It's a great sign when you buy a CD (yes I still do that) and you don't ever feel the need to skip a track.
I came across one of those recently. It's been quite a while since I bought an album by an artist I wasn't already invested in (largely because most of the music I've come across in recent years is pretty inane lyrically).
But Sing To Me Instead by Ben Platt is a rare exception. And it's bloody good.
I watched the Netflix series The Politician, which Ben Platt stars in, and then realised I had seen him before in Pitch Perfect.
Then a couple of clips of him performing original songs started appearing in my YouTube feed and, while that's normally a cause to be disturbed, it's led me to an album I can't put down.
I actually had to order the physical copy - I know I could have downloaded it but there's something about having an album with the lyrics printed there for you and it feels more like a piece of work than something purely digital.
What strikes me about these songs are they have so much depth, they feel personal and from what I'm led to believe they largely are very personal. That makes them exceptional.
It seems each song tells a different story. They might be special stories to him, as he co-wrote every song, but a lot of them resonate way beyond just being about one person and situation.
The opening song Bad Habit is my favourite track, and it's funny how a song comes along and can fit a situation you're in or you've been in.
Though probably the most powerful lyrics come from the song Older - and I think everyone should be able to relate to them:
"When you are younger, you'll wish you're older.
Then when you're older, you wish for time to turn around.
Don't let your wonder turn into closure
When you get older, when you get older."
Then there's this gem I think we should take note of:
"If I wait until tomorrow comes, is the waiting all I've ever done?"
There's a great mix of almost broadway style exuberance in songs like New and Share Your Address, then there are tender moments like Honest Man, Hurt Me Once and In Case You Don't Live Forever will floor most people with a soul.
Interestingly, before I discovered he'd recorded an album (released nine months ago) I came across a song called Rain which is slightly more pop-style but has that broadway element (and the film clip is ridiculous but amusing).
I wonder what he'll produce next.
If you haven't had a listen to any of his songs before, do yourself a favour. Sensational voice, songs with depth, highly recommended.
Monday, January 13, 2020
Sunday, December 29, 2019
The 2019 Raymo Awards
It's been a year of few real standouts in film evidenced, to me at least, by seeing only 36 movies at the cinema - the first was Mary Poppins Returns and the last being Jumanji: The Next Level and in a log of ways that sums up the year. Unnecessary sequels and/or remakes.
Most of you would be aware by now that a score of 7/10 is seen as the minimum for a pass - now 7 can be a good score as much as it can be a bad one. Interestingly 28 of my 36 received 7 or more but only 10 scored 8 or higher. That tells me the quality was down.
So here's my top 5 of 2019, unsurprisingly dominated by Marvel.
1. Captain Marvel (9/10)
Very much a polarising character if you believe the internet, Captain Marvel was as big a risk as Guardians, Ant-Man or Doctor Strange and I thought they nailed it. Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson teamed up so well and the 1990s backdrop paved the way for a great soundtrack. It came with plenty riding on it to complete the Avengers Infinity War/Endgame tie in and it's just great fun too.
Very much a polarising character if you believe the internet, Captain Marvel was as big a risk as Guardians, Ant-Man or Doctor Strange and I thought they nailed it. Brie Larson and Samuel L Jackson teamed up so well and the 1990s backdrop paved the way for a great soundtrack. It came with plenty riding on it to complete the Avengers Infinity War/Endgame tie in and it's just great fun too.
2. Ford v Ferrari (9/10)
Definitely didn't expect this Matt Damon/Christian Bale story about the 1966 Le Mans battle for supremacy between the two motor companies to be as outstanding as it turned out. Aided by two superb performances, especially Bale, it's much more about the stories of Ken Miles (Bale) and Carroll Shelby (Damon) than it is about car racing itself. Though the scenes of the actual race are awesome. Be surprised if it's not in a lot of people's lists.
3. Spider-Man Far From Home (9/10)
The second Spider-Man film in the MCU was just as fun as the first and it had the job of kicking off the post-Endgame era. They stacked plenty in, from the duplicitous Mysterio to showing Peter's struggle with being a hero and wanting to just be a teenager for a while and the big reveals at the end. Can't wait for number 3.
4. Avengers: Endgame (8.5/10)
Now this is a controversial one. My original score on first viewing was 8.5 but having seen it a few times more it'd be easily my number one but I go with first impression here. Endgame was a massive undertaking and it worked, despite the always risky time travel plot, and it works more each time you see it. And the soundtrack over the 'signs offs' in the credits is perfect. I do fear the MCU might have peaked but we won't really know until 2021.
5. Ben Is Back (8.5/10)
I love a solid dramatic film and 2019 lacked them noticeably. This one, though, was a ripper. Lucas Hedges is Ben, a drug addict who returns home claiming to be sober much to the disdain of his home town. His mother Holly (Julia Roberts) has to walk the line between wanting it to be true and knowing even if it is it won't last and dealing with the consequences. More of this in 2020 please!.
Honourable mentions: Coming in sixth was Green Book (8.5), which I noted was the year's first great film, Joker (8/10) would have gone higher in hindsight. Brilliant. Rocketman, Hotel Mumbai and Stan & Ollie (all 8/10) are worth seeing for different reasons too.
Surprise of the year: Parasite (7/10) - wouldn't have thought I'd find a Korean film so interesting and it could have gone higher had it not been far too long. It's essentially a story about a family living in poverty gradually taking over the lives of a rich family (hence the name).
Flop of the year (note I didn't see Cats): Us (5/10). Not remotely scary, or even gripping, with a twist you can see coming a mile off. Interesting enough premise, and solid lead performance, but in no way did it live up to the hype.
The film I wanted to like more: Knives Out (7.5/10) gained a respectable score and was quite an entertaining whodunnit. But the way it played out ultimately cost it the higher score I was expecting to give. Great cast, some excellent performances but just proved a bit too smart for its own good.
Letdowns: Most of them are remakes or belated sequels like Hobbs & Shaw, Rambo: Last Blood, Terminator: Dark Fate and Men In Black International (though I kinda expected it to be garbage).
What does 2020 hold? I really hope there are some hidden gems out there because the release list is looking very light on quality and high on more of those sequels/reboots. Wonder Woman 1984, Top Gun Maverick and Ghostbusters Afterlife come to mind. Fast & Furious 9 needs to be good too. There's also Black Widow, which I expect to be excellent, and The Eternals will be another risk for Marvel.
Sunday, December 22, 2019
Surrounded
I read somewhere recently that it's difficult to stop/quit something if you continue to surround yourself with it.
Makes plenty of sense.
Of course there's probably situations where that's a bit difficult.
Fortunately for me there's one thing I know isn't good for me that I'm trying to give up - by trying I guess I'm saying I want to but am finding it hard to actually do it - and that's certainly not the case.
I might write a bit more about all this after Christmas as I'm about to head back to the home town for a few days.
Makes plenty of sense.
Of course there's probably situations where that's a bit difficult.
Fortunately for me there's one thing I know isn't good for me that I'm trying to give up - by trying I guess I'm saying I want to but am finding it hard to actually do it - and that's certainly not the case.
I might write a bit more about all this after Christmas as I'm about to head back to the home town for a few days.
Monday, December 16, 2019
Talk Hard
'Jam me, Jack me, Push me, Pull me. Talk Hard'.
I can't talk. It doesn't come naturally.
You would think once one has reached what's considered middle age that the art of conversation would be relatively easy.
But like the teenager depicted in the 1990 film Pump Up The Volume, starring Christian Slater as a repressed high school student who is an underground DJ by night and gains a cult following for raising real issues, talking doesn't come naturally.
And it is holding me back. I think.
We all know people who can just talk the legs off a chair. It doesn't matter the topic, there doesn't need to be a topic, they can go and go and go.
Now there are a few things that I can talk at length about, but in general when it comes to conversation I find it very hard. I don't know how interesting I am. Or how interested others are in what I have to say.
Then there's the question of how much I am willing to reveal.
Talk hard. That's the message of Slater's Hard Harry to the kids of Hubert Humphrey High. Rise up, don't keep things inside.
"We're all worried, we're all in pain. That comes with having eyes and having ears. But just remember one thing. It can't get any worse, it can only get better."
Now we have Twitter, Facebook, Instagram etc etc but looking around it doesn't seem to me that the world has changed as far as teenagers go in the last 30 years.
Of course, I'm not a teenager. Maybe I should have listened to Hard Harry a bit more myself.
Sunday, December 15, 2019
Simplifying isn't as simple as it sounds
Over the past month or so I've been consuming some information through various platforms about simplifying life, establishing good habits for myself and trying to enjoy the world more.
It's much easier said than done.
The plan has been to de-clutter my room as a start point and other areas of the house. Not made a lot of progress there so far.
I know I have some bad habits and I've been pretty successful (touch wood) so far in shaking off one of them, for the second time, but I guess I'm still in the danger zone.
I've been listening to the Minimalists podcasts since I watched their documentary which explains what minimalism is and how two guys changed from having lives of excess to, as they put it, living with less.
One idea that has stood out for me is that if you're trying to stop something then you need to stop surrounding yourself with it. I'm putting that idea into practice in one particular area.
There's no doubt that I must change things.
Why is it that the bad habits, or certainly unhelpful ones, stick to you like leeches and good habits slide off like you're made of teflon?
Recently I joined the gym and have so far made a good fist of going a few times a week. Small steps first. The gym is a place I don't feel comfortable in, there's still the 25 year old me inside that wants to look as good as most of the people I see in that place and he's hard to let go of.
In reality I can't be an extremely fit 25 year old ever. Not unless I invent, or come across, a time machine.
In a way it's hard to let go of that thought. I have a couple of restrictions that will make significant physical change in the gym difficult but hopefully over the next six months I can see some improvement.
I'm likely to move house some time in the new year so a bit of decluttering early on can only be a good thing. Undoubtedly I have plenty of 'things' I don't need, that don't give me any real joy or add value to life.
The biggest challenge I face is myself.
I was reading Mark Manson's book 'The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F**k' and aside from being very easy to read he makes a lot of sense in his own un-subtle way.
Some time ago I faced what I'd call a major life hurdle and I let it beat me for quite a number of years. In the book he talks about challenges and how we respond to them. Some people face them head on, and come through them stronger. Others (like me) let themselves be overpowered and as a result find things like change difficult to navigate.
Here's to the first step towards making change a little easier....
It's much easier said than done.
The plan has been to de-clutter my room as a start point and other areas of the house. Not made a lot of progress there so far.
I know I have some bad habits and I've been pretty successful (touch wood) so far in shaking off one of them, for the second time, but I guess I'm still in the danger zone.
I've been listening to the Minimalists podcasts since I watched their documentary which explains what minimalism is and how two guys changed from having lives of excess to, as they put it, living with less.
One idea that has stood out for me is that if you're trying to stop something then you need to stop surrounding yourself with it. I'm putting that idea into practice in one particular area.
There's no doubt that I must change things.
Why is it that the bad habits, or certainly unhelpful ones, stick to you like leeches and good habits slide off like you're made of teflon?
Recently I joined the gym and have so far made a good fist of going a few times a week. Small steps first. The gym is a place I don't feel comfortable in, there's still the 25 year old me inside that wants to look as good as most of the people I see in that place and he's hard to let go of.
In reality I can't be an extremely fit 25 year old ever. Not unless I invent, or come across, a time machine.
In a way it's hard to let go of that thought. I have a couple of restrictions that will make significant physical change in the gym difficult but hopefully over the next six months I can see some improvement.
I'm likely to move house some time in the new year so a bit of decluttering early on can only be a good thing. Undoubtedly I have plenty of 'things' I don't need, that don't give me any real joy or add value to life.
The biggest challenge I face is myself.
I was reading Mark Manson's book 'The Subtle Art Of Not Giving A F**k' and aside from being very easy to read he makes a lot of sense in his own un-subtle way.
Some time ago I faced what I'd call a major life hurdle and I let it beat me for quite a number of years. In the book he talks about challenges and how we respond to them. Some people face them head on, and come through them stronger. Others (like me) let themselves be overpowered and as a result find things like change difficult to navigate.
Here's to the first step towards making change a little easier....
Sunday, December 30, 2018
The 2018 Raymo Awards
So we've come to the end of another year at the movies and by my list I've seen 44 films at the cinema - starting with Pitch Perfect 3 and ending with Vice. They couldn't be any further removed as films!
Overall it was a solid year though only 12 movies managed an 8/10 or better, there were 18 that scored either 7 or 7.5 which means largely it was a good year and I chose wisely ;-)
There was no real standout this year but there was one clear-cut lowest end - the Happytime Murders was so unfunny I'm not sure it even deserves the 2/10 I awarded it. If you haven't seen it - don't!
So I present my top five, you may have seen them or may not but rest assured the top five are all worthy of your time for different reasons.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (9/10)
Not surprisingly Frances McDormand won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as a grieving mother who, frustrated with the local police's inaction, riles up trouble by posting provocative messages on three billboards outside her home town (Ebbing, Missouri of course). This provokes a war with the town Chief (Woody Harrellson) that leads in some interesting directions. A great cast, surprising and just a fantastic film and a worthy number one for the year.
Overall it was a solid year though only 12 movies managed an 8/10 or better, there were 18 that scored either 7 or 7.5 which means largely it was a good year and I chose wisely ;-)
There was no real standout this year but there was one clear-cut lowest end - the Happytime Murders was so unfunny I'm not sure it even deserves the 2/10 I awarded it. If you haven't seen it - don't!
So I present my top five, you may have seen them or may not but rest assured the top five are all worthy of your time for different reasons.
1. Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (9/10)
Not surprisingly Frances McDormand won an Oscar for Best Actress for her role as a grieving mother who, frustrated with the local police's inaction, riles up trouble by posting provocative messages on three billboards outside her home town (Ebbing, Missouri of course). This provokes a war with the town Chief (Woody Harrellson) that leads in some interesting directions. A great cast, surprising and just a fantastic film and a worthy number one for the year.
2. Call Me By Your Name (9/10)
"But to feel nothing so as to not feel anything - what a waste''. Arguably the movie quote of the year for mine and it comes from a film that's easily the most interesting of the year. Set in the 80s in Italy, it focuses on Elio (Timothee Chalamet in what I described at the time as the 'single best acting performance I can remember in recent times' and that stands) and the complicated relationship he develops with Oliver, a grad student who spends a summer working with Elio's father. There's a lot of ambiguity, it's a stunning setting and there's type of high drama that I really enjoy. Brilliant.
"But to feel nothing so as to not feel anything - what a waste''. Arguably the movie quote of the year for mine and it comes from a film that's easily the most interesting of the year. Set in the 80s in Italy, it focuses on Elio (Timothee Chalamet in what I described at the time as the 'single best acting performance I can remember in recent times' and that stands) and the complicated relationship he develops with Oliver, a grad student who spends a summer working with Elio's father. There's a lot of ambiguity, it's a stunning setting and there's type of high drama that I really enjoy. Brilliant.
3. Avengers: Infinity War (9/10)
I've been called a Marvel stooge or something to that effect (I should note Wonder Woman made by top five in 2017) but Infinity War promised so much and, boy, did it deliver. The build up of almost 10 years of stories had plenty riding on it and to keep so much of it secret really led to a big pay off at the end. I don't think anyone really saw it coming. The characters meshed so well, the dialogue is amusing and Thanos proved to be the villian that he was promised to be. Can't wait to see Endgame!
I've been called a Marvel stooge or something to that effect (I should note Wonder Woman made by top five in 2017) but Infinity War promised so much and, boy, did it deliver. The build up of almost 10 years of stories had plenty riding on it and to keep so much of it secret really led to a big pay off at the end. I don't think anyone really saw it coming. The characters meshed so well, the dialogue is amusing and Thanos proved to be the villian that he was promised to be. Can't wait to see Endgame!
4. Bohemian Rhapsody (8.5/10)
While the biopic of Queen's Freddie Mercury may not be entirely factual or at least correct in a timeline sense I thought it was unbelievably enjoyable. Remi Malek plays Mercury brilliantly from what I can see of old footage and the movie reminds you just how many amazing songs Queen is responsible for. I thought they held back some of the more salacious elements of Mercury's life quite classily while still alluding to them. A lot of fun and very interesting (despite some factual issues).
While the biopic of Queen's Freddie Mercury may not be entirely factual or at least correct in a timeline sense I thought it was unbelievably enjoyable. Remi Malek plays Mercury brilliantly from what I can see of old footage and the movie reminds you just how many amazing songs Queen is responsible for. I thought they held back some of the more salacious elements of Mercury's life quite classily while still alluding to them. A lot of fun and very interesting (despite some factual issues).
5. Boy Erased (8.5/10)
Based on the true story of Garrard Conley, this film focuses on church run gay conversion therapy programs and is a real eye-opener. The fantastic Lucas Hedges plays Jared who is sent to one such place in the early 2000s by his parents, a church pastor (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Nicole Kidman) after he is outed in terrible circumstances. I thought Joel Edgerton directed this one well, picking moments for high drama for the greatest effect. And it's not a preachy film either.
Based on the true story of Garrard Conley, this film focuses on church run gay conversion therapy programs and is a real eye-opener. The fantastic Lucas Hedges plays Jared who is sent to one such place in the early 2000s by his parents, a church pastor (Russell Crowe) and his wife (Nicole Kidman) after he is outed in terrible circumstances. I thought Joel Edgerton directed this one well, picking moments for high drama for the greatest effect. And it's not a preachy film either.
Honourable mentions: Just outside the top five were Black Panther and Ant Man & The Wasp (both 8.5/10). Some of the early year 'true stories' like The Post (Nixon vs the press) featuring Meryl Streep and Tom Hanks (8/10) and The Darkest Hour (Winston Churchill) (also 8/10) were excellent viewing, Love, Simon (8/10) is a coming of age story with a difference done with heart, The Wife (8/10) features a great performance from Glenn Close, Christopher Robin (8/10) is just a delight and Beautiful Boy (8/10) was another superb Timothee Chalamet performance. A Star Is Born (7.5/10) was highly enjoyable though a bit too long, Creed 2 (7.5/10) a solid sequel and I very much enjoyed Bumblebee (7.5/10) restoring some faith in the Transformers universe.
Surprise of the year: Tough category. A Quiet Place (7.5/10) was a suspense/horror/thriller like nothing we've seen in a long time. It's actually quite creepy as a family tries to survive in a world invaded by alien beings who only need the slightest noise to find you. Emily Blunt and John Krasinski are excellent and any film that can hold your attention with very little dialogue is an achievement. I hope they don't ruin it with a sloppy sequel, though.
Flop of the year: On the horror theme again it has to be Hereditary (4/10). Despite a pretty decent premise and a solid showing from Toni Collette what could have been a creepy, jumpy film just descended into being a ridiculous mess with an ending that's laughable. I just don't understand the rave reviews it received at the time, it's just garbage.
The film I wanted to like more: Aquaman (6/10). I had high expectations for one of the more interesting and entertaining members of the Justice League and I was really disappointed. Sure it was spectacularly made and Jason Momoa is excellent as the half human-half Atlantean hero but it just doesn't fit together. There's continuity issues and it was too long and while entertaining enough I had the feeling it could have been a lot better.
Letdowns: Aside from Aquaman I thought Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom (6/10) was a poor retread, Maze Runner: The Death Cure (6/10) brought a once promising franchise to a disappointing end, Breath (6/10) was stunningly made but didn't go where it should have, Bad Times At The El Royale (6/10) had so much going for it that wasn't realised and The Crimes Of Grindlewald (7/10) while not bad was a step back from the excellent Fantastic Beasts and that franchise is on notice.
What lies ahead? All attention is obviously on Avengers: Endgame in April and the preceding MCU film Captain Marvel which will hopefully join a few dots. As always I'm hoping for some interesting dramas and I'd still love to see something fresh in a comedy. There's plenty of sequels coming up like It 2, John Wick 3, Toy Story 4 and all these Disney 'live-action' remakes of their animated classics. I really don't think Aladdin or Lion King should have been risked.
See you at the movies!
See you at the movies!
Thursday, May 31, 2018
Is 5.30am the key?
So I've been looking to shake things up a bit but haven't quite been able to come up with something radical enough to make a difference.
The other day I came across a YouTube video by a young guy called Jordan Taylor called 'Waking Up at 5am is Changing My Life' and it got me thinking.
You can watch his YouTube post here.
Obviously his station is a bit different to mine, I'm not a guy in my 20s (which is what I assume he is from looking) so I'm not going to be able to do some of the things he's able but I think the principle will still work.
He's basically stripping things back to detach a bit from technology at times when we're all addicted to it most - before bed and when we wake up. And spends the time away from his phone etc reading, exercising and going back to basics.
From his evidence it has been a revelation and I don't doubt making similar changes will make a difference to me. He says things like his memory has improved and general demeanour.
So here's hoping.
I may opt for the 5am starts at some stage but I'm thinking 5.30am might be a more achievable goal given when I usually get up to go to work. It gives me an hour before that process and I guess the small sacrifice will be going to bed by around 10-10.30pm most days.
To make it work I think Sunday may have to be a 'rest day'.
Exactly what will I do in that hour?
It's the start of winter so luring myself out of a warm bed is no easy task. I actually wish I had a treadmill as in this period of the year it would make exercise a lot easier.
Perhaps a period of stretching, shower and head off to work a bit earlier but take a walk along the Harbour or something prior to getting to the office would work?
Any suggestions would be welcome. I plan to start this on Monday. Hopefully getting up at 5.30am will change mine too!
The other day I came across a YouTube video by a young guy called Jordan Taylor called 'Waking Up at 5am is Changing My Life' and it got me thinking.
You can watch his YouTube post here.
Obviously his station is a bit different to mine, I'm not a guy in my 20s (which is what I assume he is from looking) so I'm not going to be able to do some of the things he's able but I think the principle will still work.
He's basically stripping things back to detach a bit from technology at times when we're all addicted to it most - before bed and when we wake up. And spends the time away from his phone etc reading, exercising and going back to basics.
From his evidence it has been a revelation and I don't doubt making similar changes will make a difference to me. He says things like his memory has improved and general demeanour.
So here's hoping.
I may opt for the 5am starts at some stage but I'm thinking 5.30am might be a more achievable goal given when I usually get up to go to work. It gives me an hour before that process and I guess the small sacrifice will be going to bed by around 10-10.30pm most days.
To make it work I think Sunday may have to be a 'rest day'.
Exactly what will I do in that hour?
It's the start of winter so luring myself out of a warm bed is no easy task. I actually wish I had a treadmill as in this period of the year it would make exercise a lot easier.
Perhaps a period of stretching, shower and head off to work a bit earlier but take a walk along the Harbour or something prior to getting to the office would work?
Any suggestions would be welcome. I plan to start this on Monday. Hopefully getting up at 5.30am will change mine too!
Friday, April 20, 2018
Simon
People come and go, you've got to accept that as fact.
I'm pretty sure Simon has gone and it's something I'm not overly happy about but I don't think it's something I can change.
Yeah that comes across as a bit mysterious and melodramatic.
Simon is someone I've known for quite a while, I actually don't remember exactly how long, and someone whose views I always valued. He also pushes me.
I think everyone needs someone who tries to make you a better version of yourself. He's very switched on and has a steely constitution, though I have seen it crack once or twice to remind me he is actually human.
He's emotionally strong, I find it hard to be sometimes.
I'm not sure exactly where along the way we started to move in different directions, though I suspect it's more him moving and me staying put. Eventually, I couldn't keep up.
I'm not blaming Simon for anything. If there is blame to be thrown around it's likely it should be shot back at me. And it's a shame.
Ultimately any relationship, be it professional or personal, lives and dies through how much attention it is given and as much as I hate to say it....
Cheers, Simon. I never quite felt good enough to be in the inner sanctum. I'm just sorry I was right.
I'm pretty sure Simon has gone and it's something I'm not overly happy about but I don't think it's something I can change.
Yeah that comes across as a bit mysterious and melodramatic.
Simon is someone I've known for quite a while, I actually don't remember exactly how long, and someone whose views I always valued. He also pushes me.
I think everyone needs someone who tries to make you a better version of yourself. He's very switched on and has a steely constitution, though I have seen it crack once or twice to remind me he is actually human.
He's emotionally strong, I find it hard to be sometimes.
I'm not sure exactly where along the way we started to move in different directions, though I suspect it's more him moving and me staying put. Eventually, I couldn't keep up.
I'm not blaming Simon for anything. If there is blame to be thrown around it's likely it should be shot back at me. And it's a shame.
Ultimately any relationship, be it professional or personal, lives and dies through how much attention it is given and as much as I hate to say it....
Cheers, Simon. I never quite felt good enough to be in the inner sanctum. I'm just sorry I was right.
The 2017 Raymo Awards
It started with Passengers and wound up with Jumanji, and now’s that time to review the year in film in between.
I saw 45 films at the cinema this year (and as always a big thanks to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and overall I think it was a solid year. And just like last year 24 movies were rated 7.5 or above, of those scoring 6 or below there were only seven so that’s less than 2016.
Quality drama rose to the top this year and yet again super hero movies were prominent, for the most part they were very well executed too. The reboots/sequels etc didn’t shape up on the whole with a couple of minor exceptions.
Without further ado, here’s my 2017 in film.
1. Lion (10/10)
Nobody would be surprised to see this dramatised version of Saroo Brierly’s true story top the list. And it’s an Australian film too! Lion starts in India and we meet a young Saroo (played amazingly by Sunny Pawar), who is lost while tagging along with his older brother and winds up 1000s of miles away from home. He’s eventually adopted by a Tasmanian couple and grows up there. The second half is the story of how an older Saroo searches for his lost family. It’s stunningly made, emotional in the right spots and everything a good drama should be. Easily the best movie of the year.
Nobody would be surprised to see this dramatised version of Saroo Brierly’s true story top the list. And it’s an Australian film too! Lion starts in India and we meet a young Saroo (played amazingly by Sunny Pawar), who is lost while tagging along with his older brother and winds up 1000s of miles away from home. He’s eventually adopted by a Tasmanian couple and grows up there. The second half is the story of how an older Saroo searches for his lost family. It’s stunningly made, emotional in the right spots and everything a good drama should be. Easily the best movie of the year.
2. Manchester By The Sea (9/10)
An acting tour de force by Casey Affleck that rightly won him an Oscar for Best Actor. This is a heavy film, as you’d expect for a movie about grief. Affleck plays Lee, a handyman carrying a heavy burden from his past who, when his brother dies, is called on to be guardian for his teenage nephew Patrick. He reluctantly moves back to Manchester where he’s confronted with his ex-wife Randi (Michelle Williams, also outstanding) and the past he’s running away from. There’s some wrenching drama in this film and if you’re left wondering why Lee doesn’t pull himself together the answer is in one line in the movie – ‘I can’t beat it’. Brilliant.
An acting tour de force by Casey Affleck that rightly won him an Oscar for Best Actor. This is a heavy film, as you’d expect for a movie about grief. Affleck plays Lee, a handyman carrying a heavy burden from his past who, when his brother dies, is called on to be guardian for his teenage nephew Patrick. He reluctantly moves back to Manchester where he’s confronted with his ex-wife Randi (Michelle Williams, also outstanding) and the past he’s running away from. There’s some wrenching drama in this film and if you’re left wondering why Lee doesn’t pull himself together the answer is in one line in the movie – ‘I can’t beat it’. Brilliant.
3. Wonder (9/10)
For a PG movie, Wonder came as quite a surprise. Auggie (a brilliant turn by Jacob Tremblay) begins the fifth grade, his first time in public school, but people can’t seem to get past the scars on his face that were the result of a number of operations due to a rare condition. He likes to get around wearing an astronaut’s helmet and he finds school as confronting as the children find him. It’s treated with warmth and supporting roles from Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents add depth. It’s also told from a few perspectives which was interesting. If you missed it, it’s well worth it and don’t think it’s a tearjerker – though I can’t promise you won’t shed one!
For a PG movie, Wonder came as quite a surprise. Auggie (a brilliant turn by Jacob Tremblay) begins the fifth grade, his first time in public school, but people can’t seem to get past the scars on his face that were the result of a number of operations due to a rare condition. He likes to get around wearing an astronaut’s helmet and he finds school as confronting as the children find him. It’s treated with warmth and supporting roles from Julia Roberts and Owen Wilson as his parents add depth. It’s also told from a few perspectives which was interesting. If you missed it, it’s well worth it and don’t think it’s a tearjerker – though I can’t promise you won’t shed one!
4. Wonder Woman (9/10)
Who would have thought DC would produce the best super hero film of the year?! Why they didn’t do it before Dawn Of Justice is anyone’s guess but the origin story of Diana Prince (played with class by Gal Gadot) is all quality. When Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes near the mysterious island of Themyscira he brings the real world to the Amazons. Diana is convinced the god Ares is responsible for the conflict and leaves to take the fight to him and save the world from war. She’s brilliantly naïve early on and there’s plenty of awkward humour that’s been missing from the DC films. My only gripe is that she’s yet to be referred to as ‘Wonder Woman’ in any of her appearances. But it’s a fantastic super hero entry.
Who would have thought DC would produce the best super hero film of the year?! Why they didn’t do it before Dawn Of Justice is anyone’s guess but the origin story of Diana Prince (played with class by Gal Gadot) is all quality. When Steve Trevor (Chris Pine) crashes near the mysterious island of Themyscira he brings the real world to the Amazons. Diana is convinced the god Ares is responsible for the conflict and leaves to take the fight to him and save the world from war. She’s brilliantly naïve early on and there’s plenty of awkward humour that’s been missing from the DC films. My only gripe is that she’s yet to be referred to as ‘Wonder Woman’ in any of her appearances. But it’s a fantastic super hero entry.
5. The Fate Of The Furious (Fast & Furious 8) (9/10)
I don’t know what to say, I’m a sucker for this series of films and they seem to get better and better (albeit more ridiculous). Having finally brought the family together in F&F7, Dominic Toretto is drawn away from the good side by a mysterious villain named Cipher (Charlize Theron). While I think she was a little underused it’s a great twist on the series forcing Hobbs, Letty and company to battle Dom and win him back. There’s also a fantastic dynamic between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham that apparently has spawned a spin off that will delay F&F9 (not sure I’m happy about that). Great fun.
I don’t know what to say, I’m a sucker for this series of films and they seem to get better and better (albeit more ridiculous). Having finally brought the family together in F&F7, Dominic Toretto is drawn away from the good side by a mysterious villain named Cipher (Charlize Theron). While I think she was a little underused it’s a great twist on the series forcing Hobbs, Letty and company to battle Dom and win him back. There’s also a fantastic dynamic between Dwayne Johnson and Jason Statham that apparently has spawned a spin off that will delay F&F9 (not sure I’m happy about that). Great fun.
Honourable mentions: Spider-Man: Homecoming (9/10) is the Spider-Man film we’ve desperately wanted for years and Marvel nailed it with the casting of Tom Holland and the integration into the MCU. Just bumped out of the top five by Wonder. Guardians Of The Galaxy Vol 2 (8.5/10) fell a bit short of the first film, possibly because of the raised expectations, but stood up pretty well thanks to the dynamic between the main cast. There were a few surprises from leftfield and I bet a lot of you haven’t heard of these – A Ghost Story (8/10) sees Casey Affleck covered in a sheet for most of the film (as a ghost) after his character dies. He returns to try to comfort his wife and make sense of what happened. Paterson (8/10) is a simple film about a man (Adam Driver) who leads a seemingly mundane life but it’s a slow burn and is better on reflection as well. Baby Driver (8/10) was very cool and possibly rated higher had it not had about seven endings. A few others to note are 20th Century Women (8/10), Thor: Ragnarok (8/10) and War For The Planet Of The Apes (8/10) wrapped up the trilogy very nicely.
Surprise of the year: Goodbye Christopher Robin (8/10) is the story of how A.A. Milne created Winnie The Pooh and its beloved characters inspired by his son. My expectation wasn’t super high. Domhnall Gleeson plays Milne while Margot Robbie is his wife Daphne. Upon the birth of their son both parently basically ignore young Christopher Robin (who they call Billy Moon) for different reasons. When Milne is forced to care for his son it leads to him writing a book about him and his toys. It’s an excellent story and definitely one I wasn’t expecting.
Flop of the year: Downsizing (5/10). I did have reasonable expectations but it really let me down. The concept of people wanting to shrink in size to live a better life sounded like a fantastic idea. And it was for a while until it went in a rather boring direction and was reduced to, well, less than it should have been. Matt Damon does his best but the plot after a small twist doesn’t leave him much to work with and it just heads downwards. Shame.
The film I wanted to like more: Star Wars: The Last Jedi (7/10) came with huge expectation after a cracking trailer so was always going to be harshly judged. It’s divided fans a bit and as a fan, but not nutjob fan, I was disappointed with a few things. After setting up a number of burning questions in the Force Awakens it seems all of JJ Abrams’ work was swept aside by Rian Johnson to go in a different direction. When Mark Hamill says it’s not the Luke he knows it’s a worry. Then there was the Leia problem. We could argue black and blue here but it just should have been a lot better.
Letdowns: Moonlight won the Oscar for Best Picture but I thought it was average and definitely not what it was cracked up to be; same goes for Loving; Cars 3 was better than Cars 2 but pales in comparison to the original. Pixar on notice again.
What lies ahead? I’m keen for Black Panther and Avengers Infinity War and Ant-Man and the Wasp, Ready Player One looks cool – kinda Tron-esque. The Han Solo movie could go either way, there’s Jurassic World 2 and The Crimes Of Grindlewald (Fantastic Beasts 2), the latter of which I expect a bit from. Hopefully there are some great dramas, I’d love to see a return to the classic comedy genre (though hopes aren’t high) and I wonder whether they’ll get Aquaman right.
See you at the movies!
See you at the movies!
Saturday, December 31, 2016
The 2016 Raymo awards
So here we are again, it’s time for the rundown of 2016 in film.
I saw 42 films at the cinema this year (as always a big thanks to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and the quality was mixed. It was strong early but fairly solid in the last few months.
A respectable 24 movies were rated 7.5 or above but 10 received scores of 6 or below.
It was a big year for super hero movies, sequels and rather pedestrian reboots. But I guess we’re stuck with that for the time being.
Here’s the highs and lows of 2016.
1. Spotlight (10/10)
Both brilliant and chilling, the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered an extensive paedophile ring within the Catholic Church. I knew this was going to be a standout and it lived right up to expectation, possibly exceeded it. A great cast including Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo (who was amazing) and it holds up to a second and third viewing. Not the easiest watch of the year but clearly the best film and deserved Best Picture winner. If you haven’t seen it, make sure you do.
2. Captain America: Civil War (9/10)
Marvel knocked DC out of the park with their film pitting good guy against good guy - the main difference being there was an actual reason to be split. Still very much a Cap film, though, we’re introduced to a few more characters in the MCU highlighted by a very cool Black Panther and the MCU version of Spider-Man and he is a real winner. Marvel keep getting it right and while the luck will eventually run out as the cast moves on, most likely, Civil War is pure entertainment, witty and in keeping with what the series has been doing.
3. The Big Short (9/10)
Another early standout film. This one focuses on the housing crash in the mid-2000s and again features an excellent cast with Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling starring. Though they are upstaged by Margot Robbie’s cameo explaining the intricacies of the financial world while sipping champagne in a bubble bath. Not quite as accessible as Spotlight but still easily one of the better movies of the year.
4. Doctor Strange (8.5/10)
Yet another Marvel entry and, a bit like Guardians Of The Galaxy and Ant Man, it was a risky film that they managed to pull off. Granted it started a little slowly but stacked with the humour and witty script we’ve come to expect from Marvel, and some solid leads in Benedict Cmberbatch as the Doctor and Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, it works and brings the mystical world into the MCU. Plus there’s a cracking credits scene! Hard not enjoy this one.
5. Eye In The Sky (8.5/10)
Many may have missed this one but it really had me hooked. Focusing on a remote military strike on a terrorist base in Kenya, tensions arise when an innocent girl wanders into the kill zone. This triggers a moral debate about whether to proceed with the mission. Outstanding performances from Helen Mirren, the late Alan Rickman and Aaron Paul drive the film and it’s definitely worth seeing.
Honourable mentions: Solid bunch. The Accountant (8.5/10) fell just short of the top five but was excellent and a great performance from Ben Affleck. I enjoyed Deadpool (8/10) as most did (pressure on the sequel though) and Suicide Squad (8/10) and Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them (8/10) was a refreshing entry to the Harry Potter world (love the jewel thieving critter). Quality dramas like The Girl On The Train (8/10), Room (8/10) and 10 Cloverfield Lane (8/10), the latter a chilling turn from John Goodman though the ending could have been better. Nocturnal Animals (8/10) will probably get better with a second viewing, I had high hopes but it was quite complex. A charming Maggie Smith in The Lady In The Van (8/10) was a delight and in outer space Star Trek Beyond (8/10) was up to scratch. Then, let’s not forget Rogue One (8/10) which proved a worthy entry into the Star Wars universe.
Surprise of the year: The Shallows (7.5/10) proved that you can still make a ‘shark’ film gripping and they certainly achieved it here. Pretty much just a cast featuring Blake Lively as a surfer who lands on a remote beach her mother talked of and finds herself in a battle with a rather fiesty shark. It’s hard to keep the attention and the tension up with such a simple premise but it worked and encouraged me not to go back into the water all over again.
Flop of the year: I could easily say Ghostbusters (4/10) but I knew it was going to be rubbish so the award goes to….The Revenant (4/10). I know a lot of people liked this one but I’m sorry it didn’t do anything for me. Leonardo DiCaprio grunts and crawls his way to a Best Actor Oscar. Please! It was too long, too dour, and ended with a massive cop out. And Tom Hardy deserved an Oscar much more than Leo.
The film I wanted to like more: Definitely Nocturnal Animals (8/10) as mentioned above. The trailer had me intrigued and I very much like Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, both of whom were excellent by the way. It’s a story within a story and that made it complex and hard work to follow. High quality no doubt and once I see it again I’m sure I’ll rate it higher, especially since it’s one of those films where the ending is left up to your imagination, I guess is the best way to it.
Letdowns: X-Men: Apocolypse should probably kill off that series, it was pretty ordinary, and you would have thought Underworld: Blood Wars would do the same though it was left right open for another. Jason Bourne was pretty average as well and as much as I’m a Jack Reacher fan, Never Go Back wasn’t the best book to base a second film on. I suppose I could add Batman vs Superman into that as well but I didn’t expect it to be that great anyway (that said it wasn‘t as bad as expected).
Another year coming up littered with sequels, both deserved and not so deserved (see Trainspotting). High hopes for Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Spiderman: Homecoming and Wonder Woman in the super hero genre. DC look to have Wonder Woman right so a lot hangs on this one for their universe. Of course there’s Star Wars Episode 8 and it’s going to be bittersweet with Carrie Fisher’s recent passing. And how could I forget Fast and Furious 8 (Fate Of The Furious) which looks awesome. Hopefully there’ll also be some quality drama/thrillers out there too.
See you at the movies!
I saw 42 films at the cinema this year (as always a big thanks to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and the quality was mixed. It was strong early but fairly solid in the last few months.
A respectable 24 movies were rated 7.5 or above but 10 received scores of 6 or below.
It was a big year for super hero movies, sequels and rather pedestrian reboots. But I guess we’re stuck with that for the time being.
Here’s the highs and lows of 2016.
1. Spotlight (10/10)
Both brilliant and chilling, the true story of how the Boston Globe uncovered an extensive paedophile ring within the Catholic Church. I knew this was going to be a standout and it lived right up to expectation, possibly exceeded it. A great cast including Michael Keaton and Mark Ruffalo (who was amazing) and it holds up to a second and third viewing. Not the easiest watch of the year but clearly the best film and deserved Best Picture winner. If you haven’t seen it, make sure you do.
2. Captain America: Civil War (9/10)
Marvel knocked DC out of the park with their film pitting good guy against good guy - the main difference being there was an actual reason to be split. Still very much a Cap film, though, we’re introduced to a few more characters in the MCU highlighted by a very cool Black Panther and the MCU version of Spider-Man and he is a real winner. Marvel keep getting it right and while the luck will eventually run out as the cast moves on, most likely, Civil War is pure entertainment, witty and in keeping with what the series has been doing.
3. The Big Short (9/10)
Another early standout film. This one focuses on the housing crash in the mid-2000s and again features an excellent cast with Christian Bale and Ryan Gosling starring. Though they are upstaged by Margot Robbie’s cameo explaining the intricacies of the financial world while sipping champagne in a bubble bath. Not quite as accessible as Spotlight but still easily one of the better movies of the year.
4. Doctor Strange (8.5/10)
Yet another Marvel entry and, a bit like Guardians Of The Galaxy and Ant Man, it was a risky film that they managed to pull off. Granted it started a little slowly but stacked with the humour and witty script we’ve come to expect from Marvel, and some solid leads in Benedict Cmberbatch as the Doctor and Tilda Swinton as The Ancient One, it works and brings the mystical world into the MCU. Plus there’s a cracking credits scene! Hard not enjoy this one.
5. Eye In The Sky (8.5/10)
Many may have missed this one but it really had me hooked. Focusing on a remote military strike on a terrorist base in Kenya, tensions arise when an innocent girl wanders into the kill zone. This triggers a moral debate about whether to proceed with the mission. Outstanding performances from Helen Mirren, the late Alan Rickman and Aaron Paul drive the film and it’s definitely worth seeing.
Honourable mentions: Solid bunch. The Accountant (8.5/10) fell just short of the top five but was excellent and a great performance from Ben Affleck. I enjoyed Deadpool (8/10) as most did (pressure on the sequel though) and Suicide Squad (8/10) and Fantastic Beasts & Where To Find Them (8/10) was a refreshing entry to the Harry Potter world (love the jewel thieving critter). Quality dramas like The Girl On The Train (8/10), Room (8/10) and 10 Cloverfield Lane (8/10), the latter a chilling turn from John Goodman though the ending could have been better. Nocturnal Animals (8/10) will probably get better with a second viewing, I had high hopes but it was quite complex. A charming Maggie Smith in The Lady In The Van (8/10) was a delight and in outer space Star Trek Beyond (8/10) was up to scratch. Then, let’s not forget Rogue One (8/10) which proved a worthy entry into the Star Wars universe.
Surprise of the year: The Shallows (7.5/10) proved that you can still make a ‘shark’ film gripping and they certainly achieved it here. Pretty much just a cast featuring Blake Lively as a surfer who lands on a remote beach her mother talked of and finds herself in a battle with a rather fiesty shark. It’s hard to keep the attention and the tension up with such a simple premise but it worked and encouraged me not to go back into the water all over again.
Flop of the year: I could easily say Ghostbusters (4/10) but I knew it was going to be rubbish so the award goes to….The Revenant (4/10). I know a lot of people liked this one but I’m sorry it didn’t do anything for me. Leonardo DiCaprio grunts and crawls his way to a Best Actor Oscar. Please! It was too long, too dour, and ended with a massive cop out. And Tom Hardy deserved an Oscar much more than Leo.
The film I wanted to like more: Definitely Nocturnal Animals (8/10) as mentioned above. The trailer had me intrigued and I very much like Amy Adams and Jake Gyllenhaal, both of whom were excellent by the way. It’s a story within a story and that made it complex and hard work to follow. High quality no doubt and once I see it again I’m sure I’ll rate it higher, especially since it’s one of those films where the ending is left up to your imagination, I guess is the best way to it.
Letdowns: X-Men: Apocolypse should probably kill off that series, it was pretty ordinary, and you would have thought Underworld: Blood Wars would do the same though it was left right open for another. Jason Bourne was pretty average as well and as much as I’m a Jack Reacher fan, Never Go Back wasn’t the best book to base a second film on. I suppose I could add Batman vs Superman into that as well but I didn’t expect it to be that great anyway (that said it wasn‘t as bad as expected).
Another year coming up littered with sequels, both deserved and not so deserved (see Trainspotting). High hopes for Guardians Of The Galaxy 2, Spiderman: Homecoming and Wonder Woman in the super hero genre. DC look to have Wonder Woman right so a lot hangs on this one for their universe. Of course there’s Star Wars Episode 8 and it’s going to be bittersweet with Carrie Fisher’s recent passing. And how could I forget Fast and Furious 8 (Fate Of The Furious) which looks awesome. Hopefully there’ll also be some quality drama/thrillers out there too.
See you at the movies!
Monday, August 22, 2016
Self improvement drive
Friends, now is the time to get serious. Actually, it's well past the time but better late than never.
After a discussion with a mate last week I've decided to have a red hot go at making improvements and shaking off the bad habits.
I'm not going to set a particular day to day plan right now, that may come later, as it is not a 'specific number of days' challenge.
1. Learn how to be good to yourself. This means put some effort into looking after myself physically, mentally and aesthetically. The latter is a strange one, but it basically means pay a bit of attention to grooming. Present well.
2. Tidy up. My room is a bit of a mess and it probably is a reflection of where things are.
3. Exercise. I'm never going to be a buff gym toned Adonis but I can make an effort to be better. I don't know why it is so easy to fall out of the habit of something as simple and good for you as exercise. Sure, I've had injury issues recently and that's starting to have an effect via lack of conditioning, but it should be a no-brainer.
4. Try new things. I went to the theatre the other night and it's something I should consider doing a bit more of.
5. Don't be ashamed. Speaks for itself really.
6. Shed bad habits. Probably unrealistic to say I won't have any bad habits but I do need to make a big effort to stop gambling on the machines. I know you can't win and I have had periods of abstinence but I can do better than that.
7. Do things I enjoy.
8. Learn to talk more. I tend to be on the quiet side most of the time, it's almost like I don't know how to do small talk and it is a hindrance in social situations.
Let's see how I go. Surely it can only be good for me.
Feel free to offer any suggestions or encouragements or anecdotes.
After a discussion with a mate last week I've decided to have a red hot go at making improvements and shaking off the bad habits.
I'm not going to set a particular day to day plan right now, that may come later, as it is not a 'specific number of days' challenge.
1. Learn how to be good to yourself. This means put some effort into looking after myself physically, mentally and aesthetically. The latter is a strange one, but it basically means pay a bit of attention to grooming. Present well.
2. Tidy up. My room is a bit of a mess and it probably is a reflection of where things are.
3. Exercise. I'm never going to be a buff gym toned Adonis but I can make an effort to be better. I don't know why it is so easy to fall out of the habit of something as simple and good for you as exercise. Sure, I've had injury issues recently and that's starting to have an effect via lack of conditioning, but it should be a no-brainer.
4. Try new things. I went to the theatre the other night and it's something I should consider doing a bit more of.
5. Don't be ashamed. Speaks for itself really.
6. Shed bad habits. Probably unrealistic to say I won't have any bad habits but I do need to make a big effort to stop gambling on the machines. I know you can't win and I have had periods of abstinence but I can do better than that.
7. Do things I enjoy.
8. Learn to talk more. I tend to be on the quiet side most of the time, it's almost like I don't know how to do small talk and it is a hindrance in social situations.
Let's see how I go. Surely it can only be good for me.
Feel free to offer any suggestions or encouragements or anecdotes.
Sunday, March 27, 2016
All talk, no action
It's funny how you can look back at what you've written previously, promised yourself I guess, and you realise that you did nothing about it.
All talk and no action.
So it seems I'm on a vicious circle posing as a merry-go-round.
This. Must. Stop. Here.
I've identified a few areas that have to change and, surprise surprise, they aren't new.
Thanks to an adverse reaction recently to trying something that was ill conceived in some ways I've gone back a few years. If only it were possible.
1. Attitude.
I've become a little grumpy, easily angered or annoyed, short fused if you will and it frustrates me greatly. Ultimately it is my reaction to outside forces that is responsible, not the forces themselves. Whether it is incompetence, apathy or ignorance of others it is up to me as to how I react.
And I react wrongly. I react in a way that only gets me flustered. This is not going to be an easy fix but I think it is the most important.
2. Focus
There are so many distractions out there. Quite often there are distractions from the things that distract us. Over the last year or so I've found my ability to focus on one task has diminished a bit and I feel it is the rise of many distractions that is contributing. Again this is not going to be an easy fix. Little things like taking the time to read the paper, read a novel will help.
3. Purpose
Am I interested in what I do? Sometimes I ask myself this question as it often seems like a real chore even though what I do for work is also a major hobby. Yes, I'm lucky in that respect and, given the number one problem, sometimes it is easy to forget that. But am I interested in anything else?
4. Straight and narrow
I've been battling a particular issue with gambling and at a time when I thought I had it right I ruined all the hard work I'd done and am back at square one with it. It serves no good purpose, and is one of the aforementioned distractions.
5. Don't be so afraid
Part of being in that vicious circle is it never lets you go until you force your way out. I haven't been good at that when it comes to particular worries/fears and it's proven costly in some respects.
That's a good start point. It's not easy to change but it's time to stop talking and to start some action.
All talk and no action.
So it seems I'm on a vicious circle posing as a merry-go-round.
This. Must. Stop. Here.
I've identified a few areas that have to change and, surprise surprise, they aren't new.
Thanks to an adverse reaction recently to trying something that was ill conceived in some ways I've gone back a few years. If only it were possible.
1. Attitude.
I've become a little grumpy, easily angered or annoyed, short fused if you will and it frustrates me greatly. Ultimately it is my reaction to outside forces that is responsible, not the forces themselves. Whether it is incompetence, apathy or ignorance of others it is up to me as to how I react.
And I react wrongly. I react in a way that only gets me flustered. This is not going to be an easy fix but I think it is the most important.
2. Focus
There are so many distractions out there. Quite often there are distractions from the things that distract us. Over the last year or so I've found my ability to focus on one task has diminished a bit and I feel it is the rise of many distractions that is contributing. Again this is not going to be an easy fix. Little things like taking the time to read the paper, read a novel will help.
3. Purpose
Am I interested in what I do? Sometimes I ask myself this question as it often seems like a real chore even though what I do for work is also a major hobby. Yes, I'm lucky in that respect and, given the number one problem, sometimes it is easy to forget that. But am I interested in anything else?
4. Straight and narrow
I've been battling a particular issue with gambling and at a time when I thought I had it right I ruined all the hard work I'd done and am back at square one with it. It serves no good purpose, and is one of the aforementioned distractions.
5. Don't be so afraid
Part of being in that vicious circle is it never lets you go until you force your way out. I haven't been good at that when it comes to particular worries/fears and it's proven costly in some respects.
That's a good start point. It's not easy to change but it's time to stop talking and to start some action.
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
The 2015 Raymo Awards
Another year has come and gone and we’ve arrived at the wrap of 2015 in film.
I saw 36 films at the cinema this year (as always a big thanks to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and it was a year of high quality and not so many stinkers.
Among the three dozen films there were 17 that rated an 8/10 or above, seven of those scored 9/10 or more.
The main letdowns were unnecessary sequels or reboots and I’m sure my lowest rated movie will cause some controversy.
Without further ado, here’s the highlights of 2015.
1. Inside Out (10/10)
Finally, a stunning return to form from the usually reliable Pixar studios. Some may argue whether this deserved a 10 but from my perspective it was close to faultless. Not a new idea, I’ll admit, but an idea done with humour and heart. We’re introduced to the emotions in Riley’s head - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger - and are taken on a rollercoaster of discovery as they learn to work together to guide her through life. I must admit I enjoyed the Anger character particularly. Attention to detail is the key here and I simply had a ball watching this. Happy to say it was the best movie of the year.
2. Avengers: Age Of Ultron (9.5/10)
I know not everyone will agree with this one but, a bit like Inside Out, I very much dug the latest instalment of the Avengers series. Plenty of action as you’d expect, some great character development and interconnecting storylines and one liners made this a highly enjoyable experience. Perhaps I’m a little biased. We learned a lot more about Hawkeye in this one as well as being introduced to twins Scarlet Witch (who shares an excellent scene with Hawkeye) and Quicksilver. The former was well used, the latter a bit wasted I thought. Marvel simply keeps hitting the mark.
3. Still Alice (9/10)
The acting performance of the year from Julianne Moore and a very well deserved Oscar too. Alice is a brilliant linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. It’s terrifying to watch as Alice’s memory starts to fade, she forgets where she is at times and struggles with what the disease means. There’s a solid support cast including Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart but this is all Moore’s film and it is an absolute must see if you haven’t already.
4. Fast & Furious 7 (9/10)
I don’t know how but this series just keeps getting better. Acting takes a back seat to pure action entertainment and the seventh F&F would have been the toughest to make due to the death of Paul Walker while the filming was on a break. While you can tell in a few parts where they’ve used his brothers as stand ins it works and the ending is quite poignant too. There are some ridiculous scenes here but on the whole this is a tribute to Walker and just damn good fun too.
5. The Imitation Game (9/10)
Another fantastic acting performance from Benedict Cumberbatch as mathematician Alan Turing who is famous for cracking the enigma code during World War 2. A true story brought to life with a great script filled with tension and wit and a headline performance from its star. I must admit I didn’t know a lot about Turing going into this and it was a riveting story, it would have been highly controversial at the time too, and a riveting turn from Cumberbatch.
Honourable mentions: For nostalgic reasons as much as any I have to say Dumb And Dumber To (9/10) was an absolute riot. It may have been aided by being in a group who all enjoyed it as well and the fact the Farrelly Brothers stayed true to the innocent stupidity of Lloyd and Harry and didn’t plunge far into dirty humour as is the trend today. Birdman (9/10) is a ‘love it or hate it’ type of film but I thought it was just superbly shot, very smart and great performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton were standouts. Of the others Holding The Man (8/10) is a heartbreaking conversion of a heartbreaking true story that fell just short of being brilliant and Ant Man (8/10) continued the Marvel trend. Oh yeah, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (8/10) is familiarly entertaining.
Surprise of the year 1: Paper Towns (8/10) is a movie that I was sure told you everything in the trailer and as a result I almost didn’t see it. This was 2015’s teen romantic-comedy type film like The Spectacular Now, Fault In Our Stars or Perks Of Being A Wallflower and while it wasn’t quite up to those films it was simply charming. Quentin (Nat Wolff) sets out to find the girl of his dreams Margo (Cara Delevingne) when she runs away from home but finds so much more along the way.
Surprise of the year 2: Creed (7.5/10) resurrected the Rocky franchise with the story of the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed who seeks out Rocky Balboa to be his trainer and embark on a boxing career like his father. Michael B Jordan is outstanding as Adonis Johnson and Sylvester Stallone breathed new life into the retired Rocky. Didn’t expect to be riveted and the finale is outstanding.
Flop of the year: OK, controversy time. I just couldn’t get into Mad Max: Fury Road (5/10). I never thought Max would be a side character but he faded into the background as Charlize Theron’s Furiosa stole the show. I found the long chase storyline a bit boring and I just didn’t like it. You may disagree but this is my list! Honourable flop mention to Trainwreck (5/10), I’m sorry but Amy Schumer is simply not funny.
The film I wanted to like more: Foxcatcher (7/10), based on the true story of wrestler Mark Schultz, had all the elements of an excellent film but I thought it was let down by Channing Tatum’s disconnected performance. Maybe it was the character but I expected more.
Letdowns: Mainly the sequels like Pitch Perfect 2 (7/10) and Ted 2 (6/10) both of which were a big step down from the surprise excellence of their originals. Perhaps it was that nothing was expected of the first films and they were so vibrant and funny. Regardless they were cash ins.
I don’t have high expectations for 2016 on the whole. From the list for the first third or so there looks to be few highlights with more sequels and remakes to come. That said I can’t wait for Captain America: Civil War and Deadpool, while I suspect there will be at least one car crash with Batman vs Superman coming up. Hopefully there are some hidden gems out there.
See you at the movies!
I saw 36 films at the cinema this year (as always a big thanks to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and it was a year of high quality and not so many stinkers.
Among the three dozen films there were 17 that rated an 8/10 or above, seven of those scored 9/10 or more.
The main letdowns were unnecessary sequels or reboots and I’m sure my lowest rated movie will cause some controversy.
Without further ado, here’s the highlights of 2015.
1. Inside Out (10/10)
Finally, a stunning return to form from the usually reliable Pixar studios. Some may argue whether this deserved a 10 but from my perspective it was close to faultless. Not a new idea, I’ll admit, but an idea done with humour and heart. We’re introduced to the emotions in Riley’s head - Joy, Sadness, Fear, Disgust and Anger - and are taken on a rollercoaster of discovery as they learn to work together to guide her through life. I must admit I enjoyed the Anger character particularly. Attention to detail is the key here and I simply had a ball watching this. Happy to say it was the best movie of the year.
2. Avengers: Age Of Ultron (9.5/10)
I know not everyone will agree with this one but, a bit like Inside Out, I very much dug the latest instalment of the Avengers series. Plenty of action as you’d expect, some great character development and interconnecting storylines and one liners made this a highly enjoyable experience. Perhaps I’m a little biased. We learned a lot more about Hawkeye in this one as well as being introduced to twins Scarlet Witch (who shares an excellent scene with Hawkeye) and Quicksilver. The former was well used, the latter a bit wasted I thought. Marvel simply keeps hitting the mark.
3. Still Alice (9/10)
The acting performance of the year from Julianne Moore and a very well deserved Oscar too. Alice is a brilliant linguistics professor who is diagnosed with early onset Alzheimer’s. It’s terrifying to watch as Alice’s memory starts to fade, she forgets where she is at times and struggles with what the disease means. There’s a solid support cast including Alec Baldwin and Kristen Stewart but this is all Moore’s film and it is an absolute must see if you haven’t already.
4. Fast & Furious 7 (9/10)
I don’t know how but this series just keeps getting better. Acting takes a back seat to pure action entertainment and the seventh F&F would have been the toughest to make due to the death of Paul Walker while the filming was on a break. While you can tell in a few parts where they’ve used his brothers as stand ins it works and the ending is quite poignant too. There are some ridiculous scenes here but on the whole this is a tribute to Walker and just damn good fun too.
5. The Imitation Game (9/10)
Another fantastic acting performance from Benedict Cumberbatch as mathematician Alan Turing who is famous for cracking the enigma code during World War 2. A true story brought to life with a great script filled with tension and wit and a headline performance from its star. I must admit I didn’t know a lot about Turing going into this and it was a riveting story, it would have been highly controversial at the time too, and a riveting turn from Cumberbatch.
Honourable mentions: For nostalgic reasons as much as any I have to say Dumb And Dumber To (9/10) was an absolute riot. It may have been aided by being in a group who all enjoyed it as well and the fact the Farrelly Brothers stayed true to the innocent stupidity of Lloyd and Harry and didn’t plunge far into dirty humour as is the trend today. Birdman (9/10) is a ‘love it or hate it’ type of film but I thought it was just superbly shot, very smart and great performances from Michael Keaton and Edward Norton were standouts. Of the others Holding The Man (8/10) is a heartbreaking conversion of a heartbreaking true story that fell just short of being brilliant and Ant Man (8/10) continued the Marvel trend. Oh yeah, Star Wars: The Force Awakens (8/10) is familiarly entertaining.
Surprise of the year 1: Paper Towns (8/10) is a movie that I was sure told you everything in the trailer and as a result I almost didn’t see it. This was 2015’s teen romantic-comedy type film like The Spectacular Now, Fault In Our Stars or Perks Of Being A Wallflower and while it wasn’t quite up to those films it was simply charming. Quentin (Nat Wolff) sets out to find the girl of his dreams Margo (Cara Delevingne) when she runs away from home but finds so much more along the way.
Surprise of the year 2: Creed (7.5/10) resurrected the Rocky franchise with the story of the illegitimate son of Apollo Creed who seeks out Rocky Balboa to be his trainer and embark on a boxing career like his father. Michael B Jordan is outstanding as Adonis Johnson and Sylvester Stallone breathed new life into the retired Rocky. Didn’t expect to be riveted and the finale is outstanding.
Flop of the year: OK, controversy time. I just couldn’t get into Mad Max: Fury Road (5/10). I never thought Max would be a side character but he faded into the background as Charlize Theron’s Furiosa stole the show. I found the long chase storyline a bit boring and I just didn’t like it. You may disagree but this is my list! Honourable flop mention to Trainwreck (5/10), I’m sorry but Amy Schumer is simply not funny.
The film I wanted to like more: Foxcatcher (7/10), based on the true story of wrestler Mark Schultz, had all the elements of an excellent film but I thought it was let down by Channing Tatum’s disconnected performance. Maybe it was the character but I expected more.
Letdowns: Mainly the sequels like Pitch Perfect 2 (7/10) and Ted 2 (6/10) both of which were a big step down from the surprise excellence of their originals. Perhaps it was that nothing was expected of the first films and they were so vibrant and funny. Regardless they were cash ins.
I don’t have high expectations for 2016 on the whole. From the list for the first third or so there looks to be few highlights with more sequels and remakes to come. That said I can’t wait for Captain America: Civil War and Deadpool, while I suspect there will be at least one car crash with Batman vs Superman coming up. Hopefully there are some hidden gems out there.
See you at the movies!
Wednesday, November 25, 2015
Where do we go from here?
Yes, it's a classic line from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. We've reached a point where you can't turn around, move sideways or seemingly can't go forward.
Where do we go from here?
Stalling is very easy, there are a million ways to tread water and be unmoved.
I do that a lot.
So much has changed around me this year. I so much want to make some kind of change but I don't know where to start.
Where I live? Work? Interests? Lifestyle? Leisure?
I've clearly lost a bit of passion for some things I used to revel in. I lack focus, am easily distracted and don't seem to have enough desire to fix it up.
Where do I go? Where do I start?
Sunday, September 27, 2015
Getting real
Haven't been on here for quite a while but now is the time.
It's been a challenging period over the last six months or so for reasons which I may go into at another time.
What has happened though is that I have lost focus, lost sight of a lot of things and become caught up in bad habits.
One in particular can be very damaging. I have developed a worrying habit of playing poker machines that I am eager to curtail and for good.
I understand the reality of those machines - that they are designed for you to lose. You can have wins but ultimately you will lose.
Now I don't know why I'm doing this as I am not really in a position to go throwing away money. Who is? Even if I go to spend just half an hour there it can end up a couple and you just end up chasing your losses.
So I'm writing this as something of a reminder to myself that I need to get my act together and move away from this habit.
If you have any suggestions please feel free to leave a comment.
I very much dislike the way it feels when you lose. It seems simple to think if you don't like the way something makes you feel then stopping should be easy. Somehow it's not that simple.
Monday, December 29, 2014
The 2014 Raymo Awards
It's that time of the year again! Margaret and David may be gone but here's my take on 2014 in film.
I saw 33 films at the cinema this year (thanks as always to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and I have to say the quality was mighty high.
Of the 33, 12 films scored 8/10 or above (six over 9/10) and another 11 scored 7/10 or better.
There were a couple of stinking lows that I'll get to later but for me the highs far outweighed them.
So, here's the top 5 of 2014 according to yours truly....
1. Whiplash (10/10)
I knew this was going to be good but it still took me by surprise. The story of an aspiring jazz drummer (Miles Teller) and his combative relationship with his teacher, played brilliantly by JK Simmons. The music is outstanding, the acting (particularly Simmons) is first class, there's tension, humour and just a damn fine script. I reckon it was the first time I've ever been to a movie and actually leaned forward while watching. If I could give it more than 10 I'd think about it. A worthy 'best picture' for me.
2. Her (9/10)
Actually the first movie I saw in the year and I knew then it was going to be hard to beat by the end. Joaquin Phoenix produces a great turn as a writer who falls in love with the voice in his new computer operating system (yeah, that's right). It's quite a touching film and Scarlett Johannson is perfectly cast as the OSI voice. Possibly a bit hard to describe but it could be a peek into our future and I challenge you to watch it and not take something out of it.
3. Guardians Of The Galaxy (9/10)
Attention idiots! Who would have thought a movie about a half-human outlaw, a green killing machine, a way too literal muscle man, a tree and a racoon would be so awesome? Proving Marvel can't do anything wrong with their Avengers series, I can't believe how much fun this is. Backed by a great 70s/80s soundtrack, a very witty script and not taking itself seriously, Guardians is just a blast.
4. The Fault In Our Stars (9/10)
Pretty much every year there's one of these movies (e.g. Perks, Spectacular Now) that stands above the standard weepy teen/college rom-com. This one's about cancer sufferer Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and the relationship she strikes up with cancer survivor Gus (Ansel Elgort) after they meet at a support group. She's just trying to survive and he wants to live life (thumbing his nose at cancer by occasionally putting unlit cigarettes in his mouth). It just works. The characters are engaging (including some of the support ones) and you'll almost be going for the tissues, if you're that way inclined, at the end.
5. Gone Girl (9/10)
I must admit I got this one wrong. After watching the trailer, which I lamented seemed to give everything away, I was quite shocked with what unfolded (having not read the book of course). Another 'good' Ben Affleck film. When his wife (Rosamund Pike) disappears all the fingers are pointing at him but there's so much more to this one than the uninformed could ever expect. So many turns and shocking moments, I was enthralled in this one and it is a deserved top fiver.
Well, that leaves Captain America: The Winter Soldier as just outside the top five. I tossed up between it and Guardians as the better Marvel movie and I have to say one isn't necessarily better than the other. I think Guardians just surprised me more. Cap lived up to expectation.
Honourable mentions: In hindsight Nightcrawler (8.5/10) should have got a 9 but I have to go with what I rated it. A super and chilling performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as a paparazzi-style cameraman who really pushes the envelope for a paycheck; Dallas Buyers Club (8.5/10) produced two spectacularly deserved Oscar winning performances and an outstanding film; Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (8.5/10) was easily the best film I've seen with an ape as the lead character.
Surprise of the year: The Double (7.5/10) is another I'd rate higher in hindsight, it gets better the more you think about it. Jesse Eisenberg takes a gritty turn as an overlooked government worker whose world is turned upside down when a lookalike, who is much more successful and liked, comes on board. Directed by Richard Ayoade (Moss from the IT Crowd) it may not be for everyone but it is something quite different and thought provoking.
Flop of the year 1: Biblical epics. Yep, that's you Noah (4/10) and Exodus: Gods and Kings (3/10). How can they get stories like these so wrong. Rock angels helped Noah build the Ark! We had Batman and a bunch of drag queen Egyptians fight over freeing the slaves. Please!
Flop of the year 2: Wolf Creek 2 (2.5/10). I can't let this go without saying how crap this sequel was. Hello, suspense! Really just an awful film. And having the bad guy sing classic Australian songs to his victim wasn't amusing, and was probably the scariest thing about it.
The film I wanted to like more: The Maze Runner (7.5/10). This could have been a much better movie than it was had they not simply used it to set up the trilogy. Brilliant concept, a somewhat futuristic take on Lord Of The Flies, with a good cast of up and comers and while I did like it I just wanted more than what we got.
Letdowns: Muppets Most Wanted (6/10) - the Muppets aren't dark characters, it just didn't work; Bad Neighbours (6/10) - just about all the good bits were in the trailer; Interstellar (6/10) - if you've seen it you'll know why.
What will 2015 hold? It looks like a ripping year and I'll be busy in the next six weeks or so with so many promising films (and one nostalgic sequel) coming out. Then we have Avengers 2, Fast & Furious 7, Star Wars 7 and a heap of other anticipated sequels.
See you at the movies!
I saw 33 films at the cinema this year (thanks as always to JAFFA and Reading Cinemas) and I have to say the quality was mighty high.
Of the 33, 12 films scored 8/10 or above (six over 9/10) and another 11 scored 7/10 or better.
There were a couple of stinking lows that I'll get to later but for me the highs far outweighed them.
So, here's the top 5 of 2014 according to yours truly....
1. Whiplash (10/10)
I knew this was going to be good but it still took me by surprise. The story of an aspiring jazz drummer (Miles Teller) and his combative relationship with his teacher, played brilliantly by JK Simmons. The music is outstanding, the acting (particularly Simmons) is first class, there's tension, humour and just a damn fine script. I reckon it was the first time I've ever been to a movie and actually leaned forward while watching. If I could give it more than 10 I'd think about it. A worthy 'best picture' for me.
2. Her (9/10)
Actually the first movie I saw in the year and I knew then it was going to be hard to beat by the end. Joaquin Phoenix produces a great turn as a writer who falls in love with the voice in his new computer operating system (yeah, that's right). It's quite a touching film and Scarlett Johannson is perfectly cast as the OSI voice. Possibly a bit hard to describe but it could be a peek into our future and I challenge you to watch it and not take something out of it.
3. Guardians Of The Galaxy (9/10)
Attention idiots! Who would have thought a movie about a half-human outlaw, a green killing machine, a way too literal muscle man, a tree and a racoon would be so awesome? Proving Marvel can't do anything wrong with their Avengers series, I can't believe how much fun this is. Backed by a great 70s/80s soundtrack, a very witty script and not taking itself seriously, Guardians is just a blast.
4. The Fault In Our Stars (9/10)
Pretty much every year there's one of these movies (e.g. Perks, Spectacular Now) that stands above the standard weepy teen/college rom-com. This one's about cancer sufferer Hazel (Shailene Woodley) and the relationship she strikes up with cancer survivor Gus (Ansel Elgort) after they meet at a support group. She's just trying to survive and he wants to live life (thumbing his nose at cancer by occasionally putting unlit cigarettes in his mouth). It just works. The characters are engaging (including some of the support ones) and you'll almost be going for the tissues, if you're that way inclined, at the end.
5. Gone Girl (9/10)
I must admit I got this one wrong. After watching the trailer, which I lamented seemed to give everything away, I was quite shocked with what unfolded (having not read the book of course). Another 'good' Ben Affleck film. When his wife (Rosamund Pike) disappears all the fingers are pointing at him but there's so much more to this one than the uninformed could ever expect. So many turns and shocking moments, I was enthralled in this one and it is a deserved top fiver.
Well, that leaves Captain America: The Winter Soldier as just outside the top five. I tossed up between it and Guardians as the better Marvel movie and I have to say one isn't necessarily better than the other. I think Guardians just surprised me more. Cap lived up to expectation.
Honourable mentions: In hindsight Nightcrawler (8.5/10) should have got a 9 but I have to go with what I rated it. A super and chilling performance from Jake Gyllenhaal as a paparazzi-style cameraman who really pushes the envelope for a paycheck; Dallas Buyers Club (8.5/10) produced two spectacularly deserved Oscar winning performances and an outstanding film; Dawn Of The Planet Of The Apes (8.5/10) was easily the best film I've seen with an ape as the lead character.
Surprise of the year: The Double (7.5/10) is another I'd rate higher in hindsight, it gets better the more you think about it. Jesse Eisenberg takes a gritty turn as an overlooked government worker whose world is turned upside down when a lookalike, who is much more successful and liked, comes on board. Directed by Richard Ayoade (Moss from the IT Crowd) it may not be for everyone but it is something quite different and thought provoking.
Flop of the year 1: Biblical epics. Yep, that's you Noah (4/10) and Exodus: Gods and Kings (3/10). How can they get stories like these so wrong. Rock angels helped Noah build the Ark! We had Batman and a bunch of drag queen Egyptians fight over freeing the slaves. Please!
Flop of the year 2: Wolf Creek 2 (2.5/10). I can't let this go without saying how crap this sequel was. Hello, suspense! Really just an awful film. And having the bad guy sing classic Australian songs to his victim wasn't amusing, and was probably the scariest thing about it.
The film I wanted to like more: The Maze Runner (7.5/10). This could have been a much better movie than it was had they not simply used it to set up the trilogy. Brilliant concept, a somewhat futuristic take on Lord Of The Flies, with a good cast of up and comers and while I did like it I just wanted more than what we got.
Letdowns: Muppets Most Wanted (6/10) - the Muppets aren't dark characters, it just didn't work; Bad Neighbours (6/10) - just about all the good bits were in the trailer; Interstellar (6/10) - if you've seen it you'll know why.
What will 2015 hold? It looks like a ripping year and I'll be busy in the next six weeks or so with so many promising films (and one nostalgic sequel) coming out. Then we have Avengers 2, Fast & Furious 7, Star Wars 7 and a heap of other anticipated sequels.
See you at the movies!
Sunday, September 14, 2014
Craig
Every now and then you meet someone that has a huge impact on your life.
You know that idea that people are around for a reason or a season etc etc?
Well, earlier, I was reminded of a friend whose name is Craig and to be honest I have no idea what he's up to now.
We fell out of contact a few years ago now, I guess it was, and I guess it is just one of those things that happens. In a way I always knew he was a 'season' friend, I always felt like he lived a life that was well above mine as he comes from an affluent background.
But for a good couple of years we were great friends and his friendship was one that was very valuable at a very tough time.
I won't go into the details of why.
I always enjoyed the times when we'd catch up over in the eastern suburbs, where he lived at the time, and we'd have dinner or go for a walk at Bondi beach and the conversation was significant. Craig's advice was priceless to me at the time and I took great encouragement in the friendship that we built up.
If we weren't able to catch up in a week we'd have these great conversations on the phone and, for a while, I really did miss them.
In a way he's a little responsible for the position I'm in now, in a very good way.
I'm sure he'd be married by now, unless his work life is as demanding as it used to be, and he could be anywhere from Sydney, the Gold Coast or overseas. I really don't know.
I also don't really mind.
That might sound bad but we have both moved on.
I hope life is good for you Craig. Cheers.
Saturday, June 28, 2014
The Fault In Our Stars
I must admit I didn't know a lot about it until I saw the preview and upon seeing it I thought it looked good but not engaging, warm, funny and emotional.
It's of course based on the book, which I have not read so didn't have any attachment to it.
We meet Hazel Grace (Shailene Woodley) as she daydreams about a 'normal life' without the constant presence of the cancer she is basically letting run its course.
In an effort to get her to live her life a little, Hazel's mum sends her off to a support group where other young people discuss their own battles, and victories, with cancer.
One of those is Gus (Ansel Elgort) who proclaims that since he has beaten cancer, which claimed one leg, he's going to be remembered for something great. He carries with him, somewhat ironically, an unlit cigarette as a symbol of his victory.
Along for the ride is Gus's friend Isaac (Nat Wolff), who is going blind but has fallen hard for a girl who would eventually break up with him because she couldn't stand the thought of him going blind.
The plot is your somewhat typical teenage love story (that's really generalising) but what stands this out is the stunning performances from and chemistry between the two leads. I hadn't heard of Ansel Elgort before but he's the star of this show, make no mistake.
I was simply fixated on the story and the twists and turns in the lives of the two leads, plus Isaac who has a couple of very funny scenes regarding his break-up, and while I'm sure there were holes I didn't really notice them.
I'd rank this up there with a couple of similar films over the past couple of years, the likes of Perks Of Being A Wallflower and The Spectactular Now (which Woodley is also in) and if you need a ranking I'd say in between the two. (I did give Perks a 10).
Sure to be one of the top five at the end of the year and, be warned, if you tend to cry in movies then you're going to need the hanky.
A 9 out of 10 and an absolute (heartbreaking) delight.
Thursday, June 26, 2014
Reset & recap
So it's been quite a while between posts and I guess I lost a bit of interest.
I think it is good for me to continue to share things on this blog so I've decided to reboot and will make an effort to be fairly regular.
Habits can be harder to form than you'd think but writing this blog is a good habit and hopefully it will encourage me to pick up other good habits. Feel free to interact.
Here's a quick recap of the films I've seen this year minus the latest one which will gets its own review.
Her - 9/10. Amazingly original.
The Wolf Of Wall Street - 8/10. Enjoyable, though over the top, even for someone not a fan of Leo.
Last Vegas - 7/10. Hangover for seniors. Good fun.
12 Years A Slave - 8/10. Hard work but rewarding.
Dallas Buyers Club - 8.5/10. Oscar worthy performances.
Wolf Creek 2 - 2.5/10. Unnecessary, cheesy, sequel.
Noah - 4/10. Good effects, poor overall.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 9/10. True to form.
The Lego Movie - 6/10. Fun but over rated.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - 6.5/10. Wasted talents on unnecesary reboot.
Transcendence - 7/10. Very interesting but not exceptional.
Muppets Most Wanted - 6/10. Fun as usual but lacked something.
Bad Neighbours - 6/10. Crude, had its moments, but disappointing.
The Grand Hotel Budapest - 6/10. Too clever for its own good.
The Double - 7/5/10. Bold, exceptional performance, original.
X Men: Days of Future Past - 7.5/10. Worthy addition to series.
Maleficent - 7/10. Brilliant performance, dark, compelling.
I think it is good for me to continue to share things on this blog so I've decided to reboot and will make an effort to be fairly regular.
Habits can be harder to form than you'd think but writing this blog is a good habit and hopefully it will encourage me to pick up other good habits. Feel free to interact.
Here's a quick recap of the films I've seen this year minus the latest one which will gets its own review.
Her - 9/10. Amazingly original.
The Wolf Of Wall Street - 8/10. Enjoyable, though over the top, even for someone not a fan of Leo.
Last Vegas - 7/10. Hangover for seniors. Good fun.
12 Years A Slave - 8/10. Hard work but rewarding.
Dallas Buyers Club - 8.5/10. Oscar worthy performances.
Wolf Creek 2 - 2.5/10. Unnecessary, cheesy, sequel.
Noah - 4/10. Good effects, poor overall.
Captain America: The Winter Soldier - 9/10. True to form.
The Lego Movie - 6/10. Fun but over rated.
The Amazing Spider-Man 2 - 6.5/10. Wasted talents on unnecesary reboot.
Transcendence - 7/10. Very interesting but not exceptional.
Muppets Most Wanted - 6/10. Fun as usual but lacked something.
Bad Neighbours - 6/10. Crude, had its moments, but disappointing.
The Grand Hotel Budapest - 6/10. Too clever for its own good.
The Double - 7/5/10. Bold, exceptional performance, original.
X Men: Days of Future Past - 7.5/10. Worthy addition to series.
Maleficent - 7/10. Brilliant performance, dark, compelling.
Monday, March 10, 2014
Making a change
It's not a matter of just want, or even need. I must change.
To put it very broadly, I'm 39 shortly and I'm not particularly happy with things.
Being a bit more specific, though, I need a whole change of attitude, of outlook and of shape.
It was actually last night when I looked at myself that it occurred to me that I'm not getting any younger and I'm starting to look it.
I've met a few people along the way, around my age and even a little older, who seem to have it right and I have to admit to a certain amount of envy and - to put it a weird way - desire.
And let's face it, sometimes I don't feel desirable.
There are no fountains of youth, I know that. But by looking after myself more I am certain I can turn some things around. It's not about age, by the way.
So the most immediate thing I can do is to make sure I am getting a decent amount of exercise every day. Be it simply by walking to the train station instead of driving or getting to the gym more (though that has proven tricky at times as I tend to keep getting an injury which stops me from going thus adding to the problem) it is a must.
I have done it before as well, eating a bit less and more of the good things plus consistent exercise and I should see results semi-quickly.
So that's one part.
I must have a different attitude when it comes to a number of things. Given I work in a largely negative atmosphere it is easy to let that slip under your skin.
It's hard to keep my mouth shut when I, quite regularly, encounter incompetence or just apathy. That too can get the better of you.
I've become a little reckless - or at least careless - in other more intimate areas and that's an issue at times. And I wonder what will happen when I fix the first problem - will it actually cause this one to snowball.
Probably a risk worth taking because health is important and it should go double for me. It's funny that during a period of a few years not too long ago I was not once concerned about weight increases and was focused on making sure I wasn't losing it (long story, genuine reasons).
I must ensure gambling isn't hampering my lifestyle. I very much enjoy a flutter and I know that one side of it is very much in control. Another side has proven problematic at times but someone said something last night that hit home a bit for me and, as much as I do enjoy the odd machine play (especially when you win) life would be a lot healthier if it can go.
My outlook isn't always great. Sometimes I feel like things go around in circles and while consistency is excellent it can also hold you back. There have been several consistencies in the last decade or so and I often wonder what might happen if one or two changed. Not that I've instigated any, though.
I know I can be better, have more vitality and enjoy myself.
This was the first step.
The second step happens tomorrow morning.
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