What are you watching tonight?

[clapton is god]

Watched two old films last night. Stand By Me is a coming of age film about four young lads on the cusp of adulthood but still capable of breaking down in tears. Kiefer Sutherland included together with River Phoenix some 7yrs before his death. Next up was Marathon Man, a 1976 film with Dustin Hoffman. I'd seen this one several times before but not for many a year and my wife had never seen it. Two terrific films that we all enjoyed very much.

[LeverEnd]

Watched two old films last night. Stand By Me is a coming of age film about four young lads on the cusp of adulthood but still capable of breaking down in tears. Kiefer Sutherland included together with River Phoenix some 7yrs before his death. Next up was Marathon Man, a 1976 film with Dustin Hoffman. I'd seen this one several times before but not for many a year and my wife had never seen it. Two terrific films that we all enjoyed very much.

Both excellent, I agree. Once ran a marathon with a dicky knee but the agony was nothing compared to the dentist scene with Dustin!

[Lord Kangana]

Did you know that sales of Merlot dropped noticeably in California after the release of that film?

I didn't, but I was actually enjoying a Merlot whilst watching it, trying to figure out why yer man had such a downer on it.

I hate to wade in here with a really boring bit, but there is a reason (beyond that film) why the sales of Merlot had so far to fall. American wine consumption has its own year zero (I think its 1991) when 60 minutes aired a documentary about The French Paradox (google it) which showed a causal link between wine consumption and a decrease in heart disease.

Now then, two things. Merlot is easy drinking (and can be "a bit boring"?), so whilst wine sales soared, sales of Merlot went through the roof, exponentially higher than all the others. The deep irony of this is that the causal link specifically showed that the grape varieties of Tannat, Negrette and Auxerrois (you'll probably know this as Malbec) found, quite specifically, in Madiran, Fronton and Cahors wine were the only wines that had demonstrably made a difference (The whole study has been heavily challenged since, if you're interested). Meanwhile, the study specifically named Merlot as a grape variety that carried no discernible health benefit. So anyway, I digress...

In conclusion

1) Americans are a bit stupid.
2) The sales of Merlot dipping after the film are an urban legend, they were on the way down already, as drinkers matured with their tastes and knowledge.

Sorry.

[LeverEnd]

Knowledgeable spoilsport!

[Harry Genshaw]

Watched Michael Moore's Sicko last night. Enjoyable documentary if rather worrying if we ever go down the route of replacing the NHS with something approaching the American model.

[Lord Kangana]

We are doing. Scary documentary, isn't it?

[thebish]

whilst eating my holiday day1 cooked breakfast before trying to cram the HUGE pile of stuff the missus has piled by the front door into car/trailer/roofbox...

listened to a fascinatingly scary programme on R4 presented by Robert Peston about high frequency trading - and how it has taken over the New York stock exchange - and just how scary a prospect it might be!!

I knew about computer algorithms in trading - but had no idea about the extent of it or the speed of it... one day we will lose control of the world economy entirely to machines.....

"A Dark Magic" it was called - will be on BBC iplayer eventually..

[clapton is god]

About five years ago we saw Count Arthur Strong at the Albert hall. It was the most surreal night ever. Just seen the first episode of his new TV series on BBC2 and had tears rolling down my face. Very funny - in a very strange kind of way!

[bobo the clown]

About five years ago we saw Count Arthur Strong at the Albert hall. It was the most surreal night ever. Just seen the first episode of his new TV series on BBC2 and had tears rolling down my face. Very funny - in a very strange kind of way!

I didn't ... I won't, ever, watch it.

Glad you had fun. It wouldn't do to all be the same ....... I suppose.

[William the White]

About five years ago we saw Count Arthur Strong at the Albert hall. It was the most surreal night ever. Just seen the first episode of his new TV series on BBC2 and had tears rolling down my face. Very funny - in a very strange kind of way!

I didn't ... I won't, ever, watch it.

Glad you had fun. It wouldn't do to all be the same ....... I suppose.

The Observer preview yesterday:

It is an embarrassing failure... Do we really pay our licence fees for this rubbish?

A minority taste - i feckin hope...

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I saw 'Private Lives' by Noel Coward last week.

http://www.standard.co.uk/goingout/thea ... 87127.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

'Unapologetically lightweight'... yes, I agree. I think I'd have liked some more contrition!

Off to see 'Sweet Bird of Youth' with Kim Cattrall tonight. Well, she's in it, I mean.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

Also saw Macbeth at the Globe on Saturday.

I agree with all the criticism in this review, but not the generous 4* conclusion. http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/thea ... Globe.html" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Again, a bit lightweight - really you know haven't seen a good production of Macbeth if you leave saying that.

Perhaps I'm just a miserable bastard.

I also thought Eve Best was too old and lacking in sexual charm to be a convincing Lady Macbeth to Jonathan Millson's Macbeth here.

[TANGODANCER]

I also thought Eve Best was too old and lacking in sexual charm to be a convincing Lady Macbeth to Jonathan Millson's Macbeth here.

Would that be Samantha Spiro as Lady Macbeth, PB?

[LeverEnd]

Francesca Annis takes some beating I'd say. Still never seen it on stage.

[bobo the clown]

Francesca Annis takes some beating I'd say. Still never seen it on stage.

... oer, Mrs !!

[LeverEnd]

Francesca Annis takes some beating I'd say. Still never seen it on stage.

... oer, Mrs !!

[bobo the clown]

About five years ago we saw Count Arthur Strong at the Albert hall. It was the most surreal night ever. Just seen the first episode of his new TV series on BBC2 and had tears rolling down my face. Very funny - in a very strange kind of way!

I didn't ... I won't, ever, watch it.

Glad you had fun. It wouldn't do to all be the same ....... I suppose.

The Observer preview yesterday:

It is an embarrassing failure... Do we really pay our licence fees for this rubbish?

A minority taste - i feckin hope...

Well, after its successful first episode BBC2 have commissioned a second series. After 2 days and one show ?? Am I cynical for thinking that's a bit soon ?

I blame you, Clapton.

[mummywhycantieatcrayons]

I also thought Eve Best was too old and lacking in sexual charm to be a convincing Lady Macbeth to Jonathan Millson's Macbeth here.

Would that be Samantha Spiro as Lady Macbeth, PB?

Sorry, yes - I have got that wrong and named the director there.

[Gary the Enfield]

About five years ago we saw Count Arthur Strong at the Albert hall. It was the most surreal night ever. Just seen the first episode of his new TV series on BBC2 and had tears rolling down my face. Very funny - in a very strange kind of way!

I didn't ... I won't, ever, watch it.

Glad you had fun. It wouldn't do to all be the same ....... I suppose.

The Observer preview yesterday:

It is an embarrassing failure... Do we really pay our licence fees for this rubbish?

A minority taste - i feckin hope...

Well, after its successful first episode BBC2 have commissioned a second series. After 2 days and one show ?? Am I cynical for thinking that's a bit soon ?



I blame you, Clapton.

It was a bit shit.

[clapton is god]

About five years ago we saw Count Arthur Strong at the Albert hall. It was the most surreal night ever. Just seen the first episode of his new TV series on BBC2 and had tears rolling down my face. Very funny - in a very strange kind of way!

I didn't ... I won't, ever, watch it.

Glad you had fun. It wouldn't do to all be the same ....... I suppose.

The Observer preview yesterday:

It is an embarrassing failure... Do we really pay our licence fees for this rubbish?

A minority taste - i feckin hope...

Well, after its successful first episode BBC2 have commissioned a second series. After 2 days and one show ?? Am I cynical for thinking that's a bit soon ?



I blame you, Clapton.

It was a bit shit.

It was certainly what you might call niche viewing but myself and our lad were laughing out loud right through it. Mrs C could not be induced to watch it though!