Matt Damon takes the lead role, and the attention away from anyone else, in this sly comedic look at whistle blowers and corporate shenanigans. Never more appropriates than in the aftermath of the current financial crisis it'll be interesting to see if we can still laugh at the incompetence and petty dreams of those of us who manage major corporations.
The Informant! opens on 20 November 2009.
Happy Birthday to
Mira Sorvino
42 today
Mira (daughter of Paul) made the mistake of knocking it out of the park and winning an Oscar in Woody Allen's otherwise forgettable Mighty Aphrodite. Whilst she got some good gigs on the back of it - Beautiful Girls, Summer of Sam - it's gone downhill ever since.
Happy Birthday to
Gwyneth Paltrow
37 today
Beautiful, stunning, clever, funny, yet strangely, even when she only appears in one film a year, over-exposed. That could be due to the whole being married to Coldplay. I really want to be wowed by her talent again, but I'm really not sure how Gwyneth will be able to do that.
Happy Birthday to
Will Smith
41 today
Oddly this photo just jumped out at me. Big Willy (heh heh) is probably the most bankable star in Hollywood, his last 10 cinematic releases took an average just shy of $160m, but right now he's taking time off with the family. IMDB have 25 projects in developement, with only Spielberg's Old Boy in the pre-production phase. On the off chance it does get made I'm in there.
Happy Birthday to
Mickey Rooney
89 today
At 89 the diminutive star continues to perform with astounding regularity. The films may be getting more obscure and more likely to go straight from the festivals to the DVD shelves, but you have to admire his tenacity.
It was the toast of the critics following Cannes, however it seems the reception for Jane Campion's latest opus has dimmed during the rest of the festival season. That won't stop me going to see Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish as the ill-fated lovers John Keats and Fanny Brawne. After all if this is even close to the quality of Campions other films then it's possibly a masterpiece.
Bright Star opens on 06 November 2009.
I don't do enough personal news, or at least I haven't over the summer. I gues that's because I haven't really been looking for, or when I have been looking getting, work.
I've tried, applications sent out, couple of telephone auditiona, but to be honest my heart has not been in it. I've been stuck here in Melksham, running and looking forward to the autumn tour, knowing that anything else would have to be squeezed in before or held until after. And the fact that I shall be moving back up North also made the hunt easy to put off.
Thanks to this man - John Steinbeck dontcha know - I am back on the road today.
I will try and keep blogging over the next few months. All the birthdays and Tuesday trailers are written in advance, and I have the bare bones of the releases ready, but they will go out on Saturdays or Sundays rather than on Friday. I also have a review for Away we Go to post, but I'm too lazy to have done that over the weekend.
Please carry on posting comments and I will reply to as many as I can (probably more than I currently do) but there may be a delay. Love to you all, Ben. x x
Happy Birthday to
Sophia Loren
75 today
Legends are few and far between, but to call La Loren a legend almost dimishes her. Cinema would simply be lesser without her existence. After far too long away from our screens Sophia returns this year as Daniel Day-Lewis heavily influential mother in Nine.
Sometimes I do get mad with myself, I'm stuck in a cycle of self loathing as I continuously get interested in the product of a limited number of filmmakers, then get really angry when they turn up time and time again in the film news. This week I'm reporting on projects from 5 directors, who between them have been connected to 14% of all the stories I've run this year. I must find some other people to idolise.
Hereafter
I like Clint Eastwood. Sure he's no auteur, but he is a proficient, efficient director who does a good job more often than a bad. What I especially like is his willingness to try new things, and play with different genres whilst retaining the use of themes - in the past we've has Westerns, Romances, Sports movies; all of which have dealt with guilt and redemption. Now that his Mandela biopic is completed next up is a horror film, reuniting him with Invictus star Matt Damon. Press releases indicate it's like the Sixth Sense, by which I hope they mean it's a slow burner and not that it turns out he's a ghost which really spoils the film if they tell us know. I'm betting Damon has caused the death of someone in the past, and is now haunted by them, but is it a real ghost or just his fevered imagination?
Yes, I;'m expecting a full length adaptation of this road safety advert:
Harvey and Lincoln
Steven Spielberg has come out this week to assure everyone that his long gestating Lincoln biopic is not dead in the water, and that it can peacefully co-exist alongside Robert Redford's Conspirator about the aftermath of his assassination. I believe that the two films can work together, but I can't believe, with everything else Spielberg's working on that Lincoln will be made this side of 2015.
Tucked away in the Variety article was the hint of a casting rumour with Robert Downey Jr. linked to the Harvey remake. I'd just like to say I like that, very smart casting choice, provided that Sherlock Holmes and Iron-Man 2 don't lead to over-exposure.
Liberace
Matt Damon (again) has been spilling the beans on his association with the up-coming Liberace biopic from Stephen Soderbergh. Michael Douglas will play the flamboyant pianist, Damon his younger lover who outs the star to the press. It seems to unbelievable that people didn't know he was gay, but Liberace did manage to successful sue anyone who suggested it so there must have been plenty of housewives who thought they had a chance. Douglas has been trying on costumes, so that's a good sign that things are on their way.
Netherland
The critically acclaimed 2008 novel by Joseph O'Neill which takes in 9/11, cricket and the impact of an international community is being adapted by Christopher Hampton (Atonement, Dangerous Liaisons). Description as a Great Gatsby for the modern age it should make an interesting film.
The Passage
Anyone like vampires? C'mon hands up. There are hundreds of vampire fans judging by the extraordinary output of vampiric movies coming from Hollywood. Even Sir Ridley Scott is getting in on the act, circling as he is the adaptation of the Jordon Ainsley novel. Part blood sucking apocalypse, part government conspiracy picture it concerns medical experiment with death row inmates and vampire bats before it all goes wrong... If you fans didn't go and see this sort of rubbish then I wouldn't have to write about it.
Quite cute, really.
Happy Birthday to
Rosemary Harris
82 today
A couple of weeks ago we said happy birthday to Cliff "Uncle Ben" Robertson, so now it's the turn of Aunt May. Still no details from Spider-Man 4, but whilst there are question marks over her deceased husband I can't see how Peter Parker's favourite Aunt can't make a return.
It's a particularly busy week with a wide variety of mainstream and art house productions. That's not to say that most of them look even passably entertaining. Personally I'm tempted by Sam Mendes slumming with a dramedy between major downers, so the film of the week is Away we Go.
The Agent
Virtually a two hander between literary agent (William Beck) and his top talent (Stephen Kennedy), whose latest novel isn't up to the usual standard. Satire on the publishing business and showcase for the two stars this could be an interesting watch for those in the know.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Away we Go
John Krasinski and Maya Rudolph just want a place to raise their unborn baby. Somewhere where they can be near friends who will advise and help them. Unfortunately as they travel the country they find out all their friends are nutcases who shouldn't be within a retraining orders of kids. Sounds great.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Birdwatchers
Brizillian film, with hard to spot eco-message about disputed land between a wealthy developer and an indigenious tribe. The love story at the centre may be pure hokum, mind.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Blind Dating
Chris Pine, pre-Star Trek, was doing risible guff like this, playing a blind man playing the dating game. The heart of this comedy about love being blind (sorry) may be in the right place but the execution seems a little ropey. For diehard Pine fans only.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Wacky kids animation about a machine that can cause clouds to burst with food (like meatballs). How they spin that out over 89 minutes I've no idea, but the easy on the eye animations looks fun to me.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Dil Bole Hadippa
Cross dressing cricket based romantic comedy. Really - it's abot a girl who wants to be in the Indian criket team so much she dresses like a lad. Complications (and hilarity) ensue.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
The Firm
Cinematic remake of classic BBC TV special on football hooliganism. This is the third fottball hooliganism film this year - based on that it doesn't matter if it's the best surely it can't be that big a market.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Gamer
The premise (of real people being controlled by first person gaming devices) is fascinating, Gerard Butler is suitably hunky as the lead and the violence appears to be just the right level. Why does this look so pants?
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Nandhalala
Much delayed Bollywood road movie about a boy and a man with learning difficulties. Sounds like my very worst nightmare.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
31 North 62 East
The name over the poster is Jonathan Rhys-Davis - the hammy dwarf from Lord of the Rings. If the biggest selling point for this UK conspiracy theory yarn is that then don't expect big returns at the Box Office.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Unnai Pol Oruvan
This is the Tamil remake of a Hindi film (see below for the opposite) about a complex bomb threat in a major city which is being used as a ransom to release convicted terrorists - only all is not as it seems.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Wanted
Hindi remake of Tamil film (told you) which I know very little about, except that it's been filmed in locations all over the world and may involve a mafia hit.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Happy Birthday to
Lauren Bacall
85 today
When I congratulated Lauren during Saturday's news column for her honorary Oscar, announced at the weekend, I perhaps should have made sure I wasn't going to namecheck her twice in the same week by wishing a happy birthday. Still, if anyone deserves 2 mentions in a week then it's Bacall's sultry Goddess.
The latest trailer for Robert Zemeckis' CGI Mo-Capped version of the Charles Dickens short story was released over the weekend, so here it is. I'm not completed sold by the trailer. The rendering doesn't look as good as Beowulf, and the cutting on the trailer seems a little fast, but maybe it'll still be OK up on the big screen. What do you think? Is no-cap a passing phase or is Zemeckis showing the way of the future?
A Christmas Carol opens on 06 Nevember 2009.
Happy Birthday to
Jackie Cooper
87 today
Former child star and still the most credible Perry White in Superman adaptations. And with no sign of the curse hitting him lets hope Jackie sees many more birthdays.
Happy Birthday to
Melissa Leo
49 today
Melissa never stops working, in 2009 she has 8 films being released in 2008 alone. That's a new film every 6 weeks. I think she's my new hero.
I've done it...
My first marathon.
In the end I managed 4 hours 5 minutes (although my official time has yet to be released). I'm slightly disappointed not to have broken the 4 hour mark, but really getting round was great and the last 2 miles were hell for me.
Next time I will know what I'm doing and not storm ahead on the first half (completed that in less than 1 hour 50, taking a lot out of me at that point.
I'm thinking Brighton in April - any thoughts?
Slightly more exciting week than we've had recently - but still the festivals dominating the news pages.
Knockout
Steven Soderbergh may have lost his baseball film, Moneyball, over unusual circumstances but he's taking that on the chin and jumping back into the ring with Knockout, a mixed marshal arts movie. They're entering into a bit of a purple patch - no longer a ghetto populated by Steven Seagal - with Nick Nolte training Tom Hardy in Warrior, and now this.
The twist is we're looking at fighting women. Like Soderbergh's Girlfriend we'll be looking at a complete unknown (Gina Carano from American Gladiator) in the lead. Could be dreadful, probably will be incredibly watchable though.
True Grit
The Coen brothers, who are getting great notices for A Serious Man in Toronto, are in talks with Big Lebowski star Jeff Bridges to take the lead role in their Western remake. It's an interesting move and whether Bridges signature laconic style will work in the genre remains to be seen.
Lauren Bacall
In spite of a back catalogue of fantastic movies (The Big Sleep, How to Marry a Millionaire, Dogville) Lauren has never managed to win a competitive Oscar, but in a vague attempt to rectify this the Academy will be awarding her a honorary award later this year. It's very well deserved - I'm having a Bacall night tonight to celebrate.
This morning was the last training run before tomorrow's Nottingham Marathon. Just a short burst of energy.
3.3 km in 16 minutes, or 11.9 kmph.
I realise at this stage of the training this mornings run means nothing - it was merely a reason to get out of bed.
Over the last 14 weeks I have gone out 58 times and run a total of 585 km (approximately the distance from Brighton to Carlisle) in just over 54 hours. That's an average speed of 10.8 kmph.
I hit my fastest run on 15 August and went the furthest on 29 August.
But this is all for tomorrow. The greatest test of physical endurance I have ever done in my life. 26 7/32 miles.
Wish me luck.
Happy Birthday to
Jennifer Hudson
28 today
Jennifer is another esteened black actress who isn't getting the parts she perhaps deserves. But unlike Taraji she doesn't even gets roles from Tyler Perry - she yesterday's comments.
Here she is belting out the signature tune:
It's not exactly a titanic battle at the multiplexes this weekend, with only one film besting the magic 4 mark. Feels a little off when I look at the scores, though: Nora Ephron beating Kate Beckinsale kicking ass and Andrea Arnold's stunning follow-up to Red Road. The points structure can't be changed just for this week though so the top choice is Julie & Julia.
Adventureland
I'm not sure why, but I thought this had been released ages ago. I suspect that's because I pay too much attention to US release dates, although the fact that I clearly remember the mid to late 80's when this coming of age film is set is probably a factor. Whimsical looks at your own childhood always feel a little strange.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Dorian Gray
Whilst the story of an eternally young aristo from the mid 19th century may incredibly popular and, with it's rotting picture in the attic, immensely cinematic, this is only the second time it's been the centrepiece of a major film. Why not go and see it to find out why.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Fish Tank
Andrea Arnold's sophomore picture has been a critical hit on the festival circuit, including taking the Jury prize at Cannes. Whether the complex relationship between a teenage girl and her mother's boyfriend on a British housing estate will translate to any other sort of success remains to be seen. That's a shame, this one really should be seen.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Julie & Julia
Will Meryl Streep be winning her third Oscar this year? Admittedly that's a question that pops up with alarminging regularity, but her spot-on impersonation of not just the mannerisms of TV chef Julia Chiles, but also her vivacity coule well indicate that it really is her year. It's still a Nora Ephron film, mind, so don't take my rating as an indication of the quality of the entire product.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●●●●○○○
Miss March: Generation Penetration
The title really does say it all in this story about a buy waking from a coma to find his girlfriend in Playboy. When one of your key selling points is Hugh Hefner appearing as himslef you know there won't be the faintest smudge of good comedy here. I don't even think there will be good quality nudity, either. Terrible waste of premise.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Shank
Gay happy slapping drama, filmed in Bristol and made by a 21 year old director. Whilst I've heard only good things about it, the trailer looks decided muddled. If you see two films set in the UK underclasses this week, then this will be the second showing.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Sorority Row
A group of sexy girls, a last night of fun before they leave college, one shared secret with terrible consequences. Is there anything else you need to know? Why not watch one of the millions of films it's knocking off.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Whiteout
I think the release has been cocked up badly for the Antartic set graphic novel adaptation. The trailer didn't seem that bad, but there's been very little advertising since, and even the big film mags don't appear to have reviewed it.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
By the way two of last weeks' releases disappeared from cinemas without actually opening, so no Coffin Rock or Nandhalala if you were looking forward to those. Bizarrely though this opened:
Chess in Concert
Essentially a filmed concert version of the 1980's concept musical presenting the tensions between the US and USSR as reflected in a World Chess Championship contest. Best known for it's UK No. 1 "I know him so Well" this version's was sung by Idina Menzel and Kerry Ellis.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Happy Birthday to
Taraji P Henson
39 today
Hot off her Oscar nod for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and headlining a film which should be number one in the charts this weekend, you'd have thought the producers would be clamouring for Taraji. They are - but unfortunately it's for rubbish like the Karate Kid remake.
3 DAYS TO GO!!!
Just a quickie today, don't want to be overdoing it.
4.3 km in 22 minutes. Or 11.9 kmph.
Happy Birthday to
Cliff Robertson
86 today
Cliff takes a great photo, doesn't he? It's like he done something devilish naughty and he can't wait to be caught out. Cliff has paid for his retirement (and then some) by playing "Uncle" Ben Parker in the Spider-Man films. Given that he died in the first one, there's been some lucky script writing to bring him back in flashback scenes. I wonder whether he'll have a scene in Spider-Man 4...
Faster than yesterday, which is a blessed releief, but just trying to run a short bit with no stress this week.
ONLY 4 DAYS TO GO!!!
4.4 km in 23 minutes, or 11.4 kmph.
The one remaining October film I'm interested (ish) in still hasn't released a trailer. You have to wonder whether they actually want people to see thier movie. So, I'm starting November. November is great - full of a variety of fantastic looking movies with diverse casts and subject matter. Starting the month off is a biopic (of sorts) about a boy who helped Woodstock happen (sort of). It's directed by the talented and versatile Ang Lee with a lovely supporting cast of supporting actors. Enjoy:
Taking Woodstock opens on 6 November 2009.
I'll barely be doing any this week - last few days until the marathon - just a couple of short jogs around the block. I'm also struggling a bit with a knee injury (such a drama queen) and calibrating a new sensor for the i-pod.
This morning was roughly 8.4 km in 47 minutes. A very slow 10.7 kmph.
Today I went running with a friend, that is to say I ran with my friend (Rob) cycling right behind me. I therefore did not have my i-Pod so that we could talk when there was no danger of being squashed by a rogue 4x4. My time ws OK, hit the pace I need for next week, however it was not spectacular or even close what I'd expect over the distance. I see this as a lesson. Must have music next week.
17.6 km in 1 hour 40 minutes, or 10.6 kmph.
Happy Birthday to
Rosie Perez
45 today
I bet you'd forgotten all about Rosie until she popped up in last years stoner comedy Pineapple Express. I don't know how you could possibly have forgotten this:
The festival season is well and truly upon us. Venice and Telluride started this week, Toronto before next week's news. Films are opening every few minutes with reviewers from across the world busily sending copy across the web. The problem is that none of the films opening at these festivals really appeal to me. For some reason this year there's very little out there that I want to see, with the exception of films which have already opened elsewhere (like Cannes, or Sundance). As a result there is virtually nothing else that's piqued my interest, just the one story in fact...
Tamara Drewe
Posy Simmonds' Guardian comic strip serial is being adapted into a feature. So far so non-story. What could be more natural these days than a comic strip film. The big difference is that Drewe is a modern spin of Far From the Maddening Crowd, and will be directed by Stephen Frears.
All it then needs is super attractive up and coming leads like, I don't know, Gemma Arterton and Dominic Cooper and I'm there.
This morning I tried, somewhat foolishly to go for a relatively short run at the pace I intend to complete the Marathon. This was in order to get the idea of how it feels going at that certain pace. I don't know about anyone else, but I find trying to run at a specified pace really hard, especially when my mind is on the short distance rather than the long one.
In theory I should have been doing 10.55 kmph in order to complete the marathon in less than 4 hours. That's a kilometer every 5 minutes 41 seconds.
I managed 5 km in 27 minutes, a pace of 11.1 kmph or a kilometer every 5 minutes 24 seconds. It was really tough trying to slow down that tiny bit. Should be easier on the longer run mind.
There's nothing really jumping out at me this week, however that said it's an interesting set of films. There's a massive sci-fi piece (commenting on racism and segregation as well), quirky rom-com counter programming, Australian horror, Polish coming of age film, 2 World War I films - from opposing sides, a Bollywood film and one about London's rent boys using non-professional actors. I'm tempted to recommend the later - but I'm afraid I might recognise someone so the film of the week is District 9
District 9
A superb marketing vcampaign that began at last years comic-con with no "Non-Human" signs popping up all over the place. Luckily the film seems to stand up to buzz, with it's normalisation of alien settlers and powerful message about racial intolerance it should shake up the ET on earth sub genre for years.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
(500) Days of Summer
Quirky romantic comedy about a boy (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) reliving the 500 blissful days of his relationship with Summer (Zooey Deschanel). The films non-linear structure and willingness to make it clear it's his point of view have won it many fans.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Greek Pete
Winner of the Award for Artistic Achievement at the L.A. Outfest this is a fly on the wall film about a London Rent boy who has high hopes of reaching the very pinnacle of his profession. Much of the drama is dictated by the experiences of the cast involved with the sex trade.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Passchendaele
Canadian film that opened the Toronto Film festival in 2008 finally makes it to the UK cinemas. Charting the lives of a group of soldiers sent to fight in the trenches before and after the First World War, based on a true story recounted to the director.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●○○○○○○○
Red Baron
History is, as we all know, writen by the victors. However the Germans are rightly proud of "Red" Baron von Richthofen, the First World War pilot who ruled the skies. Matthias Schweighöfer (Valkyrie) plays the aeronautic expert.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Tricks
Andrzej Jakimowski's sophomore feature scored havily at the Polish Film Awards, including the audience pick as best film. It's easy to see why with this story of a 10 year old trying to match make his mother and the man he believes abandoned her years ago finding peotry and easy charm in every situation.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●●●○○○○○○
Last week I inexplicable missed:
Daddy Cool
You'd be forgiven for imagining this was the ground breaking Boney M biopic you've all been waiting for. Unfortunately it's a Bollywood film that, from the synopsis, appears to be a rip off of Death at a Funeral. Only with laughs.
Runs like a Gay Excitometer: ●●○○○○○○○○
Got my stride back today. Not just compared to yesterday, but also the day before. In fact I think this is the best I've done on these 6 mile (or thereabouts) basic runs.
9.9 km in 51 minutes. 11.7 kmph.
2009. Dir: Pedro Almodóvar. Starring: Penélope Cruz, LluÃs Homar, Blanca Portillo, José Luis Gómez and Tamar Novas. ●●●●○
During August I went to the cinema twice, both times to my local independent cinema, both times to see auteur films from directors whose work I love, and both times the film was about the power of film, and how it could be used as a tool for revenge. Last week I railed about the lack of humanity in Tarantino's effort which, for me, was the rotten core in his film. This week Almodovar has proven that cinema is about redemption and love. Far closer to my thinking.
Los abrazos rotos (Broken Embraces) opens with the blind screen writer Harry Caine (Homar, superb) seducing a good samaritan. It's a funny and tounching scene - Caine is no adonis but his charisma overpowers the girl - with lots of passion. There isn't however a touch of romance, she quickly showers and leaves, he's back to work before she's finished. This act of love-making was perfunctory and purely a release.
During the aftermath the other modern day characters appear. Caine's agent (Portillo) and her son, his assistant, Diego (Novas). As these three establish their routines we are also treated to flashbacks of Cruz becoming the mistress of ruthless millionaire (Martel), who in the present time has recently died.
Ray X (Rubén Ochandiano), a mysterious first time director, comes to Caine to ask him to aid with writing a screenplay about a son taking revenge on his father. It is from this encounter and a somewhat ham-fisted accident for Diego, that Caine explains how the two stories we have seen are connected.
Ultimately Caine used to be the film director Mateo Blanco, whos last film starred Cruz. They met on set, fell in love (proper love with real sex and much touching after) and eloped when the filming was over. A car accident later took her life and his eyes.
I'm not sure the early flashbacks work, and would question whether we need to know Cruz only got into the relationship with Martel to save her father. The framing of Diego's accident to bring us back to the early 90's is ham-fisted but it would have been much more satisfactory if we had only seen Cruz in fragments of photo's and had no understanding of the characters prior to this.
All of the performances are superb, with the exception of Ochandiano who appears to be channelling Little Britain in the flashback scenes, but I'd expecially like to highlight the work of Blanco Portillo. She has a couple of scenes where she's basically relaying the plot to anyone not paying enough attention, as well as adding in some extra snippets of information. It's a relatively thankless task but she does it so well, balancing the humour and the depth of the moment. She also is able to show a massiv range of emotion in the beach scenes. Fantastic. I'll certainly be looking out for her in the future.
As with any of Almodovar's films the design is wonderfully detailed, and exquisitely coloured. The use of art in the homes of the protagonists is nicely counterbalanced. And Cruz is dressed beatifully. The red dress alone is a show stopper.
Overall I'd say that whilst it's not without it's problems (messy, some bizarre loose ends but many things which don't need to be explained which were) Almodovar once again makes a fantastic and moving picture.
POSTSCRIPT WITH SPOILERS
I just realised I never said why this was about the cinema and revenge. Well, after Homar and Cruz run away Martel bribes the editor to cut the film really badly and it then flops. At the end though Caine is completing a directors cut which will show once and for all how wonderful Cruz was as an actress.
Shorter run this morning, but just couldn't find my pace. I really was struggling, until the blond cutie appeared. Ahhh. Still not great overall, but at least I had some good eye candy.
8.4km in 45 minutes, or 11.2 kmph.
Happy Birthday to
Valerie Perrine
66 today
I was just watching Lenny the other day and it reminded me just how talented and gorgeous Valerie was back in the day. She's still talented and gorgeous now, mind, it's just she doesn't do as many photo like this anymore.
You may have noticed I've been a bit lazy over the last 5 days. This morning was my first run since Saturday. I would like to point out that this delay was not due to the long one taking it out of me, but because I went out an party'd on Saturay night, which took me until Monday to recover. Then I overslept yesterday. So 5 days running of running this week. Then I take it easy anyway as we'll be in the last week before the marathon.
This morning was a pretty good 9.8 km in 51 minutes, or 11.5 kmph.
Shutter Island has indeed moved in 2010, and Creek has been pushed back a few weeks so I'm going to give you the film that will rule the October charts this week, and it's not a difficult choice. Pixar has an incredible record in the film charts internationally with big box office from all of their clever balanced products. The key is in appealing to adults and children, something which seems inplicit in the writing of their films. Up is no exception, it's taken $290m so far in the US making it the second highest Pixar grosser and number 3 in the top sellers of 2009.
Up opens on 9 October 2009.
Happy Birthday to
Lily Tomlin
70 today
Birthdays can be beautiful celebrations with lashings of jelly and ice cream, or they can be apinful reminders that we're all getting on. For me Lily's 70th is one of the latter, mainly because it doesn't feel like a lesbian commedienne should ever be that age. Strange, isn't it?
