The National Lottie

Thanks to Movies.ie and Mr. Ben, I went to see the World Premiere of The Boy In The Striped Pyjamas last night (earlier today).

Having never read the book, I knew very little of the story other than it was set in Nazi Germany and it was a story of friendship between a work-camp Jew and a Nazi Soldier’s son.   To be perfectly honest, I wasn’t too pushed on going. The book has been on my “to read” list for such a long time now and I wanted to give that a go first. But free tickets and an empty calander got the better of my patience.

The Red Carpet

This was my first time on a bona fide red carpet at a première and I was totally under dressed for the event. After a little confusion about which way we walk in the ushers spied our tickets and ushered us (as they do) onto the red carpet.  The TV3 and 98FM crew sensing new souls in town raised their cameras, readied their microphones and then groaned with disappointment as they saw the bunch of nobodies approach. I flaunted my best look-at-me smile, pirouetted a little and took a bow and…nothing. I think there was an audible groan.  Next time, I am so wearing dark glasses and my scarf in a total “I vant to be alone” fashion.

The Savoy

As a kid I remember running enthusiastically to the front rows of the cinema, last night, I was pushed reluctantly into the fifth row from the front (An entire 65 rows away from Ray D’Arcy). I immediately went into “moan” mode. I floundered about for my glasses, bitching and moaning about how I didn’t really need my corneas but hey - free laser eye surgery…

Following the brief* introductory speech from a few people, including Ry(aw)n Tubridy (*I flash back to Twenty’s post yesterday about the the evils of our world “Floods. Gangland crime. Hospital waiting lists. MRSA. The continued existence of Ryan Tubridy”) the film began. After a few minutes I realised that it was not an odd filming techniques but a combination of the curve of the Savoys Screen with sitting too close to the front that was making the scenes lean to the left.  I took off my right shoe and everything was resolved. I can’t bring myself to rob his jokes.

The Movie

Despite my early protests I fell into the movie instantly. Others will review the film much better than I can ever do but I will say that it fitted together beautifully (”beautifully” - a word I despise in film reviews) and not having read the book, I imagine that it did it justice. The jewel of the film for me was Vera Fermagia playing Bruno’s mother. She was the absolute heart of all that was not said and although her dialogue is not huge, her face said everything that needed to be said. Without giving too much away, it was her cries that broke the banks that finally gave way to my river of tears.

One of my favourite moments of the film was so universal. The moment when two children happen upon that undeniable moment of realisation that will bond them as friends for life - they discovery that they are both 8.  I can imagine that the friendship portrayed in words of John Boyne’s novel go far deeper than an hour and a half film could possibly achieve but as the author said himself on closing, he felt that Director Mark Herman maintained the dignity and spirit of the book.

I highly recommend going to see this even if it as I would say “not my type of film”. And by the way if Movies.ie are looking for someone to go to L.A and interview John Travolta - I’ll quite happily be your dog.

On a final note, if there is anyone looking for a reasonably priced trip to Lanzarote in the coming weeks, let Hairy Fish know.

Stephen Lynch day finally arrived on Monday when we headed to the Olympia for what would be the first of his two shows this week as part of The Bulmers Comedy Festival.

After meeting some people for sushi in AYA, opting for the very an adventurous Sushi 55 and watching in shock and awe as Mr. Doyle scoff 15 plates of sushi we headed over to Brogans on Dame Street, where I practically had to climb the walls to get my companions to finish their beverages so that we could go take our seats.

Almost two hours and some questionable support choices later, I realised that they may have had reason to be a little miffed at my over excitement. BUT IT WAS STEPHEN LYNCH DAY!

The eager beavers got their before me so here and here and here and here are some great reviews. I was lucky enough to get to see the show on both nights and while there was not a massive difference in the set list between the two gigs, each had it’s own charm.

On Monday, it was of course, my first time seeing Stephen live. Hundreds of You-Tube clips just don’t compare. Everything was (to me) spontaneous and off the cuff and the audience were really enthusiastic.

On Tuesday night, there were two great differences. Firstly, box seats- Amazingly close to the stage. I think part of Stephen’s charm (we’re on first name terms now you know) is derived from his facial expressions. He has big blue cheeky eyes that convey messages much dirtier than anything he sings about.

Secondly, one of our viewing companions on Tuesday knew nothing of Stephen Lynch other than a what he read in a brief Google description. I think I spent more of the night watching his reactions than watching the show itself. I love watching people being introduced to new comedy or music for the first time.

Here is some video from Tuesday night. It’s actually not a Lynch song but Dirty Sanchez by one of his side kicks, David Josefsberg.

Well according to Metro paper this morning, that’s what the boffin heads have decided. Women look for men who display the characteristics and traits of the fathers, while men pursue women who remind them of their dear old mum.

The paper gave some convincing pictorial arguments for this theory -

Gweneth Paltrow’s dippy rock husband does, at certain angles resemble here Dad Bruce. Nigella Lawsons husband is a slightly younger doppelganger of her father. The BBC pointed out that Zoe Ball seemed to have picked a more youthful version of her Dad to play happy families with. Look how well that one worked out!

And it got me thinking - Is it coincidence? A desire for the familiar? Is it human nature to go for people who resemble our nurturers? Sexual imprinting? In my case, masochism? Is it just looks wise or personality too? Maybe if we are exposed to a certain type of personality from an early age, that is the type of person we are drawn to, whether consciously or subconsciously.

They say that women born to parents over 30 are more attracted to older faces than those born to younger parents. That doesn’t explain my Sean Connery fetish!

Having prodded at my own relationship, I hope the only similarities between D and the old man are an affro and an affinity for the demon drink. And conversely, I hope the only thing I have in common with his mum is my first name. It’s just all too creepy!

Puts a while new spin on Daddy’s girl.

Ok. I did it. I got Google reader as my “blog folder” is now three exhaustive pages.

However, I’m not sure it was entirely the right thing to do. I have only now realised just how many blogs I frequent on an almost daily basis.

I think I may have a problem.

Via Doodlepipski

It’s back to court for me today. The August vacation seemed to fly by and I got far less done than I had planned. I now have to drag the suit back out of the wardrobe and actually start to groom again.

So with a heavy heart I plod out to work this morning with the same vigour as the school kids on their first day back in school after the summer.

It’s Stephen Lynch night tonight so at least I have something to look forward to.

I’m too dizzy and lazy to blog properly today so instead of cleaning up I decided that it was more important  to take random photos of the leftovers.

I love Blueberries. I like the way they feel between my fingers. If I could be any fruit I would definitely be a Blueberry.

Another one of  RP’s amazing “creations”. I’m starting to realise that every time I see this girl she has cake. I likes her lots!

Above all else, I adore Champagne. This bottle has been sitting in my fridge since the first week of August waiting for an appropriate moment to be popped.

Breakfast should never ever have this many colours to it. It’s just not right.

How is it Sunday already? How did we manage to make our way through 6 bottles of wine and copious bottles of spirits? Why were four “adults” sniggering like school children over the words “deck” and “poo”? Why isn’t PB on my blog roll? I’ll have to amend that straight away.Why was I texting people at 4am in the morning? Apologies to those I did.

My heads all too spinny  for any type of coherent blogery after what was supposed to be a grown up and civilised evening.  I can’t even formulate a fluffing link post so have these here and here. And as I have decided to be a moany git for September so I’ll be as bright and positive and shiny as my hangover will allow today.

Things that will be great for September:-

Seeing Stephen Lynch. TWICE. Thank you Mr. Rick. Your deck is truly marvellous!

Seeing the lovely Stella on the 7th.

Karaoke on the 11th…….questionable on the greatness front.

Soundcheck at Spy Bar on the 18th.

Orange, like Pink, is a colour that very few men can pull off.

However:-

Now excuse me while I go pick my tongue up off the floor.

The rumour is that John McCain,( my favourite action hero) has chosen Alaskan Governor Ms. Sarah Palin to be his running mate in the race for the US presidency. Talk about transparent tactics!

McCain is expected to announce his choice at a rally in Dayton later.

Palin is the first woman governor of Alaska and if the Republicans do it again she will be the first female Vice-President of the United States. She is a social conservative who is strongly opposed to abortion and same sex marriage and a stauch pro-gun campaigner.

While she does not appear to have much if any experience on the national stage and no foreign policy experience, I suppose they hope that she will appeal to women voters who were denied Hillary by the primaries.

I may be one of the few people who actually like Jo Biden (he’s just so West Wing) and I think he will shred her to peices in the VP debate.

Transparent Tactics? Yes. Insulting to the electorate? Yes.

But doesn’t it makes for great TV?!

Related Rants: Here and Here

I hear the exchange almost every day of the week.

“Take the Bible (Or Koran) in your right hand and repeat after me - I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth”

But in todays society what does this really mean. Everyone is out for themselves and fear of God or lying doesn’t seem to rank very highly on anyones list of agenda. Before I go on I promise, this is not a preachy post.

This topic is on my mind today as I have a crazy bible basher on the phone to me telling me of the evils of lying on the bible and how our client will burn in hell.

I am an agnostic and I have sworn on a bible before for court testimony. While I did tell the truth, it had no bearing on the fact that I had just sworn on a bible to do so. It was just the truth. In the same case another witness “swore to tell the truth” and then only uttered total falacies.

I see people lie on the stand every day and it usually comes down to the Judges own instinct to be able to read body language and signals to distinguish what is really the truth. (Tapping the Bible while swearing is an immediate give away).

My reasons for telling the truth in court are based on my ever glimmering hope that justice should prevail, that lying on the stand constitutes perjury, I would now want to defraud the court or the proceedings and obviously my own interest would play a part.

But the presence or absence of a silly Bible makes no difference to me. It’s just a formality. So why not get rid of this vacant ritual? Why not get someone to sign a document stating that they will tell the truth or face legal consequence if they are found to defraud the proceedings and waste the courts time?

While perjury proceedings are always an option, many see the swearing on the bible as meaning nothing and therefore they lose respect for the concept of honest witness evidence. Attitudes may change if they are faced with a black and white reality of consequences for false testimony.

It just seems to me that swearing on the bible is entirely antiquated in todays society. Thoughts?