Coen Brothers, Spike Jonze, Wes Anderson are all reasons not to hate the rain!

So the rain continues and we are finding ourselves indoors again and again. But instead of fighting it, I am secretly enjoying the opportunity to kick back and relax. This year it seems like we have been absolutely inundated with some very exciting films. My sister and I got around to seeing Inside llewyn Davis last weekend and we loved it. It does not scream Coen Brothers in terms of characterisations or satirical plot lines but it does leave you thinking. Llewyn goes on a short journey in terms of time scale but what he learns on the way is immense and it got me reflecting on life in many ways. Oscar Issac is charismatic and convincing in his performance, so much so that you want to like Llewyn but deep down know that he is ultimately a selfish, lost musician.

Next week ready for valentines day is Spike Jonze greatly anticipated film - HER
I saw the trailer last week and it looks amazing - Joaqiun Phoenix is one of my favourite actors and has been out of the cameras eye for a while now. It also looks like the Tash is back. It's all about the facial hair!

Maria and I also can't wait to see the Dallas Buyers Club, the trailer looks like viewers will get a spectacular performance from Matthew McConaughey.

Will have to wait a little longer but I can't hold back my excitement for Wes Andersons newest quirk fest - The Grand Budapest Hotel. I really wanted to go to the secret cinema event of this, but this month I am broke! Free tickets welcomed! ;)

I was upset to hear this week that the well admired and fantastic actor Philip Seymour Hoffman died from a drug overdose. What saddens me greatly is that nobody should die alone in the way he did. Why is there still such a taboo about drugs in this age we live in?  Would legalising class A drugs in a controlled monitored way be so bad, if the plus side would be that the people who were addicted were monitored by professionals and able to get the help they needed. Big questions. For ages drugs have been associated and represented predominantly as a stereotypical class issue with depictions of the working class and often under represented 'drop outs' of society. But this is not a class issue, this a growing social issue of addiction, influenced by the rat race and high pressures of our current society. The question should be why are people seeking self destructive escapism in the first place? And how can they be helped.

Love your loved ones and keep happy

gem x