![The North Norfolk Coast: A Short Introduction](/uploads/profile_image/382/e4de15a2-f2a0-4350-9dff-7f6ddf3ad382.jpg?m=1522359411)
The North Norfolk Coast: A Short Introduction
Book
The North Norfolk Coast is one of the UK's most beautiful natural coastlines. In this book, Anthony...
![Gotham - Season 1](/uploads/profile_image/b72/0fe99ff1-0de9-45d9-ab15-b1bf84ebfb72.jpg?m=1522359907)
Gotham - Season 1
TV Season Watch
As the city sinks deeper into chaos, GOTHAM will continue to follow the evolving stories of the...
![The Battle For England: Women at war in Medieval England (Wars of the Magna Carta #1)](/uploads/profile_image/fb3/18f1e737-7c49-485c-aa7b-5278dde1bfb3.jpg?m=1548235435)
The Battle For England: Women at war in Medieval England (Wars of the Magna Carta #1)
Book
Medieval England is under siege… Perfect for fans of Conn Iggulden, Robyn Young, Alison Weir and...
Historical Fiction Medieval England
![Space Cadet](/uploads/profile_image/765/e76c0315-3559-4265-b80a-0b42e7f7d765.jpg?m=1522328079)
Space Cadet
Book
"They say heroes are born, not made. That isn't the case with BYRON DURAND. For him, it was a little...
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BankofMarquis (1832 KP) rated Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway (2008) in Movies
Jul 10, 2020
The 1990's brought us a "rock musical" that focused on a global pandemic set against the backdrop of social protesting and racial injustices (sound familiar), this musical is Jonathan Larson's RENT.
Following (loosely) the plot of the 1896 opera LA BOHEME, RENT tells the tale of disaffected artists trying to live and love (and make rent) while living their lives the way they wish to live it. Writer Jonathan Larson (who passed, suddenly, the day before previews began) created a powerful, rock driven, story that is poignant, sad and hopeful all at the same time. The original Broadway production Iwhich I am bragging that I saw 2x with the original cast) brought such talent as Jesse L. Martin, Anthony Rapp, Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel to the forefront.
But...skip the film version of this musical (starring most of the original cast) that came out in 2005. It is purfunctuary and lifeless. Instead, seek out the 2008 RENT: FILMED LIVE ON BROADWAY. Like Hamilton, this is a filmed version of the stage show and is able to capture the power and emotion that only live theater can provide.
The cast in this production is outstanding - with the standout being (no surprise) a young Renee Elise Goldsberry (Angelica Schulyer in Hamilton) who shines brightly as Mimi.
Like Hamilton, Rent showcases the power - and purpose - of live theater. A place that I cannot wait to go to again in 2021.
Letter Grade: A-
8 stars (out of 10) and you can take that to the Bank (ofMarquis)
![Magic Is Dead: My Journey into the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians](/uploads/profile_image/f09/ba4e6d2b-c796-48cb-a25e-22f351672f09.jpg?m=1547040059)
Magic Is Dead: My Journey into the World's Most Secretive Society of Magicians
Book
In the vein of Neil Strauss’ The Game and Joshua Foer’s Moonwalking with Einstein comes the...
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/822/0215931b-8c77-447a-9fae-c372d4b3c822.jpg?m=1631718314)
Bob Mann (459 KP) rated A United Kingdom (2017) in Movies
Sep 29, 2021
Directed by Amma Asante (“Belle”) this is the true tale of a real-life fairy story, featuring a handsome prince and his love, who can never be his princess thanks to the Machievellian schemings of court-do-gooders and bureaucrats.
The prince in this case is Seretse Kham (David Oyelowo, “Selma“) , heir to the throne of Bechuanaland (now Botswana), who meets and falls in love with a lowly white Lloyd’s of London clerk Ruth Williams (Rosamund Pike, “Gone Girl“, “The World’s End“). The plot has many parallels with that of another film from earlier this year: “Loving” with Ruth Negga and Joel Edgerton. As an inter-racial couple in 1947 this is taboo enough, but the fact that Kham is soon to be king in a country bordering the apartheid tinderkeg that is South Africa blows the affair up to be a diplomatic crisis.
Concern in the corridors of power for Prime Minister Atlee (Anton Lesser) being faced up to by the couple’s supporter – a young Anthony Wedgewood Benn (Jack Lowden).
Defying the officials he marries his true love, driving a wedge between both his own uncle (Vusi Kunene ) and sister (Terry Pheto) and making Ruth an outcast in both countries. As things turn from bad to worse, can true love conquer all their adversities?
Just everything about this film delights. Oyelowo and Pike – always a safe pair of hands – add real emotional depth to their roles. Their relationship feels natural and loving without either of them trying too hard. The estrangement of Ruth from her parents (particularly her father played by Nicholas Lyndhurst) is truly touching.
Another star turn is Harry Potter alumni Tom Felton, playing Rufus Lancaster – a weaselly and very unpleasant local official. I have a prediction…. that in 30 year’s time, the young Potter actor that will be the ‘Ian McKellen of his day’ (that is, a world recognized great actor… not necessarily gay!) will be Felton.
Sam McCurdy (“The Descent”) delivers cinematography of Africa that is vibrant (to be fair, for anyone lucky enough to visit Africa will know, cameras just love the place) and the John Barry-esque music by Patrick Doyle (“Murder on the Orient Express“) is pitch perfect for the mood.
When it says “Based on a true story” it means it: the real family.
A beautifully crafted film that older viewers will just love.
![The Complete Short Stories: Volume One: Volume one](/uploads/profile_image/1fa/3b8d8f9f-43ab-4265-b57e-aff13232d1fa.jpg?m=1522334028)
The Complete Short Stories: Volume One: Volume one
Book
The Complete Short Stories of Roald Dahl in the first of two unsettling and sinister volumes. 'They...
![40x40](/uploads/profile_image/b00/ad372bdf-329a-45ea-8bca-1d418980eb00.jpg?m=1613641207)
Allison Anders recommended Young Mr. Lincoln (1939) in Movies (curated)
![Outlandish Knight: The Byzantine Life of Steven Runciman](/uploads/profile_image/397/4a0173d2-547d-4be0-bb8b-614937ece397.jpg?m=1522338596)
Outlandish Knight: The Byzantine Life of Steven Runciman
Book
'An extraordinary book ... exceptionally fascinating, always readable and penetratingly intelligent'...
Biography