The Life of Pi- finally managed to catch it on the flight over to Canada (loooooong flight so anything that helps the time pass is a good thing).  I loved this film in every respect. What I particularly loved was that a bulk of it could be followed purely visually. Wonderful use of colour and cinematography. The acting was really strong (and Rafe Spall can do a Canadian accent too eh!)

Lincoln- hmm. I also saw this on the flight so maybe I was a bit tired. I actually found parts of the dialogue tricky to follow. The main performances were very strong and I actually thought Tommy Lee Jones performance was a tour de force. I still have the nagging thought that had this not been about an American President and the abolition of slavery in the US that it may not have been up for so many Oscars, and won them.

I saw A Knight's Tale (again) here on TV yesterday. I had forgotten what a thoroughly enjoyable film this is. Sad to see poor Heath Ledger, looking so young in it too. Also has Paul Bettany, Rupert Sewell and James Purefoy in it which means it has to be worth watching again in my book  . I love the fact that it is deliberately not very historically correct, especially the costumes. I absolutely love the use of the pop music tracks such as David Bowie's Golden Years and We Will Rock You. If you haven't ever seen this film do so. I don't think you will be disappointed.

(Firstly can I just say it's so good to be back on here.   I was without internet and then this didn't seem to be working last night.)
But that made me laugh, Davina.
I watched Florence of Arabia while in labour pains with my son...I still get twinges, whenever I see it.
Great film and great performance.
I'm very into Lawrence and his story.

Davina wrote:

I watched Lawrence of Arabia on TCM last night. How did Peter O'Toole not win an Oscar for this performance will forever baffle me (much although I loved Gregory Peck in TKAMB). Anyway this is an astonishing film in every respect from the score to the cinematography to the acting. 1963 and still has the ability to shock and move.

It's been one of my favourite films for decades. I totally fell in love with Peter O'Toole when I was fifteen.  As you say, it's a shame he didn't win the Oscar, it's a breathtaking performance. And I love how they didn't really make any concessions and showed the darker sides of Lawrence's character, even hinting at his masochist tendencies. I went to London in 1989 when the director's cut was shown in cinemas and went there three times during my holiday. 

Er, no typo.
Deliberate.
Can't remember who the quote is from:  O'Toole is so camp, he's more like Florence of Arabia.

What a lovely quote from wonderful Noel.

besleybean wrote:

Er, no typo.
Deliberate.
Can't remember who the quote is from:  O'Toole is so camp, he's more like Florence of Arabia.

Ok, my bad. Ya learn something new everyday. It still made me laugh out loud.

Davina wrote:

I don't think Noel Coward meant camp...he meant that he is literally beautiful.

Oh. God. Yes. 

SusiGo wrote:

Oh. God. Yes. 

I've never actually seen LoA, but based on this picture alone, I wonder...
How do you think BC would do in the role?
 

besleybean wrote:

Yes, I apologise unreservedly.
I was given the wrong quote.
The actual quote is so much better.
Indeed, Peter was beautiful and a fine actor.
Tho I am more interested in the story of the man he portrayed.

Yes, it's an amazing story. I wonder if they'll ever do a film about Lawrence's life after the war which was quite astonishing. He distanced himself from what he did in Arabia and enlisted as a common soldier under a false name. And there's of course his complicated sexuality which is hinted at quite openly in "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom", his memoir of the Arab campaign. I know there's a play by Terence Rattigan about this. Maybe Benedict should give it a try. 

I don't recall the movie The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, but I do remember seeing that scene before.