Weekly Witch Hunt: Vikings Season 4 & 100 Streets

We decide what artistic endeavour passed approval to earn the Scorcher label from the past seven days & what also had the dishonour of being that week's Torture...

Welcome to the start of 2017's Witch Hunts.  This last week I took great pleasure in raiding along the English coastline; but then ruined it by visiting a small pocket of London.  Read on to find out more.

The Scorcher

The second half of season 4 of Vikings recently concluded so I went on a typical binge watch so I would be able to pass judgement on this bunch of heathens.  It might not be the most historically accurate of shows but my word is it entertaining.
When I first decided to start watching Vikings I was hesitant because I was unsure how they would keep such a story interesting.  The characters are based on Viking legends; made up of ones that we know existed and ones where we are not so convinced about their overall legitimacy.  So the basis is there for a good story.
However these legendary warriors all existed at different times throughout Viking lore so how do they accomplish a historical telling of these tales and still manage to educate about their historical significance?  Well the History Channel has taken the novel approach of condensing the actions of these Norse heroes into a much smaller timescale so that they can all interact with one another.  You still get a sense of the impact each had in their culture and the wider world at large.
It works surprisingly well.  The historical events are depicted with the filmmakers taking similar liberties with accuracy that you see in many "based on a true story" movies that are released.
Where the show does excel in keeping up interest levels; is in the ability to not follow normal conventions.  You can be watching a scene and think you know exactly what is going to take place and the complete opposite can happen.  This is totally refreshing and in many cases mimics the actual events from the Norse saga of the time.  Season 4, more than all that have come before it, certainly takes these curveballs to the next level of surprise.
I will be very keen to see how season 5 develops from here and whether it can maintain the momentum.

The Torture

Have you ever felt like slashing your wrists after watching a particularly depressing film?  If you answered no then this one might put you in that frame of mind.  Okay so it isn't all doom and gloom but it's a pretty bloody dismal movie.  100 Streets focusses on three different stories with no connective tissue joining them up; or what little there is, is very tenuous at best.  The title refers to the characters of the storylines all living within one hundred streets of each other so there you go.
This feels like three stories that weren't fully developed being cobbled together to form one film.  The only one with any substance that I really wanted to see more of involved George the taxi driver as his had the makings of something intriguing.  His tale however was the one we saw the least of.
Idris Elba and Gemma Arterton are recognisable names so it is only fitting that they get the most screen time.  Their story is one of the most relatable too as it involves a marriage breakup.  It doesn't really go anywhere though and by the end you don't really know if either of them is any better off than when we were first introduced to them.
Franz Drameh's Kingsley is one of the most commonly used redemption stories; where a young black man is on the wrong side of the tracks and realises the error of his ways.  You can tell instantly when Ken Stott's Terrence starts interacting with Kingsley that it won't be all sunshine and rainbows.  It holds no surprises in the least to see how this one ends up.
I was ready to torch the whole lot of them when it ended on a typical Hollywood style high note after watching an hour and a half of complete drabness beforehand.  This is not a film to watch for the suicidal!

Artistic Integrity in the Dock: JESSICA CHASTAIN

Artistic Integrity is a study of one particular artist's contribution to the world of entertainment.
Are they worthy of the accolades or should they be sent down...

The Accused:
JESSICA CHASTAIN

Much like our last Artist in the Dock Oscar Isaac; Jessica Chastain has really come into her own over the last half a dozen years or so.  Similar to Isaac, she has started to become a headliner after hitting her thirties.  It is slightly against the grain for a female actor to gain more notice after this age as the focus for studio's these days tends towards a younger generation of actors.
Chastain got into the business through a few television roles before getting her first break starring alongside the great Helen Mirren in The Debt.  Of course they never shared any screen time together as Chastain was playing the younger version of Mirren's character Rachel Singer in this film.  It is fair to say that this is when people started to take notice.
Her next outing was in the underrated gem Take Shelter where she plays the wife of Michael Shannon.  The movie garnered a number of nominations in the Saturn Awards, including one for Chastain.  Incidentally the director Jeff Nichols is certainly one to watch, having made the equally enjoyable: Mud.
It would be fair to say that 2011 was a big year as Chastain appeared in no less than five big screen releases.  The Help would have to be classed as the biggest out of these movies; although fans of The Tree of Life from Terrence Malick might disagree.  I am not a fan of Mr Malick so I will nominate The Help instead.
Portraying Celia Rae Foote gives Chastain the first opportunity to really show her acting chops.  At first I didn't even recognise that it was her playing this person.  She is so good at embodying this introverted lady who befriends her maid.  This would also lead to her first Academy Award nomination for best supporting actress.
Roles would start to flow for her now and not just from one genre.  I think that her portrayal in The Help really showed people what she was capable of as an actor.  She definitely hasn't been typecast; which is the bane of many good actors who have a breakout role that starts to get them recognition.
In Lawless she plays Maggie Beauford, a waitress for the bootlegger Bondurant brothers.  Whilst I don't consider it a great movie, it is entertaining and Chastain is still eye catching in it.  Tackling a new genre altogether; Chastain played the surrogate mother to the two feral children in the horror/thriller: Mama.  She brings a lot of heart and soul to this successful film, which helps elevate it from your average run of the mill thriller.
The real life events taking place while Zero Dark Thirty was in production meant a few rewrites to the ending, allowing for what happened with the pursuit of Osama Bin Laden.  This in turn contributed to the success of the movie upon release.  Probably more than any of her other films, this one relies totally upon her powerhouse performance as Maya; the CIA analyst who's driving desire is to see Bin Laden pay for his crimes.
She was again nominated for an Academy Award and won the Golden Globe for playing this character.  Needless to say she is excellent here; standing out in what could easily have become a boy's movie considering that she is one of only a few female cast members.  Hers is the central character and she handles it with much aplomb.
I have already covered Crimson Peak in detail; saying how much I enjoyed her scene chewing evil matriarch.  I also mentioned my thoughts about Chastain in A Most Violent Year when Isaac was in the Dock.  She has starred in two huge science fiction movies: Interstellar and The Martian.  Hands down The Martian is the better of the two films.
In Interstellar Chastain plays Murph, the daughter of Matthew McConaughey's Joseph Cooper.  She is very good as the abandoned daughter looking for answers.  It is just a pity that the film overall was a bit of a disappointment.  I love the visuals but the script has so many flaws, I just felt let down by it all.
On the other hand The Martian is a great adaptation and Chastain again proves worthwhile as mission commander Lewis.  You get a true sense of the turmoil her character is feeling at leaving a crew member behind.  She is able to do a lot with the limited screen time she gets, considering much of the films focus is on Matt Damon's Mark Watney.
Jessica Chastain is probably one of the most versatile female actors around.  Reading up on the depth of research she does in preparing for each role it does not surprise me.  She wants to inhabit each character and I think it comes across well on the screen.
At the moment you can see her in The Huntsman: Winter's War.  This is a film that was on a hiding to nothing as it really is an unwanted sequel by everyone except for the studio.  They are thinking of the dollars they can make from it.  She isn't the only A-List actor appearing so hopefully the cast make it entertaining enough so it doesn't end up on trial!  I haven't seen it as of yet, though I probably will so let's wait and see how it fares...
On the horizon she has Molly's Game with Aaron Sorkin directing and Idris Elba co-starring.  That pairing intrigues me.  There are also a few biographic films on her upcoming slate; along with a couple of drama's dealing with some heavy themes and topics.  She is definitely an actor in high demand.

 

Verdict:
Jessica Chastain should be allowed to continue to produce the stellar work she has so far, there is no need to abandon this lady on some lonely planet.

 

Splitting a portion of this persons back catalogue into what I would "go to" and what I would choose to "avoid"; given the choices I would categorise this entertainers output as thus...
The Scorcher's:

• The Martian
• The Help
• Crimson Peak
• Zero Dark Thirty

 The Torture's:

• The Tree of Life
• Interstellar
•  Lawless

Music: "This Unruly Mess I've Made" by Macklemore & Ryan Lewis

The Witch Trial:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis released their second album on the back of a very popular first single.
Does the rest of the album follow suit?

Who:
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis
What:
Hip Hop/Rap
Why:
Second album
When:
Released February 2016
Where:
American

For (and Against) The Record: This Unruly Mess I've Made
Length: 57:39
  "Light Tunnels"
This opening track is a commentary on the Grammy's and other musical award ceremonies.  It has a really addictive chorus and beat going for it.
  "Downtown"
The big hit single released before the album and it's easy to see why with the clever inclusion of the Downtown tune forming the chorus.  The subject matter proves to be entertaining too.
  "Brad Pitt's Cousin"
In the vein of Bloodhound Gang we get what is probably the most comical song here.  Again, this one is questioning the emphasis put on achieving fame and the price you pay for your privacy.
  "Buckshot"
This is as close to old school rap as we get on the record.  It has that classic hip hop feel.
  "Growing Up"
The album drops a notch in tempo to give us a little gem about taking on the responsibility of becoming a parent.  This song is another instance where the chorus has you singing along in no time thanks to the appearance of Ed Sheeran.
  "Kevin"
Continuing the slower tempo, this tune tackles the subject of pharmaceutical companies and addiction.  There is a hint of gospel when it comes to the hook that fits well with the theme.
  "St. Ides"
This is mainly a song of verses with a nice little guitar riff breaking up each verse.  It shows that they don't need catchy choruses in all their songs for them to be a highlight.
  "Dance Off"
This will get people bouncing around and doing all sorts of silly dances as the title suggests - Dance Off!  A guest appearance from Idris Elba of all people certainly adds to the intrigue.
  "Need to Know"
Need to Know is another song continuing the theme that is most common on the album: fame and fortune and how it can change you if you aren't careful.  It also tackles how fame affects your relationship with your loved one.
  "Let's Eat"
We have another song not taking itself too seriously with its funny spin on everyone's fascination with healthy living and asking what all the fuss is about.  The lyric about carbs is worth its weight in gold.
  "Bolo Tie"
After Buckshot this is the next song that comes closest to paying tribute to old school rapping.
  "The Train"
This has a haunting guest vocal appearance from Carla Morrison as we go into wind down mode as the album draws to a close.
  "White Privilege II"
The record closes out with a commentary on how America still doesn't acknowledge the contributions black people give to the country at large.  The spoken word content help the message hit home along with Jamila Woods verse at the end.  Although the track does waver in tempo quite a bit.

Overall this album continues where The Heist left off.  We have the quirky songs much like Thrift Shop before it; in the form of Downtown; Brad Pitt's Cousin and Dance Off.  Whilst I compare them to Bloodhound Gang, they aren't lyrically played just for laughs.  They do have amusing lyrics but not to the extent of becoming parody songs.
Macklemore & Ryan Lewis tackle the trappings of fame and fortune in a number of tracks too.  They address how they have felt being thrust in the spotlight.  The result of this are more than a couple of tunes being very self referential.  They perform a fine balancing act on these songs where they are happy to talk about their experience but not come across as if it has gone to their head.
Fame has found them not just because of having some hit singles; the subjects they cover in their music have often garnered headlines.  They aren't afraid to rap about potentially controversial topics such as Black Lives Matter or drug addiction as a result of prescription medication.  These issues mix surprising well with their more light-hearted output.
At nearly an hour in length this album does go on a bit too long.  Generally I like a record to come in around the forty to forty five minute mark and if you took out the opening and closing tracks then this would go pretty close to that.
Still that isn't enough for me to condemn This Unruly Mess I've Made at all.  There is enough variety for most hip hop fans to enjoy as well as a couple of radio friendly hits.  The guest appearances are a definite highlight of the album.  There are also some neat instrumentation additions to some of the tracks, ranging from horn sections to what appears to be middle eastern elements.

Verdict:
A decent follow up keeps Macklemore & Ryan Lewis from going to the gallows.

Evidence:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/This_Unruly_Mess_I%27ve_Made
http://macklemore.com/