BOOKS: Ghettoside, by Jill Leovy

Ghettoside is a terrific book – and a wonderful and dedicated piece of journalism – that shines a light on a shocking and little-explored subject.

The book grew from Los Angeles Times’ crime reporter Jill Leovy’s committed reporting of black-on-black violence and murder in some of the toughest neighbourhoods in America in southern in eastern LA – the author spent two-year embedded with detectives in LAPD’s Seventy-seventh Street Division, collating and investigating the carnage and blogging about it. Day-by-day the author meticulously reported on an astonishing 1,000 murders in those two years, a groundbreaking piece of journalism in a city where the killing of one black man by another black man was barely reported, and seemingly cared about even less.

Telling the story of a handful of deaths, their impact and their investigation, Ghettoside paints an extraordinary picture of poor communities living in constant fear, of casual street violence, of what happens when people aren’t protected by the law, and of hopelessly under-resourced homicide detectives going above and beyond the call of duty.

Ghettoside is a book which will have you staying up late into the night to read more – a brilliant and thought-provoking work.

TELEVISION: Hinterland (BBC One Wales)

Fans of quality detective dramas are in for an early Christmas present on December 23 when the second series of Hinterland hits TV screens. Or rather the second series of the English-language version of Hinterland hits screens – I watched the Welsh-language version (with subtitles) on S4C a couple of months ago, and I can tell you it is brilliant.

Fans of Hinterland (and its Welsh-language sibling Y Gwyll) will know all about this terrific series, variously dubbed Welsh Noir or Cardi Noir for its striking West Wales cinematography (all filmed on location in Ceredigion and Cardigan Bay) and brooding storytelling. If you are not yet a fan, now is the time to give it a go – I think you’ll like it.

Last week I was lucky enough to go to a very cool press conference ahead of the new series – we hacks were whisked away from Cardiff train station in a taxi to an unnamed speakeasy where me met producers and writers Ed Thomas, Ed Talfan and Gethyn Scourfield and the detective at the centre of the drama (DCI Tom Mathias) Merthyr-born actor Richard Harrington. What became apparent during the course of the evening as I Hoovered-up the free food and mulled cider was the close bond between those involved in producing the show – perhaps not surprising given the fact that cast and crew spent 10 months together on location in-and-around Aberystwyth filming the second series in the face of all the weather West Wales could throw at them. (And that is a lot of weather.)

The mulled cider took its toll at the Hinterland press conference

And the production is certainly no ordinary TV production – each scene of each episode is filmed back-to-back in Welsh and in English, a painstaking and gruelling business for all involved. But all that hard work is worth it, for Y Gwyll / Hinterland is a bit special. Even those who know Wales will be blown away by the big, open landscapes of Ceredigion combined with intimate storytelling – it is, as Richard Harrington said at the press conference, “irredeemably Welsh” but it is a Wales with a very different look and texture to the one you usually see on TV screens. And it’s a recipe that has certainly proved an international hit, with broadcasters in more than 30 countries buying it – including the mighty Netflix.

In series two we learn more about the backstory of the main characters, and especially of troubled detective Mathias, but as in the first series nothing feels rushed or forced – and there are some terrific plot twists and intriguing story lines along the way too.

And I am happy to report that series three starts filming early in the new year – here’s to more Welsh Noir.

Hinterland is on BBC One Wales on December 23 at 9.30pm. Viewers outside of God’s Own Country can watch it on Sky channel 952, Freesat 964  or Virgin Media 864

TELEVISION: River (BBC One)

Stellan Skarsgard as John River (Pic BBC / Kudos / Nick Briggs)

Quite simply one of the best British TV dramas in years – that’s River. Those of you who watched the recent series will already know of its brilliance, but its release on DVD today means a whole new audience are in for a treat. This six-parter from the pen of Abi Morgan is a wonderful psychological work that follows detective John River – a man haunted by visions, or “manifests”, of the dead – as he investigates / obsesses over the murder of his police partner, and from the first scene to the last it is utterly captivating.

Everything about the series is spot on – the pacing, the story development, the London-at-night cinematography, and of course the acting: the supporting cast is terrific but it is the main characters, played by Stellan Skarsgard and Nicola Walker, who steal the show with simply stunning performances. If you are thinking of entering the Baftas this year don’t bother, these two have the awards in bag.

Tense, disturbing, sad, funny and thoughtful, River combines it all, and it’s one of the best pieces of writing on love (proper love – the painful, difficult, grown-up kind of love not the teenage emoji version that fills so many films, books and TV shows) I’ve come across in ages. If you haven’t seen it yet, the last few joyous, heartbreaking minutes will leave you speechless – if you have seen it, you’ll probably want to watch it again. Make and cup of tea and stick the DVD in the machine, I’ll be over shortly.

River is released on DVD on Monday, November 30

JOURNALISM: Highlights of a week as a local paper reporter – or that was my week that was

(In no particular order, some of the things this hack has written about in the last seven days)

A burglary who broken into a student’s house and stole all her clothes, urinated on her sofa and left racist notes was caught after police tracked him down from DNA on a half-eaten beef jerky he left at the scene. I’ll say that again – A burglary who broken into a student’s house and stole all her clothes, urinated on her sofa and left racist notes was caught after police tracked him down from DNA on a half-eaten beef jerky he left at the scene.

A pair of Liverpool heroin dealers who came to Swansea to set up in business planned to murder a rival dealer to send out a warning to others. But they stabbed the wrong man. Twelve times. And hit him on the head with a hammer. And now they are serving life sentences. Their victim survived.

A 15-year-old from Port Talbot who has juggled studying for his GCSEs with training for the European kickboxing championships.

A flower festival in a Gower church.

A learn to ride cycle class for adults.

A community barbecue. In an old quarry.

A cupcake decorating workshop.

The Kilvey Hill Cement Run. A uniquely Swansea fundraiser where men and women race to the top of Kilvey Hill carrying bags of cement on their backs – all in the name of charity.

Paul Jagger, Swansea prison governor and Great British Bake Off competitor. It turns out this head of offender management means a mean Black Forest gateau.

A driver who admitted being almost three times the dink-drive limit when he collided with another vehicle – but argued he was unaware his friend’s Red Bull had been spiked with vodka when he drank it.

Woody the spaniel who was rescued after tumbling 650ft from the summit of Pen-y-Fan on the Brecon Beacons. He suffered cuts and bruises and a broken tail, but lived to tell the tale.

A man charged with rape after an injured woman was found in a graveyard.

A daughter who was jailed for impersonating her mother and racking up £9,000 on credit cards.

Police searching for a missing Swansea man say they want to speak to his tenant about the disappearance.

Members of Swansea UFO Network holding a dusk to dawn sky watch event. The truth is out there.

A man who had “sexually explicit conversations” with vulnerable young teenage girls on the internet and on his mobile phone — including sending a 14-year-old a photograph of his penis — just weeks after being released from a prison sentence for possessing indecent images.

A suspended sentence for a nurse who ill-treated an elderly patient.

A man and woman from Swansea wanted by police in connection with a burglary in Newport. Like a shit Welsh Bonnie and Clyde.

A mediaeval festival in Kidwelly Castle. Includes a “mediaeval ale tent”. And probably face painting.

The driver killed in a two-car crash on Gower was named as a Hampshire holidaymaker who had been visiting a caravan site with his family in Port Eynon for 30 years.  A 19-year-old driver has been arrested in connection with the collision.

A Llanelli man who stolen £9 from a parked car was sent to jail for nine months. (Mind you, he did it just months after being given a suspended prison sentence for a spree of six vehicle break-ins which saw him stealing people’s credit and bank cards and spending hundreds of pounds on them)

A German chamber orchestra performing in a Carmarthen church.

 

DVD: North by Northwest

From the opening title scene by brilliant graphic designer Saul Bass to the iconic climax atop Mount Rushmore, this super-stylish romcom  thriller is packed with so many good things it should come with a health warning. North by Northwest has to be the go-to film for a Sunday afternoon in front of the telly.

 

Alfred Hitchcock’s most entertaining film starts with a simple case of mistaken identity for Madison Avenue advertising man Roger Thornhill (Cary Grant) and spins into a glorious series of chases and set-pieces as our suave Mad Man is hunted by the baddies. The film is pitch perfect, has some wonderful one-lines by Bristol’s finest, and is visually lovely. It may not have the layers of Freudian depth – or attributed Freudian depth – that other Hitchcock films have, and it may be none the worse for that.

I must have seen this film a dozen or more times, and each time I look forward to watching it again – it is thrilling and funny and outrageously entertaining in equal measure. What’s not to love? I’m just glad the studio didn’t stick with one of the film’s working titles: The Man On Lincoln’s Nose. Awful. Just awful.

WINE: Four fab summery wines from the Wine Society

Summer may be coming and going this year one thing remains constant – good wine. This week I got my hands on four smashing summery wines from the Wine Society, two of them new to the society’s list. And I’ve got to say I’m knocked-out by their quality and value for money – hats off to the society for getting their hands on this quartet.

 

Frappato di Sicilia 2014 (£7.95, Wine Society) The first of the new wines on the list is this light, fruity, cassisy red from Sicily with its lovely dry finish – lightly chilled, it makes for a super-refreshing al fresco drink. I drank mine in the back garden this afternoon. Once opened, it did not last long.

Mandrarossa Fiano 2014 (£7.25, Wine Society) Also from Sicily is this zingy, mouth-watering white with hints of tangerine and pineapple. Delicious.

Adega de Pegoes Colheita Seleccionada 2014 (£6.75, Wine Society) From the Setubal region south of Lisbon – famous for its lovely sweet muscats – comes this this classy, full-bodied white full of soft, minerally, peachy fruit. This would be a great food wine, matching anything from creamy pasta dishes to roast chicken to rich seafood. Seriously good value.

Clos Mont Blanc Macabeu-Chardonnay 2014 (£5.95, Wine Society) The second new wine is this clean, easy-drinking, lemon and stone fruit flavoued white from the Catalonia region of Spain. A tasty summer glugger.

Iechyd da!

(Disclaimer: I am a member of the Wine Society)

 

 

WINE: Maynard’s 25 year old tawny port

Do not adjust your screens folks – Aldi is selling a 25 year old port for just £15. That’s right, £15.

For this kind of money you would normally be able to get your hands on a decent blended ruby port, so hats-off to Aldi for securing Maynard’s 25 year old tawny (£14.99 for a 50cl bottle, Aldi). A tawny is a port that has spent years (in this case 25) slowing maturing in oak casks, loosing its punchy youthfulness and deep colour along the way and becoming an all-together different creature – paler, softer, more mellow and less sweet.

Maynard’s 25 year old is an absolute steal – all the gentle nutty, woody, raisiny flavours you want at a quite frankly ridiculous price. Serve lightly chilled for maximum joy. Chocolate or cheese to nibble on are optional. The first bottle I bought vanished in double-quick time – I’ve since been back to buy a second bottle ready for Christmas. Though whether it lasts beyond June is another matter…

JOURNALISM: The definitive list of Jasons

AS a journalist in the digital age it is important to keep up to date with what the cool cats at the likes of Buzzfeed are doing – and that largely seems to involve making lists of things for very little obvious reason. But not just any lists, mind you, definitive lists. They have to be definitive. So here we go – the definitive list of the best eight Jasons. Because lists can’t have ten items in them any more, apparently.

1) and the Argonauts

He fights an army of killer skeletons as he leads of band of heroic hunks on a life-or-death quest to find a sheep. Best. Jason. Ever.

 

 

 

 

2) David

He was brilliant in Danger Mouse. He was brilliant in The Darling Buds of May. He was brilliant in Only Fools and Horses. He was brilliant in A Touch of Frost. He was brilliant in Open All Hours. But until he proves he can take down a skeleton army, it’s only the number two slot for this national treasure.

 

3) Bourne

There’s only one special agent with the initials JB that’s worth bothering with – and he doesn’t drink martinis. Not sure of his views on sheep, but I wouldn’t be at all surprised if he could kick skeleton butt. The name’s Bourne, Jason Bourne.

 

 

 

4) King

A crime novel-writing dandy who was never very far away from beautiful women and frankly bizarre story plots. And he drove a Bentley Continental. Perhaps the coolest man of the 1970s – and that is saying something.

 

 

5) Alexander

If he had only ever provided the lead voice for the animated series Duckman, Jason Alexander would be on the list. But he was also in quite a popular sitcom. And he was that nasty lawyer from Pretty Woman.

 

 

 

 

6) West

What did happen between Jason and Uncle Bryn on that camping trip?

 

 

 

 

 

 

7) Donovan

He went out with Kylie.

 

 

 

 

 

8) Hughes

For those of us of a certain vintage he will always be Warren from must-see twenty-something-angst-fest This Life. But he was also the sidekick of The Mighty Nettles in Midsomer Murders. He is from Porthcawl. He shared a house with Michael Sheen. Well deserving of his place in the Jason List.

WINE: Tintern Parva Bacchus 2013

This is not just a really good Welsh white wine; it is a really good white wine that comes from Wales – and that is an important distinction.

Tintern in Monmouthshire is of course famous for its wonderful abbey (a must-visit if you haven’t yet done so) but just a few minutes drive away is the Parva Farm Vineyard – the producers of this smashing wine.

Some 17 different varieties of grape are grown on the farm including seyval blanc, regent, ortega, bacchus and huxelrebe, and the annual output is small, so well done to Marks and Spencer for stocking* this gem – Tintern Parva Bacchus 2013 (£13, M&S). Get your nose in the glass and there is more than a touch of the sauvignon blancs about it, with punchy aromas of gooseberries and elderflowers; that is followed by a dry but full palate bursting with flavours of Rose’s Lime Cordial and pear drops with good acidity and just a hint of spice. Well-made (Parva owners Colin and Judith Dudley had help from Martin Fowkes from Three Choirs, one of the best British winemakers) and delicious, the Tintern Parva would be great with oily fish dishes or creamy pasta dishes.

Quantities of this wine are extremely limited – make sure you do not miss out.

Iechyd da!

*The supermarket bought 400 bottles and is selling them in its Welsh shops, as well as 11 in that England. (For the record I couldn’t find any in the Swansea city centre branch, but picked one up from M&S Simply Food in Fforestfach)

DVD: The Man Who Shot Liberty Valance

A dark, disturbing and thoughtful John Ford Western with John Wayne and James Stewart in fine form – and as a reporter, how can I not love a film where a newspaper editor utters the immortal line “When the legend becomes fact, print the legend”…

 

 

When you think of the classic Western you probably think of big skies and open plains but this is a very different American West – it is dark, gritty, filmed almost entirely indoors on a sound stage and asks some pretty big questions that are just as troubling now as they must have been more than 50 years ago when it was made.

The film, told almost entirely as one long flashback, focuses on Ransom Stoddard (James Stewart) – a young, naive and idealistic attorney – and rancher Tom Doniphon (John Wayne), a quietly decent man but a firm believer in the necessity of force to confront force. They are brought together thanks to a frankly alarming sadistic, whip-wielding baddie played by Lee Marvin – when I tell you he is called Liberty Valance, you can probably see where we are heading here. Along the way the film looks at a whole smorgasbord of issues – at heroism and strength; idealism and pragmatism; the power of democracy and education; the lies we choose to believe and the arrival of “civilisation”.

And not only is the film set in the splendidly-named town of Shinbone, but it also sees the first appearance of Wayne’s famous catchphrase of “pilgrim” – all-in-all, a brilliant film.