Would you say, Susan, that Engel's output is hard boiled or noir? Engle created Cooperman as a sort of Canadian alternative to American hard boiled detectives like Spade and Marlowe. Cooperman works a city small enough for everyone to know all the major players, if they are so inclined. He's unmarried, more because he's the type women want to take under-wing than because he's too hard-nosed. He still goes home for mom's cooking once a week.
On the other hand, while Cooperman frequently flinches at putting himself in danger, he still does so. He resists both parental and would-be paramours' attempts to change him, remaining pretty much the "lone wolf" cliche. He has a workable relationship with local cops, but usually due to the forebearance of a high-school buddy. If there's a moral code, it's more or less the familiar form that doesn't get, or stand up to, too much scrutiny, and hence there's a bit of world-weariness when confronted by the things people do.
He's an average schmo like the rest of us, but more inclined to stay the course when confronted by situations that might cause the rest of us to turn away, but then that's because it's his job. Most of us stay the course for the sake of a job, when we might otherwise turn away. We rationalize that the money allows us to maintain our independence, just as I think I recall Cooperman doing on occasion. You might call Engel's Cooperman series an unflinching look at the gritty experience of average mediocrity, if you want to get really dark and humourous, about it.
But that's just my take. I'm curious to hear what you think.
Kerry
----- Original Message -----
From: Susan Evans Shaw
To: rara-avis-l@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2008 9:37 AM
Subject: RE: RARA-AVIS: Re: Capturing Cooperman
The show was interesting but spoiled by ads - at one point there were three
interruptions in less than 10 minutes. Bravo! used to be more
commercial-free. Complaints aside, there is extensive footage of Howard
Engel at his computer, walking around Toronto and in the Cooperman sites in
St. Catharines. They also used clips from the two films based on his books.
Interviews included Margaret Cannon, the Globe and Mail mystery reviewer,
Peter Robinson, Eric Wright, Engel's daughter Charlotte and several others.
There was quite a bit at the beginning about his first marriage to writer
Marion Engel. Much emphasis was placed on the tragedies in his life - his
second wife died of brain cancer. Then there was the stroke and his
remarkable recovery. All in all, I'd say the film is worth watching for.
Susan
_
.
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
This archive was generated by hypermail 2b29 : 10 Jul 2008 EDT