Movie Review: Argo

With the Golden Globe and Oscar season come and gone, I have watched a couple of the nominated movies. First one on the list was Django Unchained. Next came Argo and Les Misérables.  

ARGO

As we know it won Best Picture at the Oscars. And for very good reasons. It is an extremely well directed film (well done to Ben Affleck for showing the world what he’s seriously capable of, and thank you to Clooney for producing and having the faith that Affleck could rock the world’s socks).

Spoiler alert: In 1979 the Shah of Iran fled into exile to the USA as the religious fanatic Ayatollah instigated a coup. During this time, protests happened all over Teheran and the American Embassy got besieged. The rioters broke into the embassy and took the embassy staff hostage. During the break-in, 6 staff members escaped and took refuge at the Canadian Ambassador’s house. Argo tells the story about how a CIA agent (played by Ben Affleck) concocted a completely hare-brained idea to get those 6 people out of Iran. The idea was to pretend that a movie director was location scouting for a sci-fi movie and had decided that Iran would be an ideal location. The embassy staff would be members of the directing team. The name of the movie: Argo. The Iranian government bought the story hook, line and sinker and the people were rescued. The embassy staff taken hostage were eventually all released after 444 days.

The movie is well paced, full of suspense that will have you on the edge of the seat. If you don’t find yourself egging on the plane to take off and get into international air space then there is something very wrong with you. The acting is excellent and what I appreciated is how closely the actors resembled the real people, without a mountain of make-up.

Beside the good acting and well directed film I enjoyed the fact that they recreated historical events with great accuracy. Also, the synergy between Alan Arkin and John Goodman is wonderful.

I wholeheartedly recommend Argo.

Fucking Predictable

I've fallen hook line and sinker for a guy who is not available.  I suspected it but my heart wouldn't listen to my brain and I feel hard. And now my stupid ticker is paying the price.

Story of my fucking life. And I'm utterly mad at myself for letting that happen.

Round of applause everyone!  I'll be here The rest of my life.  Thank you!  Thank you!

Mies Julie: A Review

Last night I went to the Market Theatre (for the first time) to watch a remake of the 1888 play Miss Julie.

The play has had numerous interpretations in the last Century, but I think this one will remain the most powerful. It was presented at the Endiburgh Fringe Festival in 2012 and was chosen to be amongst the best plays that year.

The South African playright and director Yael Farber, reinterpreted the story, setting it in a kitchen in a karoo farm, 18 years into the new South Africa. It deals with the relationship between a young woman, Mies Julie, (played terrifyingly well by Hilda Cronje), a young black farm hand, John (outstanding performance by Bongile Mantsai) and Christine, John's mother (achingly haunting) who brought Mies Julie up as her mother dissacociated herself from the world. And throughout the story floats the ghost of an ancestor.

It deals with ancestry, race, freedom, sexuality in a fiery intensive way. "The storm is coming. It will break soon" is repeated a few times and centers the theme of the play.

I came across The Guardian review, which encapsulates so much of what I felt watching the play.

It runs until 24 February and I recommend you go see it. It is NOT for the faint of heart. Emotions will run hard and you will feel uncomfortable at times. But the intensity of the performances will blow you away. You will ache, you will cry, you will feel emotionally confused and will struggle to take sides.

I loved it!

Around the World in 80 Meals: Troyeville Hotel Review

I have recently joined a Meetup Group called “Gauteng Expats”. One of the events that are organised regularly is called “Around the World the World in 80 Meals”. The aim is to meet new people and discover new restaurants that are not your run-of-the-mill places. I'm going to do monthly posting on the places we visit, that way you, dear reader, are also inspired to explore our lovely city.

Last saturday we went slumming in Troyeville and trotted to the Troyeville Hotel. It really is in a dodgy part of town. I came via Joe Slovo Drive but next time I will come via Bruma. It might be a bit longer but it’s less dodgy.  The area might not be salubrious but the restaurant and bar were packed. I guess all the locals from Kensington know about this little gem.

The restaurant at the hotel served really good Portuguese and Mozambican food. The menu was not extensive, but what was served was really good and very reasonably priced. I had the L.M. Prawns. Nice big ones. The manager was welcoming and came to give us the specials and his recommendations, the waiters were friendly and efficient, the food came fast and was excellent.

All in all we had a great night. I met some nice new people and I’m looking forward to more Meetups.

Troyeville Hotel Address

25 Bezuidenhout Street Troyeville Johannesburg 2094 South Africa

Telephone: +27 11 402 7709 Fax: 086 509 4584

 

Chalk and Cheese

I have spent the last to days in the tiny town of Kathu in the middle of the Northern Cape. The only reason the town exists is due to the very big iron ore mine next door. I refer going to site as going to Mars.

Because I was staying overnight I was booked into a guest lodge used by my company. I have to say that if ever I have to stay overnight in Kathu it will not be at Lidikwa Guesthouse. For the following reasons.

I arrived at the house around 5:30 after I had left the mine. There was nobody at reception. There was no envelope with my name and a pair of keys in it. I eventually found a gardener who was washing cars and he went off and located one of the helpers who in a very surly manner gave me some keys.

I found my room. Not big but clean and that's all I really need for one night. After a dip in the pool I took a shower. Luckily that I ALWAYS pack shower gel when I travel because there was no soap or shower gel provided. I mean, don't people wash their hands in this town?

Next I planned on charging my phone. Not one two-pronged plug to be found. I eventually unplugged the TV and precariously perched my phone as the plug was way up.

In the morning I rock up at the breakfast nook. No one in sight. I had been told breakfast was served between 6 and 8 and I got there at 6:45. A sign tells the guests to please help themselves to the lovely selection of cereals, fruits and yogurts. By cereals they mean Rice Crispies, Corn Flakes and muesli that has seen better days. No sight of fruit or yogurt. Nor milk for that matter. I finally located the kitchen to find milk. Then the urn for hot water was stone cold, clearly never having been switched on that morning. Although I called out to see if there was anyone, no one responded and I ended up getting a muffin and coffee at Wimpy.

And this is the place our company uses. I intend lodging a complaint. I don't want to hear excuses about how it's a one horse town and standards are different etc. I've had better service in the middle of seriously nowhere.

By comparison, last week I slept over in Polokwane at a stunning B&B called Victoria House. Superb service, friendly staff, spacious charming room (with all the essentials), royal breakfast. The owners even recommended restaurants where they have an agreement that the restaurant bill is spent to them to be added to the B&B bill. We ate at Rhapsody's where we were charmed by excellent service and great food.

I will certainly stay at Victoria House again. Lidikwa guesthouse? Not a chance!