ESSIE SPEAKS OF WHAT'S NEW THIS MONTH

Ok, ok here I am, so so sorry I'm late!

But come on. It's the festive season. There were big meals with family, followed by lots of sitting around by the television feeling probably quite similar to an anaconda who has just swallowed a goat. There was much catching up and a lot of festive spirit so my inner blogger got the tiniest bit... Distracted. I know you get it. And I hope your Christmas was just as fun and peaceful as mine.

But this does not mean I was sitting on my hands through the festive season gentle reader. Oh no. I am so cutting edge and up to date at the moment (ehm) that I come to you this week with two brand-spanking new television and cinema extravaganzas. One of my New Year's resolutions is to keep the blog more "up to date" so hopefully you will be reading more about what is actually in cinemas at the time and less about my random dives into my film collection. I'm not making any promises though. Just saying.

So anyway peeps, belated Merry Christmas and a very Happy New Year! See y'all in 2013!

Essie

STEP INSIDE YOUR OWN MIND : "LIFE OF PI"

Ok, confession time. I was so impressed by this film, and I mean, so SERIOUSLY impressed that it played a large part in my delaying the update for a day. My sincere apologies. But it was so good, I literally couldn’t wait a whole week to talk about it. And, ok, credit where it’s due, I did have a reasonable amount of time to write the entry. That’s when the turkey and potatoes got in the way. And I actually had other posts ready but… You see… Come on though. I know you’ll forgive me. It’s Christmas. And besides, it’s Ang Lee. He just happens to be one of my favourite directors.  And this film soared to the top ten of my favourite films ever almost the second I finished it; all this without reading the book at all I might add.

Life of Pi is the story of many things. Life, religion, philosophy… It is one of those stories that you can make whatever you feel it should mean. This is actually rather strange, because on the surface it doesn’t seem to be one of those stories at all. Pi is a young boy of 16 when he is shipwrecked. He is lucky enough to find himself in a lifeboat with supplies enough to keep him going for a while at least. However, he is not alone on the boat. A large and vicious Bengal tiger, part of the ship’s cargo, has also made its way onto the lifeboat… Pi must now attempt to survive being shipwrecked in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, a Bengal tiger and, maybe the most frightening aspect of all, being completely and utterly alone with himself…

Ok, first of all, the film. I mean, wow. The film is stunning, first and foremost as a film in itself. Lee is, as you may know, a master at creating and conveying dream-like “film worlds”. He does not fail here. In fact, I can almost guarantee you that the visuals of the film alone will ensure you leave the cinema mildly – if not completely – stunned. This is also a good example of using the CGI in an understated way. Here, yes most things are computer generated. However, no big explosions, no dragons, nothing is overdone. I mean, the realism of the film is to the degree that, the rest of the family was in some division over whether some bits were actual photography or not. It is my professional opinion that most of it was not but I can’t help but be impressed. You can actually use computers to make “fake” images look almost better than real life.  And if that isn’t something to think about, I don’t know what is.

But of course, this isn’t the only “thing to think about” the film provides. As you can imagine (or perhaps already know as I seem to be literally the only person on the planet who hasn’t read the book yet) the book is, more than anything else, an invitation to consider some of the most important philosophical questions in life. As the story unfolds, the number of possible interpretations also grows and we are, at the end of the day, left alone with ourselves, much like Pi, to consider what really happened. And please don’t be put off by the concept of “philosophising”. It is not that kind of film at all. It will draw you in gently and almost despite yourself. I mean, trust me, even if it isn’t normally your thing, you won’t be able to help thinking about it.  Come on. Step right in. You know you’re at least curious by now. 

A SEQUEL 30 YEARS IN THE MAKING : "THE SNOWMAN AND THE SNOWDOG"

Anyone living in the UK knows that this one had to make the cut this week. Ok, it isn’t technically a film, heck it’s only 23 minutes long actually. But it’s a Christmas tradition. We have waited for the sequel for nigh on 30 years. Admittedly, back in the day when I first watched it I was actually traumatized by The Snowman. Not because the snowman melted. Because in my mind, somehow, the snowman actually abducted the child – heck, I was relieved he melted! The fact that I was terrified of heights even back in those days when I was knee-high to a grasshopper wouldn’t have contributed to my enjoyment of the flight scenes. But all the same. Come on, this is a historical moment peeps.

Now, this is usually the point at which I tell you what the story is about. But, fair warning, we got into an extremely heated family discussion as to what the premise of the story was. I, therefore, missed a large part of the first five minutes. But I will try and reflect my school of thought. There are several opposing schools of thought (yes, every detail matters, we're that kind of family). And naturally I’m not checking this online. I am confident in my film analysis abilities. So there. (Edit: Just before posting this update I actually did a Google search: YES it is the ORIGINAL HOUSE with a DIFFERENT boy. In case anyone who participated in the afore-mentioned heated discussion is reading). 

The story takes place in the original house of the snowman. Only it is years later and there is a new family living there now. The little boy of the family is about the same age as our original hero, although it’s all a bit sad in that his beloved dog has just died. Anyway, one day, when playing in his room, he discovers the old box where the original snowman’s things along with a picture of said snowman and our original hero are kept. Our current hero likes this idea and next time it snows, makes a snowman with said materials. He then goes on to construct a snow dog in memory of his beloved  dog.  Lo and behold, on the stroke of midnight the snowman comes alive – and so does the “snow dog”! . Let the festivities begin J

Ok, one thing. They have changed the soundtrack. They actually axed “walking in the air”. There are several music professionals in the family whose professional opinion it is that they should have at least done variations on the theme as they flew over the city. Apart from that though, it’s spot on. I feel that following the original style of animation was absolutely the right call. And even though, I mean, naturally there is nothing wildly original about it, it is just a warm, fuzzy bundle of joy to watch.

One alarming thing I learnt about myself though is that I actually have now got into the rather antisocial habit of  blurting out the ends of films – or rather my predictions of them – which these days often turn out to be right (ehm ehm. Not to blow my own trumpet or anything.) I did the self-same thing and somehow amazed the family at the end of this one as well. I would normally jot down being able to predict the end of the film as an actual minus, but in this case… Well. We’re watching it because it’s a classic folks, not for its originality value. Merry Christmas. 

APPOLOGIES FOR DELAY

Hey folks! Just wanted to give some sign of life asap as I have been uncharacteristically late at updating the blog this week.

It's all the Christmas dinner damnit. Copious amounts of turkey and roast potato later one gets a tiny bit sluggish.

Bare with me until tomorrow morning, the blog should be updated by 10.00 a.m. GMT. What can you look forward to? Well, the theme of the week is "new this december". So we will talk about a classic we have all been waiting for for rather a long time and a new film that, in my humble opinion, is well on the way to becoming a modern classic (hint : Ang Lee, you've done it again!). 

Thanks for baring with me peeps, and a belated merry Christmas to you and all your loved ones!

Essie

ESSIE SPEAKS OF LOVE AND MONEY

I mean as concepts. I don't mean the classic film starring Michael J. Fox, besides that was called "For Love or Money". Note to self, must review that too sometimes, it wasn't a bad film at all. If I ever get the time. At the moment, factoring in time for sundry matters such as showers and meals are a challange. Much less digging up old films from God only knows where.

I have a seasonal part time job you see. And 'tis the season for office parties. Especially relevant if you work in catering. (I know, my employment record looks nothing short of schizophrenic at the moment but oh well. There's a recession on. You do what you can to live thrive and survive in the worlds of Elwood Blues). But hang on, let's talk about recessions for a second. Heck, let's talk about them a lot. In fact, if you scroll down to my second post of the day, we will be able to do just that. If you are not in the mood for something so serious (and indeed, "why so serious?" in the words of... Oh come on, you know who). I can offer you the funniest, most awkward and by far most romantic love film I have watched in a long time : Moonrise Kingdom. Don't be decieved by the age of the heroes. Serious stuff going on here.

Anyway, happy  viewing folks, I still have Christmas presents to wrap!
Essie

MY FUNNY VALENTINE : "MOONRISE KINGDOM"

Don’t get me wrong, I have never had anything but respect for Wes Anderson. It grew even more when I saw his rendition of Fantastic Mr. Fox. I mean, wow. Seriously, wow. That was something. But this… This is just… I am not known for being caught short for words but I am actually having trouble describing this film. It is categorically the sweetest film I have ever seen with the best examples of absurd comedy and caricatures that I have ever seen. You can neither get “into” the film and be swept away by it nor can you help sympathizing completely with the characters and getting caught up in it emotionally. I mean, I kid you not, this film bends time it’s that exciting. And yet you’re always an outsider looking in – and you feel it very clearly. How does this come about? Let me try and explain as best I can…

Sam Shatusky and Susy Bishop are lovers. There seems to be nothing wrong with this statement in itself. The thing is, they are 12. Ok, you may say, a bit young, but still, nothing wrong. The thing is though, neither Sam nor Susy are exactly your average 12 year-olds. They are both, in their own ways, problem children. To the point that their families, friends (well, acquaintances anyway) and their teachers alike are unsure what to do with them. Sam and Susy however, being problematic yet not stupid, come up with a simple solution. Elope, find a place to live, start a new life together far, far away. Which again would be completely fine if they were not 12. As they are 12, however, once our lovers elope, the entire population of the small town they live in comes out in force to look for them.  In the process, of course, quite a few dirty secrets start to see the light of day… It turns out, in fact that our “normal” little town may not be quite as normal as they make themselves out to be.

One thing here is absolutely certain. Anderson has captured the absolute essence of “awkwardness”. This is not some “cutie” story of young romance, people. It talks of being out of place, sticking out, of being alone. It talks of being surrounded by people who never quite understand.  It does this in absurd looking ways sometimes, but the emotions the situations end up conveying clearly, very clearly, leap in straight from real life.

As I said, Anderson uses every trick in the book, every technical gimmick possible to make us feel like “spectators”. But this works brilliant with this particular story, because this is exactly how Susy and Sam feel. Spectators. Outsiders. Not allowed to join in and not sure why. Like I said, you would have to be made of stone not to know exactly what Anderson is talking about here. He has literally taken the emotions out of the emotional field and slapped them onto a screen. And this, boys and girls, does not happen that often.

And I mean. What a cast. Edward Norton, Bruce Willis, Bill Muray, Frances McDormand and Tilda Swindon are all superb. But Kara Hayword who plays Susy and Jared Gilman who plays Sam, who happen to be completely novice actors also definitely deserve a mention. I will risk sounding like a complete old hack and say it is that “raw” quality to their acting that makes them stand out, as opposed to the confidence exuded by some child-stars that makes them seem just that tiny bit unrealistic no matter how good they are. Not only do they work absolutely brilliantly together, but they succeed completely in realistically “being” their characters. I have a feeling they will go far.

This is not a film for the ex-cheerleaders and football jocks among us. This is a film about how it felt to be, well, all the rest of us. On the outside. I am confident you will love this film. Please, please don’t miss it. 

WELL, IT DOES MAKE THE WORLD GO ROUND! "MASTERS OF MONEY"

Ok, I decided to try something a little different this week.  Just a tiny bit different, you know. I mean, the series I’m going to talk about is technically a series of documentaries so I’m not that far off the mark. However, they are less cinematic and more of the educational sort. Not surprising really, seeing as they were prepared by the Open University. See, but the thing is, given the turbulent times we live in, I think these are necessary and useful. If only because I feel we really, truly need to understand the world we live in. More specifically the economic situation we are in. Given the fact that the global recession (being global and all) pretty much touched us all in some form or another, I think this is important. Because these documentaries aren’t about some flashy banking scandal or something. They are about serious economists. And more specifically, how their scientific theories could be used to explain and potentially solve the global crisis we are in today. This documentary presents the three main “schools of thought” and invites you to make your own decision at the end of the day.

Now, the documentary is made up of three episodes of one hour each, each one dedicated to a particular thinker and economist. We study the theories of Keynes, Hayek (who, I admit to my shame I had never heard of despite my original International Relations training) and the inevitable Karl Marx. The episodes are biographical, as documentaries are want to be, but also contain a heavy-ish dose of their theoretical work as well. The main aim of the programme is to take these theories and apply them to the crisis today. Every thinker has (or rather would have, seeing as they have all been dead for a while now) a suggestion that is radically different from the others. You will not only gain a lot of general culture through these programmes you may also gain a deeper understanding of what is going on around us. The recession isn’t over yet, as you probably well know.

Well, like I said, this is one to be watched for educational value more than entertainment. It is heavy on the economics and its main aim is to put across economic theory, not juicy titbits from the lives of the three men. However, if you do want to start thinking about these things, or want to learn a bit more, refresh your memory etc, these programmes are for you. I mean, hand on heart. Numbers and I have never got along. I get on even less with complex economic theory. Give me words; I can pretty much get them to do anything. Give me numbers – and anything more complex than basic sums – my IQ usually drops to about 10. No, not the IQ of a ten-year old. 10 on the measurement scale. Given this fact, the Open University seems to have pretty much idiot-proofed the documentaries. No matter how familiar you may (or may not) be with economics, you can pretty much be sure you will work away with at least a basic understanding of the theories discussed and how they apply to the crisis today. I mean, it got me thinking about economics. And that is most DEFINITELY an achievement. 

ESSIE SPEAKS OF REVISITING AND DIY

I know, I know. The whole theme idea has gone to pot again this week. But be fair. It's the holliday season. I work multiple jobs that are sometimes seasonal. There is a lot of running around involved. And not much planning for the blog.

However, I still have some good stuff for you this week. Firstly, I continue my trend (a trend of one hehe) of reviewing cookery books. Because I have hit on a real little gem! Talk about juicy ladies and gents!

But I also have a film for those of you who say "err excuse me. Do you actually expect me to live without films this week?" No. I most certainly do not. That's why I've got a top quality number for you as too. From one of my favorite directors too! I will be back on track next week I promise.

In the meanwhile, happy viewing - and eating!
Essie

RE-VISITED : "THE GIRL WITH A DRAGON TATOO"

I understand. With a best-selling series and more than one film adaptation floating around one needs to specify a tad-bit more which one I’m talking about. It’s the 2011 film adaptation directed by David Fincher that I want to look at this week. Now, at the time, I was a little bit pissed with this film. Well, mainly because there already was a Swedish adaptation. This kinda made sense, seeing as this is a Swedish book and all. Does Hollywood have to go poking its nose in and re-adapting every little thing going? Not necessarily. But credit where it’s due. I haven’t seen the Swedish version (yet) but Fincher has definitely done one heck of a good job. Then again, I would say that, he’s one of my favourite directors ever. Before I get any further with my rant, I’d do well to put some reasoning behind that sentence methinks…

So, for those of you who missed it, this is a story of skeletons in the closet and deception spanning decades. Michael Blomkvist is a renowned journalist. However, he is not having the best period of his career, as allegations he has made against a powerful businessman have turned out to be false, ending in him being dragged through courts and losing almost all his life savings. In the midst of all this however, he is offered an unlikely lifeline. Old-fashioned family patriarch Henrich, head of one of the most powerful family businesses in Sweden contacts Blomkvist. He has a personal assignment for him. Years ago, 40 years ago to be precise, his great niece Hannah has disappeared. Quite suddenly and with no trace whatsoever. Henrich is dying. And he is convinced his great niece is dead. But he wants Blomkvist, who has proved himself as an above-average investigator before, to look into it. Blomkvist begrudgingly accepts and teams up with the anti-social yet supremely talented hacker / investigator Lisbeth Salander to uncover secrets that have lain hidden for over 40 years. It may have been wiser to leave some secrets where they were…

Now, the story, I cannot find fault with. Lisbeth, the unlikely heroine of this series is a brilliant character, the epitome of an anti-hero if there ever was one. And honestly, there are not enough anti-heroes about for my liking. Even fewer “anti-heroines”. Blomkvist is a bit bland but realistic. You know, believable – which often is more than can be said for a lot for a lot of characters in this kind of story. And the story… I mean wow. I have seen a few detective / crime stories in my time but this deserves to be among the classics. It is both imaginative and exciting.

However the problem I found with the book is that well… Not to speak ill of the dead – the author of the book – but I really, really don’t think he could write well. I mean the story, the concept was great. But the book was far too wordy. Full of descriptions and explanations that were just… Well, surplus. That led nowhere. The book was full of good intentions but way too… Crowded.

Fincher has put an end to that problem. Quite unlike the book, the film cuts back on words and concentrates on visuals. And you know what Fincher is like with this kind of thing. Striking pictures, ominous, an underlying sense of danger. And silence. For anyone who has read the book, this fits S much better with Lisbeth’s character, don’t you think? Having been cut back and streamlined, the film flows like silk. And succeeds in putting your heart in your mouth within minutes. I knew the whole story and still I loved it. I seriously hope you don’t miss this one!!

A LITTLE BIT OF READING - AND SOME DIY : "AINSELY HARRIOT’S MEALS IN MINUTES"

Ok, credit where it’s due, I haven’t done books on this page for a very, very long time. But on the contrary, I have done cookery books before. Now, I do not own a massive number of cookery books. But I seem to go for a select few and over-use them, as it were. I mean, I believe in doing things properly. Ainsley Harriot’s meals in minutes are definitely going to be one of those books I am going to over-use. I have made one single meal out of it to date. But it was just SO good… I mean, SO GOOD. I had to share. This has to be an absolute treasure trove. And treasures (of this kind anyway) are for sharing J

Now, seeing as this is a cookery book it has no “story line” per se. But I will tell you about the concept, what I tried to make and the result. Now, anyone who has me added on facebook will actually know the answer to this one. And they will probably roll their eyes as I have been raving about it. What can I tell you, I like my food. Good food makes me happy. Risotto makes me especially happy. Home-made risotto… Well… Now I had some trepidation about risotto. One of my very dear friends who is a better cook than I will ever be most of the time has bad memories with risotto. I trust his culinary instincts implicitly. And risotto is jokingly referred to as “black rice” in the household to this day. Hence, to be fair, I was worried. But the result was risotto to rave about. And no doubt the recipe will be circulating, so more than one household was “saved” with one fell-swoop.

I am quite a confident cook at the best of times. But I wanted to be double-sure with this one. So I did things completely and utterly by the book. You know, bought all the ingredients and didn’t improvise (you know how it goes – “oh I don’t have any X – I’ll stick in some Y and Z instead, it’ll be fine”. I religiously followed the instructions. Which by the way, are crystal clear. The only fault I can find with this particular recipe is that the preparation time is slightly “exaggerated” if you see what I mean. It depends on the speed you chop at, but honestly, it takes me more than five minutes to wash and chop 250 grams of mushrooms alone. But apart from that, no issues whatsoever. Simple, easy to follow and ingredients that are easy to find.  And even though the prep. Time –wise I haven’t tried the more “speedy” sounding dishes but even though there was a slight “inconsistency” here, the recipe claimed it would take no more than 35 – 40 minutes and this was about correct. In short – give it a go! There are a lot of practical but novel ides in there, ideal to, with a tiny bit of prep, spice up your weekday nights with a wonderful homecooked meal. And the added satisfaction that “you did it all yourself”

ESSIE SPEAKS OF THE MANY FACES OF LOVE

Well, I started on love last week. No reason not to go on. After all, I have a lot of catching up to do, I have almost ignored love films on this blog for quite some time now. But true to my own nature, this week I have gone back to love films with, well... A bit of a twist.

Now what do I mean by twist? Well, you know how it goes in "classic" love films. The couple meet, fall in love, there is an obstacle, they overcome it, happy ending. We get excited for them in the process. Often, especially in mainstream cinema, there is not much more to the film than that. Which is fine in its own place. However, as you know, I like my proverbial "little grey cells" also at work when I watch a film. So I have chosen two films that actually ask questions about the nature of love as well. It's strength. It's limits. It's begining and its end. The result has been two both emotional and thought-provoking films I hope you enjoy watching as much as I did.

happy viewing,
Essie

LOVE STARTS AT HOME "ANGEL – A"

Ok, finally my conscience is at rest. I have finally, after such a long time, watched a “serious” movie. I do admit that going from animation straight to Luc Besson, the most serious of French art cinema may have been a bit of a leap. However as you probably know by now, this is the way my mind works. And I mean, come on. It isn’t likely to shock your system or give you brain freeze or something. I mean it might but only if you watch it in close succession with How To Train Your Dragon, for example. Don’t do that. I mean, even I don’t do that. Seriously.

That being said, just because Luc Besson directed it, it’s French and in black and white, please don’t let Angel-a scare you off. I know all that screams absolutely unwatchable in most cases, but this film is just so… Well in a word adorable. I laughed out loud. I even shed a few tears. And I marvelled at Besson’s wonderful black and white photography, framing the beauty of Paris. Seriously guys, this is not one you want to miss.

This is the story of André Moussah. André is a small time wheeler-dealer. He usually survives thanks to his gift of the gab and his ability wriggle out of shady deals relatively unscathed. However, as is often the case with this kind of life, he finally talks himself into a corner he cannot talk his way back out of. He is basically broke, with no prospects of getting any money and two very dangerous men to whom he owes a total of around 50 thousand euros. Seeing that his chances of surviving beyond midnight are getting rather slim, he decides to make everyone’s job a tad easier for them and kill himself. And just as he has climbed onto a bridge over the Seine, contemplating his last seconds on earth what should he see right on the balustrade beside him, except a beautiful woman, also preparing to kill herself. In fact, the young woman turns out to be a good deal more determined than André as she actually jumps. André however, being a good man at heart, jumps straight in after her and rescues her. However, it soon transpires that this young woman, or Angela as she calls herself, is not just a random passerby. In fact she is not even human. And her mission on earth is to change Andrés life for ever.

Ok, so maybe I shouldn’t have told you she isn’t human. Then again, Besson peppers the film with clues and honestly, this is not exactly the point of the film. I mean, unless you are really not watching the film properly, you will understand pretty quickly what Angela is. I’ll give you a hint – the name is a dead giveaway. So is the way Rie Rasmussen pronounces it. This film is about serious stuff. And I don’t mean random “arty” stuff. I mean stuff like learning to love yourself before you can learn to love another. Stuff like how that love can change you and change your life. The film is brilliant in that it doesn’t let up on the comedy. And Jamel Debbouze (whose name you do not know but whose face you are bound to recognise if you have watched a French film in the last 10 – 15 years. He is slowly becoming an “institution” like Reno or Depardieu, and for a good reason) is an excellent choice as a comic actor. The sharp contrast with tall blonde (VERY Swedish) Rie Rasmussen makes it just that little bit funnier. Honestly, you can’t get people to think about something so serious and so important without a bit of comedy though. Think about it, anything else would be just too much. A little  too cloying. And a bit like a cheesy greeting card. However mixing up the funny with the serious, the smiles with the tears, Besson puts a very important message into the context of real life, thus forcing us to really think about it. Note how hard André ultimately finds it to come to peace with himself. And ask yourself if, deep down, you have a similar problem as well…

 This is a beautiful movie on so many levels. Please don’t let the French or the black and white scare you off…

LOVE CONQUERS ALL... RIGHT? "SAMSON AND DELILAH"

I seriously do not watch enough in the way of Australian films. Off the top of my head I can only count off about three or four. And yes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert is one of them. Samson and Delilah is a wonderful film that serves a dual purpose. I have no doubt that one of the aims of the film is to portray the plight of the aborigines in Australia today, and it is thought provoking in this sense alone. But it also asks a question. Does love really conquer all? Can love really help you overcome everything? How far can one go for one’s other half, if it’s the real thing?

Samson and Delilah are two young aborigines living in a tiny desert community in modern day Australia. Delilah and her Nan make a meagre living selling the traditional pictures they painstakingly paint every day. Samson, one of their neighbours who lives with his brother and a bunch of other young lads, is basically unemployed. Despite the impossibility of their situation and all Delilah’s resistance, slowly, love blossoms between them. This turns out to be a blessing when a tragedy that hits very close to home, pushes the young couple onto the road. Even when they’re together, living on the streets is tough and survival is a battle they have to fight daily. Their love sustains them at first. But how long can it sustain them for? Will it help Samson and Delilah to their own happy ending, or does even the greatest love have its limits?

Ok, so first of all, a heads up. Director Warwick Gibson does several things with this storyline to make the film completely original and as distant from clichés as possible. And one of those things is minimal, and I mean minimal dialogue. Now as you probably know by now, I am quite a fan of minimal dialogue. I like it because it enables the transmission of emotion in what I feel is a more sincere way. I mean, yes, with emotions you often “talk it out” or something, but the essence, the real thing you feel. You don’t necessarily “say”. This is why it’s wonderful to watch the love between Samson and Delilah develop, with mutual shows of affection and almost no words at all. It’s like those warm, cuddly moments in a relationship where words can’t quite describe what you’re feeling. And if the words aren’t good enough, why bother using them?

Then of course there is the matter of the testing of Samson and Delilah’s love. Now the beauty of this part of the storyline is that everything that happens is totally, completely, and heart-rendingly realistic. And it speaks to the ability of the director that this goes for the good things in the film and the bad. You might argue that what happens in the film is only one of many possibilities, but hey, isn’t that kinda what life is anyway? Exactly.

And the other good thing is that even though the fact that Delilah and her Nan make traditional pictures that may well have once been considered priceless to scratch out a very meagre living is undoubtedly meant as a social commentary, it is not “in your face”. It is there for you to think about. But this film is, undoubtedly about love.

In short, don’t let the lack of dialogue scare you off. This little number has SO much to offer I am positive you could see past the silence and really enjoy the film. And heck, who knows, it may well become your introduction to minimalist films. Believe me, this would not be a bad thing… J

ESSIE SPEAKS OF LOVE

I noticed something rather shocking this week.

I have never had a week dedicated to love stories. This is so not on. I mean I even missed Valentine's Day this year (film-wise). So unromantic of me. And of course, it will not do AT ALL.

So randomly, in the middle of November I have decided to remedy that. Because it is good to act on your emotions (mostly). And besides, if I actually wait until next Valentine's Day, chances are I will forget again. Because the boyfriend, like most gents, is not a massive fan of romantic films. Then I mean, come on, there's that epic film "Sweet November". It's kind of justified. Actually have I reviewed Sweet November? I have, right? I'll just quickly post this and check...

Happy viewing people!
Essie

A MODERN FAIRY TALE : "LETTERS TO JULIET"

I have to admit, I don’t, as a general rule, have the girliest of tastes when it comes to films. In fact, as you may have noticed, some of the stuff I really “root” for is positively boyish. However, this does not mean that I do not appreciate a really good romantic film about true love when it comes my way. Well, a good friend of mine and I have been meaning to sit down and have a girly evening watching this for a long time. In the end, it simply did not happen and I watched it on my own anyway. But I see her point. This is seriously “girly evening” material. And well, the weekend is nigh, if you have no other plans… I say go for it! (Sorry boys, you may have to sit this one out).

Sophie (Amanda Seyfried – her name meant nothing to me although I recognised her face, she has been in quite a few things lately, think Mama Mia! (another Sophie ironically) God that was a long parenthesis). Ok from the top. Sophie is a fact checker for the New Yorker. She is engaged to passionate chef Victor (Gael Garcia Bernal – one word. Yum) and they are getting ready to get married. They will, however, take one last “pre-honeymoon” to Verona. It’s the city of love and Victor needs to have a series of meetings with his suppliers. But more than that, it is the couple’s last chance to spend some down time together before hectic stuff such as wedding planning kicks in. At least that is what Sophie hopes. In reality however, Victor is completely in his element setting up deals for his restaurant and Sophie is well… Bored. So she takes to exploring the city and ends up in Juliet’s house. There she meets the “secretaries of Juliet” – well you know how that one works, right? Ok maybe not. So this is an actual thing, there is, as you probably know a “Juliet’s House” in Verona, supposedly the house the real Juliet lived in. At said house, women (mostly – though presumably men can too) can write letters to Juliet and attach it to the wall of the house, asking for advice about broken hearts, love and other such problems. Then the “secretaries of Juliet” collect these letters and write answers. Assuming you included an address that is. Anyway, so, Sophie who is already passionate about writing chips in and while helping discovers a letter that has been lodged in the wall, forgotten for 50 years. Touched by the story told in the letter, Sophie writes an answer, hoping against hope Clare (Vanessa Redgrave) will somehow receive her long overdue answer. Clare does receive the letter. And this is the beginning of a series of life changing events for everyone. But especially Sophie.

Ok so this is basically a story about true love. And about the timeless quality of love. But most of all, I reckon, it is about time. The film gently criticises our American (read modern) life style, where we are all attached to our smartphones, multitasking, doing five things at once and not allowing anything the time it is properly due in its own right. On the surface (rather unfortunately some might say) it makes a rather banal comparison of that lifestyle and the one in Italy. Oh you know. It’s different in the Med, rolling hills, sipping wine “they do it differently there, none of that rushing about” all that jazz. I mean it is true up to a point but honestly, I doubt Rome or Milan are any less busy then New York, seing as they are among the big business capitals of the world and all. But I mean it is a cute way to think about it I suppose – especially if you don’t think about it for too long or too deeply. Besides, I do agree that one has to stop and breathe every now and again, and it is so easy to forget to do that in the modern business world. But then, of course, there is love. True love. And the fact that it is timeless. A gentle reminder, perhaps, that things like love, friendship, life are all timeless. It is pointless trying to squeeze them into the little slots that we have broken our days into. One has to allow them their own time to grow and develop. And sometimes, we have to make a choice between “work life” (as we call it in Turkish) and life. I mean, one has to admit that one doesn’t usually have the luxury of going for one or the other, but you know. You can lean towards one or the other, certainly. And you should be very careful about which direction you lean in… If you get what I mean. 

A TRUE STORY ABOUT TRUE LOVE : "COCO AVANT CHANEL"

This is yet another film I have been meaning to watch for ages. It’s all about tidying up and tying up loose ends these days for me, don’t ask me why. Coco would be proud of me. Well, possibly not of the state my living quarters are in at the moment but of the intention. I think. Hmm. Anyway, so the film. The film that was nominated for an Oscar®, won awards and is one of the most touching love stories I have heard for a long time. Not least because it’s a true story… This is the true story of the extraordinary life and love of an extraordinary woman.

Gabrielle Chanel and her sister Adrienne were dumped at an orphanage to be taken care of by nuns at a very young age. The two sisters rely only on each other and take care of themselves as best they can, mainly by singing and performing in rather dodgy dives, live modest lives but dream of fortune. Adrienne is more feminine, outgoing, “charming” if you will. Gabrielle is serious, the more sensible of the two but has her own way of going about things. She is strong and independent and she is afraid to neither follow her heart nor speak her mind openly. These are not qualities that are appreciated in a woman of the early 20^th Century. Still, the fates conspire that Gabrielle meets Etienne Balsan, a rich businessman a bit older than her through her sister (who unlike Gabrielle, has many suitors, one of them a Baron no less). Etienne is not particularly good looking or deep intellectually and emotionally, but he has a certain charm. Gabrielle does not believe in happy endings or love, but she has nowhere to go after her sister moves in with her Baron and Gabrielle loses their singing job. Thus, much to her own disgust, she finds herself in the position of a “hanger on” with Balsan. Balsan’s group of giddy Parisien friends awaken nothing but disdain in the heart of Gabrielle. But to be fair, there are a few that are quite alright. The actress Emilenne d’Alençon, for example proves a good friend to Gabrielle for all her terrible taste in clothes. And then there’s the handsome, cultured, enigmatic British businessman Arthur ‘Boy’ Capel…  

You probably can guess the rest. Well, the most important bit anyway. It is a truly great love story, it is a great story about true love. The film itself is utterly spectacular. Audrey Tatou is brilliant as the slightly taciturn Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel . I mean, to be honest I pretty much like anything Tatou acts in but in my opinion, this film deserves a separate place on its own. Coco Chanel was not, by all accounts, the easiest person to get on with. The film makes it quite clear how this came about though, I mean of course, part of it is nature but the greatest part comes from having had a difficult life. Yet as the film continues we slowly get to know her, we understand her point of view. I mean, this is mostly the aim of biographical films, it is not always achieved however and this is, for me, what makes or breaks a biographical film. This film definitely “makes it”. So when, towards the middle of the film, Gabrielle meets Boy Capel, the great love of her life, you are positively rooting for her and praying things work out. If you know the least thing about Coco Chanel, you probably know she never married. But well, I’ll let you watch the film and discover how that came about.

This film is beautiful and emotional. It is a love story, biography AND period piece. So guess what, I’m the tiniest bit in love with it. So give it a go. Come on, surely you trust me by now?

ESSIE SPEAKS OF UPS AND DOWNS

Ups and downs and running all arounds. That is basically a good analysis of my week. This is why I feel my choice of films should also reflect this. In the best possible taste of course. Choosing films is not something you should rush. Seriously.
So  for those who want something a little meatier and thought provoking we have Steven Sodebergh. Definitely the "down" part of the above equation but in the best possible way.
For those who want to go "up", we have a glorious animation that both gives truly valuable lessons and uplifts. In many different senses of the word.

Enjoy folks - Happy viewing! And oh incidentally, happy thanksgiving!
Essie

AN EERILY REALISTIC STORY OF "CONTAGION"

Oh Steven Sodebergh. Oh how I love you. Ok, I am continuing my catch-up session of recent(ish) films and this one was definitely high on my “to watch” list. Why? Because I really, really enjoy the work of Steven Sodebergh. I know, he isn’t easy watching. He has a penchant for all things slightly dark and disturbing and is more than capable of putting that feeling across, through the screen, right into your bones. Contagion is no different. In fact it is definitely one of his spookiest yet.

Beth Emhoff (Gweneth Paltrow) dies suddenly after a business trip to Hong Kong, her young son dies the very next day. This may be considered a small event in the scheme of things; however, there is a problem. Not only are the doctors completely unable to figure out what Beth and her son exactly died of, the disease is spreading. And by that I mean spreading all over the world, killing every man, woman and child in its wake. The CDC and the WHO desperately try to analyse the disease and figure out a cure. In the meanwhile, panic on a global scale sets in and everyone, even bloggers like Alan Krumwiede start to chime in with conspiracy theories and home remedies. The war for law and order in the world has begun. It is being fought in a laboratory.

Now seriously, this is what separates a “good” director from a “great” one: The ability to take an almost mundane story but tell it in such a way that you are glued to your seat, terrified. I mean come on, mystery diseases that threaten the whole of humanity – how many times have we seen that one before? This is seriously different though. Sodebergh primarily focuses on the “silent killer” angle. You can be sure that every time the screen goes particularly quiet, something bad is going on. And you know this in the pit of your stomach as well, you know that sinking feeling. Quietly and slowly, the action unfurls on screen, and you can’t even find it in yourself to yell “no” or something. It’s weird.

Oh the cast definitely helps. I haven’t named everyone – which is unfair because the cast is so brilliant – but other names I haven’t mentioned include Lawrence Fishbourne, Matt Damon (who has put on a bit of weight I am sad to observe. Maybe it’s for the film or something but it doesn’t suit him methinks), Kate Winslet and Marion Cotillard. To be honest, you’d have to be a very special kind of fool to make a bad film with a cast like that. But Sodebergh is ANYTHING but a fool.

The other brilliant thing the film does is play on the “six degrees” thing. You know, how we are interconnected with the entire rest of the planet and everything. It’s a particularly brilliant way to do it if you think about it. Because the disease spreads through, you guessed it, touch. Your smallest action, brushing against someone or handing someone something may suddenly make you responsible for carrying the disease to your part of the world, killing thousands if not millions. If there were ever a film to remind us that yes, a tiny event all the way on the other side of the ocean could affect our entire lives, this is it. You will see what I mean at the end of the film when the origin of the disease is revealed. I mean, it actually made me stop and think.

And if this all seems a bit like a bunch of old clichés think about it: this has happened. Think about SARS, think about Bird Flu. I mean, ok, thankfully the disease was stopped before it actually killed half the population of the world but you know… The fact that the film is so realistic doesn’t “help” either. So definitely go for it. It will make you think. It will make you shudder and curl up under the covers a little more tightly than usual…

"HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON" AND OTHER CAUTIONARY TALES

Ok, wow. I appear to have stumbled on a modern classic in the making. Not only did this one make the IMDB Top 250, it was nominated for 2 Oscars® and a plethora of other awards besides. I really, truly can see why. I mean yes, it is an animation, it is definitely a film suited for children but on the level of artistic work and on the level of the message it gives, it is one of the most surprising films I have seen in a while.

So, meet Hiccup (voice of Jay Baruchel). Hiccup is a viking. As such, he is expected to be a fearless warrior, loud, athletic and good at killing things. These are all necessary qualities to have where Hiccup lives as his village is on a small island in the middle of the sea. And said small island is plagued with… Dragons.  Dragon killing is now quite a prestigious job, and Hiccup is the son of the village chief so technically he should be going straight for it only… Hiccup is puny. He cannot take orders. And is much better at inventing, fixing machinery and the like. He isn’t completely “off topic” as it were though, as he also invents a machine for catching dragons. No one believes him at first. And even when the machine works and a dragon is caught, no one but Hiccup is there to witness it. But then something strange happens. Hiccup fully intends to kill the dragon and bring its head back to the village to prove he isn’t a complete waste of time. The thing is… He can’t bring himself to. The dragon is injured and cannot fly and these two outcasts begin making friends. As Hiccup learns more and more about his dragon, he begins to suspect that there is another way to cope with the island’s “dragon problem”. The thing is, can he convince his entire village to try his method?

Now, I love this film. I love it because of the messages it gives children. The message here is twofold. One, the most obvious, is not (as classical videogames would have it) to automatically go about killing something that is different from you but to try and learn more about it. Observe, understand, “make friends”. It encourages children to look for the peaceful way out even in the most unpromising looking situations. I mean come on, with the recent exception of Shrek, how many stories has the dragon been the good guy in? Ok, there was Narnia – but that was a while ago, what else? Exactly. So moral? Even the bad guys with the worst reputation can be understood and maybe even turned around from their evil ways. Don’t assume. Think first.

Secondly, ok, Hiccup is the typical “outcast” character. You know, bookish, not physically fit, bad at fighting, all that. It isn’t exactly uncommon for films to encourage the young to follow their hearts against societal pressure but they rarely encourage them to actually stand up to the order of society and change it if they feel something is wrong. I mean, not only is that basic message brilliant in itself, in this story a single person CAN make a difference. With nothing less than scientific observation to actually back him up – as opposed to magic or some other deus ex machine. Isn’t that something? I think you should get your little ones sat down in front of this asap. They will both enjoy and learn. 

ESSIE SPEAKS OF INCREDIBLE JOURNEYS

Incredible journeys indeed. Only, of course, out of the comfort of our living rooms. Or bedrooms even. It really depends on where you watch movies - I'm a lodger so I don't really have much choice :)

What I like about this week's updates is that they combine the old and the new - and they do it really well. Because one of them is a classic fantasy film from our past and the second a now classic fantasy film of our present - and probably our future. Ok, so the second one I mentioned is technically sci-fi. Let's not split hairs.

Oh and by the way my life suddenly contains waay more free time than it used to. So who knows, I may be able to go back up to three films a week. But nothing is certain yet. Watch this space for more info.

In the meanwhile, happy viewing!
Essie

"PROMETHEUS" - A TRIP TO OUR FUTURE AND PAST

I bet you had begun to wonder where this one had got to. After reviewing the entire “alien” series with semi-religious fervour, it would be downright odd of me to have skipped Prometheus. Well, I hadn’t. I just hadn’t got round to it yet. Well, that and a million other things in my life, but that’s the topic of another blog post all together. I seriously need lessons or something in planning my life but anyway. The point of this particular post is that I have got round to Prometheus. I have watched it. I desperately need to talk about it.

Ok, so as you know this is the “prequel” to the whole series we have all ranted on about all these years. This is the story of “how it all began” in more senses than one. Allow me to explain.

“How did it all begin” is the precise two archaeologists in 2093 claim to be able to answer. The answer lies in a planet system far, far away from Earth, and this connection seems to go back thousands and thousands of years. The only way of finding out the rest of the story is, however, to check out this planet system. Of course, the mission, founded by “the company” takes off and at the far end of the universe, mysteries and secrets begin to get uncovered? So who are the “alien”s? How did they become what they are? What started that entire story anyway? And possibly,  the origins of life on earth… Our friends – and indeed, we ourselves-   will discover the answer to all these questions and more. But the thing is, in discovering these, they will inadvertently unleash unthinkable terror on the planet… Think Pandora’s box, only bigger… Much bigger…

Ok, so there’s no surprises about the storyline and the way it all goes, right? And as you can guess, yup, aliens, chases scenes, some horrendous and messy deaths (that caught me completely by surprise as far as timing goes by the way) all the classics, all there. The only thing I will “tut tut” a bit about is the slight reliance on jump-scares. It’s a cheap scare to be honest; I much prefer a steady build-up of terror. But then again, if they are particularly well-done, I can forgive them. And they were particularly well-done, especially since I was watching it in the middle of the night. I nearly jumped out of my skin. And it isn’t like the film is completely devoid of atmosphere, quite the reverse, but Scott chooses to use the tool in a completely different way.

And the origins? Well, you get an answer as far as that is concerned. But, ok, there are two different ways of looking at this. My boyfriend complains that the explanation is too vague, and that basically, a film that claims to “explain” something should have a bit more meat on its bones as far as explanations go, which is a fair point. Another fair point is that the explanation, well, it’s nothing we couldn’t actually piece together ourselves. And the details of the explanation have very much been substituted by an impending sense of doom – understandable as we know what’s coming next. I agree with these points but I reckon it’s just a different way of doing it. I mean, it’s a typical horror trope, some things are much better left to the imagination as far as being terrifying is concerned – not least because everyone will imagine what is more terrible for them and be EVEN MORE scared if you get what I mean.  So yes, this is very much a showcase of amazing special effects and slick camera-work. And, incidentally a prequel to the Alien franchise. I mean, I have got to add one point, the film very obviously has religion as its center-piece (oh come on, you knew that. I mean, they are looking for how life on earth began for God's sake, the connection is staring you in the face waiting to be made). And as we all know, religion is one of those topics that... You know. It's a sensitive issue. However, the question to ask is, does it entertain? Does it go down well when you kick back of an evening with that extra helping of ice-cream you really shouldn’t be eating? YES. So go ahead, watch it. You know you want to. 

A TRIP TO YOUR PAST AND YOUR IMAGINATION : "WILLOW"

Now, was this a major childhood film where you grew up? I had never heard of it to be honest. My boyfriend, however, grew up on this apparently. As in he actually knows most of the film word for word. When I disclosed that the closest I could think of to “Willow” was the iconic “Wind in the Willows”, that would never do. I was promptly sat down to watch the film then and there, because frankly, how did I survive to 29 without having seen the film in the first place? If there is one thing I love, it’s a good fantasy film with a good dollop of ‘80s nostalgia as you guys know by now, and so we settled down. But then the credits started… Hang on, Lucasfilm? Ron Howard as director? (director of Angels & Demons, Frost / Nixon, The Da Vinci Code, Cinderella Man and A Beautiful Mind among other things). George Lucas himself as executive producer? Er, OK hang on, this is not some lost children’s flick from the ‘80s. This is serious stuff with potential to be a classic.

So, what is the story here? In a land far, far away, where magic still rules the earth, there is an evil queen called Bavmorda (I LOVE all the names in this film by the way. They would give Dickens a run for his money). She is an unjust tyrant that rules the land with much cruelty; however, all hope is not lost. There is a prophecy. A prophecy that tells of a very special baby girl whose destiny it is to topple Bavmorda and put an end to her tyranny. (I know, it’s not the most original storyline in the world, but hey… Ok, what was the basic storyline for Lord of the Rings? Thank you. Moving on).  Our queen Bavmorda however, is not one to leave things to chance. She gathers all the pregnant women in the kingdom in the hope of finding this special baby and perform a ritual that will “exile her soul to oblivion”. The baby is indeed found; however, the midwife-  being a brave and clever soul - smuggles her out of the castle. Hereby starts our adventure. It falls to Willow Ufgood, a dward, Madmartigan (Val Kilmer) a rather hot-headed swordsman of dubious intent, two brownies (having stopped reading Enid Blyton a while back I had clean forgotten about the existence of brownies. Shame on me!) and an unfortunate sorceress who herself has been changed into a muskrat to get the baby to the safety of a good kingdom where she can grow to fulfil her destiny. Willow has magic, the power of good and justice on his side. But will it be enough to conquer the evil magic and barbarian hoards of Bavmorda?

Ok, I know. There is a lot in this film we have seen before. And then again, it is because of instances like this, when they are done so well, that we want to see this type of thing again and again and again. Willow does it well. All of it. The requisite bouts of comedy are well done and still hilarious. The atmosphere and the magical world constructed are superb. I mean, yes of course if they had the technical possibilities we have today it would be a whole different story. But shall I tell you something? It is no substitute for imagination. I honestly think that special effects are well and good but it’s making us lazy. I mean, when I was a child we had entire imaginary worlds – built out of thin air! We used very little in the way of props, we often “pretended” everything existed and we were fine. We loved it! Think the classic scene in “Hook” where they sit down to dinner and seemingly there is no food there at all. Only when the characters start using their imaginations they see that there is food on the table and you know what? It is as filling as you please. This is the strength of imagination. And this is that makes this film an absolute joy to watch. It is not that the film is “lacking” in comparison to modern films where all the (visual) gaps are filled in for you. You just have to use a different skillset. A skillset we don’t use as often as we should in the modern world by my reckoning. I guess this is why some of us really enjoy ‘80s fantasy movies while others find them pointless. If you are of the latter group I strongly encourage you to give this a whirl. Exercise your imagination a bit. Go on… You’ll enjoy it once you get into it you know…

ESSIE SPEAKS OF WHAT IS ON HER MIND

And this week, it's all about the mind.

First of all, what is on my mind. The answer is simple: Game of Thrones. My commute to and from work is filled with it and the size of the books means that I have actually started carrying a backpack just for the purpose. I had to write about it, you simply have to bear with me.

The other film this week is the adaptation of a classic, and about a classic topic. All about the mind once again as the main topic here is the family. And what they do to us - both good and bad.

Both really struck me. In very different ways of course, but they struck me. They will provide you with a lot of food for thought. Very different kinds of food of course but hey. Variety is the spice of life :)

happy viewing,
Essie

FINALLY, AN ARTISTIC FILM FOR MY CONSCIENCE : "THE SISTERS"

Ok so my new internship has virtually nothing to do with films actually. Which feels weird. Not bad, don’t get me wrong. But still strange. So I’m kind of glad I actually have part time work with films. Oh the time may well come where I give those up but at least I’m letting go of the film work slowly. You know, no withdrawal symptoms. The Sisters initially appeared in front of me in the guise of work. But I enjoyed it a little too much for it to be just work. Plus, as films go, it’s a pretty serious film. So see, I’m making a slow return to “grown up” films. Very, very slowly that is.

The Sisters is loosely based on the story of the same name by great Russian writer Chekhov. It was first a play –you can feel this very clearly in some places – and it is now a film. I mean, it has been for a while. But we’re actually getting round to it now.

So, The Sisters is basically about families. There’s a minefield for you if there ever was one. There is usually one patriarch / matriarch etc that holds the family together in one form or another. Appearances are kept up and everyone knows / and keeps to their own places. This may be good, this may be bad, the point is it keeps things going somehow. But then, the “glue” dies. As does the father of the Prior family. Their mother had died some time ago, hence the four siblings are left alone in the world to come up with their own coping mechanisms. These mechanisms will work for a time but then it happens. One dreaded family occasion brings a particularly old strain of feelings and emotions boiling to the surface. And once it is tapped into, it is absolutely unstoppable. Old hurts, ancient grudges and dark secrets all come bubbling to the surface at once. How and where will the night end? Will family ties – not to mention the individual family members - survive this battering built up from the angst of so many years of problems being swept under the carpet?

Well, I reckon you can pretty much imagine the structure of this film. Like I said in the beginning its roots as a theatre play show themselves very clearly. There is a lot of talking. And when I say a lot... Yeah. However, what we are talking about right here is really intelligent quick-fire stuff. Psychology comes into play quite a lot and you have to make a dual effort – not only to follow what is said but the reasons behind it. I kid you not gentle reader, this is not one to watch on a Friday night when you are tired and want to unwind.

But don’t let that dishearten you. The overall group performance here is so good that I honestly defy you to not get involved in the storyline, take sides with and sympathise with the characters and generally get very hot under the collar about the whole affair. The story is not a new one, perhaps. But at the same time, it is a story that resonates very true. If not the exact secrets being kept, the dynamic, the emotions on various different scales. I have a feeling you will find a lot of yourself and your family in this story. Do check it out. 

MY NEW OBSESSION: GAME OF THRONES (all of it)

Ok, I know. I generally do not “do” series. I have been chastising myself about being not “artistic” enough. But I have to do this, I really do. I got into Game of Thrones pretty early. First season. I watched a single episode and I was hooked. Completely hooked. Not only did I watch all the episodes with semi-religious fervour, I failed to withstand the withdrawal and started on the books as well – something I never do. My boyfriend is still sticking to “doing one or the other” and therefore is starting on the books but is steering clear of the series – for now. For now.

I know that anyone who hasn’t categorically been living under a stone has dipped their toe in this and made their judgement but then again, there are quite a few who have not. And I want to get those stragglers. Because seriously, you have no idea what you are missing.

Now, the story of Game of Thrones is a little hard to qualify and explain. Honestly. It is convoluted, complicated and nail biting. It takes place in an alternative universe, in a world where knights and chivalry still exist, as do magic and dragons. But men are still, fundamentally men. And that means things like politics, intrigue all still exist. The story starts with Eddard Stark, a man of honour and justice, becoming “hand of the king” – his Prime Minister if you will. Eddard does not want this rise to power but the king is a childhood friend he cannot refuse. And just as he suspects it will, his new position means the discovery of many secrets, secrets Eddard simply cannot ignore. Here the story begins but wither it goes, discover for yourself. I might add at this point, in the spirit of a tagline, that so many thousands of people simply cannot be wrong.

I mean they can. But not in this particular instance. The good thing about this series that it casts its net really wide. I mean, there is just about enough chivalry and magic to assuage the fantasy fans but at the same time these are, in a sense, incidental. The main bulk of the story reads like a political intrigue basically. It’s just that the political backstabbing takes place in more Medieval times. Oh and the stabbing can sometimes take quite a literal sense. I have watched this series with bated breath, the cliff-hangers are absolutely first class and the acting, the general artistic performance, well... Suffice to say the whole thing carried me away so much that I had to invest in the books and then read them to find out what happens next. Now that, is saying something. 

ESSIE SPEAKS OF HOLIDAYS

Essie speaks of holidays, basically because she needs one.

I think it literally isn't a coincidence that the films this week involve journeys to far off locations, namely Venice and Rio. I've never been to either by the way. Anyone want to sponsor me? No ? Oh well... Yes, winter is closing in, I am getting INCREDIBLY busy in my internship and my other two jobs aren't really letting up either. But I am happy. There is light at the end of the tunnel. That or a train. Either way, my troubles will soon be over - although to be fair I would rather not the train...

But while we wait, I continue my forays into cinemaland to keep me sane. So here we are. As November closes in, some nice virtual hollidays to occupy your mind for a while.

happy viewing,
Essie

"THE TOURIST" THAT GOT A BIT LOST

Now I’m really confused about this one. My boyfriend has some part in this – I’m sorry baby but it has to be said. It was yet another of the more recent films I had been unable to keep in touch with you see. My boyfriend having enjoyed it a lot was telling me about it, all emotion and excitement and he ran all the way through. Right to the end. Including the plot twist. I didn’t see it coming, I don’t know why I didn’t stop him but it happened. We then watched the film anyway, which is fine but there was something missing... I mean, I’m honestly not sure whether it was the fact that I already knew the plot twist or that the film was lacking something. But the reviews I have of the film are mixed – very mixed. Hence my sneaking suspicion that the film is not entirely up to scratch. Mr Depp, you disappoint me.

The story is that of spies and deceit. Elise (Angelina Jolie) is wanted by the police. The thing is, her lover is wanted even more. The problem is, no one knows what he looks like because he has had extensive plastic surgery changing his face completely. One tends to do that when one is wanted by half a dozen international security agencies AND a dangerous mobster whose money one has stolen. Of course Elise is not about to give her lover up that easily so she hatches a plan. A decoy in the shape of the unsuspecting Frank (Johnny Depp), an American tourist that happened to be passing by is chosen and interacted with. This suits Elise because now everyone thinks Frank is her lover. Frank, however, is now one of the most wanted men in Venice.

Now. The so-called plot twist is so obvious, I don’t even feel the need to slip in a disclaimer. I’m not entirely sure why this is the case though. I did know the twist before I watched the film, this much is true. However, the thing is it seemed... A little too obvious.  Just a tad. And when you have that wrong you see, settings, acting, direction... It’s all very nice but that’s the thing with spoilers. They spoil things. And I think it is the fact that the film tries to conceal something so obvious that means that it has not been nearly as popular as one would have initially thought it would be. I mean, that is the point with stories. The anticipation. Without that, seriously, what do you have? So honestly, my boyfriend is not to blame. He may have had a bit of an effect on my experience but seriously. Hiding things in plain sight is a tricky business. And The Tourist gets it wrong. Oh it’s funny. It’s amusing to watch of an evening. Then again though, if you want a touch more from your cinema, you can give it a miss. Seriously. 

FUN AND SONGS IN THE SUN AS AUTUMN COMES - GO TO : "RIO"

Now to be fair to my boyfriend though, he doesn’t always provide me film advice complete with spoilers. In fact, more than once and open mouthed at my ignorance on the matter, he has sat me down in front of a film and insists I watch it. Rio was one of these films. And credit where it’s due, this film more than hit the spot on many different levels. It’s an animation for starters and I ALWAYS have room in my heart for those fellas, as you will have noticed. Secondly, this is definitely one of the better examples of the afore-mentioned genre, complete with songs, dance numbers (well, sort of) and LOADS of fun. Plus quite a worthy message hidden in there too.

Now, as you can guess Rio and Brazil feature a lot in this story. Not surprising as our story begins in the rainforests of Brazil. Blue (as he will later be known) is a baby blue macaw whose peaceful existence is interrupted by poachers who seize him and take him away to far off lands, far from his family. It’s terribly sad of course but it sort of works out. Chance means that Blue finds a very loving owner who takes care of him well and with whom he grows up. And he has a very peaceful life, that involves hot chocolate, marshmallows a peaceful life in a book shop and no flying. At all. Not that Blue really needs to fly, but anyway. But then, quite suddenly, into this peaceful existence erupts a scientist who explains to his owner that Blue’s breed has been hunted and exported almost to extinction and he is the last remaining male blue macaw of his kind. And the thing is, the last remaining female, Jewel, lives in Brazil. As you can imagine, the scientist is pretty eager they should meet. Now Blue’s owner is quite attached to her routine (as is Blue) but in the face of this great duty, off they go to Brazil. Here Blue will come back together with his roots. Find love. And spread his wings a bit – literally and metaphorically.

Well, topic wise, as you can see, it is pretty much a typical Hollywood animation film. Obstacles overcome, love discovered, family unit restored, and personal growth achieved. But we have said it often enough here. It is not, what you say in cases like these. It’s the way you say them. And this film says all of that with a lot of gusto. And a LOT of talent.  I mean, seriously, films don’t just randomly get nominated for Oscars for best song you know.  Besides, we have Ann Hathaway lending her voice to Jewel – and she does such a spectacular job. There’s a reason she’s one of my favourite actresses, seriously. And Blue has the voice of the equally talented Jesse Eisenberg of whom I have written on these pages more than once. In short, this is one of those really, really fun animations that you can watch with the smaller members of the family with the greatest of ease, and yet really enjoy yourself as well… And as the little ones (and some of the big ones) watch, hopefully messages on animal smuggling and illegal trafficking will be picked up too. Oh don’t worry, it’s all very subtly done. Not in your face or anything. You can’t really avoid it either though, and it is, you have to admit, a rather worthy lesson to be learnt by us all.  And what more you could want from a film, I honestly cannot imagine. 

ESSIE SPEAKS OF FANTASY

Well, this week's theme pretty much decided itself.

I have been working hard these days. Everyone tells me so. My mom, my boyfriend, my landlady, my friends... I don't mind. I even kind of enjoy it. However, it does mean that I am in desperate need of "escape" once my week day is over. I have found that these days more and more, the serious stuff gets pushed to the weekends. Weekdays are for fantasy. Far off lands. Heros, damsels and monsters. I know, I'm a serious film person and all that. I occasionally  feel I should be writing about / watching more arthouse stuff. But then I tell myself, you know what, you guys probably work. You guys need to escape. I totally should share the successful methods of escape I have found. The art house stuff will come. On the weekend...

happy viewng,
Essie

OUT OF THIS WORLD WITH "INKHEART"

Now, I know. It may not make sense to some. Brendan Fraser is not everyone’s idea of a leading man. I kind of understand why. But this film kinda got me. It may be because I am such a book worm and simply love the idea of characters coming out of books. It may be just that I found the idea original. And to be fair, there have been plenty of films about people going into books but not that many in the way of people going into books. And let’s be fair. We all love a good story. If the effects are good and the stroryline half-way decent and original, it gets forgiven most things in my book. (In my book – see what I did there? Oh never mind...)

Ok, so our hero is Mo (Brendan Fraser). He has a very good relationship with his daughter Meggie who he raises single handed. He restores books for a living and is passionate about books, but there is one especially that he has been looking for, for a very long time. Until today. The book is rare, this is true, but not particularly valuable or popular. But the book has a different kind of value to Mo. Unbeknown to his daughter, Mo has a talent. He can bring characters in books out into real life, simply by reading the book. And of course what has gone out, must go in and that is precisely what has happened to his wife Resa – Meggie’s mother. Mo’s only hope, all these years, has been to find another copy of the book and confront the villains that had emerged from it all those years ago, in the hope of getting his wife back... But with all his talents and now with his daughter to think of, can Mo really beat some villains that are truly out of this world?

Now, as you can guess from the general tone and actors, this is definitely not a film that will change your world and your perception of cinema. However, it has a lot going for it. First and foremost, with its graphics, monsters, dragons and magic, it is EXACTLY what I needed to watch at that particular time, on the evening of a tiring weeknight. It all comes down to my argument about entertainment at the end of the day. You can look down your nose at this kind of thing all you like. You can claim “oh but you knew the end all along” etc. But at the end of the day, the film claims to be no more than a tall yarn that will transport you to another universe for a couple of hours. It succeeded with me. Brandon Fraser may not be the future King Lear, however he is brilliant in his role here. It is not completely unsimilar to his previous roles in the Mummy franchise if you think about it. You know, the typical “good man” battling supernatural forces of evil... You know that has made me think how really subtle the phenomenon of typecasting can be... I mean, the Mummy and Inkheart have virtually nothing to do with eachother subject and genre-wise and yet... I don’t know. Maybe it’s a strong face like Brendan Fraser connecting them that connected the dots in my head... It’s a funny old world, eh? 

A DYSTOPIA AND A SLICE OF HISTORY: "THX 1138"

I kinda knew this film was going to be depressing. But it is a classic – and I mean properly, a real classic. As in film history and stuff. I mean, think what you want of George Lucas, he is a significant part of film history. And it’s kind of important to know about him. AND if you’re interested in dystopias – in a professional capacity or just because you like them – this is one of the important ones. Which is why I watched it. No regrets =)

Our story takes place in the future – as it usually does. In the 25^th Century, humanity lives in cities underground and every aspect of life is strictly controlled, with authority and more importantly, with drugs. Roommates area allocated by an automated system, prayers are said in sterile chapels to an automated God. The highest possible levels of productivity and the lowest possible degrees of emotion are made possible through the use of heavy sedatives. However, not everyone agrees with the system. Not everyone thinks this is a good idea. LUH 3417 for instance, a spirited young woman, is part of the rebellion. Not only that, she actually starts substituting the sedatives of her roommate THX 1138 so he discovers his humanity and emotions. THX begins to feel strange – otherwise known as emotions. And one of the emotions is love for LUH, a love that is quickly reciprocated. However things like love, sex and not taking drugs are serious offences in this world. And The Powers That Be soon discover the subterfuge and catch the couple... Will THX be able to use his new found humanity to survive? Or ultimately, will he be consumed by the all powerful system?

Well we all know the George Lucas penchant for grand scale, battles between good and evil and the trope of the individual against the entire – evil – system (Think Luke Skywalker against the Empire. Same difference). Also, you don’t need me to point out the fact that the whole storyline bears a rather eerie resemblance to the classic book Brave New World by Aldous Huxley. I mean yes, there are no end to the number of twists on the story but twist it as you will, it is still the variation of the same story. Oh don’t get me wrong, Lucas’s film doesn’t fail at being emotionally engaging, heck, in my opinion, it’s almost what Lucas is best at. It’s just that I cannot seem to shake the feeling that the film has been “done before” as it were. I think the main reason for this is the fact that there are so many familiar themes, thoughts and stories in there; Lucas creates a powerful hybrid of them all, united with some brilliant strands of his own but... I don’t know. I felt it’s lacking the thing that forms the transition from Good to Great. I mean, it was his first feature to be fair. And it is part of film history. But still...

ESSIE SPEAKS OF SPIES AND HEROES

Howdy folks!

Wow, what a week I'm having! Work in the office is absolutely mad, I'm doing my own stuff and helping with organising the office move that is taking place tomorrow. Exciting times! On the plus side, I am really settling into my new internship  and life over here. On the minus side I am almost constantly exhausted. And am officially part of that merry band, the London commuters. This means that I am exhausted at the end of each working day. And that I need some good, old fashioned entertainment to chill out to.

And then I thought, hang on a minute. There are one heck of a lot of commuters out there who probably have exactly the same needs from their entertainment. So here you go. Two very good films that helped me really unplug and enjoy myself this week. There's something in there for the fantasy lovers, there's something in there for those who like their entertainment more realistic.

Enjoy peeps!
Essie

RETURN OF THE CLASSICS IN "THE DEBT"

Well, I guess the news was going to hit the airwaves at some point, there is a boyfriend in my life as of quite recently (haha that got you didn’t it baby?). And the reason I mention him in this particular post is that this film is mainly his discovery. (I mean, of course he’s into movies, could you imagine it being otherwise? J ) Anyhow, we watched this together the other night, and it was so absolutely riveting that I had to share it with you. I mean, put your hands on your hearts, everyone likes a good thriller. Especially a spy thriller.

The story is that of three Mossad agents that went to East Berlin in 1965. Their mission is a dangerous one, to capture and bring to justice one of the most notorious Nazi villains in history. The mission is carried out and goes down in history with its success, the three agents taking their places amongst the most famous Israelis in history. However, the glamour and success they live with conceals secrets. The secrets are both personal and professional and have given a bitter edge to their fame and fortune, unbeknown to all but the three of them. And as we all know by now, the past has this annoying habit of not staying buried. 30 year later, someone needs to go back undercover to salvage not only their reputations, but their very lives...

I know, we are all somewhat divided about spy films in the first place. And at first glance, the film seems to pack a few too many clichés into one film. Spies during the Cold War with Second World War overtones thrown in, combined with the “Jews vs the Nazis” paradigm AND a love triangle (this is not really a spoiler, it is pretty self-evident from the moment we see the main protagonists, one woman and two men). Not to mention the “secret from the past that doesn’t remain buried” thing. I mean wow. I would really understand if you took one look at the synopsis and ran for lack of original content alone. But hear me out, because despite all this, the film has a lot, and I do mean a lot, going for it.

Think about it, clichés are actually clichés for a reason, it was  because they have been “done” way too often. And the reason they were done often is, presumably, because at one point, before we decided that it was cheesy and “uncool”, it (whatever it may be) was considered cool. And popular.  This means that there is something we would potentially enjoy a lot in any of “it”, provided it is done well. The same goes for anything with multiple “cheesy” factors in it – as long as they are all done well, there is nothing really wrong with it. And this film does do a sterling job of everything. First of all, and perhaps most importantly the acting is absolutely superb. The cast numbers names such as Helen Mirren, Sam Worthington, Tom Wilkinson and Sam Worthington. The director, John Madden, uses every classic spy-film trick in the book to keep us on the edges of our seats from the word go. The main action is psychological, which is also good, it doesn’t really rely that much on flashy fights and special effects like some films of the genre do (James Bond is a spy as well technically, don’t forget). So I mean, yeah, the film can be considered a tad old fashioned in some ways. But just because a way you do something is old, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is wrong. Take a good, old fashioned Martini for example... But maybe that’s the topic of another post all together... 

"HANCOCK" - A SUPERHERO WITH ATTITUDE

Ok, so this is another one I meant to watch for a while and forgot to get round to. That’s what happens if one lives one’s life surrounded by films. I live in a perpetual state of “what should I watch next”. I did not expect Hancock to be anything but an amusing fantastic /action movie that I would watch of an evening and forget. And to be absolutely fair, I highly doubt that Hancock is going to change anyone’s life. However, neither is it quite the soap bubble I thought it would be. I believe the character originated in some form of graphic art, this wasn’t something I’m aware of, but I do intend to “get round to it” sharpish. But let me tell you the story first.

Hancock is a super-hero. And you know what super-heroes are like, right? All honour, good manners and eat all your greens. Very nice in their place (say if aliens are attacking or, I don’t know, there’s a fire or an earthquake) but a little annoying in day to day life. I mean, that’s kinda what I think of old school super-heroes. This is why I loved the concept of Hancock. Because this super-hero has a serious attitude problem. He’s rude, he’s obnoxious, he’s a bum – as in he’s literally homeless – and he has a serious drinking problem. And yet he goes around the city, saving people as best he can. Now, Hancock is good enough at saving people. The thing is, it’s not only what you do, but the way you do it as well. So, as you can guess, Hancock is NOT  a very popular guy. Until, randomly, he saves a PR executive (Jason Bateman) from what is almost a fatal train accident. The PR executive decides to return the favour by doing some work on Hancock’s rep. This, as you can imagine, is the start of an amazing set of adventures in itself. But then, to add to all of that, there is the Exec’s wife, Mary, (Charlize Theron) who appears to hate Hancock with all her soul. But that’s another story all together.

Now, some people do not think much of Will Smith in general. Err, I do. I mean, I’m not a massive fan of his music, let’s be honest. And I highly doubt we will ever see him on a stage as King Lear or some such. However, in the movies he has acted in, his performance has always been brilliant. He is, in my view, especially good at comedies, and I mean honestly, I could not even imagine a better drunk and disorderly super-hero. What is more, in his numerous previous roles he has proved himself as an action star as well. So all in all, he is very, very successful in every single twist and turn of this film. I also think Jason Bateman and Charlize Theron are excellent choices as the PR exec and his wife too.

As I said, this film will not change your life. It is not, however, yet another badly put together action movie. It’s creators have taken some time to craft an original story in a genre that has all but been “done” completely.  And studios have invested the money it takes to give the story the technical backing it deserves to make rather spectacular special effects. In short, this is good quality entertainment folks. I can really think of worse films to turn my brain off to of a Friday night. Definitely recommended. 

ESSIE SPEAKS OF FAMILIES

Well, howdy. 

Sorry about the delay in updating peeps. I usually grab that moment when you get your coffee and settle at your desk to quickly update the blog on Thursdays  Today however, at work, there were no such moments. It was go, go, go from the moment I walked into the office. It is now 14.16, I could have sworn it was 9.30 only 10 minutes ago and I have really had enough of today. It's turning into one of those ones you should really, really have stayed in bed for. Oh well. 

The thing is there is one thing you can count on through all of this kinda chaos : your family. And this is precisely what this week's films are about. I have, as always, tried to go for "original" takes on families however. One is modern and decidedly tragic. One is a lot older and has a place in movie history, a "must watch" if you will.  

I hope you enjoy. And once again, really sorry for the delay!

Essie

LIFE IS "BIUTIFUL"

As I write the title above, I can almost feel my mother flexing her fingers before hitting the keyboard to ask me if that is how I think beautiful is spelt. You see my mother is an English teacher. Therefore, call it the habit of 30 odd years of teaching, call it being a mom, call it a combination of both, every Thursday, in the evening at the very latest, I will get a little e-mail from Mom containing the corrections for this week’s updates. Those of you are more observant than average may have notices commas appearing (yes, I am related to a comma Nazi – Mom, google it, it’s a bona fide term these days) and typos disappearing later in the day. All thanks to my Mom.  But that’s the way with parents. As Biutiful doesn’t hesitate to remind us.

Biutiful is the story of Uxbal (portrayed by the incredibly talented Javier Bardem). Uxbal is many things to many people, some know him as a medium. Others the middle man between knock-off copies and street salesman on the streets. To yet others he’s the guy who greases the palms of the police so they look the other way. But above and beyond anything, Uxbal is a father. He may not be able to provide the best living possible for his children but he adores them. And they know it. And this is really all that matters. When Uxbal finds out he has a matter of weeks to live, it becomes even more important. We follow him on his journey, desperately trying to put his affairs in order, and trying to accept the next step in his existence.

I wasn’t sure about this film when I started. The more I watched, seriously, the more I fell in love with it. The style is different from the Inaritu we know from Amores Perros, the story moves more slowly (comparatively, anyway) and allows more time for thought and consideration. Uxbal is a brilliant character, a modern Jean Valjean if you will. Yes, what he does is often questionable- very questionable - but you can never really blame him. The film has many strengths, Bardem’s brilliant performance is one of them, but the other – in my view – is the wonderful, understated realism of the whole film. All the characters, all the events, they are constructed in such a way, be they happy, sad, ugly or “biutiful” they are very, very real. Inaritu has succeeded in capturing on film a quality of life that I find hard to put into words. No matter how tragic and dark the events, there is always, and I mean always, a light shimmering through. Like the love Uxbal has for his children that gives everything meaning. And many other little things I’ll let you discover throughout the film. The more I think about it, the more suitable a name “biutiful” becomes. But like most things in life, you’re going to have to see it for yourselves to truly understand what I mean. 

A TIMELESS PIECE OF HISTORY : "THE JAZZ SINGER"

Now,  the reason I took this film up in the first place was the fact that it has historical significance. This film, ladies and gents, is the first feature-length film with synchronised sound sequences in it. The year was 1927 and this was not the first attempt at sound film, in fact many shorts already exited, but the whole “talkies” thing didn’t catch on. I know, very hard to believe, but true. When the Warner brothers first agreed to take on this film in their studio, everyone was pretty sure they were heading for rack and ruin. Instead, they went down in history as some of the great innovators. Because The Jazz Singer (a film that has, incidentally, spawned many remakes) did not flop and vanish. It went down in history.

The story is that of Jack Robin (portrayed by Al Jolson) , a young man with a passion for jazz who was born to a very conservative Jewish family. Our hero is given a choice between his home and his passion for jazz by his stern father – the cantor for his local community and thus thoroughly disapproving of Jack’s taste in music. Jack chooses jazz. And his career takes a meteoric rise. However, just as he is about to reach the pinnacle of his career, the fork in the road presents itself again. With a chance to redeem himself and patch things up with his father on one hand and the “big break” he has been working so hard towards on the other, what will Jack choose? You will have to watch and find out…

Now, the particular version of the film I watched was the 80^th year anniversary version that includes a lot of documentaries, extras and comments on the film and generally sound and film. As a side note, find this version if you can, because the extras are so good –and there are SO many – that if you have the choice, it would be a shame to miss them. One of the comments in the documentary was the fact that it was amazing that Al Jolson, from all that time ago, was right there, on stage, entertaining people from the 21^st century. Now, you may be prejudiced by the fact that the film is quite old fashioned in many ways. Not least in that it is still, mostly a silent film. The musical numbers and snippets of dialogue are in synchronised sound but the rest is silent. And then you might think, well, the topic is all very quaint and nice. You might think it’s going to be old fashioned. And boring. And then you might just leave it on the shelf. That would be a mistake in my view. I mean, the musical numbers alone are just so brilliant, despite the almost 90 years time difference you cannot help but enjoy Jolson singing numbers like Blue Skies and, on the other end of the spectrum, Kol Nidre is a sight to be seen. And when we watch him on the scene, he truly entertains us. I mean honestly, I love it. If he had a live show somewhere I would go see it. True, there are some slightly racist quips in there in the shape as a performance as a black and white minstrel. But I think this should be taken in the spirit of the time and as pure entertainment value with nothing too serious attached.

In short, I personally think, as a movie  buff, you should watch it. It’s film history. It’s one of those films you simply have to have seen. And do you know something? I can almost guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised at how much you enjoy it…

ESSIE SPEAKS OF CLASSICS, NEW ANGLES AND HAVING A LOT TO SAY

Well hello there!

My life is very exciting at the moment. There are many new and exciting things in it. I’ve started a really interesting internship in a very nice, friendly company which may well turn into an actual job. I moved houses and now live in a very nice little place with really cool new flatmates (Don’t get me wrong, the old ones were very cool too. It’s just that, well, so are these ones!).  In short life has taken a very exciting and positive turn and I am thankful and content.

In the meanwhile though, I’ve barely had time to sit down and watch films. But I have made the time. I must have my fix. So the films have been coming in and the thing is, well, I can’t quite decide whether I like them or not. Now as you know, I tend to go for films that I really like, the logic being that I am all bouncy. I want to talk about them. The thing is, this time, even though I’m not bouncy (ahem), I still have a lot to say about both films. So I reckoned, what the heck. So here they are. I hope you enjoy.

Happy viewing!

Essie 

THOUGHTS ON ONE OF THE EPICS: "THE DEER HUNTER"

Oh, I’m pretty sure that those of you who know of this film sort of sat up in your chairs and took notice when you saw the name. I know. There is a lot to say about this film. Which is precisely why I reckon we should say it. As you guys know by now,  I usually only go for films that I like, unequivocally. But with a film like the Deer Hunter, the thing is you can’t help being emotionally involved in it at some level, but then again you may not necessarily love / like it. Well, I was affected by it. And there is a ton of stuff to say about this film. So maybe we should leave the “like” pre-requisite to one side? Hm, hang on. I see a theme emerging. But first, The Deer Hunter.

The Deer Hunter is a Vietnam story. It is the story of war and how it affects the inhabitants of a small industrial town. Nick (Christopher Walken) and Michael (Robert De Niro) are best friends. They and their gaggle of friends in this small close-knit town have pretty average lives, going hunting and boozing together – not to mention working together, day in, day out. Then, however, war erupts. And the two boys, along with their friend Steve, go to Vietnam to serve their country.  The horrors of war are absolutely unspeakable and when Michael, our hero, returns he is not the same person. However, a promise means he has to return to Vietnam and come face to face with his demons. And the demons that haunt his friends…

Now, I have gone down the more lyric route and done my best not to give away spoilers but it is such a famous film a lot of you know the score, I am pretty sure of that. In fact, this was talked about, in fact became quite a controversy back in the day. I am of course, talking about the infamous Russian roulette scenes, where our three heroes are forced to play Russian roulette with each other by their captors. In the first place, let’s jump right in and point out that not only has it been argued (quite eloquently) that this is completely inaccurate, the portrayal of the Vietnamese borders quite heavily on racism. They are all despicable psychopaths with no morals, who often take great pleasure in torturing others and they almost all harbour this bizarre addiction to Russian roulette – or watching it. Granted, it makes for a very emotional build-up and the climatic end (that naturally involves Russian roulette) made me jump even if I could see it a mile away.

This one is funny. I mean, it almost really touched me. But something was missing. I am unsure what. The fact that I watched it in several chunks – as opposed to in one sitting – no doubt has something to do with it. Then again, the film is a proper old fashioned epic; it’s almost 3 hours long. Cimino’s aim was, no doubt, to have a Godfather-like effect. The dates fit, it has to be said. The film even starts with a wedding. We have the main guys, but the thing is we follow them around. For far too long. The aim is, no doubt, to establish emotional connection and this does happen on a level. I really felt Christopher Walken was, for example, great for this part; especially with his looks as a young man, he is the perfect, tragic poetic hero. And Robert De Niro is… Well, he’s Robert De Niro. So duh, of course they’re both brilliant. But I don’t know. The film is, I think, trying far too hard to be epic. And it’s doing this for three hours flat. At some point, you start to seriously glaze over.

And there is the whole matter of the afore-mentioned racism against the Vietnamese and the seriously nationalistic – American – overtones. But I don’t know, the thing is, it’s an important film. It does some good stuff. I mean, there are a lot of poetic things in there, far too many for my liking but you may spot something you like. I am pretty sure you won’t like it all. But at the very least, this is an important film of cinematic history. You kinda need to see it, if only to know why you don’t like it. That’s my opinion on the matter anyway.