THE KING’S SPEECH (Momentum). Who would have thought speech impediment to be world box office? One thing is absolutely certain and that is, what with the royal wedding last week, and the release of this DVD this week, the propaganda for the royal family is excellent. The film will do them nothing but good. If you have tears to shed, be prepared to shed them now. The heart-warming story is extremely well told. Colin Firth as George VI deservedly got an award for his performance. Geoffrey Rush, as the speech therapist, should also have got an award for his. The two performances are inseparable and together they provide first-rate entertainment.
ALAN PLATER AT ITV (Network). Plater was one of the best British television writers and also one of the most prolific. All his work is informed by his left wing political views. The high spot of this selection of seven plays is Coming Through (premiered in 1985) which describes the beginnings of the affair D H Lawrence (Kenneth Branagh in one of his best performances`) had with the married Frieda Weekly (Helen Mirren).
ABEL (Network). Mexican actor Diego Luna in his directorial feature debut addresses the serious problem of absentee fathers in Mexico. A 9-year-old bipolar boy, released from a psychiatric hospital, decides, in his father absence, to be father to his family and behaves in a disturbingly adult manner Christopher Ruiz-Esparza, a boy with big piercing eyes, is amazing.
DANIEL DERONDA (Second Sight). The Victorian novel is perfect for television and though this is not one of George Eliot’s best novels, it is a pleasant enough way to spend an evening or two. Heritage production values are high. The archery, for instance, is fascinating. The cast is as solid and reliable, as you would expect, and is headed by Hugh Dancy as the noble, good and caring Daniel. Romola Garai is the selfish Gwendolen.
THE TUNNEL (Second Sight). This German film made for television is set during the Cold War when the Berlin Wall was up and East Berliners were regularly building tunnels under the wall, and trying to escape from the Communist regime for the much longed-for freedom in the West. This is a straight-forward, well-meaning, worthy account, freely based on one such attempt. The most moving scene shows a young lad attempting to climb the wall and being shot and left to die.
MOVE OVER DARLING (Second Sight). Man gets married for a second time. His first wife, long presumed dead, turns up at the hotel where he is spending his wedding night. This poor fluffy romantic nonsense needs gifted farceurs who are familiar with the Hollywood screwball comedies of the 1930s. Doris Day and James Garner are miscast.
EARLY KUROSAWA (BFI). A feast for students of Kurosawa but probably not for anybody else.
To learn more about Robert Tanitch and his reviews, click here to go to his website.
Or to purchase any of the DVDs Robert has reviewed, simply click on the title of the film.
Campaigns & Issues
Woodland Court staff face secure future thanks to Brunelcare
Residents and staff at a retirement village in Downend have finally reached the end of two years of uncertainty, following the acquisition of Woodland Court by Brunelcare.
Previous owners of the 57 apartment village, Care Village Group, went into administration in June 2011, leaving the residents and staff with an uncertain future.
The top priority for the Bristol based charity has been to retain all 27 members of staff to ensure that the support services are maintained, whilst minimising any disruption to the residents.
News
Stamping their feet
THOUSANDS OF Post Office staff have taken part in strikes across the country following a dispute about closures, jobs and pay.
A staggering 88 per cent of Communication Workers Union members voted in favour of strike action, following a refusal from the Post Office to negotiate terms.
The 4,000 workers, from 373 offices, took part in the strikes in opposition to plans to close 76 offices.
They hope to protect jobs and services and secure a fair pay rise for Post Office staff - who have not had a wage increase since April 2011.
Competitions & Fun
Win a Doro PhoneEasy 515 handset!
We’ve teamed up with Doro to give four very lucky Mature Times readers the chance to win a Doro PhoneEasy 515 mobile phone.
The Doro PhoneEasy 515 has been designed to provide an easy-to-use mobile for people who might find mainstream handsets difficult or confusing to use. This beautifully stylish candybar phone features an easy-to-use camera enabling you to capture those spontaneous photos quickly and easily before sharing them with others.
The Doro PhoneEasy 515 has several user-friendly functions including a direct SMS key and a charging cradle to make charging hassle free. It also has a large keypad, enlarged text for easy dialing and messaging and a loud, clear sound.
Reader Offers
Win a prize at home or away in this month's prize draw with Silver Travel Advisor!
Enter now and you could win a prize at home or away! How about a 7 night break for 2, with flights included, in beautiful Slovenia? Or a trip to London’s glitzy theatreland, staying in a 4* hotel? Both fabulous treats which must be won!
Silver Travel Advisor is a friendly website packed with advice, tips, information and honest reviews written by and for silver travellers (aged over 50). A team of advisors are on hand to answer queries (for free), and you can share your own experiences too.
Health & Wellbeing
Loneliness is a ‘ticking time bomb’
One in three people over the age of 50 struggles with loneliness – fuelled partly by a rise in later life divorces, according to an official study. Figures show almost seven million members of the baby-boomer generation and above admit to feeling lonely.
Research published as part of David Cameron’s plan to measure the nation’s ‘happiness’ said almost half of people over 80 feel lonely - many “much of the time”.
Campaigns groups say the study, by the Office for National Statistics, suggests the generation approaching retirement will be a “loneliness time bomb”.
Property & Finance
15 per cent of population claim financial worries are affecting their health
16 million people find finances the most stressful aspect of their lives
Leisure and Lifestyle
Singing you heart out
Music sensation Billy Ocean takes time out talk to Laura Heads about the release of his latest album and how making music has changed dramatically during his 40 year career.
The star has sold over 30 million records in his lifetime and has collected a pile of Gold and Platinum awards across the world. Billy’s unique reggae infused voice and musical style, representing his Trinidadian roots, are recognisable anywhere and it is that which has earned him his well-deserved number ones.
And the well-loved singer-song writer said that the way music is made has changed a lot since he first began in the 1970s. He said: “Music is now controlled by technology. New artists allow technology to control what they are doing.
Travel
New guide to travel insurance launched
THIS IS A handy to use and easy to read guide packed with tips aimed at helping older travellers when considering the purchase of travel insurance.
The guide came about as a result of the numerous enquiries we received here at the Mature Times’ offices regarding travel insurance for older people. MT Editor Andrew Young says ‘We receive many, many e-mails, letters and telephone calls from our readers regarding this subject. We know that as you get older travel insurance becomes more expensive, but there are ways that you can try to help offset some of these increases – and this guide can help you do that.’
Obviously as Editor you will have had many letters of thank-you's and well-done's, so please count this as one more from a convert to your excellent paper.