Another cold and rainy day. Sheets of water in the air like we’re in a cloud. “Let’s go to the cinema.”
Just down the road, in Rye, an old church hall has been converted into an eccentric “Kino”. About 30 comfy chairs laid out in front of a screen. We could choose between The Holdovers and Poor Things. I wanted to see them both. We chose Poor Things for costume and the fact it was slightly later.
It is bonkers and absolutely joyful. Emma Stone is attacking that part with a humour and ease that is infectious. No wonder her face arrests and dominates on that poster. She carries the movie gloriously. I’m gonna spoil nothing, but I can easily say it’s worth seeing.
A British film. I’m very happy once again that our industry can still punch like that. Great Americans in the leads will always help the international market. This mad movie is exactly what the Tories weren’t thinking of when the lazy idiots told us to try and make blockbusters. And that is why it ought to gather a fine stash of accolades. Mark Ruffalo character acting, some strong and full cameos – some by less recognisable faces, some by beloved practitioners more known for stage. I didn’t recognise Kathryn Hunter!
I’m glad we saw it in the cinema. It’s wants a big screen. The worldbuilding, the colour. Even the dynamic of guffawing in a room full of strangers at unexpected linguistic choices. It’s a charming screenplay. Adapted from a Scottish book and moved from Glasgow to London, which would upset the novel’s recently deceased writer, but … that’s most likely some sort of concession to production and the international market, to make it notionally more familiar. I was happy to feel it rooted in my city and not my father’s. And it seems to be selling well. Even in Rye at 3.10pm on a horrid day we were not the only couple in the cinema.
It was £33 for two, and worth it. Hell if we don’t keep going back to the cinema it’s another option taken from us. I’m sure someone would love to turn that place into IKEA flats all owned by the same guy and shoved into Airbnb. As was it was a little comfy friendly hub in the middle of the rain, where we could all share a well made story by a team of delightful practitioners. It looks extraordinary, the acting is bold and on point. The score is unusual and bold. Even the colouring. There’s so much to love. And he shot it all on film. Which adds so much weight to every take. It seems to have helped everything ping into a proper goddamn filmic film film to see in the cinema. Glad we did.
AlBarclay 