From http://www.reuters.com:

By Michael MacLeod

BLUBBING Scots telly babe Lorraine Kelly was in floods of tears yesterday as celebrities from across the globe wished her a happy 50th birthday.

Stars including film hunk Gerry Butler, The Bee Gees, Peter Andre and Ricky Gervais sent surprise messages while she presented yesterday morning’s GMTV.

Looking wholesome as ever in revealing tartan dress, the big-hearted Dundee mum couldn’t hold back the tears as youngsters from the Black Watch Army Cadets also passed on their best wishes.

In a morning packed full of surprises, Lorraine was relieved from her usual presenting duties by another TV queen, Paul O’Grady, with the set adorned with balloons.

The camp star leapt onto the GMTV set and whipped off his bowtie, treating Lorraine to an impromptu birthday strip-show.

He told her: “You’ve been on telly almost half your life Lorraine, so there’s no way we could let your fiftieth go by without embarrassing you.”

A host of famous faces

Fellow Scot turned Hollywood hero Gerard Butler said: “Lorraine is 50? I can’t believe it.

“If it’s true, happy birthday.”

Hit boyband JLS joined them on the GMTV sofa to get Lorraine’s pulse racing.

Other well-wishers on the show included Doctor Who star David Tennant, singers Will Young and Leona Lewis and rockers Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne.

Even the footballers from Lorraine’s beloved Dundee United sent a special message from their changing room.

Producers then showed a an impressive montage of celebs Lorraine has interviewed, including Elton John, Kylie Minogue, George Clooney, Joan Collins and Hugh Grant.

She was in Dundee at the weekend where husband Steve – also 50 – put on a big birthday bash along with Lorraine’s friends and relatives.

While she commutes to London every Sunday night to present the morning show, Lorraine said home is firmly where her heart is.

“A brilliant start to being 50″

She jets home to Dundee to be with Steve and their daughter Rosie every weekend.

Lorraine credited her own mum, Anne, for her youthful looks.

She said: “It’s all thanks to my mum that I have my legs and my cheekbones.”

But O’Grady said her “best assets” were neither her legs nor her cheekbones.

He said: “You’re most famous for your amazing bosom Lorraine, it goes before you.

“But it’s great you’ve done so much to raise awareness of breast cancer.”

Closing the show with a personalised cake featuring her famous bust and pink champagne, she said: “I’ve been welling up all morning.

“I had a fantastic night on Saturday and I’ve been totally spoiled today.

“It’s been a brilliant start to being 50.”

See more of our pictures at our Flickr site and videos at our dedicated channel,  Deadline TV.

1. “Date Night” is a comedy featuring Tina Fey (“30 Rock”) and Steve Carell (“The Office”). They try to revive their marriage by going out on a date. Hilarity ensues after they are mistaken for another married couple who owe people money. If, like me, the comedic veterans aren’t enough to convince you to watch the movie, “Date Night” also stars rapper Common, Mila Kunis (“That ‘7os Show”), Mark Wahlberg (“Four Brothers”) and James Franco (“Pineapple Express”).

2. “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” also centers on a marriage on the rocks and a married couple on the run. This time around, though, Hugh Grant (“Notting Hill”) and Sarah Jessica Parker (“Sex and City”)  are placed in the witness protection program after seeing a murder. I’ve seen this trailer in theaters several times and every time, someone reacts to the last part of the trailer. Indeed, the laughs start once they relocate to Wyoming …

3. “Kick Ass” follows newcomer Aaron Johnson as he decides to become a superhero even though he has no powers. The tone of the film is similar to the humor in several Owen Wilson movies, such as “The Darjeeling Limited.” Christopher Mintz-Plasse, of “Superbad” fame, also stars. Johnson can also be seen in the John Lennon-film, “Nowhere Boy.” Its trailer is over here.

4. Acclaimed actor James McAvoy can next be seen in “The Last Station,” which focuses on the life of famed author Leo Tolstoy (Christopher Plummer). The trailer doesn’t reveal much else, but the film does have a 7.3 star rating on IMDb.com. The film’s early release is supposedly a ploy to secure Plummer an Oscar nomination in next year’s weak Best Actor race. McAvoy’s real-life wife, Anne Marie Duff, as well as Oscar favorites Helen Mirren and Paul Giamatti co-star.

5. Focus Features is set to release “Babies,” a documentary which chronicles one year in the lives of different newborns around the world, namely Tokyo, San Francisco, Mongolia and Namibia.

Edward Norton, Adam Sandler, Ben Stiller, Robert Pattinson, Vanessa Hudgens, “Toy Story 3,” romantic comedies (Amy Adams! Nicholas Sparks!), potential Oscar nominees (George Clooney! Emily Blunt!) and more after the jump.

6. Hollywood takes another stab at “Beauty and the Beast” with the adaptation of Alex Flinn’s novel, “Beastly.” The teaser trailer is so abrupt that I’m not excited to see it in theaters. Relative unknown Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens (“High School Musical”) star.

7. “Season of the Witch” reteams Nicolas Cage with “Gone in 60 Seconds” director, Dominic Sena. This heart-pounding action movie takes us with a band of knights who are tasked with moving a powerful witch to a monastery. Ron Perlman from “Hellboy” co-stars.

8. Amanda Seyfried (“Mamma Mia”) sure knows how to pick movies — at least, chick flicks that I want to see. First, there was Nicholas Sparks’s “Dear John.” Now, there’s “Letters to Juliet.” Seyfried stars as a girl who’s engaged to Gael Garcia Bernal (“Science of Sleep”) but goes on an adventure with Christopher Egan (“Eragon”) and Vanessa Redgrave after she finds Redgrave’s letter to a long lost love.

IMDb.com states that Hugh Dancy was originally cast in Bernal’s role but dropped out, which is a shame. Anyone who’s seen him in “The Jane Austen Book Club” knows that Dancy would have been perfect in this movie albeit in Egan’s role. Oh, well. Cue Taylor Swift’s “Love Story.”

9. Noah Baumbach (“The Squid and the Whale”) once again gifts us with his zing-damn-oh snap (!) dialogue in “Greenberg.” Ben Stiller tries his hand at drama as a man in a mid-life crisis. Jennifer Jason Leigh (“Single White Female”) and Rhys Ifans (to be seen in “Harry Potter 7″) round out the cast.

10. “Crazy Heart” is another film with an earlier-than-scheduled release date. Again, the movie studio is trying to nab its star, Jeff Bridges, a Best Actor nod. Bridges (“Iron Man”) stars as a country music star who’s down on his luck until his path crosses with a journalist (Maggie Gyllenhaal).

11. According to IMDb.com, “Remember Me” is up by 658 percent in popularity this week. The most probable reason? Robert Pattinson (“Twilight”) is the star. He is joined by Pierce Brosnan (“James Bond”), Chris Cooper (“The Kingdom”) and Emilie de Ravin (“Lost”).

12. In “Leaves of Grass,” Edward Norton plays twin brothers who plot to kill their small town’s drug lord. The supporting cast includes Susan Sarandon (“Stepmom”) and Keri Russell (“August Rush”).

13. “Extraordinary Measures” is based on the true story of John and Aileen Crowley who race to find a cure for their dying child. Brendan Fraser (“The Mummy”), Russell (“Felicity”) and Harrison Ford (“Indiana Jones”) star.

14. “In Ireland, women can propose to men on the 29th of February.” This is the premise of “Leap Year,” in which Amy Adams (“Enchanted”) takes it upon herself to propose to her longtime boyfriend. Fate intervenes when she lands in Wales instead and runs into Matthew Goode (“Chasing Liberty”).

15. In “Grown Ups,” five childhood friends reunite after 30 years. The movie’s cast is a who’s who of comedy, namely David Spade (“The Benchwarmers”), Chris Rock (“Down to Earth”), Adam Sandler (“Spanglish”), Kevin James (“Hitch”), Rob Schneider (“Hot Chick”), Maya Rudolph (“Away We Go”), Salma Hayek (“Frida”) and Maria Bello (“Coyote Ugly”).

16. After failing to impress the girl of his dreams, Michael Cera (“Superbad”) decides to rebel in the comedy, “Youth in Revolt.” Justin Long (“Accepted”) and Zach Galifianakis (“The Hangover”) also star in the movie. Trailer no.1 and trailer no. 2 follow:

17. Soon there won’t be another Sparks’s novel to film, and the world as we know it will come to an end. “The Last Song” is Hollywood’s latest try at the author’s romantic novels. Miley Cyrus (“Hannah Montana”) stars as a rebellious teenager who, along with her younger brother, is sent to spend the summer with her estranged dad. Cyrus, also a musical prodigy, falls in love and makes amends with her father.

I guess that means two things. 1) We can look forward to Cyrus-filled soundtrack. 2) Supposedly, the studio thought Mandy Moore in two Sparks’s adaptations would have been too much. Nonetheless, Greg Kinnear (“Little Miss Sunshine”) and Kelly Preston (“Jerry Maguire”) lend the movie some credibility.

18. Maybe you’ve heard of James Cameron’s (“Titanic”) latest venture, “Avatar.” An adventure in another world and another time pits  human soldiers against an entirely new species. Sam Worthington (“Terminator: Salvation”), Sigourney Weaver (“Alien”), Zoe Saldana (“Star Trek”) and Michelle Rodriguez (“Girl Fight”) star.

19. It’s just a teaser trailer, but “Clash of the Titans” looks pretty amazing. Whoever created the score is some kind of genius. Liam Neeson (Batman Begins”), Ralph Fiennes (“Harry Potter”) and Worthington  are all part of the remake.

20. Catch the “Toy Story 3″ teaser and full trailers below:

21. Emily Blunt is “The Young Victoria.” From the looks of the trailer, Blunt (“The Devil Wears Prada”) will give another powerhouse performance as Queen Victoria. She is paired with Rupert Friend (“Pride and Prejudice”) as her Prince Albert. The ensemble cast includes Paul Bettany (“The Da Vinci Code”) and Jim Broadbent (“The Chronicles of Narnia”).

22. Clooney may have cinched another Oscar nomination with his performance in “Up in the Air.” In fact, director Jason Reitman (“Juno”), actresses Anna Kendrick (“Twilight”) and Vera Farmiga (“The Departed”) all have Oscar buzz surrounding them. Clooney is the guy that companies hire to travel all over the globe and fire people for them.

The film was originally meant to be a satire like Reitman’s “Thank You for Not Smoking,” but the recession called for a revamping of the movie. The first trailer below tells you more about the story, but the second trailer is by far the better one. Fasten your seatbelts …

Personally, I’m looking forward to “Up in the Air,” “The Young Victoria,” “Leap Year” and “Letters to Juliet” although I’d probably watch some, such as “Avatar” and “Did You Hear About the Morgans?” if my friends want to see them. What about you? Sound off in the comments!

//

Não precisa complicar. Poucas palavras bastam.

At Norland my behaviour was very wrong. But I  convinced myself you felt only friendship for me and it was my heart alone that I was risking. I have come with no expectations. Only to profess, now that I am at liberty to  do so, that my heart is and always will be yours.

PS1: Com roteiro de Emma Thompson e direção de Ang Lee, a novela de Jane Austen apresenta uma Kate Winslet e um Hugh Grant bem novinhos, além de um Alan Rickman quase galã…

… e um Hugh Laurie irresistivelmente resmungão e irônico.

PS2: Aliás, quem me conhece já sabe, mas eu resolvi GRITAR PARA TODO MUNDO OUVIR que eu amo o House Hugh Laurie.

É tanto que eu perdoei a fase Stuart Little…

… porque há coisas muito melhores a serem celebradas - da participação em Friends…  

… ao sucesso merecido de House,…

… que deixa claro não só que ele está envelhecendo muito bem como está cada vez mais talentoso (o primeiro capítulo da 6ª temporada é imbatível!!!)

PS3: Para a Wish List: a edição de luxo de Razão e Sensibilidade à venda na Livraria Cultura.

The film follows a highly successful Manhattan couple, Meryl and Paul Morgan (Sarah Jessica Parker and Hugh Grant), whose almost-perfect lives have only one notable failure – their dissolving marriage. But the turmoil of their romantic lives is nothing compared to what they are about to experience: they witness a murder and become targets of a contract killer. The Feds, protecting their witnesses, whisk away the Morgans from their beloved New York to a tiny town in Wyoming, and a relationship that was on the rocks threatens to end completely in the Rockies… unless, in their new BlackBerry-free lives, the Morgans can slow down the pace and rekindle the passion.

Out on the 18th December. Here is the trailer.

Ich habe nun den Großteil meines Samstagabends damit zugebracht mir englische Komödien anzuschauen. Ich tue dies mit größter Freude und schaue mir unbeharrt jeden Film, der sich in meiner Sammlung findet, aufs Neue an. Heute Abend waren es gleich zwei: About a Boy und Bridget Jones’ Diary.

Bevor ich selbst nach London gezogen bin, habe ich immerzu in der wunderbaren Fantasiewelt gelebt, in der mir lauter ‘Daniel Cleavers’ und ‘Mark Darcys’ über den Weg laufen würden, sobald ich in diese wunderbare, aufregende Metropole ziehe. Die Realität, als mehr oder weniger mittelloser Student, sah allerdings sehr viel anders aus.
Zwar hatte ich meinen persönlichen ‘Mark Darcy’ bereits getroffen (wer weiß, vielleicht war er doch eher ein ‘Daniel Cleaver’), allerdings machte es mir die Stadt nicht sehr einfach ein romantisches Verhältnis zu ihr aufzubauen. Schlechtes Essen, schlechtes Wetter, unendlich viel Tee  und ein unendlich schlechter Humor was Deutsche und den zweiten Weltkrieg betrifft(also alle gängigen Clichés, die man sich so vorstellen kann), haben es mir nicht gerade schmackhaft gemacht in dieser Stadt zu bleiben. Ganz zu schweigen von den horrenden Mietpreisen.
Ein Aspekt der Engländer fiel mir immer wieder und penetrant auf: Es ist unmöglich sie wirklich kennenzulernen. Hinter all den Höflichkeitsfloskeln steckt ein Panzer von Scham. Sie mögen keine unbequemen Situationen und ‘Gott bewahre’, dass jemals jemand wirklich offen und ehrlich seine Meinung zu irgendeinem Thema äußern sollte. Meine Offenheit stieß hin und wieder auf saure Mienen, die ich daraufhin zum guten Spiel machen musste. Ich habe mich noch niemals in meinem ganzen Leben so zurückhalten müssen und war erstaunt, dass der so bekannte schwarze Humor nur soweit reicht wie der englische Horizont – ergo – nicht sehr weit, wir sind ja schließlich auf einer Insel.
Ein weiteres interessantes Thema ist das Trink- und Balzverhalten. Das eine kann auf das andere nicht verzichten, schier unmöglich, würde ich gar sagen. Spätestens um 17Uhr an einem Freitagnachmittag, sieht man sämtliche Büroangestellte sich vor dem nächstbesten Pub tummeln. Egal ob Sonnenschein oder Regen (es kann ja nur noch vor den jeweiligen Etablissements geraucht werden), stehen sie qualmend und trinkend vor der Tür der Tränke ihres Vertrauens. Das Ziel ist die schnelle Realisierung eines Rausches und das jeweils zugehörige Verhalten. Sarah aus der Buchhaltung bandelt dann schon mal schnell mit ihrem Vorgesetzen Alistair an, um diese Peinlichkeit tunlichst am nächsten Montag zu ignorieren. Es ist einfach niemals passiert, auch wenn es eigentlich geplante Absicht war, man war ja betrunken und daher unzurechnungsfähig.

Wenn man über diese Aspekte hinwegsieht, kann man jedoch trotzdem eine wunderschöne Stadt, mit grünen Parks, wundervollen, alten Gebäuden und unendlich vielen Museen (viele davon kostenlos) sehen, die wirklich liebenswert und lebenswert ist, wenn man das nötige Kleingeld (ja, trotz der vielen, kostenlosen Museen) hat. London ist leider nicht wie in den meisten Hugh Grant Komödien. Die meisten Engländer sind eher ein riesiger Scherz, aber ich weiß ja, dass sie das auch über uns denken. Es ist eine Art von Hassliebe, die mich mit dieser Stadt verbindet und auch wenn diese Komödien nicht der Wahrheit entsprechen, so hofft mein Herz immer noch ein wenig, dass ich eines Tages zurückkehre und dieses London vorfinden werde.

In guter Hoffnung!

Bis dahin…

…cheerio!

FRom: http://blog.zap2it.com/frominsidethebox/2009/11/gamble-on-american-idol-sex-and-the-city-slot-machines.html

If you’re over 21, you can now play slot machines based on two of your favorite shows, “American Idol” and “Sex and the City.”

Both slots were new releases at the 2009 Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas. In “American Idol,” slot players can trigger a bonus round that lets them become one of three judges — Simon Cowell, Kara DioGuardi or Randy Jackson — and then plays video clips of past contestants, good AND bad.

According to Sphere.com, Paula Abdul was the lone holdout participant even BEFORE she announced she was leaving the show. Innnteresting.

Meanwhile, the “Sex and the City” slot machines are subtitled “Change of a Dress.” Clever, no? They feature bonus rounds that include video clips of all four women plus Mr. Big.

International Game Technology spokeswoman Julie Brown told Sphere, “There’s shoes and purses and lots of bling and big bonuses and the music track, and it’s a very interactive game.”

Speaking of Mr. Big, Chris Noth helped unveil the “Sex and the City” slot machine in Las Vegas. Video below.

1. hugh grant is alive and does not die in this movie
2. drew barrymore’s dresses and scarves are pretty and remind me of rachel
3. the teacher from Glee is in this movie and that reminds me of lori
4. the talk about smokey robinson as being the greatest songwriter. which he is.
5. one of the guy from Singles is in this and plays a tool
6. hugh grants old band reminds me of wham
7. and that reminds me of the song ‘last christmas’
8. and that reminds of me of christmas and that it’s coming!
9. this movie is complete crap
10. oh god, now my dad is trying to explain love and romantic comedies to me. bah humbug.

KATHY GRIFFIN D-LISTED CONTEST

Facebook: Kathy Griffin DlistedNyc

GET d-listed!!

If you LOVE Kathy Griffin and love “Sex and the City” this one is for you! NealBinNYC (www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com) and On Location Tours (www.screentours.com) are looking to see who the BIGGEST KATHY GRIFFIN FAN is out there! We are looking to see who can upload the MOST CREATIVE KATHY GRIFFIN FAN VIDEO.  Yes, it can be outrageous, -but it has to be FACEBOOK appropriate!

One grand prize WINNER will live life on the D-LIST!  The winner will receive TWO FREE TICKETS for the Official Sex and the City Hotspot Tour (http://www.screentours.com/tour.php/satc/) and have their video appear on a DVD we are sending to Kathy G. and her people!  The tour of Sex and the City Hotspots includes more than 40 locations from the hit TV show and movie!  See where Carrie and Co. live, shop, drink and dine.  Locations include Magnolia Bakery, Charlotte’s art gallery, and the bar owned by Aidan and Steve in the show.

To enter you must be in the New York City area and also have Facebook to be eligible.

Contest directions:

NealBinNYC (www.nealbinnyc.wordpress.com) and On Location Tours (www.screentours.com) are looking to see who the BIGGEST KATHY GRIFFIN FAN is out there!

We are looking to see who can create the MOST CREATIVE KATHY GRIFFIN FAN VIDEO.  Yes, it can be outrageous, -but it has to be FACEBOOK appropriate!

On your Facebook page, please upload any original videos (you can enter as many as you like) explaining why you’re the ultimate Kathy Griffin Fan and why she belongs back on the D-list in New York City!  Tag “Kathy Griffin DlistedNyc” in your videos.   The winner will be judged on who has the most creative video.   The judges will be staff members from On Location Tours as well as Neal B.

The contest will ends MONDAY, DECEMBER 7, 2009 at 8:00 pm EST.  The winner will be contacted that night no later than 9:00 pm via their Facebook e-mail and also the winner will be announced on the Kathy Griffin DlistedNyc  Facebook page.

D-LIST IT UP!

I’ve just seen this article and had to share. I love Bridget Jones and indeed the two films are integral to our Christmas movie viewing; an annual event in the Briston-Hill household it has to be said. It brought a smile to my face to see the below photographs and of course the illustrious Apple Mac product placement to boot. Well, how else will Bridget write up her thought evoking diary now-a-days?!

You can read the article here

Cx

Che fine hanno fatto i Morgan? è un film di Marc Lawrence del 2009

Leggi altre notizie su: | Hugh Grant | Sarah Jessica Parker | Sam Elliott | Mary Steenburgen |

Popular teen-themed channel 4 television show Skins is due to begin broadcasting its fourth series in January 2010. The show, which began broadcasting on digital station E4 in 2007, has built up a large number of devoted fans. Every two years the cast is replaced with a new set of core characters. About A Boy star Nicholas Hoult starred in the first series as Tony Stonem. The new series will be the last featuring the current cast, which includes Kaya Scodelario as Effy Stonem. There will be eight episodes in the new series. The show is also a hit in the states where an American version, set in Baltimore, is currently in development. A big screen version may also soon be made as it was announced, in May 2009, that Film4 and Skins production company, Company Pictures, are in preliminary talks about producing one. I’m looking forward to the new series and will be disappointed if it proves to be the last one they make. Thanks for reading.

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Brit actor Hugh Grant has revealed that he is now ready to start a family of his own.

Grant, 49, who had previously shunned the idea of becoming a father, admits that after being an uncle to the children of his closest friends, he is now qualified for fatherhood.

“Ten years ago I wouldn’t have thought about having any children at all,” the Daily Express quoted him as telling Parade magazine.

“Yes, yes, yes. I haven’t given up hope. I find I’m not as bad with children as I used to be.

“I see a lot of children are over-parented now, over-adored and over-spoiled. I quite like children to be left alone to get on with it,” he added.

I completed my comprehensive exam today and I am full of joy.  I used 6 hours and 12 minutes and maybe a bit of change of the 6 hours and 15 minutes allotted. I think I did okay, certainly well enough to pass.  I want to “pass with distinction” but I did not time myself as well as I could have and my last answer was not as well developed as I would have liked.  Oh well, 4 questions, any of which could have been developed into a thesis or book in 6 hours 15 minutes…I guess I should be satisfied.

So now that the exam is done I wait on results.  Presuming that I am right and that I passed it I will officially graduate on February 15th in Washington DC.

My biggest challenge now is to kick myself back into shape and lose the wait that I picked up over the summer thanks to my friends at Krispy Kreme.  Nothing like 3-5 hot and fresh glazed washed down with a beer or two before bed to pick up some wait.  Tastes great…really filling.  I am pleased that my PT is coming along, especially now that I have time to do it.  This week I have decided to vary what I do and went to a class on body shaping, those girls who lead that shit will kick your ass.  I kept up but it was work.  Today I went to a spinning class.  That too when you do it right takes a lot of effort. However I will kick this in thee ass and be off of the fat boy program as fast as I can.

Next on my agenda is to keep working to recover from Iraq and deal with my PTSD related issues.  I am getting”top cover” from my boss to do this and I am grateful.

Next comes my board certification as a Clinical Chaplain in the hospital setting, with luck that will be done by the spring sometime.  I have a few other certification  type things that I am working on and all should be good when I get them done too.

Finally I am looking at writing two baseball books one on the Negro Leagues.  Over the summer I met Sam Allen, one of the remaining Negro League players who lives in the local area.  I also want to do one on the minor leagues.

I guess that’s enough to put on the table for now. Tonight we watched Four Weddings and a Funeral and Bedazzled and since I don’t want to wake up like Hugh Grant in Four Weddings and a Funeral by oversleeping my alarm and saying a certain four letter word in a variety of ways as I dash in to work I should get ready for bed.

Peace,

Padre Steve+

From www.viewonfashion.com:

11/24/09 - While filming the long-awaited film Sex and the City 2, actress Kim Cattrall and SATC designer/stylist Patricia Field found the time to collaborate on the new edition of Bailey´s Red Bow…

SEX AND THE…
Red Bow

While filming the long-awaited film Sex and the City 2, actress Kim Cattrall and SATC designer/stylist Patricia Field found the time to collaborate on the new edition of Bailey´s Red Bow…

Hugh Grant, the king of awkward British comedy, goes into awkward overdrive thanks to some guitar strumming, a bit of Roberta Flack and a pair of closed eyes. Oh, and an apple.

Hugh Grant is a good actor. Let me get that out of the way right at the start. The man can act. Unfortunately, he often chooses not to act, appearing in worse-than-derivative drivel like Music and Lyrics. Yet even when he’s slumming it, Grant can often elevate a lame movie out of the gutter. Thankfully, in the rather underrated About A Boy, he acts his socks off. But not in a showy way – Grant’s performance is admirably restrained as he brilliantly conveys what it’s like to be a directionless man-child.

Some of you may snidely say that portraying a rich Londoner with lots of time on his hands isn’t much of a stretch for Mr Grant, but I disagree. The role of Will in About A Boy is a tricky one – he is someone you should dislike yet warm to in equal measure. Grant is perfectly cast, making it hard to imagine anyone else carrying it off.

In this scene, Will initially tries to talk his unlikely protégé Marcus (Nicholas Hoult) out of ‘committing social suicide’ at the school talent show. This segment is a bit longer than those we usually focus on in Great Scenes, but it has to be viewed in its entirety for its car-crashness to be fully appreciated.

The argument the pair have before Marcus bravely takes the stage alone is heartfelt and genuine, as this unlikely couple banter over what actually makes people happy. From there on, we get excrutiating child singing and painful peer group laughter before Will comes to the rescue. With a guitar.

The rest of the scene is just beautiful – uplifting, comic and, thankfully, free from sugar-coating. Of course, after doing a good deed, Will can’t help behaving like a prat, making the finale not only funny, but real too.

WHAT IS YOUR FAVOURITE SCENE FROM ABOUT A BOY?

GREAT SCENES ARCHIVE

Le Film: Un excellent “Feel Good Movie”.

Synopsis:

L’amour est partout, imprévisible, inexplicable, insurmontable. Il frappe quand il veut et souvent, ça fait pas mal de dégâts…
Pour le nouveau Premier Ministre britannique, il va prendre la jolie forme d’une jeune collaboratrice.
Pour l’écrivain au coeur brisé parti se réfugier dans le sud de la France, il surgira d’un lac.
Il s’éloigne de cette femme qui, installée dans une vie de couple ronronnante, suspecte soudain son mari de songer à une autre.
Il se cache derrière les faux-semblants de ce meilleur ami qui aurait bien voulu être autre chose que le témoin du mariage de celle qu’il aime.
Pour ce veuf et son beau-fils, pour cette jeune femme qui adore son collègue, l’amour est l’enjeu, le but, mais également la source d’innombrables complications.
En cette veille de Noël à Londres, ces vies et ces amours vont se croiser, se frôler et se confronter…

Critique:

Une excellente comédie/comédie romantique ! Richard Curtis, scénariste entre autres, de 4 mariages et un enterrement, Coup de foudre a Notting Hill et des Bridget Jones passe derrière la camera, avec un casting 5 étoiles.

Ainsi, on retrouve Hugh Grant, abonne a ce genre de films en premier ministre et plus particulièrement en sorte Tony Blair, mais aussi Liam Neeson (Taken, Star Wars), Colin Firth (Bridget Jones, Mamma Mia et l’étrange noël de Scrooge), Emma Thompson (Je suis une légende, Harry Potter -Prof Trelawney), Alan Rickman (Severus Rogue dans Harry Potter), Chiwetel Ejiofor (2012, Les fils de l’homme, Inside Man), Bill Nighy (Walkyrie, Hot Fuzz, H2G2, Pirate des caraïbes, The constant Gardner, Underworld 2 &3), Keira Knightley (Pirates des Caraibes, King Arthur, The Duchess, Domino) pour ne citer que les plus importants. Mais aussi des apparitions de Rowan Atkinson (Mr Bean), Elisha Cuthbert (24 heures chrono), Shannon Elizabeth (American Pie) et Billy Bor Thornton (The Barber, Eagle Eye, A l’ombre de la haine).

Tout ces acteurs s’en donnent a cœur joie dans leurs rôles respectifs, et bien que comme on le voit, un grand nombre de personnages se croisent et se décroisent (et c’est la l’idée du scenario) celui-ci est construit de telle manière qu’on ne sent sent jamais perdu, confus et au final, les 2h15 de film (ce qui est plutôt rare pour une comédie/comédie romantique) passent toutes seules. La photographie, très axée sur le rouge est magnifique et parfaitement retranscrite par cet édition. Si certains pourront reprocher le trop bien de bien-être et de tout le monde il est beau, dégoulinant pour certains, on répondra que c’est bien le genre de ce film qui le veut et une fois de temps en temps, un « feel good movie » ca fait du bien, surtout de ce calibre-la !

Un excellent film, qui plaira a tout le monde dans la famille que ce soient des amis, votre copine, et même votre belle-mère ne pourront que passer un bon moment pendant 2h.

90/100

L’image: Un très beau transfert

Ce transfert en Blu-Ray apporte un plus indéniable sur les éditions parues sur d’autres supports et on découvre une image encore meilleur que celle vue en salle.

Si ce genre de film ne se prête en général pas a un top démo, force est de constater, qu’on prend une claque des le début du film si tant est qu’on ai vu les précédentes versions disponibles.

La colorimétrie est magnifique avec des couleurs éclatantes, d’autant plus que la période de noël est une excellente base de ce point de vu la ! Les contrastes sont particulièrement bien retranscrits, les couleurs de peau naturelles et aucune tache, grain trop présent, ou autres défauts ne viennent altérer notre expérience visuelle.

On ne dénote pas d’Edge Enhancement et emploi heureusement minimal de Noise Reduction.

Et si on ne perçoit pas d’effet 3D, et que le piqué n’est pas au couteau, il se dégage une belle sensation de détails dans l a plupart des cas et au final, il est plus que sympathique que de redécouvrir (visuellement) ce film !

Au final et pour les possesseurs de précédentes éditions, la qualité de l’image est telle qu’il serait dommage de passer a cote de cette édition, peut être pas un rachat obligatoire,  mais pour les fans du film et ceux qui ne l’auraient jamais vu, achat recommandé, surtout vu le prix demandé !

80/100

Le Son: Une piste DTS HD MA 5.1 pas tonitruante, mais bien sympathique !

Qui dit comédie/comédie romantique dit bande son principalement frontale. Qu’en est-il ici ?

Malgré l’emploi d’une piste DTS Master Audio 5.1 en VO, pas de miracles ! Les voix sont parfaitement bien retranscrites dans le mix, quelques petits effets d’ambiance viennent ponctuer certaines scènes, mais dans l’ensemble rien de folichon !

La scène arrière reste timide, ainsi que le caisson de basses. Certes les passages musicaux, d’ailleurs assez nombreux, profitent au mieux de cette nouvelle édition, mais a l’exception de ces passages et de quelques petits effets, l’activité reste principalement frontale et dialoguée. Pas de quoi casser trois pattes a un canard, mais une piste son qui reste fidèle à l’esprit du film.

68/100

Genre: Comédie/Comédie romantique.

Durée: 2h15

Vidéo : 1080p AVC 2:35:1

Zone: All

Doublage: VFF

Langues: Anglais DTS-HD M A 5.1 / Français DTS 5.1 / Allemand DTS 5.1/Espagnol DTS 5.1

Sous-titres: Français / Anglais / Allemand / Espagnol / Italien / Néerlandais /

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What ridiculousness would ensue if I had power?

Here. A preview.

1. Romantic Comedy would be a required course for all students. It is important that people know how to act uncomfortable and slightly awkward in front of people they find attractive. It would include an avid study of Hugh Grant films, such as the shenanigans of “Two Weeks Notice”, or his travel book loveliness in “Notting Hill”. “Love Actually” and “Bridget Jones” will be studied in depth.

.. ..2. All people must first consult GOOGLE for the answers to life and love before they ask other people. Google has the ability to give you every answer you had ever hoped to know. How do you know if you are in love? When is the world going to end? How do you reset your iPod? Does the tooth fairy exist? What is sexual tension, and how do you know its there? Google has the answers. Just ask.

.. ..3. There would be a 24 hour channel that showed only reruns of Conan O’Brian. Hornymanatee.com. Genius.

.. ..4. Every household would have to have a pet fish. Only one fish. And every fish will be named Blimpty. If one Blimpty dies, another must be bought to replace it. It too will be called Blimpty and the death of previous Blimpty should be ignored. Blimpty will never have an “official” death. In essence, it will live forever.

5. All people must drive Dodge Neons. They will form neighborhood DNG’s (Dodge Neon Gangs) and protect the streets from criminal activity. It will be legal to street race rival DNG’s for gangsta credit.

.. ..6. Swaying and waving your hands in the air will be outlawed. There is no reason that ANYONE should sway and wave their hands in the air. No reason at all.

.. ..7. Ed Norton would be named President of Hollywood. He would have no actual duties or power, but he would have all of the prestige that accompanies the title. I think he is amazing…therefore he will be awarded accordingly…
..

8. All normal newscasters will be replaced by people in clown suits. If we have to hear horrible news on a daily basis, Clowns should be the ones to deliver it…
..

9. Dell Financial Services will be eliminated, and all debt erased. .. ..

10. DJs are NO LONGER allowed to talk in remix tracks. All they do is remix the song… then they spend the rest of the song saying “DJ E-Z Doz It! Remix! This is the Remix!”…yeah I know it’s a remix. Want to know how I know? Because it doesn’t sound like the original song…it sounds like a remix.

Romantic-comedy regulars Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker finally unite in this fish-out-of-water laugher. The actors play Paul and Meryl Morgan, a Manhattan couple whose marriage is in danger. But it turns out all they may need is a change of scenery: when the Morgans witness a murder and are sent by the government to small-town Wyoming to hide from the killers, their marriage shows signs of recovery. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? also stars Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen, and Elisabeth Moss.

Starring: Hugh Grant, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sam Elliott, Mary Steenburgen, Elizabeth Moss, Michael Kelly, Wilford Brimley
Director: Marc Lawrence
Screenwriter: Marc Lawrence
Producer: Martin Shafer, Liz Glotzer
Studio: Sony Pictures Entertainment

MOVIE TRAILER :

I just saw a preview for a movie with Hugh Grant and Sarah Jessica Parker where two “city folk” find themselves deep in the country. They showed a plate featuring a traditional Southern breakfast (as I’ve come to know thanks to my husband – eggs, bacon, biscuits, gravy, the works) and Hugh Grant says, “…at least you didn’t eat the breakfast; I can feel my organs shutting down one by one…”
I’m still laughing.

Notei um grave equívoco nesse blog: a falta de indicação para o clássico Um Lugar Chamado Notting Hill.

Embora a importância do Spiiiikeee nas nossas vidas já tenha sido mencionada (veja aqui), não consegui entender como tinha deixado passar uma das melhores declarações de todos os tempos.

Simples, sincera e direta.

I’m also just a girl standing in front of a boy asking him to love her.

Vale pontuar que essa declaração torna-se ainda mais corajosa após o mocinho usar o forte argumento de que I live in Notting Hill; you live in Beverly Hills.

PS1: Vocês não adorariam ganhar de presente um original do Chagall?

PS2:  Porque, afinal, ”a felicidade não seria felicidade sem um bode tocando violino”.

PS3: A trilha desse filme é uma delícia, vai muito além de She e está, é claro, no Blip.

PS4: Esse é o filme preferido do Abelardo. Bjomesegue, Pref!

PS5: Quer ver o final? Indefinitely?

Hugh Grant has said that he is addicted to golf so much so that it is harming his love life.

The actor, who often lurks around in Scottish golf courses St. Andrews, Carnoustie and Kingsbarns, believes women do not appreciate his love for the sport.

“When you say to a girl ‘I play golf’ her eyes glaze over. I do feel guilty about my golf,” the Daily Express quoted him as saying.

He added: “You know you’re a sad case when you spend your spare time reading books on putting or going on YouTube to watch slow motion golf swings.

“I’ll get out of bed in the middle of the night and practise my swing in front of a mirror. I’m obsessed and it’s destroying my life. Golf is an addiction.

“I’ve decided the most addictive element is the physical sensation when in a rare moment you hit the ball flush in the middle of the club.

“The only thing that comes close is when I was taught to play the piano – the vibration when you hit a beautiful chord.”

Grant has dated actress Elizabeth Hurley and socialite Jemima Khan in the past.

There is something quite delightful about Englishmen. It doesn’t matter what you look like, as long as you tell a joke, or have a laugh, foreign women will be charmed. How else would Hugh Grant be so popular? But what’s with the excessive apologising? And is this part of the charm?

The other day Pete and I met friends in Brick Lane. We were outside a cafe when we witnessed an attempted bike robbery. A skinny, unshaven man had stealthily picked up a bike and was about to ride off when the owner of the bike grabbed the handlebars and said, ‘Excuse me, I’m incredibly sorry but that’s my bike.’ The thief then replied with, ‘I’m sorry I was just mucking around.’ Everyone stared, knowing full well what was going on. This was Brick lane after all, a place notorious for selling stolen bikes. The two muttered a few more, ‘I beg your pardons’ and ‘I’m sorry’ until the thief walked away empty handed and the man strolled back to the cafe with his bike. My friend  and I looked at each other in utter bewilderment. What a cordial scene. Had that man just apologised to the thief for catching him stealing his bike? And had the thief then apologised to the man for being caught in the act? The answer to this was yes and yes. Welcome to England, the land of charming (but apologetic) Englishmen.

It reminded me of the scene in Bridget Jones’s Diary where Mr Darcy and Daniel Cleaver are in a fight. They smash through a restaurant window, wrestle on the tables and in between punches, excuse themselves to the diners around them. This fight scene is incredibly funny, but once you realise how close to home it is, it’s hilarious.