The Nuremberg Trials have been covered on the big and small screen many times over. It's an important story that should remain in our view, because, as the adage goes, those who don't learn from the past are bound to repeat it. This is an interesting and thought-provoking movie that looks at the process leading up to the trial, the back story to the first cases at Nuremberg which leads to the final outcome. It is based on Jack El-Hai's book, The Nazi and the Psychiatrist.
As war movies go, it's very good, taking into consideration more than the main players. It takes a look into authoritarianism and what can happen when people don't stand up for what is right. (Sound familiar?)
Rami Malek plays psychiatrist, Douglass Kelley, who is assigned to get to know the first round of First Reich prisoners to be tried, evaluating whether they are fit to stand trial. This includes Hermann Goering (Russell Crowe), Hitler's number two, a narcissist and egotist. Along with his translator, Howie (Leo Woodall) Kelley has the mammoth task of trying to understand these monsters of men.
In the background, Justice Robert Jackson (Michael Shannon) a judge of high standing, is asked to try these men. This has its own traps as the army, led by Colonel Andrus (John Slattery) and having to co-ordinate with the other nations, including Brit, Sir David Fyfe-Maxwell (Richard E Grant). The movie also looks at the machinations of bringing to justice men who have been responsible for the most heinous acts ever done by the human race.
This is a balanced film. There has been some embellishment for dramatic effect, however this is an engrossing film. Malek and Crowes performances are top notch - the rest of the cast are great too.
I particularly loved the sets and costumes, which drag you back to the 1940. Cinematographer Darius Wolski's view brings the recently bombed Nuremberg to life. Adding to this, Brian Tyler's haunting soundscape heightens the experience. Director James Vanderbilt's direction is assured, never letting the action drag and bringing in some light, ensuring the film doesn't get too depressing.
This film will get some Oscar nominations. It's a timely reminder of what unchecked power can do.
This is definitely worth a viewing on the big screen. It's not a perfect film, but it is a timely one.
Tonight was spent at somebody else's Christmas Party. It appears that other people's Christmas parties are better than the ones that you own yourself. In this case, a friend's band was playing. Said friend is a nurse. It was great watching my mate play as well as catching up with friends and taking in the diaspora of medicos. And why is the anaesthetist always on the keyboard and the drummer is an orthopaedic surgeon?
Regardless, it was a fun night. It's probably going to be the only Christmas Party I attend.
1) What was the scariest thing in the world to you when you were a kid? Does it still scare you now?
Snakes and huntsman spiders scared the hell out of me. Living in country Australia you have a good reason to be scared of snakes, especially as most snakes in Australia can kill you if they bite you. Huntsman spiders are just big and ugly, but they won't hurt you. I still hate them, but I can at least dispose of them with a can of big spray now.
2) Imagine your 12-year-old daughter (or granddaughter) is hosting a sleepover at your home. A sudden storm knocks out cellphone service, wifi and cable. How would you keep these suddenly unplugged pre-teens entertained?
I have no idea. I don't have kids. Maybe hope that my reading habits have worn off on them.
3) What piece of movie or TV memorabilia would you love to own?
I have enough crap around my place, but I do have a Vote for Pedro t-shirt, which I rather like. If you don't know about Napoleon Dynamite, you're missing out.
I wouldn't mind a t-shirt from The Princess Bride with a quote like, "As you wish...", "I do not think that means what you think it means", "Inconceivable!", or "My name is Inigo Montoya, you killed my father, prepare to die." You can't wear the last one in airports.
People don't have a sense of humour anymore.
4) You are gifted with the services of a personal assistant for four hours. What would you ask your assistant to do?
Oh, they would be sorting out my cloud accounts and getting them in order. They're a mess.
5) If literary characters were real, which one would you like to interview, and what would you ask?
I have no idea. Too many characters, too many questions. I could sit down with Billy Pilgrim, or Dorrigo Evans, or the main character from Miranda July's All Fours (that would be interesting - the first question would be "What's your bloody name!")
I wanted to love this movie. On paper, it looks great - wonderful cast, interesting story, a different take on things.
Unfortunately, it fell flat. Maybe some of this was I fell asleep for a few minutes early in the film. Perhaps it's the knowledge that it's going to be out on Apple + very soon and I could have saved myself the ticket price. Or it could be that the death of a friend earlier in the week has peppered my judgement a little. When I think about it, this will translate well to the smaller screen. It's certainly not a bad film. Maybe it didn't hit the spot on this viewing.
Regardless, the premise of this film in pretty simple. According to this universe, when you die, you go to a holding area where your soul gets to decide where you will spend your eternity - and there are lots of choices. We're introduced Joan and Larry, and elderly couple who are on their way to see relatives. We find out that Joan's time is coming to an end. Unexpectedly, Larry passes first and finds himself, in the form he was happiest, in this receiving room for new souls. Larry (Miles Teller) finds himself confronted by Joan's first husband Luke (Callum Turner) who died in the Korean War. Of course, Joan (Elizabeth Olsen) soon joins them, and the decisions need to be made. With whom will Joan choose to spend eternity with - her short-term husband from 67 years ago, or her long-standing partner Larry.
I found this a bit predictable, which is why I'm a little disappointed with this film. The concepts are sound - the whole set up that we get to choose our own version of heaven and all it entailed was great. The ACs (Afterlife Consultants) was funny as well as telling. Da'Vine Randolph and John Early provide some necessary laughs as the trio's AC.
Despite it being visually interesting, with great costumes and sets, Patrick Cunnane's script feels a little lacking and co-writer/director's effort makes this feel a little laboured. Thinking about other films with similar topics, like The Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind or Gattaca, this misses the mark by a mile. Yet, it will be a good inclusion when it comes onto Apple TV+ in the very near future.
A quick on tonight as I've spent far too long staring at a screen today.
But here are some modern-day conundrums.
1. How can the dentist charge nearly $200 for a checkup and clean that takes approximately 15-minutes? And yes, I do get that rent, insurance, hiring a dental nurse, equipment... but still. Thankfully, my health insurance extras covered a lot of it - but still...
Lucky he's been my dentist for nearly 20 years, and I've sent him some new regulars over the years.
2. Why does a day of what I call fiddly admin feel rewarding? A colleague and I had to send out nearly 200 emails between us today. A long story. Lots of manipulating spreadsheets and other stuff. But it felt good to do something mindless.
3. Why do I want to be able to do pushups on my toes?
4. Is it wrong to want to give your Uber driver 3 or 4 stars for no other reason other than they have B.O.? Due to tight timings, I caught an Uber back from the dentist. The driver was very nice. The car very clean. But he ponged. I gave him 5 stars regardless, but...
5. Is it law that when your cat crosses your keyboard you have to give him a kiss?
6. Is it okay to take blue cheese to a friend's place?
7. Should I let the book group know that so far, we don't have any Australian content on the list. This is not a good thing. I'm not trying to massage the list.
8.Why do I always have a split lip when I go to the dentist. Is this Sod's Law?
9. Why do I have the urge to clean out the cupboard in the spare room? Is this a sane idea?
10. How can I talk myself into doing my hip rehab exercises. Why is it so hard to get down on the floor?
11. Why do I still have the desire to fly off to Bali and do a sound healing accreditation?
After years of whining, I've done it! I've got a writing group! Yay!
It's been years in the making. I came out of the Faber Academy hoping that I'd get a writing group out of that, but what can I say - COVID - messed up everything.
Then last year, I approached a couple of friends hoping to get a writing group going, but then Darwin happened.
I know - excuses, excuses.
It took another try, after the Darwin contract was over, to get this happening.
Attending a friend's book launch and knowing that she was in a writing group with an acquaintance - a brilliant writer in her own right, that got me on track again.
Then, I ran into a mutual friend, somebody I know from the retreat. I mentioned that I was wanting to get a group going - for accountability, fellowship, to bounce ideas against... and probably to whine about my cat. She was open to it, especially as some of her works were getting published.
The friends that were contacted late last year got a message. A date was set. Then somebody else joined us. The new recruit was found at a writer's festival by one of the others.
Five is a good number. We could do with one more - but that is about it.
The date was set. The First Monday of the month. Timing is paramount as there are kids and animals and commutes home to work into things. We agreed on 8.30 p.m. AEST, 8.00 p.m. ACST (Adelaide time) and 5.30 p.m. AWST (Perth time)
Thankfully, we meet on Zoom.
And we're an unlikely group. An IT project manager, a lawyer, a doctor, a book editor and me.
Four of us have started projects. Interesting, engaging projects.
We've set down some rules. You don't have to share, but if you want to, keep it to under 3000 words for a thematic or structure review. (e.g. If you're sending work out, you give an idea of what you want to review - for me, I asked to have a look and see what they thought of the structure.). If you want a close edit - maximum 1000 words.)
But really, we're here for support and fellowship. Writing can be such an isolating activity, it's good to know that there are others out there who can be in the trench with you.
I'm feeling hopeful that the group which we've given the name the Happy Mondays, how much mischief can we, as a group of middle-aged women writers, get into?
"We've just heard from down the street. Bruce is no more. He died yesterday. His family are dealing with it the best they can."
My reaction was, "NOOOOOOO, not Bruce!"
Bruce was my mate.
We didn't see each other very often, but we had meaningful interactions when we did catch up. He could be flighty. He could be stroppy. He could be aloof. But he was my mate, Bruce.
I should also say that Bruce was a fat, black cat who lived around the corner would bale you up for a pat on the way to the tram stop or on the way home.
This afternoon, I went down the street to where Bruce lived. Sure enough, his dad had attached a sign to the mailbox notifying the neighbourhood of his demise.
So sad.
Bruce liked to be of a man of mystery. You'd not see him for ages, then you'd run into him regularly. Thinking about it, not going into the office as much meant that we didn't get to see each other.
Thinking about it, he'd have to be well into his dotage - he had to be at least 15-years-old.
But over the years, I've looked forward to walking home from the tram only to meet this chubby, black terrorist of a cat, demanding a pat before letting me through.
He was a friend to many, but if he didn't like you, he'd let you know.
He was a unique personality - then again, all cats have their own personality. It's just this one has been patrolling the street around the corner for many years.
So, vale, Bruce. We know you're up there sucking up to one and all, tormenting your new slave, like you tormented the last one. (He was very good at having his dad buy him new wet food, only to dismiss it after he brought in a pallet of the stuff.) You certainly made the streets of Richmond feel a little more welcoming. You were loved by many and won't be forgotten.
