Miscellaneous Film Events

[prettyxcool]

I went to this morning's early morning screening of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at Curzon Mayfair, a Blu-Ray special screening to support the release of the Forever Marilyn Collection, which we could win after the film.

The early morning start did not actually start until 9.45pm, although the doors opened at 9am. We were in the small screen 2 upstairs, and probably about 16 people turned up.

The Editor of TimeOut introduced it with an analysis of Marilyn Monroe as the "dumb" blonde in the film. He told us the blu-ray release of a collection of her films is to mark the 50th Anniversary of her death next month.

A predictable film but fun, warm and lighthearted. Marilyn's character is very sexy and seductive and a gold-digger but nice with it. She has a very captivating screen presence. The screen friendship is also very genuine between Marilyn and Jane Russell, who seems to be equally as good in her part. A sheer delight and very entertaining film, unfortunately marred by technical problems, several times there was no sound or it cut out, and then several stops and starts to fix it. Was not sure if it was the blu-ray or the equipment, if so, not a good advert for either! The Editor apologised for the disruption and hope TimeOut can do something to recompense us. Let's see!

After the film we were shown two trailer clips of two other films, The Seven Year Itch, and How to Marry a Millionnaire followed by a quiz to win the Blu-Ray Collection, What was Marilyn's last completed film, who played Marilyn in A Week with Marilyn and who directed Some Like it Hot. Unfortunately, I was not quick enough to answer!

Then the Q&A followed with Suzie Kennedy who supposedly is the world’s number Marilyn impersonator. She did sound like her when she was asked to say something. An interesting Q&A where she told us she met a lot of the people who knew Marilyn. She was a huge fan even if she was not an Marilyn impersonator. She has appeared in tv and films, done voice overs, and once she was modelling Marilyn's earrings at an auction, and one of them was stuck in her ear, she was like, that's ok, I love to keep it. She said that A Week with Marilyn was a good film but it is very, very loosely based on Marilyn, the story was changed to make it more commercial. She said Michelle Williams played her well though.

7/10

[prettyxcool]

I also saw another Marilyn film recently at a BFI event, which I enjoyed a lot more - may be it was a larger screen and more comfortable seats, and it was not blu-ray (thought the blu-ray of Gentlemen Prefer Blonds made the colours too bright, and they had to make the screen smaller to fit the blu-ray projection).

http://www.fmuk.org.uk/forum/viewtopic. ... 74#p235774

[kevinknapman]

I heard on twitter that the technical problems meant they completely skipped 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend', the film's most iconic musical number. Was that true?

[prettyxcool]

Yes! They tried twice to play it and it still got stuck/no sound, and then they had to give up so we could see the rest of the film.

[TheyCallMeMrGlass]

Sounded like a nice cosy screening, PXC! Pity about the key song been skipped and sorry you didnt win that collection, I sure would have loved to win that set! Did the impersonator also look like Marilyn, or just sounded like her? Marilyn was by far the greatest screen goddess of all and I see you also saw Some Like it Hot lately and gave it 9/10 which is one of my top 10 all time favourite movies

[RickyRaj]

Wasn't sure if anyone from FMUK was going. I was there too (short haired guy with glasses who went to inform the staff when the film falied again at the diamond song). I'm not a MM fan but did enjoy the film - I haven't seen any of her films to be honest. I'm a member of the BFI but couldn't get tix to see Some Like it Hot.

[prettyxcool]

I went to see a screening of Premium Rush last night, courtesy of a member, at the BAFTA's

Wow, this should be called Adrenalin Rush - it never lets up! A simple story, and bike chase, but the pace is fast and on the edge of your seat stuff for the full 90 or so minutes of the film and seems almost to be taken in real time as it flashback three hours to explain the situation, it never takes itself seriously though, and by the end of it, you are left reeling and just want to lie down and rest and get your breath back! The action is crazy, as you watch the bike courier, zip in and out of traffic at breakneck speed, and weighing out his route with funny and disastrous consequences. A bike cop that is so funny, and a bent cop who is so slimy and threatening, makes up the rest of the story. I did not expect this to entertain but it did, fun, fast, tense and comedic. 9/10.

[jeanelle]

We went to the Courthouse Hotel to see False Trail, a Swedish film. It was introduced by its star Rolf Lassgård (Wallander himself!)

We enjoyed it very much, it was a typical Scandi-crime thriller combining violence and the stunning Swedish landscape, quite long but it kept your attention because there were lots of twist and turns. Rolf Lassgård plays an investigator brought in from Stockholm to solve a missing person/murder case in a tight knit community in Northern Sweden where the Police Chief (Peter Stormare who has been in loads of things!) seems to be involved.

The screening was the first event of the Nordic Noir Film Club and there was a Q&A with Rolf Lassgård after the film.

According to imdb it will be released here in December so if you enjoyed The Killing etc then one to look out for.

[prettyxcool]

I won tickets to see a Doris Day film at the BFI.  The only day I was free to go was showing The Pajama Game. What a lovely film. Doris Day is just lovely, witty and charming.  And what a voice her co-star has.  Some great funny moments too, especially with the drunken knife thrower!  A very enjoyable classic musical film.  It was nice to have it introduced by the curator of the Doris Day season of films too, and shown in the really comfy NFT1. 

8/10

[prettyxcool]

Oh no, I forgot to post this in November, saw this the day before I went on holiday!

What happened Denzel??? Saw Flight at a BAFTA screening a few months ago.

Well that was disappointing. Weak script, too long, boring and predictable. Two people next to me after laughing loudly during the beginning of the film, so thought they were enjoying it, walked out during the middle. Denzel Washington normally so good, looks lost in the role, and I just could not relate to the character he portrayed at all. There was no suspense, it felt really flat and you just kept waiting for something to happen and it did not.

The more I think of it the more loopholes. hehe. [spoiler]If he had been a drunk for 14 years - how did he get away with it and flying??? hmm.
And what was all that about, with the naked women at the beginning walking up and down in front of the camera. And if the tox results came back and it was for the dead woman, why is he up for trial?[/spoiler]

2/10

I read the reviews and apparently Denzel should be nominated for an Oscar! His best performance yet! haha. Well there you go, what a difference of opinion!