If anyone's near Birmingham next Friday evening (11 July 2008) I urge you to come and see The Song Inside at King Edward VI Five ways school. It's a stunning new one-act play by Paul Merrill, produced by He's Spartacus.
Come and see it if only for a chance to see me bearing my soul.
Monday, 30 June 2008
The Song Inside
Dark Knight
No Birthdays, no coming soon, and I still haven't finished my random film review from the weekend.
However Dark Knight reviews are coming in thick and fast and it's looking like all the pre release hype was correct.
Why not spend the day going through the trailers on the official site and letting out a little wee in anticipation.
Sunday, 29 June 2008
Sunset Blvd.
1950. Dir: Billy Wilder. Starring: William Holden, Gloria Swanson, Erich von Stroheim, Nancy Olson and Fred Clark. ●●●●●
Now here's a random film that will test my mettle as a reviewer.
Now here's a random film that will test my mettle as a reviewer.
Sunset Blvd. is about as iconic as a film can get. The story of an ageing film star and her liaison with a on-the-make screenwriter is as indelible in everyone's minds as it was groundbreaking at the time. Who hasn't spoken to the mirror at one point or another: "All right, Mr. DeMille, I'm ready for my close-up."
Let's try to breakdown why this film has such an appeal and what factors have made it such a success.
Training Phase 1, Day 8
They are absolutely right.
Running in the real world is a lot harder than on a treadmill. Today I managed 6.3km in 40 minutes. That's a pathetic 9.45 kph or just 5.9 mph. At that speed, and there's no way at the moment that I could sustain that, the marathon would take me just over 4.5 hours. (Actually that's not so bad, but I'm sure I can do better over these short distances so I will carry on beating myself up about it.)
I'll certainly be mixing more road running into the training going forward.
Gary Busey
Happy Birthday to
Gary Busey
64 today
Up until recently Gary was most famous for being a bit character in Lethal Weapon, and riding the waves on Big Wednesday.
That was until the 2008 Oscar ceremony. When Gary Busey attacks!
Saturday, 28 June 2008
Training Phase 1, Day 7
Today I did 20 minutes. Managed 3.66 km, which means an average 5.28 in per km. That's nearly 11.4 km (7.1miles) per hour on average which is OK. I'm happy with that.
So far all this runnig has been on a treadmill (albeit only one weeks worth). Tomorrow I'm going for a run along the canal, I'll time myself and turn around at 20 minutes. Some people tell me that running on a treadmill is easier so it may be a bit of a challenge tomorrow.
I also spent 30 minutes in the pool. I'm a dreadful swimmer, I look a lot like a distressed walrus, only a lot slower. But I can keep going for thirty minutes straight, and that's got to be worth something.
Friday, 27 June 2008
Kathy Bates
Happy Birthday to
Kathy Bates
60 today
Kathy was a hard-working successful stage actress, until one small little film made her a hard-working sucessful film actress.
Kathy is much more than a knife wielding monster though. As well as having a talent for swinging a mallet later this year we'll be seeing her selling houses to Kate and Leo in Revolutionary Road, helping Michelle Pfeiffer let go of her younger man in Cherie and remainly perfectly stationary in The day the Earth Stood Still.
Klaatu Barada Nikto, indeed.
Out this week (27/06/08)
4* films out this week. In alphabetical order:
And with the all new, all signing, all dancing Runs like a Gay Excitometer coloured circles (10 means I've run so fast I'm already there, 1 is virtually running backwards)
And with the all new, all signing, all dancing Runs like a Gay Excitometer coloured circles (10 means I've run so fast I'm already there, 1 is virtually running backwards)
Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian
The Pevensie children return to Narnia for a second helping of fauns, witches and talking animals. This time they meet the titular Prince and fight his usurping uncle. Less Christian allegory in this one.
●●●●●○○○○○
Coming Soon (maybe)
Another round up of what's been tickling me over the last couple of days.
The Ghost
Pierce Brosnan has let slip to MTV that he's prepping for a new thriller from Roman Polanski, concerning dark secrets from a former UK Prime Minister (Brosnan) being uncovered by his ghost writer (Nic Cage - yes really). It sounds like a good mix to me - Polanski is always good at building tension and Cage's wig has an almost legitimate reason to be wild.
To be honest I think I'd be more keen on this project if the film was going to be closer to Fried Green Tomatoes in tone and content.
Imagine, if you will, Chris O'Donnell and Leonardo Dicaprio visiting their elderly grandfathers, Pacino (terse and shouty) and De Niro (telling bad jokes and trying to still be with it), in a home for geriatric actors. As they recount stories of their glorious past Chris and Leo learn a lot about life and what it means to be an actor. Chris moves to the country to grow peanuts and Leo resolves to never make the same mistakes as his elders. In the flashback scenes we could use footage of actual films involving Pacino and De Niro, a la Whatever happened to Baby Jane.
To all Hollywood producers out there I'm waiting for your call. Anyone else feel free to leave a message about what you'd like to see De Niro and Pacino doing.
Thursday, 26 June 2008
Stannah stair lifts
Google ads have decided that Stannah Stairlifts are appropriate to advertise on my blog.
Does no-one have any confidence that I can run this marathon?
Training Phase 1, Day 5
I managed to get to the gym before work today. Slightly quieter which made it all the more comfortable.
Spent another 15 minutes on the treadmill. Managed 2.7 km, at 5.22 min/km which is fractionally faster than last time. Onwards and upwards as they say.
Increasing to 20 minutes on Saturday. Wish me luck.
Eleanor Parker
86 today
When I used to watch The Sound of Music as a kid I adored the Baroness. In a story that shoehorned songs in at every moment she was always able to ignore the impulse to burst out. I liked that a lot. Of course she also did a lot of acting... Whether it was her icy conversation with Maria at the ball, or keeping her dignity as she lets Captain Von Trapp slip away, she was at the top of her game. And this is from an actress who gave superb performances in Caged and Detective Story, although she could be pure ham at times (see The Man with the Golden Arm).
Since I have grown older though her performance as the Baroness has dimished. I blame a close friend who I went to see a sing-a-long showing of The Sound of Music, and who shouted out during the ball: "Look at the Baroness's eyebrows."
They're all over the place - bouncing around her forehead from one shot to another. Go on watch the scene and you'll be surprised at how quickly they move.
Wednesday, 25 June 2008
Food and Nutrition - Water
Of course training for a big race isn't all about the running, it's also about eating the right balance of foods.
I will admit I don't know much about nutrition so in this first (of regular posts on the subject) I'd thought I'd kick off with an absolute basis fundamental.
We all need to drink water.
Marley and me
If you're as bored during your lunch break as I am why not try watching a puppy run along a beach.
All together now. Ahhh.
Coming Soon (maybe)
Not a day goes by tht some film project isn't announced or changes production status or start trailering that I'm not in the least bit interested in. Here are some stories that have had me going hmmm over the last week:
The Archive
James Mangold (Walk the Line, 3:10 to Yuma) to direct a script from David Auburn (Proof, The Lake House). Apparantly the story revolves aroung time travel. It should be interesting. I like Auburn's theatre work (although it didn't translate well onto the screen) and James Mangold is a seriously underrated director. This could be one to watch out for.
Tuesday, 24 June 2008
Training Phase 1, Day 3
Today it was back to the gym, with a 15 minute jog on the treadmill in the middle of it.
I managed 2.8 km, so that's 11.2 km per hour. Oddly I'm not really sure whether that's OK or not. I know if I do a marathon at that pace then I'll finish inside 4 hours, if I don't collapse after 4 miles, which based on how I was feeling is a distinct possibility.
Birthday Party fun
There's no-one with a birthday I want to celebrate today (I'm going to do about 4 days per week on average) so instead today I thought you deserve a regular birthday treat. A clown.
Why so serious?
Monday, 23 June 2008
The importance of stretching
A short post as the boyfriend is sleeping to my left.
Stretching is very important.
I am reminded of this today. Tomorrow I will stretch.
Frances McDormand
Happy Birthday to
Frances McDormand
51 today
Four time Oscar nominee, Coen favourite (it helps if you married to one of them) and all round good egg. We raise a glass to you today. And what better way to celebrate than to take a look at the internation trailer for Burn after Reading here.
Burn after Reading looks like classic comic Coen, and far more accessible than last years No Country for Old Men and with a cast that includes Frances, Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Tilda Swinton, John Malkovich, JK Simmons and Richard Jenkins what's not to love.
Sunday, 22 June 2008
Indochine
1992. Dir: Regis Wargnier. Starring: Catherine Deneuve, Vincent Perez, Linh Dam Pham, Jean Yanne and Dominique Blanc. ●●●●○
Each week in this blog I will be offering a film review. If I'm sufficiently excitied about a new release I'll see that and review it. Other weeks I will simply randomly draw a film from my collection to review.
This afternoon I made that selection and my heart sank. It's not that Indochine is a bad film. It's just that this first selection will say a hug amount about me more than the film, and I've picked a long, sedate french language film. However to select another film would be cheating so here goes.
Training Phase 1, Day 1
So the training has begun.
I have broken the training into 4 phases:
1) 6 weeks. Get used to running 3-4 times per week. Build up the stamina to keep going at a reasonable pace for 1 hours.
2) 12 weeks. Prepare for the Birmingham half marathon. I've done half marathons before but I am aiming to beat my best time (2hr 14 min).
3) 12 weeks. Build up to full marathon distance.
4) 14 weeks. Use what I've learnt so far as a basis to move on, working on both speed and stamina - I want to be able to complete the London marathon inside of 4.5 hours.
So today it's the first day of phase 1.
I went to the gym - spent 2 hours on a number of machines (and chest work - weights fans) - including 30 minutes on the treadmill during which I went 5.1km. That's just over 3 miles or 12% of the marathon distance.
That's truly horrible when I think about it.
It was a hard slog but I wasn't pushing myself for all I can, and it is only day 1.
Please feel free to make comments if you think my plan needs work, or if you have any suggestions to help my training - I'm off for a banana now.
Cheers
Some measurements
Today is day one of the training regime, when I've written this post I'm off to the gym to work out a sweat and run a bit on the treadmill (I've still got 44 weeks I can afford to slowly get into it).
I thought before I started I'd write out some vital statistics. This will be useful as a guide of how much I've achieved by the time we're ready for the marathon, and to show you what a struggle it's going to be.
Height: 5 foot 7 inches
Weight: 12 stone 6 pounds
That's a BMI of 27.2, firmly in the overweight category.
Waist: 89-94 cm (35-37in) (I never know where to measure)
Chest: 115 cm (45 in)
I could go on measuring biceps, thighs etc but I think it's probably best to leave that to your imagination. Suffice to say I'm quite short and dumpy.
And there's lots of work to do.
I'l next do some measuring in 5 weeks time and we'll see where I changed.
Meryl Streep
Happy Birthday to
Meryl Streep
59 today.
Argueably the finest screen actress of all time Meryl has a 30 year history of constantly hitting the ball out the park when it comes to fantastic performances. In the next 12 months she's aiming for commercial success with the film adaptation of theatre smash Mamma Mia, based on the works of ABBA, and critical success with another less trivial stage to film adaptation - Doubt, which centres of alledged child abuse within the Catholic Curch.
Could it be Oscar number 3 for Ms Streep? A nomination at this point certainly looks like a good bet, a win may just depend on what else is out there.
Saturday, 21 June 2008
Juliette Lewis
Happy Birthday to
Juliette Lewis
35 today
Which is a bit of shock in itself.
What happened to you anyway? About 15 years ago you were going to be huge , then poof you disappeared. Please come back to good films.
Friday, 20 June 2008
Out this week (20/06/08)
Empireonline are listing 9 films out this week.
I can't say any are jumping out at me - I'm out both Friday and Saturday anyway.
If I had to choose I'd say go see The Escapist. Brian Cox is one of the most underrated brit actors working today, and he's taking a rare leading role in what sounds like a suitably gritty and griping prison break yarn.
Martin Landau
Happy Birthday to
Martin Landau
77 today
Whether you're treading on Cary Grant's fingers or calling Boris Karloff a limey c**ksucker, you're always eminently watchable.
And with "9" and Lovely, Still on the horizon, I'm sure we'll be watching (or listening) to you for many years to come.
The second blog (intro)
Don't worry, not all my entries will be titled like that. But this one is more about blogging than anything else.
Why am I here?
There are 4 things I intend to do in this blog:
- Fully describe my training for the Flora London Marathon, 2009.
- Wax lyrical about films that I like (or am looking forward to).
- Advertise my professional work (more on that later)
- Just general chit chat about my life (all names changed to protect the innocent)
That's my manifesto. Hopefully it will be interesting, even if it's only in a car crash way, and hopefully a few people will read this post in years to come and say "Wow, so thats how it all started."
If so I hope you're enjoying the read.
BJT
Thursday, 19 June 2008
The first blog
So this is my first blog, from my brand new blog site.
I suppose I could explain who I am and why I'm here - but I think that can all wait until after I've eaten. So back later...
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