Media Consumption Log (1/13/09 -1/18/09)

This week it seems I have consumed less media than the prior as a result of increased work load. I did have time to see a very awesome movie, Gran Torino, which I am now recommending to all my friends.

TV

• Dirty Jobs - Abandoned Mine Plugger
• Man vs. Wild – Belize Season 5 episode 8
• American Idol - Season 8 (seriously, season 8!?)
• Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations – Venice
• “The Beast” – Pilot episode
• Great Performances – Eric Clapton Crossroads Guitar Festival Chicago
  (great PBS series and a fantastic Chicago performance)
• AFC/NFC championship games

Movies

• Gran Torino (Friday 1/16)

Audio

• Podcasts – This Week in Tech, Security Now, Katg, Diggreel
• 97.9 FM the Loop Johnny B Mornings

The most influential experience of this week’s media had to have been Clint Eastwood’s Gran Torino. I decided to see this movie after hearing many positive remarks including during the discussion of Thursday’s class. I had high hopes going into the movie and I feel Clint Eastwood didn’t dissapoint with his latest film. He seems to play such a natural grumpy old man character that it leads me to believe he might actually be like this in person. The movie touches on many topical issues in today’s society namely: immigration, racial discrimination and gang violence. I find it related well to our situation in Chicago where many innocent people are becoming victims of random gang violence. However, Eastwood’s character gives hope to us that their are people who are willing to stand up and fight back. What I really liked about the film was how much it developed Eastwood’s character as he progresses and evolves throughout the story. It a sign of a good movie when I find I actually care what happens to the characters and Gran Torino is one of those movies. It also seems that Gran Torino is going to come in second at the box office this weekend behind Paul Blart: Mall Cop. This is an interesting upset in my opinion because it far surpassed the Hotel for Dogs movie which would have logically attracted a larger audience.

The next piece of media that I was pleasantly surprised by was this pilot episode for A&E’s “The Beast” starring Patrick Swayze. I am happy to report that Swayze is still a good action star as he plays a veteran undercover FBI agent in this new T.V. show. The show was particulary interesting because it was filmed in Chicago and I enjoyed seeing the characters board the Red Line at a recongnizable stop. I was also drawn to the show partly because of Swayze’s well publicized battle with cancer. I’ve been a fan of a few of the films he’s been in and I think it is commendable that he is continuing his acting career despite his run-in with cancer. I definitely like the looks of this first episode and will be watching the next one when it airs. The story could use some work to keep it from becoming cliché but I’ve seen worse examples of T.V. shows.

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