"The Assassination Bureau" (1968) An unappreciated treasure

Paramount Pictures did not give this stylish (and quite expensive) adventure/comedy much love in 1968. The US release added "Limited" to the title to make the title less dark.
Michael Relph's art direction is especially noteworthy. Diana Rigg and Telly Savalas would star together a few months later in the Bond flick "On Her Majesty's Secret Service".

The sumptuous Assassination Bureau conference room

Venice palazzo

The ficticious Ruthenian castle is actually Karlstejn Castle, 30 km SW of Prague

Highlights of "Mr Robot" Season 4

In Mr Robot's fourth and final season, Sam Esmail once again demonstrates that likes to play with his audiences' expectations and indulge in an array of cinematic pizzazz.

• Phillip and Angela's first (and final) scene in Episode 1 "401 Unauthorised"
• Whiterose's back story in Episode 3 "403 Forbidden"
• Everytime Janice (Ashlie Atkinson) appears as the creepy taxidermist/ killer (Episodes 1, 2, 5).
• Tyrell Wellick's final scene in the snow in Episode 4 "404 Not Found"
• Episode 5 "405 Method Not Allowed",  a heist/chase movie with no spoken word (except 2 lines of dialogue) for the entire 50 minutes.
• Episode 7 Riverting, filmed like a play, confined to two rooms, broken into 5 acts. Powerful Bernard Herrmann-esque score.

"Plebs" Season 5 Review

Episode 1 was a huge disappointment. The thing with the 3 lads in previous series was that they were naughty but still likeable. In "The Vineyard" they were odious and quite cruel. Not a laugh in 22 minutes.
Episode 2, set around a Roman secondary school, raised a few laughs, mainly from Grumio's pugilistic exploits.
Episode 3 "The Banquet" was a further improvement, a nifty whodunit.
Episode 4 "The Grumbrella" - anything with Phil Davis and Maureen Lipman (returning from the last season) is always worth watching.
Episode 5 A one-joke affair about (football) hooligans.
Episode 6 "The Dig" has Tony Robinson (Baldrick/Time Team) playing (appropriately) an archaeologist.
Episode 7 about real estate hucksters is one of the worse, unless you like seeing Jonathan Pointing's (Jason) bare bum.
Episode 8 "The Wedding" colourful sets, colourless dialogue. Final.

Joel Fry (Stylax) is sorely missed, though.

"The Institute" by Stephen King - mini review

Stephen King's new thriller is a mixed bag - part "The Manchurian Candidate", "Firestarter", "The Adventures of  Huckleberry Finn", "The Body"/"Stand by Me", "It" and even some parts of the King/Straub novel "The Talisman".
The narrative is compelling and the political themes intriguing. Once again Stephen King returns to familiar ground - exceptional 12 year olds in danger. But noone does it better.
Netflix's "Stranger Things" clearly gives the nod to these King novels.

"American Horror Story 1984" Season 9 What a campy hoot!

Brad Falchuk and Ryan Murphy have nailed the mid-80's, starting with the gloriously cheesy opening titles.
If you grew up in the 80's, you'll appreciate the references. The first episode certainly put the camp in summer camp.
Camp Redwood is definitely modelled after Camp Crystal Lake in the "Friday the 13th" slasher movies. The cast is made up predominantly of unknowns - Emma Roberts is the only actor (so far) from previous AHS seasons. Trevor Kirchner as the camp director with the porn-tash and over-stuffed lycra shorts was a comic highlight, along with Tara Karsian as world-weary Chef Bertie.
Let's hope the producers can keep the standard up in coming episodes.

Update: Things go bat-shit crazy by the second half of Episode 4. After a bonkers switcheroo involving Margaret and Mr Jingles, the new plot twist is demonic possession. More boxes have been ticked.

"Pose" Season 2, Episode 6, "Love's in need of love today" Musical references

"Pose" Season 2 certainly maintains the standard. Ryan Murphy has proved himself the master for staging television musical numbers. Episode 5's funeral home climax ("What would Candy do?") left Baz Luhrmann in the shade.

You don't have to be in the LBGT community to enjoy this show. It helps if you were an adult in the 80's to appreciate the references.
This episode certainly ticked lots of boxes. Nods to gay icons Judy Garland and Madonna, plus another, Patti Lupone, sings the Sondheim "Follies" classic "I'm still here".
From classic torch songs "The man that got away" (Harold Arlen/Ira Gershwin) to Stevie Wonder's "Love's in need of love today" to close the episode.
Not one, but two Sondheims: "Sooner or Later" (Madonna's "Dick Tracy" torch song).
All packed into under 50 minutes.


NB. Lupone's Frederica Norman is a thinly disguised NYC "Queen of Mean" Leona Helmsley.

Five great things about the mini-series "Lambs of God"

• It's only four short episodes. Many mini-series wear out their welcome with 8 or 10 episodes.

• Esse Davis (so glamorous as 1920's detective Phryne Fisher) is almost unrecognisable playing Sister Iphigenia. Love the contact lenses.

• Sister Carla's "Moses in the bullrushes" word play.

• 85 year old Donald McAlpine's glorious cinematography.

• The east coast of Tasmania locations (Tasman Island, Cape Pillar) used to stand in for the isolated English island.

Five great things about Epix's "Pennyworth"

• Jack Bannon, looking like a young Dirk Bogarde crossed with Michael Caine's "Alfie"

• Paloma Faith - stealing every scene, channelling ITV's "Vera"

• London art direction: 1700's/1940/swinging 60's -  WW2 barrage balloons, airships overhead, gibbets and criminals in stocks arranged around Trafalgar Square, Soho neons ("The Rubber Strumpet"). Like "Gotham", loads of steam and smoke billowing across the landscape.

• Lord Harwood's (Jason Flemyng) entrance alighting from his Rolls Royce (Licenced plates "1964"), striding across the mall in flowing supervillain robes.

• Co-Producer Bruce Heller's snappy dialogue and weird walk-ons. Who was the waiter dressed as a forest creature in the gentleman's club at the start of  Episode 3?
  

Sydney Hilton vs Sofitel Darling Harbour - How do they measure up?

1. Location

Sofitel is right on the Light Rail, close to ferry wharves; but Hilton is more central - Queen Victoria Building, Pitt Street Mall, Town Hall metro station .

Sofitel has the views (if you pay extra for a Darling Harbour facing room)

Sofitel Darling Harbour

Hilton's central location - some rooms have harbour views

2. Club Lounge Access
 Sofitel's top floor Club Millesime is spectacular but the food and beverage offered during "Evening Canapes" is disappointing compared to Hilton's Executive Lounge.

Club Millesime Evening drinks 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.

Hilton's evening canapes - prawns, salads, hot dishes, antipasto

Hilton lounge - fresh bread

Hilton's executive lounge - afternoon tea

Generous 'top ups' in the bar (unlike Sofitel)

Hilton's lounge during evening drinks (6 p.m. - 8 p.m.)

Hilton has several sections in their lounge, feels more intimate

3. Breakfast

Hilton's Glass restaurant. Breakfast. Incredible range of buffet dishes plus a la carte. Sofitel's breakfast looks meagre by comparison.

4. Rooms
Sofitel's rooms are over furnished and seem cramped. The lighting system is poorly designed, no indirect lighting. The night light is more dazzling. Many rooms have the bed right up against the open planned bathroom.

Sofitel King Room

Hilton's "Relaxation Room" is spacious and well designed.

5. Swimming Pool/Gym
Sofitel's (infinity) pool is outdoor and barely heated. There are pleasant views across Darling Harbour/Cockle Bay. The gym is on the same level.
Hilton shares a huge gym and lap pool with Fitness First in the Basement level. There are poolside saunas, steam rooms and jacuzzi. Mornings can get busy with the before-work crowd.

Verdict: Hilton wins in all categories.

The only positive with Sofitel's lounge is the 'no kids under 12 years' policy during evening drinks period.

Day trip from Killarney - Walking the Gap of Dunloe

Being on the edge of Killarney National Park makes the famous Gap of Dunloe an easy day trip. Buses (private companies, no public buses) leave the city centre between 9 and 10 a.m. The cost is 5 euros (pay the driver). You will be dropped off at Kate Kearney's Cottage (see map below, the start of the trail).

1. Walk (approximately 11 km/ 2 - 2.5 hours, depending on photo/rest stops) to Lord Brandon Cottage (on Upper Lake).
2. Take tourist boat to Ross Castle (around 2 hours, depending on the depth of the lake in the narrow section).
3. Walk back to Killarney (40 minutes, see map below). Keep your eyes peeled for native Red Deer in the woods.

Killarney Discover Ireland Centre (across Beech St from Tesco) can book the boat trip (adult 17.50 euros) across Killarney Lakes. O'Donoghue's Boat Tours have been working the lakes for generations. Highly recommended, Dermot (and his dog, Sam) is a delight.

The morning bus leaves from outside the tourist office.

Summer can get crowded. We did this in mid May (only a handful of walkers).

Total cost for the day: 22.50 euros.

This day was probably the highlight of our trip to Ireland and Northern Ireland (followed by the Cliffs and Moher and the Causeway Coast).

We had plastic raincoats in our backpack, but we didn't need them.

The walk downhill

Approaching Ross Castle

A pleasant walk from Ross Castle back to Killarney. A popular route for "jaunting cars"

"The Name of the Rose" 2019 RAI TV mini series review

This is a totally satisfying adaption of Umberto Eco's 1980 masterwork. The 1986 film with Sean Connery was a mixed bag and a bit of a disappointment.
Even though this new version is a Italian/German production, the (mainly Italian) cast speak English.

John Turturro makes a perfect William of Baskerville, delivering the elegantly written lines with eloquence and grace. Damian Hardung (a 20 year old German actor, although he looks much younger) plays the friar's novice. This is definitely his 'break-out' role.
Rupert Everett (has he ever played such a sinister character?) portrays the Inquisitor, Bernardo Gui, the tortured, torturer.
The series is beautifully photographed, some of the interiors look like Renaissance masterpieces.
There are eight episodes, each episode being approximately 50 minutes.

"Madame Sin" (1972) - From the Video Vault

Like campy spy thrillers? This one was made as Bond-mania was waning. Casting the grand dame was a fun idea. Robert Wagner was a popular leading man, having just finished "It Takes a Thief".

Sir Lew Grade was throwing buckets of cash into film and television in the 1970's. "Madame Sin" was intended to be a television series (each week - another fiendish plot??). At the end of this pilot, the Madame Sin (Bette Davis - on brand - chewing the scenery) is planning to steal the Russian Crown Jewels as she eyes off Windsor castle as a future HQ.

Pros:
Scottish locations (Isle of Mull)
Brian Eatwell (Dr Phibes films) set decoration - a nod to Bond's Ken Adam (Madame Sin's lair is very "Dr No", it even has an underground aquarium).
Excellent  British supporting cast (plus Roy Kinnear has a funny cameo)

Cons:
Annoying electronic soundtrack
Even though it is under 90 minutes, the pacing is slow.
The scene with a deaf Wagner trying to communicate the villain's plans is either embarrassing or comic.
Some scenes seem to have been trimmed.

"Kingdom" 2019 Best series on Netflix at the moment?

Think an Oriental "Game of Thrones" meets "The Walking Dead".
With sumptuous production design, sweeping cinematography and suspenseful direction, this six part series is a winner. No wonder Season 2 is in the works. The show is adapted from the web-comic series "The Kingdom of the Gods".
The third episode's mass-zombie chase through the forest track was nail-bitingly good. The final episode in Season 1 was a mere 43 minutes, concluding with a cliff-hanger.

"Love Death and Robots" mini reviews

Alternate Histories - top episode, naughty but nice

Ice Age - delightful tone, nod to "Night at the Museum"

Zima Blue - high concept, shades of "Silent Running" (Hi, Dewey)

The Secret War - mini epic movie

Three Robots - jokey, black, written by a dog-person?

The Witness - pervy Hitchcock goes to Hong Kong, high art

Lucky 13 - sentimental, but gets away with it, looks like a computer game

Helping Hand - nod to "Gravity", incredibly suspenseful

Suits - enjoyable hokum "Starship Troopers" meets "The Real McCoys"

When the yogurt took over - high culture?

Good Hunting - steampunk porn

Fish Night - visually stunning

Shape Shifters - predictable but still impressive

The Dump - not rubbish, satisfyingly silly

Blindspot - for Speed Racer/Transformer fans

Sucker of Souls - Indian Jones meets Van Helsing 

Sonnie's Edge - grisly, for 13 year old boys?

Beyond the Aquila Rift - gorgeous to behold, but not much substance, welcome to Netflix.

5 reasons Bali is still a great destination

Legian sunset

Since the 1970's tourists have been flocking to the Indonesian island of Bali. Why do they return? Is Bali past its use-by-date? Here's why they keep on coming (a personal view):

• Ngurah Rai International Airport has finally got its act together. Passport control is a breeze. There is even an "Over 60 years booth". No Visa on Arrival (e.g. for Australian tourists) hassles.
• The morning swim/body surf at Legian Beach (before 7 a.m.). No surf schools, no glare, no hassle, just beach dogs, fishing boats on the horizon, great surf and misty Mount Agung to the north.
• Food. Cap cay or Gado-gado (around $A2 each) at the closest warung. Never quite the same, always delicious.
• Range of accommodation options (from $20 - $2000 a night)
• The people. Still friendly, great customer service with a cheeky sense of humour.

Stephen King's Elevation - review - Return to Castle Rock

 Small book, big ideas.

Stephen King has been writing for nearly 50 years. His work is more diverse and intriguing than ever. This little tale set in fictional Castle Rock, Maine, covers lots of ground: morality, prejudice, acceptance, community and the hereafter. It's pleasing to see this septuagenarian still heralds his liberal views.
King doesn't bother to try to explain Scott Carey's weird weight loss condition, it's not the point of the novella. A mundane incident (a neighbour's dog defecating on Scott's front lawn) turns into a poignant finale. The folksy illustrations are a delight.

Graham Norton's novels. Forget Scandi-Noir...try Mammy-Noir

 

Both "Holding" (2016) and "A Keeper" (2018) are both delightful reads.
Graham Norton is known as BBC top TV host, actor (2 episodes of "Father Ted"), The Telegraph's agony aunt, author of two autobiographies and a non-fiction book on 20th century gay icons. I did not expect the complexities of the characters, the poignancy of the situations or the intricately structured plots spanning several decades.
Both books capture Irish village life - numerous visits to the local pub, nattering in the general store and countless cups of tea being offered. Norton's love of West Cork comes through in "A Keeper" as well as his love of dogs. There is a touching bit midway through about a loyal dog's reaction to the death of his owner: "...how Dora the collie had continued to sleep on one of his old jumpers till death claimed her too..."
Love, disappointment, loss, secrets, motherhood and new challenges are recurring themes. Things get pretty dark in both novels and Norton knows how to build a cracking climax.

"The Chalet" Netflix's hidden gem

What a relief to watch a 6 part miniseries (each episode is around 50 minutes) where all is resolved so there's no chance of a second season. This French murder mystery is wildly improbable but after the first half hour you are hooked. The glorious scenery around Chamonix in the French alps contrasts with the dastardly doings of the villagers.
The chilling nursery rhyme and the model village (with rivers of blood in later credits) telegraphs to the viewer that things are going to get nasty. Alternating between two timelines (the summers of 1997 and 2017), we see what has happened to the villagers and their children. No spoilers here. Just enjoy the ride.

"He" by John Connolly

This is a far cry from Connolly's Charlie Parker novels. It's a fascinating insight into the Golden Age of Hollywood, as well as a recount of the rise and fall of the world's most famous comedy duo, Laurel and Hardy.
In his three room Santa Monica apartment, Stan Laurel looks back at his life - his early music hall days in England, sharing rooms and comedy material with Charlie Chaplin, working for Hal Roach, making silent movies, the transition to talking pictures, Hollywood scandals (Fatty Arbuckle, Charlie Chaplin, Thelma Todd), his disastrous love life (marriages, remarriages, four divorces, mistresses) and his enduring love and respect for Babe (Oliver Hardy).
It is a story of  loss - not just lost millions but lost opportunities and the loss of his faithful comedy partner.
At around 450 pages (containing over 200 short chapters), it's a quick read because it is such an engrossing subject.

"The Disappeared" C. J. Box - Joe Pickett #18 - A great winter-read

"Things almost got Western", remarks game warden, Joe Pickett, early in the book.
And they certainly do. Furnaces, fish-slapping, massive wind turbine projects, snow mobiles, cougars (the human kind), five star ranch resorts are in the mix this time. Nate Romanowski is back with a new form of interrogation (trout-slapping). It beats ripping off ears - used in earlier 'chats' with the local miscreants.
Concluding with a call from former-Governor Rulon, there is bound to be Joe Pickett #19.

Set in the middle of a bleak Wyoming (U.S.'s least populated state) winter, the reader is advised to snuggle up by an open fire with your favourite tipple.