"Crack-Up", directed by Irving Reis

Movie, 1946

Largely effective B-movie mystery concerning efforts to discredit and silence an outspoken art critic at a New York Museum. While not a hugely promising premise and despite an odd take on the merits of modern art, some very occasional slack pacing and questionable plot switches, this is an atmospheric film which delivers most of the time. The mystery element is a little lame, but the noir photography and set pieces make for some tension along the way. Far from a classic, but as a diversion on a wet afternoon, viewers could do a lot worse than this. 

"Our Sister Killjoy", by Ama Ata Aidoo

Novel, 1977

Part verse, part epistolary narrative of Ghanian women who are puzzled and appalled when taken on a trip around the First World. While the narrative and structure make this quite a tricky book to follow, the conflicts and juxtapositions between socio-economic forces and behaviours make a case for respecting and appreciating the role of Africa in the development of the world. Places and sentiments leap out at times but are mired at others, with the different sections of this short book apparently quite arbitrary. An interesting, instructive read however - not only for the different perspective, but also for the variations and use of different forms.

"The Day the Earth Stood Still", directed by Robert Wise

Movie, 1951

Cold War science fiction film which despite its reliance on formulae, repetitive stock footage (or what looks like stock footage) and fairly rudimentary special effects, sets down a message which focuses less on the reds under the bed and more on the innate human quality for self rather than mutual destruction. As a result, the film is pretty bleak and can feel preachy, but must have seemed nuanced at the time of its release. It still carries a punch in 2017. Overlook the naivety here and there, fall into the period and this is an enjoyable, cautionary tale.

"He Never Died," directed by Jason Krawczyk

Movie. 2015

Downbeat, comedic and, in places, moving zombie film, which brings some interesting touches to a well-worn genre. Chief among these is the casting of Henry Rollins and his largely successful portrayal of the film's anti-hero, particularly in his emotionally compromised interactions with the two main female characters. With a more coherent plot and a few tweaks on the gore and some of the more ill-judged 'humour' set-pieces, this could have been a very good film. As it is, it's fine, but ultimately not as satisfying as it could have been.

"The Case of the Late Pig," by Margery Allingham

Novel, 1937

Lively novel combining crime and mystery, with the familiar characters Campion and Lugg on the side of good, with an unfolding set of events and circumstances which lead to an ever-increasing sense of the inhuman and the grisly. The dead seem to come back to life, local police are found wanting in capability and there are other twists and turns en route. This is a light read mixing dappy behaviour with the macabre and jolly entertaining into the bargain. Nothing hugely compelling, but excellently diverting, all the same.

"Several Perceptions", by Angela Carter

Novel, 1968

Pithy, unsentimental and wonderfully charged romance of sorts in a very down at heel late 1960s England. A book in which Carter presents psychologically spoiled tramps, prostitutes and other folk struggling but firing off an undeniably vitality, even when they're at their most lonely and vulnerable. The opening is superbly wordy-evocative and the book maintains a tension and intrigue throughout. A possible case of a sketch of characters rather than exploration of society, but this is too good a book to unduly criticise in such a way. 

"Look Who's Back," by Timur Vermes

Novel, 2012

A book about Hitler's exploits after the Fuhrer wakes up on a patch of ground in Berlin in 2011. This is a confusing and frustrating book, translation or both; the early scenes and situations flicking too awkwardly between those where Hitler realises nearly 70 years have passed since his incarceration in his bunker to those where he forgets. The satire picks up as the book goes along and delivers a cautionary tale - it just doesn't seem particularly well written, which dampens its impact.

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