JustOneCornetto

(95) The Blind Side (2009) – itvBe Based on a true story with Sandra Bullock playing Leigh Ann Tuoy who took a teenage black boy into her family, as he had nowhere to live, and nurtured and encouraged him till and helped him get drafted into NFL because of his massive build. On the face of it this is inspiring and heartwarming, but I felt the film itself was too sickly sweet and didn’t give me that sense of realism, probably didn’t help also that I haven’t a clue about American Football and the whole Draft hullabaloo. 5/10 (96) Airplane! (1980) – DVD Everyone knows so many one liners from this film and most of the scenes still crack me up. Great actors like Lloyd Bridges, Robert Stack and of course Leslie Nielsen are brilliant although Peter Graves as the pilot acting like a paedo seems out of place now. Still one of the funniest films made though. 8.5/10 (97) A Good Year (2006) – Film4 A Ridley Scott film but not what you’d expect from him as this is more of a rom com with Russell Crowe playing a successful investment banker who inherits his uncle’s chateau and vineyard in Provence. He initially decides to sell but after bumping into, literally, the local hottie, Marion Cotillard, he wonders what to do next. There’s a real sense of chemistry between the two of them, the French landscape is a visual treat, and overall, it’s not a bad watch. 7/10 (98) Trading Places (1980) – Film4 Must be about 20 years since I last saw this, still pretty funny although I’d forgotten how much racism there is plus Ackroyd blacking up which is played for laughs but unacceptable these days. Dan Ackroyd and Eddie Murphy are good with Jamie Lee Curtis, what a body btw, joining in on the fun. 6.5/10 (99) Next Goal Wins (2023) – Cineworld Taika Waititi’s latest film so as expected there’s lots of wackiness inspired by the valiant efforts of American Samoa who had lost 31-0 against Australia in a World Cup qualifying game in 2001 and 10 years later get a new coach Tom Rongen played by Michael Fassbender. As Waititi says at the start there’s some embellishments but it’s a fun ride with Fassbender putting everything into the part. I’ve only seen clips of Ted Lasso but you get the sense that this is in the same vein. Thought Oscar Kightley who plays Tavita and seems to be the sort of president of their FA as well as having several other jobs on the island, steals many of the scenes. Enjoyable watch. 7/10 (100) The Truman Show (1998) – DVD Thought I’d end the year with one of my all-time favourite films. Imo this is Jim Carrey’s best performance ever and the film itself is so prophetic as reality shows hadn’t yet saturated our tv screens the year it was made, and here we have the ultimate reality show. Great supporting cast too and I just love the look of Truman’s world and the thought-provoking message it gives about society and our own lives. 9/10 And that’s a wrap for 2023 folks.

Watched the annual quiz between Corrie and Emmerdale stars last night which is always a bit of a fun watch, especially seeing some of the characters from years ago and how they've changed. Near the end they played a montage of clips from Corrie with characters expressing shock and horror at the mention of London as if it's a hellish place two thousand miles away. Was sure I'd seen the montage before and sure enough it's one made by our very own @MSU who does a weekly podcast with his missus called The Talk of the Street. Well done them, getting a mention in the credits on prime time tv.

8 for Friday

Glad someone else picked this thought I was the only one who remembered how good it was.

7 for Thursday

I had him the year he died in 2020, got 22 points along with 21 points for Olivia De Haviland I finished 2nd that year but you're really looking for some bonus points if you' pick 'low hanging fruit'

6 for Wednesday

8 for Monday 7 for Tuesday

(91) Pig (2021) – Film4 Nicolas Cage in fine form as a recluse living out in the woods who goes on a revenge mission when his prized truffle hunting pig is stolen. You gradually find out his backstory as he goes to Portland and visits his old haunts in search of the pig. It’s very offbeat but you really get into the head of Cage and really want him to get a happy ending. 8/10 (92) Shimmer Lake (2017) – Netflix This is a decent wee black comedy crime thriller told in a very interesting way as it unfolds day by day only in reverse order. Bit of a Coen Brothers feel to it, which never gets too serious, about a bank robbery which goes wrong. Plenty of twists to keep you guessing how everything happened. 7/10 (93) Toto the Hero (2011) – DVD This is a Belgian film which plays out with some very dark humour, a lot of fantasy and is told in a nonlinear way as the now old Thomas (Toto) looks back on his life as a boy when he believed he had been swapped at birth with a boy from a wealthy family. From that point he makes it his mission to correct the wrongdoing in a series of comical fantasies including an overly wrong obsession with his own sister. 7.5/10 (94) The Wizard of Oz (1939) – DVD This is an amazing film, hard to believe it will be 85 years old next year. I think I appreciate it more now after watching the documentary Lynch/Oz and realise how much it has influenced Lynch’s body of work. Judy Garland’s performance is one of cinema’s most enduring memories which I’d love to see in a cinema as I’ve seen it a good few times but only the small screen. 9/10 Must really try and get to 100 before year end so might end up rewatching a few of my all-time favourites. Watch this space.

8 for Friday, state capital,again, and alphabet. A very Merry Christmas to all you fellow quizzers

9 for Thursday, bad response

TCM do a great video tribute every year of stars we have lost from the world of film and tv. Here's 2023 with 2 of my picks Ryuichi Sakamoto and Walter Mirisch in there along with loads of others picked by P&B'ers. Must admit got rather emotional watching it, RIP to them all.

9 for Wednesday, wonder got me too

Maybe it's the same problem we had last year when some DMs were sent to the wrong Miguel. I originally sent to the wrong one last year and when queried realised what I had done. @Florentine_Pogen make sure it's @Miguel Sanchez you've sent your message to.

Aye that was brilliant but didn't quite make my Top 10

'If' Muirhead was booked on Saturday then he will serve a one match suspension but not against Airdrie but the following week against ICT.

8 for Tuesday

5 for Monday

7 for Friday

8 for Thursday. Bond and church

9 for Wednesday, elementary, not

7 for Tuesday

8 for Monday

Still time but starting to lose patience with my big hitters. heads will roll. Oh wait, that''s given me an idea, does anyone know where Chris Dreja lives?

Willie McCulloch who played for Alloa and Airdrie, also managed Cowdenbeath, has died aged 75 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_McCulloch_(footballer,_born_1948)