Yep, a film sounded good for today, and when I finally got the film list done, there was Arrival sat right at the top. Well, under Lahore Se Aagey, whose trailer, thankfully, didn't appeal, especially considering it was only on in far-flung places. (And lookee that, the rating has fallen since, anyway!). Arrival, on the other hand, wasn't a hard sell for me - a sci-fi film, starring Amy Adams, who - as the papers say - never picks a bad script, and rated that highly? I didn't need to see a trailer. Yes please - except, by that stage, the 9pm had sold out, so the only option for today, in my local cinema, was the late show. Ok fine, I was driving anyway.
Had time to eat, and blog, and phone my mother, and do the washing up, and out the door I flew. Got to the cinema just before the scheduled start time, but there were ads anyway - which was just as well, as I was thirsty, so got a drink for once, and ended up having to queue behind one of those irritating couples that never seem to have been at the cinema before. Because, you know, they wanted a combo, but didn't know what size - and there he was, showing them the different cup sizes and explaining the prices. Didn't help that the till was, apparently, displaying the wrong price. Lordy, I spent less time deciding on my last car.
I finally got in - had picked a good seat, at the bottom of the stairs (especially important with my leg, which is improving but still very sore). At the front of the tiered section, so there was an aisle in front of me, rather than a row of heads. Any closer to the screen would have been too close. And the place did fill up, reasonably. Mind you, I doubt the late hour suited everyone - the guy at the end of my row started to snore eventually, and was sound asleep by the time the film ended. I suppose they woke him before they locked up.
After some trailers for things that generally looked good, we were into this much-hyped film. There's a moving bit at the start, which gives us a kind of potted version of Amy's daughter's childhood, before (small spoiler) she dies in her teens, of some unspecified rare genetic condition. Yes, that is only a small spoiler. Go see the film to find out why.
Immediately afterwards, we see Amy at work as a language professor, which took me back to my lecturing days. Walking through the student lounge, in her office, in her lecture theatre about to give a lecture. Empty lecture theatre, pretty much - yep, looked familiar. Except, mind, these students probably had a better excuse than mine had, back in the day.
Because, see, the aliens have landed (not really a spoiler at all, this). Next we have the army guy, Forest Whitaker, knocking at her door, because she's done translations for them before (she seems to know just about every language going) and her security clearance hasn't expired. And he needs her to translate these sounds the aliens are making. Before she knows it, she's whisked off to the secret army base surrounding one of the - ships? Which is where she meets Jeremy Renner, a mathematician, the idea being that he'll throw equations at the aliens. Amy, bless her, suggests they say hi first.
Visually, it owes a lot to 2001: A Space Odyssey. The alien - vessels? are almost like the monolith. The black helps very nicely to stand out against any backdrop. Difference is, they're oval. And the back is flat, so the shape is kind of like one half of a chocolate Easter egg. Oh, and they float.. and yes, we do get to see inside, and the shots of the scientists and soldiers, in environment suits, against the interior, again reminded me of 2001. Which makes the whole thing stunning to look at.
The best sci-fi films have something original to say - and this has plenty of them, over and above the basic idea that the first thing you should do in an alien invasion is try and talk to them! I'm sorry for that chap that fell asleep - I hope he got the gist. Plenty to think about here, in what is destined to become a sci-fi classic. Deserves its high rating, and I'm delighted I went.
Tomorrow is a strange one. The Crick Crack Club is running an "Epic Sundays" event at the British Museum, where they're telling The Odyssey. So, of course, as soon as I heard, I determined to go. I RSVPed Yes on the Meetup page, and during the week I checked for the confirmation email of my ticket booking.. in vain. I tried ringing the museum - first question I was asked was what my booking reference number was. I told him I didn't know, because I didn't have the email! He then said he probably couldn't help me at all, before asking for my postcode, checking that, and saying he couldn't find any bookings for me at all - despite the fact that I do have a confirmation email from them for an event next month. Rubbish organisation. So, it seems I probably haven't booked - there might have been a problem with the site at the time, and I determined to do it later, then thought I'd done it - and now it's sold out. Bah humbug - nothing else really appeals, so I think I might just stay in and do some work, in preparation for re-entering the den of wolves on Monday.
At least on Monday evening, I can take solace in the company of the Man with the Hat, who's taking London for Less Than a Tenner to Top Secret - unusual for a Monday! Well, I should make that, even from Guildford.
On Tuesday, I'm with London Dramatic Arts - properly this time - for The Red Barn, at the National. Good - it'll be quick to get to, so I should make it as long as traffic isn't horrendous. And I see there's no interval - might get to bed at a reasonable hour!
Wednesday, the Man with the Hat is taking both London for Less Than a Tenner and Let's Do London - for less! to a Wayne McGregor mixed ballet programme at the Royal Opera House. This, I'm guessing, is why we're going to Top Secret on Monday instead of the more customary Wednesday. The cheaper seats are with London for Less Than a Tenner, and are in the Slips - where I'm going to be; the others are in the Amphitheatre.
On Thursday, I'm with Kensington Classical Music for a performance of The Snowman, and a Christmas concert, at St. James' Church Piccadilly. The organiser is very kindly giving me a free ticket, on account of concerts I've paid for before and missed. And it has nothing to do with the fact that it's also my birthday! :-) Anyway, good job I'm working from home that day - it's the earliest event start of the week.
Friday, I'm back to Ireland for the weekend, where - unusually, at the moment - we don't have anything scheduled. The following Monday, I'm off with London Dramatic Arts to Trafalgar Studios, to see the Pulitzer-prize-winning Buried Child, with Ed Harris. Pity it clashes with the Crick Crack Club that night - I'd already booked this, but would rather have gone with them..
Tuesday 22nd, London Dramatic Arts are off to Hampstead Theatre to see The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures, with Tamsin Grieg, which was rescheduled. And so am I - independently, just as I was supposed to for the original date. This is the theatre I had to sneak out the back of, last time - which makes it interesting. Assuming I get there in time - it's on at 7, and I bloody well have to be in Guildford again.
Wednesday 23rd, I'm signed up with the London European Club for a talk at the Frontline Club about London's Dirty Money. Unless, you know, I decide to go to a film instead.
And Thursday 24th, I'm back with Crick Crack, in the Arthouse Crouch End (what a good job it's a Work from Home day) for one I missed before - Little Red Riding Hood & Other Lost Girls, as told by Nell Phoenix. And yes, I do have the confirmation email for this one!
Showing posts with label Cineworld Wandsworth. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Cineworld Wandsworth. Show all posts
Saturday, 12 November 2016
Monday, 7 November 2016
Film: Nocturnal Animals
Ah yes, well you know what happened - (yet) another reason to hate working in Guildford is the blasted unpredictability of the blasted A3. Despite no evident accidents, and frequent breaking of the speed limit, it still took me an hour and a half to get back - and while I might have made the Overground if I'd galloped, frankly it seemed too much effort. Besides, my leg is beginning to hurt with all that creeping through traffic jams - no, galloping was too much, for a free talk, and nobody I knew there. Granted, it would have been interesting.
Plan B was available - I'd managed to get my film list done over the weekend. Now, top of the list for tonight was a sweet little film called Ethel & Ernest - but tonight, that was only showing all the way up in JW3, at 6:30 - I wouldn't have made that either. So I trawled down through my list for the next one on tonight.. came down to the 8.1s (as per IMDB rating), and now things were getting interesting. I was rather glad to see that Starfish, whose rating has fallen to that, is only showing on Wednesday this week - it does sound depressing. And, of all days, Wednesday is the one day this week I won't change my plans for. No, what I was interested in among these was Nocturnal Animals - and was I ever delighted to discover that it was showing in my local cinema, at 8pm! Interestingly, Arrival - Amy Adams' other big current release - which is previewing on Thursday - was also showing tonight: but only if you had an Unlimited card.. and as I keep saying, although it'd sometimes be good value, I just can't guarantee going to Cineworld enough to justify the monthly fee..
So anyway, I booked (it's cheaper), and even had time to nip to Lidl and buy some dinner to scoff, before dashing out again. Wow, it's been absolutely ages since I drove anywhere for the evening! Ages since I drove to this cinema, too - but I remembered the way, there was virtually no traffic, and I made good time. Did begin to wonder at how long the lifts from the car park were taking, though. And when I eventually got to the lobby, it was ironic - all the times I've had to enter on the right although my screen was on the left, while tonight, my screen was on the right, but we had to enter on the left because of building works. Bah humbug!
Came in just in time for an interesting-looking trailer for a Shyamalan film called Split, about a kidnapper with a split personality. And then we were into the main feature - and I was to be glad I got an end seat, and that the seat was beside a wall; I needed some support at times.
In Nocturnal Animals, Amy Adams is the woman who has it all - a successful career as an artist, she's on the board of a museum, married to a gorgeous hunk, has a beautiful young daughter. Her life is filmed in classic Hollywood style - she has the big house with panoramic views over the city, servants, chic outfits. Except it's a veneer - her marriage isn't all it could be, neither is her husband's career, her daughter doesn't keep in touch. We meet, in one scene, her classically snobbish mother, Laura Linney. And then one day, she gets a surprise parcel in the post - her ex-husband, (the even more gorgeous than her new husband, if you ask me) Jake Gyllenhaal, has finally gotten around to writing a novel, which he's dedicated to her, and whose manuscript he's sent her. He's called it "Nocturnal Animals" - his pet name for her, as it seems she never sleeps.
Just as well she doesn't sleep anyway, considering she starts reading the thing before she goes to bed. The film now flips between the book, and her life apart from the book - and the book is the reason I was glad to have a wall to lean on. For moral and physical support, you might say. Jake Gyllenhaal also plays the central character here, and has quite a hard time of it. Now, it's not much of a spoiler to say that it's a reflection of their life together - even his wife in the story, played by Isla Fisher, is quite a ringer for her!
Put it this way - and without wanting to give away too much of the plot - it's gruelling. If someone wrote that with me as inspiration, I'd be worried. She emails him near the end of the film, to say it was a beautiful and disturbing read (or words to that effect). Set in west Texas, it's all dust and dirt, low-lifes and misery. The contrast with her day to day life couldn't be greater.
The Standard reviewer said it improved on a second viewing - I think I can see why. So many little touches in the film act as metaphors, for instance - like her paper cut on opening the parcel containing the manuscript. Jake Gyllenhaal does a fantastic job of playing two characters leading very different lives, and the final scene - always an important litmus test for me - is devastatingly understated, yet effective. The film looks gorgeous, the acting is uniformly terrific, it hits home with the force of a hammer - and it's clever, y'know? Very, very highly recommended, and I'm glad I got to see it, accidentally.
Plan B was available - I'd managed to get my film list done over the weekend. Now, top of the list for tonight was a sweet little film called Ethel & Ernest - but tonight, that was only showing all the way up in JW3, at 6:30 - I wouldn't have made that either. So I trawled down through my list for the next one on tonight.. came down to the 8.1s (as per IMDB rating), and now things were getting interesting. I was rather glad to see that Starfish, whose rating has fallen to that, is only showing on Wednesday this week - it does sound depressing. And, of all days, Wednesday is the one day this week I won't change my plans for. No, what I was interested in among these was Nocturnal Animals - and was I ever delighted to discover that it was showing in my local cinema, at 8pm! Interestingly, Arrival - Amy Adams' other big current release - which is previewing on Thursday - was also showing tonight: but only if you had an Unlimited card.. and as I keep saying, although it'd sometimes be good value, I just can't guarantee going to Cineworld enough to justify the monthly fee..
So anyway, I booked (it's cheaper), and even had time to nip to Lidl and buy some dinner to scoff, before dashing out again. Wow, it's been absolutely ages since I drove anywhere for the evening! Ages since I drove to this cinema, too - but I remembered the way, there was virtually no traffic, and I made good time. Did begin to wonder at how long the lifts from the car park were taking, though. And when I eventually got to the lobby, it was ironic - all the times I've had to enter on the right although my screen was on the left, while tonight, my screen was on the right, but we had to enter on the left because of building works. Bah humbug!
Came in just in time for an interesting-looking trailer for a Shyamalan film called Split, about a kidnapper with a split personality. And then we were into the main feature - and I was to be glad I got an end seat, and that the seat was beside a wall; I needed some support at times.
In Nocturnal Animals, Amy Adams is the woman who has it all - a successful career as an artist, she's on the board of a museum, married to a gorgeous hunk, has a beautiful young daughter. Her life is filmed in classic Hollywood style - she has the big house with panoramic views over the city, servants, chic outfits. Except it's a veneer - her marriage isn't all it could be, neither is her husband's career, her daughter doesn't keep in touch. We meet, in one scene, her classically snobbish mother, Laura Linney. And then one day, she gets a surprise parcel in the post - her ex-husband, (the even more gorgeous than her new husband, if you ask me) Jake Gyllenhaal, has finally gotten around to writing a novel, which he's dedicated to her, and whose manuscript he's sent her. He's called it "Nocturnal Animals" - his pet name for her, as it seems she never sleeps.
Just as well she doesn't sleep anyway, considering she starts reading the thing before she goes to bed. The film now flips between the book, and her life apart from the book - and the book is the reason I was glad to have a wall to lean on. For moral and physical support, you might say. Jake Gyllenhaal also plays the central character here, and has quite a hard time of it. Now, it's not much of a spoiler to say that it's a reflection of their life together - even his wife in the story, played by Isla Fisher, is quite a ringer for her!
Put it this way - and without wanting to give away too much of the plot - it's gruelling. If someone wrote that with me as inspiration, I'd be worried. She emails him near the end of the film, to say it was a beautiful and disturbing read (or words to that effect). Set in west Texas, it's all dust and dirt, low-lifes and misery. The contrast with her day to day life couldn't be greater.
The Standard reviewer said it improved on a second viewing - I think I can see why. So many little touches in the film act as metaphors, for instance - like her paper cut on opening the parcel containing the manuscript. Jake Gyllenhaal does a fantastic job of playing two characters leading very different lives, and the final scene - always an important litmus test for me - is devastatingly understated, yet effective. The film looks gorgeous, the acting is uniformly terrific, it hits home with the force of a hammer - and it's clever, y'know? Very, very highly recommended, and I'm glad I got to see it, accidentally.
Tomorrow, yippee, I'm back with free comedy in Hammersmith! (so far). Only with three groups so far - Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, London Live Comedy, and London for a Tenner or Less (just the once). If I feel like it.
Wednesday is back with the Man with the Hat, who's taking Let's Do London - for less! to Southwark Playhouse, to see Orca.
Thursday - yes, you guessed it, free comedy in Hammersmith! Think of it as a placeholder. Funnily enough, I'd just booked with London for a Tenner or Less, and only just noticed that Free Comedy Nights in Hammersmith Wimbledon and Farringdon, and London Live Comedy, were also advertising. Again. So I've booked. Again. What the hey, it's free.
Now, on Friday, London Dramatic Arts are off to see King Lear at the Barbican. Haven't seen that since I studied it in school. Well, I'm off to see it too - cheaper, and sat in the very back row! Hopefully, with the maze that the Barbican is, it'll be fairly easy to avoid them.
And I did have something to do on Saturday - or rather, the Man with the Hat did, until hardly anyone booked, so he cancelled! Bah humbug. Might go to the Lord Mayor's show, which is on that day. Or perhaps a film.
Friday, 19 August 2016
Film: Star Trek Beyond
Film last night.. did a quick trawl of what was on, and top of the list came Star Trek Beyond. On at my local cinema, where they have free parking from 7 - the only time after that was 8.50, but what the hey, I was working from home today, so could stay up a bit late. In the event, the late start time was a boon, as my boss was in the office, got a lift from me, and asked whether I was in a rush in the evening - it was his one day in the office this month, and he had a pile of expenses to submit (been travelling a lot for work, lately).
So we stayed late, but I was still in plenty of time for the film. Made it a bit of a rush to eat, though, and I ended up not finishing it - never mind. Traffic was light, and I made the cinema in 10 minutes. Parked, made my way upstairs, had my ticket scanned, found the screen (annoyingly, there are two entrances, but one is never staffed, so you have to enter by the other - and that was the opposite end from the screen, last night). So by the time I took my seat, it was half an hour after the scheduled start time - the screen was dark, and as I sat down, the film certificate for Star Trek came on. So, perfect timing.. always thought Cineworld has about half an hour of ads! Handy to know.
In short, I was a bit ho-hum about seeing this. I do love sci-fi, but it's not all terrific, especially some of the more modern ones - too much style over substance. But the trailer for this had been unusually subdued, and as the film started, I came to appreciate that this was a lot better than it had a right to be. J. J. Abrams, who directed the last Star Trek, is busy with Star Wars these days, it seems, so this Star Trek had a different director - and I think it was all the better for it.
It looks.. absolutely.. beautiful. It's shots like this that remind me why I love sci-fi, and space has never looked lovelier. Breathtaking, literally. There's a scene - where a starship crashes into a planet (small spoiler) - that's an absolute work of art. And just wait till you see what they've conjured up for the enemy spacecraft! Woo-hoo, I haven't come across this idea before, but it makes for some terrific shots..
It's not without problems. They constantly complain that Simon Pegg (playing Scotty, and who also co-wrote this) is annoying - but frankly, I don't think he has anything on Bones (Karl Urban). See, the banter that went on between him and Spock in the original tv series and films was funny. Here, it isn't. For one thing, Karl Urban just - isn't - funny. Well, nobody in the screen last night was laughing at the jokes. Please, recast or just leave out the banter between them - there's no point in recreating it just for the sake of it! And on top of all that, you can forget about more detailed plot points - it's too hard to catch what they say about it, so I didn't try: but you'll get the gist in the end, anyway.
That aside, it was gorgeous, it was memorable, and it had a depth that I found lacking in, for instance, the latest Star Wars. I was delighted I got to see it. And that I could sleep in this morning! Tonight is to be another film - and after spending most of a day redoing the film list for this week, I lighted on El Verdugo (The Executioner) - a Spanish comedy, made in the 60s, about a hapless undertaker who marries an executioner's daughter and finds himself obliged to take on that trade. (At the time of release, Franco's government didn't realise it was against the death penalty - until it got an award at the Venice Film Festival. Whereupon the producers had trouble releasing it in Spain!) Showing in the BFI, and I got the second-last seat.. sold out now, I see. Again, a nice late showing, which gives me time to do other stuff. Like blog - I was wrecked last night, not having got much sleep the night before.
Again, I don't have to be up early tomorrow - I am meeting Helen for lunch, and in the evening I'm joining London Dramatic Arts - who got a great deal on tickets, for once - for The Plough and the Stars, at the National. Funnily enough, I've never seen it live - didn't even do it in school, because I did Higher Level English, which meant we got taught Shakespeare, while those doing Ordinary Level did O' Casey.. I did get to see it on telly, eventually.
So we stayed late, but I was still in plenty of time for the film. Made it a bit of a rush to eat, though, and I ended up not finishing it - never mind. Traffic was light, and I made the cinema in 10 minutes. Parked, made my way upstairs, had my ticket scanned, found the screen (annoyingly, there are two entrances, but one is never staffed, so you have to enter by the other - and that was the opposite end from the screen, last night). So by the time I took my seat, it was half an hour after the scheduled start time - the screen was dark, and as I sat down, the film certificate for Star Trek came on. So, perfect timing.. always thought Cineworld has about half an hour of ads! Handy to know.
In short, I was a bit ho-hum about seeing this. I do love sci-fi, but it's not all terrific, especially some of the more modern ones - too much style over substance. But the trailer for this had been unusually subdued, and as the film started, I came to appreciate that this was a lot better than it had a right to be. J. J. Abrams, who directed the last Star Trek, is busy with Star Wars these days, it seems, so this Star Trek had a different director - and I think it was all the better for it.
It looks.. absolutely.. beautiful. It's shots like this that remind me why I love sci-fi, and space has never looked lovelier. Breathtaking, literally. There's a scene - where a starship crashes into a planet (small spoiler) - that's an absolute work of art. And just wait till you see what they've conjured up for the enemy spacecraft! Woo-hoo, I haven't come across this idea before, but it makes for some terrific shots..
It's not without problems. They constantly complain that Simon Pegg (playing Scotty, and who also co-wrote this) is annoying - but frankly, I don't think he has anything on Bones (Karl Urban). See, the banter that went on between him and Spock in the original tv series and films was funny. Here, it isn't. For one thing, Karl Urban just - isn't - funny. Well, nobody in the screen last night was laughing at the jokes. Please, recast or just leave out the banter between them - there's no point in recreating it just for the sake of it! And on top of all that, you can forget about more detailed plot points - it's too hard to catch what they say about it, so I didn't try: but you'll get the gist in the end, anyway.
That aside, it was gorgeous, it was memorable, and it had a depth that I found lacking in, for instance, the latest Star Wars. I was delighted I got to see it. And that I could sleep in this morning! Tonight is to be another film - and after spending most of a day redoing the film list for this week, I lighted on El Verdugo (The Executioner) - a Spanish comedy, made in the 60s, about a hapless undertaker who marries an executioner's daughter and finds himself obliged to take on that trade. (At the time of release, Franco's government didn't realise it was against the death penalty - until it got an award at the Venice Film Festival. Whereupon the producers had trouble releasing it in Spain!) Showing in the BFI, and I got the second-last seat.. sold out now, I see. Again, a nice late showing, which gives me time to do other stuff. Like blog - I was wrecked last night, not having got much sleep the night before.
Again, I don't have to be up early tomorrow - I am meeting Helen for lunch, and in the evening I'm joining London Dramatic Arts - who got a great deal on tickets, for once - for The Plough and the Stars, at the National. Funnily enough, I've never seen it live - didn't even do it in school, because I did Higher Level English, which meant we got taught Shakespeare, while those doing Ordinary Level did O' Casey.. I did get to see it on telly, eventually.
Wednesday, 29 June 2016
Film: Udta Punjab
Film again last night, and top of my (now-completed - whee!) film list was Udta Punjab. If you remember, it was only on quite late at my local cinema last week - and being typically long, as Bollywood films tend to be, that wasn't an option for a worknight. However, this week, for whatever reason, it's showing at a much more respectable 7:30 - and I booked, which is cheaper (assuming you've registered for a free Cineworld account).
Just as well that my plan was for somewhere local, quick to get to, and not too early - we left Guildford late, and traffic was bad: and with a package to pick up, which Amazon had kindly let me know was deposited with a neighbour - I was just home in time to leave again. Got a parking space decently close to the exit - Cineworld Wandsworth validates parking from 7pm to 2am at the Garratt Lane Car Park, which makes it very convenient to drive.
As usual, the left-hand door to the screens - which would have been handier for me - was unstaffed, and I had to use the other one: but never mind. I arrived during the trailers, and took my seat in an uncrowded cinema. I swiftly learned that the title is Hindi for "Punjab flying high". And it's about the effects of the heroin trade in Punjab. A disclaimer at the start makes it VERY clear that the drug is not manufactured there, only trafficked through. And, of course, that they don't condone drug abuse..
Three connected stories form the basis of the plot. As I recall, the trailer was primarily focussed on one in particular - the drug-abusing rock star whose hit "Udta Punjab" is one of many songs he uses to promote drug abuse. (Can't check that just now, the trailer doesn't seem to be working.) Anyway, his character entertains us comically for much of the film. But there's also the young girl who works in the fields, and one day finds something that opens her eyes to the drug world.. and then there's the cop, who crosses the path of a doctor that runs a drug treatment clinic, and who really opens his eyes..
I got some ribbing yesterday when I said I was off to a Bollywood film. "Oh," said one, "I just don't like the way they break into singing and dancing in the middle." I tried to convince him that they don't all pan out that way, but I don't think I succeeded. Having said that, there is a bit of singing and dancing in this - not traditional, but of course we do get to see a bit of this rock star in concert. Otherwise, this is a dance-free zone. I'll say this - I love Bollywood for its sensitive treatment of its characters, who are richly drawn, and each of whom we're made to care about.
In this film, our attention is split three ways - which allows the telling of a very complex story; they're obviously trying to cover the whole spectrum of drug use and its consequences. The rich user, the poor user, the people sucked into it unwillingly, the families, the people trying to stop it, the drug lords and their minions. And it's told extremely well. The individual stories are engaging, the rock star's antics are entertaining. And, as I said, we do care about the characters. However, with the splitting of our attention in three different directions, I do think it loses a bit of focus. Had the rock star been a bit less cartoonish, this might have been a fantastic film - certainly, I was absorbed by the other characters, in particular Alia Bhatt, who plays an absolute blinder as the young girl, terrified in a world of drugs. But at the very least, it's interesting, and worth a look.
Tonight, Helen couldn't make it, so her husband is accompanying me to a Funzing talk on How to Fly First Class for Free. Mind you, I signed up to it via one of their Meetup groups - London Speaks Sessions. It's at Café 1001 on Brick Lane, so we can grab a bite to eat there.
Tomorrow, no fewer than four Meetup events were advertising a comedy night in Hammersmith. With John Hastings as the headliner, I was keen - and, it being free, I've signed up for all four! So that's Random London, London Live Comedy, and two (for goodness' sake!) from Funzing's other Meetup group (that I know of) - London for a Tenner or Less. I think the two non-Funzing groups are actually run by the same guy.. so if you will duplicate, well, so can I!
Back to Ireland for the weekend, and next week is all mapped out - first time in a while that's happened. On Monday, I'm finally gong to Kinky Boots, in the Adelphi. Got my ticket on an Amazon offer - always, always shop around for the big shows. On Tuesday, similarly, I'm headed (finally) to Motown, the Musical, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Best value in that case was from the venue itself.
Speaking of value, on Wednesday I'm headed to the National, to see a reading of Stuff Happens, with Bill Nighy. Also in the room will be London Dramatic Arts, who are charging £2.50 more than the standard £10 for this production. It's been a while since I went with them - and at this rate, it'll be a while longer! Anyway, I've booked a seat upstairs, where hopefully I'll avoid them. (Pure badness of me to book at all, I know, but it sounds good.)
In complete contrast, I'm with the Man with the Hat on Thursday and Friday. Thursday is back to the Globe (whoopee!) for a performance of Macbeth that didn't get a great review in the Metro. What the hey, I don't pay much attention to those - and it'll be a great night anyway - great venue, great group. And on Friday, he's taking us back to the Royal Opera House, for Il Trovatore.
Just as well that my plan was for somewhere local, quick to get to, and not too early - we left Guildford late, and traffic was bad: and with a package to pick up, which Amazon had kindly let me know was deposited with a neighbour - I was just home in time to leave again. Got a parking space decently close to the exit - Cineworld Wandsworth validates parking from 7pm to 2am at the Garratt Lane Car Park, which makes it very convenient to drive.
As usual, the left-hand door to the screens - which would have been handier for me - was unstaffed, and I had to use the other one: but never mind. I arrived during the trailers, and took my seat in an uncrowded cinema. I swiftly learned that the title is Hindi for "Punjab flying high". And it's about the effects of the heroin trade in Punjab. A disclaimer at the start makes it VERY clear that the drug is not manufactured there, only trafficked through. And, of course, that they don't condone drug abuse..
Three connected stories form the basis of the plot. As I recall, the trailer was primarily focussed on one in particular - the drug-abusing rock star whose hit "Udta Punjab" is one of many songs he uses to promote drug abuse. (Can't check that just now, the trailer doesn't seem to be working.) Anyway, his character entertains us comically for much of the film. But there's also the young girl who works in the fields, and one day finds something that opens her eyes to the drug world.. and then there's the cop, who crosses the path of a doctor that runs a drug treatment clinic, and who really opens his eyes..
I got some ribbing yesterday when I said I was off to a Bollywood film. "Oh," said one, "I just don't like the way they break into singing and dancing in the middle." I tried to convince him that they don't all pan out that way, but I don't think I succeeded. Having said that, there is a bit of singing and dancing in this - not traditional, but of course we do get to see a bit of this rock star in concert. Otherwise, this is a dance-free zone. I'll say this - I love Bollywood for its sensitive treatment of its characters, who are richly drawn, and each of whom we're made to care about.
In this film, our attention is split three ways - which allows the telling of a very complex story; they're obviously trying to cover the whole spectrum of drug use and its consequences. The rich user, the poor user, the people sucked into it unwillingly, the families, the people trying to stop it, the drug lords and their minions. And it's told extremely well. The individual stories are engaging, the rock star's antics are entertaining. And, as I said, we do care about the characters. However, with the splitting of our attention in three different directions, I do think it loses a bit of focus. Had the rock star been a bit less cartoonish, this might have been a fantastic film - certainly, I was absorbed by the other characters, in particular Alia Bhatt, who plays an absolute blinder as the young girl, terrified in a world of drugs. But at the very least, it's interesting, and worth a look.
Tonight, Helen couldn't make it, so her husband is accompanying me to a Funzing talk on How to Fly First Class for Free. Mind you, I signed up to it via one of their Meetup groups - London Speaks Sessions. It's at Café 1001 on Brick Lane, so we can grab a bite to eat there.
Tomorrow, no fewer than four Meetup events were advertising a comedy night in Hammersmith. With John Hastings as the headliner, I was keen - and, it being free, I've signed up for all four! So that's Random London, London Live Comedy, and two (for goodness' sake!) from Funzing's other Meetup group (that I know of) - London for a Tenner or Less. I think the two non-Funzing groups are actually run by the same guy.. so if you will duplicate, well, so can I!
Back to Ireland for the weekend, and next week is all mapped out - first time in a while that's happened. On Monday, I'm finally gong to Kinky Boots, in the Adelphi. Got my ticket on an Amazon offer - always, always shop around for the big shows. On Tuesday, similarly, I'm headed (finally) to Motown, the Musical, at the Shaftesbury Theatre. Best value in that case was from the venue itself.
Speaking of value, on Wednesday I'm headed to the National, to see a reading of Stuff Happens, with Bill Nighy. Also in the room will be London Dramatic Arts, who are charging £2.50 more than the standard £10 for this production. It's been a while since I went with them - and at this rate, it'll be a while longer! Anyway, I've booked a seat upstairs, where hopefully I'll avoid them. (Pure badness of me to book at all, I know, but it sounds good.)
In complete contrast, I'm with the Man with the Hat on Thursday and Friday. Thursday is back to the Globe (whoopee!) for a performance of Macbeth that didn't get a great review in the Metro. What the hey, I don't pay much attention to those - and it'll be a great night anyway - great venue, great group. And on Friday, he's taking us back to the Royal Opera House, for Il Trovatore.
Friday, 24 June 2016
Film: The Conjuring 2
Film is an attractive option, if nothing else is jumping out at me. And The Conjuring 2 has terrific reviews, and a great rating on IMDB - especially considering it's a horror film, which generally means a much lower rating.
Now, I couldn't just go out and see that. O no, I was supposed to do a film list, checking the IMDB ratings of all films showing. Thing was, by yesterday evening, my list had only got up to "Bas".. by the time I finished it, I wouldn't have had time to go to anything! I compromised - I'd do the ratings for the films showing in my local cinema.
That took me just over half an hour. Yes, The Conjuring 2 was playing there. Yes, it was very highly rated. Thing was, there was one film rated higher - but Utda Punjab wasn't showing until 9, and therefore would be over late.. and I'm in Guildford today.. :-) I had my excuse. It'd taken me ages to get back, what with traffic jams caused by floods from the previous night's torrential rain. Several roads closed - so by the time I got back and rated all the films, it was 7:40. But the film wasn't showing until 8:15! (I'd still been on the road at the time of the earlier showing.) Perfect - I booked (cheaper).
The drive usually takes me 10 minutes - last night, with the traffic all backed up, it took me 25. What the hey, one of the advantages of mainstream cinema is you don't have to be there on time. For once, I hadn't printed out my ticket - I usually do that at the office, but since I'd just booked it that evening, it was handier just to collect it from a machine, using my payment card. Then had to queue to buy a packet of Minstrels, for dinner.
When I got in, they were showing trailers - most I wouldn't be bothered with.. but the last was for Lights Out. Ooh now, that made me sit up. Appropriately included in the trailers for this, as it's co-produced by James Wan, who directed both The Conjuring 2 and its predecessor, The Conjuring. I know it, however, from the short YouTube film of the same name. This is part of the Ponysmasher channel, run by the Swedish director, David F. Sandbergh, and his wife, Lotta Losten, who stars in his films. Sure enough, I knew they'd moved to LA.. A collaboration between them and James Wan is, potentially, the dream team for horror fans. Anyway, this is due for release next month - and, for the moment at least, incredibly highly rated! One to watch. Also check out that YouTube channel - packed full of inventive, short horror films, with accompanying films to show how they were made! (Generally involving the innovative use of IKEA products.)
Well! After that, we were straight into the main feature. I absolutely love James Wan's films - he has a real feel for psychological horror, employing yes, jump scares, but innovative ones. He knows what you expect - and plays with those expectations. Arguably the best horror director working at the moment - and his rough edges are smoothing, too. At the start of this film, he reminds us of the involvement of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren in the Amityville haunting. And we're introduced to the creepiest demon I've seen in a while.
But mostly, this film concerns itself with the Enfield haunting. The events as depicted did, apparently, happen - a single mother and her four children (the eldest in her early teens) find themselves terrorised by a poltergeist. The Warrens are called in - and both before and after their arrival, we are subjected to an increasingly terrifying range of happenings, the fear factor ramped up until I found myself riveted to the screen. Visually stunning. Very highly recommended.
Home (much faster), bed, Guildford. I don't normally come down on Fridays, but today, sadly, is Helen's last day with us. :-( So we had lunch at Heart and Soul, where they were decently prompt with the food - and I can highly recommend the garlic bread. We're back there again for drinks this evening - not too many for me, I have to drive home. Tomorrow, the Man with the Hat is taking his other group - Let's Do London - for Less! to Nabucco, with Plácido Domingo, at the Royal Opera House. Another huge group, God love him - the Opera House always draws a crowd. And with renovations there, and some entrances being closed, he's posted a picture on the Meetup page of where he'll stand to give us our tickets! Aw gee..
Now, I couldn't just go out and see that. O no, I was supposed to do a film list, checking the IMDB ratings of all films showing. Thing was, by yesterday evening, my list had only got up to "Bas".. by the time I finished it, I wouldn't have had time to go to anything! I compromised - I'd do the ratings for the films showing in my local cinema.
That took me just over half an hour. Yes, The Conjuring 2 was playing there. Yes, it was very highly rated. Thing was, there was one film rated higher - but Utda Punjab wasn't showing until 9, and therefore would be over late.. and I'm in Guildford today.. :-) I had my excuse. It'd taken me ages to get back, what with traffic jams caused by floods from the previous night's torrential rain. Several roads closed - so by the time I got back and rated all the films, it was 7:40. But the film wasn't showing until 8:15! (I'd still been on the road at the time of the earlier showing.) Perfect - I booked (cheaper).
The drive usually takes me 10 minutes - last night, with the traffic all backed up, it took me 25. What the hey, one of the advantages of mainstream cinema is you don't have to be there on time. For once, I hadn't printed out my ticket - I usually do that at the office, but since I'd just booked it that evening, it was handier just to collect it from a machine, using my payment card. Then had to queue to buy a packet of Minstrels, for dinner.
When I got in, they were showing trailers - most I wouldn't be bothered with.. but the last was for Lights Out. Ooh now, that made me sit up. Appropriately included in the trailers for this, as it's co-produced by James Wan, who directed both The Conjuring 2 and its predecessor, The Conjuring. I know it, however, from the short YouTube film of the same name. This is part of the Ponysmasher channel, run by the Swedish director, David F. Sandbergh, and his wife, Lotta Losten, who stars in his films. Sure enough, I knew they'd moved to LA.. A collaboration between them and James Wan is, potentially, the dream team for horror fans. Anyway, this is due for release next month - and, for the moment at least, incredibly highly rated! One to watch. Also check out that YouTube channel - packed full of inventive, short horror films, with accompanying films to show how they were made! (Generally involving the innovative use of IKEA products.)
Well! After that, we were straight into the main feature. I absolutely love James Wan's films - he has a real feel for psychological horror, employing yes, jump scares, but innovative ones. He knows what you expect - and plays with those expectations. Arguably the best horror director working at the moment - and his rough edges are smoothing, too. At the start of this film, he reminds us of the involvement of paranormal investigators Ed (Patrick Wilson) and Lorraine (Vera Farmiga) Warren in the Amityville haunting. And we're introduced to the creepiest demon I've seen in a while.
But mostly, this film concerns itself with the Enfield haunting. The events as depicted did, apparently, happen - a single mother and her four children (the eldest in her early teens) find themselves terrorised by a poltergeist. The Warrens are called in - and both before and after their arrival, we are subjected to an increasingly terrifying range of happenings, the fear factor ramped up until I found myself riveted to the screen. Visually stunning. Very highly recommended.
Home (much faster), bed, Guildford. I don't normally come down on Fridays, but today, sadly, is Helen's last day with us. :-( So we had lunch at Heart and Soul, where they were decently prompt with the food - and I can highly recommend the garlic bread. We're back there again for drinks this evening - not too many for me, I have to drive home. Tomorrow, the Man with the Hat is taking his other group - Let's Do London - for Less! to Nabucco, with Plácido Domingo, at the Royal Opera House. Another huge group, God love him - the Opera House always draws a crowd. And with renovations there, and some entrances being closed, he's posted a picture on the Meetup page of where he'll stand to give us our tickets! Aw gee..
Monday, 23 May 2016
Film: Sing Street
Ah, but I've missed just sitting in the car and whizzing down to the local cinema. Quick and easy.. I was delighted when Sing Street came out top of my film list for today, and that was exactly what I could do. With it being set in Dublin - and possibly the biggest Irish release for a while to come - I also felt an obligation to see it. And I booked - that works out cheaper.
A beautiful sunny day, and little traffic - I was in a good mood as I got home, especially realising that I didn't have to rush, for once! I also had time to eat beforehand, for once, and left a little late - but the trailers were still on when I arrived. The films being advertised looked entertaining - but I don't get to the cinema that often these days, and they didn't look like they'd rate very highly on IMDB, so I'm unlikely to get around to them.. Well, that's the system I use, and it works for me.
And today it worked very well indeed. This is the third film by John Carney, and you can really see a theme developing, of underdogs in music. Now, you might say he's flogging the idea to death - but as someone remarked in a review I read today, although he may make the same type of film over and over, he does it really well.
And the three films do have their differences. Once tells the poignant tale of a Dublin busker that falls in love with an immigrant, who makes beautiful music with him as he tries to get into the music business. Begin Again, in contrast, pairs a disgraced music industry executive with an up-and-coming singer-songwriter. In Sing Street, we're back in Dublin, with a schoolboy trying to impress this cool local girl by telling her he's in a band.. so then he has to form a band. (Carney describes this as wish fulfilment - getting the girl and forming a band, the teenage dream.)
Maria Doyle Kennedy shows up as his mother, Aiden Gillen as his father, Jack Reynor as his big brother (and musical guru), Don Wycherley as the psychotic principal of the school he's moved to when his parents can no longer afford the fees for his regular school. Oh yes, the school - people who know Dublin might guess where he ends up. Because there is actually a very famous boys' school in Dublin, called Synge Street, run by the Christian Brothers. The film's title comes from the band that he forms - ironically named after the school.
Ah, this is an absolute gem of a film. So many films promise but don't deliver - this, however, delivers more than you'd have a right to expect. Never twee, never clichéd - it's set about 10 years before I moved to Dublin, but oh my, I recognised it so well! The houses, the weather, the people.. some reminded me so much of specific people I knew. Took me right back, and I shed a tear or three..
And the constant talk of emigration - we see a news report on it, we see the ferries packed with Irish people heading for the bright lights of London, in the days before Ryanair, when airfares were prohibitive. The constant talk of London, of how that was the only hope of advancement. Someone in the audience sniggered - but hey, this is no joke! Years later, I came because I wanted to, but back in the day, London was literally the destiny of any Irish person with ambition but no connections. Close enough that you could get there without flying, English-speaking, and immune to the recession that was crippling Ireland - also to the nepotism of small-town Ireland. The expectation of a schoolkid in Ireland in the 80s was that you'd be emigrating at some point - it was just a question of where, and when.
But hey, this film is all about the music. And the music this band is principally inspired by is Duran Duran, which makes for a rather good soundtrack. Oh wow, this is so 80s! And as well as the music and the fashion, it has a peculiarly 80s optimism to it - a more feelgood movie would be hard to find. It is so damn good.. and I am so glad I saw it. Highly, highly recommended.
For tomorrow, I nabbed a cheap ticket to a piano concert at Wigmore Hall. On Wednesday, I'm back with the Man with the Hat, who's taking London for Less than a Tenner to the (not-so) Top Secret Comedy Club. Now, I've only been there once before, and had a bad experience - but that was just the line-up on the night, and I have higher hopes for this. I know some people are going to be interested in my reaction. So shall I!
On Thursday, I'm off to what should be an excellent night with the Crick Crack Club - Trickster, at Rich Mix, stars no fewer than three storytellers, at least two of whom I know to be excellent: Tuup and Clare Muireann Murphy. On Friday, I'm (so far, unless I get a better offer) headed back with the CLOGgies, finally, for a Royal Parks & Palaces Evening Walk. I did enjoy that group, the one time I was with them - they just usually clash with other stuff! And on Saturday, I'm headed with the London European Club to an exhibition on Sicily: Culture and Conquest, at the British Museum. I know Sicily has a fascinating history, so I'll be interested in this.
A beautiful sunny day, and little traffic - I was in a good mood as I got home, especially realising that I didn't have to rush, for once! I also had time to eat beforehand, for once, and left a little late - but the trailers were still on when I arrived. The films being advertised looked entertaining - but I don't get to the cinema that often these days, and they didn't look like they'd rate very highly on IMDB, so I'm unlikely to get around to them.. Well, that's the system I use, and it works for me.
And today it worked very well indeed. This is the third film by John Carney, and you can really see a theme developing, of underdogs in music. Now, you might say he's flogging the idea to death - but as someone remarked in a review I read today, although he may make the same type of film over and over, he does it really well.
And the three films do have their differences. Once tells the poignant tale of a Dublin busker that falls in love with an immigrant, who makes beautiful music with him as he tries to get into the music business. Begin Again, in contrast, pairs a disgraced music industry executive with an up-and-coming singer-songwriter. In Sing Street, we're back in Dublin, with a schoolboy trying to impress this cool local girl by telling her he's in a band.. so then he has to form a band. (Carney describes this as wish fulfilment - getting the girl and forming a band, the teenage dream.)
Maria Doyle Kennedy shows up as his mother, Aiden Gillen as his father, Jack Reynor as his big brother (and musical guru), Don Wycherley as the psychotic principal of the school he's moved to when his parents can no longer afford the fees for his regular school. Oh yes, the school - people who know Dublin might guess where he ends up. Because there is actually a very famous boys' school in Dublin, called Synge Street, run by the Christian Brothers. The film's title comes from the band that he forms - ironically named after the school.
Ah, this is an absolute gem of a film. So many films promise but don't deliver - this, however, delivers more than you'd have a right to expect. Never twee, never clichéd - it's set about 10 years before I moved to Dublin, but oh my, I recognised it so well! The houses, the weather, the people.. some reminded me so much of specific people I knew. Took me right back, and I shed a tear or three..
And the constant talk of emigration - we see a news report on it, we see the ferries packed with Irish people heading for the bright lights of London, in the days before Ryanair, when airfares were prohibitive. The constant talk of London, of how that was the only hope of advancement. Someone in the audience sniggered - but hey, this is no joke! Years later, I came because I wanted to, but back in the day, London was literally the destiny of any Irish person with ambition but no connections. Close enough that you could get there without flying, English-speaking, and immune to the recession that was crippling Ireland - also to the nepotism of small-town Ireland. The expectation of a schoolkid in Ireland in the 80s was that you'd be emigrating at some point - it was just a question of where, and when.
But hey, this film is all about the music. And the music this band is principally inspired by is Duran Duran, which makes for a rather good soundtrack. Oh wow, this is so 80s! And as well as the music and the fashion, it has a peculiarly 80s optimism to it - a more feelgood movie would be hard to find. It is so damn good.. and I am so glad I saw it. Highly, highly recommended.
For tomorrow, I nabbed a cheap ticket to a piano concert at Wigmore Hall. On Wednesday, I'm back with the Man with the Hat, who's taking London for Less than a Tenner to the (not-so) Top Secret Comedy Club. Now, I've only been there once before, and had a bad experience - but that was just the line-up on the night, and I have higher hopes for this. I know some people are going to be interested in my reaction. So shall I!
On Thursday, I'm off to what should be an excellent night with the Crick Crack Club - Trickster, at Rich Mix, stars no fewer than three storytellers, at least two of whom I know to be excellent: Tuup and Clare Muireann Murphy. On Friday, I'm (so far, unless I get a better offer) headed back with the CLOGgies, finally, for a Royal Parks & Palaces Evening Walk. I did enjoy that group, the one time I was with them - they just usually clash with other stuff! And on Saturday, I'm headed with the London European Club to an exhibition on Sicily: Culture and Conquest, at the British Museum. I know Sicily has a fascinating history, so I'll be interested in this.
Thursday, 14 April 2016
Film: The Man Who Knew Infinity
Another film for me last night - which is great, really! I do like to keep up with what's coming out. Three were tied at the top of the list - the most interesting sounded to be The Man Who Knew Infinity. Goodness, another biography of a mathematician.. anyway, handily, as so often lately, it's showing in my local cinema. Terrific - I know the way, and can drive, with free parking from 7 - so I booked (because it's cheaper) and chose the late showing (8:30).
Now, booking in advance, you need to take the barcode with you, to be scanned. Well, or pick up the ticket at the cinema with your payment card - but I do like to have the barcode, it saves time. Unfortunately, my phone needed charging, so I couldn't take it - and I was dubious about printing out the ticket, which I usually do, after the trouble I had with the printer the day before. Strangely, though, no trouble with printing this email! Must just have been an issue with printing a web page..
Despite ominous signs about road works and diversions, none were in evidence on my short drive. I'd been relaxed about leaving, not wanting to get there too early, so I ended up arriving slightly after the advertised start time. No problem at all - I knew there'd be trailers. Now, there are two separate entrances from the lobby, depending what screen you're going to - but they never open the left-hand one. Which turned out to be awkward last night, as that was the side I needed. The usher did mention what screen I should head for, but not a word did she utter about where it was. Well, I figured I should head left - but it did take me some time to find Screen 6, at the very, very back..
Never mind, I got there. And, of course, my pre-assigned seat was occupied - by a coat: whose owner, in the next seat, looked anxiously in my direction as I approached. What the hey, I was happy to take the seat next to that - there was plenty of room, and why would I want to sit right next to a stranger when I didn't have to?
Some interesting trailers, particularly for Eye in the Sky, led us into the feature. The Man Who Knew Infinity is the true story of an Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), practically entirely self-taught - who attracted the attention, first of the boss (Stephen Fry) in his packing company in Madras, who then suggested he contact G. H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) at Cambridge. Hardy was so impressed by the new theorems that this unknown proposed, that he brought him over to Cambridge, where he remained for some years. We also meet Prof. Littlewoord (Toby Jones), a friend of Hardy's who also champions Ramanujan, and Bertrand Russell (Jeremy Northam), another colleague and friend. Padraic Delaney shows up as Hardy's manservant - a handy device to explain themes and theorems to the audience.
I've seen a few biographies of mathematicians at this stage - I've never seen one so moving. Dev Patel is endearing as the young Indian, travelling so far because that's what he needs to do, just to find someone who understands his work. Jeremy Irons is terrific as the prickly intellectual, describing his mentorship of Ramanujan as the one love affair of his life (no, not literally!). And it's a helluva story - imagine this young chap, obsessed with mathematics, who suddenly has all of this opened up to him! Getting out of the cab and staring, agog, at the ancient buildings.. starting his classes.. and also learning that he'll have trouble with his vegetarianism in this city of carnivores, and having to endure some terrible prejudices. In fact, there's a warning beforehand about racist language and behaviour.
Another thing that shone through from the film was a love of mathematics. Really, I had to chuckle at the scene where they decide we'd better learn something about what Ramanujan is up to, by having Hardy explain it to his manservant: "..even you can understand". We see plenty of equations throughout the film, although few are explained - but the passion of the characters for maths is undoubted. Reading the Wikipedia articles afterwards, you realise how much of the characters' quotes and actions are taken from real life. Frankly, a terrific introduction to the world of maths for people who aren't insiders. Recommended, for anyone who's ever thought the world of maths, or academia, interesting..
Back just in time to go to bed, seeing as how I'm in Guildford today. Tonight, I'm back with the London European Club - luckily, this time the organiser is Henning, whom I know, and know he'll make sure to find people. We're off to Sadler's Wells, which is a venue I really don't get to enough, and I relish an excuse. The show is She Said, featuring female choreographers. Looking forward to it.
Tomorrow, I'm off to Leicester Square Theatre, for a comedy show - Russell Kane: Right Man, Wrong Age.
On Saturday, I'm back with the Man with the Hat. Let's Do London - for less! are off to the ballet version of The Winter's Tale, in the Opera House. Sounds lovely.. and someone in the group just posted that they attended a performance of it on Tuesday, and it was sublime. :-) Augurs well.
On Sunday, I'm back to The Globe for the first time this year! (Well, the Wanamaker Playhouse.) Got the last, non-restricted view seat for Pericles. God, I love this venue..
On Monday, I'm off to my first Meetup with Interesting Talks London - Banged Up Abroad is the subject. Topical, what with the recent parole of an Irish girl convicted of drug trafficking in Peru.. early start, but it's near, so should be ok.
Tuesday and Wednesday are Man with the Hat days - Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is headed to Southwark Playhouse, for a play called Darknet. Now, I have more sense than to have anything to do with the real Darknet - the closest I've come to it are short horror films on YouTube. (In the course of my regular surfing for short horror films, of which I'm a big fan.) But I'll find this interesting.
On Wednesday of next week, both of the Man with the Hat's groups (Let's Do London - for less! and London for Less Than a Tenner) are off to a show called The Passion of Lady Vendredi, at Soho Theatre - and so am I. This was a recent development - I was originally supposed to be going to Doctor Faustus, with London Dramatic Arts Meetup, but sadly, the organiser's mother-in-law just died (as I found out over the weekend) and the funeral is that very day. Works out well for me though - the event has been rescheduled, at a cheaper price, the difference has been refunded to me, and I can now go to both shows! (So I'm going for Less Than a Tenner - 'coz I'm cheap.) The Passion of Lady Vendredi is, apparently, musical theatre, and designed to promote the music of the Lady Vendredi band. And should be interesting.
Next Thursday, I'm off to a comedy show in King's Cross, with London Live Comedy - unless I change my mind and go to a film - we'll see. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend, again..
Now, booking in advance, you need to take the barcode with you, to be scanned. Well, or pick up the ticket at the cinema with your payment card - but I do like to have the barcode, it saves time. Unfortunately, my phone needed charging, so I couldn't take it - and I was dubious about printing out the ticket, which I usually do, after the trouble I had with the printer the day before. Strangely, though, no trouble with printing this email! Must just have been an issue with printing a web page..
Despite ominous signs about road works and diversions, none were in evidence on my short drive. I'd been relaxed about leaving, not wanting to get there too early, so I ended up arriving slightly after the advertised start time. No problem at all - I knew there'd be trailers. Now, there are two separate entrances from the lobby, depending what screen you're going to - but they never open the left-hand one. Which turned out to be awkward last night, as that was the side I needed. The usher did mention what screen I should head for, but not a word did she utter about where it was. Well, I figured I should head left - but it did take me some time to find Screen 6, at the very, very back..
Never mind, I got there. And, of course, my pre-assigned seat was occupied - by a coat: whose owner, in the next seat, looked anxiously in my direction as I approached. What the hey, I was happy to take the seat next to that - there was plenty of room, and why would I want to sit right next to a stranger when I didn't have to?
Some interesting trailers, particularly for Eye in the Sky, led us into the feature. The Man Who Knew Infinity is the true story of an Indian mathematician, Srinivasa Ramanujan (Dev Patel), practically entirely self-taught - who attracted the attention, first of the boss (Stephen Fry) in his packing company in Madras, who then suggested he contact G. H. Hardy (Jeremy Irons) at Cambridge. Hardy was so impressed by the new theorems that this unknown proposed, that he brought him over to Cambridge, where he remained for some years. We also meet Prof. Littlewoord (Toby Jones), a friend of Hardy's who also champions Ramanujan, and Bertrand Russell (Jeremy Northam), another colleague and friend. Padraic Delaney shows up as Hardy's manservant - a handy device to explain themes and theorems to the audience.
I've seen a few biographies of mathematicians at this stage - I've never seen one so moving. Dev Patel is endearing as the young Indian, travelling so far because that's what he needs to do, just to find someone who understands his work. Jeremy Irons is terrific as the prickly intellectual, describing his mentorship of Ramanujan as the one love affair of his life (no, not literally!). And it's a helluva story - imagine this young chap, obsessed with mathematics, who suddenly has all of this opened up to him! Getting out of the cab and staring, agog, at the ancient buildings.. starting his classes.. and also learning that he'll have trouble with his vegetarianism in this city of carnivores, and having to endure some terrible prejudices. In fact, there's a warning beforehand about racist language and behaviour.
Another thing that shone through from the film was a love of mathematics. Really, I had to chuckle at the scene where they decide we'd better learn something about what Ramanujan is up to, by having Hardy explain it to his manservant: "..even you can understand". We see plenty of equations throughout the film, although few are explained - but the passion of the characters for maths is undoubted. Reading the Wikipedia articles afterwards, you realise how much of the characters' quotes and actions are taken from real life. Frankly, a terrific introduction to the world of maths for people who aren't insiders. Recommended, for anyone who's ever thought the world of maths, or academia, interesting..
Back just in time to go to bed, seeing as how I'm in Guildford today. Tonight, I'm back with the London European Club - luckily, this time the organiser is Henning, whom I know, and know he'll make sure to find people. We're off to Sadler's Wells, which is a venue I really don't get to enough, and I relish an excuse. The show is She Said, featuring female choreographers. Looking forward to it.
Tomorrow, I'm off to Leicester Square Theatre, for a comedy show - Russell Kane: Right Man, Wrong Age.
On Saturday, I'm back with the Man with the Hat. Let's Do London - for less! are off to the ballet version of The Winter's Tale, in the Opera House. Sounds lovely.. and someone in the group just posted that they attended a performance of it on Tuesday, and it was sublime. :-) Augurs well.
On Sunday, I'm back to The Globe for the first time this year! (Well, the Wanamaker Playhouse.) Got the last, non-restricted view seat for Pericles. God, I love this venue..
On Monday, I'm off to my first Meetup with Interesting Talks London - Banged Up Abroad is the subject. Topical, what with the recent parole of an Irish girl convicted of drug trafficking in Peru.. early start, but it's near, so should be ok.
Tuesday and Wednesday are Man with the Hat days - Tuesday, Let's Do London - for less! is headed to Southwark Playhouse, for a play called Darknet. Now, I have more sense than to have anything to do with the real Darknet - the closest I've come to it are short horror films on YouTube. (In the course of my regular surfing for short horror films, of which I'm a big fan.) But I'll find this interesting.
On Wednesday of next week, both of the Man with the Hat's groups (Let's Do London - for less! and London for Less Than a Tenner) are off to a show called The Passion of Lady Vendredi, at Soho Theatre - and so am I. This was a recent development - I was originally supposed to be going to Doctor Faustus, with London Dramatic Arts Meetup, but sadly, the organiser's mother-in-law just died (as I found out over the weekend) and the funeral is that very day. Works out well for me though - the event has been rescheduled, at a cheaper price, the difference has been refunded to me, and I can now go to both shows! (So I'm going for Less Than a Tenner - 'coz I'm cheap.) The Passion of Lady Vendredi is, apparently, musical theatre, and designed to promote the music of the Lady Vendredi band. And should be interesting.
Next Thursday, I'm off to a comedy show in King's Cross, with London Live Comedy - unless I change my mind and go to a film - we'll see. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend, again..
Thursday, 7 April 2016
Film: 10 Cloverfield Lane
Film it was for today - and I was only delighted when 10 Cloverfield Lane came top of the list! Firstly, because it's mainstream - and not only does that mean I can go to my local cinema, but - well, it's unusual for that to happen. And this sounded like my kind of thing - vaguely of the horror genre (definitely my thing!) and SciFi, being of the Cloverfield series. Co-produced by JJ Abrams, it was sure to be entertaining - Cineworld gives a discount if you register on the website, then book in advance: so I did.
My local cinema validates parking after 7pm, so I booked for the later show - just as well, as I was extremely late leaving the office! I'd had a big lunch, so didn't need to eat either, and had a relaxed time before heading off at around 9. And I could drive, which was nice - I've been this route a few times now, and had no problems, getting to the cinema slightly before the programme's scheduled start time.
The ads were actually already on as I took my seat - one over from the one I'd booked, so I wouldn't be sitting directly in front of someone, in what was quite an empty cinema. It did eventually fill a bit more, but there was still plenty of space..
Right! Well, 10 Cloverfield Lane is about a woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who starts the film by leaving a relationship - packs her stuff and clears off, without telling the guy. It's the director's debut, it seems - and on the evidence of this, he's extremely good. I do love a film that can tell a story without words, and it's several minutes before anything is said in this. Even longer, in fact, before anyone on screen says anything - the first words we hear are from the guy, who calls her on her mobile as she's driving along, and starts begging her to come back.
Naturally, this distracts her - and in a sterling lesson on not using your mobile while driving, she gets into a bad crash. Then we're into Saw territory, as she wakes up trapped in a basement, with no idea how she got there - turns out her captor is John Goodman, who's of the opinion that they can't leave, because there's worse out there waiting for them. And ooh, he does a fantastic job of appearing simultaneously affable and scary.
With no information coming through from the outside, it's impossible to know whether to trust him. Excellent acting from all throughout - and while someone remarked that the ending seemed implausible: well, but so was the original Cloverfield, and people who've seen that will have some idea what to expect. I'll tell you this, though - if the wordless beginning was terrific, the (almost) wordless ending is just as good! My nerves were still jangling for ages after I left the cinema. Damn good fun, highly recommended.
Flying back to Ireland tomorrow for a long weekend: for cheaper flights, again. On Saturday, my mother and I are off to see the Three Tenors, at the University Concert Hall - she's a big fan. I finally got their website to work, so I could print off the tickets! Not flying back until Monday - which is a bummer, because (forgetting my travel dates) I'd booked a ticket for the Crick Crack Club. And now it turns out the London European Club are going as well - so that'd have been a good night. Can't be helped - I'd never be back in time.
I am with the London European Club on Tuesday, though, for a talk on Theatre and Language: Samuel Beckett "Waiting for Godot". Taking place at the Museum of London, it's a talk about the play, rather than a performance of the play itself. But I love Beckett, so that should be interesting.
My local cinema validates parking after 7pm, so I booked for the later show - just as well, as I was extremely late leaving the office! I'd had a big lunch, so didn't need to eat either, and had a relaxed time before heading off at around 9. And I could drive, which was nice - I've been this route a few times now, and had no problems, getting to the cinema slightly before the programme's scheduled start time.
The ads were actually already on as I took my seat - one over from the one I'd booked, so I wouldn't be sitting directly in front of someone, in what was quite an empty cinema. It did eventually fill a bit more, but there was still plenty of space..
Right! Well, 10 Cloverfield Lane is about a woman (Mary Elizabeth Winstead) who starts the film by leaving a relationship - packs her stuff and clears off, without telling the guy. It's the director's debut, it seems - and on the evidence of this, he's extremely good. I do love a film that can tell a story without words, and it's several minutes before anything is said in this. Even longer, in fact, before anyone on screen says anything - the first words we hear are from the guy, who calls her on her mobile as she's driving along, and starts begging her to come back.
Naturally, this distracts her - and in a sterling lesson on not using your mobile while driving, she gets into a bad crash. Then we're into Saw territory, as she wakes up trapped in a basement, with no idea how she got there - turns out her captor is John Goodman, who's of the opinion that they can't leave, because there's worse out there waiting for them. And ooh, he does a fantastic job of appearing simultaneously affable and scary.
With no information coming through from the outside, it's impossible to know whether to trust him. Excellent acting from all throughout - and while someone remarked that the ending seemed implausible: well, but so was the original Cloverfield, and people who've seen that will have some idea what to expect. I'll tell you this, though - if the wordless beginning was terrific, the (almost) wordless ending is just as good! My nerves were still jangling for ages after I left the cinema. Damn good fun, highly recommended.
Flying back to Ireland tomorrow for a long weekend: for cheaper flights, again. On Saturday, my mother and I are off to see the Three Tenors, at the University Concert Hall - she's a big fan. I finally got their website to work, so I could print off the tickets! Not flying back until Monday - which is a bummer, because (forgetting my travel dates) I'd booked a ticket for the Crick Crack Club. And now it turns out the London European Club are going as well - so that'd have been a good night. Can't be helped - I'd never be back in time.
I am with the London European Club on Tuesday, though, for a talk on Theatre and Language: Samuel Beckett "Waiting for Godot". Taking place at the Museum of London, it's a talk about the play, rather than a performance of the play itself. But I love Beckett, so that should be interesting.
Wednesday, 2 March 2016
Film: Deadpool
Film yesterday - had it in mind to go to the Bafta-nominated shorts at the ICA, but between me first checking them at about 2 the day before - when there was no rush - and me checking them later, at about 11 - they were sold out. Bummer. Of course, the thing with films is, there's always another - undaunted, I moved on to the next on my list.. which was Deadpool. IMDB is rating it surprisingly high, for a film of this type - which is reason enough to go see it! Plus, the rating is holding..
I booked, it's cheaper to register on the website and book in advance, for Cineworld. The Cineworld Unlimited card, mind, would have been better value last month, and would be in general, if I could just guarantee I'd use it.. yes, that's now my closest cinema, but (a) I don't go to the cinema most days and (b) not usually mainstream - it's been unusual in that respect, lately. The card has a monthly fee, and you have to sign up for a year. Not practical for me. Anyway, I booked for last night - a showing late enough that I could avail of their validated parking (after 7).
Working from home, I ate early, and was set fair for a relaxed journey to the cinema. Until about 4.55, when I got this email invitation from Let's Do London - for Less! for the first outing of the year to the Globe.. in May! Ah.. now, I don't normally book that far in advance (except for U2 concerts) but I know this will sell out, they always do.. and probably by the time I got around to booking it.. and the film wasn't till 8.10, and it was a 10-min drive.. sod it, off I set on the path of looking at what I was doing on all the intervening days I'd be in London, to the 5 May.
By 8.15, I was frazzled, I was up to the 2 May, looked at the time and uttered words unmentionable. The rest would just have to wait - off I dashed. Traffic wasn't bad at this time of night, of course, and despite not getting parking on ground level, I was still in my seat while the trailers were still on. Bless Cineworld and their long programme. Ironically, saw one for The Boy - a horror film about a child-sized doll that comes to life. Just like the YouTube video I was watching earlier..
Deadpool is what you might call a super-anti-hero film, with Ryan Reynolds as the reluctant masked avenger. It looked like fun in the trailer. And it is! A film for people who are sick of superhero films, it's got plenty of in-jokes, and not a sacred cow is left unbothered. Poor Mr. Pool didn't want to be a superhero, and is particularly disparaging of the X-Men that also star. And who knew Ryan Reynolds could emit such an annoying voice (his visage enclosed in a mask for much of the film, you notice it). Perfect for this.. really, it's hilarious. Watch, have a good snigger at some cliches. And do keep an eye on the opening credits - they're more interesting than usual.
Driving home afterwards, Nights in White Satin came on.. ooh, I love Magic FM! Got home just before bedtime.. and finally got one of the last few tickets for the aforementioned Globe event. Result! (I see he's added a few more now.) Too late to blog, of course.
Tonight, I'm headed to the Chinese Lantern festival at Chiswick House.. couldn't find my camera, but Helen is kindly lending me hers. Figures, doesn't it? First I can't use the camera 'coz it needs charging, but I can't find the charger - then I find the charger and find I've misplaced the camera..
Tomorrow should've been London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) - I actually do have a ticket for Hangmen, at the National, which they're going to. But the organiser went into such a sulk over me getting my own ticket for that - honestly, I must've got the last ticket that was cheaper than what she had - which blossomed into a full-blown row over my blog, and posting links to ticket resellers in it.. So she banned me from linking to my blog on her pages, and frankly, when the Man with the Hat advertised The Young Visiters, at the Tabard (with his other group, London for Less Than a Tenner).. I booked that, and am going to that instead. I'd much rather. Pity my other ticket will go to waste, but what the hey. Only thing is, I'm driving from Guildford again, and have to stay a bit later that day.. pray to the Traffic Gods!
Friday and Saturday are LDAM again. On Friday, I'm going with them to The Mother, starring Gina McKee, at The Tricycle.. and on Saturday, to Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, at the National. For the latter, I didn't get my ticket with them - but that's acceptable to her, since her tickets were sold out at the time. So I'm semi-officially going with them. Ironically, they do now have a ticket available, and a better - and cheaper - one than I have. Ah well.
On Sunday, none of my Meetup groups had anything interesting, so I'm piggybacking on an event of the Russians in London group - I don't really want to join the group, but the balalaika concert at Rossotrudnichestvo in Kensington sounds interesting, so I'm going to that solo. On Monday, I'm back with LDAM, for a performance of Uncle Vanya, at the Almeida - their second trip, and a Q&A after.
On Tuesday, I'm back with London for Less Than a Tenner, for a comedy night for a change, at the Star of Kings. Wednesday of next week, I'm headed to a Trans-Siberian March Band concert at Rich Mix, with the London European Club - again, I was interested in going with LDAM that night, but they're going to the St. James Theatre, whose legroom is a bit tight for me; I did ask whether she had any aisle seats, and she said she'd get back to me, but never did. What the hey, Miss Atomic Bomb didn't sound great anyway.
On Thursday of next week, I'm back at Rich Mix for a concert by Iness Mezel. - I've signed up for that jointly with London European Club and the World Music Meetup. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.. we're off to the final night of the Clare Drama Festival on the Saturday, in my old school - followed by the Crick Crack Club on the 14th, who are back at Soho Theatre for an evening of storytelling entitled UniVerse - as ever with these, booking essential; they always sell out. On the 15th, I'm with Let's Do London - for Less! again, as they head to Cyrano de Bergerac at Southwark Playhouse - another of the Man with the Hat's preferred venues, and another good one.
On the 16th, I got a cheap ticket to a concert by the Coppell High School Band, at the Central Hall, Westminster. A new venue for me! Cool, I do like to keep discovering them. On the 17th, Kensington Classical Music is off to a concert by the Trio Isimsiz - you had to get your own ticket, though, then pay extra to join the group at the concert. Huh. I'll avoid them, and the extra charge - have to be discreet though, I believe it's a small room! It's at the 1901 Arts Club - another first for me.
On the 18th, I'm joining Spooky London for their monthly spooky pub night! Wherever it is. If I actually go. And on the 19th, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for an event entitled Seven Princesses - at Rich Mix, which will be my first event there with them.
I booked, it's cheaper to register on the website and book in advance, for Cineworld. The Cineworld Unlimited card, mind, would have been better value last month, and would be in general, if I could just guarantee I'd use it.. yes, that's now my closest cinema, but (a) I don't go to the cinema most days and (b) not usually mainstream - it's been unusual in that respect, lately. The card has a monthly fee, and you have to sign up for a year. Not practical for me. Anyway, I booked for last night - a showing late enough that I could avail of their validated parking (after 7).
Working from home, I ate early, and was set fair for a relaxed journey to the cinema. Until about 4.55, when I got this email invitation from Let's Do London - for Less! for the first outing of the year to the Globe.. in May! Ah.. now, I don't normally book that far in advance (except for U2 concerts) but I know this will sell out, they always do.. and probably by the time I got around to booking it.. and the film wasn't till 8.10, and it was a 10-min drive.. sod it, off I set on the path of looking at what I was doing on all the intervening days I'd be in London, to the 5 May.
By 8.15, I was frazzled, I was up to the 2 May, looked at the time and uttered words unmentionable. The rest would just have to wait - off I dashed. Traffic wasn't bad at this time of night, of course, and despite not getting parking on ground level, I was still in my seat while the trailers were still on. Bless Cineworld and their long programme. Ironically, saw one for The Boy - a horror film about a child-sized doll that comes to life. Just like the YouTube video I was watching earlier..
Deadpool is what you might call a super-anti-hero film, with Ryan Reynolds as the reluctant masked avenger. It looked like fun in the trailer. And it is! A film for people who are sick of superhero films, it's got plenty of in-jokes, and not a sacred cow is left unbothered. Poor Mr. Pool didn't want to be a superhero, and is particularly disparaging of the X-Men that also star. And who knew Ryan Reynolds could emit such an annoying voice (his visage enclosed in a mask for much of the film, you notice it). Perfect for this.. really, it's hilarious. Watch, have a good snigger at some cliches. And do keep an eye on the opening credits - they're more interesting than usual.
Driving home afterwards, Nights in White Satin came on.. ooh, I love Magic FM! Got home just before bedtime.. and finally got one of the last few tickets for the aforementioned Globe event. Result! (I see he's added a few more now.) Too late to blog, of course.
Tonight, I'm headed to the Chinese Lantern festival at Chiswick House.. couldn't find my camera, but Helen is kindly lending me hers. Figures, doesn't it? First I can't use the camera 'coz it needs charging, but I can't find the charger - then I find the charger and find I've misplaced the camera..
Tomorrow should've been London Dramatic Arts (LDAM) - I actually do have a ticket for Hangmen, at the National, which they're going to. But the organiser went into such a sulk over me getting my own ticket for that - honestly, I must've got the last ticket that was cheaper than what she had - which blossomed into a full-blown row over my blog, and posting links to ticket resellers in it.. So she banned me from linking to my blog on her pages, and frankly, when the Man with the Hat advertised The Young Visiters, at the Tabard (with his other group, London for Less Than a Tenner).. I booked that, and am going to that instead. I'd much rather. Pity my other ticket will go to waste, but what the hey. Only thing is, I'm driving from Guildford again, and have to stay a bit later that day.. pray to the Traffic Gods!
Friday and Saturday are LDAM again. On Friday, I'm going with them to The Mother, starring Gina McKee, at The Tricycle.. and on Saturday, to Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, at the National. For the latter, I didn't get my ticket with them - but that's acceptable to her, since her tickets were sold out at the time. So I'm semi-officially going with them. Ironically, they do now have a ticket available, and a better - and cheaper - one than I have. Ah well.
On Sunday, none of my Meetup groups had anything interesting, so I'm piggybacking on an event of the Russians in London group - I don't really want to join the group, but the balalaika concert at Rossotrudnichestvo in Kensington sounds interesting, so I'm going to that solo. On Monday, I'm back with LDAM, for a performance of Uncle Vanya, at the Almeida - their second trip, and a Q&A after.
On Tuesday, I'm back with London for Less Than a Tenner, for a comedy night for a change, at the Star of Kings. Wednesday of next week, I'm headed to a Trans-Siberian March Band concert at Rich Mix, with the London European Club - again, I was interested in going with LDAM that night, but they're going to the St. James Theatre, whose legroom is a bit tight for me; I did ask whether she had any aisle seats, and she said she'd get back to me, but never did. What the hey, Miss Atomic Bomb didn't sound great anyway.
On Thursday of next week, I'm back at Rich Mix for a concert by Iness Mezel. - I've signed up for that jointly with London European Club and the World Music Meetup. Then it's back to Ireland for the weekend again.. we're off to the final night of the Clare Drama Festival on the Saturday, in my old school - followed by the Crick Crack Club on the 14th, who are back at Soho Theatre for an evening of storytelling entitled UniVerse - as ever with these, booking essential; they always sell out. On the 15th, I'm with Let's Do London - for Less! again, as they head to Cyrano de Bergerac at Southwark Playhouse - another of the Man with the Hat's preferred venues, and another good one.
On the 16th, I got a cheap ticket to a concert by the Coppell High School Band, at the Central Hall, Westminster. A new venue for me! Cool, I do like to keep discovering them. On the 17th, Kensington Classical Music is off to a concert by the Trio Isimsiz - you had to get your own ticket, though, then pay extra to join the group at the concert. Huh. I'll avoid them, and the extra charge - have to be discreet though, I believe it's a small room! It's at the 1901 Arts Club - another first for me.
On the 18th, I'm joining Spooky London for their monthly spooky pub night! Wherever it is. If I actually go. And on the 19th, I'm back with the Crick Crack Club, for an event entitled Seven Princesses - at Rich Mix, which will be my first event there with them.
Monday, 22 February 2016
Film: Neerja
Funny, I was just recently discussing Bollywood with someone - and then another Bollywood film pops out on top of my film list! Neerja, based on the true story of a flight attendant who sacrificed herself to save the passengers when her plane was hijacked, looked ok from the trailer. And it's showing in my local cinema - with validation of parking after 7, it looked an attractive option, as long as I worked from home tomorrow, so didn't have to get up too early!
I was home in good time today, with light evening traffic, and had time to eat (for once!) before the 8.20 showing. Blissfully empty streets greeted me on my drive to the cinema - if only it'd been like that this morning. I'd booked in advance, as always cheaper with Cineworld. Got there a bit before the trailers started, to find a guy sitting in the seat I'd booked - no biggie, I took the one on the other side of the aisle. And when the people who'd booked that one arrived (I overheard their conversation), they just sat behind me. The place wasn't terribly full - indeed, the guy in my seat (and his companion) left at the intermission..
Yes, that's one thing about Bollywood, there's always an intermission. And some music and dancing. I've heard a lot that's disparaging about Bollywood - but you know, there's Bollywood and Bollywood, and some of it incorporates Western trends. And these are the films that are more accessible to us Westerners.
So, a hijacking film. Used to be a big thing, plane hijackings - not so any more; this story takes place in 1986. The title character is a part-time model, a gorgeous young woman, and the lead actor bears a good resemblance to the real-life person on whose story this is based.
That's about as much as I knew going in. What did I discover? I had no idea I'd find this film so moving - I hate mawkishness, and am suspicious of over-sentimentality: but we are made to care so much, about Neerja, about her family, and about the passengers and crew, that it's irresistible. Pack the hankies - it's a real weepie. All the characters are given great depth - I was impressed at how only one of the hijackers was depicted as a raving loony - and even knowing the outcome doesn't lessen the suspense. Most of the action takes place on the plane, too, a claustrophobic space guaranteed to ratchet up the tension levels.
I was really impressed. The woman who played Neerja herself is, apparently, receiving great praise, and rightly so - but credit must also go to the woman who plays her mother, who gives possibly the most heart-rendingly believable performance I've ever seen as she stubbornly clings to the belief that her daughter will be ok. Where were the Oscar committee when this came out? She should be a real contender for Best Supporting Actress. Jeez, I don't know when I've cried so much - and there's a scene near the end that reminds me, more than anything else, in its spirit, of that "O Captain, my Captain!" scene at the end of Dead Poets' Society, where the boys all jump up on tables in support of their teacher.
Really touching, really tense - really, why aren't you rushing to a cinema to see it?
Afterwards, I knew my parking would be completely paid for, but wasn't quite sure whether I still needed to insert the card into a pay machine as well as the cinema validation machine. So, in time-honoured tradition, I watched what everyone else was doing. And yes, you do. And Kyrie came on as I drove home - oh, I love Magic FM!
Tomorrow, I'm back with one of my favourites - Let's Do London - for less! is off to see Orphans, at Southwark Playhouse. On Wednesday, the Crick Crack Club scheduled another storytelling session, in The Forge - and next thing I knew, The London European Club were coming too! I'd already booked my ticket - so now I've signed up with both groups. This one, I'll definitely go to.. and it'll be nice to have the LEC there, I'll know some people; the Crick Crack Club don't put much emphasis on meeting. On Thursday, I'm back with London Dramatic Arts, with whom I'd booked a ticket to Battlefield, at the Young Vic, before all the trouble with them started. It's based on the Mahabharata, apparently. It'll be interesting to see whether I'm over-reacting, or whether it really will be that tense to meet them again. Back to Ireland at the weekend, then on Monday of next week I'm back with Let's Do London - for less!, who are off to Soho Theatre for What I Learned From Johnny Bevan.
I was home in good time today, with light evening traffic, and had time to eat (for once!) before the 8.20 showing. Blissfully empty streets greeted me on my drive to the cinema - if only it'd been like that this morning. I'd booked in advance, as always cheaper with Cineworld. Got there a bit before the trailers started, to find a guy sitting in the seat I'd booked - no biggie, I took the one on the other side of the aisle. And when the people who'd booked that one arrived (I overheard their conversation), they just sat behind me. The place wasn't terribly full - indeed, the guy in my seat (and his companion) left at the intermission..
Yes, that's one thing about Bollywood, there's always an intermission. And some music and dancing. I've heard a lot that's disparaging about Bollywood - but you know, there's Bollywood and Bollywood, and some of it incorporates Western trends. And these are the films that are more accessible to us Westerners.
So, a hijacking film. Used to be a big thing, plane hijackings - not so any more; this story takes place in 1986. The title character is a part-time model, a gorgeous young woman, and the lead actor bears a good resemblance to the real-life person on whose story this is based.
That's about as much as I knew going in. What did I discover? I had no idea I'd find this film so moving - I hate mawkishness, and am suspicious of over-sentimentality: but we are made to care so much, about Neerja, about her family, and about the passengers and crew, that it's irresistible. Pack the hankies - it's a real weepie. All the characters are given great depth - I was impressed at how only one of the hijackers was depicted as a raving loony - and even knowing the outcome doesn't lessen the suspense. Most of the action takes place on the plane, too, a claustrophobic space guaranteed to ratchet up the tension levels.
I was really impressed. The woman who played Neerja herself is, apparently, receiving great praise, and rightly so - but credit must also go to the woman who plays her mother, who gives possibly the most heart-rendingly believable performance I've ever seen as she stubbornly clings to the belief that her daughter will be ok. Where were the Oscar committee when this came out? She should be a real contender for Best Supporting Actress. Jeez, I don't know when I've cried so much - and there's a scene near the end that reminds me, more than anything else, in its spirit, of that "O Captain, my Captain!" scene at the end of Dead Poets' Society, where the boys all jump up on tables in support of their teacher.
Really touching, really tense - really, why aren't you rushing to a cinema to see it?
Afterwards, I knew my parking would be completely paid for, but wasn't quite sure whether I still needed to insert the card into a pay machine as well as the cinema validation machine. So, in time-honoured tradition, I watched what everyone else was doing. And yes, you do. And Kyrie came on as I drove home - oh, I love Magic FM!
Tomorrow, I'm back with one of my favourites - Let's Do London - for less! is off to see Orphans, at Southwark Playhouse. On Wednesday, the Crick Crack Club scheduled another storytelling session, in The Forge - and next thing I knew, The London European Club were coming too! I'd already booked my ticket - so now I've signed up with both groups. This one, I'll definitely go to.. and it'll be nice to have the LEC there, I'll know some people; the Crick Crack Club don't put much emphasis on meeting. On Thursday, I'm back with London Dramatic Arts, with whom I'd booked a ticket to Battlefield, at the Young Vic, before all the trouble with them started. It's based on the Mahabharata, apparently. It'll be interesting to see whether I'm over-reacting, or whether it really will be that tense to meet them again. Back to Ireland at the weekend, then on Monday of next week I'm back with Let's Do London - for less!, who are off to Soho Theatre for What I Learned From Johnny Bevan.
Friday, 5 February 2016
Film: Room
Film last night, and Room finally made it to the top of my IMDB-rated list. My closest cinema is Cineworld Wandsworth, where the only evening showing currently is at 6:30. Well, I figured I could make 6:30 - or nearly: and this being a film, I didn't have to hit that time exactly. So I booked - cheaper to book in advance with Cineworld. And I'd decided to drive - I pretty much knew the route from home; I could drop my passenger first and drive back to the cinema, which isn't far off my route to Guildford.
Come evening and my passenger found lots of last-minute stuff to occupy him - so we didn't leave quite as early as I'd have liked. When I told him I was trying to make a 6:30 showing, he suggested I drive straight there - he had to get a bus anyway, and could get one from around there instead. I then realised I didn't know the route from this direction! He was on hand, though, to provide directions from his phone..
I dropped him on the first quiet street - the one leading into the car park. I'd researched my route into the car park, at least.. Found the lift, and got myself to the third floor, where the cinema was. I needed to go to the toilet first, and got into the screen by about 6:50. The ads were still showing, and the film itself didn't actually start until 7 - indeed, the couple beside me didn't arrive until shortly after that; I imagine they were waiting until the free parking started (Cineworld validates your ticket from 7pm).
I was a bit apprehensive about seeing this. It's based on a novel, but the story is, sadly, a familiar one from the news - a young girl, kidnapped and imprisoned for years in a tiny space, used as a sex slave, bearing children to her captor, who are then imprisoned with her. Cheery. The girl in this case is played by Brie Larson, her parents are Joan Allen and William H. Macy. And she has a little boy.
You don't need to worry. The writer is fully aware of the depressing nature of the story. That's not the story she tells. She tells the whole thing from the child's view - a more interesting angle, and also a happier one. The child has never known anything else, and for him, this shed they're imprisoned in is his whole universe. They have a tv, and his ma just tells him that the stuff on tv that's different from what he sees every day is made-up. It's not a spoiler to tell you that they escape - eventually - in an exciting sequence, that's nonetheless tense, despite the fact that you know they do succeed.
From then on, the film is a fantastic story of discovery - all the things that await this little boy, that he never before believed existed. It's a journey of wide-eyed wonder. And it's really sweet, and often quite moving. The acting is first class, of course - and Brie Larson has been Oscar-nominated for her part. As has the writer. And the director. And it's up for Best Picture. Mightn't get all - or indeed any - of them, but it's a lovely film. Recommended.
Afterwards, got my parking ticket validated by punching it in the little blue machine to the left side of the concession stands. I had to pay a bit extra for arriving before 7, but although it's advertised as £1.60 per hour, I only had to pay £1.50 - probably because I was there for less than half that. Lovely! - bus fare would've been £3 return.
Blogging takes a while, and although I was home early enough, with an early start today, I still didn't have time last night. Tonight, I've got a cheap ticket to a Circus Show - apparently a regular feature at the Aeronaut. For tomorrow morning, I just scored a free ticket to The Lobster, in Clapham Picturehouse! Courtesy of ShowFilmFirst - it's absolutely ages since I got a free cinema ticket from them. Then I have to leg it, fairly rapidly, over to Richmond - I'm joining the London Dramatic Arts Meetup at the Orange Tree, for a matinee performance of The Rolling Stone. Anyway, apparently there are fast trains from Clapham Junction - I think parking for both of tomorrow's venues would be too complicated for me to drive. Got my own ticket for the play, but the organiser is fine with that!
Come evening and my passenger found lots of last-minute stuff to occupy him - so we didn't leave quite as early as I'd have liked. When I told him I was trying to make a 6:30 showing, he suggested I drive straight there - he had to get a bus anyway, and could get one from around there instead. I then realised I didn't know the route from this direction! He was on hand, though, to provide directions from his phone..
I dropped him on the first quiet street - the one leading into the car park. I'd researched my route into the car park, at least.. Found the lift, and got myself to the third floor, where the cinema was. I needed to go to the toilet first, and got into the screen by about 6:50. The ads were still showing, and the film itself didn't actually start until 7 - indeed, the couple beside me didn't arrive until shortly after that; I imagine they were waiting until the free parking started (Cineworld validates your ticket from 7pm).
I was a bit apprehensive about seeing this. It's based on a novel, but the story is, sadly, a familiar one from the news - a young girl, kidnapped and imprisoned for years in a tiny space, used as a sex slave, bearing children to her captor, who are then imprisoned with her. Cheery. The girl in this case is played by Brie Larson, her parents are Joan Allen and William H. Macy. And she has a little boy.
You don't need to worry. The writer is fully aware of the depressing nature of the story. That's not the story she tells. She tells the whole thing from the child's view - a more interesting angle, and also a happier one. The child has never known anything else, and for him, this shed they're imprisoned in is his whole universe. They have a tv, and his ma just tells him that the stuff on tv that's different from what he sees every day is made-up. It's not a spoiler to tell you that they escape - eventually - in an exciting sequence, that's nonetheless tense, despite the fact that you know they do succeed.
From then on, the film is a fantastic story of discovery - all the things that await this little boy, that he never before believed existed. It's a journey of wide-eyed wonder. And it's really sweet, and often quite moving. The acting is first class, of course - and Brie Larson has been Oscar-nominated for her part. As has the writer. And the director. And it's up for Best Picture. Mightn't get all - or indeed any - of them, but it's a lovely film. Recommended.
Afterwards, got my parking ticket validated by punching it in the little blue machine to the left side of the concession stands. I had to pay a bit extra for arriving before 7, but although it's advertised as £1.60 per hour, I only had to pay £1.50 - probably because I was there for less than half that. Lovely! - bus fare would've been £3 return.
Blogging takes a while, and although I was home early enough, with an early start today, I still didn't have time last night. Tonight, I've got a cheap ticket to a Circus Show - apparently a regular feature at the Aeronaut. For tomorrow morning, I just scored a free ticket to The Lobster, in Clapham Picturehouse! Courtesy of ShowFilmFirst - it's absolutely ages since I got a free cinema ticket from them. Then I have to leg it, fairly rapidly, over to Richmond - I'm joining the London Dramatic Arts Meetup at the Orange Tree, for a matinee performance of The Rolling Stone. Anyway, apparently there are fast trains from Clapham Junction - I think parking for both of tomorrow's venues would be too complicated for me to drive. Got my own ticket for the play, but the organiser is fine with that!
Tuesday, 19 January 2016
Film: The Revenant
Film it was for yesterday, and after I'd done the list - ranking them in terms of their IMDB ratings - two tied at the top: Room and The Revenant. I was torn.. but the Evening Standard film review on Friday, which covered both, preferred The Revenant. And with all the Oscar hype around it - well, I felt somewhat obliged. It's showing in Cineworld Wandsworth - now my closest cinema - so I booked there, which is cheaper than buying on the spot.
I got a lift back from the Guildford office, which was handy, as she dropped me within walking distance of the cinema. I was quite early, so decided to grab a bite beforehand in one of the several eateries at the entrance - Prezzo looked the most promising. With hardly anyone there, I was quickly served.. I recall that being my main gripe the last time I ate at Prezzo: but that was in the West End, and packed. Last night was much easier, and I was soon fed - although honestly, the garlic bread was a bit tasteless, and I don't think I'd bother again. The pollo carbonara was good, with deliciously tender chicken, although a bit overpowered by the cheese topping. Star of the meal, however, was dessert - I was torn between the hazelnut cheesecake and the mint cheesecake, finally plumping for the mint. Good choice - it was divine, with layers of mint and chocolate, and mint buttons on top. Definitely must have again!
After all that, I was still in plenty of time for the film - unfortunately, because the screen wasn't ready. I needed the loo, but it took me a while to notice there was one in the lobby, where I was waiting. And so I relieved myself - pity there wasn't any soap, and only one hand dryer was working. Anyhoo, by that time the screen had been cleaned, and in I went. Despite the near-emptiness of the screen at that time, I wasn't tempted to change my chosen seat - I'd chosen carefully, a row about halfway, seat on the aisle. Just as well I didn't change - by the time the film started, the place was very nearly full: which is good going for a Monday night in January.
The Revenant is based on the incredible true story of Hugh Glass (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a frontiersman in North American at the start of the 19th century. The essentials of the story are that he was guiding a party of fur trappers through enemy "red injun" country when he was attacked by a bear and severely mauled. Left behind by the party, he was abandoned and left for dead by the two who had been tasked with caring for him, but overcame overwhelming odds to survive and search for Tom Fitzpatrick (played by Tom Hardy), the man he blamed for leaving him.
This film is epic. Directed by Alejandro Inárritu, who was also responsible for last year's Best Picture Oscar winner, Birdman, I guess you could classify it as a Western. You rarely see one quite like this, though. Inárritu is a highly original director, and this is a long, dark journey of the soul. I expected the scenery to be exceptional, and, with shooting taking place in a variety of locations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Argentina, I wasn't disappointed. You are never allowed to forget it - the snowy mountains are always looming above, and in some of the most incredible camerawork I've seen, we're always at ground level, at river level - right in the action, made to feel small against the immensity of the landscape. And the director's insistence on using natural light helps set us in place.
The intensity never lets up, through all of its 2.5 hours. We go from injun attack to bear attack to blizzard.. The acting is incredible. DiCaprio has certainly earned his Oscar nomination - apparently, the conditions on set were atrocious, with Inárritu determined to have things as realistic as possible. So they were cold, and wet - and DiCaprio, despite being vegetarian, had to eat liver for one scene, tear chunks out of a fish, straight from the river, in another. And you really believe he's a hardened mountain man. Hardy is absolutely electrifying to watch, as ever. And, as mentioned in the Standard review, Domhnall Gleeson, who plays the expedition captain, brings an unexpected authority to the role, considering roles he's played before.
It's like a Beckett play, actually. Dialogue is minimal, and the scenery generally bleak - pure white snow, individual characters starkly outlined against it. Not what you'd call a date movie, the hardship the characters undergo is never-ending: attacks by soldiers on the Native Americans, attacks by the Native Americans on the soldiers and fur trappers, attacks by the white men on each other, bears, steep cliffs to climb, fast-flowing rivers, blizzards. You wonder how anyone could come out alive. But all the while, you're confronted by stunning beauty, and the most ominous soundtrack I can remember in anything.
Best Picture Oscar nomination well deserved. Acting Oscar nominations well deserved. Cinematography and sound Oscar nominations well deserved, ditto costume and makeup. I think it's a travesty that the score didn't get a nod, but then I haven't heard all the others. This is a film that will be remembered - and I can recommend it, as long as the gore and general bleakness don't put you off.
I doubt I'll see anything as disturbing for the rest of the week..The rest of next week is Meetups - somewhat making up for a sparcity of them, of late! Tonight, I'm going to a play about North Korea - P' Yong Yang is showing in the Finborough: ironically, walking distance from my old flat. The London Dramatic Arts Meetup is going, too - and although I didn't get my ticket from them, the organiser has been kind enough to include me on their list. Lovely to get to go to something with them - it's been ages!
Tomorrow, I got in nice and early for one of those Crick Crack Club meetings that are always selling out. Fairytales for Grownups: Solomon and Sheba takes place in The Forge. And I don't have to pass through Waterloo (yippee!). On Thursday, I'm back with Let's Do London - for less!, who are off on a cheery outing to This Will End Badly, at Southwark Playhouse. Which is closer to my new place. On Friday, I'm back with the World Music Meetup for a concert I'm very much looking forward to - Sufi Chants from Andalusia. On Saturday I'm attending what I think will be my very first Meetup with the Spooky London group, who are running a convivial evening chat about vampires. And on Sunday, I'm with London's Secrets, Tales and Legends, for an enticing walk in Highgate, entitled The Village of the Damned: Ghosts, Drugs and Legends. What a week - most of my favourites in there somewhere!
I got a lift back from the Guildford office, which was handy, as she dropped me within walking distance of the cinema. I was quite early, so decided to grab a bite beforehand in one of the several eateries at the entrance - Prezzo looked the most promising. With hardly anyone there, I was quickly served.. I recall that being my main gripe the last time I ate at Prezzo: but that was in the West End, and packed. Last night was much easier, and I was soon fed - although honestly, the garlic bread was a bit tasteless, and I don't think I'd bother again. The pollo carbonara was good, with deliciously tender chicken, although a bit overpowered by the cheese topping. Star of the meal, however, was dessert - I was torn between the hazelnut cheesecake and the mint cheesecake, finally plumping for the mint. Good choice - it was divine, with layers of mint and chocolate, and mint buttons on top. Definitely must have again!
After all that, I was still in plenty of time for the film - unfortunately, because the screen wasn't ready. I needed the loo, but it took me a while to notice there was one in the lobby, where I was waiting. And so I relieved myself - pity there wasn't any soap, and only one hand dryer was working. Anyhoo, by that time the screen had been cleaned, and in I went. Despite the near-emptiness of the screen at that time, I wasn't tempted to change my chosen seat - I'd chosen carefully, a row about halfway, seat on the aisle. Just as well I didn't change - by the time the film started, the place was very nearly full: which is good going for a Monday night in January.
The Revenant is based on the incredible true story of Hugh Glass (played by Leonardo DiCaprio), a frontiersman in North American at the start of the 19th century. The essentials of the story are that he was guiding a party of fur trappers through enemy "red injun" country when he was attacked by a bear and severely mauled. Left behind by the party, he was abandoned and left for dead by the two who had been tasked with caring for him, but overcame overwhelming odds to survive and search for Tom Fitzpatrick (played by Tom Hardy), the man he blamed for leaving him.
This film is epic. Directed by Alejandro Inárritu, who was also responsible for last year's Best Picture Oscar winner, Birdman, I guess you could classify it as a Western. You rarely see one quite like this, though. Inárritu is a highly original director, and this is a long, dark journey of the soul. I expected the scenery to be exceptional, and, with shooting taking place in a variety of locations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and Argentina, I wasn't disappointed. You are never allowed to forget it - the snowy mountains are always looming above, and in some of the most incredible camerawork I've seen, we're always at ground level, at river level - right in the action, made to feel small against the immensity of the landscape. And the director's insistence on using natural light helps set us in place.
The intensity never lets up, through all of its 2.5 hours. We go from injun attack to bear attack to blizzard.. The acting is incredible. DiCaprio has certainly earned his Oscar nomination - apparently, the conditions on set were atrocious, with Inárritu determined to have things as realistic as possible. So they were cold, and wet - and DiCaprio, despite being vegetarian, had to eat liver for one scene, tear chunks out of a fish, straight from the river, in another. And you really believe he's a hardened mountain man. Hardy is absolutely electrifying to watch, as ever. And, as mentioned in the Standard review, Domhnall Gleeson, who plays the expedition captain, brings an unexpected authority to the role, considering roles he's played before.
It's like a Beckett play, actually. Dialogue is minimal, and the scenery generally bleak - pure white snow, individual characters starkly outlined against it. Not what you'd call a date movie, the hardship the characters undergo is never-ending: attacks by soldiers on the Native Americans, attacks by the Native Americans on the soldiers and fur trappers, attacks by the white men on each other, bears, steep cliffs to climb, fast-flowing rivers, blizzards. You wonder how anyone could come out alive. But all the while, you're confronted by stunning beauty, and the most ominous soundtrack I can remember in anything.
Best Picture Oscar nomination well deserved. Acting Oscar nominations well deserved. Cinematography and sound Oscar nominations well deserved, ditto costume and makeup. I think it's a travesty that the score didn't get a nod, but then I haven't heard all the others. This is a film that will be remembered - and I can recommend it, as long as the gore and general bleakness don't put you off.
I doubt I'll see anything as disturbing for the rest of the week..The rest of next week is Meetups - somewhat making up for a sparcity of them, of late! Tonight, I'm going to a play about North Korea - P' Yong Yang is showing in the Finborough: ironically, walking distance from my old flat. The London Dramatic Arts Meetup is going, too - and although I didn't get my ticket from them, the organiser has been kind enough to include me on their list. Lovely to get to go to something with them - it's been ages!
Tomorrow, I got in nice and early for one of those Crick Crack Club meetings that are always selling out. Fairytales for Grownups: Solomon and Sheba takes place in The Forge. And I don't have to pass through Waterloo (yippee!). On Thursday, I'm back with Let's Do London - for less!, who are off on a cheery outing to This Will End Badly, at Southwark Playhouse. Which is closer to my new place. On Friday, I'm back with the World Music Meetup for a concert I'm very much looking forward to - Sufi Chants from Andalusia. On Saturday I'm attending what I think will be my very first Meetup with the Spooky London group, who are running a convivial evening chat about vampires. And on Sunday, I'm with London's Secrets, Tales and Legends, for an enticing walk in Highgate, entitled The Village of the Damned: Ghosts, Drugs and Legends. What a week - most of my favourites in there somewhere!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)