Sunday, January 22, 2012

The Talented Mr Ripley

Based on the novel by Patricia Highsmith, which I read many years ago, and could barely remember the details - simply that Ripley turns out to be a rather unpleasant character.  The film's plot is here.

Tom Ripley is very well portrayed by Matt Damon, with Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf and Gwyneth Paltrow as his girlfriend, Marge.

Herebert Greenleaf, a New York shipping magnate pays Ripley to go to Europe to persuade his spoilt playboy son, Dickie to return to the US.   He insinuates himself into Dickie's life, and eventually, after a row in a boat, he kills Dickie and dumps the body overboard - we're not quite sure whether it's premeditated murder.  He then assumes Dickie's identity and the rest of the film consists of the way he deceives others, and ends up with some of Dickie's inheritance, but looking forward to a life of loneliness and deception.

Friday, January 20, 2012

God Collar - Marcus Brigstocke

An entertaining and thoughtful examination of why Marcus Brigstocke is a reluctant atheist - covering such topics as how the world's great religions - the Abrahamic ones - despise women, abuse power, and are generally not very nice, yet at the same time many people find comfort, comradeship and happiness within them.

Along the way we learn quite a lot about Marcus himself.  An excellent read.

Sunday, January 15, 2012

The Ghost - Robert Harris

Another page-turner from Harris - it's the 'Blair' autobiography one.   Makes you wonder how close it gets to the truth - of course Adam Lang ends up assassinated, but . . .

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Revolutionary Road

Di Caprio is a better actor than I gave him credit for.  Film recording the break-down of a marriage and the loss of illusions/delusions. In spite of the general increasing desperation there are also some very funny episodes.

Joanne Harris - The Blue-eyed Boy

Dark parody of the goings on on an online writing site, plus a look into dysfunctional families and parent-child relationships.

The usual brilliant writing, word-play, sensual descriptions and the like.