Tag: 2017
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‘Birdcage Walk,’ by Helen Dunmore
Novel, 2017 Historical novel set in Bristol, at about the time of the French Revolution and viewing the social fall out and upheaval in British trade and family life. A book, really, which is hard to dislike, with relatable characters set in opposition to each other, and plenty of drama which – occasionally, though not…
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‘Standard Deviation,’ by Katherine Heiny
Novel, 2017 An examination of a marriage through the friendships of Graham, the main protagonist, and Audra, his second wife. The day-to-day events and relationships involving these two characters, Graham’s first wife, Elspeth, and Graham and Audra’s son Matthew – who has Asperger’s are told crisply, allowing the humour to shine through. There is, however,…
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‘I Am Not a Number,’ by Alex Cox
Non-fiction, 2017 An episode by episode guide to the 1960s surreal adventure series The Prisoner, in which a synopsis of each episode is given, before Cox teases out specific details and gives his thoughts and interpretations on what’s going on. While the synopses can be helpful in reminding fans of what happened – and in…
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‘Wonder Wheel,’ directed by Woody Allen
Movie, 2017 A film which looks and initially sounds like a Woody Allen film, with a cosy and vibrantly colourful 1950s Coney Island, and a few narrative conventions lightly trampled. For Allen, however, this is pretty dark territory, as gangsters turn up to ruin the developing family saga, and all manner of references to drama,…
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‘Hampstead,’ directed by Joel Hopkins
Movie, 2017 A film whose premise doesn’t promise much, but which in a charming, uncomplicated way, delivers. Yes, this is a film about class and mannered societal behaviour, whose nuances are hard to find and which could be accused of being a little patronising. The film also has a backs to the wall, stick up…
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‘I Don’t Feel at Home in This World Anymore,’ directed by Macon Blair
Movie, 2017 Quirky independent American film, following the adventures of a nurse, who engages the help of a heavy metal fan to investigate the robbery of her home. The quick descent and peril endured by the heroes at the hands of unrelenting and grim aggressors and an over stretched police department is both funny and…
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“Murder on the Orient Express,” directed by Kenneth Branagh
Movie, 2017 All star adaptation played pretty straight and down the line. Once the ludicrous moustaches Poirot wears and the over-snappy dialogue become less distracting, the film settles down, possibly plodding a little here and there, but offering a reasonable degree of entertainment. Everything feels as it should do – the luxury of Continental Pullman…
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“The Disaster Artist,” directed by James Franco
Movie, 2017 Dramatisation of Greg Sestoro‘s partnership with Tommy Wiseau which brought The Room to cult cinema screens, The Disaster Artist plays for and often delivers laughs, though not always doing it in a way which adds to the head in hand ham of The Room itself. A film, then, which brings an outsider’s attempt…
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“All the Money in the World”, directed by Ridley Scott
Movie, 2017 Account of the kidnap and eventual outcome when Italian terrorists snatched John Paul Getty’s grandson, John Paul Getty the Third. A film which is well shot and focusses on the emotional struggles, particularly of mother Gail Harris, but also Cinquanta, the kidnapper closest to the victim. Period detail, the gruesome paparazzi and scenes…