Film recommendations (January)

First of all 2 films set in Japan. Memoirs of a Geisha - set in the 1930/40's its a beautifully shot story of a young girl raised to become a Geisha. It reminded me of The Hidden Blade a film I'd seen sometime in 2008. Both stories are about honour, service and obediance, and of course love. Of the two I prefer The Hidden Blade - its story is more subtle.

The Reader - Kate Winslett earned a Golden Globe Best Supporting Actress award for her role in this new release. At one point in the film she asks the question 'What would you have done?' which has made me think about my attitudes to the world around me.

Metallica: Some Kind of Monster - a fascinating documentary from 2004 about the near breakup of the band, its recovery and return to touring promoting St. Anger.

Latest recomendations

Brick Lane - a film that pleasantly surprised me as it was not what I was expecting.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich - I've never read any Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and as he died this year I thought I'd try this novella. I couldn't have picked a better book to start on.

Wallace & Gromit - A Matter of Loaf and Death - another cracking episode from Nick Park, its the way he captures English/British charm that I love.

The Big Bang Theory - along with House these are the best American TV series at present, and the best alternative comedy since Green Wing.