Having front-loaded the novel with so much talky scene-setting, Banks might have ended up relying slightly too much on his (and our) favourite gadgets.
The unarticulated trust that exists between them registers at the margins of the film's hectic, talky scenes, and their quiet precision stands in counterpoint to the exuberant jaw-boning that Mr. DeVito and Mr. Rockwell bring to the game.
For instance, where else can you find Tony Kushner compared to the Flying Tomato – the Bagger is a sucker for the U.S. snowboard sensation now that Bode has D.Q.'ed – and called an author of "tedious, talky scenes" between "stetel characters"?
There is a lot of improvisation, then; in the film and first TV series this sometimes led to overly talky scenes, with everyone in the group trying to chip in, make their mark.
The film's story, which involves nothing more or less than the development of that friendship, is told through a series of long, talky scenes that take place at intervals over a year.
Their contentment was unequivocal -- in a theater, 6-year-olds tend to be enthralled or asleep -- although overall, Lizzie and Elizabeth liked the talkier scenes and the mushier songs the least.
Elvis Costello, whose songs provide occasional bumpers between the talky, shapeless scenes, has managed more corrosive insight in a single verse than Mr. LaBute has in entire plays, and more compassion as well.
If young people are ever to enjoy the art of the television drama — and some will argue they should just thank their stars they never got addicted — they have to relearn how to quit typing and texting for an hour or two, lean back in couches and enjoy simple, talky dramatic scenes.
Meanwhile, another earnestly talky, school-debate scene is unfolding in Washington DC.
I'm really as talky behind the scenes as I am out on the stage.
