It has been all the rain in the last few weeks that has helped the lawn look it's best. In previous years by this time it has become awfully bare as in the photo below.
But today even the far end, that was mostly moss in the spring, is quite acceptable.
Into August and, with the rain in July, they have never looked better. Normally I would choose a single colour for bedding, but these gaudy flowers make me smile.
A typical summer blockbuster that, fortunately, was mainly good fun. Mission Impossible - Dead Reckoning Part 1 has a fast pace although the plot was totally bonkers. Yet another car chase, although to be fair this one has never been done before (shame you could tell so much was set in the studio). And another chase on top of a train. All done at Watford's Leavesden Studios. So a little repetitive. I liked it best when the gang gets together. And there are roles for Hayley Atwell (by far the best thing about the movie), Rebecca Ferguson and Vanessa Kirby as well as the usual cohorts.
Someone said that J Robert Oppenheimer is the most important person who ever lived. "Should they have done those things?" My answer is if they didn't, someone else would. So no. The film critic Jonathon Dean says "I grew up in the 1980's and assumed that would be how we would meet our end". Just try growing up in London in the 1950's and wondering if the next aeroplane going over would be dropping that bomb.
Oppenheimer is an in depth study into the one man who just happened to lead the team that created the atom bomb. Told in three parts, the first absolutely brilliant, the second messy but riveting and the third a big surprise. I did wonder at the end of the second section what that last part would be. Lots of political and philosophical stuff that I loved. It was only then that I understood why a certain segment is filmed in black and white. Director and writer Christopher Nolan loves to chop and change time lines so this device helps enormously.
The cast is universally excellent. Obviously Cillian Murphy is great as Oppenheimer, but I preferred Robert Downey Jr as Lewis Strauss. A tormented foil that has made best supporting actor his own. Emily Blunt and Florence Pugh are fine even if Nolan never writes so well for women. Lovely cameos from Rami Malek and Gary Oldman.
I knew the film was three hours long but time went so quickly, there are big scenes that go in a flash, sometimes all cuts and editing keep up the fast pace. I went to see it in the IMAX screen as this is how Nolan filmed it, but there was no need. His story and direction are all that you need for one of the big films of all time.
I wasn't going to see the latest Indiana Jones film (nearly two and half hours was far too long) but it was that or Barbie. In the end I was pleasantly surprised. Director James Mangold does well with what was surprisingly a pretty good script. The stunts were fine and occasionally hilarious. The locations were equally impressive, especially Sicily where we went on holiday many years ago. Harrison Ford just about holds things together, the conversion to his younger self a miracle of modern technology. I was unsure about the casting of Phoebe Waller Bridge who I found less than convincing. But we do get a cameo from Antonio Banderas. And Toby Jones. Who would have thought.
I was surprised that the iconic film Vanishing Point from 1971 does not appear in David Thomson's book. Now I understand why. A car delivery that turns into a chase. Chaos ensues. End of.
London in 1966, a top photographer, gorgeous models, lots of drugs. Living there I missed it all. A fabulous cast with David Hemmings, Sarah Miles and Vanessa Redgrave. Yes, they were young and beautiful in those days. The exterior shots of London are really great, the DVD quality is fantastic, it almost looked in 3D. The interior sets were beautifully lit. Although some of the language and misogamy would not be acceptable today But we do get a performance by The Yardbirds including Jimmy Page and Jeff Beck. And it was Maryon Park in Charlton where crucial action takes place. But it's south of the river, so I wouldn't know. I thought there was hardly any plot, more style over substance. Obviously David Thomson was impressed by director Antonioni as he says the film is "a deadpan delight ..... a film of huge charm". That's about all it was.
I had to start with the three Hostas called "Fire and Ice". Even better than when they were planted over two years ago.
Next are the poppies that I grew from seed in a bare patch in the long border.
I rarely buy music on CD these days. It's possibly three years since I last posted a review. Even though three of my favourite artists brought out new albums in the last year, they do not have the same impact as before. That must be me. Of the three, Freya Ridings' Blood Orange is my favourite. I reviewed two of her albums in November 2019 that were full of great songs. Her latest includes some electronic beats that I have to turn off. There are a couple of classic tracks, Weekends is the strongest but the others seem too much like her previous recordings.
The new album from Birdy is much the same. Surrender is a classic but there are far too many ordinary songs for me.
I'm not sure why I bought the latest Adele music. Probably all the hype. It's either that my tastes have changed or she has.
There are other artists whose latest albums I have avoided. First Aid Kit's Palomino is a good example. I have all their CD's but their latest seemed ordinary. It must be me.
Here are my two favourite roses. I could not find the label for the one in the long border. I believe it is called a Bengal rose. I love the dual colour.
Every year I post photos of the rose "Blue for You". Here it is again.
