The past week has been productive although I have deviated from the plan for the weekend first deciding to attempt a summary of my life to-date which so far has developed as 12500 four of five part extended essay, I enjoyed watching Le Carré’s Russia House and have commenced to read the original text. I had planned to commence to undertake an overview of Leveson so far but just as well it has been delayed as ten senior Sun managers and journalists have been arrested in dawn raids with their homes turned upside down so more on both aspects in a moment. The British Academy of Film Awards took place on Sunday night and although I have not the major of the films mentioned, I felt the awards were well distributed.
The weekend was disastrous for regional football teams. And because of the cold I have eaten well with little physical exercise but manager to hold the weight. I won 6666 games of patience against the computer with over two thousand in succession, but my efforts to move from level 3 to level four chess have been thwarted by momentary lacks of concentration.
The mini series of Mad Dogs came to and end and Spartacus Vengeance ironed in glorification of blood and lust. The discovery of the weekend was a new Italian Police Detective series called Montabano which looks as it is going to be as engaging as Ramanzo Criminale with a dozen large helpings of one hour forty five minutes without advertisements of BBC Channel Four. I watched Avatar on 3D TV and notched up my appreciation of the film with other films The Lincoln Lawyer, The Adjustment Bureau, Battle Los Angeles and a revisit to American Beauty. Phew first a food review.
A week Sunday saw red meat with a baked bean and tinned tomatoes mix while yesterday the was a reverse meal day of a salami and bean salad with roast chicken tinned potatoes peas and carrot mix in the evening with sufficient over for two further meals during the week. There has been three portions of stir fry vegetables over the ten days because of half price offers at Morison’s, twice with chicken and once with lamb and today a lemon grass sauce which I Iiked and wish I had acquired more of the half price offer which I suspect has long ended. I will investigate tomorrow.
There has between one pizza although the baking stone has proved a disaster, too big for the over and difficult to clean. There has been one meal of the prawns in breadcrumbs and filo pastry. There are no more packs of the Tex Mex at Asda although there are at Morrison’s but for £5. There has been one curry also a variation with Thai sweet and spicy concoction. Fish as a main course was a white fish in breadcrumbs and lamb steaks twice.
Because of the cold I have enjoyed more porridge for breakfast than before but had to have a spell of using up the mushrooms which started to go off. Could not large packs of the open variety so had to settle for a more expensive cartons of the breakfast size yesterday which should last three days. I have also supplanted some daily diets with a helping of fruit and nut cereal which is more filing that the other two
There has been plenty of fish for the evening salad with prawns and smoked mackerel interspersed with half a quiche where I am enjoying a vegetable option. There have been two portions of sprats in batter and breadcrumbs which reminds I need to break off to make a note for tomorrow’s shop. I have been very good cutting out afters with one tin of rice spread over two days although I fancy some now with a cinnamon topping and the big treat some cherries about £4.50 worth in money which provided three good portions. There have been several cuppa soups usually with crackers sometimes at odd times in the day. I have also taken to drinking cups of tea again as I cut down on fizzy drinks to no more than one a day and with several days relying on iced water.
My sleeping pattern has been all awry with today for example going to bed at 1 am and rising at 7 so six hours is a good average but them coming very tired around 4 went up to bed and slept for a couple of hours waking to an interesting dream.
I got up before 5 on Thursday to get on line early for the Travel Lodge sale and got six nights in Croydon plus return Journey by train for just over £100 in total for the Durham visit to Lords and with a day over to visit relatives. If the weather is not good or the cricket over quickly I hope to take a look at the progress being made in central London for the Olympics at King Cross in preparation for my second visit in at the of July. I was so confident about getting at least one pair of tickets that I purchased two ticket holders, one of which I shall use for my cricket season to show off! I was also successful in getting five nights on the Brighton Sea from for £55 in total amazing and will try for a train ticket when these become available. For some reason staying in Nottinghamshire for the Cricket in mid August proved more expensive but I managed to get the number of night required. With a trip to Mansfield in March I have 25 away nights arranged. Checking out my bookings I found the special offers were still on although £10 a night rooms are available for the odd night here and there. I am tempted to do something at the beginning or end of May when Durham are away at the cricket but will have to make a check on finances
I have also applied for one of the 5000 pairs of tickets for the Jubilee concert in London on June 4th the main weekend for events. The Queen is coming back to South Tyneside in July visiting a School in Jarrow. She visited last for the Silver Jubilee and I had a VIP ticket for the outdoor event at Gypsies Green. It has to be recorded that Mohamed Ali drew larger crowds and greater excitement when he came as was married at the South Shields Mosque. I attend the Civic Lunch and saw adult women including Councillors stretch at is feet so to speak.
Have deviated and detoured for an hour I must concentrate while I am awake and motivated to write on. First the sport as Newcastle went for a win at Spurs and were thrashed 5.0 there second bad result away from home in London. They must learn not to be over ambitious with their two exciting frontmen. Sunderland had a narrow loss against Arsenal and looked all set for the draw. There was also bad referring which did not help [. Hopefully they will turn the table in Saturday evening when they meet again at the Stadium of Light in the last sixteen of the FA Cup with the programme on ITV There are five games sin all showing with those involving Crawley Brighton and Stevenage most appealing. Although none are in £D although How to Train your Dragon which I enjoyed in 2D is. Warrington after a thumping win in the first week of Super league drew away this weekend but also on the box on Saturday clashing with Sunderland so I will record one and watch the other.
The sporting surprise was a splendid win by England in the one day 50 over event against Pakistan who turned up thinking they were about to give another thrashing after their 3.0 whitewash in the Test Matches. Captain Cook made an excellent 137 runs as Pakistan opened with their spin bowlers against Pietersen who hoped to face seam and failed again with 14 from 36. His place must be in doubt if he fails again tomorrow and on Saturday. Finn left out of the Test side despite his excellent bowling when he last performed rounded on the selectors in the best possible way reducing the home side to 53 for 4 taking all the wicket and from which they failed to recover, all out 120 runs behind an with 15 over that is 90 balls to spare.
Next the British Academy of Film and Theatrical arts held at Convent Garden with an even more spectacular and long red carpet canopy outside set to cope with the increased public interest and Hollywood interest as a barometer for the Oscars.
The one certainty was Meryl Streep for her Performance as Lady Thatcher although Hollywood may go for Viola Davis in the Help if Octavia Spencer does not the supporting Actress as she did in London. The Best film should go tot he film I chose not to see in Theatre, The Artist despite the black and white visual and the music which includes Sing Sing Sing. It is unfair to call it a silent film as there is music throughout. I can see the Help, The Descendents and most of all Hugo having a shout as soon or later the main prize will go to a film using CGI. I also avoid Help which sounded a sugar version of the role of black housemaid in the white families which paints over the continuing racism.
It was inevitable that Tinker Tailor got the best British Film award because all the hype and pushing and the fine cast although the compare Hugh hit the nail on the head when he made the point that condensed as it was the plot become incomprehensible to those who had not read the book and viewed the brilliant TV production. John Hurt was given a special award and Martin Scorsee became a fellow of the Academy while admitting he knew little about British film apart from their excellent crews. My delight was that Warhorse came nowhere but I look forward to seeing the Descendent and Hugo.
I thought the Adjustment Bureau a clever but flawed film. The film is part of genre where Angels in various guises come to earth on some Godly mission. The best loved is Its a Wonderful Life with Clarence determined to get his Wings and then the wartime Matter of Life and Death and Heaven can Wait. In this film the Angels are among us ensuring that we keep to God’s individual and written down plan because we have shown we are not capable of exercising free. The deity is not referred to as God in order not to offend religious sensibilities although the central argument for their intervention is one that most religious bodies would concur that human kind has abused free will and God has determined that until everyone learns to exercise that will is more creative and Godlike way it is suspend while a number of special individuals with the right basic qualities have their life plans controlled and if appropriate constantly adjusted, we would say tweaked to ensure they fulfil destiny and contribute to creating a world in which humans can be allowed to make their choices freely. Where this proposition crosses the acceptable line is of course that flies in the Christian belief that life is meant to be a struggle in which human can make bad ethical choices and condemn themselves to eternal damnation until such time as God gets fed up and calls a halt the whole caboodle in which instance the collective day of reckoning will arrive.
The best laid plans come to naught comes to mind as a set of particular circumstances throws Elise Sellas played by Emily Blunt who is planned to become a world acclaimed dancer with David Norris (Matt Damon) who is scheduled to become President of the United States.
They met up in the men’s room where she is hiding having crashed a wedding reception (one of many unlikelies in film) and the interaction leads to a kiss after she hears him planning his acceptance of defeat. Inspired by this contact he gives an honest explanation for the loss by having given too great a reliance on focus groups, opinion polls and presentation consultants a constant beef about American political life along with its corruption and bully which having been censured intensifies continuing in the same manner as before.
In this instance the speech has almost magical qualities and impresses all kinds of Joe’s and Jane in the street and David is back on his pathway tot he White House and saving mankind.
Sometime later unknown to the audience an Angel called Harry is told by one of his seniors to intercept David Norris for a few minutes before he make his way to the office of new job. The purpose of the delay although its precision a few minutes before his arrival is not explained, is to enable a squad of angels complete with security guards to freeze the entire office staff at the premises in order to fix the new seniors of Mr Norris to further his progress in the divine plan. The proposition that such divine intervention could only be achieved by such an earthly and physical manoeuvre is preposterous although it is essential for the rest of story as the failure of the delay means that David discovers the intervention and requires and explanation with warning.
There is a further complication in that David has meet Elise again on the bus and she giver him her telephone number which is written on the back of a card. The boss man on the ground explains that David has been selected to be part of a special plan from which there can be no deviation. He should not have witnessed what he has and if he discloses to any one his being will wiped and will be given a very different life outcome. Any involvement with the young woman is out of the question and the phone card is destroyed.
However a spark has been lit so although he continues to make political progress and does well in his occupation he send much of his free time trying to find the young woman. He does this on his own quietly, believing it is out of sight and mind of his official minders.
When they meet for a third he has difficulty explaining why he failed to contact her although she is still single and was clearly very interested in him she has since had at least one relationship which had led to an engagement. She is a dancer and he manages to get the name of her company and arranges to meet to see her after a rehearsal. Aware of this further contact the angel brigade keep him under constant surveillance using a form a hand held Sat life Navigators which controls the immediate environment as well as thought decision making process. Despite this ability they are required to keep within a limited range of their subject so if able to throw a curved ball they can be jolted off the navigation plan
This provides the opportunity for an interesting use of CGI as while they move around the city on foot they are able to use portals which enable speedy short cuts as fast as any motor vehicle or city centre train. The minders fix it that the two would be lovers do not meet up but David makes use of his creativity as well as motivation to eventually get to where the girl is rehearsing. It is at this point the local chief shows David the extent of her talent and that is scheduled to become an internationally acclaimed super dancers which he will ruin when after her causer her to have an accident and the doctors will decide that either it is a temporary sprain or a fracture which will force early retirement and a career as a dance teacher.
All appears lost until his personal angel minder intervenes having discovered that the two were originally destined for each other which is why there as the instant attraction but then the decision was taken that they would have separate destinies and that their paths were never intended to cross. Why this decision was taken is not explained
Harry decides to intervene in two ways. The first is to approach the Chairman directly with the plight of the couple and secondly he tutors David in how to evade surveillance and travel at speed through the city using the portals. The climax of the film is an intense chase between the couple and the official forces determined to separate them and make a permanent adjustment. Just when all appears lost Harry appears with a communiqué for the lead pursuer to say a change of plan has been put into effect and the couple are to stay together. A different kind of adjustment has been undertaken. It is good fare for Valentine’s day week although the ending that true love can overcome God‘s will is interesting nonsense.
Another of the American dream myths is the Lincoln Lawyer in which unscrupulous and amoral operators can be made to change their spots by a sudden bolt on insight into their iniquity. This time the proposition is that because everyone is entitled under the rule of law to have the allegations against them tested in open court it is morally defendable to use wealth and power, including wealth and power criminally obtained, as well as the laws procedures and precedents and the adversarial system to get the blatant guilty off. From my experience in the UK British lawyers have a sense of right and wrong and will not contest cases where the their any admission of guilt but in those instances concentrate on putting forward any genuine evidence in mitigation and for seeking mercy. I do not know the extent to which the sharp shooting money making amoral street lawyer is a Hollywood created myth but the number of times the story of the Lincoln Lawyer has been told, my instinct tells me it is not.
In this instance Mickey Heller is asked by a bondsman, always shady characters in Hollywood films along with Bounty Hunters to make money loaning you the instant cash to make bail, to take on Louis Roulet Beverly Hill playboy son of a wealthy and powerful property family. Louis is accused of brutally beating up a young woman who he claims picked him up in a bar. He claims that on arrival at her flat he had been hit on the head and recovered to find himself being pinned down by two neighbours of the woman who she had called for help. He and his dominating and pushy mother claimed he had been set up and that this was a shakedown. He would not pay up or plea bargain for a crime he did not commit and is most convincing about his innocence.
To soften his image as a rule exploiting and bending bastard who will do anything for money Mickey has a beautiful young daughter whose care he shares with his ex wife who is also physically beautiful with an adorable personality who appears to have an ongoing relationship with the hotman, you know what I mean, and Mickey is otherwise monogamous and dedicated to his dubious trade. The basic flaw in this film is that there no justification why Mickey is as he is when it comes to the way he operates his trade. And guess what his ex wife is a prosecutor and her main beef is the way he gets arseholes off or plea bargains?
Now this is where the film also tries to draw a line between the really nasty devil villains and OK villains in that one of Mickey’s roles is to get some drug pushing, minor violent bikers from facing the full force of the law for their crimes. Instead of coming to his office they tend to drive up the free way in formation and direct him to a siding where they can put their beef to him. I cannot remember or care if it was one of bikers that Mickey had persuaded to plea bargain for life in exchange to the electric chair for a murder he insists he did not commit or how Mickey comes to the view that it was his client who had committed the original murder and was therefore also guilty of the brutal assault.
Mickey is able to get hold of a copy of the police file only to find that suspecting this is his modus operandus they have not included the photo of the knife which the perpetrator had used on the face of the victim with a jagged blade and unique handle and which belonged to Louis. He then realises that this knife was used in the previous crime and that the man he persuaded to plea guilty and plea bargain was innocent
It is at this point that Mickey finds that he has allowed himself to be a patsy for having yielded to the bondsman request for a fee for telling Mickey about the arrest of Louis when he finds that Louis and his mother had had Mickey and asked the bondsman to contact Mickey because they were aware he had been involved in the earlier case. By appointing Mickey they were aware he could not use the earlier info against his client who the man now admits he was guilty of both crimes but tightens his hold on Mickey by threatening to harm his daughter and ex wife if he does not keep his mouth shut.
Mickey uses his private investigator buddy to try and find out anything they use to nail Louis and then the private investigator is murder by a historical weapon which Louis has stolen from Mickey’s home after breaking in to confront the lawyer. The expendable use of Private I’s was brought home when I caught the tail end of a Gregory Peck film where he is a scientist who develop amnesia after he believes he is the cause of the death of his employer and family friend. He hires a Private Eye to try and find out his background and the man is murdered by those seeking to kill Peck.
Back to the Lincoln Lawyer who finds an answer phone message from the private eye which leads to evidence which could convict Louis of the earlier murder. What Mickey the does and is in fairness the unique aspect of the film which makes the production worthwhile. He uses all his established tricks to successfully get Louis acquitted but in doing so introduces evidence drawing attention to the murder and with the finding of guilt he is free to assist the police and DA with the evidence secured by the private eye for Louis to be immediately rearrested. This brings the wrath of the mother who has known all about her sons nocturnal cravings. It is she who has murdered the detective and it is she who now attempts to kill Mickey with the same weapon. Fortunately he has secured a gun of his own from his driver who he employed having lost his licence so although wounded he survives and in hospital learns that the man he persuaded to go to prison has been released and that the DA is going for the death penalty on Louis.
The film is based on a novel by Michael Connelly which is not and never will be on my list to read. Both young women were prostitutes with the latter who survived charging $400 a time. There is a red hearing of one of her clients on whom Louis attempts to put the blame which was the situation in relation the client he persuaded to plead guilty and who Louis had effectively frame for the previous murder, and no doubt countless others.
Just when one thinks that Mickey is about to mend his ways and get back with his wife and daughter now that he has seen the light he meets up with the bikers who want his help in another hopeless cause and who request a half price job because of their help in a way I cannot also now remember. Mickey shows that he really is a good guy by taking the case pro bono. However this was not the worst film of the week.
This accolade goes to Battle Los Angeles. The world is led to believe that a meteorite shower is expected to fall largely off cost and then on the seaboards and then it transpires these are sprayed weapons of Alien invaders. They have drone fighters that can target onto any electrical device and they have super personal fighters which remind of the super fighters in Avatar while the individual aliens appear mixtures of being an instrument rather like the Borg’s. The only way to take on what is evidently superior fighting force in numbers and equipment is to blanket bomb the area they ghee gained although why this should work is not explained. In such a situation we are asked to accept the ludicrous proposition tat a band of highly trained professional soldiers would be tasked to rescue a few civilians taking shelter in a local police station where the police are long gone or killed.
Almost all the film comprises the attempt of these men to complete the mission and includes someone who had put in for his release papers after combat experience and a training role. The civilian father of a young boy dies and so too do several of the soldiers. They not only rescue the remaining civilians before the obliteration bombs but manage to work out how best to attack kill individuals and they also destroy a Command and Control Centre.
And that is about it.
I assumed the creators of the successful blood and sex story of Spartacus the Thracian would find a way of continuing after he and his fellow gladiators had escaped from heartrending capability called a ludus, killing the couple in charge and going off to free their comrades and destroy their Roman captors. The motivation of Spartacus remained the Roman officer who had killed his people and sold him and his wife into separate slavery. There was a similar quest for his rival Crixus the Gaul who is in search of Naevia who was taken away shortly before the massacre which end the first series although were treated to a prequel in which Spartacus did nit feature,
"Fugitivus" covers the first days of their freedom as the two men lead and train others who agree to follow. Glaber the nemesis of Spartacus has become a Praetor -Not just Commander of an army but also holder of the important role of Magistrate which was that of a governor as well as Judge, in fact a local or regional autocrat. He is told by his father in law to abandon the good life he experiences and go off and capture Spartacus while Illithyia pregnant, with the child of Spartacus, we suspect, is unwilling to travel back to Capua with her husband for obvious reason but he having been commanded, commands her to be at his side.
The two take up residence in the somewhat derelict ludus being the best location in town where we have the surprise of the series in that Lucretia, the scheming wife of Batiatus who we witnessed stabbed to death awash with blood, survived and is living there. She is holds the secret of Illithyia who bedded Spartacus instead of Crixus as she had desired both in masks of gold. She is not compos mentis which is some compensation.
Oenomaus (the former chief man Doctore) who given his freedom and has left he ludus with honour before the uprising and massacre, feels that his sense of honour has therefore been badly damaged by these events and appears to live in the shadows of the City. He does warn Spartacus and Crixus that Glaber has returned with his men but this only acts as a red flag for Spartacus Vengeance. There is a battle after which Spartacus and Crixus agree that their best course is to move south of the city to recoup their strength and mount their campaign and also look for Naevia who Crixus has been told has been passed to one user after another. They free slaves as they make their way, giving the option of joining them in the struggle.
This factual account omits the graphic violence and nudity and sex! Something which one announcer explained was a warning if you would be offended and an invitation if this was your kind of thing.
"A Place in This World is the title of the second episode. There is sex and bloodshed as they encounter and ruthlessly kill a wealthy Roman at a villa in he countryside who admits he owned Naevia, used her and passed her on, who tells them that he owned Naevia for a short time before selling her to another villa owner further south.
The newly freed slaves of the villa are afraid of the sudden freedom, especially a young male named Tiberius, who used to be in a high position among the slaves. Tiberius attempts to kill Spartacus during the night, but fails. Spartacus will not see young Tiberius killed as repayment for the attempt, but would train him. A potentially big mistake.
Meanwhile in Capua, the recovering Lucretia receives messages from the Gods in a dream on how to defeat Spartacus. Glaber believes in her new status of Prophetess if only from public approval. In the Capua marketplace, Lucretia receives a note from a mysterious stranger.
In a flashback sequence, Oenomaus relives his purchase from the Pit by Titus Lentulus Batiatus in his youth, the discovery of honour and purpose of becoming a Champion. Oenomaus, in his search for death, faces many opponents in the Pits and after he is weakened from a fight, he is taken to the villa before Glaber by a mysterious stranger. The mysterious stranger is unmasked to reveal Ashur, former nefarious right-hand man of Quintus Batiatus, who is working in secret with Lucretia to some unknown ends. Tis resurrection day!
In the Greater Good Spartacus and crew free another band of slaves destined for the dreaded Mines. A slaver with his dying breath says that Naevia lives but is suffering in harsh servitude in the Mines. The man learning this news lies and tells Crixus he has heard Naevia is dead.
In Capua, Ashur using his usual methods attempts to beak the silence of Oenomaus about the location of the rebels. Ashur then taunts Oenomaus that his wife betrayed him for Gannicus his closest friend at the Ludus and former champion before Spartacus. Unintentionally he reveals that the purpose of move south was the search for Naevia.
Unfortunate Crixus learns the truth that his woman lives in the mines and Spartacus and some of the others support Crixus in his search and disguise themselves as slaves and as guards, Glaber who is under pressure to find and deal with Spartacus also learns of development and send his troops to the mines to await accompanied by Ashur.
Crixus is briefly reunited with Naevia, but they are overcome by soldiers. Crixus sacrifices himself for their escape, and Ashur delivers the blow that causes Crixus to fall dead or unconscious perhaps. Meanwhile in Capua there is another Games although the gladiators are of poor quality and the crowd restless although with some blood lust and nudity the crowd pleasure hots up.
The weekend was disastrous for regional football teams. And because of the cold I have eaten well with little physical exercise but manager to hold the weight. I won 6666 games of patience against the computer with over two thousand in succession, but my efforts to move from level 3 to level four chess have been thwarted by momentary lacks of concentration.
The mini series of Mad Dogs came to and end and Spartacus Vengeance ironed in glorification of blood and lust. The discovery of the weekend was a new Italian Police Detective series called Montabano which looks as it is going to be as engaging as Ramanzo Criminale with a dozen large helpings of one hour forty five minutes without advertisements of BBC Channel Four. I watched Avatar on 3D TV and notched up my appreciation of the film with other films The Lincoln Lawyer, The Adjustment Bureau, Battle Los Angeles and a revisit to American Beauty. Phew first a food review.
A week Sunday saw red meat with a baked bean and tinned tomatoes mix while yesterday the was a reverse meal day of a salami and bean salad with roast chicken tinned potatoes peas and carrot mix in the evening with sufficient over for two further meals during the week. There has been three portions of stir fry vegetables over the ten days because of half price offers at Morison’s, twice with chicken and once with lamb and today a lemon grass sauce which I Iiked and wish I had acquired more of the half price offer which I suspect has long ended. I will investigate tomorrow.
There has between one pizza although the baking stone has proved a disaster, too big for the over and difficult to clean. There has been one meal of the prawns in breadcrumbs and filo pastry. There are no more packs of the Tex Mex at Asda although there are at Morrison’s but for £5. There has been one curry also a variation with Thai sweet and spicy concoction. Fish as a main course was a white fish in breadcrumbs and lamb steaks twice.
Because of the cold I have enjoyed more porridge for breakfast than before but had to have a spell of using up the mushrooms which started to go off. Could not large packs of the open variety so had to settle for a more expensive cartons of the breakfast size yesterday which should last three days. I have also supplanted some daily diets with a helping of fruit and nut cereal which is more filing that the other two
There has been plenty of fish for the evening salad with prawns and smoked mackerel interspersed with half a quiche where I am enjoying a vegetable option. There have been two portions of sprats in batter and breadcrumbs which reminds I need to break off to make a note for tomorrow’s shop. I have been very good cutting out afters with one tin of rice spread over two days although I fancy some now with a cinnamon topping and the big treat some cherries about £4.50 worth in money which provided three good portions. There have been several cuppa soups usually with crackers sometimes at odd times in the day. I have also taken to drinking cups of tea again as I cut down on fizzy drinks to no more than one a day and with several days relying on iced water.
My sleeping pattern has been all awry with today for example going to bed at 1 am and rising at 7 so six hours is a good average but them coming very tired around 4 went up to bed and slept for a couple of hours waking to an interesting dream.
I got up before 5 on Thursday to get on line early for the Travel Lodge sale and got six nights in Croydon plus return Journey by train for just over £100 in total for the Durham visit to Lords and with a day over to visit relatives. If the weather is not good or the cricket over quickly I hope to take a look at the progress being made in central London for the Olympics at King Cross in preparation for my second visit in at the of July. I was so confident about getting at least one pair of tickets that I purchased two ticket holders, one of which I shall use for my cricket season to show off! I was also successful in getting five nights on the Brighton Sea from for £55 in total amazing and will try for a train ticket when these become available. For some reason staying in Nottinghamshire for the Cricket in mid August proved more expensive but I managed to get the number of night required. With a trip to Mansfield in March I have 25 away nights arranged. Checking out my bookings I found the special offers were still on although £10 a night rooms are available for the odd night here and there. I am tempted to do something at the beginning or end of May when Durham are away at the cricket but will have to make a check on finances
I have also applied for one of the 5000 pairs of tickets for the Jubilee concert in London on June 4th the main weekend for events. The Queen is coming back to South Tyneside in July visiting a School in Jarrow. She visited last for the Silver Jubilee and I had a VIP ticket for the outdoor event at Gypsies Green. It has to be recorded that Mohamed Ali drew larger crowds and greater excitement when he came as was married at the South Shields Mosque. I attend the Civic Lunch and saw adult women including Councillors stretch at is feet so to speak.
Have deviated and detoured for an hour I must concentrate while I am awake and motivated to write on. First the sport as Newcastle went for a win at Spurs and were thrashed 5.0 there second bad result away from home in London. They must learn not to be over ambitious with their two exciting frontmen. Sunderland had a narrow loss against Arsenal and looked all set for the draw. There was also bad referring which did not help [. Hopefully they will turn the table in Saturday evening when they meet again at the Stadium of Light in the last sixteen of the FA Cup with the programme on ITV There are five games sin all showing with those involving Crawley Brighton and Stevenage most appealing. Although none are in £D although How to Train your Dragon which I enjoyed in 2D is. Warrington after a thumping win in the first week of Super league drew away this weekend but also on the box on Saturday clashing with Sunderland so I will record one and watch the other.
The sporting surprise was a splendid win by England in the one day 50 over event against Pakistan who turned up thinking they were about to give another thrashing after their 3.0 whitewash in the Test Matches. Captain Cook made an excellent 137 runs as Pakistan opened with their spin bowlers against Pietersen who hoped to face seam and failed again with 14 from 36. His place must be in doubt if he fails again tomorrow and on Saturday. Finn left out of the Test side despite his excellent bowling when he last performed rounded on the selectors in the best possible way reducing the home side to 53 for 4 taking all the wicket and from which they failed to recover, all out 120 runs behind an with 15 over that is 90 balls to spare.
Next the British Academy of Film and Theatrical arts held at Convent Garden with an even more spectacular and long red carpet canopy outside set to cope with the increased public interest and Hollywood interest as a barometer for the Oscars.
The one certainty was Meryl Streep for her Performance as Lady Thatcher although Hollywood may go for Viola Davis in the Help if Octavia Spencer does not the supporting Actress as she did in London. The Best film should go tot he film I chose not to see in Theatre, The Artist despite the black and white visual and the music which includes Sing Sing Sing. It is unfair to call it a silent film as there is music throughout. I can see the Help, The Descendents and most of all Hugo having a shout as soon or later the main prize will go to a film using CGI. I also avoid Help which sounded a sugar version of the role of black housemaid in the white families which paints over the continuing racism.
It was inevitable that Tinker Tailor got the best British Film award because all the hype and pushing and the fine cast although the compare Hugh hit the nail on the head when he made the point that condensed as it was the plot become incomprehensible to those who had not read the book and viewed the brilliant TV production. John Hurt was given a special award and Martin Scorsee became a fellow of the Academy while admitting he knew little about British film apart from their excellent crews. My delight was that Warhorse came nowhere but I look forward to seeing the Descendent and Hugo.
I thought the Adjustment Bureau a clever but flawed film. The film is part of genre where Angels in various guises come to earth on some Godly mission. The best loved is Its a Wonderful Life with Clarence determined to get his Wings and then the wartime Matter of Life and Death and Heaven can Wait. In this film the Angels are among us ensuring that we keep to God’s individual and written down plan because we have shown we are not capable of exercising free. The deity is not referred to as God in order not to offend religious sensibilities although the central argument for their intervention is one that most religious bodies would concur that human kind has abused free will and God has determined that until everyone learns to exercise that will is more creative and Godlike way it is suspend while a number of special individuals with the right basic qualities have their life plans controlled and if appropriate constantly adjusted, we would say tweaked to ensure they fulfil destiny and contribute to creating a world in which humans can be allowed to make their choices freely. Where this proposition crosses the acceptable line is of course that flies in the Christian belief that life is meant to be a struggle in which human can make bad ethical choices and condemn themselves to eternal damnation until such time as God gets fed up and calls a halt the whole caboodle in which instance the collective day of reckoning will arrive.
The best laid plans come to naught comes to mind as a set of particular circumstances throws Elise Sellas played by Emily Blunt who is planned to become a world acclaimed dancer with David Norris (Matt Damon) who is scheduled to become President of the United States.
They met up in the men’s room where she is hiding having crashed a wedding reception (one of many unlikelies in film) and the interaction leads to a kiss after she hears him planning his acceptance of defeat. Inspired by this contact he gives an honest explanation for the loss by having given too great a reliance on focus groups, opinion polls and presentation consultants a constant beef about American political life along with its corruption and bully which having been censured intensifies continuing in the same manner as before.
In this instance the speech has almost magical qualities and impresses all kinds of Joe’s and Jane in the street and David is back on his pathway tot he White House and saving mankind.
Sometime later unknown to the audience an Angel called Harry is told by one of his seniors to intercept David Norris for a few minutes before he make his way to the office of new job. The purpose of the delay although its precision a few minutes before his arrival is not explained, is to enable a squad of angels complete with security guards to freeze the entire office staff at the premises in order to fix the new seniors of Mr Norris to further his progress in the divine plan. The proposition that such divine intervention could only be achieved by such an earthly and physical manoeuvre is preposterous although it is essential for the rest of story as the failure of the delay means that David discovers the intervention and requires and explanation with warning.
There is a further complication in that David has meet Elise again on the bus and she giver him her telephone number which is written on the back of a card. The boss man on the ground explains that David has been selected to be part of a special plan from which there can be no deviation. He should not have witnessed what he has and if he discloses to any one his being will wiped and will be given a very different life outcome. Any involvement with the young woman is out of the question and the phone card is destroyed.
However a spark has been lit so although he continues to make political progress and does well in his occupation he send much of his free time trying to find the young woman. He does this on his own quietly, believing it is out of sight and mind of his official minders.
When they meet for a third he has difficulty explaining why he failed to contact her although she is still single and was clearly very interested in him she has since had at least one relationship which had led to an engagement. She is a dancer and he manages to get the name of her company and arranges to meet to see her after a rehearsal. Aware of this further contact the angel brigade keep him under constant surveillance using a form a hand held Sat life Navigators which controls the immediate environment as well as thought decision making process. Despite this ability they are required to keep within a limited range of their subject so if able to throw a curved ball they can be jolted off the navigation plan
This provides the opportunity for an interesting use of CGI as while they move around the city on foot they are able to use portals which enable speedy short cuts as fast as any motor vehicle or city centre train. The minders fix it that the two would be lovers do not meet up but David makes use of his creativity as well as motivation to eventually get to where the girl is rehearsing. It is at this point the local chief shows David the extent of her talent and that is scheduled to become an internationally acclaimed super dancers which he will ruin when after her causer her to have an accident and the doctors will decide that either it is a temporary sprain or a fracture which will force early retirement and a career as a dance teacher.
All appears lost until his personal angel minder intervenes having discovered that the two were originally destined for each other which is why there as the instant attraction but then the decision was taken that they would have separate destinies and that their paths were never intended to cross. Why this decision was taken is not explained
Harry decides to intervene in two ways. The first is to approach the Chairman directly with the plight of the couple and secondly he tutors David in how to evade surveillance and travel at speed through the city using the portals. The climax of the film is an intense chase between the couple and the official forces determined to separate them and make a permanent adjustment. Just when all appears lost Harry appears with a communiqué for the lead pursuer to say a change of plan has been put into effect and the couple are to stay together. A different kind of adjustment has been undertaken. It is good fare for Valentine’s day week although the ending that true love can overcome God‘s will is interesting nonsense.
Another of the American dream myths is the Lincoln Lawyer in which unscrupulous and amoral operators can be made to change their spots by a sudden bolt on insight into their iniquity. This time the proposition is that because everyone is entitled under the rule of law to have the allegations against them tested in open court it is morally defendable to use wealth and power, including wealth and power criminally obtained, as well as the laws procedures and precedents and the adversarial system to get the blatant guilty off. From my experience in the UK British lawyers have a sense of right and wrong and will not contest cases where the their any admission of guilt but in those instances concentrate on putting forward any genuine evidence in mitigation and for seeking mercy. I do not know the extent to which the sharp shooting money making amoral street lawyer is a Hollywood created myth but the number of times the story of the Lincoln Lawyer has been told, my instinct tells me it is not.
In this instance Mickey Heller is asked by a bondsman, always shady characters in Hollywood films along with Bounty Hunters to make money loaning you the instant cash to make bail, to take on Louis Roulet Beverly Hill playboy son of a wealthy and powerful property family. Louis is accused of brutally beating up a young woman who he claims picked him up in a bar. He claims that on arrival at her flat he had been hit on the head and recovered to find himself being pinned down by two neighbours of the woman who she had called for help. He and his dominating and pushy mother claimed he had been set up and that this was a shakedown. He would not pay up or plea bargain for a crime he did not commit and is most convincing about his innocence.
To soften his image as a rule exploiting and bending bastard who will do anything for money Mickey has a beautiful young daughter whose care he shares with his ex wife who is also physically beautiful with an adorable personality who appears to have an ongoing relationship with the hotman, you know what I mean, and Mickey is otherwise monogamous and dedicated to his dubious trade. The basic flaw in this film is that there no justification why Mickey is as he is when it comes to the way he operates his trade. And guess what his ex wife is a prosecutor and her main beef is the way he gets arseholes off or plea bargains?
Now this is where the film also tries to draw a line between the really nasty devil villains and OK villains in that one of Mickey’s roles is to get some drug pushing, minor violent bikers from facing the full force of the law for their crimes. Instead of coming to his office they tend to drive up the free way in formation and direct him to a siding where they can put their beef to him. I cannot remember or care if it was one of bikers that Mickey had persuaded to plea bargain for life in exchange to the electric chair for a murder he insists he did not commit or how Mickey comes to the view that it was his client who had committed the original murder and was therefore also guilty of the brutal assault.
Mickey is able to get hold of a copy of the police file only to find that suspecting this is his modus operandus they have not included the photo of the knife which the perpetrator had used on the face of the victim with a jagged blade and unique handle and which belonged to Louis. He then realises that this knife was used in the previous crime and that the man he persuaded to plea guilty and plea bargain was innocent
It is at this point that Mickey finds that he has allowed himself to be a patsy for having yielded to the bondsman request for a fee for telling Mickey about the arrest of Louis when he finds that Louis and his mother had had Mickey and asked the bondsman to contact Mickey because they were aware he had been involved in the earlier case. By appointing Mickey they were aware he could not use the earlier info against his client who the man now admits he was guilty of both crimes but tightens his hold on Mickey by threatening to harm his daughter and ex wife if he does not keep his mouth shut.
Mickey uses his private investigator buddy to try and find out anything they use to nail Louis and then the private investigator is murder by a historical weapon which Louis has stolen from Mickey’s home after breaking in to confront the lawyer. The expendable use of Private I’s was brought home when I caught the tail end of a Gregory Peck film where he is a scientist who develop amnesia after he believes he is the cause of the death of his employer and family friend. He hires a Private Eye to try and find out his background and the man is murdered by those seeking to kill Peck.
Back to the Lincoln Lawyer who finds an answer phone message from the private eye which leads to evidence which could convict Louis of the earlier murder. What Mickey the does and is in fairness the unique aspect of the film which makes the production worthwhile. He uses all his established tricks to successfully get Louis acquitted but in doing so introduces evidence drawing attention to the murder and with the finding of guilt he is free to assist the police and DA with the evidence secured by the private eye for Louis to be immediately rearrested. This brings the wrath of the mother who has known all about her sons nocturnal cravings. It is she who has murdered the detective and it is she who now attempts to kill Mickey with the same weapon. Fortunately he has secured a gun of his own from his driver who he employed having lost his licence so although wounded he survives and in hospital learns that the man he persuaded to go to prison has been released and that the DA is going for the death penalty on Louis.
The film is based on a novel by Michael Connelly which is not and never will be on my list to read. Both young women were prostitutes with the latter who survived charging $400 a time. There is a red hearing of one of her clients on whom Louis attempts to put the blame which was the situation in relation the client he persuaded to plead guilty and who Louis had effectively frame for the previous murder, and no doubt countless others.
Just when one thinks that Mickey is about to mend his ways and get back with his wife and daughter now that he has seen the light he meets up with the bikers who want his help in another hopeless cause and who request a half price job because of their help in a way I cannot also now remember. Mickey shows that he really is a good guy by taking the case pro bono. However this was not the worst film of the week.
This accolade goes to Battle Los Angeles. The world is led to believe that a meteorite shower is expected to fall largely off cost and then on the seaboards and then it transpires these are sprayed weapons of Alien invaders. They have drone fighters that can target onto any electrical device and they have super personal fighters which remind of the super fighters in Avatar while the individual aliens appear mixtures of being an instrument rather like the Borg’s. The only way to take on what is evidently superior fighting force in numbers and equipment is to blanket bomb the area they ghee gained although why this should work is not explained. In such a situation we are asked to accept the ludicrous proposition tat a band of highly trained professional soldiers would be tasked to rescue a few civilians taking shelter in a local police station where the police are long gone or killed.
Almost all the film comprises the attempt of these men to complete the mission and includes someone who had put in for his release papers after combat experience and a training role. The civilian father of a young boy dies and so too do several of the soldiers. They not only rescue the remaining civilians before the obliteration bombs but manage to work out how best to attack kill individuals and they also destroy a Command and Control Centre.
And that is about it.
I assumed the creators of the successful blood and sex story of Spartacus the Thracian would find a way of continuing after he and his fellow gladiators had escaped from heartrending capability called a ludus, killing the couple in charge and going off to free their comrades and destroy their Roman captors. The motivation of Spartacus remained the Roman officer who had killed his people and sold him and his wife into separate slavery. There was a similar quest for his rival Crixus the Gaul who is in search of Naevia who was taken away shortly before the massacre which end the first series although were treated to a prequel in which Spartacus did nit feature,
"Fugitivus" covers the first days of their freedom as the two men lead and train others who agree to follow. Glaber the nemesis of Spartacus has become a Praetor -Not just Commander of an army but also holder of the important role of Magistrate which was that of a governor as well as Judge, in fact a local or regional autocrat. He is told by his father in law to abandon the good life he experiences and go off and capture Spartacus while Illithyia pregnant, with the child of Spartacus, we suspect, is unwilling to travel back to Capua with her husband for obvious reason but he having been commanded, commands her to be at his side.
The two take up residence in the somewhat derelict ludus being the best location in town where we have the surprise of the series in that Lucretia, the scheming wife of Batiatus who we witnessed stabbed to death awash with blood, survived and is living there. She is holds the secret of Illithyia who bedded Spartacus instead of Crixus as she had desired both in masks of gold. She is not compos mentis which is some compensation.
Oenomaus (the former chief man Doctore) who given his freedom and has left he ludus with honour before the uprising and massacre, feels that his sense of honour has therefore been badly damaged by these events and appears to live in the shadows of the City. He does warn Spartacus and Crixus that Glaber has returned with his men but this only acts as a red flag for Spartacus Vengeance. There is a battle after which Spartacus and Crixus agree that their best course is to move south of the city to recoup their strength and mount their campaign and also look for Naevia who Crixus has been told has been passed to one user after another. They free slaves as they make their way, giving the option of joining them in the struggle.
This factual account omits the graphic violence and nudity and sex! Something which one announcer explained was a warning if you would be offended and an invitation if this was your kind of thing.
"A Place in This World is the title of the second episode. There is sex and bloodshed as they encounter and ruthlessly kill a wealthy Roman at a villa in he countryside who admits he owned Naevia, used her and passed her on, who tells them that he owned Naevia for a short time before selling her to another villa owner further south.
The newly freed slaves of the villa are afraid of the sudden freedom, especially a young male named Tiberius, who used to be in a high position among the slaves. Tiberius attempts to kill Spartacus during the night, but fails. Spartacus will not see young Tiberius killed as repayment for the attempt, but would train him. A potentially big mistake.
Meanwhile in Capua, the recovering Lucretia receives messages from the Gods in a dream on how to defeat Spartacus. Glaber believes in her new status of Prophetess if only from public approval. In the Capua marketplace, Lucretia receives a note from a mysterious stranger.
In a flashback sequence, Oenomaus relives his purchase from the Pit by Titus Lentulus Batiatus in his youth, the discovery of honour and purpose of becoming a Champion. Oenomaus, in his search for death, faces many opponents in the Pits and after he is weakened from a fight, he is taken to the villa before Glaber by a mysterious stranger. The mysterious stranger is unmasked to reveal Ashur, former nefarious right-hand man of Quintus Batiatus, who is working in secret with Lucretia to some unknown ends. Tis resurrection day!
In the Greater Good Spartacus and crew free another band of slaves destined for the dreaded Mines. A slaver with his dying breath says that Naevia lives but is suffering in harsh servitude in the Mines. The man learning this news lies and tells Crixus he has heard Naevia is dead.
In Capua, Ashur using his usual methods attempts to beak the silence of Oenomaus about the location of the rebels. Ashur then taunts Oenomaus that his wife betrayed him for Gannicus his closest friend at the Ludus and former champion before Spartacus. Unintentionally he reveals that the purpose of move south was the search for Naevia.
Unfortunate Crixus learns the truth that his woman lives in the mines and Spartacus and some of the others support Crixus in his search and disguise themselves as slaves and as guards, Glaber who is under pressure to find and deal with Spartacus also learns of development and send his troops to the mines to await accompanied by Ashur.
Crixus is briefly reunited with Naevia, but they are overcome by soldiers. Crixus sacrifices himself for their escape, and Ashur delivers the blow that causes Crixus to fall dead or unconscious perhaps. Meanwhile in Capua there is another Games although the gladiators are of poor quality and the crowd restless although with some blood lust and nudity the crowd pleasure hots up.
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