The Creative Identity

Listen Up Philip

I think that very few things are worse than London in the summer and that one of them is a wretched cold in London in the summer. Now, I am not sure whether the past week should righteously qualify as 'summer' here, for the days oscillated between 12C (Monday, I put the heating on) and 26C (Friday, I put the air con on), suffice to say that I tried, and failed, to 'dress for the weather' because... what was the weather doing anyway? I've experienced low-level cloud and the look of October many times in this fair city, only to realise that, actually, it's 72% humidity out there and 22C at 8:45am. Leave the scarf at home. Today has been overcast and cold and so I've spent the day in bed, reading, watching and writing. I've read the rather wonderful Shopgirl by Steve Martin (you may recall the movie in which he also stars opposite Claire Danes, but the book is rather superior, as is often the case) and I've found the much-anticipated and just-come-out Listen Up Philip online (legally, I hasten to add, it's on YouTube). As you can imagine I was enormously intrigued by the premise of this movie, for at its core sits a writer, Philip Lewis, who wrestles with the demands of art and commercialism, as well as focus, inspiration, and drive. Around him, a number of supporting characters take occasional centre stage: his girlfriend Ahsley, his mentor and equally obnoxious writer Ike, and his college... Read more →

The Two Most Harmful Words in The English Language : Good Job

For quite some time I attempted a 7-movies-in-7-days challenge. What's challenging about that, I hear you think, but I am talking about 7 movies at the cinema and the real challenge is that, so far, I did not get 7 I wanted to see one after the other. I got close at some point in October, after a tragic summer, and once again this week I am failing after a mere three. But the third one I watched last night, Whiplash, truly is worth telling you about. It is one of those rare movies that, while tackling passion, rolls naivity, excess, commitment, maturity and immaturity all into one. The last one to do all of this to any degree of depth was Walk The Line, it too, and I find this significant, on a musical backdrop. Say what you will my reader, no book will make you feel as good as fast as a wonderful piece of music can. It's its immediacy above all that hits heart and soul at the same time and that sets it apart from all other art forms. But interestingly, I found that Whiplash isn't strictly a movie about music. It's a movie about the burning desire to be great, for sure, but mostly it's about our need for self-validation throughout life which, and this is the crucial, painful point, depends on others. It is not enough to know of your greatness, it must be recognised by others. In fact, some would say that it... Read more →

To Look Forward to in 2015

There is a lot I am looking forward to in 2015 but I've now lived in London for long enough to know that unless you book way, way, waaay in advance, you don't get anywhere. And that includes restaurants as it does plays and exhibitions. So here's my round-up for this year in no order whatsoever. If you haven't got tickets for this... well, good luck my friend. I bought mine in August 2014, a full year and a few days before the first preview. And I've bought two nights as well, just to be on the safe side. My favourite play and my favourite man of the moment, can you think of anything better? I cannot. Cumberbitch alert level 5. Opens August. Silver screen, fashion and humanitarian icon, this wonderful lady comes to life in an exhibition at The National Portrait Gallery that is expected to trace her entire career. I cannot wait already. Opens July. A bigger and, it is rumoured already, better retrospective than the one which graced the Met in 2011. You are still very much missed bro! Opens March at the V&A. The 4 copies displayed side-by-side on the 800th birthday of the charter of civil liberties. Thrilling stuff. Opens March. Movies I am really looking forward to: Inherent Vice Terminator: Genisys Victor Frankenstein High Rise Everest Crimson Peak Inside Out Birdman The Theory of Everything but the one I am looking forward to the very most is The Walk, written and directed by Robert... Read more →

Intermission

I've just read that the wonderful, wonderful, wonderful writer and director Harold Ramis has died. It's a piece of news that hit me surprisingly hard, most probably because I grew up in the eighties and, in my mind, Ghostbusters and Groundhog Day formed the backdrop of very happy times. Every February I watch Groundhog Day in loops. I must have watched it another eight times this month. It's difficult to crystallise the reasons for my feeling so weirdly displaced by the loss of this creative soul. It's not like I ever knew him personally. Yet, we connect with other beings through their stories and their art in ways that transcend regular relationships. I often think that I have a lot more in common with John Keats, illness notwithstanding, than I have with anyone at all I know. And additionally, of course, there is also another gut response tonight: WHAT THE HELL 69 ISN'T OLD! I believe that Harold's best work is summed up in the surreal Groundhog Day, in which an insufferable miser gets a taste of himself over and over for eternity. It has comedy, poetry and that ineffable poignancy that touches your soul and never ever gets old. Still, he'll probably always be in our hearts as the genial, unforgettable Egon, and that too is very fine indeed. With much love to Harold Ramis Read more →

A 2013 Snapshot

Indulge me a little... Movies watched at the cinema : 25 Some of the best : Blue Jasmine, Philomena, Prisoners, Saving Mr Banks, Captain Phillips The worst : The Lone Ranger The most over-rated : Gravity Books I bought : 119 Best fiction : the Nicholas books, Parade's End Best non-fiction : The Carlyles at Home, The Crafty Art of Playmaking Most exciting discovery : David Walliams Most brilliant literary event : Quentin Blake at the Soho Lit Festival Bookshops I regularly visited : 18 Favourite bookshop : Hatchard's Best art bookshop : The National Gallery Best charity bookshop : Oxfam in Hampstead (single loot at this Oxfam : 6) Best online bookshop : The Book People Best art event : Masterpiece in June Number of significant writing endeavours started : 1 Most significant creative endeavour started : building a doll's house Emails to my friend Simon : 2480 Best dinner : Gordon at Claridge's, before it left at the end of June Months battling carpal tunnel syndrome : 9 Holidays taken : 0 Number of times I've left London since I moved here : 0 Best thing about the new house : it's within walking distance to Harrods Worst thing about the new house : it's within walking distance to Harrods Number of gym memberships : 1 Number of visits to the gym : 6 Number of cancelled gym memberships : 1 Most unexpected encounter : Christian Bale and his family Most thrilling encounter : Tom Ford On my... Read more →