MAKING HISTORY AIN'T EASY! "HITCHCOCK"

I honestly wish this film had been nominated for more awards. And definitely bigger things than hair and makeup. But I mean, I do get it. Anthony Hopkins. Helen Mirren. It would be a surprise if the film didn’t turn out as well as it did. Plus, I don’t know, maybe audiences in general are getting a tad bit jaded about films about filmmaking. But you know, I think these films are important. It’s important for films to talk about their own history. And as far as history goes, it doesn’t get bigger than Alfred Hitchcock.

History in the making he may have been, but that did not mean life with Hitchcock was easy. And his beloved wife Alma Reville could testify to that fact. Temperamental and obsessive while he was working on a project, depressed and dejected when he wasn’t working on one, it falls to Alma to ensure the household (and often the studio) runs to order. It is 1959, and Hitchcock – Hitch as he is more commonly known – may just have struck gold while looking for his new project. An innocuous little horror story called Psycho, based largely on the murders committed by the notorious serial killer Ed Gein.  The thing is, Hitch seems to be the only person who can see it. Even his beloved wife Alma has her doubts as to whether this story of blood and gore can be turned into anything tasteful. Or successful. That the studios would actually agree to distribute.  But Hitch is adamant and filming goes full steam ahead amidst grave economic gambles. However there is more serious trouble afoot. While Alma’s love and dedication to Hitch seems to continue unabated, there is no denying that she is more and more distant these days. And that she is spending more and more time with her friend Mr Whytfield Cook whom she is helping with his latest project. Hitch is worried, distracted even.  Not a good thing when you have mortgaged your home to make a film that the studio still hasn’t given their final word on distributing. Is this Hitch’s finest hour? Or will he loose his marriage and his career in one fell swoop?

Now, I like films like this. I like films about marriages. Hollywood is funny in the sense that actually getting into a relationship is often portrayed as the only really difficult part. Once you get the person of your dreams, we are told, it’s all roses and light until death does you part… Err, no. It takes a lot to make a relationship work and a marriage. And even if, like Alfred Hitchcock and Alma Reville, you have been together for 30 years, well guess what; there can still be hitches (pun intended). There can still be pitfalls. And, strangely, it is these pitfalls one must be afraid of. At the beginning there is the rush. You know that rush of emotion, of “something new”. 30 years later, routine is setting in alongside love. You really, really begin to know what it is like to live with this person. It’s when stuff happens to shake the marriage at this point that you should be concerned. And this is what gives the film its brilliant edge. Because yes it’s absolutely fascinating to watch Psycho come together. Especially if, like me, you’re a film-buff AND Hitchcock fan.  But at the end of the day, we know what happened there. It’s Psycho for God’s sake. It’s one of the most famous films in history. What we may or may not know, however, is how and whether this film ended Mr Hitchcock’s marriage.  And that, gentle viewer, you are going to have to watch and find out for yourself.

Told with great affection and a lot of (albeit rather British) humour, Hitchcock will warm you down to the cockles of your heart. And give you a history lesson in cinematic history to boot. I men come on. It is one of the greatest films in history…

A TRIBUTE TO THE HUMAN SPIRIT : "THE ELEPHANT MAN"

As you can imagine, directors are a pretty big thing for me when selecting films. And like all human beings, I have the ones I like and the ones I don’t like so much… Now, David Lynch I respect. Yes, I may have avoided him thus far but I do respect him. Lynch is one of those guys you know, you either like him or hate him. I err… Well, not to sound too sided I don’t exactly like him… Ehm… I bought this film never the less… The 8 Oscar ® nominations and the César Award encouraged me as did the presence of Sir Anthony Hopkins and the true and tragic story the film was based on… (Mind you Oscars® and awards don’t necessarily guarantee viewer happiness, look at Mulholland Drive – from my point of view I mean :S ) God, I’m on a rambler this evening, OK, The Elephant Man.
Now, The Elephant Man is the true story of a young man named John Merrick. He lived in Victorian England. He was intelligent and sensitive; however, he was most terribly deformed. His deformations were of such an extent that the only way he could make his living was in a carnival freak show – as one of the “freaks”. Not that he made his own living either; his “minder” was a man named Bytes who assumed Merrick was an idiot (because he never spoke). Merrick’s life was changed when an ambitious young surgeon named Frederick Treves (a dashing young Anthony Hopkins) visited the carnival. He convinced Bytes to “lend” Merrick to him for a symposium. He succeeded and made quite a name for himself in the process. But, despite all his initial doubts and prejudices he grew fond of John. Even further, he befriended him when he realized John could both speak and understand. As you can imagine; this changed Merrick’s life forever…
This film is not a happy one because the true story of John Merrick’s short life was not a happy one either… Well, except at the end of course. This, by the way is not a typical “Lynchism” with weird subconscious – dream sequences… I mean there are a few thrown in but nothing that doesn’t wash down with the rest of the story. No, this is your typical “film” film (in case you’re confused I mean that as a compliment). Seriously though, it just served to show me and the likes of me, that if David Lynch is known for his more err… “confusing” films it is by no means for lack of skill or lack of comprehension of the cinema as a medium. Oh no. I cried buckets all through the film that tells a touching story very skillfully (when I say buckets I mean buckets by the way, I was so upset I actually ran out of the room howling “I can’t take it” at one point) and with great composure. It is a Victorian “film noir” if you will. Shot in black and white for ambiance (and it makes a good pun too, no? film noir, black and white… Oh never mind…) this is a must see on many levels.
And one of them is a tribute to Mr. Merrick. Mr. Merrick to whom mundane tasks such as sleeping (his head was so large if he lay down to sleep he would break his neck; he had to sleep sitting up) or walking down the street (apart from the fact that people who saw him ran screaming his spine was deformed, making walking painful and difficult) were at times extreme challenges. Remember your office job you hate? Mr. Merrick had to work at a freak show as an exhibit (I will officially be very angry if anyone makes jokes about this in front of me from now on). Have to have a boring conversation with a colleague or a relative? Until the age of 21 Mr. Merrick (whose mouth was deformed making speech very difficult to start with) was assumed to be an imbecile and didn’t have a single conversation in his life. And yet, despite all this, he was gentle, sensitive, loved the theatre, rejoiced like a child at the idea of having friends… Puts our mundane little problems in perspective, no? Personally, I doubt I could have been as gentle and as good a person as him if I had his problems…Watch and cry my dears. And repeat, whenever you feel you have the world on your shoulders…

“ “I SHOT MY WIFE… PROVE IT” / FRACTURE ”

OK, so this isn’t actually very err… “scientific” or “objective” but there are some actors I qualify as “lucky charms”. If they are in them, chances are I’ll watch it. And probably love it. Now, common sense dictates that even unqualified acting legends have their off-days, but I just don’t seem to see it. I’m thinking of Sir Anthony Hopkins. I love him. I don’t remember an Anthony Hopkins film I didn’t like. Especially if said film is a particularly juicy “whodunit”. Well, I call it a whodunit but that’s not really a fair assessment. Who dun it is quite obvious, the question to be asked is “howhashedunit”. Not very grammatical, but a fair question given the circumstances…
And “the circumstances” are as follows: Ted Crawford (Anthony Hopkins) is a rich and successful businessman. He has a luxurious Hollywood home and a beautiful wife he absolutely adores, that’s about all a man could ask for from life, no? Well, in this case, no. She is cheating on him, having an affair with a police detective no less. Now, Ted is literally heartbroken. And the only punishment that fits the crime, in Ted’s opinion, is capital punishment. He executes (hoho) this plan without delay, and shoots his wife at point blank range in the face (ouch). He was the only other person in the house, they have witnesses seeing them enter the house alone and who testify no one else entered or left the house… Ted even surprises everyone by signing a confession. For ambitious assistant D.A. Willy Beachum (and for everyone else concerned – Ryan Gosling by the way) it looks like an open and shut case. All the better for Willy – he needs to tie this last case up before he goes off to work at a swanky law firm for a fat paycheck. So imagine Willy’s surprise when Ted Crawford suddenly changes his plea to “not guilty” and all the evidence (including the signed confession) starts to vanish (in the legal sense) before his very eyes… If Willy doesn’t want Mr. Crawford to get away with murder – thus forcing him to wave goodbye to the most lucrative job opportunity he’ll ever face, never mind the humiliation of it all – he has to use ALL his shark powers…
OK, so you don’t exactly win 9 Primetime Emmys without knowing how to keep your audience glued to their seats, as director Gregory Hoblit demonstrates. Of course he is the director of the Oscar nominated film Primal Fear – so it’s not entirely unexpected. The film is very VERY intelligently constructed. So much so that the “crux” of the whole thing is mind-numbingly simple in the end to the point that I almost yelled “God, I should have thought of that!” It’s not too too courtroomy either so even those of us who don’t watch this genre will be able to follow it without getting bored or losing track. Plus of course there’s a love interest for Ryan Gosling in the shape of a very cool female shark played by Rosamund Pike, but I’ll let you discover that thread in the plot as you go along… The acting is… Well, the way you would expect with that caliber of actor. Anthony Hopkins makes an absolutely marvelous villain don’t you think? A great film to get your blood pumping and keep you happily occupied of an evening…

MEET JOE BLACK (SOONER OR LATER EVERYBODY DOES)

Let’s stick with Hollywood today. Not the bubbles and trash that pours out of it though, the choice morsels the sometimes somewhat older films. Maybe not “life changing” or “cutting edge” but good old yarns. With a couple of super-stars and maybe a sniff-worthy ending… We all pretend to be soo intellectual yet we all have our faves in this camp. I am determined to share one of mine with you today. Meet Joe Black…

William Parrish (Anthony Hopkins) is blessed. He has it all. He is a successful and well-loved businessman, he has a loving family (albeit slightly self-obsessed but well meaning – and that is more than some families!) and a life-style to be envied. He is approaching the age of 65 – and being a media mogul he will celebrate it with style, his older daughter is organizing a giant party for him and all and sundry. But then, quite out of the blue, he is confronted by a young man (Brad Pitt). It takes a moment for Mr. Parrish to absorb the information but this young man is in fact, Death. However, he has taken on a human form because he has become curious about life in the world. He wants Mr. Parrish to be his guide for a few days. In return, Mr. Parrish will get… Time. And the chance to celebrate his birthday with his family and friends for the last time. Mr. Parrish is surprised but has little choice other than accepting. The young man is a little awkward but takes the name “Joe Black” and is somehow able to incorporate himself quite smoothly into “life”. But, as the saying goes, what is life without love? Joe Black discovers how true this is when he falls in love with Susan Parrish (Claire Forlani) William Parrish’s younger daughter, much to the dismay of her father…

I honestly think this film is the epitome of Hollywood at its best. The story, you have to admit, is original. Fantastic, some might say quite unbelievable, but original. Different. The actors ? Two of my favorites. Anthony Hopkins, I ADORE, I have seen most things he’s acted in. Brad Pitt is soo charismatic as Joe Black. And Claire Forlani is one of those people you will recognize when you see. I did a bit of research on her just now; turns out I’ve actually seen her in a bunch of stuff in secondary roles. She’s pretty damn good as well… You know what kind of film this is? The kind you watch with your girlfriends on a Friday night in, with cocoa and marshmallows and/or chocolates. You drool over Brad Pitt, get excited about the story and sentimental about the end. And although I don’t give spoilers on principal, I don’t mind telling you it’s a Hollywood ending. Complete with fireworks.