Sebastian Faulks: A Week in December

This one started off showing great promise; the author had exuded an authority bordering on arrogance and after the past few volumes coming out of the bookclub this one seemed  more on the money.

Sadly, it did not work out that way. The format of the book tried to followed half-a-dozen or so characters but for me the characterisation was a tad shallow with a couple of factual inaccuracies. For me, any doubts about the veracity of story can just kill a piece - mostly because I immediately lose confidence in the author and everything becomes suspect. On top of this, the episodic nature of the story tended to be over-worked and too long. Barely a quarter-way through the novel and I was getting bored; I started skipping huge chunks hoping for something interesting to happen.

While some of the characters did make a good impression, their back-stories tended to be superficial, sometimes seeming contrived and not at all linked together in any way - certainly not in the plot of the book. Round about half-way through I just gave up and couldn't be bothered anymore. Perhaps the story did come together in the end but I don't think it was worth it even for those in the club that persevered to the bitter end.

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Les Poupées russes (The Russian Dolls)

A sequel to Pot Luck, fives year after the group first meet in Barcelona, they reassemble for a wedding in St. Petersberg. Perhaps trying to touch on more subtle, mature topics it struggles with considerable implausibility to get where it is going. Still full of beautiful people and excellent characterisation especially in Paris. But I suspect I am too old to really get this one or maybe there only seems to be something to get if you are of an age.

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L'auberge espagnole (Pot Luck)

First saw this a couple of years ago and evidently it made an impression on me then; second-time round I still enjoyed it. Not really sure why this is a likeable film though, certainly full of vitality and fun and vivaciousness. Maybe, sometimes that's all we need.
 
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M

Wow! this is cracker!
Directed by Fritz Lang in 1931 and staring Peter Lorre as the despicable murderer. This was Lorre's first major role and he plays it brilliantly especially his impassioned monologue toward the end.
The version I watched was assembled from archive material held in Netherlands, Germany & Switzerland to make 110 minutes of the original serial killer film. This was Lang's first "talking" film, in German of course, and Lang is so inventive in marrying sound & vision. Some spectacular innovative techniques are in use including the first example of leitmotif, borrowed from Opera, in film; Peter Lorre's character can be identified on & off-screen by whistling In the Hall of the Mountain King - bizarrely, Lorre was incapable of whistling so we actually hear Lang himself.
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Isobel Anderson: In My Garden

Made the album release last week in the Crescent Arts Centre where Issy and friends entertained us mightly with some superb music mostly from "in My Garden" but with some very new pieces, a music video and some older tunes.
The first set opened with the lights down and an abstract a cappella tune rendered with the help of members from a couple of local choirs. Apart from being spectacular in itself, set the mood wonderfully for the rest of the gig.

Issy's music has really matured in the past few years. Her vocals have mellowed, her music has strayed from its folk roots picking up at times a jazzy lilt and even a retro 70's style. But the lyrics are as sharp and modern and personal as ever. Some wonderful violin accompaniment from Gascia Ouzounian. After a cool, arty music video by way of a break, the second set featured tracks off the new album. Ruby Colley accompanied Issy on many songs with other friends joining her on stage from time to time.

Get the album and look out for more to come.

The local BBC arts programme gave Issy some air time...

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Beat the Devil

Allegedly created as a parody of his own film Maltese Falcon by Howard Hughes and featuring Lorre, Morley as well as Bogart.
Bit of a romp with such a stellar cast; wonderful to see these greats again with Bogie in particular being hard-boiled,cynical and a thoroughly dissolute good guy.
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800 Bullets

Quite bizarre and unbelievable even as an entertainment.
Like as not, too clever for its own good.
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