and now the comedy Cougartown.  Phillips is a comedic genius, and will be another Creek star to make it even further.

This show was an important part of my teenage cultural life, and I hope this group comes back together to bring more life to Capeside!

Oz is Neither Great nor Powerful.

Oz the Great and Powerful (1 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by Sam Raimi (Spiderman, Drag me to Hell, Evil Dead)

Written by Mitchel Kapner (The Whole Nine Yards, Romeo Must Die), David Lindsey-Abaire (Rabbit  Hole, Rise of the Guardians)

Starring: James Franco, Michelle Williams, Rachel Weisz, and Mila Kunis

As a young child The Wizard of Oz was one of my favorite films.  The film is still in fact one of my favorite movies of all time.  There is something about this young girl, named Dorothy singing about a better life 'somewhere over the rainbow.'  The film is timeless.  Over the years there have been several adaptations which provide different interpretations of the L. Frank Baum book, like the films The Wiz, Return to Oz, and of course the musical/book Wicked.  I have seen them all, and never hold the lore against them just love interesting new versions of the story and its characters.

In this version of the land of Oz, Oz or Oscar (James Franco) is a struggling magician trying to make a living on the carnival scene.  As a situation gets worse in Kansas Oz gets sucked into a tornado of all things and transported to the land of his namesake Oz.  Oz soon meets Theodora (Mila Kunis) a witch hoping to help Oz reclaim the throne to fulfill a prophecy.  Theodora's sister Evanora (Rachel Weisz) informs Oz that in order to claim the throne and the riches to go along with it he must kill the wicked witch.  Oz embarks on a journey with a flying monkey named Finley (Zach Braff) and China Girl (Joey King), where he soon meets Glinda (Michelle Williams) and explores the land further.

When it comes to one of the stronger elements of the film Sam Raimi's direction and use of the 3-D technology is one of the more effective elements of the film.  Raimi is master of the horror world with films like Evil Dead, and Drag me to Hell.  Within the horror genre Raimi knows how to craft the most intricate yet quirky stories.  Raimi moved toward a more family friendly genre with his comic book adaptation of the original Spider-Man series.  Raimi's direction with the action at the end of film makes things much more entertaining but not enough to save the experience.  Raimi tries his best with the script as written and succeeds in the smallest sense.

Poor Sam Raimi he has one of the most sub par screenplays.  Mitchel Kapner  (Romeo Must Die), David Lindsey-Abaire (Rabbit  Hole) make for interesting combination, and their work never captures the subtle wit and brilliance the world of Oz deserves.    If you look at the work of both of these screenwriters neither of their resumes say anything which would prove the capability of writing something could or should have been an important prequel to one of the most important films of all time.  This script loses the substance leaving the film with only minimal amounts of style namely the the 3-D.

If you are looking for substance, or even great performances you may at a loss with Oz.  The two main standouts within the film are Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz.  These two women made this film more bearable allowing me to have more fun with this experience.  Although Williams may have be channelling her breathy Marilyn Monroe, but who doesn't love a bombshell.  Weisz is sinfully dark, and fantastic; she is one great actress, and sells every element of her role.

While these two leads succeed, Franco and Kunis are beyond miscast in two of the most important roles in this film.  Franco tries to be, and I emphasize tries to be this charming con man who fools people into thinking is something he isn't.  In this beginning in the traditional black and white Kansas he is meant to be a great magician and then he gets to Oz he is supposed to be this great wizard everyone has been waiting for to save them from the wicked witch.  Franco is not believable, nor is he able to make a convincing lead.  Kunis on the other hand has proven her acting abilities with her role in Black Swan, but loses ground, and is miscast as spoiler.... the green witch.  I felt as though Jackie from That 70's Show was yelling at Kelso with green make up, and her cackle was incredibly laughable.

In the land of Oz there is supposed to be a magical experience, and as the viewer you are meant to transported to this colorful/magical world.  Instead you have two sorely miscast actors, with a poorly written script, and ultimately a film that loses the heart of the original Oz experience.  Sorry Oz fans this may be the worst experience I have had walking the yellow brick road.

Take this Waltz is an Interesting Dance About Someone in a Committed Relationship Falling in Love with Someone New

Take this Waltz (3 1/2 out of 5 Stars)

Directed and Written by Sarah Polley (Away from Her)

Starring: Michelle Williams, Seth Rogen, Luke Kirby, and Sarah Silverman

When you are in a great relationship for a long time, how do you know that meeting someone new will not change things.  In relationships there is often this restless feeling, a seven year itch.  You meet someone new who sparks something inside you that you have missed for years, your head and your heart start to wander, and wonder.  There are these new exciting feeling back in your world, one's that bring back new intimacies  and those intense emotional and sexual feelings.

Waltz explores all of these emotional struggles.  Margot (Williams) meets Daniel (Kirby) while she writing a piece on a reenactment; he teases her she yells back.  Margot and Daniel end up sitting next to each other on the plane ride home, and start to find this instant chemistry within their conversation.  As the two of them get into the cab together and Margot gives her address Daniel realizes they live right across the street from one another.  When they get out of the cab, after one of those magical experiences, Margot quickly utters "I am married."  Margot walks into her home where she kisses her husband Lou (Rogen).  The two have an incredibly happy marriage, Lou is in Margot's words "the best guy" but Margot and Daniel continue to meet and explore their chemistry.

Most people will know director/writer Sarah Polley from her acting; she starred in The Sweet Hereafter, Go, and the remake of Dawn of the Dead.  While Polley may be a more familiar face on screen, she has becomes one of the best writer/directors working today.  Polley's first film Away from Her was the most intimate look at the way Alzheimer's disease affects not only the patient but the person with whom they have been married.  This film scored Pollery her first Oscar nomination for Best Adapted Screenplay.

In Waltz Polley continues to shows audiences she she great breadth in understanding the different levels of intimacy in relationships.  Polley's dialogue and script are the strength.  The conversations, and interactions each of these characters is some of the most real/honest dialogue.  Polley does not compromise her own writing for the sake of cliche, nor does she make you feel as though these characters are contrived.  Polley is one of those director/writers whose actions transcend beautifully to the screen.  Polley knows her characters well, and whether we are watching Margot realize their is something more at an amusement park, watching Dan walk out of the party losing all hope, or seeing Lou deal with the pain of Margot's words towards the end. Each of moments makes you feel as though you are living them.

Williams performance is the key to the anguish, and pain; she is one of the best working actresses today.   Throughout this film you may empathize with her, feel bad for her, or think she is a terrible person.  Margot is a complicated character with so many levels left to peel away, and Williams captures each of them brilliantly. Williams is a natural talent and even when she was playing real life persona Marilyn Monroe there was always genuine pieces of her within the role.

While Rogen tends to typically play himself in most of his films, Knocked Up, Pineapple Express, this is the first time I have seen him step outside of his own persona, and challenge himself to play something more than just himself.  Rogen's Lou is a good guy, who pours cold water on Margot every time she takes a shower hoping that at 80 when he tells her that their shower was not malfunctioning, that it was him.  Lou is that kind of guy, lovable.

There is something beautiful yet painful about the realizations people have about love, and Margot's journey towards the end of the film.  Has Margot's thought of a fling made sense.  Sarah Silverman's character Geraldine acts as a more stark parallel to Margot. Geraldine is a recovering alcoholic; she knows she will never recover.  The question then is can Margot make sense of her own future, and if so will it ever be what she imagines?  Polley's words enact a mediation on restlessness, proving things may never be perfect.

Michelle Williams Elevates My Week with Marilyn to be Something Better than it's Subject Material

My Week with Marilyn (3 out of 5 Stars)

Directed by: Simon Curtis

Written by: Adrien Hodges

Starring: Michelle Williams, Kenneth Branagh, Eddie Redmayne

Marilyn Monroe was a icon; she was someone women wanted to be, and men wanted be with.  Monroe was idealized that there is often a thought that she was never truly herself, or that even in life she was always playing a role.  This film centers around Collin Clark who wrote two books about the film actress entitled "My Week with Marilyn" and "The Prince, the Showgirl, and Me."

Collin Clark (Redmayne) was an ambitious young man from a privileged background; he went to the finest schools in England, like Eaton, but loved film and wanted to work in the film industry.  At one point while at one of his families parties Collin meets the famed movie actor Sir Laurence Olivier (Branagh) and his wife film actress Vivien Leigh (Julia Ormond), and Clark goes to Olivier's office day after day to get work with him.  Leigh convinces her husband to help him out, and Clark ends up getting a job on the film Olivier will star and direct entitled The Prince and the Showgirl (1957).  The other star of the picture is none other than the most famous actress of the time, Marilyn Monroe (Williams).  The film chronicles Clark's interactions with Marilyn, and Marilyn's journey to be an actress, an icon, and trying to find balance the person in between.

First time film director Simon Curtis struggles to bring this film to bring vibrancy to this film.  While the direction and Hodges script are not bad they lack the hook that pulls you in wanting more of the overall film.  The supporting players not mentioned where one dimensional.  Dominic Cooper's character Milton who supposedly had a similar situation with Marilyn added nothing to Clark's development.

Emma Watson  played the jilted costume designer Lucy, was used to show the effect Marilyn had on men, but to no avail we already know this.  Clark's connection to Lucy was not significantly developed enough to make me feel bad for her.  Judi Dench added another role where she plays the older wise British woman helping the younger generation.  While I know these interactions were based on actual events, there could have been more that made these characters more interesting.

The focus and center of the film like in real life was on Marilyn Monroe played by Michelle Williams.  Williams is radiant in this daunting role.  Monroe was seen as a movie star, sexual icon, and all around force in the film industry, for a short career.  Williams took on this role like Cate Blanchett did within the The Aviator; she never made Monroe into a caricature, but gave her the depth she deserved.  Williams continues to prove within this film that she is a terrific actress who can create different role that have so many layers and substance.  There were two moments that sealed her performance for me. The first was where she was in front of a group of people and asked "Should I be her" to Clark and she starts to put on a show and act for her fans.  The second was where she was playing her character and dancing in the film.  Both of these scenes were flawless, and prove that Williams is one of the best younger talents.

The strong part of the film was counter balance of Marilyn Monroe with Sir Laurence Olivier.  Olivier was frustrated with Monroe's style of method acting. Olivier was a classically trained actor who was naturally good at what he did, while Monroe had to work at her craft but was a superstar.  Clark points in the film that both Monroe and Olivier wanted what the other was lacking.  Branagh does a good job as Olivier, and delivers some stellar speeches, but I never felt as though I was watching Olivier.

Overall the film has its ups and downs, but most of the ups come from Williams.  I can't say I loved this film, but her performance made me sit back in my seat in awe of her sheer talent.  This reminded me of watching Some Like it Hot, and the way Monroe cast that power over movie goers.  Job well done!