VICDOC Winter 2022 - Magazine - Page 8
IN REVIEW: READ | WATCH | LISTEN — BY FRANCES MORELL
DEAR FATTY
PADDINGTON 2
CHAT 10 LOOKS 3
Dawn French
Netflix
Leigh Sales + Annabel Crabb
Just watch it, this film is a
sheer and utter delight for
all and sundry whether you
are one, or 101, you will be
captivated. Don’t believe me?
It was the highest-rated film
with an approval rating of
100% on Rotten Tomatoes
from 245 positive reviews until
some grump decided, years
after its release, to write and
register a 246th review in
2021 that was negative, but
we’ll just ignore that shall we.
With a stacked cast of familiar
faces, all incredible actors,
Hugh Grant in this role is a
revelation. Join Paddington
and his family the Browns,
as he is wrongly accused and
imprisoned for theft. They must
now band together to prove his
innocence, whilst Paddington
livens up prison life with his
sweet nature, and of course
his marvellous marmalade
sandwich recipe. I recently rewatched this in the company of
my partner, in-laws and 9-yearold niece and I honestly can’t
say who enjoyed it the most.
Writing a review of a podcast
that is itself all about reviewing
various cultural outputs is fairly
obnoxious, but please indulge
me if you will. The indomitable
Leigh Sales and Annabel Crabb —
fairly well known ABC journalists
— you may have heard of them…
began this podcast all the way
back in 2014 that ‘started a
rambling conversation that’s still
going on (and on)…’ Sales and
Crabb, being on a strictly second
name basis only, tell us all about
the culture they have been
absorbing they believe is worth a
mention: think books, television,
movies, interviews, recipes,
other podcasts, the list goes on.
Come for the content — and be
gobsmacked by the vast quantity
these two powerhouses are
somehow able to consume and
stay for the ‘in jokes’ (anyone
for a smug bundt) that have
spawned a whole community of
‘Chatters’. I can’t write anything
that they couldn’t say far more
succinctly and eloquently, so just
have a listen, join the community
and prepare to be delighted.
Warning — the content
reviewed below contains
themes of suicide
––
An oldie, but a goody, this is
the brilliant comedian and
storyteller Dawn French’s 2009
memoir that I read at least
once a year. Written as a series
of letters to the important
people in her life because “they
know her best, so this will
allow the reader to know her
better”, French explores her life
to date. She is extraordinarily
generous in her reminisces of
her personal life and feelings,
and this allows the reader an
insight into her life and inner
thoughts. We learn about her
foundation years growing up
as a navy brat following her
father to his various postings;
her schooling including a
stint at boarding school; her
move to London for university
right after the traumatic
death of her father; and the
beginnings of her career first
as a drama teacher and then
as comedienne extraordinaire
with her fabulous and stalwart
comedy partner and friend,
Jennifer Saunders, as well as
her solo projects. Meeting
those dear to her including
her family and friends, you
will laugh, you will snotty cry,
and you will be uplifted.
––
8
AMA VI C TO RIA
––
––
My theory was that if I behaved
like a confident, cheerful person,
eventually I would buy it myself,
and become that. Dawn French