Black Swan

I once read an intriguing piece about how to write a bestseller - and the gist of the feature was this - to write a bestseller one must open an artery and let the life blood spill out - the reader will feel the emotion and respond it. And it doesn't matter what genre you choose - John Grisham's first novel A Time To Kill was written after he witnessed the horrowing testimony of a 10 year old girl who'd been raped -
Having watched Black Swan on the edge of my seat I think it's true to say it doesn't matter what creative discipline you choose - novel writing, ballet or the movies - to create a bestseller one must open an artery and let the life blood spill out.

Possession

I was attracted to the movie Possession by the crush I suffer for Jeremy Northam (see above). Helped along by fact the storyline is adapted from a Booker Prize winning novel. Bound to be a winner I thought. Except OMG it is simply awful. It is the worst sort of Barbara Cartland. The central character of cold repressed Maud is utterly unconvincing. Her love interest, the pretty research assistant, has dirty hair and dirty stubble. When they finally kiss I felt faintly sick.
It took Jeremy and Jennifer Ehle to set the screen on fire - and they were electric together, while naked and fully clothed - except they didn't appear often enough to rescue such a ridiculous movie.

Miranda Hobbs

In the beginning she was probably the one I liked least - she was just so abrasive, and tough. I'd have been too frightened to eat breakfast with her, incase she ate me as well. And the clothes she wore were just awful. And the men she dated were worse -ranking only one step above the pond life Charlotte kept meeting who, inspite of blue blood and trust funds, were egotistical sexual perverts.
Then Miranda met Steve. A bit thick and without any prospects, but unlike the hot shot, smart talking law types she ran with, Steve was kind and wore his heart on his sleeve.
Now they're married with Brady, and Miranda has never looked better. Her clothes in Sex and the City 2 were the nicest clothes I've ever seen. She's no longer defensive and angry; she's empathetic and fun.
I care far more for Miranda than Scary Carrie with her strange baby voice, or Silly Charlotte who ices buns with her children while wearing vintage couture, or even my previous favourite Samantha - who has become a caricature of herself.
I might even manage now to eat breakfast with Miranda, should she ever care to invite me.

Sex and the City

For years I didn't see Sex and the City, because we were living in Africa, and we didn't have a TV. Then my sisters gave me the box set as a birthday present.
And do you know what hooked me?
Not one of those fabulous New York ladies is perfect! They're funny, smart, well groomed and successful but look closer and Miranda has terrible teeth, Charlotte has heavy legs, Carrie's hair cries out for conditioner and Samantha's clothes are frankly awful...
This is of course the reason we love them and why the show is such a success - because Miranda, Charlotte, Carrie and Samantha are real ...

Jezebel

It is a well documented fact that Jezebel is my favourite movie. Set in the 'Deep South' before the Civil War, wilful Bette Davis refuses to wear a white frock at the ball... Her stuffed shirt boyfriend Henry Fonda huffs and moves to the North. Bette pines for him until he returns - but the bugger comes back married!
Hell hath no fury like Bette Davis scorned and she unleashes the very worst of her wiles, inciting a duel and causing a riot...
I recently found the trailer on U Tube - I especially like the tag line - A woman who was loved when she should have been whipped - from that alone you can tell this movie was made in 1938!

New Moon

I've just seen the trailer for New Moon - sequel to Twilight - and it's amazing! Not only is there Edward Cullen's slender pale six pack to admire but we ladies now have added beefcake in the shape of a pack of werewolves.