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Death in Perugia: The Definitive Account of the Meredith Kercher Case from Her Murder to the Acquittal of Raffaele Sollecito and Amanda Knox
Book
Shortly after 12.30pm on 2 November 2007, Italian police were called to the Perugia home of...
The Cheltenham Square Murder
Book
In the seeming tranquility of Regency Square in Cheltenham live the diverse inhabitants of its ten...
Crimson Snow: Winter Mysteries
Book
Crimson Snow brings together a dozen vintage crime stories set in winter. Welcome to a world of...
The Room on Rue Amélie
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For fans of Kristin Hannah’s The Nightingale and Martha Hall Kelly’s Lilac Girls, this powerful...
Awix (3310 KP) rated Peterloo (2018) in Movies
Nov 9, 2018 (Updated Nov 9, 2018)
Inescapably worthy costume drama sheds some light on a half-forgotten landmark in British political history, but in the process kind of comes across as Barry Lyndon as written by Jeremy Corbyn. Decent, heroic, possibly slightly naive reformers campaign to reform society; greedy and self-serving politicians, magistrates and businessmen unite to stop them; in the end the troops are sent in.
Not quite as punishingly didactic as it sounds, but this may not have been intentional: what may also have been an accident is how close the film frequently comes to being actually quite funny. There are some spectacular wigs and hats, startling accents, and very broad performances from most of the cast - it almost feels like a parody of a bad costume drama in places. There's a scene where a family of semi-literate mill-workers pause to discuss the economic effects of the Corn Laws in some detail, mostly for the audience's benefit, while another scene arguably recycles a Monty Python gag. Casting someone from Blackadder as the Prince Regent was probably a misstep, too.
Still, it all reeks with conviction and moral outrage, and in the end the Peterloo massacre itself is staged quite well - though I still think it could have been handled slightly more cinematically. This is the movie equivalent of someone who hands out the Socialist Worker in the street: the intentions are so laudable that you kind of feel obliged to indulge the earnest lack of self-awareness. Looks quite good too.
Not quite as punishingly didactic as it sounds, but this may not have been intentional: what may also have been an accident is how close the film frequently comes to being actually quite funny. There are some spectacular wigs and hats, startling accents, and very broad performances from most of the cast - it almost feels like a parody of a bad costume drama in places. There's a scene where a family of semi-literate mill-workers pause to discuss the economic effects of the Corn Laws in some detail, mostly for the audience's benefit, while another scene arguably recycles a Monty Python gag. Casting someone from Blackadder as the Prince Regent was probably a misstep, too.
Still, it all reeks with conviction and moral outrage, and in the end the Peterloo massacre itself is staged quite well - though I still think it could have been handled slightly more cinematically. This is the movie equivalent of someone who hands out the Socialist Worker in the street: the intentions are so laudable that you kind of feel obliged to indulge the earnest lack of self-awareness. Looks quite good too.
Awix (3310 KP) rated The Admirable Crichton (1957) in Movies
Feb 23, 2019 (Updated Feb 23, 2019)
Well-made but somewhat odd British comedy. Status-obsessed Lord Loam (Parker) and his entourage wind up shipwrecked on a desert island; in order to survive some drastic steps have to be taken, and redoubtable butler Crichton (More) - yes, there is a Red Dwarf character named after him - rises to the occasion. Soon, the traditional hierarchy is upended But what will happen if they ever get rescued?
The Admirable Crichton seems incredibly dated nowadays, but it probably did so back in 1957 as well. Its preoccupation with the class system perhaps feels a bit quaint, but the story predicated on it is still involving - Lord Loam's daughter and Crichton fall in love, but can only be together in the class-inverted society they create on the island; there are similar subplots. It's fairly amusing in a broad sort of way, but the moments that stick with you are the ones of sadness and regret. It's hard to imagine a modern rom-com having the bravery to serve up an ending as downbeat as this one. Probably works better as a comedy-drama, to be honest; does so rather well.
The Admirable Crichton seems incredibly dated nowadays, but it probably did so back in 1957 as well. Its preoccupation with the class system perhaps feels a bit quaint, but the story predicated on it is still involving - Lord Loam's daughter and Crichton fall in love, but can only be together in the class-inverted society they create on the island; there are similar subplots. It's fairly amusing in a broad sort of way, but the moments that stick with you are the ones of sadness and regret. It's hard to imagine a modern rom-com having the bravery to serve up an ending as downbeat as this one. Probably works better as a comedy-drama, to be honest; does so rather well.
Lindsay (1717 KP) rated Secrets of Cavendon in Books
Apr 8, 2019
If you enjoy History or Historical fiction. Secret of Cavendon may be one of the books to pick up. It is book #4 in the series, I think you read it as a standalone if you want to. The plot bring out quite a few romances. One may be dangerous.
We see who the woman of Cavendon are and work together. We seem to learn more about history of the Swanns and Ingram's life. Well as we know we have Alicia, Cecily and Miles and their children. Get action and adventures. We also meet Cecily friends and or business partners.
There change coming and will they be able to stick together though it all? There a murder, heartbreak, drama. Bradford does it all in one book. There seems to be several story lines going on though out he book. They all seem to be teeming from Cavendon. What are secrets of Cavendon that seem to be everyone is worried about. It seems that is in record books.
If you are into British history or want learn a little bit about Britain and London this book is set in that area. You got Earls and Countess in this book.
We see who the woman of Cavendon are and work together. We seem to learn more about history of the Swanns and Ingram's life. Well as we know we have Alicia, Cecily and Miles and their children. Get action and adventures. We also meet Cecily friends and or business partners.
There change coming and will they be able to stick together though it all? There a murder, heartbreak, drama. Bradford does it all in one book. There seems to be several story lines going on though out he book. They all seem to be teeming from Cavendon. What are secrets of Cavendon that seem to be everyone is worried about. It seems that is in record books.
If you are into British history or want learn a little bit about Britain and London this book is set in that area. You got Earls and Countess in this book.
Awix (3310 KP) rated On Chesil Beach (2018) in Movies
Jun 1, 2018
Bleak British Repressed Sexuality a Go Go!
Handsomely mounted BBC film starts off looking like many another period-set literary adaptation, then turns into something rather different. Newlyweds Edward and Florence are on the brink of their wedding night; both are nervous, and struggling with the expectations society and their upbringing has placed upon them. (The fact that society hasn't bothered to educate them in the slightest about what can, or should, go on in the bedroom really doesn't help on this voyage into, or possibly out of, virgin territory.) Not all goes to plan; a small but genuine tragedy unfolds.
Not the kind of film you walk home from whistling, unless you're some kind of militant celibacy advocate, but an undeniably fine one (or so it seems to me): very good performances from the young stars, and well-judged direction. Initially the film seems like a slightly dark comedy-drama of manners (the excruciating scenes of people failing to have sex are very awkward to watch), but it develops into something profoundly moving and deeply sad before the end. Thank God for the permissive society.
Not the kind of film you walk home from whistling, unless you're some kind of militant celibacy advocate, but an undeniably fine one (or so it seems to me): very good performances from the young stars, and well-judged direction. Initially the film seems like a slightly dark comedy-drama of manners (the excruciating scenes of people failing to have sex are very awkward to watch), but it develops into something profoundly moving and deeply sad before the end. Thank God for the permissive society.
365Flicks (235 KP) rated Avengement (2019) in Movies
Nov 2, 2019
Action (2 more)
Fighting
Scott Adkins
The Scott Adkins Movie we Have all been Waiting for!!!
Scott Adkins just had to go and step it up a notch with this Very Brutal, Very British, Hugely Funny and Fairly Orginal brit crime drama. Boasting a superb leading man performance from Adkins and a delightful supporting cast of top Brit talent.
All honesty I dont know if I was just in the mood for this type of flick when I watched it but it felt super fresh and it was a cast I know and love putting in stellar performances, the script is really tight and the way in which the movie flowed with flashbacks revealing Cains time inside was effortless. The fight cherography was as impressive as you might expect from seasoned pros like director Jesse V Johnson (long serving Stunt Performer) and Adkins. They never fell into the trap of the big hard hits being over the top everything was just on the money. Its all good having a brutal graphic fight scene but if it doesnt serve the plot or the charaters your wasting your time.
All honesty I dont know if I was just in the mood for this type of flick when I watched it but it felt super fresh and it was a cast I know and love putting in stellar performances, the script is really tight and the way in which the movie flowed with flashbacks revealing Cains time inside was effortless. The fight cherography was as impressive as you might expect from seasoned pros like director Jesse V Johnson (long serving Stunt Performer) and Adkins. They never fell into the trap of the big hard hits being over the top everything was just on the money. Its all good having a brutal graphic fight scene but if it doesnt serve the plot or the charaters your wasting your time.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Personal Services (1987) in Movies
Jan 19, 2020
Not many people get a film based on their life while they're still around: prostitute and brothel madam Cynthia Payne had not one but two released in the same year (this and 'Wish You Were Here') - makes one proud to be British. A typical story of rags to riches, embellished with a vast amount of kinky sex and tawdry etablishment hypocrisy - not entirely surprisingly, the women here are the tough and clever ones, the men who come to them are awkward, fragile creatures.
One of those off-beat comedy-drama films, with a strong sense of the seedier side of life, that the UK film industry went in for quite a lot in the 1980s. This one has a strong performance from Julie Walters, but the comedy often feels strained and it can't seem to quite decide how it's going to handle the more graphic material inevitably involved - straightforwardly, or in nudge-nudge style? Tends towards the latter. Passes the time reasonably well as a slightly odd piece of entertainment; may well also be of interest as an insight into the English psyche (God help us).
One of those off-beat comedy-drama films, with a strong sense of the seedier side of life, that the UK film industry went in for quite a lot in the 1980s. This one has a strong performance from Julie Walters, but the comedy often feels strained and it can't seem to quite decide how it's going to handle the more graphic material inevitably involved - straightforwardly, or in nudge-nudge style? Tends towards the latter. Passes the time reasonably well as a slightly odd piece of entertainment; may well also be of interest as an insight into the English psyche (God help us).