Started the September school holidays on a high note by celebrating the Spring Equinox with by best friend and the kids. What better way to sate my need for bread then to have a gluten free cook up of all things stodgy and delicious. Managed to get some great new recipes under my belt that are not only FODMAP friendly but tasted pretty great too. I was the only one that loved the Paleo choc-zucchini loaf but everyone enjoyed the pumpkin walnut loaf, mixed reviews on the corn bread muffins and gluten free hot cross buns, but in all I think we did a pretty decent job of dealing with almost completely foreign baking ingredients. The smells of spices and fruits carried over throughout the day making the entire house smell like a bakery. Spent the better part of the sunny Saturday arvo getting lost (literally) in the Enfield bush. Took a wrong turn somewhere back at Albuquerque and ended up going on an almost two hour hike instead of the 40 minute route that the sign advised us of upon entry. Never mind, made it home in time to indulge in delicious spring lamb and salad, topped off with a round of mindless competitive drawing and red wine. Yay, welcome Spring!
Sunday delivered even more sunshine and an opportunity to get out into the garden and feel the sun on my back. Delight! The first utters of warmth are just so damn good; all of the deciduous trees are stirring and blossoms are arriving, it's just great to be outside right now. I always forget how lovely an afternoon drink on the deck in the sunshine can be until days like these arrive and then I remember all of the things that I love about Enfield, and Spring...and the prospect of two week holidays....woohoo! So ready for a sleep in, especially since I stayed up far too late watching a movie that would take the jam out of anyone's donut - lucky I was on such a high that I could cope with it.
Sunday delivered even more sunshine and an opportunity to get out into the garden and feel the sun on my back. Delight! The first utters of warmth are just so damn good; all of the deciduous trees are stirring and blossoms are arriving, it's just great to be outside right now. I always forget how lovely an afternoon drink on the deck in the sunshine can be until days like these arrive and then I remember all of the things that I love about Enfield, and Spring...and the prospect of two week holidays....woohoo! So ready for a sleep in, especially since I stayed up far too late watching a movie that would take the jam out of anyone's donut - lucky I was on such a high that I could cope with it.
12 YEARS A SLAVE
Release Date: 2013
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 134 mins
It's very easy to see why this film won Best Motion Picture at the Oscars, it's an historical and utterly incredible true life story that director Steve McQueen has delivered on an epic and deeply moving level.
Set in 1853 during the pre-civil war period in the United States, we witness free black man Solomon Northup being abducted, sold into slavery and for twleve long years, ongoingly tortured and tormented by malevolent slave owner Edwin Epps.
This is harrowing stuff, some of the scenes where the slaves are being mistreated are quite disturbing, but not unnecessary. These scenes portray an accurate account of just how brutally slaves were treated, and the terrifying lives that they lived. Probably most disturbing of all is the fact that this is an actual memoir; the characters are based on real people and it all occurred less than 200 years ago.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is absolutely brilliant as Northup, bringing an incredible strength and dignity to the character. Michael Fassbender (featured in a lot of McQueen's films) is disturbingly good as Epps, giving a frightening and visceral realness to all of the demented behaviours. There are so many notable performances by dozens of reputable actors that I don't even know where to start, but they all do an incredible job of really fleshing out all of the extreme supporting characters perfectly, overall the casting is just excellent. This is probably a film that everyone needs to see at some point.
FINAL SAY: An extraordinary life story.
4.5 Chili Peppers
Release Date: 2013
Rating: R 18+
Running Time: 134 mins
It's very easy to see why this film won Best Motion Picture at the Oscars, it's an historical and utterly incredible true life story that director Steve McQueen has delivered on an epic and deeply moving level.
Set in 1853 during the pre-civil war period in the United States, we witness free black man Solomon Northup being abducted, sold into slavery and for twleve long years, ongoingly tortured and tormented by malevolent slave owner Edwin Epps.
This is harrowing stuff, some of the scenes where the slaves are being mistreated are quite disturbing, but not unnecessary. These scenes portray an accurate account of just how brutally slaves were treated, and the terrifying lives that they lived. Probably most disturbing of all is the fact that this is an actual memoir; the characters are based on real people and it all occurred less than 200 years ago.
Chiwetel Ejiofor is absolutely brilliant as Northup, bringing an incredible strength and dignity to the character. Michael Fassbender (featured in a lot of McQueen's films) is disturbingly good as Epps, giving a frightening and visceral realness to all of the demented behaviours. There are so many notable performances by dozens of reputable actors that I don't even know where to start, but they all do an incredible job of really fleshing out all of the extreme supporting characters perfectly, overall the casting is just excellent. This is probably a film that everyone needs to see at some point.
FINAL SAY: An extraordinary life story.
4.5 Chili Peppers
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