Eat Pray Love: From 127 Hours to 133 minutes of my life - wasted...

There was I, thinking James Franco could do no wrong these days. After his stunning performance in Danny Boyle's 127 Hours, and his stint of presenting the flippin' Oscars, he is hot stuff at the minute. And it was this opinion of him (and the mention of the wonderful Javier Bardem) that prompted me to stick Eat Pray Love onto my Love Film list. Now, in all fairness, I did this before the film had actually been released, and before I had read any scathing reviews, so when it turned up in the post, I found myself questioning what on earth I had been thinking, tainting my rental history with a RomCom... Bleurgh.

Approximately three minutes in, I was no clearer on said question. I clearly hadn't done my research, and had somehow missed the fact that Julia Roberts plays the film's lead, Liz. More fool me. As I have been trying to avoid dairy, this sudden influx of cheese was more than I could cope with. By the time Liz meets the considerably younger, free-spirited actor, David (Franco), the story began to resemble a Mills and Boon novel (yes, this is an admission of having read one, but it was for an English class I took during my degree...honest).

Just as the joss sticks probably would have been - if I had smellovision - the film was really beginning to get up my nose by the time Roberts was swigging wine and troughing copious amounts of pasta in Italy. This section of the film looked like M&S had decided to adapt one of their "This is no ordinary bowl of cheesy pasta..." ads into a 20 minute short. Interesting...

Before she turns into a meatball herself, Liz jets off to India to pray - presumably that the effects of her carb-infested diet of the last few months won't be long lasting. Now, this bit is a little blurry, as I suddenly realised that my nails needing painting and might have looked away for a minute or two. But there was a guru, who told her she was "afraid to love again" after her somewhat bizarre divorce from her rather pathetic husband Stephen (Billy Cruddup). Aha! So she's afraid...

Liz, moments before being mowed down by the ravishing Felipe...

Perhaps the answer is in Bali? After almost killing her, Felipe (Bardem) looks like he could be her guy. Shame, if he'd have come round that corner a bit quicker, this could have been a very different film indeed. Nevertheless, she survives, and I won't spoil the ending for you, but let's just say they live happily ever after. Oh, sorry, did I spoil it? Impossible.

It's Arrested Development...

A few months back, having finished my Curb Your Enthusiasm marathon, I needed my next comedy fix, and after a strong recommendation from my dealer (of DVDs), my brother, I agreed to give Arrested Development a go. My first reaction wasn’t good, in fact, it was ugly: “I miss Larry! Who are these horrible, spoilt people?” and “OMG, OTT or wot?!” Gradually, the LOLs went from non-existent to non-stop and by the end of the first disc I was hooked.

I mean, a failing “illusionist” called Gob (pronounced Jobe), who rides around on a Segway and repeatedly sprays people with lighter fluid from the unreliable pyrotechnic trick kept up his sleeve - what more could you ask for in a comedy? Oh, you want more? Ok, well how about an alcoholic mother who smothers her son in a shouldn’t-be-funny-but-it-is, oedipal manner, only to accidently adopt a young Korean boy who she then uses to make her son jealous when he begins dating her friend come rival, played by the brilliant Liza Minelli. Throw in a self-centred daughter who is married to the fantastically named, Tobias Funke, a father who is wanted by the police for suspected treason, and another son who is forced to “keep them all together”. And don’t forget George Michael (the names keep coming) who is desperately in love with his cousin Maeby (told ya), and some fantastic cameos from the likes of Charlize Theron, Henry Winkler and Ben Stiller.

Originally broadcast in the States on Fox, way back in 2003, the first series won critical acclaim, but appallingly, was received worse than a cold shower by US audiences. Some fans believed it was too smart or ahead of its time, others blame Fox’s poor marketing, but whatever the reason, it has since grown a huge cult following, both here and in the US.

Brilliantly simple, and yet hugely complex, there are so many gags and character nuances, it’s difficult to take it all in on first viewing. If you have any sense of humour at all, you should definitely check out this show, and keep your eyes peeled for the highly anticipated up-and-coming movie, which has been on the cards for some time now. Creator, Mich Hurwitz and star, Will Arnett (Gob) recently spoke to fans via a webchat for Empire magazine. Hurwitz was reluctant to give any solid answers re the forthcoming movie, but did have this to say: “It's taken a while to get the elements together. And they're all together now, except the script, the plot and the shooting for the movie. But our hope is [that the film will be made] this year. Seriously. I am in the process of writing the movie with my quondam partner Jim Vallely”.

So, for all you virgin ADers out there, let me introduce you to the Bluths...

Still not convinced? Watch clips from the show at IMDb here http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0367279/

Screaming for more? Well lucky for us Brits, it’s just begun screening on FX (Sky channel 124) Tuesdays at 9pm .

Red carpet season is upon us...

Hello readers, so the new year is with us, and what a year it has been so far! First off, let me say congratulations to Colin Firth for claiming the Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama award at the Golden Globes for his role in The King's Speech (review to come soon). And with his nom for Best Actor at the Oscars, there's a chance he could bag himself another award for his mantlepiece! But he's got some stiff competition: Jeff Bridges (True Grit), Javier Bardem (Biutiful), James Franco (127 Hours) and Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network). Maybe he can even make it a hat trick if he wins the BAFTA next month! Best of luck Mr. Darcy!

As a big fan of fellow Brit, Christopher Nolan it was disappointing to not see him up for Best Director at the Oscars this year. What does this man have to do?! Seems he could end up joining his Inception star, Leonardo DiCaprio in the "why haven't they got an Oscar?!" club. But let's hope not.

Having been shunned by BAFTA, and failing to win at the Globes, what a relief it was to see the sublime animated feature, The Illusionist, up for a gong, courtesy of The Academy. If you haven't seen it, it's now out on DVD. From Sylvain Chomet, director of Belleville Rendezvous (AKA The Triplets of Belleville) the film, set in the 50s, follows a struggling French magician as he leaves Paris behind and heads to Britain, in search of success. A simple narrative, yet beautifully made, it is refreshing to watch a good old 2D animation as good as this, and Chomet is up there with Miyazaki in my book.

Now, time to start thinking about what I'm going to wear... Red dress? Black sequinned number? Floor-sweeping silk gown? But, I do want to be comfortable curled up on my sofa at 1:00 am, so perhaps I'll just stick with leggings and a baggy sweater. Sigh! One day... *daydreams of stepping onto the red carpet and posing for the cameras*.

For all Golden Globe 2011 winners see: http://www.goldenglobes.org/nominations/

For BAFTA 2011 nominations see: http://www.bafta.org/awards/film/2011-film-awards,1572,BA.html#jump8

For Oscar 2011 nominations see:

http://www.oscars.org/awards/academyawards/83/nominees.html

Inception Fever: Leonardo DiCaprio

Who would have thought that the kid playing Arnie in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape would turn out to be one of the biggest heartthrobs on the planet? Only 18 at the time, Leonardo DiCaprio’s portrayal of a boy with learning difficulties gained him an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Sadly he lost out to Tommy Lee Jones for his part in The Fugitive. Despite the film’s title referring to Johnny Depp’s character, Gilbert, it was clear that DiCaprio, was the star of the show. At the time, his portrayal of 18-year-old Arnie Grape had many viewers convinced that the relatively unknown star did actually have a learning disability like the character he was playing!

The film focuses on the horribly familiar day-to-day complexities and frustrations of a small town community. What begins as Gilbert’s tale of his dull and hopeless existence in Endora (“where nothing much ever happens and nothing much ever will”), soon evolves into a story of compassion, desire and new found hope, when the optimistic Becky (Juliette Lewis) arrives in town...

Here are two of my favourite Arnie moments in the film. WARNING!!! SPOILER ALERT!!!

Match in the gas tank, boom boom!
Whilst Gilbert is distracted by the lovely Mrs. Betty Carver, Arnie makes a dash for his favourite place, the top of the town’s water tank. After coaxing him down with some playful rhymes, Gilbert apologises profusely to the Sheriff…

Gilbert: I'm gonna take him home. I promise it won't happen again.
Sheriff: Son, we hear this every time. Then after a couple of days, he's right back up there again.
Gilbert: Yeah, but this is the last time. Right, buddy?
Arnie: It's the last time.
Gilbert: Yeah. Come on. Let's go.
Arnie: I wanna go back up there again.

It’s the Burger Barn, Gilbert!
During Ken Carver’s funeral, Arnie's attention is drawn to something in the distance. Upon realising it is the highly anticipated Burger Barn (a portable fast food restaurant) he can barely contain his excitement!

Priest: Lord Jesus, by your death you took away the sting of death. Grant to us, your servants, so to follow in faith... for you have led the way...
Arnie: Hey! Hey!
Priest: that we may at length fall asleep...
Arnie: Lookit here! Lookit here!
Priest: great in your likeness...
Arnie: Look what's coming!
Priest (louder): the God of peace who brought again from the dead our Lord Jesus Christ. The great shepherd of the sheep, through the blood of the everlasting covenant...
Arnie: It's the Burger Barn, Gilbert!
Priest: make you perfect in every good work to do his will...
Arnie: Gilbert, it's the Burger Barn!
Priest: working in you that which is well pleasing in his sight...
Arnie: Burger Barn!
Priest: through Jesus Christ, amen.

And to wrap up my Inception feature, my final installment will be a film starring the one and only, Michael "you're only supposed to blow the bloody doors off" Caine. But don't be fooled, The Italian Job it is not...

Inception Fever

To celebrate the release of Christopher Nolan’s mind melting movie Inception, I have picked some of my favourite films that either star, or are directed by, the talent that made the movie. I’ll be posting them as mini blogs during the lead up to the film’s imminent release…

To kick us off, the director, heralded by some as a man who can do no wrong… Christopher Nolan. Now, before the late Heath Ledger deservedly stole some of Batman’s thunder, as the Joker in The Dark Night, Nolan brought the winged one back from the dead in the brilliant, if slightly underrated Batman Begins. Although rapturously received by audiences and critics alike, it was later overshadowed by its follow-up. So lets take a moment to remember how Nolan made us fall in love with “the Batman” all over again…

Creepsville
He made Tim Burton’s attempts at “dark” seem almost as camp as Batman’s “Holy hole in a doughnut!” days on 1960s television. With stunning cinematography, kick ass costumes and mesmerising FX, we were literally blown away…

At Home with Master Wayne
At first glance he seemed like a bit of a git, a playboy, an unworthy heir to his father’s legacy, but we soon realised that this was just another of Wayne’s public personas. Nolan really got under the skin of the man behind the mask, to show us how Bruce’s alter ego was born.

Actual Scary Villains
Following the likes of Jim Carey’s Riddler and Arnie Schwarzenegger’s Mr. Freeze, this was some scary sh*t! Cillian Murphy brilliantly mastered the Scarecrow, managing a subtle and downright creepy portrayal of the classic Batman character in what could easily have been turned into a caricaturized performance.

A Cast List Made in Heaven
At last! A Batman with the intensity, severity, mystery and subtle good looks to make the audience cheer and swoon all at once, hurrah! Christian Bale is, in the eyes of many hardcore fans, the greatest Batman to grace the rooftops of Gotham. And with co-stars including Morgan Freeman, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Ken Watanabe and Katie Holmes, how much convincing did we need?!

The Batmobile…
Need I say more?


For tomorrow’s grilling, one of my all time favourite films starring the talented, “why hasn’t he won an Oscar yet?” Leonardo DiCaprio…