What I Read and Watched in August
1. A Midsummer Night's Dream (1981)
This is one of the BBC Shakespeare productions which I own the DVD box-set of. I really enjoy watching them before reading the play. The scenes with Helen Mirren as Titania, surrounded by child-actors playing the fairies, were my favourite.
2. The Boss (2016)
I mainly watched this for Melissa McCarthy and her character's excellent style.
3. A Midsummer Night's Dream (written 1595-96) (read in The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd edn.)
I loved the way this one played with the idea of drama and dreams. The only thing that troubled me was the lack of resolution for the manipulation of Titania.
4. Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Such a fun film.
5. Moneyball (2011)
I am not really a sports fan, but this is definitely the kind of sports film I can get behind.
6. Twelfth Night (1980)
Another BBC Shakespeare production I watched before reading the play. This one stars Felicity Kendal as an excellent Viola.
7. Twelfth Night (written 1601-02) (read in The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd edn.)
This one seems to me to be the culmination of all the things Shakespeare does best.
8. Fargo (1996)
I absolutely adore Frances McDormand's character. I was also pleasantly surprised by how artfully this one was shot.
9. What Men Want (2019)
An enjoyable enough watch, but do not expect anything more than a light distraction.
10. Moby Dick (1851)
I was pleasantly surprised by how readable and engaging this one was, and I am very glad I have read it.
11. The Fighter (2010)
I watched this one for the cast, and Christian Bale is particularly good in it. I also really enjoyed the portrayal of family, and the boxing scenes.
12. How Democracy Ends (2018)
This one is delivered with the same clarity and conversational style of the podcast hosted by David Runciman, Talking Politics, which I enjoy. A very relevant read.
13. Heat (1995)
Al Pacino's performance in this one has received a lot of criticism, but it really worked for me.
14. Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019)
The film on everyone's lips at the moment. I adored it.
15. Milkman (2018)
I am so glad I finally got round to reading this one. It will definitely be one of my books of the year.
16. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
A charming film, perfect for recovering from travel exhaustion.
17. Marie Antoinette (2006)
I am immediately on board with any period piece that plays around (well) with authenticity.
18. 20th Century Women (2016)
A beautiful, thought-provoking film. Annette Bening is indescribably good in it.
19. Stonehenge: The Story of a Sacred Landscape (2016)
The perfect book to accompany my first visit to this iconic landscape. It is beautifully illustrated.
20. The Social Network (2010)
I enjoyed Jesse Eisenberg's lead performance, and the direction of David Fincher. It was also interesting to find out a bit more about the origins of something which has become a household name, Facebook.
I have also watched several episodes of Quantum Leap (1989-93) this month, and am currently reading Middle England (2018) and The Oxford Illustrated History of Tudor & Stuart Britain (1996).
This is one of the BBC Shakespeare productions which I own the DVD box-set of. I really enjoy watching them before reading the play. The scenes with Helen Mirren as Titania, surrounded by child-actors playing the fairies, were my favourite.
2. The Boss (2016)
I mainly watched this for Melissa McCarthy and her character's excellent style.
3. A Midsummer Night's Dream (written 1595-96) (read in The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd edn.)
I loved the way this one played with the idea of drama and dreams. The only thing that troubled me was the lack of resolution for the manipulation of Titania.
4. Fast & Furious: Hobbs & Shaw (2019)
Such a fun film.
5. Moneyball (2011)
I am not really a sports fan, but this is definitely the kind of sports film I can get behind.
6. Twelfth Night (1980)
Another BBC Shakespeare production I watched before reading the play. This one stars Felicity Kendal as an excellent Viola.
7. Twelfth Night (written 1601-02) (read in The Norton Shakespeare, 3rd edn.)
This one seems to me to be the culmination of all the things Shakespeare does best.
8. Fargo (1996)
I absolutely adore Frances McDormand's character. I was also pleasantly surprised by how artfully this one was shot.
9. What Men Want (2019)
An enjoyable enough watch, but do not expect anything more than a light distraction.
10. Moby Dick (1851)
I was pleasantly surprised by how readable and engaging this one was, and I am very glad I have read it.
11. The Fighter (2010)
I watched this one for the cast, and Christian Bale is particularly good in it. I also really enjoyed the portrayal of family, and the boxing scenes.
12. How Democracy Ends (2018)
This one is delivered with the same clarity and conversational style of the podcast hosted by David Runciman, Talking Politics, which I enjoy. A very relevant read.
13. Heat (1995)
Al Pacino's performance in this one has received a lot of criticism, but it really worked for me.
14. Once Upon a Time...in Hollywood (2019)
The film on everyone's lips at the moment. I adored it.
15. Milkman (2018)
I am so glad I finally got round to reading this one. It will definitely be one of my books of the year.
16. Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children (2016)
A charming film, perfect for recovering from travel exhaustion.
17. Marie Antoinette (2006)
I am immediately on board with any period piece that plays around (well) with authenticity.
18. 20th Century Women (2016)
A beautiful, thought-provoking film. Annette Bening is indescribably good in it.
19. Stonehenge: The Story of a Sacred Landscape (2016)
The perfect book to accompany my first visit to this iconic landscape. It is beautifully illustrated.
20. The Social Network (2010)
I enjoyed Jesse Eisenberg's lead performance, and the direction of David Fincher. It was also interesting to find out a bit more about the origins of something which has become a household name, Facebook.
I have also watched several episodes of Quantum Leap (1989-93) this month, and am currently reading Middle England (2018) and The Oxford Illustrated History of Tudor & Stuart Britain (1996).
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