entertainment
Films
Movie of the Month
Modern love: Ethan Hawke & Greta Gerwig
by tom b r ow n e
■■Rom-com: Maggie’s Plan This lowkey project from writer-director Rebecca Miller stars Greta Gerwig as the title character, an independent woman who wants to become a single mother by selfinsemination. This “plan” is derailed when she meets John (Ethan Hawke), a writer whose marriage to overbearing academic Georgette (Julianne Moore) is apparently falling apart. The street-level focus on characters recalls the work of Noah Baumbach—with whom Gerwig has frequently collaborated—and there’s more than a hint of Woody Allen too, particularly the New York milieu of bookish intellectuals struggling with life. This is obviously not to everyone’s taste, but there’s more than enough wit and charm to sustain it, and the interplay between Gerwig, Hawke and Moore never gets boring.
© sony classic s / Entertai nm ent on e / ifc f ilm s
■■family: the bfg Roald Dahl’s books
for children have attracted a number of big-name directors over the years— and now the biggest name of all, Steven Spielberg, has got involved. This is by far the most visually impressive movie released this month, combining live action with up-to-date motion-capture technology, expanding Mark Rylance’s “friendly giant” so he fills up the screen and towers over Sophie, played by newcomer Ruby Barnhill.
■■biopic: born to be blue There’s
been a glut of music biopics recently, but this take on the life of jazz trumpeter Chet Baker (Ethan Hawke again) is more original than most. The focus is mainly on 1966, in particular covering Chet’s early experiences with heroin, the drug that dominated his life. It abounds with elliptical flashbacks, black-and-white scenes and composite characters (not least an effective turn from Carmen Ejogo as Chet’s girlfriend), but the film as a whole casts a hazy spell. 07•2016
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e n t e r ta i n m e n t
working my way through the first two swashbuckling series.
■■bone tomahawk*
Online: caption.me New photos go up daily for people to write captions for. It’s addictive fun (and quite rude!). Listening: Non-Stop Erotic Cabaret by Soft Cell I played
this, as horror isn’t my thing. But I love it. The creature is both moving and scary at the same time.
the cassette to destruction in the Eighties. I recently got the CD and I’m enjoying reliving my youth.
Fancy appearing in this section? Send your current cultural favourites, along with short descriptions, to readersletters@readersdigest.co.uk |
07•2016
Album of the Month
Less an album and more a multifaceted concept, Natasha Khan’s latest longplayer also extends to a short story, film and series of concerts, all performed in churches. And there’s no escaping the theme: the union of two people through holy matrimony and all that follows. Only in this case, there’s just the bride—her optimism and excitement the evening before, then the strange, pitiful looks as she walks down the aisle to discover her groom has been killed in a road accident on route to the wedding. Dark stuff. What happens next is her journey, from honeymoon to meditation on love and loss. The songs are gorgeous, delicate and suitably haunting. Key tracks: “I Do”, “In God’s House”, “Sunday Love” Like this? You may also like: Cocteau Twins, Kate Bush, Sharon Van Etten
Forget Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight— this was the must-see Western of last year.
Reading: Frankenstein by Mary Shelley I didn’t expect to like
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The Bride by Bat for Lashes
DVD of the month
On Your Radar Tracy Davidson, mature student Watching: The Musketeers (box set) I’m currently
by ma n di goodi er
* TO BUY DVDS FEATURED HERE, GO TO SHOP.READERSDIGEST.CO.UK
© Lorton Di stributi on / Sony Pic tures Releas ing
■■drama: Adult Life Skills The transition from childhood to adulthood and the all-consuming power of grief are the twin pillars of this charming movie, which stars Jodie Whittaker as 29-year-old Anna, a woman struggling to cope with her own self-confidence and the recent death of her twin brother. Although the themes are heavy, the film has a real lightness of touch, and Whittaker has never been better.
Music
■■comedy: ghostbusters A second sequel to the Eighties supernatural comedy has long been anticipated, but this reboot is more radical than anyone expected. Reuniting director Paul Feig with Bridesmaids star Melissa McCarthy, this reimagines the plot of the first film with a largely female cast and far broader humour. Going by reactions to the trailer, fans will be divided to say the least.
Reader’s Digest
Overlooked Record from the Past Tender Buttons by Broadcast
Occasionally reminiscent of a screeching modem connecting to the internet, Broadcast transformed odd noises into something tuneful. When combined with more traditional instruments and Trish Keenan’s vocals, it’s like an electronic reimagining of The Velvet Underground and Nico. This 2005 album marked a change in direction for Broadcast, which not all their fans appreciated. Perhaps this is why it still remains undervalued, but since Keenan’s untimely death in 2011 after contracting swine flu, the phantasmic feel of Tender Buttons feels like her spectre. listen to these albums at READERSDIGEST.CO.UK/LISTEN
On Our Radar Shetland Nature Festival, July 2–9.
Explore all aspects of these lovely islands. Somerset House Summer Series, London, July 7–17.
Eclectic live music. Rose Week, Belfast, July 18–24. Admire
the 45,000 blooms at Sir Thomas and Lady Dixon Park.
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