Day 141: Girl With A Pearl Earring

A young maid comes to work in the Vermeer household and becomes the subject of one of his most famous paintings. Griet (Scarlett Johannson) helps Vermeer with his work and his wife is devastated with jealousy.

While I can usually appreciate a slow-paced film, this was a little too slow for me. I’m not sure the acting was strong enough to hold my interest for long periods of time, particularly when they are supposed to be communicating with a look. The relationship between Colin Firth and Scarlett Johannson wasn't believable, there seemed to be no chemistry there whatsoever. I realise the reserved nature of the characters would’ve been true to the time and situation and it’s not that I was expecting sudden declarations of love or anything but it did all seem rather plain and dull. Perhaps I needed to be in the right mood for this film, I’m sure if I was then I’d give it a higher rating and would’ve enjoyed it more.

5/10

Day 90: Nanny McPhee

A widower is forced to marry again and his children are not at all pleased about it. Nanny McPhee (Emma Thompson) teaches the children valuable lessons and gets them to stop behaving like little demons.

Nanny McPhee seems like the saddest character. She’s hated initially by the children she looks after and when they eventually realise that she’s wonderful, then she has to leave them. So she moves from place to place and never gets to stay with the people who like her. And she is actually excellent and helps everyone realise what is important. I cry every single time she says this line at the end of the film:  “When you need me but do not want me, then I must stay. When you want me but no longer need me, then I have to go.”

Right, so, I love this film. Let’s be honest here.

8/10

Day 25: Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

There’s a mole in the British Intelligence and Gary Oldman has been tasked with finding them. Who could it be? Who could it be? Who gives a buggery who it is? I certainly don’t.

How can a film about spies be so boring? I mean, just so slow, no excitement or interest whatsoever. I’ll admit I’m not in the best place today to be watching a film (considering I spent most of the film crying about how much pain I’m in) but I’m sure I’d have found it dull regardless. Gary Oldman, who I usually love, was utterly lifeless. And it wasn’t a he’s-working-it-out-all-cool-like lifeless, it was are-you-even-awake-you’re-not-are-you lifeless. Ugh.

Too much pain, I can’t write. Suffice it to say, massively disappointed. To all of you who recommended this to me saying I'd love it, I'm going to take from that you mean I'm hopelessly dull.

4/10