The weekend that was

Hello lovelies! I hope you've all had a great start to your week? This weekend I...

+ Stayed at home on Friday night.
+ Watched three Xmen movies.
+ Was a model.
+ Slept in.
+ Ate delicious french toast made by the lovely drummer boy.
+ Went to Assembly and checked out Ashtray Electric.
+ Re-realised how small Cape Town is.
+ Had pizza. Twice.
+ Had a strange dream in which I had to save a hamster.
+ Started watching the second season of V.
+ Couldn't sleep.

How was your weekend? Get up to anything special?

The weekend that was

Hope you’re all ready for another Monday! This weekend I…

+ Watched Kiki’s Flying Delivery Service.

+ Ate some of the best Chinese takeaways I’ve ever had.

+ Had dinner with the lovely Se, wonderful Meh and awesome Wal.

+ Realised that I eat too much toast and need to find a better (healthier) snack option.

+ Tried Simonsvlei’s Sauvignon Blanc and really liked it.

+ Went dancing with the awesome Wal.

+ Probably had too much wine.

+ Got to try some of awesome Wal and the lead singer’s cake (yum).

+ Bought a pair of high-waisted jeans and turned them into shorts.

+ Had a date night with the lovely drummer boy.

+ Went to Assembly for the aKing gig and much preferred DJ Sideshow.

What did you do this weekend?

Oh, and today, screw the rest of the world and kiss someone passionately in public. Image from here.

Le Bonheur Wine Estate for a bit of wine, fun and French

So on Friday afternoon the lovely Se and wonderful Meh and I set off for the stretched out lands of Stellenbosch area. We were headed for Le Bonheur Wine Estate, some fine wining and an evening of Frenchy fun.

Firstly: don't ever set off for the far-out lands of that side of the world without directions. We did and ended up taking a wrong turn, spending hours in the car and visiting a crocodile farm. Hmm.

But, eventually our femaley-intuitive-directional-radars (we have those) helped us find the beautiful Le Bonheur.

We were treated to a complimentary glass of wine (just enough to tempt you to buy a bottle), some themed snacks and a warm environment in which to chill, chat and await the screening of the film for the evening.

Since the lovely Se is studying French and plans to whisk herself away to Paris at some point we found ourselves seated in front of a warm fire and a big screen to the opening credits of La Vie en Rose.

It was a fun evening doing something a bit different but I do have some advice for those wanting to enjoy the estates dinner and a movie evenings: bring along your own pillow for the film and make sure you specify any food issues - Se doesn't eat ANY meat and I've just given up pork which didn't really work with their bacon and cheese quiches and parma ham wraps.

Otherwise it was lovely!

Image from here.

The weekend that was

It's a very stormy, cold Monday n Cape Town today. Hope you're all keeping warm with gloves, scarves and heaters!

This weekend I...

+ Went all the way out to Le Bonheur Wine Estate for a movie, wine and tasters.
+ Bought some cute jerseys from the Hospice shop.
+ Sewed.
+ Met some talented & wonderful people.
+ Made a faux pas.
+ Survived said faux pas relatively unscathed.
+ Saw Etienne de Crecy in a show I'm not going to forget quickly.
+ Wore heels out (my feet hurt).
+ Had lunch at the Octopus Garden in St James.
+ Missed the train so had to walk home in the freezing wind.
+ Slept 12 hours straight.

What did you get up to?

Also, don't you just love the fact that this room has been built around this tree? Love the idea, the feel, the look. I think I want to build my dream home around a giant tree.

Image from here. 

Unknown

Just got back from seeing Unknown with Liam Neeson.

I had a vague idea what the film was about going in but felt slightly confused in the frst few minutes of the movie cause we had rocked, yet again, late (thanks lovely drummer boy).

Nevertheless things quickly became clear: Liam Neeson finds himself in trouble and is pretty much capable of taking on the whole world to get his love back. Also, there's a twist.

Diane Kruger plays opposite Neeson. She's beautiful. It's hard to know if she's a good actress of not passed that. I think she is though.

It's pretty good, I love that it's set in Berlin. There are some pretty tense moments too which kept me with my hands over my mouth, gasping.

Go watch it but don't expect anything mind-blowing, just some good action, a tense car chase and some dynamite punches.

Favourite scene: In the car, when things are floating (I won't say too much cause I don't want to ruin it for you).

Enjoy.

Image from here. 

The Weekend that was...

I took it super chilled this weekend. This weekend I...

+ Had pancakes twice.
+ Watched Howl's Moving Castle.
+Ate the most delicious lamb chops (thanks Scal).
+ Spent some time on our 1000-piece puzzle of Marilyn Monroe (most difficult puzzle ever!)
+ Had some serious discussions.
+ Felt ovcerwhelmed about the craziness of the current world and my miniscule place in it.
+ Sorted out some issues.
+ Went to the wonderful Meh's house-warming braai (twas lovely).
+ Didn't see any of the Argus cyclists.
+ Spent Sunday evening in Kalk Bay at Cape to Cuba.

What did you get up to this weekend?

Image from here.

Date Night

No, not a lovely evening planned entirely by the lovely drummer boy to spoil, surprise and all-round show me that he loves me. The movie. Date Night.

I got it out lastnight and the Marja and I watched. I had heard mixed reviews (see: Everyone said it was crap and the DVD guy with a very cool Brit accent said "whatchit, 'sa laugh." - Who can argue with a "very cool Brit accent"!?)

Anyways, it was crap. Steve Carell and Tina Fey are usually quite funny but here? Na-uh. The comical aspect was dragging so badly you felt awkward. You know that kind of awkward when a few of you are listening to a person's story and their story is actually pretty boring and pointless but you're all listening anyways hoping it's going to reach a climax worth waiting for and then there's that moment, that excruciatingly embarrassing moment when said-boring-story-teller realises that their story is pretty kak and they know that everyone listening knows it but no-one actually says anything. Thats how awkwardly bad the comedy is in Date Night.

The only thing worth wooping for is seeing Marky Mark (Mark Wahlberg for those of you who don't religiously follow sexy Calvin Klein ads)  topless not once, not twice but three times. And c'mon, everyone loves a good hat trick.

Sighs. Onto the next RomCom disaster.

Seraphine and Genova

Last night the Marja and I decided to get two dvds out and just veg on the couch. We decided on Martin Provost's Seraphine and Michael Winterbottom's Summer in Genova



"Seraphine" is a beautiful portrayal of the artist's life as apoverty-stricken cleaner. The film depicts her unmoving passion for the outdoors, nature, her religion and paining. A truly remarkable woman. She was such an interesting character who saw the world in ways we can only imagine.

Yolande Moreau played the artist with such a poignant understanding of the character making you misunderstand and love her all at once.

The stories follows her on her journey from hardworking cleaner to wellpaid artist and downwards into her darker personality where she looses her grip on reality a little. If you haven't heard of this artist, her work is really quite intriuging and it's worth a Google.

"Summer in Genova" really touched me. I couldn't help but see some parts of myself in both of the two sisters. This film is about a family in shock. A tragedy sparks a move from America to Italy and the exploration of each remaining family member's acceptance of what has happened.

Set in Genova, the locations are enough to make anyone pack up their bags and fly off to sexy, sultry Italia.

The emotions of the charcter sin this film are so raw and real that you're left feeling a bit shocked from some of the scenes, and there are some scenes where the tension is just too much for your little heart to bear.


I also think Willa Holland, who plays Kelly, the oldest daughter is absolutely beautiful. 

I recommend both these films.

The Fall

The lovely drummer and I watched a movie the other night called The Fall (I must boast, I picked it out :) )
This is a must-see...the story, the characters, the journey, the images...please see this movie.
It's a story of love, not only between two lovers but between friends, family and strangers.

Catinca Untaru, the young girl playing the undeniably endearing Alexandria stole my heart within seconds. She's brilliant.

What makes this film so magical however is the cinematography, the scenes, settings and composition. It was like visiting the art gallery whose pieces are scenes out of your own mind - the scenarios couldn't have been portrayed in a more poignant way aesthetically. I love the scene when the bandits meet the Mystic for the first time, and also when they eventually reach the evil Odius' castle the Escher-like scene where the guards run up and down the steps toward one of our heroes is stunning to watch.

Sometimes, when I'm seriously bored, I [day]dream that some gorgeous, eloquent masked-bandit will sweep me away from my buzzing PC and carry me off into perfect sunsets (in the form of the lovely drummer of course!) and then the reality hits and I realise that those archaic thoughts and worlds of the knight in shining armour (probably) come resplendent with long annoyingly difficult-to-walk-in dresses/skirts, no hot water, no Gossip Girl (whaaaaaaaaaaaaaat?), uncomfortable hay beds and the very (very) very real possibility of the Shiny Knight turning into an expendable knight/soldier-type-thing/man who then turns to ale (which gets caught in and permeates his beard, further ferments there), eating too much (thus acquiring a lovely Roast Pig boep) and finally wanting (and expecting) me to still find him attractive. Eeuw.


The scenes I liked:

Best lines:
Luigi: [reading from Evelyn's locket] My dearest daughter, never marry for money, fame, power or security. Always follow your heart. Your ever loving father...
Blue Bandit: It says all that on that little locket?
Luigi: Si.


Roy Walker: What's that?
Alexandria: Food.
Roy Walker: Where'd you get it?
Alexandria: The chapel.
[feeds him a communion wafer]
Roy Walker: I'm sorry I shouted at you. I was angry.
Alexandria: No problem.
Roy Walker: Are you trying to save my soul?
Alexandria: [not understanding] Hmm?
Roy Walker: Are you trying to save my soul? Do you understand me?
Alexandria: What?
Roy Walker: Did you understand what I meant?
Alexandria: What you said?
Roy Walker: I said, are you trying to save my soul? Giving me that?
Alexandria: What mean that?
Roy Walker: The Eucharist.
Alexandria: What?
Roy Walker: The Eucharist. The thing you gave me. It's a... it saves your soul.
Alexandria: Hmm? The thing I give you... what?
Roy Walker: The little piece of bread that you just gave me. It saves your soul.
Alexandria: What? What? *What*?


Have you seen this film yet? What did you think?

About Schmidt

I watched About Schmidt last night for the first time and it was nothing like I imagined it to be (not that I'm sure I had even imagined it to be anything).

I wanted to laugh at this movie cause in my mind it had all the ingredients for a comedy: sad man with a quite unappealing & annoying wife, man is retired, man's old work wants nothing really to do with him, man writes hilarious letter to young boy in Africa (is it Africa?) whom he is sponsoring, man has quite the temper which he tries to keep under wraps...but then the film took on this serious, desperate note that just wouldn't be ignored despite my insistence that it was supposed to be a comedy.

Warren Schmidt's wife dies and he realises that he's quite lonely and unwanted. It's an up and down story, much like life I suppose, and the best thing about it is Jack Nicholson's bedraggled portrayal of a man past his prime and with very little to live for.

I guess you could call this film a Comedrama or a Dromedy

Best Quote:
Warren Schmidt: You're making a big mistake, don't marry this guy, don't do it.
Jeannie Schmidt: What are you talking about?  
Warren Schmidt: The other night I had a dream and it was very real. Your mother was there and you were there and your aunt Estelle. And there was a... well, it wasn't really a spaceship, it was more like a blimp or an orb of some kind. And then a bunch of weird creatures came out and started trying to take you away, and you wanna know what? They all looked like Randall. Do you understand? And I was jumping up and down to save you.


The lovely drummer is taking me out to dinner tonight, *happy!

Fantastic Mr. Fox and Bright Star

We watched Fantastic Mr. Fox and Bright Star the other night and I loved them both for such different reasons.

Fox: Wes Anderson has such a great way of captivating awkwardness and making it so entertaining. This rendition of Roald Dahl genius is truly brilliant with such appealing energy and some of the sharpest dialogue I've seen in a movie lately.

Best Quote (it was so hard to choose):
Agnes: I'm still your lab partner.
Ash: No you're not, you're disloyal

And

Ash: Do you think I'm an athlete?

Mr Fox: What are you talking about?

Ash: Well, you know, I think I'm an athlete, and sometimes I feel like you guys don't see me that way.

Mr Fox: What's the sub-text here?

Star: This movie is the most perfect portrayal of love I've seen. It captures the agony of being rejected, and loved, and left behind, and an artist and the whole misunderstanding of the entire world of the human soul.

Fanie and Keats have such chemistry but not the modern-day sexual kind, it's a love that's so real no other two hearts could possibly understand it and Jane Campion manages to bring that across while making the film a poetic feast for the eyes.

Best Quote:

The whole of John Keats' poem read as the outgoing credits roll slowly away.

Too magical!