Easy Money Film Review & Competition

Posted on July 16, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

EASY MONEY WILL BE RELEASED IN CINEMAS NATIONWIDE 19th JULY 2013

Certificate 15
Running time: 125 minutes

Director: Daniél Espinosa

Cast: Joel Kinnaman, Matias Padin Varela, Dragomir Mrsic

I saw Easy Money at The Hospital Club about a month ago and it is so good it has stayed with me. The film is presented by Martin Scorsese which may be the best stamp of approval a film can get, If anyone knows movies, it is Scorsese. But with backing like that a film really needs to live up to its promise. Easy Money does.

The film is beautifully shot. I really loved the cinematography.The characters also draw you in. Although some of them are not particularity nice people the director Daniél Espinosa shows the human side of everyone. There are no one-dimensional characters. Whether it is the hitman who is a single father or JW, who gets in with the wrong crowd to make money so he can impress a girl. Poor student by day, socialising with the Stockholm elite by night. This film shows there is no such thing as Easy Money as JW bites off more than he can chew after taking a seemingly easy job to fund his lifestyle and impress the upper class girl that he loves.

Joel Kinnaman who plays JW is a revelation. All the actors are good but Kinnaman is brilliant in the lead role and also has the face and charisma of a movie star. I predict big things.

Easy money is based on the book by Jens Lapidus for which the rights have been sold to over 20 countries. Unlike some adaptations, Easy Money is a film which manages to tell the story with both visual impact and a great script. This cautionary tale is brilliant. Go and see it.

JW (Joel Kinnaman) is a poor student who lives a double life within the wealthy Stockholm elite. He falls in love with an upper class girl and is soon lured into a world of crime. Jorge is a fugitive on the run from the police and the Yugoslavian mafia. His plan; import a massive cargo of coke and then disappear for good. Yugoslavian hitman Mrado is trying hard to find Jorge but his criminal life takes a turn when he is forced to take care of his young daughter. While JW starts a journey into the dark world of organized crime, he brings together the fate of all to a struggle of life and death.

Frost has copies of the Easy Money book by Jens Lapidus to give away. To win just like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or subscribe to our newsletter then comment below saying which. Good luck!

Toulouse City Guide | Travel

Posted on July 15, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Sometimes it is hard being a writer and editor, especially one with their own magazine. Going to the South of France to review Toulouse was not one of those times. In fact, it is now one of my favourite places in the entire world and I will definitely be returning. The Pink City of Haut-Garonne is called the pink city because of the brickwork of the buildings. It is the 4th largest city in France with 437,000 inhabitants and it is beautiful, dynamic and friendly.

We flew with BMI Regional via Birmingham. We also had a great time in the No.1 Traveller lounge at Birmingham Airport before flying to Toulouse Business Class. The flight was incredibly enjoyable and included free food and drink. The service on-board was also great. Our air steward, Michael Love, seemed to know what we wanted before we did and kept us happy with Gin & Tonics and brilliant, yes it is possible, plane food.

Toulouse is the birthplace of Concorde, the Ariane Rocket and the home of Airbus.Toulouse has also had a 100-year love affair with rugby. Stade Toulousain are one of the Northern Hemispheres best teams. 7 million passengers are transported via Toulouse Blagnac Airport every year.

Toulouse has more than 2000 hours of sun a year and more than 1000 restaurants. Sold yet? Whether the answer is yes or no, read on….

We arrived in Toulouse via Toulouse Blagnac Airport, a beautiful and stylish airport and made our way to our hotel, the Citiz Hotel, a modern four star hotel in the heart of Toulouse. It opened in 2010. The hotel has air-conditioning, free wifi and a car park near the hotel entrance. The hotel faces Wilson square and is only a 15 minute drive from Blagnac airport. My hotel room was incredibly stylish, the bed was large and comfy, the bathroom was elegant and the shower powerful. There was a minibar, safe and a flatscreen TV. I also had a balcony and a wardrobe. The hotel also does a great breakfast spread and the staff are very helpful.

Rio Loco, the world music festival that happens every year on the 21st of June to get all of France partying, happened while we were there. We had lots of fun listening to all of the different music and went to bed in the early hours.It was like one huge street party. Definitely recommended.

We went on a walking tour offered by the Toulouse Tourist Board.This was informative and very enjoyable, a great way to see the city. Great things to see include The Capitole (the City Hall), Saint-Sernin Basilica, The Jacobins Convent, The Hotel d’Assezat (built by Nicholas Bachelier for Pierre d’Assezat who made his fortune from Woad, a plant used in dyeing. More of which later), the river Garonne and The Augustins Museum, an amazing fine arts museum with beautiful pieces. It has a lot of 19th century sculptures.

J’Go, 16 Place Victor Hugo, 31000 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 23 02 03. They accommodate people regardless of importance and budget and have authentic cuisine from the love of Gascon culture. The fruit and vegetables are grown by farmers in the South West and is in season. They also buy the whole carcass of animals from farmers in their region. The food we had was amazing and a brass band started playing outside while we were eating. The waiter also really knew his stuff. Check the pictures out here.

Cite de L’Espace. Avenue Jean Gonord – BP 25855 – 31506 Toulouse cedex 5. This wonderful space adventure theme park is dedicated to space. We went to Mars (Almost), walked on the moon thanks to the Moonrunner (I was six times less than my usual weight, which was great!), and saw a documentary on the Hubble Telescope in their glorious IMAX Big Screen 3D cinema. The theme park covers 5 hectares and receives 270,000 visitor a year, but it should be more, Globally, 50 million Euro has been invested into the Cite de L’Espace and it shows in the quality. They do tours in English in the summer and have had over 4 million visitors.

There is also a 53 meter high Ariane rocket, I am now one of the privileged few to go into Soyuz Vessel, the indestructible Russian spacecraft. There was authentic Moon Rock on loan from NASA which was brought back by astronauts during the Apollo 15 landing, rock from Mars, great photos which show how the earth looks from up close, to outer space, there is also exhibitions, a children’s area, a planetarium, restaurant and lots of experiments to test yourself on. Do not go to Toulouse and not go to the Cite de L’Espace. It is a must visit.

Cite de L’Espace is accessible to disabled people.

Le Chai Saint-Sauveur, 30 rue Bernard-Mule- 31400 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 54 27 20

This was a brilliant restaurant with a rustic, country feel. The food was amazing and so were the staff. Highly recommended. See the food here.

Terre de Pastel is a museum, boutique, spa and restaurant opened in June 2013 in Toulouse-Labege. The spa is amazing, with lots of different treatments, an idyllic swimming pool, sauna, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, herbal tea shop and a gym. The museum is informative, telling the story of the woad plant which is responsible for the pastel, the wonderful blue colour. You will learn about the history of blue, the symbol of blue, traditional applications and all about the woad plant, which grows in a field and looks like a rapeseed field; pretty and yellow. Sandrine Banessy, the owner and also author of books on woad, showed us how the woad dyes fabric. It was incredibly interesting and the woad will continue to dye the fabric blue until the fabric is dry.

The shop at Terre de Pastel made me want to spend all of my euros and go over my luggage allowance. There is a great selection of homeware, cosmetics, food, haberdashery and books. It is almost all blue. There is also a restaurant with great food and wine.

Le Py-R. 19 descente de la Halle aux Poissons – 31000 Toulouse. Tel: 05 61 25 51 52. Chef Pierre Lambinon has won many awards and it was easy to see why, the food in his small gastronomic restaurant was amazing and unique. Pictures here.

The Victor Hugo Marketplace. This is the most prestigious marketplace in all of France. It has 5 small restaurants on its upper floor. I bought some great cheese here.

All of the above places are where you should go if you visit Toulouse. It is a wonderful city and everyone I know loves it. Frost loves….

For more pictures check out Toulouse in Instagram Pictures Part 1, 2 and 3.

Get the Toulouse en Liberte City Card at the Tourism Office to get more than 250 discounts on hotels, restaurants, museums, shops and tours.You can also explore by boat.

www.toulouse-tourisme.com

www.toulouse-visit.com

www.tourisme-midi-pyrenees.com

www.uk.toulouse-tourisme.com

Have you ever been to Toulouse? Make recommendations below.

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Withnail And I Gallery Review

Posted on June 29, 2013 by Daniel McCarthy

The free booze was flowing generously and the sounds of Jimi Hendrix were pounding as Withnail and I returned to their old stomping ground in Camden Town, basking in the glorious summer heat. June sees the start of an exhibition at the Proud Camden Kitchen of a remarkable set of candid, behind the scene stills taken during production of the cult British classic, taken by the renowned film set photographer Murray Close.

Murray Close is considered the go to man for film production photography in a career that has spanned over three decades. He got his big break at the age of nineteen, working for the great Stanley Kubrick (himself a photographer in his youth) on the set of horror adaptation The Shining. The publicity still of Jack Nicholson’s face peering with menace through a freshly axed door has become synonymous with not just that film, but for Nicholson’s bad boy persona and has become an icon of horror cinema. Close has worked for some of the biggest names in the business such as Spielberg and Eastwood, and on some of their best known works. Tucked away in his extensive C.V. is the low-budget 1986 comic drama Withnail and I, written and directed by Bruce Robinson. It’s a semi-autobiographical tale of two out of work actors (Richard E.Grant and Paul McGann) in 1960’s London, who tired of waiting for the phone to ring and drowning themselves in a sea of liquor and lighter fluid, decide to go ‘on holiday by mistake’ to the remote rural setting of Penrith in Cumbria. Their situation improves little. It’s a terrifically British comedy and by that I mean that as hilarious as it gets, every scene is undercut with an overwhelming melancholy. It is every bit as achingly sad as it is funny. Over the years it has become the definition of the word ‘cult’ creating an entire legion of fans across the years, not least amongst countless students who attempt to match drink for drink what the characters consume in the film.

Close’s portraits of the film’s production are a joyful and revealing spectacle. They range from the cosy intimacy of the London based segments (the warmth of Uncle Monty’s flat radiates from images) to the roaming, overwhelming countryside locale that seems to swallow cast and crew whole. The collection captures the comradery of the cast and crew, and also fits in with the almost anarchic tone of the films story. Grant seems to take centre stage in many of the portraits. The character of Withnail can’t help but infiltrate each shot he is in and that unique blend of charisma and chaos permeates from his pictures, as intoxicating as anything he consumes in the film. As he does in the film, McGann remains a calm centre in the midst of his colleagues tomfoolery. His handsome features would not look out of place in a fashion shoot and they create a nice contrast with the displays of comic caricature. Look out to for an appearance from Ringo Starr; fellow Beatle George Harrison was one of the driving forces behind the films production.

The title of Withnail and I: The Finale is given a deeper, bittersweet meaning by the sad passing earlier this year of Richard Griffiths. The established character actor had many hits to his name (Pie In The Sky and Harry Potter were standouts) but none more memorable than that of Uncle Monty; Withnail’s eccentric uncle, fellow would be thespian with a passion for cooking and lust for ‘I’. His gentle yet unmissable presence was another key factor to the films success and its staying power over the years. This gallery serves up a fitting tribute to not just a great character but, by all accounts, a genuinely lovable human being.

Withnail and I: The Finale is running from June 21st to September 1st at Proud Camden, Stables Market in Chalk Farm Road

Domaine Vintur Cuvee Le Gentleman 2011 Wine Review

Posted on June 27, 2013 by Frostie

I am fussy about red wine. Some of it just tastes like acid and gives me a headache. So was Domaine Vintur Cuvee Le Gentleman 2011 (£14) drinkable? Yes, more than. It is a very good, full bodied red wine with a great taste and no bad aftertaste. It has a bit of spice and is well balanced. It has ripe, dark fruits and a good balancing of acidity,

This lightly oaked wine has full, fresh tastes of cherry and red fruit. It is a very fruity red wine. It has lots of flavour and does not have the acid-like aftertaste I feel some red wines have. It is also dominated by grenache.

My favourite thing about this wine is that it is not too heavy. It is just fresh and light and full of flavour. Worth every pound of the 14 it cost.

The wine is dedicated to all the cyclists who have climbed Mon Ventoux – one of the most famous final ascents in Tour de France history by the English owner of the estate Graham Shore.

What They Say.

Cuvée Le Gentleman 2011, Appellation AOC Ventoux

Our flagship red wine, made from grapes selected from the best and oldest vines. 70% Grenache, 15% Syrah, 10% Mourvèdre and 5% Carignan. Aged for 20 months before bottling with a light touch of oak.

The wine is complex. It has a round nose rich in woodland fruit, with a hint of oak. The palate is full and succulent, with fresh cherries and notes of the garrigue -Provençal herbs- and spice. Its tannins complement the length and balance of the sweet wild fruit and give a rounded full finish.

It is named to honour all the men who have ridden up Mont Ventoux by bike and to celebrate Bradley Wiggins’ Tour de France win in 2012. It is a wine to enjoy with meats, cheeses and on its own. Ready to drink now but with aging potential.

Brugal Rum Cocktails | Cocktails and Rum Review

Posted on June 26, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Brugal Rum is the Caribbean and Spain’s No 1 selling rum. High praise indeed. It is 100% Dominican and has 80% of the market in the Dominican Republic. I received some bottles of the beautifully packaged rum; The Brugal Aňejo (RRP £20.29) and the Brugal Especial Extra Dry (RRP £20.27). I mean, look at it, if this bottle of rum was a model it would be Naomi Campbell. I love the rope detail. It just looks beautiful. But beauty alone does not make the world go around and taste is what really matters when it comes to rum. So let’s make some cocktails….

Brugal Especial Extra Dry with Lemonade. Delicious. Just a great mix. These two clear liquids work well together.

The Brugal Aňejo with Ginger Beer. Rum and Ginger Beer is one of my favourite drinks. It is just a classic exotic drink.

I decided to make my own cocktail called Fruity Brugal. The ingredients are Lemonade, orange juice, lime, lemon, sugar and Brugal Especial Extra Dry.

Put the rum in first. You need a shot of rum. Squeeze the lemon and lime in.
Add orange juice and then add lemonade.
Add a teaspoon of sugar and stir. Serve over ice.
Yummy.

I love rum and the amount of drinks you can make with it is vast.

Add your own cocktail recipes below.

Sponsored Post.

Spartacus TV Finale Review

Posted on June 18, 2013 by Frostie

The age of Spartacus is over – after three series full of blood, guts, sex and awesome action, the American TV series finished on April 12 2013. It’s had its ups and downs as a franchise, not least because of the tragedy surrounding lead actor Andy Whitfield, who sadly died of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma on September 11, 2011, necessitating a change of focus for the series and a new actor in the shape of Liam McIntyre.
McIntyre took on the second season Spartacus: Vengeance and the final series Spartacus: War of the Damned, which brings us onto our review of this final episode – and it’s not without sadness that we write this. Spartacus has become a perhaps unlikely classic that will be re-watched time and time again. It’s a great, visceral, absorbing series that manages to balance blood, gore and beauty with some rather effective writing and character studies.

All in all, we’re sad to see it go. But how did the last episode fare? It starts with the final battle for the rebel slaves, who fight the Romans with the famous battle cry “I AM SPARTACUS”, partly to shield his whereabouts and partly to show their allegiance to the man and their shared cause. They are one, they are all slaves and they are all fighting back.

One of the pressures of the final episode of a well loved series is that the legacy of the entire programme can rest on this – they effectively have one shot to please everyone. And we think they managed it. One thing to note is that there were no twists. There were no happy endings and there were no cop outs. The deaths of the main characters are dealt with in a brutally realistic fashion and there is no sudden happy ending as such.

The story arcs were tied up – for example, Caesar and Core telling Crassus the truth about his recently deceased offspring and Crassus and Spartacus meeting to try and come to a compromise before battle.

The characters all went down fighting – Kore, Saxa, Lugo – but there was no glory in their deaths, they just didn’t win through. Spartacus himself one upped Crassus in one to one combat (of course) but met his end in a similarly ignoble way. A bunch of Roman soldiers showed up and speared him to death – a metaphor for the entire uprising perhaps? After all, what chance did the rebel slaves ever have against the might of the Roman Empire? But a personal and moral battle won by Spartacus and his comrades.

Spartacus dies yet his story lives on whereas Crassus, although the victor, finds that he has lost almost everything. His son and lover are dead and his career has gone to rival Pompey who steals the glory for ending the rebellion. For a series that started out as seemingly out to shock rather than anything else, Spartacus ended up as a rich narrative – a classic story told well and we think it will leave far more of a legacy than anyone initially suspected.

If you’re feeling sad about the end of Spartacus, and you need to placate your gladiatorial leanings make sure you buy the box set so you can watch it whenever you feel the need for an injection of Roman history. Or you could always play gladiator movie slots now, to compensate for the loss of the show. It’s somewhat surprising that Spartacus the TV series genuinely holds up to this classic film in its stylistic depiction of the brutality of a long ago era that will forever capture our imaginations.

Chasing Ice Review: One of The Most Important Documentary’s of Our Time?

Posted on June 11, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

Climate Change seems like an endless debate. With evidence coming from both sides of the divide. It is not hard to get confused and just want some straight facts. I have read James Delingpole’s Watermelons book which had some good, hard facts in it, helped massively by the scandal involving scientists and their hacked emails. Climategate certainly did global warming no favours.

But now climate change has a new big hitter on its side: National Geographic photographer James Balog. After all, seeing is believing and James Balog’s photography of melting icebergs cannot be dismissed. In fact, after telling a friend about the documentary he told me of a friend who had trained for two years to go to the North Pole and then could not because the ice had all melted and it was not possible to get there on foot. Worrying stuff.

Now to the documentary. First thing is first: wow. The documentary is beautiful. Balog’s photography is just striking and perfect. His photography ends up on the front cover of the National Geographic. It is fair to say that he might be the best nature photographer working today. However, this is not the only point of Chasing Ice. The point of Chasing Ice is the melting icebergs. Despite knee operations and health problems Balog kept returning to the Arctic and launched the EIS: Extreme Ice Survey. In the eight years since he started the project- in 2005- the icebergs had severely melted, if not disappeared altogether.

Chasing Ice was shortlisted for an Oscar and grossed over $75,000 at the box office in the UK alone. This is all with good reason, Chasing Ice is a brilliant documentary. A must see for everyone and possibly the most important documentary of out time.

Chasing Ice is out now . Join the EIS: Extreme Ice Survey if you would like to help.

Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream Review

Posted on May 19, 2013 by Catherine Balavage

It is not common for me to be upset when a moisturiser runs out. There is always something else to try. But when my Vichy Idealia Smoothing and Illuminating Cream ran out I felt forlorn. It is just that good.

It smells delicious, which is probably the Kombucha tea extract, the packaging is stylish and the texture of the pink cream is light and not too heavy, but, importantly, it really works. I used this religiously twice a day, except for once or twice when I went to bed late. When I did not use it I could see the difference in my skin. I just looked less fresh, less ‘illuminated’. The overall tone of my skin is greatly improved. It evens skin tone and smooths out wrinkles.

I have sensitive skin and this hypoallergenic cream was gentle with it. It did not irritate it at all. It is also paraben-free. I really love this moisturiser and so did my skin.

Vichy say,

– Enriched with Kombucha 3%, AHAs, Vitamins, Probiotics and Polyphenols
– Skin feels more even, smoother, supple and refined
– The complexion is more radiant
– Skin is replumped with moisture
– Skin looks more youthful, fresher and healthier

The ingredients

It is quite pricey at £22 but I think it is definitely worth the money and a little goes a long way. It is like youth in a pot.

Available from Superdrug or Selfridges.

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