Film: The Life of Chuck

Yesterday evening, decided on film again.. not as close to the office, but it's the closest to home, and I figured I should manage it, if I took the Tube - The Life of Chuck sounded good, and is playing in the Curzon Aldgate. Based on a novella by Stephen King, it's billed as the new It's a Wonderful Life, stars Tom Hiddleston as the adult Chuck, and also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor as a teacher in Chuck's school, and Mark Hamill as Chuck's grandfather.

Started packing up just before 5 - it takes a while to put everything together and get out of the building! Trudged to the Tube - and the Central Line was roasting. Have to say though, there was plenty of space on it - to stand. I was one stop away from where I needed to get off before someone offered me a seat, by which stage it would have been more trouble than it was worth, so I passed. It was a relief to get off in Liverpool Street though. I'd missed the train that Google Maps said I should get, to get there in time - they're so optimistic about travel times through stations, never consider the crowds, the distances, or the staircases to be climbed. I needed to get to Aldgate East, ideally, but from Liverpool Street, only the Hammersmith & City line goes there, and after the second train passed that didn't, I decided to bite the bullet and take the next one to Aldgate, a slightly longer walk from the cinema. And wow, it has a long staircase to the exit..

I arrived at the cinema a couple of minutes late, but of course they show ads to start anyway. I'd booked my ticket earlier - one of the free ones I get for membership, a bargain for an £18.50 ticket - so got wine and chocolate, and scuttled right to the end of the hall, it being in the last screen. Mercifully, someone held the doors for me. There were only a few of us in the screen, as I gratefully dumped my stuff and settled into my recliner.

Oh my word, what a week this has been. This was the third amazing night in a row.. This is one of those films that come along every so often and remind you of the meaning of life. It's divided into three acts, following the life of Chuck - it starts at the end, where he hardly appears (in person - watch it and you'll see what I mean). And, in what seems to be becoming a habit for films, it starts utterly confusingly, as you have little idea what's going on. You start to get an idea in Act 2, where you meet Chuck properly, but it isn't until Act 1 (which comes at the end), where you see him growing up, that you get the full picture.

And it's beautiful. There's an extended dance scene in Act 2 that was so good I applauded! (quietly). But mainly it's moving. It's bookended by scenes of an English class - in the same school - reading an extract from a Walt Whitman poem that turns out to be Song of Myself. And the extract is:

Do I contradict myself?

Very well then I contradict myself.

(I am large, I contain multitudes.)

And that, ladies and gentlemen, is the message of the film. But to figure out what it means, you'll have to watch it. I will say this, though - I left with a new appreciation of the wonders of the universe. It's that kind of film. And gee, over the closing credits, they play The Parting Glass..

Afterwards, headed to Cote St. Katharine Docks, on the walk from there to home. And was in the mood to take photos. Here's the Church of the English Martyrs:

And I've never lost the sense of wonder I experience when I round a corner and see the Tower of London:

They had tables at the restaurant - she tried to get me to sit outside, but I thought it was a bit cold, so was seated at the back.

And most excellently fed - and I was in the mood to spend the money I'd saved in the cinema on a botte of dessert wine. So, by the time I dragged myself home, I was way too tired to blog, last night..

This evening, back with The Hideout for Together - a new body horror about an unsuspecting couple on holiday in the wilderness - and I tell you, it has something to live up to after the last few days. Showing in the Vue West End, whose listings were finally released on Tuesday. And now that I know what we're doing, I've booked for Bella Italia again.

Tomorrow, my monthly ex-colleagues' meeting again, probably at The Phoenix - and probably just James again, as Ivan is distracted by family matters, and there still is no word from Martin.

On Sunday, back with LoMAZ.. dependably busy on weekends, on that day they're off to Dover Castle. This time, Uber didn't seem to recognise the journey - I booked on Trainline instead. My sometime travel companion has decided to come along, but she'll be driving.

On Monday, was thinking film again - and top of the list is another Palestinian documentary, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk - the photojournalist interviewed in the film was apparently killed the day after the film was released. The Garden Cinema has the closest showing to me - and when I saw today that it was selling out, I booked, with my member's discount.

Tuesday, also thinking film - best up seems to be This Is Spinal Tap, a mockumentary about a fictional rock group. 40 years old, and I haven't seen it yet - it's about time! Showing in the Prince Charles (PCC), and I'd better keep an eye on it, because the later showing was sold out yesterday, but I see today they have one seat left, at time of writing..

On Wednesday, back with CT for a play called Saving Mozart at The Other Palace - hoping for a musical accompaniment to that.

On Thursday - the first monthly social in months held by The Hideout and their sister group, Movie Roadhouse London (MRL).. whee! The organiser has been busy with family matters, you see - and there's really nobody like him for organising a social. Happening in the Balcony Bar of the Riverfront Bar at the BFI, as usual, and I've booked The Archduke for beforehand.

Next Friday, back with Up in the Cheap Seats for The Pitchfork Disney. Showing in the King's Head Islington, it promises to be a rather weird, and thought-provoking, look at the nature of fear. Goodee!

On the 30th, back with The Hideout and MRL for the 50th anniversary showing of Jaws - at the BFI Imax! Now, that should be spectacular..

On the 31st, back with The Hideout for The Toxic Avenger, at the PCC again - well, the organiser plumped for a free ticket for me, so..

And on the 1st, I'm headed to Every Brilliant Thing, a play about depression at Soho Place. Four different actors are taking the part in succession - I'm getting Jonny Donahoe.