Dreaming Spires @ The Art Room, Oxford

To begin with, an interest to declare, Robin of the Spires made me a coffee whist I was having earlier in the day a mid morning chat with his mother in law and our neighbour, a good cup it was too.
A quick thirty five minute (?) set with one number merging into the next showcasing both songs from 'Brothers in Brooklyn' and the yet to be released new album. The influences were clear to be heard, Dave Crosby, Jayhawks, Bryds etc but did I even hear The Zombies in one number? Mumford and Sons can get Grammys, with more exposure I do not see why the Spires can not achieve that level of recognition. To get there, they need that extra dynamic in their live sound, and like SoB who followed, a keyboard player could be the answer.
All the songs were strong, from their signature 'Not Every Song From the Sixties Is A Classic' through to the finale 'Dusty in Memphis' (I think I heard correctly), all well received and should be heard by a wider audience. Go see them if you get the chance.

Sons of Bill @ The Art Room, Oxford

Recommended by the guys that run the coolest hairdressing salon in Oxford (that's if you are a man of a certain age) a few weeks earlier this became a must see gig when I realised the Dreaming Spires were supporting. If it was not for illness would have seen them two days earlier in London, but Friday night it was to be down on the ever alive Cowley Road and The Bully in its new form of The Art Room (no real change except for the front of the building had changed from black to white).
So Sons of Bill, a band never heard of consisting of three brothers (unlike DS's two) and two others crammed onto the small stage with bass, keyboards and even the lead singer crammed stage left with the drummer and lead guitarist, with a rather large array of pedals and with twice as much space, stage right and centre. probably accounted for by the fact that they had four distinct followers whooping and hollering right in front of them.
Started impressively enough, but got somewhat lost in the middle to the extent that I went and sat down. Then two surprisingly very good ballads and a strong finish. The extra dynamic of the keyboard player varying between a church/gospel sound through to calm electronic patterns making all the difference to their sound.
And like the Spires before them, worth checking out.

The Lego movie

A very well made and funny movie, thoroughly enjoyed it even though laughing made my hacking cough worse.
This may appear to be a children's film, but it's message is clearly aimed at adults.

8.4 / 10

12 Years a Slave

More or less a perfect film if it was not for both Benedict Cumberbatch and Brad Pitt playing the goodies in the film.  Oh for unknown actors. Nevertheless, this is some achievement. I wanted to clap at the end

9.75 / 10

Saving Mr Banks

What a good movie. Thoroughly enjoyed, could not fault it.
Emma Thompson playing the writer P L Travers supplants Bullock for the Oscar nomination in my book.
Nice shot near the end with Thompson on the red carpet outside the Grauman's Chinese Theatre looking back onto the road and the awful tacky shops opposite are masked out with red sheeting. Well what else would you do?
There is a fault and that's what happened after the film's premier and end of this film.Travers doesn't like the film at all and refuses to collaborate with Disney on any further adaptations. So a rather Disney view on themselves so for that knowledge I have deducted a further mark.

8/10

Watch out for references to paintings, I spotted two, the first a nod to Hockney, the second to Millais's Ophelia. (watch out for the way the hands are held)

Gravity

Without doubt best film seen for a long time. Multiple Oscars will be coming its way come March. Sandra Bullock very well cast in lead role and given the other actress offered the role, the most appropriate and should receive her second statue for her part.
How long the stunning opening scene went on for I do not know but it felt like ten minutes, but could have been longer so much so that the first obvious cutaway came as a jolt. Cinematography in Emmanuel Lubezki hands gobsmackingly outstanding, another Oscar winner there too. I have read that there are only around 200 cutaways in the film much less that normal, please note other directors and editors. Nothing is more tiresome than a scene cut into multiple shots and different perspectives. Emmanuel Lubezki, if you dont get an Oscar, you will get mine.
Lastly for a Brit, this was filmed, except for the last couple of minutes, in Shepperton Studios and 3D enhancement again by UK studios. How they achieved this 'real' film is beyond me but breathtaking it was.

A tip, unless watching at an IMAX, sit down at the front. Do not stray towards the back (which I normally would) but get yourself down there so that the screen fills your vision totally and you have to move your head to see what is happening on the extremes.
A  truly remarkable film.

9.75 / 10   (the ending was predictable otherwise it would have been 10)

Captain Phillips

Decent film in the hands of a master director, Paul Greengrass. Hanks and Barkhad Adbi turn in good performances especially Adbi as it was his first screen role.
9 / 10