My Little World of Culture

The Greatest Entertainer of All Time

2008-07-31T23:06:00.012+02:00

Birth name: Francis Albert Sinatra
Also known as: Ol' Blue Eyes, Chairman of the Board, The Voice and Frankie
Born: December 12, 1915
Genre(s): Vocal jazz, pop, big band and swing.

Most people have gathered by now my fondness for Frank Sinatra. Though I was introduced to music such as Cole Porter, Nat King Cole, Dean Martin and Frank Sinatra from an early age, my great admiration (some might say addiction) for Frank Sinatra, came somewhat later - and rather sudden.

I remember it well, it could very well have been yesterday. I was sitting in my room listening to Robbie Williams's new cd 'Swing When You're Winning'. I simply loved it, though my parents thought it was a bit strange. I then became somewhat intrigued by whom Williams's was inspired.

Seek and you shall find - and I discovered a man with great talent and a wonderful voice: Frank Sinatra. Thus discovering such a fine artist, I bought myself a copy of his earliest recordings. Frankly, I was a bit taken aback. Not because I imagined it to be much different, but simply because I instantly fell in love with his voice. It was love at first sight. And ever since that day I've spent my days listening to his smoothe tongue and tender voice.

May you rest in preace dear Ol' Blue Eyes, and may we always remember you!

Shadowlands

2008-07-28T15:58:00.016+02:00

Year: 1993
Director: Richard Attenborough
Writer: William Nicholson
Actors/Actresses: Anthony Hopkins, Debra Winger
Genre: Drama, biography, romance
Awards: BAFTA (Alexander Korda Award for Best British Film 1994 and Best actor 1994), Heartland Film Festival (Studio Crystal Heart Award 1994), Italian National Syndicate of Film Journalists ( Silver Ribbon - Best Dubbing, Female 1995), LAFCA (Best actor 1993), NBR (Best actor 1993) and SEFCA (Best actor 1994).

Shadowlands is the true story about C.S.Lewis, the author behind The Chronicles of Narnia. Known as Jack (Anthony Hopkins), he teaches at Oxford College during the 1930's.

An American fan, Joy Gresham (Debra Winger), arrives with her son to meet Jack for tea. Jack lets Joy stay in his house, which he shares with his brother. The time comes when she has to go back to America, having run away from an unfaithful and violent husband. Eventually, Joy comes back to England after divorcing her husband, and settles down in London with her son. For Joy to stay in England, Jack marries her. Being wed, though only "technically", Jack and Joy develops a close relationship, which turns into a warm friendship. Suddenly, Joy is struck by cancer, which shatters Jack's beliefs and new-found fulfillment in life.

However, Joy's struggle against an unexpected and devastating illness brings them closer, and they finally marry for love. Like Joy puts it;

"We can't have the happiness of yesterday without the pain of today. That's the deal. "

However, the words I'll remember this film by, are these:

"Why love, if losing hurts so much? I have no answers anymore: only the life I have lived. Twice in that life I've been given the choice: as a boy and as a man. The boy chose safety, the man chooses suffering. The pain now is part of the happiness then. That's the deal. "

This is a film which touched me deeply. I don't know whether it's the story, which is true, or the dramatisation or the characters. I only know that I know how it feels, to lose someone close and dear to me.

Spooks

2008-07-27T01:37:00.046+02:00

Year(s): 2002 -
Country: United Kingdom
Creator: David Wolstencroft
Genre: Drama, thriller
Awards: BAFTA (Best Drama Series 2003 and British Academy Television Award for Interactivity 2008), BBC Drama (Best Drama 2003 and Best Drama Website 2003), Broadcast Awards (Best Drama Series 2003) and RTS (Best Drama Series 2003).

The series follows the work of a group of intelligence officers within the MI-5 at Thames House, being lead by Harry Pearce (Peter Firth). In so many ways a powerful man, some might call him arrogant, difficult even, he's devoted to his country and married to the service.

Unlike any other TV-series, Spooks characters come and go. Even though the show consists of a bunch of great actors and actresses, one can never be sure of their future. In many a show, killing off a character would be like slightly killing the show. However, strange as it may seem, one example of just the opposite, is the departure of a very beloved character - namely Ruth Evershed (Nicola Walker).

Miss Evershed, in many ways Harry's soft spot, was sent from GCHQ to help out MI-5 in the beginning of season 2. Feeling at first a slight mistrust towards her, Harry grew to value her brains and wits. Needless to say - and not to put too fine a point on it, during the course of the show, they became what one can call attached, and the tension between the two grew stronger. Admittedly I felt a bit sad by the circumstances in which eventually led to Harry and Ruth's separation. And even though campaigns have been made for Walker to rejoin the show (she left to have a baby), it didn't actually feel wrong. I can't really tell why, but it seemed the dignifying thing to do. And thankfully, I might add, it calls for speculation, as the ending of Ruth's departure was nothing less than, shall we say, open and rather uncertain.

In Spooks, it seems, putting characters in danger, is the answer. It's the perfect dramatic tool, keeping the viewers always on edge. Fortunately the producers has set the standard, always maintaining the quality of the show. They let things happen in a natural way, making it perfectly alright to kill off one or two of the main characters. And this is why some would call Spooks an intelligent show.

Welcome to My Little World of Culture

2008-07-26T20:51:00.000+02:00

A wonderful idea to say the least, I admit I became inspired to create this blog from my very own best friend. Anyway, the idea is, I'll be writing and reviewing a wide range of books and different sorts of literature, films, tv-series, music and so forth. I've always been a great fan of the arts - and culture, which will be the main theme of this blog.

My first blog, Yvonne's blog as it's called, will be filled with all the other nonsense I may think of, like my poetry and such like. Still, I might review a poem or two. Haven't decided yet, but this will definitely be a blog dedicated to the world of culture, hence the name of my blog.

Enjoy your stay. And I appreciate your comments.