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Monthly culture: April 2021
Thursday, May 13th, 2021 08:37 am03APR21: Jesus Christ Superstar (The Shows Must Go On)
Tim Minchin was a superb Judas: Ben Forster was insufficiently charismatic as Jesus. Also featured Chris Moyles (well-cast as Herod) and Mel C as MarySpice Magdalene (with anachronistic crucifix tattoo). Really quite gory, but I still knew most of the words to most of the songs from singing it at primary school. Weird staging, very modern -- except that this was a 2012 production and already felt dated.
08APR21: The Prestige (Netflix)
I'd seen this before -- and read the book -- but recalled almost nothing of the story, which was great as I could enjoy it all over again. Bale and Jackman are both excellent, though Bale has the edge because of the demands of his role.
I don't think I knew anything about Christopher Nolan when I first watched this film. Now I note all those little signature moments...
15APR21: Palm Springs (Netflix)
I very much enjoyed this: time loops, split-second timing, a female character with more agency than most, and some very funny lines. Also, dinosaurs! And more dinosaurs at the end! Hugo nominee, and a worthy one. Beautiful sunny colours, too, much-needed.
22APR21: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
One of my fellow virtual filmgoers summed this up as 'a steaming pile of excrement' but actually I found it rather enjoyable. Not super-keen on Will Ferrell, and Pierce Brosnan was ... ungood. Rachel McAdams and Dan Stevens were delicious, though. I especially loved the fake Eurovision songs, and the big ensemble piece featuring past winners. And anything that starts with ABBA doing 'Waterloo' has a place in my heart, or at least in one of my internal organs.
Also a Hugo nominee, for reasons that are bad.
29APR21: This Beautiful Fantastic (Netflix)
OCD would-be writer, working as a librarian and yet able to afford to rent a spacious garden flat, encounters cantankerous neighbour (Tom Wilkinson) and his put-upon factotum (Andrew Scott, very understated) and makes friends and enjoys gardening and stops being quite so OCD. Some unexpected plot twists and some pretty plants, but a bit twee.
Tim Minchin was a superb Judas: Ben Forster was insufficiently charismatic as Jesus. Also featured Chris Moyles (well-cast as Herod) and Mel C as Mary
08APR21: The Prestige (Netflix)
I'd seen this before -- and read the book -- but recalled almost nothing of the story, which was great as I could enjoy it all over again. Bale and Jackman are both excellent, though Bale has the edge because of the demands of his role.
I don't think I knew anything about Christopher Nolan when I first watched this film. Now I note all those little signature moments...
15APR21: Palm Springs (Netflix)
I very much enjoyed this: time loops, split-second timing, a female character with more agency than most, and some very funny lines. Also, dinosaurs! And more dinosaurs at the end! Hugo nominee, and a worthy one. Beautiful sunny colours, too, much-needed.
22APR21: Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga (Netflix)
One of my fellow virtual filmgoers summed this up as 'a steaming pile of excrement' but actually I found it rather enjoyable. Not super-keen on Will Ferrell, and Pierce Brosnan was ... ungood. Rachel McAdams and Dan Stevens were delicious, though. I especially loved the fake Eurovision songs, and the big ensemble piece featuring past winners. And anything that starts with ABBA doing 'Waterloo' has a place in my heart, or at least in one of my internal organs.
Also a Hugo nominee, for reasons that are bad.
29APR21: This Beautiful Fantastic (Netflix)
OCD would-be writer, working as a librarian and yet able to afford to rent a spacious garden flat, encounters cantankerous neighbour (Tom Wilkinson) and his put-upon factotum (Andrew Scott, very understated) and makes friends and enjoys gardening and stops being quite so OCD. Some unexpected plot twists and some pretty plants, but a bit twee.
