the last of the famous international playboys
As I've said in my last few entries, I'm going through a little phase of immersing myself in British films, culture and even events lately. Went to see The Theory of Everything a few weeks ago which had me feeling so in awe of Eddie Redmayne and so attracted to Harry Lloyd (why isn't Harry Lloyd in more things?!). I actually really want to read some Stephen Hawkings now and feel embarrassed that I haven't done so before. Is The Brief History of Time a good place to begin or is there anything easier for physics phobes like me? I'm really into British TV at the moment too. I'm even watching some choice Doctor Who episodes on Netflix. I'm wondering whether to binge watch Utopia S2 or all of In the Flesh this weekend? I've already watched the first episode of ITF and I did rather like it, though I struggled a bit with the gimmicky zombies and the anvilious discrimination parables. But I've got people encouraging me to continue with it and well, it's only five episodes more and apparently that's as long as it will EVER be because the BBC can't afford to make more than half a dozen episodes of its Bafta winning shows.
Oh and I'm also still watching Shameless US but that started as a Manchester show so I'm going to pretend that counts.
And while I still spend most of the time absorbed in fictional worlds, lately I have been thinking about my own country and trying to get back to my roots for the novel I'm attempting to start (for about the fourth time). For the last few months I've become a casual viewer of Russell Brand's The Trews blog and last week I finally gave in and read his Revolution manifesto. I'm a bit of a lapsed (now born again?) Brand fan. I loved his early stand up career as the naughtiest comedian of the Noughties, but pretty much lost all interest in him when he went off to Hollywood to play diluted versions of himself in mediocre movies. But with the Trews channel I've just become fascinated in this prodigal son returning to England to make daily youtube videos in his bedroom. I was recently trying to explain Russell Brand's new stance as a political activist to millari and it occured to me that Brand is currently the closest thing to Gaius Baltar in real life: that is Baltar in his anti-establishment cult leader phase. Which I guess explains my fascination and why I adore Brand while also rolling my eyes at him and yet feeling unable to look away. I always was a hopeless Gaius fangirl. And now I've learned that this year they're bringing out a film starring Brand as his glorious megalomaniac self and not a pale cartoonish imitation for US consumption - like, finally.
Part of me still suspects this whole revolution thing is just Russell winding up UK politicians, press and the voting public for a laugh, but then I do really want to believe in other possibilities when facing another general election with no party seeming capable of initiating any real change. Following the No vote on Scottish independance it just seems like us Brits are set in our ways. I could go on but I don't know how much my flist (is anyone reading my LJ posts these days??) knows or cares about UK people and politics. Is Brand all that well known outside of the UK for anything besides being that weird English comedian briefly married to Katy Perry?
Oh and I'm also still watching Shameless US but that started as a Manchester show so I'm going to pretend that counts.
And while I still spend most of the time absorbed in fictional worlds, lately I have been thinking about my own country and trying to get back to my roots for the novel I'm attempting to start (for about the fourth time). For the last few months I've become a casual viewer of Russell Brand's The Trews blog and last week I finally gave in and read his Revolution manifesto. I'm a bit of a lapsed (now born again?) Brand fan. I loved his early stand up career as the naughtiest comedian of the Noughties, but pretty much lost all interest in him when he went off to Hollywood to play diluted versions of himself in mediocre movies. But with the Trews channel I've just become fascinated in this prodigal son returning to England to make daily youtube videos in his bedroom. I was recently trying to explain Russell Brand's new stance as a political activist to millari and it occured to me that Brand is currently the closest thing to Gaius Baltar in real life: that is Baltar in his anti-establishment cult leader phase. Which I guess explains my fascination and why I adore Brand while also rolling my eyes at him and yet feeling unable to look away. I always was a hopeless Gaius fangirl. And now I've learned that this year they're bringing out a film starring Brand as his glorious megalomaniac self and not a pale cartoonish imitation for US consumption - like, finally.
Part of me still suspects this whole revolution thing is just Russell winding up UK politicians, press and the voting public for a laugh, but then I do really want to believe in other possibilities when facing another general election with no party seeming capable of initiating any real change. Following the No vote on Scottish independance it just seems like us Brits are set in our ways. I could go on but I don't know how much my flist (is anyone reading my LJ posts these days??) knows or cares about UK people and politics. Is Brand all that well known outside of the UK for anything besides being that weird English comedian briefly married to Katy Perry?