The Aeronauts

Some films need to be seen on the big screen.
I'd been looking forward to The Aeronauts, starring Eddie Redmayne and Felicity Jones as Victorian scientist James Glaisher and balloonist Amelia Wren who attempt to break the height record for balloon flights while taking scientific readings.
I went to Brook Street Cinema on Monday evening - it was almost like a private showing, as only six people had bought tickets for the 7.30pm show.
The special effects were very good (after all, they couldn't really have been flying over Victorian London!) and it wasn't just two people in a balloon basket. I did like the portrayal of James Glaisher's father, the clock and watch mender, who had a telescope out the back of his shop and was only just holding on to reality. He was played by Tom Courtney. It was also nice to see James' friend being played by an Indian actor, Himesh Patel, and some black and brown faces in the crowd scenes (there were black and brown people living in London in 1862, after all). Also some glorious crinoline dresses!
I was inspired to do some research after seeing the film - the balloon flight in the film was actually made with a male colleague, and Amelia Wren was fictional, but based on some real lady balloonists of the time.

The trailer was for Last Christmas - I was quite excited to spot Michelle Yeoh in that, running a Christmas shop. I last saw her as the evil Emperor of the parallel universe Terran Empire in Star Trek: Discovery! That's coming soon, and also coming soon are Gaugin from the National Gallery, The Good Liar starring Helen Mirren and Ian McKellan, Knives Out and a Les Miserables Concert.