the kids are alright (2010) - lisa cholodenko

I kept seeing 'The Kids Are Alright' listed on sky, and then being disappointed when it wasn't The Who film. Eventually though, l crumbled, and decided to give it a go, as it had received such good reviews.
A married lesbian couple, Nic and Jules (Anette Benning and Julianne Moore) get into difficulties when their children contact Paul (Mark Ruffalo), their sperm doner father, as he then starts to influence the children, and falls for Jules (who sleeps with him) when she is landscaping his garden (that's not a euphemism). Drama unfolds when the deception is uncovered, and there are plenty of tears shed (some, l admit, shed by me - l think l may have an allergy).
Not the best film l've ever seen by any stretch, but it's enjoyable enough.
More drama than comedy though.

toodle pip 

what the hell is tony curtis wearing?

Here's a cool photograph of Sidney Poitier, Tony Curtis, Sammy Davis Jr and Jack Lemmon, but what stands out for me is Tony Curtis and his choice of clothes. I really hope they are being worn for a film, but even so, just look at the long sock and tight short combination he has got going on. He wouldn't have lasted two minutes around these parts.

toodle pip

men magazine fashion

What the stylish man about town should be wearing, according to Men Magazine, back in the day.
Nice - keep it sweet.

toodle pip

satyricon (1969) - federico fellini

Wow, Fellini really goes to town on this film. Set in the time of Nero, Satyricon follows the exploits of  Encolpio (Martin Potter), his love for Gitone, and his travels and adventures throughout ancient Rome (including being involved in the death of a hermaphrodite with healing powers).
It's an outrageously gay film, and Fellini has taken a lot of liberties with the story, adding in scenes wherever he felt like. The colouring of the film, the strange characters, the surreal settings, the mad feast, and the weird story, make it seem like a hallucination or a disturbing dream, but that is no bad thing as far as l am concerned.
 The book by Petronius is vastly different (although l haven't read it for years), with many missing sections. These are the parts added by Fellini, and l think he did a good job it.
A very strange film indeed, but right up my street.
I knew l should have been gay.

toodle pip

giant ant hill excavated

This is pretty amazing. A giant ant hill is excavated by pouring a load of concrete into it, and then digging away all the surrounding earth. The size, scope and planning of the structure built by the ants is staggering.
Clever little sods, they'll be taking over the world if they keep on like this.

toodle pip

I sell the dead ( 2008) - glenn mcquaid

I Sell The Dead is a black comedy about two grave robbers, one of whom, Willie Grimes (Larry Fessender) is guillotined at the start of the movie. The other, Arthur Blake (Dominic Monaghan) is visited in his cell by a priest, Father Duffy (Ron Perlman), and recounts his life of crime to him.
The trouble is, the film is not at all scary, even though it features vampires, zombies and killings. It is also not funny, and l couldn't relate to either of the main characters, although Ron Perlman was his usual excellent self.
Pretty rubbish really, another hour and a half of my life wasted. Lucky l am off work at the moment.

toodle pip

little jamie has appeared

Had a phone call today from Kerry to say that little Jamie has been born in Middlesbrough, is doing fine and is OK. Bit of a shock that it has happened so soon, as it was not due until the end of March, but at least everything seems to be working correctly. Little Jamie turned out to be a boy (although they are naming him Ciaran) and we will be going through tomorrow to see them all. Champagne and cigars for Robbo, a pat on the head for Kerry.
All we have to do now is wait 18 years and get him matched up with Louise and Dazzer's Lol.

toodle pip

bacon in a tube

America - l love the place. The home of bacon in a tube which can be added to cakes. Pure genius!

toodle pip

son of dracula (1943) - robert siodmak

Not one of the better Dracula films, Son Of Dracula stars Lon Chaney Jr as Count Alucard, who comes to the States and marries Katherine, a plantation owners daughter. She however, has done it so she can nibble on and then spend eternity with Frank, her true love. Obviously things don't go to plan, and the Count is killed in the end.
The first Dracula film to have the transformation into a bat, but it's still pretty damn dated.

toodle pip

out for lunch with the crazy cats

 Idiot cat in Tunstall

  Idiot cat in Tunstall

  

 Idiot cat in Tunstall on the cooker

  Idiots  in Tunstall

Trying to snow in Tunstal

Dragged myself out of bed this morning to watch The Sunday Supplement, then went off to to Louise and Dazzer's  for Sunday lunch, prepared by Dazzer and eaten in a kitchen that could well have been one in Beirut, as it needs plastering, painting, and units put in. Apart from that, it's great, and they at least have a new cooker.
The food had a bit too much on the old vegetable side for me, but there was cans with it, and it was nice and tasty otherwise.
Myself and Daz persuaded our FPO's to let us bugger off to the pub in Tunstall for an hour and a half afterwards (we have to obey a tight and strict schedule), but unfortunately for us (and luckily for the girls), it was (as we suspected it might be) closed. What a swine of a result (a bit like Liverpool v United yesterday).
We sulked back to the house, had another can of wife beater, then myself and the FPO returned home, where l promptly fell asleep reading in the bath (water in first).
Watched the last episode of Misfits (series three) which we had taped before Christmas, then it was the computer for me, bed for the sap who has to get up in the morning for work.
It's great being off work (not back until Tuesday afternoon).

toodle pip

old tv listing from 1980

This is an old TV listing from about 1980, and it just shows haw crap the television was back in the day. Only three channels, and they closed down just after midnight.
No wonder l used to go out a lot.

toodle pip

the changing face of catherine zeta jones

Now, as those who knows me would confirm, l am not a person who would ever say a bad word about anybody, nor comment on the fact they may have had plastic surgery done.
OK, l'm lying - of course l would.
l am not for one moment suggesting that Catherine Zeta Jones has had any work done, but she sure as hell doesn't look like the girl from the valleys anymore.
What's wrong with being happy with how you look? Growing old gracefully? Bucking the Hollywood obsession for surgery? Staying close to your roots?
Sod all that - she looks miles better, and whatever she paid, it was worth it, although l do suspect that her new picture has been heavily airbrushed and photo-shopped.

toodle pip

the sons of katie elder posters

The posters for The Sons Of Katie Elder. More crap l would like to own.

toodle pip