Stuff I did in 2011
Just keeping a record of things I have been to, with hopefully a tiny review or observation for each thing.
Gigs
1) 5/2: Marques Toliver/Dry the River/GAGGLE, The Borderline
We went to see Dry the River because we adore them (google them, they're wonderful little folkies and one of them has an EPIC beard.) Turned out Marques Toliver was really good, a violin and a massive voice but GAGGLE, well. We left after about 3 songs even though we were on the opposite side of the stage from the door and had to walk right in front of it to get out. There was a hint of hipster racism/Native American appropriation going on and the songs were just BAD. Their voices were good, I'm not knocking that, but OMG I'm glad we cut out early.
2) 8/2: Panic! at the Disco, Bush Hall
OMG OMG DISCOS! I adore their faces and Brendon's ridiculous dancing (sometimes at Spencer, sometimes shaking his ass at Spencer), Dallon wearing a medal, Brendon's flies being down and him doing them up in the middle of Lying after someone in the crowd told him what was going on and Brendon waving his arms around, conducting Ian and Dallon. Favourite and best.
Films (au cinéma)
1) 5/1: Love and Other Drugs
Basically saw this because I love me some Jake and Anne and didn't really know anything about it. It had its problems, but it seems (as far as I could tell) to deal pretty well with the realities of living with a chronic (terminal? IDK) disease. Not the best film ever, but overall I enjoyed it.
2) 12/1: The King's Speech
What is there to say about this that hasn't been said already? Hilarious and sad and just brilliant. I imagine Colin Firth will have won all sorts of awards for it before the year is out.
3) 19/1: The Green Hornet
I sort of liked this inspite of itself. Seth Rogen's character was almost unlikeable most of the time, but hilarious sometimes, Kato was brilliant but Cameron Diaz was a masterpiece. It was funny, I'll give it that, but it could have been so much better. And the 3D was pastede on completely unnecessarily. Some nice little Gondry bits lifted it up.
4) 26/1: Black Swan
Yet more proof of my robotic nature - I thought the descent into madness and the creepy happenings were really interesting, and some were very clever, but I wasn't freaked out or scared or anything. At one point early on in the film, the girl sitting in front of me picked up all her friends' coats off the spare seat next to her and passed them out, and they all put them up to half cover their faces. Made me smile. Nina's mother was proper creepy, though.
5) 2/2: Morning Glory
Liss and I decided to see this the first time we saw the trailer (which was before Love and Other Drugs, I think) even though we suspected it would be awful, but then sunsetmog went to see it and loved it (and we like the same sort of ridiculous films) and Mark Kermode gave it a good review while sounding surprised at himself. He even laughed out loud a few times. I loved it and I laughed like a drain. Rachel McAdams is adorable and Harrison Ford was hilariously dour and despairing. And Patrick Wilson is hot. And I'm shallow.
Plays/shows
1) 2/1: Winter Wassail, The Globe
A++, would go again. Christmas/New Year songs from several eras, intersperesed with readings. Finished with the wonderful John Julius Norwich Twelve Days of Christmas. My hands and feet were completely numb by the end, but I have to expect these things. Maybe warmer shoes next year, self.
2) 8/1: Tom Lenk Nerdgasm, Soho Theatre
I love this guy, he is such a nerd and I feel a ~connection with him. There was some slightly mottsy audience participation, but his parts were hilarious, bedbugs and Laura Linney and all.
3) 9/2: Arcadia, Millicent Fawcett Hall (school play)
My kids are pretty good actors, it turns out! Chater was hilarious in this version, rather than just annoying. Bernard was wobbling round on a bike in the background at one point and I had masses of fun. I'll be going to more school plays in the future, I imagine.
Gigs
1) 5/2: Marques Toliver/Dry the River/GAGGLE, The Borderline
We went to see Dry the River because we adore them (google them, they're wonderful little folkies and one of them has an EPIC beard.) Turned out Marques Toliver was really good, a violin and a massive voice but GAGGLE, well. We left after about 3 songs even though we were on the opposite side of the stage from the door and had to walk right in front of it to get out. There was a hint of hipster racism/Native American appropriation going on and the songs were just BAD. Their voices were good, I'm not knocking that, but OMG I'm glad we cut out early.
2) 8/2: Panic! at the Disco, Bush Hall
OMG OMG DISCOS! I adore their faces and Brendon's ridiculous dancing (sometimes at Spencer, sometimes shaking his ass at Spencer), Dallon wearing a medal, Brendon's flies being down and him doing them up in the middle of Lying after someone in the crowd told him what was going on and Brendon waving his arms around, conducting Ian and Dallon. Favourite and best.
Films (au cinéma)
1) 5/1: Love and Other Drugs
Basically saw this because I love me some Jake and Anne and didn't really know anything about it. It had its problems, but it seems (as far as I could tell) to deal pretty well with the realities of living with a chronic (terminal? IDK) disease. Not the best film ever, but overall I enjoyed it.
2) 12/1: The King's Speech
What is there to say about this that hasn't been said already? Hilarious and sad and just brilliant. I imagine Colin Firth will have won all sorts of awards for it before the year is out.
3) 19/1: The Green Hornet
I sort of liked this inspite of itself. Seth Rogen's character was almost unlikeable most of the time, but hilarious sometimes, Kato was brilliant but Cameron Diaz was a masterpiece. It was funny, I'll give it that, but it could have been so much better. And the 3D was pastede on completely unnecessarily. Some nice little Gondry bits lifted it up.
4) 26/1: Black Swan
Yet more proof of my robotic nature - I thought the descent into madness and the creepy happenings were really interesting, and some were very clever, but I wasn't freaked out or scared or anything. At one point early on in the film, the girl sitting in front of me picked up all her friends' coats off the spare seat next to her and passed them out, and they all put them up to half cover their faces. Made me smile. Nina's mother was proper creepy, though.
5) 2/2: Morning Glory
Liss and I decided to see this the first time we saw the trailer (which was before Love and Other Drugs, I think) even though we suspected it would be awful, but then sunsetmog went to see it and loved it (and we like the same sort of ridiculous films) and Mark Kermode gave it a good review while sounding surprised at himself. He even laughed out loud a few times. I loved it and I laughed like a drain. Rachel McAdams is adorable and Harrison Ford was hilariously dour and despairing. And Patrick Wilson is hot. And I'm shallow.
Plays/shows
1) 2/1: Winter Wassail, The Globe
A++, would go again. Christmas/New Year songs from several eras, intersperesed with readings. Finished with the wonderful John Julius Norwich Twelve Days of Christmas. My hands and feet were completely numb by the end, but I have to expect these things. Maybe warmer shoes next year, self.
2) 8/1: Tom Lenk Nerdgasm, Soho Theatre
I love this guy, he is such a nerd and I feel a ~connection with him. There was some slightly mottsy audience participation, but his parts were hilarious, bedbugs and Laura Linney and all.
3) 9/2: Arcadia, Millicent Fawcett Hall (school play)
My kids are pretty good actors, it turns out! Chater was hilarious in this version, rather than just annoying. Bernard was wobbling round on a bike in the background at one point and I had masses of fun. I'll be going to more school plays in the future, I imagine.