Fifty Shades of Grey

So, I know I haven't blogged for quite some time - understatement of the century - but, I'm back. And, what a better topic to discuss than anything related to the Fifty Shades trilogy.

Let's face it, when something sells quicker than Potter, you know it's big!

E. L. James' "romance", which began as Twilight - yes, TWILIGHT - fan fiction, is the biggest Mommy-Porn-slash-erotic-novel to hit our shelves since, well, ever. The trilogy has made James the biggest selling Author on Amazon beating J. K. Rowling to the title ... Maybe, the world just needed a bit of BDSM in their lives after all?

And, pretty much everyday since its release, way back in 2011, there has been a worldwide debate about which actor and actress should play innocent collage graduate, Anastasia Steele, and devilishly (in my head, anyway) handsome, troubled billionaire, Christian Grey.

Obviously, with such media attention and all sorts of actors and actresses coming out of the wood-work, so to speak, everyone had and has their opinions.

Finally, after much anticipation, it has been announced that Charlie Hunnam (Sons of Anarchy) will play Grey and Dakota Johnson (The Social Network) to perform - cheeky - as Steele.

Johnson & Hunnam

Of course, these choice selections are not to everyone's tastes and a petition has been set up campaigning for a serious change in the actors chosen with nearly 63,000 signatures - shock! - instead with Matt Bomer (Magic Mike) for Grey and Alexis Bledel (Gilmore Girls) for Steele.

Bomer & Bledel

Regardless of who has been selected and the woo-hah that has surrounded it - think the pairing of Ben Affleck and Batman! - Fifty Shades will no doubt be a box office smash hit with a record number of viewings.

I look forward to getting my front row seat, bucket of pop corn and eyeful of god-knows-what ...

Skins - Series 6 Episode 1

It has definitely been a while since we have last seen the enigmatic bunch of drug-infused, sex-focused, and alternative-fashion from the third generation of Roundview students, but the Skins cast are back and are causing chaos in Morocco. The scene is set, backdrop of the horizon, and we are reintroduced to each character; bitchy-yet-beautiful Mini (Freya Mavor), ‘farm-boy’ Alo (Will Merrick), hunky-stud Nick (Sean Teale), and the gorgeous Liv (Laya Lewis) ride in to the scene on motorbikes squealing and screeching at each other, and it also appears that the adorable Grace (Jessica Sula) and metal-head Rich (Alexander Arnold) are still lovingly together, in contrast to Franky (Dakota Blue Richards) and Matty (Sebastian De Souza) who join the crew in Morocco after holidaying on their own in Tunisia with what appears to be a shocking outcome. Franky is less than interested in her beau and is easily swayed into the arms of the gorgeous, yet troublesome, Luke, played by newcomer Joe Cole.

(From Left to Right) - Nick, Alo, Rich, Mini, Grace, Matty, Franky, (Bottom Row) - Liv and newcomer Alex

Similarly to its predecessors, the first episode focuses on the drug-fuelled parties and sexual antics of the teens which is predictable and will no doubt be a recurring and prominent theme in every episode. However, as a Skins fan already knows, along with the drugs always comes havoc. Beach raving, “Gap Yah” drug-dealers, bikini wearing, kind-natured locals, an exciting car-chase, and a traumatic accident ends with shocking results and leaves one of our favourite characters hospital ridden and looking unlikely to make a recovery (well, not in the next couple of episodes at least), and another MIA. Although, I must confess, that this is not the strongest opening episode of a new Skins series, the producers usually manage to keep fans captivated by making things more thrilling and climatic as the series develops. With some new faces like Alex played by Sam Jackson, and now with the former tight-knit solidarity once displayed by the Skins crew appearing to have deteriorated; there will no doubt be some exciting and twisted stories for the viewers to get lost in.

Check out the second episode of series six on Monday 30^th on E4 at 10pm.

Haywire

A star-studded cast of Ewan McGregor, Michael Douglas, Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender, Antonio Banderas, and real-life MMA Fighter Gina Carano (and former American Gladiator “Crush”) bring to life Steven Stoderbergh’s new action-espionage movie Haywire. If you are a fan of Stoderbergh’s other films including Oceans Eleven, Michael Clayton, and Traffic, then you will definitely enjoy Haywire, with its fairly simple, yet captivating plot.

Mallory Kane (Carano), a highly trained and sought after spy, is suddenly on the run after managing to successfully free a Chinese journalist who was held captive. Kenneth (McGregor), Mallory’s ex-lover and former employer double-crosses her and attempts by all means to have her murdered. Now the prime target of skilled assassins, Carano shines and gets the chance to demonstrate free-running stunts in breath-taking fight sequences, with extreme suspense and mystery.

In order to survive, Mallory must find out the truth.

Mallory Kane played by Gina Carano

This is a fantastic action movie to start off 2012, definitely try and catch it if you can!

New Girl

New Girl, the hotly anticipated American Sitcom, definitely lives up to expectations when it hit UK screens in January; with the (500) Days of Summer film-star and beautiful Katy Perry lookalike Zooey Deschanel as the lead role of Jess. The episode opens with Jess (pictured below), recently discovering that her boyfriend, whom she shares an apartment with, has been cheating on her, and finds three male flatmates on the internet who are desperately looking for someone to move in with them. There is a genuine real-life feel with regards to being thrown in to random flatshares, as Jess and the audience are not introduced to the new characters with long-winded in-depth background stories, but rather are forced to get to know each of them personally at face value.

Jess played by Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel shines in a quirky and weird-yet-wonderful role which allows the audience to fall for the lovable and, at times, misunderstood Jess. The pilot episode of the new series definitely gives a hint of how the new flatmates, along with Jess, will journey through an abundance of highs and lows which will test their new found friendship.

New Girl is a hilarious and easy-watching show which is fits perfectly for a Friday night sitcom.

This is England 88

Television in December often includes adaptations of classic Victorian Literature, dramatic storylines in popular soaps, and of course the favourite Christmas-y films that we have all seen many times and nevertheless still love. However, director Shane Meadows goes against the stereotypical seasonal television and gives viewers some of the most captivating and harrowing scenes to end the year, with the third instalment of his franchise set two years after his character Lol (pictured below) has an affair with her fiancé, Woody’s, best friend Milky, and then murders her serial rapist father. Yes, it can only mean one thing, Meadows has done it again, it’s This is England 88.

Lol played by Vicky McClure

The opening of the show instantly puts you smack in the context of England in 1988, similarly to the prior series and film before it, there is a montage of archive footage which gives just enough period detail to let the plot unwind. As like the shows predecessors, a lot of focus is paid to the trials and tribulations of growing up. We see how Gadget, Kelly, and the like are still together, but there is a huge absence due to other circumstances of Lol, played by Vicky McClure, Woody, played by Joseph Gilgun, and Shaun (pictured below), played by Thomas Turgoose, which enable these actors to give some of the most mesmerising television performances of the year. There is an instant element of heartache where each of these characters appears on the brink; now raven-haired Lol with the constant haunting of her murdered Father, loveable Woody who is struggling with his immersion in the 80’s new wave of middle-classes including a new “posh” girlfriend, a potential promotion at work, and suffocating parents, and finally Shaun who has enrolled at drama school and bored with his relationship with Smell, played by Rosamund Hanson, risks everything for a fumble with his middle-class co-lead in the school play.

Shaun played by Thomas Turgoose

The climax of the show occurs after continuous mental torment for Lol from her deceased unsettling Father, and in these final chilling and torturous moments there is some of the most haunting scenes that have been on British Television in 2011. However, there are some light-hearted moments which also enforce Meadows’ fantastic use of realism by creating the unique dynamic of friendship which is hard to succeed in doing on television.

With a final hug which sees reunited two of our favourite characters from the franchise, it feels like everything is finally going to be okay. But, then again, This is England, is never going to be that simple and we can only hope that sure enough there will be another few episodes which will divulge more into the lives of our favourite “youths” of 1985.

Woody played by Joseph Gilgun and Lol (McClure)

 

Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood

"Like a fool, I fell in love with you. You turned my whole world upside down"

On 27th May, I attended The Royal Albert Hall in London, and was privileged enough to be a member of the audience witnessing the phenomenal and dynamic performance from Eric Clapton, founder of the super-group Cream, alongside Steve Winwood, lead vocalist of Traffic. With high expectations and the hope of hearing a variety of classic and well-loved songs from both artists, I most definitely was not disappointed.

The two-hour-plus set opened with a captivating performance of the song Had to Cry Today originally from the band Blind Faith's self-titled album (1969), which consisted of both Clapton and Winwood, along with fellow band members Ginger Baker and Ric Grech, the track immediately displayed the strength, talent, and excitement which would continue from this opening number throughout the concert. This enticing performance was followed by songs Low Down, After Midnight, Presence of the Lord, Glad, and Well Alright.

Blind Faith

Intertwined within Clapton and Winwood's set were a couple of surprises and highlights; namely in the inclusion of the Muddy Waters classic Hoochie Coochie Man, and a cover of Jimi Hendrix's Voodoo Chile. Before this Hendrix classic was played the audience were already up on their feet from The Spencer Davis Group's song Gimme Some Lovin', and the buzz that filled the room continued from the opening riff of Voodoo Chile. In my opinion seeing and hearing Slow-hand, one of the best guitarists to grace the world, perform an anthem originally performed by another outstanding guitar-player was unbelievable; Clapton and Winwood both certainly did this song more than justice. Other personal highlights for me, were of the presentation of the songs Layla and Cocaine, the awesome guitaring and the catchy and fantastic lyrics sung so powerfully just emphasised how exceptional Clapton is as both a writer and a performer.

Other songs that were performed to the sold out Royal Albert Hall were: While You See a Chance, Key to the Highway, Midland Maniac, Crossroads, Georgia on My Mind, Driftin', That's No Way to Get Along, and Can't Find My Way Home. The incredible set finished with a performance of Dear Mr Fantasy, initially from Traffic, had the audience on their feet once again and the buzz vibrating throughout the Hall which displayed just how electrifying and satisfying the incredible duo performed for their masses of fans this night, and I am sure for the rest of their shared dates of the tour.

It is absolutely fitting that both Clapton and Winwood would grace the stage together at the would famous Royal Albert Hall; both the arena and artists as fantastic as the other.

"I went down to the crossroads, fell down on my knees".

The Great Gatsby (2012)

In 2012, Baz Luhrmann, director of William Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet (1996), and Moulin Rouge (2001), is set to direct, produce, and write the screenplay for F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel published in 1925, The Great Gatsby.

The Great Gatsby is a story set in Long Island's North Shore and in New York City during the 1920s. Without revealing too much, the tale is told through the conscious narrative voice of Nick Carraway, a Yale graduate, who moves to New York and next-door to the eccentric Jay Gatsby, a millionaire. Regardless of the elaborate and opulent parties he throws every Saturday, Gatsby is dissatisfied, and Carraway discovers why. Gatsby has always been in love with Daisy, and although the feelings are reciprocal, she is married to someone else, Tom Buchanan. Through the lives of such characters, the tale explores the damning and insightful concepts of "The American Dream" in that era.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Casting for Luhrmann's film is indeed a treat for movie fans with a large well-known cast of actors. Leonardo DiCaprio, who also featured as 'Romeo' sixteen years previously in Luhrmann's film, is set to play Jay Gatsby. With Tobey Maguire, the leading-role in the Spider-Man Trilogy (2002-7), as Carraway, and Carey Mulligan, 'Winnie Gekko' in Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps (2010), as the female lead of Daisy Buchanan.

Carey Mulligan

 

The film will clearly be compared to the Oscar-winning adaptation of the novel by Jack Clayton in 1974, and in particular the passion demonstrated by Robert Redford and Mia Farrow will be a challange to better.
Although, it is a certainty that the acting greatness of DiCaprio and Mulligan is set to make this film as captivating as it could be.

Obviously, I personally cannot wait for this movie to be released as I am a major fan of the novel, and I love Luhrmann's direction.
Bring on 2012!