Film: The Brutalist & Musical: Titanique

Yesterday, I headed to The Brutalist, about which I'd heard so much. Stars Adrian Brody, and is so long they have an intermission.. and, heh, it was in the Curzon Aldgate. So I booked again for Cote on St. Katharine Docks.. I did have to use up that £3 or so I had left over on the voucher I got as compensation for that dreadful dinner a couple of weeks ago..

Oh, but it was a wet, cold, and miserable evening to be walking across a bridge. Met my flatmate, as he was going in and I was heading out - he complimented me on my dedication on going out in all weathers.. plus, the shoes I had on have soles that slip on slippery surfaces - like a wet pavement. Got to the restaurant slightly late - and immediately noticed a difference in attitude. Sure enough, that last crew were temporary - last night's staff couldn't have been more attentive, pouring my wine for me, asking me whether I wanted anything.. 

I had the Prix Fixe menu yesterday again, but after the unsatisfying steak on that previous occasion, I thought I'd try the poulet grillé. O my, I have a new favourite.. the mushroom sauce that came with it was spectacular! (as I told the guy who cleared my plate). I had two people ask me whether I wanted dessert, but sadly I didn't have time - had a little bit of a trek to the cinema.

The Brutalist is a compelling film, beautifully shot: lots of close camera angles, particularly - for example - when they're driving, or taking the train, and the camera sticks close to the road, or tracks, to convey the feeling of speed. The tight angles convey a sense of tension - understandable, considering that Adrian Brody's character, an architect, has come out of Buchenwald, as a refugee to America, and is predictably uncertain of his reception. (Of course, if he took the same route these days, he'd end up in Guantánamo..)

He initially stays with a cousin, then takes a lucrative commission from a philanthropist, played by Guy Pearce. It's not a major spoiler to say that his wife and niece, whom he believes dead in the camps, turn up alive, and ultimately join him in the States. And he begins to make a name for himself with his new, pared-back style of architecture (the doors to the bookshelves he designs for his rich patron remind me, for all the world, of the doors that close at the end of the aisles in the Barbican Theatre!). 

So, all good, right? Wrong. Rarely have I seen a more depressing film. It doesn't matter what good things happen to him, it always seems he's on the brink of disaster - perhaps to convey an ongoing feeling of paranoia that he has. His wife is ill, his patron is uncertain about the ongoing cost of the project, others working on it think it's all madness, and he has a falling-out with his cousin. Plus he's a drug addict - not a major spoiler either. By the time he receives the recognition he deserves, he gives the impression of being so doddery he can't even take it in.

It just feels like, after all that time spent watching it - over three and a half hours - there's no payoff; you begin to wonder what the point of it all was. The more so, considering he wasn't even a real-life character, but based on two architects, both Hungarian like him, one of whom also emigrated to the States. So you know, it was a conscious decision to make this story as miserable as it is! I dunno - it's well-made, but I still can't recommend it. I was certainly glad of the interval..

I took the bus home - should have been the #47, but there was no sign of it, so I took another, which involved a slight walk. I'm beginning to wonder whether there isn't some sort of unofficial walkout on the routes around my area, which have disimproved mightily..

I didn't have time to blog, what with doing the film list. This evening, I was at Titanique, the parody musical, at the Criterion! Cheapest tickets from the official source - but lo, it wasn't until I'd bought mine that they bothered to mention it was a "severely restricted" view! Mind you, although it's behind a pillar, it's only a little 'un - I figured I'd probably manage. Booked for Bella Italia, Shaftesbury Avenue, which is nearby.

Buses, buses, buses.. no sign, yet again, of the #381. The #188 would have taken me close enough to my destination to walk the rest of the way - but its ETA kept being pushed back and back.. as soon as the estimated time till it reached us decreased, it jumped right back to 15 minutes again, until finally it was going to be too late (and, by the way, it was a freezing wait) - so I determined to take the next bus that came (advertised as the #47) to London Bridge, and catch the Tube from there. And that is what I did - and we had a lovely rant, on the bus, about the state of the buses..

At least the Tube was warm. And I got to the restaurant just about in time for my booking - and was then kept waiting behind a whole queue of others. It was about five minutes before anyone came to deal with the queue - and then summarily dismissed anyone who didn't have a booking, phew! So I got shown to a table near the kitchen. And oh dear, what's happened to the service..? I know they were really busy, and the staff were really friendly, but - it was impossible to get a hold of them! 15 minutes before I got my order taken, another five minutes before my wine arrived, a 15-minute wait for my main after that - which would be fine, except I'm pretty sure it'd come out early and been sent back. I was so lucky I'd booked dinner for 90 minutes before the show - I needed all that time. Service has really disimproved since I was last here..

The food was lovely - and I'd have had a second glass of wine, if I'd been able to get anyone to get it for me. The table beside me refused to pay the service charge. The minute I'd finished my main course, I hopped up and started putting on my coat - an excellent way to get attention, and I soon had the bill. (I had a voucher for a free starter, but it had expired.) It's still probably the best place to eat in the area - just make sure to book, and leave lots of time..

And so I made my way through the crowds to the theatre.

They'd kindly texted me a link to my ticket this morning. No time for the bar, I just went straight to my seat..

Never fear, I could get a much better view by leaning just a little to the side:

Ok, well. Lauren Drew smashes the role of Celine Dion, I have to say. And the singing is fantastic by all involved. Only thing is - that doesn't seem to be the main focus of the show! Rather than a musical with a comedic theme, this is a comedy routine with some songs thrown in. And bargain-basement comedy, at that - no wonder it's forbidden for the under-12s, there's a lot of swearing, a lot of sexual innuendo. One good gag has "Rose" - when posing in the nude for "Jack" to draw her, appearing in a fetching, flesh-toned, pixelated bikini. But there were a lot of pop culture references I just didn't get - which would have gone right over my head if not for the riotous laughter they provoked from much of the audience.

So yeah, many people enjoyed it more than I did, to be fair. Me, I'd have left at the interval, except there wasn't one. Anyway, runs till the 8th of June, if you want to check it out for yourself. Also contains flashing lights, I should add. 

Tomorrow, back with Over 40 Living the Life - first time this year - for Play On, a musical at the Lyric Hammersmith. Re-imagines Twelfth Night - in the Cotton Club! Buddies on Budgets in London is off to it next week, but what can you do..?

Then I'm back to Ireland for the weekend.. where the film is looking like Blue Road: The Edna O' Brien Story. Now, the writer Edna O' Brien was originally from Clare - and sure enough, it's only showing in Ennis. This documentary has Jessie Buckley reading her journals, and also features Gabriel Byrne.

On Monday, I'm thinking film again - and delighted to see that what's coming up - highest-rated that is showing when I can see it, and that I'm interested in - is Companion. I hadn't much interest in this until I saw the trailer yesterday, and that it was from the makers of the excellent Barbarian.. it actually looks really innocent until you look deeper! "Deliciously wicked" it says in the trailer - and it does look it. Looking forward to it! Curzon Aldgate again.

Then, three Meetups in a row. On Tuesday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats at last - we're headed to The Years, at the Harold Pinter - cheapest tickets from the official venue, as often happens. They're in the Balcony - I don't trust the legroom up there, so I'm in the front row of the Stalls; I'd rather a neck ache than cramped knees! and it's the same price. Another one with no interval, I see - that's really becoming a feature. Booked at Bella Italia Cranbourne Street this time - there's never been a problem with service there, and it's much more relaxed.

Next Wednesday, I'm back with the 45+ Not Grumpies for Paul's February Pub Crawl. We're starting at the Lion & Unicorn in Waterloo Station, where we'll also eat, then heading - well, towards home for me, finishing at London Bridge! Very convenient.

And on the 6th, I'm with a new group, 45+ Solos Socializer, for a comedy night at Candlemaker Smok'd, which is a pub with a BBQ menu. Anyway, they do comedy too on Thursdays, Saturdays, & Sundays, and are offering 30% off bookings for both comedy and food until the 16th.