Newsnight Review - 20 June, 2008
My colleagues on Newsnight Review are just about to go on air - here are details of what's in the programme, written by Kirsty. Do post your comments about the programme and the items being discussed tonight...
On Review at 11pm: Sex, crime, passion and painting... with guests Rosie Boycott, Andrew Motion, and Emily King.
THE EDGE OF LOVE
We kick off with the new film about Dylan Thomas - or at least the loves in his life. The Edge of Love stars Sienna Miller, Keira Knightley, Matthew Rhys and Cillian Murphy. Thomas's daughter Aeronwy who was ten when he died said recently she believed he needed the isolation of home to write, and company and alcohol to live. The Edge of Love concentrates less on the poetry and more on the passion for Caitlin his wife and his childhood sweetheart Vera whom he invites into their life.
CY TWOMBLY
When Cy Twombly the American abstract Expressionist was at Tate Modern the other day to see preparations for his new retrospective, the 80-year-old artist watched as giant canvasses he hadn't seen for decades were unrolled - how amazing that must have been. The show Cycles and Seasons reveals the restless energy, the moods and melancholy of the artist who made his life in Italy and who infuses his canvasses with poetry, literature and classicism - often in fragments of writing and repeated geometry.
WALTER MOSLEY
When Bill Clinton walked down the steps of his campaign plane in 1992 holding a copy of one of Walter Mosley's novels, the American writer's sales were said to have tripled and now he's one of the country's foremost writers. The son of a black father and a Jewish mother he pens everything from the Easy Rawlins' detective novels, to sci-fi, political writings, a pornographic novel and now Diablerie - a dark crime thriller about Ben Dibbuk who is emotionally dead to the world and despite his outward show of normality is a wreck. He may or may not have committed a vicious murder. Mosley chose the name Dibbuk to suggest the Yiddish word dybbuk - a disembodied spirit that because of former sins wanders the earth.
TEETH
Mythology of a very bloody kind is at the heart of Teeth - a kind of teen comic horror movie about Vagina Dentata - the "she monster" in several ancient cultures. In the character Dawn, played by Jess Weixler, it's alive and well and living in a Texas suburb. As if to keep the condition she doesn't know she has at bay, Dawn joins a chastity club, similar to ones all over the States. But the truth or at least, the myth will out: with the most devastating results for the men around her. Written and directed by Mitchell Lichtenstein (the son of the pop art artist) rather than have the woman as the victim, he wanted to show some girl power. Ouch!
Comment number 1.
At 20th Jun 2008, k-fire wrote:Please please please someone give Kirsty Wark some better advice on her choice of shirt. My retinas hurt.
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Comment number 2.
At 20th Jun 2008, maryloutrelawny wrote:The comments on The Edge of Love were interesting and don't at all encourage one to see the film. However, as a native of Swansea I must point out that the commentators failed to remark on the absolutely appalling Welsh accents in the clips shown. Further fuel to Rosie's comment that is was a film ruined by its star performers ... it's not as if Welsh actors and actresses are thin on the ground!
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Comment number 3.
At 21st Jun 2008, blogjangles wrote:I do think there are too many films in with celebrities. I may have gone to see this film if it was about Dylan Thomas, but having seen the clip on Newsnight, I wont bother.
Have just watched The Kite Runner on DVD tonight. Now, there's a film!
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Comment number 4.
At 21st Jun 2008, thehazeyq wrote:Do not let Kirsty dress herself in a room without a mirror ever again! Seriously, she is a fantastic presenter but it was overshadowed by the Dada-esque clown she presented tonight.
I LOVE Newsnight Review but bring back the old team: Lawson, Paulin etc.
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Comment number 5.
At 21st Jun 2008, midnightPantsman wrote:This was a very poor programme and Kirsty Wark dressing like "Upsy Daisy " is just way too much I fail to see how Rosie Boycott lands a slot on this show few weeks ago she was test driving a car for the Mail ? then a holiday review for the Mail !
Sorry why should we be interested in her views about the Arts I know it's hard to get good people on a Friday night but wheeling in these sorts of reviewers is not the answer if people decline the Friday night show then maybe it time to axe it or even place it in the Specialist Factual genre instead of News
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