Toby Atkin-Wright

This evening Kate and I watched a funny and delightful film, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, which tells a story of time travel in a pub. Chris O’Dowd and Anna Faris star. Recommended.

BBC4 broadcast last week’s “Last Night” concert from the Caird Hall in Dundee. The only time I’ve been in the Caird Hall was to see the Manic Street Preachers (who were excellent), supported by Mogwai (who I thought were rubbish). That was a long time ago.

Tomorrow we’re hoping to see Nik for lunch; she is in St Andrews for the weekend. On Sunday Beth has a birthday party to attend at “Muddy Boots” near Cupar.

This evening Kate and I watched a funny and delightful film, Frequently Asked Questions About Time Travel, which tells a story of time travel in a pub. Chris O’Dowd and Anna Faris star. Recommended.

BBC4 broadcast last week’s “Last Night” concert from the Caird Hall in Dundee. The only time I’ve been in the Caird Hall was to see the Manic Street Preachers (who were excellent), supported by Mogwai (who I thought were rubbish). That was a long time ago.

Tomorrow we’re hoping to see Nik for lunch; she is in St Andrews for the weekend. On Sunday Beth has a birthday party to attend at “Muddy Boots” near Cupar.

Kate and I watched The Sea Wolves this evening, a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, and a large cast of older British actors. It is based on the true story of a reserve regiment made up of expats, the Calcutta Light Horse, attacking German ships in a neutral harbour in Portuguese Goa during WWII.

Despite being set in 1943, much of the film looks straight out of the 1970s. It would be hard to claim that this is a good film, but it is entertaining, and contains many familiar faces. Kate pointed out that when she worked as a dental assistant she had two of the cast as patients, one in London and one in Frome.

There was a splendid scene with Peck, Moore, Niven, and Patrick Macnee, all looking deeply disreputable on a dockside, just before stealing an Indian riverboat. Joy.

Kate and I watched The Sea Wolves this evening, a 1980 war film starring Gregory Peck, Roger Moore, David Niven, and a large cast of older British actors. It is based on the true story of a reserve regiment made up of expats, the Calcutta Light Horse, attacking German ships in a neutral harbour in Portuguese Goa during WWII.

Despite being set in 1943, much of the film looks straight out of the 1970s. It would be hard to claim that this is a good film, but it is entertaining, and contains many familiar faces. Kate pointed out that when she worked as a dental assistant she had two of the cast as patients, one in London and one in Frome.

There was a splendid scene with Peck, Moore, Niven, and Patrick Macnee, all looking deeply disreputable on a dockside, just before stealing an Indian riverboat. Joy.

Kate and I watched Dreamgirls (2006) on Friday evening. I’d picked it up on Bluray a few months ago, but only now got around to watching it. And what an excellent film! Based on a 1970s Broadway musical, it is a fictionalised story of the Supremes and Motown. It features a splendid cast (including Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, and Eddie Murphy), and super songs. One can see why Hudson won an Oscar for her performance.

For me, musicals are like films but with emotion that works. I’ll look forward to watching it again.

Kate and I watched Dreamgirls (2006) on Friday evening. I’d picked it up on Bluray a few months ago, but only now got around to watching it. And what an excellent film! Based on a 1970s Broadway musical, it is a fictionalised story of the Supremes and Motown. It features a splendid cast (including Jennifer Hudson, Jamie Foxx, Beyoncé Knowles, and Eddie Murphy), and super songs. One can see why Hudson won an Oscar for her performance.

For me, musicals are like films but with emotion that works. I’ll look forward to watching it again.

Tonight we watched “Alien Nation”, a 1988 cop/buddy/action film starring James Caan, Mandy Patinkin, and Terence Stamp. Neither Kate nor I had seen it before, although I was mildly aware of a television series in the late 80s, which was apparently a lighter, more comedic, spin-off.

I enjoyed the film; it exhibited the usual clichés of the genre, but the script and performances pulled it beyond its roots. Oh, and there was a bit of a metaphor going on, but it didn’t feel leaden or over played.

And Brian Thompson turned up in a small but memorable part.

Tonight we watched “Alien Nation”, a 1988 cop/buddy/action film starring James Caan, Mandy Patinkin, and Terence Stamp. Neither Kate nor I had seen it before, although I was mildly aware of a television series in the late 80s, which was apparently a lighter, more comedic, spin-off.

I enjoyed the film; it exhibited the usual clichés of the genre, but the script and performances pulled it beyond its roots. Oh, and there was a bit of a metaphor going on, but it didn’t feel leaden or over played.

And Brian Thompson turned up in a small but memorable part.