The Golden Years

The first thing that I saw this weekend that I have to mention is a British mini series made in 2010 called "Any Human Heart" based on the novel of that title by William Boyd.  He also did the screenplay for this.  It is a beautiful film in four parts, and stars Sam Claflin, Matthew Macfadyen, and Jim Broadbent all playing the part of the same man, Logan Mountstuart over the course of his life through every decade of the last century in England.  If you happen to be a fan of British television, then this is one you really should not miss.  It is so well made, every little detail is beautfully translated to the screen and the acting is very fine indeed.  It is a story about a romantic novelist and his ups and downs through life,encountering as he says, equal amounts of good luck times and bad luck times.  After his early success with his first novel he struggles to produce another piece of work throughout his life.  Meanwhile he leads a life that is hugely interesting and he has many relationships that he reflects back on as he reaches the end of his life.The most important relationship was the real love of his life, the brief time he had with Freya when he was a young man, played by Matthew Macfadyen. Watch out for, the great performances by Tom Hollander and Gillian Anderson playing the Duke and Duchess of Windsor and Kim Catrell as one of Logan's later loves. 

This morning, I was at TIFF for the latest in the series of Reel Talk, Sneak Peeks, the last in that series for this season.  One more to go in the Contemporary World Cinema series!  We saw a film I was eagerly awaiting, so  I was delighted when the host Jesse Wente announced what we were going to see, because of course it is a closely guarded secret until just before it screens.  The film is "The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel" a British film directed by John Madden.  It has the most stellar cast you will ever see in one film.  Judi Dench, Bill Nighy, Maggie Smith, Tom Wilkinson, Penelope Wilton, Ronald Pickup and Celia Imrie.  It tells the story of a group of British seniors who for one reason or another find themselves 'outsourced' to India to stay in the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, run by the young manager played by Dev Patel (from Slumdog Millionare).  This film I am sure will be a big success as it delivers all that it promises.  The screenplay for this film is based on the novel 'Tulip Fever' by Deborah Moggach (in the film you see Penelope Wilton reading this novel, I  admit I did not spot this myself but read about it somewhere).  It is very hard to pick a favourite performance from among this bunch as they are all so fantastic, but if I had to choose it would have to be Bill Nighy.  I just adore him in everything, in fact as I have been known to say he is one of those actors I would love to meet and get to know, in fact if he reads this, you are invited to come over for a meal anytime you are in Toronto again.  I have seen him the last two years at the film festival and he had a very funny story to tell about an early love of his from Canada, when he was at this year's TIFF and did a Q & A with the audience.   I am not really a talent stalker, that is more in my husbands realm.  I was horrified when he approached the afore mentioned Matthew Macfadyen at a previous TIFF and shook his hand.

Well, it is time to go watch something else, I have a stack of things calling to me......

The National Theatre - Live from London

One of the best things I have discovered in the last year is the fantastic opportunity to watch live at the cinema here in Canada, broadcasts live from London, productions put on at the National Theatre on the Southbank.  The latest, I saw last week, Jamie Lloyd's production of "She Stoops to Conquer" by Oliver Goldsmith.  This play was written in 1773 and is a very clever comedy of errors.  I am amazed, and shocked that each time I have been to see one of these productions (viewing at the Burl Oak cinema in Oakville) that they play to a very skimpy audience.  I have heard that they are better attended in Toronto, but this completely baffles me.  Why are people not running and falling over themselves to go and see these shows?  This particular play starred the amazing Sophie Thompson as Mrs Hardcastle, who was hilarious.  She is probably best known for her role in "4 weddings and a funeral" some years ago now.  Also, of note was Katherine Kelly, who Coronation Street fans will know for her role as Becky.  She is in fact a RADA trained actress and she really struts her stuff in this production.  As far as I can remember this is the only Oliver Goldsmith play I have ever seen, but I do hope I get to see more.  Reading up on him he sounds like he was a very likeable character, a bit of a goof I guess.  Apparently, he planned to emigrate from England, but ended up not doing so because he missed his boat.  Also, I found out that until 1962 there was an underground train named for him that ran on the Metropolitan line.  If you should happen upon my little blog, please, please watch out for these productions and treat yourself at the next opportunity to one of these shows.  In the fall there will be a new series of live productions to see and over the summer there are encore screenings of some of this past seasons plays.  GO and Enjoy!!!!