Smoke and Mirrors. . . .

In the last two weeks I've seen three French movies. I may never see another movie in English again. Having said that, can I wait for the French version of Toy Story 3? Probably not, and that one's a must see. I saw 'Leaving' with the gorgeous francophile, Kristen Scott Thomas (in the game 'Who Would Play Me In The Movie'...I'm having her), Heartbreaker with the uber-gorgeous Roman Duris and then I was lucky enough to go to a screening of 'Gainsbourg' followed by a chat with the oh-so gorgeous director, Joann Sfar, even with his shaven head and broadening waistband, he had me at bonjour......it's the French thing. And the film is great, well I think it's great: funny, poignant and pleasing to the eye, Joann has done a masterful job. He talked of the difficulties of making a movie about France's most iconic icon, national treasure, local hero, enfant terrible and all round artiste, in a funny and frank fashion; of the pleasure of working with Kacey Mottet Klien, who brilliantly plays Serge the boy, and the extraordinary Eric Elmosnino who becomes the Gitanes smoking man-on-a-mission to self-destruct. He also spoke movingly about the tragic loss of the talented, young actress, Lucy Gordon, who committed suicide before the film's release. She artfully conjures up the spirit of Jane Birkin and the passion of her relationship with Serge. The film is dedicated to Lucy.

I have a friend who does a brilliant impression of a French film, she hates foreign films, 'Pourquoi Pascal, pourquoi, pourquoi.......big sigh.....parce que'. I love them for just that reason, that's the joy of the foreign film: the long pauses, random shots, sudden endings. It's all good. And foreign films don't fear the older woman, they're even allowed to have sex. I kid you not, check out 'Leaving' for hot'n'heavy, steamy scenes when the 50 year old Kristen gets her kit off.........

Actually, I'm a sucker for all sorts of movies, there is for me no greater joy than disappearing into the dark to settle down with Pearl & Dean and what's coming soon, before 'the big picture' transports me away from the daily grind, the dodgy boiler and the mounting bills. What greater guilty pleasure is there than a week-day matinee, playing hooky from real life, especially if it's a sunny day, the cardinal sin. When I first moved to LA I hated it, so sort solace in the multiplex at the Beverly Centre, hiding in the dark from the endless fine weather, seeing up to 3 movies a week. It was much cheaper than London so I saw anything and everything: the soft-opening of 'Four Weddings and a Funeral' that became the summer hit, 'Shindler's List' on Fairfax surrounded by real Holocaust survivors, an all singing, all dancing Disney extravaganza at Mann's Chinese on Hollywood for the opening of 'The Little Mermaid'. They love their cinema in LA.

Now, the Everyman Group has taken over all sorts of picture palaces and transformed their battered interiors and shabby, under-stuffed, snap-happy seats, imbued with the musty whiff of so many rain-sodden umbrellas and damp macks, and they've transformed them into emporiums of smoked mirrors and soft furnishings. The sofa cinemas have a bar and waiter service and the most expensive snacks known to man; like an exotic hidden nightclub, in an alley somewhere off La Rue de Realite, the neon light draws you in. I kind of miss my dusty, dim old cinema, but watching a movie on the big screen, sprawled on a velvet sofa, a glass of wine in hand, what could be better.............perhaps a Gitane?

Top tip: Treat yourself to a movie, preferably a matinee.