Movie: The Hunger Games

 

I’d vaguely heard about the books, just vaguely. In that I heard there were books.

So I’ve not been eagerly awaiting this film like much of the world seems to have. By the way, does the author get paid more if the film does super-well?

I only go as there’s nothing else I particularly want to watch and what started grimly actually has some humour so I’m pleasantly surprised after about 20 minutes. At first it felt like I was watching in monochrome and then someone remembered to switch on the colour. The story is of a future America, led by the president (Donald Sutherland) although it is not explained how the country got into a state in that the rich were rich and the poor were given jobs to do depending on what ‘district’ they lived in and they still had to hunt for food, starving. There’s clearly been some sort of unexplained war and/or rebellion/uprising.

We the audience are rooting for the two people, male and female, who are randomly selected from District 12 to fight in the Hunger Games, the annual national contest where everyone kills each other and there is only one victor. Thank heavens for Woody Harrelson who plays the good time mentor to District 12; having been a victor himself, he is now one of the privileged rich. The star of the show is a very camped up Stanley Tucci, playing the Hunger Games TV host, now on my very short list of actors that make any film watchable.

It’s better than I thought and had me gripped for about 70% of the film but I’m not in a rush to a. read the books or b. see the next one

7/10

Smile factor 5/10 – Just Stanley Tucci and Woody Harrellson

Movie – The Fairy (La Fee)

Another film I may never have seen if it wasn’t for Flatpack Festival and it provided another excuse to visit the always quaint Electric cinema.

An excuse because, my Regular Reader will know, I’m a fully paid up member of Cineworld Unlimited card so it’s pointless paying £7 for a ticket at the Electric when I already pay for unlimited films but a film like this rarely shown at the mainstream cinema. And somehow more befitting in the oldest working cinema in the country.

In this film from Belgium/France, the fairy in question, Fiona turns up at a hotel to grant Dom, the hapless employee three wishes. Before he realises he’s falling for her, she’s in a mental institution and the hunt is on to find her and break her free.

Hence they are always on the run from the authorities, with their hearts in the right places and the humour continues.

There isn’t much dialogue, which saves me reading the sub titles, but this is a delightful, modern slap-stick comedy. Not one of my favourite genres and indeed they did go very over the top during a baby left on the car bonnet scene towards the end but nonetheless, a lovely watch.

7½/10 

Smile factor 7½/10

The Electric Cinema

Movie – The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

This is another film that if you blink, you’ll miss it at your friendly, local, picture house.

One would think any film with Judi Dench in it is a) good and b) a hot ticket (although her being in it will not get me to see a Bond film, wild horses wouldn’t drag me, etc etc).

The film has a full array of Brit actors in their prime, all of which I feel the next generation or two can learn from.

The run-down ironically named Best Exotic Marigold Hotel is in desperate need of guests and advertises itself as a place for the ’retired and the beautiful.’ A group of disillusioned British strangers head over hoping to find meaning in what’s left of their life and partake in new adventures and inevitably make friends – or enemies. So far, the person with the funniest lines is Muriel (Maggie Smith), who is only going over in the short term to jump the NHS queue for a hip replacement and is gloriously an ignorant racist. It doesn’t take many marbles to work out she will be won over by India before the end of the film.

All the characters are in search of something but it’s only the judge, Graham (Tom Wilkinson) who knows what; his lost love of some 40 years ago, his first boyfriend.

The young – and possibly the most enthusiastic hotelier in the world – has his own woes with a domineering mother putting him under pressure to sell the loss-making, hotel left to the family by the father.

I love how the stories gently unfold and how the group started bonding and unlike some comments from Indian people I have seen, I think India is portrayed pretty well – remembering this is fiction! Of course a real hotel where even the phones didn’t work and there was layer of dust on unused furniture will not present itself open for business in a country known for its warm hospitality!

7½/10

Smile factor 9½/10

 

Movie – The Iron Lady

The hype is guaranteed to be huge when you take into account the subject matter, the star and the many gags about it being the follow up to The Iron Man.

It’s time to get up! It’s time go to work! It’s time to put the great, back into Great Britain!

I’m not sure why people haven’t enjoyed this film – I loved it. It’s everything I would hope and more. The subject matter is Margaret Thatcher but this isn’t a political film as such, although of course if you’re featuring one of Britain’s most successful Prime Minister’s, politics is going to feature.

I for one was not a fan of Mrs T in her day but having watched this, I realise this was probably peer pressure as I was too immature to form my own opinion during her early years. Now, politics aside, I see what a phenomenal woman she is.

Meryl Streep turned on the Oscar-worthy performance as the film depicts the story through Lady T’s matured eyes looking back on memories. As such, her thoughts dart about and I believe this has been the films’ biggest criticism. As always, I have no need to read reviews so this is just what I have heard via Twitter and indeed the people I saw the film with.

The pearls are absolutely non-negotiable

The most impact is felt when scenes of how Lady T broke the mould in what was – as much as I detest this phrase – a man’s world; her first time walking into parliament, the above quote when her advisors ask her to lose the hats and basically tone down her femininity, the young Margaret being mesmerised by her grocer father giving a speech, first fighting to be elected and then there are some gorgeous scenes of her talking to her dead husband, Dennis, played exactly as you would expect by Jim Broadbent, although the film probably draws on that a little too much.

I dislike too much ‘positive discrimination’ in the job market but it really does help if the country is being run by an equal amount of men and women and although we are far away from that, I’m pretty sure Maggie opened the doors.

The supporting cast are, in equal parts, excellent and amusing (Richard E Grant as Michael Heseltine). The film isn’t in chronological order and nor does it cover all of the many news worthy moments in her reign, but it sure depicts the woman behind the politician. I cringed at Phyllida Lloyd’s directorial attempt of Mama Mia, where she manages to make one of my all time favourite bands/theatrical moments, Mama Mia, dismal but here I have my money’s worth.

8½/10

Smile factor 9/10 In the minority

Movie – The Artist

The most amusing quote I’ve heard about this film, ‘they don’t make them like that anymore. Well no, we’ve had sound on films for some years now. This is, as many have commentated, a delightful film, full of humour whilst dealing with the more serious issue of redundant actors making way for the new breed once talkies came along.

It portrays the silent movie era exactly as I imagine; a bustling film industry full of wannabees, the small minority of which will move over from and ‘extra’ to ‘star.’ It’s on glamour overload but then I wasn’t expecting anyone to be wearing jeans & trainers (heavens!) and although I fell asleep for a few minutes in the opening sequences, it’s just because there is no talking and the music is so relaxing! After that, I’m gripped right up to the fairly obvious but still great ending.

It has lashings of charm, a helping of romance, a touch of drama and even a song a dance routine for our pleasure; what’s not to like?

I would have liked to see a new silent film set in more modern times rather than in the 1930s and I’m not sure if the makers can sustain another one but I’d give it watch if they do.

7½/10

Smile factor 9/10

 

Movie – Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol

I’ve never seen any of the three MI movies, or James Bond or the Bourne series for that matter – although I’ve caught bits of the latter on TV. I’m not a huge fan of the Cruise and yet the Last Samurai is one of my favourite films, so here goes.

It’s a standard albeit enjoyable flick with the usual spy-gadgets, impossibly glamorous spies in fast cars but with a few ridiculously dangerous stunts. The typical storyline is something like (I forget already) Ethan Hunt and his team are after a terrorist who has the codes for Russian (don’t they get fed up of always having to be the terrorists?) nuclear bombs but their first attempt ends in the Kremlin being blown up. Now the department that our hero worked for has closed so any missions ‘should he choose to accept’ are now dark, i.e. Ghost Protocol.

Cruise is supported by Jeremy Renner (who even I have heard of via the Hurt Locker) and Simon ‘boy done good’ Pegg. The stunts lived up to the hype and there are plenty of sequences to keep my brain from wondering although why anyone would choose to jump of the world’s tallest building is beyond me.

In all, an enjoyable but forgettable boys-with-their-toys film. Bring on 24; the Movie.

7½/10

Smile factor 8/10

Movie – Shame

I’m pleased I’m actually free to see this bloggers preview as generally there’s little notice and I’m already booked up. However, seeing as it’s a preview for bloggers to review, with less than a dozen people in the room, I wasn’t able to take occasional notes either using my phone or the torch pen I have especially for these events because another ‘reviewer’ objected and asked me to leave. I guess I’m the only reviewer that doesn’t have a photographic memory but here goes.

According to the brief, the main character is addicted to sex and his life is turned upside down when his sister arrives to stay.

I took that to mean that at least 50% of the film will be about his sister helping his recovery; what actually happens is his sister is no help whatsoever, a night club singer with her own low self esteem demons to deal with. So 95% of the film is as dull as dishwater with intimate close up coverage of the addict’s daily (or more) conquests. I have no idea why every women he looked point blank at immediately rose from their seat, be it on a train or any other public place and then stripped off to have sex with him, wherever.

I’ve wondered if you could be addicted to sex – I feel it’s just a matter of willpower as it is with other addictions. As a child, we want everything as we don’t control when we may get it again, i.e. sweets and chocolate. As an adult, we realise we mustn’t behave like that as we will hurt others and ourselves.

In almost every scene at home he’s naked and we are (mis-) treated to close ups of his dangly private parts which let’s face it, are not that attractive but especially not on a large screen.

I didn’t feel the film dealt with his issues at all, rather just focussed on his desperate longing for sex and indeed pleasuring himself several times a day. After all, there is no damage to him as he appears to enjoy a lucrative career despite being away from his desk many times due to the above mentioned activities. This character made me feel uncomfortable as I wondered how far he may do – other than turn to prostitutes occasionally – to feed his addiction.

If it dealt with his addiction at all, the film may have been saved. Avoid unless you are a hormonal young boy – or girl for that matter. Just don’t get addicted.

0.5/10 – there were some nice home interiors to look at

Smile factor 0/10

Movie – Sherlock Holmes; A Game of Shadows

Everything about this film, the second Guy Ritchie take on Sherlock Holmes is fine; the story, the acting, the production, the special affects – all absolutely fine.

Holmes & Watson are portrayed very well by Robert Downey Jr and Jude Law despite them appearing to be very much in the 21^st century via the theatre dressing up box. The support cast add a huge dose of humour but I didn’t get the wow factor I had when I left the cinema after watching the Sherlock Ritchie style Mark One.

Perhaps because that was Christmas day in snowy Montreal or maybe because it’s more of the same this time.

RDJ still plays Holmes more as an SAS trained action man rather than a be-suited detective but it’s good to see Stephen Fry play himself as his brother.

I’ve forgotten both story lines (saw this one 5 days ago!) but that doesn’t mean I didn’t enjoy and will look forward to what I assume will be a third one in a couple of years.

7.5/10 (same as the last one)

Smile factor 8/10

 

Movie – Arthur Christmas

It’s still too early to see a Christmas film on November 18^th but there’s nothing else on and at least the Christmas lights are switched on, far too early but on nonetheless.

This year’s Christmas cinema visit (I don’t know of any other films that I’d want desperately to see but I  always try and see one festive offering) is for an animated tale of what happens in Santa’s North Pole in the 21^st century.  It is indeed a modern take as Santa now has a space ship and thousands of elves in the Christmas warehouse ensuring every child receives a gift.

Except this year, the system fails and one – just one – present falls of the conveyor and Arthur, Santa’s younger, hapless but caring son, takes it upon himself to get that present delivered. Fortunately, Granddad Santa is still around to steer him through the old fashioned way, using magic dust.

A no-nonsense Christmas film that is worth a watch to get you into the Christmas spirit, even if you’re past the age of seven.

7½/10

Smile factor 8½ /10

 

Movie – The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn

I just remember the name from my childhood rather than any of his adventures so I’m looking forward to seeing 21^st century TinTin. Although it is still set in bowler hat times and what starts as a children’s film soon builds into an fast moving action comedy as TinTin (Jamie Bell) and Captain Haddock (Andy Serkis) join forces to look for hidden treasure that could save Haddock from being just a drunken sailor who’s last in a line of seafarers.

All the time, the pair are fighting off the wicked Mr. Sakharine (Daniel Craig) who until know has had the Captain locked up whilst hi-jacking his ship.

How’s your thirst for adventure, Captain?

Throw in a couple of bumbling detectives and this animation is a fun packed, high-speed film with no room for boredom that for once lives up to the Spielberg hype. Oh, the star of the show, Snowy the dog.

8/10

Smile factor 9½/10

Movie – The Ides of March

I’m not a fan of Clooney but he keeps making films I want to watch, this is the third in recent years I’ve enjoyed; Michael Clayton (saw that almost 4 years ago to the day in San Francisco, also on my birthday weekend) and The Men Who Stare at Goats, a ridiculous idea turned into a hilarious movie.

The draw to this one is my little thing for American politics but The West Wing this isn’t. It’s slower, not as quick witted and less of a story in all its 101 minutes than the West Wing had in its short 60 minute segments. Clooney plays the Democrat running for Presidential candidacy and Gosling (again, he’s everywhere) his campaign manager who finds out something about his Boss he needs to smooth over but the press have already got hold of it; something about an intern with a powerful political figures as a father, blah blah blah.

It has a good cast; Paul Giamatti and Philip Seymour Hoffman brilliant in opposite political camps and the fantastic Marisa Tomei playing the only (NY Times) reporter who seems allowed in. Alas, I see it far too late in the evening and have to keep fidgeting in my seat just to stay away. All I’m saying is it should have done more.

7/10

Smile factor 5/10

Movie – The Three Musketeers

This is one of my favourite stories so unless someone I’m unable to abide is on the screen, I’ll always watch. In this case, I don’t know anyone on the screen, except Mr Bloom, although I recognise some faces. I’m pretty sure I saw Jonathan Ross’ face on one of the posters. The movie is that comical, it wouldn’t have surprised me if they’d cast Wossy.

So taking away from the fact that this bares little resemblance to historical facts – after all they have air ships doing battle in the skies and over usage of guns rather than just the traditional swords – this is fresh take on the children’s classic. The Musketeers are now at a loose end, with no cause to fight for, so are looking for action.

Its 105 minutes of escapism if you can bare the annoying use of slow motion in the fight scenes and the predictable script; I feel like I’ve heard it all before and then realise they are pillaging lines from films left right and centre.

Its The Musketeers meets Pirates, if you like that sort of thing.

7½/10

Smile factor 7½/10

 

Movie – Drive

I have no idea who this boy Gosling is but he seems to be cropping up all over the place, all of a sudden.

‘Drive’ is on-and-off my to-see list when I finally see it at the end of its run on a Sunday lunchtime and only as I’d missed my cinema treat for a couple of weeks. It’s OK if you like a film filled with menacing broodiness.

The driver in ‘Drive’, forget his name – you know I never remember character names – is a getaway driver earning his, I imagine, smaller and more honest salary at his day job as a movie stunt driver. Of course the story is going to lean to ‘his last job and then he’s going straight’ and is ably assisted in this decision because of his interest in his neighbour, married mother of one whose husband is due out of prison any minute. She’s played by the British girl in the Lynn Barber story, An Education and has equally few lines as her admirer. It’s a good cast and I’m sure the younglings do indeed have a promising future.

The twist is our Driver agrees to help said husband out of sticky life-or-death situation which ends the lives of a few more people to add up the tally.

7/10

Smile factor 7/10

Movie – The Battle of Warsaw 1920

I mainly saw this because it was on at 3.15, a near perfect time for me as far as going to the cinema is concerned and it didn’t have anyone in it that I don’t enjoy watching. Not because I’m a fan of war films in particular.

Two striking story lines about this film:

• ·         The lead character has (approximately) nine lives
• ·         He survives several armies

Everyone who ever attacked poor Poland, inconveniently situated on the route to the much sought after Germany, are featured; Red Army, Bolsheviks and I think another one. One put him to work and another helped him escape. The other unfortunately, he did have to fight.

The underlying love story – there has to be one – is a little inevitable but I’d have been distraught if the newly we couple hadn’t found each other again. (not really a spoiler)

That said, it must be a decent film as I didn’t reach for the cinema sweets –  dolly mixtures, as you ask – although that may have something to do with the ¾ of Peyton & Byrne Coconut & Raspberry cake that I scoffed with a mug of coffee before I went in.

7/10

Smile factor 7/10

 

Movie – Killer Elite

Mini review: If this film is a colour it is: bright blue with blood red border.

Of course it has Jason Statham in it but surprised to see Clive ‘boy done good’ Owen and even more so, Robert De Niro billed alongside, the latter two making this into a must-see rather than see-if-there’s-nothing-else-on.

It’s a standard Statham film – fighting, guns, driving fast, staying alive, keeping the girl alive, but what stands out for me is that it’s based in the 1980s. Life in Mars (best dramas on BBC ever) it is not, a standard action movie it isn’t either but it’s worth seeing if just for Owen’s 80s’ ‘tache. It may have been 20 minutes longer than it needed to be seeing as the expected twist came sooner rather than later.

7½/10

Smile factor 9/10

Movie – Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

Mini review: If this film is a colour it is: brown

I’m the only person in the country it seems who hasn’t read the John Le Carré book, seen the TV series or generally knew anything about this but really, the clue is in the title.

I love the 1970s references; we know we’re in the decade when we see a Wimpy Burger bar. Considering one of the year’s block busters expected all star cast – people even I have heard of, Mark Strong, Kathy Burke and Colin Firth, John Hurt and Benedict Cumberbatch – they all have to compete with the overpowering, leading presence of Gary Oldman.

As a thriller, its slow burning but it kept my attention all the way even after we discover who the bad guy conspiring with Moscow is.

8/10

Smile factor 8/10 including one for the Wimpy reference (never been there mind)

Movie – The Skin I Live in

Mini review: If this film is a colour it is: taupe

…or the colour of vomit as it takes a sick mind to come up with this: daughter goes into depression after mother kills herself (after she was disfigured in an accident), renowned skin graft specialist surgeon father’s concerned, takes her to a party, daughter is assaulted (or was she?), father tracks down alleged assailant, kidnaps and castrates him and over the years operates on him until he has turned him into a woman. And one that looks like his late wife. And then falls for her. There’s more but you get the drift.

0.5/10 as I never want to see it again

7/10 as excellent performances and brilliantly made

Smile factor 1/10

Movie – The Guard

I’ve not seen Martin McDonagh’s/Brendan Gleeson’s previous effort, In Bruges (Colin Farrell probably put me off) and so had no idea The Guard will be this funny.

Sergeant Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is the small town, Irish cop who is not exactly bent, just not doing things by the book. There’s been a murder and he matter-of-factly has a day off to spend with two disease laden, enthusiastic hookers. At the same time, an anxious FBI agent (Don Cheadle) has come over from the USA to work on a drug trafficking case that is clearly linked with the same gang.

Even past the stereotypical racist jibes encompassing Boyle’s dark humour, the two aren’t destined to become work mates but it extends the good cop/bad cop suggestion to new levels; FBI doing everything by the book and small town cop robbing murder victims’ houses and selling recovered firearms to the IRA.

Add to the mix the always excellent baddie, Mark Strong and the film’s straight faced humour that is just so politically incorrect, it’s hilarious.

8/10

Smile factor 9/10

Movie – Cowboys & Aliens

I’m not a huge fan of either Harrison Ford or Daniel Craig or of alien movies so it’s just the ‘Cowboy’ that got me into see this. That and the absolute silliness I expect.

I’m pretty sure I don’t need to explain the plot; it starts promisingly with the sparks about to fly superbly between the Ford and Craig characters (disappointedly, neither plays an alien) but they pretty soon are fighting on the same side, to save the world from the aliens of course.

Which brings me on to the main criticism, the aliens? Firstly because they are so obvious and secondly they are bought in too early. I would have thought leaving their guise to our imagination for the best part of the film would have made up for the lack of expected Ford/Craig banter.

I do like a good western though and I just kept seeing my all time fave, Young Guns 11 through this. Wouldn’t it have been great if it was the original Young Guns cast – now all grown up – fighting against the aliens?

The film is worth seeing though just because it’s so utterly daft.

7½/10

Smile factor 8/10

Movie – The Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Yes I love apes and anything belonging to the Ape family but having watched the TV series as a wide-eyed youngster, the Tim Burton re-make of the 1960s film didn’t entice me into the cinema.

When I was in single digits, a human talking from inside an ape costume was still impressive but now, I expect more and quite frankly, I expect film makers to have actually taught apes to talk. With this the apparent prequel, what happens in the setting of modern day San Francisco is our leading ape, Caesar is taught sign language.

The story is of a well-meaning scientist, Will Rodman (James Franco) experimenting on apes to find a way of healing brain disorders in humans.  He has a particular interest in this project as his own father is wasting away with Alzheimer’s but before he can get the medication to him, the apes cause havoc in the lab and the project is pulled and the apes put down. All but one, the newborn, Caesar.

Caesar is taken home partly for his own safety and Rodman continues his work to positive results until one day Caesar is taught about his past and eventually, wanting to go outside, causes havoc protecting Rodman senior (John Lithgow). He is taken to a sanctuary AKA ape prison and for the first time realises where he comes from and [edits out 218 unnecessary words] hence the eventual uprising.

I so want to live in a world where apes live in our homes, come to coffee shops, play football etc etc. I really don’t understand why this isn’t so.

LOVE

I’m looking forward to the next instalment.

8.5/10

Smile factor 9.5/10 

Movie – Captain America:The First Avenger

Another of my childhood superheroes bought to life in the 21^st century. As a little girl trying to keep up with my elder brother’s superhero comics, my interest is only raised by the shield decorated with the American flag, which seemed to protect him from everyone/everything.

Other than that, I don’t remember the stories so what makes Captain America stand out now from superheroes with actual powers (flying, stretching, turning invisible, seeing through walls/clothes etc) is, well just that, no actual powers. It’s like Iron Man in the sense that it’s the equipment with the powers. In this case, the skinny, sickly, asthmatic, wannabe soldier is transformed into Captain America via a scientific experiment.

Iron Man makes an appearance, or at least Tony Stark does – he makes the impenetrable shield. What I love about the story is that it is a war time action flick above all else so it’s the action rather than super powers that makes it compelling.

Whereas I came out of seeing Iron Man with the same conclusion I did on this – it’s surprisingly good – this one relies less on the boys own fantasy and more on the action and war story. Although he still has to get the girl, of course.

Oh and it’s left wide open for the sequel and a joint effort with Iron Man – or is that the cynic in me? Let’s hope that the sequal doesn’t disappoint in the same way, only good things about Iron Man 2 are Mickey Rourke’s bad Russian and AC/DC and both are featured far too fleetingly

8½/10 – Action flick of the year so far

Smile factor 10/10 – faultless

Movie – Potiche

I’ve been looking for an excuse to go to the Electric for the whole two years I’ve been in Birmingham. With a long-time fully paid-up Cineworld membership it’s more than a little extravagant, so I’ve been waiting to watch a classic movie. Or for something I missed because it was in the mainstream cinema for just a week.

So finally I get to the Electric to watch Potiche and I’m delighted to find is not extortionately priced as I expected, not that I have any knowledge of what (UK) cinema tickets cost. The UK’s oldest cinema reminds me of the Friday afternoons I spent at Angelika cinema in New York in that we can take coffee and cake into the screening. You gotta love a cinema you can do that in!

I would have preferred a big slice of Victoria Sandwich or a real hot pretzel with a take-out cup of coffee rather than the little bowl of pretzels and cup and saucer but you don’t get waitress service in Cineworld so it’s all good!

The French film, about the ‘trophy wife’ taking over her husband’s umbrella factory after he falls ill, is as funny as the trailer suggests. Catherine Deneuve in the title role is superb opposite her one time dalliance, now the Mayor, played farcically well by Gérard Depardieu.

The best character though is the 1970s; this film is set c1978 and the sexism is shown to fantastic comic affect with the clothes and music making a perfect supporting cast. I love disco and so adore the scene from the trailer where the trophy wife and mayor do a ‘Saturday Night Fever’ on the dance floor and the film makes me want to wear patterned chiffon blouses with huge scarf ties.

As well as dealing with the union strikes at the French factory (nothing changes there then) and getting the workers back to work, our heroine also has two grown up children, an equally bored housewife daughter and a son that’s obviously gay to us sometime before he admits it.

The French ‘Made in Dagenham’ – with industrial strength hairspray. A teeny bit too long but utterly watchable.

8/10

Smile factor 9/10

Movie – Beginners

This movie sounds good on paper; quirky, comedy drama about a 75 year old man who comes out of the closet after his wife dies and then finds out he has a terminal illness.

The story is shown through the eyes of his son, Oliver (Ewan McGregor) partly when he is young, partly when his father is dying and then in the present time.

McGregor is for me, the only down side, I don’t know why I’m not particularly enamoured with his screen presence – and what is that accent? But the film is the quirky comedy drama I expect, although a little long and a little too miserable. I’ve heard people mention the star of the show is his father’s little Yorkshire Terrier, who has his own witticisms via a speech bubble but not being an animal person, I just find that slightly amusing.

Through the three stories, we learn of Oliver’s relationship with his Mum, his dying father and new girlfriend, a French actress, played by a French actress. The best character is the father, Hal, (Christopher Plummer) who is fantastic with his newly found gay freedom. Who couldn’t love a Dad like that?

7½/10

Smile factor 7/10

Movie – Larry Crowne

Tom Hanks – Two words that will make me see a film, providing it’s not a heavy one about the war or being on death row. (still haven’t been able to bring myself to watch those two).

Julia Roberts – Another two words, except if they are preceded by the ridiculous phrase film marketeers use, romcom.

I last saw these two power houses together in the excellent, Charlie Wilson’s War, which I’m not sure came to the UK? Their magic works equally well here with Hanks in the title role, Crowne, who has just lost his job after going through a divorce and the expense of buying out his ex-wife to remain in the family home. He’s persuaded by his neighbour, brilliant casting for Cedric the Entertainer (“Get some knowledge and you’ll be fireproof”), to go back to college, having never been but instead started his career as a cook in the navy.

There he excels in the public speaking class taught by the bored teacher, Professor Mercedes Tainot (Roberts) who’s equally tired of her shirking, porn surfing husband and he attracts an unlikely but charming fan in a regular, fellow scooter riding college student who enlists him in the gang lead by her boyfriend. By gang I mean a group of nice people who bring out the coolness in him and who all happen to ride scooters, which sums up this king of feel good films. In the same way as one of my recent favourites, Away We Go (2009), two main characters have a terrific supporting cast in this case the errant husband, the kindly game show winning neighbours, the kooky young, class mates, the cute gang and the other genius professor.

On top of which the Tom Petty and ELO dominated soundtrack, like they just knew that would give it the extra sparkle for me. There is simply nothing wrong with this film, except it could have been longer.

9½/10

Smile factor 10/10

PS I hear after I see this film had bad reviews which I find puzzling not only because it’s so fantastic but because it has Tom Hanks in it; who bothers to read reviews for a Hanks film? Although you just read this one.

Movie – The Tree of Life

It’s been four weeks since I have paid my weekly visit to the cinema.

After an exhausting but exhilarating busy spell, I’m ready to lie down in a darkened room for a while. So I figure the cinema will do.

The usual thing; I have no idea what the film is about but I know it features Brad Pitt (absolutely loathe on the screen) and Sean Penn (acting God).

I pick the right film for a lie-down as I’m asleep before the opening credits stop. In the first part, each time I awake, usually as the classical soundtrack’s volume rose, we are on the same scene, so I’ve not missed much. There are lots of shots of weather; clouds, sun, rain and shots of scenery; mountains, fields, volcanoes and then I fall asleep again.

It reminds me of ‘Lost in Translation’, so painful I couldn’t fall asleep or walk out and this to will divide people into the love/hate camps.

All I get of the story is it’s about bringing up a young family, instilling values and manners and hoping the children grown up with better opportunities than you. Oh, and one of them is miserable. Not really a new idea.

It appears that the (far too) few scenes with our man, Sean Penn are of him playing the grown up version of one of the three sons, in the modern world and still coming to terms with the death of his brother.

That’s all I got dipping in and out of sleep. That and coming out of the cinema completely chilled.

Impossible to rate/10

Sleep Factor 7/10

Lost in Translation 10/10