Cinema

Directed by Gurinder Chadha

I must admit to having a soft spot for director Gurinder Chadha. She knows her world, which is mainly the west London Asian community. I love the fact that she shoots in all of the locations that she grew up in. She also has a distinctive flair for comedy,

In deepest Ealing we find a mother who's beside herself with worry that her eldest daughter remains unwed.

A suitor occurs in the most unusual way, he is a CID officer, whose investigating a series of murders which starts with a killing curry! As each victims pops off, they appear as ghosts (shades of Blythe Spirits). Roopi (Goldy Notay) has a ball as the daughter and the stellar cast which includes Sally Hawkins, Sanjeev Bhaskar Jimi Mistry and Zoë Wanamaker amongst them have a great time as this zany comedy unfolds.

3 stars

Directed by  J Blakeson

This very captivating thriller from new director J Blakeson is a must see for lovers of the unexpected.

Alice Creed ( Gemma Arterton) is kidnapped by the moody Vic (Eddie Marsan) and Danny (Martin Compston). The whole thing is planned and executed flawlessly. The pair have transformed a flat into a makeshift jail, from which escape is out of the question. Naturally their aim is money two million in fact. Her father has agreed to pay up. Suddenly there is a twist as Alice turns the tables for a brief moment and from then on all is very different for the kidnapper’s as twist upon twist in the story occurs this is the edge of your seat drama with all of the actors giving ace performances, as they struggle with the power games they are in.

3 Stars

Cinema

Directed by Ridley Scott

From age five, I have been a Robin Hood fan. Being an elder statesman, Erroll Flynn will always be the tops, even in tights and for those of you who don’t know, I was one of the Norman Cross bowmen that killed ‘Robin of Sherwood’ eg Michael Praed in the television series but even then he appeared again as Jason Connery. Since then there’s been Kevin Costner and another Jason in the Greenwood, and now there is Russell Crowe.

First lets get the accent out of the way. As we know he is a New Zealander who often plays Americans. In this instance he is half Midlands/Northern and yes there is a hint of Irish. Does it matter? To be honest not a jot! Why? Because it’s a good script with great action sequences as only director Ridley Scott can deliver.

Robin Longstride is a bowman with King Richard in the crusades. He returns home to England having promised Robert Loxley, who is dying, that he will deliver his sword to his father Sir Walter Loxley (Max von Sydow), which is does, thus meeting Maid Marion ( Cate Blanchett). Sir Walter Loxley encourages Robin to take the place of his son, meanwhile a very dodgy Kind John is causing havoc. The Barons and locals are not best pleased with him and a very weak Sheriff of Nottingham (Matthew Macfadyen)
Suddenly the land is being savaged by Godfrey (Mark Strong) and French Hordes. Robin and company retaliates, which climaxes on the beach with a massive battle. It’s all good stuff with all the star’s doing their thing very well. There’s even a jokey Magna Carta from Robin, which King John presumably hijacks.

In the end Robin, Marion and the gang end up in the tree’s and he becomes a hood. Robin Hood 2 is next.

4 stars

Primal Scream:


20 Years old this year. OMG!!!!!!!!! I hear you say.  This when it came was a great cross over album Mixing Indie with Acid House.  The album kicked off with “Move on Up”.  “Slip inside This House “, “Don’t Fight It, Feel, It” and “Higher Than the Sun” gave that dance feel mixed with rock. “Come Together” and “Loaded” are always on my compilation CD.  “Damaged” and I’m Comin Down,” pointed you in the direction of the next step for the band. Meaning the American, Blues-Rock sound. “Shine like Stars” ends the album. If this is an album you’ve never heard you really should give it a go.  This was also the first album to win The Mercury Music Prize.  With this album they cemented themselves in the history of music.