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Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts

Sunday Brunch: New Cinema Releases and On Demand Services

Sunday, September 28, 2014





Brunch isn't really a big deal over here but I love the idea of it - and enjoy going to brunch whilst on holiday. Whenever I'm throwing together ideas for a new story, one of my favourite things to do is go Google Maps-ing for all the nice restaurants in the area. As I have dairy intolerance, I often have to watch what I eat at restaurants so it's not always a fun experience. However, the rise of all those Food Network shows and Pinterest and all the great reviews on Yelp and Chowhound allow me to live vicariously through all you gastronauts. 

So, I thought I'd try and start a new feature (although I'm not good at keeping up features so we'll see) where we go for brunch on a Sunday, anywhere in the world, and have a chat. This week we'll be:

Sunday Brunch: Season Winners and Losers

Sunday, June 15, 2014




Brunch isn't really a big deal over here but I love the idea of it - and enjoy going to brunch whilst on holiday. Whenever I'm throwing together ideas for a new story, one of my favourite things to do is go Google Maps-ing for all the nice restaurants in the area. As I have dairy intolerance, I often have to watch what I eat at restaurants so it's not always a fun experience. However, the rise of all those Food Network shows and Pinterest and all the great reviews on Yelp and Chowhound allow me to live vicariously through all you gastronauts. 

So, I thought I'd try and start a new feature (although I'm not good at keeping up features so we'll see) where we go for brunch on a Sunday, anywhere in the world, and have a chat. This week we'll be:



Last year I did a little TV winners and losers things, so thought I might as well do it this year. I haven't been as impressed with TV this season as I have been in the past but I think I've watched more TV this year, which is kind of crazy. I've been watching The Hollywood Reporter's Emmy Roundtable series and have the most respect for all those involved in television (if you like TV, I'd urge you to watch too). Anyway, let's talk about the past season.

WINNERS

The Good Wife has been absolutely outstanding this season and not just because of the surprise halfway through! I liked that there was an actual story arc rather than just odd cases every week. Also, the recurring guest stars as judges, lawyers, and clients gimmick is one of the most charming things about the show. During the showrunners roundtable, someone (I think it might have been Matthew Weiner but I'm not sure) talked about how networks aren't too keen on arcs because of syndication. They like to be able to shoot the episodes out of order, then they can show them out of order. I thought that was really interesting and it made me think 'oh yeah, I suppose they do' when I considered shows like Big Bang Theory. I sometimes watch 2-3 episodes in one day (don't judge) and they're often from different seasons yet it really doesn't matter.

That was a longer paragraph than I intended so I'll just summarise the rest:

  • Game of Thrones is still excellent in terms of being shocking and keeping audience attention each week (which is getting harder and harder to do successfully, don't you think?) but it hasn't been my favourite season overall. 
  • Suits, House of Cards, and Mad Men were all of a high standard. Mad Men especially. I'm really sad it's going to be over soon but I also respect the fact that it is a finite piece of work and I'm sure it will go down in history as a classic. 
  • Chicago Fire is a show I've only just got into but I love the character development. It's like a tamer Rescue Me, which means the whole family can watch. Always a bonus.
  • About A Boy has also gone down well in our household. This is mostly to do with the actors - I think it has a great cast and it's the kind of show that can run for a long time. 
  • The Mindy Project, Big Bang Theory, and Modern Family have all managed to keep me laughing. 


LOSERS

  • Nashville. I'm sorry y'all. I just couldn't stick with Rayna and Juliette. I might watch it on catch up though because I do love the music and the melodrama.
  • Grey's Anatomy. I'm only watching this a) to say goodbye to Sandra Oh. Cristina Yang is hands down one of my favourite TV characters and b) because my mum and sister still enjoy it and I'm usually in the room when it comes on.
  • New Girl. I don't like Nick and Jess together (I don't know if they break up, I didn't get that far). To me, the tone of the show came across like a big in joke between the cast members and it felt rather closed off to the audience, so I switched off.
  • Keeping Up With The Kardashians. YES I WATCH THIS, WATCHAGONNADO?! Except the last season was really, really boring. They're clutching at straws. Methinks it's time for E! to find a new tent pole show. 
  • Star-Crossed. I wouldn't call it a loser as such. More like A for effort, better luck next time. 


I RESPECT YO REALNESS FOR REALS

I still watch a lot of reality TV and I'm not ashamed of it. Not really anyway.

  • The Amazing Race never gets old for me. Even when they rehash contestants and call it an All-Star season. 
  • Eric and Jessie: Game On. My sister got me into this one. They're sweet in their own way and I like the relationship Jessie and Sydney have. 
  • Wendy Williams Show. How you doin'? Not quite reality but she talks about reality TV a lot and I can't get enough. After Elevator-Gate, the first thing we all said was 'what's Wendy going to say on Hot Topics?!' I was so upset when I couldn't get tickets for a taping during our trip to NYC!
  • I also love our UK shows like Made In Chelsea, The Only Way Is Essex, and Gogglebox.


TBW

So, I have a rather long list of shows To Be Watched just like my TBR (To Be Read) list. From this season I'll have to add:

  • Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. I gave up around episode 8 or 9 then caught a later episode the other day and was impressed. I also heard it gets much better in the run up to the finale.
  • Scandal, Hart of Dixie, and Real Housewives of Atlanta are being messed around with by UK broadcasters. Really (a TV channel) dropped Hart of Dixie, which is SO ANNOYING because I miss Zoe Hart. Scandal was dropped by Channel 4 and picked up by Sky Living who are showing it all from the beginning (haha, sorry, this means nothing to you lovely readers outside of the UK does it? However it has annoyed me that I want to vent. Humour me.) As for RHOA, well ITV2 are showing season 5 at the moment so hopefully it will be on soon. 
  • Broolyn Nine-Nine. I watch the odd episode now and again but haven't given it my full attention despite finding it quite charming.
  • As for last year, well I still haven't watched Southland and I desparately want to try Orphan Black.

So, that was a lot longer than I expected and I didn't even get to talk about my favourites in depth. Tell me, what did you enjoy or dislike this season? What's on your TBW list? Do you have any recommendations for me? 

Only Boring People Are Bored

Wednesday, May 14, 2014

Mad Men Wednesday means more of my favourite adverts.

As summer approaches, the fashion brands are putting their best foot forward ad wise.

Missguided - Born As A Unicorn 



Everyone's loving Sleigh Bells, aren't they? I think this song was used in the promos - and in the film? I only got through 20 minutes - for The Bling Ring. Fun advert. (It's called Kids if you want to know). Very Nasty Gal-esque.

Tesco F&F - Feel the Heat Summer 2014 



I really thought this was Missguided/BooHoo etc to begin with. Great advert - the music really helps. The Tesco creative department have been really on trend of late (even ahead at times).

French Connection did have one I think but I only saw it once and can't find a video. Well, there's a S/S 14 video on their Youtube page but I'm not sure if that's the same advert. I'm not so keen on that one, so I'll keep it on the backburner.


Vodafone - Spotify (RKCR/Y&R)


Not fashion related. Just makes me smile.

I'm Still Waiting For That Manhattan...

Wednesday, May 7, 2014

So, Don, Peggy, Joan, and I have all made up again - yay! I finally got around to finishing season 6 of Mad Men (a whole year later) and have caught up with the first three episodes of season 7 - part 1. In celebration, I thought I'd revive Mad Men Wednesday, which kind of started last year but fizzled out once I dropped the show. Obviously. So, let's cut the chit chat and get on with the ad's (both Wieden + Kennedy, sorry. I don't work for them, I swear). 

Cravendale - Barry The Biscuit Boy  (Wieden + Kennedy)



I laughed so hard the first time I saw this and still it never fails to produce a chuckle. If you can't view the video for whatever reason, I beg you to go and find it elsewhere. You won't be sorry. I would love to have a conversation with the person who came up with this - I'm sure it would be interesting to say the least.

Nike - Winner Stays (Wieden + Kennedy)



The World Cup is almost upon us. Need I say more?

Who Run The World?

Monday, April 28, 2014

Did you see The Other Woman this past weekend? From the time I first heard about it, I decided I'd go and see it because a) I'm a Cameron Diaz fan and b) I feel like I need to step up in terms of supporting female and/or ethnic minority driven films. I really don't like the cinema experience these days but money talks.

The film was quite funny and very sweet. Definitely one to see with your BFF. It was Leslie Mann's film and she was really quite great as Kate who, in the hands of another actress, could've been extremely annoying. Leslie Mann did a nice job of portraying a conflicted, hurt, and somewhat lonely woman who needed a bit of outside encouragement. Her brother's appearance in the film really helped to humanize her too. Cameron Diaz is always a presence on the big screen and that was no exception in this film as she played no-nonsense, tough talking, lawyer Carly. Together, Leslie Mann and Cameron Diaz made a great double act. There were some truly laugh out loud comedy scenes too, playing off their height differneces. As a 5 footer myself, I related to the Kate character in that respect! Finally, Kate Upton's role as Amber wasn't that big but she was an important link in terms of amping up the friendship, sisterhood aspect of the film. The script called for her to be the ditzy blonde but she managed to come across as sweet and a tad naive rather than bimbo-like. The male supporting characters were all very well played too. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau was very funny as the serial cheater of a husband. He kind of hammed it up, almost panto-villain like, but I think it was fine for this kind of film. Anyway, considering GoT, Jaime Lannister is a rather complex and layered character so we know he can act. 

However, all that being said, I'm in no way saying the film was perfect. Something felt missing but I just can't put my finger on it. Perhaps it was more to do with the editing? Also, as my sister pointed out when we watched the trailer, it's kind of like John Tucker Must Die 2.0 - and obviously there are plenty of comparissons to The First Wives Club. So, sure, the story wasn't original but the ladies really seemed like they were good friends off the screen and it helped create a warmth to the film that made you smile just a little bit.

The soundtrack was excellent except for the inclusion of Girls Just Want To Have Fun during a montage scene (always fade out in a montage - montaaaage). I personally might've started the scene with Girls... but then record scratch cut it and restarted with something a little more fierce by I don't know, someone like M.I.A or even good old Nicki Minaj, who is in the film! Then again maybe those  kind of songs are expensive. Or maybe the director/music supervisor/producers wanted a reference point for a certain target audience but come on, we're in 2014! Girls Just Want To Have Fun needs to be retired as the ya-ya, besties forever theme. However, the music supervisor won me back with the inclusion of Tried By 12 - awesome. (Even though that scene was kind of uncomfortable but that's a discussion for another day).

Overall, The Other Woman is a really fun film. The whole way through I couldn't stop thinking it would have been a brilliant, "chick-lit" book back in the day. Is it a book?! Still, the best thing for me is that, even though I don't like going to the cinema anymore, it was still nice to be part of a big group of women all giggling and enjoying themselves. Dear Hollywood, more please?

Fall Into

Tuesday, April 1, 2014


I've always been a fan of The Gap - especially during the summer. My sister often makes fun of me for frequenting this inoffensive (or boring as she would say) clothes shop. During that scene in Crazy, Stupid, Love she cackled and nudged me knowingly, then assaulted me with the phrase for a little while until she grew bored and forgot about it (hopefully she's not reading this now).



My love mostly stems from being indoctrinated by their adverts as a child. Well, I like their Breton stripes, polka dots, and denim a lot too but back then, it seemed like an Event when a new Gap advert premiered. Well, it did to me anyway and I wanted to be in one so badly! So I wanted to look back on some of the adverts that made the most impact on my younger self. 

KHAKI A-GO-GO


This was probably my favourite. I remember we'd all do the dance.

GAP KIDS YOU REALLY GOT ME


I looooved this one - can you guess why? I wanted to be the lead singer! Look at her killing it, rocking that natural hair. The 90s/early 00s was a nice time to grow up. Positive messages. Diversity on the screen. What went wrong?

LOVE TRAIN



The Christmas ads were always cheery and memorable. I STILL think of this at Christmas nowadays. Forget high concept, pull on your heartstring, mini movie adverts. THIS is a Christmas advert people. 

MELLOW YELLOW



This advert introduced me to Donovan. Need I say more? Exceptm once again, I would've paid big money to be in one of these adverts.

DAFT PUNK AND JULIETTE LEWIS



I remember my mum and my gran loved this one. Once again, we all learnt the dance. 

Some others: West Side Story Crazy Cool; Missy and Madonna (I remember we were on holiday in Florida when this came out); More Christmas; Give A Little Bit

There's nothing really like these adverts anymore. It's all about being rather silly or overly sentimental to get the product trending on Twitter, which is fair enough but...I preferred these. I'll stop romanticising the 90s now but go on, admit it, you wanted to be in a Gap ad too! Right? 

Scores and Scores: Thomas Newman

Wednesday, March 12, 2014

I'd like to spend some time talking about the composers and soundtracks that made (and continue to make) me fall in love with film music. This is all personal opinion - I will not be doing a history of film music series or  anything, as I am nowhere near qualified to discuss it and the BBC aired a nice little series last year that would be helpful if that's what you're looking for. There's also no rhyme or reason for the order in which I discuss these composers and soundtracks. Anyway, on with the show...

I had to start with Thomas Newman because according to my Last.Fm page, he is second only to Muse in my most listened to artists of all time list. Just scrolling through IMDB, my first encounter with Thomas Newman's work was probably Little Women but the first time I actually became aware of his music was during the American Beauty hype. I was far too young at the time to see the film but the main title, Any Other Name, was everywhere, wasn't it? I just remember being completely taken in by the simplicity and sadness of it all contrasted with that infamous poster. Then of course it was turned into a dance track. Remember when those Chillout albums were all the rage?!



When I started secondary school, I had a brilliant RE teacher who loved film and television and always found a way to incorporate media into our lessons. We spent a loooong time on Pay It Forward and we were all really inspired, naturally. The music completely stood out for me. It was the jauntiness of the percussion, the almost Western (as in film genre) and/or comical sounds, and then that stark, mournful piano again. Also, these pieces were the ones that allowed me to recognise where Thomas Newman had been imitated in other films or television shows. For example, Sam's themes in Transformers is quite similar in style.


Next up, we have Finding Nemo. This film was groudbreaking and special on all kinds of levels, which was only enriched by a BEAUTIFUL score. The theme is used all over the shop these days, usually on the news or a documentary where the intention is to make your face start leaking. Thomas Newman's trademark recipe of world instruments + percussion + a leading piano melody echoed by strings really helped enhance that underwater, unknown world theme. Similar results occured with Wall-E. Define Dancing still brings a tear to my eye.


One of my most played Thomas Newman scores is Lemony Snicket's: A Series of Unfortunate Events. This is probably my favourite complete Thomas Newman score (and one of my favourite films). Again, the use of percussion helps us unlock our imaginations to the world - in this case, a world of inventions in strange settings with even stranger (and sinister) people, all seen from a child's perspective.


Finally, The Shawshank Redemption. One of the most loved films (which I only just got round to watching the other day, ahem) and one of the most loved film themes. How can a piece of music only 1.53 in length make you feel so much?! I listened to this for years without having any context and was still moved, so imagine how I felt when I finally watched the film the other day? As for Brooks Was Here...well, best not to even get started on that one.


Obviously, there's so much more we could talk about - just look at how many films Thomas Newman has scored all with his signature style. I didn't even get to the Six Feet Under theme. However, just the little we've covered is enough to demonstrate why, during this year's Hollywood Reporter Composers Roundtable, Hans Zimmer noted that Thomas Newman has "revolutionized harmoic language in films...forever".

Are you a Thomas Newman fan? If not, have a listen to this playlist. What's your favourite piece?

Best of 2013: Film

Sunday, December 29, 2013

Well, I got an Odeon points card as I said I would last year. Bit of a waste of time because I only went to the cinema a few times this year! I missed all the big blockbusters during the spring and summer, so I'm kind of just catching up as the DVD's are released. I've definitely been more into television this year but you'll know this if you've ever read any of my posts. 

Film

Lincoln

Zero Dark Thirty 

Warm Bodies

Wreck-It Ralph

Identity Thief

Iron Man 3

Elysium

The Crash Reel

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

Frozen

Notable mentions: American Hustle; Oz: The Great and Powerful; How I Live Now; Now You See Me

Yes, you're reading correctly, Les Miserables did not make the list. I've made peace with it over Christmas, as I've realised I enjoy dipping in and out whilst it's on the movie channel. However, in the cinema, I found it a little too long for my liking. Also, can we just talk about the big blockbusters? I found Star Trek Into Darkness a little tiring too. For some reason, it didn't have the fun and easiness of the first one. The Great Gatsby just didn't work for me - really, really, really disliked the soundtrack and found it distracting. It looked great though. Speaking of looking great and not much else...Man of Steel. What was up with that?! It was like a really long prologue - nothing happened! All style, no substance, which was a shame because the cast was excellent, as was the score; I just wish they had something to work with. 

Score or Soundtrack


Frozen - Score by Christophe Beck, Soundtrack by Various
From the first note to the very last, this was a lively, engaging, touching, beautiful score and soundtrack. An instant Disney classic. There were echoes of Wicked, which I loved and I'm sure people will be singing 'Do You Want To Build A Snowman?' for many Christmases to come. Oh and yay for Christophe Beck! I will find the sheet music to Jazz It Up from Charlie Bartlett one day...


American Hustle - Score by Danny Elfman, Soundtrack by Various (music supervisor Susan Jacobs)
The soundtrack really elevated the film and helped with the pacing. I definitely felt like doing a bit of seat dancing in the cinema, so as soon as I got home, I plugged into the soundtrack. There's an interesting piece on The Huffington Post with Susan Jacobs about how and why each piece was chosen.


Zero Dark Thirty by Alexandre Desplat
I already talked about this score here. Definitely one of the most atmospheric scores of the year. 

Man of Steel by Hans Zimmer
Whilst I had reservations about the film, the score was brilliant! It belonged to a completely different film and I'm sad that the film wasn't better because coupled with this score it could've been something special. I love the echoes of John Williams' iconic Superman theme but I also love that Hans Zimmer didn't bring it back. This is definitely the score for a modern day Superman film. It's much brighter than the Nolan Batman scores but in a similar vein. Some people probably complained that it was too loud but come on...it's Hans Zimmer! What did you expect?


The Hunger Games: Catching Fire Soundtrack by Various
I wasn't that keen on the score (although I do love the Capitol/ President Snow/ official stuff theme that crops up every now and then). The companion soundtrack was excellent though, making it two years in a row for The Hunger Games. I spoke about it here but Elastic Heart and Atlas are still the standout tracks for me. Atlas is perfect, perfect, perfect for Katniss.


Now tell me, what were your favourite films and soundtracks this year? 

Bright Lights, Big City

Monday, October 7, 2013


Last week, the season finale of Washington Heights aired in the UK and it was even more bittersweet because I had found out a few weeks earlier that it didn't get picked up for a second season. Crazy, right? Washington Heights was the most real 'reality' show that has been shown on MTV in a long time. It reminded me a little of that reality show about the dancers, featuring the guy who was dating a Pussycat Doll, remember that? (Off topic: I'm just going through this Wikipedia page of old MTV reality shows. Gosh there were some goodies! Remember Rich Girls? Two-A-Days! Room Raiders! This warrants a separate post another day). 

For those of you unfamiliar with the small series, it followed nine young adults from - you guessed it - Washington Heights, NYC, over a short period of time as they pursued their careers and schooling whilst navigating the usual dramas that come about during late teens/early twenties. There were lots of break-ups and make-ups but also quite a bit of family drama. 'So, it's The Hills in New York City then?' I hear you cry. No - not at all! Firstly because The Hills in New York was called The City (the show that gave us the fabulous Olivia Palermo). Secondly, Washington Heights wasn't centred around wealthy girls who could afford to intern at top magazines and music companies whilst maintaining a high standard of living (no shade, I loved The Hills, just the truth). Yes, many of the Washington Heights cast were pursuing entertainment or arts careers but they were also shown trying to make ends meet at the same time. The closest show I can think to compare it to is How to Make It in America (which was also cancelled before time).

So, was this the reason why Washington Heights wasn't picked up for a second season? Was it too real? After all, nobody really wants to see the struggle, do they? Nowadays it seems everybody wants more than five minutes of fame and it is easier than ever before to do so on your own. Look at models such as Kate Upton who have made it by building a brand themselves via Instagram and the like, so that by the time an agency signs them, they've already gained a substantial following and the upper hand. I was watching the US version of The X Factor the other day and was dismayed to see this guy who believed his world was over because he was told 'no'. We live in a time where people who are mildly talented can upload videos and cultivate fan-bases across the whole spectrum of social media. At the same time, their family showers them with non-stop praise. They are fawned over and made to feel like pop stars in the blink of an eye. So, when they actually go and audition and enter the real world and they're met with negative but constructive feedback, they can't deal with it. In their eyes, they're already famous and everyone should agree. What seems to be lost in translation a little bit (and not just in the entertainment industries, also in 'normal' jobs) is that you generally have to struggle and hustle to make it to the top. Kids don't want to know that, so perhaps that's why Washington Heights wasn't so appealing to them. 

Another, perhaps more cynical view, is that MTV viewers don't want to watch ethnic people trying to make it. If they're making a fool of themselves or playing to stereotype (see Jersey Shore) fine but if they're actually trying to do something with their lives...maybe not. Cold? Pessimistic? Maybe. But I can't help think there's a slither of truth in that line of thinking. 

However, it all just comes down to the fact that I just want to know what happens next. How did Audubon get on with his tour? Is Reyna now a wine connoisseur? On seeing the finished product, did Frankie regret pursuing Ludwin like that? Are Jimmy and Eliza back together? And so on and so forth. I think BET should pick it up and bring us a season two. What do you think? 

Summer Round Up

Monday, September 2, 2013

Summer is over, so I'd just like to round up some of the entertainment highlights. 

Books


How My Summer Went Up In Flames by Jennifer Salvato Doktorski - I loved this book, it really made me laugh. 

Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan - This was my favourite adult book of the summer. Again, extremely hilarious. 

Music


Live music: Despite my general dislike of them, I ended up at two festivals this year. First of all, I went to Lovebox in East London. It was one of the hottest days of the year during our fantastic heatwave, so everybody was in a great mood. I was lucky enough to enjoy the sounds of: Charlie Wilson, Julio Bashmore, Redlight, Wiley, Disclosure, Annie Mac and Azealia Banks. The crowd was amazing- everyone just wanted to enjoy the day- and there were decent toilet facilities (at a small charge), which is always a plus in my books. 

Then I went to V festival in my hometown, which was almost the polar opposite. The weather was rubbish, the crowd was miserable and unappreciative and it was just generally a not very nice day. To be fair, I only wanted to see Beyonce but even the debut of her new hairstyle couldn't make the evening any better. Poor Bey was singing her heart out and whipping that bob around like nobody's business but the crappy sound and the boring crowd won in the end. They even dared to boo her! To make matters worse, we were stuck next to a group of chatterers who then started fighting and we witnessed a man punch a woman in the face. Classy Essex as always. 

Best albums: Settle by Disclosure (check out Ed Macfarlane from Friendly Fires singing one of my favourite tracks from the album at Reading- I always have love and respect to give to a committed dancer); Modern Vampires of the City by Vampire Weekend; True Romance by Charli XCX; Ciara by Ciara; Blurred Lines by Robin Thicke; Unorthodox Jukebox by Bruno Mars; and Body Music by AlunaGeorge.

Best songs: Well, you know my Songs of the Summer but I also enjoyed some others that I've put in a playlist for your listening pleasure. Extra special kudos to Icona Pop who have been contenders for Song of the Summer with I Love It two years in a row!

Film


I haven't really seen much at the cinema this year. I missed all of the blockbusters and superhero flicks. I was also supposed to go to TIFF but circumstances changed. However, these were my picks and I will look out for their general release dates: Gravity, The Fifth Estate, Rush, August: Osage County; Third Person; and How I Live Now. 

However, I have made good use of the various on demand services I'm signed up to such as LoveFilm and Netflix and enjoyed fun summer movies such as Almost Famous, Adventureland and Walk the Line- all of which had amazing soundtracks. I also enjoyed Lakey Peterson: Zero to 100, which was very interesting and inspiring. 

Television


I've been watching Elementary. It took a while to really get into it but now I am IN LOVE. It's very different to the BBC's Sherlock but I think I prefer Jonny Lee Miller's portrayal a little more than Benedict Cumberbatch's (*quickly hides from the Cumberbatch superfans*). Whoever decided to cast Lucy Liu as Watson deserves an award because the idea-and execution-is genius. I really like the dynamic Sherlock and Watson have got going and hopefully they keep it platonic. I'm up to the episode where Sherlock asks Watson to stay on as his apprentice - what a beautiful speech! Oh and I covet Watson's wardrobe. 

Also, the second season of Scandal has been airing over here to fill The Good Wife/Nashville void. I'm not sure I'm really on board with this show anymore partly because I don't believe in Olivia and Fitz (he's so spineless) the same way I believe in MerDer. Kerry Washington is awesome though so I'm glad Scandal is pushing her more into the limelight. 

Rookie Blue is also back on the air over here. I love this show - it just keeps getting better and better.

Finally, I've become quite invested in the little MTV show Washington Heights, which is a bit like a real life How to Make it in America (cut down in its prime). It's kind of refreshing to see a reality show that doesn't have too much drama. I don't think there's a second season, which is a shame but at least they got their five minutes of fame and hopefully the opportunity opens some more doors for them. They seem like a nice, hard-working group of twenty somethings. 


Top Ten Tuesday - Best/Worst Film Adaptations

Tuesday, July 9, 2013


Top Ten Tuesday is a weekly meme hosted by The Broke and the Bookish. This week's theme is: Top Ten Best/Worst Film Adaptations. As the sun is shining and the temperature has spiked to 25 degrees (that's hot for London so don't laugh) I'll try and prolong the positive vibes by only mentioning the BEST adaptations I have seen so far. 



1. Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban Really, the first three are the best Harry Potter films - partly because of that magical John Williams score- but my favourite is PoA. Having said that, I do have a soft spot for Goblet of Fire, what with the Yule Ball and an accented Barty Crouch Sr. 

2.Angus Thongs and Perfect Snogging - I prefer the original book title but that's neither here nor there because this adaptation was SPOT ON. It captured the cringey moments perfectly and the cast were so fresh and full of energy. This is my favourite teen book and one of my favourite Sunday films (along with Chalet Girl and She's the Man).

3. The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants - I actually preferred the film to the book. The girls (well they're grown women now, aren't they?) all seemed like really good friends in real life and this translated well on screen. 

4. Matilda - Not the most faithful adaptation but a brilliant film. I never fail to laugh. 

5. The Help - This seems to be a love it/hate it film and book but I really liked the book and thought the film was well done. Viola Davis was amazing. 

6. Rebecca - A classic. I think I was too young to appreciate the book when I first read it but I watched the film again the other day and was reminded of this great story. 

7. Mrs Doubtfire - Another childhood favourite. Again, I don't think the adaptation is that faithful - I vaguely remember being a little disappointed when I checked the book out of the library as a child. I think my favourite Anne Fine was Flour Babies. Anyway, Mrs Doubtfire is such a funny film. Even though I find Robin Williams more than a little creepy. 

8. Little Women - Ahhhh. Do I need to say more? 

9. Atonement - Again, I preferred the film to the book but I've never been able to get into Ian McEwan's style of writing. The score to this film is one of my favourites too. 

10. Pride and Prejudice (BBC) - TV mini-serieses count, don't they? They're like mini movies... Well, let's just assume they do because this is the mini-series to end all mini-serieses. It just reminds me of summer in Britain. I don't care for the book very much but this adaptation injected some much needed life into the story.


Now, I have to cheat a little bit here because there are many, many great adaptations that I haven't had the chance to read (although let's be honest, now that I know the story, I probably won't ever read them because my TBR pile is big enough as it is). So very quickly (and quietly) here are some more of my favourites: 

Any Human Heart, Giant, Empire of the Sun, Legends of the Fall, The Pianist, To Sir With Love, Gone with the Wind, Mysic River, The Godfather, Layer Cake, Cool Hand Luke

So Give Me Coffee And TV

Thursday, June 27, 2013

The 2012-2013 television season is over but before we run to our box sets and marathons of Extreme Couponing, let us take a look back on this year's race for best in show.

Winners

Mindy started off great, got a little shaky but dominated down the home straight. Nashville, The Good Wife, Suits and Hart of Dixie were all consistently excellent. Game of Thrones was running a completely different race but a great one nonetheless (that wedding!). New Girl and Real Husbands of Hollywood were up and down but provided much needed comic relief.

Losers / Did Not Finish (aka Most In Need Of A Dr Bailey Kick Up The Proverbial)


Get your act together you guys. You used to be on my favourite's list. Man up and come back fighting next season. 

I Respect Your 'Realness' - Best Reality TV


Patti is brilliant, Kourtney and her family are so sweet, Spenny and Louise and friends continue to entertain as they show us how the other half live, NeNe and Phaedra are two of my favourite reality TV stars, and Dani is one of the most sympathetic reality stars on television right now.

Sure To Be Missed 



Goodbye Ivy, unfortunately they did not want to let you be our star. It was nice to see a slice of Broadway on our small screens every week - and those Shaiman & Wittman songs were stunning. I play Let Me Be Your Star - rather haltingly but with mucho gusto - on the piano every weekend. Most of all I will miss Rachel Shukert's recaps (if you are a Smash fan and have not read them, do so right now although be warned you will never look at the show the same again). I understand Happy Endings is/was an acquired taste but I will miss this gangs banter soooo much. The same goes for Ben and Kate, which was a sweet show with potential. Finally...no I can't even talk about it. It was inevitable. It was necessary but...you know I love you *sniff* XOXO.

Requests For Summer Viewing Reruns


I want to see some of the good drama shows of old this summer. Plus, I could do with seeing Greek again too.


I also need to catch up with Scandal, Homeland season two (it clashed with Downton Abbey on Sunday nights over here), House of Cards, and Justified.

Finally, I really need to watch Southland. I've wanted to watch it for ages and now that it has been cancelled, hopefully More4 will show it all over again or there will be some nicely priced packages on Amazon. 


What have you enjoyed/loathed watching this season? 


The Not So Simple Life

Friday, May 17, 2013




I've always been a big fan of Nicole Richie. I remember wanting to cut my hair like hers when she chopped it off - luckily I didn't because it wouldn't have suited me at all! I love that she's completely rebranded herself and is miles away from her Simple Life self. Nicole Richie is proof that people grow up in their own time and space (so we should all lay off Miley and co. but that's another story). Anyway, have you seen her web series Candidly Nicole? Take a look here

There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to the content so far but it's highly watchable. I never thought I cared about flowers but I was scarily engrossed in that episode! The latest episode was entertaining too, as she talks style with friends Erin Foster and Ben Lyons (remember when Ben was the film guy on the Daily 10? And Sal Masekela! I used to love their reports from Comic Con. Gosh those were the days.)

I think the reason it works very well is because Nicole isn't a try-hard - she's one of those rare, effortlessly cool people. She isn't trying to climb the ranks with this web series, she's not a preachy 'mocktress', she doesn't pimp out her kids or partner or even her dad, and her advice is much more relatable to someone my age than, say, GOOP. I had to unsubscribe from GOOP because it was just getting too depressing but I do have a soft spot for Gwyneth Paltrow. I hope Nicole expands her lifestyle brand more because I'd happily sign up to a newsletter from her if it featured all these little bits of advice. 

So, if you're looking for some fun hints and tips - check out Candidly Nicole. 

Cultural Nourishment

Monday, May 6, 2013


Over the past few weeks I've seen and heard some brilliant work, so I thought I'd share the highlights. 



Peter Moffat's The Village is the best thing the BBC has offered in a long, long time. I was left speechless after almost each of the six episodes. To cut a long and complicated story short, The Village is going to be a huge project depicting life in the same village over the course of almost one hundred years, as seen through the eyes of Bert Middleton. It is supposed to be the British answer to the German drama Heimat. This first series was set during WWI and tackled pretty much every issue under the sun from class wars, to conscientious objection, to mental illness. The acting was simply phenomenal. People were down on the series in the beginning, claiming it was too depressing for Sunday night but life's not always a party, particularly during wartime. The loyal fans stuck with it and we were rewarded with a work of art that will no doubt be watched for many years to come. I for one hope the BBC show the final episode again this Remembrance Sunday. 



I don't know much about the Kennedy's but I remembered reading something about this documentary on Lainey Gossip at some point, so when it came on Sky Atlantic I taped it for a later date. I finally watched it a few weekends ago and was blown away. It was a very inspirational and poignant documentary and Rory Kennedy's love for her family and admiration for her mother was palpable. I am now on the look out for a good biography on Ethel and Robert Kennedy. 



Last weekend, I made my way down to Sundance London. I didn't see any of the films on offer but made sure I was there for this talk. It was much busier than I expected but then once inside they asked how many present were composers and at least 1/3 put up their hands, so that was understandable. David Arnold (Stargate is one of my all time favourite themes and it was amazing to hear him explain pitching the sound as Lawrence of Arabia in space because it is!) talked about his life and discussed some of his more famous works such as Independence Day and James Bond. Overall, it was a fascinating talk and interesting to hear about the process of composing for film. 

Looking forward to...
I haven't been to the theatre in a while so I am hoping to get tickets for:

What have you been watching/listening to lately?