Scribblings from the Mitchy Side

Went to the cinema last night with thalinoviel. This time we weren't foiled by the fates, except for the minor detail that "Layer Cake" was no longer on at the UCI. Hmf. So we discussed what to see instead and after a careful consideration of the intellectual and emotional content of the films available, we chose "Finding Neverland" because it had Johnny Depp *drools*. *cough*

Having got the tickets, we headed downstairs to the Deep Pan Pizza place because thalinoviel had cunningly acquired a voucher that let us indulge in the "All you can eat" buffet for the price of one :) Hurrah! The place was packed but we got seated eventually and did our best to eat them out of house and home. Mmmm. And we yakked and ate and slurped tea and yakked some more until we made ourselves late and had to scamper to the cinema. We made it just in time to see the trailer for "Alexander" (looks goood) before the movie started.

I've read a lot about Depp being a shoo-in for an Oscar nomination for this one and frankly I can see why. It's his movie from start to finish and he is superb as J.M.Barrie. The movie plays a bit fast and loose with dates and times and people - what's new? - but you don't care because it's a magical tale of the man who was the boy who didn't grow up. Frankly, casting Depp was inspired, he was utterly believable in the role. Kate Winslet was excellent in the role of Barrie's great love Sylvia Llewellyn-Davis and the kids were less annoying in their roles than I was anticipating. Freddie Highmore, who will co-star with Depp again in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" next year, didn't bowl me over but he handled a difficult role well.

It's not the most cheerful movie ever and I would have been a puddle on the floor if I'd watched the scene where Sylvia fades into the immortality of Neverland or the scene at the end between Barrie and Peter last month; I was sniffling as it was. But it is a beautifully whimsical movie, with some genuinely wonderful laugh out loud moments.

Footnote: Depp as Willy Wonka, another man who essentially never grew up. Based on this movie, he's going to be superb in that role.

So a good evening all round. One annoyance though is that the Galleria has changed its parking policy. They used to have a huge free car park. Now it's been reduced to the size of a postage stamp, with charges prior to 6pm on weekdays and £1 for all day Sat/Sun. How the hell they think the cinema is going to stay in business when half its customers miss their movie because they're stuck in the car park trying to find a space, I have no idea. I may well actually stir myself and write them a strong letter as it's totally ludicrous and it's certainly put ME off going there of an evening. We were extremely lucky to find a space. But as the Galleria doesn't own UCI, I guess they don't care if the cinema goes down the tubes. We'll see if public reaction changes anything. I wouldn't care about the charges if there was just more room to park.