can it really be 20 years since....

one of the best chick flicks graced our screens. i am of course talking about Pretty Woman . I was 19 when this film debuted and was completely sucked into the romance of the modern spin on the Cinderella story!... where shall i start.... LA, fashion to die for, a gorgeous man in a tux, it gave us all hope that Prince Charming would arrive in a limo and sweep us off our feet!

Who can forget the red dress to the opera, I still covert the brown & cream ensemble as worn to the polo!.....(Fav bits!) I can say that one of the best holidays I have ever had followed this film to LA, where we did (best pal & I) drive down Rodeo Drive in a stretch limo, complete with 2 guys who stood out of the sun roof arms stretched complete with umbrellas and red roses!...( I hasten to say that they were gay!)..great fun was had by all!

This is one of my all time fav films and was happy to see the joining of romcom director Garry Marshall, the lovely hotel manager Barney (Hector Elizondo) and the beautiful Vivian (Julia Roberts) join together to bring us Valentines day, which can i saw is one of the best chick flicks that I have seen in a very long time. Not only is it wall to wall eye candy, (Eric Dane jogging along the beach is quite literally breathtaking!!) but it has a stella cast, a great story and for a cynical unromantic like myself it gives you hope!

It also has a couple of subtle homages back to Pretty Woman which are just great!....check out when Julia Roberts is at the airport and she is offered a driver and a car to "take her where ever she wants to go" and if you miss the final scene in the credits you will be making a Big Mistake... Huge!

(i promise that my moonlighting stint on film 2010 has now ended and normal service will soon resume!)

It's all about the Gold statue....

I am of course talking about Oscar night... tonight's the night that the little gold men are given out. This week I have seen 2 of the films that are up for awards... the first is The Hurt Locker this appeared on my BT box this month as a film to see. With all the Bafta success, I sat down Thursday night for a much needed movie night at home, popcorn included and was quite literally blown away! A great film. This film will do for the Iraq war what Apocalypse now did for the Vietnam war.
The second film was a free preview of the amazing The Blind Side. This film is yet to be released in the UK, but I have to say it truly deserves Sandra Bullock an Oscar nomination, and will do for her what Erin Brockovich did for Julia Roberts. The true story of Michael Oher from the Baltimore Ravens, who was given a chance when all the odds were stacked against him. A must see watch.

So this got me thinking of what my winners would ne this year:
Best Actor ~ Colin Firth - A Single Man
Best Actress ~ Sandra Bullock - The Blind Side
Best Screenplay ~ Up In the Air
Best Animation ~ Up (because the old man reminds me of my gramps!)
Best Direction ~ The Hurt Locker
Best Film ~ Invictus


so if you have exhausted the flicks, and still want the Oscar buzz... 2 fun reads recommended, picked up recently at the charity shop! Oscar Season (the lengths people will go to to remain in the limelight!) and Hollywood Girls Club ( girls stick together in the Hollywood film industry!) to fun reads which give you a fictional in site into the mad world of the Hollywood Hills!


so who are your winners for tonight?....

Fun, Flicks & Friendship.....

just about sums up my weekend....2 trips to the cinema, a party and spending some long overdue time with some friends... as most of you are aware work has consumed my life since Christmas, but hopefully there seems to be some reprieve on the horizon and I can finally see light at the end of the tunnel!.. hooray!

This weekend saw my friend Chris celebrate her birthday, I haven't seen too much of her since the new year. I had hoped to take her for lunch last week, but alas i had the day off but she didn't, I'm sure we will make up for it at a later date. She did have friends over for drinks & nibbles Saturday. I popped in for a couple of hours and it was lovely to see everyone. For the lady that has everything, she it quite challenging to buy for!... so I put together a " Girls Night In" box, with some lovely Liz Claiborne PJ's, a couple of chick flick DVD's, a bottle of rose wine & a big bar of yummy Galaxy cookie crumble chocolate! (think Galaxy with oreos!)... for a relaxing night in (she doesn't get many of those!).. so Belated Birthday Wishes my dear friend.... Txx

Alice in Wonder.....

well there has been so much hype and the Q's at the cinema Friday night were phenomenal to see this film. I am of course talking about Alice in Wonderland by Tim Burton, I'm sure that I will see it but when all the fuss has died down.... The Wonder Room at work has been taken over by Alice...and held the premiere party for the film. As Victoria is a huge Alice in Wonderland fan I let her know and she & Kelly popped up one night after work to view, which was great because I got chance to have a coffee and for us all to catch-up. It was great seeing the girls, and a day out in London is planned forwhen the weather brightens up!

Life & Inspiration.....

a cryptic title, but I have managed to get away from my desk twice in the last 10 days and have a life!.... one to the the fabulous Private Lives and second to see the inspirational Invictus! (hence the title!)
Last night I was fortunate to be given a press ticket to go and see the Opening night of Private Lives by the genius of Noel Coward, now playing at the Vaudeville Theatre in the Strand. The play stars the gorgeous Kim Cattrall and Matthew Macfayden, Kim obviously famous as the fantastic Samantha in Sex & the City and Matthew from his role as Tom Quinn in Spooks and more recently as the dashing Mr Darcy opposite Keira in Pride & Prejudice. I didn't need any other reason to go and see this play with those two starring! I had purposely steered myself away from reading any previews of this play, but of the interviews that I've seen of Kim had really liked the person that she was. This play does not disappoint and for something that was written in the 30's it is still fresh and very up to date. The cast of 5 are great, but Kim steals the show, you completely forget that she is Samantha! A great night out.....

My 2nd night away from my desk was to see Invictus, not sure what I was expecting from this film, but was completely blown away. One of the most inspirational films that I have seen, and although as a rugby fan you know the ending it still keeps you completely transfixed to the screen. Matt Damon is very convincing as Francois Pienaar, but Morgan Freeman is outstanding as Nelson Mandela, a role he was born to play. Even if you aren't a rugby fan, you must see this film.(click to view trailer)... Why Invictus?... the poem by William Ernest Henley is what inspired Nelson Mandela to keep going when he was incarcerated at Robben Island:

Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of chance

My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears

Looms but the Horror of the shade,

And yet the menace of the years Finds,

and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

How charged with punishments the scroll.

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley