Stet by Diana Athill – pithy autobiographical reflections from the celebrated editor at André Deutsch, notable for its insight into the post-war publishing industry and for the skilful way she makes one interested in people of whom one has no previous interest. (Neat trick that, but one would expect nothing less from a master editor.)
Doctor Who, Series 11– with Jodie Whittaker very good as the new Doctor, though I’m even more impressed by the show's pruned-back stories, without the frequent internal references which had made the show intimidating for anyone who wasn't keeping up, and the reintroduction of an ensemble cast.
A Dangerous Dynasty: House of Assad – morbidly fascinating documentary(see review). Bashar al-Assad remains an enigma (is he lying? is he deceiving himself? how did this mild-mannered eye doctor become a brutal dictator?) but at least we can understand the powerful forces at work on him and on Syria (the legacy of his father, the continuing influence of his mother, the dominance of the military).
Ian Hislop’s Olden Days – characteristically witty reflections on how legendary figures (such as King Arthur and King Alfred), historical periods (such as the Middle Ages) or recurrent themes (such as the countryside) have been mythologised by different ages to suit their own needs.
The Little Drummer Girl – mini-series adaptation of John Le Carré’s 1983 thriller. Proper television: demanding (and deserving) commitment and attention through its snail-like progress, with occasional bursts of action as reminders of the terrible violence lying just under the surface the whole time. For me this is up there with the great TV adaptations of Le Carré (Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy, Smiley’s People) and I’m sad that people found it boring. But at least they appreciated the vivid reconstruction of period styles and fashions.
Robot and Frank – funny, touching and clever SF-lite, in which an elderly former jewel thief (Frank Langella) is presented with a care robot by his concerned children. Initially he is resentful of the robot, but their relationship changes when he realises he can use it to help him in a heist, with which the robot is happy to assist since having a project is good for his wellbeing.
The History of Christianity - smarter-than-the-average-documentary series by Diarmaid MacCulloch, first transmitted in 2009 but still fresh. With a generosity of spirit towards all denominations, he avoids the clichéd and self-serving patterns of familiar histories, starting for example with the early forms of Christianity which spread East of Jerusalem as far as China, at a time when it was quite conceivable that its headquarters would be Baghdad and not Rome.
Mrs Wilson – Ruth Wilson excels playing her own grandmother, who discovered after her husband’s death that he was keeping at least two, if not three, other wives and families elsewhere, though to what extent as part of a secret service cover and to what extent his own fantasising run amok was and to this day remains unclear. Great period detail and superb dramatisation, flicking back and forth in time between their post-war life and her horrified investigations in the 1960s, cleverly preparing us for each stunning new revelation. A story well-worth telling, one that you would dismiss as implausible were it not true.
Mark Kermode’s Secrets of Cinema / Christmas Cinema Secrets – great illustrative clips, though I gather what he says about tropes and genre is pretty trivial stuff for series film academics. Illuminating for the rest of us, though, and also revealing about the conservatism of the Hollywood film industry.
The Sound of Movie Musicals with Neil Brand – much more than just a celebratory clip show, the best bits being when Brand sits down at his piano and takes apart the classic numbers. More proper television.
Royal Institution Christmas Lectures: Who am I? The best I’ve ever seen, with Professors Alice Roberts and Aoife McLysaght having an easy manner with the kids and skilfully addressing a wide range of ages and previous knowledge (typical trick: using the proper technical term but immediately glossing it in folk speech), with some great demonstrations using the full breadth and height of the lecture room. Helped also by more editing than previously, to shorten the scene shifting and the volunteers coming down from the audience, which keeps up the pace. A pointed celebration of diversity, which seemed to be welcomed by kids, to judge by the final sing-along of ‘This is me’.
Panmorphia – beautifully illustrated puzzle game, not too hard – assuming you set the Easy option and use the in-game hint system, as I did. (See review.)
No comments:
Post a Comment