The Year In Review

It's that time of year once again, and interestingly, almost everyone I know has had a really crappy 12 months.

Never mind the mind-boggling international events, especially major political upheavals across the globe. It seems many individuals suffered on a personal level as well, be it illness, family or work-related issues.

I don't know if 2016 counts as the absolute worst in my book, but it's definitely up there in the top 3. And yet, despite all the turmoil, my luck does seem to be changing for the better, and I believe 2017 will bring new and exciting developments in various aspects of my life.

Entertainment-wise, 2016 saw a bumper crop of TV shows. My favourite picks, in descending order:
Narcos season 2
The Crown
The Night Of
Good Behavior

I've reviewed 3 of the above, so I should include a brief mention about Good Behavior.
It stars Michelle Dockery ( Lady Mary from Downton Abbey ), who plays a troubled ex-con, single mother and drug addict. Somehow, she gets caught up in the middle of a hit and soon gets tangled up with a hired killer ( Juan Diego Botto ), who ropes her into his assignments, followed by mutual attraction and gradual bonding.

The reason I like this series is its constantly surprising twists. I attempted to predict the storyline multiple times and often failed, which in turn piqued my interest.
Dockery does a 180-degree turn from her prim and proper Lady Mary role, opting for plunging necklines and vampy wigs. Her American accent is competent, but she still retains her trademark tight-lipped smile, unable to shed Lady Mary entirely.

Another reason I keep watching is Juan Diego Botto, who plays hitman Javier. I think this is the first time I've ever seen him, and whoever selected him for this role deserves a prize, because he's perfect for it. Already in his 40s but lean as a 20-something, with gorgeous wavy dark hair and a velvety voice, he scorches the screen and has great chemistry with Dockery.
If you decide to start watching and reach episode 4 - the one with Lettie's high school reunion - let me know how you feel when Botto appears in the final minutes of the show, after being absent for the first 40. I had a huge smile on my face, 'cos I realized just how much I missed him. :)


As for movies, I haven't seen as many as I'd like, but my top choices are:
Captain America: Civil War
The Secret Life Of Pets
Florence Foster Jenkins
Captain Fantastic
Nocturnal Animals
Indignation

I'll be catching La La Land next week, and am confident it will also make the list. Can't quite find the time for Sing just yet, but the trailers and clips alone are a hoot!

I've already reviewed Captain America, so here're short descriptions of the rest, in case you're curious.

The Secret Life Of Pets is completely insane but in a very grownup way. Unlike Finding Dory, which was equally nuts but bored the crap out of me, Pets had me rolling with laughter the whole time.

Florence Foster Jenkins is also extremely funny, thanks to its flawless cast, a sparkling script, and wonderful direction. A story like this one could've been easily mangled without the right combination. Simon Helberg is spectacular, but Hugh Grant steals the show.

Captain Fantastic, another smart, moving dramedy, features Viggo Mortensen at his kookiest, and a cast of youngsters whose fearless performances deserve award nominations. I love this film because it highlights the deficiencies of so-called "normal society", where kids who go to school know next to nothing, while those who live in the wilderness can quote and explain the Constitution, among many other things.

Indignation stars two actors I'm huge fans of - Logan Lerman and Tracy Letts. A thought-provoking coming-of-age story, with one exceptional, brilliantly executed scene between Lerman and Letts.

Nocturnal Animals is unlike anything I've ever seen. I haven't read the novel but I find Tom Ford's direction most intriguing. Gorgeously shot with truly incredible performances from the entire cast, this film left me hanging at the end but in a good way. It's disturbing, tragic and unpredictable. Definitely an awards contender.

A brief note about Jake Gyllenhaal, who stars in Nocturnal Animals - he's my favourite actor for 2016.
I've been a fan for many many years, from 1999's October Sky and 2005's Brokeback Mountain and Jarhead, to 2007's Zodiac, 2011's Source Code, 2014's Nightcrawler and 2015's Southpaw.
I love actors who make brave and unusual choices, but Jake has an uncanny ability for picking really great roles, especially when you consider how young he is. He'll be 36 in a week's time, and has already worked with Lee Ang, David Fincher and Sam Mendes.
Recently, I also discovered YouTube videos of Jake singing. Flawlessly, might I add. My admiration for him shot up a hundred notches! The one to watch for the next few years. Someone please give him an Oscar soon.


2015 was THE year of starry meet and greets, but in early 2016, I finally got the chance to say hello to Josh Groban after his Sydney Opera House concert, and snap a wefie!
In August, I met Charlie Puth at Sentosa, and he obliged with a hug and an awesome photo.

And although I couldn't snag tickets to Coldplay's National Stadium show in April, I did score seats for Bruno Mars' Paris gig in June. On my birthday, woohoo! It's a VIP package, so let's see what I can do in terms of an autograph. A meet and greet is probably too much to ask, but you never know. :)

Other tentative plans in the pipeline: tickets for The Graham Norton show ( they're known to be very partial to foreign visitors ahem :)), catching Damian Lewis at the West End, the French Open men's singles final, Paris Disneyland, lots of museums, and meeting my Parisian penpal again after 6 long years apart.

To all my readers, may you have a blessed Christmas and a wonderful New Year! And may 2017 be a much happier time for everyone.