I finished my film studies course yesterday and in the late afternoon met a friend to see The Phantom Of The Open. A comic version of the later life of the Walter Mitty character Maurice Flitcroft a working class crane driver who fraudulently entered the British Open Golf Tournament in the search of fame and fortune. With the delightful Mark Rylance in the lead role, Phantom is a frothy, light film about nice people being nice to each other. Wrapped up as almost a fantasy film, with splashes of Amelie and Forest Gump it gives Flitcroft a wry, gentle and somewhat warm persona, a man who adores his slightly dim wife and family, but who wants and needs some sort of fame ( this motivation is not explained in the movie at all by the way)
I enjoyed the humour of the piece but was left feeling somewhat uneasy at the end of the film when clips of the real Maurice Flitcroft were shown. This character seemed much darker and more serious than the one portrayed by Rylance and his presence hinted at darker motivations and even mental illness behind the eyes.
It’s interesting, but my friend thought the same
After a couple of days in work from tomorrow, I have quite a few jaunts booked from Saturday
An afternoon concert at the Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, a real ale pub visit with a couple of work mates, two plays at Theatre Clwyd and a cabaret cult night out celebrating Kate Bush.
Hopefully Choir will return on Tuesday too after being cancelled for three weeks due to increasing covid numbers .
Like I said
Normal Programming Has Been Resumed
It’s 20.50 pm and it’s snowing
Looking forward to following along,
ReplyDeleteThank u x nice to have you always there David x
DeleteOh, the good old test card and the shaky sign saying "Normal service will resume as soon as possible". Glad your normal service has resumed. Get the thermals out again, winter isn't yet over! xx
ReplyDeleteWhat was the test card girl called
DeleteCarol Hersee
DeleteI saw Mark Rylance talking about the film on the BBC. What a charming, self-deprecating actor he is.
ReplyDeleteHe’s one of my favourites
DeleteI first really noticed him in BRIDGE OF spies
Did you see the movie "Don't Look Up"? Mark Rylance was hilarious as the Billionaire Visionary. Took me a little while to even recognize him though, he looked so different.
ReplyDeleteNo I haven’t Debra …I’m not a lover of comedies but willlookoutfor it
DeleteIt all seems like normal programming to me. Just a man doing his best to make the most of life's ups and downs. Glad you are enjoying the ups.
ReplyDeleteI’m fucking bored of the downs to. Be honest
DeleteLucky you - I love Kate Bush.
ReplyDeleteIt sounds rather surreal to me
DeleteThe calendar says March but it feels like December. Shorts? You are not alone, I saw two men in shorts yesterday and it was 29 degrees F.
ReplyDeleteIt was a hot spring day yesterday
DeleteIt is very cold today-I have improvised an old knitted poncho into a sarong-You may wish to style one yourself x
ReplyDeleteGet you Dorothy Lamour!
DeleteOr Bag lady/Barmy poor distant relative of the Grey Gardens ladies x
DeleteApplause for the resumption of normal service!
ReplyDeleteDH always sticks his nose out the window before deciding what apparel is appropriate.
Your plans for Saturday sound wonderful!
Hugs!
The dogs can come to the pub too
DeleteI know nothing about Maurice Flitcroft. Will see what I can find to read. We’ve got sunshine today, too, although the wind picked up a while ago. Still, so nice to see the sun.
ReplyDeleteIt’s snowing quite heavily now ( 20.30 pm)
DeleteI rememmber the real-life golf event - much talked about as my brother and brother in law were really into golf
ReplyDeleteIt’s not a story I’m aware of pat
DeleteI think golfing husband might be interested in this film.
ReplyDeleteIt’s frothy and amusing
DeleteYou just stay healthy.
ReplyDeleteLateral flow test negative today
DeleteWell you're all sorted for the next little while. Good for you; bra straps and all that. Enjoy.
ReplyDeleteJo in Auckland
Good Lord, you stay busy. I don't know how you do it!
ReplyDeleteHooray! Are you going to An Evening Without Kate Bush? My friend Sarah-Louise Young is the star and she is absolutely wonderful. <3
ReplyDeleteChester on Friday night YAY!!!!
ReplyDelete