My Week With Marilyn - a fabulous film

If you get a chance, do go to see the film My Week With Marilyn.

I saw it last night and it is THE most beautiful and moving film. A stunning performance by Michelle Williams as Marilyn Monroe and brilliance from Kenneth Branagh as Sir Laurence Olivier, Eddie Redmayne as Colin Clark, Julia Ormond as Vivien Leigh, Dame Judi Dench as Dame Sybil Thorndike, etc, etc.

Gorgeously filmed in the leafy England of 1956 - with detailed vintage styling and costumes. This is an exquisite and captivating love story. Bliss!

Hugo - a beautiful and brilliant new film

Today I've been to see Hugo - and I have to say it's one of THE most beautiful cinema films I've ever watched. Every scene, every frame almost, is a mini masterpiece in itself and the whole tale is breathtakingly gorgeous and atmospheric.

 The detailed period costumes and misty Parisian sets are all amazing, the acting and storytelling top-notch and Martin Scorsese's direction has a real magical quality about it.

I've seen Hugo described as a "charming Christmas film for all the family" but, although my almost 13-year-old son enjoyed it, I'd suggest it's not really a children's film at all. It does have a certain Narnia feel and the story unfolds fairly simply - but it's certainly not one of those traditional pre-Christmas Pixar popcorn romps. Hugo is also well over two hours long.

For me, Hugo is too cerebral to be a mere “family film”, more thoughtfully conceived and constructed. It is subtle, sensitive, whimsical and - dare I say it? – tending towards "art house".

The film is very heavy on 3D effects, which are quite entertaining as gimmicks, but I believe Hugo would be just as stunning without them. Hugo is intrinsically so perfect and classy, the 3D trickery seems a little like hanging furry dice on the mirror of a sleek Daimler.

Hugo is, in a word, sublime. This film amply reflects hours and hours of painstaking production work, the most wonderfully vibrant imagination and utter devotion to the history and craft of film-making. Having been held spellbound by Hugo’s magic this evening, I’m going to see it again next week!  

My first blog - a review of the Paul & Andy Podcasts

Welcome to my first blog, folks!

Here's my review of the Paul Saxton & Andy Larkin Podcasts - which are free to download on iTunes. I can't seem to post this as an iTunes review - despite many attempts and lengthy e-mail correspondence with an extremely polite chap called Charles on the Apple helpdesk.

So I thought I'd post it here as a blog - for all to, ahem, enjoy.

The podcasts are available FREE at http://t.co/ClnaKmi and are "performed" by @paulsaxton and @foolfromthehill (Twitter). They are rather rude, though, so be warned!

Here goes. . .

Lots of laughs as lads let off steam

Lock up your maiden aunts. Tell the dear old vicar he can’t come for tea after all. And send the children – or anyone of a delicate disposition – up to bed.

Then relax, sit back with the Paul & Andy Podcast and prepare to chuckle, chortle and occasionally choke on your cappuccino as these controversial chaps unleash their startlingly frank views of the 21st century world.

Uncompromising, unscripted and unpredictable, the endearing Norwich-based pals simply switch on the microphone and let their inimitable boyish banter begin – a meandering stream of often outrageous opinions that proves both thought-provoking and curiously addictive.

Having attracted an enthusiastic following as outspoken East Anglian ‘Tweeps’ – putting the titter into Twitter – Paul Saxton and Andy Larkin have recently turned their attention to podcasts, forming a warm and engaging double act as they ponder on our weird and wonderful world in the, er, comfort of Andy’s kitchen.

Like a couple of opinionated old geezers pontificating over a pint, the pair seldom pull their punches or resist thinking the unthinkable. Nothing is sacred, no blushes are spared and cringing is compulsory.

Stumbling hilariously across a politically incorrect minefield of their own making, Paul and Andy trigger one explosive bombshell of expletives after another – and the beauty of it all is, they just don’t care. If they did, of course, the podcasts would dismally fail to detonate.

All human life is here as the boys take us on their rude weekly rambles: politics, sport, entertainment, religion, the arts, healthcare, issues of global significance, the universe’s Big Questions and, most importantly of all, puerile jokes about bodily functions.

Although determinedly unrehearsed, Andy (often dismissing himself as the ‘court jester’ of the duo) tends to set a loose agenda for the podcasts by asking his bosom buddy a series of deep, meaningful and frequently lewd questions. Much mirth then ensues as Paul proves more King Leer than King Lear – and Andy demonstrates that he’s clearly no Fool.

Lively anecdotes from their priapic schooldays, together with revealing discussions about relationships, marriage and naughty things you do with ladies, are all apt to cause the listener sudden coffee-spurting bursts of laughter. It’s more satyr than satire as the friends snigger about school reunions, past conquests and bizarre bedroom techniques – all with hilarious consequences.

And for all the colourful language and general ranting about a load of old tosh, Andy and Paul both prove themselves to be articulate, persuasive and intelligent chaps, serving up bumper helpings of food for thought along the way.   

Interestingly, the lads lose the plot from time to time when their explosive opinions give way to moments of calmer reflection, a little too much analysis and self-doubt. Are they funny enough? Are there sufficient jokes? Are listeners interested? Is anyone, indeed, actually listening out there?

The podcasts also lose slight momentum when they feel obliged to comment on newsy but rather well-worn ‘issues of the week’. Trying too hard to be topical and funny at the same time can feel a touch forced, whereas all the biggest belly laughs come when they are simply being themselves – skipping without script from one silly story to another with assurance and irreverence.

Have no doubt, chaps, we ARE receiving you loud and clear, and we most definitely ARE amused. Keep up the good work – and keep those laughs coming.

Ian Bullock, February 2011

ianb@ianbcommunications.com