Film: Tuner

This evening, the best film looked like Tuner, about a piano tuner turned safe cracker. Closest evening showing to me was in the Everyman Broadgate - nice and late, so I could get some overdue work done. Looking for eateries nearby - what should I discover but "Nando's Liverpool Street"! Well, never knew they had one there.. so that's where I headed, on a bus to Liverpool Street Station.

Figured the fastest was to cut through the station - didn't realise it was actually in the station! That bit at the end of the station was just under construction when I lived near there. Crikey, it was well needed - there was nowhere decent to eat in the station at the time. Well, it was busy, but I got a table.. WiFi was pretty bad, so I ended up on the station WiFi, which wasn't great either. It took a while to order, therefore.. and it wasn't obvious where to get the cutlery - the lady who took me to my table had said, but she was both softly- and quick-spoken, and the place was noisy, so I hadn't a clue what she said. She was a bit miffed when I asked her again - turns out it's around the other side from the sauces.

Food was lovely, as ever.. and I finished early enough to have a second glass of wine. Got lost, looking for the cinema, with all the new buildings around there - made it roughly in time, bought my ticket at the bar.. this is one of the places with sofas, and I think, if you book online and choose a sofa, you're made to book two seats. Not a problem in person, and I ended up with a sofa all to myself. She handed me a menu, and asked me to head in to the screen, where my order would be taken. Hmm.. sure enough, it took forever, but she did come around - and I did even get my glass of wine before the film started.

So, a heist film - but this is so much more. For one thing, our sound-sensitive star works for an elderly gent whom I immediately recognised - I hadn't seen Dustin Hoffman's name on the credits! And not only at the start of the film - and at the end - but also in the middle, with all the crime capers happening - you'd hardly remember it's a crime film at all. It's focused on music, and on this guy's sensitive ears - so sensitive, indeed, that he can't stand the everyday noise of New York, and has to wear headphones most of the time. We spend much of the start of the film reliving a New York of bygone days, through the eyes of Dustin Hoffman - and then our protagonist gets himself a girlfriend who's a pianist and a student of composition; they meet when he comes to tune the grand piano at her school for the big concert at which she's going to showcase her talents.

There is crime, and he gets mixed up with some nasty people. But throughout, this is not a standard heist film - the plot is unusual, the characters too. There's a good bit of comedy - and honestly, much of the film works better for the charisma of the lead actor, Leo Woodall; not bad at all to look at, he manages to hold many a scene in silence, or hardly speaking. No better man to look focused on listening to the faint sounds a safe makes as it's being cracked.

Really, a lovely, engaging film - highly recommended. Not really one for action buffs - our lead actor here is not an action hero, and avoids it when possible. More a character-driven piece. Very well done.

Tomorrow, back with CT for Magic Showcase, a magic variety show at The Magic Circle! Ooh, first time there..

Again, three days of Meetup follow - on Friday, I was supposed to be back with Up in the Cheap Seats (UITCS) for A Fine Idea at the Arcola. A play that looks into the motivation behind the global causes that inspire us. Which does sound interesting - but yesterday, The Hideout scheduled a horror chat and social for the same day, in The Three Johns. I missed the last one of these, don't want to do that again - as I said to them, any chance they could organise these things earlier?! So I'm now going to that instead. The pub does serve pizza, but that doesn't agree with me, so I'm eating beforehand in The Peacock.

On Saturday, back with Laurence Summers and the 45+ Not Grumpies - very glad to see that the issue with Meetup that required payment on signing up to an event has been fixed.. The tour is Wonders of the National Gallery.

And on Sunday, back with London Museums from A-Z (LoMAZ) for the Quentin Blake Centre for Illustration, due to open on Friday! Optional trip to the George and Monkey afterwards.

On Monday, off with CT again to a play called Before I'm Dead at The Glitch. The story of a teenager with a terminal brain tumour, determined to record a eulogy while she has the chance.

On Tuesday, back with UITCS for a flamenco show called UnYdos at Sadler's Wells. Eating at The Wilmington beforehand.

Next, two cheap ticket days. Next Wednesday, back with CT - which is playing a blinder - for Amores Pasados, a medieval concert with a modern twist, at St. Clement Danes. Performed by the Alternative History Quartet, regular-priced tickets from Ticket Tailor. I'm eating beforehand in Cote Covent Garden.

And on the 18th, back - at last - with TAC for more magic! This one is James Phelan: Showman, playing at Underbelly Boulevard.

Finally, three more days of Meetup - on the 19th, I'm with The Hideout for Disclosure Day, in which Emily Blunt plays a TV weather forecaster who suddenly finds herself communicating in a strange, clicking language, which only Josh O' Connor finds he can understand. Colin Firth seems to play a bad guy, as per the trailer. Directed by Spielberg again.. Details TBA, but it'll be in Leicester Square, phew!

And the weekend is LoMAZ again - the 20th, we have a day in Hever Castle! We're to arrive at St. Peter's Church in time for a guided tour thereof by our accomplished organiser, then spend the afternoon exploring the castle, and its Capturing a Queen exhibition, focusing on what Anne Boleyn, whose childhood home this was, actually looked like. The castle is also hosting a Home Front 1940s exhibition - no thanks, don't think I'll take their invitation to dress up accordingly. Optional drinks afterwards, of course - and travel is convenient for me, with direct trains from London Bridge taking under an hour. Already booked my ticket with Uber, with which I had so much credit, it was nearly free..

And on the 21st - I was thinking of heading to see West End Live, the free performance snippets of West End shows, performed in Trafalgar Square.. always a good one! But yesterday, on what was a very busy day for Meetup organisers, LoMAZ organised a guided walk! And as it's around my area, I could hardly resist - we're meeting in Starbucks before heading off on a Southwark Hysteries Solstice Special walk, as presented by Herstorical Tours, in the person of someone who glories in the name of Lydia Chlamydia, and is a whore of Ancient Rome.. apparently includes the option of a post-walk drink in a historic pub. I have my suspicions where that might be..