catholic integrity amidst dismal reality?

This film has a very dramatic opening line, shared in a confessional with the larger than life Father James. It quickly became clear that one of the locals had been repeatedly raped as a young boy and had threatened his own version of justice. We aren't sure whether to take him seriously and who he actually is. But what becomes clear, is that Father James is a priest with moral integrity and real life experience. While he may have been an absent father to his daughter, after her mother's death, he does try to reconnect and offer her hope. But what is truly mesmirising is the mix of tragic and flawed people who live in the small Irish seaside village of Sligo, and the way Father James continues to connect with and help each one, in his idiosyncratic and down-to earth manner. But as time counts down, he senses the sinister and troubling forces closing in, and he chooses to face his own personal Calvary.

waiting for the real Jesse Eisenberg in The Double

The trailer seemed interesting; suggesting that The Double might have been an alter ego or the dark shadow self. There was a mention that the director Richard Ayoade adapted the script from an 1846 Dostoyevsky novella. There were moments when it seemed that the timid and isolated Simon James would be recognised for the work he did, rather than the confident and charismatic James Simon. Perhaps he would even reconnect with the woman of his dreams. But I was disappointed at the lack of real depth, and by then end I had lost track with which one was which - and then it seemed that it did not really matter. What made the film interesting was the bleak and tongue-in-cheek industrial and bureaucratic work place. But in the end I agree with the Director, in his summary at the Toronto premiere "I can't recommend it, but I'm happy it exists".

cryptic stories across centuries and continents

I need persistence and resilience to read Peter Carey. This time, the title 'The Chemistry of Tears' offered a chance to transcend art and science through human emotion. If only it was that simple... I could identify with the contemporary Catherine, a heartbroken conservator at a London museum, as she needed to hide her grief from the unexpected loss of her married lover. Her sensitive boss was perhaps more manipulative than he initially seemed, when he offered her the complex task of rebuilding an automaton, comissioned by the aristocratic Henry Brandling, a century earlier for his dying son. Henry's journey to the deep south of Germany to find a builder for this bizarre dream mirrors her own challenge to escape from reality. Their stories intertwine across time and geography as they explore the classic mysteries of life and death from two very different perspectives. It is so well written that there are so many hidden twists and turns, shared synchronicities and terrible tragedies...

inspirational - Dallas Buyers Club

Finally I agree with the critics - this film offers an amazing experience and I am impressed at the American establishment recognising individual resilience and integrity outside the mainstream. There are so many beautiful threads and surprising contrasts. It is shocking to be reminded of the early 80's and the sheer terror of AIDS, especially through the experience of a super macho Texas cowboy Ron Woodruf, played by Matthew McConaughey. Given 30 days to live, we see both sides of medical ignorance; sensitive uncertainty compared to arrogant controlling denial. It is predictable that his friends shun him, but not that he really learns to appreciate the conflicted cross dressing Rayon, played by Jared Leto. I was impressed by his deep search for accurate scientific information (which is part of my day job) and his entrepreneurial attitude to sharing his knowledge, regardless of the law or any clinical trial protocol. Together with a motley crew of renegades, I was totally inspired by their shared struggle for independent choice and personal dignity.

pointless and heartless ...Under the Skin

It is not often that I miss the point of a movie and entertain myself with watching others to see who will walk out first. It seems that people were agitated and there were quite a few toilet visits and returns... perhaps they like me had skimmed the positive reviews and wanted to see the good bits. But it was such a relief for this movie to finally be over, and I guess I just accepted it was a wasted evening! So where did it all go wrong? Scarlett Johansson plays a not-very-alien predator at large in a battered white van in Glasgow. While this adaptation of Michael Faber's novel has intrinsic benefit, it was not easy to access and I was perplexed by her seductive and manipulative voyeurism, which seemed both pointless and heartless. OK it was interesting to see 'normal' street scenes but it adds little to the story. Perhaps there was some point scoring by the ever so educated and critically cool English writers at a kerb-crawling Hollywood star luring ordinary Scottish lads using hidden cameras! So we are supposed to recognise an emotional vulnerability emerging that results in her ultimate downfall, but I did not feel a thing - maybe I was looking away...

a rural golf weekend escape

As an alternative to a spa weekend, I was impressed by the Sedlescombe Golf Hotel as a weekend golf escape. The half day golf school began early with some structured teaching on the driving range, followed by a video analysis of my very personal bad habits, and supplemented by a video 'yes i can do it' improvement piece. It seems that I had remembered some useful advice from a previous lesson and overapplied it, to my detriment! So after a tasty smoked seafood lunch, we played the 18 hole long parkland course, to try out what was learned in the lesson. I needed time to deconstruct my game, lose a few balls and observe all sides of every fairway, before I could start to rebuild new and initially awkward habits. I loved the option for Saturday evening of choosing my own fresh seafood, which was purchased for me in the seafood market. I was advised that the halibut was not in season and opted for sardines that were char grilled and cooked with samphire, beans and mashed potato. It was good to revisit my new backswing movement on Sunday morning, and apply it to the short game and even on the putting green. Finally, it was fantastic to feel it all coming together again on the course on Sunday afternoon.

Rambert dancing like crazy in Oxford

Classically trained dancers moving in asymetrical angles, in and out of sequence, barefoot and accompanied by a live orchestra...that is the Rambert Dance Company, last week at the New Theatre, Oxford. Titled, The castaways, we enjoyed four distinct dances. Superb individual costumes together with exaggerated and awkward movements expose human camaraderie, cooperation and alienation. Debussy's music accompanied the short and powerful L'apres midi d'un faune, a strongly theatrical soliliquoy in dance. The ultra modern What Wild Ecstasy combined huge suspended flies overlooking bright rainbow costumes and totally out-there choreography. The final piece, Rooster is set to music from the Rolling Stones and themed in black and red with dimmed lighting. Such an amazing dedication to movement and the power of discipline and control....wow