Extremely Loud and Incrediby Close

As I sit in front of the fire listening to the loud pops and spits as it sparks and random lumps of coal and log roll out and towards the dog I can’t help but be reminded of a film I recently saw – ‘Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close’ (no prizes for guessing before the big reveal, I think the subtle hint in the title might have given it away). Based on a book by Jonathan Safran Foer, the film follows a young boy scouring the city of New York for clues that he believes his father left him before he died in the collapse of the Twin Towers. The novel is currently top of my Christmas list, and I am seriously considering putting the DVD up there. Thomas Horn playing Oskar Schell is amazing. At only 15 years old, he does well to capture the autistic boy as he strives to feel close to his deceased father. Slightly irritating at first, but he is a character you cannot help but fall in love with. All of the characters are so well crafted, definitely a must see.

Another thing that I have fallen in love with recently is Lush’s lovely Christmas edition face wash – ‘Let the Good Times Roll’. Exfoliating and super moisturising with an amazing smell, it is now my go to cleanser for the season. Good for sensitive skin, I am so sad that they only stock it for the winter months – I’ll probably go back to ‘Angels on Bear Skin’ for the summer months as the only issue I can foresee with using Let the Good Times Roll is that is might be a little too heavy on the moisture for the hot weather.

I’m excited for Christmas early this year. I don’t feel like there has been total overkill for the first time in years; which might be because I’ve not been into an actual shop for a month or so, but still, amazing, because now I am really really excited. Top things I am lusting after include but are not limited to; an Olympus SZ-14 camera, the DVD of Hanna, more make up. And since I’ve been super good this year, I’d really love to find Wah Nails book of Nail Art in my stocking from Santa. I’m sure it would be amazing inspiration, since I’ve been a bit lazy with my nails recently – if anybody could confirm this for me, I’d really appreciate the feedback!

Apologies.

“Never ruin an apology with an excuse.”

– Kimbery Johnson.

So it has been a very long while. I’d love to say I’ve been really busy, and have loads to say. The truth is I haven’t, and actually that’s probably why I haven’t written anything. The time has most definitely passed for me to write anything about Glastonbury (and I still don’t have the photographs, which are now 200 odd miles away) and as the weather has changed so drastically I feel it would just be cruel for me to write anything about my summer holiday (I went to Turkey, it was hot, what more could you possibly want to know?).

I’m back at University now, in halls again and have thoughtfully been dubbed a “creepy basement dweller” by some of the other students here due to the location of my flat. I don’t think they were specifically talking about me.  At least I hope not. It’s warm and dry, I now have a wardrobe (after almost a month of waiting). My flatmates are all pleasant, and I have a fellow Somerset girl living here who has promised to talk to me in a funny accent if I ever get homesick. Something must have happened to all of us over the summer,we went to the cinema and spent money that could have been spent on alcohol to see a film. Twice. The first time round we went and saw Crazy Stupid Love. I have just looked, and most of the search results on Google are telling me that the title needs two commas in it. To be totally honest, I’m not entirely sure what is or isn’t grammatically correct but it doesn’t look quite right to me, and they aren’t on any of the film posters, so I have made the executive decision to leave them off. Commas or not, this film was pretty good. With such an amazing cast, it would be hard for this to be awful. That said, I don’t really have many comments to make. It was a good film, and it did have a couple of very amusing twists in it, but nothing really stood out for me.

The following week we went to see What’s Your Number? Hilarious. Obviously a total chick flick, but I just find Anna Faris so funny. Ever so slightly predictable, but definitely one of the best romantic comedies to come out in quite a while. Ally (played by Anna) reads an article that states women who have slept with over 20 men find it hard to get married, panics as she’s already on 19, and decides to track down all her ex boyfriends in the hopes that one of them will be the one. Her ridiculously attractive neighbour, Colin (played by Chris Evans – not the ginger bespectacled one) agrees to help her – and I’m sure you can all see where this is going. It isn’t ever going to achieve Bridget Jones status, but with loads of laugh out loud moments its a good one to watch with the girls.

Alcohol and Orange Wednesday aside, most of the rest of my loan has been spent on handbags. I will however be getting the money back, because I was totally disappointed with what arrived. Nica, one of my favourite bag brands had a sale on recently, soley for their new(ish) leather range, Nica London. Oh so many times I have swooned over these bags, but unfortunately have not been able to afford or justify them for a while. Nica are renowned for having pretty printed linings, and unusual detailing. At half price, and as I needed to get a new bag for uni, I felt I couldn’t really afford to turn them down. I was actually gutted when they arrived. None of the bags were lined. Not one of them. At all. Just the rougher underside of the leather on the inside. How can they charge £150 odd for a leather handbag that isn’t even lined? I would be pretty annoyed about this anyway, but from a company that prides itself on its unique lining? Not impressed. So, they are all going back. Which is the second thing – returns. I understand that it costs everybody money to send and receive items in the post, company or not. With many stores offering free return options, even for non faulty items, I feel that as an internet only company (there are the odd one or two in department stores, but nowhere that you can actually see the whole range) it is totally ridiculous that you have to pay to return items. Today I ended up parting with £17, which when I think about it, is almost a fee to have a look at these bags. I got my first Nica bag about 5 years ago, and after this I don’t know how I feel about buying anymore. I know it probably won’t make much difference to them in the grand scheme of things, but I feel totally cheated. Still, rant over and lesson learnt.

This is a pretty long post, and I’m probably boring everyone now – so here’s a snap of where we went on holiday.

“She Died From Three Bullets”

Today was slightly less stressful than yesterday, and I managed to go to the cinema and watch Hanna. Before I start talking about the actual film, a quick side note. We went to a Vue cinema, and were slightly disturbed by the creepy night vision clips they had showing in the entrance. When I say clips, I mean CCTV footage of people in other screens. Now, don’t get me wrong, CCTV is fine, and it makes sense to have night vision on since cinema screens are so dark. Broadcasting it for all to see whilst queuing for films? A tiny bit odd. Do they do this in all Vue Cinemas? Keep it in the backstage areas please!

Back on topic… the film is amazing. On its own, the storyline is actually pretty good – but much of the brilliance has to be attributed to Saoirse Ronan. She is incredible! The story follows a 16 year old girl who is trained by her father to be the perfect killer as she travels across Africa and Europe on a mission. It has all the usual action bits, but it also has the added awkward teenage parts from a girl who has never interacted with anyone other than her father. Ronan plays the part so well, it is hard not to fall in love with her. I am yet to see her in anything else, but as a big fan of The Lovely Bones book I’ve definitely added the motion picture to my must watch list. The sad news is that she announced last week that she won’t be in The Hobbit, as has been rumoured since January. She conveys such emotion and innocence, Ronan was perfectly cast for this role. The film has a few other big names, Eric Bana (mmm) and Cate Blanchett (NOT Tilda Swinton, although with the same hair easily confusable I think…) are the main two, but don’t add a huge amount to the film. Cate Blanchett gets a bit teary-eyed in parts, but is then supposed to be believable as a cold hearted ass-kicking CIA agent who shoots people in the head and has a child killing streak not unlike King Herod. I’m not sure which side I prefer, and I understand that good and evil is never totally clear cut, but I think its slightly confused. Having said that, it doesn’t take anything away from the film, and as an all rounder, its pretty good. Honourable mentions need to go to Olivia Williams and Jessica Barden, the mother and daughter (respectively) from the family Hanna first interacts with on the outside world. Both Barden and Williams are hilarious as the typical middle class British family, and add a certain humanity to the film.

For the first time outside a musical, I am excited for the soundtrack. The Chemical Brothers have done a wonderful job, and I am looking forward to listening outside the context of the film, as I attempt to cram some last minute revision in. It has also added nicely to the Glastonbury anticipation, because I will now also get to hear it whilst drunk, in a field. Bliss. Today I was reminded that I get a whole week peace and quiet at home when I get back. The joys of half term. Before that, I have an exam to get through. Earlier comments on a previous post have now made me slightly concerned I am going to be ravaged by badgers as soon as I enter the sports hall.