Family Affairs and other matters

WE FILM REVIEW

I went with a friend to a cocktail party at Claridges for the premier of Madonna’s new film “W.E” all about Edward and Wallis Simpson and then on to the red carpet showing of the film in Leicester Square. It has now been released in the UK to lukewarm reviews. British critics were largely unimpressed by the Venice screening. Kate Muir, The Times’s chief film critic, awarded W.E. two stars and described it as “a mash-up of Mills and Boon and Homes and Gardens”. The Guardian’s one-star review called it a “primped and simpering folly, preening and fatally mishandled”.

I really enjoyed the film. Visually stunning. 83 costume changes for Wallis and some brilliant cinematography – including 35mm, 16mm and Super 8 to give the home video look when required. She did a Q & A at the end. It took her three years to research and develop the concept for the film and she read as many letters as she could find to try and get under the skin of Wallis Simpson herself – she is obviously fascinated in the whole concept of the most romantic couple in history and the huge and brave sacrifices both of them had to make and presumably also relates to the misunderstood strong American female abroad theme.

“What do you hope people will take away from the film?” she was asked as the last question and after a long pause she said “lots of things. It’s a complex story and there is no such thing as perfect love and if you think there is then you are in for a rude awakening. Real love requires compromise. Nothing is what it seems and it pays to investigate all angles before you reach your conclusions”.

Here she was at Claridges:-

She has the skin of a twelve year old:-

Here we are on the red carpet – he plays the adulterous “shrink”:-

She plays Wallis, but I was the wrong side of the red carpet to get a picture of her face!:-

Me on the red carpet!

Here is a picture of some of the paparazzi – what a hard job they’ve got:-

Her allocated seat – at least I think it must have been for her:-

HALF BLOOD BLUES BY ESI EDUGYAN

Book group last night. Just great. Love it. But we’re all getting old now. The glasses aren’t even covertly put on when looking at the books – they’re on all night. We have conversations about our failing eyesight and how cleverly designed human beings are – that as our wrinkles and facial hairs increase our [...]

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LEONARDO DA VINCI EXHIBITION REVIEW – NATIONAL GALLERY

NO WAY was I going to miss this exhibition. In Hong Kong the school “house” I was in was called Da Vinci and consequently we all knew everything there was to know about the man. What an extraordinary person he was. Such unbelievable talent in so many different fields….

The exhibition is truly spectacular obviously. Arguably the most notable Old Master show this century. Just divine to be able to get up close and personal to such exquisite paintings. The fall of light. The detail. The expressions. The symbolic gestures, his ability to engage with the viewer. What a coup to bring together both versions of “The Virgin of The Rocks” in one room – fascinating to be able to analyse the differences between the two.

BUT in my view there were a few faults. Firstly, whilst I appreciate the impossibility of the Mona Lisa jetting in for the event it would have been good to have a replica of her somewhere on a wall to look at. I also would have liked to have seen more of his inventions – his flying machine, air balloon stuff and definitely more of his analytical drawings – or am I just being greedy now? I don’t think we really got the full sense of him being a famous painter, sculptor, architect, mathematician, anatomist and engineer.

AND ANOTHER THING whilst I’m at it. I bought the audio thingy to be fully informed about all that stuff you can’t quite be arsed to read on the wall and was looking forward to getting the details of when he was born, where, how, why and all that stuff that you know shaped the man. But there was none of it. No gory details at all.

Things they didn’t tell us which I think it would have helped to know:-

That he was born in April 1452
That he was illegitimate and that his parents gave him up and married other people. His father was a notary and his mother a farmer’s daughter.
He was brought up by his paternal Grandfather
He was gay, which must have been a huge big deal then and influenced his work massively. He was twice accused of sodomy.
He consequently was late in beginning his apprentice and by 30 had not done very much work of a genius.

ANYWAY, apart from that try and beg, borrow or steal a ticket to get in. It’s on until February 5th. www.nationalgallery.org.uk

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TUNE HOTEL LIVERPOOL STREET REVIEW

How delighted was my teenage son and his girlfriend to get an offer via my blog of a room for the night at the newly opened Tune Hotel in Liverpool Street to review as a new venue for Gap Year students and travellers. Off they went last night to check it out. They had a [...]

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“ANGELE & TONY” FILM REVIEW

My friend invited me to a screening of an award winning French debut film by writer/director Alix Dalaporte. Described as an “arresting and intimate drama about two lost souls in search of human connection” – well, how could I resist? It wasn’t what I was expecting but beautifully touching nevertheless. Very French. All smoky and [...]

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TOP TIPS FOR PLANNING YOUR DISNEY HOLIDAY

If you are thinking about a Disney holiday then there is some information on a the following link: http://mydisneyworldplanner.co.uk/ There you will find some videos to help you plan your trip to Disney World, Where to Stay, Disney Dining Plan, What to do and Disney Cruise Line. There are lots of top tips for planning [...]

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VALENTINE’S DAY 2012

GUEST EDITORIAL

One of my favourite retailers has asked me to let you know where to go for Valentine’s flowers and chocolates. I am trying to pretend I am fine with the whole concept whilst being aware that I will not be receiving any flowers and chocolates myself (except maybe from my children and/or most likely from myself).

OH WELL.

I really shouldn’t be a completely miserable grump about it should I. SO. Even if it’s not for Valentine’s Day to be honest I would recommend M & S flowers – I used to be a florist and was surprised to discover that they are the biggest retailer of flowers in the UK (I think that probably still stands). Their flowers are always very fresh, well arranged and cheaper than most.

Check out their link – http://www.marksandspencer.com/Valentines-Day-Flowers/b/70756031

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