Favourite written literature, and quotations

[Preston]

Anthony Hopkins missed out again with the recent film about Tolstoy, 'The last station' as he was originally cast to play the lead role instead of Christopher Plummer. Anyone seen the film and any opinions?

I want to see it. Christopher Plummer won an academy award for his role as Tolstoy. I too have the Russian version. I chose it over the BBC for its depth and realism.

[Peter]

I want to see it. Christopher Plummer won an academy award for his role as Tolstoy. I too have the Russian version. I chose it over the BBC for its depth and realism.

The BBC version isn't bad and actually improves as it gets going, but the first few episodes are rather plodding. How do you find the subtitles on the Russian version? - they're all out of sink and keep switching into Russian on my dvd. Helene is far more beautiful in the Russian version!!

[Bonn1827]

"Sync" is actually short for syncronization. Has anybody seen Kubrik's "Barry Lyndon", and what did you think of it? Good use of classical music. I actually thought it was, in places, very high camp but enjoyable. A precurser to Peter Greenaway in some respects.

[Preston]

How do you find the subtitles on the Russian version? - they're all out of sink and keep switching into Russian on my dvd. Helene is far more beautiful in the Russian version!!

On the dvds I have the subtitles work properly. I just wish they would speak in English, ! It would make it much easier to follow and watch.

[Quijote]

There used to be a "What are you reading now?" thread that I had launched. It has been closed. May I ask why?

[Quijote]

And whilst I await clarification, I post here what I've been reading of late.
James ELLROY, "Blood's a Rover", the third part of his underworld USA trilogy (American Tabloid; The Cold Six Thousand). I used to be snobbish about Crime Fiction until I subscribed to a literary magazine called Granta New Writing, and had my eyes opened somewhat.
Here is its title page's opening quote :

Clay lies still, but blood's a rover;
Breath's a ware that will not keep.
Up, lad : when the journey's over
There'll be time enough to sleep.

(A.E. Housman)

[Bonn1827]

I taught a stream called "Crime Fiction" to matriculation Extension English students and the texts were "The Real Inspector Hound" and Howard Hawks' "The Big Sleep" (I was in my element with that last one). The students had to collect their own 'related' texts to incorporate into their essays, usually 2,000 to 3,000 words in length. (How I miss teaching, at that level, students who go on to become doctors, lawyers, academics and all-round achievers!!) It is an interesting genre, but I found "Inspector Hound" typical of so much British crime fiction - class-based, cliched and contrived - just like these authors' hero, Agatha Christie. (Didn't deliberately deploy alliteration, BTW).

But I dislike James Ellroy because of the appalling remarks he has made about Brahms. If you want good "crime fiction" in cinema go no further than Polanski's (woops, unfashionable) "Chinatown".

[Peter]

There used to be a "What are you reading now?" thread that I had launched. It has been closed. May I ask why?

Actually Philip though I hate to take the credit away from you, the original thread was launched by yours truly - http://www.gyrix.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3273

We close threads as a matter of policy when they get to around 5 pages otherwise they tend to become forums within a forum.

[Quijote]

[...] But I dislike James Ellroy because of the appalling remarks he has made about Brahms [...]

What did he say about Brahms, then?

[Quijote]

Actually Philip though I hate to take the credit away from you, the original thread was launched by yours truly[...]

Ah, so you did. Could have sworn it was me. Too much absinthe.

[Quijote]

[...] It is an interesting genre, but I found "Inspector Hound" typical of so much British crime fiction - class-based, cliched and contrived - just like these authors' hero, Agatha Christie. (Didn't deliberately deploy alliteration, BTW).

But I dislike James Ellroy because of the appalling remarks he has made about Brahms. If you want good "crime fiction" in cinema go no further than Polanski's (woops, unfashionable) "Chinatown".

On the whole, I go along with this, Bonn (the class-based comment), which is why I rather like the American James Ellroy. His fictional world is dark, ugly, violent, paranoid and just plain sleazy. In the book I mention above he even slips in references to the Beethoven late String Quartets a couple of times. Which reminds me, what did Ellroy say about Brahms?

[Bonn1827]

I find myself, once again, completely disarmed by your charming invitation, Philip.

Ellroy said Brahms was a "whoremeister" who couldn't love anybody and that he never had sex with women, only "whores" (though what sex he thinks THOSE are remains a mystery!! He also called him "an impotent" (!!) and re-iterated the remarks once made by a famous German author to that effect. He also made some other disparaging remarks about his being tight with money, or some such. I found these comments offensive and not at all related to his music, but the comments were strangely reminiscent of something I had only heard recently myself....!

You can Google Ellroy's name and find the exact comments. (He also said Brahms was "a drunk", to add insult to injury!!)

[Quijote]

You can Google Ellroy's name and find the exact comments. (He also said Brahms was "a drunk", to add insult to injury!!)

Well, Ellroy himself has admitted to being a former drug abuser and functional alcoholic.

[Bonn1827]

I can forgive that but not the comments about my beloved Brahms!!