the last of the famous international playboys

[falafel_musings]

As I've said in my last few entries, I'm going through a little phase of immersing myself in British films, culture and even events lately. Went to see The Theory of Everything a few weeks ago which had me feeling so in awe of Eddie Redmayne and so attracted to Harry Lloyd (why isn't Harry Lloyd in more things?!). I actually really want to read

Comments

[millari]

Well, I actually only know him from Get Him to the Greek, which I found surprisingly charming, god help me. ;-) I'm so hopelessly out of touch, I didn't know he was married to Katy Perry. Is that who "Ur So Gay" was about? :D It would make sense.

Brand as RL Baltar. Hm, that explains a lot about why I responded to Brand's greasy charm.

I'm glad you're watching In the Flesh! I think it does get a bit more nuanced as it goes (mostly), but then I enjoyed Get Him to the Greek, so I dunno, maybe I'm not a good measure for you?

[falafel_musings]

To be fair it's not so much that I dislike films like 'Get him to the Greek'. To be honest, I got a lot of guilty pleasure out of 'Rock of Ages'. It's more that as a big fan of Brand's stand up comedy, I felt like I was getting a far less potent version of Brand's real life persona in his film roles. Not only is he more controversial in RL, he's also extremely intelligent and eloquent (and admittedly, a lunatic) - qualities that are somewhat dumbed down in his Aldous Snow type alter-egos.

Is that who "Ur So Gay" was about? :D It would make sense.

I always thought it must be! But I just googled it and apparently that song was written about another one of Perry's ex's before she met Brand. So I guess Perry just has a type? Now And I'm also remembering Kajams fabulous Baltar fanvid made to that song. I guess I have a thing for controversial camp straight men too.

[waltzmatildah]

I'm loving In the Flesh, but I actually really like the social commentary (and not just on discrimination), so...

Also, if you've only watched one episode so far, then you have eight more to go, not five. There are three episodes in season one, and six in season two. I've watched all of season one and half of season two, so far. In fact I watched episodes two and three of season two less than 12 hours ago :)

PS. Brand is pretty well known (and liked) here in Australia...

[falafel_musings]

I think I'll like the social commentary aspect of 'In the Flesh' too, I just feel like in the first episode it was a little heavy handed. But maybe it needed to be to stress that it isn't really just a zombie show. Oh! Good to know that S2 is longer. I assumed it'd be the same length as S1. But still, sad that good Brit scifi shows can't make it beyond 10 episodes these days.

PS. Brand is pretty well known (and liked) here in Australia...

Yes, I get the impression Brand is more generally liked internationally. In the UK he is very polarizing, we've been through a lot of Brand scandals (that time he almost destroyed the BBC, etc) and he has a lot of haters to contend with here, especially in the right-wing press. Which makes his political crusading all the more juicy and interesting.

[daybreak777]

Totally Baltar. But like badass Baltar. He put that American blond reporter in her place like a BOSS.

[falafel_musings]

Hey, Baltar ISN'T badass?! :) "More guns! Bigger guns!" *sigh* I need to rewatch BSG. I miss that character so much.

Yeah, I saw THAT interview on youtube. Brand Vs the UK media has always been an entertaining grudge match. With Brand Vs US media...it's almost too easy for him to rip inept reporters to shreds.

Oh, btw. I forgot to answer your last post on Shameless. Good to hear you're up to date! I didn't hate the latest Debs story as much as a lot of fans. They couldn't have Debs so determined to lose her virginity and never have it happen in an environment where there's so much opportunity for inebriated casual sex. Of course, they could have Debs lose it in consensual sex with a boy her own age but I think they were better off going back and paying off the Matt storyline, which was NEVER going to end well. Obviously it's not the resolution we would want for Deb's virginity story but I still bought it.

[daybreak777]

The one thing Brand manages well is dignity and contempt. I've seen Baltar manage the latter, but the former? Probably only when he watched Felix die. Sigh. Six years later and I'm not ready for a rewatch, no

[falafel_musings]

The one thing Brand manages well is dignity and contempt. I've seen Baltar manage the latter, but the former? Well, I've seen a lot of indignities from Brand over the years, since his early career when he was a raving junkie, then after he got clean when he was a sex addict and notorious womanizer. Plus the several national scandals over incidents of offensive humor from Brand, one of which caused serious damage to the BBC. But (like with Baltar) I forgive Brand a lot because I think he's hilarious and highly intelligent and actually has good intentions. But given all of them above, there's been a huge amount of backlash to Brand reinventing himself as a political spokesperson

[bessiemaemucho]

I'M LAUGHING SO HARD ABOUT RUSSELL BRAND AS AN IRL GAIUS BALTAR OMG

re: him being well-known in the US, IDK, his Guardian interview circulated HUGELY among all my activist-y friends, anyway.

[falafel_musings]

It only just occurred to me - the whole fey intellectual sex maniac turns activist cult leader similarity. Now I've latched onto the idea, I'm very taken with it.

his Guardian interview circulated HUGELY among all my activist-y friends

Yes, the Guardian interview was a good one. And the upcoming Brand documentary is directed by Ondi Timoner who made 'We live in Public' so that'll definitely be worth a look.