London Film Festival 2019 - day 2

No spoilers here.
 
After my 4am start the previous day today was a much more leisurely start. I just had tea and toast and hung out with my friends until lunchtime.
 
I had a roam around Chinatown then went to meet the person I was getting a ticket from for the surprise film. She is a critic I really admire and it was fantastic to chat to her about films, writing, and women in film criticism.
 
There had been a lot of speculation about what the surprise film would be and I really hoped it would be Parasite. But since this was the second screening of the surprise film and people had been tweeting about Uncut Gems which wasn’t on the program I had suspicions. 
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The surprise film was indeed the new 'serious actor' Adam Sandler film UNCUT GEMS and it was 2hrs 10mins of people bellowing at each other and not listening. It was stressful in a bad way. (Read my full review of Uncut Gems  here.)
 
The cinema itself was amazing so at least I got to see that. The Odeon Leicester Square has little moveable tables on each seat for you to put your snacks and notebook. It has an electronic footrest and recliner so you can get incredibly comfortable. I understand regular ticket prices are eyewatering but it’s a very luxurious place.
 
I met my friend again for a quick bite to eat before heading to our next film EARTHQUAKE BIRD. This is a neo-noir set in 1980s Tokyo starring Alicia Vikander who learned Japanese for the part. (Read my full review of Earthquake Bird here.)
 
It was followed by a Q&A with the director Wash Westmoreland (who also directed Collette), Alicia Vikander, Naoki Kaboyashi and Jack Huston. I got to ask a question about where they filmed in Japan.
 
What a great opportunity to hear from filmmakers and cast members.
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But then I had to runrunrun up to Tottenham Court Road for the last film of the day VIVARIUM. This is a science fiction thriller (horror?) about a young couple (Jesse Eisenberg and Imogen Poots - look out for them co-starring in The Art Of Self Defense, coming to streaming soon) who go to an evil empty suburbia and caaaan't escaaape! Dun dun duuuun.
 
Then I managed to find the right bus to get back to my friends’ house and straight to bed.