lightning strikes twice

by Leo Tolstoy, 1886

This is a concise examination of a man in his final weeks — how he approaches the previously unexamined subject of death, his evaluation of his relationships, and his views on how he has lived his life.  Tolstoy wastes nothing in this writing, it is full and fantastic, but yet also pared back and sparse.  And for the reader, it is thought provoking.  On finishing everyone will want to examine their own motivations — it seems that while Tolstoy was attempting to exorcise his own issues with death, he was instructing his readers to do the same, lest they find themselves on their deathbed with the same regreats as Ivan Ilyich.

A poignant story, masterfully told.  War & Peace and Anna Karenina await!

Focusing mainly on Gershwin (including everyone’s favourite, An American In Paris), this was an excellent event for the very, very occassional symphony listener. And it finished with the 1812 Overture (as an aside, I had no idea that this was about a Russian victory in the Napoleonic wars), always a crowd pleaser.

Also attending were the excellent Hugo and Hendo.

by Hermann Hesse

Hans is an excpetionally talented and clever young boy, the star student of a small German town. He is driven to succeed, not just by others, but also by an inner competitive desire.  When he moves to a new school he finds alternative ways to make hist spirit soar than just excelling in the class room, and he begins to question why he strived so hard to please others and fulfil over ambitious expectations.

This is the story of a wasted life, a life that just at its most curious and vital was stifled by convention, and by apathy to enquiry.  It is a warning to treat the developing mind with respect and space, and to tolerate ‘experiments’ and erratic behaviour — it is the sign of a healthy youth.
The back cover blurb mentions that this story indicated a start in Hesse of introspection in terms of spiritual development, leading to later works such as Siddhartha.

Apparently based on famed photographer David Bailey, Blow Up was a film based around the question of whether an experience is true without hard evidence.  If others can’t see what we can see, does it make it any less true to us?  And what if the evidence existed but no longer does?

Thomas is basically a jerk.  He is bossy and rude, but apparently has a fantastic eye and passion for his work.  He inadvertently and unknowingly photographs a murder that involves Jane (Vanessa Redgrave).  She is desperate to get the photos back and makes it clear to Thomas that she will do anything.  It is only when he develops the film does he realise what he has stumbled onto.

Stylistically, this film is superb, and its pointed theme is sharp — its not sidetracked by too many other subtexts or issues.  Enjoyable.

8/10

Presented by Company B, at York Theatre of Seymour Centre

King Mark defeats a neighbouring bully King, and decides to take his victim’s sister’s hand in marriage, as a final insult. He sends his best knight Tristan to retrieve Yseult from across the ocean, but is unprepared when they return desperately in love with each other. As happens, everyone is tortured, and the second half is mostly predictable in how it unfolds. Apparently an old Cornish tale, this was an exciting and vivacious production that had much to recommend it.
An expertly constructed and thought out set (where everything was utilised in multiple ways), a lively and cheeky cast, complementary music and a universal story made for an enjoyable evening. The members of the ‘Club of the Unloved’, the anorak wearing ‘Lovespotters’ were a great touch, and improved dramatically what could have otherwise been considered a corny and overly melodramatic story.

Well worthwhile for my first foray to the theatre for quite some time.

Do we have a predestined fate?  Could we change that fate if we were aware of it?

Set in 2054, a successful experiment is about to conclude.  Over six years, it has reduced the murder rate in Washington DC to zero.  The experiment relies on the precognitive abilities of three captive humans, the most important of which is Agatha (Samantha Morten, also in Morvern Callar and Code 46).  The question is, can the system be considered perfect?  John Adderton (Tom Cruise) needs to find out – and will find out – and in the process has to question the motives of those closest to him.
8/10

I’d never seen this, and thought it was a kids flick.  In many ways it was — but at the same time it was kinda racy in parts too.  Vaguely entertaining 5/10.

This has been bothering me for weeks, but only just now got around to trying to find out why Flash has not been working with Firefox 1.5.  The answer is here

Morvern Callar is the story of a young woman whose boyfriend has committed suicide. The film starts in her apartment, and follows how she deals with the loss, and how she adapts her life when confronted with mortality. She makes decisions she never would have dreamed of before, and seems to awaken a side of herself that may never have emerged.

The sense of space and the tone of the film are very reminiscent of some of my other favourite films – THX 1138, Parix, Texas, Closer, Blade Runner.

8/10

Samantha Morton is quickly becoming one of my favourite Actresses. Between this film and Code 46 she has delivered two inspired performances.

I looked this up on imdb while the DVD was playing, and it mentioned it being a B grade film with average acting.  That was generous I think.  Anyway, there is plenty of sex and violence, and in a way there was a lot of insight into the depravity that emerged from the Manson scene.  But in the end, I just couldn’t stomach most of that stuff.  After finding out that the director’s other films were “My Sweet Satan”, “Roadkill”, “Through The Eyes Of The Dead”, I guess I can’t be too surprised.

2/10