"WHIPLASH.......WAS CRACKING...!"

Since Christmas, there's been a VERITABLE PLETHORA of brilliant films! SUCH fabulous contrasts...in stories and locations, characters and plots...I feel privileged to have seen these films.

AND I have to say it: However often I go, I STILL feel there's something a tad rebellious.....and a slither luxurious....about seeing films in the afternoon...... lolling in a comfy seat while millions work......Accountants accounting....surveyors surveying....teachers teaching.... people in offices "officing"(?)........... lorry drivers lorry-driving.... doctors doctoring  ....vicars vicaring (?).........all makes me feel slightly on the way to decadence..........BUT ALL the films I've seen have been...quite frankly...superb.

" WHIPLASH.", telling the story betwixt an American drumming student ( Miles Teller) and his music teacher ( JK Simmons) .... was eye-opening and I absorbed everything in it ........story line... tense, mind boggling, centering on the striving betwixt student/teacher.... the desires to release and reach an absolute potential....
AND amid all this, we heard plentiful fabulous music.The OSCAR received by JK Simmons  was utterly deserved and Teller's performance was terrific too.

Superb insights... the discipline that culminated in bullying...the envy generated by competitive musicians betwixt each other.....but also the delight in mutual success.....AND essentially, the horrendous hard work/pain success can entail.We saw the drawing of blood ( literally)........ and the breaking and making of dreams. .

This week " STILL ALICE".....movingly beautiful,,,,shivers were sent rippling down my spine and, I believe, my friends too. We scarcely moved at the end. Julianne Moore captured the dreaded horrific Alzheimer's in the most wonderful manner, ie. the disease itself....,.the havoc it brings to the lives of so many.......PLUS the pain that radiates out to family relationships: husband, wives, grown up children. But there was also much beauty: Alice's colossal strengths, her FIGHT...,also her younger daughter's eventual and ultimate support.....AND there was, of course, the speech Alice made at a conference before her illness finally clutched her. A Remarkable Fim.

ALSO " THE IMITATION GAME ...Benedict Cumberbatch starring in a part perfectly made for him...and Eddie Redmayne, magnificent, in " THE THEORY OF EVERYTHING", where his portrayal of Stephen Hawkins, both man AND harrowing horrific disability, will be long remembered. Redmayne's OSCAR should be doubled in size AND its "goldenness"! .....AND a treat  seeing comparatively youthful actors.... who will leave us spellbound for years to come......

ALSO enjoyed " THE SECOND BEST EXOTIC MARIGOLD HOTEL" with its cast of stars we know well. Once again, the unforgettable combination of the 2 Dames ( Smith and Dench) ....as well as the introduction of Richard Gere ......who, BTW, still dancs like an agile Indian teenager...Must say too how I loved the performance of Dev Patel as  loopy madly- in- love Hotel Manager, Sonny, ...who eventually ( THANK GOODNESS!) got the gorgeous girl.
A FEELGOOD film and looking forward to the 3rd BEST EXOTIC" ASAP.Keep taking the tablets please, cast...!

AND " TESTAMENT OF YOUTH": Read the book donkeys years ago...lost the book....now got the book and looking forward to reading it all over again...

*** AND WITHOUT DOUBT: Must NOT forget Peppa Pig's " GOLDEN BOOTS". Watched this in a throng of little girls ( dressed in their crazy best....a fantastic motley garb of clashing colours.... there were wellies....silly hats....Snow White dresses....Peppa masks...... lots of blue dresses from "Frozen"....... PLUS an interesting smatter of Yummy Mummy's.....and quite a few grandparents hugely enjoying their popcorn........