I’ve long been a fan of Benedict Cumberbatch, especially from his portrayal of World War 2 mathematician ace, Alan Turing. Turing, using his great cryptanalyst skills, deciphered the German military’s Enigma code from Britain’s secret spy base at Bletchley Park. And Cumberbatch portrayed him magnificently.
A look at Minamata [MA15+]
I’m not a great fan of Johnny Depp so I never had any intention of ever watching his Pirates of the Caribbean extravaganzas. And of course there was the headline personal drama when he and his then partner Amber Heard illegally brought two Yorkshire terrier dogs into Australia in October 2015. Continue reading
The United States vs Billie Holiday (MA 15+)
Great 20th century female jazz and blues singers often formed strong bonds with violent and controlling men. Billie Holiday, one of the greatest of them all, was no exception. She’s bullied, hurt and financially ripped off by a succession of husbands, managers and lovers. But Billie has a largely supportive male entourage who tour with her on the road from the small town, smoky bars to larger jazz clubs. Continue reading
A look at First Cow (PG)
These days everything we need can be bought at specialist downtown shops and supermarkets. We also can have food and beverages delivered after ordering on-line so it takes time to remember how different things were back in the 19th century. In those far distant times a simple beverage such as milk wasn’t available in bush or outback locations. Continue reading
A look at Six Minutes To Midnight (M)
Until we saw this movie I had no idea that an English finishing school for the daughters of high-ranking German Nazi officials existed in southern England in the late 1930s. Well, it did, in the coastal town of Bexhill-on-Sea in east Sussex.
We managed to squeeze in five movies ranging from excellent to reasonably good at the cinemas early in 2020 before they were forced to shut as COVID-19 struck.
A look at Jojo Rabbit (M)
I’m not averse to an occasional humorous take on a serious historical event so I was looking forward to Taika Waititi’s spoof movie. He’s very busy with this production. He directed the film and played the role of Adolf Hitler who’s 10-year-old Jojo’s imaginary friend and adviser, occasionally a bit gruff with the little lad. And as well Waititi had written the script which won him the Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay at this month‘s Academy Awards. Continue reading
A look at Bombshell (MA 15+)
Harassment of women with the accompanying lewd comments in the work-place has come under much more in-depth scrutiny in recent years. Far more than it did in the 1980s and 90s (where it was ever-present) and clearly through the influence and clout of the #MeToo movement. Continue reading
It’s taken a while but here are my live musical highlights of 2019.
Every scoreboard tells a story
A Song. A Place. A Time.
With the first dog chosen in the AFL Canine Draft
escape to the Vasse idyll
australianrules.com.au 