Bristol Express

I'd like to talk about a couple of films that entered my orbit this week. The first, from 1962, can loosely be described as coffee bar movie and arguably the first UK new wave film, featuring as it does David Hemmings and Ray Brooks. Some People also wraps up nicely my recent trio of Bristol themed posts (it was filmed entirely on location in the city and is a fantastic social history of both a culture and a cityscape long gone); juvenile delinquency, motorbikes, girls, beat music - there's a lot going on here - all a good two years before the Beatles made a dent in UK cinemas. And it's shot in glorious Eastman Colour, just as the sixties were starting to swing.

The soundtrack features local musicians and I've picked out this twang heavy guitar instrumental. It could be the Shads but it's not. Though I think Jet Harris did go on to record a version of it. I've also got a feeling Rol may have covered the Eagles in his Namesakes series; if he hasn't then he probably should.

The Eagles - Bristol Express (1962) 

★ 

The second film couldn't be any more different. I've been meaning to watch Manchester By The Sea for the longest time and finally made a date with my sofa on Saturday night. Casey Affleck gives the performance of his career in this Kenneth Lonnergan (Analyse This) written masterpiece from 2016. Affleck plays a loner, Lee Chandler, with a past so fucked up it's no wonder he shuns the world the way he does. With the recent death of his brother he finds himself returning to his former coastal home town in Essex County as reluctant sole guardian of his sixteen year old nephew. The film digs down into the root causes of Lee's depression and anger and after 2 hours 17 minutes you feel as if he's found (a kind of) peace with himself and those around him but that it could all still be blown off course at any moment. A powerful insight into dysfunctional families (something close to my heart) that will leave its imprint on you.

Manchester By The Sea - Trailer (2016)