"The Smallest Show on Earth", directed Basil Dearden

Movie, 1957

Cost British comedy in the Ealing mould about the little guy prevailing over the big American corporate, this time in the guise of a battle between two cinemas in a town in southern England. Some good scenes and nice settings, yes, although this is formulaic stuff, even if some of the supporting players act up a storm. A nice familiar whiff or moral ambiguity keeps things fairly interesting, though in fairness, and although charming, not a film to hold out for and make a real point of seeing. Nice entertainment, all the same.

"Faceless Killers" by Henning Mankell

Novel, 1991

In many ways, this is as formulaic a detective book as you could hope for; what sets it aside is the gloomy unrelenting atmosphere and sense of things breaking, from anti-hero Wallander's appalling diet, to the sense of a terrifying new world of race and other savage crimes to the bleak weather. Even the coffee's cold most of the time. The odd happier incident ensures the book isn't an outright mire, but there's a distinct lack of celebration in this compelling read which is all too often quashed by humanity.  

"Wonder Man", directed by H. Bruce Humberstone

Movie, 1945

Dark ingenious plot providing an early vehicle for Danny Kaye to squeak, pop, clicks and ga-humb-urdle his way through a pile of song and dance routines in addition to daft action situations. There's a lack of subtle sophistication and the Musical Theatre grates at times but still, this is top drawer entertainment. Even some of the singing works, most notably the opera singer who's beaten by his allergy to flowers. Terrific fun and sustained energy throughout; well worth a look unless Danny Kaye's really not your thing.

"Pop", by Kitty Aldridge

Novel, 2001

A novel which kicks off with some extraordinarily rich writing, which then flails and flags a little, but ends up delivering a satisfying whole. For the most part, this is an absorbing page turner, though it can feel as if plot points aren't resolved or somehow worked through to the kind of areas they may profitably be pushed into. Details of Midlands pub life are excellently sketched, though possibly distract from the more serious themes of loss and ambition. All in all, a cracking read.

"Harvey", directed by Henry Koster

Movie. 1950

An extraordinary film by contemporary standards, happily charting the story of a happy drunk by showing his endless charm and immunity to any of the downsides of alcoholism. Such is the disconnect, it's hard to offer a proper critique of what happens on the screen - the imaginary rabbit is quite possibly dispensible, the drunk's family are desperate human beings and the role of the sanitarium flips between being sinister oppression to a force for societal good. Too distracting to watch on a modern critical level.


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"Looper", directed by Rian Johnson

Movie, 2012

Time travel science-fiction thriller in which execution squads take care of people flipped back to them from the future. Within this framework, a thriller with a few fairly standard goings on (chases, a nemesis and a few characters unwittingly drawn but relevant to the plot) and a few more mythical, magical elements, though possibly entirely seamlessly accommodating Bruce Willis' action hero and the more interesting family drama. A bit juddery as a result, but well worth a watch.

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"The Man Who Came to Dinner", directed by William Keighley

Movie, 1942

Cracking, irreverant farce with a glorious procession of hard dyed stereotypes, gags, plot twists and situations which are as cruel as they are ridiculous. Presiding within and directing this cacophony, or so he'd like to think is main character, the wonderfully over the top, snarling Sheridan Whiteside. A grotesque beaut. A film like this, where every character except the slightly annoying male love interest, could easily have had a nervous breakdown, is pretty much beyond criticism. One to let wash over you and enjoy. It's also a rare example of an enclosed 'filmed play' which doesn't suffer from being set bound.