Movie Review: Widow Cliquot

 Movie Number 9 of 2025

The Movie: Widow Cliqout

The Cinema: The Rivoli, Camberwell

Stars: 3.75

File this one under pretty to look at. Widow Cliquot is only 90 minutes long, and you'd think that a movie about the history and making of champagne can't be a bad thing, but this film left me a bit ambivalent. It's interesting enough, it's set in France around the time of the Napoleonic wars. The history is very interesting, but that's about where it ends. 

The movie provides the story of Barbe-Nicole Cliquot (Haley Bennett), the heir to the Cliquot Champagne house and vineyard. In the movie her husband Francois (Tom Sturridge) is mentally ill and eventually dies - although in the film, the chronology is all over the place, yet still followable. The film follows Barbe-Nicole's fight to save her vines and product, eventually perfecting one of the best-known champagne brands in the world. 

And yes, it's pretty to look at. It's film in the Champagne region of France, of course it's going to be a pretty film. 

But here's my problems with the film - which are small, but there. Firstly, this is a French story - why is this being told by the English. It's a great English cast, but I reckon the French would have done it better. Just saying. 

Secondly, not that much happens in this. It is interesting, but it only just keeps your interest. Any longer and I could see a nap taking place. 

Thirdly, I have a bit of an issue with both Haley Bennett and Tom Sturridge. Bennett I find wooden. This is a quiet part for her, which suits her better than other roles she's taken on (the diabolical Music and Lyrics being one of those roles.) I just find she lacks charisma. 

And Tom Sturridge looks a bit too much like one of my exes - so he always gets up my nose. 

As a Friday night diversion film, this is fine. My expectations for this weren't that high. It was an interesting story. It was pretty to look at. It's made me want to learn more about the history of champagne. 

But it was just okay. Some good things and bad things. There are a lot better movies out there at the moment. This one is pretty innocuous when it all comes down to it. 

Today's song:

It's Darwin Out There

The work laptop was turned off at 7 p.m. tonight. It doesn't happen very often, but after a day of back-to-back meetings and constant interruptions, and having started something early in the day, I wanted to finish the buggers. This bit of work has only been worked on for the last year, this would be the final hurdle. And at the moment, finishing anything is a good thing. 

Also, for a change of pace, I'm not travelling for a while. I'm sure there will be more trips up to Darwin, but for the moment I'm grounded in Melbourne. This is good. The cat likes me again. I get to see films that I'd otherwise miss. I get to see friends. I get to do Melbourne things, such as meet a friend for a swim on Sunday. Strangely looking forward to proving to myself that I can still swim a kilometre. 40 laps of a 25 meter pool - I can do that, albeit slowly. 

Tonight, after the last email was sent, the last document banked and the last JIRA ticket updated (JIRA you ask - just another form of corporate torture - but like the ducking stool or the scold's bridle, you learn to work with the pain.) I made myself go for a walk. I hadn't been out of the front door all day. 

And it was just like Darwin. 

27 degrees. 80 percent humidity. It was like walking through custard. But the 40 minute walk, down to the river, over to the shopping centre and back again was just what was needed. The only big difference was there wasn't the discernable smell of smoke which lingers over Darwin most of the year. 

Maybe this is Melbourne's way of saying welcome home. We love you here. 

Today's song: 

The Best Red Lipstick

There is something about the power of red lipstick that makes life so much better. 

In London all those years ago, I had a friend, Yasmeen,  in her twenties, of French/Moroccan extraction, complete with the chiseled bob, olive skin and a twinkle in her eye. Her signature look was complemented with a slash of deep, red lipstick. It suited her and her outgoing nature. Yasmeen was an icon. I could never emulate her simple coolness. She just was. 

Kick forward some 25 years and here I am, a red lipstick aficionado. Just looking in my banana bag there are three red lipsticks. 

The first is an Ethique in the shade of Dahlia. Being an ethical brand, it comes in a cardboard tube. It’s an orange-brown-red. Lovely and casual and easy to wear. Being a cheaper lipstick, it feels a bit claggy when it goes on. Despite everything, it’s in regular use. 

The next one is from Clinique. It’s a deep matte brick red. It goes on well and I’ve had it for years. 

The last tube of lipstick was bought yesterday. Do I need another red lipstick? No. Did I covet this from the first time I saw it? Yes. 

Damn MAC and their emails. I’ve been trying to get rid of these emails that come in that come into my inbox that cause me to buy stuff. I’m getting better. But I saw this red. Something called MACXimal Matte lipstick in a colour called Luck Be a Lipstick. It was in this really groovy container, almost polariod. 

 

Rather than buy this on spec, I decided to wander down to Myer to try before I bought. I also had a Myer voucher to use – and buying from there would save me the postage. 

So, through the streets that were still buzzing with the heat of the last few days, enjoying the cool breeze running through the streets. After the heatwave it was a joy to walk around and not feel oppressed.

I got to Myer.  I walked inside to the MAC counter. I found a lovely non-judgmental lady. Believe me when I say that finding a friendly make up counter lady can be hit and miss. Most are very nice. Some are like your grade 9 bully who will ignore you until you beg for service and then they look at you're like you’re gum under their shoe. 

Regardless, I showed the picture of the lipstick to the nice lady. She had it in stock. She offered to clean off the tester and let me have a look at it on. Excellent service, Myer. 

And it was love at first sight when I put it on. The $20 Myer voucher made it a half price lippy. Bargain. 

The perfect matte deep blue red. It goes on like a dream. It stays on a long time. And marks up coffee cups with great aplomb. 

I’m wore it today – and it’s getting comments. Nice comments. 

It does make me feel strong and powerful. I know it’s a bad girl red, but it makes me feel good. 

The only bad thing is that this lippy is a limited addition. Do I go back and get another one so I'm not caught short?

Strange how something in an eight centimetre package can make you feel so good about yourself. 

Today's song: 

Pam the Bird

 I know deep down that graffiti is a bad thing, Most of the time. 

But I gotta say, Pam the Bird, a tagger who's around Melbourne, and recently arrested, is in a league of their own. 

There's a lot to love about Pam the Bird. 

She shows up in the most unexpected of places. On prominent public buildings. 

On very visible buildings. 

In places where you don't expect graffiti. 

And seeing that Pam the Bird is not your normal scribble or a cock and balls, and for the sheer audacity of where she turns up.

She makes me smile. 

And sure, sticking her on the Flinders Street Station clock probably wasn't the smartest of ideas being a listed building and all, but you have to give it to Pam. She's entertaining. 

And I love to wonder just how they get her onto the places you find her. 

The graffiti artists / criminals have allegedly been arrested. 

Despite their desecration of some public spaces, I would like to say thanks to them for the entertainment. 

Today's song: 

Tonight on MAFS

We saw gaslighting at its best. Jaysus!

Seriously awful stuff. 

Well, gargle my nut sack - It's the MAFS dinner party episode. 

Tonight, the behaviour wasn't too bad - except for one amoeba-man and his audacious gaslighting. 

And why do these cretins do this? Is it penis size? Did mummy not love them enough when they were young? Were they told that they had to be the king of the castle, no matter what?  Do they need to feel like the bigger person, even though they will never be that?

Like mate, you're a chubby nearly 40-something, with bad tattoos and a nose stud. You probably still live at your Mum's place. She probably still does your washing for you. 

When are you going to realise that if you continue to treat women the way you do, you're going to get nowhere. 

It's these men and this underlying anger which is bubbling under the surface. You can grapple with the domestic violence stats when you see these guys. How has society made them?

But it is quite strange that most of these blokes are gingery, a little on the doughy side, with trim beards and a blank stare. 

I have no idea how they pick them. 

And yes, it's rubbish television, but MAFS is fast becoming sport. I'm getting very good at being judgmental - but this is what the producers and editors of the show want us to see. 

Today's song:

It's too hot

 Melbourne 's top temperature was 39.3 degrees centigrade at 6 pm. At the time I was as Blarney and Barney's place having a beer. They have air conditioning, and it was still hot. Their cats looked all floppy, from the heat. I got a quick cuddle off of Rey Rey. Just for a minute. Maow Maow would have stayed in my arms for half an hour. Rey Rey is not that silly. 

It's hot. 

I'm grumbling and trying to look for the good in all this because I don't really like the heat, 

But:

• It's breezy. Not good for bushfires, but better for airflow. 
• It's dry heat. 
• It's a bit overcast - so my flat doesn't get as hot as it could. 
• I got to see a really good movie yesterday while escaping the heat (The Brutalist is amazing)
• I got a big job I've been wanting to do started. 
• The three loads of washing done this morning are all dry. Just have to do the ironing. 
• Hot weather means I slow down. 
• And do a bit of reading. Don't tell anybody I'm reading Jilly Cooper. 
• And I've started working on the second draft of a novel. This is not the first draft. Never a bad thing. 

But hot weather means my brain gets pickled. 

So that's it for tonight. Besides, it looks like some big thunderstorms are coming this way. 

Today's song: 

Movie Review: The Brutalist

 Movie Number 8 of 2025

The Movie: The Brutalist

The Cinema: Palace Cinemas, The Kino, Collins Street

Runtime: 3 hours and 35 minutes (with a 15 minute interval)

Stars: 5

Well, that was the most engrossing, beautiful, fascinating piece of cinema I've seen for a while. This is up there with Oppenheimer on its scale and cinematography. Seriously, this is a film that hits you around the ears and keeps your attention. It was the shortest three and a half hours I've experienced. 

No wonder it's up for ten Oscars. 

Although not a true story, this film encapsulates many immigrant stories. Brady Corbet and Mona Fastvold's screenplay is sublime, telling the story of many immigrants after World War II. 

The movie itself follows a linear plot. 

According to RottenTomatoes.com the film synopsis is as such. 

"Escaping post-war Europe, visionary architect László Toth arrives in America to rebuild his life, his work, and his marriage to his wife Erzsébet after being forced apart during wartime by shifting borders and regimes. On his own in a strange new country, László settles in Pennsylvania, where the wealthy and prominent industrialist Harrison Lee Van Buren recognizes his talent for building. But power and legacy come at a heavy cost."

Be warned. If you google Laszlo Toth, you're not going to find the same person. Look around a bit and you find out that the filmic Laszlo is an amalgamation of a number of architects of the age. 

Adrien Brody is brilliant as Laszlo, a deeply human and flawed character, who has escaped World War II Budapest, to try and make his way in America. He may have been more at home on Mars. You watch as he struggles with racism, addiction, homelessness, a hostile workplace and a mercurial multi-millionaire. I think the Best Actor Oscar is in the bag here. The performance is as strong his performance in The Pianist. 

The rest of the supporting cast are fantastic too. Felicity Jones is amazing as Erzsebet, his long-suffering wife, another possible Oscar winner there. And Guy Pearce is menacing as Harrison van Buren, Laszlo's quixotic and brutal benefactor. Another one with an Oscar nomination. 

And with the sound scape and the incredible cinematography (it was shot in 70 mm, giving this even more depth) this is a joy to watch, even when the themes get a bit hard. 

Brady Corbet's direction is sheer perfection

And yes, sure, there were some parallels with movies such as Citizen Kane, Oppenheimer and The Pianist, but with architecture theme, you get into the mind of a genius. As for the architecture, sure, Brutalism is a lot of concrete and harsh lines, but you find out more about. Some of the architecture reminds me of the built at MONA in Hobart. It's different, but with similar lines

Reading this back, I haven't done this film justice. It's going to stay with me for a long time. And mark me, this will win a number of Oscars. It's an extraordinary film. 

Today's song: