Watching - February 2025

Some Kind of Wonderful (1987)

The opening scenes and credits of this, set to Propaganda's fantastic "Abuse - Here", are probably one of my favourites ever, and after watching them I can't not finish the film. There's a number of non-sequiturs, occasional over-acting and of course plenty of teen angst but in fairness I have watched it too many times. I still love it though.

The Importance of Being Earnest (2002)

How do you film something quite so well-formed as the classic play? Well, in my opinion, not by rushing breathlessly from location to needless location, adding unnecessary fantasy and backstory sequences, or including pointless additional sub-plots (although it turns out at least one of these latter is apparently from an earlier version of the play). Nor, for that matter, by making Colin Firth sing. Still, Wilde's genius shines through all the over-dressing.

The Proposal (2009)

Nice easy viewing and (slightly) more nuanced on second viewing than I remembered from last time. I really want to have an epilogue scene though, as it felt like there were a few loose ends that could do with tidying up.

Love At First Sight (2023)

I just love this unassuming romance, it's just so sweet. I might be in danger of having watched it too many times now though.

Roxanne (1987)

My choice of film for Z and I to watch on movie night, and I thought he might enjoy the comedy in this - which he did. And I enjoyed revisiting a film I know very well.

Cars (2006)

Reading Virgin River reminded me that I hadn't seen this for ages. Time was when it was run on heavy rotation by Z so it's not like I don't know every scene, but it was still nice to see it again.

Doc Hollywood (1991)

Having just watched Cars, which has often been accused (sometimes by me) of ripping off the plot from this film, I thought Z should see this too for our film night - and also because I thought he'd enjoy it. And I don't mind watching it again either!

Serendipity (2002)

I can't believe this film is over twenty years old. Not because it looks timeless or anything and obviously the actors look younger than they do now. Actually probably what I'm saying is that I'm getting old - but that doesn't stop me loving the film as a hopelessly romantic fantasy, despite the plot being pure Mills & Boon.

A Complete Unknown (2024)

I think Bob Dylan is overrated, and not just because I'm pretty "meh" about most of his music, which is, of course, just a matter of personal taste. No, it's the mythologising that grates most, started by Dylan himself even before he was famous and perpetuated ever since by lazy journalists. So a film that takes that myth and amplifies it by adding more of its own inaccuracies in the name of "dramatic licence" was obviously going to annoy me immensely.

I was surprised to find then that I actually enjoyed the film a lot. The music is from Dylan's best period and the actors do a very impressive job of reproducing it, while the story carries you along nicely. There are one or two instances of the deathless music biopic clichés ("hey how about we just try this?" <fully formed famous song appears out of nowhere>) but none more than usual.

It's poor that Suze Rotolo's role in Dylan's life is over-simplified (and her name changed), which is problematic, and I think Joan Baez comes across very well despite the part being under-written - but then, it's not a film about Joan, although I'd watch that because I suspect it's a more interesting, albeit less dramatic story. But ultimately the film made me want to go back and listen to the music - of both Bob Dylan and Joan Baez - and so is a success from that point of view.

Reading - February 2025

Emma by Jane Austen (1815)

I found it hard to read this time without making mental comparisons with the plot of Clueless; but then again, perhaps I was distracted, because for most of it, it was the small hours of the morning and I was waiting in A&E for my name to be called (I'm fine, don't worry). Still great fun and longer than I remembered, but worth it for the denouement.

The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde (1895)

Despite being set in a clearly different time, this is so wonderfully sharp and cynical that it could be the modern day. Lovely and short (it took me barely an hour to read), it sizzles with wit and is so choc-full of famous quotes you can't go a page without hitting one. A nice distraction (I was still in the hospital waiting room at this point).

Make Room for Daddy by Andrea Edwards (1990)

Every time I read this I feel like I have to apologise for the truly awful title, but this is an unpretentiously sweet and romantic story and I was moved all over again even though I know exactly what happens.

Virgin River by Robyn Carr (2007)

The plot's a fairly direct lift from Doc Hollywood (maybe via Cars), but that doesn't stop it from being a really engaging story (which it was in both of those films, so ...). There's loads in this series so I'm off to reserve the next couple!

Finding Love at Sunset Shore by Bella Osborne (2024)

A cute little romance, set in Southampton (albeit with a few made-up venues, I suspect - there's no "Sunset Shore" or even anything resembling a beach in Southampton), which carried me along nicely despite there being no doubt how it was going to end.

Welcome Back to Apple Grove by C.H. Admirand (2013)

Man and woman fall instantly in love and lust, encouraged by all their family and friends - the end. Somehow this fills a book and doesn't actually feel like a waste of time, despite the lack of development, which I think is partly down to a well-written set of supporting characters.

Mister Teacher by Jack Sheffield (2008)

The second instalment of the series sees just as many specific references to the time in which it is set shoehorned in, but the writing is settling down and the author is doing a good job of drawing out the romance element. I'm surprised it's not been made into a TV series, but it would be expensive to make. If I can find more of these I'll probably read them!

Watching - January 2025

Pride and Prejudice (1995)

Ah yes, the iconic BBC production, with Colin Firth and that look. Sure, it has its faults and it's of its time; the sisters are all clearly too old, Julia Sawalha as Lydia in particular; and too many scenes are unbalanced by allowing Alison Steadman free rein to play Mrs Bennet as, essentially, a pantomime dame. Additionally, a washed out and poorly cropped transfer to DVD (and all widescreen broadcasts I've seen) does it no favours at all. Still, it never fails to charm.

Sky High (2005)

Despite being a slightly lowest common denominator choice for the family pizza-n-movie night, this provided plenty of entertainment all round. Plenty of pre-MCU knowing winks to Marvel & DC style - unexpectedly prescient - and comedy, with a wholesome Disney plot. Definitely worth a watch if you haven't seen it before.

Pride & Prejudice (2005)

Watching this adaptation directly after the previous one is very instructive. Visually, there's no competition: the film looks sumptuous and realistic, with Chatsworth standing in for Pemberley (it turns out Mr. Darcy really was that rich) while the TV series looks dated, even factoring in the poor quality versions now available. That said, compared to the detail allowed by six hour-long episodes, the film is like a speedrun through the plot, and I feel that anyone unfamiliar with the storyline would certainly miss the nuances. Nevertheless, this is probably my preferred version now, possibly just because I've over-watched the BBC version!

Abbey Road: If These Walls Could Sing (2022)

A soft-focus, nostalgic look back at the history of the legendary Abbey Road Studios, featuring interviews from a whole host of famous faces. Not really a complete history though, more a  gentle reminisce, but an enjoyable watch nevertheless.

Cool Runnings (1993)

I bought this on DVD finally and so that was an excuse to watch it again. Great fun.

Yes, Minister (series 1, 1980)

Although this looks dated - filmed in a square format, everything beige, wobbly sets and cameras, all classic BBC sitcom-on-a-budget stuff - there is unfortunately no doubt that the subject matter is completely current. Still, it's funny and watchable.

Beatles '64 (2024)

I'm not sure the world needed another Beatles documentary - but at least this was less than two hours rather then the six hour marathon that was Get Back. It does give a glimpse into the eye of the storm, which is interesting, but overall it was a bit dull.

Summer of Soul (2021)

I fancied revisiting this and the musical performances make it worthwhile. What struck me on second viewing is the points that it makes about the segregation in force - formally or otherwise - for black people in 1969, how a massive event like this made the people of Harlem feel, and what it says that it was subsequently completely ignored.

Reading - January 2025

Reach for the Stars by Michael Cragg (2023)

An interesting companion to the Boybands Forever mini-series on the BBC I watched last year, this tells the same stories and more, in more depth. However, the oral history format, consisting primarily of quotes from those who were there, makes this a disjointed read, without any real narrative flow. It also feels like a book aimed at people who already know the basic stories already, and are keen for more inside details - which it definitely provides - rather than someone wishing to learn about the "manufactured" pop groups of the late 90s and early 2000s. Nevertheless, it's an interesting book and a good reminder that there was a lot of good pop around then. Sadly, it's also a reminder that the men behind the acts - and they were nearly all men - were and are horrible, manipulative, exploitative arseholes. There isn't an artist in here that doesn't have some sort of regret or tale of unpleasant behaviour from the likes of Louis Walsh, Simon Callow or their ilk. The luckiest of them have come through the other side, but there are definitely some who were swallowed up and spat out with no thought of their welfare or future. So ultimately this was a bit depressing, particularly ending as it did on the whole Popstars/Pop Idol/X-Factor egregiousness, which in making a spectator sport of other people's misfortune and misfortune, marked a real low point in entertainment culture.

Classic Tracks by Richard Buskin (2012)

The premise here - technical interviews with the engineers on classic tracks, as opposed to hearing from the artists themselves - is really good, the pieces themselves interesting and the book nicely put together. But the book's large, coffee table format makes it a physically awkward read, and it took me a while (years, in fact) to finish it. What makes the whole thing more annoying is my discovery, literally a couple of weeks ago, that all the pieces in the book were originally published in Sound On Sound magazine (this isn't mentioned anywhere in the book) and are available for free on their website, along with nearly 100 others. Not recommended in book form, but highly recommended on the web site!

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (1813)

Having watched the TV and film adaptations this month, I couldn't not go back to the original, and I'm pleased I did - a perennial favourite of mine, and I suspect it always will be.

Reading - December 2024

Space: The Human Story by Tim Peake (2023)

A chatty, informal jaunt through the history of space travel. I don't think much of this is particularly new - I've read quite a bit about the Apollo missions and so the sections on that were somewhat familiar - but it's presented in a very readable style. An ideal introduction to the subject or, indeed, a perfect summary if what you want is a general reader on the subject rather than excruciating detail (I'm looking at you, James R Hansen).

The Fourth Protocol by Frederick Forsyth (1983)

Very convincingly detailed but also rather transparently reflective of the author's own views and prejudices. A great yarn nevertheless.

The Maid by Nita Prose (2022)

A nice little murder mystery, featuring a central narrator - the maid - who is presumably autistic (although this is never specifically mentioned). It feels like a cross between Mark Haddon's The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time and the series that presumably all publishers want to duplicate, Richard Osman's record breaking Thursday Murder Club books. Very readable - I finished it in a day, although I was off work with a heavy cold so I wasn't doing much else - and enjoyable.  However, I did feel that the final "twist" wasn't very believable.

How Not to Murder Your Ex by Katie Marsh (2023)

I enjoyed this, a female-centred whodunnit/thriller, but found the characters a bit stereotyped.

A Caribbean Mystery by Agatha Christie (1964)

A Pocket Full of Rye by Agatha Christie (1953)

The Mirror Crack'd from Side to Side by Agatha Christie (1962)

They Do It with Mirrors by Agatha Christie (1952)

Well, there's nothing quite like Agatha Christie for nice comforting murder mysteries, is there? Very often one of my go-tos when I'm not feeling well. All four novels (here from the Miss Marple Omnibus Volume 2) are classic Christie, setting the template for all future writers by making sure it's the least predictable person who dunnit, thereby making it a little bit predictable - but only from the perspective of seventy years later! 

The Thirteen Problems by Agatha Christie (1932)

Miss Marple's Final Cases by Agatha Christie (1979)

All the Miss Marple short stories (collected in a single volume here), but did you notice the incredible time between them? Yet they don't really read any different: Christie and Miss Marple in particular were always caught in a time warp. The stories themselves are nicely condensed, and don't feel too brief.

Marr's Guitars by Johnny Marr (2023)

For some reason it took me ages to get round to reading this, but once I did it only took me an afternoon. It's a sumptuous document of an astonishing collection of guitars but as a book it's a waste of money for me, and I'm not really sure why I bought it. I mean, you've seen one picture of a '58 'burst, you've seen 'em all, right? I'm not going to get to actually play any of these; I might play something similar and then I'll be interested in that. And I'm not sure what motivated Marr to make the book, as he doesn't come across as the type to just do it for the money. Still, nice to get a glimpse into another world!

The Secret Public by Jon Savage (2024)

Blimey, this was hard work. And I really wanted to like it - a history of how gay sub-cultures have informed and bled into mainstream entertainment over the decades is a story worth telling. But this isn't that story, sadly. It feels like Savage wants to be writing an academic tome for future historians to pore over, whereas I think what the subject needs - and certainly what I was hoping for - is a good summary. What we get is a mess of a structure that prevents any kind of clear narrative emerging, and a wealth of unnecessary detail. But none of it is new information and by including too much, the main point of the book - "How LGBTQ Performers Shaped Popular Culture (1955-1979)", to quote the over-reaching subtitle (it's mostly about gay men and pop music) - is fudged and obscured. I finished it eventually - over two months after I started - out of sheer bloody-mindedness but I'm not sure I should have bothered.

The No. 1 Ladies Detective Agency by Alexander McCall Smith (1998)

I wrote last time I read this about the possible charge of cultural appropriation and I haven't changed my opinion (but then I am a white middle-aged, middle-class male so what do I know). What I'd forgotten is how filled with pathos it is - it's not just a jolly African Miss Marple. Very readable and with a clear, unique voice, which is rare I think. I didn't realise until today though that there are twenty five novels in the series!

Tears of the Giraffe by Alexander McCall Smith (2000)

The mix of small mysteries, homespun wisdom and little life choices is what makes these, for me anyway. Nothing really bad happens, nothing really major changes - just life moving along at it's usual pace. I don't know if McCall Smith planned these books as a series but in resisting the temptation to stuff each book with a lot of drama, he has given himself all the space to allow a much more appealingly gradual character and plot development. In hindsight, it's a brilliant idea, if the writing and characters are up to it - which they are of course.

Watching - December 2024

Herbie Fully Loaded (2005)

The Herbie films were a staple of my childhood, and I remember my Grandma taking me to see all of them. They were great children's films - silly and fun, and the formula wasn't significantly changed for this reboot, except that it's set in a recognisable world (NASCAR). Mostly brainless fun for an evening when I was feeling ill and needed something completely unchallenging.

Taskmaster (season 1, 2015)

I started (thanks to K) with season 2, so just going back and catching up. It's interesting to see that most of the elements are already in place, with a couple of differences.

Kingsman: The Secret Service (2015)

Like Men in Black crossed with James Bond, complete with lisping evil villain who has a lair in a hollowed out mountain, but with perhaps even less pretence at realism. Great fun though.

20 Feet From Stardom (2013)

I love the idea of this documentary - finding out about what it's like to be a backing singer for some of the biggest artists - but in practice it was a bit too focussed on about half a dozen well known singers. I say "well known", but it is relative: if you have an interest in 60s music you might have heard of the legendary Darlene Love but otherwise probably not; if you're a Rolling Stones fan you might know that it's Merry Clayton performing the spine-tingling female vocals on "Gimme Shelter" but I'm guessing that 99% of listeners haven't a clue; and if you're into reading album credits you might recognise the name of Lisa Fischer (who sings the most incredible section in the whole film) but I have to admit I didn't, despite her incredible discography. Their stories are fascinating but I would have liked to hear from a wider selection. The sound of black female gospel-rooted backing singers is fundamental to rock music but there's more to it than that, not least from the UK (off the top of my head I can think of Sam Brown, Tessa Niles and Clare Torry, all industry legends). In fairness though, I think the intent of this film was to reclaim the black, female history elements of the music and history, and in this it succeeds.

The Eras Tour (Taylor's Version) (2024)

Even if find Taylor Swift's appeal elusive or you're immune to her music (although I'd say you can't call yourself a lover of good pop and not enjoy something like "Cruel Summer" or "Style" - it's like saying you don't like ABBA, you're basically saying you don't actually like music much ... but I digress), I'd recommend you watch this. The sheer spectacle and scale - it's 3½ hours long - precision and commitment is staggering. But the bits I enjoyed most were the glimpses of the crowd. I'm the wrong demographic to get it properly but seeing the effect on the youngsters in the crowd is very moving. A fitting document to an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime phenomenon.

Strictly Come Dancing (series 22, 2024)

Obviously I didn't watch this in December only: C and I were there from the beginning of the series (blimey, back in mid-September!) and we didn't just watch the Saturday shows but pretty much all the It Takes Two episodes during the weeks as well. Despite all the routine proclamations from cast, judges etc of this series being the best ever, I'd say it was ... well, about the same as the others. I mean, that's it's appeal, right? The formula is so well bedded-in now and the whole juggernaut runs on rails. I realise it's an immense amount of work by a whole bunch of incredibly talented people behind the scenes but out front it's incredibly consistent and slick and that's what people want, I reckon. Claudia Winkleman is a fantastic presenter (the way she handles moments like this is brilliant) and an ideal antidote to the slightly robotic Tess Daly, Craig is reliably a baddie with a heart of gold, and the dances are pretty spectacular. That said, after all these years I still don't know much about dancing and I have to admit at least 50% of the appeal for me is the eye candy, but it's easy to get swept up in the stories and, god help us, "journeys". For the record, I would have voted for JB if C hadn't used all our votes on Chris (C says, "all lies, he would have voted for Tasha").

The Matrix (1999)

Still a great film, despite the wooden acting in places and, let's be honest, stilted dialog and plot holes.

Phil Collins: Drummer First (2024)

An admirable attempt at a documentary by the YouTube channel Drumeo, featuring the legend that is Phil Collins. Unfortunately it suffers from being too long and, almost fatally, from not being able to feature any of the music being discussed, presumably due to clearance issues and costs. As a result, it drags quite a bit. Collins' health isn't the best these days, sadly, which does show, and actually he doesn't have that much to say. But there's clearly a lot of affection for him behind this, and not just because his son Nic is doing the interviewing. (Drumeo is a really good channel, incidentally.)

Simple Minds: Everything Is Possible (2024)

I never really got into Simple Minds in the their heyday, possibly because U2 were "my band" in the 80s and there was only room for one celtic-inspired "big music" group in my life. But this is an interesting and nicely paced summary of their career, and I can't deny the power of their big hits. Worth watching, and has inspired me to go back and listen to the albums again, which is surely a good result of any music documentary (and as a side note, if you've never listened to "Theme for Great Cities" before, do - it's great).

Wallace & Gromit: Vengeance Most Fowl (2024)

Family Christmas viewing and lots of fun it was. You can't fault the amount of imagination that goes into the Aardman animations (at one point I noticed that Gromit was reading "A Room of One's Own" by Virginia Woof), and it was never less than entertaining, but it was perhaps a little bit forgettable.

Definitely Maybe (2008)

With K - I meant to just show the first scenes to tempt her into watching the rest some other time, but we ended up staying up late (for me, not for her) and sitting through the whole thing. I was pleased she enjoyed it though!

The Holiday (2006)

'Tis the season ... for a vaguely Christmas-themed sentimental TV movie. Because despite the presence of heavyweight actors like Kate Winslet, Jude Law and Rufus Sewell, and big US stars like Cameron Diaz and (miscast) Jack Black, that is what this feels like. But sweet, entertaining and occasionally moving anyway. A nice way to pass the time.

What's Up, Doc? (1972)

An amusing but slight farce, very much of its time,  lit up by a luminescent performance from Barbra Streisand.

Puss In Boots: The Last Wish (2023)

A surprising choice by the "kids" for a family film night, but an acceptable plot and plenty of jokes kept everyone interested.

Watching - November 2024

Wreck-It Ralph (2012)

It's been a long time since I last saw this, sufficiently so for me to have forgotten much of what happens. I'm quite happy rewatching things I do remember, so it was nice to rediscover this - lots of imagination, great animation and a fun plot.

Ralph Breaks the Internet (2018)

And of course we can't not watch the sequel. Almost as good as the original, with plenty of good jokes about, well, the internet - and most of all, and the reason I rewatched both of these films,  it contains one of my favourite scenes in a Disney film: she is a princess! ♫ (this is a running family joke)

Casino Royale (2006)

Saturday night viewing with Z, who it turned out hadn't seen a James Bond film before. I had wondered about starting him at or near the very beginning with something like From Russia With Love but decided that for someone raised on modern movie-making, it would just look dull, dated and incredibly slow. Bond films have of course been instrumental in creating the action/thriller genre but I don't think Z is interested in the history! He enjoyed this and - for a change - didn't spot the twist at the end (which is straight from the book as well).

Nobody Wants This (2024)

The central relationship of this sweet romcom - a rabbi and a non-Jewish woman falling in love - is a great way to show Judaism but I also like and appreciate the way that it's never presented as odd or unusual, despite being "other" for, I guess, most of the audience - at least, I hope this isn't only being watched by Jews! The central couple, Kristen Bell and Adam Brody, are excellent, affecting and realistic (although Brody's character is perhaps a little too nice - but hey, he's a rabbi!), you really want things to work out - and, no, it's not immediately obvious it will. My enjoyment is slightly offset by the secondary Jewish characters: the controlling mother, the bitchy sister-in-law and the idiotic brother. Even though they are all types I recognise, unfortunately, I'm just not sure I want to see them on screen (this great review from Jessica Radloff articulates a Jewish ambivalence about this really well). Ultimately it didn't spoil the series for me though - the secondary characters got better and, of course, we want to see this end well!

Boybands Forever (2024)

Despite being partial to a bit of Take That (mk. 1) at the time - I sat behind them on a plane once, so me and the lads go way back - boy bands of the 90s and early 2000s weren't really my thing, and in fairness I wasn't exactly the target market either. Nevertheless, as a lover of good pop (hint: not Westlife) I was always aware of the better singles, but I couldn't have told you much about their stories. Going behind the scenes reveals nothing that isn't a surprise, sadly. In summary: the band members were all young and exploited and the managers were all pretty ruthless; and now the boys are all men in their fifties and seem sadder but wiser, whereas the managers are mostly richer and unrepentant. All of the band members come across nicely: reflective of their time in the limelight and the enormous toll it took upon them, and somewhat critical of the men and the process that exploited them. The managers fare less well: not only do they largely still not recognise or acknowledge the duty of care that they held over what were at the time mere teenagers, they're prone to saying things like "they got what they wanted, that's just part of the deal" (thank you Simon Cowell, a lost-in-showbiz tool in shades) - easy to say when you haven't got to deal with constant gross invasion of privacy. But award for arsehole of the month - decade probably - goes to one Paul McMullan, "former tabloid journalist", who in articulating his perceived entitlement to any information he wants about anyone in the public eye, clearly has no morals ("I don't see anything wrong with a honey trap") and demonstrates why tabloid journalists can be such bottom feeding parasites.

Taskmaster (season 3, 2016)

We started watching season 3 with the family but only K and me seem to like it, so now it's the thing we do once a week (ish) together, remotely now of course. This is the second season I've watched, so the initial joy at the silliness of the tasks is slightly past, but that doesn't stop it being very enjoyable all the same. A bit hit and miss, but that's part of the format. Only another fifteen seasons to go!