Confronted by the Lady in the Van

This film shares a kind of true story between the English playwright Alan Bennett and the single Miss Shepherd, a woman of uncertain origins who 'temporarily' parked her van in Bennett's Camden driveway for 15 years. It is both touching and confronting. Alan Bennet, played by Alex Jennings, is an introverted writer who seems to be waiting for his life to start. He feels responsible for his aging mother, and while he cannot live with and care for her, he seems to assuage his guilt by looking out for Miss Shepherd, played brilliantly by Maggie Smith. Alan is played by dual personas, the writer who sits and watches life and the one who lives the life to be written about. Ironically, this does not seem to work, because both seem afraid of really living. They are at odds with their colourful neighbourhood of superficial left-wing do-gooders, who prefer to give Miss Shepherd things they don't want, to keep her away. They really do care for her, but are still not at liberty to really live the life they want to.... On the other hand, we do learn a little about the rather twisted life of the eccentric Miss Shepherd, who in contrast, it transpires, is running away from her life. She had been a gifted pianist, was a nun and had been incarcerated in a mental institution. There was always some doubt as to what was causal, and as expected, the catholic church did not come out blameless...

Hail Caesar in 1950's Hollywood

This Coen Brothers film is both confusing and entertaining. The confusion is around whether we are watching the films being produced or the drama behind the scenes; are we watching or living the dreams that are being created across several movies? The entertaiment is led by George Clooney in leather sandals and a toga, Scarlett Johansson as an emerald mermaid diving into a pool of red and yellow synchronised swimmers, a brilliant sequence of sailors tap dancing on table tops in a small bar and a submarine emerging and disappearing into the ocean! There are many random scenes linked together in 1950's memorabilia and style. And the storyline takes us into the life choices of Eddie Mannix who is too busy trying to solve all the problems of the actors and filmmakers at Capitol Pictures to be either a family man or be seduced into a corporate position in the nuclear enabled defence force. We enjoy Ralph Fiennes playing a patient director, coaching a singing cowboy to speak with style. It is fun watching Tilda Swinton playing twin sisters competing as journalists in brilliant suits and stylish hats. The fact that George is kidnapped by a group of disgruntled screenwriters, pretending to be communist sympathisers in a Malibu waterfront mansion is another opportunity for ridicule of the morality and purpose of Hollywood....

still learning...how to be single

I was hoping to see the film, How to be Single, on Valentine's Day. I have had to wait a few weeks, but it was worthwhile. It is an interesting contrast between Manhattan loft apartments and Rebel Wilson's somewhat bawdy humour and feels a little bit like a stylish and grown up American Bridget Jones Diary. The film opens when Alice (Dakota Johnson) decides she needs a break from her college boyfriend Josh. She moves to New York for a job as a paralegal, where she meets Robin (Rebel Wilson), a wild party-loving co-worker. As Alice learns how to get free drinks, meet men and enjoy the single lifestyle, we meet a variety of other single men and women who variously have some important lessons to learn. While Lucy flirts with Tom in the bar as she checks out online dating sites, David finds his date with Alice interrupted by his hidden demons. Alice is shocked when she tries to reconnect with Josh and realises he has moved on. So this thinking woman's romcom weaves lots of certainties and uncertainties in a patchwork of friendships and relationships. Unlike most American movies, the characters are not all paired off at the end, and we are reminded of some important lessons about friendship and self-awareness. The best thing about being single is that it is a transitory state to be appreciated for its own experience.

enjoyed escaping to The Choice

What better choice on Valentine's Day to see a rom-com with my girlfriends! This is my first Nicholas Sparks novel-informed movie. It was a wonderful escape to a gorgeous North Carolina waterfront. We zoom into the lives of beautiful people, who have perfect houses, boats, dogs and children. While the plot is predictable, and the romance is on, off, twisted and back on; the emotional roller coaster is real. The classically handsome Travis Parker (played by Benjamin Walker), is a country vet who works with his father (Tom Wilkinson). Travis lives on his own with his boat and rescue dog, until his parties disrupt his new neighbor Gabby, (Teresa Palmer) a med student, who is currently dating a fellow doctor. She plays the precocious and independent woman, who needs a little help with her pregnant retriever... At the end of the day, it is a wonderful escape to the place you want to live, the friends and lifestyle you want to have...and you want everything to work out in the end as well!

still shocked by the reality of what was behind The Big Short

Having lived through some very personal experiences of what is now called the Global Financial Crisis, I was keen to see this film. I could not face reading Michael Lewis' book. So it was with some trepidation that I sat down on my own in a very busy cinema to relive some of this pain. I was reminded of the enormity of human greed and how it can become institutionalised and rewarded in companies that spin. So the film highlights the difference between smart (and often socially inept) men who analyse and interpret financial trends and those who are socially slick but uninterested in what is really happening. The first group questions whether the latter is stupid or fraudulent. If they knew would they continue, or do they just prefer not to know? And where is the responsibility for recognising and analysing the facts - when interrogated one of the ratings agencies admits it prefers to spin to keep their clients rather than acknowledging the truth and risking losing clients to their competitors. But then the plot becomes even more twisted, because the 'smart' mavericks who accurately predict that the housing bubble will burst because of the high level of constructed financial products that are essentially approved gambling, are prepared to make personal money by betting on the collapse of the economy. Yes the individual can beat the machine - but at what cost. And we all know that those who caused the crisis are largely still functioning while the rest of the international community wears much of the long term negative impact...I left feeling so sad and cynical.

A challenge rewarded - The Narrow Road to the Deep North

I was given this book by an English colleague, after I had returned to live in Australia, as an interesting read by an Australian author. It also happens to have won the Man Booker Prize in 2014. But it was such a challenging read - reliving in gruesome detail, lives of prisoners of war, who were forced to build a Burmese railway in an unrealistic time frame, managed by the Japanese, who were doing this for their Emperor and country. The story was told through the eyes of a young medic Dorrigo Evans. He had been caught in a lustful affair while engaged to a most suitable future wife. This set the scene for the investigation of love, values and purpose in life against the cruel backdrop of the end of the Second World War. During the war we lived the individual struggles of both prisoners and guards and we also followed the unexpected twists of their lives after the war. Richard Flanagan is a very descriptive writer, both in terms of the physical environment, but also the inner questions and concerns of men, who may or may not be able to actually vocalise them. It is very interesting that his father was a survivor of The Line, as this Burmese railway was called. He must have shared his memories in a very therapeutic manner with his son, and it does not seem a coincidence that he died on the day it was published - it certainly would have been way too painful for him to read. Somehow, there is a deep authenticity that this book brings to the reader - and the reality of the story leaves little room for hope. The nasty twists and turns of life are truly lived out in ways that are quite horrific. So it was on holiday in Tasmania that I was able to complete reading this book, spurred on by Richard's Tasmanian heritage and high status in his home state. So my summary is that this book is so genuine, that it engenders gratitude and deep appreciation for everything I have in my life - and it helps me to keep aiming for the opportunity to live out the values that are important to me - and be even more thankful that I have a real chance to do this in my lifetime. I feel very lucky.

Shocked and inspired by MONA

I have not heard anyone criticise the 5 year old Museum of Old and New Art in Hobart, since I have been back here in Australia. THere has been a lot of talk about how it would likely shock and surprise me. So I set off to find out what is behind the vision of David Walsh; the eccentric mathematician who had made his fortune through gambling and now collects art and artefacts. So it seems that in building the gallery below ground and in using low levels of light, he wants to truly embody the darker side of life. To me, it is also quirky and innovative. It starts with the boat trip; a camouflage catamaran with sheep seats at the back for the children. From the purpose built landing up over a hundred steps, the main entrance is through a mirrored side wall. We then walk back down about 100 steps to enter the gallery from the lowest floor; there are no labels on the art so we all are given an iPod with headphones to identify and learn about the art and for many pieces, there are several interviews and music to listen to. So it is hard to remember all the impressive pieces; organ music piped into the bottom floor foyer area, a waterfall made up of random words, an eating and pooing machine (Cloaca professional), a synchronous choir of Madonna fans singing as individuals, and a draped red fibroglass covered Porsche. In amidst all this are quite a few Egyptian relics, including several mummies. There are also some great Australian and international artists including Sidney Nolan, Brett Whitely and Damian Hirst. My only concern is that I did miss some pieces because I did not look carefully into every corner. And yes the toilets are educational, in lots of different ways!