MORE CHANGES!

Howdy folks!

First of all, I appologise for my seemingly declining number of entries (I am well aware of the fact that I started out at four a week). It has been a busy time for me and I will make it up to you, things are starting to slow down over where I am... More films (greater numbers of them) coming your way soon.

Secondly, do check out that handy little "Labels" section on the right! It'll help you search for films by categories. Most of the titles are pretty self explanatory - "festival /award winner" is where I have grouped those who got attention from the prestigious festivals or awards - could be Grammys or Sundance. "Classic actors" are films with the "big names" of Hollywood in it. I did think of putting individual names but I don't want to have favorites (hehe) and secondly there aren't enough actors (or actresses even) with more than one or two films it would look "untidy"... I will be playing around with this, adding new categories and the like - do let me know if you think I've missed any!

much love and have a great weekend!
Essie

THERE IS ONE IN ALL OF US - COME "WHERE THE WILD THINGS ARE"

We all read this one right? I don’t think it’s that old as a book – my Mom doesn’t remember it - but I most definitely had a copy and I LOVED it… I was intrigued when I heard it was being adapted to film as well – the book is only about 15 – 20 pages long if I remember correctly! However with Oscar® nominated director Spike Jonze at the helm (director of “Adaptation” and the rather surreal classic “Being John Malkovich”) I was excited aswell. Then I saw the trailer and was desperate to watch it. Then I finally got my grubby paws on the film. I’m in love with it. I’ll go as far as saying I shed a little itty-bitty tear at the end…

Meet Max. He’s I would say around 10, he lives with his mother and older sister. He’s a bit of a loner and tends to throw tantrums and “act up” from time to time. He also has a very active imagination to make up for the loneliness… One day he runs away from home (his mother has a new boyfriend and his father is not around – I seem to have assumed the father was dead but there are no real indications in that direction) . Well, he runs and runs and runs, jumps into a little boat and crosses oceans and arrives at a mysterious island. This island is inhabited by monsters – big huge monsters with fur and horns and tails… They usually eat people but they don’t eat Max, in fact they end up making him their king… Max is a good king for a while and makes his subjects very happy. He becomes particularly close to one of the monsters – Carol (Carol’s a boy by the way – don’t question it, so was “Winne” the Pooh) the others are nice too though… However as we all know with that with great power comes responsibility and soon Max’s kingdom starts to unravel…

This categorically the MOST touching film I have ever watched – almost anyway… It is a children’s book it’s adapted from of course but I have a hard time classifying it as “fit for the whole family” – I mean you CAN show this to the little ones but a lot of subtleties of the film will be lost on the younger audiences… There is Judith and Ira – a monster couple, Alexander who no one ever listens to and who is the smallest, then Carol who tends to break things when he’s upset and who is pining for his “special friend” K.W (a girl in case you’re getting confused). In case my explanation was ambiguous this is very obviously a land of Max’s imagining – and the little details (I’ll leave you to discover them yourself) are endearing. The way Max and Carol learn to cope with life, the way they both “grow up”… And the cast doing the voiceovers is ASTOUNDING : James Gandolfini is Carol (I racked my brains as to who the very familiar voice was all through the film and had to check imdb), Lauren Ambrose (from Six Feet Under) is K.W. , Forest Whitaker is Ira and Oscar® winning actor Chris Cooper is another one of the monsters I didn’t mention (Douglas for those who watch – by the way don’t you ADORE their names). This is the story of a very imaginative little boy (The talented Max Records – who is 12 in the movie apparently – I got the age right!) thrashing out life and the whole “growing up” thing. Highly recommended to anyone with an imagination…

NOT AN AVERAGE FLOWER - MAGNOLIA

Magnolia is just “one of those films”. It has to be actually seen to be understood. “You have to have been there.” I watched it – and loved it - which was good, because I sat down to it with high hopes of adding it to my blog. (It’s so disappointing when you sit down to a film and go “Oooh, now, I wonder if this will make it to the blog?” and then fall asleep half way through…) I have decided long ago that I will only add the films I myself enjoyed – that was the point of the website. There are of course a lot of films I watch and get bored witless – I do watch films for a living you know – but this was never the point. I seem, however, to be getting a little off topic. Let’s get back to Magnolia and the critique thereof…

Now, what of the story? This is a story about choices and life, and how we are all a lot more connected than we might first think… Earl Partrdige (Jason Robards) is dying of cancer. His young wife Claudia (Julianne Moore) and Phil (Philip Seymour Hoffman) are caring for him. Earl’s dying wish is to make contact with his estranged son, Jack (Tom Cruise). Jack however, is now a self-help guru and wants nothing to do with his father… Jimmy Gator – a TV host - is also dying of cancer… He has not led a model life and wants to reconcile with his daughter before it’s too late. His daughter is a depressed cocaine addict and wants nothing to do with her father. In the meanwhile, the current and past child prodigies of Gator’s TV show are both facing battles of their own…

If that sounds complicated it is a bit. But unconnected ? No. This is a supremely intelligent film about life, the choices we make and how much the “little” things count… There are many scenes that will move you to the marrow of your bones and many that will fascinate you – but the whole story is so cleverly woven I couldn’t possibly “take a piece out” to show to you without “knocking the rest over”…Technically speaking it’s a very fast paced film. The story goes quickly from time to time and so does the editing. I’m kinda used to this kind of thing and it was ok but you might find it a touch difficult to follow at first, so choose a calm day for it. Another thing : The cast. I mean, who isn’t in the film?! Tom Cruise, Philip Seymour-Hoffman, Julianne Moore, double Oscar®winner Jason Robards, William H. Macey… And the film is an Oscar ® nominee to boot – Best Original Screenplay, Best Muisc and Best Actor in a Supporting Role for Tom Cruise. Lastly, please don’t let the fact that the film is three hours long “upset” you. I would like to remind you at this point that “The Godfather” is just as long and an absolute and utter cult classic ;)

IT'S CLASSICS TIME! "CHINATOWN"

Now, I make no pretences at being a big cinema connoisseur as you all know. There is a lot in the world of film I have yet to explore, a lot of great directors I have yet to “re-discover”. Roman Polanski was one of them. Now I have heard a lot about him – well haven’t we all – and a few of my colleagues (especially one with a six year-old daughter – you know why I specified this btw, right? If not just Google the guy.) say that they are so prejudiced and disgusted by what they have heard that they would never watch his films. That it would turn their stomach. Maybe you share this opinion, I honestly don’t know. I personally have, over the years, somehow managed to separate the artistic side of someone and the “personal” side. What I mean is, there are several actors, directors, writers who I dislike personally (well Jesus, when I say personally – you get what I mean, right?) whose works I thoroughly enjoy. Take Wagner for instance. A thoroughly unpleasant and arrogant man by all accounts but did that stop him being a great composer? Same difference here. And no matter what you may or may not think of him, Mr. Polanski is without a doubt, one GREAT director. I am looking forward to getting my grubby paws on more of his work. In the meanwhile, however, welcome to Chinatown…
Now, our hero is J.J. Gittes (a mind-blowingly young Jack Nicholson. I won’t go as far as saying he hasn’t aged well but he was A LOOKER when he was younger, no?). Mr. Gittes is a private investigator. Unfaithful spouses are his main bread and butter and he thinks very little of the whole event when a woman claiming to be the wife of Hollis Mulwray one of the senior officials on the Water and Energy Board of L.A. comes to him, asking for proof her husband is unfaithful. Mr. Gittes does what he does best, and obtains photos of the gentleman with a young woman – not actually risqué but intimate. These leak to the press, there is a SCANDAL. Mr. Gittes is ok with this – it’s just publicity for him. So imagine his shock when he enters his office and comes face to face with the REAL Mrs. Mulwray (Faye Dunaway) absolutely irate and threatening to drag him through the courts… Now Mr. Gettys may have few principals in his line work but being made a fool of is a MAJOR dislike. So he starts investigating what on earth really happened. He will find himself in the middle of intrigue and scandal on a national basis. He will also uncover a rather horrible secret of a very personal nature…
This film, I have to say, is not for the faint hearted or faint stomached. You won’t “get” what I mean until you reach the end (and the film is two hours long so if you get that far, you will undoubtedly watch the end) and by that time, it will be “too late”. I mean it starts off (if you can with a clear conscience call 90 minutes of a film “starts off” – I evidently can! =)) as your typical whodunit from the 60’s. Charismatic hero with a slightly shady past, beautiful damsels in distress, secrets, intrigue… I was amused to note Mr. Polanski actually cast himself as a “mobster” (if you watched and are unsure, he’s the one who cuts Jack Nicholson’s nose). Then, suddenly, the film derails into something else. Nothing “psychedelic” but well, disturbing… Some might say “what did you expect from a guy like that” and carry on being prejudiced. Personally, I admire a director that can twist the plot like that at the end. Admittedly, the direction he twisted it in was not actually “pleasant” but hand on heart, I never expected it. Never saw it coming. And, for those of you to whom this matters (my dear Mother is one of them) no, it most certainly does NOT have a happy ending. It starts of as a whodunit and ends in a film noir in fact – a successful yet slightly disturbing combination… Not to mention the fact that the film actually won an Oscar for Best Screenplay (and 10 nominations from everything from Best Director to Best Sound)
And what of the title, Chinatown? Well, although the film ends in Chinatown, Chinatown itself features very VERY little in the film physically; it is very present though, despite that. It is more of a symbol: It looms all through the film reminding us that life is in fact very unfair, that the good and innocent do not always triumph and the baddies WILL get away with it if they have the means and the connections. That’s why the last line of the film has become something of a movie classic “Come on Jake, this is Chinatown…” I understand completely if this brand of realism is not something you want to think about on the precious evening you have to yourself or your weekend – so be warned… None the less, the film deserves respect, NO two ways about it.

ÜÇ MAYMUN / THREE MONKEYS

Now, I am fully aware that the film I am about to review is a supremely “niche” affair. This is a Turkish film by one of the most famous Turkish directors Nuri Bilge Ceylan. Now, as a person I honestly don’t know the guy. As a director one either loves or hates him. Well such is the case for most of his tribe – he’s a minimalist. Now don’t get scared by terminology, you know the kind of film I mean : Minimal dialogue, minimal camera action, minimal special effects if any. Editing is merely a means to go from one scene to another, in short there is very little of a lot of things to the point that it’s surprising there is a “resulting film” at all. Add to that the fact that in quite a few of these films symbolism features quite heavily and the resulting concoction can prove “unwatchable” for a lot of people. I sympathize: I am one of these people. Most of the time. I am also open to change and new information which is mainly why I try my best to attend seminars, classes and the like concerning different areas of the cinema it was during one of these classes that I was introduced to a novel way of looking at the film. Now, I am VERY far from being an instant convert to minimalist cinema but after being introduced a new point of view to the whole affair I decided to try and express my emotions on the matter to you all and see if I could get you to give a go as well.

The story is that of a driver, a modest man and the personal driver of a local politician. One night the above – mentioned local politician has a traffic accident, killing a pedestrian. The elections are approaching and he doesn’t want to “dirty his name” so he asks the driver to take the fall for him. He will pay good money, take care of his wife and son… The driver is a poor man – and accepts. Life in his little home goes on pretty much as usual until his son fails his university entrance exams. Ismail – his son – doesn’t want to re-study he wants to buy a car and be a shuttle driver for a local school. Since the mother doesn’t work and the father’s employer is their only means of support she goes to him for the money even though she’s pretty sure her husband would not approve. The local politician will not only give her the money but professes that he will “do anything for her”. This will have devastating results on each member of the small family…

Now, the thing to bear in mind while watching this film is that it is the story and the story-telling that is in the foreground here. Nothing more, nothing less. Even the story itself is not that original. That’s why I only recommend this film for those of us who actually enjoy the technicalities of a film (and like I said I am not necessarily one of those people!) What is original – and what jars about this film – is the fact that a lot of the theoretically key moments or “big events” of the film are actually shown on screen. We are led up to them and then we focus on the results, leaving the larger part of the work to our imaginations. The other thing I like about minimalist cinema – or rather the examples of minimalist cinema I have actually liked – is the closeness to real life and real people. The story, the surroundings the acting… For all the world you are in a lower middle class household in Turkey not a film set. It gives one the spooky feeling of eavesdropping – this is a little odd but also connects with the voyeur that exists in all of us. Admittedly, being a “new convert” I still find some of the sequences “too long”. Especially since “action” as we are used to is at a minimum and the whole affair is above all psychological. However, if you feel like something different, this is a good quality example – with , I hasten to add, no symbolism. I also want to add that the guy didn't get chosen best director at the Cannes film festival for nothing... Recommended for the adventurous…

DON’T DREAM IT – BE IT! WITH THE "ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW!"

I’m sure the title has caused a lot of you no little confusion on a lot of counts. The older among you will exclaim – “But that was a musical – surely they haven’t made a FILM of it – that’s BLASPHEMY!” And the younger among you will say “Rocky WHO?” Ok, let’s recap and begin at the beginning. In the United Kingdom, in 1973, there was a musical. It spoke openly of sex and sexual awakening (which was not usual for the 70’s) and also caused no little controversy because one of the protagonists (Dr. Frank N. Furter – now most definitely my FAVORITE any kind of character of all times) is a transsexual . In platform shoes. Underwear. Suspenders. Makeup. The works. Kids broke out of their family homes and collected pocket money for weeks to go and see it. Parents strongly disapproved and worried – but with most things of this genre, could do nothing about it to prevent it spreading like a wildfire. In the mid 70’s, seeing the success of the musical, the company decided to turn it into a “motion picture”. Starring big names like Susan Sarandon (Good LORD she is young. I barely recognized her!) the one and only Tim Curry (the original Dr. Frank N. Furter from the musical) and rock singer Meatloaf (of all people). Now, I knew shamefully little about this. I knew sex featured heavily. That it was considered the granddaddy (or grandmommy?!) of absurd comedy. That it was probably a musical. That was it. I saw the DVD on discount in the foreign land I was travelling in last week and picked it up. I did not speak the language of this land and therefore only got to learn the story by watching the damn thing. It turned out to be the best purchase I have made. Like, ever.
However, I guess you lot want to have a touch more forewarning about what you are going to watch and its topic so I will now proceed to give you a short summary. Meet Brad (Barry Bostwick) and Janet (Susan Sarandon). They are you’re a-typical engaged couple of the late 60’s – early 70’s. Very “good” no “heavy petting” nothing “unusual”. They are going through life “the normal way” and are preparing to go through life pretty much on the same route - until they get a flat tire one night when they are in the middle of nowhere. Well, it isn’t exactly the middle of nowhere, there’s a rather spooky looking castle in the middle of that particular slice of nowhere. Janet is scared but Brad is reasonable. The castle may have a phone that will allow them to call civilization for help. The castle, however, is no ordinary castle. Its master is Dr. Frank N. Furter – and he has plans for our couple. And neither telephones nor returning to the car is included in these plans…
Now, first and foremost, don’t even go near this DVD if you hate musicals, disapprove of comedy of a sexual nature or think that 70’s movies are lame and absurd comedy is pointless. Just forget I mentioned it and move on to the next post. If, on the other hand, you are not one of the above, get this DVD by hook or by crook. Even if you have watched the musical, the particular edition I have includes such delightful extras as a “participation prompter” – where you are advised as to how you can participate in the musical as you watch (it’s not complicated and you don’t necessarily need a prompter. For instance, in the middle of writing this, for a distraction, (I have a migraine as I write this so I can only stare at the screen and concentrate on it for short periods of time) I slapped the DVD on and did the “Time Warp” round the room. No prompter used, just common sense. Well, when I say common sense…) Or, if you would rather see the reactions of others, you can listen to the reactions of an audience of veterans (I’m guessing fan-club members) singing along to it – it makes for a PRICELESS experience. Even the DVD menus are hilarious. Curious? Then “go up to the lab and see what’s on the slab!”

P.S. For those who are now “full on Frankie fans” here’s the link to the fan club website. I’m definitely signing up. Like, seriously… Oh and by the way on the same website you can purchase tickets for the musical itself in various countries... Check it out! :D

WALL STREET

OK, let’s move things up a notch – a notch being 10 years. We are now in the 80’s. And having drunk our fill on um… Sensuality… Let’s move on to the next big thing. Money. And where to find copious amounts of the stuff? Why Wall Street of course! That’s precisely what Bud Frank (Charlie Sheen) thinks and dreams of. One day, he finds a way of making his dreams come true… However, as it says on the back of the DVD cover, every dream has a price…
So, so let’s back-peddle and hear the story from the beginning. Buddy. Buddy Frank. He is an account executive in a Wall Street firm. And like most people in or around his position, he dreams of one thing… Money. A lot of it. His father is an old-fashioned kinda guy. He’s worked in the same airline for 25 years now, he’s a union representative, well loved and respected. He has never had his son’s lofty ambitions but respects his son’s dreams – and lends him money whenever he can. Because Buddy wants to play with the big boys and thus “has to” live in Manhattan and wear 400$ suits. Anyhow, Buddy is not completely clueless as to how he will achieve this lofty dream. As an accounts executive, all he needs to do is “bag an elephant”. That is to say, get to manage the account for one of the really REALLY big players. Then the only way is up. He also has his eye on one particular “elephant”. The biggest elephant of the day: Gordon Gekko (Michael Douglas who SHINES in this part) Then one day, Buddy strikes lucky. Through sheer persistence, he works his way into Mr. Gekko’s office and begs him for a chance. Mr. Gekko “graciously” decides to accord him one. In the beginning, it all works out the way Buddy planned. Soon, he is swimming in money and has a high-class girlfriend. Sure, some of the things he has to do for Gordon upsets his conscience from time to time, but compared to what he has gained, that is actually nothing… As the stakes continue to rise though, Buddy will have a tougher and tougher time balancing his conscience… And then one day… It gets personal…
Now, seeing as this film takes place largely on Wall Street and the stock market, I think basic knowledge of how it all works would enhance the film GREATLY. Take heart though, I don’t posses one of these qualities and still loved it. (I don’t know the first thing about the stock exchange - I’m not even sure what a “stock” is much less how you would exchange it.) You are, however, able to “get” the story line; and by the end of the film I actually was getting quite excited about a certain stock maneuver so we can even say it was educational. And not only is it a basic story of good and evil cleverly transposed into economics, it is also (apparently) a quite sincere account of business in the 80’s. Oliver Stone says in an interview (if I remember rightly) that if Gordon Gekko is not exactly a “real person”, he is an amalgam of a few real people and the things he does are real actions taken by different people. Admittedly, it would take a lot to be so OTT when you come to think of it – he is quite a Dickensian bad guy; however, just as in Dickens, you are swept along with the story and the excitement to such an extent that you barely notice this fact until you are coolly discussing / thinking about the film later on. There are a few more “Dickensian” things about the movie. One example is Mr. Lynch who warns Buddy (rather like the spirit of Christmas Future) at every turn that he is heading for doom. Ok, I get it, Oliver Stone (the director) is trying to offset Buddy to the “new breed” of trader with the old school traders and ways of thinking. However, this is something he already achieves with the character of Lou (a real person now deceased) and more importantly Buddy’s father. Another scene I found Dickensian is what I will call “Gordon and Buddy’s final discussion”. It came out of the blue I felt, and too many things were said too openly. I mean, far be it for humble little me to say a master such as Oliver Stone is a bad director; these are just things that bothered me, but all in all I loved the film – I mean, I wouldn’t put it here otherwise or advise you to watch it. And I definitely advise you to watch it…

MIDNIGHT IN THE GARDEN OF GOOD AND EVIL

Ok, so this is a film a friend and colleague has been bugging me to watch for absolutely AGES. He even went as far as procuring a personal copy for me (bless him). This was about a year ago and much to my mates’ horror, I have only just got round to watching it. I now understand that horror – this little known (I think?) classic ranks among the immortals. Plus, it features a rather nostalgic cast like a VERY young Jude Law (still just as gorgeous!) and John Kusack. Another surprise was the fact that the director of the film is actually Clint Eastwood – I am going to have to seriously review my opinion of the guy. I always viewed him as… Well you know. Clint Eastwood. He is actually a director capable of conveying deep emotion. Even in a film about homosexuality – and that I would NOT have expected from Mr. Eastwood. My mistake, evidently…

So, with John Kelso (John Kusack) we go to Savanah. A pleasant little town comprised of “good folk” and a few eccentrics – one of which is eccentric millionaire and bon viveur Jim Williams (Kevin Spacey). Williams is generally admired and envied by the community and his standing “makes up” for the fact he is actually gay so everybody kinda “overlooks” the fact. Mr. Williams is famous for his extravagant Christmas Parties and Kelso, a freelance journalist, is sent to cover this year’s party. However, when Williams’s young, rebellious and slightly violent protégé/ lover Billy (Jude Law) is found shot dead in Williams’ library on the night after the party, Kelsos’ whole stay takes a very different turn. Now not only is a man he has befriended and has come to like being tried for murder, the whole town that now “officially knows” he is gay, slowly starts to turn against him. Kelso is aided on his way by Voodoo priestess Minerva and the inimitable Lady Chablis as he finds out that sometimes in the hearts of men, good and evil, love and hate, prejudice and acceptance are all only a heartbeat apart…

The film is based on John Berendt’s book of the same name. And although certain characters and dialogue were created for dramatic purposes – and neither the film nor the book makes a secret of this – some of the characters are quite real. To the point that the Lady Chablis is actually played by herself! She is by far my favorite character in the film by the way… Now, at a whopping 155 minutes long, you may be “intimidated” by the film. Don’t be. The name may also seem to convey a sense of something “deep and philosophical” that will bore you. No way. It is a brilliant film that conveys a very poignant analysis of society and the human spirit. Not necessarily a happy message but a true message. Don’t be like me. Don’t wait a year to watch the bloody thing – just get on to it. In my heart, the film has shot up to the Top 10 of my favorite movies of all times…

LET THE RIGHT ONE IN

Ever since “Twighlight” descended upon us, vampires have been a “buzz word” for a lot of us. I personally do not get it. Close family member however *cough cough cough* are absolutely dotty about the whole affair. Therefore I felt the need to warn you all, ok this is a vampire film and a love film but don’t leap on it screaming “EDWARD!”. No. No, no no. NOTHING to do with it. Just bare that in mind as you ponder whether you want to buy it and read on.
Ok so I guess this film has been hyped about wherever you live as well but maybe you missed the hype or avoided it so here’s our plot. Our story is set in a small town in Sweden. Oskar is 12. He is that scrawny kid at the back of class that doesn’t participate much in class and who the bigger kids pick on – you know the type. He doesn’t have many friends but then he makes one – Eli who has just moved into the neighborhood. Eli is a lovely girl; about his age and fun to play with but… She’s weird… She only comes out to play after dark. She doesn’t enter a house unless she is invited. Oskar never sees her eating anything. Oskar doesn’t mind that at first. Eli’s strong, she gives him advice and courage, and he starts standing up to the bullies at school thanks to her. As their bond grows stronger and stronger Oskar becomes more and more determined to find out Eli’s secret. His determination will have consequences that are unexpected to say the very least.
Now, this film is NOT your typical vampire film. It’s VERY Scandinavian in a lot of ways from the setting and décor to the acting (and that in itself is a “either love it or hate it” situation). The protagonists of the story are around 12. And although it does actually happen, older audiences may find a film where 12 year olds fall in love a little hard to stomach. But then again, this is an absolutely MAGICAL film about growing, about love, about change, about strength… About how true love really changes one, about how some things, some emotions are truly ageless and timeless… Despite the hype about it I feel that this a film you have to get passed a few prejudices to truly enjoy, but when you do get passed them you truly WILL enjoy it. It may even change you…

SLIGHTLY BEHIND SCHEDULE

Hey Hey everybody!

First of all I am so glad you're all getting on so well with the "opinion boxes". I always enjoy learning what you think - keep the opinions coming!

Secondly, having just returned from travels I am slightly (but only slightly) behind schedule and hope to have the website updated by this evening or tormorrow lunchtime at the latest...

thanks for your understanding and see you soon!
Essie