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Awix (3310 KP) rated Official Secrets (2019) in Movies
Oct 18, 2019
Superior based-on-fact thriller with Keira Knightley leading a strong cast. Huge demonstrations fill the streets of London but are totally ignored by the government, the British Prime Minister is a smirking liar, and the US administration is hugely embarrassed by a whistleblower. How very different things were 15 years ago. Said whistleblower (Knightley) reveals an attempt by the US and UK to blackmail members of the UN security council into authorising an otherwise-illegal invasion of Iraq, bringing the whole power of the establishment down on her head.
There's a lot going on here, plotwise, with various strands following Knightley's personal situation, the attempts of journalists to verify and publish her story, and the court case that ensued, but the story is always engrossing and never difficult to follow. Knightley's performance is possibly a little overcooked, but she is extremely well supported by a cast including Matt Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Rhys Ifans. Raises some serious issues about the rights of a government to keep secrets from its secrets; stirs up some recent history, too, for what it's worth. An excellent piece of intelligent entertainment.
There's a lot going on here, plotwise, with various strands following Knightley's personal situation, the attempts of journalists to verify and publish her story, and the court case that ensued, but the story is always engrossing and never difficult to follow. Knightley's performance is possibly a little overcooked, but she is extremely well supported by a cast including Matt Smith, Ralph Fiennes, and Rhys Ifans. Raises some serious issues about the rights of a government to keep secrets from its secrets; stirs up some recent history, too, for what it's worth. An excellent piece of intelligent entertainment.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated Close to Home in Books
Dec 29, 2019
Absorbing
This is the first in a series of novels starring DI Adam Fawley and his team and what a start to the series this is. I actually missed this first time round and was only reminded I had it when I was sent book 4!
Packed with fantastic characters not all of which are particularly likeable but all of whom are well developed and with interesting stories to tell in their own right. The story line is a difficult one to read being that of child abduction and exploitation however this is not written in a gratuitous way but with care and attention although not is all as it seems and so begins DI Fawley's task of unravelling just what has happened to young Daisy.
This is a fast paced, gripping and absorbing story that had me reading it in quick time in order to discover the secrets and lies contained within the twists and turns of this excellent book and I highly recommend this to those of you who love a great police procedural.
Thank you to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Packed with fantastic characters not all of which are particularly likeable but all of whom are well developed and with interesting stories to tell in their own right. The story line is a difficult one to read being that of child abduction and exploitation however this is not written in a gratuitous way but with care and attention although not is all as it seems and so begins DI Fawley's task of unravelling just what has happened to young Daisy.
This is a fast paced, gripping and absorbing story that had me reading it in quick time in order to discover the secrets and lies contained within the twists and turns of this excellent book and I highly recommend this to those of you who love a great police procedural.
Thank you to Penguin Books (UK) and NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest review.
Hazel (2934 KP) rated The Advent Killer (Antonia Hawkins #1) in Books
Dec 18, 2019
Quite satisfying
Alastair Gunn is a new author for me but "The Advent Killer" won't be the last work I read of his as I found this book quite satisfying. Please be aware that this isn't a cosy Christmas story in any way, shape or form but definitely one to curl up with on a cold winter's day.
DCI Antonia Hawkins is lead officer in her first murder case and it couldn't be a worse first case ... a serial killer is on the loose - they know when he/she is going to strike next but not who or where and there are virtually no clues left behind. Can DCI Hawkins and her team track the killer down before the next victim is brutally murdered?
Written at a good pace with interesting characters and intriguing story line, which although might not be the most complex or unpredictable, it did hold my interest to the end and I am looking forward to reading more from Mr Gunn and getting to know DCI Hawkins and her team a little more.
Thank you goes to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
DCI Antonia Hawkins is lead officer in her first murder case and it couldn't be a worse first case ... a serial killer is on the loose - they know when he/she is going to strike next but not who or where and there are virtually no clues left behind. Can DCI Hawkins and her team track the killer down before the next victim is brutally murdered?
Written at a good pace with interesting characters and intriguing story line, which although might not be the most complex or unpredictable, it did hold my interest to the end and I am looking forward to reading more from Mr Gunn and getting to know DCI Hawkins and her team a little more.
Thank you goes to Penguin UK - Michael Joseph via NetGalley for my copy in return for an honest and unbiased review.
Awix (3310 KP) rated Bombshell (2019) in Movies
Jan 20, 2020
Based-on-fact drama exposing the reality of sexual harassment in the American media, from the director of Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me (feel that cognitive dissonance!). When a broadcaster is hired from right-wing network Fox News, she resolves to sue the founder, causing ructions throughout the organisation. It's actually a bit more wide-ranged and discursive than that, touching on various issues connected to attitudes towards the media and the exploitation of woman. Not explicitly anti-Trump, but the mood music is certainly not supporting him - I doubt many of the red cap brigade will find much here to enjoy.
To be honest, I was kind of expecting something more like The Big Short or Vice - angry and smart, but also blackly funny and formally creative. After a fairly sparky first act this just becomes quite a serious drama about sexual harassment. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but the thing is that it does become a bit issue-led. Some very good performances, though, and the prosthetics are fun too, I suppose (most of these people are unknown in the UK, though - did like Malcolm McDowell's Rupert Murdoch). Very watchable.
To be honest, I was kind of expecting something more like The Big Short or Vice - angry and smart, but also blackly funny and formally creative. After a fairly sparky first act this just becomes quite a serious drama about sexual harassment. Nothing wrong with that, of course, but the thing is that it does become a bit issue-led. Some very good performances, though, and the prosthetics are fun too, I suppose (most of these people are unknown in the UK, though - did like Malcolm McDowell's Rupert Murdoch). Very watchable.
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).
Vegas (725 KP) rated Stan & Ollie (2018) in Movies
Mar 21, 2020
Great portrayal of two greats
Coogan and Reilly star as the legendary double act, both actors must has spent hours perfecting Laurel and Hardys mannerisms, speech and comic timing as their portrayal of their respective characters are spot on...
This is the story of the latter part of their career, on a tour of the UK with the possibility of a new film as a dangling carrot to perform...
The comic routines during the stage parts of the film are almost as well performed as the real thing, yet coupled with the humour, is an underlying sadness of two stars trying to regain what they once had, and it's this that stops it being a feel good film as it is quite moving and sad if you are a fan of the duo...
It is interesting to see how their relationship is strained at times yet in spite of that how much they obviously cared for each other...
I don't know if the stars won any awards for their playing of Stan & Ollie, but if they didn't, they should have...
This is the story of the latter part of their career, on a tour of the UK with the possibility of a new film as a dangling carrot to perform...
The comic routines during the stage parts of the film are almost as well performed as the real thing, yet coupled with the humour, is an underlying sadness of two stars trying to regain what they once had, and it's this that stops it being a feel good film as it is quite moving and sad if you are a fan of the duo...
It is interesting to see how their relationship is strained at times yet in spite of that how much they obviously cared for each other...
I don't know if the stars won any awards for their playing of Stan & Ollie, but if they didn't, they should have...
Eleanor (1463 KP) rated Eight Perfect Murders (Rules for Perfect Murders - UK) in Books
Feb 18, 2020
Mystery Homage
This book had such a great premise and was a lot of fun to read. Part thriller and part homage to mystery books classic through to the more obscure. It was handy to have the GoodReads page to hand to check out any books mentioned that I wasn't familiar with.
The owner, Malcolm Kershaw, of the mystery book shop "Old Devils" writes blogs for the shop's blog. The blog entry that this book relates to is the list of "Perfect Murders" where he gives examples of books with what he considers to be perfect murders in them. When an FBI agent turns up on the doorstep theorising someone is using his list as a guide, Malcolm can't help but get himself involved in the investigation.
I read this under what I presume is the UK title: "Rules for Perfect Murders" and loved all the book name drops; for an avid mystery/thriller reader it was a great kick. The ending was slightly anticlimactic for me but the story itself is a quick exciting read with plenty of nice little twists.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
The owner, Malcolm Kershaw, of the mystery book shop "Old Devils" writes blogs for the shop's blog. The blog entry that this book relates to is the list of "Perfect Murders" where he gives examples of books with what he considers to be perfect murders in them. When an FBI agent turns up on the doorstep theorising someone is using his list as a guide, Malcolm can't help but get himself involved in the investigation.
I read this under what I presume is the UK title: "Rules for Perfect Murders" and loved all the book name drops; for an avid mystery/thriller reader it was a great kick. The ending was slightly anticlimactic for me but the story itself is a quick exciting read with plenty of nice little twists.
Many thanks to the author, publisher, and NetGalley for the ARC in return for an honest review.
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