Emily Blunt- Actor of the Week

Emily Blunt's career has been taking off in the last few years. First known to most of us as the scene stealing receptionist from The Devil Wears Prada, Emily has done many recent films, both period and modern.

Emily Blunt as Emily in The Devil Wears Prada

Emily: Andrea, my God! You look so chic.
Andy Sachs: Oh, thanks. You look so thin.
Emily: Really? It's for Paris, I'm on this new diet. Well, I don't eat anything and when I feel like I'm about to faint I eat a cube of cheese. I'm just one stomach flu away from my goal weight.

Emily Blunt as Prudie in The Jane Austen Book Club

As Prudie, the uptight French teacher who has never been to France, Emily gave emotional depth to the role of an unsatisfied married woman toying with having an affair with a student in The Jane Austen Book Club.

Prudie: Being the only child of a woman who gave birth in a commune after changing her name to Skygirl, I've come to loath hippie-handie crafts.

Emily Blunt as The Young Victoria

In The Young Victoria,  Emily Blunt is luminous as Queen Victoria at the beginning of her reign. As the young and headstrong monarch, we can forgive Emily for being so much taller and good looking than the real Queen Vicky. This is an incredibly well done film and the costumes and locations are to die for.

Queen Victoria: I am young, but I am willing to learn, and I mean to devote my life to the service of my country and my people. I look for your help in this. I know I shall not be disappointed. Thank you.

Jason Segal and Emily Blunt in Gulliver's Travels

I didn't see Gulliver's Travels which was released in 2010. A modern take on the classic tale, it stars Jack Black as Gulliver and Emily plays Princess Mary. It didn't get very good reviews which is too bad as with a cast like that it could have been really wonderful. Anybody else see this one? Is it a good one to see with the kids?

Matt Damon and Emily Blunt in The Adjustment Bureau

I found The Adjustment Bureau pretty edge-of-the-seat exciting. Emily Blunt plays Elise, a ballet dancer who is not supposed to meet or fall in love with Matt Damon's character David Norris, a politician. Of course, this is exactly what she does. And "The Adjustment Bureau" wants to fix that. Uh-oh!

Elise Sellas: Were you just looking at my legs while I slept?
David Norris: I was helpless against the dress.
Elise Sellas: It's a skirt.
David Norris: It's a belt! 

Emily Blunt with Ewan McGregor in Salmon Fishing in the Yemen

Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is one of my favourite flicks this year so far. I may have to purchase this one as I look forward to seeing it again with some DVD extras. Great chemistry between Emily and Ewan!

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We will see even more of Emily in the next little while. She has a film with Colin Firth coming out next year called Arthur Newman, Golf Pro. I wonder whether they will be donning American accents for that one! Any other films you have enjoyed Emily Blunt in? I loved her cameo in The Muppets as Miss Piggy's receptionist. Adorable! Here's to more films from the girl with the "sly eyes". Perhaps with her new hubby John Krasinski from The Office ???

Music and Lyrics 2007

Music and Lyrics 2007

Music and Lyrics is one of those films which makes me laugh out loud. I first saw this movie on a plane and people were staring at my screen to see what was so funny because I couldn't control my giggles when Hugh Grant started dancing. If you have seen him in Love Actually, you know what I mean.

Drew Barrymore and Hugh Grant in Music and Lyrics

Hugh Grant plays a former 1980s pop music idol (think Wham! or Duran Duran) who tries to revive his flagging career by writing a song for the latest teenybopper pop diva. He hits a wall with the lyrics and ends up convincing the girl who waters his plants (Drew Barrymore of course) to collaborate with him. And romance blossoms.

Scott Porter and Hugh Grant as PoP!

If you haven't seen this one and you have one of those evenings where you need a little pick me up and a film that doesn't take itself too seriously, this one is perfect. Especially if you can remember the 1980s!

Drew Barrymore as Sophie Fisher in Music and Lyrics

Drew Barrymore is her usual cheery smiling self with her rays of California sunshine. Hugh Grant is the damp cloud of English fog determined to bring her down. The yin and yang really work here and they look like they had a blast working together. And now for a taste of the slightly cheesy pop lyrics:

I've been living with a shadow overhead
I've been living with a cloud above my bed
I've been lonely for so long
Trapped in the past, I just can't seem to move on


All I want to do is find a way back into love
I can't make it through without a way back into love
And if I open my heart to you
I'm hoping you'll show me what to do
And if you help me to start again
You know that I'll be there for you in the end

Kristen Johnston in Music and Lyrics

Kristen Johnston deserves a shout-out for her wacky role as the sister of Drew's character. A little older, she was apparently a big fan of the group PoP! in the 1980s and I always seem to enjoy her sense of humour.

So here is the trailer with Mr. Grant shaking his booty with a truly ridiculous hairstyle:



I hope that got a giggle out of you. Nobody does that brand of Rom-Com like Hugh Grant! Cheers!

Domenic Cooper- Actor of the Week

Domenic Cooper

Domenic Cooper is a hot commodity right now and seems to pop up everywhere these days. I think a lot of people would recognize him as the love interest of Amanda Seyfried in Mama Mia.

Domenic Cooper and Amanda Seyfried in Mama Mia

Good choice for the smouldering, mostly shirtless fiancee in Mama Mia. He has that slightly exotic bad boy look to him and of course that gorgeous accent, having been brought up on the outskirts of London in Greenwich.

Domenic Cooper as Charles Grey in The Duchess

I think his best role so far is as Charles Grey in The Duchess opposite Kiera Knightley. He was very intense and sexy in this part and the chemistry between his Charles Grey and Kiera's Georgiana was electric. I'll admit it, I cried during this film. Quite shamelessly I might add.

Domenic Cooper and Charity Wakefield in Sense and Sensibility

OK, I know I am going to get some flak on this but I just couldn't quite get into Domenic as Willoughby in the 2008 miniseries Sense and Sensibility. I adore Andrew Davies and I do think this entire production is really good. I guess Emma Thompson has just ruined me for other versions. To be fair, I should watch this one again as it is quite lovely. I just didn't love Domenic as much as Charity Wakefield's Marianne did. Mind you Willoughby is one of my least favourite Jane Austen male characters so maybe it has more to do with that.

Domenic Cooper in Tamara Drewe

If you haven't seen Tamara Drewe, it is quite a great flick. A little bit dark for a comedy but highly entertaining in an oh so British kind of way. Lovely little village for the location too, which never hurts. And Domenic is hilarious as a dopey rock star bad boy. I mean look at that face. It just mirrors the dog's face!

Rosamund Pike and Domenic Cooper in An Education

As affluent wheeler dealer Danny in An Education, Domenic plays a very different kind of bad boy. This film was riveting on many levels. I could certainly watch it again as all of the performances were remarkable and I loved the script by Nick Hornby about a girl trying to choose the course of her life.

Domenic Cooper in My Week With Marilyn

I haven't seen My Week With Marilyn yet so I can't comment on Domenic's role as Marilyn Monroe's photographer and business partner Milton H. Greene. Actually, I almost watched this last night but instead watched The Muppets, which made me very happy. Can anyone else tell me how they liked My Week With Marilyn?

So watch out for lots more Domenic Cooper in the future. He has 8 upcoming films listed on IMDb, including Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter. So look out!

Cambridge University Weekend Courses! Who wants to go?

Madingley Hall, University of Cambridge

Who knew that anyone could go to a weekend course at the University of Cambridge (yes, the one in England) and stay in a 16th century country house? Anyone at all. All year round. Let the daydreams begin!

Madingley Hall with gardens by Capability Brown

How does this sound?
Accommodation- With pleasant views over the woods, gardens and courtyard, the bedrooms are warm, welcoming and comfortably furnished.
Food and Drink- Our award winning chefs provide fresh, locally-sourced food of a quality that’s second to none, served in our elegant dining hall.
Gardens- Visitors are encouraged to explore our gardens, designed by Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in 1756.

Stuart Room at Madingley Hall

Some of the courses that caught my eye were:

Thomas Hardy: poetic realist?
Survival and revival: the country house in the 20th century 
Victorian myth and medievalism: the later Pre-Raphaelites 
Tracing the origins of the British using genetics, linguistics and chroniclers 
In and out the workhouse: Victorian and Edwardian poverty issues 
Pride and Prejudice Part Deux: adapting and rewriting the classics 
Comedy on the 18th Century English stage 
The Sherlock Holmes phenomenon 

But there are so many more! Philosophy, Shakespeare, Languages, Ancient Civilizations, Classical music, History, Geology...I'll bet you will find something to appeal to your tastes.

Dining Hall at Madingley Hall

OK, it's not free. First you have to get yourself to England. Then there is the £350.00 fee but that includes tuition, two nights of accommodation and all meals from Friday night to Sunday lunch. Not bad when you consider that one night in a good London Hotel could set you back that amount. By the way, Madingley Hall is not right on the campus of Cambridge, but it is only about 4 miles away.

There is also a Literature Summer School at Cambridge where you can study 4 courses over a two week period. Personally, I kind of like the sound of the weekend courses. Combined with at least a 2 week trip around England of course! Well, at least I know what I am working towards now. Perhaps I should set aside a little cash each week for a "Cambridge Fund". Yes, I like the sound of that.

The World of Downton Abbey: Companion Book to the Series

World of Downton Abbey

Just a quick post today as I am off to cottage country for the Victoria Day weekend. In Canada, we celebrate Queen Victoria's Birthday (which is May 24th) but the holiday is always placed on the Monday before May 25th and is known as the weekend for opening cottages and planting annuals in our coldish climate. We used to call it firecracker day when I was a kid, but this has largely been supplanted by the fireworks on July 1st (Canada Day), which is much warmer for evening celebrations!

Lavinia from World of Downton Abbey

My wonderful men got me the book The World of Downton Abbey for Mother's Day. I have been so busy that I have only been able to flip through and read a few pages. And drool over a few photographs. As you can see from the photographs, this is a gorgeous hardcover book with lots of detail in the photos and tons of information on the period and on the production itself. Written by Jessica Fellowes with an introduction by her uncle Julian Fellowes, it is unusually well done for something put together quickly to cash in on Downton fever.

Sybil in The World of Downton Abbey

A must have for all of us suffering from "Downton Withdrawal", a medically recognized condition which worsens on Sunday nights, this will ease the pain of the wait until next January for season two. My bloggy buddy Kate from Leeds (who now has her own blog) has been raving about this book since she received it as a birthday present I believe. I now know what she has been talking about! So off I go to be bitten by blackflies and to snuggle up with my new book. I love staring at those dresses, never mind the settings inside and outside of those wonderful country homes like Highclere Castle. Byeeeeeeee!

Bill Nighy- Actor of the Week

Bill Nighy is now one of the greats of British cinema, having achieved fame late in his career. This high school drop-out tried being a writer first before attending acting school at the urging of an old girlfriend. He eked out an acting career for decades doing some fairly prestigious stage work. And then came Billy Mack...

Bill Nighy as Billy Mack in Love Actually

If you are like me, you got to know Bill as the rather eccentric over the hill rock star Billy Mack in Love Actually.

Billy Mack: When I was young and successful, I was greedy and foolish, and now I'm left with no one. Wrinkled and alone. 

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Billy Mack: Hiya kids. Here is an important message from your Uncle Bill. Don't buy drugs. Become a pop star, and they give you them for free!

Laura Fraser and Bill Nighy in He Knew He Was Right

As the seemingly lecherous Colonel Osborne in He Knew He Was Right, Bill Nighy is spot on, reveling in the attention he receives when perceived as a womanizer. Poor Laura Fraser's character Emily Trevelyan, does not realize that her father's friend is not acting in her best interest.

Bill Nighy in I Capture the Castle

As the father of two girls played by Romola Garai and Rose Byrne in I Capture the Castle, Bill Nighy is a novelist in 1930s England with long term writer's block after a first successful novel.

Cassandra: Father. 'Jacob Wrestling' was a wonderful, groundbreaking book. There was never going to be a sequel overnight!
James Mortmain: Meaning?
Cassandra: Meaning, it will come!
James Mortmain: How old are you?
Cassandra: Seventeen.
James Mortmain: And you still believe in fairy tales.

Bill Nighy and Romola Garai in Glorious 39

In the thriller Glorious 39, again playing the father of Romola Garai's character (typecasting?) Bill Nighy is a member of the House of Commons in 1939, on the cusp of WWII. I haven't yet seen this one but it looks fascinating. Written and directed by Stephen Poliakoff, this one also has a fantastic cast including Jenny Agutter, David Tennant, Hugh Bonneville, Julie Christie and Jeremy Northam among others.

Bill Nighy in The Boat That Rocked (Pirate Radio)

The Boat That Rocked (known as Pirate Radio on this side of the pond) is about a bunch of DJs in the 1960s running a pirate radio station off the coast of Britain in order to get around the British censors. Who better to play Quentin, the eccentric head of the floating radio station than Bill Nighy?

Quentin: So... expelled?
'Young' Carl: That's right.
Quentin: What for?
'Young' Carl: I suppose smoking was the clincher.
Quentin: Drugs or cigarettes?
'Young' Carl: Well, both.
Quentin: Well done! Proud of you. So your mum sent you here in the hope that a little bracing sea air would sort you out?
'Young' Carl: Something like that.
Quentin: Spectacular mistake.

I loved this one, directed by Richard Curtis by the way. Emma Thompson makes a great cameo as Young Carl's mother. And Jack Davenport and Kenneth Branaugh are quite memorable as the stiffs at the BBC.

Bill Nighy in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

We finally get to see Bill Nighy as a true nice guy in The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Not eccentric, not evil but just a really great guy. How refreshing! As Douglas Ainslie, a retired government worker who has invested his entire next egg in his daughter's dot-com start-up and hence has to live cheaply, he and his wife played by Penelope Wilton move to India. Yes, it's far fetched, but just enjoy the film and don't look too closely for plot holes. It's a wonderful film.

"Everything will be all right in the end... if it's not all right then it's not the end." 

Now I had to leave a lot of Bill's best films out of this list or my post would have been really long! Did I miss one or more of your faves?

The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel for Mother's Day

For Mother's Day I was taken to see The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel. Not by my children of course, but by the man who made motherhood happen, The Squire as he is affectionately known. And it was wonderful. Magical one might say.

Ready for adventure at The Marigold Hotel

A group of British retirees who cannot afford to live well in England decide to "outsource" their retirement to India. And mayhem ensues.

Based on the novel These Foolish Things by Deborah Moggach (screenplay writer of Pride and Prejudice 2005) one wonders why director John Madden (Shakespeare in Love, Mrs. Brown) didn't have Deborah adapt her own book for the big screen. I think she might have done a better job, but I am quibbling here. I loved the film and I will definitely purchase it, to be watched on very hot days and on very cold days!

Judi Dench and Celia Imrie in Marigold Hotel

Judi Dench plays a recent widow who had trusted everything to the husband who left her without a home or enough money to live on in the end. Of course, she ends up landing on her feet and blogging about it!

Judi Dench with Tom Wilkinson and Bill Nighy in Marigold Hotel

Tom Wilkinson's character was not in the book but was introduced into the story to hint at India's British colonial roots. A High Court Judge (one assumes he could afford a better hotel and is slumming it) who grew up in India but has never returned since he left in disgrace to attend University in England. I won't tell you any more but his story is a lovely addition to the film.

Dev Patel with Tena Desae

Dev Patel's character Sonny is the scatterbrained dreamer who is trying to make his father's vision of the hotel come true. Beautiful girlfriend from a different social class, disapproving mother...you know how it goes.

Maggie Smith in Marigold Hotel

Maggie Smith is delightful as a bigoted Brit who has to travel to India to avoid a six month wait in England for a new hip. I think I loved her story the best and she obviously had fun with the role.

The Squire loved Bill Nighy the best, quite rightly. What a joy to watch. He is such a character!

Ravla Khempur, the real Marigold Hotel near Udaipur

The real hotel, called Rayla Khempur is apparently much nicer than it is portrayed in the film and is available for stays if the film made you want to see the beauties of India. Wild Frontiers (wildfrontiers.co.uk) has put together a 10-night Marigold Hotel Rajasthan Tour which takes in locations from the film, as well as Agra, Pushkar and Delhi.

So please go and see the film. Just look at the amazing cast and you know you will love this film. Yes the ending is a bit pat and cliche but you want a happy ending right? If you are like me you will leave the theatre with a smile and a craving for Indian food. If you are like The Squire, you will love the film but shudder and say that you will never ever travel to India (or indeed China he says). :)