we want the young blood;

five-and-twenty // illustrator // also write a bit

[mgmckenny]

Day Out: Victoria Baths

On Sunday, me and Nat went to Victoria Baths, an old public baths that has been renovated and opened again to the public. Of course it's no longer a baths (although that is the long term ambition) the pools are now drained, the offices emptied, the changing rooms abandoned. It's been emptied, and was unused since 1993. But now with some funding, and the help of volunteers, it's been kept alive.

The building reminded me a lot of another baths that I grew up near to. Lister Drive. Again, this is no longer a public baths. That stopped a LONG time ago. Maybe my parents once swam there, but all the time I was growing up it was a fisheries. A place selling fish, hamsters, mice, rabbits, snakes, birds, and all the things needed to keep them alive. It was actually a great place, and still functions today. But I couldn't help but look at Victoria Baths, and think of what could have been.

I'm forgetting the main reason we went to Victoria. They were holding a Vintage fair, and inside the middle pool (there were three originally, 1 for 1st class males, another 2nd class, and a third for girls) there were a number of stalls set up selling a variety of vintage items. Furniture, hats, that sort of thing. It was a good turn out. To the left of this was a cafe ran by elderly folks and volunteers (I presumed), selling home made pies, cakes and coffee.

The overall vibe of the place was a success. I loved it (bit of an old man). Everybody was just having a good time, and enjoying being indoors doing something nice. But there was one thing towards the back of the first pool that brought my mood down slightly, and made me write this thing today.

Amongst a number of medals and wooden trophies (like we had in my old school, now burned down and demolished) was a small piece of paper explaining that in the winter, because people generally didn't swim then, they would board up the pools, and cover them with dance halls. Here they would invite big acts to perform and people would turn up to dance and have a good time. This struck me as something beautiful, something that is missing from Modern Britain.

We don't do anything like this now. Nothing for 'the people', the ones who make this country what it is. And why is that? I don't know. What are we missing? A sense of pride? Identity? Belonging? It's a real shame.

Here's are some pictures of then and now:

And one of my old baths, the fisheries on Lister Drive Liverpool:

[mgmckenny]

Review: This Is How You Lose Her by Junot Díaz (Book)

Fresh. So fresh, and I thought I was near given up on fiction. I've been feeling tired, a little bored when reading fiction/made up stories. But looking at the size of this (pretty thin) I decided to give it a go. It was Saturday morning after all.

50 pages in I wasn't totally convinced. I'd put it down twice and looked at the pile of maybes to my right, but after another 20 pages, I was asking Nat if she could make me another coffee and what we were doing with our morning. (Meaning, can we stay in bed a little longer and read?) Something about the writing style had got me, and I was determined to find out what.

Well, now I've finished it, and I know what it was. It's fresh, feels new, and it's very real. I'm not Dominican, nor do I have a record of regular cheating on my partners, but there were several times, when I knew exactly how the main character Yunior was feeling. It's relatable, and that's pretty important when you're reading fiction.

My interest in Spanish probably helped me enjoy this book most. If you're currently learning the language and want to further yourself with some light-ish reading, then give this a go. Be warned, you'll probably end up just learning several ways of saying each swearword, but that's all part of the fun.

Here's a small part from the book:

One day the sister was out by herself and I followed her to the field. Huge concrete pipes sprawled here and there on the snow. She ducked into one of these and I followed her, crawling on my knees.

She sat in the pipe, cross-legged and grinning. She took her hands out of her mittens and rubbed them together. We were out of the wind and I followed her example. She poked a finger at me.

Yunior, I said.

Elaine, she said.

We sat there for a while, my head aching with my desire to communicate, and she kept blowing on her hands. Then she heard her brother calling and she scrambled out of the pipe. I stepped out too. She was standing next to her brother. When he saw me he yelled something and threw a snowball in my direction. I threw one back.

I like this part. This is Yunior as a kid, and already we see his interest in girls, or people in general. But this is before he'll notice women in a sexual way. This is a part where him, his mum and brother, are all holed up indoors whilst it's snowing heavily outside. It describes life as we know it, and he captures a child's imagination, curiosity and voice perfectly.

As the kid Yunior gets older, he comes face to face with the temptations of cheating on his partner, and as the title suggest, he does just that. He says it was always going to happen. It's a Dominican thing. His father done it, his brother done it, it was inevitable. But he's not proud of it. Just can't seem to shake it off.

I think this is why I liked the book, because Junot didn't try and beat around the bush. It's brave writing, straight in, told modernly. And it's fast and has energy, quite like the Spanish language. But I think the best thing is, he's captured a culture and a time, and that is what makes artists. Write about what you know. He's done that, and he's done it terrifically.

I'll be looking out for more of his books. Luckily for me, this was a freebie from my workplace, but the others I'll buy for sure. Well worth a read. 7/10.

[mgmckenny]

Review: The Double (Film)

So over the last few days, I've been feeling like I'm missing out on something by not writing. I feel like I've sat on the shelf too long, and even though probably the only person that will read this blog will be myself, if it makes me feel better then it's worth it, no?

So it starts with me talking about the film 'The Double' which I went to see the other night in Manchester's Cornerhouse. The film was great. I laughed a lot, I sat with suspense, I felt sadness, I connected with the characters, I held interest, I felt like £8 hadn't been too much. So it worked right? It was worth it?

Well, yes. Richard Ayoade has done a brilliant job, for only the second film he's directed. (Correct me if I'm wrong.) I watched Submarine a few years ago and felt like this was a director willing to do things his own way. And that's quite brave in today's day and age. Well, The Double is even more adventurous, and it all works. Jesse Eisenburg is great in it (both of him) and Mia Wasikowksa perfect. It was even nice to see the kid from Submarine having a part. Richard seems a decent guy, and his films are turning out alright.

These reviews aren't meant to be serious. I won't use ostentatious words that I only know because I've looked them up in a thesaurus. Is it worth going to see this film? I'd say so yes. The score is also brilliant. Ps. Now read the novella. 8/10.

[mgmckenny]

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For Mark McKenny Illustrations: http://markmckenny.tumblr.com For Cargo Collective: http://cargocollective.com/markmckenny For Etsy Store: http://etsy.com/shop/markmckenny

Please note, this tumblr is just where I keep a record of what I am reading/watching.

[mgmckenny]

2013;

Books:

LOTR: The Two Towers (1954) J.R.R. Tolkien - 31/12/12 - 15/01/13

The Sense of an Ending (2011) Julian Barnes - 15/01/13 - 17/01/13

Cry, The Beloved Country (1948) Alan Paton - 17/01/13 - 04/02/13

The Fountainhead (1943) Ayn Rand - 04/02/13 - 18/03/13

Tolstoy's Diaries Volume 1 (1847-1894) Leo Tolstoy - 18/03/13 - 16/05/13

The Gospel in Brief, The Life of Jesus (1921) Leo Tolstoy - 23/03/13 - 05/05/12

Snowdrops (2011) A.D. Miller - 20/04/13 - 27/04/13

Cat's Cradle (1963) Kurt Vonnegut - 27/04/13 - 11/05/13

The Spanish Civil War (2005) Helen Graham - 14/05/13 -

A Dance with Dragons (2011) George R.R. Martin - 22/05/13 -

Films:

Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009) Wes Anderson 6/10

Audition (1999) Takashi Miike 6/10

Les Misérables (2012) Tom Hooper 9/10

Neds (2010) Peter Mullan 4/10

Into the Abyss (2011) Werner Herzog 7/10

Cave of Forgotten Dreams (2010) Werner Herzog 6/10

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011) Tomas Alfredson 6/10

Django Unchained (2012) Quentin Tarantino 8/10

Funny Games U.S. (2007) Michael Haneke 7/10

Tideland (2005) Terry Gilliam 2/10

Tyrannosaur (2011) Paddy Considine 7/10

Lincoln (2012) Steven Spielberg 5/10

Invictus (2009) Clint Eastwood 9/10

Take Shelter (2011) Jeff Nichols 8/10

Adventureland (2009) Greg Mottola 7/10

Seven Psychopaths (2012) Martin McDonagh 7/10

The Breakfast Club (1985) John Hughes 5/10

Argo (2012) Ben Affleck 5/10

In A Better World (2010) Susanne Bier 8/10

Sexy Beast (2000) Jonathan Glazer 5/10

Silver Linings Playbook (2012) David O. Russell 9/10

Please Give (2010) Nicole Holofcener 6/10

Amour (2012) Michael Haneke 8/10

Potiche (2010) François Ozon 5/10

Stand by Me (1986) Rob Reiner 8/10

Seeking a Friend for the End of the World (2012) Lorene Scafaria 7/10

Tape (2001) Richard Linklater 7/10

Lolita (1962) Stanley Kubrick 6/10

The Hunger Games (2012) Gary Ross 6/10

The Fighter (2011) David O. Russell 7/10

Promised Land (2013) Gus Van Sant 8/10

The Great Gatsby (2013) Baz Luhrmann 6/10

Side by Side (2012) Christopher Kenneally 7/10

Dazed and Confused (1993) Richard Linklater 6/10

In the Name of the Father (1993) Jim Sheridan 8/10

Looper (2012) Rian Johnson 5/10 Going back now, I'll only talk about these two and then all future films will be explained. This was good, but that was it. I gave up on my first time of watching as I decided I'd rather be working.. (what the hell?) But the following Friday I decided to finish it, and I was glad I did. It's a good film, but not my type of thing. I think by the time I'd figured out what a loop was, I was just a little bored. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is good but not great. The stand-out performance has to be that of Pierce Gagnon. So scary.

Scent of a Woman (1992) Martin Brest 10/10 I actually miss writing a short amount of text, explaining why I've marked it out of 10 as I have ^. So I thought I'd start again. This film gets a 10 because it is pure brilliance. Al Pacino is at his best, when is he ever not? The film is not what you're expecting, full of ups and downs and twists and turns. And you are literally stuck to the screen. There were times I felt like crying, followed by short outbursts of laughter. And that, is exactly how cinema should be. I can't fault it, so it gets the maximum score.

[mgmckenny]

A Year in Review;

Favourite Books: 

Hiroshima (1946) John Hersey I read this at the beginning of the year and it has stayed with me throughout. A powerful piece of writing and one of the best non-fiction books I've ever read. The only thing wrong with this book is that it is extremely sad; and truthful. Lucky Jim (1954) Kingsley Amis One of the first books to actually make me laugh so it's going in my top 5 of the year. There are some parts where you can feel the panic of the character, and you see clearly their childish look and facial expressions. It's brilliant writing, very funny. One to take on holiday. Lady Chatterley’s Lover (1928) D.H. Lawrence I remember deciding to read this as Fifty Shades of Grey had just come out, and everyone was comparing it to this. Well, I've not read 50 Shades, but this is brilliant. One of few English classics I've actually enjoyed, I recommend this to everyone.  The Brothers Karamazov (1946) Fyodor Dostoevsky Once again embarking on a great Russian classic, and once again enjoying every single page. This is a fantastic story, touching on family, religion, and life in general, it's one that I'm bound to pick up again in the future. I say to people so often, don't let the size of these books put you off, because halfway through you don't want it to end. A Storm of Swords 1 & 2 (2000) G.R.R. Martin My favourite of the series so far. I think having just finished the fourth, it really makes you notice just how great this third book is. Plenty of things that shock, and not a bit of it expected; I'm really looking forward to seeing this on television next year.

Favourite Films:

Restless (2011) Gus Van Sant I look this up in every single film review book/magazine that I find and each time it gets a low score. Ignore them all. This is a great film, telling of a young love story. The only problem being, like Hiroshima, it is extremely sad. Please don't read/watch them together, which is actually what I think I did. The Tree of Life (2011) Terrence Malick The first time I watched this I was a little baffled but have since gone on to watch a few other Terrence Malick films and it makes the Tree of Life even better. It's a fantastic film, with a beautiful score and heart-warming cinematography. Honestly, watch it, in its entirety. You won't be disappointed.  The Dreamers (2003) Bernardo Bertolucci I like when you come across films by chance and it makes them so much better. This one I seen reviewed in a Catalan newspaper. It had been on television the night before and I was interested as it stared Michael Pitt (Boardwalk Empire). Anyway, it was fantastic. The film gets a little weird at times but if you ignore that and take in the cultural background of the characters, the environment, the final scene, it will blow your head off. Lost in Translation (2003) Sofia Cappola Don't know why 2012 was the first time I've ever seen this film but I guess I can be forever grateful. A strange film, that will leave you feeling almost empty. But you'll find days in your life when you just think 'Lost in Translation' and it makes this film a favourite. Watch it, whenever you're ready. Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Stanley Kubrick If there was a most 'terrifying of the year' award I'd probably give this it. But it's equally fantastic. I started watching this over a year ago but paused and forgot, then a few months later picked it up again on a Sunday afternoon and was glued to my chair. The acting is brilliant, the party scene with the masks one of the best I've ever seen, and the general feel of the film is quite unlike anything I've ever felt before. I'd probably give this my film of the year. This, or the Tree of Life.

[mgmckenny]

2012;

Books Read:

A Clash of Kings (1998) G.R.R. Martin - Finished 12/02/12

Hiroshima (1946) John Hersey - Finished 25/01/12

Selected Stories (Various) Mercè Rodoreda - Finished 19/02/12

Barça (2012) Graham Hunter - Finished 01/03/12

The Master and Margarita (1967) Mikhail Bulgakov - Finished 18/03/12

Breakfast at Tiffany's (1958) Truman Capote - Finished 20/03/12

Lucky Jim (1954) Kingsley Amis - Finished 24/03/12

Lady Chatterley's Lover (1928) D.H. Lawrence - Finished 28/03/12

A Tale of Two Cities (1859) Charles Dickens - Finished 02/04/12

Rabbit, Run (1960) John Updike - Finished 09/04/12

The Brothers Karamazov (1880) Fyodor Dostoevsky - Finished 10/05/12

The Shadow of the Wind (2001) Carlos Ruiz Zafón - Finished 18/05/12

Great Tales and Poems (Various) Edgar Allan Poe - Finished 24/05/12

The Moonstone (1868) Wilkie Collins - Finished 21/07/12

Steve Jobs (2011) Walter Isaacson - 

A Study in Scarlet (1887) Arthur Conan Doyle - Finished 26/07/12

Faust: Part One (1808) Johann Wolfgang von Goethe - Finished 30/07/12

A Storm of Swords 1: Steel and Snow (2000) G.R.R. Martin - Finished 13/07/12

A Storm of Swords 2: Blood and Gold (2001) G.R.R. Martin - Finished 23/07/12

Gadfly in Russia (2007) Alan Sillitoe - Finished 02/08/12

Fahrenheit 451 (1953) Ray Bradbury - Finished 06/08/12

Reading Lolita in Tehran (2003) Azar Nafisi - Finished 13/08/12

Homage to Barcelona (2002) Colm Toibin - Finished 24/08/12

The Pillars of the Earth (1989) Ken Follett - Finished 05/10/12

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy (1974) John le Carré - Finished 13/10/12

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and Other Jazz Age Stories (Various) F. Scott Fitzgerald - Finished 02/12/12

Blind Willow, Sleeping Woman (Various) Haruki Murakami - Finished 31/10/12

La Roja: A Journey Through Spanish Football (2012) Jimmy Burns - Finished 17/11/12

A Feast for Crows (2005) George R.R. Martin - Finished 30/12/12

LOTR: The Two Towers (1954) J.R.R. Tolkien -  

Films Watched

  A Dangerous Method (2011) David Cronenburg 4/10 Slow story, not an awful lot happening, bad acting. If you already don't like Keira Knightley, do not go and see this film.

Alice in the Cities (1974) Wim Wenders 8/10 Beautiful film, scenery, dialogues and photography. The first of Wim Wenders' films that I have seen, I will be watching more.

El Bola (2000) Achero Mañas 7/10 Nice film, a little sad but films about child abuse always are. Would have given it an 8 only I thought Alice in the Cities was better, so it's getting a 7. The first Spanish film I've seen without any sex in it. Watch it.

Restless (2011) Gus Van Sant 9/10 Beautiful film, but very sad. (In other words do not watch if you're already feeling sad..) Could have easily given this a 10, but then the world may have ended. Typical Gus Van Sant really. Favourite Director, didn't disappoint.

The Future (2011) Miranda July 6/10 Maybe writing a list like this isn't such a good idea, as every time I go to score a film, I compare it with the ones above. This film was going to get a 7, but when I compared it to El Bola, I realised I enjoyed El Bola more. An interesting film, but a little strange towards the end. I'm not sure at which point. Possibly when she started rocking on her heels, or when the moon started talking.. I'm not familiar with this director but I know of another one of her films (Me and You and Everyone We Know) so I'll give that a watch and see if I like this more. Still sticking with a 6.

Paris, Texas (1984) Wim Wenders 7/10 The second of Wim Wenders' films that I have seen, and again thoroughly enjoyable. Beautiful scenery throughout and quite a nice ending (even though it's one of those, well what happens now? moments.) I'm beginning to like Wim Wenders. His films seem to be focusing more on the ordinary life and the art of conversation, something which is missing from modern cinema.

Carnage (2012) Roman Polanski 7/10 A brilliant film and incredibly funny but I just wish somebody had told me it was going to take place all in that apartment. After the second time of the couple re-entering (and the realisation that the film was based on a play) it finally dawned on me and to be honest it made me feel quite uncomfortable. Still, Christoph Waltz was excellent, and I will now watch Inglourious Basterds again. I will also invest in a copy of 'Le Dieu du Carnage.'

The Tree of Life (2011) Terrence Malick 8/10 Half video art, half cinema, it took me a day or two to fully realise just how good this film actually is. I make the split because at points there are dinosaurs on the screen, as well as clips of our solar system and it all just feels like something you'd find in your local modern gallery (or on the BBC with Brian Cox.) But then the acting, an outstanding performance from Brad Pitt, as well as 3 talented young men, all highly convincing. I must admit, this film wasn't what I was expecting, but it's my first of Terrence Malick's films and I will be watching more. You just need a little patience. I'm sure after a day or two you'll realise that this is something special. 

The Collector (2009) Marcus Dunstan 4/10 Pretty awful film. Not my choice (it was picked because we couldn't find anything else that we all agreed on) so on it went, and for an hour and a half I watched and felt nothing. It's not something I'd recommend, and it's not something I'd normally go for. If you like strange horrors that leave you thinking the director must be a 'sicko' then this one is for you. 4/10, putting it level with A Dangerous Method, blame Keira Knightley's awful Russian accent.

Blue Valentine (2010) Derek Cianfrance 8/10 A brilliant film with an awful ending. Really shocking to see it end just like that, with not even a hint of how it was all going to turn out. I was watching this film thinking it could be a favourite of the year; thinking about the numerous amount of people I'd recommend it to, thinking about this blog in all fairness. Then it ends, there are some fireworks, and the credits start rolling. It honestly felt like they'd spent all their money so just cut it short. Will there be a second? I don't know. Some brilliant acting and a truly likeable couple who are having some difficult times in their relationship. Worth a watch, but don't expect a lot after the 1hr 30 mark.

Cemetery Junction (2010) Ricky Gervais, Stephen Merchant 8/10 I remember going to the Cinema to see this when it first came out, and I left knowing that I would buy it on DVD someday to watch again with my parents. Tonight I did just that, and it was still as enjoyable as 2 years ago. Worth a watch, especially if you like Gervais and Merchant, or just the 70's. 

Gran Torino (2008) Clint Eastwood 10/10 Second time of watching and it's still getting a 10. There's just nothing wrong with this film, pure perfection. Like any normal person I'm a little apprehensive about giving things a 10, but I genuinely think it deserves it. A must watch, go out and buy it; you'll most probably find it in Tesco's for £3.

Nowhere Boy (2009) Sam Taylor-Wood 6/10 Everything I expected of a film about a young John Lennon. Enjoyable, interesting, but a little depressing. Take away the glory years and he had quite an unfortunate life really. Well directed, I have nothing more to say. Worth a watch.

Gladiator (2000) Ridley Scott 8/10 I watched it in Spanish this time with English subtitles. Didn't really change the quality and strength that this film has. Pure brilliance. For me, it's not as exciting as sayyy, The Matrix, but it definitely deserves praise and I can see why it ends up in a lot of people's Top 10 films of all-time.

Drive (2011) Nicolas Winding Refn 7/10 What a film! Oh no wait, the ending. Seriously, what happened? From the opening scene I don't know how anybody could dislike this film, but then it all get's unnecessarily violent and you realise why Tarantino raved on about it so much. Honestly, it's worth a watch, but for me, the amount of blood and gore ruined what was looking like the film of the year.

The Rum Diary (2011) Johnny Depp 6/10 Hmm I have some problems with this film. First, it didn't exactly stick to the plot. Close, but not exact; and for someone who was best friends with Hunter S. Thompson, I expected a little more. Secondly, for me, Johnny Depp over-acts a little (and has done since POTC.) And thirdly, Amber Heard played Chenault well, but wasn't perfect, and the horrifying moment towards the end of the book wasn't as shocking as it is in the novel. Worth a watch, but not if you've read the book.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo (2011) David Fincher 8/10 First of all, congrats, it is better than the Swedish version. Still not sure which Salander I prefer but Rooney Mara is bloody excellent! Credit to Daniel Craig too who managed to shrug off being Bond for just 5 minutes. Honestly, this film shocked me. I still think it's better to read the books, but if you prefer to watch films then watch this one. Excellant stuff, looking forward to the second.

Gerry (2002) Gus Van Sant 2/10 It's almost painful to write something about this film. What can I say? It's pretty damn awful. The plot is stupid, the acting even worse, and the whole thing happens because of two young boys recklessness, that think it's fun to just go running around in the wild like crazed maniacs. No thanks. I don't know what Gus Van Sant was trying to do, but chances are I'll end up watching this film again one day, just to try and restore some of my faith in the man.

Submarine (2010) Richard Ayoade 6/10 Not as good as I thought it was going to be but definitely worth a watch. I remember watching a review on this and it talking about how Richard Ayoade was inspired by early French Cinema. Definitely noticeable; and executed well. Good actors and a clever story, worth a watch.

Dead Poets Society (1989) Peter Weir 8/10 After being highly recommended to me by a multitude of people I decided to watch this film and I have no regrets. Must admit, not quite as good as I'd imagined but definitely a good film with a strong story and brilliant acting. Nice to see a young Ethan Hawke (one of my favourite actors) and of course Robin Williams. Worth a watch, go on, seize the day!  

The Ides of March (2011) George Clooney 7/10 Is it Ryan Gosling season? Liked the trailer so watched the film and enjoyed it in it's entirety. Gosling as good as ever, Clooney excellent and if that wasn't enough there was also Hoffman, Giamatti and Evan Rachel Wood. I do think the *SPOILER* part was a little too much but hey, I forgive you. A political film made interesting by it's actors and soundtrack, watch it.

Lost Highway (1997) David Lynch 6/10 Not what I was expecting. Not the greatest film I've ever seen and not the best story either; but it's my first David Lynch and maybe things will improve. It's getting a 6. 

Blue Velvet (1986) David Lynch 6/10 Nope, they didn't.. not that much anyway. Another Lynch, another 6. I admit this one was better but there's still something I feel I'm just not grasping with his films. What is it? I don't know. The actors were brilliant and there was at least some logic to the script, but still it was just too strange for my liking. I've been told this is basically what Twin Peaks is like so maybe I'll put off watching it for a while. The camera work is brilliant (may I add) I'm just not keen on the stories.

The Adventures of Tintin (2011) Steven Spielberg 5/10 I fell asleep twice so it can't be that good. Why am I giving it a 5 then? In all honest, I don't know. Just accept it and move on. NEXT!

Todo sobre mi madre (1999) Pedro Almodovar 6/10 Actually quite a good film. I'm scoring it pretty low just because I don't think it quite deserves to be on the same level as The Ides of March for example but it kept me entertained throughout and the story was interesting. Worth a watch.

The Dreamers (2003) Bernardo Bertolucci 8/10 Wow. Now this is a film I like. Strange story- terrifyingly strange in fact, but of the best kind. Just something about this film, it's overall feel, and great acting. I must admit I only watched it to see a young Michael Pitt acting in something other than 'Boardwalk Empire' but did not expect to see that much of him. Nor Eva Green. Watch this if you're interested in nudity, cinema or May 1968. 

Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011) Sean Durkin 7/10 Could possibly have been ruined by it's ending but if you forget that, what comes before it is actually pretty good. Interesting story, I like how it's done (jumping back and forth etc.) and a good performance from Elizabeth Olssen. The only but I didn't like was the old stab back bit but apart from that, a good film.

Lost in Translation (2003) Sofia Cappola 8/10 Interesting film. Enjoyable but at the same time depressing. The story doesn't really go anywhere, but it's that which makes it good and leaves you thinking about it for weeks. Like the title, two people are lost, they don't know what they want from life. Leaves you thinking about your own life, which is more or less what a film should do.

Blow (2001) Ted Demme 6/10 For me, this was just too high in the sky. When I watch a film about drugs I expect it to be dark and gritty, like it is in the real world. This was like Scarface, but for kids. Not a huge fan of Depp either. Never have been, probably never will be; he gets worse every film.

Four Lions (2010) Christopher Morris 6/10 Wasn't sure about this film when I seen the trailer but a friend recommended it so I gave it a go. Enjoyable really, if you take away the obvious racism link (it's like Borat really, not that racist..) it's not that bad. A few funny parts in it, in particular the bear part at the end. Worth a watch, but probably not on a Friday night.

Beautiful Girls (1996) Ted Demme 6/10  Watched this one by chance. Again similar to Lost in Translation, a few people who don't really know what they're doing with their lives. All works out in the end; kind of. Young performance by Natalie Portman, same time as Leon I'd say. Good film, maybe one for a Sunday afternoon.  

Los Lunes al Sol (2002) Fernando Leon de Aranoa 5/10  Don't know why I'm scoring this one so low but for me it just didn't have a real outcome. A couple of guys struggling to find work, drinking a lot, not really doing anything great etc. and by the end of the film, they're still doing more or less the same thing. A good film, but I like a story to take you somewhere, and not back to the beginning.

Léon: The Professional (1994) Luc Besson 8/10  Don't know why it's taken me 23 years to see this film but you can put it on that list of 100?? films you should see before you die. It's interesting, and cool. Jean Reno is brilliant (why isn't he in more films? or why haven't I seen more films with him in?) and Natalie Portman incredible. A really nice touch was the plant that Leon would put out onto the balcony each day. Watch it. 

Moon (2009) Duncan Jones 7/10

Dog Day Afternoon (1975) Sidney Lumet 8/10

Taken (2008) Pierre Morel 6/10

Rosemary's Baby (1968) Roman Polanski 6/10

The Dark Knight Rises (2012) Christopher Nolan 8/10

Blade Runner (1982) Ridley Scott 6/10

Days of Heaven (1978) Terrence Malick 7/10

The Artist (2011) Michel Hazanavicius 6/10

Full Metal Jacket (1987) Stanley Kubrick 7/10

127 Hours (2010) Danny Boyle 4/10

Bright Star (2009) Jane Campion 5/10

The Girl who Kicked the Hornet's Nest (2009) Daniel Alfredson 7/10

Moonrise Kingdom (2012) Wes Anderson 7/10

The Little Shop of Horrors (1960) Roger Corman 4/10

Quadrophenia (1979) Franc Roddam 8/10

Eyes Wide Shut (1999) Stanley Kubrick 9/10

The Intouchables (2011) Olivier Nakache, Eric Toledano 9/10

Rampart (2011) Oren Moverman 5/10

Moneyball (2011) Bennett Miller 8/10

Habla con ella (2002) Pedro Almodovar 7/10

Somewhere (2010) Sofia Coppola 8/10

Sleepers (1996) Barry Levinson 5/10

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Peter Jackson 9/10

Star Trek (2009) J.J. Abrams 6/10

Jane Eyre (2011) Cary Fukunaga 7/10

  TV Series:

BBC Sherlock Series 2 (2012) ✔

Mad Men Season 1 (2007) ✔

Treme Season 1 (2010)

Fringe Season 1 (2008) ✔

BBC Stargazing Live (2012) ✔

Boardwalk Empire Season 2 (2011) ✔

The Office (US) Season 1 (2005) ✔

The Wire Season 2 (2003) ✔

The Office (US) Season 2 (2006) ✔

Derek (2012) ✔

The Office (US) Season 3 (2007) ✔

Game of Thrones Season 2 (2012) ✔

Mad Men Season 2 (2008) ✔

BBC Great Expectations (2011) ✔

The Apprentice UK Series 8 (2012) ✔

Louis Theroux Extreme Love (2012) ✔

Grandma's House Series 2 (2012) 

Mad Men Season 3 (2009) ✔  

Being: Liverpool (2012)

Boardwalk Empire Season 3 (2012) ✔

The Big Bang Theory Season 1 (2007) ✔

The Big Bang Theory Season 2 (2008)

Breaking Bad Season 1 (2008)

The Thick Of It Series 4 (2012) ✔

Young Apprentice Series 3 (2012) ✔

Mad Men Season 4 (2010)

The Big Bang Theory Season 3 (2009)

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Wednesday: Annie Hall (1977)

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Monday: The Inbetweeners Movie (2011)

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Sunday: The Reader (2008)

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Saturday: El Secreto de sus ojos (2009)

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My nan was singing this today in the back of the car. Tune.

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Thursday: Blood Diamond (2006)

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Fathers and Sons

'Yes,' repeated Katya, and this time he understood her. He seized her large beautiful hands and, breathless with joy, pressed them to his heart. He could hardly stand on his feet and kept repeating 'Katya, Katya ...', while she began to weep guilelessly, smiling gently at her own tears. No one who has not seen such tears in the eyes of his beloved knows the degree of happiness attainable on this earth, as the heart swoons with thankfulness and awe.

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Wednesday: A Single Man (2009)

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Tuesday: Amélie (2001)

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Norwegian Wood

It's hard not being able to see you, but my life in Tokyo would be a lot worse if it weren't for you. It's because I think of you when I'm in bed in the morning that I can wind my spring and tell myself I have to live another good day. I know I have to give it my best here just as you are doing there.