Stand up that Girl.

I am a child of war. I am the daughter of a soldier and granddaughter and niece. I grew up surrounded by men and women who had fought and survived a world war. I remember our vicar used to creak down the aisle on one false leg (blown off in aerial combat) and my piano teacher had half one hand sheared off (hit by a doodle bug when riding her bike). I like and admire soldiers and I always feel revulsion when confronted by indulgent or melodramatic soldiery in movies. This is not one of them.

Right from the start you're in there with the American bomb disposal unit in Iraq. There is little if any music and the style is sparse and realistic. Now just how realistic is a moot point as the director is a woman and she is filming only miles away from the real Iraqi border. Added to this she is a person of some composure when constantly asked about her gender. The truth of the matter is that she is an attractive, stylish woman who leaves no fat on her product.

I think gongs of all varieties must go to her, her Actors, her scintillating Sound designer (I could have sworn the bullet casings of one gun battle ricocheted round the back of my seat),the Editor and Director of Photography.

The cast and crew shot in Jordan with Iraqi extras. There were few frills and they were hot and bothered. You will recognise some faces but particularly a new star in Jeremy Renner - an actor with serial killers and vampires in his repertoire. But if all this puts you off, beware. There are grace notes amongst these events that will never leave you.

Director Kathryn Bigelow used four cameras to capture the action. She says of her shooting style..."We experience reality, by looking at the microcosm and the macrocosm simultaneously. The eye sees differently than the lens, but with multiple focal lengths and a muscular editorial style, the lens can give you that microcosm/macrocosm perspective, and that contributes to the feeling of total immersion."

Wait til you get there. You'll know what she means.

To see a trailer of The Hurt Locker' Click here:

Going There

This is a rollick. I loved Fellini's films and always thought the women were wonderful. Extraordinarily sexy and vibrant AND elegant. I also thought they were of the times so that modern women had no hope of 'going there'. WRONG! This cast goes all the way there and a little further. Penelope Cruz shows what everyone who has seen her Spanish films always knew and so do the rest of the cast, Nicole Kidman, Judy Dench, Marion Cotillard, Kate Hudson, Fergie, Sophia Loren and all dancing round venerable, yes, Daniel Day Lewis.

The choreography is tailored to each of the main characters as are the songs and overseen by the redoubtable Rob Marshall. The dance is, at times so exuberant that I felt like jumping up and applauding! The auditorium was packed the day I went and some women had made the effort despite various walker type equipages. I feel sure they danced home too.

It does have a theme and I think this would be a 'chick flick' were it not for the oh so wonderful females with their fab outfits and great moves. It is good to be in this century where the two sexes can be together in the making of a film to the extent that there is something for each. Back in the day, the chauvinism was so obvious that it seemed vaguely treacherous to find those dances appealing.

It is a rock opera of sorts and it is interesting to see what has been left out of this version as apposed to the musical. For me, it makes it a great event and long may it run. And jump. And jiggle.

To see a trailor of 'NINE', click here: