Flaming Zinc

Last night I caught a bit of entertainment news, an interesting sneak peek at pretty woman’s new film Closer, based on the Patrick Marber play of the same name. Well, it is my idea of nirvana and I can’t wait for its release – a well written, messy human drama and staring, other than Ms Roberts and the excellent Natalie Portman, the delectable Messrs. Owen and Law.

Oh – yes!

I was watching fluffy tv to try and balance the new reality game show that is sweeping the nation and possible RoW (Rest of World). It is a combination of Fear Factor and American Idol and the prize – to be leader of the free world (which I believe comes with the use of a personal plane, book deal and possible an airport to be named after you) ! The big question is who will host – Regis, Seacrest or rank outsider Rogan???

Last night was a good example of getting TOO excited about a sequel.

Matt Damon’s second outing as Bourne is a rather patchy affair *sigh*. It is not because they have deviated from the books, since I regard them as separate entities, but the lack luster conspiracy and portrayal of the new CIA team interested in the wayward agent. They are about as fascinating as cling-film (i.e plastic wrap). The best parts are when Bourne (or the anti-Bond) is task orientated, focused and one step ahead (there is a great fight scene which includes a new take on the children’s game ‘Paper, Scissor, Stone’). He seems to falter when he is on his own.

The premise is that Bourne is framed for an assignation and forced to resurface in retribution. Matt Damon is still excellent has the killer uncomfortable with his abilities. Brian Cox is, as ever, quite mad and delightful but I was disappointed with Joan Allen’s character (not just my inner feminist talking but a role that came straight out of a cereal packet) couldn’t she have been more Tennison than an M style desk jockey??? I liked the new director’s style, funkiness and of course how he handled the indigenous car chases. But, they overloaded me with one to many location introduction shots comprising of the city’s river and bridge.

Before I stand accused of being a tad snobbish. I say this, I can suspend belief and enjoy blockbusters with the best of them (I, Robot lots of fun but hated the in your face product placement – we’re not stupid we can recognise a pair of baseball boots without the running commentary) but this is being billed as an intelligent action movie. Which IMO it isn’t, because they would have had to give the film goer an espionage thriller that they could really sink their teeth into. Am I intrigued or excited about how the story ended? Not really I’d rather have re-watched Spy Game with Robert Redford and the under appreciated in her own country Marianne Jean-Baptiste (her Oscar nomination went practically unnoticed).

I told a little white lie to get today off work.

I said I wanted to queue today for tickets – this isn’t entirely an false statement. I am going to the theatre this afternoon, The Frogs, but I weighted up the opportunity cost. I could either pay full price for a ticket and have the whole morning to myself (bliss) or wait in line for 3+ hours and get a 50% discount but no guarantee about which plays would be available.

I did originally want to get the bargain deal but on reflection this morning over croissants and chocolate soy milk I have opted for the former. Plus, it means I can laze around clean the flat this morning

This was going to be a diatribe on how my viewing tastes have changed for eighteen months away from Blighty.

You know I would ramble on about now watching things that I had previously turned my nose up at (Foyle’s War and Midsomer Murders), my missing of the documentaries on Channel 4 and the Beeb (that I rarely ever watched but at least had the comfort of knowing that I could tune in if I so wished), I won’t even touch on satirical comedy (Saturday Night Live really doesn’ t make the cut but Curb is brilliant) and now PBS is my best friend. Then I would go on about how my first six months I got drunk on Law and Order repeats on TNT till Alex threaten to ‘child lock’ the cable box and I am now a much more discerning viewer. I have even stopped reading the Eastenders updates on the web and transferred my addiction fully to Radio 4.

But, all that pales next to the latest Six Feet Under episode. Breathtaking, uncompromising and uncomfortable – an excellent episode that was dominated by Michael C Hall. My commentary could not do it justice, so all I will say is that the main drama is book-ended by the stranded stranger.

This news story ruffled my feathers as much as it amused me.

I felt the need to reach for world’s tiniest violin to express my sadness that a VERY well paid television actor has apparently been let go because of a salary dispute. We’ll just put aside that, according to reports in the popular press, leads or supporting cast members can receive more cash for one episode than most households earn in a year (and in some parts of the globe a lifetime). Now, I know that only a tiny percentage of actors hit the jackpot whilst the rest are busing tables and being seen in productions of An Inspector Calls so off-Broadway that it is actual a tiny theatre in the highlands of Scotland. Wouldn’t it make an interesting StarTrek episode to change those who we worship to educators and scientists (teacher or geek idol anyone?).

It appeared to me as hubris when a certain West Wing actor left the show and has gone on to quite a courageous string of tv-movies and cable mini series.

My reward for visiting the chiropractor yesterday was another dose of Clive Owen – this time I’ll Sleep When I am Dead. It was directed by the same chap who helmed the excellent, if a little uneven, Croupier.

The protagonist Will is an ex-gang boss, who disgusted by the direction his life is taking, literally, heads to the hills seeking solitude and penance. He leaves behind an older girl friend (the enigmatic Charlotte Rampling) and a younger brother Davey, played by the edible Jonathan Rhys-Meyers. Davey has slipped into the glam life style of supplying drugs to the bright young things on the London party scene. He is a little fish who isn’t trampling on anyones toes, but inadvertently comes to the attention of Boad When Will is unable to get in touch with his brother, he reluctantly heads back to the smoke and discovers that Davey has committed suicide. The focused, but pained, elder brother is forced to re-enter the underworld and sets about investigating the cause of Davey’s tragic actions.

Sleep is a hard film to watch, not only is the violence graphic (unlike the usual Hollywood shoot ‘em ups) but the tension that Owen/Rhys-Meyers create makes it both unsettling and uneasy from the viewers perspective. This is not a Sunday afternoon picture but if you are in the right mood it is time well spent. My only complaint, the plinky plonky score that accompanies the comparison scenes where it flashes between the life style differences of the brothers – Will’s self imposed solitary confinement and Davey’s fair weather friends superficial one.

Tom Cruise is following is following Keanu, the greatest of all hair actors, by dabbling in a change of image for his up coming movie Collateral. It struck me whilst watching the trailer that he looked rather familiar – so compare for yourselves…..Cruise as a hitman in Michael Mann flick against William Petersen as an FBI agent in Michael Mann’s Manhunter .

This is rather an interesting take on the Arthurian legend and puts the knights of the round table into a different perspective. It is refreshing and indicative of the war weary 21st C – it does not stray into First Knight territory.

Instead of Arthur being King in Cornwall surrounded by magic and he is a mixed Roman/Briton general at Hadrians wall, leading a group of brave but flawed knights. The Romans are pulling out of Britain as the Saxons are starting to invade and Arthur is given one last task before his men are to be given their freedom – they must rescue a Roman family trapped on the wrong side of the wall.

Clive Owen makes a grand anti-hero (tough yet compassionate), you can equally believe his ideology in the Roman way of life as his later decision to change sides and lead the Britons. The battle scenes are staggering and brutal – out shining the other epic of the summer. The mystical side is under played with Merlin as the leader of the Woads but what makes it interesting is the conflict between Pagan and Christian.

This is a brilliant prequel to the tales that are more commonly associated with Arthur, the show downs between him and the Saxons go a long way to establish him as a hero. Definitely my favorite film of the summer, a must see ad will be getting it on DVD!!!!

Maybe it’s because of all the summer repeats but I have the start of a serious addiction to flashback television – stuff Fear Factor and Las Vegas. Take the Independence Day weekend – after trotting around an Art Deco exhibition at the Met I decided to carry on the theme with a tv marathon of Jeeves & Wooster and Miss Marple mysteries. Bliss. No silly baraque or fireworks for moi.

On Alex’s recommendation I have just finished The Bourne Supremacy – in time for the film’s release this month (though I know they bare only a passing resemblance). I am not really into reading spy thrillers (my fun reading tends to be murder mysteries) but this book is fantastic! I had to keep reminding myself that it was written nearly twenty years ago but the political nature of the plot and how the author shied away from technology keeps it fresh. The brilliant BBC comedy Yes, Prime Minister also reiterates how little things have changed – with episodes about ID cards and foreign policy they are surprisingly topical. But, in twenty years time will the next generation still find them to be so biting and reflective…I hazard a guess that they will.

Whilst I was away Alex starting visiting a chiropractor, at first I was rather dismissive. Since he doesn’t suffer chronic back pain just the odd twinge and the usual wonky shoulders from years of carrying book bags.

This week I decided to get in on the act – what’s good enough for the goose and all that. I must admit that I have always written off my aches to my ill fitting skeleton, according to my yoga teachers I am hyper-mobile or family lore says I hail from loose jointed stock. I do have poor posture (a tendency to hunch my shoulders..all those years of studying) and a tight pain between my shoulder blades. In my defence, eighteen months of yoga has made a marked improvement – I know this because my mum always comments that I am walking straighter every time I see her – but my shoulders are still tight but flexible (go figure).

I really thought that the chiropractor would tell me to keep my head up and make sure I wear both straps of my rucksack, but no I have actual spine/neck problems that require correction!!! Tomorrow I am off for spinal x-rays (Alex’s problem didn’t require them) and then on Tuesday she will finish diagnosing me. She was very reassuring, I am young and this is the best time to sort out these problems before you get older and they really become an issue…. Here’s something scary one shoulder is higher than the other and to compensate the opposite ear is lower!!! And when she put my arms together, straight out in front, the palms overlap rather than matching because of the muscles in my back…

For years I didn’t think there was anything wrong with me – aren’t our bodies meant to ache?

Well, apparently not!