Down Under by Bill Bryson (review)

Bill Bryson brings his trademark wit and insightful curiosity down under to Australia in this highly enjoyable and interesting book. He delves deeply into the culture, history, people, wildlife and landscapes of this huge and fascinating country. Bryson has the gift of bringing these things to life and at times making seemingly boring subject matters worth reading about. His enthusiasm and love for Australia is infectious but he is not afraid to write about Australia's most notable social failure, the desolation of the Aborigines. There is a sense of poignancy and helplessness in the book regarding the fate of these people. But there is plenty to admire about Australia; Bryson's description of the towns and cities and people is very favourable and I think perhaps the Australian tourist board owes him a gratitude of thanks for promoting their country in such a good light. It might not be the funniest of Bryson's books, but it still contains many humorous anecdotes and observations, a skill that he has honed down to a fine art. Due to the copious amounts of deadly creatures that abound in Oz, and which Bryson is not slow to point out, it is highly unlikely that I will ever set foot in this dangerous country. But thanks to Down Under I feel that I have, in some way, travelled around Australia with Bryson, albeit from a safe distance. 8/10

Anna Calvi in concert

A drizzly, cold night in Glasgow. I needed something to warm me up and brighten up the gloom of Scotland in February - Anna Calvi and a few pints of cider might just be the answer. I entered The Arches and unzipped a few layers of clothes. Unfortunately the cloak room was not open tonight so I had to lump around looking like a fatty. I headed straight for the bar through a barrage of noise and ordered a pint of Magners, then double backed to listen to Anna Meredith, the support act for the evening. They were a trio; a girl on cello, a guitarist and Meredith on laptop, percussion, clarinet and vocals. It was an interesting fusion of electronica and alternative rock and I tapped my feet along quite happily. The guitarist and cellist were especially good, and maybe they should have been given a bit more room to demonstrate their considerable skills. After they finished I headed back to the bar, apologising my way past people in that typically British manner, and ordered Gaymers, a lovely English cider which I wish was more on tap in Scotland. I edged my way through a steadily increasing crowd and found a fairly decent vantage point that I also hoped would be a sweet acoustic spot. I didn't want to be too close to the amps. Anna and her quartet arrived onstage to a hearty welcome and without much fuss launched straight into a song. I had read on Wikipedia that Calvi had been lauded for her live performances and within a few songs I could see why. There was power and intensity and energy focused skilfully into each song that was at times breath-taking. I idly wondered how they achieved such a level - probably hundreds of hours of practise is the answer. But they sounded fresh and original, there was nothing stale or rehearsed about them. Calvi and her band performed the stronger songs from her recent album 'One Breath' and also delved into her first self titled album. If there were any weaknesses to her performance then I wasn't aware of them. Her guitar playing was exemplary and boy, does she have a rare set of lungs. I left The Arches feeling fully validated in paying £14 for such an experience, and even forgave the crooks at the box office for adding on a service charge and processing fees. Great gig. Up there with Throwing Muses.   

Plunkett & Macleane (film review)

Unusual and quirky period thriller starring Robert Carlyle and Jonny Lee Miller as two men of contrasting social standings who gang together to become highwaymen, targeting only the super wealthy. Liv Tyler, with an impeccable English accent, complicates matters when Jonny Lee Miller falls in love with her. Alan Cumming, Michael Gambon and Ken Stott are all excellent in their supporting roles, and the acting is definitely one of the strengths of this film. The costumes and period settings are equally impressive, from the extravagant lifestyles of the rich to the mud and rags of the poor. The addition of a modern soundtrack to a period drama was a bold but successful choice and composer Craig Armstrong does a good job. The story and dialogue is a bit hit and miss, at times losing my interest, and the characters could have been more fully rounded, but there is enough in this stylish film to merit a watch. 7/10

The Gatekeepers (film review)

First film of the New Year. Maybe I should have started off with something a bit more cheerful than a documentary about Israeli intelligence in fighting the war against terrorism. Six ex-former heads of Shin Bet (Israeli's security agency) are interviewed for the first time ever and give their accounts of, and opinions on, the tragic hostilities between Israel and Palestine. The documentary is generally very balanced and objective, with director Dror Moreh showing video clips of atrocities committed by both sides and not being afraid to ask the former heads of Shin Bet difficult questions. The six different perspectives work really well in building up a picture of what it is like to be in the middle of such an extremely complex and disturbing conflict. Hopefully this thought provoking film will help in some small way in moving the peace process along. 8/10

The Best of 2013!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!

Top Ten DVD's (that I watched in 2013)



1. Magnolia

2. Scent Of A Woman 


3. Howard's End                                      

4. Searching For Sugar Man

5. Senna

6. The Fall

7. Untouchable

8. Silver Linings Playbook

9. Take Shelter

10. Detachment





Top Ten Books (that I read in 2013)

1. Dubliners by James Joyce
2. One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest by Ken Kesey
3. Saturday by Ian McEwan
4. The Testament of Gideon Mack by James Robertson
5. A Portrait Of The Artist As A Young Man by James Joyce
6. The Lost Continent by Bill Bryson
7. James Joyce: A Biography by Gordon Bowker
8. The Invisible Ones by Stef Penney
9. Our Lady Of The Forest by David Guterson
10. The Grass Is Singing by Doris Lessing







 Top Ten Albums (that I bought in 2013)

1. 1. Symphonies Nos 35 - 41 by Mozart                             
2. One Breath by Anna Calvi
3. Aventine by Agnes Obel
4. The Best Of John Renbourn
5. Anna Calvi by Anna Calvi
6. Big Time by Tom Waits
7. The Velvet Underground & Nico
8. If  You Leave by Daughter
9. Once I Was An Eagle by Laura Marling
10. High Violet by The National

Top Ten Films of 2013

1. Les Miserables

2. Rush

3. Gravity

4. Lincoln

5. Life Of Pi

6. Prisoners

7. Star Trek: Into Darkness

8. Behind The Candelabra

9. Cloud Atlas

10. Trance

Top Ten Babes of 2013

 

1.       Melanie Laurent (pictured)                                              

       2.       Kerry Washington
       3.       Kirsten Dunst
       4.     Jennifer Aniston
       5.       Rosario Dawson
       6.       Emma Stone
       7.       Halle Berry
       8.       Nadine Velazquez

9.    Mia Wasikowska
10.  Zooey Deschanel

Sideways (film review)

Paul Giamatti and Thomas Haden Church embark on a road trip through southern California, in search of good wine and one last carnal embrace before Church's character gets married. The wine tasting scenes and discussions are great, so much that I paused the DVD and poured myself a glass. Both characters are somewhat chalk and cheese friends, a bit like the mismatched cop films, but it works wonderfully well in Sideways. Bit surprised, and miffed, that Church was nominated for an Oscar and not Giamatti. A smart, funny and poignant film that is best watched with a good bottle of wine. 8/10

The Christmas Candle (film review)

It's refreshing to have a Christian film that is not afraid to wear its heart on its sleeves. There are not many about in this secular age. The Christmas Candle is a period drama that deals with the nature of faith, tradition, hope and miracles in an intelligent and mature way but without getting too bogged down in theology or trite piety. The performances are all very good, although Susan Boyle does not seem comfortable in her acting role. Hans Matheson and Samantha Barks are the stand outs, giving the film a much needed presence and chemistry. Britain seems to be the master of period dramas, and although The Christmas Candle does not quite excel in this area it is still a nice and uplifting film.