The Bookshop - 2017 film by Isabel Coixet - Set in the 1950’s in the small fictitious town of Hardborough in Suffolk, The Bookshop is a period piece, steeped in petty English county intrigue. The story is quite straightforward, Florence (played by Emily Mortimer) is a widow who arrives in town and decides to buy …
Mr. Bates vs. The Post Office
Mr. Bates vs The Post Office, British ITV production 2024 - This mini-series of four one-hour episodes was first aired in North America on Masterpiece. Although it’s one of those ‘based on real events/characters’ stories, it’s rather unusual as the events are still ongoing and making headlines in the British press even after the series …
THE GHIT’S ENDURING APPEAL
To many people, it seems miraculous that the Grand High Imperial Twitterbug (GHIT) and ex PREZ, Ronald Rump, has been able to pull off the most remarkable feat of political populism in ‘Murican history. It doesn’t matter what he says or does, his supporters are unwavering. He has turned his personality handicaps into strengths and …
OPPENHEIMER
Oppenheimer - 2013 film by Christopher Nolan - For those who read last week’s blog on the mega-hit ‘Barbie’, it’ll be no surprise that I continue with the second of last year’s blockbuster duo. What’s perhaps most surprising about this historical drama based on the life of atomic bomb scientist Robert J. Oppenheimer, is that …
BARBIE, THE MOVIE
Barbie, 2013 movie by Greta Gerwig - All right, the hype has died down, pink is no longer 'in', the movie is but a fleeting memory - so it was about time I watched Barbie. Quibble if you like, but who can argue with box office sales of $1.5 billion? This bright pink movie got …
AFTER THE REICH BY GILES MACDONOGH
After the Reich - From the Liberation of Vienna to the Berlin Airlift, by Giles MacDonogh, John Murray Publishing, 2007 - While there are endless books on WW2, there aren’t many that explore the German experience in the immediate aftermath of the conflict. Modern estimates put the world wide death toll for the war years …
OLYMPIC MUSINGS
Bah! Humbug! Call me the Scrooge of Sports. From a young age, I knew I’d never be the type that lives in a beer commercial, surrounded by beautiful people and cheering wildly for favorite teams. It really came down to the fact that I really don’t care who wins. I think it’s wonderful to keep …
JOLTIN’ JOEB HAS LEFT AND GONE AWAY
Joeb Bidinghistime stunned the entertainment world last Sunday by announcing his withdrawal from November’s contest to crown ‘Murica’s Greatest Comedian. Joeb’s decision is widely seen as a spitball in the eye for the favored contender, Ronald Rump, Ex PREZ, Grand High Imperial Twitterbug (the ‘GHIT’) and leader of the Publican Cult - the group that …
THE GHIT FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHTS BACK!
On the surface, THEY say it was a lone and jealous comedian that shot at Ronald Rump last week, fearful that the Grand High Imperial Twitterbug (GHIT) was going to recapture his title as World’s Greatest Comedian and move back into the Whitey House. HAVEN’T WE HEARD THE STORY ABOUT A ‘LONE GUNMAN’ BEFORE? That’s …
LESSONS IN CHEMISTRY BY BONNIE GARMUSM
Lessons in Chemistry by Bonnie Garmusm, Penguin Doubleday, 2022 - This book is a real jewel - it’s by turns fun, fresh, funny, feminist, serious and chock-a-block full of compellingly oddball characters, the most notable being Elizabeth Zott. Elizabeth is a chemist, a genius and living in the wrong era - 1950’s America. Defending herself …
Richard's Left Bank 