Highlights of 2011

 

from Mike

 

Film

Best film by a mile was Almodovar's The Skin I Live In. A totally bonkers story, funny, tragic and horrific at the same time. Other fantastic films include: Submarine, Hugo, The Tree of Life and a guilty pleasure in Bridesmaids.

 

Theatre

One Man, Two Guvnors was the funniest thing all year and James Corden is just hilarious. Taking farce to a whole new level, you are dead inside if you don't laugh at this! Danny Boyle's Frankenstein was superb, as was Lenny Henry's take on Shakespeare in Comedy of Errors. Best Musical has to be London Road - a truly excellent use of 'found' dialogue repeated over minimalist and haunting tunes. Guilty pleasure? Batman Live or Glee Live... both were real stadium experiences.

 

Television

True Blood still reigns supreme, but closely followed by An American Horror Story. As a long time hater of fantasy, Game of Thrones surprised me by being totally addictive and compelling viewing, with Peter Dinklage the actor of the year. Kate Winslett was sublime in Mildred Pierce, while Downton Abbey is a bonafide guilty pleasure!

 

Music

Jamie Woon's excellent debut album is worth a listen, Jay Z and Kanye's Watch The Throne was a surprise like from me, and Lana del Rey's Video Games was surely the best single of the year. Other top new albums this year include: Little Dragon's ritual union, Richmond Fontaine's new one, Janelle Monae and Cloud Control. Guilty pleasure was the solo album from the ginger one in Girls Aloud.

 

Place

Favourite place this year was Pompeii and Mount Vesuvius. Just wish the tourists would p*ss off.

 

Sport

Kenny's return to Anfield. It will take a few seasons, I'm sure, but glory days WILL be coming back to Liverpool FC.

 

from Mark

 

Book

Limited Editions Club edition of Jean Giono's 'The Man Who Planted Trees' - an exquisite and rare book to add to my shelves (except it is actually too large for my shelves as it happens)

 

Film

I've yet to see a 2011-released film that deserves to be mentioned, but the prequel to The Thing has just come out, and I have high hopes for it, plus the Sherlock Holmes sequel out in a couple of days should be good.

 

Most Satisfying Job

Digitising the Romanée type family, a beautiful typeface only ever available as foundry type for letterpress.

 

from Jackie

 

Book

While Christmas shopping I came across an interesting looking book in Waterstones called 'Wreck this Journal', which I brought on a whim really. Once I got it home and really looked at it… well… it's fantastic! Bend it, throw it, scribble in it, burn it! You can follow progress of me 'Wrecking' said journal on Twitter@j_Madaxe

 

Film

Easy! Harry Potter… the finale of an epic battle... 10 years in the making! I cried.

 

Television

Has to be discovering American Horror Story, it's so f**ked up! Followed closely by Curb your Enthusiasm... the intro music even gets me laughing! "Pretty pretty pretty good!"

 

Best thing this Year

Italy! A friend and I travelled there by car... I drove through some of Switzerland, the views were absolutely incredible, stunning! The whole week was wonderful, home cooking by the Italian Nonna's and glamorous Clubs and Boat trips… I felt like I was in a movie! I've told my friend that I WILL be going with her next year!

 

A YouTube favourite!

 

 

Posted on December 14, 2011