Film: Arrival

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!