Captain Phillips

The bunting is out! I completed my Best Picture challenge and made it to see all nine films in the Oscars' category. Last but not least, Captain Phillips.

 A cargo ship is heading from Oman to Mombasa, carrying supplies to aid the starving people of Africa... and $30,000. In an area notorious for piracy, it is not long before the ship is boarded by four armed Somalians, and it is up to Captain Rich Phillips (Tom Hanks) to negotiate with them, and try and keep his unarmed crew alive. But the leader of the pirates, Muse (Barkhad Abdi), is determined to get what he came for and, whilst trying to keep control of a dysfunctional crew himself,  won't stop until he has got it. 

The story is much more balanced than I thought it would be, focusing on both the life of the Somalians as well as Captain Phillips. By the end, we understand their struggle, whether their actions can be justified or not. For four guys who practically came off the streets, I think they deserve a lot of praise for their performances. Barkhad Abdi was particularly spine-tingling, with his long stares and unsettling calm demeanour. Limo driver to BAFTA winner? What a long way he has come. I learnt from watching Tom Hanks being interviewed on Jonathan Ross that the director Paul Greengrass didn't let him meet any of the Somalian actors until the cameras were rolling and they were boarding the ship with machine guns. Knowing this whilst watching the scene added hugely to the tension.

Captain Phillips is action-packed, and a remarkable retelling of a true story (without spoiling the ending too much, Rich Phillips actually returned to the seas a year after his encounter at the Horn of Africa... Nutter!). I thought it was great, but I have to admit, it wasn't really grabbing me. There were a lot of loose ends, and parts that I just couldn't follow. t thought maybe it was more of a boy's film, with guns and ships and Navy Seals, but looking across to my boyfriend asleep on the opposite sofa, I guess I was wrong.

I couldn't see what all the fuss was about.... Until the last five minutes. If you've seen the film already, you'll know exactly the moment I'm talking about. After that, I was blubbing away, completely transfixed, thinking how unfair it was that Hanks hadn't been nominated by the Academy. 

Whether this has changed my mind enough for it to be at the top end of my list? I'm not sure. But nevertheless, it is still part of the running, and Barkhad Abdi is looking good for taking an award home.

- 12 Years A Slave

- American Hustle

- Philomena

- Gravity

- The Wolf of Wall Street

- Dallas Buyers Club

- Her

- Nebraska

Nebraska

The penultimate film to check off my Best Picture list was Alexander Payne's comedy, Nebraska. I had to admit, I wasn't too excited about this one, and was convinced I wasn't going to like it... But how wrong was I?!

Woody Grant (Bruce Dern) is your typical grumpy old man. With a wife and two sons who are convinced that he's losing it, Woody has taken ignoring them, not talking, not listening, and just getting on with his life. His latest mission - a trip to Lincoln to collect a million dollars, which he, according to a spam letter he received in the post, he has won. Nobody believes him, but his son David (Will Forte) agrees to drive him anyway, as a chance to spend some quality time with him, and to shut him up. The two set off, making a detour in his Woody's childhood town where he is a local celebrity "millionaire". But as to be expected when returning to your past, drama of course awaits, as well as and the unveiling of buried secrets long forgotten. The question is, will Woody make it to Nebraska?

The film, in a lot of ways, was slightly similar to August: Osage County. Nostalgic trips home, nutty relatives, and all the ups and downs that come with it. But it made me realise why A:OC wasn't nominated. Nebraska is all of these things, but more clever. It's subtle, the lesser known cast make the story more naturally believable, and what's more, from start to finish the film was absolutely stunning.

No joke intended, there's nothing new and black and white filming. The Oscar-winning hit The Artist of course instantly comes to mind. But applying a black and white filter to a modern day film is even more interesting. It blurs lines, causes less distractions and, as I saw one critic describe it, it gives Nebraska that "classic" feel. It also adds to the film's black humour, but at the same time, gives every shot, no matter how mundane, a great beauty. Look out for the curvy corners on the film too. I also loved the occasional real-time filming, and the two effects fused to make one of my favourite scenes in the film; the men of the family watching a game on TV.

The cast were all so great, especially the four Grant family members. Bruce Dern plays the line between loveable and insufferable; Bob Odenkirk plays Woody's eldest, prodigal son Ross, and Will Forte is, well, his David, the quiet, slightly pathetic, hero of the movie. And who could miss June Squibb's incredible performance as Woody's wife Kate? She is just so hideously wonderful.

Nebraska is a wonderful piece of Americana cinema and I giggled from start to finish. I so hope that it doesn't get overlooked tomorrow night.

OTHER 'A BIT OF WHAT I FANCY' BEST PICTURE REVIEWS :

- 12 Years A Slave

- American Hustle

- Philomena

- Gravity

- The Wolf of Wall Street

- Dallas Buyers Club

- Her

Dallas Buyers Club

Over half way through my Best Picture challenge now, and next up is a movie about strength, determination, and literally fighting for your life. Matthew McConaughey stars in Dallas Buyers Club.

Electrician and part-time cowboy Ron Woodroof (McConaughey) is spending life walking on the wild side; sleeping with women left, right and centre and, when he's got his hands free, dosing himself up on lines of coke and strong liquor. But his invincible outlook is all about to change as he's taken into hospital after an accident at work and found to be HIV positive. Not only does he have aids but he also has only thirty days to live. A staunch homophobe Woodroof must change more than just his lifestyle if he is to beat his countdown and, on finding an unapproved drug in Mexico that could help, he must take his life and the law into his own hands.

When I first heard the plot of Dallas Buyers Club, I was a little worried that it would just be a modern day retelling of Tom Hanks' Philadelphia, but really, DBC focuses on the more complex issue of heterosexual aids cases. At the time in the late eighties, homosexual men were, hideously, considered by many to be getting what they deserved for their "sinful" behaviour, and it must have been completely bewildering that a straight person could also contract the disease, male or female. The audience is led along Woodroof's journey, not only of suffering, but of enlightenment too.

Personally, I think this is McConaughey's career performance to date. He was close with Mud, but starring as Ron Woodroff shows him off in a whole different field of acting. No relying on good looks or that cheeky grin here; he in fact lost three and a half stone to take on this role, and looks so unrecognisable that when I saw a recent cologne ad of his, it took me a while to remember who he was. The real Woodroof's sister was apparently very pleased with the casting, as she felt McConaughey and her brother shared the same personality and swagger. This film has been in the pipeline for years, and if it had come out any earlier, we could have been watching Woody Harrelson, Brad Pitt or even Ryan Gosling in the starring role. To me, McConaughey was the perfect choice. You can't say he's a likeable character at the beginning but my god, at the end you're in complete awe of his fighting spirit.

Jared Leto has always been a name that I've failed to put to a face, but after this performance as transsexual Rayon, it'll be hard to forget him. The "Actor in a Supporting Role" category is probably the most difficult one to call, but it would be absolutely incredible if Leto were to take the crown. He's full of life and vigour, yet simultaneously breaks your heart as he too grows sicker. To be honest, any character that brigs Glam Rock into the storyline has my vote.

The characters of Rayon and Dr Eve Saks (played by Jennifer Garner) were actually both fictitious, and seem to take the place of Woodroof's sister and daughter, who are both absent from the story. I won't give any more away, as for me, not knowing the ending made the film even more gripping. Make sure you get to see Dallas Buyers Club, or you may feel left out come awards night. 

OTHER 'A BIT OF WHAT I FANCY' BEST PICTURE REVIEWS :

- 12 Years A Slave

- American Hustle

- Philomena

- Gravity

- The Wolf of Wall Street

- Her

- Nebraska

The Wolf Of Wall Street

So we've worked the cotton plantation, conned the cops, lost our riches and searched for long lost sons. We've even been up in space. But now for something completely different. Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill star in Martin Scorcese's The Wolf of Wall Street.

Jordan Belfort (Leonardo DiCaprio) dreams of making it big in the city. But in the highly competitive world of broking, and with a new wife to support, he knows he'll have to go hard or go home. Picking up all the tricks of the trade from his successful and completely nutty boss (Matthew McConaughey), Belfort is flying high... Until Black Monday hits, and he finds himself jobless and back at square one. He decides to go from small to big fish, landing a job in a firm that deals in penny stocks. Using his experience he is soon head of a team who are as money-crazed as he is, and willing to do anything, legal or not, if it means making the big bucks. Money, drugs, women, cars, yachts - he has it all in seconds, but it could all be ripped away just as fast if the Wolf doesn't watch it...

Having said it's unlike any of the other Best Picture nominees, there are a few similarities between TWoWS and American Hustle. There's con men, big heaps of cash, and fashion revivals in all their shoulder-padded glory. But what makes TWoWS stand out? It's hardcore, in-your-face, attacks-all-your-senses kind of big. In the first few moments, you're watching di Caprio doing lines of coke off a prostitute's backside, so you can imagine that by the end of the film, a whole three hours later, nothing else will phase you. Sex, booze, drugs, overdoses, and swearing that will make your ears bleed, all becomes much of a muchness!

Although TWoWS stands up to other films in the American Crime Fiction genre, it is actually based on true events. It's shocking to think Mr Belfort survived his time on Wall Street, let alone come out and write two memoirs about the experience. I don't know much about him, but I'm guessing DiCaprio's portrayal must have been pretty spot on, as he's already received a Critic's Choice award and a Golden Globe for his performance. He's hideously cruel and brutally selfish, but his energy and enthusiasm makes it all acceptable. 

As for baby-faced Jonah Hill, how he's matured from his Superbad/Knocked Up days. He's always portrayed such affectionate characters and almost does so in TWoWS as Belfort's right hand man, Donnie - but then, out of the blue, you get thrown a big chunk of crazy (I'd explain what happens when he's faced with the office goldfish, but let's just say he's learnt a trick or two from Ozzy Osbourne...they don't call it a black comedy for nothing). DiCaprio and Hill make a surprisingly good double-act, and they have such a natural bond - I've read that most of their scenes together were improvised. Margot Robbie was also amazing. I couldn't believe I hadn't seen her in more films before, but in her strong and sexy role as Naomi Lapaglia, I have a feeling we'll be seeing a lot more of her in years to come.

Despite being garish in terms of content, the film itself looks absolutely gorgeous and glossy. It's got Scorcese all over it, with cinematic tricks like effortlessly mixing voice-over and straight-to-camera narrative into the filming. He really is, as I've heard many actors describe him, a director who loves all things film. There were shots that made a staircase look like a mountain - then there was literally a tidal wave. Both were as stunning as the other.

When people have asked me what I thought of The Wolf Of Wall Street, I've hesitated. Yes, it was a great looking film with a brilliantly crafted script, but I have to admit that I felt uncomfortable more often than not, and in this case, not in a way I was happy with (Note to self, don't see an 18 with your father again...). Still, a blockbuster of a movie, very deserving of a Best Picture spot.

OTHER 'A BIT OF WHAT I FANCY' BEST PICTURE REVIEWS :

- 12 Years A Slave

- American Hustle

- Philomena

- Gravity

- Dallas Buyers Club

- Her

- Nebraska

The Butler

With the 50th anniversary of JFK's death having passed last Friday, you don't have to look far to see a documentary or film referencing the day, the man, or American politics in general. Last night, I saw one of these movies - Lee Daniels' The Butler.

Cecil Gaines was born on a cotton plantation, but after witnessing his father's murder and his mother endlessly being abused, he decides to take his knowledge and skills and move north to better his career and his future. Through hard work and determination, Cecil soon holds the best job a black man in service can hope to achieve - working as a butler at the White House.

Everyone is thrilled for Cecil, except for his son Louis, who at 18 has better ideas of what it means to be a successful man of colour. Leaving for college Louis joins the Freedom group, putting his life at risk daily in the name of civil rights. In the years that follow presidents and bills of rights pass, but as the world becomes a more dangerous place for Louis, Cecil works for the same reason - to keep his family safe.

Everyone in The Butler was exceptional, which is a lot to ask from a cast list of this many stars; Forest Whitaker, Oprah Winfrey, Mariah Carey, Vanessa Redgrave, Alex Pettyfer, Terrence Howard, Cuba Gooding Jr, Lenny Kravitz, Robin Williams, John Cusack, James Marsden, Liev Schreiber, Alan Rickman and last but definitely not least, Jane Fonda. It was like an award ceremony! These stars portrayed the previously unknown characters just as well as the famous faces, with a special mention to the American presidents.

And talking about faces, finally we have a movie with good quality prosthetics! How many times have you had a film completely spoilt by a bad attempt at ageing a character? The Butler spanned from 1927 to 2008, so had a lot to cover, but the make up was so good, it was hard to tell when an actor was playing their real age, younger, or older. Not only that but the presidents really did look like the presidents - and they showed off too with many a close up. Forest Whitaker breaks your heart whenever he’s on screen, and Oprah Winfrey is absolutely mesmerizing. It’s not only the big stars that steal the show though; I thought the Gaines sons, David Oyelowo and Elijah Kelley were incredibly talented.

Just like Philomena last weekend, this film is based on a real life and real events - Eugene Allen (the real life Cecil Gaines) worked at the White House for 34 years, serving seven presidents. However, there are quite a few discrepancies which, having researched after seeing the film, has left me feeling a bit disappointed; the main one being that Eugene Allen only had one son, not two. Still, I’m going to do my best to put that aside and focus on the film as an independent piece of cinema.

I wouldn’t be surprised to see The Butler up for best EVERYTHING at the ceremonies. The whole team of movie makers and actors came together to create something truly special. Go see.

Philomena

There's nothing better than a winter Sunday at the cinema. This weekend we went to see Steve Coogan and Dame Judi Dench in the wonderful Philomena.

After falling pregnant at the age of 18, Philomena is banished by her family to a convent, where she is to remain and work for four years. At three years old, Anthony Lee is given up for adoption, leaving Philomena no clues as to his whereabouts or if she'll ever see him again. So heartbroken and ashamed, she keeps her secret for 50 years, until she meets Martin Sixsmith, an ex-BBC journalist looking for a new direction. He agrees to help her in exchange for her story, not knowing where it might lead them...

On first impression it may seem like just a little movie about one woman's search for her long lost son, but actually, as Martin Sixsmith said himself, Philomena's story is a realistic and brutal reflection on life in 1950s Ireland. If you have already seen the film, you'll find Sixsmith's 2009 article a very interesting read. If you haven't seen it yet though, definitely don't spoil it for yourself. The whole excitement of the film is travelling along the journey with them.

Although the story of the real Philomena and Anthony Lee is slightly altered, that's not to say the film has been glamorised in any way; it's true to the events, and still says everything it needs to. The only issue for me was that Sixsmith's search for Anthony apparently lasted five years, whereas the movie has quite a quick turn around.

Dame Judi is, of course, magnificent. Not quite the MI5 boss or Shakespearean heroine that we're used to, she plays the title role perfectly; sweet on the outside, but fiery when she needs to be. In his Jonathan Ross interview, Steve Coogan admitted that he felt quite relaxed around her on set, and then she'd take off the little-old-lady facade and he'd suddenly realise "Oh God, it's M!" Just goes to show that Dame Judi can conquer any role - but we knew that already.

If I'm honest, I've never been the biggest fan of comedian Steve Coogan, but serious actor Steve Coogan, I like a lot. If this is the direction he's taking from now on, I'll be pleased to watch him whenever. As Philomena's contrast, he was well-cast as the political journalist with a hidden heart.

An unbelievable story retold beautifully. There were big laughs and big tears, and two brilliant performances. And the BAFTA goes to...?

OTHER 'A BIT OF WHAT I FANCY' BEST PICTURE REVIEWS :

- The Wolf Of Wall Street

- American Hustle

- 12 Years A Slave

- Gravity

- Dallas Buyers Club

- Her

- Nebraska

Gravity

I think I’ll have to keep this review brief, as I don’t know how much an average viewer like me can say about an incredible and revolutionary movie like Gravity. I’m sure you were all planning on seeing it anyway, but in case you were in doubt, GO!

Gravity stars Sandra Bullock, George Clooney, and… that’s pretty much it. But with two such brilliant actors, who needs anyone else? Sandra Bullock is exceptional. Like with all her characters, she plays Dr Ryan Stone as an astronaut with a big heart, a smart brain, and a huge amount of courage. And George? He’s George, which is fine by me.

If you’ve watched television recently, you will have probably seen the trailer for Gravity. I won’t be giving too much away by saying that the scene shown in the trailer is the opening of the film. Dr Stone and veteran astronaut Matt Kowalski (Clooney) are servicing the Hubble Space Telescope when they receive messages from Houston that debris from a Russian missile launch gone wrong is heading their way. In the chaos trying to save herself and her work, Stone becomes detached from the telescope and Kowalski, and when spiralling further and further into space, she begins to lose contact, and all hope.

The CGI used in Gravity are out of this world (pun COMPLETELY intended). As we left the cinema, I heard a woman turn to her friend and say, “Yes, well that bit was simulation”. Um, YEAH! I see now that director Alfonso Cuarón and cinematographer Emmanuel Lubezki have previously worked on a number of films together. What an incredible pairing of visions. Not only is the setting completely believable for every Joe Bloggs sitting in the audience, but I’ve heard that when viewing it, actual astronauts also agreed that it was as true to the real thing as you can get. You aren’t going to get slip-ups and bloopers like you do in other sci-fi movies (Apparently in Apollo 13 a NASA logo was used that hadn’t been invented at the time the film was set…). New technologies were created in order to produce Gravity, which is a brave move for Cuarón, but for Sandra Bullock too – she told Jonathan Ross in an interview that after filming a scene in a particular contraption, she was told that the previous test had been carried out by a crash dummy, who hadn’t ‘survived’ the experience…

Although Gravity is ground-breaking, it doesn’t need to be three hours long like Avatar to draw you in. The movie is half that at only 90 minutes, and I think, just as amazing. Probably one of the things that impressed me most, though it may sound insignificant in the grand scheme of things, were the small details, for one, the reflections in the astronauts helmets! If you’re someone who looks out for the stray cameraman in car windows when watching films, you’ll get me.

As a viewer, you really do feel like you’re moving with the actors on screen, which is emotive when they’re weightless in space. In one scene, it took me a good few seconds to realize we were watching Sandra Bullock floating upside down. You’re brought into the moment with them with little tricks like a splash of water landing on the camera, or there’s a lens flare. Also for most of the film you’re watching in real time. Of course it helps that the movie is in 3D, but you can always tell 3D’s at its best when you forget about it – then suddenly a piece of space-station debris causes you to duck!

Well, look at that. It wasn’t very brief at all. What an amazing film, I advise everyone to go and see it. The overall plot may be simple, but it’s a rollercoaster of a journey, and moving in multiple dimensions. I was planning on leaving the cinema, going back home, and watching all the behind-the-scenes clips, but to be honest, I haven’t - I wouldn’t want to spoil the magic for myself.

OTHER 'A BIT OF WHAT I FANCY' BEST PICTURE REVIEWS :

- 12 Years A Slave

- American Hustle

- Philomena

- The Wolf of Wall Street

- Dallas Buyers Club

- Her

- Nebraska

Prisoners

I'm sure you're all pleased to see Mr Jackman making a regular appearance on this blog! Yesterday I went to see his latest flick, Prisoners.

After a peaceful Thanksgiving dinner at their neighbour's home, the Dovers realise that their daughter Anna is missing, along with the hosts' daughter, Joy. After a few days and still no word, the parents have to accept that the girls have been abducted, and Detective Loki (Jake Gyllenhaal) must act quickly if he is to find them alive. Keller Dover (Jackman), driven by his paternal instincts, starts his own search, though his actions aren't always law-abiding. With an obvious suspect from the get-go, will Loki and Dover come to the same conclusion?

Prisoners is dark and chilling from title to credits. Don't expect the disturbing storyline to be broken up by laughs - I think there's only the one. Every one of the 153 minutes is gripping, and I mean literally gripping – my boyfriend’s hand nearly fell off I was holding it so tight! That’s not to say it’s a scary movie, but with a theme like child abduction, some scenes don’t make for easy viewing.

Although, as you know, I enjoy the X-Men series, when you see Hugh Jackman act like he does in Prisoners, you wonder why he would agree to do anything else. Equally with Jake Gyllenhaal, who I’m liking more and more every time I see a movie of his. Their characters are in essence polar opposites; the cool and collected cop, in fear of getting too attached to the case, and the enraged, emotional father, who has to constantly push his moral limits in an attempt to save his daughter. Truly excellent performances from them both. Paulo Dano, Maria Bello and Terrence Howard all given notable performances, and Viola Davis is incredible as Joy’s mother (if she’s in it, it’s got to be up for some awards, right? ;)).

Whilst I sat in the cinema, one thought kept running through my mind… “I don’t think I can take anymore of this!” But at the same time, nothing was going to make me leave my seat. The film is so beautifully shot, and with a cleverly twisting (and twisted…) plot, the audience is often given an advantage over the characters, which makes for even tenser viewing. Absolutely go and see this, and stick it out –the end scene is brilliant. 

Blue Jasmine

So I said back in August that I thought I’d be a Woody Allen fan, but now I know for sure I am. Blue Jasmine – what an incredible piece of cinema.

It was a coin-toss between this and Diana last night at the movies but, as more and more bad reviews come out for the latter, I feel we made the right choice.

Cate Blanchett plays the title character, Jasmine Francis, a “New York, Park Avenue” gal, who gave up a chance at a career to have a life with the man of her dreams (and of many others’…), Hal (Alec Baldwin). Hal has everything; houses, watches, cars, money – that is, money he’s stolen from other people. When he’s arrested, Jasmine’s world collapses and she is forced to move in with her not so high-flying adopted sister, Ginger (Sally Hawkins) in San Fransisco.

Blue Jasmine is a little about love and a lot about life, how you live it, and how you cope when it’s taken away from you. Similarities to Tennessee William’s A Street Car Named Desire have been pointed out by some of the world’s best critics in the world – including my mum ;)

I hear Cate Blancett is up for an Oscar for this role but, to be honest, they might as well save everyone the trouble of getting dressed up and just give her all the awards now. I thought she was great before, but wow. She is exceptional, constantly treading the fine line between chic and psycho. Elizabeth, Galadriel, and now Jasmine Francis. She really can do anything.

As with every movie she’s been in, Sally Hawkins was just so loveable, and the two “sisters” has such a great on-screen connection. I’m sure the role of adopted siblings isn’t that easy to portray, but they do it perfectly.

In fact, everyone was hit with the Woody Allen perfect-casting wand, even the smaller parts. Despite the plot revolving around him, Alec Baldwin only exists in the movie’s flashbacks, but when he’s on, he’s – well, Alec Baldwin! - sophisticated and sly as always, and a little sleazy too.

Woody Allen has this wonderful way of making every character stereotypical and familiar but unique and fascinating all at the same time. You laugh and cry with them, and they stay with you long after the credits have finished rolling. Actually, I’m still thinking about them all this afternoon…

If you see one movie in the next few weeks, make it Blue Jasmine.

Future Cinema presents Dirty Dancing

More cinema and more dressing up – last weekend I certainly had the time of my life. I’d never felt that way before. I swear, it’s the truth! ;)

I first heard about Future Cinema and their amazing event a year ago when my best friend went to a screening of Grease. Hearing what an incredible time she had, I made her promise to take me to the next one. So, on Saturday, we brushed up our merengues, practised our pachangas and prepared ourselves for all things Dirty Dancing!

When booking your ticket to a Future Cinema event you never know exactly what you’re signing up for, as most of the details are kept secret or not revealed until the last minute, including the event location. Through the Facebook event page, guests were fed tantalizing hints and tips to get us in the mood; dance tutorials, lyrics to songs, even a list of entertaining rules and instructions to accompany your stay at Kellerman’s holiday camp.

It is also compulsory for all guests to dress up, and we had a great time planning our Baby and Johnny outfits. Piecing them together from items found on the high street and in our wardrobes, I went for the “Baby on the footbridge” look, with two tops from H&M, white pumps from Primark (£4) and my cropped denim shorts. I also spent the night before sleeping in flexi rollers, which worked a treat! My other female friends dressed in the classic cropped jeans and tied white shirt, and the boys looked perfectly of the time (my boyfriend in particular, who in his black shirt, leather jacket and greased back hair attracted many comments throughout the day including “Hey Johnny”, “Nice to see you again, Mr Swayze” and, from one of the Kellerman’s reps, “Excuse me but, sir, please, pop your collar!”).

When we arrived at Hackney Downs (the now not-so-secret location) I was so pleased we had all made an effort; for once, the people who hadn’t were the ones who stood out! On stepping through the gates you do feel rather transported. There’s “Orientation” on the left, a life-drawing class on the right, and dance tutorials EVERYWHERE! The reps were all very enthusiastic in their “Kellerman’s” t-shirts, greeting you with an American twang. Raring to go, you then enter the main event.

A large grassed area is split in two by a long aisle, with food trucks and drinks tents lining either side. There were lobster rolls, burgers, mac ‘n’ cheese, scallops and schnitzels, all being sold out the side of caravans, falafel marquees, burger huts, and of course watermelons, popcorn and candy floss were all on sale too. At the front of the seating area was a stage where the official Johnny, Baby, Penny and more made appearances, talking to the crowd and teaching them to cha-cha. We had such fun dancing, singing, and watching the variety of costumes that went past. At one point Mr Kellerman himself shouted out “Get your balls up in the air!”, and everyone started throwing their beach balls to the skies. Suddenly, from behind either side of the stage, two huge balls (they must have been 10 foot in diameter) were bounced around the crowd! Great fun, although we came very close to being squashed.

The audience were now full of good food and buzzing with anticipation, and the start of the movie was timed perfectly with the setting sun. There were roars of applause as the cast list came up on the screen, but that was nothing compared to the first appearance of Patrick Swayze, shades and all. What a beautiful and talented man he was; so sad that he was taken too soon.

Watching Dirty Dancing with hundreds of other people was absolutely incredible. There were waves of wolf-whistles and cheering when they kissed, boos and heckling whenever Robbie came on screen (if you don’t know why, you haven’t watched it recently enough) and with every amazing song in its soundtrack, floodlights came on and our we were given our cue to stand up and boogie.

In true Dirty Dancing style, a few weeks before the event an email was sent out to guests, inviting them to a “secret” after party in the staff quarters. Hosted by Johnny and Penny, we were asked to bring a watermelon with us. Instead, we turned up with a hula-hoop and human-size inflatable banana - it’s a long story, but let’s just say it was an interesting cab journey... Arriving at the venue was slightly peculiar, as we couldn’t hear a peep of sound! We were ushered by the “staff” up a fire escape and through several doorways, each muttering as they went, “Jeez, lots of new faces, Paul not going to be happy” (Paul later turned out to be the DJ). Pushing open the final set of doors, we entered a room filled with smoke and red lighting and by midnight, when more people had arrived, it felt just like the film. We danced until the early hours, twisting, shouting, jumping, jiving and even the Mashed Potato. We made a pact there and then to make this a tradition, and I already can’t wait! Footloose? Pulp Fiction? What do you think?

Annie Hall, Nomad Cinema

Yesterday I was treated to an evening at the Palace… Fulham Palace, that is! The Nomad is a mobile, pop-up cinema company that raises funds through movie nights to support its charity, The Sustainability Institute. They have a whole host of movies showing this month, and next, at a range of exciting venues, but last night I was there to see Annie Hall.

After watching the Imagine… Woody Allen documentary on BBC a few weeks ago, I was especially excited to see this movie. I enjoy his stand-up but realized recently that I haven’t seen one of his films all the way through. I absolutely loved it! The chemistry between Allen and Keaton, the scenes of 1970s New York (my second favourite city!) and the funny little skits and sketches which Allen is famous for; all of it was great, and it proved to me that, although I was unsure before, I would certainly consider myself a Woody Allen fan. Next on the to-watch list: Manhattan!

If you’re going to watch a classic movie, what better way to do it than on a beautiful evening, at a beautiful venue, with a beautiful picnic! We provided our own, but there were sandwiches and snacks available to buy, as well as drinks at a fancy looking gin bar! You could also have your photo taken in a pop-up photo-booth, complete with Alvy and Annie costumes, a camera, a broom and a plastic lobster, to recreate the film’s most well-known scene.

Have a look at the calendar on the Nomad website and see if there’s anything you fancy. With tickets starting at £8.50, it is certainly makes for an excellent evening out. Better be quick though, while the weather is still so good!

The World's End and The Wolverine

Having not been to the cinema for what seems like ages, Friday night called for something a little bit special; we sat down with the movie times and planned our double bill! First up was the much anticipated, last in the Pegg/Frost trilogy, The World’s End, which delivered everything that’s promised by the comedy duo.

Having lost contact with a group of friends from school, Gary King (Pegg) organises a reunion to complete their hometown’s infamous pub-crawl, The Golden Mile. However, plans start to fall apart when, after a brawl in the gent’s toilets, the five men realise that the town has been taken over by another kind…

Some might describe these movies as spoofs, but I like to think of them more as real-life fiction; what would be likely to happen if you and your mates found yourselves battling zombies, killers and robots. Of course Simon Pegg and Nick Frost are the stars, but the movies wouldn’t be the same without the all star supporting cast. You’ll see some regular faces pop up in The World’s End (Martin Freeman, David Bradley, Bill Nighy), but there are also excellent performances from some unlikely A-listers, Rosamund Pike and Pierce Brosnan. Of course this movie is primarily a comedy, but I have to say I thought the action scenes could easily compare to any big Hollywood blockbusters I’ve seen (a bit like the one I’m about to review!).

There’s lots of explosions, lots of laughs and lots of fence jumping. Finally! A movie trilogy that doesn’t have a rubbish one ;)

He’s back! But I have to admit, when I first saw the ad for the next Wolverine movie, I did think to myself… Really? Do we need another one? Still, I had The Wolverine on my to-watch list, as I’ve loved all the others, and was sure I would love this one too.

Logan (Hugh Jackman) is living alone in the mountains, still trying to come to terms with his own strength after killing his one true love, Jean. He is approached one day by Yukio, a young Japanese girl who tells him of a dying friend in Japan who wants to say his last goodbyes. Logan travels with Yukio, but all is not as it seems as Master Yashida has a proposition for him. Soon Wolverine is back to his old ways, protecting the old man’s heiress granddaughter, and accepting who he really is, claws and all.

Now, I’ve seen that a lot of reviews have given this movie only 2 stars, and I have to say, I just don’t know why. We’re talking about mutants here, people! Have some fun! Based on the special effects alone it should have had more stars than that. What’s more, like most X-Men movies, and unlike a lot of other sci-fi series, this had a storyline that held together and was interesting (despite getting a little crazy and laughable towards the end). I think what also sets the Wolverine movies apart from others is the acting. You can’t fault Hugh Jackman’s talent (with or without his shirt on!) and of course there are big handfuls of cheesy lines but, when Wolverine is telling a floppy-haired ninja to “Go f*uck yourself, pretty boy”, you can’t help but enjoy it.

With all that said, I’d rate The Wolverine four stars, and so would the two boys I went to see it with, so director James Mangold must be doing something right. One tip though, Marvel often have a cliff-hanger clip at the end of their films, so make sure you stay in your seats for a little while after the credits start rolling.

Let me know what you thought of either of these films, I’d be interested to hear!