What I've been
watching
I caught up with two previously unseen classics,
The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946, Barbara Stanwyck) and
Witness for the Prosecution(1957, Tyrone Power, Charles Laughton and
Marlene Dietrich, directed by Billy Wilder). Both were overly
melodramatic but lured you in. The acting was fabulous and the stories intense.
I also caught up with Gangster Squad
which I loved, great story, cast, and highly stylised set design and
cinematography; and Dom Hemingway, a gritty British drama about a
criminal out of prison, with charismatic performances by Jude Law and Richard E.
Grant.
I only saw two documentaries this month, the very
odd Apollo 18 and the superb In Bob We Trust. Apollo 18 is
supposedly footage from the final moon landing, and it is more Blair Witch than
anything else, part of me wants to believe what I saw happened, but I doubt it
very much. I don't want to say any more, watch it if you are interested! In
Bob We Trust, is about the wonderful Father Bob and shot over the past few
years from when he was told he would have to retire. We see a lot of the amazing
work Bob does, the people who help him, and hear a lot of his honest and wise
thoughts.
I've watched a lot of television this month -
there is so much great tele out there, the list of what I want to catch up on is
never ending. Thank god there is nothing much good on regular tele.
I've been watching Medium the past few
months and finally finished up the entire series. I found the finale a little
disappointing, her husband's storyline was not to my liking, but ultimately I
liked the last season. It had reached it's end point I think, and whilst the
stories within each episode were always intriguing, it was the sense of family portrayed that made it worth watching.
S2 of Veep was as funny as the first.
Julia-Louis Dreyfuss is hilarious as Selina, Vice President of the United
States! She is self involved, sassy, clueless, and rude. The team that surround
her are equally as funny, especially the wonderful Tony Hale, as her sycophantic
assistant Gary. Full of sharp, quick political dialogue, and loads of trademark
JLD physical comedy, this series created by Armando Iannucci (Thick of It) is a
stunner.
I finally caught S1 of Orange is the New
Black and instantly loved it. The range and depth of solid, quality female
characters is mesmerising. The entire cast is superb, I don't think I have a
favourite character at this point. It is mostly lighter fare, funny and witty
with extreme dramatic moments that make your jaw drop and tear up. Excellent
writing too. I look forward to S2.
But Downton Abbey S4 was my tele
highlight this month. I almost didn't watch this as whilst I loved S1, S2 and S3
left me a little less enthused. However, I feel S4 is the best season they have
produced thus far, a heady mix of romance, dramas, embroils, and sweetness. I
loved the storytlines for both Mary and Edith, the new characters, and was left
shocked by the storyline for our beloved Anna. I also am finding my favourite
character to be the delightful Tom. And have been giggling at the sharp
friendship formed by Penelope Wilton (Isobel) and the formidable Maggie Smith.
As always her lines continue to amuse. Add in Paul Gaimatti and the return of
Shirley Maclaine, royalty, and the roaring 20s (oh my, the music and the
costumes) and I did not want the season to end. It is escapism of the highest
order especially in times where the world seems like too much. Ohhh and Dame
Kiri as Dame Mellie was inspired, emotional and grand!
I caught a great 4 part series called Venice
Revealed by Peter Ackroyd which was fascinating and stunning
visually.
And my favourite viewing was The Ronnie Wood
Show. Ronnie Wood, Rolling Stones, has a radio show (who doesn't these
days?) and he plays his favourite tracks and each week has a guest in to do the
same for part of it. The show is filmed and parts of it are put together for
this. It was fantastic. His range of music was mostly old rhythm and blues, with
unexpected tracks popped in. His guests included Slash, Mark Ronson, Pattie Boyd
and Paul McCartney. Loved hearing all these amazing people talk
music.
What I've been
reading
Bully for Them, a
selection of essays from interesting Australians about being bullied at school
and how they survived. People like Marieke Hardy, Benjamin Law, Missy Higgins
and Eddie Perfect.
Afternoons in Ithaka by Spiri Tsintziras
was a great little memoir about her life here in Australia and in Greece, and the
travels back and forth over the years. It's about fitting in, people, family, and
most importantly culture and food. It also includes recipes for the family dishes
she talks so lovingly about.
Love life by Rob Lowe and Let's just
say it wasn't pretty by Diane Keaton were both disappointing follow ups to
their first memoirs. Both have taken the random story type memoir for their
second offering, and in Lowe's case it comes across a little like name dropping
and less informational, and Keaton's was trying to take the line of looks don't
matter, but I didn't buy it. I do believe that and that is why I really love
Keaton, for her this is how I am, take me or leave me style. The book didn't
really support that attitude as I thought it would...or should!
Kate Ceberano's I'm Talking was
interesting, but nothing terribly new in there.
I've been reading Mrs Dalloway by
Virginia Woolf for Bibliotweeps Bookclub. I've not read any of her fiction
before and must say I struggled to get into it. But once I found her rhythm I
was fine. What a beautifully written, superb piece of prose. I cannot wait to
read more.
My favourite story this month was We are all
completely beside ourselves by Karen Joy Fowler. It is a family drama that
starts in the middle, works it's way to the beginning and then moves towards the
end. It's about a lost family member, what has happened to her, and the
subsequent implosion of the family after this incident. And it has a twist! I
found this a fantastic page turner, and have halted reading it as I will
schedule it for a bookclub soon and want to finish it closer to that. And so it
sits on my coffee table mocking me and making me want to pick it up and finish
it. More next month!!!
What I've been listening
to
Indie Cindy by The Pixies! Oh I loved
this so much, especially track 2, Blues and Greens, which is perfect
pop.
Blank Project by Neneh Cherry – the long awaited new album by
Neneh after a troubled period was definitely worth the wait. On first listen I
wasn’t that impressed, it had gotten rave reviews and I didn’t agree. But
Blank Project is a slow burn and after a few listens I had it on
repeat. There are some songs I am not sure about but they are indeed
interesting. I do particularly love the title track. The subject matter is dark
and controversial, but she really does sound good, and it is much different to
previous albums…more laid back, trip hop rather than funky and
pop.
I've been listening to Talking Heads, Hoodoo Gurus, and Simon and
Garfunkal in the car and at work.
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