Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
Cast: Finn Atkins, Chloe Pirrie, Charley Murphy, Adam Nagaitis, Jonathan Pryce, Mark Frost, June Watson, Megan Parkinson, Matt Adams, Kris Mochrie, Luke Newberry, David Walmsley, Rory Fleck Byrne, Rebecca Callard, Joe Armstrong, Thomas Howes, Thomas Nelstrop, Karen Shaw, Jonathan Carley, Hugh Simon, Freddie Meredith, Gracie Kelly, David Prosho, Paul Knyman.
You received my parcel
on Christmas Eve,
plain
brown envelope
on the outside, nothing
to distinguish it from
the ray of beauty you told me
it contained when you opened it.
The stated fact that you opened it
at all meant a lot to me,
you could have just
left it on the table
and away from your tree;
decorated tastefully
but still something
you take down
and forget by
January the sixth.
Ian D. Hall 2016
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * * *
Cast: Jim Broadbent, Brenda Blethyn, Luke Treadaway, Roger Allam, Pam Ferris, Peter Wright, Virginia McKenna, June Brown, Simon Day, Alex Jordan, Harry Collett, Gillian Hanna, Duncan Wisbey, Karyn Claydon.
If we were all as fortunate, as happy in life as the parents of British artist, cartoonist and graphic novelist Raymond Briggs then the world would arguably be a happier place. In a touching, beautiful piece of animation, the celebrated artist’s portrayal of his mum and dad’s life from the first time they met to the day they both passed away was explored, visually described and heartbreakingly detailed with praise, attention and sheer craft in the feature length Ethel and Ernest.
Top of Form
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 5/10
Cast: Alan Davies, Sarah Alexander, Warwick Davis, Ken Bones, Georgie Lord, Emun Elliott, Rosalind March, Jason Barnett, Caoimhe Clough, Sisan Coyle, Jo Martin, Ryan Oliva, Nicole Cooper, Chris Forbes.
Let someone get away with murder once and they will believe it can be done again, they will come up with another ingenious way to sidestep justice and the person that helped them be free the first time round will undoubetedly be called upon again to provide the alibi they require.
I know I am
not everybody’s cup
of tea
but then
as I watch them stir their spoons,
plastic or sterling silver,
Hallmarked or fully
acknowledged that someone
with snot running from their nose
had licked it first,
I understand with a smile
that they drink
from the chipped cup,
the bitterest ground
coffee.
Ian D. Hall 2016
To be alive in interesting times is to be seen as a curse, the strung out meted response by those who wish you ill; yet in many ways it should be seen as a blessing, that you were there in that specific time to see History unfold, to tell perhaps in your words, be it recorded or just to friends and loved ones, just what your take on the situation was. 2016 may go down in history as one that was cursed in terms of the amount of stars, beloved icons and unbelievable talent lost forever to us; the only consolations being that we saw them when they were magnificent and the abiding work that they have left behind for us to enjoy over and over again.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating 8.5/10
So grounded you could harvest the songs he writes as a special reserve coffee and sell him for millions, Jon Meadows has unleashed a track that starts with the discerning growl and ends with the eyes of the sacred tiger hanging on stalks with wide eyed eagerness at what possibly is to come. Should Have Been Mine could be the rallying call of anybody who wishes to plunge themselves into the punk-esque delight but who also knows that to polish some diamonds is to tarnish them forever.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * * * *
If the tale is right, if the story captures the imagination, then you are never truly Alone On The Road, there will always those that are captivated and feel blessed by your words, so much so that taking them to heart is not only an option but a mantra to live by.
Liverpool Sound and Vision Rating * *
Cast: Toby Jones, Andrea Riseborough, Billy Howle, Hayley Carmichael, Monica Dolan, Kim Cattrall, David Haig, Miranda Nolan, Charles De’Ath, Dorian Lough, Paul Ready, Tim McMullan, Robert East, Adam Jowett, Andrew Havill, Ted Robins, Reid Anderson, William Atkinson, Grant Crookes, Carla Langley, Paul Dallison, Keith Lomas, Charlotte Mason-Apps, Dennis O’ Donnell, Graham Partington, Nicola-Jayne Wells, Patricia Winker.
Agatha Christie is such a staple of television and film that sometimes it can be hard to overlook or forgive when an adaptation has not quite hit the high marks expected of it, sometimes you have let it wash over you and remember the good times, when a marvellous suspense mystery would have the viewer glowing with anticipation and the television schedules would be moved accordingly.
Your late night text message,
unexpected,
non demanding of return
and the only question
that was there on the ill-lit and cracked slightly screen,
was
How Are You?,
sent in unassuming type, sent with only
the thought that I might reply,
at some point.
How was I? I didn’t know,
I could lie and reply back
that I was on top of the world,
whereas in reality I was flat on my back,
no pillow to soothe my head,
and felt as if the weight of the world was upon me.