Film: Almost Famous

Last night - a real aberration, there was enough on telly to keep me going! Tonight, we were back to normal, and I was back to my film list. Next up was Almost Famous - directed and written by Cameron Crowe, it is semi-autobiographical. A young lad aspires to be a rock journalist, and gets a break with Rolling Stone, for goodness' sake! Frances McDormand is his disapproving mother, Zooey Deschanel his more sympathetic sister. Philip Seymour Hoffman is the journalist that acts as his mentor. Billy Crudup is lead guitarist of the band he's covering. Jimmy Fallon is the new manager, appointed by the record company, halfway through the tour. Also stars Kate Hudson, Noah Taylor, and Anna Paquin. Set in the 70s, it looked like a glorious free-for-all, in the days of rock n roll excess..

And yes, it's a ball! Full of crazy doings, observed by a fresh-faced teenager who's hunted around the country by his overprotective mother, who keeps phoning up and giving out to him. Nearly a parody, with several hilarious scenes, it's also really sweet, as we learn the different relationships among the characters, and - prompted by our young journalist - they get to work out some of their life issues. Perhaps the best part, though, is the reprise of the 70s look, and some fabulous 70s music - see how many you recognise!

Tomorrow, for some reason, no-one is doing online Meetups again. At the moment, I'm thinking film -  never fear, there's always another. Well, there's a halfway infinite list! As a friend of mine once asked - is it my aim to see them all one day? Certainly looks like it's happening - slowly.. I've just come across a highly rated short, The Gunfighter, set in a classic Western saloon, which a gunslinger enters. The narrator sets the scene for us - but.. the characters in the saloon can hear the narrator..! That'll occupy a little of my day.

On Sunday - why, London Social Detours has something on again at a time I can make! Specifically, a slideshow about the history of Islington - where I used to live, and which is still just up the road from me. Cool - I've signed up.

On the 22nd, they're doing another "time-travel" - Ancient Rome this time, complete with a short film again.

And on the 23rd, they just announced a talk, by someone from the National Gallery, about Catherine of Aragon! I was the first to sign up - nice to be kept busy again..