(no subject)
I’ve done a few things around the funeral in the last couple of weeks, though my LJ updating mojo has been missing once again. There was a Tom McRae gig, which was very good despite him not being too well. That immortalradical and Chris Tye did a fine gig a couple of days later, and I also saw him and Z and Jane last weekend, having been far too out of it to attend for his Birthday fooding the day after my train misadventures.
Saw a couple of films, and realized I haven’t recorded for my own edification what I’ve seen in ages. I think the list since last LJed stands at:
The Good German - This film in its authentic 40’s ness was almost as good looking as George Clooney in it, though no where near as amazing as Cate Blanchett looked *swoons*. I don’t think there was any need for this to be made, but I suspect everyone had fun putting it together and I enjoyed watching it.
Sunshine - This looked great, and the old fashioned folks in space sections were right up my street (and there was Michelle Yeoh! Though Dan was disappointed she didn’t attack anyone, I liked the casting against type). I can’t begin to work out why Boyle and Garland felt that turning the ending into a remake of Event Horizon was a good idea though (I love Sam Neil, but that is a terrible, terrible film). A sad waste of Mark Strong as the bonkers evil one, and I hope he gets to make films sometime in which he can show off how good an actor he is, as opposed to just what startling eyes he has.
The Lives of Others - Brilliant and highly recommended. Ulriche Muhe is just fascinating to watch as the Stasi officer who slowly becomes more aware of the world as he becomes caught up in the lives of those he has under surveillance - his facial expressions say more than some of the films here say in their whole lengths.
Spiderman 3 - As always with blockbusters, too long and not as good as the previous one. But the Dark!Parker scenes were so much fun I am very forgiving, and even James Franco had the opportunity to be non annoying, as his happy friendly lacking in memories portion of the film was quite touching.
Zodiac - I found this rather gripping, and had good performances from Jake Gyllenhal and Mark Ruffalo (almost unrecognizable in his 70’s get up and hair). It was long, and at times frustrating, but then that is what this search for a serial killer really was. I knew going in a little about the story, and that the case was never solved - I do wonder how people expecting a more conventional serial killer story reacted to this.
Pirates 3 - We watched this after turning up for a 2.30 showing of Jindabyne, to find there had been a small fire or something in one of the screens and they were not showing anything until after 4. The film was fun enough (yay Geoffrey Rush!), but it ended up being a rather long afternoon for a tired me.
Jindabyne - Some fine performances in this, as one would expect from Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney. It was pretty powerful stuff for a mid week evening, but I can’t help but find it overshadowed now as it was on the way home from it I saw I had a missed phone message from my folks, and I knew the only reason they would have tried my mobile as well as at home would mean it was bad news, which of course it was.
Oceans 13 - Much more fun that I expecting. Fine Saturday afternoon escapism, along with the expected hotness. And Don Cheadle has dialed the accent down, which is great as it was distracting me from how attractive he is.
I have a feeling I’ve missed something from this list - any thoughts Brum folks?
Saw a couple of films, and realized I haven’t recorded for my own edification what I’ve seen in ages. I think the list since last LJed stands at:
The Good German - This film in its authentic 40’s ness was almost as good looking as George Clooney in it, though no where near as amazing as Cate Blanchett looked *swoons*. I don’t think there was any need for this to be made, but I suspect everyone had fun putting it together and I enjoyed watching it.
Sunshine - This looked great, and the old fashioned folks in space sections were right up my street (and there was Michelle Yeoh! Though Dan was disappointed she didn’t attack anyone, I liked the casting against type). I can’t begin to work out why Boyle and Garland felt that turning the ending into a remake of Event Horizon was a good idea though (I love Sam Neil, but that is a terrible, terrible film). A sad waste of Mark Strong as the bonkers evil one, and I hope he gets to make films sometime in which he can show off how good an actor he is, as opposed to just what startling eyes he has.
The Lives of Others - Brilliant and highly recommended. Ulriche Muhe is just fascinating to watch as the Stasi officer who slowly becomes more aware of the world as he becomes caught up in the lives of those he has under surveillance - his facial expressions say more than some of the films here say in their whole lengths.
Spiderman 3 - As always with blockbusters, too long and not as good as the previous one. But the Dark!Parker scenes were so much fun I am very forgiving, and even James Franco had the opportunity to be non annoying, as his happy friendly lacking in memories portion of the film was quite touching.
Zodiac - I found this rather gripping, and had good performances from Jake Gyllenhal and Mark Ruffalo (almost unrecognizable in his 70’s get up and hair). It was long, and at times frustrating, but then that is what this search for a serial killer really was. I knew going in a little about the story, and that the case was never solved - I do wonder how people expecting a more conventional serial killer story reacted to this.
Pirates 3 - We watched this after turning up for a 2.30 showing of Jindabyne, to find there had been a small fire or something in one of the screens and they were not showing anything until after 4. The film was fun enough (yay Geoffrey Rush!), but it ended up being a rather long afternoon for a tired me.
Jindabyne - Some fine performances in this, as one would expect from Gabriel Byrne and Laura Linney. It was pretty powerful stuff for a mid week evening, but I can’t help but find it overshadowed now as it was on the way home from it I saw I had a missed phone message from my folks, and I knew the only reason they would have tried my mobile as well as at home would mean it was bad news, which of course it was.
Oceans 13 - Much more fun that I expecting. Fine Saturday afternoon escapism, along with the expected hotness. And Don Cheadle has dialed the accent down, which is great as it was distracting me from how attractive he is.
I have a feeling I’ve missed something from this list - any thoughts Brum folks?