So I thought I would write a movie post ! All about Ten films I have enjoyed renting or watching on the big screen, in the past year. Please let me know in the comments if you have enjoyed any of my picks, disliked them immensely or have any recommendations for my next movie night. 🙂
The Walk. ( 2015) On 7th August 1974 French high-wire artist Philippe Petit attempted the impossible , a daring ( and safety net free!) tightrope walk , between the twin towers of the newly built World Trade Centre in New York. Joseph- Gordon Levitt plays Petit, who is obsessed with pulling off the amazing fete, without permission, but with the help of a bunch of friends and believers. The film starts off in street performing Paris and ends on a high ( literally!) in the clouds of a NY skyline. It is dedicated to the victims of 911.
Crimson Peak. ( 2015) I watched this sumptuous Gothic Horror Costume drama as a guest of a local film club……and those quite pretentious ‘film buffs’ disliked it. However I’m a fan! Edith Cushing ( Mia Wasikowska) meets and falls in love with the charming Sir Thomas Sharpe ( a brooding Tom Hiddleston) and after the wedding she becomes mistress of his vast sprawling and very eerie mansion. Or she would, if Thomases creepy sister Lady Lucille didn’t hold tightly onto a big bunch of keys…and ghosts of dead previous brides didn’t seep through the cracks, in what is a living, breathing, creaky old house. Beautifully filmed sets and costumes. Directed by Guillermo del Toro of Pan’s Labyrinth fame.
Miss Peregrine’s Home For Peculiar Children. ( 2016) Tim Burton cooks up another quirky offering in his film adaptation of Ransom Riggs dark fantasy. The story centres around teenager Jake ( Asa Butterfield ) who is suffering from horrendous nightmares after finding the body of his dead grandfather, and apparently seeing his attacker. Jake decides to hunt out the children’s home his grandfather would tell him stories about in childhood, but on arrival finds that the house was bombed and destroyed in 1943. However his grandfather’s childhood friends still live there in a protective time loop, constructed by their enchanting pipe- smoking guardian Miss Peregrine, played by Eva Green. The children are ‘Peculiars’ blessed ( or cursed) with special powers and are hunted by shapeshifters who consume their eyeballs. Kooky but enjoyable.
Spy. ( 2015) Here is a madcap spy comedy starring our favourite ‘Bridesmaid’ Melissa Mccarthy. McCarthy plays a deskbound CIA analyst , whose dashing partner in the field ( Jude Law) is apparently assassinated while on duty. Our heroine takes centre stage as an unlikely agent, dressed to hilarious effect in random disguises ( see crazy cat lady above) to infiltrate the female assailants gang. There’s great cast support from Jason Statham, Law, Rose Byrne and even our own Miranda Hart. From Bridesmaids to Bond, hey why not !
The Mermaid. ( 2016) I love mermaid films ( How exciting that Splash is being remade!) , so was incredibly happy to find out about this chinese movie, which on release in China broke just about every box office record going.And it’s a fun ride with plenty of action, slapstick comedy, romance of course and even a strong environmental message. Jelly Lin plays Shan, a young mermaid sent by mer folk to seduce and assassinate a ruthless playboy tycoon ( Deng Chao) intent on destroying all marine life in the bay he wants to build on. Shan’s attempts go hilariously wrong and love and chaos ensues.
Diary Of A Teenage Girl. ( 2015) American Coming-of-age drama starring Bel Mooney as Minnie, a precautious teenager in 1970s San Francisco. I loved the retro seventies vibe and soundtrack of this movie, though the film is a wee bit disturbing , concentrating mostly on Minnie’s sexual awakening and affair with her bohemian mother’s boyfriend. Maybe not one for parents of young teen daughters then! Diary is based on a graphic novel and also stars Kristen Wiig and Alexander Skarsgard.
Bridget Jones Baby. ( 2016) No one was more excited than I when the latest Bridget Jones installment hit the cinemas. And happily it delivers. 🙂 Bridget is back with a bump after liaisons with both her ex Mark Darcy and a dishy American’ Jack’ played by Grey’s Anatomy ‘ Doctor McDreamy’ Patrick Dempsey. But in typical Ms Jones style , she doesn’t exactly know who the father is. There are plenty of laugh out loud moments, old faces return and feisty new characters ( Bridget’s work pal Miranda in particular) add fun to the proceedings. . I loved the last scene where Bridget juggles holding a baby…and a glass of chardonnay. What else!
The Lobster. (2015) ok so this is one strange little film but I included it anyway because my thoughts kept returning to it again and again after watching. Set in a distopian future where single people are sent to a hotel to meet someone within 45 days ….or get turned into an animal of their choice, this is a dark tragi-comedy ,which is wierd with a capital W. David ( Colin Farrell ) plays a guest who arrives at the hotel with a collie dog ( his brother ) but his last ditch attempt at pairing up with a fellow guest goes terribly wrong. The second half of the film sees David escape into the woods where he becomes part of a group of individuals who strive to be completely separate….and where relationships are punishable by terrible torture. Not for the faint hearted.
Eddie The Eagle. ( 2016 ) Here’s a true story with a real feel good factor. Eddie The Eagle has it in spades. 🙂 If you are of an age ( like me!) to actually remember the 1988 Calgary Winter Olympics, Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards is most probably a name ingrained into your memories of the eighties , like leg warmers, reversible mickey mouse sweaters and Gordon the Gopher. Edwards is a British Skier who became the first competitor since 1929 to represent Great Britain in Olympic Ski Jumping. How he got to be in the games in the first place is testament to his endurance and determination. He didn’t exactly look like your average Olympic athlete! This affectionate movie chronicles Eddie’s journey through adversary to his last minute entry in the 90- metre jump. Taron Egerton stars.
Fantastic Beasts And Where To Find Them. ( 2016 ) Let us end with a magical prequel to the Harry potter films. Fantastic Beasts follows British Wizard Newt Scamander ( Eddie Redmayne) arriving in New York en route to Arizona. He carries with him a suitcase which contains a secret world of fantastical creatures, some of whom manage to escape in the city and create mayhem. I enjoyed the film though I possibly warmed more to the mythical beasts than to the main characters. Look out for an unexpected cameo appearance.:)
sunshine and celandines 