“Longford”: Of Prison Reform and Redemption

November 26, 2008 – 4:28 pm

I saw “Longford” after I had lunch with the film’s writer - the funny, talented, and charming Peter Morgan - a former actor with the sort of authoritative voice one finds intimidating at first blush, before realizing that it is in fact quite attractive.

Right now, Morgan is one of the most famous screenwriters in the world, the author of such films as “Frost/Nixon” (coming soon to cinemas), “The Queen,” and “The Last King of Scotland.”

“Longford,” made for television and now available on DVD, is the most recent of Morgan’s docu-dramas - a fictionalized story where he essentially dramatizes people from real life. The film’s director, Tom Hooper, is famous for his “Elizabeth I” TV mini series, a recent favourite at the Golden Globes.

In the tradition of Peter Morgan’s other work, “Longford” examines a relationship between two different people - Lord Longford, a peer, and Myra Hindley a serial murderer. Although it makes for great drama, the film’s underlying theme is forgiveness. “Longford” pushes you to consider whether it can be possible to forgive somebody even when they have committed one of the cruelest crimes in history.

The real-life Myra Hindley, a woman who murdered children along with boyfriend Ian Brady in one of the most high-profile criminal cases in history, allowed the 7th Earl of Longford to campaign for her parole.

In the film, Longford’s belief that everyone is capable of redemption, furthered by his conviction that Myra was corrupted by her boyfriend, pushes him forward against the urgings of an entire society. Myra, however, is more than she seems. Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, Society, crime, europe | Comments (2)

To All Pre-Cancerous Men of Leisure

November 23, 2008 – 2:01 pm

Science say

Our leisure activities

Could definitely,

Maybe, perhaps the

Research shows certain

Risk factors that cannot be

So alarming when in the

Throes of cocktails

Served in smoky glasses

In smoky bars

That allow said smoke

To escape

Through back alleyways and

Into the streets and

Rape our everyday, Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, poetry | Comments (0)

The Sweet Smell of Smurfcess

November 17, 2008 – 10:02 am

It was my birthday last Sunday. How old am I now? Dream on! All I’m willing to reveal is that in the past decade, the state of my eyesight can no longer be associated with regal birds featuring giant wing spans. Nowadays, without my glasses, my sight is reminiscent of nocturnal flying rodents with inverted sleeping habits.

Basically, I can see the big picture, but not the small print. This is a drag, of course, but since I’m not one to mooch on the drab side of life, I’ve decided to embrace the positive aspects of hypermetropia.

Lens-less, when I look in the mirror, I don’t feel an irrepressible urge to float my arms into the air, pick up my skirts and twirl away trilling “I feel pretty”, but neither do I gasp with horror and dash off to dial 1-800-Nip/Tuck either. Sans lunettes, my fine lines, my not-so-fine lines, my crow’s feet, assorted dry patches and random dodgy bits are magically Photoshopped.

Generally, first thing in the morning (when I need all the Photoshopping I can get), I enjoy tripping around the house with reality pleasantly out of focus. I’ll have breakfast with my family and, once they’ve left, I’ll hop in the shower and reach for my familiar soaps and gels, my shampoos and conditioners. Then, pink and fresh and squeaky clean, I’ll slap on some moisturizer, get dressed, put my glasses on, do some tidying up and then head for my office, with my two little dogs pattering along behind me.

But last Monday began rather differently. Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, essays, humor | Comments (3)

The Damned: Eager to Feed

November 17, 2008 – 8:40 am

The previous installment of teenage Chloe Bradshaw’s dark tale is here.

“Wow, that would be amazing,” Travis responds to my offer of eternal life quickly, but immediately looks the floor, dispirited. “It’s sick, you know.”

“What?”

“Me killing my parents. If somebody would come to me and say that they can turn time back so my parents will still be alive, I’d say no. I can recollect feeling extremely powerful with their blood on my hands. But I don’t want to go around slaughtering people and then going prison for it.”

“But I told you, you will never have to worry about police again.”

“That is impossible.”

“And if I was to argue and say that it is possible then what-” I was cut off by Marius snapping:

“Just tell him straight out!”

“Marius and I are Demons.”

“You’re crazy.”

“Ha, only if. You saw Marius’ eyes, he is hungry for blood. Sorry for being blunt, but you only have two choices. You either let me turn you, or I will have to let Marius kill you.”

“Good choices aren’t they? Either get killed or suffer a life of damnation.”

“I take that as a no, then.”

“I never said that.”

“So you want to become a Demon?”

“Sure, where do I sign?”

Again I find myself smiling at the boy’s cheek, though I know that he is going to be extremely annoying. Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, YA, fiction | Comments (1)

Onanism in the Time of War

November 15, 2008 – 12:56 pm

tears spill with my seed

sewn in sand not soil
Children fall and die, though,
I can’t hear their cries

of woe nor blasts from canons
Other than the one I grip,
squeeze to diplomatically relieve
tension, inner struggle, pestilence,
armed conflict, hand-to-hand
combat, anger, discord, strife Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, poetry, sex | Comments (0)

McCain the Postmodern Candidate

November 2, 2008 – 10:21 am

Tom Brokaw was on Charlie Rose the other day and he said that Barack Obama could be our first “postmodern” president. Brokaw admitted that the didn’t know what postmodernism was, but whatever it was, Barack Obama was it.

From the context one could conclude that Brokaw wasn’t referring to any philosophical concept, but to fact that Obama didn’t grow up in the 60’s and that he wasn’t a baby-boomer like all other politicians before him. In other words he was trying to come up with a roundabout way of saying that Obama was young. According to that rather specious - and wrong - definition of the word, fine, Brokaw can pretend that Obama is a postmodern.

However, there are other, more accurate definitions of postmodern, and the primary one is the one that my philosopy advisor in college told me. It goes something like this: Post-modernism is the idea that there is no master narrative; that the world is composed of contingent, accidental and disconnected ideas, circumstances and events that have been brought haphazardly together.

“Postmodernists conceive of the world as a carnival,” concluded the good professor. He was a practicing postmodernist and dressed the part.

If you go by that definition - and pardon me for going with a JD/PhD over Brokaw - then it is not Obama, but John McCain, who has a chance of being America’s first postmodern president. One can surmise this by doing nothing other than looking at the Arizona Senator’s campaign. Read More »

By Ali Eteraz | Posted in Arts & Literature, Columnist, election 08, essays, politics | Comments (8)

The Damned, A New Blood

October 27, 2008 – 12:59 pm

The previous installment of teenage Chloe Bradshaw’s dark tale is here.

I bring out my sword. The metal of the blade reflects light into my companion’s eyes. I give him a malicious smile before plunging the weapon into his stomach. He falls to his knees, blood spilling out of the neatly made hole. I hear him take in his last breath before he lies still. Goodbye, Neo. You asked for this.

“Why did you do that?” Marius asks without much curiosity.

“He was annoying me; I should never have turned him.” I take one last look at Neo’s body and turn away.

“We should get out of this city,” I say.

“You’re right.”

The sun is soon at its highest, shining down on the ordinary people of the world. We have made it far, leaving behind the police. Dark thoughts swim around in my head. Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, YA, fiction | Comments (2)

Fear is a Rapist

October 4, 2008 – 7:22 pm

Fear is a Rapist with papers–
Convicted sex offender–
So, keep your distance.
Listen, I know–
I have a witness
From the stars
And evidence–
Exhibit A:
My rectal scars. Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, poetry, rape | Comments (0)

The Damned, A Warning Message

September 14, 2008 – 3:48 pm

The previous installment of thirteen-year-old Chloe Bradshaw’s tale is here.

“Don’t worry about me.” I say as I walk toward our den, in the direction of the screams. “Marius, have you brought your sword with you?”

“Yes.”

“If I don’t come back within an hour, run, and whatever you do, don’t look back. Take Neo with you.”

“Alright,” he draws his own sword.

I walk towards the den. I turn the corner and notice a figure standing outside the old abandoned building that I and the others have rendered our own. The figure is holding a dagger.

“I wondered how long you would take to show up.” I can’t make out who it is, though I am certain he is a Hunter and knows who and what I am.

“What do you mean?” I tighten the grip in my sword.

“Don’t play dumb with me, Lilith, you who I am.”

“How do you know my name? Show yourself, Hunter!” Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, YA, fiction | Comments (2)

Reel Positions

September 4, 2008 – 8:18 am

A Mermaid named Nala
Met with Jessie the Rabbit
To discuss what the Old Adage say.
While sharing a laugh
For each less than better half
(Fixed Fools who were long drawn away),
They pushed through the portal
Of the detailed dwelling
Of Wally the Wolf at bay.
He showed them his knife,
They giggled more than twice,
As he outlined why they should stay: Read More »

By Feature Writer | Posted in Arts & Literature, movies, poetry | Comments (0)