WeatherGirl’s Station

Stunning. This, right here, is why Phi and I go to the movies so often. So we can come out of the cinema and spend the entire walk home discussing what we just saw. There are so many parallels with Fargo here. An amazing landscape that the film makers seem to be in tune with. A slow steady pace that lets you cogitate on what happens but doesn’t go so slow it gets tedious. Dark, dark humour. A seriously cool lawman.

The presence of evil is soaked right through this movie, its effects and the the exercise there of, and I sort of got to thinking of the bad guy as the devil. May be that was not the intention of those involved but it was an easy leap for me to make. Also they didn’t pull any punches which led to some shocking scenes. Any other outcome would have completely trashed the endeavour.

The sight and sound of West Texas was pitch perfect. And as for Josh Brolin? He seems to be aging into a career.

Go, see, watch, think. Holy cow it’s good.

Current temperature: here 3C/37F, there -11F/-24C

Heartbreaking. Superficially about the disappearance of a soldier who has just returned from Iraq, this film delves into the effects of a war like that being fought in Iraq on human beings. The performances are superb. Plus there are some very subtle comments on certain male behaviour that made me want to hug someone. There’s no triumphant ending, no platitudes, and a great deal of human suffering along the way, but a number of characters are changed by the experience and that always gives one hope.

Current temperature: here 3C/37F, there -11F/-24C

During the last two pottery classes I’ve had the opportunity to throw pots on a wheel. It is absolutely fantastic. Who knew it would be so easy? I’m pretty gobsmacked, I thought it was going to be trial by fire. I’m just knocking these suckers out. Of course, everything I’m making is rather strange and odd looking. Well, I put that down to having great fun experimenting with lip shapes and body forms. Mostly my pieces are more sculptural than pot like. I’m so looking forward to class next week, with luck they’ll let me throw more pots.

Current temperature: here 3C/37F, there -11F/-24F

Creepy. This was very tense for much of its length though became less so as we were allowed to see more of the de-evolved humans. Less is usually better than more. There’s a little to much of Will Smith on his own. He’s not quite good enough an actor to hold your attention completely on his own for as long as this requires. I loved his relationship with Sam and the character’s ‘dedication to working the problem’ though. The end piece was a mite trite and ‘pretty’ given what had occurred just before.

Current temperature: here 8C/46F, there 16F/-9

Quirky. While not high art, I laughed and cried numerous times during this movie, so it gets a tick in the win column from me. It’s a love story told backwards demonstrating a young woman discovering her own life as an independent person. I’m still not convinced that Gerald Butler has what it takes to be a romantic leading man. Manly, half naked, warrior king - yes, but not romcom lead. As for Hillary Swank, hmmm? She’s not a traditional beauty but her comic timing kicks butt and she can do a prat fall with the best of them. Less romance and more physical comedy might be a big win for her. Jeffrey Dean Morgan’s appearance, on the other hand, was worth the price of admission all on it’s lonesome. He has a very lovely backside!

A number of 30/40 year old male movie critics clearly have no clue when discussing romcoms. Take anything they say about this film with a pinch of salt.

Current temperature: here 8C/46F, there 28F/-2C

Last night we joined a full house at the Mercury Theatre in Colchester for the riotous fun that is British panto. Silliness abounded. Awful jokes were the order of the day as we were booing the evil fairy, singing along, and shouting out at the goings on on stage at all the appropriate moments.

This was very very silly and huge amounts of fun. Talk about audience participation! We walked home afterwards, hoarse and very happy.

Current temperature: here 5C/41F, there 12F/-11C