Anglo-Saxon Attitudes

The Last Hangman: A Must-See for the Dedicated Anglophile

Cross-Posted at JUST EAT THE DAMN PEACH. | If you're not in need of light-hearted fun or something upbeat to take your mind off this, that, or the other, I would strongly recommend this film: the misleadingly titled  The Last Hangman, in which the always extraordinary Timothy Spall plays Britain's Albert Pierrepont, the most humane hangman in history.  (The trailer for the film is here).  It unlocks a certain small grey window on a certain period of British history and a certain aspect of British history and culture.  Besides:  Timothy Spall. 

"King Arthur"

(Cross-posted to just Eat the Damn Peach)  I watched this film over and over.  You could say I'm an addict.  And yet:  this is not the best film I've ever seen.  Or put it this way:  I have my own ideas of the King Arthur legend, all derived from "The Once and Future King," and they are different from this.   Here's what IMDb says:

Based on a more realistic portrayal of "Arthur" than has ever been presented onscreen. The film will focus on the history and politics of the period during which Arthur ruled -- when the Roman empire collapsed and skirmishes over power broke out in outlying countries -- as opposed to the mystical elements of the tale on which past Arthur films have focused. Written by Scott Summerton