The Film Corner: Sara Sáez - Date Night

The film is about a couple, Mr and Mrs Foster (Steve Carrell & Tina Fey), who are going through a minor crisis in their marriage, and apparently out for a quiet night. They go to a restaurant, but they haven’t reserved a table, so he comes up with taking the seats from a couple who haven’t arrived yet. Actually, the table has been reserved by Mr and Mrs Tripplehorn, two robbers who have been arrested by two corrupted policemen. 

Like the Tripplehorns, Foster gets into trouble and, unwittingly, the couple are involved in many adventures all night long, including persecutions by the police. The film ends with a romantic, passionate kiss, as most “rom coms” do.

Personally, I’m really into romance, so I really liked Date Night. Before watching it, I thought it’d be just another classic romantic film. However, it wasn’t because of the mixture of adventure and love. I strongly recommend it, especially if you are looking for a different romantic comedy. 

Thanks a lot, Sara! Honestly, I don't remember the film too well but I've always liked Steve Carrell's comic vein (The Office is brilliant!) and Tina Fey is a lovely comedy actress indeed. I really laughed my head off while watching her impersonations of Sara Palin on Saturday Night Live, simply hilarious! So perhaps I should watch Date Night again ...

The film corner: Leticia San Juan - "Love Actually"

When I came across Love Actually, I thought it wouldn’t be worth watching, as it is not the kind of films I usually go to and, after looking at the title, I supposed I wouldn’t like it. Finally, I decided to watch it and I don’t regret it. It was fantastic!

The film tells eight great love stories while it follows the lives of different couples in dealing with their love affairs in loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London.

The newly elected Prime Minister (played by Hugh Grant) falls in love with a woman who is a member of his Cabinet. A writer (Collin Firth) goes to the south of France to get over an unhappy relationship and he falls in love again. A happily married woman (Emma Thompson) suspects that her husband is dating another woman. A just married woman (Keira Knightley) is confused by the new attitude of her husband’s best friend, who has been distant around her up to that moment. An afflicted recent widower tries to help his teenage stepson, who wants to arouse the interest in the most sought-after girl in his school. A businesswoman makes her first move on a colleague she has been in love with for a long time. Finally, an ageing rock star makes a rather weird comeback by recording a Christmas hit. 

Love makes their lives difficult as their affairs get mixed up on Christmas Day, with funny, romantic, yet often bittersweet results for all of them, who have been lucky (or unlucky) enough to fall in love.

All the stories are told with a good sense of humour and it is very easy to switch from laughter to tears. In my opinion, the funniest story is the one of the old rock star and it was because of his really great personality that I watched the film till the end. 

Not only did I enjoy it a lot, but also its fantastic soundtrack. There are plenty of memorable songs so I can’t say which one I liked the most. Perhaps "Here with Me" or "Christmas is All Around".

I do recommend "Love Actually", especially now we are near Christmas. It’s great fun, so you will surely laugh a lot and enjoy its wonderful soundtrack as well.

Thanks Leticia, it's great to see you "back in action" after a pretty long while!

The Film Corner: Cuchi - A kiss is just a kiss ...

Today, 26 November 2012, is the 70th anniversary of “Casablanca”, the extraordinary romantic drama whose indisputable stars, Humphrey Bogart and Ingrid Bergman, and exceptional music became a milestone in cinema history.

Who hasn’t listened to “As Time Goes By”? I remember this legendary film, full of moving, dramatic scenes in Morocco, where Casablanca is set during the World War II. 

I earnestly recommend you to watch this classical masterpiece because it is full of beauty and you instantly recognize its memorable quotes such as “Play it, Sam. Play As Time Goes By" and “We'll always have Paris”.

Here is a small sample of Casablanca - arguably its most famous scenes.

Thanks a lot Cuchi for reminding us of the "happy" anniversary. You know, I've just listened to a short  yet really interesting 14-minute special about Casablanca on BBC radio Leicester and, since I've recorded the show on Audacity, I can now embed it on this entry. Hope the BBC doesn't sue me, it's only for academic purposes!