Prescient Films and Farewell to a Friend

• I have heard people say that classic films are ones that are timeless. This can be a misnomer. 'Gone with the Wind' is a classic that shows its age. Taking on yet another strange subject, Peter suggested that the Moving Images gang look at prescient films: those pictures that are predictive of an ominous future; a bleak and/or rewarding contemporary present; or reflective of a past long gone by. They are films that get richer with age, for they have no affixed time period, and seem more timely as they are timeless. Peter, Chris and Geoff spoke of a number of films that fit into this category: Network (a satire about the evolution of television network news), Glengarry Glen Ross (a black comedy about desperate people who work for a living), Natural Born Killers (a cutting commentary on reality television), Office Space (the ultimate cubicle satire), Dead Man Walking (a fierce drama that addresses the subject of capital punishment), Moulin Rouge! (a revolutionary musical that recast a fading genre), National Lampoon's Vacation (the ultimate comedy about what it's like to go on a family trip), Animal House (sorority house slapstick), Lost in America (a cunning satire about lost youth), GoodFellas (the best gangster film ever made to address the inner workings of the underworld), Do the Right Thing (a drama about race relations in America) and the original Star Wars trilogy trilogy (the sci-fi wonder which set the standard for future films space). As always, we ran out of time, but never out of conversation.
  
  
• Jennifer Pak was co-host of Moving Images for about three years. She volunteered her time, energy and wealth of knowledge to help make this show a great one. Due to the pressing demands of school, and a journalism career that is about to launch into full swing, Jenn "JPak" has decided to leave Moving Images for the rest of this season. The new Moving Images team will sorely miss her vitality, drive -- and especially her voice. We wish you all the best that life has to offer, JPak. We know you're going to make it. Thanks for being part of our show.