Friday, June 29, 2007
Tell No One
A husband's wife is murdered, but eight years later he receives messages from the grave (as it were) and so unravels a tight thriller and mystery. Well shot, and with a couple of things to say about corruption in French life and Parisian estates, it's a sort of a French cross between one of the Jason Bourne films and The Fugitive.
Enjoyable as a thriller, well acted - including Kristen Scott Thomas in a French speaking role which seems strange (she's often a upper class Englishwoman) but shouldn't as she has lived in France for several years - there is even the odd moment of comedy to lighten the mood. Overall a thriller, deep down I also found it heartbreakingly romantic.
Definitely worth a look in its own right - even more worth a look now given what else the cinema listings contain.
Wednesday, June 27, 2007
All change?
A new Cabinet.
Am I the only one with a slight unease that the change of PM has not involved a single election?
Democracy anyone??
Monday, June 25, 2007
Living on a prayer (again)
"Hello London. Welcome to the O2, your brand new home. And by the sound of the crowd in here tonight... who the hell needs Wembley anyway??" Jon, you've got to let it go...
Some how I've once again ended up at a Bon Jovi concert - and this time it really is the opening gig in a new venue - and it's all a bit surreal. The venue is the O2 - the Dome as was. Easy to get to, but a real pain to get back from on a Sunday night as the tube finishes earlier. This has meant a bit of rethink and we drive most of the way, park up and then cycle the rest - surreal moment one, we're going to a big gig by bike...
Cycling on the Thames path we come by the pier for the Dome - there are loads of fans awaiting Bon Jovi's arrival by boat. This is surreal moment two - we are passing by at just the right moment. We dismount, wait 5 minutes with various screaming people and slightly bemused tourists, and Bon Jovi walk past - all jeans and hair.
We queue for ages to pick up our tickets - despite ordering months in advance they haven't arrived in time for the concert and we're not the only ones. What is it with new venues and ticketing? I used to live 2 tube stops from Dome but have never been there - I now feel justified not coming before - there is nothing there as you wait for the concert - the few bars and restaurants are ridiculously over crowded.
Eventually we head in to the arena. After the 'special guests' the arena darkens and on the big screen is Jon Bon Jovi pictured backstage making his way to the arena. The crowd - or at least the females in it - scream. JBJ swaggers - there is no other word for it and I guess if you're as good looking and rich as him why not? He continues to make his way backstage as the steadicam follows him - for a moment I think of a scene from Spinal Tap - and then he appears. The band strike up and go for it.
Bon Jovi will never be hip and I'm not particularly a fan - though I know a few of their songs and some of their newer stuff has a definite nu-country ting and are more my thing. But give them huge credit, they know how to deliver a gig and they give their fans exactly what they want - it's basically a 2 hour singalong. It's good fun.
The O2? The location and wider bar/restaurant facilities are poor - but the actual arena venue is excellent. Well built, it has surprisingly good acoustics for a concert and though there are 20,000 in there, you have a comfortable seat, a good view and are close enough to the band to enjoy it. A welcome addition to London venues - even if it was surreal cycling away from a rock gig.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
But is it art?
Sunday, June 17, 2007
Saturday, June 16, 2007
Gold Coast
Friday, June 15, 2007
Escape
In the aisle in Sainsbury's I turn to the person I'm with.
"Am I an alluring moose or a mellow moose?"
"Definitely a mellow moose," comes the response and I make the appropriate purchase.
Not often I think of the words of hymns, but later in the evening the words "how sweet to hold a newborn baby, and feel the pride and joy she gives" come to life.
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Saturday, June 09, 2007
Ocean's Thirteen
The story is basic - Ross and Rachel's dad has been doubled crossed by Scarface and has a heart attack. His friends - Dr Ross, Mr Angelina Jolie and Jason Bourne - seek revenge and vow to hit Michael Corleone where it hurts, they will seek to financially ruin the new hotel and casino he is opening.
The good news? Well, it's better than the second one, it's beautiful shot in that style that Steven Soderbergh has made very much his own, and both the leads are good with the light comedy. It's ...... OK.
And that's it. It's about 20 minutes too long, the plot is very slight and, frankly, given the talent on the screen I expect more - a decent storyline for starters. And don't get me started on Don Cheadle's accent - great alumni that he is from the 'Dick Van Dyke School of Authentic Cockney' - mercifully he doesn't have as much screen time as in the first film.
Strangely, Eddie Izzard also has a role - yes I know he was in the earlier ones but I still expect him suddenly to start making mention of jam or cats. However, his character makes a reference to Danny and Rusty being 'the Morecombe & Wise of'. How bizarre... anyone under 30 in the UK would struggle to get that reference, and as Morecombe & Wise famously never broke America I wonder what the viewers in Smallsville, USA make of it??
For me the best bit was overhearing two women in conversation on leaving the cinema. One said, "George Clooney is lovely, but Brad Pitt is looking a bit worn."
Blimey, if that's looking worn...
Friday, June 08, 2007
Ever more obscure
Wednesday, June 06, 2007
Apparently...
...not in addition to...
...*that's* where I've been going wrong...
Monday, June 04, 2007
The 'Magic' Rectangle
To me it's all the stranger that the few decent TV programmes there are at the moment - and there are very few - seem to have been banished away to digitial channels, such as Friday Night Lights on ITV4, and What About Brian on E4.
Bizarrely the 'best' night on terrestial TV seems to be Sunday evening. The return of Coast - complete with the lovely Dr Alice Roberts - and a new series called Vanished on C5 seem to offer brief respite and an oasis in a TV desert.
Sunday, June 03, 2007
When referees start looking younger
1. I found myself browsing the shirts in Austin Reed...
2. Was at the local rugby league match and kept thinking.... "summer rugby league, it's just not right..."
3. The opponents were Wigan Warriors. Warriors? No! Just Wigan is fine...
4. A couple of the officials looked about 12 - I wouldn't have served them if I ran a pub...
5. I found myself buying a pair of 3/4 length trousers... I'm sorry, I should know better.