BEGINNERS - movie review

I had been wanting to see this one for awhile, and as it turns out, definitely worth the wait!

BEGINNERS is a quirky little film starring Captain Von Trapp himself, Christopher Plummer, always a delight to watch, and the very cute and talented Ewan McGregor. It is essentially a beautiful story about love. My favourite topic of all!!

The story moves around a timeline spanning 40 years or so, flashing back via photos, magazine covers and images of presidents, giving the viewer an insight into the 44 yo marriage between Oliver's father (Plummer) and his mother who are both very well aware that Hal (Plummer) is gay, but in a time he daren't be. so they are married and live in supposed wedded bliss for 44 years until Oliver's mother dies, at which time, Hal well and truly comes out of the closet. These scenes are some of the funniest and charming in the film. For the rest of the film, we jump between the last years of Hal's life and Oliver's life post his father's death. (by the way, I'm not spoiling the film by telling you any of this). Oliver meets Anna, played by the very gorgeous Melanie Laurent, and we watch their relationship develop. However, my personal favourite in the film is the relationship between Oliver and his dead father's dog, Arthur.

The film is poignant, sad, happy, charming, and just plain lovely all at the same time. It's emotional, and deals with death, cancer, sexual repression and yet it never feels heavy. It's light and fun and romantic and all performances are superb. If you like your romantic comedies a little offbeat, then this is for you. definitely worth a look!

BEGINNERS - trailer

When Ewan McGregor is good, he is a delight to watch. I think this film could be quite lovely.

The official synopsis

From writer/director Mike Mills comes a comedy/drama about how deeply funny and transformative life can be, even at its most serious moments. -Beginners- imaginatively explores the hilarity, confusion, and surprises of love through the evolving consciousness of Oliver (Ewan McGregor). Oliver meets the irreverent and unpredictable Anna (Melanie Laurent of Inglourious Basterds) only months after his father Hal (Academy Award nominee Christopher Plummer) has passed away. This new love floods Oliver with memories of his father who following 44 years of marriage came out of the closet at age 75 to live a full, energized, and wonderfully tumultuous gay life. The upheavals of Hals new honesty, by turns funny and moving, brought father and son closer than theyd ever been able to be. Now Oliver endeavors to love Anna with all the bravery, humor, and hope that his father taught him.

Saturday is Fantasy Day - the letter E

Top 10 bad boys

Who doesn't love a bad boy? Well certainly not J and K! However you define it, a bad boy, well he just kind of does things to the lady bits!!!!!

So the list...how did we define a bad boy? Womaniser, cheater, drug taker, excessive abuser of alcohol and drugs, partyboy, jailed, lady lover, hotel trasher, I'm sure you get the idea! The list is in no particular order, so look out, here it comes.

Buckle down, here are our top 10 BAD BOYS!

1. COLIN FARRELL
NO EXPLANATION REQUIRED!


2. JOHNNY DEPP
Lovely family man, devoted husband, yes all of that but do you recall the 21 JUMP ST days of drug taking and hotel trashing? Yes, he was one of my first bad boys!


3. JUDE LAW
Hmmm, Jude, sleeping with the nanny, kids out of wedlock, naughty, naughty boy!


4. ROBERT DOWNEY JR
Drugs, jail, rehab, more drugs, jail, rehab.....hmmm you qualify Robert!


5. DAVID DUCHOVNY
Gorgeous wife...sex addict! you are naughty! it doesn't help that you are Hank moody, the naughtiest boy on tv at the moment!


6. EWAN MCGREGOR
Ok, so no-one is officially saying you are naughty, but we know otherwise and clearly that cheeky smile gives you away! Join the list Ewan!


7. BEN MENDELSOHN
Yep, we know it. You're bad. vince or no Vince!


8. GERARD BUTLER
I'm pretty sure the main reason you have hit the bad boy radar is your supposed womanising ways. You like a good time and you like a pretty lady (and that scottish accent is working for you)! Please prove us right!!!


9. ROB LOWE
So bad! Celebrity sex tape pioneer, cheating on Laura Ingalls, a bit of nanny hooha and of course he will always be bad boy Billy to me.


10. ALEC BALDWIN
Bad boy? well bad parent and bad husband maybe!!!


HONOURABLE MENTIONS TO THE FOLLOWING GENTS FOR ALMOST MAKING IT!!!

Mark Wahlberg (jailbird!), cHRISTIAN sLATER (WIFE BEATER!), James Dean, Sean Penn, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, Ethan Hawke

i am a little in love with Ewan McGregor.........

and this is the reason why............





Anyone who knows me a little knows my love of all things VW. Earlier in the year we spotted Ewan in the bug, and now he is ferrying his family around LA in combi. Love him!

some pretty pictures