Salmon Fishing In The Yemen

How utterly boring does the title of this film seem? For me it brought thoughts of men in waders, drinking tea from a flask and eating meat paste sandwiches. Maybe it is because I was brought up no where near the sea and I haven't gone fishing in all my years on this earth but the thought of a film about fishing just seems like an instant low score. A great injustice the title does this film then, as after watching it, I can safely say that Salmon Fishing in the Yemen is easily one of my favourite films of 2012.The story of this film is pretty much what it says on the tin, a very rich Sheikh loves salmon fishing and he wants salmon in the Yemen, something that is seemingly impossible. Again, I think this sounds like a snore fest, but you would be surprised how much story you can wrap around this original premise.To my mind I can't think of a single character in this film that I didn't find completely likable. Ewan McGregor played one of the best parts I have ever seen him in, dropping his usual sexy charm for the wader-wearing-tea-drinking-meat-paste-sandwich-eating kind of person I was talking about in a previous paragraph. He is delightfully awkward and plays the old dog can't learn new tricks part so, so well. Of course his part would never be so endearing if the character didn't have layers, and McGregor hints at his immense dissatisfaction of his life without ever breaking his keep calm and carry on façade. To act with such a delicate touch shows such a mastery of his craft, and I'm sure credit is due to the director as well.Emily Blunt brings plenty of electric to the production as a confident professional woman. In most things I have seen her in she seems to maintain an almost icy demeanour in her performances but with this part she is as warm and lovely as I have ever seen her.Amr Waked plays the part of the Sheikh who is the instigator of the whole project within the film. He is wise to the point where you think he could give Yoda a run for his money. He sees fishing as something extremely spiritual and is convinced that bringing salmon fishing to the Yemen will bring nothing but prosperity to his people. You would be hard pushed to find a nicer, warmer and contented leader in the whole of the Middle East, and of course, he is completely likable.My favourite character has to be the spin doctor played by Kristin Scott Thomas, her ruthlessness leads to some of the films biggest laughs. The character is as sharp and quick-witted with her staff and the Prime Minister as she is with her own kids. Even though she is meant to be the somewhat villain of the piece, she to, is completely charming in her own way and you never feel like you want her off of the screen.The story takes us to the eclectic vistas of London, the Scottish highlands and, of course, Yemen. Each location is given oodles of love by the cinematographer, giving London it's metropolitan greyness, Scotland it's serine solitude and the Yemen it's exotic sun drenched heat.The script is not a simple a to b either, thrown into the mix of the narrative are plot points that include broad humour, political satire, romance and even an assignation plot. The story really does take us on a journey both metaphorically and literally, allowing all the characters in the film to be deep, rich, warm and develop into different people by the end of the film.If I was to make one criticism it would be that the romance aspect of the film does seem to be a little bit predictable and almost seems a little forced. To be honest though I can not think of a film in recent memory where the romance aspect of it wasn't predictable, can you?This is a film that you expect to be boring, but it's not! If you are wondering whether you should watch this, the answer is and unequivocal yes! Absolutely! With a doubt! Highly recommended.

My Wife loves this film

This is a delightfully offbeat comedy about... well, about salmon fishing in Yemen. A fantastically wealthy Arab sheikh (Amr Waked) has fallen in love with salmon fishing in Scotland. And now he has hired an investment firm to find out about the feasibility of establishing salmon in the mountainous regions of his home country.Harriet (Emily Blunt) is determined to get the sheikh what he wants. When the dour Scottish fisheries expert Dr Alfred Jones (Ewan McGregor) rather condescendingly declares the project "fundamentally unfeasible", she brushes aside his arguments with endearing optimism and the help of the sheikh's deep pockets. Add to that the Prime Minister's press officer (Kristin Scott Tomas) desperately searching for a good news story from the Middle East (and the obligatory romance) and the scene is set for much hilarity.The script is excellent and the actors do it justice. Emily Blunt is cast, somewhat against type, as a nicey-nice and overly positive career woman, a real people pleaser, which is refreshing. The chemistry between her and Ewan McGregor is just perfect as they play off each other, initially bickering, but gradually becoming much closer. Kristin Scott Thomas, on the other hand, is just too delicious as the devious and conniving queen of spin for the government. She introduces a welcome hint of satire into a film that might otherwise have been just a little too syrupy. And while I had never heard of Amr Waked, he does a great job at making the sheikh likable and a visionary rather than an egocentric fantasist. It's nice to see an Arab actor cast in the role.Yeah, it's a rather marvellous little film that should keep anybody happily entertained for the afternoon or evening. Highly recommended.The DVD has subtitles for those who may need them. Also included are the following extra features:- Miracles Happen: Making Salmon Fising in the Yemen- The Fisherman in the Middle East: Novelist Paul Torday