Candid Article 20

Looper - 3 stars ***

The first thing to say about this film is that it is very clever. Even trying to explain the concept behind the plot proves rather challenging. I will, however, attempt to give it a go.

In 2072, time travel has been invented, but it is so illegal that it is used solely by the mob, controlled by an elusive character with extraordinary telekinetic powers known as The Rainmaker. When there is an undesirable to get rid of, The Rainmaker sends them back 30 years, where assassins known as Loopers are ready and waiting to kill them, thus disposing of the body, and erasing the person.

Joe, played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises), is one of these Loopers, desperately saving the silver bars he earns from killing people in order to move to France and make a life there. However, his plan is thwarted when his future self (Bruce Willis) is sent back for him to murder, and manages to escape. He has hopes of killing the Rainmaker as a child, thus preventing him growing up into the monster he becomes. So begins a chase for both old and young Joe, as young Joe is now on the run from the mob for missing his target.

I must admit, I didn’t particularly warm to the main character, young or old, but perhaps as the Loopers are supposed to be emotionless and slightly robotic that was the director’s intention. I also had trouble believing Gordon- Levitt as a hard faced hitman, probably due to the characters he has played in previous films such as 500 Days of Summer and Ten Things I Hate About You, where he was quintessentially the clumsy, lovelorn bloke. Emily Blunt puts in a solid performance, with a flawless American accent, playing the slightly confusing love interest (you’ll see what I mean if you watch the film!) and her little boy is very cute, if you ignore the freaky mind stuff he does!

The action is gripping, and there are lots of thrilling car chases and explosions, so if that is what you want in a film then you will not be disappointed. However, for those viewers that don’t like movies where you have to think a lot, or you hated Inception, then I would suggest you give this a miss. If you like a bit of mind boggling and to be left going over the plot once the credits begin to roll, then this is definitely one to watch. Not a contender for film of the year, but worth making the effort to see while it’s in the cinema.

Weekly Update!

Looper, Leeds, Lancaster & Lounging!

This week has gone really quickly, mainly because I had a lovely long weekend to look forward to at the end of it. I worked on Monday, and on Tuesday I went for a few drinks with Tasha and Charlotte, and then we went to the cinema to see Looper (see next week's Candid article). Wednesday I stayed in, and then on Thursday I picked Aum up early from school at 1.30pm and drove him to his grandparents in Pontefract for the weekend. Once I'd done that, my weekend could begin! 

On the way home I stopped off in Leeds to see Jasmine and after having some tea we got ready for a night on the town! We went to Lipstick Jungle, a night at Warehouse, which I have been to before and really enjoyed. This night didn't disappoint, and Jasmine stayed at her boyfriends so I got a full room to myself - bonus! (even if it was a little messy!)

On Friday I set off back home at 2pm, and had just enough time to finish my latest article before setting off for Lancaster at 6pm. I picked my friend Amanda up on the way as she lives in Stretford, and despite the traffic we made it there for half 7, which wasn't too bad. I drove onto campus for a drink in County Bar and to see a few old friends, and then we went back to where we were staying to get ready for a night out. We went straight to Sugarhouse as we had been told it would be busy with it being Lancaster's Freshers week, but there was no queue at all so we had a sly one in The Yorkshire House before heading in.

As the night progressed it got really busy, and it ended up being such a good night out, I saw loads of people I knew which made me feel slightly less old! The following day I was lucky enough to experience my first ever McDonald's breakfast; even if I cheated by having a bacon sandwich and pancakes with maple syrup, it was gorgeous all the same. Just a shame I had to get up at 9.30am to have it!

I spent the rest of the morning and early afternoon vegging out/ napping on my friend's sofa, before setting off at 2pm for home. I arrived back just after 4pm after a slight detour, and had a very chilled Saturday night in spent on the sofa watching garbage on TV. I needed it after two nights out on the trot, don't know how I used to do four or five nights in a row at uni! Sunday I went for a walk (see next post) and had a lovely roast dinner - yum!

Days Out...

Tatton Park

Today was a nice day, and I had nothing planned, so I decided to go on a walk with my mum to Tatton Park in Cheshire. We drove and parked in Knutsford and then walked into the actual grounds. It was quite busy, and there seemed to be some sort of cycling event on, but it was lovely to have a peaceful Sunday stroll, watching the deer and soaking up the rare sunshine!

When we got towards the house we saw that there was a craft and food fair on, which was a nice surprise. We had a wander around it, as it was free to enter, and there was some gorgeous looking food there - I had to walk away quickly before I was tempted by the fudge and cakes!

On the way back we stopped for a little picnic next to the lake, and then we walked into Knutsford for a look around the shops. There was a small market on, which felt quite Christmassy actually, it got me into the spirit! A lot of the clothes shops were closed with it being Sunday, which was probably a blessing, but I bought a couple of books from a charity shop so didn't leave completely empty handed.

We headed back home and mum cooked a Sunday roast, complete with delicious homegrown potatoes and carrots, and homemade Yorkshire puddings - the perfect Sunday!

Autumn Reads...

A Storm Of Swords 1: Steel and Snow by George R. R. Martin - 3 stars ***

This is the third book in the 'Song of Fire and Ice' collection, and is the first part of a volume split into two books. I read the first one after seeing the Sky Atlantic series, called Game Of Thrones, and loved it so much I read the second in time to have it finished before the second series began. They are quite heavy going, so it has taken me forever to finish this one (over 2 months!).

All of the books are split into chapters that come from a different character's perspective; and in this volume those characters are Jaime, Catelyn, Arya, Tyrion, Davos, Sansa, Jon, Daenerys, Bran and Samwell. The plot is continuous throughout the series, but the main premise of this section is that teenage king Joffrey Baratheon is on the throne (unrightfully as he is baseborn) and after the death of one of his rivals, and the defeat of another in battle, there only remains Robb Stark to overthrow him. He is known as 'The King In The North' and resides at Riverrun with his new wife Jeyne. The majority of the book is Robb plotting to defeat Joffrey, but he has to be careful as they have his sister held captive.

As well as this, Daenerys is still trying to cross the sea to claim what she believes is her rightful throne, and now accompanied by three dragons, it appears she may have a chance. The eldest (bastard) Stark brother, Jon, continues to travel with the group of wildlings he has managed to pursuade he is a deserter of The Wall, and he begins a relationship with Ygritte, a young wildling girl who he previously had held as hostage with The Night's Watch.

There are also many subplots, such as Jaime Lannister's trek as a hostage with Brienne of Tarth, Arya continuing on her quest to try to get home, and Davos being imprisoned and eventually released and given the position of the Kings Hand to Stannis.

As with all the other books in the series I have read so far, this was very well written and contains some lovely descriptive paragraphs to help you visualise the action better:

'The king's close-cropped beard was spiderwebbed with grey hairs, and he had dropped two stone or more of weight. He had never been a fleshy man, but now the bones moved beneath his skin like spears, fighting to cut free. Even his crown seemed too large for his head. His eyes were blue pits lost in deep hollows, and the shape of a skull could be seen beneath his face.'

However, this seems to be a bit of a filler book, there is not a great deal that happens to move the story along as a whole, and as it is only the third of eight, I am slightly wary about how long it is going to take me to finish them all! I am not a quitter though, so am determined to get through them!