Ilford in Conversation: Women Challenging the Political Status Quo

Tonight's conversation was of particular interest to me having been moved from the host's constituency to the guest's, Faiza Shaheen's. It turns out that this didn't make much of a difference to the latter, but was of benefit to the former... leaving the redrawing of the boundaries largely an academic exercise.

But that detail aside, tonight was less explicitly about women in politics and more about political troublemaking - although given the vicinity of the two impressive figures on stage you can't help but feel that their power may have come from their chromosomes after all.

I think the main takeaway was one of inspiration and hope, reassurance that there are people who think about things and more, take action. Both were soaked in their humility as well as their struggle, and it was nice to hear first hand Faiza's historical position with Labour.

Film: Send Help

I think it's safe to say that I'll never be disappointed by Sam Raimi. That said I'm always surprised to hear that he has a new film coming out, given he's been treating us to such awesomeness since the 70s.

But I digress. Send Help is exactly what you would expect it to be, a not so straightforward bunch of set pieces asking far more than "what would an office power dynamic look like when reversed on a desert island". 

It's that subversion which elevates his films, but also the fact that they're so solid, concise and ridiculous in a good way. They never feel overwrought and end exactly when and how they need to.

Send Help was no different and so it obviously gets a recommendation from me.

Film: Primate

Maybe (definitely) I'm getting a little grumpy in my old age, but any film that has a man in a monkey suit as its main antagonist (while keeping a straight face) is destined to be pretty awful.

And turns out that Primate was pretty ridiculous. Not because of its premise and in fact had it been just another horror with, I dunno, a zombie instead it would have been quite enjoyable. It was the implementation here that failed.

So perhaps if I'm being charitable I'd describe this as a good idea that didn't quite make it. Either way this one might be one to miss.