As well as reducing the "To read" pile recently, I've also managed to put some ticks on the "To watch" list, too. Some films were enjoyed, some not so much. Here's a quickish run through of what I've been watching.
- Notes on a Scandal - I liked Zoe Heller's book, which is about what you hope teachers don't get up to, either with their students or with each other, and I really enjoyed the film. Judi Dench and Cate Blanchett seemed perfectly cast as the two main characters and I'd definitely watch this one again.
- The Reader - This film is based on the novel by Bernard Schlink, which I read recently on holiday, and I'd have to say it seemed to stick pretty much to the original story. Kate Winslet is very good as a former Nazi concentration camp guard and the film, which was wittily described by one reviewer as "Mein Kampf meets Penthouse Forum", kept me interested. But, really, that's all it did.
- Changeling - I'm quite the fan of Angelina's films and this one didn't disappoint. It's about the real life story of a single parent whose child goes missing in 1928 and the police subsequently return the wrong one. I loved it and, if it had been left to me, I'd have given the Oscar to Angelina.
- Confessions of a Shopaholic - I saw this at the cinema with the Gorgeous Girlie as part of my Mother's Day present. Set in Manhattan, it was easy to watch, instantly forgotten, and a pleasant enough way to spend a Friday evening (with a box of salty popcorn and a giant bag of Revels).
- Revolutionary Road - I really liked the book with its 1950's America setting and exploration of a young married couple's relationship but for some reason (well, the accent probably didn't help and she was so obviously acting, if you know what I mean ), Kate Winslet really grated on me in this film and, overall, it just didn't do it for me.
- The Dark Knight - I'm not sure why I watched this (possibly because of all the hype and the DVD just happened to be around) as I didn't enjoy the earlier Batman films. And, no surprises, I didn't enjoy this one either and couldn't wait for it to finish (I probably would have switched off the DVD if I hadn't been knitting whilst watching). The Husband fell asleep about a third of the way through, though this shouldn't be regarded as a definitive comment on the film as he can sleep for England.
- Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day - Loved the book (which has been written about on many blogs) but sort of wish I'd given the film a miss. The characters weren't how I'd pictured them in my head and it just didn't seem to capture the essence of the novel.
- Righteous Kill - Hmmm. Al Pacino plus Robert de Niro should have equalled something much better than this. I wasn't expecting a masterpiece, having read a couple of reviews before I watched it but, as a "cops hunt serial killer" type thriller, it was rather dull and didn't, erm, thrill. And the twist in the story was easy to guess quite early on.
- Slumdog Millionaire - What more can be said about this one? It was wonderful. I was hooked from the start and it had me yearning to make a return visit to India.