This past weekend, with the weather being extremely ordinary, we decided to spend most of the Sunday on the couch watching movies and catching up on TV shows. Thank goodness for the internet in these times when we're trying to save money!
On Saturday night I watched a film called Take This Waltz which was surprisingly good. I was expecting the same old formulaic romantic comedy and it refreshingly wasn't. Michelle Williams was the main character and she was fantastic. As the audience, I was able to feel everything her character was feeling simply by her expressions. When she smiled, she really made you feel her happiness, and when she was melancholy you started to feel that way too. I don't remember her having that impact on me in her other roles so I'm thinking it was the way she played the character so well, even when the character is sometimes unlikeable. Was a surprisingly good film, although probably one only the female audience will enjoy (although there is a delightfully raunchy sex scene ans some full frontal nudity for the male viewers!).
On Sunday Glen and I finally watched Snowtown. I loved this movie and highly recommend people see it. It isn't a gory serial killer movie, but instead it looks at the psychology of the killers and, in particular, Jamie Vlassakis's upbringing. It is actually really sad. Such a great movie, can't recommend it enough.
The other film we watched on Sunday was the Ridley Scott Robin Hood. It was a bit 'meh' although I'm not sure if it's because we'd just finished watching a fantastic movie, or if it was just a little ordinary. Wasn't crap, but not a keeper.
All in all, a nice relaxing weekend. I'd be interested in hearing if anyone else has seen Snowtown though, and if so, what you thought of it.
Monday, June 18, 2012
Friday, June 15, 2012
I'm a reading machine
I seem to have finished a lot of books lately. It probably helps that they were all really short, but still, it feels nice to get through a few books quickly. This month so far has seen a lot of non-fiction which is a bit unusual for me. I don't mind non-fiction, but I usually find that after reading one, I can't wait to sink my teeth back into some good fiction to lose myself in.
I started off the month reading True Pleasures: A Memoir of Women in Paris by Lucinda Holdforth which would have made a fantastic documentary series. She basically visited key sites in the lives of many famous women in Paris throughout history. The most interesting parts I found in the book were where she was talking about Napoleon and Josephine, and she quoted some of Napoleon's love letters. Wow!! Those letters were amazing. Love letters like that are definitely a lost art. So it got me interested in reading more about Napoleon, someone I haven't read about since high school's Modern European History.
I then moved onto another non-fiction book called A Leg to Stand On by Oliver Sacks, probably best known for writing Awakenings. It was a bit too intellectual for me to be honest. He turned his knee injury into something far more philosophical and most of the time I had no idea what I was reading. I'm sure the more intellectual of my work book club will have much more insightful observations on the book.
After frying my brain on that, I thought I'd return to some fiction so read The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov. This was the first Asimov book I'd actually read despite meaning to for quite some time. It was fantastic. I really, really love the way he writes and have been raving about this book on Facebook already so won't repeat myself too much. But honestly, so well written and written in a style that will never date. Loved it.
I'm now halfway through Adelaide by Kerryn Goldsworthy, probably only of interest to those who grew up or live here because it goes through the city's history, key historical figures and some spots around the city that bring with them some nostalgic moments. I'm enjoying it as a trip down memory lane and also for learning some more about my own city, but limited readership obviously.
Karen has loaned me a book on Napoleon for my next read. Looks like more non-fiction for the time being!
I started off the month reading True Pleasures: A Memoir of Women in Paris by Lucinda Holdforth which would have made a fantastic documentary series. She basically visited key sites in the lives of many famous women in Paris throughout history. The most interesting parts I found in the book were where she was talking about Napoleon and Josephine, and she quoted some of Napoleon's love letters. Wow!! Those letters were amazing. Love letters like that are definitely a lost art. So it got me interested in reading more about Napoleon, someone I haven't read about since high school's Modern European History.
I then moved onto another non-fiction book called A Leg to Stand On by Oliver Sacks, probably best known for writing Awakenings. It was a bit too intellectual for me to be honest. He turned his knee injury into something far more philosophical and most of the time I had no idea what I was reading. I'm sure the more intellectual of my work book club will have much more insightful observations on the book.
After frying my brain on that, I thought I'd return to some fiction so read The Rest of the Robots by Isaac Asimov. This was the first Asimov book I'd actually read despite meaning to for quite some time. It was fantastic. I really, really love the way he writes and have been raving about this book on Facebook already so won't repeat myself too much. But honestly, so well written and written in a style that will never date. Loved it.
I'm now halfway through Adelaide by Kerryn Goldsworthy, probably only of interest to those who grew up or live here because it goes through the city's history, key historical figures and some spots around the city that bring with them some nostalgic moments. I'm enjoying it as a trip down memory lane and also for learning some more about my own city, but limited readership obviously.
Karen has loaned me a book on Napoleon for my next read. Looks like more non-fiction for the time being!
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