Happy happy happy

So, recently Fate has dished me out 3 healthy doses of good luck.

Number 1 - my online Asda shop showed up late. Doesn't sound lucky? Well, they refunded my order AND delivered my goods. And free shopping definitely is.

Number 2 - I dropped my bagel on the floor and it landed butter side up! Maybe the toast rule doesn't apply to bagels?

Number 3 (and this is the best) - I won a prize!

Courtesy of Jameson Cult Film Club on Twitter (@JamesonCultFilm) I have won this:

Whiskey, hoodies and movies - what student wouldn't be happy? So, I'd just like to take this opportunity to share this with you, dear readers, and to thank Jameson Cult Film - I mean, Psycho on Blu-ray? You have seriously excelled yourself. So thank you on this blustery day for providing me with something to keep me warm and tingly - don't worry, I'll make sure I wait til midday before I take a sip with Hitchcock.

A day at the festival

54^th BFI London Film Festival

Thursday 21^st October

There’s nothing like a new movie to get us film lovers all a-jitter – so imagine the hype when the BFI London Film Festival comes to town. Now in its 54^th year, this festival showcases the best in new cinema from across the globe, mixed with Q&A sessions with writers and directors as well as whole host of other movie-based experiences. With film screenings open to all, it was almost impossible to resist hopping across to the Capital to catch a glimpse of the festival in action.

I headed to Leicester Square where I was booked to see Another Year, directed by Mike Leigh of Secrets and Lies fame. The film stars Jim Broadbent (Hot Fuzz) and Ruth Sheen (Vera Drake) as Tom and Gerri (and yes, the link to the cartoon is picked up on), a kindly couple heading for old age. As the title suggests, the narrative takes place in one year, specifically focusing on the events of each season – carefully tracked via the couple’s allotment.

The film is a beautiful one, with many moments hilarious and others incredibly uncomfortable to watch. The final image of Mary (Lesley Manville) is one that Leigh forces upon us for an unnatural length of time ending the film on a melancholy note. The movie deals with social insecurity, loneliness and deep dissatisfaction with life. But, it’s not all doom and gloom – to counterbalance the rather depressive outlook on life, there are many moments where love, stability and friendship prevail.

Broadbent’s performance is natural and warm, but Sheen’s is somewhat more stilted. Manville is impressive in the role of Mary, so much so that she’ll have you both loving and hating her character. Try loving her – she deserves it really.

After the screening, Mike Leigh came in to the auditorium for a quick Q&A. The conviction with which he defended the motives of his work was inspiring. All of his films are created through a process of improvisation, essentially starting with little more than an idea but ending up with a very precise script. This film is no exception – it allowed Leigh to explore both loneliness and togetherness as well as the ‘tragedy and the reality’ of those who are simply lucky or unlucky.

Ultimately, this film won’t be to everyone’s taste, but if you like an honest, gentle depiction of daily life, this one’s for you. Plus, Mike Leigh fans will not be disappointed.

So that brings me to my final experience – seeing the stars. It’s common knowledge that if you see the red carpet rolled out in Leicester Square you don’t just walk past it. No, you jam yourself against the nearest barrier and take photos of every tinted-windowed car that pulls up as it might just be someone famous. As luck would have it, 21^st October was the London premiere of The King’s Speech, directed by Tom Hooper. Starring Colin Firth as King George VI, the movie tells the touching true tale of a monarch overcoming a crippling speech impediment during the turbulent times of World War Two. With the likes of Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush starring alongside Mr Firth, the red carpet was well and truly star-studded. The King’s Speech is due to hit cinemas in January and there are whispers of Oscar nominations a-plenty, so it’s definitely one to watch.

The whole afternoon was an atmosphere to remember – a real melange of students, movie lovers, actors and directors all turning out to celebrate truly great film. It’s an arty atmosphere, without feeling too pretentious, and I can safely say that I have never before been to a cinema where I have overheard one man introducing his friend to another as ‘the man who directed the film’. If you didn’t get a chance to go to this year’s BFI London Film Festival, pencil it into your diary for next year – it’s an event not to be missed.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this report on the London Film Festival.

I think I died a bit...

So, on Thursday (yes, it's taken me this long to get over it) I saw actual Colin Firth in the flesh. Ok, so I was forced to remain behind a steel barrier for the duration of our meeting, but I still like to think we had a connection.

To put this meeting into context, I was in London for the 54th BFI London Film Festival to see Mike Leigh's new film, Another Year. There was a bit of Q&A with said director, enlightening, and then (like all good film/Firth lovers) I hung around Leicester Square to await the arrival of the stars.

It was the première of Tom Hooper's The King's Speech, a movie telling the touching tale of how King George VI overcame a crippling speech impediment. With the likes of Helena Bonham-Carter and Geoffrey Rush sharing the screen with Mr Firth, it was fair to say there was a decent crowd lining the edges of the red carpet. It was an awesome and an odd experience. It just feels a bit peculiar to find out those of the big screen are actually normal-sized humans and that they do in fact mingle with normal folk from time to time.

Naturally, I will be reviewing Another Year in the coming week, but unfortunately, The King's Speech isn't out til January. My good friend Colin looks set to be nominated for an Oscar for it, though, so it's well worth scheduling into your cinematic diary.

Just a little note to self: must remember not to be so star-struck when am hot-headed journalist allowed to mingle with popular people. Something I still maintain will happen in the future.

The Minister for general mayhem

Classic Film Review: Michael Collins (1996)

Directed by Neil Jordan

Michael Collins the man was one of the most iconic heroes in Ireland’s troubled history. Developing extremely successful guerrilla tactics, instilling fear in the British as the man responsible for ‘gun-running, daylight robbery and general mayhem’, his campaign eventually led to the negotiation of the Anglo-Irish Treaty in 1921. However, as the man who signed the Treaty, which allowed the partition of Ireland, Collins was regarded as a traitor by those that opposed the agreement. Eventually, this led to Michael Collins’ assassination.

Neil Jordan’s film tells the incredible story of Collins and the IRA from the Easter Rising in 1916 through to the statesman’s death. Oscar and BAFTA nominated, Michael Collins is a beautiful and dramatic piece of cinema and you don’t need knowledge of Irish history to enjoy it. However, upon release the film was subjected to wide criticism. Historians claimed the film was inaccurate, whilst British critics condemned the violent depiction of British auxiliary soldiers occupying Ireland. Nevertheless, the film was a huge success in Ireland and became quite a public affair as calls for extras were met with thousands of Irish people eager to re-enact their past.

The cast of the movie is undoubtedly star-studded. Liam Neeson produces an electrifying performance in the title role, which earned him the Venice Film Festival Best Actor Award. Unusually, Jordan didn’t exclusively use Irish actors for the starring roles, with Aidan Quinn and Julia Roberts swapping their American accents for surprisingly convincing Irish ones. Unfortunately, the same can’t be said for Alan Rickman. Whilst his performance is fantastic as the almost anti-heroic Sinn Fein leader, Eamon de Valera, his accent leaves a little to be desired. Julia Roberts could also be considered an odd choice for this movie as amidst the rough Irish backdrop she oozes Hollywood glamour. Nevertheless, you can’t deny that she provides a great onscreen character as Kitty Kiernan.

Michael Collins is dark, perfectly capturing the gloomy, perilous and troubled times of early twentieth century Ireland. Borrowing elements of the gangster genre, the movie shows uncompromising, raw violence mingled with political struggle. From the assassination of Irish officials to jailbreaks and the murder of innocent civilians, the lifetime of Collins was filled with death and destruction. However, the violence condoned by Collins is all in pursuit of peace and the establishment of a new, free Ireland.

Regardless of historical inaccuracies, Jordan’s film provides an insight into the man behind the Irish Free State, the IRA and the shaping of some of Ireland’s most significant historical moments. Dramatic, passionate and dangerous, Michael Collins is a movie to remember.

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'Michael Collins'.

Countryfile eat your heart out

Been doing a spot of foraging since my return to the countryside last week. Check out the goodies I've collected...

I would have collected more blackberries but the dog wouldn't let me linger for long before she decided to run off. I ate a walnut, but it was pretty rubbish, figured maybe they have to mature or dry out or something before I start nibbling them. Crushing the shells is satisfying nonetheless. Like popping bubblewrap.

Check out this blighter of a blackberry as well (pictured in between a normal sized blackberry and a walnut to emphasise its greatness).

I realise I may have to get back to uni soon before this countryside behaviour advances to become anything more serious. Like being able to identify the poo of a lesser spotted badger or wearing tweed.

Fantastic, it's elementary

Sherlock, BBC 1 August 2010

BBC dramas tend to make it or break it with the British public but many have quickly become the love of our TV hearts. Luckily, Sherlock is no exception with the captivating eyes of Benedict Cumberbatch taking centre screen as the eponymous detective.

2010’s reinvention of Arthur Conan Doyle’s quirky hero takes a refreshing new stance, with the Victorian tales being told in the present day. Far from ruining the original, the classic characters fit delightfully well into modern London. Martin Freeman’s Dr Watson is an Afghanistan veteran and mobiles and computers frequently feature in this modern adaptation, both aiding Holmes’ terrific deduction and Moriarty’s dastardly deeds.

The star of the show, Cumberbatch, delivered a suitably electrifying performance as Sherlock Holmes. He managed to maintain the necessary balance between brilliant and bonkers that makes the detective so exciting to watch. Obvious delight at being confronted with a serial killer in the first episode, to those infamous character assessments, Cumberbatch kept the pace and has paved (well, re-paved) the way for a long-lasting and loveable character.

Fortunately, the well-known disputes over Sherlock’s sexuality and drug habits were far from forgotten in this version. Watson’s consistent uncomfortable remarks over his relationship with Holmes added the right dose of humour to their otherwise odd coupling. Whilst in the absence of cigarettes, alcohol or anything a bit stronger, Holmes took to nicotine patches to get the necessary fix for his bizarre thoughts.

Sherlock is stylish, exciting and, like a clichéd fine wine, will inevitably improve with age. By that I mean the second series looks set to be just as fantastic as the first, with each of these episodes being superior to the last. Admittedly, it feels rather Doctor Who-ish (it’s bound to as the programme’s writers, Steven Moffat and Mark Gatiss, both worked on the hit sci-fi show) but personally I think Sherlock is better. The final instalment of this series leaves you on one heck of a cliff hanger and introduces the mysterious Moriarty in a pretty tense show-down. This year’s villain is impressive, as suave as Bond but just about as evil as all of the double-O’s enemies put together.

I do have one teensy tiny problem with this programme though – the music. Excuse me if I’m wrong, but this programme’s score is just one note away from being an exact copy of that of Guy Ritchie’s recent film starring Robert Downey Jr as Holmes. I only know because I loved Hans Zimmer’s composition for this film and actually listened to it on repeat for far too many weeks, much to the dismay of my housemates. Such is the life of a film-lover.

Other than that (and, I admit, a slightly weak villain in the otherwise great first episode) Sherlock hits all the right notes to become the latest BBC success. Freeman is the perfect awkward counterpart to Cumberbatch’s confident and wacky hero, with the rest of the show coming together to create something unique but in keeping with the spirit of Conan Doyle’s creation. I only hope the next series lives up to some high expectations.

Local heroes of the community stage

Dad's Army
A stage production by Rye Players (15/07/10)
Rye Community Centre, Rye, East Sussex

Last week, Rye Players brought to life one of Britain's best loved comedies - Dad's Army. The company performed three episodes from the hit TV series, with all the well known characters present. There was a lot to live up to in recreating such a popular programme, but Rye Players did well, with many of the actors looking and performing like their cherished originals.

The first of the three episodes, 'The Deadly Attachment' was a chance to see the main characters at their best. Andy Godfrey stepped into his own as the authoritarian idiot, Captain Mainwaring, with Ian Saxton's charming Sergeant Wilson silently saving the day. Richard Whymark was also on form as the loveable Private Pike, getting many laughs throughout the evening.

One stand-out player was Aubrey Sinden as Lance Corporal Jones, who shone throughout the show as the enthusiastic war veteran. Sinden not only looked and sounded much like the character we all know, but he made Jones his own by delivering his lines with conviction and superb comic timing to create that bumbling bravery that the Lance Corporal is famous for. His performance was funny and charismatic and it was a joy to watch.

Peter Spencer also excelled as Private Frazer. Spencer's mannerisms captured the strangeness of the Scottish soldier, and even if you couldn't quite understand what he'd said those weird and wild eyes were enough to make you giggle!

The ladies had a chance to showcase their talent in the Players' second episode, 'Mum's Army'. They all performed well, but Amy Shortman was particularly delightful as Mrs Gray and the bolshy Mrs Fox was wonderfully played by Clare Murray.

Praise goes to all the actors and crew for creating a great evening of entertainment. Well done especially to director, Carol Prior, for managing to recreate the old favourites on a small community stage. Credit also goes to whoever made Wilson's horse, which very nearly stole the show!

Please comment if you have anything to add to this review of 'Dad's Army'.
'Rye Observer' 23/07/10