Review of I Came By

 The Guardian didn't rate this film:

There’s a believably devious turn from Hugh Bonneville at the centre of new hit-and-miss Netflix thriller I Came By, a film that sadly has very little else believable in it. He plays well-heeled former judge Hector Blake, who finds himself locked in a class-based battle of wills when socially conscious graffiti artist Toby (George MacKay) uncovers something nasty in his basement. Toby and friend Jay (Percelle Ascott) have gained notoriety in London for breaking into the homes of the rich and leaving the tag “I Came By”, but when Toby delves further into Hector’s home, he discovers something he’s unable to ignore. He calls the police but Hector’s connections and wealth make him an impossible target, leading the two into war.'  read on for my appraisal.

To all old age film buffs out there, this film was delightfully funny.  Concentrate on the mise on scene.

Where have I seen those gates and picture of daddy before.  Oh yes Citizen Kane.  And wasn't there another Hector who was a raving lunatic?

Where have I seen a dungeon with strange torture items? Oh yes! Hammer House of Horrors. Where have I seen the squash joke, Oh yes the Two Ronnies. Then there are the jokes that are a bit obvious eg.  the child's picture broken, the pottery with  a price tag.  But I loved  the sassy black police cop.

It is only the performance of Hugh Bonnerville ( all rounder good guy)  which is entirely convincing and his on screen persona that makes the whole plot plausible, and it is scary but also there are laughs.

I could imagine this film being a cult film.

However, there is a sinister and quite serious message.  That is - the abuse of power.  A man who is seen to do good and is well connected in society with his old school chums does really reflect our society and the leaders of society- they can get away with anything they like: parties, lockdown, infidelities', ignoring laws of the country, bullying, abuse, verbal abuse, sending asylum seekers to Africa.  If a person in power knows the right people then anything goes.................  even a nasty side line of murdering random people?

review- the Girl I used to be. Book Club - Wellington Somerset

 

Review - The girl I used to be.

Rejection and humiliation via a man in your life is very painful indeed.  Anyone who has avoided this is very lucky indeed.  I thought that the feelings and behavior of the two women main characters were very well described. I found myself relating a lot.  However I think it was exacerbated by an Irish intensity.

On the down side I found the male characters very one dimensional.  The father figures, the workaholic and the toy boy. None of them seemed credible to me beyond that and seemed very stereotypical.

The ending to me was very sugary sweet. It defies credulity that Richard who is scorned and denounced and feeling bitter should pay for the toyboy and his ex wife who poured the scorn upon him to pay for her and Tess who he hated to go to Salzburg.

Also that a roomful in a posh restaurant in Salzburg, which is a very stuffy place emotionally,  should applaud two old fogeys of a different nationality getting married.

However, I found it a good read and very amusing in places. I enjoyed it.

Faces and Places - A magnificent film

I cannot do better than give you this link and then add my own response to the film.

https://www.rogerebert.com/reviews/faces-places-2017

My responses.

• As an artist it was a joy to experience.  Each shot was an art work, encompassing life, death, reality, social realism.
• The generation gap and how it was breached was breathtaking.
• The creativity was celebrated captured by a 90 year old icon whose creativity just got stronger with age.
• Passing on of gifts, of visionary concepts./exchange from the modernist.
•  The goats at the centre - respect for all life.
• Respect for all people, making ordinary people the stars of the film.
• growing old, facing death with honesty.

It is a film that will live in my consciousness for a very long time.

You can now download the film either on Youtube or google Play

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

www.zoeainsworthgriggbooks.com

Elizabeth Bowen - A World of Love

The centre of the novel, set in Ireland, is Montefort, a dilapidated country house. The
 period is the 1950's.  The novel was written in 1952.  Elizabeth was a prolific and outstanding Irish author who had associations with the Bloomsbury Group.

Elements of the novel may be autobiographical. Elizabeth_Bowen biography.

Bowen inherited Bowen's Court and Antonia inherits Montefort from her cousin Guy who has been killed in WW1.  Montefort is a fading relic of Protestant Irish aristocracy kept going by an illegitimate progeny,  Fred Danby.

Bowen is renowned for her ghost stories and in this romantic story of a girl's coming of age, Guy haunts the novel, his photograph in the hall and his letters discovered in the attic  add to the reader wondering who he really was. All the women seem to be entranced by him. Alicia, the divorced cousin and his ex fiancee have idealised memories of his charm. There is one exception and that is Danby's second daughter who pervades the house as an evil genius presence. Jane is the heroin the first daughter.  There seems a very unfair comparison between the two daughters. One is beautiful and admired, the other is ugly and unliked.

The family is poor and declining in status in the community. Irish history in regard to agriculture and politics is very complex. However, the Irish among us may understand the nuances of this situation. There is also a criticism of  Bowen's use of dialogue.  I did not find it too difficult to understand once I decided it was Irish brogue.

I thought that Bowen's prose was beautifully poetic.  There were times that I would read a sentence over twice or three times just because her choice of  words seemed to sink into my mind with a depth of emotion I could only marginally understand in one reading.  I really loved this aspect of the novel.

There has also been criticism of the ending of the novel.  I found it quite creatively splendid.  I have tried to write romantic novellas myself and the way Bowen carefully leads the reader through Jane's eyes towards the ending is remarkable. For those that believe in "love at first sight", as I suspect that Bowen did ( she had many affairs that have been recorded and a happy marriage), then this is a virtuoso. I fell in love with the description of the romantic hero too.

My criticism would be the tone of the interactions between Lilia and 1. Fred and 2. Antonia and her tone towards Lilia. I found it too negative.  However, there comes into being a reconciliation of sorts between Lilia and Fred and it is understated but hopeful.

I really enjoyed discovering this novelist.  I am reading her short stories at the moment and shall go on to read another novel.  I thank Elizabeth Rapp at Dillington House for introducing me to Elizabeth Bowen and I thank all members of the Book Group for all their helpful comments.

As I write, it is Christmas Eve.  I shall be looking forward to 2019 Book Groups at Dillington House and meeting up again with the book lovers of the group. Happy Christmas.

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg


http://www.zoeainsworthgriggbooks.com/339348241     Zoe's biography

Film Review - The Shape of Water

This film does not really fit  into any kind of genre. Is it a fantasy or a romance or is it a comment on American Society.

The Guardian Critic sees it in terms of sexuality -https://www.theguardian.com/film/2018/feb

However, the principal actress plus "the creature" share a bond of the disenfranchised. This is more about communication between people who share a position of abuse in society and how they manage to overcome barriers of communication, and communication difficulties between a sensitive  person and  something or someone we regard as an "alien creature".

Set in the cold war in the USA the CIA leader of the research laboratory displays all the crass materialism and cruelty that are the worst characteristics of USA culture during the cold war.

The Russian scientist whose primary motivation is the craft of science who helps the creature displays an interest and in so doing signs his death warrant from the KGB. The artist character shows a mature understanding re black people and also animal instinctual behaviour. He is the cultured person ignored by most.

One of the funniest moments for me in the film was when the van with the escaping "creature" strikes the newly acquired "teal" Cadillac, the  symbol of wealth in America's 1950's and the CIA official's ensuing wrath.

We see the difference between him when he has abusive  sex with his wife and the lyrical fantasy sexual scene in the bathroom between Elisa and the creature.

This film is a subtle criticism of American culture, brutality and cruelty toward those things we cannot understand or relate to and or perhaps fear. It is perhaps a lesson for us all still in modern society.

It is a great film with fine performances, please try to see past the sex and understand the underlying message of the director and my 'reading' of the film from a film studies perspective.

While Freud may be the father of modern psychology he has done a great disservice to society by increasing the interest of the sex drive as a motivating force by advertising agents and or ( film critics.)
.
Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

http://www.zoeainsworthgriggbooks.com/339348241      Zoe's biography

Film review of Disobedience - A film by Sebastian Lelio

The film is an adaptation of a novel by Naomi Alderman. It is a "powerful exploration of faith, sexuality and freedom told through the passionate love story between two women in London's Orthodox Jewish community,"

For me the cinematography of this film was very powerful indeed.  As were the outstanding performances of the three leading actors.  The Director produced a very lyrical beautiful rendition of a spiritual dilemma for all members of the community. Focusing on the faces of the actors of all of the cast we are invited to interpret their emotions. There is a vast range of emotional struggles. There are also some very visual stunning shots.

There is a sex scene but is not gratuitous.  I found it shocking but as a 72 year old heterosexual woman, that is not surprising. When I got over my shock I had a greater understanding.

We are shown the Jewish community and their culture,( but for me, I think, it could have been any close community, any mores of any faith structure) and its response to those that transgress the conservative norm.  On the other hand we are also shown the power of faith.  All the characters are sensitively portrayed as having generosity and faith and a genuine desire to be dutiful and follow their faith.

Who among us have not had a dilemma in life?  And how do we respond?  It hurts and often we lash out.

This is the best watch, the best film, the best director, I have seen in a very long time, I shall look out for his next film.

Zoe Ainsworth-Grigg

Before the Fall - Noah Hawley

'Before the Fall' by Noah Hawley

Review

I was enthralled and on tender hooks throughout this novel.  I enjoyed the philosophical discussions.  I enjoyed the psychological profiles of the stereotypical characters.  I enjoyed the drama unfolding right to the last page and the ending leaving the reader to wonder about the Universe.

My only criticism is that it had a sexist dimension.  All the female characters were home makers, flaky heiresses or air stewardesses.  No female scientists, of which there are many, or female company execs who balance the male dominated world.

So that is the end of my feminist rant, on the whole this is an exciting book, well written and thought provoking. Great Read!

Zoe Ainsworth Grigg