Figgy66-915-598470

Thursday 20 August 2020 First Film of Choice after lockdown at The Plaza Dorchester - Unhinged. Russell Crowe stars as a very disturbed man who takes offence at a small mistake made by a fellow motorist on the freeway. What ensues is a downward spiral of road rage going very very bad as he targets his victim and everyone she cares about. This is a very tense thriller which even in the simplicity of its plot had me on the edge of my seat with a nervous knot in my stomach throughout. An excellent piece of acting from Crowe - his character becomes increasing more disturbed as his rage takes him beyond all reasonable behaviour. A truly well titled film. If only she had said she was sorry........!!!!

Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester this afternoon - 1917. Throughout the years there have been many films, starring many people, and coming from many different points of view about the First World War. Without taking anything away from those film makers who have come before I can say this was certainly one of the best shot films I have seen for a long time. Following just two soldiers for much of the first half you get a real insight into the life of the individual. Yes we know thousands of men died on both sides but the way this film is shot isolates the very individual struggles and emotions felt by men under direct orders to carry out a seemingly impossible task. Even when surrounded by hundreds of other men there is a sense of aloneness emanating from the screen. I particularly liked how the camera angles changed direction whilst the soldiers were walking, one minute the camera is going backwards, the next it swings round as it allows the men to pass and you almost get a feeling of the cameraman trotting to keep up as they purposely stride along on their mission. Take a moment to look beyond the characters, note the detritus of war lying around, items of clothing, munitions, and so many bodies. Remember this is real, it did happen and note the horror of it all. Lots of big stars in very small parts, look out for Colin Firth, Mark Strong to name a couple. Well done Sam Mendes, you have excelled yourself with this masterpiece.

23 December 2019 Second Film of Choice at The Plaza Dorchester Tonight - Cats. I believe I'm going to buck the trend here. I loved this film. I loved that I knew all the words, that we got the sort of close ups of the cats that you never would in a stage show, enabling you to get the nuances of the characters, every twitch of the whisker every shake of the ear and every twitch of the tail. There was so much to focus on in every scene the film fair skipped along. I think the casting of so many famous people was a great thing. Who knows how many of them dreamed that one day they might play a jellicle cat, and with extended theatre runs being to costly in time for the actors we got to see people attack very different roles with gusto. I particularly liked Idris Elba as Macavity. Good to see James Cordon and Rebel Wilson portrayed as the larger felines and Sir Ian McKellen as Gus The Theatre Cat was very moving. My favourite song has always be Skimbleshanks the Railway Cat and I was eagerly awaiting this scene, I wasn't disappointed, I have a passion for tap and to see that incorporated along the train tracks was great. At the end of the film I heard someone say that Dame Judy Dench was dreadful, the only dreadful thing was her costume, compared to all the others she looked like she was clothed in fur fabric. She was an old lady playing an old cat and it worked for me. A great score, glorious sets and some beautiful choreography, don't kill the messenger but I loved it.