Films: Baltimore / Rose's War, Countdown, & Perfect Days

Whew! Well, I managed to get to Ireland at the weekend - was kept so late working, they were nearly finished boarding the plane when I got to the gate. But all's well that ends well. Saturday's film was one I hadn't heard of - Baltimore (aka Rose's War) was showing at Limerick Omniplex only, and is based on the true story of Rose Dugdale! I'm not sure I ever even heard of her - certainly, the name didn't ring a bell - but she was a left-leaning English heiress who, seeing the atrocities of Bloody Sunday on the tv, was appalled, like so many others. She, however, took the extreme step of joining the Provos.. the film concerns her group's robbery of Russborough House, and her eventual capture while attempting to flee to the safe house at Baltimore (hence the alternate title of the film).

Minor confusion when I arrived at the cinema, BTW - the usher who scanned my ticket should really have warned me that the screen had changed. If not for seeing the film advertised on another screen at that time, I'd not have known - the one where it was scheduled to be shown was closed, and when I went into the one that advertised it, it was to discover that my seat number didn't exist!

So, not really being familiar with the facts, I found the film fascinating. Some review or other complained that, for all that the film is about her, we never get an insight into why she did what she did - I disagree, or at least I can say it was enough for me. As I say, the film takes place during and after that robbery - but there are many, many flashbacks showing her path in life - being blooded after a fox hunt when she was 10: attending an art exhibition with her mother when she was 16 (she always had a passionate interest in art): a debutante at 17: at Oxford: protesting at the Oxford Union, which didn't admit women at the time: in a squat of revolutionaries in London: she and an accomplice attempting to rob her parents: and finally being interviewed by the Provos..

Perhaps it's Imogen Poots' performance that carries it - I certainly found her compelling. Interestingly, Carrie Crowley plays her mother.. how versatile of her to play an English society lady, considering the last thing I saw her in was The Quiet Girl (An Cailín Ciúin), where she plays a Gaeilgeoir! Also interesting that Rose Dugdale died just before this was released.. Yep, interesting film - recommended, if you have a mind to check it out.

Saturday night, I was rather distracted by a tv film - I always like to check out a horror I haven't seen before, and they were showing Countdown. This takes its name from an app that tells you how long you have to die! (Of course, these have been around for a while in website form.) Now, there ain't no getting around it, but the twist is, if you are given a really short time and try to evade it by changing your behaviour, a curse is activated and, on top of still dying when you were supposed to, a demon will plague you in the meantime!

Hmm - if I were given, say, a few days to live on this, like our protagonist, I'd be looking for a way to live longer, whereas it sounds as though all you can hope to do is stop this demon annoying you. And they even find a hacker to hack the code and change their death date - which is quite cool - but gee, that doesn't work. There is a way out though.. but I won't give it away. It is a really interesting idea, and the film itself isn't half bad.. Definitely worth a look if you come across it by accident. Anyway, so much for the blog that night - I was too tired after.

And then on Sunday, would you believe, my mother's computer crashed, and I had to spend so long recovering it, there wasn't time to do more than start the blog.. anyway, back to London that night - flight was so delayed there wasn't a hope of blogging. Yesterday, I was off to see Perfect Days. Three things prompted me to see this - firstly, of course, the high rating: secondly, the fact that Wim Wenders directed (and co-wrote) - he's always worth seeing: and finally, the soundtrack on the trailer, with Lou Reed's Perfect Day. Which I've always loved. So, that was that then.

Interestingly, when I originally looked at the listings for this, it was listed at Picturehouse Central - it wasn't booking out, so I didn't book. When I had a chance to look again, on Sunday night, though, the evening showing was no longer displayed! Dunno whether it was sold out, or cancelled - anyway, closest now was the Vue Islington, where I hadn't been in over a year. So I booked - best seats at the cheapest price were in the second row, where there's a bit in the middle with no seats on front. So I booked for there. Sadly, it started early enough - and would take long enough to get to, especially given that, yet again!, I was tied up doing something urgent at work - that I couldn't eat beforehand. I did, however, pop into Pret on my way - just to get a napkin though, as my nose was running like a tap and I'd somehow forgotten to bring a hankie!

I see the seats are now all leather recliners - lovely! A button in the arm controls the lift, and they're way comfortable - and yes, that gap in the row in front is so handy if you're just behind. Swivel tray tables in the seat arms, too, with drinks holders. Funny how all the trailers for this were either kids' films, or music-related films.. I did like the look of the Amy Winehouse one, mind.

Oh my, this is a gem.. it follows the solitary life of a Tokyo toilet cleaner. He follows the same routine every day - waters his bonsai, gets a coffee from the vending machine downstairs, drives off to go about his job, has lunch in the park of a local temple, frequents a fast food place where the guy knows him, goes home, reads himself to sleep. Weekends, he cycles to a local bar, and he is also to be found at the bathhouse. Oh, and he has the most fantastic collection of old music on cassettes in his van..

It's simple, and it's gorgeous. I've mentioned before how I love spaces in dialogue in films, where no-one says anything. And that's true of so much of this film! Although he does meet people during the course of the film - including his niece, who comes to stay with him for a while. But no-one really stays long, no-one really disturbs his routine - or not for long. And he's back looking at the sun-dappled trees..

It's also simply interesting to watch for an education on Japanese customs - including the famous space-age toilets, and the customs of bathhouses. And every now and then, as I say, you have a lovely blast of music - Lou Reed, Van Morrison.. ah, the whole thing is just like a breath of fresh air. Masterful, to make a film with not much of a plot, but which remains so captivating. Go see.. it's a revelation.

Afterwards, I schlepped up to The Bull - but although they still had menus on the tables, when the guy behind the bar saw me looking, he apologised and said that he had forgotten to take them in; the kitchen was closed. So, back down I went to The Grillshack, which I'd passed on the way. It wasn't busy, and I was seated immediately. The music - on a musical night - was a loop of nostalgia, again - a lot of Michael Jackson, this time! Strangely though, they couldn't seem to settle on a volume - it occasionally went very loud, and at one point was turned so low that I was convinced they were trying to get rid of us!

Well now, this place advertises itself as a cocktail bar - I hope the cocktails are better than the wine. They only have one white wine by the glass - as I discovered when I asked, at which point he finally remembered to give me the wine list. It's a Pinot Grigio, so I had that - and it was pretty awful. Interestingly though, although it's advertised as 175ml, it looked a lot more like 250ml..

I didn't fancy a starter, and in retrospect, it might have been just as well. I ordered a steak, but was informed - several minutes later - that "the chef says" that they only had three cuts left: Rib-Eye, which I've had trouble with before, Tomahawk, the most expensive on the menu, and Skirt, which I had. I asked for it medium, and with red wine and mushroom sauce on the side, fries, and a side of onion rings. All steaks apparently come with either fries or a jacket potato, mushrooms, and cherry tomatoes.

True, I got all of the above. There were exactly two mushrooms and two cherry tomatoes on the wooden platter - Lord, but I hate eating off wood! In what universe is that a good idea?! Anyway, the steak was presliced, the sauce came in a little pan, the fries in another container, the onion rings on a separate dish.

The steak - bad for a steakhouse - was absolutely tasteless; I was glad I'd got the sauce. The sauce, mind you, had no discernible trace of red wine - there were whole mushrooms in it though, more than were served with the steak. The fries were - ok. Not great. And the onion rings were - Southern Fried! Who does that?! So, I managed two-thirds of the steak - only because of the (wineless) sauce. Didn't eat many of the chips, and left two onion rings. I didn't ask for the dessert menu - they usually don't have anything I'd fancy, but I usually ask anyway, and console myself with the thought of another glass of wine if there's nothing. Not here, not with this wine! Yuck - I won't be back here. Never was I asked how my food was, either - and it took ages for her to come with my bill. Ah well, you can't have a completely perfect day..

Right, well. We're now up to date. Tonight, another Japanese film (!) - this is Monster (Kaibutsu), and the closest showing seems to be in the BFI, which I booked because, as is typical there, it was nearly sold out. Having said that, the remaining tickets don't seem to have sold, at time of writing.. It's about a little boy who causes trouble at school, and the fallout of that. Another early start, so I've booked for dinner afterwards in Ping Pong, for a change!

Tomorrow, we're headed for a team lunch in All Bar One, to celebrate the latest product release! And in the evening, I'm headed to The Divine Mrs. S, in Hampstead Theatre, with Up in the Cheap Seats - this is based on a real life actress, the most celebrated of her time, back in the day when women had few rights, including over their own careers, so her agent and husband make all her decisions for her. And on Thursday, heading back to Ireland for Easter.

I'm just spending the bank holidays there, flying back on Monday - so after that, next Tuesday, I'm back with CT at Shoreditch Balls for Stage Time, the Improv Variety Show.

On the 3rd, I'm back with Over 40 Living the Life - and for the first time, joining them on their "Gastronomical Tour" of countries alphabetically. That evening, it's Azerbaijan! and we're headed to the Land of Fire restaurant. Hmm..

And on the 4th and 5th, back with CT - and the Backyard Comedy Club! Always a great atmosphere..