Ben Brantley on Charlie Rose

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/2/09 at 8:39am

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=5789753328018862330&ei=vd_uSuXNDdLYlQfw_YzlAg&q=ben+brantley&hl=en&client=firefox-a#

It's watching interviews like this that really helped me separate Ben Brantley the critic from Ben Brantley the theater lover. What do you guys think?

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 10:51am

Here he is again on Charlie Rose but this time pitted against John Simon. I definitely think there's a contrast between the two.

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-3948628785079531715&ei=BVHwSqm5EceclAf2lPzIAg&q=ben+brantley&hl=en&view=2&dur=3&client=firefox-a#

[gustof777]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 11:06am

thanks for posting!

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 11:45am

Anytime :)

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 12:39pm

I'd really love to get a discussion going about these vids so if anyone has any opinions, especially about the two critics in gneeral, by all means post 'em.

[LearnToBounce]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 5:57pm

I never really hated Brantley: I think he's doing his job fairly well, and you can tell how much he loves the theater. What I hate is how his writing sometimes borders on gossipy teen-speak (like the heading for his EXIT THE KING review: "Sorry, Your Highness, But You're So Over"), and how condescending and nasty he can be about shows he doesn't like (HIGH FIDELITY wasn't a good show, but it didn't deserve a pan on the level of THE LITTLE MERMAID).

But even if you do hate Brantley, take the time to watch the second video posted here. The best way to make Brantley seem like the sane one in the room: put him between John Simon and Charlie Rose.

Really, Brantley is just fine in my book. I do hate Charles Isherwood, though.

(Oh, and Charlie Rose: God, he annoys me...)

Updated On: 11/3/09 at 05:57 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 6:26pm

"
But even if you do hate Brantley, take the time to watch the second video posted here. The best way to make Brantley seem like the sane one in the room: put him between John Simon and Charlie Rose.
"

I agree.

"I do hate Charles Isherwood, though. "

He did himself no favors the way he acted in ShowBusiness: The Road to Broadway.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 6:39pm

I think part of the problem here is that the second video is so very very quiet that it is nearly impossible to hear.

P

[gustof777]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 7:37pm

it's fine Pgenre. The video is an example of what a hideous human being John Simon is.

But it will say this made me like Brantley quite a bit more. I disagree with him quite a bit but can respect where he's coming from most of the time. Nice to see his cheery passion shine through.

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 7:43pm

Here's another link with much better sound of the second video:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=1809380977918750925&ei=9M3wSqTMPIaIlAfG-bmXBw&q=ben+brantley&hl=en&view=2&dur=3#

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 7:44pm

No, it's not fine. I just played it in my VLC Player at 200%, doubling the volume of the original video, and it was BARELY audible. I have excellent hearing. I don't know what the problem is, but something is wrong with the original volume.

A very interesting discussion, though Simon's homophobia was shocking. I expected him to start ragging on Liza "Horseface" Minelli but they ran out of time. Their mutual appreciation and subsequent horror over the FOLLIES revival was the best part for me.

EDIT: MUCH better link this time, mattbrain!

P
Updated On: 11/3/09 at 07:44 PM

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 7:49pm

You're welcome, P.

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 7:54pm

Thanks for that link, once again.

Here is one of my fav Charlie Rose roundtables, this one about the Broadway WILD PARTY with Toni Collette, Eartha Kitt and George C. Wolfe.

P
TWP, ff to 27:30

[gustof777]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 8:08pm

my bad Pgenre. I meant that you weren't missing much by not watching it though I did find the discussion interesting I just found it hard to sit through John Simon's bulls**t.

sorry for the confusion :)

[Pgenre]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 8:09pm

Oh word?? All good.

You may enjoy TWP vid, especially now that Eartha is no longer with us.

P

[Mattbrain]

Posted: 11/3/09 at 8:41pm

And there's also a discussion with Ben Brantley in which he responds to George C. Wolfe's comments on his review.