One of the Best BAFTA’s On Record
After one of the best BAFTA’s on record with Alison Hammond smashing it in her presenting role both on stage and back stage chatting to stars together with Richard E Grant next come The Oscars.
Going to the cinema is one of my favourite pastimes, obviously there’s merit in having a film night at home especially if you plan ahead with food, drink and all the trimmings AKA popcorn, Maltesers and your favourite tipple. But sitting in a cinema with an amazing screen and sound enveloping you and putting you right at the heart of the movie is a treat for the senses. Many cinemas now are turning our visit into the complete experience with good quality food, wine and even comfy sofas to sprawl across – problem with these, I have been a little too comfy and nodded off! However, three films I definitely didn’t nod off to, loved and recommending are;
‘A Man Called Otto’ starring Tom Hanks, it’s a family affair produced by Tom and his wife Rita Wilson, if you are casting around for a young Tom why not use your real-life doppelganger son Truman Hanks? Otto Anderson is a 63-year-old widower, living in a Pennsylvanian suburban. After retiring from a steel company, he plans, having lost his wife Sonya a schoolteacher six months previously suicide, but during his attempt he’s interrupted by his new neighbours Marisol, Tommy, and their two daughters, who you could say change his life.
The other is ‘Women Talking’ originally a book based on real life events. In 2010, the women and girls of an unnamed, isolated Mennonite religious colony in the USA discover that the men have been using cow tranquilizer to subdue and rape them. The attackers are arrested and imprisoned in a nearby city. Most of the men of the colony travel to oversee the bail, leaving the women by themselves There trip will last for two days which is the time the women have to determine how they go forward. They hold a vote to decide whether to stay and do nothing, stay and fight, or up sticks and leave. We would think the decision was obvious, but for some not.
Finally go crazy watch it on a big screen and adore ‘Babylone’ Staring Brad Pitt, Margo Robbie (utterly amazing) and one to watch Diago Calva. It is racy so be prepared but many of the crazy events are historically documented in biographies of the time and by writers such as Scott Fitzgerald. It’s a black comedy drama that chronicles the rise and fall of multiple characters during Hollywood's transition from silent to sound films in the late 1920’s The music by Justin Hurwits is exceptional Mark and I downloaded as soon as we arrived home and still listening.
Watching the Oscars either live if you’re a real fan or edited highlights for most of us at an acceptable time, is always a treat.
Let’s just hope though we don’t get a repeat of last year and The Oscars take a leaf out of Alison Hammond and Richard E Grants BAFTA presenting style.