Day 88: The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel

Seven pensioners head to Jaipur, India in the hopes of spending their retirement in a beautiful hotel. When they get there, however, it’s less spectacular than the ad led them to believe but even though it’s not what they expected, it turns out that it was exactly what they needed.

It’s important when you have quite a large cast that you’re given the chance to learn and care about each one, with the focus not just being put on a few of them. Their stories were all interesting and it was good to see how they came to enjoy their time in Jaipur. Well, not all of them did; Jean (Penelope Wilton) couldn’t get into the swing of things but everyone else managed. Even racist Muriel (Maggie Smith).

It must be so difficult to be with someone for 40 years and realise that you are not right for each other. You might’ve been at one point but now you’re in different places and the relationship just doesn’t work anymore. It was quite brave of them to decide to go their separate ways, I thought. It’s so easy to get stuck even when you know it’s not the right thing. Through the whole film you get the sense that you should go for the things that you want and not just let them pass you by. I definitely agree but I think it takes a strong person to really go for it.

For some reason it took me a little while to get into this film but once I did, it was really great. Celia Imrie is perhaps one of my favourite actresses, she always has me laughing. In fact, the lot of them were great in their own ways. It seemed quite realistic, like it wasn’t even really a film but more like how they would have actually been. I think I’d quite like to visit India, despite my fear of large crowds. It definitely doesn’t seem like it’d be boring, anyway.

8/10

Day 70: The First Wives Club

Three women are reunited after their friend from college commits suicide (Stockard Channing, how much would I have loved for you to be in the rest of the film? Such a loss). All three have been ditched for younger women and they decide that rather than feel bad about themselves, they’ll do good for the women in the community and open a Crisis Centre. Of course, in order to do that they need money. And who better to get money from than their ex husbands?

This film balances the tears and the laughter so well. Every single time I watch them go down the outside of the building in the window washer lift I just crack up laughing. When Bette Midler does her sad eyes I just start blubbing, I can’t stop myself. The three women are excellent together, I love the ending where they dance down the street singing You Don’t Own Me.

Seriously though, is anything better than this film? Bette Midler, Diane Keaton and Goldie Hawn? Lesbian daughter (“I’m a lesbian. A big one.”)? Women coming together and realising they are strong and can do things for themselves? Ah, I love it so much. I think I’ve watched this film at least twice a year since I saw it as a youngster, I just think it’s great.

“You think just because I’m a movie star I don’t have feelings, well you’re wrong. I do have feelings. I’m an actress, I have all of them!”

10/10