SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER REVIEWS

What I've Been Reading
{not much, I have lost my reading mojo}

Why I'm No Longer Talking to White People About Race by Reni Eddo-Lodge - interesting take on how race and talking about race tires people of colour. Integral reading for everyone.

On doubt by Leigh Sales  - a mini book about questioning things around you.

Art Matters: because your imagination can change the world by Neil Gaiman and Chris Riddell - this is a gorgeous little book based on the essay by Gaiman of the same name but with delightful illustrations by Riddell.

The greatest love story ever told by Megan Mullally and Nick Offerman - basically a conversation between this funny couple about life, love and everything in between. They are indeed the gold standard and this is an easy and fun read.

What I've Been Watching

Kidding - this is the new Jim Carrey comedy and it is absolutely brilliant and one of the best things I have seen. About a beloved children's show host and a very good and kind man, but things are falling apart. One of his twin son's died in a car accident a year earlier, and he is flailing big time. But the company around him are invested in him being him, not falling apart. The supporting cast are also superb, there, are moments of laugh out loud comedy, but it is also very dramatic and melancholy. Carrey is outstanding and it is one of the best things I have seen. 

Fleabag S1 - this was absolutely brilliant, a stand out show. Based on the stand up of Phoebe Waller-Bridge, it is about her, and her love life, and her family, and friends, and it is real and hilarious, and sexy and wonderful. I cannot recommend this enough

The Americans S1  - finally started this, why did I leave it so long. It is everything you have heard and more. Keri Russell is downright cold, and I love it. Nothing like a little 80s cold war drama!!

Insecure S3 - one of my favourite series, about Issa, a young woman and her  struggles at work and in love. Will this be the season Issa gets it all together? Funny and edgy, I love this so much.

The Durrells S3 - this continues to delight, great cast, stories, and scenery. I defy anyone not to love this beautiful show based on the stories of Gerard Durrell.

Rake final season - this was great although not as great as it could have been. Rake in Canberra made me laugh a lot, and supposedly no more. What a ride it has been.

A Place to Call Home final season - this has been such a great show, set in 50s country Australia, fabulous character and great storytelling, and those costumes, houses and cars!!! Oh my!! This season felt a little forced, but tied up strings nicely. I will miss the sweetness and comfort of watching this show, ok and swooning over Brett Climo!!

Doctor Who - the new series with the lady Doctor Who is superb. I had really gone off the series in recent years, while I loved the actors playing the Doctor, the stories left me cold. This just gets the mix right, great characters (all of them), funny, dramatic, good scary but sometimes silly badies and monsters, solid stories. I can't wait to see this each week!

The Walking Dead- cannot even remember what season we are up to, but my interest is wanning. WIth the main character set to go, I am unsure and think my time watching this show may be up.

A Very English Scandal - a great mini series based on a real life story from the 70s when the British Liberal Party leader - brilliantly played by Hugh Grant - is taken to trial by his ex lover, Ben Whishaw. Quite a remarkable story and so very well put together and acted.

The Good Place S1 - This is soo good, I know everyone knows this. It is lovely and sweet, and funny and had Ted Danson, who I love with all my might!

Younger S1/2 - this is a bit of fluff but I love it, set in the publishing world and more a soap opera  but still great and occasionally cool writers get cameos!

The Tunnel S3 - urgh, I loved the first season of this and the second wasn't too bad, they were stretching it here, and the ending...no spoilers, but it was too much.

Modern family S8/9 - I still love this show, it is basic and simple and sometimes we need that. It never fails to make me laugh and I adore Phil Dunphy, his mix of cute and physical comedy will always amuse me to no end!

Detectorists S3 - possibly the best season of this quiet little comedy, will they ever find their treasure. If you haven't watched this lovely melancholy British comedy, you simply must! (plus the Simon and Garfunkal jokes amuse me)

Faces Places - a French doco about art and the great French New Wave film director, Agnes Varda. It is about her collaboration with French Photographer, JR. JR is a bit of a French Banksy putting up large pieces of photography like graffiti on old buildings etc. He teams up with Agnes, 90, he's about 20/30. And they pick her pics, she's also an amazing photographer, and they cross the country installing them. It's a great friendship and collaboration. They don't always get on. And wait for the most glorious scene in The Louvre with them reenacting a scene from A Band Apart. Absolute perfection

Rodin – French biopic about the sculptor, was ok.

Escape to the Chateau/DIY - love this show so very much. Fabulous English couple, Dick and Angel have bought a French Chateau and are doing it up. They are brilliant and cool, I am totally addicted. And now the DIY Series, where they visit other people doing similar things. So many chateaus going cheap in France...I wish!!

Rolling Stone: stories from the edge, 50 years of defining culture - doco series about the great magazine, with great interviews and footage and of course music!

Come Inside My Mind - devastating and yet humourous documentary about Robin Williams. Really well done with a lot of unseen footage, and loads of interviews from those that knew him.

Andre the Giant doco - another sad documentary about the big man. Gentle and constantly in pain due to his physicality. This was quite unusual and fascinating.

Legends of the Canyon - a documentary about the music in California in the late 60s and early 70s, it  mostly concentrated on Crosby, Stills and Nash and their variations. There was only a few bits about The Mamas and The Papas, Joni Mitchell and a few others. Whilst it was interesting, it was unbalanced.

Manolo: the boy who made shoes for lizards - fascinating doco about Manolo Blahnik, and the shoes he makes.

Gurrumul - beautiful doco about the man, his life and his music. Incredibly uplifting and moving and integral for everyone to watch in terms of indigenous culture.e

Libeskind: the making of an architect - fascinating doco about the architect behind the World Trade Centre Tower and many other amazing pieces of beautiful architecture. 

Call Me By Your Name - oh my goodness, this is everything and more. It should have won more Oscars, Beautifully shot in Italy, every shot a postcard, and a lovely love story between two beautiful boys. It moved me so, and made me smile. Just stunning.

Lucky - This is Harry Dean Stanton's last film and it is absolutely glorious. About a man in a country town at the end of his life, his thoughts, ideals and his interaction with friends, played by David Lynch, Ed Begley, Tom Skerritt, etc. Not much actually happens, and this is a great thing, it reminds me in parts of Paris, Texas, and Stanton is in his absolute element. And yes, he sings in it!

The Mountain Between Us - this was an unexpected film, how Kate Winslet and Idris Elba survive a small plan crash in winter mountains. Not what you'd expect either actors to be in, or me to watch, but it worked. Very classy and really suspenseful!!!

The Square - this is a complex plot but about an art dealer who is marketing a new piece of art and is getting bad media coverage, it impacts on his entire life. Edgy and cool, I quite liked this.

All the Money in the World - the movie about the kidnapping of the Getty Heir, also famous for sacking Kevin Spacey and replacing him with Christopher Plummer who is fabulous in it.

Murder on the Orient Express - this looked great and had an amazing cast, and is a classic story, but it lacked something...style over substance maybe!?

Goodbye Christopher Robin - this was a little too manipulative for my liking, about the child who Christopher Robin was based on and how he handled it...he didn't.

Killing a Sacred Deer - as crazy as you have heard, Nicole Kidman doing her classic cold and Colin Farrell continuing to be amazing. A complex plot in a complex drama and everything goes terribly badly...

The greatest showman - I had heard mixed reviews about this, but I really enjoyed it. It was good old fashioned entertainment, a great musical with catchy music and Hugh Jackman...it's either for you or not, lol. It was for me!!

Paddington 2 - this was excellent, a great story and romp, great for children and adults alike and the most fabulous villain in Hugh Grant, he must have had sooo much fun making this. Don't dismiss this as a kid's movie, you will enjoy this!

Jumanji 2 - again, another great kid's film, I really enjoyed this, probably more than the original. Jack Black and The Rock were great. I won't spoil the premise, as I had no idea and was pleasantly surprised and couldn't stop laughing! Another must see!

Downsizing – I always like Matt Damon, but lately he has been taking on very odd roles and they just don’t work. This silly film is one of them

A Wrinkle in Time – I only recently read this book, and whilst a classic I didn’t love it. The movie of it made me feel much the same. The effects were great, but ultimately it left me cold.

Home Again – this was a cute little rom com with Reese Witherspoon, about a separated Mum who meets a trio of much younger boys on a night up and they end up living in her guest house. 

Final Portrait – Arnie Hammer sits for a portrait for a famous painter (Geoffrey Rush) and finds the experience much more challenging and lengthy than he thought. Clemence Poesy plays his muse, she also played Picasso's muse in Picasso.

Finding your Feet - a sweet film about a bunch of British oldies finding love and life through dance. Funny and touching, I was sucked in by this!

Thor Ragnarok – this is everything you have heard, funny, engaging, and loads of action.

Justice League – ponderous and boring,and we will leave it there. It lacked story and sense of humour.

Battle of the Sexes - with Emma Stone and Steve Carrel, two of my faves.

Based of the true story of Billie Jean King. And her fight for equality on the tennis circuit. What an amazing woman and athlete! It was a really engaging and fun film. How far we've come, how far we still have to go!

Swinging Safari - this lacked something, I am not sure what, a look back at the kitsch 70s Australia with an amazing cast, but it just didn't work. The kids storylines were the better, the adult stuff left me cold

Happy End - french film about a large family with many issues, including issues with their construction company and immigrants. Slow paced, but interesting.

Just to be sure - French farce about a man who finds out he is adopted and commences to find his birth father, and this causes great havoc within the family.

Madame - An American couple (Toni Collette and Harvey Keitel) put on a dinner party in their French Mansion and when someone is unable to attend, their maid is asked to fill in as a guest. But quelle horreur, one of their guests falls in love with her. The maid is played by the divine Rossy de Palma, and she is utterly beguiling.

Blade Runner 2049 - ahhh the long awaited sequel, I really loved this and am very mad I missed this on the big screen. No spoilers, just go and watch this!

What I've Been Listening To

God's favorite Customer by Father John Misty - this has gotten great reviews and you can see why. Good quality popular music with a pop/country/folk sound. He almost sounds like a younger Elton John at times. Yes, some of the songs are religious based, but not in a way that feels forces. The songs simply are very listenable.

Roxy: tonight’s the night live By Neil Young – live album from 2013, Young is in fine form

Campfire by Kasey Chambers and the Fireside Disciples  - not bad country album

Last man Standing by Willie Nelson – Excellent new album

Golden by Kylie Minogue – happy, upbeat and dancey, everything you’d expect from Kylie, except she doesn’t really sound like Kylie to me!!!

Revamp: reimagining the songs of Elton John and Bernie Taupin – this wasn’t too bad. You cannot really go wrong with anything by these guys. Standouts were I Guess That’s Why They Call it The Blues by Alessia Cara. I do not know Cara but she had a lovely fresh voice that brought this to a new height. Florence and the Machine tackled Tiny Dancer and were fabulous. Lady Gaga did a great version of Your Song. And The Killers sounded hauntingly like Elton on Mona Lisas and Mad Hatters (a personal favourite)

In Your Own Sweet Time by The Fratellis – I really loved this upbeat poppy album. I have listened to these guys before but must dig out more.

Lo la Run by The Rubens – great urban groove

You’re driving me crazy by Van Morrison and Joey Defrancesco – fab jazz album with reworkings of Van's own titles and some standards.

Out of the Blues by Boz Scaggs Pretty good new jazzy album from good ole Boz

Good thing by Leon Bridges – Leon has a lovely smooth blues voice, this album is a great showcase of this.

In the blue light by Paul Simon – reworkings of older obscure songs, not bad.

Linda Ronstadt - always loved Linda, but been listening to her a lot. Singing with her a lot. I think she is a forgotten star of music and very much underrated.

Here's The Thing - catching up on Alec Baldwin's podcast