Hello everyone
It’s December and, oh my word, it is so near to Christmas, and the end of 2024! Which has been quite mixed I have to say. Many good things have happened but there have been a few (only a few) negative happenings too. I believe that’s called LIFE!
So, over this month, I am going to review the year and look at several things like books of the year, films of the year, television, art exhibitions, and so on, not forgetting clothes and the bargains of the year! I will definitely also mention a few political happenings: wars, climate change etc. I mean, you know me by now, so you know I am a political bod who is both fascinated and appalled at the state of the world – and this as you also know is not just a fashion blog! So there will be a mention of a few things of a political nature, plus (inevitably, all things considering) there will be a review of my health, my ageing body and sprinkled into that a diatribe about ageism!
Consequently, there will be several reviews!
Films first: for a variety of reasons we haven’t been to the cinema as often as we used to but I’ve just booked two tickets to see the film of the Robert Harris book Conclave, which is all about intrigue and skullduggery within the Vatican, and includes an impressive array of actors including Stanley Tucci, Ralph Fiennes and John Lithgow. It’s been given 5* by the Guardian reviewer – hope I feel the same after I’ve seen it.
I have two films of the year, both excellent with one slightly better than the other, and one that nearly made the list, so you could say I have 3 best films with this one coming 3rd.
But before I begin on those, and name them, here are some turkeys. Dune, Part 2, which I found seriously disappointing, say my notes (I write down every film I’ve seen and review it with a few words and *s). I see I gave the film 2* and in fact I can barely remember it, so that’s one film that went in one eye and out the other!
Now what about Scorsese’s Killers of the Flower Moon? There’s an incredibly important story to tell about the shocking murderous events surrounding the Orsage tribe, but for me that film was so self-indulgent and far too long. Really Scorsese? It would have been better made as a long television series, as the story should be told, and we could have stayed with it longer, yes, longer. But to make a film 3 and half hours long – sorry, it’s not fair on a cinema audience for starters! We watched it over 2 days on the television. It was quite good.
A film that had a lot of hype in the UK – did it elsewhere? – was Saltburn. Yikes, a weird and nasty tale about a working class lad who (spoiler here) murders his way into an upper class family and its fortune – no thanks.
One film that doesn’t make the final 3 best films, but was surprisingly good, was Poor Things. I can’t even begin to summarise the plot – what plot! Basically it was barking, but kind of wonderful at the same time. I do like films that make you sit up and think, oh, interesting and oh, wow!
Now the 3 best films: the one that comes in at #3 was the Alex Garland film, Civil War, starring Kirsten Dunst. It was surprisingly cerebral. This wasn’t about the American Civil War 1861-65, but about a present-day American civil war. Btw, this was not a totally bang-crash-shoot-em-up type film. Yes, it showed war scenes, but it was really more about journalism and what gets reported and what doesn’t, and how journalists behave in arenas of war. Despite this film being set in a dystopian future I thought it a really absorbing morality tale.
The 2nd best film of the year is The Dead Don’t Hurt a ‘sort-of’ Western starred, written, directed, and produced by Vigor Mortensen. I thought it the most brilliant film as, first of all, it treats you as an adult. You really have to work at understanding the out-of-sequence plot line; I promise you it all becomes clear by the end. The cinematography is luscious and the entire film is a harsh and sad, but beautiful love story between the two protagonists played by Mortensen and Vicky Krieps. To give you just a teensy flavour of the richly layered story arc; you think you are seeing a Western and then, lo and behold, a knight in shining armour on horseback comes riding through the landscape. See it. You won’t regret it.
And my film of the year is The Zone of Interest. Where to start with this one? You probably know that this is about the family that lived the other side of Auschwitz. The father was the Commandant of Auschwitz so they weren’t any old family. The mother made a beautiful garden with flowers growing up the wall that separated their home from the concentration camp. I have already written about this film, and the wall that separates us all from the terrible events that are happening here and now in the present day in My Other Blog.
So. Were they monsters? The film is subtle – too subtle for many. It doesn’t depict this family living a beautiful bucolic existence as horrific people. And yet, it does, in small ways…. until you build up a picture of their indifference and othering of the inmates of Auschwitz. Btw, you do not see anything of Auschwitz, there are no horrific scenes (like there are in Lee, the biopic of Lee Miller) but you do think, now what was that sound I just heard? There were 5 Oscar wins for this film including the Best Sound. The film left a profound impression on me and I will never forget it, ever. Moreover, I think it should be compulsory viewing for all of us, and especially those who have certain views about immigrants, and religions.
On that note, yes, that last one was my best film of the year, but if you want a film that is cheerful and sunny and fun to watch, and also has a message can I remind you of the 2023 film – Barbie. If you feel a bit gloomy after reading about my ‘best film’ go stream Barbie and sit back, relax – and enjoy! I just do not understand why it didn’t get a single Oscar. If there was one for a fun watch (and don’t forget the message) that is the film. Moreover please don’t think this film is for children or just about a pink doll – this is a film with so many layers. Yes, it could be enjoyed by small children but sooo much of it will go over their heads – Mr F really enjoyed this film too.
Finally I will end this review (and after all the reviews) with a look at one item of clothing or event that sticks in my mind as a lovely reminder that all is well, and will be well.
Here I am in Spain staying with good friends and wearing a bargain buy dress (bought in Spain) that is sitting in my wardrobe waiting to be worn again at some point very soon. But if I wear it now, there will be thick tights, more layers and boots! It is a reminder of good times.
That’s really all for now. Thank you for reading about my choice of films. Do tell me of any films you have watched as I do like getting recommendations 🙂
With love, Penny, the Frugalfashionshopper
P.S. I acknowledge with thanks that the icons in the banner come from Freepik – thanks also to Mr F who designed the banner.
Just love that dress so very much.
Haven’t seen any of the films you recommend so I will certainly look out for them. I still watch dvds old school here. I do have Netflix tho so I am not a complete luddite!!!
Hi Carole – all 3 of my best films can be streamed on Amazon but sadly are not on Netflix. I expect you could buy them too.
Thanks so much re: the dress – I shall aim to wear it in the winter with many layers! 😊
Hi Penny, Thanks for the film reviews. We rarely go to the cinema ,pure laziness, but love the sound of The dead don’t hurt, so I shall try to track it down. What a nice idea a review of the year is, we keep quite a comprehensive calendar come diary, going through the year and it’s always a joy and sometimes a surprise when you come across things you had completely forgotten. In one case a short holiday which was quite boring and had vanished completely from my mind ,but there it was last March ! Love the black dress on you. Best wishes Judy Sparks from Brighton
The Dead Don’t Hurt is streaming on Amazon. I highly recommend it as it is so intelligent. It is both beautiful and sad – and also quite harsh. It’s what Mark Kermode would say is a proper film. So many films are just a lot of fluff and nonsense, but this isn’t.
Yes, it is good to look back and see what one did. Thanks re: the black dress – I must wear it again. But not today as we are actually going out to lunch today to a friend but the wind 😳 Think any dress would go over my head!
Thanks Judy – best wishes to you too 😊
Good morning Penny. I have not been to any commercial films this year. Actually Conclave was highly recommended to me by a good friend and I may go to see it next week if it is still playing next week at the multiplex near me. I miss the smaller movie theaters which used to be near me but have been turned into chain restaurants. I have been blindsided by the arrival of winter here and Christmas fast approaching. My house is still decorated for Thanksgiving. That holiday was later this year so I have to catch up, probably get a small tree I can manage by myself and decorate with favorite ornaments. I have done my gift shopping but this year I am much more modest with the presents.
I have been doing a fair amount of reading over the year, probably averaging a bit over a book a week, all genres, some recent and some classic. I watch too much political news. Much as I tell myself to stop I seen unable to do so. My friends say they no longer watch or listen to the news but it seems I am addicted.
My daughter and her husband are both involved in local theater groups, attending them is a large part of of cultural life these days. Actually tomorrow they will be in a radio play of “It’s A Wonderful Life” to usher in the holiday season. Happy Holidays| with love from New York, Darby
Yes, Conclave seems to be film that has crept up on us all. I hadn’t read anything about it and then suddenly it’s here in the cinemas and people are saying it’s good. We’re looking forward to seeing it.
We decorate the tree and the sitting room on the 1st December, which is earlier than we used to because now we have an artificial tree rather than a real tree. I kind of miss the smell and feel of a real tree, but it was quite a faff to get it and then hope it didn’t die off before Christmas Day 🤣
In our family we have a very strict quite low amount of money spent on each person as my daughter has married into a very large interconnected family with her partner having two dads ( one biological and one who brought him up) and therefore two families each with step and half siblings that have partners now and children too. Consequently the number of presents they have to buy is enormous!
I listen to a certain amount of news although what irritates me most is the jollification of news and the softer stuff that creeps in – I think this isn’t news!!! Actually I’m addicted to podcasts and one I do recommend The Rest is Politics US with Katty Kay and Anthony Scaramucci – they are both fascinating.
How amazing and wonderful that your daughter is in a radio play – you must be so proud. And the Christmas season is nice – the sparkling Christmas lights decorating shop windows (and two huge Christmas trees) in our small town are really pretty.
Happy Christmas to you too, Darby, thank you as ever 😊
Hello Penny,
Like you I thought Dune 2 was a dud. Really enjoyed Barbie ( as did my husband) really liked the message it promoted. I didn’t watch Zone of Interest but read the book which I thought was quite hard going. I do like to read but I’m a slow reader.
My husband is very political me not so and we both share the same views as you and enjoy reading Your other Blog. I do try to keep up with what is going on in the world and not bury my head in the sand but do worry about the climate crisis and what is happening and what it will bring to our beautiful world.
I love that dress on you Penny and the red sandals – a reminder of sunny climes and a happy holiday.
Actually The Zone of Interest film isn’t like the book which seems to centre around an affair between the wife and the second-in-command – that has totally gone. Instead the Director loosely adapts the book to his central question of who are these people who run Auschwitz? I read quite a bit about this director and his view is that we are all behind this wall of inaction against suffering – I wrote about this on My Other Blog
https://myotherblog.co.uk/are-we-all-behind-the-wall-i-know-i-am/
It’s streaming on Amazon now and, if you can, do watch it as it is so subtle a film and of course hugely important., This is where ‘othering’ races and religions gets you.
We have to remind ourselves that alongside the ghastliness of this world, there is goodness, sunshine and happiness too – the black dress and red sandals is a reminder of happy days.
Thanks Linda 😊
Other than Barbie, I haven’t seen any of these!
Hi Joanne – films for me are like books, I just have to watch quality films – I also like watching films that stretch my thinking. Tbh I watch almost every genre of film you can think of, apart that is from horror. All 3 of my ‘best’ are what I call ‘good’ films, as in, well made, intelligent films. They can all be found on Amazon.
Thanks Joanne 😊
Thank you for your film recommendations. I must subscribe to Amazon Prime again. Our tastes do differ as I loved Saltburn, it did help that I was not aware of the twists to the story. The scene with the bath water I could have done without.
Completely agree with you about Killers of the Flower Moon. Too long. A tragic story all the more so because it is based on fact.
Sadly I rarely go to the cinema, driving, parking and then the long drive home makes Netflix more appealing. Netflix suggestions please. The Lincoln Lawyer is one of my favourites.
Oh and books too.
The bath water …..😳 And yes, the story behind Killers of the Flower Moon really needs to be told but not in a 3 and half hour film!
I’ll be writing about TV series in my next blog and I think several I like are on Netflix – but unfortunately we don’t watch many films on Netflix. Agree, The Lincoln Lawyer is good. Book review coming soon.
Thanks Sue 😊
Thx Penny. We saw the film Blitz which we really enjoyed xx
Thanks Vivien – I’ve put it on my list of films I must watch 🙂
The only films I’ve seen of those you’ve mentioned are “Barbie” and “Poor Things.” I absolutely loved “Barbie” and cried all through America Ferrara’s monologue. The message was so empowering…too bad many American women chose to ignore it. “Poor Things” was just so bonkers, but, like you, I think I liked it. I almost hope there’s a sequel as there are so many ways it could go. I will look for “The Dead Don’t Hurt” and “The Zone of Interest” as they sound like something both Mike and I would like.
You truly do look spectacular in this dress, and I can’t wait to see what you do to winterize it!
https://marshainthemiddle.com/
Poor Things was simply astonishingly bonkers. As for Barbie it really was a great film and I don’t say that all that often.
The Dead Don’t Hurt is one of the best films I’ve watched for a long time. But it is not all sweetness and light, in places it’s a hard watch, but it is just such good film.Oh and beautiful scenery – I think it was filmed in Canada.
And thanks for those kind words about the dress – I must get it winterised! Thanks again Marsha 😊
LOVE the dress!
Thanks so much Penny 😊