Below is a full list of the winners at the Screen Actors Guild 2012. I've included the TV winners despite the fact it's obviously American so some of the shows are less known to us on this side of the pond but in the main part most of them have made it over here. With the exception of Jean Dujardin pipping George Clooney for Best Male Actor, it was a big night for The Help as they swept up 3 of the main awards including the 2 for Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress (Viola Davis & Octavia Spencer respectively).
In the world of TV it was a big night for Steve Buscemi and the cast of Boardwalk Empire which has been critically acclaimed since it's release with Modern Family winning the Best Comedy Award (a programme I still to this day have never found funny).
Full SAG Awards 2012 Winners List:
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A CAST IN A MOTION PICTURE
The Help – WINNER
The Artist
Bridesmaids
The Descendants
Midnight in Paris
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Viola Davis, The Help – WINNER
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Tilda Swinton, We Need To Talk About Kevin
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A LEADING ROLE
Jean Dujardin, The Artist – WINNER
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Leonardo DiCaprio, J Edgar
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Octavia Spencer, The Help – WINNER
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A SUPPORTING ROLE
Christopher Plummer, Beginners – WINNER
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Armie Hammer, J Edgar
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, Warrior
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Kate Winslet, Mildred Pierce – WINNER
Diane Lane, Cinema Verite
Maggie Smith, Downton Abbey
Emily Watson, Appropriate Adult
Betty White, Hallmark Hall of Fame: The Lost Valentine
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A TELEVISION MOVIE OR MINISERIES
Paul Giamatti, Too Big to Fail – WINNER
Laurence Fishburne, Thurgood
Greg Kinnear, The Kennedys
James Woods, Too Big to Fail
Guy Pearce, Mildred Pierce
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A DRAMA SERIES
Boardwalk Empire – WINNER
Breaking Bad
Dexter
Game of Thrones
The Good Wife
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Jessica Lange, American Horror Story – WINNER
Kathy Bates, Harry’s Law
Glenn Close, DamagesJulianna Margulies, The Good Wife
Kyra Sedgwick, The Closer
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A DRAMA SERIES
Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire – WINNER
Patrick J Adams, Suits
Kyle Chandler, Friday Night LightsBryan Cranston, Breaking Bad
Michael C Hall, Dexter
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY AN ENSEMBLE IN A COMEDY SERIES
Modern Family – WINNER
30 Rock
The Big Bang Theory
Glee
The Office
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A FEMALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Betty White, Hot in Cleveland – WINNER
Julie Bowen, Modern Family
Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie
Tina Fey, 30 Rock
Sofia Vergara, Modern Family
OUTSTANDING PERFORMANCE BY A MALE ACTOR IN A COMEDY SERIES
Alec Baldwin, 30 Rock – WINNER
Ty Burrell, Modern Family
Steve Carell, The Office
Jon Cryer, Two and a Half Men
Eric Stonestreet, Modern Family
SCREEN ACTORS GUILD LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD
Mary Tyler Moore
Tuesday, 31 January 2012
Film Review: 12 Angry Men
Director: Sidney Lumet
This 1957 film was adapted from a play written by Reginald Rose, it is based around the 12 man jury in a murder case as they deliberate the guilt of the defendant. Similarly to a play, the film is almost exclusively based in one room which is the jury room as the jurors argue over the facts and testimonies given during the trial. This is the genius behind the film, how can a movie based in one room which purely features men (whose names you don't know) arguing and discussing the events of the trial be so fascinating.
We very quickly learn the personalities of some of the more outspoken characters within the group and a shot after the judge reads his final statement shows the young defendant. Instantly there is prejudice within the group towards the defendant, even by the judge who seems almost bored when summing the case up at the end of the trail. but that isn't the only issue. There are two eye witnesses claiming the defendant stabbed his father and then ran down the stairs out of the building. It seems that it is a simple case for the jury to decide but juror #8 (Henry Fonda, identified as Davis at the end) votes not guilty which sets off the rest of the film. Davis claims that there is reasonable doubt in his mind that the boy might not have committed this crime despite his flimsy testimony and the evidence stacked against him.
The principle of reasonable doubt is what the film hinges upon; it starts with juror #8 claiming that there is reasonable doubt in his mind. The aim of the jury is not to solve the crime but to decide whether an 18 year old Puerto Rican boy should be sent to die. A key quote from juror #8 is "We're talking about somebody's life here, we can't decide in five minutes". This sets off the arguing, questions and re-enactments that take place in the court room as every shred of evidence is analysed and debated. Some arguments presented have the jurors themselves contradicting their own opinions.
It is well over 50 years since this film was made and jury duty doesn't seem to hold the same pride it used to, being judged by your fellow man. Many people try everything they can to escape it and I personally think anyone selected for jury duty especially in big cases should be made to watch this movie. A heck of a lot can be learnt from this film about human nature and conflicting personalities. People from all walks of life and varying personalities are displayed from hot-headed characters to quiet thoughtful people to the easily convinced (juror #12) on a jury and this one is no exception. Some of the jurors are so stubborn that changing their minds seems to be out of the question purely because of a sense of pride; only weak people will give in and change their verdict on the accused.
Little touches within the film just add to the intensity in the room, the fact it is a boiling hot day and the fan in the room is not working for most of the movie cranks up the tension as the men struggle to deal with the heat. Meaning people's tempers fray much quicker and are prone to more irrational thought. It is certainly a film that I think benefits from being in black and white (although not in the way a film like Hitchcock's The Birds does). The cinematography is incredibly sharp in showing the sweat on the men's brows and the slightest hint of what people are thinking through the expressions on their faces, Sidney Lumet is technically brilliant in the way this film is shot.
4/4 Fascinating and clever film, still has relevance today.
This 1957 film was adapted from a play written by Reginald Rose, it is based around the 12 man jury in a murder case as they deliberate the guilt of the defendant. Similarly to a play, the film is almost exclusively based in one room which is the jury room as the jurors argue over the facts and testimonies given during the trial. This is the genius behind the film, how can a movie based in one room which purely features men (whose names you don't know) arguing and discussing the events of the trial be so fascinating.
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| The jury room where almost all of the film takes place |
The principle of reasonable doubt is what the film hinges upon; it starts with juror #8 claiming that there is reasonable doubt in his mind. The aim of the jury is not to solve the crime but to decide whether an 18 year old Puerto Rican boy should be sent to die. A key quote from juror #8 is "We're talking about somebody's life here, we can't decide in five minutes". This sets off the arguing, questions and re-enactments that take place in the court room as every shred of evidence is analysed and debated. Some arguments presented have the jurors themselves contradicting their own opinions.
 |
| The 12 Angry Men |
Little touches within the film just add to the intensity in the room, the fact it is a boiling hot day and the fan in the room is not working for most of the movie cranks up the tension as the men struggle to deal with the heat. Meaning people's tempers fray much quicker and are prone to more irrational thought. It is certainly a film that I think benefits from being in black and white (although not in the way a film like Hitchcock's The Birds does). The cinematography is incredibly sharp in showing the sweat on the men's brows and the slightest hint of what people are thinking through the expressions on their faces, Sidney Lumet is technically brilliant in the way this film is shot.
4/4 Fascinating and clever film, still has relevance today.
Monday, 30 January 2012
Film Review: The Descendants
Director: Alexander Payne
I originally saw the trailer for this back in October 2011 and was intrigued to how it would play out. A lot has happened in the past few months with great reviews from America and success at the awards. The only downside to this is that in the last month my expectations have increased greatly towards this film and possibly to a level where it was never going to live up to those expectations. I tried to temper these expectations as I sat through the trailers (all awful) and I got comfortable in my creaky reclining chair from the 1980's (went to Showcase Cinema at Belle Vue, Manchester).
The voice-over at the start by Clooney works really well. Talking about that despite living in Hawaii, their lives are just as difficult and have the some problems that any family do anywhere in the world. This was a great way to introduce the film and was perhaps a message to many people who look to move away to escape their problems. The film tried hard to stay close to the Hawaiian roots in the way people were portrayed and how they acted, whether it be how they spoke to each other or the places they lived or visited. For me, it helped keep the movie truly authentic to its setting.
In terms of Clooney's Golden Globe winning performance, he is very good in this film and I can see where people are coming from with the comparisons to Cary Grant etc. He comes across as a dad who really feels disappointed in himself for letting his family down and wants to make amends the best way he can. On his mission to track down and confront his wife's new lover, Matt often proves that he isn't cut out for this as he is constantly distracted by other problems in his life. The journey to find this man almost helps prove to him what he has to do to take care of his daughters and make himself happy at the same time.
My only criticism of the movie is that the relationship between Matt and his children isn't explored much more in the second half of the movie as the dedicate a lot more time to Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard) who has been cheating on his wife with Matt's wife Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie). It wasn't a bad storyline but didn't need to take up such huge parts of the movie. The reasons for the failure within the King family are probably all too familiar for a lot of people and really adds to the realism of the film. Workaholic Dad who neglects his wife's needs meaning she looks for fulfilment elsewhere and with children that are unhappy it just adds to the tension.
2.5/4 Maybe my high expectations have forced it down from a 3 but still a very good film.
I originally saw the trailer for this back in October 2011 and was intrigued to how it would play out. A lot has happened in the past few months with great reviews from America and success at the awards. The only downside to this is that in the last month my expectations have increased greatly towards this film and possibly to a level where it was never going to live up to those expectations. I tried to temper these expectations as I sat through the trailers (all awful) and I got comfortable in my creaky reclining chair from the 1980's (went to Showcase Cinema at Belle Vue, Manchester).
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| Alex, Matt & Scottie |
George Clooney stars as Matt King, a husband and father who has to deal with his wife being in a coma after a boating accident, his two daughters who he isn't a close to as he thought and what to do with 25,000 acres of Hawaiian land that family owns. His two daughters are 10 year-old Scottie (Amara Miller) and 17 year-old Alex (Shailene Woodley) who he brings back from boarding school to see her mum as well as help look after Scottie during the difficult time they face. The journey of Alex maturing as she deals with her Mum being in hospital and finally being treated like a grown-up by her father is subtle, she becomes very supportive to her sister and her dad as he deals with the fact his wife was cheating on him before she had the accident. It's only at the end do you realise how far she has come from the beginning. I found the character of Scottie to be quite annoying but at a consistent level throughout the film, although to be honest I think that was the aim of her role.
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| George Clooney with his Best Actor award from the Golden Globes |
My only criticism of the movie is that the relationship between Matt and his children isn't explored much more in the second half of the movie as the dedicate a lot more time to Brian Speer (Matthew Lillard) who has been cheating on his wife with Matt's wife Elizabeth (Patricia Hastie). It wasn't a bad storyline but didn't need to take up such huge parts of the movie. The reasons for the failure within the King family are probably all too familiar for a lot of people and really adds to the realism of the film. Workaholic Dad who neglects his wife's needs meaning she looks for fulfilment elsewhere and with children that are unhappy it just adds to the tension.
2.5/4 Maybe my high expectations have forced it down from a 3 but still a very good film.
Saturday, 28 January 2012
Film Review: Moneyball
Director: Bennett Miller
The screenplay was adapted from the book of the same name written by Michael Lewis (fantastic author of The Blindside and Liar's Poker). A friend of mine who introduced me to Baseball recommended I read this book and I found it even more fascinating the second time round when I knew more about Baseball. The book more than the film delves into the world of sabremetrics within baseball and how the Oakland Athletics with one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball can challenge the top spenders like the New York Yankees.
The film obviously glosses over a lot of the facts and figures that are within the book as to how they looked at the different stats produced by batters. It does a good job of not overwhelming people who don't necessarily know a lot about baseball, meaning it is more accessible. When I heard they were making a film version I presumed it would be a reasonably small production of little known actors that might not even be screened in Britain except at the more independent cinemas. But in little time it was announced that Brad Pitt would play Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane and Jonah Hill would play the role of Paul DePodesta although he did not like how his character was going to portrayed so they called him Peter Brand and didn't use his likeness. This meant the film began to gather more momentum especially as Philip Seymour Hoffman was then confirmed to play Art Howe the manager who ran the game from down on the bench and frequently clashed with Billy's plans for a game (Billy refused to watch games as he believed it blurred his vision of how the players were really playing).
The film has the true underdog feel to it and emphasizes this from the start with the comparison of the A's budget and the Yankees budget from when they faced each other in the playoffs in 2001. Everyone loves an underdog story especially in sports films and that is the angle that is heavily played within the film, to add to the mountain Beane has to climb he loses his three best players before the 2002 season as they move to the big money team in free agency. They have to uncover the next hidden gem that will get on base and score the runs that they will lose without the likes of Giambi.
It's a film that non-baseball fans can enjoy but still offers enough depth for the audience who are familiar with the book, the film slightly underplayed how good Beane was at trading players and improving the team in the second half of the film which is a shame. In the book its shown that some GMs won't deal with him because they believe they'll get fleeced but his other ability of getting involved in trades he has no business being in but benefitting from it. Overall the screenplay is well written and is reasonably faithful to the book and cut out much of the history of Sabremetrics which many would be less interested in. Its also a good behind the scenes look at how baseball teams are run within the league and how the poor fare against the rich, a funny scene involved journeyman David Justice being shocked at having to pay for Pepsi in the changing rooms in Oakland.
Jonah Hill playing the Yale economics graduate who is nervous and shy to begin with but soon gains confidence as he sees his belief in Sabremetrics pay off on the field. A key scene is when Beane tells him that he needs to tell a player that he has been traded and it finally shows that he has the confidence in himself and his belief in how to succeed in baseball. Hill was superb in this role and really deserved his nomination for the Golden Globes and the Oscars which I really hope he wins for Best Supporting Actor. Pitt and Hoffman are also very good in their roles but its Hill that impressed me the most.
3/4 a great underdog story, faithful to the book and with 3 good acting performances.
The screenplay was adapted from the book of the same name written by Michael Lewis (fantastic author of The Blindside and Liar's Poker). A friend of mine who introduced me to Baseball recommended I read this book and I found it even more fascinating the second time round when I knew more about Baseball. The book more than the film delves into the world of sabremetrics within baseball and how the Oakland Athletics with one of the lowest payrolls in Major League Baseball can challenge the top spenders like the New York Yankees.
The film obviously glosses over a lot of the facts and figures that are within the book as to how they looked at the different stats produced by batters. It does a good job of not overwhelming people who don't necessarily know a lot about baseball, meaning it is more accessible. When I heard they were making a film version I presumed it would be a reasonably small production of little known actors that might not even be screened in Britain except at the more independent cinemas. But in little time it was announced that Brad Pitt would play Oakland A's General Manager Billy Beane and Jonah Hill would play the role of Paul DePodesta although he did not like how his character was going to portrayed so they called him Peter Brand and didn't use his likeness. This meant the film began to gather more momentum especially as Philip Seymour Hoffman was then confirmed to play Art Howe the manager who ran the game from down on the bench and frequently clashed with Billy's plans for a game (Billy refused to watch games as he believed it blurred his vision of how the players were really playing).
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| Brad Pitt as Oakland A's GM Billy Beane |
It's a film that non-baseball fans can enjoy but still offers enough depth for the audience who are familiar with the book, the film slightly underplayed how good Beane was at trading players and improving the team in the second half of the film which is a shame. In the book its shown that some GMs won't deal with him because they believe they'll get fleeced but his other ability of getting involved in trades he has no business being in but benefitting from it. Overall the screenplay is well written and is reasonably faithful to the book and cut out much of the history of Sabremetrics which many would be less interested in. Its also a good behind the scenes look at how baseball teams are run within the league and how the poor fare against the rich, a funny scene involved journeyman David Justice being shocked at having to pay for Pepsi in the changing rooms in Oakland.
Jonah Hill playing the Yale economics graduate who is nervous and shy to begin with but soon gains confidence as he sees his belief in Sabremetrics pay off on the field. A key scene is when Beane tells him that he needs to tell a player that he has been traded and it finally shows that he has the confidence in himself and his belief in how to succeed in baseball. Hill was superb in this role and really deserved his nomination for the Golden Globes and the Oscars which I really hope he wins for Best Supporting Actor. Pitt and Hoffman are also very good in their roles but its Hill that impressed me the most.
3/4 a great underdog story, faithful to the book and with 3 good acting performances.
Thursday, 26 January 2012
Film Review: Paths of Glory
Director: Stanley Kubrick
Welcome to war week at the Rolling Picture!! It started last week unofficially with 'Au revoir les enfants' but is in full swing this week as we move into the trenches of the First World War and the French army. This is an early Kubrick film from 1957starring Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax leading 701st Battalion in 1916. It looks at the court-martial handed out to three soldiers who were part of a regiment that didn't leave the trenches whilst under heavy fire and continue in a suicidal attack on a German position called the ''Anthill''. The superior offices who ordered the attack, from there cushy headquarters behind the lines, believed they were guilty of cowardice.
The film was heavily criticized on release by active and former soldiers especially those connected with the French military who said it showed them in a bad light. Contrary to reports at the time it was not banned in France but the release was delayed by a few years. I can see why military personnel wouldn't like the topics addressed in the film but the film was loosely based on 4 French soldiers executed during the First World War. I think it would be incredibly naive to think this only happened in the French army during the wars.
Had I not known before I watched this movie that Stanley Kubrick was the director I would never have guessed it was his work based on some of his later works that I am much more familiar. Although there is one scene, before the troops are due to ''go over the top'' of the Trenches and advance on the enemy, where there is little sound and the camera slowly moves through the trench to pick up the scared mood of the soldiers and the calm before the storm so to speak.
Early in the film it is evident that the top ranking officers are not genuinely interested in the soldiers who fight in the trenches. Brigadier General Paul Mireau (George Macready with a real facial scar from a serious car accident) is taking a walk through the trenches asking generic questions to soldiers as he goes, he then arrogantly says that these walks are crucial for troops morale trying to show his own self-importance. At the end of this walk he speaks to a man suffering so badly from shell-shock that he struggles to reply other than just repeating what is being said to him. The man is shown no sympathy after being smacked in the face and then ordered to leave his regiment so he doesn't contaminate the other men as ''there is no such thing as shell-shock". The first actual scene in the movie shows Mireau meeting with Major General George Broulard (played with great pomposity by Adolphe Menjou) saying that taking the Anthill is impossible but then realises that a success on such an impossible mission could see him promoted. The furthering of character's own careers is often put before the lives of the soldiers in the trenches with Colonel Dax being the only person to act against this. In one instance Mireau says he will have Dax furloughed for disagreeing with his attack on the ''Anthill'' if he is not up to the fight anymore, abusing his power for his own personal gain.
A great quote which is said to Colonel Paris before they are lead out for execution saying that most of the people here will be killed before the war is over, indicating the bleak outlook everybody involved with the war had. It was a stark reminder of what many real people went through in the First World War.
My only criticism of the movie is the lack of character development, in many cases the films plot moves too quickly for you to learn enough about who people are and why they are like that. Colonel Dax is very much a side line character till the second half of the film and we don't really understand why he is different from everyone else in power?
3/4 a look at the ugly side of power during a time of war and still relevant today.
Welcome to war week at the Rolling Picture!! It started last week unofficially with 'Au revoir les enfants' but is in full swing this week as we move into the trenches of the First World War and the French army. This is an early Kubrick film from 1957starring Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax leading 701st Battalion in 1916. It looks at the court-martial handed out to three soldiers who were part of a regiment that didn't leave the trenches whilst under heavy fire and continue in a suicidal attack on a German position called the ''Anthill''. The superior offices who ordered the attack, from there cushy headquarters behind the lines, believed they were guilty of cowardice.
The film was heavily criticized on release by active and former soldiers especially those connected with the French military who said it showed them in a bad light. Contrary to reports at the time it was not banned in France but the release was delayed by a few years. I can see why military personnel wouldn't like the topics addressed in the film but the film was loosely based on 4 French soldiers executed during the First World War. I think it would be incredibly naive to think this only happened in the French army during the wars.
 |
| Kirk Douglas as Colonel Dax who attempts to defend the three men |
Had I not known before I watched this movie that Stanley Kubrick was the director I would never have guessed it was his work based on some of his later works that I am much more familiar. Although there is one scene, before the troops are due to ''go over the top'' of the Trenches and advance on the enemy, where there is little sound and the camera slowly moves through the trench to pick up the scared mood of the soldiers and the calm before the storm so to speak.
Early in the film it is evident that the top ranking officers are not genuinely interested in the soldiers who fight in the trenches. Brigadier General Paul Mireau (George Macready with a real facial scar from a serious car accident) is taking a walk through the trenches asking generic questions to soldiers as he goes, he then arrogantly says that these walks are crucial for troops morale trying to show his own self-importance. At the end of this walk he speaks to a man suffering so badly from shell-shock that he struggles to reply other than just repeating what is being said to him. The man is shown no sympathy after being smacked in the face and then ordered to leave his regiment so he doesn't contaminate the other men as ''there is no such thing as shell-shock". The first actual scene in the movie shows Mireau meeting with Major General George Broulard (played with great pomposity by Adolphe Menjou) saying that taking the Anthill is impossible but then realises that a success on such an impossible mission could see him promoted. The furthering of character's own careers is often put before the lives of the soldiers in the trenches with Colonel Dax being the only person to act against this. In one instance Mireau says he will have Dax furloughed for disagreeing with his attack on the ''Anthill'' if he is not up to the fight anymore, abusing his power for his own personal gain.
 |
| Private Ferol with Father Dupree |
My only criticism of the movie is the lack of character development, in many cases the films plot moves too quickly for you to learn enough about who people are and why they are like that. Colonel Dax is very much a side line character till the second half of the film and we don't really understand why he is different from everyone else in power?
3/4 a look at the ugly side of power during a time of war and still relevant today.
Wednesday, 25 January 2012
This week's releases
As we hit the middle of the week, it seems now would be a good time to look forward to what films are being released this week at UK cinemas:
The Descendants - This film is easily the most hyped with the awards it won at the Golden Globes and with 5 Oscar nominations as well. It's the story of Matt King (George Clooney) whose wife ends up comatosed after an accident meaning he not only has to look after the kids but he also finds out his wife has been cheating on him. It charts his efforts to re-connect to his two daughters who he isnt as close to as he once thought. This is suppose to be one of Clooney's great performances and I really hope it doesn't disappoint when I finally see it on Sunday night.
A Monster in Paris 3D - Despite its name, this is not a gory horror flick with 3D added in to make the film more jumpy for the audience. This is a French CGI film about a flea that undergoes an experiment that goes wrong turning him into a monster who eventually meets Lucille who hides him away from the prying public. It seems to be an animated film based a mixture of Beauty & the Beast, Phantom of the Opera & . I'm not really sure why the film is in 3D though, not sure what that is adding to the film itself.
Like Crazy - A romantic film which I have talked about before on this blog, coming to the UK slightly under the radar unless a massive advertising campaign is about to be sprung on us. It stars Anton Yelchin (Star Trek and Terminator Salvation) and Felicity Jones (Cemetery Junction) as a young couple who are now apart as she is detained at immigration on a return to LA from London and is denied entry back into the country. The couple then battle to keep their relationship going over a long distance whilst fighting the injunction that is denying her access to America.
The Grey - Liam Neeson stars as Ottway who is one of many survivors of an Alaskan plane crash who are then targeted by a pack of wolves. It charts their efforts to avoid the pack of wolves from trying to eat them whilst find help to get rescued. I've heard more about the controversy related to this film which has arisen from an article which stated that the cast killed four wolves, two to use as props and two to feed the cast. Environmentalists and animal activists were angered by this and have called for a boycott of the film especially as the film portrays wolves in a negative and unrealistic light.
The Descendants - This film is easily the most hyped with the awards it won at the Golden Globes and with 5 Oscar nominations as well. It's the story of Matt King (George Clooney) whose wife ends up comatosed after an accident meaning he not only has to look after the kids but he also finds out his wife has been cheating on him. It charts his efforts to re-connect to his two daughters who he isnt as close to as he once thought. This is suppose to be one of Clooney's great performances and I really hope it doesn't disappoint when I finally see it on Sunday night.
A Monster in Paris 3D - Despite its name, this is not a gory horror flick with 3D added in to make the film more jumpy for the audience. This is a French CGI film about a flea that undergoes an experiment that goes wrong turning him into a monster who eventually meets Lucille who hides him away from the prying public. It seems to be an animated film based a mixture of Beauty & the Beast, Phantom of the Opera & . I'm not really sure why the film is in 3D though, not sure what that is adding to the film itself.
Like Crazy - A romantic film which I have talked about before on this blog, coming to the UK slightly under the radar unless a massive advertising campaign is about to be sprung on us. It stars Anton Yelchin (Star Trek and Terminator Salvation) and Felicity Jones (Cemetery Junction) as a young couple who are now apart as she is detained at immigration on a return to LA from London and is denied entry back into the country. The couple then battle to keep their relationship going over a long distance whilst fighting the injunction that is denying her access to America.
The Grey - Liam Neeson stars as Ottway who is one of many survivors of an Alaskan plane crash who are then targeted by a pack of wolves. It charts their efforts to avoid the pack of wolves from trying to eat them whilst find help to get rescued. I've heard more about the controversy related to this film which has arisen from an article which stated that the cast killed four wolves, two to use as props and two to feed the cast. Environmentalists and animal activists were angered by this and have called for a boycott of the film especially as the film portrays wolves in a negative and unrealistic light.
Articles of the Week
With so many people writing articles, blogs and columns on the world of film, I thought I would give my articles of the week with many reviewing the Oscar Nominations that were announced on Tuesday.
Albert Brooks on not being nominated at the Oscars for Drive: http://www.liveforfilms.com/2012/01/24/albert-brooks-comments-on-not-being-nominated-for-drive/#.Tx_YPpesxdE.twitter
Gary Oldman discussing his first Oscar nomination: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/01/24/gary-oldman-first-nomination/
Funnyman Stewart Lee has his say on David Cameron's comments about the UK film industry making more ''commercially viable pictures'': http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/22/stewart-lee-david-cameron-pinewood-film
Perez Hilton (not normally a fan of his) shares some startling statistics about women in 2011 blockbuster movies: http://perezhilton.com/2012-01-24-women-underrepresented-in-2011-films
Robbie Collin who writes for the Telegraph gives his views on the Oscar nominations from a British perspective: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/9037565/Oscars-2012-the-British-wont-be-coming-this-year.html
Feel free to share any other movie articles that you may have seen this week.
Albert Brooks on not being nominated at the Oscars for Drive: http://www.liveforfilms.com/2012/01/24/albert-brooks-comments-on-not-being-nominated-for-drive/#.Tx_YPpesxdE.twitter
Gary Oldman discussing his first Oscar nomination: http://insidemovies.ew.com/2012/01/24/gary-oldman-first-nomination/
Funnyman Stewart Lee has his say on David Cameron's comments about the UK film industry making more ''commercially viable pictures'': http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/jan/22/stewart-lee-david-cameron-pinewood-film
Perez Hilton (not normally a fan of his) shares some startling statistics about women in 2011 blockbuster movies: http://perezhilton.com/2012-01-24-women-underrepresented-in-2011-films
Robbie Collin who writes for the Telegraph gives his views on the Oscar nominations from a British perspective: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/oscars/9037565/Oscars-2012-the-British-wont-be-coming-this-year.html
Feel free to share any other movie articles that you may have seen this week.
Tuesday, 24 January 2012
Film Review: The Artist
Director: Michael Hazanavicius
Yes I did have to look up how to spell the director's name and its possibly a name we will be hearing more from based on the current success of 'The Artist' which won three Golden Globes after six nominations. It is the first silent movie to be nominated for Best Picture since The Patriot back in 1929 so you can imagine when the film was announced it wasn't expected to be gaining so many nominations at the Golden Globes and Oscars. I won't add anything to the controversy of Kim Novak's comments about using parts of the score from Vertigo by Bernard Herrmann except to say that this was obviously a publicity stunt on her part. Shame she is trying to taint the memory.
The only question remaining was who was more impressive Jean Dujardin as George Valentin or Uggie the dog who plays his faithful companion. Now there is no doubting the talent the dog has and at the Oscars he should be given a special award for canine achievement in a motion picture but lets not take away from the two superb performances by Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo who plays Peppy Miller. They are both characters that are incredibly likeable and are easy to root for throughout the movie. Bérénice Bejo is beautiful in her role and portrays the youthful enthusiasm of someone just starting out in the business. Together they seem very natural together and this only adds to the enjoyment of the film.
George Valentin is a silent movie star who at the beginning of the film hogs the applause from the audience at the premiere of his latest film before finally letting his co-stars briefly enjoy the success. After accidently bumping into Valentin whilst he is posing for pictures outside, Peppy decides to audition as a dancer in one of his films to try and meet him again as well as become a movie star herself. The movie starts to chart the downfall of silent movies taking Valentin with it whilst Peppy Miller is the new star of the talkie movies that are now popular. It does show how fickle Hollywood can be and that past success is no guarantee of future success. Throughout the film and especially at the end both Dujardin and Bejo get to showcase their dancing skills which are superb. A scene right at the very end really is impressive, especially by Bejo considering the heels she is wearing!
One of my favourite scenes is where Valentin is seen to wake up in his dressing room where he can suddenly hear noises as he puts his coffee cup down but still cannot talk. It was a clever little scene which broke down the fourth wall so well before returning to the music and silent movie style. The film looks better in black and white to put us in the mood of a silent movie, one impressive part of the movie was how little they used title cards to convey what was being said. Often gestures were clear enough to deduce the what was being said and what the mood was at that time. My only criticism of the movie is that the end becomes a bit sluggish and probably lasts 5-10mins too long but the finale is worth waiting for.
3.5/4 a loveable film with two amazing performances from the leads and not forgetting Uggie the dog!
Yes I did have to look up how to spell the director's name and its possibly a name we will be hearing more from based on the current success of 'The Artist' which won three Golden Globes after six nominations. It is the first silent movie to be nominated for Best Picture since The Patriot back in 1929 so you can imagine when the film was announced it wasn't expected to be gaining so many nominations at the Golden Globes and Oscars. I won't add anything to the controversy of Kim Novak's comments about using parts of the score from Vertigo by Bernard Herrmann except to say that this was obviously a publicity stunt on her part. Shame she is trying to taint the memory.
The only question remaining was who was more impressive Jean Dujardin as George Valentin or Uggie the dog who plays his faithful companion. Now there is no doubting the talent the dog has and at the Oscars he should be given a special award for canine achievement in a motion picture but lets not take away from the two superb performances by Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo who plays Peppy Miller. They are both characters that are incredibly likeable and are easy to root for throughout the movie. Bérénice Bejo is beautiful in her role and portrays the youthful enthusiasm of someone just starting out in the business. Together they seem very natural together and this only adds to the enjoyment of the film.
 |
| Jean Dujardin and Bérénice Bejo |
One of my favourite scenes is where Valentin is seen to wake up in his dressing room where he can suddenly hear noises as he puts his coffee cup down but still cannot talk. It was a clever little scene which broke down the fourth wall so well before returning to the music and silent movie style. The film looks better in black and white to put us in the mood of a silent movie, one impressive part of the movie was how little they used title cards to convey what was being said. Often gestures were clear enough to deduce the what was being said and what the mood was at that time. My only criticism of the movie is that the end becomes a bit sluggish and probably lasts 5-10mins too long but the finale is worth waiting for.
3.5/4 a loveable film with two amazing performances from the leads and not forgetting Uggie the dog!
Oscar Nominations
With the Golden Globes now past us, it is time for the much awaited Oscar nominations which were announced around 1.30pm GMT today. The Globes have already given us a pretty good indication of what films will be claiming the most nominations but there is always a few suprises that sneak in.
Here is a list of the nominees:
Best Picture
The ArtistThe Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in ParisMoneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
The ArtistThe Descendants
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
The Help
Hugo
Midnight in ParisMoneyball
The Tree of Life
War Horse
Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life
Best Actor
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Demián Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball
Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn
Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, WarriorChristopher Plummer, Beginners
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Nick Nolte, WarriorChristopher Plummer, Beginners
Max Von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Best Supporting Actress
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Bérénice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Original Screenplay
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Annie Mumolo & Kristen Wiig, Bridesmaids
J.C. Chandor, Margin Call
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris
Asghar Farhadi, A Separation
Best Adapted Screenplay
Alexander Payne, Jim Rash & Nat Faxon, The Descendants
John Logan, Hugo
George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon, The Ides of March
Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian, Moneyball
Peter Straughan & Bridget O’Connor, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Alexander Payne, Jim Rash & Nat Faxon, The Descendants
John Logan, Hugo
George Clooney, Grant Heslov & Beau Willimon, The Ides of March
Aaron Sorkin & Steven Zaillian, Moneyball
Peter Straughan & Bridget O’Connor, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Best Animated Film
The Adventures of Tintin
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
The Adventures of Tintin
A Cat in Paris
Chico & Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2
Puss in Boots
Rango
Best Foreign Language Film
Bullhead (Belgium)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
A Separation (Iran)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)
Bullhead (Belgium)
Monsieur Lazhar (Canada)
A Separation (Iran)
Footnote (Israel)
In Darkness (Poland)
As expected there are plenty of nominations for The Descendants and The Artist (I am finally seeing The Descendants on Sunday). The main surprise for me is War Horse being included in the best film category, lets be honest if you take Spielberg's name off the movie its not going to get nominated. Being completely biased as I loved the book, glad to see Moneyball is nominated for best picture and best adapted screenplay with Pitt and especially Hill being nominated also. In terms of British films I think its great that Gary Oldman has been recognised for his portrayal of George Smiley in TTSS.
As you draw your own conclusions, I will leave you with these two thoughts: Hugo got the most Oscar nominations with 12 and Transformers 3 got more nominations than Drive. And people say I'm cynical!!
Monday, 23 January 2012
Film Review: Margin Call
Director: J.C. Chandor
This is the first film of director J.C. Chandor who also wrote the screenplay and managed to film the entire film within 18 days in New York mostly one floor of an office building. Such a short filming time is usually saved for experienced directors who know how to be efficient in filming but the tight schedule probably helped in pulling in big stars like Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons & Demi Moore.
The film revolves around the stick of dynamite that Peter Sullivan (Zachary Quinto who also produced the movie) finds when his boss (Stanley Tucci who had great praise for the movie afterwards) is made redundant and gives him some information to investigate before he leaves. There are many superb performances within this movie from the entry level guys of Peter and Seth (Penn Badgley) who is obsessed with discussing how much all the top managers and directors earn each year. Peter pulls back Seth and Will Emerson (played with great cocky swagger by Paul Bettany) to the office from a nightclub late in the evening to show them the oversight in the risk model that could ruin the entire company. The information is shared right up the chain until there is a meeting held at 3am with the board of directors headed by John Tuld (Jeremy Irons).
A clever moment is where Tuld asks Peter to describe the problem in simple terms as if he were a child so everyone knows exactly what has happened but also serves to help explain the problem to the audience who may be struggling with the jargon used. The issue deals with the company exceeding historical levels of volatility used to calculate risk and the excessive leverage used within the company means a downturn in the mortgage market could cause catastrophe. The immediate reaction of the management as they all become involved shows a shocking but all too realistic view of the trading sector at this time as they look to sweep the problem under the carpet to save their own company and more importantly their jobs. The greed is at its peak when people go against principles claiming to need the money as they are so use to the 'high life' of their inflated salaries that they don't want to go back to a world without it. At times its only the character of Peter Sullivan that stops you losing all faith in people doing the ethical thing.
The recurring theme of the movie is one of greed as many characters at the higher level lock heads over who is at fault and who should pay for this mess. The roles of Quinto and Badgley's characters serve as the young enthusiastic workers who are innocent to the back stabbing and greed that the others engage in. A great line by Tuld is 'there are three ways to making a living in this business: be first, be smarter or cheat, and I'm not the most intelligent person'. The film shows that the selfish actions by company executives that bankrupting other companies is acceptable as long as they save their own company claiming to make the money back in the future if they can past the live grenade they have that threatens the company itself. The issue itself is suppose to be loosely based on the crisis at Lehman Brothers and is probably close to the truth in places than you'd like to believe.
The question the film leaves at the end is whether Peter Sullivan has been corrupted into their world? He seems too innocent and conscientious for this hard nosed world but was everybody like this in the beginning of their careers and its case of evolve or die?
Demi Moore plays Sarah Robertson who is the manager of the risk department and the only criticism I would have over casting is that I didn't feel she was right for the role. She was suppose to come across as a real tough cookie after years in the industry but I was never convinced by this in the movie. Its only a small criticism over what is a perfectly crafted film.
4/4 a realistic view beneath the financial meltdown in 2007 which pulls no punches. An absolute must see!
This is the first film of director J.C. Chandor who also wrote the screenplay and managed to film the entire film within 18 days in New York mostly one floor of an office building. Such a short filming time is usually saved for experienced directors who know how to be efficient in filming but the tight schedule probably helped in pulling in big stars like Kevin Spacey, Jeremy Irons & Demi Moore.
 |
| The stars of 'Margin Call' |
A clever moment is where Tuld asks Peter to describe the problem in simple terms as if he were a child so everyone knows exactly what has happened but also serves to help explain the problem to the audience who may be struggling with the jargon used. The issue deals with the company exceeding historical levels of volatility used to calculate risk and the excessive leverage used within the company means a downturn in the mortgage market could cause catastrophe. The immediate reaction of the management as they all become involved shows a shocking but all too realistic view of the trading sector at this time as they look to sweep the problem under the carpet to save their own company and more importantly their jobs. The greed is at its peak when people go against principles claiming to need the money as they are so use to the 'high life' of their inflated salaries that they don't want to go back to a world without it. At times its only the character of Peter Sullivan that stops you losing all faith in people doing the ethical thing.
The recurring theme of the movie is one of greed as many characters at the higher level lock heads over who is at fault and who should pay for this mess. The roles of Quinto and Badgley's characters serve as the young enthusiastic workers who are innocent to the back stabbing and greed that the others engage in. A great line by Tuld is 'there are three ways to making a living in this business: be first, be smarter or cheat, and I'm not the most intelligent person'. The film shows that the selfish actions by company executives that bankrupting other companies is acceptable as long as they save their own company claiming to make the money back in the future if they can past the live grenade they have that threatens the company itself. The issue itself is suppose to be loosely based on the crisis at Lehman Brothers and is probably close to the truth in places than you'd like to believe.
The question the film leaves at the end is whether Peter Sullivan has been corrupted into their world? He seems too innocent and conscientious for this hard nosed world but was everybody like this in the beginning of their careers and its case of evolve or die?
 |
| Zachary Quinto as Peter Sullivan |
4/4 a realistic view beneath the financial meltdown in 2007 which pulls no punches. An absolute must see!
Superheroes!!
2012 is a big year for superhero movies, even more than any other year. Marc Webb is the director behind the rebooting of the original Spiderman franchise which has Andrew Garfield in the starring role with Emma Stone joining him. When I first heard Andrew Garfield was the lead I was unsure whether he was suitable but he looks good in the teaser trailer that is doing the rounds on Youtube. All that is known (at least by me) is that the first film deals with Peter Parker working out his past and how he became Spiderman. I wasn't a huge fan of the original trilogy so maybe this franchise will restore my faith. It is due to be released in the UK is 4th July 2012.
The second film is the much awaited conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy which have been directed by Christopher Nolan. After the huge success commercially and critically of The Dark Knight in 2008 there is high expectations by many for this film. The truly amazing performance of the late Heath Ledger really is the key to the movie and we all know it will be a tough act to follow but I think Nolan will have a few things up his sleeve to do just that. A re-watching of the first two films in this Batman series is a must before this film hits the cinema.
Having watched the trailer I do think Bane (the bad guy) looks a lot like Baraka from the Mortal Kombat series with the face mask he is wearing but that's probably just me.
The UK release will coincide with the North American release so we will all see it on 20th July 2012 so July will be superhero month at the cinema. The trailer featuring some quality American Football action is found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKUqLcvD8.
The second film is the much awaited conclusion to the Dark Knight trilogy which have been directed by Christopher Nolan. After the huge success commercially and critically of The Dark Knight in 2008 there is high expectations by many for this film. The truly amazing performance of the late Heath Ledger really is the key to the movie and we all know it will be a tough act to follow but I think Nolan will have a few things up his sleeve to do just that. A re-watching of the first two films in this Batman series is a must before this film hits the cinema.
Having watched the trailer I do think Bane (the bad guy) looks a lot like Baraka from the Mortal Kombat series with the face mask he is wearing but that's probably just me.
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| Tom Hardy as Bane in 'The Dark Knight rises' |
The UK release will coincide with the North American release so we will all see it on 20th July 2012 so July will be superhero month at the cinema. The trailer featuring some quality American Football action is found here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GokKUqLcvD8.
Sunday, 22 January 2012
Top Trailers
This is an opportunity to look at the best trailers for upcoming movies that have caught my eye. There isn't a huge amount to come with many films being sneaked in for consideration in the Golden Globes and of course the Oscars. Fortunately or unfortunately it means we still have some films to be released in the UK at the end of of January and beginning of February.
Starting with The Descendants with George Clooney which is released on 27th January, a trailer that I have now seen 6 times after it seems to be shown before every film I've watched through January. Definitely a good choice of music with 'Many of Horror' by Biffy Clyro, As I've said before I have high hopes for this film now, the trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWHNXJ1K4yA.
The second film I am very much looking forward to which I have heard a lot less about on this side of the pond is Carnage. This is Roman Polanski's latest film is a black comedy starring Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster in a film set within just one room and with a cast of four. Its a story based around 2 couples discussing a fight between their children which just escalates as the meeting progresses. The trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON3kwJPwcMU
Its only fair to now mention Jonah Hill stepping into more familiar territory after Moneyball with 'The Sitter'. I imagine within a 30secs of the start of the trailer you realise what you are getting from this film as a cheap gross-out comedy. Unlike Superbad I don't think this will catch us all off-guard as a sleeper hit. The trailer is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=japyVYImEcM.
For romantic films which I will resist calling 'chick flicks' as I think this is unfair in a lot of cases (not in others), there is Like Crazy. The story of a couple fighting to keep their relationship going long distance as events conspire against them being together again. Starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones, I have a quiet belief that this film will prove worth seeing and we will find out on 3rd February. The trailer is available http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ZV-bwZmBw
Finally, the film I'm sure most of you are long awaiting is the Muppets which comes out on the 10th February. We all know what to expect which is what I'm sure we love about this sort of film is the familiarity but lets just hope it isnt as familiar as the Hangover 2 in plot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVkla1N9tpQ
There are few others films which are coming out in the longer term which I will share the trailers for in due time. The highlights (for me anyways) being Into the Abyss, Being Flynn and Shut up and Play the Hits (documentary about LCD Soundsystem's last gig).
Starting with The Descendants with George Clooney which is released on 27th January, a trailer that I have now seen 6 times after it seems to be shown before every film I've watched through January. Definitely a good choice of music with 'Many of Horror' by Biffy Clyro, As I've said before I have high hopes for this film now, the trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CWHNXJ1K4yA.
The second film I am very much looking forward to which I have heard a lot less about on this side of the pond is Carnage. This is Roman Polanski's latest film is a black comedy starring Kate Winslet and Jodie Foster in a film set within just one room and with a cast of four. Its a story based around 2 couples discussing a fight between their children which just escalates as the meeting progresses. The trailer is available at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON3kwJPwcMU
Its only fair to now mention Jonah Hill stepping into more familiar territory after Moneyball with 'The Sitter'. I imagine within a 30secs of the start of the trailer you realise what you are getting from this film as a cheap gross-out comedy. Unlike Superbad I don't think this will catch us all off-guard as a sleeper hit. The trailer is at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=japyVYImEcM.
For romantic films which I will resist calling 'chick flicks' as I think this is unfair in a lot of cases (not in others), there is Like Crazy. The story of a couple fighting to keep their relationship going long distance as events conspire against them being together again. Starring Anton Yelchin and Felicity Jones, I have a quiet belief that this film will prove worth seeing and we will find out on 3rd February. The trailer is available http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r-ZV-bwZmBw
Finally, the film I'm sure most of you are long awaiting is the Muppets which comes out on the 10th February. We all know what to expect which is what I'm sure we love about this sort of film is the familiarity but lets just hope it isnt as familiar as the Hangover 2 in plot. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kVkla1N9tpQ
There are few others films which are coming out in the longer term which I will share the trailers for in due time. The highlights (for me anyways) being Into the Abyss, Being Flynn and Shut up and Play the Hits (documentary about LCD Soundsystem's last gig).
Saturday, 21 January 2012
Film Review: Au revoir les enfants
Director: Louis Malle
This is my first review of a film that I haven't gotten up and gone to the cinema to see which means I feel I lose some of the magic watching through my laptop in my bed despite how comfortable it is. I've seen less subtitled films than you'd think so it's still quite a new experience for me. My girlfriend highly recommended 'Au revoir les enfants' and many others which I am still to watch. It tells the story of Julien Quentin (played by the adorable Gaspard Manesse) who is sent to a private Catholic school in the country by his mother who stays with his father (never shown) in Paris.
The children within the film are very natural and do a great job of portraying the usual teasing and games amongst them. Any outsiders are initially teased and not trusted which in this case is Jean Bonnet (Raphael Fejto) who has his vitamin biscuit licked so he cant eat it and is picked on at break whilst trying to read. But where the film really excelled was in the lonely moments that Julien had, you could see how much he was desperately missing his mother and the familiarity of Paris. His day dreaming in the bath showed him remembering these times and the persistent bed wetting showed that there was an inner turmoil but none of this weakness was shown in front of his friends to avoid the bullying. Later in the film we realise that the children are having to grow up very quickly in learning to deal with what should be adult issues.
With this being a relatively unknown film to many UK viewers I have tried not to spoil any of the story by letting you know what happens so you can enjoy the story for yourself but the film shows the different attitudes felt within German occupied France. As the film progresses you start to learn the feeling felt by the majority of the country against the collaborators and in some cases what lengths ordinary people will go to defy the German control. As I say I'm trying not to give too much away but its a film that really shows how the small things that people do can have a huge effect on other peoples lives which is something I loved about the film.
In case you are worried, reading the subtitles is not a distraction when you are watching but it can make it more difficult to judge an actors performance. That certainly wasn't the case here with the two main characters really standing out but I must say Mme Quentin (Francine Racette) is quite scary looking at first but actually turns out to be a loving mother of her son. His father is never shown as he is struggling with depression as his working life gets worse as a factory owner and presumably the conditions under the Nazis worsen in Paris.
3.5/4 at times the children lull you into forgetting the hardship people faced in these times but the issues are brilliantly dealt with.
This is my first review of a film that I haven't gotten up and gone to the cinema to see which means I feel I lose some of the magic watching through my laptop in my bed despite how comfortable it is. I've seen less subtitled films than you'd think so it's still quite a new experience for me. My girlfriend highly recommended 'Au revoir les enfants' and many others which I am still to watch. It tells the story of Julien Quentin (played by the adorable Gaspard Manesse) who is sent to a private Catholic school in the country by his mother who stays with his father (never shown) in Paris.
The children within the film are very natural and do a great job of portraying the usual teasing and games amongst them. Any outsiders are initially teased and not trusted which in this case is Jean Bonnet (Raphael Fejto) who has his vitamin biscuit licked so he cant eat it and is picked on at break whilst trying to read. But where the film really excelled was in the lonely moments that Julien had, you could see how much he was desperately missing his mother and the familiarity of Paris. His day dreaming in the bath showed him remembering these times and the persistent bed wetting showed that there was an inner turmoil but none of this weakness was shown in front of his friends to avoid the bullying. Later in the film we realise that the children are having to grow up very quickly in learning to deal with what should be adult issues.
With this being a relatively unknown film to many UK viewers I have tried not to spoil any of the story by letting you know what happens so you can enjoy the story for yourself but the film shows the different attitudes felt within German occupied France. As the film progresses you start to learn the feeling felt by the majority of the country against the collaborators and in some cases what lengths ordinary people will go to defy the German control. As I say I'm trying not to give too much away but its a film that really shows how the small things that people do can have a huge effect on other peoples lives which is something I loved about the film.
In case you are worried, reading the subtitles is not a distraction when you are watching but it can make it more difficult to judge an actors performance. That certainly wasn't the case here with the two main characters really standing out but I must say Mme Quentin (Francine Racette) is quite scary looking at first but actually turns out to be a loving mother of her son. His father is never shown as he is struggling with depression as his working life gets worse as a factory owner and presumably the conditions under the Nazis worsen in Paris.
 |
| Gaspard Manesse as Julien Quentin |
Golden Globe Winners
The start of new year always means its awards season in
Hollywood which for me starts with the Golden Globes. The winners in the movie
section are listed below:
Best Drama
The Descendants
Best Comedy/Musical
The Artist
Best Animated Film
The Adventures of TinTin
Best Actor in a Drama
George Clooney, The Descendants
Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Best Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Best Actress in a Drama
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn
Best Supporting Actress in a Motion Picture
Octavia Spencer, The Help
Best Director
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Best Screenplay
Midnight in Paris, Woody Allen
Best Score - Motion Picture
The Artist - Ludovic Bource
Best Original Song - Motion Picture
"Masterpiece" - Madonna
Best Foreign Language Film
A Separation, Iran
Cecil B. Demille Award
Morgan Freeman
Some very worthy winners there and I cannot comment yet on
the Descendants as I am housed on the poor side of the Atlantic for films so
they are released later and it isn't out until Friday 27th January in the UK.
Naturally I'm very excited to see this but my expectations have increased by
the week. The Artist is a film I saw recently which will be reviewed in the
next few days but lets just say it will be favourable and there isn't any
arguing with Meryl Streep winning Best Drama Actress for The Iron Lady.
Now to settle down and look forward to the Oscar nominations.which
are announced on Tuesday 24th January.
Friday, 20 January 2012
Film Review: The Iron Lady
Director: Phyllida Lloyd
Earlier this week, Meryl Streep won the Golden Globe for best actress with this film where she portrays former British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher. There is no doubting that she is superb in this role and that the makeup artists have done a great job in making her look the part. Baroness Thatcher is a hugely polarizing figure but the reception of the film seems to be unanimous. It falls into the same trap as the film in my previous review of having an amazing lead performance that is not backed up by the film itself (Fassbender in Shame).
The early parts of the movie shows Thatcher as she is now, suffering from dementia and imagining that her dead husband (decent performance from Jim Broadbent) is still with her. The story set in the present is based around her finally throwing out her old husband's things and moving on with her life. This was an interesting idea to give purpose to these scenes but it is covered for too long in the first half and becomes tiresome as the film almost grinds to a halt. We are introduced to her daughter Carol (Olivia Colman of Peep Show fame who does well in a tough role) but aside from the fact we all know who she is I thought there was more they could have done with her character.
The other story involves a young Margaret Thatcher's (played by Alexandra Roach) developing into the first lady prime minster that is now known over the world. It gave an interesting insight of the rise of a women with the Conservative party at the time and the sexism that followed. Streep's portrayal of the feisty and stubborn leader is first class but most of the scenes and story lines from her time are not given long enough to develop. My girlfriend said after the movie that she knew nothing but the very basics about the Falklands War and the Miners strikes but didn't learn anything from the film as these events are quickly skipped over. One line near the end about MP's wanting to be popular rather than make the tough decisions that are best for the country seemed like a parting shot to the current government. At the end it shows Thatcher cleaning a teacup which when she was younger she said she would not to do to her future husband as that will be the day that she died. The scene at the end signified that although she is not dead there isnt anything left for her to give the world.
1.5/4 and a lot of that is purely down to Streep's performance as the Iron Lady.
Earlier this week, Meryl Streep won the Golden Globe for best actress with this film where she portrays former British Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher. There is no doubting that she is superb in this role and that the makeup artists have done a great job in making her look the part. Baroness Thatcher is a hugely polarizing figure but the reception of the film seems to be unanimous. It falls into the same trap as the film in my previous review of having an amazing lead performance that is not backed up by the film itself (Fassbender in Shame).
The early parts of the movie shows Thatcher as she is now, suffering from dementia and imagining that her dead husband (decent performance from Jim Broadbent) is still with her. The story set in the present is based around her finally throwing out her old husband's things and moving on with her life. This was an interesting idea to give purpose to these scenes but it is covered for too long in the first half and becomes tiresome as the film almost grinds to a halt. We are introduced to her daughter Carol (Olivia Colman of Peep Show fame who does well in a tough role) but aside from the fact we all know who she is I thought there was more they could have done with her character.
The other story involves a young Margaret Thatcher's (played by Alexandra Roach) developing into the first lady prime minster that is now known over the world. It gave an interesting insight of the rise of a women with the Conservative party at the time and the sexism that followed. Streep's portrayal of the feisty and stubborn leader is first class but most of the scenes and story lines from her time are not given long enough to develop. My girlfriend said after the movie that she knew nothing but the very basics about the Falklands War and the Miners strikes but didn't learn anything from the film as these events are quickly skipped over. One line near the end about MP's wanting to be popular rather than make the tough decisions that are best for the country seemed like a parting shot to the current government. At the end it shows Thatcher cleaning a teacup which when she was younger she said she would not to do to her future husband as that will be the day that she died. The scene at the end signified that although she is not dead there isnt anything left for her to give the world.
1.5/4 and a lot of that is purely down to Streep's performance as the Iron Lady.
Up and coming movies
Just a quick one to let you know what films I'll be watching in the near future. At the cinema there is the The Descendants (which Clooney won a Golden Globe for Best Actor), Roman Polanski's Carnage and Like Crazy. Whilst at home I have a long list including quite a few European films like Festen that have been highly recommended. I'm hoping to re-watch a few films that came out recently to review like Ides of March & Contagion.
Feel free to recommend any films you want me to watch and review.
PS reviews of Margin Call, The Iron Lady & The Artist to come.
Feel free to recommend any films you want me to watch and review.
PS reviews of Margin Call, The Iron Lady & The Artist to come.
Film Review: Shame
Director: Steve McQueen
This is Steve McQueen's second film after 'Hunger' about Bobby Sands who led the second IRA hunger strike in 1981, which also starred Michael Fassbender, and was praised upon release by many reviewers.
From early on we see Brandon indulging in call-girls and masturbation in the shower to fulfil his sexual appetite and before meeting a co-worker for a date he sees a couple having sex against a window in their apartment. My theory is that his obsession made him imagine this happening and provoked a jealousy inside him which later in the film made him perform the same act with a call girl but that could just be me going too deep and Lynch about it all.
His world is rocked by the appearance of his sister Sissy (played by Carey Mulligan). She is a singer who crashes at his flat whilst she performs at some bars and is obviously a drifter who is very dependent on people. From the outset it is very uncomfortable between them and some hostility mainly on Brandon's part. This seems to develop as the film progresses with Sissy crawling into his bed only for Brandon to complete flip out and throw her out. It shows a glimpse into a troubled past between the two that is never explored by McQueen and is left open to interpretation to the viewer. Sissy singing an excruciatingly slow rendition of "New York, New York" nearly brings him to tears but again no explanation as to why is given before he refuses to praise her performance when she sits with him. I felt this was the moment we were really going to find out more about the relationship between the two but alas I was left disappointed. The key to them having a troubled past for me came through in an answer phone message played near the end, before one of the climatic scenes, where Sissy says ''that we are not bad people''.
The film has some fantastic scenes which include Brandon making eye contact with her girl on the subway in a scene which has no dialogue. Throughout watching this scene I was constantly pondering what each movement by the two characters meant in terms of body language, the girl crossing her legs before she got off looked like her way of saying she wasnt interested before she gave him the slip heading out of the subway station. A scene which many will have seen in the trailer shows Brandon going out for a late night run as his sister and boss (in my eyes cringe worthy when chatting up women but played superbly by James Badge Dale) have sex in the living room. The tracking shots of him running and the soft piano music which is played as if through Brandon's Ipod are truly amazing (if anybody knows what the song was I'd love to know).
Despite the heavy content there are a few darkly funny moments to be had but the sexual content is about as explicit as you are going to get in cinema. A ménage a trois near the end continues long after you get the idea of what is going on and is unnecessary but the real downside to this movie is that you never learn enough about the characters, especially Brandon, to care deeply as to what happens to them. After finally getting Marianne (weirdly awkward performance by Nicole Beharie) into bed he is unable to perform and is deeply shocked, possibly showing that he cared about her but feels he may get emotionally involved. But beyond this it's really hard to understand why both Brandon and Sissy are the way they are without knowing more about them. Sometimes leaving things open to interpretation improves a film and sometimes it doesn't.
2.5/4 a film worth seeing for some unforgettable scenes but falls down in plot and character development
This is Steve McQueen's second film after 'Hunger' about Bobby Sands who led the second IRA hunger strike in 1981, which also starred Michael Fassbender, and was praised upon release by many reviewers.
Fassbender superbly plays Brandon, a sex-addicted New York City office worker who lives in a bare and anonymous flat with a beautiful view over Manhattan. Early on we see Brandon walking around his flat naked whilst he listens to what sounds like an ex-lover telling him to pick up the phone in an answer phone message but later find out who it actually is. I remain unsure as to why we had to see him walking round naked and using the toilet whilst the message plays, seemed possibly gratuitous.
 |
| Brandon in his trademark blue scarf |
His world is rocked by the appearance of his sister Sissy (played by Carey Mulligan). She is a singer who crashes at his flat whilst she performs at some bars and is obviously a drifter who is very dependent on people. From the outset it is very uncomfortable between them and some hostility mainly on Brandon's part. This seems to develop as the film progresses with Sissy crawling into his bed only for Brandon to complete flip out and throw her out. It shows a glimpse into a troubled past between the two that is never explored by McQueen and is left open to interpretation to the viewer. Sissy singing an excruciatingly slow rendition of "New York, New York" nearly brings him to tears but again no explanation as to why is given before he refuses to praise her performance when she sits with him. I felt this was the moment we were really going to find out more about the relationship between the two but alas I was left disappointed. The key to them having a troubled past for me came through in an answer phone message played near the end, before one of the climatic scenes, where Sissy says ''that we are not bad people''.
The film has some fantastic scenes which include Brandon making eye contact with her girl on the subway in a scene which has no dialogue. Throughout watching this scene I was constantly pondering what each movement by the two characters meant in terms of body language, the girl crossing her legs before she got off looked like her way of saying she wasnt interested before she gave him the slip heading out of the subway station. A scene which many will have seen in the trailer shows Brandon going out for a late night run as his sister and boss (in my eyes cringe worthy when chatting up women but played superbly by James Badge Dale) have sex in the living room. The tracking shots of him running and the soft piano music which is played as if through Brandon's Ipod are truly amazing (if anybody knows what the song was I'd love to know).
Despite the heavy content there are a few darkly funny moments to be had but the sexual content is about as explicit as you are going to get in cinema. A ménage a trois near the end continues long after you get the idea of what is going on and is unnecessary but the real downside to this movie is that you never learn enough about the characters, especially Brandon, to care deeply as to what happens to them. After finally getting Marianne (weirdly awkward performance by Nicole Beharie) into bed he is unable to perform and is deeply shocked, possibly showing that he cared about her but feels he may get emotionally involved. But beyond this it's really hard to understand why both Brandon and Sissy are the way they are without knowing more about them. Sometimes leaving things open to interpretation improves a film and sometimes it doesn't.
2.5/4 a film worth seeing for some unforgettable scenes but falls down in plot and character development
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