Happy New Year! This seems a good time to resurrect my blog, especially as I'm looking forward to a number of cultural moments, and have already seen two new films ...
The Reader has already been the subject of long reviews and - always a good sign for me! - the reviewers' conclusions differ widely. But it's a film you should see if you have thought about the issues surrounding the Holocaust and its legacy. For some the film is fragmented, for some the treatment of these grave issues is less than perfect, for some there is an excess of 'gratuitous' sex. So - lots of grey areas, lots of issues to reflect upon ... and not too many didactic or moralistic moments in the film (thank God!). I found it moving and largely engrossing, and the acting and filming excellent. Some of the scenes reminded me of my first visit to post-war Germany (Cologne) in 1961 - very evocative. Let me know what you think!
A couple of days later, I had the chance to attend a national preview at the Tyneside Cinema of Frost/Nixon, followed by a live satellite Q&A session with Peter Morgan (screenwriter) and Michael Sheen beamed from the Curzon, Mayfair. The film is very fine, with both Michael Sheen's and Frank Langella's performances riveting. At a time when we are waiting for a hopefully brave new chapter of the history of the US Presidency to begin, it was good to be reminded of the extraordinary issues surrounding Nixon's resignation, and the remarkable way in which they came to light through the medium of television.
I'll be surprised and disappointed if these films don't feature on Oscars Night. Frost/Nixon is on general release towards the end of January.
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
No comments:
Post a Comment