The Night Listener

Robin Williams doing a 'serious' role. Based on an Armistad Maupin novel of the same title, this is a slightly weird tale of lies, deceit and betrayal. There is suspense - and Robin Williams is rather good as a gay man investigating a mystery. It is very atmospheric, and scary in parts. A bit of a thriller. But I did come away feeling slightly disappointed - but I can't quite tell you why!

Little Miss Sunshine

Wonderful quirky film with superb performances from every member of this small cast. Funny, moving, thought-provoking, lovely!
The tale of an ordinary family - an uncle who has just attempted suicide after a failed gay love affair and demotion to be No 2 Proustian Expert. A father who is attempting to launch a nine-step self help programme to success (A very unsuccessful programme). A grandfather who snorts coke and is about as foul-mouthed and as bigotted as you could imagine. He is 'training' his grandaughter to win the Little Miss Sunshine competition in California. There's also a mute son - failing to talk until he gains his ambition to enter flight school. They are all joined by a remarkably normal mother (well normal in comparison to the rest of the family) in a dash across America in an aging VW Dormabile Camper Van with no clutch. There are some trult hilarious moments and the film is quite a satire on American life. Go see it!

Driving Lessons

I went to see this film with my new friend Aaron. We both absolutely loved Julie Waters. Also starring Rupert Grint (in his first adult role after all that Harry Potter stuff) and Laura Linney, this is a tale of an aging actress resolving and confronting her demons whilst a 17 year old enveloped and smothered by his mother discovers that there is life outside the restrictions of the vicarage. It is a role incredibly well suited to Julie - playing a part way beyond her years - she seems younger as the film developes under the often silent influence of Rupert. He becomes (accidentally) her support and mentor. They have a wonderful tour of Britain and both 'grow up' in different ways.
Truly excellent film.

Volver

Superb new Spanish language film by the same director as 'Talk to her' (his name escapes me).
This film (featuring gale force winds throughout) stars the wonderful Penelope Cruz and features, ghosts, incest, murder, dark humour and very moving scenes in a fast moving dramatic story of dysfunctional families and poor communication of emotions. Many reviewers have expressed themselves disappointed - but I really enjoyed this vignette of current Spanish life and mores.

Foreign Hordes?

What is it about the British & xenophobia? We seem to be obsessed with the 'hundreds of thousands' of immigrants who are: taking our jobs (ie those no British person wants to do or is qualified to do - or can be bothered to get qualified for); taking our homes (despite the fact that we're also obsessed with getting our house prices to rise rapidly, and everyone seems intent on buying two or three houses for holidays, retirement, etc); and horror of horrors - destroying our culture. But then no one knows what British culture is - apart from spending the entire weekend getting smashed out of our minds on alcohol and then fighting in the streets. Am I the only person who loves diversity, enjoys the variety of people I see in the streets and on the tube, is grateful to have interesting conversations about other countries and cultures. I'm quite often the only white man at social events - does this bother me? Not at all. Lets get a grip here - Britain has always benefitted from a wide variety of peoples populating this country. It makes us what we are.

Post Retirement

Since I retired in May I seem to have been busier than ever. One of the guys from my book group has also taken a 'career break' and so I've done loads of those tourist things London residents never do. My favourites have been: Che Exhibition, Constable Exhibition, Apsley House, loads of obscure films in Greenwich, St Paul's Cathedral, Eltham Palace, and just getting to know London.
Even with mad bombers waiting to kill everyone London is still a great city.
BTW my friend Danny is doing a superb blog that you should all see - I'll get his http and post it on here.
I don't seem to have been doing this as much as I should though - so now the weather is getting worse maybe I'll be able to do more posts.

Passenger Choice

There is a report in today's London press that on a flight from Malaga to Manchester the passengers refused to fly until two 'Arab looking' men were ejected. These two men were clearly terrorists because 'they were talking in a foreign language'. Obviously Ali Desai is right - the UK has invented a new offence : 'Travelling whilst Asian'.
Made me think of a list of people I'd like to exclude from planes:
Anyone who starts a conversation with 'I'm not a racist but you must agree...'
Fat people taking up part of my seat
People who insist on reclining their seat when I'm trying to use the table.
All children (especially babies who scream)
People who spread their newspapers across me.
Anyone sitting next to me
Any others you'd like to add?

Talk to Her

Wonderful film directed by Pedro Almodovar. Quirky bizarre dramatic tragic and superb. Oh so moving story of two women in comas and the men who support and love them.

The Wind that Shakes the Barley

Didn't really want to see this film - but I'm glad I was persuaded
The first part is too much of a polemic. British oppression/brutality against the plucky Irish. I didn't engage with the principal characters enough. But then suddenly things perked up - you could begin to feel the tensions of creating a new country - the compromises that were required. The paradoxes inherent within a very conservative rural society.
There are some powerful scenes - exploring the political debates of the early 1920s, and this is a well filmed, almost beautiful film. However, it is flawed. You end the long film detached from the central characters - Damien and Teddy. I do not have a heart of stone, but the ending scenes failed to move me.
A pity

The Cave of the Yellow Dog

It isn't often that I go to see a Mongolian film - in fact this is a first! Delightful is the best word to describe this documentary about a family of five living a nomadic life. This is a way of life that will surely become extinct before long. The plot is minimal but shows how the family copes with herding and living, picking up a few Mongolian folk stories along the way, and a dog that turns out to be a hero (of course!). Extremely enjoyable and fascinating stuff. The family are so natural and non-Hollywood - something to be admired!

Mrs Henderson Presents

I'd missed this British film the last time around so I was glad when it appeared as a reprise season event at Greenwich Picture House. There were only two of us in the lunchtime screening today. I loved this film - it made me laugh and cry in turn.
It is the story of the Windmill Theatre - bought on a whim by Mrs Henderson (played wonderfully by Dame Judi Dench) as a hobby after the death of her husband. Bob Hoskins plays superbly the impressario Vivien Van Dam - and much of the film concerns their relationship - a very heated one at times. Will Young is a marvel in his debut acting role - and his voice suits this late 30s period piece.
Interesting that Mrs Henderson reveals at the end that her motivation for putting on nude tableaux at the notorious (we never closed) Windmill was because she had discovered a 'French' photo in her dead son's possessions in World War I - she didn't want young men to spend their lives using photographic substitutes when she could provide the real thing to look at.
Lovely film.

Constant Gardener

I was disappointed with this film. Rather like most John Le Carre's novels (none of which I've managed to finish) I was confused and slightly dazed. I'm not a great one for conspiracy theories and this was a step too far on the credibility road. Wasn't impressed by Ralph Fiennes (so laid back as to be horizontal) and a real wimp - but in an unattractive way. I couldn't believe in his relationship with his wife. All too trite - frankly I was slightly bored. A pity!

Capote

Just seen this film - I know it was released a long time ago, but Greenwich Picture House are doing a 2006 reprise season. I really was impressed by this film. The story of Truman Capote's composition of his ground breaking book 'In Cold Blood' the story of the brutal killings of a family in the wilds of Kansas for no real understandable reason. It showed Truman's manipulation of the two killers - especially Perry. He paid for legal assistance until he believed he would not reach the culmination of the story - then by withdrawing the aid they lose their final appeal and Perry spills the beans. Truman finally attends the execution. Was in truly involved? This was a really sinister and spine chilling film, that makes you think. Wonderful cinematography. Recommended!

Thank You for Smoking

This is turning into a bit of a film review blog - but I am going to lots of films just now. Really enjoyed this satire on the lobbyists of the USA. Funny - I laughed out lous regukarly. Outrageous in its choice of subject - the tobacco industry's desire to hook as many people as possible into the terrible drug. But also good on US politics, journalism and family values. Go see!

A Cock & Bull Story

Greenwich Picture House was doing a one off (what they call a Sunday Matinee) reprise of films that only had short releases. I'd missed 'A Cock & Bull Story' the first time around and I was glad I caught it this time. I haven't read 'Tristam Shandy' but I'm guessing this film of making a film about Tristram Shandy is pretty like the book in format. Steve Coogan & Rob Bryden are good in this film. The story is chaotic, amusing and fun throughout. Not a major hit I would think with a lot of people, but I would say 7/10. Only three people in the cinema to see it though - shouldn't think they covered their costs. 'Thank You For Smoking' tomorrow!

Rageh Omaar

Following yesterday's blog can I recommend very strongly Rageh Omaar's latest book 'Only Half of Me - Being a Muslim in Britain'. To me this is extremely revealing, educational and relevant to the current situation - so much of the debate about terrorism is based on falsehood and lack of understanding. He is talking about his book next Tuesday (20th June) in Stratford (East London). If anyone is interested email me & I'll provide full details. (I know it is World Cup football, but England has now qualified, so not quite so vital!)

Forest Gate Gate

Just to say that this fiasco in Forest Gate (3 miles from where I live) just shows the paranoia of MI5 who are clearly totally incompetent. Also - what is this obsession with Muslims? Do they really want every young Muslim to be radicalised? They are just re-enforcing the lies of the fanatical extremists who don't deserve to be called believers of Islam. Why did they need 250 police to invade a smalled terraced house and why was one man shot? Lets move on and re-unite to fight the true terrorists.

Happy Endings & Eleven Men Out

I saw two films from the Gay & Lesbian London film festival this week. I enjoyed Happy Endings - an excellent dark comedy involving all aspects of gay/lesbian life - Lisa Kudrow was great and Steve Coogan a superb gay man! Eleven Men Out was a slightly weird Icelandic film about a gay footballer. Funny perhaps but unbelievable - far too many stereotypes. It also seemed to want to include explicit gay sex for purely shock reasons (and although enjoyable as the guys were cute) it didn't really add to the plot in any way - except when it seemed to want to make the gay footballer's son even more upset by his father's behaviour.

Wah-Wah

Excellent film. Superb acting - especially Celia Imrie, Miranda Richardson and Julie Walters. Although set in pre independence Swaziland this is really about the destruction and reconstruction of a family and the effects that marital break up has on the son.
As a directorial debut for Richard E Grant this is terrific. It is funny, moving, tragic, surprising in turns and is a tremendous study of snobbishness and the English abroad. The notion of 'whiting up' someone for a production of 'Camelot' was inspired. I recommend this film highly - despite the poor reviews elsewhere!

Olympic Village

Today I was given a view of the 2012 Olympic Site - from the top of a tower block overlooking the area.
What a truly amazing place it is going to be - the new Stratford International Station is almost complete, and I could visualise the vastness of the complex. I'm so pleased the the Olympics are coming to my part of East London.

A Trip to the Library

I renewed Edith Wharton's 'The House of Mirth' (not quite finished yet - but enjoying it!)
Non-fiction choice: Lord Longford's 'A History of the House of Lords'.
And now fiction - the detective classic 'The Maltese Falcon' by Dashiel Hammett, Ian Sansom's 'The Mobile Library - The case of the Missing Books; '24 Hour Party People' by Tony Wilson; and so pleased that they had Simon Brett's latest 'The Stabbing in the Stables'.

Cockles & Muscles

I totally adored this film. Even though in French with sub titles - it made me laugh. It absolutely made a dull Bank Holiday Monday sparkle. This is this kind of sex comedy that only the French can do. A couple are holiday in the South of France. Their son's friend turns up - and the couple believe they are in a gay relationship. Meanwhile the wife's lover arrives, and the son (even though he is not gay) meets a plumber who turns out to be his father's former lover. A real farce - in the true sense. Much of the action centres on the need for relief in showers. Its a long time since I've heard a cinema audience laugh out loud so easily and genuinely. Go see.

Brick

I went to see this film today - back at the Greenwich Picture House once more.
Now this film was announced as a great movie - will be a cult, etc.
I'm not so sure. I found it rather irritating and confusing. It seemed to be a pastiche of the 1930s/40s/50s detective movies - very Raymond Chandler. All the language and conversation seemed far too studied and contrived - unbelievable in fact. It seemed also to be a succession of 'lets beat up the hero' scenes - and frankly if a boxer had received that level of beating from Amir Khan the bout would have been over and someone would be in a coma or at best receiving major organ transplants. The whole premise seemed totally unbelievable, the plot totally confused, the cinemaphotography flawed, camera work poor, lighting substandard, and at the end I really couldn't have cared less who had killed Emily. The acting was OK, but frankly with such poor dialogue to deliver no one comes out of this film terribly well.
I've probably alienated all the film buffs now - but hey - lets tell it as it is and lets not be pretentious shall we?

New Reading

Finished 'Northanger Abeey' - and enjoyed it immensely. Now I've discovered the joys of Edith Waharton - what a superb author she is - and such an easy read. I'm compelled!

Jane Austen

OK I admit I'm 55 and I've just discovered Jane Austen - am I very strange? Only had to read Northanger Abbey because it is my book group's choice. And I think it is wonderful - I didn't realise how funny she can be, and I'll now be reading some more.

Ballets Russes

I'm not a great ballet fan, and I didn't really know much about the two rival Ballet Russe companies - but I enjoyed this documentary film about their history. Mainly composed of interviews with surviving (or recently deceased) members of the company it was a fascinating social history of the twentieth century. It might have easily have been a TV programme but I liked seeing this on the big screen - and in places it was so bitchy as to be hilarious. You certainly need to be a drama queen to be a ballet diva it would seem - and this applies to both genders! I learned a lot - and that doesn't mean it was dull.

U Carmen eKhayleylitsha

I saw this film at the West End Apollo. Strange cinema - nothing from the outside - or the inside for that matter told you what films were showing - and I thought I was going to be the only person watching this film - but then a few others drifted in.
Anyway this is an adaptation of Bizet's opera 'Carmen' set in a South African township. The love story is between a cigarette maker and a sergeant of police. Bizet's music is added to with local songs and dances. The story is changed in many respects, but it is still a tale of jealousy and violent death.
An interesting interpretation, and I know opera does require an element of buying into the ludicrous notion of people bursting into song at a whim - but it didn't entirely work on this occasion. The singers are really good, the acting terrific but there wasn't really the engagement that I wanted. The torreador theme was almost entirely ignored - apart from the brief tale of a township boy suddenly being transformed into an American opera singer - but was he really Carmen's love interest and the Sergeant's rival for her affections? I was confused and unconvinced. Worth seeing though - but probably if the competition isn't too great!

Blair the butcher?

Just a comment on the recent re-shuffle. Lets face it he didn't really cut hard enough - Charles Clarke had to go, but will John Reid last very long - he's had about one job a year in the past nine years. Was Jack Straw demoted because of past errors rather than being a bad Foreign Secretary? But hey Margaret Beckett - the first female Foreign Secretary - that deserves one cheer at least! Lower down should Patricia Hewitt have been cut as well? I think so. Why move Ruth Kelly - should Education have this constant changing of Secretary of States? And my local MP Stephen Timms moves from being Pensions Minister - and the average holding of that post is now only 8 months - when Pensions deserves long term attention. It must take six months for the new postholder to understand the brief let alone do something about it. But congratulations Stephen you're now in the Cabinet.

American Dreamz

I don't normally like Hugh Grant - too many films playing upper class idiots for my liking - but here he's more down market - the English accent is less public school and more estuary. I enjoyed this film - but not 5 stars, more 3 and a half. I probably enjoyed it more because I seem to have seen so many 'serous' films recently. Although this was a black comedy it didn't slip too far into the darkness, the villains were too stereotypical to be frightening. I did laugh out loud several times, and rather regretted it when Willie Williams & the Hugh Grant character were blown up - which probably indicates that Hugh wasn't really evil enough. On balance worth seeing if there isn't anything more exciting at the multiplex - but is there anything new out this week that compares? Tell me - please!

Hay Fever - we all love Dame Judi!

So I went to see Dame Judi & Peter Bowles in Noel Coward's 'Hay Fever' with the marvellous Belinda Lang on Saturday. Strange that Noel Coward's plays are revived - and so successfully, but they really are timeless - even though so obviously set in the 1930s. I went with my two lovely friends from Manchester, after a trip down the Thames on a warm Friday afternoon. I love living in London - it is a truly wonderful city, especially at this time of year. There is no other city that compares - in my view, even though I don't take enough advantage. I hadn't realised that there was to be a parade of huge wooden animals until my friend from Manchester told me - at which point we were already in the theatre.
I loved this play - I've seen it before on TV & on film - but seeing Dame Judi live cannot be beaten. So funny, so witty, so sharp - I loved it!

C.R.A.Z.Y

Marc Andre Grondin stars in this amazing movie. The title comes from the five sons of this French Canadian family (Chris, Raymond, Antoine, Zac (the hero) and Yvan). I didn't really notice after a while that the entire film was in French with sub-titles. Zac was born on Christmas Day 1960 and the film traces (in a pseudo religious way) the following two decades of his life discovering his true sexuality (with the help of David Bowie and Pink Floyd). A tad long - but every minute had meaning and I found it gripping, moving, sensitive, well directed, surprising, and satisfying. If you can find it go see it! I want to get it on DVD (which may be a problem as it is in a non-European format).

The Squid and the Whale

An enjoyable film - again not getting the widest of releases - in the UK at least. A tale of the break up of a marriage in the 1980s - parents where it turns out the 'wronged' party is surprisingly the husband - although he probably deserved to be cheated on as he is just so unbelievably appalling - any woman with a couple of brain cells would have left him 20 years earlier! The more fascinating are the two boys - who lie and behave in bizarre fashions more as a result of their parents treating them as equals than because of their break up. Who talks openly to a 14 year old about previous marriages and parades their boyfriends/girlfriends in front of them?

Well worth seeing - it is well acted and quite a period study of the 1980s. But what kept nagging me was where had I seen the femal lead (on the right of the picture) before?

Happy & Glorious!!!!

Lets wish the Queen a very happy 80th birthday! I was born shortly before the death of her late father so really I known no one else as a monarch. I first saw her when I was just over 6 years old when she shot past my school at about 40mph and we were all lined up outside furiously waving. Then I saw her again in Manchester when she opened the Bridgewater Hall and I was at the gala opening concert (she looked very bored!) and more recently when she came to visit Green Street in Upton Park for her Golden Jubilee and the little Nigerian boy who gave her a bunch of flowers was hopping with excitement as she spent about three minutes talking to him! I thought his eyes were going to pop out of his head! I was also in the crowd outside St Paul's and outside Buckingham Palace on Jubilee Day 2002. A true day to remember!

This doesn't mean that Britain shouldn't be a Republic - because it should - but maybe after Elizabeth II dies we might finally all become adults and citizens rather than subjects.

In the meanwhile - happy birthday your madge.

Hypocrisy?

Is it just me or do others find it rather funny to watch George W looking like a rabbit caught in the headlights as a human rights protester disrupts his welcome of the President of the People's Republic? Afterwards he apologises for this 'regrettable' incident. What is he regetting? Someone breaching security? The highlighting of alleged religious persecution when George W is a born again Christian? The fact that he is being all chummy with a Communist leader and trade rival when the US has embarked on a campaign of threats and hatred against the Leftist leaders of South America who are attempting to curb the asset stripping and environmentally unfriendly US business giants of the oil industry and supporters of the drugs cartels? There's something not right here!

Latest books

I'm reading Andre Gide's 'The Vatican Cellars' for my book group.
Today I got the following out of the library:
'Gravedigger' by Joseph Hansen; George Greenfield's 'Rich Dust'; 'Eminent Victorians' by Lytton Strachey; a biography of Michael Collins, written by Tim Pat Coogan, a translation of the book by Vladimir Jokanovic called 'Made in Yugoslavia', 'The Queer Commando' by Paul Mann, and 'The Occupation' a book by Guy Walters.
And - I have so many other books unread on my shelves.
I've also become a member of the Greenwich Picture House - so I'll be going to even more films from now onwards.

Pierrepoint

This blog seems to be turning into a film review - but there are so many good films out just now - although you do have to look for them - a lot are only on release in 'arthouse' cinemas or independent movie houses. I went to see Pierrepoint at the Greenwich Picture House.

Timothy Spall is outstanding in this film as the public hangman who presided over the executions of hundreds of murderers (including dozens of Nazis at Nuremberg) from 1933 to 1955. Juliet Stevenson is an excellent support star in this British picture. Filmed, appropriately enough, in sombre tones I was impressed by the way in which it charted a career that turned out to be both professional, efficient and surprisingly humane.

At the end Albert Pierrepoint himself questioned the point of capital punishment - summuraising it as just achieving nothing more than state revenge.

Well worth seeing.

The White Countess

This film is the last Merchant Ivory collaboration - following the death of Ishmail Ivory. Certainly not their best - but well worth seeing, written with great sensitivity by Kazuo Ishiguro. You may have difficulty finding it - my usual choice at West India Quay doesn't have and it isn't showing at any cinema in East London, but I found it at the Greenwich Picture House - a cinema I'd recommend (although not cheap) - especially if you have the opportunity to use the screening room - with enormous padded armchairs.
The film is set in Shanghai in the years prior to the Japanese takeover. Thw White Countess is both Natasha Richardson, a Russian emigre washed up on the shores of China with very little but her title and social graces as assets, and the bar opened by Ralph Fiennes playing superbly (and believably) an American blind former diplomat (or diplomatist) who opens his vision of the perfect bar (in a City seemingly awash with bars of all kinds). This bar is spookily reminiscent of a series of Jack Vetriano pictures - in fact the whole film is slightly like a moving Jack Vetriano from start to finish.
The film isn't profound, but is entertaining. It does tie up all the loose ends rather too neatly, but remains believable. The Redgrave family (it stars not only Natasha Ricardson but both Vanessa and Lynn Redgrave) are as always totally wonderful, and I was gripped in the last twenty minutes as the Japanese forces (led by the sinister Hiroyuki Sanada) sweep in to the City of sin.
Well worth seeing - find it and go view it!

Period of Adjustment

This Tennessee Williams play has not been performed in London in 40 years. Some critics have wanted to know why anyone bothered to revive it. I'm NOT almongst them. I enjoyed this production in the Almeida Theatre in Islington - especially as the seats were only £6 at the matinee performance today! I'm not really an expert on Williams' plays, but this one seems to much brighter than most of his others and does have a happy ending. The Almeida is ideal for this intense play of just four characters and certainly the three who were on stage for almost the entire show were excllent - Jared Harris and Lisa Dillon especially. I'm sure the Southern United States weren't accurate, and with a large American contingent in the audience I'm sure some will have been critical, but I found it easy to follow and the themes still relevant almost half a century after this play was set.
These are not stereotypical characters acting out a cosy drawing room play, and it was well worth my while dragging out to Islington for this show.

Current Reading

At the moment I've got three books on the go (yes three) and I must read another for my book group. Apart from 'Anna Karenina' - which will obviously take a while, I've nearly finished 'Troublemaker' by Joseph Hansen - number 3 in his series of Brandsetter mysteries. This is not great literature, but OK. I've also started 'Blue Shoes and Happiness' the latest Number 1 Ladies' Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith - not too taxing, but very enjoyable - he conjures up the spirit of Botswana wonderfully.

The Three Burials of Melquiades Estrades

What a powerful film! Directed by and featuring Tommy Lee Jones this is a tale of the killing of a 'wetback' (illegal immigrant) and subsequent transport of his body to his 'home'. It isn't as straightforward as that, of course.
The film is a series of flashbacks around the central theme of Melguides being carried through Texas and into Mexico by his kidnapped killer (played brilliantly by Barry Pepper) a wayward Border Patrolman. Gruesomely the eponymous Melquiades is dug up and decays before our eyes. A brilliant portrayal of male relationships (between Melgquiades played by Julio Cedillo and his employer played bt Tommy Lee Jones), obsessional behaviour, man's inhumanity to man (Pepper's thuggish attitudes towards the immigrants he is trying to prevent from entering the United States), and small town life (boredom and inter dependence).
Although Tommy Lee Jones is good Pepper is outstanding. I recommend this film very highly.

Anna Karenina

I haven't really been someone who would normally tackle a big Russian novel - but a friend suggested Anna Karenina was a good read. And IT IS!!!! I've very quickly got into the book, and can picture the characters in my head. I'm addicted and whipping through it rapidly. Anyone else read this book and loved it - or hated it? This translation is especially good - the book isn't cluttered with long Russian names (standardised versions are used) and the language is modern and accessible (without being anacronistic). Comments please!!

Civil Partnership

I went to my friends' C & D's civil partnership celebration last night - it was held on HMS Belfast (see the picture !) I'd actually been the Registrar at the legal formation earlier in the day - although very disappointingly (for me) they had decided to just sign the forms and have them witnessed rather than having poetry, readings, music, and lots of guests.

The evening event was fabulous - we were all piped aboard the vessel, and there were 46 gay men and four lesbians present! Although I knew very few people there (apart from my book group) I had a really fun time meeting lots of new people and getting loads of hugs and kisses - which is always nice. The food was tremendous and there was a great quantity of boose - but I can't drink at the moment. We were all given a souvenir wartime ration book - personalised and a menu - although someone took my vegetarian one and left behind the carnivour version!

Just one thing - why can't you get a 'Congratulations on Your Civil Partnership' card from your average High Street store - Hallmark please note. Especially as there are double the number of expected Civil Partnerships taking place in England & Wales - 25,000 at least this year. Wow!

Is your visit really necessary?

Here in the UK we are enjoying (suffering?) from a visit by Condaleeza Rice. Today she was visiting Jack Straw's constituency of Blackburn. I don't know who was experiencing more of a culture shock - Ms Rice or the bemused residents of this Northern, deprived, former textile town. Certainly not all the locals greeted her warmly. Many people still find the notion of suspects being ferried through British airways in transit between the US (where torture only exists in the form of brutal executions - I heard someone recently took over 20 minutes to die in the electric chair - but not before his head caught fire and the sound of his screams had convinced all the inmates of death row of their fate) towards a country where the methods of persuasion are a little more elaborate. I gather Jordan (and even Syria) are the destinations of choice. Naturally Ms Rice (or Dr Rice according to some) denies this and Jack Straw is unaware of any CIA planes carrying people to their doom have ever crossed over or stopped off in Britain.

There is something rotten in the Secretary of State (to adapt Shakespeare).

Transamerica

I went to see 'Transamerica' on Friday. This is an everyday story of a man who is about to become a woman but at that very moment discovers she has a 17 year old son. The film traces their journey across America from New York where the son has been making money as a rentboy, to California where the man is to become a woman and the son thinks he will find his father who is rich and will get him a job as a filmstar.
I enjoyed this film - although it did take me most of the film to believe that Felicity Huffman was a man about to become a woman - there were only occasional moments when she behaved in anything other than a feminine way. Even when we catch a glimpse of the appendage he/she is about to have removed it still doesn't seem that she is a man! Kevin Zegers as the son was excellent - only too believable as a boy on the make - screwed up by abuse from his stepfather, and finding his mother dead.
There is a classic scene in a restaurant featuring the dysfunctional family which probably made the film worth while watching.
This isn't your average road movie and I reckon well worth seeing.

The Old Country

What can you say? A play by Alan Bennett, starring Timothy West, Jean Marsh and Simon Williams. As usual with an Alan Bennet play the characters are so well drawn, the language so accessible, the atmosphere so intimate. The theatre - the Trafalgar Studios (previously the Whitehall Theatre) is ideal for a production of a Bennett play. The seats are not separated from the area where the actors perform (hardly a stage really). I loved this play - hardly a comedy but entertaining and thought provoking. A literary play, making gentle jibes at class, politics, and the literary world. Here we have a spy in exile who is visited by his sister and pompous brother-in-law who have come to take him back to Britain. The spy is content in Russia, but another (lower level) exchangee really wants to return - but won't be given the chance. Alan Bennett is so good at drawing out the elements of character and pokes fun at the pomposity of class. Well worth seeing.

Library

I'm sure you know I love visiting the library - and it is great that my local branch opens on a Sunday.
Today I renewed "Anna Karenina" - I've just started to read it and love it already.
I also took out "The History of Germany (since 1789)" by Golo Mann - I heard it mentioned on the radio earlier today as the best analysis of German history - and it is written by Thomas Mann's son!
N recommended Dorothy Dunnett so I've taken out 'The Spring of the Ram!.
I also selected the latest Alexander McCall Smith (Blue Shoes and Happiness) - good light reading, 'The Rose City' a book of short stories by David Ebershoff and a short crime novel by Joseph Hansen (Troublemaker).
It'lll keep me busy!

Tsotsi

I went to see the film 'Tsotsi' yesterday. What an absolute stunner of a movie! I'm not surprised that it won an Oscar - it deserves a very wide showing - although as it is sub-titled throughout I suspect it will be destined for being marginalised. This will be a tremendous pity.
I found it moving, cathartic, shooking but somehow uplifting. It is supposed to be representative of the currect South African desire for reconcilation. It is all about redemption to my mind. I found the depiction of the gangster attacks on the new black middle class, fascinating. The only white character is a police inspector.
I loved the music too. It was so upbeat and uplifting that it was a remarkable contrast to the dark almost malevolent theme of the film.
Ironically as I am currently suffering from insomnia I caught an interview on the World Service at 3 a.m. this morning with the actor who played the older gangster and sang most of the songs on the soundtrack - I think he was called Zola.
Certainly Presley Chweneyagae who plays the lead in this film deserves to become a big star - he was superb and had a wonderful supporting cast.

Iraq

So what are the Americans up to now? It looks like they've decided to re-start the war. Now this is OK - except I thought the Iraqi's now had their own government elected by the Iraqis - for the Iraqis. Has this new government invited the US government to re-start the war - or is this an alternative to civil war? Instead of Iraqis fighting one another they'll now unite in fighting the invading/occupying forces! Great move George W.

BLOG 101

Probably not the same as Room 101.
Two things today - a report in the news about a pharmaceutical experiment involving eight people testing a new drug. Six were given the drug, two a placebo. Result - 6 almost dead men. I wonder if this drug had been tested on animals previously? Lets hope they get better and the pharmacy company learns from this mistake.
Secondly I've just finished 'Cold Mountain'. Well worth the read - and as I suspected it really didn't end well. I'm now on to Juian Barnes' 'Arthur & George'.

Palestine

What on earth is going on? The Israeli government seem to be doing their own version of prison break. I reckon they are setting the Palestinian authority up to fail. I appreciate that there is a wanted criminal and alleged murdere they are wanting to punish - but I thought he was already in prison. Could they not come to some sort of arrangement rather than sending a portion of the Israeli army in to effect the capture. Perhaps someone out there can explain it to me?
PS THis is my hundredth blog! Neat......

Milosovic

History repeating itself? The twentieth century revolved around the Balkans - bringing war to the whole world as a variety of bizarre tiny kingdoms argued their petty disputes amongst themselves. Various offspring of Queen Victoria and her relations were persuaded to take up the thrones of these countries, or peasant warlords adopted the title of king. Now all these countries are wanting to become members of the European Union - some are already using the Euro instead of their own currency. All seem to want to distance themselves from Serbia - the current bete noir of the Balkans. And now Milosovic inconveniently dies amongst rumour and accusation of poison, suicide and righteous indignation of justice betrayed. It would be comparable to the melodrama of opera if it wasn't so scary.

Syriana

I went to see George Clooney's "Syriana" today. A very powerful film - and far more political than the other George Clooney film currently doing the rounds "Good Night and Good Luck". Neither George nor co-star Matt Damon are playing to type. I was extremely impressed by this critique of US & Middle Eastern politics. You certainly need to concentrate throughout this film, as it cuts from action in Washington to Tehran to a mythical state in the Gulf to Beirut to Marbella to Geneva and back to Washington. The first time I've seen the thorny subject of suicide bombers and their motivation described in a film - and done competently as well. I rate this film very highly - go see it!

Crufts

Two reasons for this blog. The winner of the hound category at Crufts was a Norwegian Elkhound owned by namesakes of mine - Mr & Mrs Middleton. The second reason illustrates the dangers of live television and badly researched and trained presenters. Ben Fogle is meeting the winning dog & his owners. Ben "Now congratulations Mr Middleton on winning this category. All hounds of course have a particular purpose and work to do. What was the original purpose of the Norwegian Elkhound? What did they hunt?" Reply "Well they hunted elk".
Ben Fogle: "Where did they originate from? Somewhere in the north - Norway perhaps?" Reply "Yes".
Mmmmmmm - clever interviewing there Ben.

Tosca

I went to see Tosca at the Hackney Empire tonight. Fabulous!!!!!

Happy Birthday

Today is my friend's birthday. We've known each other since we were at infants' school in the 1950s.
We don't see each other often - in fact for about 20 years, but he was like a theme running through my life. We went to different secondary schools, and I left home at 18 never to return (except for the odd few weeks here and there), but we've kept in touch. Do we know much about each other - probably not, but he's still a constant throughout my life. We all need that kind of constant whilst friends and acquaintances come and go - especially when families are so inconsistent.

Current Reading

Went to the library today, and borrowed:
'Cold Mountain' - renewed as I'm only half way through
"Rich Dust" by George Greenfield - a wartime mystery
Leo Tolstoy's "Anna Karenina"
"Music and Silence" by Rose Tremain (heard it serialised on radio - but always worth reading the original).
A nice crime novel 'The Little Dog Laughed" by Joseph Hansen
and "The Queer Commando" by Paul Mann (guess what that might be about!)

A mixture of news

A man had to be evicted from a hospital. He had been living there for three years. But for the past 2 and a half years he hadn't needed medical attention or nursing care. I wonder where he will live now?
The President of Brazil is here on a state visit. This means he rides around London in a carriage with various members of the Royal Family. Then he'll have a banquet, and various politician will propose toasts of everlasting friendship and the Queen will show him parts of her private collection of pictures and artifacts - probably containing bits of Brazil's history that she's picked over the past half century. Then he'll give her a gift and she'll give him a memento of the visit.
Tessa Jowell still needs to answer lots of questions - but she has 'lost' her husband. They'll be tears before too long.
It has been raining in London for the past 24 hours. It is (we're told) the correct kind of rain. This is the rain that it steady and constant which means it will soak into the ground and top up the water table - drought averted? I don't think so!

Boo Hoo!

I'm in mourning - why did Brokeback Mountain win so little at the Oscars? Is this just chickening out at the last minute? Maybe the publicity campaign for 'Crash' succeeded where quality failed.

Lib Dems - Wots that all about?

This is blog 91 by the way.
So this party have just elected a guy who will close on 70 by the time Gordon Brown calls the next election - and however he tries he can't look anything other than a old minger. The party itself will probably get called 'The Mingers' from now onwards too. Age itself doesn't really matter I suppose, but these Lib Dems seem to wonder what they are for. The last leader was pushed out (probably by a faction led by the newly elected leader) because he was a recovering alcoholic - not recovering enough for lots of people. One contender was revealed as having a peccadillo - a regular rent boy - although he had paraded his wife and children as a guarantee of his probity and credentials as a leader. All senior politicians in the UK seem to be breeding like rabbits, so a gay leader might be a welcome change. Another contender couldn't make up his mind about his sexuality despite the fact that everyone knew he was gay (and didn't care about it at all!)
In the midst of all this the Lib Dems win a famous bye-election. All publicity is clearly good publicity. Now, they decide they want to privatise the Post Office (following the Japanese?) No one seems to know quite why - although the current Royal Mail service is dire and most branch offices seem likely to close as the government force most pensioners/benefit recipients to receive payment directly into the bank - in spite of this resulting in most of them having to pay at a cash machine to take it out. The Lib Dems also seem to be dropping the notion of taxes being imposed on the rich. So - what are they for? Just there to supply MPs to the fringes of the Kingdom - and to run some Councils? How many of the current MPs will survive the next election - if the electorate think there will be a close result can many really want to see a major party's manifesto watered down and the geriatric Sir Menzies as Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster or Lord Privy Seal and Simon Hughes as Minister for Europe?
Makes you think.

We live in strange times

Two things have struck me today - both of them on TV this evening. They involve the two men illustrated here. The guy on the left you might not recognise - he's called Daz Sampson. Tonight he was selected for the campest competition in the universe. He will sing (or rather talk through) Britain's entry in the Eurovision Song Contest. This is taken incredibly seriously elsewhere in Europe but in the UK is a bit of a joke - largely because we are never going to win until global warming become so severe that London will disappear under 30 feet of water. If we had a chance of winning we'd take it seriously - but until that day's dawning we'll continue to select the bizarre. Like Mr Sampson - a white rapper(???!!!) surrounded by women dressed as schoolgirls. As Terry Wogan said 'What will they make of that in the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia?'
The second TV programme featured Tony Blair. Now I'm both uneasy and slightly queasy when politicians parade their faith in public. We British don't talk of such things. Anyone parading their religion is seen as either eccentric or downright mad. Certainly anyone striking up a conversation with you casually on a train about religion will result in clearing the entire carriage very rapidly. A Prime Minister who believes that God (rather than the electorate) will judge him will certainly be viewed extremely sceptically. Until we got to that point Tony's interview with Parkinson was going pretty well. Nice chat about music, acting, Bill Clinton, early childhood inflences, and then bam - car crash TV - is he really saying this. Ah well, he's retiring soon - perhaps a monastery beckons.

Which film?

Ok - last chance folks - tell me a good film to go and see this weekend!

Walking Stick

Today I started to use a walking stick. Over the past few days I've felt in need of reassurance when I've been walking around. I feel a bit of a fraud but the pain in my hip and knees makes the stick very useful, and seems to be relieving some of the pressure. What was interesting was the reaction of my co-workers. Some reacted incredibly badly - rushing towards me in alarm and consternation, as though I'd broken an arm or leg. Others ignored it completely, others just seemed interested and asked about my condition.
I think to some it was like a penny had dropped - so he really is ill!
Now, I'm rather like Weaver out of ER or House out of......House!