We're in the money

Periodic visit to the financial advisor today. His business has moved. Same building as before but on Level 28 now instead of the previous Level 22.

As you can imagine spectacular views from Botany Bay and Sydney Airport to the northern suburbs and out west to the Blue Mountains. And all that just from the western side of the office.

Viewed from the foyer and meeting room this office is larger than the previous one. Not as darkly tasteful as previously. Bright lights and minimalist decor.

The new advisor handling my account - very cute, by the way - was quick to mention the landlord paid for the fit-out in order to retain them as tenants. No doubt this was to allay any concern I might harbour that my mighty wealth was frittered on their accommodation.

The new name of the advisory business includes the words 'Wealth Partners'.

My wealth, they partner.

The Age of Adaline

The combination of a road accident and freak weather incident leave Blake Lively ageless. Basically she is stuck at 28 with those looks and appearance, which is a problem for her in 'The Age of Adaline'. For one thing, now at 107, she still attracts lustful approaches from men in their thirties. Furthermore her own daughter, aged 84, looks like her grandmother and youthful policemen don't believe her when she shows them her birthday endorsed drivers licence. First world problems as the current saying goes.

I can forgive implausible film plots when delivered in an entertaining way, or with striking effect or in some innovative manner. But Adaline's plot clothed in dreamy romantic images in and around San Francisco lacks logic and the eventual outcome is so ludicrous as to border on the distasteful.
★★

Sunset over Walcha

Sunset over Walcha

Flying back from Brisbane last Saturday evening I took this photo of the lovely sunset with my iPhone. Interestingly although the camera was set to the required Airplane mode the phone still registered the location where the photo was taken. The lights of the town of Walcha can just be seen left of centre.

Although we were already in descent into Sydney the aeroplane's cabin lights were not dimmed as seems usual practice. Consequently the reflection from inside the cabin is visible in the photograph.

Bridge

Tonight, 40.50%, 7/7

Panthers Pool Party

A quick overnight visit to Brisbane to catch up with friends. We saw the Broncos versus Panthers NRL match. The Panthers team stayed at my hotel and some of their players enjoyed a post match wind down in the hotel's spa.

Clouds of Sils Maria

An ageing actress (Juliette Binoche) is asked to appear in a revival of play in which she launched her career twenty years previously as the ingenue but this time to portray the older of the play's two protagonists. Whilst staying in the Swiss Alps the actress rehearses her role with her young assistant in circumstances where the delineation between the fictional play and reality become increasingly blurred.

'Clouds of Sils Maria' is a film packed with dense dialogue. I found it hard going at times and had difficulty maintaining my attention. However the acting, especially from Binoche and Kristen Stewart as the assistant is excellent.

The scenery in the Alps is simply stunning and the musical soundtrack quite sublime.
★★★1/2

Avengers: Age of Ultron

Not a clue, no idea, nada, nothing. Most of the time I had no idea just what is happening in Avengers: Age of Ultron but then not many would be tempted to see the film for its plot. Ultron is some cyberspace form of peace movement which has been hijacked for evil purposes.

In this comic book universe the goodies battle the baddies for the restitution of the peace cyber. None of the goodies takes themselves too seriously as is reflected in the occasionally witty dialogue which helps lift this genre film above the average.

The effects are super impressive, the music soundtrack is ominous and the sound is...well...noisy. Very noisy.
★★★★

Bridge

Tonight, 50.20%, 7/17

Fog horns

Fog horns sounding on the harbour this morning signalling the end of two major rain 'events' and the return (when fog clears) of sunny conditions.

Bridge

Tonight, 55.60%, 3/7

Elsa and Fred

'Elsa and Fred' are seniors living alone in adjacent apartments. One has withdrawn from active life whilst the other is outgoing and inquisitive.

This American remake of a Spanish film has echoes of the original's European sensibilities. Predictable but still entertaining this is a film for the over 60s (or thereabouts).
★★★1/2

Testament of Youth

I have to confess that I'd never heard of Vera Brittain nor of her book from which the film 'Testament of Youth', a World War 1 period piece of the type which the British do so well, is adapted.

The film chronicles the wartime experiences of Ms Brittain, her family and several suitors.

The film is beautifully acted and contains stunning images. I felt like I'd spent two hours in an art gallery after seeing it.
★★★★

Jumpy

Sydney Theatre Company

The chief protagonists in 'Jumpy' are a fifties something mother and her fifteen years old daughter. They don't see eye to eye over nearly everything and are engaged in an endless battle of wits. Peripheral characters are the girl's father, the mother's female friend, the parents of the daughter's boyfriend and a couple of other friends of the daughter.

The program notes suggest this play is more than the comedy it appears on the surface to be. Apparently it is also a commentary on post Thatcher Britain. If so, I didn't get any of that from this production.

From the audience reaction at the performance I attended those who got most from the play were women who I guess could relate to the mother/teenage daughter representations. The males in the audience mainly remained quiet.

Even as comedy I thought this play missed the mark. The performers certainly tried hard but I wasn't impressed.

The set design which has furniture items sliding across stage by remote control through endlessly opening and closing walls seemed at times like a Swiss cuckoo clock gone berserk on steroids. It was a distraction.
★★

At intermission.....

Anzac images on the pylons of the Harbour Bridge

Sydney Opera House

Bridge

Tonight, 54.00%, 6/17

Endgame

(Sydney Theatre Company)

I am the last person in the world one should turn to for an explanation of a Samuel Beckett play. In 'Endgame' a master and his servant are engaged in conversation whilst (the ghosts of?) the master's parents exist in dustbins nearby.

I suppose plays like this have what ever meaning you see in them or if you are like me who can see no specific meaning you just go along for the ride.

Hugo Weaving and Tom Budge are excellent as master and servant respectively in this Sydney Theatre Company production.
★★★

Fun and games at the football

An unusual event at the Anzac Day Roosters v Dragons National Rugby League match yesterday. Play was suspended for thirty minutes when a severe storm hit the ground. It wasn't just the torrential rain which made play difficult enough and flooded parts of the field within minutes but the lightning and heavy hail which forced the players from the field.

The temperature dropped from 25.9º to 14.4º.

Anzac Day commemoration pre-game

The storm hits and the crowd scatters for shelter

Rain in the lights

Players return after the storm interruption

For the record: Full time Roosters 12 Dragons 14.

Anzac Day

Lest We Forget

The Longest Ride

Nicholas Sparks as writer and film producer has created the formula for a goldmine. Eleven of his seventeen romance novels have been adapted into feature films. The tenth of these, 'The Longest Ride', has recently been released in Australia. The ten films released so far have grossed over $834,000,000 worldwide.

The five films I have seen all have storylines constructed to the same template.

A romantic locale. ✔️
An idyllic locale. ✔️
Two grand romances. ✔️
Set them years, decades even, apart. ✔️
Participants have flawless and/or striking appearances. ✔️
Heroes are strong silent types. ✔️
Inject a personal tragedy or two. ✔️
Reveal a twist connection between the romances near the end. ✔️
Season with a couple of deaths.✔️

Voila. You have the McDonalds of storytelling.

'The Longest Ride' comes off the template processing line, formed to the standard.
★★★

It takes fortitude...

....to see out the television series 'Fortitude'.

Is anyone else watching it?

Supposedly set in Norway but actually filmed in Iceland I was taken in by the snowbound locale and the stark, modern architecture.

This thriller/horror series about some undiagnosed force taking over its host bodies seemed regular enough in the early episodes but now has descended into the most gruesome images of attacks and murder. I can't bare to view some scenes yet can't seem to break off viewing the series either.

Is it nearly over? I hope so.