Last week I attended a review screening of a film which was released earlier this year called 'Last Chance Harvey'. It's being released on DVD/Blu Ray in May 09. Here's my film review which I have written for the staff magazine at my place of work....it's a while since I have exercised my 'journalistic muscle', so don't expect this to be very well-written... you've been warned!
'Last Chance Harvey' tracks the seeming misfortunes of two singles from different sides of the Atlantic pond - whose lives eventually collide in fairly unassuming circumstances after a series of missed opportunities.
Dustin Hoffman plays Harvey Shine - an advertising-jingle-writing, jazz-piano-playing divorcee from Los Angeles - whose career and complicated relationship with his daughter both hang precariously in the balance.
Emma Thompson plays Kate Walker who leads a busy but underwhelming existence in London - a mediocre job, a loveable but draining and neurotic mother, a vain and hopeless search for love with the help of everyone around her.
Last Chance Harvey is a gentle and sensitive romantic comedy-drama - incorporating an archetypal joker-type down on his luck, falling for an equally archetypal happy but wistful spinster - who each end up saving one another from the relative misery of their single lives.
This is not said as a criticism - more as a way to manage expectations - there's no ground breaking revelations or insights achieved in this film! Additionally there are some sub-plots which are predictable and unoriginal.
Having said this, the film is clever in its ability to challenge the viewers' assumptions right from the start. It also takes a light-hearted look at the stereotypical British character in a fairly forthright manner. Moreover, this film considers the perspectives, challenges, excitement and complexities of finding love when you're older than the youthful characters usually found in a Hollywood script - reminding the audience that true romantic emotions, and the fear of loneliness, can affect you no matter your age.
There are some really funny scenes with Hoffman, and Thompson's fine acting talent is clear to see in some very poignant and touching moments.
If you're single you may well laugh at, and relate to, this film. If you're in an established relationship, you could well laugh with relief.
I give this film 3.5 out of 5.
Dancing, random mentions about my life; thoughts about the environment and the world; other stuff; plus music I love
Tuesday, April 21, 2009
Saturday, April 18, 2009
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Rock
Just a little bit of me is a 'Rock Chick'....
I find it fascinating how sometimes you need to listen to a certain genre of music to reflect or express the mood you're in at a particular time. These two are, in my opinion, great contemporary rock songs. First up Foo Fighters, and then the Kings of Leon.
I find it fascinating how sometimes you need to listen to a certain genre of music to reflect or express the mood you're in at a particular time. These two are, in my opinion, great contemporary rock songs. First up Foo Fighters, and then the Kings of Leon.
Thursday, April 09, 2009
a time to be happy
I reckon that Easter is a really good time of year! For one thing, it means I get 4 days off! A lovely, long weekend.
I am catching up with family, friends, and movies....hope to watch a couple that a friend has lent me, and I will watch a Fred and Ginger movie as well from a boxset my parents gave me for Christmas.
The other day I was listening to Sarah Kennedy on BBC Radio 2 whilst getting ready for work. Every morning at about 0720 hours she plays a 'show tune' which is really good fun - songs from musicals and shows of today and yesteryear. She played the title song to the 1933 musical '42nd Street'. It was so uplifting! It really got me in the mood and I was dancing around in my room with the feelgood factor exploding through the cells in my body. It certainly put a spring in my step on the way to work that day!
Rather synchronous as well as I will be going to New York soon, for the first time, which I am really excited about. I definitely intend to watch a musical on Broadway...if 42nd Street is showing then that may well be the show I plump for!
I have tried to locate an original, professional recording on Youtube to no great avail. So instead I have found the opening to the 55th Tony Awards which plays this song with some funky choreography.
Happy Easter! May you have a spring in your step like this song, and like all the Easter Bunnies haha! The essence and spirit of Easter - for me - is a time of birth, new beginnings, fresh ideas, creativity, growth, new horizons. :)
I am catching up with family, friends, and movies....hope to watch a couple that a friend has lent me, and I will watch a Fred and Ginger movie as well from a boxset my parents gave me for Christmas.
The other day I was listening to Sarah Kennedy on BBC Radio 2 whilst getting ready for work. Every morning at about 0720 hours she plays a 'show tune' which is really good fun - songs from musicals and shows of today and yesteryear. She played the title song to the 1933 musical '42nd Street'. It was so uplifting! It really got me in the mood and I was dancing around in my room with the feelgood factor exploding through the cells in my body. It certainly put a spring in my step on the way to work that day!
Rather synchronous as well as I will be going to New York soon, for the first time, which I am really excited about. I definitely intend to watch a musical on Broadway...if 42nd Street is showing then that may well be the show I plump for!
I have tried to locate an original, professional recording on Youtube to no great avail. So instead I have found the opening to the 55th Tony Awards which plays this song with some funky choreography.
Happy Easter! May you have a spring in your step like this song, and like all the Easter Bunnies haha! The essence and spirit of Easter - for me - is a time of birth, new beginnings, fresh ideas, creativity, growth, new horizons. :)
Friday, April 03, 2009
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
Please Don't Stop the Rain
Below a section from a book my brother and belle-soeur got me for Christmas a couple of years ago - 'The Art of Happiness' by the Dalai Lama. I have ad-libbed a bit and I hope the Dalai does not mind me transcribing a few of his wise thoughts on my blog. HH Dalai Lama, or the author Howard Cutler: if you're reading this and you do mind, please let me know:
Although pain and suffering are universal human phenomena, that doesn't mean we have an easy time accepting them. Human beings have devised a vast repertoire of strategies for avoiding having to experience suffering. Sometimes we use external means, such as chemicals - deadening or medicating our emotional pain with drugs and alcohol. We have an array of internal mechanisms as well - psychological defences, often unconscious, that buffer us from feeling too much emotional pain or anguish when we are confronted with problems. Sometimes these defence mechanisms can be quite primitive, such as simply refusing to recognise that a problem exists.
At other times, we may vaguely recognise that we have a problem but immerse ourselves in a million distractions or entertainments to avoid thinking about it. Or, we might use projection - unable to accept we have a problem, we unconsciously project it onto others and blame them for our suffering.
Suffering can only be avoided temporarily. But like a disease that's left untreated, the disease invariably worsens. The high from drugs/food/alcohol can certainly ease pain for a while, but continued use will do physical damage to our bodies, social life and the people and environment around us. The internal psychological defences like denial or repression may shield and protect us from feeling the pain a little longer, but it still doesn't make the suffering disappear.
It's a good book, I recommend it.
Although pain and suffering are universal human phenomena, that doesn't mean we have an easy time accepting them. Human beings have devised a vast repertoire of strategies for avoiding having to experience suffering. Sometimes we use external means, such as chemicals - deadening or medicating our emotional pain with drugs and alcohol. We have an array of internal mechanisms as well - psychological defences, often unconscious, that buffer us from feeling too much emotional pain or anguish when we are confronted with problems. Sometimes these defence mechanisms can be quite primitive, such as simply refusing to recognise that a problem exists.
At other times, we may vaguely recognise that we have a problem but immerse ourselves in a million distractions or entertainments to avoid thinking about it. Or, we might use projection - unable to accept we have a problem, we unconsciously project it onto others and blame them for our suffering.
Suffering can only be avoided temporarily. But like a disease that's left untreated, the disease invariably worsens. The high from drugs/food/alcohol can certainly ease pain for a while, but continued use will do physical damage to our bodies, social life and the people and environment around us. The internal psychological defences like denial or repression may shield and protect us from feeling the pain a little longer, but it still doesn't make the suffering disappear.
It's a good book, I recommend it.
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