april book and film review

BOOKS

DISSOLUTION, by CJ Sansom. One of those "historical whodunnits", this one centring around a series of murders in a monastery about to be torn down by Sir Thomas Cromwell's men in the late 1530s. This sort of format is becoming very popular, and there is certainly a lot of interesting historical detail. The overall result for me, however, was not completely satisfactory. But if this sort of thing floats your boat, go for it.
JEFF IN VENICE, DEATH IN VARANASI, by Geoff Dyer. "Non fiction novels" are rapidly becoming all the rage. In an afterword, the author explains that, despite the first person narrative, Jeff is not Geoff, if you follow me. The result here is a spectacular piece of work, part travel writing, part journey into the dark side of the human psyche. To my mind Geoff Dyer's writing is reminiscent of Maupassant, in that although it is of the highest quality, it is also quick and easy reading- and that is a very rare combination. Highly recommended.
THE RAGGED-TROUSERED PHILANTHROPISTS, by Robert Tressell. Talk about journey into the dark side. A crew of tradesmen do up a gentleman's house in the years around the turn of the 20th century, shamelessly exploited by the bosses who don't give a toss whether their men live or die slowly of starvation, as long as the work is finished on time. An essay in the evils of capitalism, it has become a bible for socialists for nearly a hundred years. I was nearly half way through it before I understood the meaning of the title. It's the men themselves who are the philanthropists, generously donating their strength and indeed their very lives to their employers, because they've got no bloody option. Tremendously moving and powerful stuff, and still highly relevant even today.

FILMS

HARRY BROWN (2009) D-Daniel Barber. Michael Caine shows once again what a class act he is, with his extremely skilled portrayal of an ageing ex marine, driven to exact terrible revenge on a local band of yobs who are terrorising the neighbourhood. The scene where he visits his wife in hospital to find she has just died literally brought the tears to my eyes.
THE PASSIONATE FRIENDS (1948) D-David Lean. 2 old friends meet and and love blossoms. Only problem: the girl is already married and her husband is not a happy bunny when he learns of developments. David Lean made a number of small scale human stories like this around this time, the best known of which being "Brief Encounter". Despite the low-key atmosphere, Lean's inherent understanding of the art of cinema draws you in.
MADELEINE (1949) D-David Lean. The story of Madeleine Smith, who was accused, but not convicted, of murdering her lover in 19th century Glasgow. Did she do it? The verdict (warning: spoiler alert) was that unique Scottish compromise "Not Proven" Once again, Lean, master of the crisp black and white look, creates an absorbing and beautifully shot film.
COLONEL REDL (1984) D-Istian Szabo. Klaus-Maria Brandauer plays the loyal officer in the army of a fading Austro-Hungarian Empire who is forced by circumstances to spy on his friends. But the moral compromises threaten to tear him apart. Powerful, gripping cinema.
THE CAVE OF FORGOTTEN DREAMS (2010) D-Werner Herzog. Herzog, perhaps the world's leading director, narrates this fascinating documentary about cave paintings recently discovered in the Ardeche region of southern France. It's filmed in 3D, and despite my normal reservations, for once this gimmick does seem to help in portraying these extraordinary images, which use the natural contours of the cave walls to enhance the sense of movement in the animals so vividly depicted, and which still produce a potent emotional impact 30,000 years after they were painted. Excellent.
F.I.S.T. (1978) D- Norman Jewison. Sly Stallone stars as the union man who fights to improve the conditions of his fellow workers, but as his star ascends in the union hierarchy, he discovers that power corrupts... In this tale, perhaps based on the Teamsters Union, Sly shows us he isn't just a tough guy but can actually act.
ME AND ORSON WELLES (2008)D-Richard Linklater. An ambitious young man lands a small part in the Mercury Theatre's production of "Julius Caesar" in pre-war New York. He threatens to carry all before him, until he attempts to snag Orson's girl... A thoughtful and intelligent piece of movie making, with sound performances in all areas.