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!