Impressionable

I am the sort of person who is overwhelmed by an irresistible craving for crisps if someone opens a packet  in a film; or for a drink if I catch sight of someone in a bar on tv.

That's why it was more or less inevitable that after watching Fat, Sick and Almost Dead the other evening — a film by and about an Australian who lives off blitzed fruit and vegetables for two months, turning his weight and health around dramatically — I would rush out an buy a juicer the very next day.

For the past twenty-four hours we have been enjoying surprisingly delicious juices made from unlikely fruit and veg combinations. I hope it doesn't end up abandoned in the garage beside the bread machine.

I've seen some good films recently #3

Michou d'Auber (2007) This is a sadder version of Neuilly Sa Mère with a young Muslim boy (same actor) being sent to live with a family in small town France (Gérard Depardieu is the foster father) during the Algerian War. Worth watching. 

No Strings Attached (2011) I think this is what is commonly known as a romp. And very rompy it is.


Genova (2008) A lovely film with some beautiful footage of Genoa (beautiful if you like peeling paint and crumbling stonework, that is, which I do). Just don't expect anything very much to happen. Colin Firth looks good.


Bolt (2008) The children had seen this at the cinema when it first came out and wanted to see it again. I made them watch it in English.


You Will Meet a Tall Dark Stranger (2010) A Woody Allen film set in England. Not his best.


Louise-Michel (2008) A very strange French film, but sometimes in a good way. I like Yolande Moreau the main actress and her offbeat social-realism.

From Prada to Nada (2011) Silly, silly, silly. 


Death at a Funeral (2007) One of those British comedies where a family gets together and hilarious chaos with pseudo-meaningful undertones ensues. 


La première étoile (2009) Comedy about a black family from a housing scheme going on its first skiing holiday. A bit better than it sounds.


That's What I Am (2011) Another strange film about not fitting in at high school. The red-headed boy is memorably gangly.


Billy Elliot (2000) I didn't see this when it first came out. I was underwhelmed both by the dancing and the underdeveloped storyline.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Rodrick Rules (2011) I watched this with Z who has read all of the books. He tells me that the book was better. That's ma boy.


Mars Needs Moms (2011) This is a terrible film. They used some sort of experimental animation technique and it's rubbish.


Juno (2007) Great film. I loved everything about it, especially the quirkiness of Juno herself.


..... to be continued

Doors and Windows of Mallorca

We had a sneaky extra week of summer in Mallorca last week and very relaxing it was too.