At the flicks

I have more to say re jane Austen adaptations, but it is time to head home...shall catch up later - have a great weekend x

Good Question it was too Billy !!! .... at least I wont be the only one listening to the answer next Thursday Afternoon !!

and straight on to the site with the answer Rolanda

Tell, tell, Billy.

Ok, I hate admitting my ignorance, but could someone tell me how Ralph Fiennes' membership in the MHC takes him from Sexiest Man to Sleaziest Man? And while we're on the subject, where do members of the IC Club stand on Hugh Grant? Because in my opinion, unless he chopped a lady of the night into little bits with his axe, in front of her two children, he's still one of my favorites, warts and all.

Just saw Sleuth. I am now officially "off" Jude Law (Yes, Billy, you were always right and I've just come to see it). As well as Harold Pinter and Michael Caine. Could never stand Kenneth Branaugh -- scenery chewer extraordinaire second only to Al Pacino. I'm with the New York Times' A.O. Scott who had only one good thing to say about the movie: it mercifully came in an hour shorter than the original. This movie exemplifies what can go wrong when four huge egos collide, thinking it must be great if it's them. Olivier was wrong. These guys were wrong.

[I'll clock how long we're first in the "Off Topics" queue and report to the club later.]

Hey Terry, I think having it off with a stewardess in the toilet is a bit tacky....but hey, call me old-fashioned. Hugh Grant? mmm. Definitely not in period costume, I thought his neckless look in S and S was laughable. His 4 W and a F act now.....aahhhhh. How about an award for best puppydog eyes?

act? role rather

Mary, I'm more concerned with the fact that SA4 allows your posts to "out-queue" them than with any slips of tongue. Your loyalties are in serious question. I have asked the IC Security Forces to take a closer look. If you have an explanation why your posts would be allowed to hold queue ahead of SA4, we would appreciate hearing it.

Sorry Terry, I thought the point was to keep the Flicks at the top of the list. I accept whatever punishment you require, so long as it's chocolate

Sense and Sensibility - the Alan Rickman version was sublime. There is a new BBC1 mini-series in 3 parts that was made this year...look out for it.

Pride and Prejudice - the Colin Firth version was sublime. The Matthew Macfadyen version was sublimely good (ever catch him in Spooks?).

Emma - (my favourite novel btw by JA)the Gwyneth Paltrow/ Jeremy Northam was not so subliminally sublime as I had wished for.

Persuasion, Northanger abbey and Mansfield Park have all recently been adapted by ITV1, so hopefully we'll be in for a treat.

Re Ralph Fiennes...when nature calls Mary...well he could've been having a tinkle and we all know how static can effect the efficiency of the zipper - cue the air hostess, four hands at work is better than, two don't you think?

Re Terry's question...I choose to stand on Hugh Grant's head. Just checked out Hunky Male Celebs which just confirmed my thoughts: "tends to play the stereotype of an upper middle class twerp" - ALL THE TIME!!! No versatility whatsoever, but hey, what would you expect with a middle name of "Mungo"? - must've scarred him for life...PLUS he has been known to drive recklessly with a certain person called Divine...genital warts? geez you're game Terry.

Ok - the gloves are off...all I can say is that AO Scott may not be familiar with Pinter as a playwright? This film is about the dialogue, Dialogue, let me say that again...DIALOGUE!!! For me the question of ego never came into it, as long as the actors could deliver the lines as intended by Pinter was all that mattered, it had his trademark stamp all over it - sublimeness just oozed out of it, oozed I say....er where was I? Oh yeah, Terry, your judgement is in serious question - apart from the fact that it opposes mine, I think it may have more to do with cultural differences... how the hell did Atonement get passed up by the Oscar big wigs? because they just DIDN'T GET IT!!!

Now if I happened to offend you with my little outburst up there, i apologise unreservedly, but we're talking major stuff here and if I don't vent I may get indigestion when I eat my nachos...

Billy, I loved Persuasion with Ciaran Hinds doing the 'hiding his burning passion beneath a veneer of manly restraint' (henceforth to be known as HHBPBAVOMR), a pre-requisit for Austen heroes.Not quite up to the AR standard, but pretty good I thought.

Billy, do you think Americans, and even reviewers for the New York Times, don't get a movie that doesn't involve guns and cowboy hats, or guns and car chases, or guns and destruction of our planet? The dialogue was the problem. It was overblown, and the belief of the team seemed to be that the dialogue, coming out of the mouths of Law and Caine, would sound brilliant. In case you hadn't noticed, American's are ga-ga when it comes to accents, hence the best supporting actress Oscar for Dame Judy Dench for a drive-by 3-minute performance in Shakespeare in Love. That caused a bit of a reconsideration because it was just embarrassing idolatry. So when we in the colonies can actually admit we think four British minds have collaborated to produce a piece of crap, that is a sign we are growing up. IMHO (At this point, I would add a smiley face so no one should confuse this diatribe as taking itself seriously, but I hate smiley faces.)

And Mary, punishment by chocolate? For crimes against the Club? In your dreams.
Whew, I'm becoming quite the tyrantress. I believe the power bestowed upon me is going to my head. It may be time for a coup.

splutter, splutter, chocolate as punishment has a long history in the cinema. Being forced to watch Mars Attacks, Mutiny on the Bounty, Chocolat (ok I grant you JD and JB were good, but REALLY).

Are you casting aspersions on Chocolat? I thought that was a sacred cow. I loved the cast of women. Binoche was her most delicious self; Dame Judy growled and grimaced with a twinkle in her eye; Carrie Anne Moss went from Tai Chi in black leather to quiet longing and pursed lips under a pillbox hat; and Olin blossommed like a rose. I love that movie. I hereby dub it another Sacred Chick Flick (along with S&S). Head back, missy, b/c you're due for another dousing. (Chocolate boarding! Now I get it.)

Billy, I just think Colin Firth is sublime. I loved him particularly in Love Actually. That thread was best part of the movie. The conversation in the car when he takes his housekeeper home ("This is my favorite time of the day;" "This is the worst part of my day...."). But, question: am I the only person who doesn't get how or why Firth's character could fall in love with Zellweger's Bridget Jones? And then stay in love with her through the sequel? I wanted to love her, but I couldn't do it.

Okay, okay, maybe I should have forgiven it on the title alone. But don't you think it was just an eensy weeny bit...twee?(says she, ducking and running for cover)

COME BACK, MARY. I'M NOT GOING TO HIT YOU. But I'm sitting here like a damned bird, repeating, "Twee, twee, twee." I don't have a clue what that means. Please elucidate for the profoundly befuddled.

well, you know how REAL chocolate is full of good healthy sweetness....well,don't you think Chocolat had a hint, a mere hint, of saccharine?????

Chocolat was a fable. How can a fable be too sweet?

when the French make it?

Now I'm totally confused. The book adaptation was by a Brit, all or at least most of the producers and distributors were U.S. (Miramax, et al.), and Hallstrom directed. The French had nothing to do with the making of the movie. So what is your point?

Okay, it was set in France,filmed mostly in France, written by a woman who is half-French, starred a French actress...it was still a tad, just a tad, sickly

Was that a rhetorical question Terry? Now that I look I see there are a few rhetorical questions in the last 1/2 dozen posts...but referring to "do you think Americans blah blah blah...", I'm going to answer with a "yep" anyway. But I do agree with you,you are growing up and when you reach the ripe old age of 12 (say in another 5 yrs time?) you might all recognise that the dialogue coming out of the mouths of Law and Caine, is actually brilliant.

Okay, reasonable minds can differ. Though I do think if I applied your standard, I'd have to trash Forrest Gump, Field of Dreams, and other American fables.

Oh, Billy, Billy, Billy. I refuse to take the bait. In five years, crap will still be crap. But a girl can dream, so I'll forgive you.

Note I was speaking to Mary when I prefaced with "reasonable minds can differ." Glad you're in the fray, Billy. You add so much.

Rhetorical question no.2: "...casting aspersions... blah blah blah", yep, I'm feeling aspersively reactive and i have to agree with Mary on this, it is decidely "twee"*. I'm beginning to doubt the legitimacy and credibility of your Sacred Chick Flick list. I might just turn a blind eye to it if The Piano is included...and I'm feeling more than generous towards you as you agree (with real conviction it seems) that Colin Firth is sublime.

*Overly precious or nice... affectedly dainty or quaint (ref. Dictionary.com)

Terry, PLEASE trash FG and FoD They are pure saccharine

Ok we are united. CF is sublime....

I would be highly incensed Terry, nay - peeved, even a tad miffed if you even hinted that I had a reasonable mind...take note of avatar...I am very attached to this one and it only comes out on special occasions...

Yee howdy. We have a discussion and a half going here, girls, and I have to leave to spend some "quality time" with my mate. Trust me when I tell you I would much rather stay and spar with you two. This is the most mental stimulation I've had in a while. I only hope you can find enough to disagree about to continue the fray.

The PEAR (the Point of Everything is Alan Rickman) prayer/mission statement to be said whilst pinching one's nostrils to achieve the nasal cadence he so effortlessly projects:

In the name of The Alan
In the name of The Rickman
In the name of the most sublime
PEAR

Amen

Ahhhm (best chanted in the lotus position).

Okay, Mary, I have no choice but to agree about FoD and FG.