Off Topic The Review Thread

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sb_73 said:
When I was young, in my teens, I read Michael Foot’s two volume biography of Bevan and it influenced me greatly, Bevan was a hero until I grew out of that sort of thing. Foot’s books are, of course, a hagiography, but I didn’t realise that at the time.

Sheen is brilliant in these roles as a fictional version of a real person. He is becoming a bit of a professional Welshman and given to OTT performances sometimes when he can’t be arsed, but he also comes across as a good bloke as well. I notice that the role of Clement Attlee is played by women and Winston Churchill by black actors, so blood pressure warning for traditionalists.

My wife went to see The Buddha of Suburbia at the Swan theatre in the RSC last night, on one of those cheap for locals last minute tickets (though the price has doubled to £20 now). I declined the opportunity on the grounds that Hanif Kureishi, who wrote the original book, the screenplay for My Beautiful Laundrette and other much less successful things, is a writer who I can’t stand. Brief debate on ‘it’s really cheap, what have you got to lose’ v ‘170 minutes of my life’ lines, which ended with me watching lots of Family Guy. Anyway, she really liked it and it’s had loads of 5 star reviews so, amazingly, I might just be wrong on this one, as hard as that is to believe.
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A friend's daughter who works at the National Theatre gave us a tour before the play (which was absolutely fascinating) and we bumped into Sheen while we were down by the dressing rooms. Sadly, a quick hello as he passed was all we got - I'd have loved to have had a chat with him as he's a bit of a hero of mine, describing himself as 'a not-for-profit' actor after selling his houses and giving the proceeds to charity.
 
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Steelmonkey said:
Two things...firstly, I had to google hagiography, new word for me though I tend to steer clear of biographies. Secondly, watching Family Guy is NEVER a waste of anyones time!
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It’s a good word though, isn’t it? Whenever someone is excessively over praised I wheel it out. I haven’t read any biography for years and have always avoided autobiography.
 
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sb_73 said:
It’s a good word though, isn’t it? Whenever someone is excessively over praised I wheel it out. I haven’t read any biography for years and have always avoided autobiography.
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I’ve just read Ade Edmondson’s auto which was a really good read and written in a style that was refreshing.
 
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sb_73 said:
It’s a good word though, isn’t it? Whenever someone is excessively over praised I wheel it out. I haven’t read any biography for years and have always avoided autobiography.
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Uber_Hoop said:
I’ve just read Ade Edmondson’s auto which was a really good read and written in a style that was refreshing.
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Actually told a little porky there, just remembered I read John Cooper Clarke’s autobiography I Wanna Be Yours a couple of years ago and it was well worth it.
 
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sb_73 said:
Actually told a little porky there, just remembered I read John Cooper Clarke’s autobiography I Wanna Be Yours a couple of years ago and it was well worth it.
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That's on the bedside table of Mrs SM...

Last couple I read were by Dave Grohl and Stuart Braithwaite of Mogwai...(interesting fact, his dad was the last telescope maker in Scotland). Both gifts, and good reads in their own way but I find autobiographies quite repetetive in general.
 
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Través updates.....

Zaragoza- smashing little City, easy to walk around, the Aljazar and Basílica de Nuestra Señora del Pilar are worth a few hours of anyones time, stunning places. Cracking food and drinking scene, it helped that last weekend the Spanish FA Women's Cup Final was held there and there were thousands from San Sebastián and Barcelona in town.... made for a colourful and noisy experience..... Barcelona won 8-0!!!! Well worth a left field weekend away.

Valencia- big bustling metropolis, nuce City to walk around but crowded.... City of Arts & Science worth a visit for the architecture.... Wouldn't rush back.....

Dénia- gateway for the ferry to Ibiza for all the ravers on here.... lovely town, very relaxed, nice vibe and loads of decent bars and restaurant.... oh and found a gem of a hotel.

Currently in a small town 100 kms south of Granada overlooking a lovely bay, clear blue sky and in low 20's, you can see why peeps,want to retire down here....

Driving is fairly easy, although some of road signs are a bit odd..... also cheap, only spend around €20 on tolls so far on motorways as there are alternatives that don't charge a toll.....

Off to Granada tomorrow for bucket list trip to Alhambra, temp up in low 30's so plenty of SPF 30 to be applied....

To be continue.....
 
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Coldplay a bit like labour trying to put lipstick on an old bird to look trendy, but you know it’s all old stuff underneath.
Coldplay a bit like conservatives… all lights and showy fireworks to get you in and take all your money.
Coldplay a bit like lib dems … what’s it all about??
Coldplay a bit like the Greens … tell you your their brother and will look after you then shower you with plastic wristbands and plastic confetti!
 
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sb_73 said:
Just spent five minutes watching Coldplay playing live somewhere. Not my cup of tea, but they are popular apparently. What transfixed me was the singer who looks like a geography teacher trying to dress like his pupils, but not getting it right.
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I heard Gwyneth Paltrow divorced him because she couldn’t stand the incessant whining.
 
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