New Year's Eve

[anotheranon]

Finally a recap of New Year's. Sorry, nothing really exciting - some time ago I realized that going out for NYE involved far too much money, need for reservations, and amateur drunks. Far better to stay in and save serious partying for some other weekend (like a weekend in the summer!) We did stop the movies to share some sparkling cider, a kiss, and watching the Times Square festivities, but mostly we watched movies.

And I did get to see a couple I'd been wanting to see ("Girl With a Pearl Earring" and, at long last, "Pirates of the Caribbean") and a better version of "Underworld".

"Girl with a Pearl Earring" (which for some reason D. and I wanted to call "Pearl with a Girl Earring", which is silly - where would it go?) - I really enjoyed it. For some reason European films tend to lean more towards historical accuracy (at least in costume) and gritty representations of reality, so I found the depiction of the hard work Griet did as a maid in Vermeer's household quite believable. I'm no expert of the costumes of the period, but I suspect that these are better than most as they didn't automatically aim for the Hollywood default of what was flattering.

The subtle interplay between Griet and Vermeer was fascinating to watch. Someone please tell me the significance of Griet keeping her hair covered (is it a Protestant thing? The Catholic Vermeer women didn't cover their hair), because the scene where Vermeer spies on her taking her bonnet off seems to be one of the most intimate in the film!

And, of course, the scenes Vermeer teaches Griet to mix his paints is one of the drooliest in the movie - paint wise, of course. Colin Firth doesn't do scruffy well, I'm afraid, but he does demonstrate 17th century painting techniques like a pro :)

"Pirates of the Caribbean" - Yes, yes, finally saw it. Oh, it's a FUN film, one I wouldn't mind seeing again and again! Jack Sparrow makes a hell of an entrance! Johnny Depp is rather dishy as a pirate, I guess, but he still makes me laugh more than swoon - another example of what a talented actor he is! Does not so much walk as lurch, and I can see the Keith Richard comparisons, though Depp's speech is actually intelligble :P I suffered the same "Coupling" intrusions as ragdoll regarding Jack Davenport's character, which made it possibly funnier than it should have been, but who cares! The heroine actually Does Stuff, which I always like, and the swordplay was fun to watch even if there was no actual contact. And yes, I can now see the rampant subtext which inspires the POTC slashers :D

"Underworld" - I'd seen it before but it was a very poor copy; this go around I could see the costume details more clearly (rubber bodysuits, woo!) and the filming is well done, I think, even if the plot is just vampire fluff. Everyone is well dressed, at the very least.

Yesterday we slept very late and then steamed the carpet on one half of the basement. It took both of us because we had to move all of the furniture. Again, not exactly fun (my friend C. calls this What Passes For Fun When You Get Old :P), but, DAMN, it looks good, and as long as D. and I are both on a "clean-freak" wave we might as well take advantage of it.

Back to work this morning, with a mild sore throat. I'm drinking warm drinks and taking my echinacea, so I'm not too worried about a cold part II (crosses fingers).

Hope everyone had a good new years. Frankly, I'm looking forward to 2004.

Comments

[psquelly.livejournal.com]

Since Vermeer bores me to tears, his paintings anyway, would the book/movie? I've been tempted because it's an interesting POV but I know Vermeer and his strict strict strict realism makes me cringe. I'm sure it was fascinating at the time but logic/math and art don't mix well for me ya know?

[anotheranon.livejournal.com]

I'd give it a chance - watching the interplay of logic and art works very well in this one. The story is less about Vermeer's painting and more about the conflicts within his household anyway.