Tag: movies

films, fun stuff, lifestyle, movie night, tv

Favourite Films for Cold Nights*

ramblingmads

“Winter is coming” (in my best Sean Bean voice)

In winter I am even more of a homebody than the rest of the year and that’s saying something for this little couch dweller.

One of my favourite things to do when the wind is howling and it is inevitably raining, is to cosy up under a snuggly blanket with a supply of Diet Coke and snacks to watch some of my ultimate favourite films, most of which my husband has shockingly not seen. I will admit that these predominantly date back to my late 90s early 00s teen years, but that’s how a favourite is formed.

Obviously the best way to watch films like these is on a nice big TV screen (or at the cinema) with a bowl of popcorn and other snacks. If you’re thinking of upgrading your TV and making things more cinematic in time for winter, maybe have a look at the Oled Televisions from Panasonic. 

1

This is the best Shakespeare adaptation there is, I will brook no argument. It is also most people’s introduction to Heath Ledger, who gives an amazing energetic performance. It’s funny, a bit naughty, silly, passionate and just so entertaining. It’s also highly quotable. I have fond memories of the first time I watched this, and it’s tied very tightly to my teenage years.

2

Damn the man, save the Empire! A day in the life of an independent record store in a typical middle American town, staffed by teenagers and manager Joe, played by Anthony LaPaglia, who just wants to get through it. Superstar Rex Manning is due in, and Corey (Liv Tyler) is planning to seduce him, Debra’s life is in freefall, Eddie just wants to play records and smoke weed. All of the teen angst is fully on display here. But there are some hilarious scenes, such as when they wrangle a shoplifter, touching moments and a top notch cast. I quote bits of this all the time, and sing the various very 90s soundtrack hits while cleaning my flat

3

I have long classified this as a Christmas film – it starts on Christmas Eve and covers a year in the lives of a group of friends living in New York City’s Alphabet City, dealing with careers, relationships and AIDS. It’s also a musical. My husband hates it and makes me watch it alone. I have no idea why. I am a Rent Head and try to see it on stage regularly, which is tricky as it’s a bit of a cult hit in the UK and not many places seem willing to stage it. I bloody love it. I will sing along to every song, always cry at the saddest bit and can quote whole chunks of it. Oh, wait, maybe that’s his problem with it. I also wrote my MA dissertation to the soundtrack, thankfully none of the lyrics made their way onto the page, that would have been deeply confusing. No Day But Today!

4

This is a super cheesy ballet movie – I think I must have watched it hundreds of times but I couldn’t tell you the names of most of the characters. There’s a lot of dancing, Zoe Saldana plays that stereotype ‘the sassy black friend’, Peter Gallagher (Seth’s dad in The O.C) plays the grumpy ballet company manager, Amanda Schull plays the heroine who’s “too fat” according to some of the dancers, and a lot of the other characters are played by actual ballet dancers. There’s lovely Charlie, who she should fall for and ‘Big Nose’ as we called him aged 15, the bad boy of ballet who breaks her heart but also makes her an amazing dancer. The soundtrack is cracking, and the finale is choreographed to Michael Jackson. It’s a total B movie but it has a special place in my heart.

5

This is my official favourite film ever (Center Stage is my actual favourite) and it is the absolute sum of screwball comedies – Katherine Hepburn, Cary Grant, a leopard, witty crackling dialogue – who could ask for more? I don’t really think it has a plot, just lots of snappy talking and craziness involving big cats. I adore it. Plus Katherine Hepburn looks amazing in all her outfits.

6

I was born in the 1980s, so films like this weren’t exactly on my radar when they first appeared. But when I was at uni I watched this classic teen movie and fell in love. The smart writing, the characters, everything about John Hughes movies makes me feel safe and happy. Despite the occasional struggle the characters always resolve everything by the end of the film and the soundtrack is always amazing.

What are some of your favourite movies to curl up on the sofa and watch? Let me know in the comments.

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*This post contains sponsored or paid for content but all words and opinions are my own.

films, movie night, netflix, reviews

Random film review: Sisters

ramblingmads

I thought that I’d share my thoughts on random films I watch late at night on Netflix. First up Sisters starring Tina Fey and Amy Poehler.

I have no recollection of this being released in cinemas but that’s pretty common as I don’t go very often.

In the film Fey and Poehler play sisters who return to their childhood home to clean out their (frankly enormous – it has 2 double beds) bedroom as their parents have sold the house.

It is very silly, they decide to throw a legendary party inviting all their old friends, who conveniently still all live locally even though Fey and Poehler don’t.

There are some very funny moments that made me laugh very loudly and some unnecessarily cringey ones (poor Ike Barinholtz) that could easily have been cut.

The film also plays like a who’s who of funny American women with Samantha Bee, Maya Rudolph, Kate McKinnon and a host of others popping up. An almost unrecognizable Dianne Wiest plays the mum.

Good points: funny, would definitely pass The Bechdel Test.

Bad points: #filmsowhite the only people of colour are some heavily stereotyped Korean nail salon workers. Fey does seem to struggle with POC in roles (she’s the film’s producer too). That really unnecessary gross out scene with Poehler and Barinholtz.

Worth watching? Yes for celeb spotting and the funny bits as well as the sisterly relationship which real life pals Fey and Poehler portray well.

Stars: 🌟🌟🌟

films, movie night, politics, reviews

Why Trump won’t like the new Magnificent Seven – a sort of review

ramblingmads

Last week we went to the cinema intending to use our free ticket voucher from Sainsbury’s to see Miss Peregrine.  According to both the website and the interactive noticeboard at the cinema there were seats but the dead eyed staffer said it was sold out. Normally we would have just said sod it and gone to Nandos. But the voucher was due to expire so we went to see The Magnificent Seven instead. 

I grew up with a father who loved sci fi and cowboy films. I remember watching the original version with Yul Brynner  (who will forever be the King of Siam to me, however inaccurate that film was) and indeed watching the Seven Samurai aka the original of the original. 

So I wasn’t sure I’d enjoy this, but Chris Pratt was in it and I find him amusing and for six seconds the very pretty Matt Bomer was as well. 

I have a whole theory about Chris Pratt and his mission to recreate Toy Story by himself – he’s played Andy (Parks & Rec), a spaceman (Guardians of the Galaxy), run with dinosaurs, because unless you’re Andy Serkis you can’t be a dinosaur  (Jurassic World) and now a cowboy. Next up Bo Peep, a slinky dog or a pig (remake of Babe maybe).


Anyway. Onto the title of this post. There may be spoilers ahead so read on only if you don’t care.  

The plot centres around a small frontier town in California during the Gold Rush, where a wealthy and ruthless man plans to drive the locals out to dig more mines. Matt Bomer dies in a shootout and the church is burned down. 

Matt’s widow (Haley Bennett) decides to find someone to help her town and sets off with human puppy dog in tow.  

She finds Denzel Washington, a bound sheriff doing his duty, interestingly dressed all in black, counter to most cowboy films where the heroes wear white hats (something much referenced in Buffy the Vampire Slayer). 

He recruits gambling sharpshooter Faraday (Pratt) and sets out gathering a posse. 

There are seven men, one woman and the aforementioned human puppy. No one assaults her, no one even intimates rape. Not even the Mexican or Native American. (Trump would dislike that). 

After a rather explosive shootout with the bad guys – most of the seven and many of the townsfolk are dead. The villain gets his comeuppance and is shot by the heroine. 

The three heroes who ride out of town are a black man, a Mexican and a Native American – hardly Trump’s fan base. The four buried in town include the son of Irish immigrants (Faraday), a Chinese man (himself an immigrant), a crazy mountain man who spouts the Bible – in a good way, and a Cajun from New Orleans who again would be descended from immigrants. 

They stood up and defended strangers against a wicked man only concerned with his own wealth and power.   

I think Hollywood just allied itself even more firmly with Hilary Clinton. The true hero is a woman who united people, who found the best people for the job, regardless of their background or ethnicity. 

While Clinton is far from perfect (she is human) I think she’d probably enjoy the film a damn sight more than Trump. I just really hope the Americans can see that Trump is not President material.