UKH

The last four films I've seen in the last ten days – Mrs Harris Goes to Paris, Ticket to Paradise, The Banshees of Inisherin, and Living – have all been 5-star masterpieces, all totally different from each other. I think Living, which I saw today, is about the most moving story I've ever seen on film. As the end credits rolled, I noticed many of the audience were staying put like myself, I think to hide the fact that they, like me, were fighting back the tears. Bill Nighy's performance is absolutely astounding, and it would be an unjust world if he were not to win the Oscar for best actor with it.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

I was thinking of going to Living, but it is good to hear the evaluation from you of being such a wonderful film, rather than write-ups in papers etc.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Watched the Banshees of Inisherin with my wife last week; we both loved it. Went on about it to some friends when out on Saturday night. They saw it this week and we got the 'that's 2 hours of my life I won't get back' comment!! Everyone's different I guess.

Going to see Living on Saturday. I'll make sure I take the Kleenex.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

The German translation of the title of Mrs Harris Goes To Paris is "Mrs(*) Harris and a Dior dress". I spotted this last night as I arrived in Germany. 

* Mrs is written as Mrs on the German poster. Mrs Harris und ein Kleid von Dior. 

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Not surprised about Living given it's a great lineup originally from a Tolstoy tale via Kurosawa and Ishiguro. Not seen it yet.  I really enjoyed Mrs alliterative but it's way too sentimental for 5 stars.

In reply to Offwidth:

Amazingly, I think Living works even better than Ikiru, which I enjoyed very much right back in film school days. 

I think you've rather missed the point re Mrs H g t P. It's a comic fantasy. I judge every film on its own merits: how well it succeeds within its own very special/particular genre. I don't come to art with 'outside' moral values, i.e. I think your response is uncomfortably sententious.

In reply to Blue Straggler:

What a wonderful piece of German prosaicness. Surely the charming alliteration of Harris and Paris works just as well in German? Why do they have to mess with it, I wonder.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

I'm not much of a film buff, but I think the score, costume and cinematography of Living will be winning awards too.  (I think the score already has.) 

It looks like it was actually shot in the 1950s and only recently discovered.  The 'standard' aspect ratio surprised me, maybe that's the future as well as the past.  (The picture is almost square.)  Bill Nighy's performance is extraordinary, but I think he's very much helped to shine by everyone else in the ensemble cast being pretty excellent too.  Nighy is so subtle and understated that I suspect anyone even slightly hamming it up in the same scene would ruin the effect.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Having seen the reviews I expected worse and was quite charmed by it. Still it's possible for a great director to get more sour to contrast with the sugar, especially in 50s Britain. Apologies for forgetting the east-end omission apostrophe before the "a"...the best part of the intended joke.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

I understand that "Swallows and Amazons" is called "The fight for the Island" in German

We have been treated locally to "Goodnight Oppy" shown free of charge, a somewhat sentimental telling of the story of Spirit and Opportunity but quite engaging

In reply to deepsoup:

The old 'standard' 1.33:1 ratio frame is a logical continuation of the contemporary 1950 library footage that's used behind the opening sequence, because that was the ratio of that old footage. It helped give the whole film the authentic period feel.

I agree with all your other comments. The cast and crew were all superlative throughout.

In reply to Offwidth:

Mrs Rhyme? 

Digressing, my favourite Harris/Paris wordplay is from Cole Porter's glorious Always True to You in My Fashion.

"If the Harris pat means a Paris hat ..."

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Also looking forward to Aftersun but it seems to be a pretty limited release today.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Saw Living the other night, but I didn’t rate it that highly. Bill Nighy was just being himself, I thought. Despite hearing aids I missed some of the dialogue especially near the beginning. We’ve taken the precaution of booking The Banshees… with sub-titles. 

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

The French also like to alter film titles considerably. A classic example is "Les Dents de la Mer" for Jaws! Always made me laugh.

In reply to John Stainforth:

Et Un apres midi du chien!

In reply to climb41:

I thought the Banshees of Innisherin was good enough, but was the plot intended to be a bit far fetched? It certainly covered important issues and told me something of the ups and downs of west coast of Ireland in those times.

In reply to Phil1919:

... a lot of art is 'a bit far fetched', almost by nature. One doesn't go to the cinema for a factual history lesson, but to be both provoked and entertained. And moved. I thought this film was unusually rich, and must see it again. It's so 'Irish' – where much is far-fetched. They have always been perhaps the world leaders in the art of 'story-telling'.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

A five star masterpiece? 😂😂🤣🤣😂

You've lost the plot Gordon. 

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

OK, thanks.

In reply to John Stainforth:

It happens in the opposite direction, too, John Stainforth. I am sure Johnny Foreigner has a good chortle at some of the mangled reworkings of their film titles. 

In reply to Blue Straggler:

Yes, the painfully literal The 400 Blows rather misses the point of the original title.

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

I take issue with my almost having dignified this with a reply

In reply to Gordon Stainforth:

Really?