Movie, 1959 A curious film, which is neither thriller, satire nor comedy but has a potshot at each of them along the way. The result feels a little downbeat, though reasonably enjoyable, with an odd, jarring ‘Third Man’ dramatic photo composition here and there and the odd moment of real discomfort along the way. More, you feel, could have been made if the film went more … Continue reading ‘Our Man in Havana,’ directed by Carol Reed
Movie, 2016 The story of the struggle and contribution of black women to the NASA space programme, concentrating on the early 1960s, when Soviet supremacy was putting pressure on the Americans. A well-paced story, which blends its three strands in well and plays elements and nods to the civil rights and segregation issues prevalent at the time. The period detail and space centre shots feel … Continue reading “Hidden Figures,” directed by Theodore Melfi
Novel, 1962 Cold War spy novel, in which an unnamed operative charges around the world, getting sucked into plots, counter plots and chasing scientists, exotic cuisine, and heavy hints of boredom and sexual intrigue. the book falters between scenes and rapid changes in tempo and the situations of its main character, and is a little distracting. A jovial tone – again, a little distracting – … Continue reading ‘The Ipcress File,’ by Len Deighton
Movie, 1965 Bleak, eerie and nihilistic existences in the Cold War, partly set in London, Berlin and other locations in Germany. A poetic despondency hangs over this film depicting the lives of an aging operative and a young Communist idealist, who both seem to exist and to not exist, and are both played in a strange, murky world full and empty of rain, pettiness, flamboyant … Continue reading “The Spy Who Came in From the Cold”, directed by Martin Ritt
Movie, 2014 Account of Billy Fischer’s world championship chess match against Boris Spassky in Reykjavik and how he got there. An entertaining, thoughtful film which tries to cover maybe a few too many bases. In part, biography, in part Cold War intrigue, in part history, in part sports movie. In the end, it all feels a little breathless, particularly as the wobbly mental health and … Continue reading “Pawn Sacrifice”, directed by Edward Zwick
Movie, 1951 Cold War science fiction film which despite its reliance on formulae, repetitive stock footage (or what looks like stock footage) and fairly rudimentary special effects, sets down a message which focuses less on the reds under the bed and more on the innate human quality for self rather than mutual destruction. As a result, the film is pretty bleak and can feel preachy, … Continue reading "The Day the Earth Stood Still", directed by Robert Wise
Culture Vulture 