Pre-Christmas binge - Wharf Revue, Austenland, NT 50th Anniversary, Filth

[daasgrrl]

Theatre and movies are like buses - nothing decent to see for months on end, and then it seems like absolutely everything's on at once. So I had no alternative but to indulge in a marathon weekend of stuff. It was good :D

Saw The Wharf Revue, which is a politically-centered review of the year's events, usually consisting of satirical takes on

Comments

[flywoman]

I enjoyed Austenland for the most part, but that one scene with the proprietess' icky husband really threw me for a loop (even though Lydia's predicament in the original had serious consequences, she was a willing, if underage, participant and there was no suggestion of violence).

And I think that James McAvoy is amazing. I will basically watch anything he's in, even if on the surface it doesn't seem like it would be up my alley at all.

[daasgrrl]

Yes, exactly re Austenland - It was an interesting development, but definitely icky. I realise they had to have something there to support the idea that Jane could get them in trouble, but that was darker than I expected. Still a super-fun movie though :)

ITA about James McAvoy - he's one of those actors I know little about on a personal basis but always adds to the incentive to see anything they might be in. I wouldn't say you'd enjoy Filth necessarily, but I can't see how you wouldn't be impressed by his performance!

[xanthe]

Ooh - interesting! I must see if I can get to see Austenland then! I love JJ so much and it sounds awesome!

[daasgrrl]

Oh yes, do! I'd love to know what you thought. Although it is of course very, very silly *g*

[dioscureantwins]

Oh lucky you to have seen that lovely excerpt on a big screen. Austenland sounds like lots of fun, to be quite honest I can't see enough versions of Pride and Prejudice (though I hated the film with Keira Knightley).

I read Filth ages ago and thought the title summed it up pretty well, what a dirty, nasty, frankly disgusting book. This summer I read Martin Amis' Lionel Asbo and that had me in stitches but Filth was just filth. Well, maybe it works better on film. Basically I don't like McAvoy though he was all right in the latest Danny Boyle.

What do you think of the new trailer?

[daasgrrl]

I am very keen to read Filth now - you know, on top of everything, lol. Getting along quite well with The Quincunx and it's very intriguingly constructed, but some of the characters just make me want to slap them silly, I'm afraid. The plot is also terriby 'convenient', but maybe that's a stylistic thing I don't appreciate (I haven't read Dickens, which the reviews seem to keep comparing it to). We'll see how that develops *g*

I've seen maybe 3 versions of P&P, but I couldn't bring myself to see the KK one. I did watch Atonement for BC and she was bearable in it. I guess. I haven't seen Trance - that was a 'maybe' and I never quite got around to it, although it's nice to hear he was good!

Basically I don't like McAvoy...

...you really do keep saying the most improbable things ;)

[dioscureantwins]

If you like reading nasty books without a shred of humour I can most heartily recommend it

[daasgrrl]

Well, I'll take that as a recommendation then :P

[veronica_rich]

I love me some McAvoy dearly, but I just can't watch some of his movies. I went to see "Trance" this summer and haven't recovered yet.

[daasgrrl]

...may I ask why? I wasn't going to see it, but I'm now curious from what various people have said, and thinking I should! LOL.

[veronica_rich]

I can't really tell you why without spoiling it. All I can say is you get near the end and there are things that are borderline triggery for me.

[daasgrrl]

Ah, okay. Thanks for the hints anyway!

[trickseybird]

oh good, I wanted to watch it but the reviews for austenland were awful!

[daasgrrl]

LOL, yes. I usually find the points made in reviews worthwhile, but in this particular case I feel most of the reviewers just aren't in sync with the target market for this particular film. If you are, I think you'd at least enjoy it!

I always think of that scene from Rocky Horror - I didn't make him for YOU! Or in this case, it clearly wasn't made for 'critical acclaim' *g*