Bridge

Tonight, 48.40%, 8/15

The Monuments Men

A small unit of art related experts is recruited into the army to accompany the Normandy landings in 1944 with the task of recovering artwork stolen by the Nazis for return to their lawful owners.

'The Monuments Men' is based on true events. George Clooney is the Director, a co-Producer, a co-Writer and the leading actor in the film. I suggest that this was at least one role to many for George. To paraphrase Groucho Marx; George Clooney has made a great movie....but this wasn't it.

The story of the stolen artwork and the efforts to recover it from its hiding places on the face of it should make for an interesting film but unfortunately this one is a dud. Scenes intended to portray tense situations lack tension, scenes of superficially humorous situations lack humour and despite a talented cast none of them engaged me sufficiently to care for their characters.

Scenes pass by like a series of barely connected vignettes. Are the soldiers concealed in the bushes friends or foe? I couldn't tell. A Christmas scene seems completely misplaced. I think George aimed high but the outcome falls short.
★★

Afternoon storm

Approaching...

Approaching...

Arrived...

Fifteen minutes later...

...all clear

Caveat emptor

To update on our search for a New York City vacation apartment we eventually settled on one with our preferred location, price range and facilities. It fell to me to book the apartment online because CW happily lives without a personal computer, mobile phone or other 21st century accoutrements and CZ has advanced technically only as far as a Blackberry with miniature dimensions quite unsuitable for internet interaction given the stubby nature of his fingers and thumbs.

We knew from our research that a reasonable cleaning fee might be an added charge and also a bond against damage might be asked from us. There also were generalised references to a club membership but no reference to any charges regarding that so I guess we assumed that was a free formality. Otherwise we weren't expecting to be charged significantly more than the quoted tariff.

That proved to be a miscalculation. A little miscalculation in the order of nearly 100%! When I entered the booking online the (true) cost appeared. On top of the advertised tariff was added a cleaning fee and damage bond - as predicted - but in addition to these was;

• a club membership fee
• sales tax
• a New York State unit fee
• a New York City occupancy tax
• a New York City occupancy/room tax, and
• a processing fee

The total charge approached double the advertised amount and those taxes were particularly interesting to me given the supposedly illegal activity of offering vacation apartments.

So it was back to the drawing board until we found another apartment to our liking which did not require a club membership and which does not list any of the taxes. We are booked in, deposit paid and looking forward to our visit.

This, more or less, is where we will spending two weeks next September.

So, beware the hidden taxes and fees. Reasonably priced accommodation can be found online.

The site we found easiest to search online was airbnb but the one we found our eventual accommodation through was VRBO.

Adieu QM2

The photo taken with a zoom lens is a little blurred and may not be clear to those unfamiliar with Sydney. Taken from my balcony this evening around 9.15pm the photo shows the funnel and top decks of Queen Mary 2 as it pulls away from its berth at the Overseas Passenger Terminal in Circular Quay. The Harbour Bridge is to its port side and the Sydney Opera House is to starboard. The buildings in the foreground are in Potts Point. The zoom lens compresses the image concealing two bays, Farm Cove and Woolloomooloo Bay, that lie between the Opera House and Kings Cross.

You can click on the photo to enlarge it.

Que Sera Sera

It was something Andrew wrote - but I can't recall now just what it was - that made me think of writing (well, typing actually) this post.

When I commenced this blog just over six years ago I named it unimaginatively, after short consideration, Someone For Me, the name it continues to bear to this day. As an unattached man at the time I thought the blog might provide the opportunity to expand my network of friends and, in particular, to uncover that special someone to share my senior years.

Well, to date that special someone has not been revealed to me through the blog but I have made some fine new cyber friends; a few of whom I have met in reality and not just virtually. They include the aforementioned Andrew and his dignified partner R. Then there is Adaptive Radiation and his easy going partner Nathan. And I mustn't forget the gorgeous Evol Kween who sadly no longer publishes his blog but who still silently stalks mine (in the nicest way possible, of course).

I once sat next to 'Swede-ophile' James on a Sydney bus and we recognised each other from our blog photos and although our paths don't seem to cross otherwise I happily regard him as a friend as I follow his activities online.

There are others I haven't met in person who comment occasionally or email me and I value those contacts infrequent and virtual though they may be.

Maybe a Someone For Me will still emerge but I am content with my life and as the song goes, 'what will be, will be'.

12 Years A Slave

This year's Academy Award winning Best Picture, '12 Years A Slave', is based on the experiences of Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor) a free man who was kidnapped and sold into slavery.

The film opens with Northup already in servitude. A short flashback sequence then provides images of his family life as a free man and in general terms how he was kidnapped. From that point the film focusses intently on life as a slave.

I had held off seeing this film, released in Australia some time ago, because I felt the material would be harrowing to view and that's how it transpired. Director, Steve McQueen, has crafted a stunning film that relentlessly reveals the shocking abuse inflicted on those in servitude. The images, shocking enough in themselves, are made all the more powerful, book ended as they are by static images that are almost portrait and landscape works of art in appearance. It is as though McQueen is daring the audience to watch whilst the camera lingers for uncomfortably long periods on the sickening behaviour.

Ejiofor retains an almost saintly dignity throughout in a performance commendably devoid of excess theatrics but I found the pick of the performers to be Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong'o and Paul Dano. The only discordant aspect in casting is that of Brad Pitt in a short but key cameo near the end which smacks of celebrity tokenism.

Whilst the events depicted in the film date back to the 19th Century I could not help but reflect on current day injustices - some sadly not too far from home - where humanity remains badly lacking.

This film is not an entertainment but it is an important reality check on past and present instances of discrimination, abuse and intolerance. The lessons of history which we never seem to learn.
★★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 55.00%, 3/14

Let's break the law

Do you know it is illegal to rent an apartment for a short vacation in New York City? I'm not sure about the specific conditions but this was information that came to light when I started to search accommodation online for a planned visit in September.

I gather the law is a response to demand from apartment complex owners who view their properties as lowered in value by the flow of transient visitors. I imagine the hotel industry would also be in favour of such laws to protect their high priced accommodation business.

Anyway, despite this law, online accommodation services list literally thousands of apartments in New York City for vacation rentals.

My visit to New York is to link up with friends CZ and CW who will be on their way back to Sydney following a vacation with relatives in Canada. The three of us will splurge on a fortnight of Broadway theatre attendance.

When I told them of my 'discovery' of this ban on vacation rentals both shrugged their shoulders. Oh yes, they know it is illegal but everybody does it, they told me, so of course we will too.

The online search is proving interesting. I will post updates shortly.

Bridge

Tonight, 41.70%, 13/14

Le Week-End

A British couple travel to Paris to celebrate their thirtieth wedding anniversary. So accustomed and comfortable are they in each other's company that endearments and criticisms are exchanged in equal measure without any disruption to the flow of their relationship or activities. Both are in a reflective mood and neither is happy with what they see especially once they find themselves invited to a dinner party.

'Le Week-End' presents this as a drama with humorous touches. Jim Broadbent and Lindsay Duncan are at times irresponsible and irritating yet they remain believable and endearing as a couple who continue to endure the ups and downs of a long term relationship. Jeff Goldblum is the poncey, over the top intellectual full of faux self deprecation whose dinner party - attended by similarly snobby dinner guests - sparks the resolving realisation in Broadbent and Duncan's future.

The film has delicious glimpses of Paris and of Parisian restaurant, cafe and museum lifestyles.

There are some uneven moments and the plot demands the occasional suspension - perhaps stretching - of belief but overall I enjoyed this film a lot.
★★★★

Once in Royal David's City

Belvoir Street Theatre

'Once in Royal David's City', a new play by Michael Gow, explores theories about the theatrical style of Bertolt Brecht and political theories about class wars between the ruling and working classes.

Will (Brendan Cowell) is a theatrical director who is invited to teach theatre to school students. Still suffering bereavement from his father's recent death and further stressed by the poor health of his mother Will is weighed down by the meaning of life's struggles.

This is a wonderfully well acted work by an ensemble of eight performers on a bare stage which uses moments of lightness and humour to ask the very serious question 'why is it so'?

Brendan Cowell is outstanding.
★★★★

Bridge

Tonight 48.50%, 10/17

Bridge

Tonight, 43.40%, 10/12

Carmen

Opera Australia

Georges Bizet's opera Carmen tells the tale of the Spanish soldier who turns his back on his career, family and girlfriend all for his doomed infatuation with a cigarette factory worker and part time smuggler, Carmencita.

In so many of the most popular operas including, Aida, La Traviata, La Boheme, Tosca, Madama Butterfly and Turandot one or more characters die. In all of those I usually have a sense of sympathy or sadness for the death(s) especially when the opera has been well sung and acted by the performers.

I rarely, in fact I think never, have that sense of sympathy for the inevitable climactic death in Carmen. For close to three hours I will have sat through what I think is some of the most glorious music in opera but in those last ten minutes or so with Don Jose pleading his love Carmen I invariably have a sense of irritation. Just face facts Jose, I think to myself, and get on with the job. After all, Carmen is a self interested opportunistic seductress and Jose is a weak and unfaithful man. Why should I feel kindly to either?

Opera Australia's production has a nice appearance in terms of the set, the chorus and the major support singers but I felt a little let down by the three principal singers. Close my eyes and Bradley Daley makes for an accomplished Jose with a strongish voice but open my eyes and he is poor fit with Milijana Nikolic's Carmen. Ms Nikolic is an Amazon by comparison and sadly for Daley almost every other male on stage is taller, leaner and more dashing than he. Ms Nikolic possesses a deep voice that was not entirely to my taste in this role. Shane Lowrencev seemed in less than peak form this weekend as Escamillo. Arriving on stage by horse, I think the horse won.

I've enjoyed other productions of Carmen more than this one. Perhaps others in the audience felt differently from me as the concluding ovation seemed pretty enthusiastic.
★★★

Here comes the rain again

Rain moving up harbour this morning

Queenly delicious

As promise earlier, a closer photograph of Queen Elizabeth, still dressed in the Mardi Gras outfit donned in the morning, berthed at Circular Quay as viewed in the rain from the forecourt of the Sydney Opera House.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

The berth had been vacated just prior to dawn by Costa Deliziosa which moved to anchor mid harbour off Athol Bay. I snapped the following photograph of Costa Deliziosa at anchor through the glass of the North Bar of the Sydney Opera House during interval of the matinee performance of 'Carmen' earlier this afternoon.

Large groups of passengers from both the vessels were on escorted tours throughout the Opera House during the day.

Costa Deliziosa sails from Sydney tomorrow evening at 6pm followed by Queen Elizabeth at 9pm. That allows passengers from both vessels to view tonight's Mardi Gras Parade if they wish to brave the rain and the crowds. Judging by the age and looks of the passengers I saw around the Opera House today I suspect their participation in the Parade, even as observers, will be most unlikely.

The Queens are back in town

Plenty of Queens descend upon Sydney at this time of year with the annual Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras parade to be staged tonight.

Arguably the largest Queen visiting for the Mardi Gras arrived in Sydney this morning; fashionably late. By my assessment, Queen Elizabeth entered Sydney Harbour two hours behind schedule according to the Sydney Ports site cruise schedule.

(Click photos to enlarge)

Queen Elizabeth sailing up Sydney Harbour this morning

Moments after the above photo was taken, Her Majesty paused just off Bradleys Head for about fifteen minutes. The reason for the pause was not evident to me until she recommenced her journey up harbour to her berth at Circular Quay. It appears Her Majesty paused to don her Mardi Gras outfit.

Queen Elizabeth and her 'Happy Mardi Gras' outfit

I will be at Circular Quay this afternoon to attend the matinee performance of 'Carmen' at the Opera House and will try to remember to take a close up photo of Her Majesty at her berth for posting later tonight. Maybe Her Majesty will have donned yet another colourful outfit?

Happy Mardi Gras everyone!

Non-Stop

A security air marshall springs into action when he receives death threats against passengers whilst on a trans-Atlantic flight.

'Non-Stop' demonstrates that its mettle and style are all encapsulated in its title by diving straight into the plot without opening credits and then racing with increasing velocity to its somewhat fanciful climax. It is a reasonably thrilling trip with virtually every speaking cast member a suspect at some time or other before the eventual reveal of the perpetrator (or perpetrators).

The trip is best enjoyed with your brain power switched off else you notice and wonder over the canyon size plot holes and in that event this amounts to a superior thriller and 'who-will-dunnit'. I imagine, though, airlines will not rush to show this film on their flights.

Liam Neeson does his thing with a display of superhuman stamina. It is humorous to see that Downton Abbey's Lady Mary Crawley (Michelle Dockery) has survived into the 21st Century as a cabin steward. What an ironic fate for this former British aristocrat. Sadly (or fittingly) it falls to her to utter the film's most ridiculous line (in view of where it is placed in the plot) 'All passengers and crew accounted for, Sir'.

Fasten your seat belts, switch off your brain and you likely will enjoy the flight.
★★★1/2

Bridge

Tonight, 42.40%, 12/13