Not that I mind, but there are times I regret putting Snow Leopard on the Mini, I do …
Most of the time, it’s fine having onboard, but if I’m doing some intense stuff — multiple Safari windows open, whilst using HandBrake, for example — it does tend to lag.
Hopefully, I should be able to sort that out, as and when I start earning the money to double the RAM.
Until then, lagging will have to do … !
Mind you, saying that, tonight’s movie is worth the trouble.
2009, Ken Loach directed, Paul Laverty written, Looking for Eric.
Watched by Adrian, Kevin, and meself.
Which was quite a fun film: even though, normally, I’ll happily admit I’m not the football fan that Ali is.
But — to quote the blurb from Terry Pratchett’s latest book, Unseen Academicals — sometimes, football isn’t just about football.
Not when you’re the film’s central character, Eric Bishop, it’s not.
Looking for Eric sees postman, Eric, suffering from — and coming to terms with — a serious form of depression. And suffering something of a midlife crisis.
He’s estranged from his much loved first wife, Lily, and his eldest daughter, Sam.
He also has a difficult relationship with his eldest son, Ryan, and is rather distant from his youngest son, Jesse.
Until his workmates — and fellow Manchester United fans — decide to help out with an amateur group therapy session, in Eric’s front room.
Which sees all concerned have to pick a role model they’d like to emulate.
Mr Bishop picks a rather well known — and philosophical — football player turned actor.
No, Tim, I’m not talking about Vinnie Jones, here …
I’m actually talking about a certain Mr Cantona.
Who actually does a very good job, playing a philosophical French footballer turned actor, with a whole range of views about seagulls.
Yes, I know that’s a touch baffling, but watch ’til you see the end credits.
•••••
Which, just as a side issue, I know that sounds like I’m trying to put Eric Cantona’s acting ability down: I’m not. I’ve seen him crop up in a couple of films, and it strikes me he — and Vinnie Jones, actually — does a better job of being an actor, than — say — Mick Jagger.
But Loach and Laverty did a very good job of picking the right person to play Eric Cantona …
Let’s move on, shall we?
•••••
Now, there’s possibly a lot I could tell you, here.
But I think I’m possibly not.
Except to say that Looking for Ericº is a good ol’ fashioned Feel Good movie, along the lines of It’s a Wonderful Life: with Clarence being replaced by Cantona, and the Jimmy Stewart character replaced by the bassist from The Fall.
And — while it may or may not be Ken Loach*’s best — it is competently written, directed and acted.
And if it doesn’t make you laugh out loud at some stage, you’re obviously a lot deader that a famously sick parrot …
After all, it had me, Adrianª, and Kevin Z, laughing.
* Yep, it’s another first, tonight: this is the first time I’ve seen a Ken Loach film.
º I know there’s possibbly aguments against, here, but I can’t help but think of both films — and Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol — as “Road to Damascus” type films: ones where the central characters experience life changing events, and are helped through them, by various different imaginary or supernatural figures. I know that’s not an exact parallel: Saint Paul, on the road to Damascus, is contacted by Jesus to prevent Paul persecuting early Christians, rather than to be helped. But that’s the nearest thing that leaped to my mind.
ª It even had Adrian saying it was worth the money. Rent Looking For Eric YESTERDAY, folks!
1 comment:
i no im not the greatest football fan, but, eric cantona has a bar on a Greek island and shortly b4 my dad died in 2008 he went there on holiday with my mum. they went to his bar for a beer and eric was there. my dad had a england shirt on and eric asked if he could swap it for his as he colleced football shirts. so he signed his shirt for my dad and they swapped. so if anyone goes to his bar my dads shirt is on the wall in there. we have some good pictures of my dad and eric. made my dads holiday.
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