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eBook – The Empire Striketh Back

eBook –  The Empire Striketh Back Full title :  William Shakespeare's The Empire Striketh Back By : Ian Doescher  Iillustrations :  Nicolas Delort Score : 9/10 Year : 2014 Publisher : Quirk Books  eISBN :  978-1-59474-716-8 Based on  978-1-59474-715-1 (hard cover) Pages : 176 *  Language : English From Goodreads : Hot on the heels of the New York Times best seller William Shakespeare’s Star Wars comes the next two installments of the original trilogy: William Shakespeare’s The Empire Striketh Back  (and not reviewed as yet,  William Shakespeare’s The Jedi Doth Return.) Return to the star-crossed galaxy far, far away as the brooding young hero, a power-mad emperor, and their jesting droids match wits, struggle for power, and soliloquize in elegant and impeccable iambic pentameter. Illustrated with beautiful black-and-white Elizabethan-style artwork, these two plays offer essential reading for all ages. Something Wookiee this way comes!  *** As he explains at the end, Ian Doescher
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Movie – The Nanny (1965)



Movie – The Nanny (1965)

Score : 9/10  
Year : 1965
Director:  Seth Holt
Country: UK 
Language: English
Duration: 1h29

Writers: Jimmy Sangster (Screenplay) ; Marryam Modell (novel The Nanny)


Mental health isn't often well portrayed on our entertainment screens. In fact, most characterizations are either exaggerated - or underplayed. Many show lack of knowledge on the writters' part. It's tough to find a movie that doesn't perpetuate stigmas and/or make fun of mental health. 

The Nanny is a very agreeable surprise in all these respects. It deals with depression, grief and trauma, through a story of a nanny (Bette Davis) caring for the Fane family who has suffered a loss - at the root of their grief and depression. 
It is based an eponymous novel by Marryam (or Merriam) Modell, although it was published under her pen-name Evelyn Piper and which I haven't read so I cannot discuss (as of yet) about the accuracy of adaptation. 

Bette Davis had the guts of taking un-glamorous roles in her carrer. She embodies this nanny terrifically. Her acting is superb and believable and the supporting cast plays at her level of intensity. 

People look real - no massive makeup nor pristine hairdos first thing out of bed. In fact, depression is portrayed quite realistically. 

This dramatic thriller fully entertains and offers food for thought in sociopolitical comments and one chains of events. 

There is suspense, though some elements become a bit clearer over time, there are also totally unpredictable spins. 

The score tends to be adequate, though not perfect. 

The cinematography offers a few original shots ; The lighting is very good, just like the pace and edit. 

A word of caution: this is a mature, thematic movie. It's not overly graphic as modern movies dealing with these topics would be, but its psychological complexities and possible triggering depictions of bullying and infantilisation do limit the possible audience and moments you should watch it.

The Nanny is an entertaining thriller, depicting mental health in a refreshingly realistic way and which doesn't perpetuate stigmas. 
The social comments stand the test of time and aren't limited to 1965 - at least for those few aspects which didn't change too much since the movie was made. 

Cast:
Bette Davis, William Dix, Wendy Craig, Jill Bennett, James Villiers, Pamela Franklin, et al.



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