End of Watch to open in UK on 23 Nov, Jake Gyllenhaal and Rufus Wainwright, a WDW Interlude with Aung San Suu Kyi in Oxford

Some good news for the UK arrived this week, distracting us from our rainy sodden drought, in the shape of the release date for End of Watch on these shores - 23 November. This might be a couple of months after the US release but it's not too shabby, especially as this is not necessarily a film that travels especially well across seas. I'm hoping to be proved wrong on that. I'm also hoping for news of release dates for other countries soon.

Last night in Toronto, Jake Gyllenhaal was back in the company of Rufus Wainwright and Jorn Weisbrodt, a week after the concert. This time they ate together at the Harbord Restaurant in Toronto. As it's dinner time in the UK (an I'm hungry) I thought I'd post a link to their very tasty menu.

Lorene Scafaria is the writer and director of the imminent Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, a comedy starring Steve Carrell and Keira Knightly that looks for the bright side of the end of the human race and the annihilation of the planet. When asked about her inspiration, Lorene had this to say: "I was always more interested in the human relationships and the minutia of the people in the films, like 'The Day After Tomorrow' where I'm finding myself more invested in Jake Gyllenhaal's crush on a girl, not necessarily what was going to happen (to the planet)." Clearly, she has her priorities right.

A WDW Oxford Interlude

One of Oxford's most famous annual ceremonials took place today, the Encaenia. Conducted almost entirely in Latin, this 'Parliament of Dons' at Oxford University's most glorious and steeply-seated Sheldonian Theatre bestows honorary degrees on the wise and the good. They were particularly wise and good today. Crowds turned out in their hundreds to welcome Aung San Suu Kyi, and I was among them. These are history-making moments and I don't want to miss them.

Also in attendance were the Chancellor of the University, Chris Patten (whose robes were carried by a pageboy) and another honoree thriller writer John le Carré. More details of the visit here.

Pictures by WDW and Mr WDW.

Happy Solstice everyone!