Film Quizzes: #MarkStrong

I’ve always had a lot of time for a quality supporting actor. Someone who may not be the first name on the poster but can make the most of any scene and brings out the best of any co-stars. One of my favourites is the superb Mark Strong, who has starred in TV, film and on stage. The last of which earned the Londoner an Olivier award for his leading role in A View from the Bridge. How many of the films below can you work out?

Film 1 (1990s)

Film 2 (2000s)

Film 3 (2000s)

Film 4 (2000s)

Film 5 (2000s)

Film 6 (2000s)

Film 7 (2010s)

Film 8 (2010s)

Film 9 (2010s)

Film 10 (2010s)

Film 11 (2010s)

Film 12 (2010s)

Answers below

Line(s) of the Day: Wedding cake cartoon

As regular readers know, I love funny cartoons so had to share this with you.

Gr8at: International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Photography and travel are two big passisons of mine, so when I saw the BBC had highlighted entrants from The International Landcape Photographer of the year I just had to share my favourites with you. You can find the rest of the winners on the official competition website here, which were whittled down from 3,403 entries.

PETER ADAM HOSZANG – Sharqiya Sands Desert, Oman

BRANDON YOSHIZAWA – SpaceX rocket exhaust plume, Sierra Nevada, California, US

IGNACIO PALACIOS – Lencois Maranhenses, Brazil

CRAIG BILL – Page, Arizona, US

ANKE BUTAWITSCH – Madeira, Portugal

RICARDO DA CUNHA – West Mongolia

PATRICK HERTZOG – Vatnajokull National Park, Iceland

VESELIN ATANASOV – Central Balkan, Bulgaria

Line(s) of the Day #Friends

Pheobe: Where is everyone? They’re 40 minutes Iate.
Joey: I know. I‘m starving.
Phoebe: I knew we were coming here tonight. I ate nothing all day.
Joey: What about me? I only had one lunch today.

Joey: Okay, okay. Wait till you hear who I got for Ross.
Phoebe: Oh, yeah.
Joey: She’s this really boring woman. She’s a teacher!
Phoebe: A teacher?
Joey: Yeah, yeah, she’s really into history and foreign movies… And oh, oh, she loves puzzles. Huh? Come on, who loves puzzles?
Phoebe: Well, Ross does. What… You’re – you’re ruining the plan! Joey, you’ve – you’ve fixed him up with his perfect woman!
Joey: Oh my god, you’re right!
Phoebe: Yeah.
Joey: She even reads for pleasure!

Rachel: I’ll call you back.
Joey: Who was that?
Rachel: Just the pizza place.
Joey: You hung up on the pizza place? I don’t hang up on your friends.

I’m such a big fan of Friends (1994 – 2004). Though I love all the characters it’s probably Joey Tribbiani who really does make me laugh most. I covered quite a few of his best lines here, but I just had to more.

Gr8at: Quotes on Acting

As most of you’ll know, it’s the Oscar’s tonight. Here’s hoping it’s a memorable one. So as a warm up to the big event, here are some quotes on the whole acting process. You’ll find more at the Ace your Audition site.

Acting is behaving truthfully under imaginary circumstances.
– Sanford Meisner

Without wonder and insight, acting is just a business. With it, it becomes creation.
– Bette Davis

The more personal, the more universal.
– Gary Ballinger

Every scene you will ever act begins in the middle, and it is up to you, the actor, to provide what comes before.
– Michael Shurtleff

Acting is all about honesty. If you can fake that, you’ve got it made.
– George Burns

I love acting. It is so much more real than life.
– Oscar Wilde

The work will stand, no matter what.
– Meryl Streep

Stop explaining yourself. Shut up and act!
– Craig MacDonald

Line(s) of the Day #KirkDouglas

“I wanted to be an actor ever since I was a kid in the second grade. I did a play, and my mother made a black apron, and I played a shoemaker. After the performance, [my father] gave me my first Oscar: an ice cream cone.”

Farewell to the Hollywood legend that was Kirk Douglas (1916 – 2020). As well as his acting talents (including starring in of my favourite ever films Paths of Glory), he was also known for his producing, directing and writing talents. The New-York born star was also widely recognised for his philanthropy and for helping end the Hollywood blacklist.

Blogging Interview

I was honoured to be chosen by Sandra at Square One Notes for her Notes on Friendship series. She’s a wonderful blogger who I’ve had on my blog wall for quite some time. Do feel free to check her blog. Hope you like the interview.

via Notes on Friendship Part 2

Gr8t: Winter Lights at Canary Wharf

Last year Canary Wharf put on one heck of a light show. But as you’ll see from the photos below, it more than surpassed itself this year. Please feel free to say which one most got your attention.

Line(s) of the Day #TheSilverSword

“You won’t come with me?” said Joseph.

The boy ignored the question. He was undoing the wooden box, and he took out the little silver sword. “This is the best of my treasures he said. ‘It will bring me luck. And it will bring you luck, because you gave it to me. I don’t tell anybody my name – it is not safe. But because you gave me the sword and I didn’t borrow it, I will tell you.’ He whispered. ‘It is Jan.’

The Silver Sword (1956) by Ian Seraillier is a children’s novel that tells of three siblings and an orphan’s difficult quest to make it from Poland to Switzerland just after World War II. I read it again for the first time since Primary School and enjoyed it just as much.

Line(s) of the Day #AbrahamLincoln

The best way to predict your future is to create it.

Abraham Lincoln (1809 – 1865), the 16th president of the United States. Growing up in an enpoverished background, Lincoln is known for preserving the Union, abolishing slavery and modernising the U.S. economy. You can find another of his sage quotes here.