Off Topic Film, TV and hell, even book recommendations!

Planet of the Apes by Frenchman Pierre Boulle has spawned quite a few remakes, franchises,etc. The original novel reads more like a Voltaire satire on the human condition than the cautionary Orwellian style of the films. The original Charlton Heston movie remains, imho, the best of the film versions and I was always find of the TV series.
But how many of us knew that Boulle also wrote Bridge Over the River Kwai? What, a Frenchman writing about English PoWs building a railway line? Based on a true story but mainly his own experiences as a prisoner serving hard labour under the Vichy French in what is now Vietnam. He was caught assisting the Allies in the Making Delta and in the film the Alex Guinness character is a fictional amalgamation of some of the collaborating engineers Broulle was forced to work with.
Apparently the screenwriter that adapted Bridge also finished off Apes following difficulties with the originally scripted ending. Interesting stuff.

 

Wow, fascinating. Didn’t know any of that.

I loved the TV series when I was a kid and have it lined up to watch now.

 

Might do that myself... we have Netflix and Amazon so hopefully I'll find a freebie.

 

Watched Joker last night. Wow, intense! Joaquin Phoenix giving a lifetime best performance imho. Have something cheery lines up to watch after, it's quite the ride! Absolutely brilliant. Free on Amazon Prime.

 

Just watched a film called ‘The Offence’. I’d never heard of it, but it’s a 1973 Sean Connery, directed by Sidney Lumet, with Ian Bannen too. Very strange. About a police officer who loses it with suspected child molester, after years of dealing with similar. Obviously based on stage play, and is quite stage-bound. Was interesting in places, but very murky. Not a recommendation, but had anyone else heard of it?

 

No....

https://primafacieplay.com/the-play/

We saw this powerful play about rape with Jodie Comer on Tuesday

 

Thoroughly enjoying ‘Nina Simone: The Lost Album’ on Sky Arts. Emeli Sandé sings ‘lost’ songs written for Simone, accompanied by some original session players of hers. Then performed at Ronnie Scotts. I don’t know if you can get it on any sort of catch-up, but if you can, I recommend it. The songs ‘Scars’ is beautiful.

 

I can recommend The English on BBC. Excellent story with superb characters, acting, cinematography and locations. Quite violent in places but it’s not gratuitous. The timeline jumps around a bit but it all makes sense in the end.


How did anyone survive in the wild west?

 

Same as modern America, shoot first and hope no one asks any awkward questions

 

I wasn't there, scully.

 

The Guard. Brendan Gleeson, Don Cheadle, Mark Strong. Deliciously dark humour with Gleeson as the policman, Cheadle the FBI agent, Strong as the drug smuggler. Brilliant.

 

Watching Sondheim and Friends on the iPlayer. Absolutely superb.
Some banging choons there.
Been a funny couple of days, revisiting some classic musicals and some new ones: Hello Dolly; Seven Brides; Oklahoma; LaLaLand...

 

I would like to recommend 'Botunga' by Isabel Seda to anyone who has children/grandchildren aged 8 or thereabouts. It is beautifully made - she is an illustrator principally , and can be obtained via the website. It is 'privately' published/printed - in Austria. Unfortunately, it is , currently , very expensive.( I am not biased at all , except our son did the translation ! ) I am hoping to find a way of getting it printed here , and for a 'sensible' price.

 

Finally watched
'Knives Out'
Brilliant film and def my best of the year. Highly recommended and both very funny and so captivating

The next one Glass Onion is pretty good too.

Saw Avatar 2 last week... a very good visual porduction witha tad too much goodies vs baddies for me. Then had to watch the first film again to make some of the connections

 

Looks beautiful.

 

Yes looks a lovely book

 

Isle of Dogs.
Wes Anderson's take on Studio Ghibli. Usual stellar cast: Murray; Goldblum; Keitel; Abraham; Watanabe; Johansson; Yoko Ono!!
An animation, yes. Not for young children.

 

Not seen that yet. Will put on the list now.

Wes Anderson’s ‘Fantastic Mr Fox’ is my favourite stop-motion animation. The ‘Making of’ explains the meticulous efforts Anderson went to, including recording ‘on location’ - if the scene is in a field then you drag Meryl Streep and George Clooney to the middle of a cornfield and you record their voices there! It’s very witty, and immeasurably better than Roald Dahl’s book. Anderson has elevated it to a great piece of art.

Watched ‘The Maggie’ (1954) again last week. Still as brilliant as I remember it. I want Mrs Andy and the boys to watch it now. I could sit through it again this week with no bother at all. Mackendrick’s direction, the exquisite script and stellar, subtle performances are simply magical.

 

I enjoyed TFMF immensely - I'd forgotten that WA was behind it.
I don't think I've seen The Maggie, or I was very young and not bothered about paying attention if I did. I'll give it whirl, I do like a classic "Ealing"!

 

Possibly the best one.