The Final Cut #6: Biopics (Part 2)

A while ago, I wrote a post banging on about how much I love watching biopics and also promised a second part to my list of top picks. It's been over a year since then, which is more than a little bit scary, but don't worry I obviously meant to leave it so long because I wanted to be super dramatic and build suspense...I'm sure you've all been waking up every single day thinking, 'but WHEN will part two appear?!' Well hold on to your hats people because heeeeere weeeee gooooo...

(Ok I lied. First, a quick disclaimer: I originally did a nice, tidy, 'top 5' format, but I'm finding that increasingly difficult in this category AND, if I was going to do two parts, I should really have planned better and started the countdown at 10, so I'm making life easier for myself and just having this part in no particular order.)

(And second, please take a look at part one here - I think we're all in need of refreshing our memories, let's be honest.)

Ok, seriously this time, heeeeere weeeee gooooo...

The Wolf of Wall Street (2013) - My now deep-rooted adoration of all things Leonardo DiCaprio is no secret, in fact he's had a whole post dedicated to him and his acting prowess already. This particular film is as entertaining as it is shocking, AND it has a hilarious drug-fuelled sequence culminating in a bizarrely toothy Jonah Hill choking on a piece of ham. If that doesn't sell it then I don't know what will.

My Week With Marilyn (2011) - This, much like the James Dean biopic, Life, which I mentioned last time, combines some of my favourite things: the 50s, American Hollywood...and Eddie Redmayne. Eddie plays Colin Clark, who has the job of escorting the lady herself around London for a week during the shooting of one of her films. I am quite a fan of Michelle Williams and her portrayal of Marilyn really is fantastic, it definitely made me want to know more about her and potentially purchase some form of billowing white dress. Sadly I don't have five and a half million dollars lying around for the original, but pretty sure I could fashion one out of a bed sheet or something. I'll report back.

Catch Me If You Can (2002) - I love this film so much that I've written about it before, here. Leo AND Tom Hanks. Enough said.

The Pianist (2002) - I absolutely adore this film. It's shocking, difficult to watch at times, and it tells a very important story in a way which leaves you feeling pretty drained at the end, but I imagine that's the whole point. World War II has always been a period of history I've been interested in and this incredibly personal account of a Polish Jewish pianist is one which had a big impact on me the first time I watched it, sat in a GCSE History classroom (over 10 years ago now, which is slightly disconcerting...) and it's stayed with me ever since, pulling me back in time and time again.

Steve Jobs (2015) - I remember the reception to this film being mixed on release, but knowing very little about Steve Jobs and the development of Apple, I found it to be a really interesting story. If you're looking for a good documentary, I'd recommend the BBC one, Billion Dollar Hippy, which I watched after seeing the film, but as far as biopics go, I enjoyed this a lot. Plus Fassbender is the man, so, there's that too.

Side note: When I was thinking about how to tackle this, I ended up with a list as long as my arm, so here are a few that I haven't managed to include, but really enjoy: Schindler's List (1993), The Last King of Scotland (2006), The Edge of Love (2008), The Imitation Game (2014).

James Vincent McMorrow, Albert Hall Manchester, 11th October 2016

I've spoken about my love of James Vincent McMorrow's music numerous times (his first album, his second album, his live performance at Longitude), so you'd be forgiven for accusing me of favouritism. If I were a teacher, he'd be the type of pupil that could probably throw a board marker at my head and I'd be totally cool with it. Gold star for James nonetheless. But, I'll be honest, when I initially listened to his latest album, I wasn't completely sold. JVM is the first to admit that We Move and in fact his previous two albums, are all pretty different in style. I know that some people aren't a fan of this kind of change, but I for one have really enjoyed hearing his music evolve over the past few years, it just takes your ears a few listens to get used to it. In fact, if I were Louis Walsh and/or Simon Cowell, I'd probably say something here about his 'journey' as an musician, but thankfully I'm not, so I won't. Anyway, I eventually came to adore We Move just as much as its predecessors...I know, I know, who saw that one coming, eh?! This time, we're getting a funky, almost R&B-like style, mixed with a slightly electronic feel in places, but still with gestures to some of his recognisable, acoustic sounds. Overlay this with JVM's signature falsetto and for me, the record pretty much pulls together all of the best features of his music.

I was also lucky enough to get my hands on some tickets to see his latest tour at one of my favourite venues, Manchester's Albert Hall, this week. Without being too dramatic or anything, it was nearly too good for me to deal with. Firstly, the former chapel is an absolutely spectacular setting, as both he and the support act commented multiple times. Speaking of which, the support, a three-piece called Wyvern Lingo, were channelling some serious Destiny's Child/TLC vibes mixed with a bit of First Aid Kit and a sprinkling of HAIM's attitude for good measure, which I loved. Secondly, the design of the lighting was great. The flashing backdrop was almost mesmerising at times and really acted as the perfect complement to the music. And finally, both he and the rest of his band were on absolute top form. If it's humanly possible, my fangirl levels increased tenfold that night. JVM really does have a presence which makes the experience of seeing him live incredibly special and the set list, mainly focussing on his newest album but also including nods to the first two (and his haunting rendition of Higher Love) was what he described as 'the type of set I've been dreaming of having since I was a kid'. I totally understand why.

James Vincent McMorrow's We Move tour continues across the UK, Europe, the US and Canada until 1st December.

The Final Cut #5: Biopics (Part 1)

So, in the past this whole 'final cut' series of posts has focussed on films featuring a particular actor/ress (thus far being Leonardo DiCaprio, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Emma Stone and Natalie Portman). This time however, I'm going to mix things up a bit and talk about some of my favourite biopics, which Wikipedia tells me is the proper name for a film about a real person. It seems an apt time, seeing as pretty much the only film I seem to see anyone talking about at the moment is Steve Jobs (along with Spectre, but that doesn't fit with my justification so just pretend James Bond isn't a thing, ok?) and I've always been a big fan of things that give you an insight into somebody's life, whether that's an autobiography/biography, a documentary, or in these cases, a biographical film. That being said, I've seen a lot of these kinds of films and this made it pretty tricky for me to narrow down the list to my usual five, so as a quick disclaimer, let me say that this is probably going to be at least a two-parter deal. That's right, I'm going all Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows on yo' ass (y'know...'cause it has two parts? Like Mockingjay? Get it?!) But anyway, for starters, here's part one:

5. Life (2015) - This film follows the story of James Dean's friendship with photographer Dennis Stock and before I even stepped into the cinema, there were a few reasons why I knew I'd like it: I absolutely love anything to do with 1950s America and the Beat Generation, it was directed by Anton Corbijn (who also directed my favourite biopic of all time, but more on that later) and finally, R-Patz. I'm not going to pretend that he's the finest actor of our generation, and to be honest this was only accentuated by Dane DeHaan's fantastic portrayal of Dean, but he does have a smashing face... am I right ladies? What I didn't expect, however, is the extent to which it left me wanting to know more about James Dean and his life, to watch his old films and to see more of the photographs that the two friends had taken together. The next morning I watched Rebel Without a Cause and it was awesome. I strongly urge you to watch them both.

4. The Theory of Everything (2014) - This is undoubtedly a predictable choice, but still a justified one! I've been following Eddie Redmayne's career (by which I obviously mean his face #runningtheme #actorswithpleasantfaces) for a while and for all I like the guy, I just didn't know how someone would be able to deliver a performance as Stephen Hawking which would do him and his incredible life justice. I wasn't skeptical as such, just unsure of what to expect, but I should have kept my faith in old Reddie because he really did a fantastic job. I think I probably cried about fifteen times on first viewing, and I mean that as a really good thing because it takes a lot to squeeze a tear out of me (apart from the John Lewis Christmas adverts, obvs), but it really is one of those stories which puts things into perspective. If you haven't seen this already then please do, but just prepare to feel emotionally drained afterwards, ok?

3. The Social Network (2010) - Again, The Social Network did very well when it was released and as a member of the Facebook generation, I was really interested in the story behind it. It's a very entertaining film; a creative look at the trials and tribulations involved in the website's creation, which really does raise questions about the meaning of 'friendship', but it's also clever and funny with a great cast (read: Justin Timberlake rocking those glorious curls like we're back in the *NSYNC days). Most importantly, it recently provided me with an answer on Pointless...I wasn't actually on the show or anything, just casually playing along at home, but still...personal achievement.

2. Walk the Line (2005) - This is another one of those situations, much like with James Dean, where I saw this film having an idea of who the person was but not really knowing anything much about him - I knew that Johnny Cash was a country singer and that he was famous for wearing black but that was about as far as it went. It wasn't until after I saw Walk the Line that I really listened to any of his music, but it was a great introduction and another one of those films that I find I can just watch over and over again. It features some more exceptional performances; Joaquin Phoenix is probably up there with one of my favourite actors and I've always liked Reese Witherspoon because I feel an affinity with any other small blonde people (my current spirit animal/ideal BFF being Amy Poehler). You don't have to like country music to enjoy this film by any stretch of the imagination, but be warned, you'll probably be left with a life's dream to find someone who wants to do a duet of 'Jackson' with you after seeing this (and if anyone does find themselves that way inclined then I'm totally up for being June.)

1. Control (2007) - The way in which I tend to judge a good biopic is if I'm left wanting to know more about the person and I have to say that the first time I saw this film, I became more than a bit obsessed with Ian Curtis and Joy Division. I watched it twice in three days, I read the memoirs that the film was based on and began listening to the band non-stop. It was what I can only refer to as my 'intense Joy Division phase'. That was eight years ago now and although the obsession hasn't quite maintained its intensity for all of that time, I still love the band and have seen Control on more occasions than is humanly healthy. I mentioned before that Anton Corbijn directed Life as well as one of my favourite biopics of all time, that being Control, but I think that I should amend it to say that he directed one of my favourite films of all time, period. I really do just love everything about it, from its black and white colour palette to Sam Riley's portrayal of Curtis' signature performance style. It's not the happiest of films, but it's real and engaging and just generally great.

So, there we have it; five of my most-loved biopics. On reading that back, I've realised that my first three choices genuinely just make me sound as though I spend all my time picking out my favourite films based on actors that I deem to have 'a nice face', but I promise that's not alllllllll that matters, just an added bonus. Stay tuned for part two...

Fyfe, The Castle Hotel Manchester, 31st March 2015

Last night, I had the pleasure of seeing Fyfe at a tiny pub venue in Manchester. It's only been a couple of weeks since I made the connection that he's the same guy who used to go by the name David's Lyre and who's debut album, Picture of Our Youth, I'd listened to pretty much non-stop for an intense period during dissertation stress and finals circa 2K12. Thankfully, the association with this traumatic time hasn't left me unable to listen to it and, for the record, I still crack it out on regular occasions as a solid 'I need something reliable and good to listen to' option. Remember this Kulkid remix of St. Tropez that featured in my July playlist post last year? Well, bad news, it's sadly subsequently disappeared from SoundCloud...but that's not the point. The point is I loved it, probably on a par with the amount I love gin and guacamole (a lot). Little did I know at the time of compiling said playlist that this 'Fyfe' character was actually the artist formally known as David's Lyre. So when I finally realised this the other week, and when I also discovered that he was playing on a Tuesday evening in the Northern Quarter for seven quid, I couldn't miss it (or the opportunity to eat guacamole beforehand, incidentally). His new album, Control, which has just come out, is fast becoming one of my top releases so far this year and his live performance definitely didn't disappoint. I'm predicting big things... 

Thaikhun, Manchester

I realise that there have been a lot of food posts around these parts recently and I promise that I do more in life than eat (...kinda), but you know what, I for one love looking at what people are eating and hearing about nice places to go, so why the hell not eh? I've just moved to Manchester which means that there is a whole new abundance of amazing places go on my doorstep, one such place being Thaikhun in Spinningfields. The first time I went there was on a very busy and bustling evening a couple of months ago and I enjoyed it so much that we popped in for lunch yesterday. 

I absolutely love how it looks inside, it has a really modern but authentic feel to it with postcards and pictures covering the walls, coloured baskets on the table and little metal water cups. There's even a Tuk Tuk parked up outside! They have loads of different things to offer including street food, noodle and rice dishes, curries, stir fries, salads and steamed or grilled dishes. As much as I loved the Phad Thai that I sampled last time, this time around I went for something a bit different and had Khao Mun Gai Tod (crispy chicken with coconut rice and sweet chilli sauce). It was all really delicious but that coconut rice was the star of the show! I'll definitely be having that again. 

Spinningfields can be a bit pricey in general but for the amount (there was LOADS) and quality of the food, my meal was incredibly good value. I'd say the prices are pretty much on par with a lot of big chains, including my beloved Wags, but in terms of uniqueness as well as flavour, Thaikhun wins hands-down.

And I'd just like to give a little shout-out to my friend who introduced me to this place - she spent some time living and working in Thailand and Thaikhun has her seal of approval, so even if my opinion means nothing then her's should!

Maray, Liverpool

There are few things which make me happier in life than good food and a lovely setting to go with it (apart from maybe when Ryan Gosling pulls this face). I love Middle Eastern style food and when I was told about Maray on Bold Street which specialises in falafel, small plates and cocktails, I knew it was going to be right up my street. So, on an uncharacteristically sunny British summer's day, we went in search of hummus and good times.

Maray is pretty small inside meaning that it's extremely welcoming and cosy, but at the same time it still has a really slick and current look to it. Everything about this place is aesthetically pleasing from the huge, glass-topped wooden table to the mismatched crockery, to the fresh flowers adding a natural pop of colour. It looks like something I'd see on Pinterest and instantly add to my hypothetical cafe interior board, which I'm sorry to admit is a genuine pastime of mine...don't judge.

When it came to making a decision about food (my least favourite task in life), we settled on a sharing platter and a side of crispy chilli kale. Kale is one of those things that is crazily popular at the moment, so I reserved judgement as to whether having it on the menu was more of a fashion statement than a taste sensation until after I'd tried it, but I'm very happy to say it definitely delivered on flavour. The sharing dish was made up of their signature falafel, some dips, salad, pickles, olives and tabouleh, as well as some of those super thin flatbreads which I love. These kinds of dishes where you get to try a lot of different things are my absolute favourite (I'm a greedy pig, ok?) and we left Maray with full tummies and falafel-induced grins on our faces. Next stop...the evening menu (and the falafel and gin disco!)

You'll find Maray at 91 Bold St, Liverpool.

Dunham Massey

I love an afternoon visit to a National Trust property (and most importantly, their tea room). I've been to a fair few over the years but I think my favourite definitely has to be Dunham Massey, which has been transformed into the Stamford Military Hospital to commemorate the hundredth anniversary of the First World War. 

The grand Georgian house has been decked out as it would have been when it served as a hospital for wounded soldiers a century ago and boy, have they done a good job. It really is like stepping back in time; there's a ward full of hospital beds and an example of an operating theatre nestled in what would have usually been a wealthy family home. It's the extra touches that I really love - the room filled with piles of the family's furniture to be stored whilst their home was being used as a hospital, the bedside tables holding soldier's personal belongings and, probably my favourite bit, the actors performing dialogues as the soldiers and nurses who stayed there. The combination of a great setting and the lingering ghosts of the people who recuperated and worked there brings the whole place to life - it's far from being just another stately home.

And as if the interior wasn't enough, the grounds are absolutely stunning. The house is located in a deer park and has some fantastic gardens to stroll around. Even if you're not particularly interested in the history of the place, what's not to love about going Bambi-spotting in the sunshine? Plus, as I said, there's always a scone waiting for you at the end of it.