At the flicks

Went to see 'The Holiday' at the cheap seats this weekend. It had some really funny parts. I am not a Jack Black fan at all, but it was nice to see him in a role like this. 7/10

Has anyone seen The Lives of Others? It's a foreign film. I heard on NPR that it's the best foreign film of 2006.

Hasn't reached these shores yet Ed

Oh my - just seen Last King Of Scotland. Forest Whitaker deserves best actor oscar - he was scary as Idi Amin, portrayed him as the 'monster' he was to a tee. A compelling story of his regime in Uganda in the 70's and his friendship with an extremely naive Scottish Doctor. I was at boarding school at the time with a friend who had grown up with his children and claimed that he was a wonderful man...there doesn't seem to be much difference to how he and Mugabe ran/run their countries. Gruesome at times, not for the feint hearted. 8.5/10

There have been many tyrants and 'monsters' who have also been loving family men.It doesn't seem to be a contradiction.

Hey Mary have you managed to see a Midsummer Night's Dream at the Octagon? It's performed by a Korean theatre company and it's the best interpretation I have ever seen of it - it is brilliant. It's on until Friday (23 Feb).
ps I really don't expect you to shout me a H/C! But a muffin would be nice...joshing...

Billy, haven't seen anything yet from the festival.Will prob see The Method in March. Anything with a semi-naked Spanish hunk in the ad can't be all bad!!!

Mary - seeing Wild Cursive (dance) tomorrow night, Marina Lewycka (A Short History of Tractors in Ukrainian) on Wed - I never managed to read the book for b/club, so not sure how much of her talk is going to go over my head, and the ballet at the Quarry Thurs night! Just hope I can stay awake for the rugby on Sat night...

Billy, 'a Short History' was funny, very black. I'm seeing Marcus Zusak on Wed.I loved 'the Book Thief'. I hope you are not letting work interfere with your social life! It's hard with so much good stuff on at once. Struggle on!!!

I'm reading the Book Thief as we speak - it's taking me ages but am 'enjoying' it. Like the way he writes - do you want to swap talks tomorrow night?!

No thanx Billy, Zusak wrote a lot of YA books-I was getting them for my son when I saw BT. My son, my mother and myself all loved it. Haven't read his latest though.

I should have asked Gath to call this page arts for old farts...referring only to me of course...just got back from Wild cursive - dance theatre of Taiwan. Made a big boo boo, firstly by having a glass of wine before the show (...yawn), and secondly, not going for a pee before it started (...distracted). There is something to be said about dance with music (there was no music)except there was a soundtrack that sounded like crickets - I kept wanting to reach for a can of Baygon. TG it was only 1hr and 10mins long...

Wow, Markus Zusak was fantastic. Just a laconic young Aussie bloke telling wonderful stories. Great night.

Marina Lewycka was ok...although I talked with an Irish girl who was assisting Zusak in Perth...how do people get these jobs? seeing Tony Hawks (Round Ireland with a Fridge) on Sunday.
Read the critique on Wild Cursive - 'intriguing' is what they called it...I would call it something else...

Fri. 23 Feb.
Went to the stage production of Fiddler on the Roof, Wednesday just gone. It was really good, most enjoyable.

The movie Black Snake Moan opens this weekend to mixed reviews. I have heard some of the soundtrack. Plenty of slide guitar which I dig. I also like Samuel L. Jackson. Any spelling errors are due to the fact that I'm needing more sleep. Think I'll walk Coal and go to bed early. 3am comes guickly. Barb had to back to work, liver transplant. See you at the movies, or play or concert.

Ed - get some sleep!
Rola - I should've got tickets to it - heard Topol on 720 and had forgotten how good the songs were.
Ballet at the Quarry was a great night out - the ballet was pretty good too...not a tutu in sight! I much prefer contemporary to classical. The G&T, chenin blanc and white hocolate liquor went down a treat...the dragonflies and bull ants were out in force...men in tights looked pretty damn buff....

Love this page!
My most recent grown-up film was Notes on a Scandal, which I really enjoyed. Judi Dench...!
I mostly just get to see kids' films - most recently Charlotte's Web with 12 yr old girl and 6 yr old boy, they both loved it (12 year old's fave book, she thought the film was 'very pretty').
Night at the Museum, which I wasn't expecting to enjoy, but we all thought it was silly, but really good fun.
Also Flushed Away, which was also a little silly, but also clever, and good fun.

Nurn - welcome - i have nominated myself to be the official 'meet and greet' chick...just leave the popcorn by the door, unless you plan on su cking it - that's ok.
Any thoughts on kids films are most welcome as I don't get to see them anymore - my kids are too old. Is Notes on a Scandal based on a real life incident?

Sat 24 Feb: I don't go to the movies very often but a friend and I went and saw Music & Lyrics tonight with Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore. A very lighthearted comedy romance about a 'has been' singer/song writer. Quite enjoyable.

Hi All:
Just to let you know how much I enjoyed 'Babel', I think. It certainly made me think, and question, and it was extremely powerful, but the best picture? I'm not sure.
I'm looking fwd to the Academy Awards tomorrow night, it's my 'super bowl'.
I've enjoyed your comments very much.

Hey Anne and Susan - good to see you 'in here'. Thanks Susan - I didn't know the awards were on tomorrow night. I haven't seen Letters from Iwa Jima, but I'd hedge my bets with Babel...should be interesting to see who wins out. I'd like to see Forest Whitaker and Judi Dench take out best actors...

No movies this weekend - but I did get to see Tony Hawks, nearly wet myself laughing - a very funny man. He had a hit with the rap/stutter song sometime back, as a bet.
Mary/Perthites - check out Becks Verandah - great venue for live music and noodles.

Ed, tried getting McCabe and Mrs Miller from the local video library but no luck-will have to try a better quality store.
Billy-isn't Becks the late night place? If so it's after my bedtime

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO well done Forest whitaker....

Mary- was there by 7.30pm - too late to score a sofa, but we left by 9.30...but yes, many people do stay on....i needed my bed.

Saw The Illusionist last night-had free tickets-was surprisingly good as light entertainment.

Susan B-what are your thoughts on the awards?

Hi Mary: The Oscar ceremony was ok. Sometimes a lilttle boring, but I did enjoy the interesting dancers (?). I wasn't surprised about Forest Whitaker or Helen Mirren, but was surprised about The Departed winning so much. I did enjoy the movie, but other movies were so good: Notes on a Scandal, and Babel, which was very compelling. I thought about it a lot after I saw it. Have you seen a little movie called 'For Your Consideration'? It is very very funny, out on DVD now. Made by the same folks who did 'Best in show' and 'Waiting for Guffman' and 'A Mighty Wind'. I loved it and would recommend it.

Hi Sue, I heard that Scorsese won more for his 'body of work' than The Departed which seems a little unfair. So many other good movies this year; at least we, the viewers, are lucky. My kids have 'For your Consideration' and I've been trying to wrest it from them for ages. I really enjoyed Guest's previous work, I think he is so funny.

Forest Whitaker and Helen Mirren- Two people with great skills and much humility. Love both of them.

The Departed was not the best movie. PL was, in my humble opinion.

My pick for best film was babel - still haven't seen PL...DVD now

Just seen Notes on a scandal.The movie would have been a bit ho hum without Judy Dench and cate Blanchett in it - their acting was sublime. 7.5/10

Anyone looking to rent a good family friend for the 11-14 age group should check out 'Just Visiting'. My boys thought it was great when they were that age, and my husband and I enjoyed it, too.

That should have been family FILM

Oh no all the comments have disappeared! Hope this is temporary.. sigh

Phew posted comment and low and behold they were all back.. (p.s I am not going mad this event did happen!!!!!)

Ed, I am still cruising the sites tonight...We love Leonard Cohen...A bunch of us go around singing 'Everybody knows...that's how it goes...' like it is some kind of secret password! We don't have to sing on key as his voice is so unique. Wonder if you can tell us his new album - do you like it?

Hi Carol, His new album is ok. I'm spoiled by his early stuff. The writing was incredible. His voice made those early albums even better. Just like Dylan. The new Tom Waits three disc CD is GREAT. I listen to it for days at a time. Monday I go to Miami and I will take Counting Crows, The Band, and Guy Clark this time. It will help make the trip bearable.

Man of the year - not bad - Robin Williams wouldn't have had to stretch himself too much here...some political insights, not a laugh a minute comedy as was promoted.Jeff Goldblum was wasted in his role but loved Christopher Walken.6/10

Billy, just read Running with Scissors...enjoyed the book but don't think I'll be rushing to see the movie!

Mary - I would be interested in how the hell they're going to make the movie! Very confronting I should think if they are true to the book.