A Very English Scandal
In 1979, rising liberal politician Jeremy Thorpe was charged with conspiracy to murder. His accuser was Norman Scott, his one-time homosexual lover. Thorpe was acquitted at the time. But everyone knew that he was guilty. BBC apparently scrapped a documentary when Thrope was acquitted. Now forty years later as the sultry truth has slowly tumbled out - BBC makes A Very English Scandal. As the name suggests its very English, with its offbeat humor and awkward sense of propriety.
Plot synopsis. Jeremy Thorpe meets Norman Scott when he was a stable boy. The two become lovers. But Scott is extremely unstable, prone to lies and exaggerations, and a massive drama queen. A frustrated Thorpe eventually calls off the relationship and moves on with his life. Thorpe marries and has a child. Scott drifts across the country falling in and out of trouble/relationships. Every few years when he's hard on his luck Scott would blackmail Thorpe. For two decades Thorpe and his close aides would pay off or find means to keep Scott quiet. Eventually frustrated at Scott's constant blackmail Thorpe tries to kill him. A botched attempt at murder ignites the scandal.
Hugh Jackman is equal parts charming and equal parts slimy as Jeremy Thorpe. Ben Whishaw is impeccable as the erratic, emotional, and troubled Norman Scott. The two have that maddening chemistry that begins as curious sexual attraction and ends with murderous loathing but has mutual attraction sprinkled in.
I cannot help but wonder how this scandal changed the course of British politics. Jeremy Thorpe was predicted to be the next Prime Minister. He was a mercurial force amidst the liberals. This scandal singlehandedly stopped a liberal wave and flipped the country conservative.
And I cannot help but feel sorry for both. Sure Jeremy Thorpe conspired to murder. But he lived in an era where he had to be closeted. After years of blackmail, he was frustrated and scared. Sure Norman Scott was a liar and blackmailer. But he was a homosexual man with severe mental health issues doing what he could to survive.
The Chef Show
Put food and MCU together and you get The Chef Show. Actor & Director Jon Favreau (Happy Hogan) teams up with Roy Choi to talk food and cook food. Many MCU stars and other Hollywood celebs feature. Its time pass. It's interesting to see that some celebrities do cook at home. Also, I think, the movie Chef was so successful because Jon Favreau has such a genuine love for food. But this was definitely one of the lesser food-based shows.
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