R's rue

I feel sorry for people who have a difficult relationship with food. Fortunately, this is not something that has ever afflicted any members of my family as far as I know. We sit down to meals with delighted anticipation, our taste-buds  drooling. One often hears these passing remarks about eating - "I like my food", "He likes his food" and "She likes her food". What the? Doesn't everybody like their food? Well no, they don't. A small percentage of people struggle with eating. They realise it is necessary and that it ought to be relished but somehow when plates of food are placed in front of them, psychological alarm bells ring. Once, I knew a petite woman who had developed an array of tactics to camouflage what I now realise was an eating disorder. To begin with, she never wanted much on her plate. Then, in company,  as the meal began, she would start talking. There I would be trying to shovel spadefuls of lovely grub down the tunnel of my hung...

 I thought I had seen the original West Side Story, but on reflection I think I’ve only really seen bits of it.  Of course, I remember most of the famous set pieces, but I think on the whole I found the whole film rather too theatric and somewhat overlong for my liking. Perhaps I was too young to fully appreciate it. Who knows. Anyhow, Spielberg’s homage and remake is a revelation.  It’s not a theatrical musical filmed But it is a filmed theatrical musical. I hope that made sense. For apart from one or two sequences, the whole film feels real and gritty and totally 1957 New York City. It’s quite, quite beautiful and breathtaking just to look at. I totally loved it, even though it remains a tad overlong. Alvarez and DuBose Spielberg’s casting is sublime.    Ansel Elgort and Rachel Zegler are totally believable and incredibly moving in their lead roles of Tony and Maria. David Alvarez and Ariana DuBose almost steal the whole show as Be...