After a nice late start, I hopped on the train to Shepherds Bush. Only takes five minutes (two stops), and drops you across the road from the shopping centre. And so I spent the next couple of hours shopping. My, but it's been a long time, and retail therapy is a wonderful thing!
So, I started my Christmas card shopping. Looked at a few dresses in House of Fraser, but they were no good when I tried them on. Bought a necklace that might go with the dress for my Christmas party. And before I knew it, it was after 4 and I was hungry, so headed for Nando's - I didn't fancy anything, well, fancier. The queue was horrendous, and I've never seen a Nando's so busy - but neither have I ever seen service so professional. Really, I said I wouldn't have a dessert if it took them too long to bring it, but practically the minute I'd finished my main course they were asking me whether I wanted anything else. So yes, I did have a slice of their delectable choc-o-lot cake!
And with an hour still to go before the film, I headed for the shops again, and struck gold in Monsoon, in the form of one of those dresses that looks unexpectedly good when you try it on..
And so I headed for the cinema. I queued for a ticket machine, and was to find again, as yesterday, that booking had been strong in the past few minutes. I got the last seat that was neither VIP nor in the front row, and headed off for Screen 16. Saw a few interesting trailers, including for the new version of Carrie - pity it's not rated higher on IMDB. Well, maybe it'll come up. I see it stars Julianne Moore as the psycho mother.
She shows up again in Don Jon, which is directed and written by, and stars, Joseph Gordon-Levitt. Goodness, wouldn't he look a fool if it had been a flop! Fortunately, it isn't. He plays a modern-day Casanova, envied by his mates for his ability to pull women. We have Tony Danza as his father, and Scarlett Johansson as the woman who finally tames him. The film is set in New Jersey, and as we hear in the trailer, Don Jon has certain priorities in his life - his body, his pad, his ride, his family, his church, his boys, his girls.. and his porn.
Which ends up being the subject of the film. Basically, everything's going fine until he hooks up with Scarlett Johansson, who gives a hilarious turn as a high-maintenance girlfriend. She's a perfect 10, but when she catches him watching porn, she demands he stop it immediately. Frankly, I was worried that was going to be the extent of the plot - he was going to see the error of his ways, she would reform him. This disturbed me mightily, because she was coming across as a controlling cow. Not only was she demanding that he give up porn - she insisted that he take up an evening class, chose which he should do, and when she found out he did his own cleaning, she was horrified (didn't think it was manly, I suppose) and insisted that he was too old to be doing that and when they were living together, he was not to be doing it. Under any circumstances.
Ironically, it's at the evening class that he runs into Julianne Moore, who helps him to see the error of his ways. And this is where the film gets interesting. Because it then takes an uncommon direction. And that, I think, is why this film has the high rating it does - the unusual story direction really lifts it above the ordinary. In the meantime, it's a really enjoyable watch - although some audience members did find Tony Danza's leering after his son's girlfriend rather icky. And weren't afraid to express that!
When I came out, it had been snowing.. here comes Christmas, indeed! Tomorrow, I'm planning on going to a play for a change, having gone to the best of what's on in the cinema. The plan is to go to Mucky Kid in the theatre over the Latchmere Pub. Mind you, I've planned to go there a couple of times before and it hasn't worked out yet - we'll see.
