Film Now You See Me

Synopsis
An FBI agent and an Interpol detective track a team of illusionists who pull off bank heists during their performances and reward their audiences with the money.

Musings
Was really looking forward to seeing this but a little put off by the mixed reviews. Thankfully I was very pleasantly surprised. Great starry cast with an interesting mix of characters. Very pacy, exciting and interesting, especially if your interested in magic and how they do it. (They certainly don't give it all away which I was led to believe from some reviews.) The four illusionists are put together by a mysterious benefactor to pull off bank heists. I especially liked Woody Harrelson as the mentalist and Dave Franco (James Franco's brother) as the young hustler/pickpocket. Morgan Freeman was also very sharp as their pseudo nemesis. Michael Caine was taking the money and running for all the time he was on screen!! The script was snappy and the action slick. The only weak part was the end felt a little rushed and you felt short changed. however if you want a glitzy escapism film with fast paced action and a plot that will keep you guessing until the end this is for you.

The Big Wedding

Synopsis

A long-divorced couple fakes being married as their family unites for a wedding.

 

My musings

Big Wedding, Big Cast, Big Let Down

Started off great with big laugh out loud moment. It involved Robert De niro and Susan saran don 's legs!! But then got muddy, some ridiculous unbelievable situations Not sharp enough totally underused cast. Still enjoyed it seeing them all together on screen and beautiful setting. Should have thrown some old slapstick in with classic situations rather than make up some totally weird plots..eg virgin surgeon anyone?

 Nice afternoon film but don't go in with high expectations.

Its definitely not Something 's Gotta Give which was brilliant with Diane Keaton nd Jack Nicholson and also had an even more divine house!!

Oz The Great And Powerful

Synopsis
A small-time magician is swept away to an enchanted land and is forced into a power struggle between three witches.

My Musings

I know this was gongto be a little childish and that I wouldn't like some of the graphics that I had seen from the trailer but  I loved the monkey and china doll and thought the cast was great so thought what the heck!
I honestly don't know haow to review this film as a whol
James Franco put his all into Oz , Mila Kunis was surprisingly dark and suitably scary as the wicked witch as Michelle Williams so good possitively sickly as teh good witch
Rachel Weiz I thought didn't give enough welly, The monkey and doll were both adorable and lived up to expectation. I could have happily spent more time with both.

But the film as a whole was so......panto and not a good one. I felt like the only one to enjoy it fully was a 3year old. A Very expensive panto with non eof the double entendrs. To chocolate box sugary sweet. I didn't love or hate it just found it all very perplexing.

Oh well back to Wizard of Oz then.....

Memory of Lost Senses by Judith Kinghorn

Synopsis
When a mysterious countess arrives late in life to live at a large, deserted house on the edge of a sleepy Hampshire village, the local tongues start wagging. No one is more intrigued than Cecily Chadwick, idling away the long, hot summer of 1911 with nothing much to do. Cecily is fascinated by the exotic elderly lady and, as she gets to know her, is riveted by her tales of expatriate life on the continent, and of whom she once knew. But the countess is troubled: by her memories, her name, and by anonymous threats to reveal a ruinous secret... It is, she has decided, up to her close friend, a successful novelist who has come to stay for the summer, to put the record straight. For aspiring writer Cecily, the novelist's presence only adds to the intrigue and pull of the house. But it is the countess's grandson, Jack, his unanswered questions about his grandmother's past and his desire to know the truth, that draw Cecily further into the tangled web of the countess's life, and the place known as Temple Hill.


My Musings
I was really looking forward to the second book by the author of The Last Summer and wasn't disappointed. Memory of Lost Senses is complex and thought provoking with a myriad of strong characters and twists and turns to digest. It is not a book to glugged down in one sitting but more to be savoured.

It is a story of The Countess, Cora, her life, loves family and friends at the turn of the century.The description of the settings from British countryside to Paris and Rome are the perfect backdrop for the unfolding drama in the lives of the main characters.  Thought provoking and thoughtful. It speaks of how scars from childhood can colour all aspects of our future and how well meaning friends can have far reaching effects. It is a tale of broken people, survival and kindred spirits. Curl up and enjoy!

If you like this you may like
Books
The Last Summer by Judith Kinghorn
The Secret Keeper by Kate Morton
The Light Behind the Window by Lucinda Riley

Tv
Downton Abbey
Brideshead Revisited

Films
Atonement
Wings of a Dove

Hitcock

Hitchock Synopsis

A love story between influential filmmaker Alfred Hitchcock and wife Alma Reville during the filming of Psycho in 1959.
My Musings
A really entertaining , witty and interesting film about Hitchcock , their relationship with his wife and the making of one of his biggest hit films, Psycho.
Hitchcock is played by Anthony Hopkins, unrecognisable in makeup and Helen Mirren his wife. Their sparring and wit was sparkling and the chemistry sizzled.
Scarlett Johansson  was perfectly cast as Janet Leigh and Michael Wincott as the real life 'psycho'. Talking of which I had no idea it had been based on  a true story and you should be warned there are a few horrifying descriptions of the actual case thrown in!
Please watch out for minor roles played by Toni Colette and a 'blink and you miss it' Ralph Macchio, formerly known as the Karate Kid.

Its a thoroughly entertaining slikc and interesting watch for those interested in holywwod tales of behind the scenes.

Olympus Has Fallen

Olympus Has Fallen

Synopsis
Disgraced former Presidential guard Mike Banning finds himself trapped inside the White House in the wake of a terrorist attack; using his inside knowledge, Banning works with national security to rescue the President from his kidnappers.

Musings.
Not a lot to say about this below mediocre action flick. BIG disappointment. Not impressed with Gerald Butler as an action hero. He's very nice but dull and the script is dreadful. Aaron Eckhart has no real gravitas as the president and what on earth was Morgan Freeman doing in this? He did do his best but the director should be given a kick up the ....... Best thing in the film was the baddy Rick Yune, last seen as the baddy from Bond film Die Another Day. He has real presence and the fight scene at the end was only any good because of him.
OK will stop going on but if you want to see a good president action flick pass this by and head for Air Force One.

The Foster Husband by Pippa Wright

Synopsis

In love and marriage, practise makes perfect

Kate left her seaside home town of Lyme Reggis for the bright lights of London when she was eighteen, and never looked back. She had it all: the glamorous career, the lovely house, the gorgeous husband.

But now she’s back: unemployed, separated, and holed up in her dead granny’s bungalow. Worse still, she’s forced to share the bungalow with Ben, the clueless and domestically challenged fiance of her bossy sister Prue.

Ben is a man in need of simple instruction. And Kate is a woman in need of a project. So she decides to secretly train Ben, her foster husband, as a selfless pre-wedding gift to her sister.

But Kate may still have a few lessons of her own to learn…

 

My Musings

A funny modern romance. Kate's story shifts between her past in London and present in Lyme Reggis. Kate is a girl about town, a laddette workaholic , not the usual heroine I would relate to but Pippa gives her vulnerability and likability . You relate to the fact we have all make mistakes and by trying to protect our loved ones from them can be an even bigger mistake which Kate learns the hard way. Her husband Mark whom she has left for reasons we will later find out is charming and lovable and you desperately want it to work out between them.as they lurch from one of Kate's hang ups to another. We see their love blossom and disintegrate. Fast forward to Lyme Reggis where Kate has holed up with her family and is intent on making her sisters boyfriend perfect by 'fostering ' him until he is trained properly. As you can imagine it doesnt' turn out well. her story unfolds and twists and turns until the climax and a satisfying if not open ended finally. I laughed out loud but found it more layered and with more depth than most other chick lit. I would recommend for holiday read or curl up book. I will definitely read her again.