Susan Hated Literature

Oct 14 2007

Black Sheep

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Dir & Writ: Jonathan King

Nathan Meister … Henry Oldfield
Danielle Mason … Experience
Peter Feeney … Angus Oldfield
Tammy Davis … Tucker
Glenis Levestam … Mrs. Mac

This is the story of Henry Oldfield, son of a prominent sheep farmer in New Zealand, who, following a tragic incident in his childhood, suffers from a fear of sheep. He returns to the farm to sell his share of the family property to his older brother Angus. But while there is discovers the terrible secret… Angus has been experimenting in order to create a new breed of sheep, The Oldfield, but things go a little wrong and before you know it the mutant killer sheep are terrorising the land.

Tags: 7 Stars, Black Sheep, comedy, Danielle Mason, fun, Glenis Levestam, horror, horror-com, Jonathan King, Nathan Meister, New Zealand, Peter Feeney, sheep, Tammy Davis

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Oct 09 2007

Wasn’t Sat great?

Published by Fence under Sport

After we left the RWC and headed home I has to switch and support some other countries. As mentioned, I did the almost unthinkable and cheered on England against Australia. And what a match! And that was followed by France V new Zealand. And for all the moaning about the ref I couldn’t see much wrong with his decisions. Yes, it was a forward pass that led to the French try, but refs miss forward passes all the time. It hurts when it your team that suffers, but swings and roundabouts folks. For the rest of it I thought he was quite fair, although France do seem to be able to play different refs a lot better than other countries.

Sun didn’t go so well. Fiji lost, although South Africa almost threw it away before realising what was happening and putting the squeeze on. And in the final quarter-final, I know, I said before hand that I’d support Argentina, but once it started I just couldn’t. Too many years of cheering Scotland on.

I don’t think Argentina played their best, but their game plan is very effective, and those moments of brilliance mean you just can’t begrudge them a win. Apart from when they beat us, obviously, and I suppose if you were Scottish.

So we’ll have one Six Nations team in the final and probably one Tri Nations. There is the possibility that Argentina will beat the South Africans, and wouldn’t that be something, but I just think that SA have too much skill and power all over the pitch. I’m hoping that Argentina do it, but my head says they won’t.

If they make it I’ll be cheering them on in the final, otherwise I’ll be shouting for France. I can’t see England doing the impossible two weeks in a row. Although anything is possible I suppose.

Tags: 2007RWC, Argentina, Australia, England, Fiji, France, New Zealand, quarter-finals, rugby, Scotland, SOuth Africa

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Oct 12 2006

The Last Great Tour?

Published by Fence under Books, Sport

Travelling with the 2005 Lions
Author: Paul Daly
ISBN: 1903464935
DDC: 796.333640993
See also: Library Thing ; Official Lions site |

Sunday 29 May 2005, Schipol Airport, Amsterdam
I hated rugby once, you know. In first year at secondary school, we hauled our bags up to the top of St. Patrick’s Hill every Monday afternoon, to run around in the freezing muck.

I had hoped to enjoy this, but in the end it was a little meh. Maybe because I hadn’t seen any of the rugby from the Tour, Sky Sports keeping it all for their viewers. Or maybe because New Zealand were so dominant. Or maybe because I’m not a Woodward fan. Or maybe because the style of writing was only meh-worthy.

This is the story of the 2005 British and Irish Lions tour to New Zealand, where they lost all their tests against the All-Blacks, and where Brian O’Driscoll was infamously spear-tackled and out of the tour within the opening few minutes of the first match. Dislocated shoulder, one that took over half an hour for the medical team to put back in.

But the book it more a personal diary than a real look at the rugby, so it is amusing and easy reading. Light and entertaining rather than interesting. Aside from some nice little anecdotes, for instance, did you know that at a press conferance Paul O’Connell once pulled down Alastair Campbell’s trousers?

Still, it is worth a look if you are interested in rugby, but it isn’t anything special.

Tags: 6 Stars, 796.333640993, Brian O'Driscoll, British and Irish Lions, diary, Lions05, New Zealand, Paul Daly, rugby, spear tackle, The Last Great Tour

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Jul 03 2005

In My Father’s Den

Published by Fence under Moving Pictures

Dir: Brad McGann
Writ: Maurise Gee, Brad McGann

Emily Barclay …. Celia Steimer
Matthew MacFadyen …. Paul Prior
Miranda Otto …. Penny
Colin Moy …. Andrew

A cynical, war weary, world-renowned journalist returns home, for the first time in 17 years, in order to attend his father’s funeral. But once back in small town New Zealand he finds his past their waiting for him.

Starting off fairly slow, In My Father’s Den is a thoughtful, quiet almost subdued drama, that turns into a bit of a thriller by the end. MacFadyen plays Paul, the journalist, and does a very good job as the detached onlooker. All the acting is good, and the drama of the situation keeps you interested, but not enthralled.

Then, midway through, the film sort of flips forward in time. Paul and Celia have just started to chat and talk when suddenly we jerk forward in the timeline, to the day or so after she disapears. From then on a series of flashbacks, intersepersed with the investigation, tell us what happened. Paul begins to get strange looks from the townpeople, clearly they think he is somehow responsible.

There are also flashbacks to when Paul was a child, and a teenager. These hint, but never quite reveal, why he left home the way he did.

This is when, imo the film really comes into its own. As an audience we don’t know enough about any of the characters so we can never be sure what exactly happened. And I didn’t see the ending coming, although I did think … (if I say that it’ll give things away so I won’t.)

Slow, but very enjoyable film

San Sebastian winner | Seattle film festival winner |