h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

Yes usual sleep probs...

Mind you I just watched a hugely affecting, Romantic and brilliant film called Wings of a Dove, based on one of Henry James' novels, (one of my favourite authors).

The deep tender feelings resulting have now over shadowed any silliness associated with Arsenal losing a footie match. Blimey it was good.

Crikey I'm a complicated so and so.



What stuff do you like watching? In terms of film, drama etc?

I used to have a poster up from Wings of a Dove. Great film, and great poster.

I adore period dramas. Some of the ones I own are Elizabeth, Immortal Beloved, Dangerous Beauty, Restoration, Room with a View, Amadeus, Flambards, Dangerous Liasons, and Pride and Prejudice. I love costumes combined with great cinematography. Restoration flopped at the box office, but I loved it. Meg Ryan plays a character in it who is probably bipolar. Both Amadeus (about Mozart) and Immortal Beloved (about Beethoven) tear me up to watch them, they are so tragic, but so well filmed. I have a giant Elizabeth poster on my wall now -- Cate Blanchett with that stunning red hair and those piercing blue eyes. Dangerous Beauty was an unusual film about a courtesan in Venice attacked by the Inquisition -- that one was based on a true story too.

I like more than period stuff of course. I like fantasy, science fiction, comedy, and romance. I majored in filmmaking in college, so moviegoing is something of a major hobby.

Oh goodness yes I'm with you over some you've mentioned. Amadeus, Dangerous Liasons, Room with a view, (Based on EM Forster's novel, another favourite author) Elizabeth.

I quite like the period and costume thing too, but only if it is top class, acting, complexity of emotion, and thought provoking. I'm incredibly fussy about what *I* consider to be quality.

Have you ever seen 'A Portrait of a Lady' also based on a Henry James novel, starring Nicole Kidman and Barbara Hershey? That's one of my all time fave novels and films. The film is interesting in that emphasises the complexity of the female characters' relationships, a bit more than the novel. It's directed by the excellent Kiwi director, Jane Campion. I love it when it's not just a film of the book but an artform in its own right.

I also have a wide range of enjoyment of all sorts of other genres. It's quality I like - not neccessarily just the type of film. I'm a great fan of David Cronenberg and Stanley Kubrick.

And yes I'm still thinking about 'Wings of a Dove' today. But I've forgotten the football, thank goodness.

Hey JEllen, I've just re-read your space. I did when you first contacted me, but I was a bit all over the place then as you know, so I'd forgotten.

Yes I see you are most defo a fan of film/movies.

Quite agree on Ralph Fiennes. It was really sad that Anthony Mingella died recently, the director of 'The English Patient' (I love that film). He seemed universally loved and respected.



As an aside, what do you think of 'A Clockwork Orange'?

Clockwork Orange is a really well made, powerful film. But I do find some scenes in it highly disturbing. And I do wonder how much of the strength of the film comes from the incredible synth-Beethoven music. But there are scenes that stick in the mind and haunt you, and that is a mark of a good film.

I've been painting some preparatory sketches for my sister's painting. Going well so far; the colors are gorgeously rich. Such a shame that some colors take 3 weeks to dry. It does slow one down a bit.

PS I don't think I saw Portrait of a Lady.

Oh you must try to see 'A Portrait of a Lady'. It's not that well known I think. It also stars John Malkovitch, a real favourite of mine. I think you'd really love it.



I really love a 'Clockwork Orange'. I don't take the violence literally but as an expression of youthful intense adolescent rage with the established order. I love the costumes of the gang and the weird language that Alex speaks. The expression 'ultraviolence' seems so appropriate. I think because when I was younger and still a bit now I have such intense inner feelings of rage, the film kind of acts cathartically for me.

Rather than the camp violence of the gang, I am far more disturbed by what is chillingly done to him by the state, almost like a concentrtaion camp thing. And of course by snuffing out his violence his love of Beethoven is also destroyed. At least the ending is optimistic for Alex.

Yes it is disturbing but ultimately wonderful. I'll be upfront and admit it's one of my all time favourite films. It is ultimately psychological I think rather that literal.

Hi! I'm trying to stay awake for a few more hours. It's beautiful here, a most absolutely fine Spring day. I'll have to add Portrait of a Lady to my Netflix queue. Any others you recommend?

Ed's coming over to comment on Clockwork...

>>Rather than the camp violence of the gang, I am far more disturbed by what is chillingly done to him by the state

'Camp violence' - I like that. I was just telling JEllen that an important thing to note is that it's a very funny film. It's gruesome comedy violence. The scene which had me open-mouthed at its sheer audacity was the operatic rape scene in the theatre.

Burgess' main theme is always Catholicism. Free Will etc. He has that in common with Greene (cf Brighton Rock; The Heart of the Matter; etc.) - except that his has Mancunian camp overtones. (although he was straight). Odd that when he was in Malaya he nearly converted to Islam. He's one of my very favourite authors.

(btw...Alex's social worker is clearly modelled on Burgess)

Do you know the story about how Malcolm McDowell's eye was painfully injured when they filmed the Ludovico treatment scene? When Kubrick was told, his reaction was,
'Can we shoot on the other eye?'
He almost killed Shelley Duvall from stress and overwork during The Shining, too. It was how he got the effect he wanted.

In a way, I benefited from Kubrick's self-imposed UK ban. I saw it a couple of times in Canada, then not again until it got it's theatre re-release over here. It needs a big screen. Especially for the unsurpassed opening dolly-out shot.

Hi Ed

Yeah I've always found that scene where they do that technique to his eyes, and start brain washing him, easily the most disturbing, being basically cold and calculating, in the film.

Yes all the theatrical violence of the boys is what people focus on, as much for the incident in real life where some thugs supposedly were inspired by the film. And of course Kubrick's own decision to ban it.

And I love the optimistic ending, even if we are left wondering what that may suggest about Alex in the future.

Y'know what?

'American Pie' is a rather sweet movie. I'd not seen it before tonight.

I got to see some excellent paintings today -- some by Mary Cassatt, and some by Chagall. They were in a rather uneven exhibit that had some great pieces, most good, but some weak. Lots of different artists, mostly Impressionists.




Came home and painted.

Oh, Cassat is good! A rare example of a woman who got to paint. The Gwen John of her day.

And as for Chagall...last time we were in Germany, we made a pilgrimage to see his stained glass in Mainz. Hell - why can't an Atheist appreciate a Jew depicting Christian themes?

Chagall always reminds me of Stanley Spencer's Cookham Dean paintings. Although with Spencer...I prefer his Clydeside stuff. And his nudes of both his wives. There's a great one of his (unofficial) wife in the Fitzwilliam in Cambridge, with him looking on...err...watching.

*googles Spencer*

You don't know Spencer? You're in for a treat!

http://www.fitzmuseum.cam.ac.uk/pharos/collection_pages/20th_pages/PD.966-1963/PIC_SE-PD.966-1963.html

I just knew you'd be a fan of Spencer, Ed

Hey JEllen I have a list of my favourite films I've written down that I like. It's by no means comprehensive, and many you will know and have seen in any case.

I'll get on the case tomorrow...

Yeah I'll mention a few British films I really like, some quite old, but some of my favourites. There was an excellent season of British films, last summer here, on TV.
I don't know how easy there'll be for you to get hold of?

(1)2 films directed by Lindsay Anderson:

'This Sporting Life' and
'If'

(2) 2 Pinter films:

'The Pumpkin Eaters' and
'The Go Between'

(3) 3 Michael Powell films:

'Peeping Tom' and
'Gone to Earth'
'Canterbry Tales'

(4) 'Henry V' starring Larence Olivier
The old black and white, 'Wuthering Heights'

Both these films star a young and incredibly handsome Lawrence Olivier

(5)'Farenheight 451'

More recent British films;

(6) 'The Garden' Derek Jarman

(7) 'Wit' starring Emma Thompson

(8) 'Brazil' directed by Terry Gilliam A stupendous surreal film

(9) 'Heaven' starring Cate Blanchett. A joint British and Italian film

(10)All Hitchcock films.

That'll do for now. It's by no means comprehensive, but some maybe films you've not come across. And as I say I have no idea how easy they maybe for you to get hold of.

>>I just knew you'd be a fan of Spencer, Ed

Explain? I'd be interested to know your opinion of Spencer.