In the past few weeks I’ve been watching a load of films in the run up to the Bafta and Oscar awards, and it’s been an odd experience. Normally – if any of us can remember ‘normally’ any more – those of us who are Bafta members can go to private movie theatres in the centre of London and see the likely award winners weeks before the films go on general release, or we can catch up with any we missed. During Covid-19 that has been impossible.
Instead of viewing movies on big screens with friends and a live audience, we have all been sitting at home alone, watching online on laptops. Despite the fact that there are some truly great movies this year, it has been, for me at least, a very dispiriting couple of months because the shortlisted movies have been so often miserable and so lacking in mischief or good simple fun. Watching even some great performances and imaginatively directed features during the lockdown has been like taking part in an endless film fiesta of misery.
During lockdown, amid daily death and infection figures, no one needs any more unhappiness, and faced with it I have been suffering acute empathy failure. I began to long for the genius of romantic comedies of years gone by, of Marilyn Monroe in Some Like It Hot, or the daft cheerfulness of Notting Hill, or maybe the kind of good humoured chase of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid and the clever idiocy of The Big Lebowski. Instead it's been a pool of despair.
The Bafta winner Nomadland, for example, is stunning. Brilliant. Revelatory. And relentlessly grim. It has a harsh documentary style, directed by Chloe Zhao and starring Frances McDormand, following the destruction of lives caused by the financial crash and the post-2008 recession that followed. Ordinary decent Americans end up losing their homes, living a trailer-park existence working in dead-end jobs. True, like most movies-of-misery this year, Nomadland has a heart of gold, but it was exhausting and I wanted it to end.
I began to long for the genius of romantic comedies of years gone by
Or there is a fine British film, County Lines. A decent young lad is ensnared into selling drugs and ends inevitably in a world of horrific violence, modestly relieved by some love at the end. Or there is Riz Ahmed's performance as a rock music drummer in Sound of Metal – a drummer who is becoming deaf. Or Judas and the Black Messiah – the story of a charismatic young African-American leader in the Black Panthers, a man betrayed by one of those he trusted.
Or Carey Mulligan's superb performance in Promising Young Woman. It's a revenge comedy – well, sort of – brilliantly uncomfortable as an exploration of the ways in which predatory men often escape responsibility for abusing women. It's an important yet grim theme, and such has been the movie-misery of the past two months Mulligan was one of the few who raised some smiles.
I found every single one of these films (and many more) admirable, but not truly enjoyable. I cheered the fact that two of the best directors are women – Emerald Fennell for Promising Young Woman and Chloe Zhao for Nomadland – and that an African American director, Shaka King, was recognised for the gripping tale of Judas and the Black Messiah.
At last awards ceremonies are featuring more diversity of talent in the movie industry. And I cheered that great social themes – attitudes to women, to workers, to people of colour – were being explored. But there was a missing ingredient in almost all the movies I’ve watched in 2021: relaxed entertainment.
Movies always have something to say about the times in which they were created. Busby Berkeley's extraordinarily choreographed great fantasies in his Gold Digger series were Hollywood's escape from the misery of the Great Depression of the 1930s.
James Bond movies were rooted in the neurosis of the Cold War, although the genius of Ian Fleming was to transfer the struggle between good and evil into one between the glamorous Bond and various eccentric corporate villains – Goldfinger, Dr No and the rest.
This year’s short listed films are unfortunately out of step with the zeitgeist of a world immersed in various kinds of lockdowns. We have enough to worry about, before relaxing to view even these superb movie tales of racism, economic depression, and sexual exploitation.
I longed to escape into various kinds of fantasy rather than confront the other ills of reality. But it’s not the moviemakers’ fault. Big budget movies can take two or more years from inception until they hit the cinemas. This year’s crop of Bafta and Oscar award winners were conceived in 2019 or earlier, long before most of us even heard the word coronavirus.
Maybe next year I'll be able genuinely to appreciate Nomadland or Sound of Metal, but for now I confess the films I have most enjoyed watching are the old Harry Potter series with my children, plus comical animations of various kinds. Escapism? Yes, sure. How about you?
Gavin Esler is a broadcaster and UK columnist for The National
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Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
Polarised public
31% in UK say BBC is biased to left-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is biased to right-wing views
19% in UK say BBC is not biased at all
Source: YouGov
How to vote
Canadians living in the UAE can register to vote online and be added to the International Register of Electors.
They'll then be sent a special ballot voting kit by mail either to their address, the Consulate General of Canada to the UAE in Dubai or The Embassy of Canada in Abu Dhabi
Registered voters mark the ballot with their choice and must send it back by 6pm Eastern time on October 21 (2am next Friday)
'The worst thing you can eat'
Trans fat is typically found in fried and baked goods, but you may be consuming more than you think.
Powdered coffee creamer, microwave popcorn and virtually anything processed with a crust is likely to contain it, as this guide from Mayo Clinic outlines:
Baked goods - Most cakes, cookies, pie crusts and crackers contain shortening, which is usually made from partially hydrogenated vegetable oil. Ready-made frosting is another source of trans fat.
Snacks - Potato, corn and tortilla chips often contain trans fat. And while popcorn can be a healthy snack, many types of packaged or microwave popcorn use trans fat to help cook or flavour the popcorn.
Fried food - Foods that require deep frying — french fries, doughnuts and fried chicken — can contain trans fat from the oil used in the cooking process.
Refrigerator dough - Products such as canned biscuits and cinnamon rolls often contain trans fat, as do frozen pizza crusts.
Creamer and margarine - Nondairy coffee creamer and stick margarines also may contain partially hydrogenated vegetable oils.
Paatal Lok season two
Directors: Avinash Arun, Prosit Roy
Stars: Jaideep Ahlawat, Ishwak Singh, Lc Sekhose, Merenla Imsong
Rating: 4.5/5
BMW M5 specs
Engine: 4.4-litre twin-turbo V-8 petrol enging with additional electric motor
Power: 727hp
Torque: 1,000Nm
Transmission: 8-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 10.6L/100km
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh650,000
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
'Lost in Space'
Creators: Matt Sazama, Burk Sharpless, Irwin Allen
Stars: Molly Parker, Toby Stephens, Maxwell Jenkins
Rating: 4/5
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The biog
Favourite book: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi
Favourite holiday destination: Spain
Favourite film: Bohemian Rhapsody
Favourite place to visit in the UAE: The beach or Satwa
Children: Stepdaughter Tyler 27, daughter Quito 22 and son Dali 19
The specs
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: seven-speed auto
Power: 420 bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: from Dh293,200
On sale: now
Terror attacks in Paris, November 13, 2015
- At 9.16pm, three suicide attackers killed one person outside the Atade de France during a foootball match between France and Germany
- At 9.25pm, three attackers opened fire on restaurants and cafes over 20 minutes, killing 39 people
- Shortly after 9.40pm, three other attackers launched a three-hour raid on the Bataclan, in which 1,500 people had gathered to watch a rock concert. In total, 90 people were killed
- Salah Abdeslam, the only survivor of the terrorists, did not directly participate in the attacks, thought to be due to a technical glitch in his suicide vest
- He fled to Belgium and was involved in attacks on Brussels in March 2016. He is serving a life sentence in France
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Our family matters legal consultant
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The specs
- Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
- Power: 640hp
- Torque: 760nm
- On sale: 2026
- Price: Not announced yet
The bio
Favourite book: The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
Favourite travel destination: Maldives and south of France
Favourite pastime: Family and friends, meditation, discovering new cuisines
Favourite Movie: Joker (2019). I didn’t like it while I was watching it but then afterwards I loved it. I loved the psychology behind it.
Favourite Author: My father for sure
Favourite Artist: Damien Hurst
Learn more about Qasr Al Hosn
In 2013, The National's History Project went beyond the walls to see what life was like living in Abu Dhabi's fabled fort:
Red flags
- Promises of high, fixed or 'guaranteed' returns.
- Unregulated structured products or complex investments often used to bypass traditional safeguards.
- Lack of clear information, vague language, no access to audited financials.
- Overseas companies targeting investors in other jurisdictions - this can make legal recovery difficult.
- Hard-selling tactics - creating urgency, offering 'exclusive' deals.
Courtesy: Carol Glynn, founder of Conscious Finance Coaching
The Vile
Starring: Bdoor Mohammad, Jasem Alkharraz, Iman Tarik, Sarah Taibah
Director: Majid Al Ansari
Rating: 4/5
Roll of honour 2019-2020
Dubai Rugby Sevens
Winners: Dubai Hurricanes
Runners up: Bahrain
West Asia Premiership
Winners: Bahrain
Runners up: UAE Premiership
UAE Premiership
}Winners: Dubai Exiles
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes
UAE Division One
Winners: Abu Dhabi Saracens
Runners up: Dubai Hurricanes II
UAE Division Two
Winners: Barrelhouse
Runners up: RAK Rugby
Our legal consultants
Name: Hassan Mohsen Elhais
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
A Dog's Journey
Directed by: Gail Mancuso
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Josh Gad, Marg Helgenberger, Betty Gilpin, Kathryn Prescott
3 out of 5 stars
The lowdown
Badla
Rating: 2.5/5
Produced by: Red Chillies, Azure Entertainment
Director: Sujoy Ghosh
Cast: Amitabh Bachchan, Taapsee Pannu, Amrita Singh, Tony Luke
Jeff Buckley: From Hallelujah To The Last Goodbye
By Dave Lory with Jim Irvin
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere
Director: Scott Cooper
Starring: Jeremy Allen White, Odessa Young, Jeremy Strong
Rating: 4/5
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
Put in place a business continuity plan after Covid-19
Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
Be creative and innovative to reduce expenses
Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
* Tips from Jassim Al Marzooqi and Walid Hanna
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In the box: iPad mini, USB-C cable, 20W USB-C power adapter
Price: From Dh2,099
NO OTHER LAND
Director: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham, Rachel Szor, Hamdan Ballal
Stars: Basel Adra, Yuval Abraham
Rating: 3.5/5
Who has lived at The Bishops Avenue?
- George Sainsbury of the supermarket dynasty, sugar magnate William Park Lyle and actress Dame Gracie Fields were residents in the 1930s when the street was only known as ‘Millionaires’ Row’.
- Then came the international super rich, including the last king of Greece, Constantine II, the Sultan of Brunei and Indian steel magnate Lakshmi Mittal who was at one point ranked the third richest person in the world.
- Turkish tycoon Halis Torprak sold his mansion for £50m in 2008 after spending just two days there. The House of Saud sold 10 properties on the road in 2013 for almost £80m.
- Other residents have included Iraqi businessman Nemir Kirdar, singer Ariana Grande, holiday camp impresario Sir Billy Butlin, businessman Asil Nadir, Paul McCartney’s former wife Heather Mills.
Hunting park to luxury living
- Land was originally the Bishop of London's hunting park, hence the name
- The road was laid out in the mid 19th Century, meandering through woodland and farmland
- Its earliest houses at the turn of the 20th Century were substantial detached properties with extensive grounds
The Intruder
Director: Deon Taylor
Starring: Dennis Quaid, Michael Ealy, Meagan Good
One star
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The biog
Siblings: five brothers and one sister
Education: Bachelors in Political Science at the University of Minnesota
Interests: Swimming, tennis and the gym
Favourite place: UAE
Favourite packet food on the trip: pasta primavera
What he did to pass the time during the trip: listen to audio books
Wicked
Director: Jon M Chu
Stars: Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey
Why does a queen bee feast only on royal jelly?
Some facts about bees:
The queen bee eats only royal jelly, an extraordinary food created by worker bees so she lives much longer
The life cycle of a worker bee is from 40-60 days
A queen bee lives for 3-5 years
This allows her to lay millions of eggs and allows the continuity of the bee colony
About 20,000 honey bees and one queen populate each hive
Honey is packed with vital vitamins, minerals, enzymes, water and anti-oxidants.
Apart from honey, five other products are royal jelly, the special food bees feed their queen
Pollen is their protein source, a super food that is nutritious, rich in amino acids
Beewax is used to construct the combs. Due to its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial elements, it is used in skin treatments
Propolis, a resin-like material produced by bees is used to make hives. It has natural antibiotic qualities so works to sterilize hive, protects from disease, keeps their home free from germs. Also used to treat sores, infection, warts
Bee venom is used by bees to protect themselves. Has anti-inflammatory properties, sometimes used to relieve conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis, nerve and muscle pain
Honey, royal jelly, pollen have health enhancing qualities
The other three products are used for therapeutic purposes
Is beekeeping dangerous?
As long as you deal with bees gently, you will be safe, says Mohammed Al Najeh, who has worked with bees since he was a boy.
“The biggest mistake people make is they panic when they see a bee. They are small but smart creatures. If you move your hand quickly to hit the bees, this is an aggressive action and bees will defend themselves. They can sense the adrenalin in our body. But if we are calm, they are move away.”
