Tuesday, 24 February 2015
Monday, 23 February 2015
Academy Awards 2015 Best Dressed
Awards season ended on a dizzying high at last night's Academy Awards held at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
As far as awards go, everything either went exactly as predicted or was surprisingly tense. There were the obvious and expected lock-ins: many technical awards going to the outstanding The Grand Budapest Hotel; 3 of the acting awards merely completing a formality and actually handing over the virtually pre-engraved golden statues to J.K. Simmons, Julianne Moore and Patricia Arquette; and CitizenFour taking home Best Documentary. But at the end it all boiled down to a clash of the titans: it was Eddie Redmayne Vs Michael Keaton; Richard Linklater Vs Alejandro G. Iñárritu; and the main event, Boyhood Vs Birdman for Best Picture.
I might have been sleep-deprived and a little delirious by the time the winners of the major awards started to be announced, but I found them to be as tense as last week's episode of Broadchurch. I clutched the arm of the sofa and hid behind a cushion with my heart in my throat as Redmayne - brilliantly - won for his turn as Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (I was fearful either Keaton would clinch it or in a nightmare scenario Bradley Cooper would sweep from nowhere and be rewarded for American Sniper…). Honestly though, I was majorly disappointed that Birdman soared to victory in such a spectacular manner - scooping Best Picture/Directing/Original Screenplay/Cinematography. I loved it as a film but was ultimately routing for Boyhood: the astonishing 12 year masterpiece. It's a shame, but not the end of the world!
The red carpet was pretty impressive too: fashion-wise every awards show over the last few months has led to this point, and the stars pulled out all of the stops, as anticipated.
As far as awards go, everything either went exactly as predicted or was surprisingly tense. There were the obvious and expected lock-ins: many technical awards going to the outstanding The Grand Budapest Hotel; 3 of the acting awards merely completing a formality and actually handing over the virtually pre-engraved golden statues to J.K. Simmons, Julianne Moore and Patricia Arquette; and CitizenFour taking home Best Documentary. But at the end it all boiled down to a clash of the titans: it was Eddie Redmayne Vs Michael Keaton; Richard Linklater Vs Alejandro G. Iñárritu; and the main event, Boyhood Vs Birdman for Best Picture.
I might have been sleep-deprived and a little delirious by the time the winners of the major awards started to be announced, but I found them to be as tense as last week's episode of Broadchurch. I clutched the arm of the sofa and hid behind a cushion with my heart in my throat as Redmayne - brilliantly - won for his turn as Professor Stephen Hawking in The Theory of Everything (I was fearful either Keaton would clinch it or in a nightmare scenario Bradley Cooper would sweep from nowhere and be rewarded for American Sniper…). Honestly though, I was majorly disappointed that Birdman soared to victory in such a spectacular manner - scooping Best Picture/Directing/Original Screenplay/Cinematography. I loved it as a film but was ultimately routing for Boyhood: the astonishing 12 year masterpiece. It's a shame, but not the end of the world!
The red carpet was pretty impressive too: fashion-wise every awards show over the last few months has led to this point, and the stars pulled out all of the stops, as anticipated.
Sunday, 22 February 2015
The Ciné File Vol. 21
As awards season reaches fever pitch today (rather excitingly it's the Oscars tonight!) I've taken a different route with film this week, choosing classics or recent winners over brand new films. Although only a couple of those I've seen have won Oscars in the past, I've spent the time organised my film-watching habits this week and have downloaded quite a few onto the Sky Box. Now I need to find the time to actually watch them...
There are no new releases reviewed this week: I've been avoiding the cinema because it's half term (too many annoying children) and Fifty Shades of Grey mania has hit (too many enormous groups of drunk women). Normal service will hopefully resume next week, but until then I've been getting my film fix wrapped up inside with Sky Movies and piles of DVDs.
There are no new releases reviewed this week: I've been avoiding the cinema because it's half term (too many annoying children) and Fifty Shades of Grey mania has hit (too many enormous groups of drunk women). Normal service will hopefully resume next week, but until then I've been getting my film fix wrapped up inside with Sky Movies and piles of DVDs.
Tuesday, 17 February 2015
Sunday, 15 February 2015
The Ciné File Vol. 20
This week I've finally managed to see the latest Sondheim musical to take over cinemas: the fairytale mash-up devoid of a Disney happy-ever-after Into the Woods, along with a preview screening of the horrendously confusing time-travel mess Predestination.
Plus, I've dipped my toes into Jane Austen waters and found myself pleasantly surprised by the 1995 epic adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Who knew I'd actually like it? *(not me!)
Plus, I've dipped my toes into Jane Austen waters and found myself pleasantly surprised by the 1995 epic adaptation of Sense and Sensibility. Who knew I'd actually like it? *(not me!)
Friday, 13 February 2015
Strawberry & White Chocolate Muffins
Baking posts have been rather lacking recently. Since I became stuck in a routine of Technical Thursdays each week and then went a little mad in December and did an insane amount of Christmas baking, I've taken a little break from my favourite hobby. January was a relatively baking-free zone for me.
However, aside from the fact that I just enjoy it, I find baking to be a huge stress-reliever. When everything starts to get a bit much and life verges on becoming totally overwhelming, plugging in my fuchsia KitchenAid, switching on the oven and mixing in a selection of ingredients together to magically create something delicious (or not so: disasters do happen after all…) calms me down like nothing else. Yesterday was one of those drowning-in-my-head sort of days.
The logical step to combat this? Grabbing the first recipe book to hand - the Be-Ro book, obviously - and making a batch of Strawberry & White Chocolate Muffins. I might not be able to eat them, but making them has made the day before feel like a storm in a teacup. And, as they're vaguely Galentine's/Valentine's in theme, it made sense to include the recipe here, today.
Whether you're looking for last-minute Galentine's Day treats for your very best pals or a super easy recipe using the most traditional of Valentine's Day flavours then these muffins are exactly what you're looking for.
However, aside from the fact that I just enjoy it, I find baking to be a huge stress-reliever. When everything starts to get a bit much and life verges on becoming totally overwhelming, plugging in my fuchsia KitchenAid, switching on the oven and mixing in a selection of ingredients together to magically create something delicious (or not so: disasters do happen after all…) calms me down like nothing else. Yesterday was one of those drowning-in-my-head sort of days.
The logical step to combat this? Grabbing the first recipe book to hand - the Be-Ro book, obviously - and making a batch of Strawberry & White Chocolate Muffins. I might not be able to eat them, but making them has made the day before feel like a storm in a teacup. And, as they're vaguely Galentine's/Valentine's in theme, it made sense to include the recipe here, today.
Whether you're looking for last-minute Galentine's Day treats for your very best pals or a super easy recipe using the most traditional of Valentine's Day flavours then these muffins are exactly what you're looking for.
Tuesday, 10 February 2015
Monday, 9 February 2015
EE BAFTAs 2015 Best Dressed
It's an astonishing year for film, but unfortunately the red carpet this year was so underwhelming.
The BAFTAs are my favourite awards show - mainly because they're so quintessentially British - but I've never been so unenthused to write a fashion post. Normally I can't wait to write all about the red carpet, buoyed along by the news of the ceremony itself: the delight of the winners, the losers' fixed fake smiles, overly long acceptance speeches and Stephen Fry's fantastic one-liners. I don't know whether I set unrealistic expectations in my head yesterday, but the ceremony went as expected - there were very few surprises, and aside from the embarrassing lack of love for Mr Turner I was pleased with all the winners - and the red carpet was so, so disappointing.
Don't get me wrong, on the whole everyone looked good, but virtually every sartorial choice was exceedingly safe - bordering on boring - and wasn't exactly eye-catching. The menswear was much, much better than the dresses worn by the women, but it's harder to have an immediate glowing impact with a tux than it is with a gown. Nothing beats a well cut and exquisitely tailored suit, but even the majority of men seemed to play it safe and stick to traditional, black tuxes instead of mixing it up with different textures and colours. The Times film critic Kate Muir offered up the #BAFTAsSoBland hashtag, and I have to agree. Eugh, what went wrong?!
The BAFTAs are my favourite awards show - mainly because they're so quintessentially British - but I've never been so unenthused to write a fashion post. Normally I can't wait to write all about the red carpet, buoyed along by the news of the ceremony itself: the delight of the winners, the losers' fixed fake smiles, overly long acceptance speeches and Stephen Fry's fantastic one-liners. I don't know whether I set unrealistic expectations in my head yesterday, but the ceremony went as expected - there were very few surprises, and aside from the embarrassing lack of love for Mr Turner I was pleased with all the winners - and the red carpet was so, so disappointing.
Don't get me wrong, on the whole everyone looked good, but virtually every sartorial choice was exceedingly safe - bordering on boring - and wasn't exactly eye-catching. The menswear was much, much better than the dresses worn by the women, but it's harder to have an immediate glowing impact with a tux than it is with a gown. Nothing beats a well cut and exquisitely tailored suit, but even the majority of men seemed to play it safe and stick to traditional, black tuxes instead of mixing it up with different textures and colours. The Times film critic Kate Muir offered up the #BAFTAsSoBland hashtag, and I have to agree. Eugh, what went wrong?!
Sunday, 8 February 2015
The Ciné File Vol. 19
Oddly I've been surrounded by film all week, but despite having Sky Movies on in the background pretty much all the time I've been at home, I haven't actually sat and watched many films this week.
I have, however, managed to squeeze in a trip to the cinema to see Kingsman: The Secret Service; and watched two of my absolute favourite films from 2014 - The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
I have, however, managed to squeeze in a trip to the cinema to see Kingsman: The Secret Service; and watched two of my absolute favourite films from 2014 - The Grand Budapest Hotel, and Guardians of the Galaxy.
Tuesday, 3 February 2015
Transformation Tuesday: Week 32
Well this week went okay.
(I'm trying to be coy: I'm utterly giddy with the result.)
(I'm trying to be coy: I'm utterly giddy with the result.)
Monday, 2 February 2015
Coming Soon: February 2015
It's that time again! Here's the latest Coming Soon post: a look at the best new releases hitting cinemas in February.
As awards season draws to a close, February sees the start of more comedies, more sci-fi and more action, all of which are clear non-awards contenders. There are still a couple - Cake for example - that have only just filtered across the Atlantic and into U.K. cinemas, but on the whole films are now starting to become more light-hearted and less involved. As much as I love a good Oscar nominee, sometimes it's nice to just go to the cinema to be purely entertained, rather than to spend two hours concentrating on the intricate cinematography, admiring the beautiful scores and revelling in truly astonishing acting. Not every film has to be two hours of award-winning brilliance for it to be worth your time.
Hopefully there's something for everyone in this post, from the controversial The Interview; to the latest sci-fi epic from the Wachowskis, Jupiter Ascending; to the sequel featuring an enormous list of acting royalty, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; to the critically acclaimed and criminally snubbed Selma.
As awards season draws to a close, February sees the start of more comedies, more sci-fi and more action, all of which are clear non-awards contenders. There are still a couple - Cake for example - that have only just filtered across the Atlantic and into U.K. cinemas, but on the whole films are now starting to become more light-hearted and less involved. As much as I love a good Oscar nominee, sometimes it's nice to just go to the cinema to be purely entertained, rather than to spend two hours concentrating on the intricate cinematography, admiring the beautiful scores and revelling in truly astonishing acting. Not every film has to be two hours of award-winning brilliance for it to be worth your time.
Hopefully there's something for everyone in this post, from the controversial The Interview; to the latest sci-fi epic from the Wachowskis, Jupiter Ascending; to the sequel featuring an enormous list of acting royalty, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel; to the critically acclaimed and criminally snubbed Selma.
Sunday, 1 February 2015
The Ciné File Vol. 18
This week has been a really, really poor one for film for me. I sadly haven't managed to go to the cinema despite having a list of new releases I want to see longer than my arm, and I've only seen a couple of movies at home that ended up being horrendously disappointing.
It's not all bad though, as my week was saved by truly great television in the form of Series 1 of Broadchurch. I've finally jumped on the bandwagon, and I couldn't be more impressed. What a series!
Saturday, 31 January 2015
Melting Moments
As all overindulgence in the last two weeks of December is now a hazy but delightful memory and after a month of clean eating, morphing into a gym bunny and drinking enough water to sink a battleship, January - the month that makes the world feel guilty for enjoying Christmas - has finally come to an end. At this stage you either need congratulating for spending four weeks focussed and sticking to your New Year's resolutions, or congratulating for pretending so convincingly that you've spent the last 31 days being super well behaved when actually you've still been sneaking the odd chocolate bar and haven't actually broken that Diet Coke habit like you promised.
Either way, and no matter how you approached January, the most depressing month of the year is over - yay! - and there seems only one way to celebrate properly: baked goods. If you've been good, then you deserve it; and if not, who cares anyway? Treat yo' self!
These Melting Moments look beautiful, are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea, and taste wonderfully light, making them feel like a huge indulgence when they're really not.
Either way, and no matter how you approached January, the most depressing month of the year is over - yay! - and there seems only one way to celebrate properly: baked goods. If you've been good, then you deserve it; and if not, who cares anyway? Treat yo' self!
These Melting Moments look beautiful, are the perfect accompaniment to a cup of tea, and taste wonderfully light, making them feel like a huge indulgence when they're really not.
Tuesday, 27 January 2015
Transformation Tuesday: Week 31
At first glance, this week wasn't much of a success at all. However, as far as I'm concerned it's gone pretty well indeed.
Monday, 26 January 2015
SAG Awards 2015 Best Dressed
At under a month away the Oscars are fast approaching, and last night's Screen Actors Guild Awards provided Hollywood yet another opportunity to celebrate the best acting talent of 2014, both in the worlds of film and television.
Many of the voters for these awards and the Oscars overlap, and so the nominees and winners at the SAG Awards often indicate who will be successful again in a few weeks time. Taking home the SAG statuettes were clear shoe-ins Julianne Moore (Best Actress); Patricia Arquette (Best Supporting Actress) and J. K. Simmons (Best Supporting Actress). The welcome mini-surprise of the evening went to Eddie Redmayne's win - he's been neck-and-neck with Michael Keaton all season, and often it's been too close to call, so this win really does bolster his chances for the Best Actor Oscar. In terms of television, the ensemble cast of Downton Abbey reigned supreme and Orange is the New Black seems to now be firmly (and bizarrely) in the comedy category. A full list of winners can be found on the SAG website here.
It has to be said, the SAG Awards red carpet has to be one of the best in recent years. Most men shunned the standard, boring black tuxedo and instead opted for a (sort of) rainbow of colours and textures; while the women shone in a variety of gowns that all have very little in common! As ever my selection of the best fashion hits is below...
Many of the voters for these awards and the Oscars overlap, and so the nominees and winners at the SAG Awards often indicate who will be successful again in a few weeks time. Taking home the SAG statuettes were clear shoe-ins Julianne Moore (Best Actress); Patricia Arquette (Best Supporting Actress) and J. K. Simmons (Best Supporting Actress). The welcome mini-surprise of the evening went to Eddie Redmayne's win - he's been neck-and-neck with Michael Keaton all season, and often it's been too close to call, so this win really does bolster his chances for the Best Actor Oscar. In terms of television, the ensemble cast of Downton Abbey reigned supreme and Orange is the New Black seems to now be firmly (and bizarrely) in the comedy category. A full list of winners can be found on the SAG website here.
It has to be said, the SAG Awards red carpet has to be one of the best in recent years. Most men shunned the standard, boring black tuxedo and instead opted for a (sort of) rainbow of colours and textures; while the women shone in a variety of gowns that all have very little in common! As ever my selection of the best fashion hits is below...
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