M'colleague Graham Williamson recently invited me on to the Pop Screen podcast to chat about Face, a much watched (and indeed much reviewed) favourite of mine from 1997 directed by the much missed Antonia Bird and starring Robert Carlyle, Ray Winstone, Phil Davis, Lena Headey, instagram favourite Steven Waddington and Blur's Damon Albarn - hence why it's the subject of Pop Screen.
You can listen to it here or watch on YouTube.
Number 79 in my 52 Films by Women in 2021 challenge.
Rachel Billington, writer of this 1979 Play for Today, has several political connotations. Her father was Frank Pakenham, better known as Lord Longford. A member of parliament for the Labour party, he held several cabinet positions from 1947 to 1968 and was famed for championing unpopular causes, most notably significant penal reforms and his campaign for the release of Moors murderer Myra Hindley. Billington is also the oldest friend of one Charlotte Fawcett, who asked her to be godmother toβ¦
RIP John Challis.
Unfortunately as a film, this is a fairly dull travelogue that sees Challis explore Serbia, where Only Fools is incredibly popular. Like watching someone's holiday videos really. Still, Challis was clearly a very sweet man and that shines through. He'll be much missed. Thanks for the laughs.
Fresh from the success of winning the Strictly trophy, Bill Bailey performs his unique mix of stand up and musical comedy for the BBC and mercifully makes no compromises for his new mainstream audience. This is essentially, for better or worse, more of the same from Bill, a comedian who has found his niche and is sticking to it. Comfortable viewing.
St Helens Disability Advice and Welfare Network, St Helens Jobcentre, Ashton-In-Makerfield Jobcentre, Huyton Jobcentre, Apex Charitable Trust, Shaw Trust St Helens, Starting Point St Helens.
Just some of the places I've worked at that involve helping people into work, getting people 'job ready' or dealing with people's benefit claims.
Jobseekers allowance, Incapacity benefit, Employment and Support allowance, Carers allowance.
Just some of the benefits I've claimed since (and between) those jobs.
I've ran jobclubs, CV making courses and jobmatch programmes,β¦
40 minutes.
18 killings.
3 lines of dialogue.
No structure, seemingly.
No rhyme or reason, seemingly.
Just the elephant in the room.
A brutal uncompromising look at Sectarian assassination that dramatises genuine events and forces you to consider the Troubles in a way that acres of news coverage cannot. Just what is your gut reaction at the end of it? Does the endless cadence of footfall and gunfire go some way to desensitise you or does it make you realiseβ¦
