The West Wing Season 3 (2001)

This is how they dealt with 9/11 - in the two weeks after it Sorkin wrote and they hurriedly filmed an episode that takes place in the White House under lockdown - a visiting class of students thus get to voice questions and concerns about terrorism, Al Qu'aeda etc, fielded by our team. It's called 'Isaac and Ishmael' - where in the bible Jews and Arabs split.

Then the continuing story picks up with new team of super-campaigners Ron Silver, Evan Handler (who we recognise from Californication) and Connie Britton. And the ongoing investigation into the MS cover-up. But this season seems a bit more routine than the last two (Sorkin not writing all stories).

President obsessed by Thanksgiving Turkey preparation - Charlie points out there is the Butterball hotline.

Discussing government funding of crazy art projects;
"One is an artist who set alight to all his possessions outside his studio in Greenwich Village."
Sam: "I've done that a couple of times. (beat) Didn't know you could get funding."
Rob does deadpan very well.

Chess games intercut with China / Taiwan showdown.

Dead Irish Writers great episode. Eugene O'Neill: "There is no present or future - only the past, happening over and over again - now." The ladies getting pissed. Dangling modifiers. President: "What the hell's going on? I've been out of the room 20 minutes and everyone's Canadian." Donna: "I know exactly what you mean." And Hector Elizondo. And, y'know, the one from Weeds.

Then CJ death threats, and the President has to make a tough decision about a visiting statesman who represents terrorists..

The Virtues (2019 Shane Meadows)

Jack Thorne and Shane Meadows' powerful study of an abused alcoholic reuniting with his sister in Ireland. Stephen Graham will win awards for this... he's absolutely terrific, but so are Helen Behan and Niamh Algar. It's frequently hypnotic, like the This Is England series, the reconciliation scene between Graham and his sister being improvised and done in one take. It makes for incredible, absorbing stuff.

Edited (on Avid) by Matthew Gray concurrently with filming.

C4 interview:

"And then you have Helen [Behan] who, as you’ve mentioned, plays his sister and back at home in Ireland works as a nurse, which seems unbelievable – she is outstanding in this.

Yeah, I know. I met her completely randomly in a pub when I was on holiday with my wife and son in Ireland. I’m a big believer in fate. I was given a start and a break in a very unconventional way by someone who took a big chance on me. So I’ve always been open to the idea that I might be meeting the next ‘Vicky McClure’ or ‘Paddy Considine’ when I’m walking round Wilko’s. Plenty of times people give you their details and inevitably over the years those pieces of paper can get lost. But sometimes you are meant to meet people and the stars align to bring you back together.

When we sat down to write This Is England ’88, Jack suggested this idea of Lol (Vicky McClure) going to see the nurse to admit she’s struggling mentally. As soon as he said ‘nurse’ I remembered meeting Helen in that pub and got straight in touch with her. Fairly soon after, she came over to England for an audition, threw up for about four hours before she did it, then came to improv a scene with Vicky and was as good and as natural as she is in The Virtues. Some people have this built-in ability to be completely natural and honest on camera and Helen is definitely one of them."

We'd hoped it wasn't based on something that happened in Shane's life - unfortunately that's exactly what happened to him, also aged nine, and the subsequent suppressed memory, told in this Guardian interview with Miranda Sawyer. (This Is England is quite autobiographical too.)

The script is tightly written - then there's much rehearsal and improvisation.

The ending feels shambolic, open... Has Niamh killed her mum? Where on earth had Helen's husband got to? Also, did find part of soundtrack score towards end sounded like a lawn mower!

Music by PJ Harvey, cinematography by Nick Gillespie.

The Strange Love of Martha Ivers (1946 Lewis Milestone)

Written by Robert Rossen from an original idea by Jack Patrick. Unhappily married but wealthy Barbara Stanwyck and alcoholic husband Kirk Douglas encounter former childhood buddy Van Heflin, who's now a gambler, himself having bumped into ex jailbird Lizabeth Scott.

With Judith Anderson, Roman Bohnen (The Best Years of Our Lives - Dana's dad), Darryl Hickman (young Van H), Frank Orth.

Very soundtracked, but scored by the great Miklos Rozsa. Photographed by Victor Milner.

Good plot, rather enjoyable. Kirk's debut. Not great title.

The Sun Also Rises (1957 Henry King)

Peter Viertel adapted Hemingway's novel, which centres around a selfish and damaged woman (Ava Gardner) and her ex lover Tyrone Power, and the various people they encounter: Mel Ferrer, Errol Flynn, Eddie Albert, Gregory Ratoff (the Count), Juliette Greco, Marcel Dalio (Count's hanger-on), Henry Daniell (doctor) and none other than Paramount producer to be Robert Evans as the bullfighter. (I was very upset they killed the bull as it was the most charismatic character in the film).

We had just visited the establishment...

Shot by Leo Tover (Hold Back the Dawn, The Major and the Minor, Bluebeard's Eight Wife, The Day the Earth Stood Still) and scored by Hugo Friedhofer.

It was somehow enjoyable.

Marple: Towards Zero (2007 David Grindley, Nicholas Winding Refn)

Agatha's 1944 novel adapted by Kevin Elyot. Centres around Greg Wise and his current wife Zoe Tapper (a vile character) and ex Saffron Burrows. Also involved are Julia Graham, Alan Davies, Julian Sands, Eileen Atkins, Paul Nicholls and Tom Baker, who overacts to such an extent that he's bumped off early (Wise also blows his denouement scene - which occurs in a boat, for a change).

Shot by Sue Gibson in Salcombe, Devon. No director is credited.

The West Wing - Season 2 (2001 Aaron Sorkin)

Picks up immediately after right wing shooting (Charlie was the target), and whilst doing that shows flashbacks to the group getting together in the first place and making early progress. Flashback includes sweet scene when Josh's dad has died and Bartlet comes to the airport to support him, revealing himself to be both compassionate and Presidential.

Absolutely great scene in which President rips apart a self-styled radio psychotherapist who thinks being gay is prohibited by Christianity by raising all the Old Testament law that we now wouldn't dream of following. Also his expertise on strange subjects like Micronesia, causing laughs, as does Gilbert and Sullivan episode ending involving new Republican staffer Ainsley (Emily Procter).

We must learn something. The midterms are held about halfway through the four year presidency. All 435 seats of the House of Representatives (Congressman) and about a third of those in the Senate are up for election. There are two senators for each of the 50 states. A 'lame duck session' (or as I like to refer to it, a 'quail's quorum') is a meeting of the senate after a new successor has been appointed but before their term begins - I've copied that off Wikipedia and still don't know what it means. Do we need to know? A caucus is simply a meeting of representatives from one party.

"You're the last person I expected to see when they told me where to go." The pacing and dialogue is often very 1930s to me, and all the better for it. But there's almost always a misty eye moment when someone does something lovely.

Great episode involving Josh's past trauma being dealt with by counsellor Adam Arkin, with artful flashbacks, story by Peter Parnell and directed by Thomas Schlamme. Lovely long form writing culminates in the exposure of the President's MS (guest star Oliver Platt) and the sad death of Mrs. Landingham, cuing flashbacks which explains her particularly close relationship with him (Schlamme again).

Mrs L and Charlie debate car purchasing

Series photographer is Thomas Del Ruth (also Studio 60, Stand By Me), son of director Roy (Lady Killer).

"Let's just give the $60 billion to North Korea on the understanding they won't bomb us."

Donna: "There's a heavy object falling at us with terminal velocity."
Abbey (Mrs. - sorry, Doctor - Bartlett): "Tell me about it."

But also Toby: "You want the benefits of free trade? Food is cheap. Clothes are cheap. Cars are cheaper. The phone service is cheaper. Do you feel me building a rhythm here? That's 'cos I'm a speech writer. I know how to make a point. The lowest prices raises income. Did you see what I did with lowest and raises there? It's called the science of listener attention. We did repetition, we did floating opposites, and now you end with the one that's not like the others. Ready? Free trade stops wars. And that's it. (louder) Free trade stops wars! Figure out a way to fix the rest. One world, one peace - I'm sure I've seen that on a sign somewhere."

And, cartography is political:

Why not? Any way round is arguably correct

It's a long, long way from Vice... Or Trump. I'm aware of the irony - the idealists' view of government, a total fantasy.

How the hell are they going to deal with 9/11?

Stan & Ollie (2018 Jon S Baird)

Written by Jeff Pope (Hatton Garden, Cilla, Philomena (co), Mrs Biggs, The Fattest Man in Britain, Dirty Filthy Love (co).

Steve Coogan and John C Reilly are absolutely splendid as Stan & Ollie.

Story is based in 1953 when the duo made a last tour of the UK, in the hope of getting a Robin Hood film made. It doesn't really have it in the story department - more Film Stars Don't Die in Liverpool than My Week With Marilyn, unfortunately. Still enjoyable though.

With Nina Arianda (none other than Martin Sheen's girlfriend in Midnight in Paris!), Shirley Henderson, Rufus Jones (good as slimy producer, W1A), Danny Huston.

Music Rolfe Kent, photography Laurie (male) Rose (A Field in England, High-Rise, Peaky Blinders 3).

Midnight in Paris (2011 Woody Allen & scr)

Yes, again. Djuna Barnes, I finally caught, is another American ex-pat writer and illustrator, responsible for later work of gay fiction 'Nightwood'.

This is a delightful film in which Owen Wilson's trips back in time help him sort out his life.

Wilson outflanks Sheen in rare "If I'm not mistaken" turnaround

Good one for obscure series

Pill and Hiddlestone perfect as the Fitzgeralds

Could watch this film over and over again. Indeed, it was our ninth visitation.

Vice (2018 Adam McKay & scr)

Another of Mr McKay's drama-docu real life films which is all very interesting and outrageous - particularly enjoyed Alfred Molina asking what kind of judicial corruptions they'd like served with dinner. There's something too methody about Christian Bale for me; Sam Rockwell steals the film as Ford; Amy Adams great as Mrs Cheney (all three nominated). There's no one to like in it (except I guess the unfortunate Jessie Plemons) and the operation scene and its none too subtle symbolic ending might be dispensed with. Some of it does seem unsubtle - stack of teacups falling over, fishing. Liked the fake ending 47 minutes in.

Brilliant Oscar-winning makeup , Hank Corwin nominated again for editing (he won the film's only BAFTA). Music Nicholas Britell (Moonlight, If Beale Street Could Talk, Battle of the Sexes, The Big Short), photography Greig Fraser (Foxcatcher, Zero Dark Thirty, The Boys Are Back).

With Steve Carell, Tyler Perry (Colin Powell), Alison Pill, Eddie Marsan, Lily Rabe.

Loved the last scene - the focus group comment on the film's bias, there's an (inevitable) punch up, started by the Republican.. but the young girls are more interested in the new Fast and Furious movie...

Paris Je T'Aime (2006)

Might do a Google maps to show where everything was filmed...

It's still wonderful. Eve of embarking for said City, it's the only choice. (Well, must watch Paris again soon, maybe when we get back.)

Why was Woody Allen being thanked in the credits?

All the directors also wrote their own film with the exception of the story which Gena Rowlands was in - she wrote it.

"Like remembering something I never knew." Great line, I think From Payne / Martindale film.

Olga Kurylenko was in it. (The vampire!)

Really enjoyed some I'd remembered less well, like Isabel Coixet 'Bastille' in which man about to leave his wife learns she is terminally ill and falls for her all over again - the things that irritated him he now loves. Sergio Castellito and Miranda Richardson.

Management (2008 Stephen Belber & scr)

Jennifer Aniston and Steve Zahn make a good pairing in slightly oddball film which could also have been called 'The Kingman' after the motel. It's a bit disjointed. With Margo Martindale and Fred Ward, James Hiroyuki Liao and Woody Harrelson.

Rope (1948 Alfred Hitchcock)

Based on Patrick Hamilton's play, itself inspired by the Leopold and Loeb case, and the first attempt to film continuously - well, except for that one cut from chicken-strangler Granger to Stewart - which could have been executed with a whip pan. Hume Cronyn, with almost no writing credits, developed the screenplay, which was also worked on by Arthur Laurents, who was having an affair with Farley Granger. There's plenty of humour, black and straightforward. The gay undercurrent ultimately put off Cary Grant who was to star - there's a reference to a film of his and Bergman's - I think it must have been Notorious! So it was the first of many successful Stewart-Hitchcock pairings.

Cedric Hardwicke (Suspicion), John Dall (Gun Crazy), Farley Granger, Constance Collier (An Ideal Husband), Douglas Dick, Joan Chandler, Edith Evanson.

Love that living NYC backdrop (designed by Perry Ferguson), which is almost a character in itself, and we both noticed the red-green strobing at the end which prefigures Vertigo. But more than that it can be seen as an early version of Rear Window, with its setting in a single apartment and its lack of film score. It's also Hitch's first colour film and it's cannily lit by Joseph Valentine and William Skall to avoid ugly light shadows.

Some terrific camera stuff e.g. housekeeper gradually clearing away the chest; the way Stewart pictures the last moments of the murdered man.

Love Hurts (2009 Barra Grant & scr)

Richard E Grant's wife Carrie-Anne Moss leaves him; their son Johnny Pacar encourages him to see other women, but then falls himself (for ballet dancer Olga Fonda). Grant and Grant are no relation. Enjoyable mainly for Richard's performance. Not bad.

Marple: A Murder Is Announced (2005 John Strickland)

Written by Stewart Harcourt, adapted closely from Agatha's 1950 novel. Can't claim to have followed it very closely, but it features Alexander Armstrong as a detective, Cherie Lunghi and Robert Pugh, Keeley Hawes, Zoe Wanamaker, Clare Skinner and Frances Barber, Matthew Goode and Catherine Tate as a Pole. Plus Elaine Paige, Sienna Guillory, Richard Dixon, Virginia McKenna.

Village unknown:

Nil By Mouth (1997 Gary Oldman & scr)

I remember one of the critics saying that Jack O'Connell's performance in Starred Up was so intense that you almost expected him to burst off the screen at you - well that's exactly how I felt about Ray Winstone in this - a seriously intense performance, perhaps his best ever. But also scorchingly good are Kathy Burke (who won Best Actress at Cannes), Charlie Creed-Miles, Jamie Forman and Laila Morse.

Oldman decides to shoot everything up close making it all the more uncomfortable. Everything has a very realistic feeling. "A love letter to my family, my Dad" Oldman was quoted as saying - he's a recovering alcoholic and his "father died of it"; he was sick of watching unreal films like Reservoir Dogs and Leaving Las Vegas and wanted "to take the gloves off". I think he succeeded. (Ironically, you need alcohol to stomach the film.)

But it's not the sort of film you want to watch more than once in every twenty years or so. It's quite long, too.

Shot, very darkly, by Ron Fortunato. Music by Eric Clapton, as well as such good stuff as 'Peculiar Groove' by Frances Ashman. A producer is Luc Besson, who had worked with Oldman on Leon.

Won BAFTA for Best Screenplay, and has more 'cunts' to the minute than any other film.