Paul Levinson's Blog: Levinson at Large, page 95
June 22, 2021
Katla: Nordic Noir Science Fantasy
My wife and I binged all eight episodes of Katla, which debuted on Netflix just a few days ago. It's Icelandic, and billed as mystery, drama, and science fiction. I'd say it's definitely Nordic Noir -- which takes care of mystery and drama -- but more science fantasy than science fiction, in case that matters to you.
It takes place in Vik, a real "remote seafront village in south Iceland" (according to Google), which "sits in the shadow" (also from Google) of the nearby volcano Katla (also real). What's not real, and here is where the story begins, is that after an eruption, deceased residents start coming back to life. These include Ása (who disappeared a year ago, sister of protagonist Grima) and Mikael (who was killed three years ago, eight-year-old son of volcanist Darri). Pretty soon, people begin appearing not when their dopplegangers are dead, but just when they have a terminal illness, or are out of town, say, in Sweden.
It's pretty clear from the outset that the volcanic eruption is in some way responsible for this. But how? We learn, in an episode near the end, that a meteor from another solar system landed in the volcano a millennium or so ago. So now I'm thinking we've got a late and lamented Debris kind of effect going on here. But that's never really spelled out, either.
In the end, Grima and Darri come to realize that the dopplegangers came forth to help the relatives in Vik repair their lives and their relationships. Mikael, though he's psychotic, helps Darri and his wife get back together. Grima gets not only her sister back for a while, but another version of herself, and this helps her repair her relationship with her husband. But how? We're given no clue about this, and that's why I say Katla is more correctly characterized as science fantasy than science fiction.
But that's ok. It's the relationships among the affected people, not the science, that is of most interest in this compelling drama, and I'm definitely onboard for seeing another season.
June 19, 2021
Podcast Interview with Jay Kensinger about The Chronology Protection Case
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 182, in which I interview Jay Kensinger about "The Chronology Protection Case," the short film he made (now on Amazon Prime) from from my 1995 Nebula nominated novelette of the same name.
See video of the interview Read the original story See the movie on Prime Video Jay Kensinger's account of how he made the movie complete, uncut radio play of "The Chronology Protection Case," recorded before a live audience at the Mark Goodson Theater in the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City in September 2002, nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Radio Play (radioplay written by Mark Shanahan) audio reading of original "The Chronology Protection Case" [starts at 27min 20secs]
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
Interview with Jay Kensinger about The Chronology Protection Case
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 182, in which I interview Jay Kensinger about "The Chronology Protection Case," the short film he made (now on Amazon Prime) from from my 1995 Nebula nominated novelette of the same name.
See video of the interview Read the original story See the movie on Prime Video Jay Kensinger's account of how he made the movie complete, uncut radio play of "The Chronology Protection Case," recorded before a live audience at the Mark Goodson Theater in the Museum of Television and Radio in New York City in September 2002, nominated for the Edgar Award for Best Radio Play (radioplay written by Mark Shanahan) audio reading of original "The Chronology Protection Case" [starts at 27min 20secs]
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
June 14, 2021
In the Heights: Everything That's Good about America
My wife and I just saw In the Heights, the Jon Chu movie on HBO Max, based on Lin-Manuel Miranda's musical play. We loved it. It's a righteous joy of a movie, symbolizing everything that's good about America. That would be that when left to own devices, we are a land of dreams that can come true.
The story takes place in Washington Heights, a place I know well. I was there a few days a week for a good ten years or so, going to and from my first full-time teaching job at Fairleigh Dickinson University in Teaneck. I didn't drive yet back then, so I got from the Bronx to Teaneck, New Jersey on a train to Washington Heights and a bus from the Port Authority on Route 4. When I had time, I grabbed some delicious Cuban-Chinese food in a restaurant across the street from the Port Authority.
Anthony Ramos (who's been doing a great job on the new In Treatment) is outstanding as Usnavi, doing an especially good job giving voice to Miranda's catchy, soaring, soulful songs, with surging melodies and top-notch lyrics. At times the songs were so good they evoked Cole Porter.
The story was people from the Caribbean struggling to make it in New York, more specifically Washington Heights. What they have going for them is irrepressible energy and incandescent talent. But it's tough surmounting poverty, even when you don't have Trump and his ilk beating you down. Your homeland in the islands is always calling you back ... and I'm not going to say anything more about the plot, except that the ending is a kind of artistic magic, literally.
The movie's Hispanic fabric reminded me of West Side Story, and my wife mentioned Evita. But In the Heights is most demonstrably neither. It's about the people not the dictator. And it's a triumph of life not a Shakespearean tragedy.
Three cheers to Anthony Ramos, Leslie Grace, Melissa Barrera, Corey Hawkins, Jimmy Smits and everyone who acted and sang their hearts out in this movie. Including Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose Piragüero selling flavored ice has what will go down as a classic non-violent fight with Mr. Softee.
June 13, 2021
Light On Light Through podcast listed in Whelp Magazine's Top 20 Best Concerts Podcasts
Pleased to announce that my Light On Light Through podcast has been listed in Welp Magazine's 20 Best Concerts article. Read all about it here (scroll a little down).
And here are some of the in-person, radio, and virtual concerts on the podcast over the years:
Virtual concert at HELIOspherePatrick Rands Debuts Welcome Up in BostonCaptain Phil Interviews Paul Levinson about His MusicScience Fiction and MusicMore of my music on Spotify, Apple, and Bandcamp. Reviews of my music over here. Interviews about my music over here.
June 12, 2021
Podcast: Solar Eclipse, Politics, Online Learning, Origin of Covid, More
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 181, in which "Captain" Phil Merkel interviews me about the recent solar eclipse, politics, Phil Ochs, online learning, origin of Covid, defense of Dr. Fauci, and much much more (including a shout-out to the Applebee's in Batavia, New York, near the end of the episode).
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
June 5, 2021
Podcast Review of the Mosquito Coast: Well Bitten
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 180, in which I review The Mosquito Coast, Season One.
Blogpost written reviews:
#s1-2: Edgy, Attractive, Enlightened, Important #3: Broadening Horizons #4: Charlie and the Gun #5: Charlie and the Gun, Part II #6: What Kind of Brother? #7: I'm Well BittenPaul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
The Mosquito Coast Season 1 Finale: I'm Well Bitten
So, I've saying here in these reviews of The Mosquito Coast all season that Charlie's gun would play a major, decisive role, and Margot would reach the breaking point with Allie's wild ideas and escapades. And, sure enough, both happened in the season finale, which was one breathless ride of an hour.
Charlie saves the family when he shoots Lee's henchman in the head. And Margot does tell Allie she's going to go her own way with the kids, a narrative-exploding move which only doesn't happen because she needs to work with Allie and Dina to break Charlie out of jail. But, of course, it could still happen next season, and I'm very glad there will be at least a second season of this quirky, really excellent series.
This finale also really showcased the unusual genius of Allie. He's able to think at lightning speed, evaluate a situation, and come up with a daring plan. More than that, he's able to improvise when needed. His quick thinking not only sprung Charlie from jail, but got Allie and Charlie to safety even with lethal Lee and his men literally in the same cell.
One quibble, and it's not just about The Mosquito Coast, but all television in the past few years. Allie tells Dina, "You’re better off with your mother and I". "With" is a preposition, which takes the objective case ("me") not the subjective case ("I"), so Allie should have told his daughter, "You’re better off with your mother and me". Allie, as a genius and highly educated man, would know this. And surely he would want to speak grammatically to Dina, since he's such an advocate on home schooling and its benefits.
But, hey, that's a very minor point. I truly loved this series, and I'm very much looking forward to more when the second season rolls along.
See also The Mosquito Coast 1.1-2: Edgy, Attractive, Enlightened, and Important ... The Mosquito Coast 1.3: Broadening Horizons ... The Mosquito Coast 1.4: Charlie and the Gun ... The Mosquito Coast 1.5: Charlie and the Gun, Part II ... The Mosquito Coast 1.6: What Kind of Brother?
June 4, 2021
Podcast Review of Mare of Easttown: Jude the Obscure Near Philadelphia
Welcome to Light On Light Through, Episode 179, in which I review Mare of Easttown.
Blogpost written review:
Jude the Obscure Near Philadelphia
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
May 31, 2021
Mare of Easttown: Jude the Obscure near Philadelphia
Mare of Easttown concluded on HBO last night. One downer of a mini-series, brilliantly acted, but with resolutions so sombre it could have been Jude the Obscure near Philadelphia.
The ultimate resolution left lives broken everywhere. If they were not literally ended already. Colin was killed a few episodes back, for reasons barely related to the main murder under investigation. Even Erin's murder turns out to be something of an accident, rendering it a statement about the insanity of so many guns in this country (which I agree with), rather than the more narratively satisfying result of an evil intention.
And the broken lives are ubiquitous. Julianne Nicholson was just superb in that last episode as Lori, with her beloved son going off to prison. Even Mare herself, wonderfully played by Kate Winslet, has just a hope of some happiness, as she walks up those stairs to the attic, to perhaps find some peace about her son up in heaven. It would have much better had the storyline at least left Guy Pearce's Richard in town.
Maybe it says something about my age, but my favorite characters were Mare's mother Helen (great to see Jean Smart), who had an irrepressible sense of humor and a winning penchant for the wise crack, and Chief Carter (first time I've seen John Douglas Thompson), who had a way of injecting calm and reason with his words and his presence, sorely needed in this often, almost always, harrowing story.
I suppose heartbreak is especially pertinent in this year we've just been through off the screen. When Mare mentions the year everyone has been through in Easttown, she's talking about the deaths and breakups and breakdowns in this fictional world. But she could just as easily have been talking about the world her viewers have inhabited and tried to live in during the lockdown due to the pandemic and the bashing of democracy by the former President. In that sense, Mare of Easttown may be perfect viewing for our time, and, like Jude the Obscure, a sad kind of masterpiece.
Paul Levinson's books ... Paul Levinson's music
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