You would have to have been living under a rock for the last five years to not know what Facebook is. But what most people don't know is the full story of it's creation and the controversy surrounding it's founder, the enigmatic Mark Zuckerberg. I knew tid bits of information from an article I had read in Rolling Stone but I certainly wouldn't have been able to guess just how deep the rabbit hole goes on this topic.
From the very first scene, this movie ignites your intrigue and propels forth, never loosing it's momentum. The dialogue is sharp and punchy but still believable as some of the characters in this film are quite literally geniuses, so naturally they would have an incredible grasp of language. The cuts between the live action and impending law suit scenes really help build your anticipation for the unfolding events, whereas usually so much talking could easily bore an audience. One of my favourite lines of dialogue comes at the end of the first scene and is delivered by Erica Albright (Mark Zuckerberg's irate girlfriend) -
' Mark, for the rest of your life you're going to think that girl's don't like you because you're a nerd. But I'm telling you right now that it's because you're an asshole!'
The performances in this film are extraordinary. Some of the characters (the Winklevoss' for example) seem larger than life but it's almost a symbolism for the on-line exaggerated personas that people create for themselves. I know that some of my actor friends were not too thrilled to see Justin Timberlake appear in this movie and think they should have given the role to a real actor. But I have to say that it was perfect casting if you think about the thought process behind it. Fincher and Sorkin clearly wanted to capture the essence of Sean Parker- rebellious, cocky, magnetic...basically a rock star. So why not cast an actual rock star to portray him?! Timberlake oozes charisma as Sean Parker and it's easy to see how the Zuckerberg character could fall under his spell. Jesse Eisenberg is used to using his awkwardness to endear an audience, the difference here is that his awkwardness manifests itself in such a way that makes it hard for his character to know how to behave in social situations and he's often not very likable (I mean this in a good way.) Still, one can't help but admire Zuckerberg's ambition and extreme intelligence and he definitely wins you over in the final scene, when you see maybe a hint of regret in his eyes as despite everything, he still wants to just have a friend.
Even if you are the person I mentioned at the top of the page who's been living under a rock and have no idea what facebook is (or just have no interest in it for whatever reason) the themes present in this movie such as friendship, class, betrayal and greed are elemental in creating solid drama and are as old as the dawn of time.
'You don't get to 500 million friends without making a few enemies.' That says it all...
Showing posts with label Helly. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Helly. Show all posts
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Helly's Video View
Firstly, I must sincerely apologise for the tardiness of this post and to make up for it I'm going to do a video view extravaganza! The following is going to be mini reviews of the four films I have watched in the last two weeks, so I hope you enjoy.
Swingers
Written by John Favreau, it is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences from when he was first starting out in LA, but this becomes more of a backdrop of the film and we soon discover that the film's larger theme is about relationships and dealing with break ups.
It stars Vince Vaughn in the performance that defined his career and he doesn't miss a beat as the suave,slightly obnoxious, swingin' bachelor. John Favreau also does a great job and in many ways his poignant performance is what gives the film heart.
This film has some truly great moments including the scene with John Favreau leaving the multiple answering machine messages, it's so painfully desperate that you're heart just goes out to the poor guy. The pep talk that Vince Vaughn gives Favreau when he's trying to help him pick up women is truly hilarious, so hilarious in fact that you just have to watch it- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODjE-_OB3JI. I also love the swing dance number with Heather Graham towards to the end, they have a sizzling chemistry which is quite unexpected.
The film has a very raw quality and you can definitely tell that it has influenced other films and possibly even TV shows such as Entourage. The film is insanely quotable, the two most famous quotes probably being 'You're so money' and 'Vegas baby Vegas!'. It's a very enjoyable, rough little gem of a movie.
The Village
This film from M. Night Shymalan seems to divide audiences, people either love it or hate it, no one seems to sit in the middle which is why I was very keen to see it. In the interest of full disclosure I should say that I had somehow already heard what the 'twist' was but I only had a vague idea and I tried to just watch the movie unfold and not think too far ahead.
I think that some of the contempt that people feel towards this film comes from the fact that it was marketed entirely the wrong way. People thought they were in store for a spine tingling thriller and hence were disappointed when this didn't turn out to be the case. The film is still quite suspenseful but for me I would classify this film as more of an un-conventional love story over anything else.
Bryce Dallas Howard gives an incredible performance as the heroine Ivy Walker. Her blindness may seem like just a gimmick at first but Howard's charm and commitment to the role make for a fully realised and unique character. Joaquin Phoenix has surprisingly little screen time but really manages to establish his character in the time he has been given and the film really needs that as the love story is what everything hinges on.
I appreciated this film's truly original concept and it's enthralling performances and think that it gets far too much negative criticism.
A Fish Called Wanda
This is another one pulled from my vault of all time favourite movies and I had the pleasure of re-visiting it last week. As you may have worked out it seems that most of my 'all time favourite movies' tend to be fairly light hearted comedies and I guess the reason for this is that they tend to be the most re-watchable as they're just so much fun! This film echoes that sentiment exactly as I've watched it countless times ever since I was a youngster (which I realise now might not have been entirely appropriate!) and it still manages to make me laugh every time.
Written by and starring John Cleese, this film retains that Monty Python brand of silly, British humour. The comedy is quite big and may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think what I like most about this film is that it doesn't take itself seriously and acknowledges it's own ridiculousness (the text at the end on the future of all the characters is the perfect example of this.)
In terms of characters you have John Cleese as the uptight barrister, Jamie Lee Curtis as the scheming seductress, Michael Palin as the stuttering animal rights activist and Kevin Kline as the Nietzche spouting former CIA agent. They're all thrown in the pot to simmer together and the end result is a wonderful comedic stew! Kevin Kline is the real stand out and his hilarious performance as the buffoon-ish Otto won him an academy award. My favourite scene in the entire movie has to be when Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) finally snaps and unleashes a tirade upon Otto (Kevin Kline) about what an absolute idiot he is.
So if you're a fan of British comedy and you haven't seen this movie than it's about time you gave it a look! Just don't call me stupid...
Remember Me
Okay, so I know at this point you're probably wondering why I bothered with what looks like a C grade teen movie designed for 'Twi-hards' but me and this Cat I know had been informed that it was actually fairly decent so I thought I would at least give it a shot.
We had to stop the movie half way through and watched the rest another day. At the half way point I found that the movie was far from perfect but still quite a promising drama with a great soundtrack. I'm kind of wishing that I'd just left it there as the second part of the film is where things take an overly dramatic turn and there is quite a bizarre plot twist . The problem is that up until this point the film had just been an intimate little drama and the plot twist that happens is so epic that it hasn't earned it and it feels completely out of place. There is a Ghandi quote which is repeated in the film which is 'Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it' so I think that's clearly what they were going for in regards to the plot twist and I understand the sentiment but think it could have been done is a much more subtle way.
The two leads (Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin) far surpassed my expectations and have fantastic chemistry, without which the film would have been much less successful. Robert Pattinson was actually fairly believable as the confused yet endearing Tyler, but at points he became overly dramatic (which I think was more a fault of the writing but he could have easily reigned it in a little.) Emilie de Ravin is enchanting as the impetuous Ally and has an understated sexiness. I liked the character quirk of her eating her dessert before her main course to show that she wants to live life to the fullest and not deprive herself of anything but I thought there could have been more examples of this in her character. Pierce Brosnan is laughably bad as the cold, work-a-holic father and I can't fathom why anyone would cast someone so identifiably British (he was James Bond for cripes sake) in a role that requires them to do a Brooklyn accent!
This film still has more merit than I judged it would from the outset and if nothing else I've learnt from this film to not be such an elitist and to give anything a go.
Swingers
Written by John Favreau, it is a semi-autobiographical account of his experiences from when he was first starting out in LA, but this becomes more of a backdrop of the film and we soon discover that the film's larger theme is about relationships and dealing with break ups.
It stars Vince Vaughn in the performance that defined his career and he doesn't miss a beat as the suave,slightly obnoxious, swingin' bachelor. John Favreau also does a great job and in many ways his poignant performance is what gives the film heart.
This film has some truly great moments including the scene with John Favreau leaving the multiple answering machine messages, it's so painfully desperate that you're heart just goes out to the poor guy. The pep talk that Vince Vaughn gives Favreau when he's trying to help him pick up women is truly hilarious, so hilarious in fact that you just have to watch it- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ODjE-_OB3JI. I also love the swing dance number with Heather Graham towards to the end, they have a sizzling chemistry which is quite unexpected.
The film has a very raw quality and you can definitely tell that it has influenced other films and possibly even TV shows such as Entourage. The film is insanely quotable, the two most famous quotes probably being 'You're so money' and 'Vegas baby Vegas!'. It's a very enjoyable, rough little gem of a movie.
The Village
This film from M. Night Shymalan seems to divide audiences, people either love it or hate it, no one seems to sit in the middle which is why I was very keen to see it. In the interest of full disclosure I should say that I had somehow already heard what the 'twist' was but I only had a vague idea and I tried to just watch the movie unfold and not think too far ahead.
I think that some of the contempt that people feel towards this film comes from the fact that it was marketed entirely the wrong way. People thought they were in store for a spine tingling thriller and hence were disappointed when this didn't turn out to be the case. The film is still quite suspenseful but for me I would classify this film as more of an un-conventional love story over anything else.
Bryce Dallas Howard gives an incredible performance as the heroine Ivy Walker. Her blindness may seem like just a gimmick at first but Howard's charm and commitment to the role make for a fully realised and unique character. Joaquin Phoenix has surprisingly little screen time but really manages to establish his character in the time he has been given and the film really needs that as the love story is what everything hinges on.
I appreciated this film's truly original concept and it's enthralling performances and think that it gets far too much negative criticism.
A Fish Called Wanda
This is another one pulled from my vault of all time favourite movies and I had the pleasure of re-visiting it last week. As you may have worked out it seems that most of my 'all time favourite movies' tend to be fairly light hearted comedies and I guess the reason for this is that they tend to be the most re-watchable as they're just so much fun! This film echoes that sentiment exactly as I've watched it countless times ever since I was a youngster (which I realise now might not have been entirely appropriate!) and it still manages to make me laugh every time.
Written by and starring John Cleese, this film retains that Monty Python brand of silly, British humour. The comedy is quite big and may not be everyone's cup of tea but I think what I like most about this film is that it doesn't take itself seriously and acknowledges it's own ridiculousness (the text at the end on the future of all the characters is the perfect example of this.)
In terms of characters you have John Cleese as the uptight barrister, Jamie Lee Curtis as the scheming seductress, Michael Palin as the stuttering animal rights activist and Kevin Kline as the Nietzche spouting former CIA agent. They're all thrown in the pot to simmer together and the end result is a wonderful comedic stew! Kevin Kline is the real stand out and his hilarious performance as the buffoon-ish Otto won him an academy award. My favourite scene in the entire movie has to be when Wanda (Jamie Lee Curtis) finally snaps and unleashes a tirade upon Otto (Kevin Kline) about what an absolute idiot he is.
So if you're a fan of British comedy and you haven't seen this movie than it's about time you gave it a look! Just don't call me stupid...
Remember Me
Okay, so I know at this point you're probably wondering why I bothered with what looks like a C grade teen movie designed for 'Twi-hards' but me and this Cat I know had been informed that it was actually fairly decent so I thought I would at least give it a shot.
We had to stop the movie half way through and watched the rest another day. At the half way point I found that the movie was far from perfect but still quite a promising drama with a great soundtrack. I'm kind of wishing that I'd just left it there as the second part of the film is where things take an overly dramatic turn and there is quite a bizarre plot twist . The problem is that up until this point the film had just been an intimate little drama and the plot twist that happens is so epic that it hasn't earned it and it feels completely out of place. There is a Ghandi quote which is repeated in the film which is 'Whatever you do in life will be insignificant, but it's very important that you do it' so I think that's clearly what they were going for in regards to the plot twist and I understand the sentiment but think it could have been done is a much more subtle way.
The two leads (Robert Pattinson and Emilie de Ravin) far surpassed my expectations and have fantastic chemistry, without which the film would have been much less successful. Robert Pattinson was actually fairly believable as the confused yet endearing Tyler, but at points he became overly dramatic (which I think was more a fault of the writing but he could have easily reigned it in a little.) Emilie de Ravin is enchanting as the impetuous Ally and has an understated sexiness. I liked the character quirk of her eating her dessert before her main course to show that she wants to live life to the fullest and not deprive herself of anything but I thought there could have been more examples of this in her character. Pierce Brosnan is laughably bad as the cold, work-a-holic father and I can't fathom why anyone would cast someone so identifiably British (he was James Bond for cripes sake) in a role that requires them to do a Brooklyn accent!
This film still has more merit than I judged it would from the outset and if nothing else I've learnt from this film to not be such an elitist and to give anything a go.
Monday, September 6, 2010
Helly's Blog Archive
2010
- Helly's Video Vault - Singin' In The Rain
- Helly's Video View - Elizabethtown
- Helly's Video View - Brothers
- Helly's Film Take - Scott Pilgram vs. the World
- Helly's Video View - Shop Girl
- Helly's Film Take - Greenberg
- My yoga experience
- Helly's Film Take - Inception
- Helly's Video View - Children of Men
- Helly's Video Vault - When Harry Met Sally
- Helly's Video View - Elephant
- Helly's Film Take - Toy Story 3
- Helly's Film Take - Animal Kingdom and Helly's Film Rant
- Helly's Video View - Nowhere Boy & Manhattan
- Helly's Video View - The Apartment
- Helly's Video View - The Informant
- Helly's Video View - The September Issue
- Helly's Video View - The Brothers Bloom
- Helly's Film Take and Video View (How to Train Your Dragon & Mulholland Drive)
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Helly's Video View- Elizabethtown
I found that this movie had a lot of charming quirks and was set to a great sound track but failed to resonate with me on a deeper level. I think that this film pulled out all the stops in trying to pluck at my heart strings but I was left emotionally unaffected.
On a positive note some of the dialogue is really intriguing and Mr Crowe certainly knows how to wield a phrase (after all he was the man who coined 'you had me at hello'). The specific examples I can think of are all said by Kirsten Dunst's character Claire. In the beginning conversation on the plane that she has with Drew regarding names, he tells her that her father's name is Mitch, she replies cheekily 'so you're a son of a Mitch?' just a simple, clever word play which makes for a flirtatious moment. Later Claire describes herself as an 'ice cream cone' and elaborates this by saying 'I'm a sweet treat that will make you happy and melts in five minutes.' This is such a perfectly succinct way to sum up her character and I suspect is true of their relationship, as I get the impression that they wouldn't last long after the credits roll. I also like some of the subtle character traits like Claire's imaginary photo taking and Drew's collection of last looks.
One of the major reasons that this movie didn't move me the way it was intended to is because the story revolves around the death of Drew's father Mitch and I never got a clear idea of who Mitch was and also of the kind of relationship they had as father and son. The other contributing factor is that I didn't buy the connection between Drew and Claire and why they would be attracted to each other. Or rather why SHE would be attracted to HIM as he has to be one of the most boring protagonist's to ever have appeared on screen, while she conversely is an effervescent breath of fresh air. Even in their first initial phone call they don't seem to be making a real connection, I couldn't hear a conversation going on, all I heard was each character spouting their life philosophies. I don't think that the actors had very great chemistry and subsequently I didn't really care if they ended up together or not, in fact I think it could have been more interesting if they DIDN'T end up together and the gesture of her making the map was just a romantic memory that he would always have. After all she is a fantasy dream girl, so this ending would make sense.
There were some very peculiar scenes which didn't seem to work. There is a scene in the beginning where Orlando Bloom's character is contemplating suicide, but is interrupted by a phone call in his sister and he says (with his voice cracking) 'Could you call back later?!' I think they should have decided if that scene was intended to be either dramatic or comedic as trying to combine both styles with such a heavy subject matter didn't really work. Later in the movie Drew puts on a video to calm the kids down and there's no other way of saying this, what the hell was it? Did he have this video made specially? How did he know there would be a gang of kids misbehaving? Why would a guy blowing up a house enthrall those kids so much? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Susan Sarandon's one woman show routine at the end is another bizarre touch.
A word on the performances. I have never been a big fan of Kirsten Dunst ( the only thing I have liked her in previously has been The Virgin Suicides) but I have to concede that she was the saving grace of the film, even if her southern accent is as inconsistent as Sydney weather. Orlando Bloom on the other hand had absolutely no charisma and I think that having to do an American accent was just to big of an obstacle for him to overcome. I think that he was simply mis-cast and I think an actor like Joseph Gordon Levitt would have been able to do more with the role (although he doesn't have the pretty boy looks which it seems they wanted for this character.)
Overall this film has a certain endearing quality but failed in producing something captivating.
On a positive note some of the dialogue is really intriguing and Mr Crowe certainly knows how to wield a phrase (after all he was the man who coined 'you had me at hello'). The specific examples I can think of are all said by Kirsten Dunst's character Claire. In the beginning conversation on the plane that she has with Drew regarding names, he tells her that her father's name is Mitch, she replies cheekily 'so you're a son of a Mitch?' just a simple, clever word play which makes for a flirtatious moment. Later Claire describes herself as an 'ice cream cone' and elaborates this by saying 'I'm a sweet treat that will make you happy and melts in five minutes.' This is such a perfectly succinct way to sum up her character and I suspect is true of their relationship, as I get the impression that they wouldn't last long after the credits roll. I also like some of the subtle character traits like Claire's imaginary photo taking and Drew's collection of last looks.
One of the major reasons that this movie didn't move me the way it was intended to is because the story revolves around the death of Drew's father Mitch and I never got a clear idea of who Mitch was and also of the kind of relationship they had as father and son. The other contributing factor is that I didn't buy the connection between Drew and Claire and why they would be attracted to each other. Or rather why SHE would be attracted to HIM as he has to be one of the most boring protagonist's to ever have appeared on screen, while she conversely is an effervescent breath of fresh air. Even in their first initial phone call they don't seem to be making a real connection, I couldn't hear a conversation going on, all I heard was each character spouting their life philosophies. I don't think that the actors had very great chemistry and subsequently I didn't really care if they ended up together or not, in fact I think it could have been more interesting if they DIDN'T end up together and the gesture of her making the map was just a romantic memory that he would always have. After all she is a fantasy dream girl, so this ending would make sense.
There were some very peculiar scenes which didn't seem to work. There is a scene in the beginning where Orlando Bloom's character is contemplating suicide, but is interrupted by a phone call in his sister and he says (with his voice cracking) 'Could you call back later?!' I think they should have decided if that scene was intended to be either dramatic or comedic as trying to combine both styles with such a heavy subject matter didn't really work. Later in the movie Drew puts on a video to calm the kids down and there's no other way of saying this, what the hell was it? Did he have this video made specially? How did he know there would be a gang of kids misbehaving? Why would a guy blowing up a house enthrall those kids so much? It doesn't make a whole lot of sense. Susan Sarandon's one woman show routine at the end is another bizarre touch.
A word on the performances. I have never been a big fan of Kirsten Dunst ( the only thing I have liked her in previously has been The Virgin Suicides) but I have to concede that she was the saving grace of the film, even if her southern accent is as inconsistent as Sydney weather. Orlando Bloom on the other hand had absolutely no charisma and I think that having to do an American accent was just to big of an obstacle for him to overcome. I think that he was simply mis-cast and I think an actor like Joseph Gordon Levitt would have been able to do more with the role (although he doesn't have the pretty boy looks which it seems they wanted for this character.)
Overall this film has a certain endearing quality but failed in producing something captivating.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Helly's Video View- Brothers
I'd seen the trailer for this movie a thousand times as it's on the promotional dvd we play on a continuos loop at work. From the trailer, I thought I knew exactly what this movie was going to be and how everything would play out but because of the actors and Jim Sheridan as director, I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. This movie is further proof that trailers should be ignored as it definitely wasn't the predictable melodrama that the trailer would have you believe, In actuality it is more of an intimate, kitchen sink drama.
I would compare this film to another Natalie Portman film Closer in as much as it's a film which is made for actors and the acting is what takes centre stage over the other filmic elements. And the acting is extraordinary, even if some of the casting seems a little odd. I thought that I would struggle to believe Natalie Portman as a mother as she's so young and pixie-like, but she exudes maternal warmth in this film and she won me over by the end. She should also be commended for a beautifully restrained performance, as there were plenty of opportunities where she could have easily fallen into the trap of playing the hysterical grieving widow. Similarly, Toby Maguire is not the most obvious choice to play a marine (mainly because of his small stature and baby face) but the relentlessness he demonstrates as a soldier lead you to believe that this is a character who is equipped in overcoming huge obstacles and therefore his small frame seems to suit the character. Jake Gyllenhal is the stand out performance for me as the outcast yet charismatic brother. (Spoiler alert) When the children say that they would rather spend time with their Uncle Tommy than their father you can clearly understand why they would say that as his character has an appealing magnetism. The only performance which didn't quite work for me was Sam Sheppard as the father. I think this may have to do with the writing of his character and less to do with his performance. We've seen that bitter war veteran character who's tough on his kids before and I just felt that his character was two dimensional and lacked complexity.
A word about child actors- Even though I am a fan of Anna Paquin's work as an adult, I still can't believe that she won the oscar at nine years old for her role in The Piano. That role didn't require her to act at all, what we saw on screen was just a child, playing a child, she just happened to have a Scottish accent. That is definitely not the case with the two young child actors in this film. In particular, the older daughter needed some serious acting chops to pull of some of the scenes in this movie and I honestly don't know where she pulled it out from! She's so uninhibited and powerful, you would swear that this kid as a wealth of experience behind her. Maybe this also speaks volumes about Jim Sheridan's directing talent as he seems to be able to extract amazing performances out of child actors (I'm referring also to one of his other films In America
There is a dinner table scene in this movie where the tension is palpable and every actor is acutely aware and reacting in the moment. This film is worth watching for this scene alone.
This film is not overladen with story and it's not without it's faults, but if you enjoy watching powerful yet subtle acting than I would recommend you watch this film.
I would compare this film to another Natalie Portman film Closer in as much as it's a film which is made for actors and the acting is what takes centre stage over the other filmic elements. And the acting is extraordinary, even if some of the casting seems a little odd. I thought that I would struggle to believe Natalie Portman as a mother as she's so young and pixie-like, but she exudes maternal warmth in this film and she won me over by the end. She should also be commended for a beautifully restrained performance, as there were plenty of opportunities where she could have easily fallen into the trap of playing the hysterical grieving widow. Similarly, Toby Maguire is not the most obvious choice to play a marine (mainly because of his small stature and baby face) but the relentlessness he demonstrates as a soldier lead you to believe that this is a character who is equipped in overcoming huge obstacles and therefore his small frame seems to suit the character. Jake Gyllenhal is the stand out performance for me as the outcast yet charismatic brother. (Spoiler alert) When the children say that they would rather spend time with their Uncle Tommy than their father you can clearly understand why they would say that as his character has an appealing magnetism. The only performance which didn't quite work for me was Sam Sheppard as the father. I think this may have to do with the writing of his character and less to do with his performance. We've seen that bitter war veteran character who's tough on his kids before and I just felt that his character was two dimensional and lacked complexity.
A word about child actors- Even though I am a fan of Anna Paquin's work as an adult, I still can't believe that she won the oscar at nine years old for her role in The Piano. That role didn't require her to act at all, what we saw on screen was just a child, playing a child, she just happened to have a Scottish accent. That is definitely not the case with the two young child actors in this film. In particular, the older daughter needed some serious acting chops to pull of some of the scenes in this movie and I honestly don't know where she pulled it out from! She's so uninhibited and powerful, you would swear that this kid as a wealth of experience behind her. Maybe this also speaks volumes about Jim Sheridan's directing talent as he seems to be able to extract amazing performances out of child actors (I'm referring also to one of his other films In America
There is a dinner table scene in this movie where the tension is palpable and every actor is acutely aware and reacting in the moment. This film is worth watching for this scene alone.
This film is not overladen with story and it's not without it's faults, but if you enjoy watching powerful yet subtle acting than I would recommend you watch this film.
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Helly's Film Take- Scott Pilgrim VS The World
This film starts of firing on all cylinders and continues at this rip roaring pace until the bitter end. We are sucked into a hipster, video game fantasy land complete with evil villains who must be defeated, dream girls to be won over and a bass playing hero at it's centre.
I love the whole visual style of this film and the quick cuts between scenes which writer/director Edgar Wright seems very fond of (judging by his two previous films Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.) It definitely makes for a more heightened reality and therefore it creates endless possibilities for the characters inside this world. I even like the subtle visual touches for example whenever the phone rings a comic book font saying 'ringgggg' comes across the screen.
The dialogue is razor sharp and the performances, finely tuned. A lot of the characters seem to be lifted straight out of the pages of a comic book, they are not ultra realistic but then this not a realistic movie. Every character is very clearly defined, even smaller characters like Envy Adams who appears to be the femme fatale of the film, and Scott's sister Stacey seems to be a clear antagonist. I should also state the obvious here and say that the film is incredibly funny and endlessly quotable, but the jokes are so jam packed into this film, that you could easily miss a few of them so you have to stay on guard.
For me, one of the only flaws with this film is that upon it's end it almost feels like a sensory overload and I feel that it would have packed more of a punch if it had been shorter. While the battle scenes are all expertly choreographed, I grew tired of them after a while and actually prefer the scenes surrounding the battles. However I do like the little twist thrown in for the final battle where Scott must face himself and felt it was a high point in the movie. I also would have liked to hear just a little bit more of the music created by sex bo-bomb (side note- how great is that name?!) as the small amount that we did hear, sounded pretty rad.
The other thing about this film is that even though I loved it, I can easily see how anyone over thirty would hate it. It's definitely made for a certain demographic but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. In similar vain, a film like It's Complicated is probably not going to receive as warm a reception from people our age, as it's aimed at people over forty. I haven't checked out any reviews of Scott Pilgrim... but I would be willing to bet that Margaret and David from At the movies wouldn't have been too rapturous about it.
This film was a fantastically fun piece of film making and I was happy to go along for the ride!
I love the whole visual style of this film and the quick cuts between scenes which writer/director Edgar Wright seems very fond of (judging by his two previous films Shaun of The Dead and Hot Fuzz.) It definitely makes for a more heightened reality and therefore it creates endless possibilities for the characters inside this world. I even like the subtle visual touches for example whenever the phone rings a comic book font saying 'ringgggg' comes across the screen.
The dialogue is razor sharp and the performances, finely tuned. A lot of the characters seem to be lifted straight out of the pages of a comic book, they are not ultra realistic but then this not a realistic movie. Every character is very clearly defined, even smaller characters like Envy Adams who appears to be the femme fatale of the film, and Scott's sister Stacey seems to be a clear antagonist. I should also state the obvious here and say that the film is incredibly funny and endlessly quotable, but the jokes are so jam packed into this film, that you could easily miss a few of them so you have to stay on guard.
For me, one of the only flaws with this film is that upon it's end it almost feels like a sensory overload and I feel that it would have packed more of a punch if it had been shorter. While the battle scenes are all expertly choreographed, I grew tired of them after a while and actually prefer the scenes surrounding the battles. However I do like the little twist thrown in for the final battle where Scott must face himself and felt it was a high point in the movie. I also would have liked to hear just a little bit more of the music created by sex bo-bomb (side note- how great is that name?!) as the small amount that we did hear, sounded pretty rad.
The other thing about this film is that even though I loved it, I can easily see how anyone over thirty would hate it. It's definitely made for a certain demographic but I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing. In similar vain, a film like It's Complicated is probably not going to receive as warm a reception from people our age, as it's aimed at people over forty. I haven't checked out any reviews of Scott Pilgrim... but I would be willing to bet that Margaret and David from At the movies wouldn't have been too rapturous about it.
This film was a fantastically fun piece of film making and I was happy to go along for the ride!
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Helly's Video View- Elephant
I'm going to say right up top that it's impossible to talk about this movie without giving anything away so if you haven't seen it yet, I would advise you to stop reading now! This Gus Van Sant pic first sparked my interest when one of the hosts of the Filmspotting podcast named it as their favourite film of last decade. Lee also said that it was an unmissable movie.
In typical Lee fashion he told me I was not allowed to read the blurb or the tag line on the front of the dvd case. It was pretty hard to not read the tag line as it was on the front cover. It read 'An ordinary high school day. Except that it's not' which I thought was suitably vague. It's only now that I've seen the movie that I realise how perfect that tag line is.
When the movie first started I thought that it was just an ultra realistic version of the movie American Teen. The film just seemed to be following the everyday lives of high school students, some kids just happened to be more interesting than others. They even had the archetype characters of the jock, the arty kid, the geek girl, the popular girls and the outsider/loners. But then we see an image of two kids walking in to school dressed in camouflage and armed with two massive bags and everything suddenly takes a chilling turn. What's great about that moment is that the shot literally is a flash which made me ask myself 'Did I really just see that?' Which then made me watch the movie more intently to figure out if that moment really had the gravitas that I was giving it... which it definitely did! The film is shot in such an ultra realistic way that you really do feel like you are a student inside that school, running away from the gun men, or even scarier that you ARE the gunmen. I've never admitted this before, but when I was in high school I can remember being conscious of the fact that I never wanted to ruffle anyone's feathers because at the back of my mind I had a secret fear of someone terrorising the school Columbine style and I didn't want to be made a target. In other words I wanted to be the blonde kid in the movie. So the experience of seeing this movie was like watching my worst fear being played out in front of me and I was paralysed to stop it. I love the ambiguity of the ending also. It's not like we're watching a news broadcast of this event, we don't get to know the repercussions for the killers which is an uneasy feeling to be left with.
The film is so cleverly shot, manipulating the concepts of time and perspective. At first you think you are watching the same scene again and then you realise you are watching the scene from the character that was perhaps running by at that moment or in the background.
Gus Van Sant employed real high school kids for this film just as he did with one of his later films, Paranoid Park. This approach of using 'real people' is extremely effective, for the most part. But it can also lead to a few hiccups for example one of the 'popular girls' is very stereotypical and over the top in her mannerisms and facial expressions. She's essentially 'acting' too much which negates the whole purpose of using real people. This is also the case with a similar character in Paranoid Park (the girlfriend character if you remember). But such things can easily be forgiven by the sheer boldness and bravery it must take in using such an unusual technique.
This film is not for the faint of heart, but is truly a work of art.
- Helly
In typical Lee fashion he told me I was not allowed to read the blurb or the tag line on the front of the dvd case. It was pretty hard to not read the tag line as it was on the front cover. It read 'An ordinary high school day. Except that it's not' which I thought was suitably vague. It's only now that I've seen the movie that I realise how perfect that tag line is.
When the movie first started I thought that it was just an ultra realistic version of the movie American Teen. The film just seemed to be following the everyday lives of high school students, some kids just happened to be more interesting than others. They even had the archetype characters of the jock, the arty kid, the geek girl, the popular girls and the outsider/loners. But then we see an image of two kids walking in to school dressed in camouflage and armed with two massive bags and everything suddenly takes a chilling turn. What's great about that moment is that the shot literally is a flash which made me ask myself 'Did I really just see that?' Which then made me watch the movie more intently to figure out if that moment really had the gravitas that I was giving it... which it definitely did! The film is shot in such an ultra realistic way that you really do feel like you are a student inside that school, running away from the gun men, or even scarier that you ARE the gunmen. I've never admitted this before, but when I was in high school I can remember being conscious of the fact that I never wanted to ruffle anyone's feathers because at the back of my mind I had a secret fear of someone terrorising the school Columbine style and I didn't want to be made a target. In other words I wanted to be the blonde kid in the movie. So the experience of seeing this movie was like watching my worst fear being played out in front of me and I was paralysed to stop it. I love the ambiguity of the ending also. It's not like we're watching a news broadcast of this event, we don't get to know the repercussions for the killers which is an uneasy feeling to be left with.
The film is so cleverly shot, manipulating the concepts of time and perspective. At first you think you are watching the same scene again and then you realise you are watching the scene from the character that was perhaps running by at that moment or in the background.
Gus Van Sant employed real high school kids for this film just as he did with one of his later films, Paranoid Park. This approach of using 'real people' is extremely effective, for the most part. But it can also lead to a few hiccups for example one of the 'popular girls' is very stereotypical and over the top in her mannerisms and facial expressions. She's essentially 'acting' too much which negates the whole purpose of using real people. This is also the case with a similar character in Paranoid Park (the girlfriend character if you remember). But such things can easily be forgiven by the sheer boldness and bravery it must take in using such an unusual technique.
This film is not for the faint of heart, but is truly a work of art.
- Helly
Sunday, May 30, 2010
Happy Birthday Luke!!!
Jay
El Birthday-Boy Loco! There’s something you need to know:
1987; the year you were born: 1+9+8-7 = 11
May; the month you were born: allocating each letter in the alphabet to its corresponding number, M=13, A=1 & Y=25, so Y-A-M = 11
29; the day of the month you were born: 2+9 = 11
L.A.B; your initials, again, with their corresponding numbers, L=12, A=1 & B=2, so L+A-B = 11
I’m just saying… Think about it. You are eleven. That’s got to help your theory… whatever it is.
All jokes aside, I love you like a brother.
No, seriously, you’re a loving, funny, generous and selfless brother and you’ve taught me much throughout my 21 years, not in the traditional teacher/student way, but through admiration. You give me confidence I didn’t know I had, and I know a lot of people could say the same thing. We get along famously and I treasure our closeness and unique sense of humour. I mean, who else could understand the hilarity of “Got my bean in a coffee cu~rp”, or even, “Yeah, go on then…”. Our memories speak for themselves and I look forward to making countless more with you.
May the road rise up to meet you.
Happy Birthday!
Oh, and according to Mark Hoppus of Blink 182, nobody likes you when you’re 23… so that’s unfortunate for you.
Helly
In Castle Hill, lives a guy named Luke Bovino
He is of Italian descent, as we all know
Enthusiastic and animated, he is always the life of the party
He also has another side which is sensitive, soulful and arty
He enjoys rap battles, and can always hit us with some cool rhymes
And if he had one wish, it would be to travel through time
He has a feisty Italian temperament, but becomes as gentle as a lamb
After he watches one of his favourite actors, Jean Claude Van Damn
It’s no secret that he’s a bit of a Cassanova
A pretty girl just has to smile at him and he’s completely bowled over
He seems to fall in love with every girl he meets
But one day he’ll decide that it’s time to play for keeps
Acting is his chosen career
Which requires him to put himself out there and show no fear
A unique, creative point of view and I suspect
That this will serve him well when he decides to direct
With this last line, I swear I’m not trying to make you puke
But we really do love you, our dear friend Luke
Lee
No epic blog about Luke could continue without at least one story of him being a dick. I remember being floored by Rocky the first time I saw it. Arriving at school the next day, I knew I had to find Luke as he was a huge fan of the movie and of course the whole series. He was the only other person I knew that had seen it, plus he called himself The Italian Stallion as an ode to one of his favourite movies. But when I finally found Luke, ready to discuss all the great moments of my new favourite movie ever, he stopped me after only a few words.
"I saw that way before you did."
"But Bov" I replied, "Nobody has seen this movie but us, you finally have someone to talk about it with!"
With a look of ego-fueled dickheadedness all he said was, "I'm a bigger fan than you."
And he walked away. To top it off, I learned only a little while later that he had never seen the film. Let me repeat that. Never. Seen. The. Film. Dick!
The person that Luke has revealed to me in recent times has turned out to be a great friend and someone that I have shared thousands of laughs with. NOT a dick, but with an ego the size of Kansas, he is one of my best friends and I love him like a brother.
The most awesome thing, from my perspective, to happen to Luke as of late is his discovery of the wealth of talent within himself in areas he didn't realize existed. I specifically mean his drawing. If someone were to look at a drawing by Luke, one would assume he has been doing this for a long time, but amazingly, he has only very recently found this side of himself, this unique talent. I say unique not because drawing is unique, but because Luke's personal artwork is. Works of abstract beauty are flowing from his heart to paper, and he's still a little shy about it, which is hard to believe. Two months ago, after watching Van Dam, The Trilogy was sitting at my dining table and Luke started drawing on this flimsy little napkin. After a few minutes, he had drawn a simple, yet amazingly complete piece of abstract art. We kept the napkin for prosperity.
Happy birthday Luke, I may be one of your fifty friends, but you're one of my five, so consider yourself very lucky. I know I do.
Eden
11 Reasons why I love Luke
**I don't think this abbreviation ever officially existed, there was BTNH but that didn't have EL in it
El Birthday-Boy Loco! There’s something you need to know:
1987; the year you were born: 1+9+8-7 = 11
May; the month you were born: allocating each letter in the alphabet to its corresponding number, M=13, A=1 & Y=25, so Y-A-M = 11
29; the day of the month you were born: 2+9 = 11
L.A.B; your initials, again, with their corresponding numbers, L=12, A=1 & B=2, so L+A-B = 11
I’m just saying… Think about it. You are eleven. That’s got to help your theory… whatever it is.
All jokes aside, I love you like a brother.
No, seriously, you’re a loving, funny, generous and selfless brother and you’ve taught me much throughout my 21 years, not in the traditional teacher/student way, but through admiration. You give me confidence I didn’t know I had, and I know a lot of people could say the same thing. We get along famously and I treasure our closeness and unique sense of humour. I mean, who else could understand the hilarity of “Got my bean in a coffee cu~rp”, or even, “Yeah, go on then…”. Our memories speak for themselves and I look forward to making countless more with you.
May the road rise up to meet you.
Happy Birthday!
Oh, and according to Mark Hoppus of Blink 182, nobody likes you when you’re 23… so that’s unfortunate for you.
Helly
In Castle Hill, lives a guy named Luke Bovino
He is of Italian descent, as we all know
Enthusiastic and animated, he is always the life of the party
He also has another side which is sensitive, soulful and arty
He enjoys rap battles, and can always hit us with some cool rhymes
And if he had one wish, it would be to travel through time
He has a feisty Italian temperament, but becomes as gentle as a lamb
After he watches one of his favourite actors, Jean Claude Van Damn
It’s no secret that he’s a bit of a Cassanova
A pretty girl just has to smile at him and he’s completely bowled over
He seems to fall in love with every girl he meets
But one day he’ll decide that it’s time to play for keeps
Acting is his chosen career
Which requires him to put himself out there and show no fear
A unique, creative point of view and I suspect
That this will serve him well when he decides to direct
With this last line, I swear I’m not trying to make you puke
But we really do love you, our dear friend Luke
Lee
No epic blog about Luke could continue without at least one story of him being a dick. I remember being floored by Rocky the first time I saw it. Arriving at school the next day, I knew I had to find Luke as he was a huge fan of the movie and of course the whole series. He was the only other person I knew that had seen it, plus he called himself The Italian Stallion as an ode to one of his favourite movies. But when I finally found Luke, ready to discuss all the great moments of my new favourite movie ever, he stopped me after only a few words.
"I saw that way before you did."
"But Bov" I replied, "Nobody has seen this movie but us, you finally have someone to talk about it with!"
With a look of ego-fueled dickheadedness all he said was, "I'm a bigger fan than you."
And he walked away. To top it off, I learned only a little while later that he had never seen the film. Let me repeat that. Never. Seen. The. Film. Dick!
The person that Luke has revealed to me in recent times has turned out to be a great friend and someone that I have shared thousands of laughs with. NOT a dick, but with an ego the size of Kansas, he is one of my best friends and I love him like a brother.
The most awesome thing, from my perspective, to happen to Luke as of late is his discovery of the wealth of talent within himself in areas he didn't realize existed. I specifically mean his drawing. If someone were to look at a drawing by Luke, one would assume he has been doing this for a long time, but amazingly, he has only very recently found this side of himself, this unique talent. I say unique not because drawing is unique, but because Luke's personal artwork is. Works of abstract beauty are flowing from his heart to paper, and he's still a little shy about it, which is hard to believe. Two months ago, after watching Van Dam, The Trilogy was sitting at my dining table and Luke started drawing on this flimsy little napkin. After a few minutes, he had drawn a simple, yet amazingly complete piece of abstract art. We kept the napkin for prosperity.
Happy birthday Luke, I may be one of your fifty friends, but you're one of my five, so consider yourself very lucky. I know I do.
Eden
11 Reasons why I love Luke
- You are an amplifier of life: I think the best way to explain you as a person is someone who amplifies life. There are moments that I experience in everyday life, like a funny joke or a cool story and I’m usually glad to have experienced it. However, if I get to share that moment with you, your enthusiasm and passion makes the moment something greater. You may not be as funny as Lee or Hamish or Burrtank but your laugh is always genuine and insanely infectious, which makes any of their jokes infinitely better.
- Your confidence: As someone who has struggled with my own confidence at times, it has always been inspiring to have such a confident friend around to lead as an example and challenge me to confront fears.
- Your Integrity: If someone loved shows like Ghost Whisperer and movies like The Count of Monte Cristo* were their all time favourites, they might be afraid to admit it, but you not only admit it, you are proud of it and defend your love. I love how you are unyielding in knowing what is true to you.
- The memories: “Remember when we used to…” This is how some of my favourite conversations start. "...sit in English and I said all the answers under my breath, and Dean said all the funny jokes under his breath, and you yelled them all out to the class. You were the smartest, funniest guy out!"
- The future: I can see us being friends for a long time, and the memories are just going to keep growing. Lucky you always have a camera with you to make sure we capture at least a few of the countless special moments.
- Your Family: From Tones all the way to Cousin Frank, you have an amazing family which has to be a big reason why you are who you are.
- Your ‘heaps funny’ jokes: Nothing like having your best friend swear to you that he didn’t take your wallet 50 times until you believe him, and then he reveals that he had it the whole time.
- Your Birthday Messages: You were born to be an actor, but you can always fall back on being a Hallmark birthday card writer. I love how you come up with them on the spot. They are always special even if you write them in October, cos Facebook told you it was my birthday.
- HELD, BAJ, SEALD**, Dr Hell: Doesn’t matter what the abbreviation is, it always has an E and an L. Maybe we should be called EL Friendship Loco.
- Our friendship: Some of the conversations we have are deep and personal and I couldn’t have them with many other people and still feel comfortable having them. There is an obvious chemistry between us, and we understand each other so well.
- Your Friendships: It says a lot about a person when, while most people have around 5 close friends at best, you have about 20. I’m just glad to be one of them…officially number 3 on Facebook! Sucked in Lee, you’re not even on there.
**I don't think this abbreviation ever officially existed, there was BTNH but that didn't have EL in it
The Legend Of Luke Bovino Part 1 – The Early Years
Luke Bovino, son of an extremely attractive mother and mega-cool father, was a young man working his way towards fame and stardom via acting. Not even he could possibly imagine the amazing deeds he would go on to accomplish in life.
He started life just like any other unassuming individual. He worked part-time at channel 9, hung out full-time with his friend Van Dam and wondered the lands looking for the answers to the questions that plagued his mind such as; do aliens really exist? If a guy came up to me and said he was me from the future, would I believe him?
It was during his high-school years that he began acquiring some of the legendary skills he would utilise later in life. Be it making his friends laugh at his insanely entertaining stories, making humorous observations or stealing jokes/answers, Luke was somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades.
Also during these times he became a member of the powerful organisation HELD. HELD went on to make several amazing films with Luke often starring as the lead. It was his powerful performance in the critically acclaimed Around House Beatings, which led to his first Oscar nomination.
Once he travelled to the great-untamed snowy lands of Canada for the better part of a year where he stumbled upon a small mountain town by the name of Vancouver. So great was his impact in this snowy little town that I hear the townspeople erected a statue of him in the town square in his honour. Now once a year, Canadians travel far and wide to Vancouver to trade stories and sing songs of his amazing feats. But if you try to locate Vancouver on a map now days you may have a little trouble finding it, as now days it goes by the name Bovcouver (or maybe Vanvino).
Luke came back from Bovcouver a changed man. He was twice as knowledgeable and was now wise beyond his years. He was kind enough to share his knowledge with his friends as well as his stories involving his encounters with UFOs.
Luke Bovino is a good man whom I’ve had the pleasure of knowing personally. He’s always upbeat and his positive nature is infectious. He was always kind enough to laugh at my jokes no matter how poor of quality they may be and he just seems happy to be here in general.
Later in life, he finally discovered the secret to time travel and became the first man to travel through time. This would lead to chain reaction of disastrous consequences, which would take Luke several journeys through time before he could manage to stop a hole in the space time continuum destroying the world. But as they say, that’s a story for another day.
To Be Continued…
-Unidentified scholar circa 2010
Russell
I'll keep this brief because A) I am extremely late in providing BOTM with my portion of this super blog; and B) I'm nowhere near as artistic and funny as those who have written before me.
However, I do have a few things to say about a special man named Luke Bovino:
Russell
I'll keep this brief because A) I am extremely late in providing BOTM with my portion of this super blog; and B) I'm nowhere near as artistic and funny as those who have written before me.
However, I do have a few things to say about a special man named Luke Bovino:
- Encouragable: I don't know any other person that is more encouraging than El Ino. My mood can go from mediocre to extremely happy in an instant with one strategically placed sentence from the mouth of the Italian Stallion. Furthermore to this point, his very presence at a party or a small social gathering is intoxicating - I think Hamish said it well in his famous Dr Hell article "If you're having a party, you need Luke".
- Laughter: Some of my greatest "laughter moments" from High School come from hanging out with Luke, especially in drama class. I recall a time when we had to read amongst ourselves from a play entitled "The Club", and it was Luke's jokes that made the task impossible to complete.
- Movies: This guy Luke loves movies, and so do I. The funny thing is though, is that my taste in film is pretty different I have to say to his - but also very similar at the same time. With variety being the spice of life, this provides for some excellent conversation on films past and present.
- Generosity: Luke is extremely giving and generous. I travelled to Bovcouver last year and he was kind enough to provide me with a lodging, food, Van Dam, and the sights and smells of his newly-conquered town.
- Friendship: I feel honoured to have Luke as a friend. We have shared some great times together, and I'm looking forward to keeping the good times rollin. I think all you need to do is to read the warm-hearted, genuine comments from his mates above to see just how much of an effect he has on peoples lives.
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Helly's Film Take - Kick Ass
First of all let's address the supposed 'controversy' with this movie. Yes, it features an eleven year old girl swearing and being extremely violent, but does it break cinematic ground and more importantly is it funny? Hells yeah! Now I am not the biggest fan of the censorship world but in this case all you really have to do is look at the MA rating and know that it isn't suitable for children, so I have zero sympathy for all those dumb arse, ignorant parents who are saying that this movie is inappropriate. Even David Stratton from ABC's At The Movies has said that this movie disturbed him, to which Margaret replied 'Oh David what's wrong with you?! You're turning into this conservative person. Yes it's confronting, but I like being confronted in the cinema and I'm not moralistic about it' Side note- I want to be Margaret Pomeranz when I grow up!
I absolutely loved this movie, so much so that me and Lee applauded at the end of it and I left the cinema attempting to do round house kicks and quoting 'show's over mother fucker!' This film is definitely an enjoyable thrill ride but is not a simple case of style over substance. The writing is refreshing and sharp and all of the performances are outstanding. Aaron Johnson definitely has quite a career ahead of him. I had absolutely no idea that he was British until Lee looked it up on IMDB. I am now really looking forward to watching him portray a young John Lennon in the film Nowhere Boy (what an incredible range this guy has!)
I really liked the fact that the protagonist Dave, isn't a total social outcast he claims to be a kid who just 'gets by' in high school which I think is the case for most people. Most movie characters are usually at one of the extreme ends of the social scene (ie. really popular or unpopular), whereas realistically, most people fall somewhere in the middle.
This movie was also more successful than last year's Watchmen in creating a world in which everyday people can be superheroes. I know a lot of you were big fans of Watchmen and maybe you have to be familiar with the source material to appreciate it but I am strictly speaking about the film on its own. Dave doesn't just decide to become a super hero and then starts busting out matrix style moves (a la watchmen) he has to really road test it and sometimes fail spectacularly. Although Hit Girl's moves are more stylised and polished, this is explained in the back story she has with Big Daddy. She wasn't born with these skills, she learnt them with the same rigor and discipline that most girls her age would be applying to their school work.
To summarise- this movie truly KICKS ASS and I really hope there is a sequel!
-Helly
I absolutely loved this movie, so much so that me and Lee applauded at the end of it and I left the cinema attempting to do round house kicks and quoting 'show's over mother fucker!' This film is definitely an enjoyable thrill ride but is not a simple case of style over substance. The writing is refreshing and sharp and all of the performances are outstanding. Aaron Johnson definitely has quite a career ahead of him. I had absolutely no idea that he was British until Lee looked it up on IMDB. I am now really looking forward to watching him portray a young John Lennon in the film Nowhere Boy (what an incredible range this guy has!)
I really liked the fact that the protagonist Dave, isn't a total social outcast he claims to be a kid who just 'gets by' in high school which I think is the case for most people. Most movie characters are usually at one of the extreme ends of the social scene (ie. really popular or unpopular), whereas realistically, most people fall somewhere in the middle.
This movie was also more successful than last year's Watchmen in creating a world in which everyday people can be superheroes. I know a lot of you were big fans of Watchmen and maybe you have to be familiar with the source material to appreciate it but I am strictly speaking about the film on its own. Dave doesn't just decide to become a super hero and then starts busting out matrix style moves (a la watchmen) he has to really road test it and sometimes fail spectacularly. Although Hit Girl's moves are more stylised and polished, this is explained in the back story she has with Big Daddy. She wasn't born with these skills, she learnt them with the same rigor and discipline that most girls her age would be applying to their school work.
To summarise- this movie truly KICKS ASS and I really hope there is a sequel!
-Helly
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Helly's Film Take and Video View
Hey Guys! Welcome to my new weekly film segment. I won't technically be 'reviewing' films as that implies some sort of rating system and is usually urging you to see a film or not see it. I will simply be giving my opinion of a film and analysing it. Feel free to post your opinion also! The blog will always fall into one of these categories- 'Helly's Film Take' or 'Helly's Video View'. Film Take is where I will talk about a film currently playing in a cinema. Video View will be for movies I've recently watched on dvd (not necessarily current.) I tend to be fairly succinct in what I say, so I may sometimes just write a few paragraphs, not an entire essay. As this is the first edition it will be a double feature, I hope you enjoy!
How to Train Your Dragon
It definitely is no secret now that the realm of animation is not strictly for kids (despite what some of my pretentious actor friends might say.) Pixar seems to have dominated when it comes to animated film in the last few years but this picture shows that Dream Works are potentially becoming serious competition for Pixar.
I hadn't heard of Dragon until Lee suggested we see it the other week. I caught a glimpse of the poster on the way in and gave Lee a sceptical look. But I then sat back and was treated to two hours of viking verility! (Not sure if that really makes sense but I love alliteration he he.) What I like most about this film (as with last years Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs number 5 on my top 10 list for those of you playing at home), is the new transition that animated films making by employing the 'anti-hero'. A character who does not have the stereotypical qualities of a hero (eg. Good looks, bulging biceps,etc.) and who is often an outcast or underdog is the one who inevitably ends up saving the day. This not only makes them a more interesting hero, but enriches the plot overall and sends a much better message to children. It sounds a bit trite I know but I think that teaching kids about the value of individuality and difference is a good thing. This reminds me of a line that Glinda the good witch of the North says in The Wizard of Oz, when she informs Dorothy that '...only bad witches are ugly'. What kind of message is that sending?! But I digress...
All the characters were perfectly matched to the actors who voiced them including Jay Bucharel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Kristin Wig to name a few. Having watched Jay Bucharel in Undeclared which was made ten years ago, it's great to see that his career is taking of as I particularly like his brand of awkward comedy.
The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is reminiscent of relationships such as Elliot and E.T. and Hogart and the Iron Giant. A misunderstood creature is discovered by a child and a sweet, poignant friendship ensues. All in all a great movie and I know I said that the purpose of this blog wasn't to persuade you to see films but...SEE IT!
Mulholland Drive
This is a movie I have been hearing about for a while and because it was placed in lots of 'top 10 films of the decade' lists last year, I thought I should probably check it out.
Now I hate it when people use the the term 'over rated' when they're referring to a film (or any piece of art for that matter). As personally I believe that your opinion should be just that YOUR opinion and not based on what the general public thinks. So I won't say that Mulholland Drive is over rated but rather I feel that people think they will appear stupid or ignorant if they admit that they didn't really like it. An Emperor's new clothes kind of deal.
I don't want to just throw my hands up in the air and say 'I don't get it' but I honestly don't know if you can classify that footage as a movie in the conventional sense. In the beginning I thought it was a little strange but that everything would probably make more sense at the end (like Memento), but I had no such luck. Forty five minutes from the end the movie descended into total and utter madness. It may sound harsh to equate it to a student film, but that's exactly what it reminded me of. Just a collection of images and concepts, totally unrelated to each other, strung together in order to make people believe that they are viewing something profound. A car crash, Crying over you being sung in a creepy theatre in Spanish, a 1960's movie set and some lesbianism thrown in there for good measure.
A positive I will say about the film ( as I generally like to be a glass half full kind of gal) is that there is a scene in the movie which taught me a lot about acting. Naomi Watts' character is auditioning for a really badly written suspense/thriller movie. In an earlier scene she is rehearsing for the audition in the way that the script would suggest that the scene should be played and it's terrible. When she goes in for the audition, she is told to play the scene in a really close proximity to the other actor and this changes the entire context of the scene. The dialogue is still terrible, but the dynamics and subtext in the scene transform into something captivating. It was a perfect acting example of thinking outside the box and not going for the most obvious choice. So that is something that will definitely stay with me from this film.
I know that this film is beloved by many so please post your comments and tell me the reasons why I am totally wrong about this film!
-Helly
How to Train Your Dragon
It definitely is no secret now that the realm of animation is not strictly for kids (despite what some of my pretentious actor friends might say.) Pixar seems to have dominated when it comes to animated film in the last few years but this picture shows that Dream Works are potentially becoming serious competition for Pixar.
I hadn't heard of Dragon until Lee suggested we see it the other week. I caught a glimpse of the poster on the way in and gave Lee a sceptical look. But I then sat back and was treated to two hours of viking verility! (Not sure if that really makes sense but I love alliteration he he.) What I like most about this film (as with last years Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs number 5 on my top 10 list for those of you playing at home), is the new transition that animated films making by employing the 'anti-hero'. A character who does not have the stereotypical qualities of a hero (eg. Good looks, bulging biceps,etc.) and who is often an outcast or underdog is the one who inevitably ends up saving the day. This not only makes them a more interesting hero, but enriches the plot overall and sends a much better message to children. It sounds a bit trite I know but I think that teaching kids about the value of individuality and difference is a good thing. This reminds me of a line that Glinda the good witch of the North says in The Wizard of Oz, when she informs Dorothy that '...only bad witches are ugly'. What kind of message is that sending?! But I digress...
All the characters were perfectly matched to the actors who voiced them including Jay Bucharel, Gerard Butler, Christopher Mintz-Plasse and Kristin Wig to name a few. Having watched Jay Bucharel in Undeclared which was made ten years ago, it's great to see that his career is taking of as I particularly like his brand of awkward comedy.
The relationship between Hiccup and Toothless is reminiscent of relationships such as Elliot and E.T. and Hogart and the Iron Giant. A misunderstood creature is discovered by a child and a sweet, poignant friendship ensues. All in all a great movie and I know I said that the purpose of this blog wasn't to persuade you to see films but...SEE IT!
Mulholland Drive
This is a movie I have been hearing about for a while and because it was placed in lots of 'top 10 films of the decade' lists last year, I thought I should probably check it out.
Now I hate it when people use the the term 'over rated' when they're referring to a film (or any piece of art for that matter). As personally I believe that your opinion should be just that YOUR opinion and not based on what the general public thinks. So I won't say that Mulholland Drive is over rated but rather I feel that people think they will appear stupid or ignorant if they admit that they didn't really like it. An Emperor's new clothes kind of deal.
I don't want to just throw my hands up in the air and say 'I don't get it' but I honestly don't know if you can classify that footage as a movie in the conventional sense. In the beginning I thought it was a little strange but that everything would probably make more sense at the end (like Memento), but I had no such luck. Forty five minutes from the end the movie descended into total and utter madness. It may sound harsh to equate it to a student film, but that's exactly what it reminded me of. Just a collection of images and concepts, totally unrelated to each other, strung together in order to make people believe that they are viewing something profound. A car crash, Crying over you being sung in a creepy theatre in Spanish, a 1960's movie set and some lesbianism thrown in there for good measure.
A positive I will say about the film ( as I generally like to be a glass half full kind of gal) is that there is a scene in the movie which taught me a lot about acting. Naomi Watts' character is auditioning for a really badly written suspense/thriller movie. In an earlier scene she is rehearsing for the audition in the way that the script would suggest that the scene should be played and it's terrible. When she goes in for the audition, she is told to play the scene in a really close proximity to the other actor and this changes the entire context of the scene. The dialogue is still terrible, but the dynamics and subtext in the scene transform into something captivating. It was a perfect acting example of thinking outside the box and not going for the most obvious choice. So that is something that will definitely stay with me from this film.
I know that this film is beloved by many so please post your comments and tell me the reasons why I am totally wrong about this film!
-Helly
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Why Nigella Lawson is Awesome
‘When I see a picture of someone who’s really hugely fat I don’t think ‘how hideous!’ I think ‘how delicious it must have been to get there.’’- Nigella Lawson
Celebrity chef Nigella Lawson (although apparently she hates being called this as she has never been formally trained as a chef) is an extraordinarily passionate woman about all things food. She takes enormous pleasure in the simple act of preparing a meal, which is why I think she would make a good subject for BOTM as she finds joy in the most unlikely of places. Whether is be the beautiful colour combination that is made when sautéing pale pink bacon and light green leeks, the sound of scraping an avocado from it’s skin, or simply the fresh smell of thyme, Nigella relishes every moment of cooking.
Nigella inspires me in her food philosophy and laid back approach to cooking which is something I have really taken on board in regards to my own cooking. What sets her apart from other ‘celebrity chefs’ is her lack of pretension, honesty and her willingness to defy supposed cooking conventions. She doesn’t worry about using fancy ingredients like fois gras or truffles, or succumb to food trends, for Nigella if the flavour is there than that is really all that matters, in her world you should be able to serve mac and cheese to the queen if it’s tasty enough. One reporter dubbed her ‘queen of the frozen pea’ as she is not ashamed in using the humble product which would have most chefs tsk tsking. Another thing that I can really relate to about her approach to cooking is her express solution to everything. She understands that the average person does not have hours to create a meal these days which is why it is perfectly acceptable to cut a few corners like using stock cubes (who the hell has time to stew a stock for hours and hours!), lime juice from a bottle and pre-cut vegetables. If it still tastes really good than it shouldn’t really matter how you got there!
She is incredibly self- deprecating (which you don’t find amongst most cocky arrogant chefs), forever confessing that the reason she cuts corners is pure laziness or lacking in finesse. She also proclaims to be incredibly greedy when dolling out her enormous portions and this flaw is quite evident in the infamous endings of her cooking shows, as she is always seen going back to the fridge for a midnight snack and plunging back in to her culinary creations.
Another thing which cannot be ignored when broaching the subject of Nigella Lawson is her sexuality. Some say that there is something very primal about eating which connects with sex. You can definitely understand this concept when you watch Nigella, whose programs have been labelled as ‘food porn.’ Her passion for food is all consuming which is why she appears so sensual on screen, that and probably all the deep ‘ooohs and aaahs’ she lets out when preparing her sumptuous treats. It has also been said that there is something very provocative about a woman enjoying eating so much as a lot of women have a very tortured relationship with food, so to see a woman relishing it so much seems almost deviant. When asked in an interview what her favourite guilty pleasure was Nigella quipped ‘The one thing you should never feel guilty about is pleasure.’ She has even gone as far to say that if someone didn’t enjoy eating than she wouldn’t want to have sex with them as they would have no understanding of pleasure.
For some reason whenever I admire someone I have this weird desire to be related to them. I always say to Lee that I wish Nigella was my Aunt ( not my mother as I would get too fat!) an Aunt is just right as I could indulge occasionally without having to feel to bad. So I leave you with a clip of Aunt Nigella in action-
Feeling hungry yet?!
-Helly
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