Film: The Holdovers

Today and tomorrow are film. Very happy with my choices these days as well - having edited out the chaff at the top of the list, today was The Holdovers, a comedy about students who have nowhere to go at Christmas, so they stay on campus, with a couple of teachers as "babysitters". The excellent Paul Giamatti is one of the teachers given the job.. Oh, and Carrie Preston shows up as something like a secretary or something at the school. Showing in my closest cinema, the Curzon Aldgate. And when I mentioned that in the London Movie Club, someone said that'd suit him too, so we arranged to go together. 

Looking for food in the vicinity, lo, I came across Cote! Lordy, I'd completely forgotten there was one on St. Katharine Docks - which isn't especially near the cinema, but is on the way there. I could walk - and as I did so, I came across a sign warning that the bridge would be closed, from 10pm to 5am, from tonight, for about a month! Well, I was in no danger of breaching that deadline, at least on the outbound trip..

Anyway, I'd booked, but apparently had no need - certainly, I was eating early, and the place was nearly empty. It took a while for anyone to come and seat me - or the couple after me - which I worried didn't augur well for service. I needn't have worried - it was flawless. And as friendly as I've found in any Cote! I had a baguette to start, my usual steak frites for main. I see they've massively improved the wine list.. a couple of Sauvignon Blancs, a wider range of Chardonnays - and carafes! I would normally go with Sauvignon Blanc, when given the chance, but here I normally have Chardonnay, and the description of one of the Chardonnays enticed me, so I had that - and it was gorgeous. Sadly, the chocolate mini-dessert I used to love has gone - but the madeleines I had were just delicious.. and I was stuffed.

I certainly had time to digest, mind, as I was waiting for the bill - by which stage they all seemed to have deserted me. So I put on my coat and scarf and asked for it.. I daresay they wouldn't have noticed if I'd just left, but I do want the option to come back here, so.. And there followed a quick trot to the cinema, which I was going to be slightly late for. Just as I left the restaurant, my companion messaged me to say he'd arrived.. ah well, I did my best, got there just about on the dot of 6, the scheduled start time. Grabbed another glass of wine - I was honestly too stuffed for a snack - and in we went. And settled into the marvellously comfortable Pullmans.

Hmm. You know, I didn't honestly like this as much as I thought I would. Yes, the acting is excellent - from Oscar-nominated Paul Giamatti, but also from the newcomer, Dominic Sessa, who plays the only student not ultimately rescued from this stay (rather inexplicable how the others' families all suddenly change their minds..). Yeah, one of the students' parents own a helicopter company (or something), and flies them all wherever they want to go. Apparently. 

It's set in the 70s - and it's easy to tell, because a teacher in this day and age would never get away with what Paul Giamatti does, and the way he speaks to his class. Not to mention not giving anyone an A - nope, wouldn't be allowed. Plus - and I only noticed it afterwards - the absence of mobile phones, and the presence of a porn mag.. unnecessary in the days of mobiles. Then there are the fashions, the cars.. and even the title sequence looks a bit scratchy. Very well done.

I guess I expected it to be funnier. The film actually improves massively once the other students fly off.. we get more of an insight into the characters, the story makes more sense, and ends up really touching. For me, it didn't work so well when they were all there.. perhaps that's all it is. Ah well.. never mind, it is watchable.

And tomorrow - well gee, there's another highly rated horror! Actually, the London Horror Film Group saw this last week - the film in question is Baghead, and the "baghead" is some kind of supernatural being who can put you in contact with the dead. Wears a bag over her head, and when you take it off, she has taken on the appearance of the person you're talking to. Just like last year's Talk to Me, however, there's a time limit - with strict penalties for overstepping. (They give you a whole two minutes in this one - in Talk to Me, it was 90 seconds..) Sadly, since I last looked, its rating has plummeted - oh well, it's booked now. Apparently, the director says he has derived a lot of his inspiration from Guillermo del Toro - reason enough to see it, in my book. Closest to me showing it is the Odeon Tottenham Court Road, which was once my local - and as always with the Odeon, it's cheaper to book, so I did. And handily, that's my day in the office, right around the corner, this week!

The next two nights' entertainment, I got the idea for from Over 40 Living the Life, who are charging more for tickets, so I'll be seeking to avoid them. On Thursday, I'm seeing the Bronco Billy musical, at the Charing Cross Theatre.

And on Friday, I'm going to Murder Trial Tonight 2, at Sadler's Wells.