A Little Chaos

I'm on the train back to Trelawnyd.One minute I am sipping a nice coffee in a very select hotel just off Tavestock Square, the next, I am sitting in the middle of an entire troupe of very loud Irish folk on the way to the ferry in Holyhead.
It's like the potato famine in reverse.

Anyhow, today's thought for today is just when did Kate Winslett reach 40.?
It only seems like yesterday that she and her teenage  cupid bow lips ran amok in Ang Lee's masterpiece " Sense and Sensibility " and look at her now, all curvy, womanly and  bravely showing her age in Alan Rickman's second feature as director, the period drama " A Little Chaos".
In it, Winslett Plays Madam Sabine de Barra, a self taught garden designer , who is hired by King Louis XIV to design a garden feature in his Palace at Versailles. Sabine is somewhat of a free spirit with a sad past, and her designs and way of life come into conflict with the ordered life and ways of senior garden guru Andre de Notre ( the smouldering Mathias Schoenaerts) and the claustrophobic intensity of King's court.
Sounds good eh?

Well, in parts it IS .Winslett is quite magnificently buxom,  sexy and rather beautiful in her role. Without a scrap of make up ( yeah right) she outshines any actress half her age but unfortunately the storyline changes from one of path of a self determination woman in 17th Century France  to one of a fairy insipid love story c/o Mills and Boone.
However, I did enjoy Rickman's vulnerable King Louis and Stanley Tucci was on top form as the king's wisecracking bisexual brother Phillipe, I could have easily watched an entire film just about them!

If you go and see it, look out for one emotionally powerful scene,which is remarkably well done.
In it Sabine finds herself shut away with the women of King's court, women who are not allowed to talk about grief or personal unhappiness. An impromptu therapy session starts with the woman and eventually Sabine sharing stories about the children they have lost and for a short moment we see the film's heart and real emotion for the first time.  Phyllida Law and the wonderful Jennifer Ehle literally shine in this scene.
So, if you want a sweet undemanding movie to end a wonderful day in London " A Little Chaos" is the perfect choice. 6/10

Right, I'm now home....again big thanks to Eirlys, John amd John& Mandy for the exemplary animal care.......it's back to normal......i've got to pick old Trevor up from his physio appointment in an hour or so, Winnie's fanny flannel is on the side just begging to be used and there is a decomposing corpse of a rabbit on the living room rug that needs disposing of thanks to Albert
Yes back to normal
Hey ho

30 comments:

  1. I hadn't heard of this one. i'll need to be on the lookout because I love Winslet and I LOVR Stanley Tucci!

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  2. Kate and Alan were on tv a few mornings ago. She found out she was pregnant at the start of filming and laughed about how her boobs were often in danger of becoming free. How much they had to take out her bodice then use CGI, whenever it was in shot, to make it look like it was tightly done up. Amazing thing CGI!

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  3. Life is just one big merry- (and not so merry) -go-round. Trelawnyd must be relieved to have you home.

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  4. I must see the move as they are favorites. Sounds like a fun trip. But always good to come home to peace and quiet? :)

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  5. I always worry when you are away from home. Glad you are home safely at the 'uneventful' Trelawnyd.

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  6. I like the sound of that movie. Thanks for the review.

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  7. If marketed properly I am sure that "The Fanny Flannel" would be an enormous success. You could even star in the TV adverts, smiling into the camera..."Hi, my name is John and I am the inventor of The Fanny Flannel. For feminine hygiene and old-fashioned value for money try a Fanny Flannel today. Available in a range of natural floral aromas to suit your personality....GET DOWN WINNIE!"

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  8. Never heard of that film, but will definitely watch it (I'd watch it just for the costumes, I'll never understand how those dresses went out of fashion).

    Did you ever see Heavenly Creatures? One of Kate's first films I think, early Peter Jackson before he sold his soul to Middle Earth.

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    1. Middle Earth is the one thing he got his Oscars for... Middle Earth is amazing...I live here. they love it. Sold his soul.. I think not!!


      Jo in Auckland, NZ

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  9. Thinks - thank goodness we don't have a cat flap. All we have are baby rabbit skins on the barn floor, every tiny bit of flesh and bone eaten by the farm cats.

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  10. WHAAAA????

    I can't get past "Kate Winslet is 40."

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  11. Oh John your days are packed !
    I have ofter wondered when you and Weaver talk about your farm cats it is always baby bunnies they catch. If I owed a outdoor farm cat I would hope there would be some rats in their kill.

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  12. It looks very interesting film. I really like period films, the problem is that not all arrive in Chile. See if I'm lucky.
    Greetings to all.
    Maru

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  13. Kate Winslet, it would appear, is getting finer with age ..,...

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  14. I love Alan Rickman, I've loved him since Truly, Madly,Deeply.

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    1. Agreed. Twiggy. I saw the trailer for "A Little Chaos" sometime back and thought it looked interesting. I'll have to see if it'll play any time soon in my burg.

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  15. I am really looking forward to seeing this film. I like all of the actors, but my absolute favourite is Stanley Tucci.
    Looks like you haven't cut the t shirts up for fanny cloths yet then John ?!!!!!!! XXXX

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  16. There is no place like home - especially your home.

    Because I trust your reviews, I will plan on seeing this movie. I saw the coming attractions to it last weekend and it looked like something I would enjoy.

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  17. yep, all is right with the world at your house.

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  18. When did I get old and start to fall apart? Special thanks to the cat for the welcome home offering. He is so thoughtful.

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  19. Anonymous10:13 pm

    I do not like K.W.
    She is so arrogant.
    Will I get kicked off for thinking that?

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    1. No of course not
      But i will have to wash your face with winnie's fanny flannel

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  20. I love that version of Sense and Sensibility! I love both of the ones we own, actually, but the scenery in this one really makes it for me. (Very lucky to have a hubby who also loves Austen.) Pretty much on for any period drama, though of course like the ones with animals in them best! Will be looking out for this one to hit dvd. Haven't been to a movie theatre in a very long time. Not enough toilet breaks! :)

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  21. I try to be outside when there's a period drama on!

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  22. Kate Winslet has the most expressive face. She looks so convincing playing sad, emotional parts but can light up her face to look so happy too.

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  23. I am looking forward to seeing this film, have had a 'flyer' about it pinned on my kitchen cork board for ages! It combines my love of costume, a bit of romance, a little history and best of all, gardens/gardening!
    It will probably be some time before I see it, can't afford cinema tickets these days or the travel to get there, so will have to wait for it to be on the telly! (will I still have what's left of me marbles by then? lol! )

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  24. It's always straight back in at the deep end isn't it.

    No bodies here, I hope our house sitters didn't have to dispose of any ... I have just thought of that, we didn't warn them ... they might not have come if we had!!

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  25. I've heard a couple of interviews with Alan Rickman about this and he's quite forward in admitting that the whole story is entire invention, including Winslet's character. But that doesn't mean it can't be fun or a good film, so I hope to be going next week, putting the sniffy reviews I've read behind me, and hope that I like it as much as you did.
    Like Jacqueline, above, I think the presence Stanley Tucci always gives any film a 'plus'. Thanks.

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  26. Matthias Schoenaerts is from my city. The whole country (Belgium) has been up in arms because he got a really bad review in The Guardian. The UK has redeemed itself by The Times doing a good review. It's quite funny.

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