I was sad having written about the joys of small independent cinemas recently that one of my favourites, the Rex in Elland, is literally on the brink of closure, it was announced this week.
Owner Charles Morris told his local paper: "Since Covid, people just haven't returned in the numbers we used to get". That's been my experience across all cinemas, large and small, over the last few years. The magic of cinema is one of life's little pleasures in my book, and I'd be sad to see the smaller venues that are left standing go dark. Use them or lose them.
This week, Saw X proved to be a wince-inducing watch for me and my friend Gail, with some scenes causing me to squirm in my seat! I wouldn't eat a big lunch beforehand, but I really liked the set-up for this one. You're left almost feeling a bit of sympathy for John Kramer, which I wasn't expecting. I could also have done without seeing what the inside of a human brain looks like. Put me right off my gingerbread man!
The perfect swansong for Sir Michael Caine and the late Glenda Jackson, The Great Escaper is lovely. Based on a true story, navy veteran Bernard Jordan (Caine) misses out on a place on a boat trip to attend the 70th anniversary of the D-Day landings in France, but decides with a bit of encouragement from his wife to abscond from their care home and go anyway. He becomes something of a folk hero in the process, much like Jim Broadband in the equally excellent The Unlikely Pilgrimage Of Harold Fry. It's a new genre - people of a certain age doing exciting stuff and bending the rules. I loved the gentle humour, the poignancy, and there was definitely something in my eye a couple of times. Caine and Jackson have wonderful on-screen chemistry, and it just works beautifully well.
My friend Stuart suggested we watch Taylor Swift : The Eras Tour and I'm really glad we did! Loads of glittery songs I'd forgotten about, some of which I've added to the Tameside Radio playlist as a result, and what a technical achievement, in terms of the staging. Incredible energy levels throughout the show, not a duff tune in sight, and note perfect throughout, as Taylor is captured in the huge LA stadium from every possible angle. Most of our screen was up and dancing, and singing loudly along to every word. We were just there to bring the average age up a bit. Seventeen years of music across ten albums. I doubt she'll ever go out of style.
And what a crazy story Blackberry portrays! From 45% share of the smartphone market to absolutely zero. E-mail, messages and phone calls all in your pocket...with a full keyboard and the 'Blackberry click'! How different things could have been for the company, were it not for some seriously daft decisions. I never owned one, but they were dubbed the 'Crackberry' at one point, as they were so addictive. Of course, walk into almost any space now, and you'll still see people glued to their devices. The only difference is it definitely won't be a Blackberry, unless you've managed to perfect time travel.
