You don't have to be interested in dance to find this latest programme, from the long running BBC arts programme with Alan Yentob, completely fascinating. The range of cultural influences, the method of working and the history, and the cutting edge technology combine to make compelling TV.
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| Click the pic for the link. |
I started Parasite first and finished it last as I broke off in the middle, at the point where the film changes. There is at that point an expectation of what is going to occur, thankfully, something else happens. I particularly enjoyed the ending of this film. Is it as good as all the fuss that has been made of it? Perhaps not, but it is a different sort of thriller. Worth the time.
Parasite, a film where a house is a central character.
The Father is a film that at my age is somewhat scary to watch. Olivia Colman is again fabulous, playing the daughter trying to reconcile the guilt of having a life for herself. Anthony Hopkins is frighteningly authentic as her dad. Don't miss this, it is extraordinarily good.
The Hand of God is not about football, although Maradona is central to the tale. Beautifully filmed but ultimately flawed, it's really a bit of a vanity project, something of an autobiography. Having watched this we both thought we would like to visit Naples, it looks stunning, but design and the visual image are much stronger than the story.
So I did listen. Fabulous. If you like The xx you'll likely enjoy this.
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– Actual Life (April 14 – December 17 2020). |
The review at Magnetic is worth reading: https://www.magneticmag.com/2021/04/album-review-fred-again-actual-life-april-14-december-17-2020/
The date stamping? Yes, this is a pandemic record, it is worth a listen. There's a part 2 as well. Meanwhile, don't miss this:
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| Lights Out. Click for the track. |
"500,000 more in work." "420,000 more in work." "More people in work now,than before the pandemic began." Boris hass made these statements several times in Parliament. Actually employment is 600,000 lower than before the pandemic began. The Prime Minister is not using the official data, he's using PAYE data which is experimental and not accurate. PAYE data does not take the self-employed into account.
"We've been cutting crime by 14%." The Prime Minister has stated this at least twice in Parliament. Not true it is up by 14%. The Prime Minister is ignoring fraud and computer based crime. Fraud and computer missuse have gone up dramatically.
The Prime Minister has been told on a number of occasions by officials that these statements are untrue but he continues to repeat them. There's not much than can be done if he continues to repeat these untruths. Although parliamentary rules state that ministers must correct mis-information if they become aware that they have made misleading statements to Parliament, and the Speaker is aware of the above information, there is no proper process to enforce the rules.
There are obvious electoral advantages to the Tories in perpetuating these lies.
All this information from the excellent More or Less. Click the pic for the link.
I'd recommend Tim's other programmes and podcasts and his books, all good stuff, cutting to the truth of the meaning of numbers.
Munich: the edge of war, is a fascinating film and all the more relevant in the light of the current Ukraine situation. I had always understood that Neville Chamberlain's policy of appeasement was tantermount to conspiring with Hitler's Reich. The film suggests that Chamberlain was set on buying time so that Britain could rearm. I think the truth probably lies somewhere in a murky middle between these two positions. Chamberlain's motivations and drivers being as complex as the political moment. The film simplifies the politics of the situation in late 1938, it's not an historical lecture. The French involvement in the Munich meeting is omitted entirely. The British ruling class's attitude to Stalin's Russia is barely mentioned. As an entertainment, and as a way into this particular history I very much liked the film. Jeremy Irons is Neville Chamberlain, a great performance. And I think it is probably fairer to view Chamberlain not as an evil coniver with Hitler, but as someone who seeking to avoid war, and wishing to maintain popularity at home, was prepared to sacrifice Czechoslovakia and many of its people. A morally questionable position, but unsurprising given his party allegiance and background. One thing the film shows graphically is the change to Germans, people polarising, as the country slid into fascism. If you want to know more about the historical background of the moment Wikipedia does a decent job.
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| Jeremy Irons as Neville Chamberlain. (Another unknow photographer.) |
Kurt and Yoan Zouma have been cruel, thoughtless and stupid. As a follower of the Irons it is not the behaviour expected of one of our players, someone who is in the public eye, someone who should be a role model. David Moyes played him on Tuesday, the team have been missing Kurt of late due to injury, however, that was an error on the part of DM. Dagenham and Redbridge, the side Yoan plays for, will now, "take some time to consider our response". There was a strong negative response to KZ by Hammers' fans during the game. Despite being early in his long contract West Ham will now have to offload him and I would predict that he won't play for a UK team again. I expect Dagenham nad Redbridge will do the same.
Mason Greenwood, the Manchester United player, was arrested and accused of rape and sexual assault against his girlfriend. From what has been put into the public domain it would seem that some domestic abuse may have been occurring over a long period. Nike have cancelled their contract. I expect Manchester United will do the same regardless of the outcome of any court case if the club have any suspicion that the accusations are true.
Wayne Rooney, the manager of Derby County, revealed recently that he put longer, metal studs on his boots, "For that game I changed them to big, long metal ones - the maximum length you could have because I wanted to try and hurt someone, try and injure someone. I knew they were going to win that game. You could feel they were a better team at the time so I changed my studs." John Terry, the Chelsea captain at the time, left that game on crutches after a clash with WR.
All these men have something that many desire, they play football professionally, or have done so in the past. Three of them are paid, or have been paid, very handsomely indeed for this privilige. Wayne Rooney has shown himself to be a very promising football manager. Wayne might survive the stupidity of admitting what he did in an interview with Sky News. Equally, he might not. Yoan and Kurt Zouma may be able to obtain transfers to clubs outside the UK. Mason Greenwood's career is over unless (and this seems unlikely) the accusations are shown to be entirely false.
These would be good outcomes. These people have too much influence over young men, in particular, to get away with these actions without there being serious repercussions.
Football, the beautiful game, is much tainted with hideous fan behaviour. The sphectre of violence and threat haunts the game. Although the running battles through the streets seem a rarer event these days, they still happen. The behaviour at the Euros finals, the disgraceful behaviour by Rangers fans in Glasgow last year, and this last weekend, Hull supporter(s) throwing missles at Everton players, demonstrate what a responsibility the players have.
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| Sadio Mane (sorry photographer I don't know who you are to give credit). |
There are players who are good role models, Sadio Mane springs to mind, as does Marcus Rashford. Unfortunately, there are many who have not and do not meet their responsibilities appropriately. And in the past the clubs and the football heirarchy have acted ineffectively to rid the game of the macho, aggressive and violent culture that pervades it.
Things need to change.
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| If you wear the shirt, honour it, be a role model. (With apologies to another unknown photographer). |
Certainly a programme designed for a different demographic to me, it would be interesting to see if it worked, what were the viewing figures?
Some of the music is a bit desperate (in the boring sense) but fortunately Simbiatu Ajikawo (and her mum) saved the day. Ok, we like Dave and Wolf Alice too.
And I should investigate Fred Again.
For someone who believes a film should last 90 minutes the Irishman's 3 hours plus is excessive. But, it does hold the attention. It is one of the most depressing and negative films I have ever seen. That is not to say it isn't worth watching. Scorsese weaves his magic and elderly actors' performances are interesting, although despite electronic trickery their bodies look old throughout.
The Fundementals of Caring is worth your time, amusing and portrays aspects of serious disability realistically, IMHO. However, Craig Roberts, the actor playing Trevor does not have a physical disability and so there is an issue with the film in that respect.
Physical disability rarely features as prominently in cinema, and it is presented with some sensitivity.
I'm intending to watch The Upside, it will be interesting to compare how that film handles physical disability as a central aspect of the story.
We've watched Molly's Game and something else I've forgotten. That's not to say they were bad tho.
Some excellent stuff on the BBC.
The Coming Storm, everything you ever wanted to know about QAnon. Well researched, incisive, scary, very scary, don't miss it.
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| Written and presented by Gabriel Gatehouse. |
I like Matthew Syed, an ex table tennis champion, a champion of Mindset; the research of Carol Dwek which if you apply the ideas thoughtfully (needs to be applied with some consideration, it's not magic, nor an obsession) will change your life, your children's lives or/and your pupils' / students' lives; oops heading off on a wee connected distraction. Anyway, Matthew is a journalist and this series introduces and explores the history of some life changing and history changing ideas, well worth listening.
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| Click the pic for the link. |
I've written about Jon Ronson's podcasts in the past. This is an old one, it's actually an abridged audio version of his book, "So you've been publically shamed." Don't miss it. This book and three of his others are currently bundled as a bargain in some bookshops, if you prefer to read rather than listen.
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| Click the pic for the link. |
Sub-titled, "How shame has evolved in the digital age" the book explores the democracy and disasters of digital shaming.
And another plug for "Things Fell Apart" which includes some very moving episodes. It really is essential listening.
I was in London, for various reasons, and having an afternoon available, having negotiated a crowded shop or two I headed to the Saatchi Ga...
