tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34942618255488667512024-02-19T14:42:21.473-08:00Elly's Film ReviewElly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.comBlogger58125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-68040321063345123412015-07-27T00:43:00.001-07:002015-07-27T00:43:12.562-07:00Returning to blogging<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgTcCqMf6VK9YjA_wxzlOlpKaTVL6sazPNizobiTSPRwWDbXBe18UDj8CczyNp6hvAV-XDm8adyG66qSanroME00mgMawe_-PUUdwf7VNtBfy1o-F5FVGaTGdpJB69jxO92KOAoMDhvY/s1600/Screen+Shot+2015-07-27+at+5.41.12+pm.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYgTcCqMf6VK9YjA_wxzlOlpKaTVL6sazPNizobiTSPRwWDbXBe18UDj8CczyNp6hvAV-XDm8adyG66qSanroME00mgMawe_-PUUdwf7VNtBfy1o-F5FVGaTGdpJB69jxO92KOAoMDhvY/s400/Screen+Shot+2015-07-27+at+5.41.12+pm.png" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">She's Beautiful When She's Angry (Image taken from http://miff.com.au/program/film/shes-beautiful-when-shes-angry)</span></i></div>
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After a very long hiatus from contributing to this blog, I am determined to review many films in the coming month.<br />
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I am attending the <i>Melbourne International Film Festival</i> in August and have purchased a pass that allows me to see 13 films. Because of my busy schedule coming up, it's likely I'll only attend 11 at this point but fortunately 3 of the 13 films were free.<br />
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Here's what I have booked:<br />
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<u>Sleeping With Other People</u><br />
<a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/sleeping-with-other-people" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/sleeping-with-other-people</a><br />
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<u>The Spiderwebhouse</u><br />
<a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/the-spiderwebhouse" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/the-spiderwebhouse</a><br />
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<u>Being 14</u><br />
<a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/being-14" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/being-14</a><br />
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<u>Seymour: An Introduction</u><br />
<a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/seymour-an-introduction" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/seymour-an-introduction</a><br />
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<u>Prophet's Prey</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/prophets-prey" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/prophets-prey</a></u><br />
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<u>The Assassin</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/the-assassin" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/the-assassin</a></u><br />
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<u>Sworn Virgin</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/sworn-virgin" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/sworn-virgin</a></u><br />
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<u>The Diary of a Teenage Girl</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/the-diary-of-a-teenage-girl" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/the-diary-of-a-teenage-girl</a></u><br />
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<u>3 1/2 Minutes, Ten Bullets</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/3-minutes-ten-bullets" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/3-minutes-ten-bullets</a></u><br />
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<u>She's Beautiful When She's Angry</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/shes-beautiful-when-shes-angry" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/shes-beautiful-when-shes-angry</a></u><br />
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<u>Dope</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/dope" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/dope</a></u><br />
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<u>How To Change The World</u><br />
<a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/how-to-change-the-world" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/how-to-change-the-world</a><br />
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<u>Tea Time</u><br />
<u><a href="http://miff.com.au/program/film/tea-time" target="_blank">http://miff.com.au/program/film/tea-time</a></u><br />
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At this point in time I feel I am most looking forward to seeing the documentaries I have chosen - especially <i>She's Beautiful When She's Angry</i>, which looks really promising.<br />
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Stay tuned for some rusty but excitingly written reviews.<br />
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Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-9458636649737705792013-06-16T18:29:00.001-07:002013-06-16T18:33:09.610-07:00MY TOP FIVE - Romantic ComediesLike most girls, I am a sucker for a romantic comedy. I would happily dedicate an afternoon to watching Julia Roberts movies whilst consuming a block of milk chocolate and drinking G&T's. So I'm going to share with you my Top 5 favourite RomComs, most of which I saw as a young girl and hold a lot of sentimental attachment to all these years later.<br />
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<b>FIVE: Love Actually (2003)</b><br />
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The cast of this film is insane; all-star and huge! And it works! America have tried to re-create this film with such shitty ones like Valentines Day and New Years Eve but you just can't top a film like Love Actually.</div>
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There are so many beautiful love stories in this film it's really hard to pick a favourite, but I have to go for the one between Jamie (Colin Firth) and Aurelia. The fact that they both don't speak the same language and find a connection between each other is just beautiful. And he learns her language! Colin Firth, you beautiful.</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nKdSvhCg3VY" target="_blank">Favourite Moment</a></div>
<b><br /></b><b>FOUR: When Harry Met Sally (1989)</b><br />
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Rob Reiner directed some memorable films in the 1980s, such as <em>The Princess Bride, Stand By Me</em> and <em>This is Spinal Tap</em>. And then he came out with this film, <em>When Harry Met Sally</em>.</div>
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There are so many great moments in this film; Harry informing Sally men and women can't be friends because sex always gets in the way, Sally's fussy way of ordering meals at diners, and of course the orgasm scene with the infamous line, 'I'll have what she's having.'</div>
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I love the scenes that break up the film, where we see elderly couples who tell the stories of how they met. Although told by actors, these are true stories of how real life couples met. They are mostly humorous but also really sweet.</div>
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You also get the impression that this movie was influenced by Woody Allen's film <em>Annie Hall</em>, with it's witty banter and, that Sally's outfits seem to be heavily influenced by that which Diane Keaton wore as Annie Hall.</div>
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It's hilarious, believable, romantic and makes you feel all warm inside - all the things you want from a romantic comedy. </div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIvG7Dh4ckI" target="_blank">Favourite Moment</a> </div>
<b><br /></b><b>THREE: Say Anything (1989)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO37koMtNiCM_L5TaUCsQ_89Ilww9_87ari4XB7TDjcz070eatgGnTWApRDQXFyIOu4ucIaX2WgGnapulqtMeLkj6fCaHEGgDdgTfXA8XprKbyRvZ_xChTgQ_dzXk2LQyuozGl-do0ME/s1600/John-Cusack-in-Say-Anythi-002.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhO37koMtNiCM_L5TaUCsQ_89Ilww9_87ari4XB7TDjcz070eatgGnTWApRDQXFyIOu4ucIaX2WgGnapulqtMeLkj6fCaHEGgDdgTfXA8XprKbyRvZ_xChTgQ_dzXk2LQyuozGl-do0ME/s320/John-Cusack-in-Say-Anythi-002.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my number one 'go to movie' when I'm feeling sad or just need to fall asleep to the sound of Lloyd Dobler's fumbling voice. </div>
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This is Cameron Crowe's (<em>Almost Famous, Jerry Maguire</em>) debut feature film as a Director and he also wrote this one too. John Cusack plays the fumbling Lloyd Dobler who is completely infatuated with the class valedictorian Diane Court (Ione Sky). He is determined to win her affection despite her protective father. </div>
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This is the kind of movie that makes you think, 'Guys just don't 'whoo' girls anymore.' And why not? The persistence of Lloyd is so admirable and he's never annoying about it either. I would give anything to have a boy play <em>In Your Eyes</em> by Peter Gabriel on a boombox outside my bedroom window. </div>
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This movie makes you cling on to the idea that romance isn't dead even when you're only 18-years-old.</div>
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<em>Favourite Line</em> - Lloyd Dobler: "She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen."</div>
<b><br /></b><b>TWO: Bridget Jones' Diary (2001)</b><b><br /></b>
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I think it's pretty hard to find a lady that doesn't enjoy this movie. It's a modern interpretation of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and it has Colin Firth reprising his role as Mr Darcy, I mean come on, swoon! </div>
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This movie is so unbelievably hilarious and there are so many memorable moments i.e. the granny panties, sliding down the fireman pole, the playboy bunny costume, etc.</div>
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I'd hate to paint a sad picture of myself, but when I was living on my own I would often find myself watching this movie. The opening titles scene in the film (link below) is so relate-able as a single girl living on her own. </div>
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And Hugh Grant plays an arrogant asshole that your knees can't help but buckle for in this film. </div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8iTZm8-mbA" target="_blank">Favourite Moment</a></div>
<b><br /></b><b>ONE: Notting Hill (1999)</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtokFAFaaY7MWYQZPgJbBbkz71Jo1GVmSGbTBQQP9hBFhXDDWc_hhkTyBJkbRk3sH4OsVEtsrIVb_LWmlwpp-hwAsavBOOENRq1f5a6JrUBtHDJOI3s16hbR4lVB-Ozw9P_YoX2COg_M/s1600/notting-hill-big-scene.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="136" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXtokFAFaaY7MWYQZPgJbBbkz71Jo1GVmSGbTBQQP9hBFhXDDWc_hhkTyBJkbRk3sH4OsVEtsrIVb_LWmlwpp-hwAsavBOOENRq1f5a6JrUBtHDJOI3s16hbR4lVB-Ozw9P_YoX2COg_M/s320/notting-hill-big-scene.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This is my number one rom-com because, I saw this film at a very young age and fell in love with it's story then and have loved it ever since.<br />
I love the thought of a famous actress falling for an everyday guy like William Thacker. Anna Scott (Roberts) may screw him over quite a bit, but there are so many beautiful moments in this film and hilarious moments too! Who can forget Hugh Grant trying to climb over a fence and constantly saying, 'whoopsa-daisies' every time he slips.<br />
My Favourite Moment from this film is my all time favourite moment from a romantic-comedy ever. Which makes sense being my number one pick in this post. I love quoting it and get a little teary every time I see it (I am such a sucker).<br />
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Favourite Line(s) -<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406975/?ref_=tt_trv_qu" style="color: #136cb2; text-decoration: none;"><span class="character">Spike</span></a>: There's something wrong with this yogurt.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000424/?ref_=tt_trv_qu" style="color: #136cb2; text-decoration: none;"><span class="character">William</span></a>: Ah, that's not yogurt, that's mayonnaise...</span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #fbfbfb; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0406975/?ref_=tt_trv_qu" style="color: #136cb2; text-decoration: none;"><span class="character">Spike</span></a>: Ah, right-o then.</span></span></div>
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[<span class="fine">continues to eat it</span>]<br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eit31oT-bDw" target="_blank">Favourite Moment</a> </div>
Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-73553667713020221952013-05-08T19:18:00.004-07:002013-05-08T19:20:56.383-07:00A Look At Four Foreign FilmsWhen you've got the travel bug but no money to escape... my solution; watch a foreign film. It will most likely leave you still yearning to leave home but at least it gives you a couples of hours to feel like you're not in the confides of a boring suburban town. I have a tendency to watch French and German films so I have decided to listen to some different languages for a change. <br />
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<b><u>Trishna (2011)</u></b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiaVxr6Kb280TMSObU5Pr-sys4WkPl9qZm8fCdf5HfeTZCxiK9qZ_JC_x_BB6N-lLHxMy4MRE9rYnfyBpXCX12QBujCAhtkVimF84SjwVO0tT5OwDlpzwwI5VqXKraLZpcK3W0gFBziw/s1600/trishna_31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKiaVxr6Kb280TMSObU5Pr-sys4WkPl9qZm8fCdf5HfeTZCxiK9qZ_JC_x_BB6N-lLHxMy4MRE9rYnfyBpXCX12QBujCAhtkVimF84SjwVO0tT5OwDlpzwwI5VqXKraLZpcK3W0gFBziw/s320/trishna_31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Trishna is an Indian/British film based on Thomas Hardy's classic novel, Tess of the D'Urbervilles. Having not read Hardy's novel nor knowing anything about it meant I went into this movie not knowing what to expect. There seem to be mainly positive reviews of the adaptation and I have to agree with them.<br />
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It starts out as a love story between a poor Indian woman (Trishna) and a wealthy British man (Jay) who is the son of a wealthy hotel owner. But things take a bad turn in the second half for the young lovers when Trishna sees Jay for who he really is.<br />
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I love the setting of India, you get to see so many different locations of this beautiful country. The locations of the lavish hotels are beyond beautiful. But the parallels between rich and poor are so devastating but also expected. I was so swept up by all the scenery and colour that I was immediately in a trance from beginning to end. <br />
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It's a tragic story that leaves you with an ambiguous ending that is a little frustrating. <br />
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<b><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Carne trémula</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">/</span></span>Live Flesh (1997)</u></b><br />
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This Spanish film, set in Madrid, comes from the ever so talented Pedro Almod<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">ó</span>var, who I have become obsessed with ever since seeing All About My Mother and The Skin I Live In.<br />
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This film stars a very young Penelope Cruz who has featured in many of Almod<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">ó</span>var's films as well as Javier Bardem who is now married to Cruz. <i>Live Flesh</i> tells the story of troubled youth Victor who pursues a girl only to be rejected and then ends up in jail due to tragic circumstances. His dreamgirl ironically ends up married to the cop (Bardem) who played a part in Victor ending up in jail. What follows is finding out whether Victor will take revenge on this happy couple or not.<br />
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When watching an Almod<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">ó</span>var film you got to be prepared for some raunchy sex scenes, <i>Live Flesh</i> is definitely no exception. His films are very raw and real, never shying away from a story that will most likely confront you as a viewer.<br />
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I will always be in awe of Almod<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 23px;">ó</span>var's creations, I am eager to see many more of his films. And I always love hearing the Spanish language.<br />
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<b><u>Dayereh/The Circle (2000)</u></b><br />
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I realise this is a post about watching foreign films as a form of escapism, so maybe Iran might not be your ideal destination, but the films that are coming out of Iran are so important and incredibly moving, I had to include one in my list. Last year I saw <i>A Separation</i> and the film adaptation of the graphic novel<i> Persepolis;</i> both films set in Iran, both stayed with me long after the viewing. I think Jafar Panahi's <i>The Circle</i> will have the same effect.<br />
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This film opens with the birth of a baby girl, to the dismay of the grandmother, her daughter was supposed to have a baby boy. In a long opening shot we are then introduced to three women who are hiding from police authorities... but why? The focus is gradually shifted to one of the women and then we are introduced to three other women in the film, each with a different story to tell. All women are poorly treated in their country, as all women seem to be in Iran. Women cannot ride a bus alone without a companion, they cannot get an abortion without the permission of the father, they cannot smoke in public, they must wear a chador in certain circumstances, etc. It's quite appalling to see this in the 21st Century, and as far as I know, things aren't much better today and the film is still banned in Iran.<br />
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<i>The Circle</i> is a great title for this film as it is a constant theme in the film. It is definitely worth a re-watch to see how many times this use of the circle comes up, some obvious some, not so obvious. But pay close attention to the opening scene because the ending is very resonant to the opening and the film comes in full circle.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white; line-height: 23px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><b><u>Så som i himmelen/As It Is In Heaven (2004)</u></b></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">I really wanted to like this movie. I really did. Instead I just felt annoyed and aggravated by it.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">This movie reads like something your parents/grandparents would want to watch. It's meant to be a real feel-good/uplifting film, but it's actually kind of a downer. Why is everyone in this town so miserable??? Sure they're isolated and it's winter for the most part of the film, but nothing goes right for them. And then Daniel, a famous composer, comes to town to save the day by coordinating the choir! Sure he makes them happy and they 'love him' but he causes even more drama to their little village. Ehhhh.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">There are so many stereotypes in this film; the wife who gets beaten by her husband, many insecure characters, the girl who just can't meet the right guy, the crazy priest and his quiet wife, blah blah. And then there's a love story between two characters, which I just wasn't buying and wasn't at all moved by their little cliché lines they spoke to each other. And just when the characters start to look happy, something awful is thrown into the mix. Whoever wrote this script was throwing in too many storylines, too many characters and not enough development for most. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">In one scene, for example, we see a member of the choir (who hasn't spoken up until this point) all of a sudden stating he loves a fellow choir member (who we haven't noticed until now either). Her reaction is a frown and then she walks out of the room. A few scenes later we see them hugging and kissing being cheerful... whaaaaa??? </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 23px;">I really don't understand why this film was such a huge success in Sweden, and globally on top of that. It's basically just a bunch of clichés thrown into one terrible script. Seriously, don't bother.</span>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-88354636759710405582013-04-22T18:45:00.000-07:002013-04-23T02:35:21.003-07:00Celeste & Jesse Forever<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Every so often a film comes out of Hollywood that doesn't sugar-coat relationships and portrays them so realistically you feel like you just experienced (or possibly have experienced) what you just saw on the screen. This is exactly what <i>Celeste & Jesse Forever</i> does.<br />
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Rashida Jones (Celeste) & Will McCormack (Skillz) are the writers of this story and also star in the film. Andy Samberg plays Jones' other half; Jesse. Jones and Samberg stick to their comedic humour we know and love but also take on serious roles for a lot of the film. It's so refreshing to see these two in these roles and they do it so well.<br />
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The film opens with snapshots of their happy relationship and then we see them talking and acting like a couple that are inseparable, then we cut to a restaurant scene with friends. Jesse and Celeste comically discuss the menu in a German accent when their friend Beth (Ari Graynor) cuts them off and exclaims, 'What are you two doing? You guys have been separated for 6 months... and you spend everyday together like it's no big deal.' So what we thought was a perfect relationship, is actually a pair separated. It's such a brilliant opening to a film and paths the way for a great story.<br />
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This film is mostly totally told from the female point-of-view and I often related to Jones' character having experienced similar things after a breakup. Celeste goes through all the waves of post breakup habits, talking shit on dates; finishing bottles of ranch sauce in one sitting; passing out on a pool lilo; running for miles and miles... you know the usual.<br />
I think a lot of people will be able to relate to these characters. One thing that really echoed with me is how you can go from knowing someone so much and spending everyday with them to not knowing much and barely seeing them at all.<br />
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This film tackles a lot of heartbreak and depressing moments but it does it with a sense of humour and never strays from comical moments which is what makes it so refreshing. You also get to see Elijah Wood play a homosexual, so that's pretty awesome! I have nothing but positive things to say about this film, go see it!<br />
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Rating: 4/5Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-7569649732971876512013-02-27T03:24:00.003-08:002013-02-27T03:24:31.000-08:00Ruby Sparks | Wuthering Heights | Silver Linings Playbook | Liberal Arts<div style="text-align: center;">
RUBY SPARKS</div>
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Ruby Sparks tells the story of a young author, Calvin (Paul Dano) who is struggling to write a follow up to his highly successful debut novel. When he has a dream about a beautiful girl (Ruby) he quickly starts writing up a story about her, then one day he wakes to find her in his apartment, in the flesh.<br />
The premise sounds ridiculous but this is actually a beautifully told romance story that is often a very real depiction of a relationship in the real world. For the most part I was swooning over these characters and got lost in the beautiful romance they shared. But it was the ending that left me thinking a lot, and not in a good way. It had too many flaws and ultimately made me frustrated that Zoe Kazan (plays Ruby/wrote the script) would end it that way. But I will leave that with you to make up your mind about rather than give anything away.<br />
One nice thing to add about the movie is Zoe and Paul are in a relationship ouside of the film and so are the directors of the movie as well. I thought that was kinda cute.<br />
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WUTHERING HEIGHTS (2011)</div>
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This film is one of many interpretations based on Emily Brontes classic novel of the same name. I have never seen a Wuthering Heights film nor have I read the book, so I have nothing to compare it to. So be mindful of that when reading my review.<br />
This film has gone through a number of changes before production actually began, including directorial changes as well as casting changes. Healthcliff was initially white then was changed to being of Gypsy/Roman descent then was officially changed to be of African descent. I think James Howson and Solomon Glave were perfectly casted as Heathcliff. I felt differently about the actresses who played Catherine though. I can't explain why but they irritated me beyond belief.<br />
I thought Andrea Arnold's vision was beautiful. There are some really breathtaking shots in this film. But as a whole, I couldn't get over how bleak and miserable it all looked. I get it, it's England, it rains a lot there and it adds a lot to the overall feel of the film, but man, it's just beyond depressing. To add to that there were some scenes that were cruel to dogs and that just felt so unnecessary. Being a dog lover, that made me feel utterly miserable and made me dislike the film a whole lot more.<br />
It's a sad, yet beautiful story that I think I would like to see again but perhaps a different version. Or maybe even just read the book.<br />
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SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK</div>
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I went into this movie having no clue what the storyline was, just that I had heard nothing but positive reviews about it and that it starred Jennifer Lawrence, Jacki Weaver, Robert De Niro and more. I also found out after, that it's directed by David O. Russell who did Three Kings and one of my personal favourites, I Heart Huckabees. So what did I think of it after leaving the cinema? I was pretty darn pleased.<br />
This is such an original film with really great performances that keep you intrigued for the duration of the film. <br />
And Jennifer Lawrence, so hot right now. I will see anything with her in it.<br />
I'm not, however, the biggest fan of Bradley Cooper, but this movie made me change my mind about him. He plays a screwed up character but manages to provide some laughs and ends up being very entertaining. <br />
Definitely check this one out.<br />
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LIBERAL ARTS</div>
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I can't decide how I feel about this film. It's kind of hard to get over the fact that this was an opportunity for Josh Radnor (Director, Writer and Star of the film) to be a tad bit self indulgent. He constantly makes references to his love of books and writers. I get it, it's a key part of the film (books), but I feel like he's trying to be the next Zach Braff (i.e. Garden State) and it's already been done. But I have to remember this movie is no new trend so I shouldn't criticise him for, perhaps, being inspired by films like Garden State.<br />
I like the montage where Jesse (Radnor) and Zibby (Elizabeth Olsen) are exchanging letters across states sharing and discussing classical music, it's a really beautiful moment in the film. And there are a few other nice moments like this.<br />
The film managed to keep my attention throughout but I can definitely see audiences becoming distracted during this one. It has some great moments but isn't overall a very strong movie. I am curious, however, to see Radnors other feature film; Happythankyoumoreplease.Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-11673628544113380962013-01-20T19:13:00.000-08:002013-01-21T02:45:58.829-08:00Hitchcock<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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If you hadn't guessed by now, I'm kind of a nut when it comes to Alfred Hitchcock. I have a bombardment of books on him as well as many of his films on DVD and a brooch and necklace of his face; so yeah I'm a little obsessed. So naturally when I heard there was going to be a movie made about him set during the making of Psycho I kinda got a little excited. But then weariness snuck in and I began to think, oh boy the guy who's directing it is kinda of a nobody, this could go down awfully. Then I saw pictures of Anthony Hopkins and thought, that's just Anthony Hopkins in a fat suit. But regardless of these factors, I was going to go into this with an open mind. And you know what, I loved it!<br />
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I think this is a film created for film buffs/Alfred Hitchcock worshippers. With a lot of today's movies we get behind the scenes/making of featurettes in the special features of our two disc Special Edition DVDs. That was not an option back in the day when going to the cinema was our only access to seeing a feature film. This is the perfect film to get an idea of what it was like behind the scenes on an Alfred Hitchcock picture. Sure we have read about it in millions of books but to actually see something visually, I gotta tell you it made me smile pretty consistently throughout the film.<br />
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'Hithcock' also delves into some personal issues with his wife Alma (played by Helen Mirren). It portrays a very headstrong Alma who is tired of being hid behind the shadow of her husband. We see a jealous (but quiet) wife who was perhaps not shown as much attention as Hitch's leading blondes.<br />
Whether or not these moments in the film are very accurate, I'm not sure. I like to think Hitch was always a loyal husband. I read somewhere once that after Alma died Alfred died shortly after because of a broken heart, because he had lost the love of his life. I always loved that and hold onto that dearly.<br />
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Despite Anthony Hopkins' less convincing make-up I think he did a brilliant job. I completely forgot it was him at one point, I was convinced it was Hitch because of the mannerisms and the voice. The most enjoyable part of the film for me has to be near the end when Psycho is being screened at the cinema and he is out in the foyer orchestrating people's screams to the shower scene. It's highly humorous and captures Hitch's sense of humor brilliantly.<br />
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I saw this movie with my Mum and after we left the cinema I made the comment that I wished the film focused more on the production of the film and less on his relationship with Alma. My Mum disagreed and said it was nice to see a different point of view and she appreciated that additional insight. I kind of agreed with her after that.<br />
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It's such a relief I enjoyed this film.<br />
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Rating: 4/5Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-14621532687357001982012-11-15T05:52:00.000-08:002013-01-16T14:51:18.279-08:00TV - Top 3 Series I'm Currently WatchingI have done it before and I am going to do it again! Yes, the name of this blog is Elly's Film Review, so naturally I should be reviewing films but goshdarnit! I got away with talking about Mad Men way back so I'm going to tackle television series again.<br />
Lets face it, television series are fast becoming more respected and recognised as an impressive medium. Most people these days are discussing the latest episode of their favourite HBO series rather than the latest blockbuster Hollywood has turned out.<br />
One thing that's hard to tackle with TV Series is the amount of time it consumes in your everyday life, and keeping up with all the latest greatest shows! I have so many on my list that I am dying to see but just don't have the time to fit them in (out of fear I'll replace socialising and sleeping with sitting in front of the screen for hours on end).<br />
But I have managed to fit some in to my life that I am going to mention today and encourage you to watch (if you can fit in the time).<br />
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FRINGE<br />
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I came across this show last year when I was producing and hosting a radio show called Coffee and TV. Each week I talked about a particular genre of television and when Science Fiction came along I was told I should talk about Fringe on the radio show. To be honest, I was really reluctant about watching this series as I had heard it had done badly on Australian television and had been moved to a really late time slot. But then I was like, well most Australian audiences suck! That's why we have shows like Two and a Half Men and Being Lara Bingle on at prime-time time slots. So I checked it out.<br />
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It's a captivating story about Olivia Dunham, an FBI agent, who loses her partner/lover in weird circumstances and decides to stop at nothing to find out what caused his bizarre undoing. She collects a team consisting of an insane scientist and his estranged son, along with FBI agent; Astrid and they begin to work together to solve strange crimes in the Fringe Division.<br />
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But it isn't your typical police/crime/sci-fi series. There is some serious back story to this show and incredible character development. There are also some really hilarious moments! Mainly consisting of Walter and his obsession with food. This show will immediately grab you and keep you hanging for more. Not only that, it is insanely creative and there is an amazing animated episode to look forward to in Season Three.<br />
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At the moment I am just over halfway through Season Four and I can honestly tell you it just keeps getting better. In America they are currently screening Season Five and it will be the last season of the series which is extremely saddening for me to hear as I have become so attached to this story and its characters. I highly recommend this series to those of you who like to use their brain when it comes to television as it will absolutely do your head in, but in a good way. I can't wait to see what the rest of this show has left to offer! Also invest a lot of time in it as there are 24 episodes per season and the first season's episodes run for about 50-55 minutes. The remaining seasons are about 40-45 minutes.<br />
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ADVENTURE TIME WITH FINN AND JAKE<br />
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It was my 13-year-old cousin, Harry who got me onto this hilarious animated series. Sure it's on Cartoon Network and from that you'd suppose it's directed only at a children's market but think again! This is full of so much adult humor I can't get through an episode without crying from laughter and occasionally thinking, hmmm peeps under the age of 12 probably shouldn't watch this/they won't get it.<br />
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The show follows best friends Finn the human and Jake the dog who seek adventure in some amazing lands where we meet some very interesting characters. One character who is highly worth mentioning is LSP (Lumpy Space Princess) who hales from Lumpy Space! She is a hilarious character with a hilarious voice to match who is constantly talking about her love for Brad, whilst embracing her lumps and hating on others who don't get her.<br />
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I have only seen about 20 episodes from this series but it's enough to fall in love with it and boy do I want to see more. My 13-year-old cousin has promised me a day long marathon soon, whoop! It has also encouraged a huge fan base! I have met so many people in their 20s who love and quote this show. When I was in America, on a recent holiday I went into stores and there was so much Adventure Time merchandise around, including Finn's famous white hat with ears! I contemplated getting it but decided I was too broke to make the purchase as it was the last day of my travels (have regretted that decision ever since, but thank goodness for Internet shopping!) I also found myself exclaiming, "MY BEANSSSS!" every now and again, which of course was said by LSP in an episode when her can of beans are knocked over onto a camp fire. Trust me, it's hilarious.<br />
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I can't stop spreading the word about this series. Seriously, get on it! You will not be disappointed.<br />
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BREAKING BAD</div>
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I really don't think I have to describe how awesome this show is. I think everyone who loves television has seen or is currently viewing this excellent series. It's one of those shows that just keeps getting better and better. It is truly phenomenal how intense each season gets, just when you think they can't pull any more crazy shit on you, they leave you with another 'mouth-wide-open' ending. </div>
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Currently, I am up to Season Five. I only just finished Season Four a couple of weeks ago and I watched the second half of that season in one day. I was so impatient to see what happened next I couldn't wait any longer. The ending of that season literally left me saying, 'Whaaaa?! No Fucking Way!!!' (and that's a good thing). I am really anxious/sad to begin watching Season Five as I know it will be the beginning of the end. Yes, sadly, Season Five will be the last of this phenomenal television series. But they are doing something really brilliant by splitting it into two halves. The first half has already finished airing in America and I believe we will see the second half some time next year.</div>
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I really shouldn't have to tell you what makes this show so great. Just start watching it immediately and you'll see why. It is without a doubt the best television show on TV right now. But in saying that I haven't seen Homeland yet, which I hear comes pretty darn close. So perhaps I should get started on that series pretty soon.</div>
Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-19939284479800947272012-10-22T03:08:00.000-07:002012-10-22T03:09:02.153-07:00The Perks of Being a Wallflower<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Golly Gosh! It has been quite a while since my last post but I do have a fairly good excuse... I have been traveling across the United States of America these past two months! Whilst I was over there I happened to visit Boston, Massachusetts where it rained 2 out of the 3 days I was there. This allowed me to use the excuse to go to the cinema and not feel bad about it. Fortunately I was traveling with my dear friend Alice, who is my cinema buddy back home, so she was also keen to catch a flick (or two). I had actually been super eager to see <i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i>, having read the book a couple of months before departing to the States. And fortunately for us it was showing! Whoop, Yeahhhh! (so much excitement)<br />
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<i>The Perks of Being a Wallflower</i> is a coming of age story set in the 1990s (because it was written in the 1990s, duh!), so think mix-tapes and awesome fashion (I am a sucker for 90s clothing and I love how the character Mary Elizabeth dresses). The book is told through letter form, it is Charlie (our main character) writing to an anonymous friend. He tells this friend of how he is going to stand out this school year and not be the introvert he has been in the past.<br />
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Stephen Chbosky has adapted his book into film so wonderfully, it makes you glad no one else touched it. The cast are perfect, Ezra Miller as Patrick is beyond brilliant and Logan Lerman makes the perfect Charlie. I also love that Emma Watson and Paul Rudd are in this, among many other great actors. (On a side note, Reece Thompson is in this! I have mentioned him previously in other posts and let me just say, although his character is minor/an asshole, he is exceptionally babe'n in this film).<br />
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When I read the book there were moments where I had to put it down, and as lame as it sounds, just take a break and look outside the window for a moment. Things got intense! But, I didn't think it was super intense until I saw the film. There are a fair few moments that make you get hella teary. At the end of the film Alice and I turned to each other and we were both a blubbering mess and agreed to wait until the credits rolled before we left the cinema. So remember to bring the Kleenex!<br />
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This is the perfect American teen film. It has everything, drugs; alcohol; homosexuality; first kisses; music by The Smiths; diner scenes; American football; punch ups in the cafeteria; awkward relationships and a scene involving Emma Watson standing in the back of a truck with her arms stretched out whilst Heroes by Bowie is played on the radio (spoiler).<br />
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I really, really, really enjoyed this movie. I couldn't be happier with Chbosky's film adaptation of his very own novel. It made me super happy but also left me feeling rather sad, but that didn't make me think any less of the film. I can't wait for it's release in Australia so I can see it again!<br />
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Rating: 4.5/5Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-37043222746360944262012-06-28T23:17:00.000-07:002012-06-29T00:52:16.080-07:00Seven Days, Seven Movies<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>DAY ONE: Thelma and Louise</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Some times I think that Ridley Scott has only ever made Sci-Fi films like </span><i style="background-color: white;">Alien, Blade Runner</i><span style="background-color: white;"> & more recently, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Prometheus</i><span style="background-color: white;">. But he has actually made more action films (a lot with Russell Crowe starring in the main role), including the 1991 classic, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Thelma and Louise</i><span style="background-color: white;">.</span><br />
Oh lord, I have wanted to watch this female-centred action flick for so long, I am so ashamed it has taken me this long. This film is a beauty, and I can see why it is so popular. I loved the empowerment it gave me as a female but it kinda made me wanna go break the law & wear high-waisted denim jeans. I think I'll just stick with the jeans though, regardless of how huge it makes your butt look.<br />
Susan Sarandon & Geena Davis are such badass redheads. I wish there were more female characters like them. Quentin Tarantino's leading ladies probably come the closest.<br />
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<b>DAY TWO: 30 Minutes or Less</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Ehhhh. This is so disappointing! I don't know how they got this wrong because it stars the oh so hilarious Danny McBride (who was so goddamn funny in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Pineapple Express</i><span style="background-color: white;"> as Red) and Aziz Ansari (who is Tom, the Indian wannabe African-American in </span><i style="background-color: white;">Parks and Recreation</i><span style="background-color: white;">). I should have expected as much though because it comes from Director Ruben Fleischer, who directed the the also very disappointing, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Zombieland,</i><span style="background-color: white;"> which only had one funny scene featuring Bill Murray.</span><br />
Just don't bother. There are no laughs here and you just end up scrolling through Instagram on your phone for the second half of the movie.<br />
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<b>DAY THREE: Martha Marcy May Marlene</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Elizabeth Olsen is my new favourite actress and is definitely the most normal looking of the Olsen sisters (and I mean that in a good way). This film, which is about a cult, is the most interesting film I have seen depicting a cult. It shows what it's like once you escape a cult and the effects it can have on your state of mind. There are also flashbacks of Olsen's time in the cult which are very eery and become more disturbing as the film progresses. </span><br />
The ending kind of leaves a lot of questions unanswered. This will definitely confuse certain people but if you can look past that you realise how haunting and moving this film is. The performances in it are unbelievably convincing. I highly recommend seeing this.<br />
And if you watch it on DVD, be sure to check out the director's short film, <i>Mary Last Seen</i>, which depicts a girl's journey to the cult. It goes for about 15 minutes and is shot so beautifully. The ending is utterly creepy also.<br />
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<b>DAY FOUR: My Week with Marilyn</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Whoever thought this film could actually work? A true story depicting the time Marilyn Monroe spent in England to make Laurence Olivier's film, </span><i style="background-color: white;">The Prince and the Showgirl, </i><span style="background-color: white;">but to my surprise it has a strong story and Michelle Williams as Monroe is so utterly convincing you start to think she is the blonde bombshell.</span><br />
I think the thing that makes this film so moving is Michelle Williams strong acting and the behind the scenes stuff we never got to see in the pictures. Marilyn Monroe was clearly a very sad person having grown up without her mother and father and a family to lean on.<br />
It's such a great film and I frown upon the critics who say it is a film about nothing.<br />
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<b style="background-color: white;">DAY FIVE: The Skin I Live In</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">I honestly think it's best to go in to this film not knowing anything about it. What happens in it is so unbelievable, I just don't want to give anything away. All I can say is persist with it, because for me I was confused for the first half and honestly didn't know where it was going, but after the halfway point the second half will just blow you away, it's such an eery and captivating film.</span><br />
It is definitely my pick of the week and the best film I have seen since <i>Drive</i>.<br />
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<b>DAY SIX: Friends With Kids</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">Yay! I love a film starring Saturday Night Live actors (</span><i style="background-color: white;">Bridesmaids</i><span style="background-color: white;"> getting a worthy mention). This stars a bunch of </span><i style="background-color: white;">Bridesmaids</i><span style="background-color: white;"> actors as well as some newbies. This film really opened my eyes to what it's like being in your 30s and being married with kids and all that crap (so glad it's another 10 years away for me).</span><br />
I honestly thought this wasn't going to be all that amazing but it was surprisingly good. It's one of those 'dramedy' movies (funny yet serious), that make you go, 'hey, that was actually really entertaining,' at the end. My friend Larissa and I were very pleased we spent our afternoon cinema session viewing this one.<br />
The only sad part is my all time favourite, Kristen Wiig, plays a really disappointing character and doesn't provide any laughs and is miserable for most of the movie. Boo!<br />
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<b>DAY SEVEN: Kramer vs Kramer</b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;">1970s Meryl Streep = total babe! Aside from that, </span><i style="background-color: white;">Kramer vs Kramer </i><span style="background-color: white;">is a very real story about divorce and parenting. In a time when divorce probably wasn't that common, this film would have been groundbreaking for it's time, which is probably why it received many Oscar wins, including Best Picture. This film will have you sobbing at the end. A great film that is still moving and believable to this day.</span>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-10325101443210410162012-05-25T01:05:00.003-07:002012-05-25T01:09:36.757-07:00Feeling Nostalgic - A Look at Five Hollywood Classics<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>ALL ABOUT EVE (1950)</b></div>
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This is as bitchy as Old Hollywood gets. Just throw in a diva like Bette Davis and 'the girl next door', Anne Baxter and watch everything unravel. </div>
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This film tells the story of Theatre legend, Margo (Davis) and the not so innocent Eve (Baxter) who aspires to be an actress just like Margo. There's a sweet appearance made by Marilyn Monroe in one of her first roles and George Sanders plays a main part as the conspiring Addison DeWitt who you will recognise from Hitchcock's <i>Rebecca</i>. </div>
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This film is really fabulous and you'll find yourself rubbing your hands together and laughing a devilish laugh when it all gets really bitchy in the second half. I enjoyed this so much I decided to watch it again the next day. Watch it now!</div>
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<b>SUNSET BOULEVARD (1950)</b></div>
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This film will really shock and disturb you. I was surprised at the reaction it gave me as a person living in the 21st Century that it made me wonder how people in 1950 reacted to it. </div>
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It's story portrays an out of work actress (Gloria Swanson) confined to her decaying Hollywood mansion reflecting on her life as a silent actress and dreaming of making her return to the big screen. When a struggling script writer (William Holden) finds himself at her doorstep he is soon talking with her about script ideas and before he knows it, has moved in with her and becomes her toyboy (so to speak).</div>
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This is a really sad story. Gloria Swanson is absolutely terrifying as the crazy old actress rotting away and holding on to something that will never be revived. </div>
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Her final words in the film are an absolute classic and I knew them as soon as she was saying them because they have been referenced at least a dozen times in popular culture. </div>
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This dark and very real story will stay with you for days. </div>
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<b>MILDRED PIERCE (1945)</b></div>
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Another old time Hollywood actress; Joan Crawford. I have always been dying to see a film starring Crawford after seeing the film <i>Mommy Dearest, </i>based on the book by her adopted daughter that portrays her as a cruel mother. In this film she definitely isn't a cruel mother but she is somewhat pathetic and sad. </div>
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Crawford plays Mildred Pierce, a woman whose husband has just left her, leaving her with two daughters and mountains of debt. Her ungrateful daughter Veda (Miriam Ellis) longs to be wealthy and surrounded by other wealthy people living the life of a socialite. Mildred stops at nothing to achieve this wealthy lifestyle for her by working as a waitress and then going on to open her own restaurant chain, but Veda is never satisfied.</div>
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Ok, Veda is an ungrateful, spoilt, bitch! You just feel like slapping her and telling her to piss off! But you also feel like shaking Mildred & telling her to stop trying to please her daughter so much. </div>
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Joan Crawford is an unbelievably great actress and went on to receive an Oscar for her performance, which is well deserved. This is such a great film and it also contains a little bit of a murder mystery, which I love! </div>
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I'm also now interested in seeing the recent mini-series done of this but starring Kate Winslet in Crawford's role and Evan Rachel Wood (errrrgh) as Veda. </div>
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<b>A PLACE IN THE SUN (1951)</b></div>
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This is the film that created a beautiful friendship between the very stunning, Elizabeth Taylor and oh so handsome, Montgomery Clift. </div>
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The story follows the very mixed up George Eastman (Clift) who arrives to town hoping to work at his rich uncle's business. There he meets Alice Tripp (Shelley Winters) who he becomes romantically involved with despite being informed by his cousin not to get involved with co-workers. After he knocks up Alice he soon loses interest and begins to fall for the beautiful and wealthy, Angela Vickers (Taylor) who he quickly becomes romantic with. But what will he do with Alice now that he loves Angela?!?!</div>
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Montgomery Clift is well known for being a great method actor during his time, often compared to Marlon Brando. He is so brilliant as this troubled young man who doesn't want to do the wrong thing but often finds himself in the wrong situation. Elizabeth Taylor is absolutely beautiful in this! And I was not surprised to find out that Edith Head did all the costumes for the film, because Elizabeth wears some truly stunning gowns. </div>
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This is a great Hollywood story told through some truly great Hollywood actors/actresses. </div>
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<b>SPELLBOUND (1945)</b></div>
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Three names, Gregory Peck; Ingrid Bergman; Alfred Hitchcock. I mean you already know this is going to be a great film just from that! I had to save this Alfred Hitchcock classic for last because, well, isn't it obvious? I am Hitchcock obsessed! </div>
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This is an interesting film in that it is mainly about psychology and tells the story of a psychologist who falls in love with a crazy man. Of course she falls in love with him before she knows he's crazy but is so in love with him that she is determined to cure him. </div>
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This film has some really great moments including a scene where Gregory Peck's character is recalling a dream he had (A totally trippy scene that makes you think it came out of a David Lynch film).</div>
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Gregory Peck is so damn handsome in this even if he does have the crazy eyes every now and again. And Ingrid Bergman is just beautiful! I absolutely adored her in this. She was such a great Hitchock leading lady in his films from the 1940s period (Notorious being a noteworthy mention). </div>
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Highly recommended viewing!</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-65361918097095754772012-05-18T00:11:00.001-07:002012-05-18T00:32:40.116-07:00Why I Think You Should See Coppola's DraculaI have never been into films/stories that are based on fictional monsters like the werewolf, frankenstein and vampires. But when you find out that the 1992 film <i>Dracula </i>was directed by the one & only Francis Ford Coppola, you begin to wonder if you have been living under a rock for the past 20 years. Not only that it also stars Gary Oldman and Winona Ryder among many others.<br />
So if that hasn't convinced you to watch Coppola's adaptation of Bram Stoker's famous story, then let me share with you why I think you should see it.<br />
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Okay firstly, it's so bad it's good!<br />
There are so many cringe-worthy moments in this film that I'm sure a fair share of people would turn it off before it even reaches the halfway point or just laugh the whole way through. But I should inform you this was all intentional on Coppola's behalf! For this film he wanted it to be all done old school, this means no crazy new special effects done through computers just the old fashioned way using mirrors and other techniques to create wacky effects. There is also no on location filming, it was all done in a Hollywood studio. This gives it a feeling of old style films which I think is really awesome. You also have Keanu Reeves and Winona Ryder attempting British accents but only failing in the end, which is highly amusing.<br />
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Anthony Hopkins as Professor Van Helsing is hilarious!<br />
So many one liners and awkward moments from Hopkins. He is perfect as the Professor informing a bunch of idiots what Dracula is and what Dracula has turned the character Lucy in to. Lucy is another hilarious character who is nowhere near subtle when it comes to seducing a number of men in the room. And on that note, this film is incredibly raunchy. Dracula has a way with women that makes them breathe heavily, reveal their breasts and touch themselves. It's very sexy but also extremely over the top (but in this case, that's what makes this film so spectacular).<br />
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The costumes, make-up and sets are visually amazing!<br />
Lucy's wedding dress was by far my most favourite costume in the entire film (pictured above). The settings are very old english and gothic (very true to the period in which the story is set). My friend Meredith loved the look of the film so much that she is determined to throw a Dracula themed party. It's the perfect excuse to light heaps of candles, drink red wine and wear over-the-top outfits.<br />
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Coppola's Bram Stoker's <i>Dracula </i>really has so much to offer. I hope that what I have listed above is inspiration enough to go see this spectacular piece of cinema whether you're a hater of vampire stories or not. If you don't have access to the film you could always watch the hilarious Halloween episode from season five of The Simpsons where they do a spoof of the film featuring Mr Burns as Dracula.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxWz_oQszzq8T9-M01Rx1u6B50nhRK8NIjQDhn_uE8tXY-c1d9vTnc0ZCUWIV2MmTrR3ODsthOvoqZkbpLmmz_IrGAgYdaGdmUh9Rzcv50lzNO0OI24MAXg0VXw60uL-SaDSrPFJS5S0/s1600/MrBurns-GaryOldman-294px.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVxWz_oQszzq8T9-M01Rx1u6B50nhRK8NIjQDhn_uE8tXY-c1d9vTnc0ZCUWIV2MmTrR3ODsthOvoqZkbpLmmz_IrGAgYdaGdmUh9Rzcv50lzNO0OI24MAXg0VXw60uL-SaDSrPFJS5S0/s1600/MrBurns-GaryOldman-294px.jpg" /></a></div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-47512536190285170702012-04-17T18:14:00.013-07:002012-04-17T19:35:48.480-07:00What I Have Been Watching...<div><div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large; ">TAKE SHELTER</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WWyiYDs1CWEoPRRhUsIVr9Rj0_DVq7WaHQ7jT8NJcRXlqY_HB4OAFQYrdRJ5fEGCfAa7vOvEeoi_wP-8Y8jQ28a1rB_gyzNR3f6vjokgDYKWoO9SlWIByqDXZZ6KWhohfWT2vF39wyg/s1600/0930-movie-review-take-shelter_full_600.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WWyiYDs1CWEoPRRhUsIVr9Rj0_DVq7WaHQ7jT8NJcRXlqY_HB4OAFQYrdRJ5fEGCfAa7vOvEeoi_wP-8Y8jQ28a1rB_gyzNR3f6vjokgDYKWoO9SlWIByqDXZZ6KWhohfWT2vF39wyg/s400/0930-movie-review-take-shelter_full_600.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732545611341935074" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 267px; " /></a><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Well you know this is going to be good before you have even seen it because it's starring (oh so hot right now) Jessica Chastain </span><span class="Apple-style-span">(The Tree of Life, The Help)</span><span class="Apple-style-span"> & Michael Shannon </span><span class="Apple-style-span">(Boardwalk Empire).</span><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Take Shelter </i>tells the story of happily married, Curits & Samantha bringing up their deaf daughter. Things start to become a little dysfunctional when Curtis starts having these nightmares that feel so vivid, he believes they'll come true.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><i>Take Shelter </i>takes natural disaster movies to a new level looking at how mental illness can so suddenly impact someone's life and the lives around them. The performances are gripping & moving and the ending will leave you thinking for hours.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Trust me, this one is not to be missed.</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span">Rating: 4.5/5</span></div><div style="text-align: left; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >THE IDES OF MARCH</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDIj9gtn3pjwO7yXZwC0q7kCEOIIOPIh4o58NfLSlI_QAxyPe3IU8NnQeQUThnzvCS0sJJkAjFuE8KBIH759TxQYplp63Imxf7cWxA6rynvL_5kbqp43u8TymFvlwFNZM9Ri6U9MzJxU/s1600/The-Ides-of-March-Reviews.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqDIj9gtn3pjwO7yXZwC0q7kCEOIIOPIh4o58NfLSlI_QAxyPe3IU8NnQeQUThnzvCS0sJJkAjFuE8KBIH759TxQYplp63Imxf7cWxA6rynvL_5kbqp43u8TymFvlwFNZM9Ri6U9MzJxU/s400/The-Ides-of-March-Reviews.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732546118341324786" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 214px; " /></a><span class="Apple-style-span">I have heard a lot of mixed reviews about this one which made me a little weary about seeing it, but my overall reaction was that it was superrrr. Seriously, Ryan Gosling (I know I have already bragged about him before) is a ridiculously good looking guy/actor. Not only that, this film also stars acting genius Philip Seymour Hoffman as well as George Clooney, Evan Rachel Wood (ehhh never been a fan of hers though) and Paul Giamatti. If you're into political thrillers or just enjoy staring at Ryan Gosling's babe'n face, then check this one out!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span">Rating: 3.5/5</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >MIDNIGHT IN PARIS</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBj-Hvg9q9i8A1vFux2VfVendnIQe2184oua0oopYPtxSSVeLAaxbxyecop4iytE1fhXesPYh-3hgnQpXJWqaya7G7iObWbH8K6jljuhAxJnXlKSqnxlbjt9sWq6yzJkFTuztf2FSYko/s1600/MidnightInParis01.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdBj-Hvg9q9i8A1vFux2VfVendnIQe2184oua0oopYPtxSSVeLAaxbxyecop4iytE1fhXesPYh-3hgnQpXJWqaya7G7iObWbH8K6jljuhAxJnXlKSqnxlbjt9sWq6yzJkFTuztf2FSYko/s400/MidnightInParis01.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732553250752031042" /></a>You gotta love Woody Allen doing his classic comedic style/praising a city from the point of view of the lead character. Woody has had his occasional flops in recent years but it seems he occasionally pulls out some really spectacular films i.e. <i>Vicky Cristina Barcelona.</i> He's stepping out of his beloved New York and appreciating some of Europe; Barcelona and now Paris. We also have the upcoming <i>To Rome With Love </i>to look forward to.<div>What I love about <i>Midnight in Paris </i>is the stepping back in time to the 1920s to meet such literary greats as Ernest Hemingway, F. Scot Fitzgerald, T.S. Eliot and even artist; Pablo Picasso!</div><div>Owen Wilson is perfect as the aspiring author lost and in love with the great city of Paris. This film is quirky and truly Woody Allen. It's good to see him getting in touch with his original style but giving it a new breath of life.</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating: 4/5</div><div><br /></div><div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" >THE HELP</span></div><div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSucISyeLMb3Zc5JqiehI7GQISrsnfSswTHMaVYG6jALBtOf82kzh3_cxwhYzJkY2ylLotImrYOigM1cR5pBXsONUsnCIUbjXIiz_ihspgZEAL5XXlCCBkuqU49mPcZ-c_jTI3FdfXoU/s1600/the-help_2037522b.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRSucISyeLMb3Zc5JqiehI7GQISrsnfSswTHMaVYG6jALBtOf82kzh3_cxwhYzJkY2ylLotImrYOigM1cR5pBXsONUsnCIUbjXIiz_ihspgZEAL5XXlCCBkuqU49mPcZ-c_jTI3FdfXoU/s400/the-help_2037522b.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732551692362401714" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 250px; " /></a><div><div><div style="text-align: left; ">This is one of those feel-good films that makes you want to go tell everyone about it. </div><div style="text-align: left; ">Set in 1960s Southern-America, <i>The Help </i>tells the story of an Skeeter (Stone) a young graduate/aspiring author who decides to write a book in secret from the point-of-view of the Help. This film shows many different characters points-of-view of the Help during this time. It can be quite shocking in parts to see how African-American's were treated during 1960s America; the fact that it is unacceptable that they use the same bathroom facilities as the white people is ridiculous and appalling. </div><div style="text-align: left; ">Aside from this, <i>The Help </i>has it's occasional humorous moments and is all over a well done film. I watched this with my mum & dad who are occasionally pessimistic and critical about modern cinema, but they were both very impressed. </div></div></div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: left; ">Rating: 4.5/5</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" >SUBMARINE</span></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyARbcUqhDiknH9nneG0egi1aJB62EuNXs4lJPtqzCTlsgf51c-FfZ8Cfln_bkhmKan6b8kMIohUfcnZylOHF0w_dZHIgJ2KViSB7BfIwMuyRrTMv1WC1a0BTsDStF9UV7VSuYAi5p1g/s1600/tumblr_m2jlc48OrS1qfnj72o1_500.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYyARbcUqhDiknH9nneG0egi1aJB62EuNXs4lJPtqzCTlsgf51c-FfZ8Cfln_bkhmKan6b8kMIohUfcnZylOHF0w_dZHIgJ2KViSB7BfIwMuyRrTMv1WC1a0BTsDStF9UV7VSuYAi5p1g/s400/tumblr_m2jlc48OrS1qfnj72o1_500.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5732552423630949042" /></a>I saw this film ages ago and have watched it at least three times since. Why you ask? For so many reasons! It's adorable, has an amazing soundtrack done by Alex Turner (from Arctic Monkeys), so many quirky moments, awesome actors, it's directed by Richard Ayoade (from The I.T. Crowd) and so on. </div><div>This is one of those perfectly done indie-teen flicks but just a million times better.</div><div>I could go on and on but 'the proof's in the pudding.' Definitely check it out!</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating: 4.5/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-42493548485767301622012-01-21T17:25:00.000-08:002012-01-21T17:52:37.571-08:00The Muppets<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKIZacQD1GJHHuGfFUj02M8yDyQQavr1N0OYlFIt9qpXqJbKp304sOxe1nF_FyS-BcGc1R3zMtMOWFcyY4WRQZw1qACTwRN0EeiH2NBOfGNhp0gBiUQyLCHIgNRRtvn8vWdf7bshyPWs/s1600/f2ea00cdf1e47a9b53c4f2ce74f34674.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 225px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHKIZacQD1GJHHuGfFUj02M8yDyQQavr1N0OYlFIt9qpXqJbKp304sOxe1nF_FyS-BcGc1R3zMtMOWFcyY4WRQZw1qACTwRN0EeiH2NBOfGNhp0gBiUQyLCHIgNRRtvn8vWdf7bshyPWs/s400/f2ea00cdf1e47a9b53c4f2ce74f34674.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5700267936056054034" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Hilarious moment from the film.</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I love Jason Segel! Ever since I saw him as the adorable/hopeless Nick Andopolis in the television series, <i>Freaks and Geeks </i>I have adored just about every character he has played since; as Eric the over-protective boyfriend in <i>Undeclared, </i>as the guy who always flirts with the married woman in <i>Knocked Up, </i>as Peter who creates an amazing Dracula musical in <i>Forgetting Sarah Marshall, </i>as Sydney the best man with an adorable pet puggle in <i>I Love You, Man </i>and of course the sweetest husband and friend ever in <i>How I Met Your Mother.</i></div><div>Now Segel has brought his favourite childhood series back to life in a hilarious new movie, <i>The Muppets. </i></div><div><i><br /></i></div><div>I'm going to be honest with you, I was not a huge Muppets fan before this film. I had only seen a few of the movies as a child but barely remember them now. So I'm not sure how fans of the series and films feel about this new film but I think it was great regardless. </div><div><br /></div><div>This film has so much to offer; great characters (new & old), hilarious musical numbers (special note goes to the song where Gary & Walter question whether they are a muppet or a man), celebrity appearances and so many comedic moments which is incredible coming from a G rated film. </div><div><br /></div><div>I loved this film so much I saw it twice in less than a week and went home singing the songs and quoting my favourite parts over and over. I really loved the story about this muppet Walter and his human brother Gary who travel to L.A. with Gary's girlfriend and end up bringing the Muppets together for a show hoping to save the Muppet theatre. I got so carried away with the story that it brought a tear to my eye at the end both times I saw it! </div><div><br /></div><div>This film has inspired me to check out <i>The Muppet Show</i> and become a Muppet fan. Sure, I'm like 30 or so years behind but if this is what this new film has intended, to bring in new fans and bring back older fans, then it has done a good job!</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating: 4/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-62417116557162738512012-01-02T04:16:00.000-08:002012-01-02T04:46:18.969-08:00so long 2011, hello 2012<div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div>2011 was a slack year for me, reviewing films wise, so for 2012 I'm going to play around with this blog. Rather than just reviewing film after film, I'm going to post anything film related. Sure, I'll do the occasional review from time to time, but I just feel it's time to spice things up a bit.<div><br /></div><div>Today! I am going to list all the films I am looking forward to being released in the next few months! </div><div style="text-align: center; "><b><br /></b></div><div style="text-align: center; ">| MY WEEK WITH MARILYN |</div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mR4iCsWOoOtGIMTa8B-Kk7rqA5GA9jnfiPKvAwAiBiX92RvBzgMvZ9FXLNXVtmVRO7gDfjX4oJ7OppI38PB2bWpA0VEWJaZHgm-qIKb2VMQczYXB0yxcaeQxU1yFJsMoGCA6CtfyUyU/s1600/my-week-with-marilyn-2.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3mR4iCsWOoOtGIMTa8B-Kk7rqA5GA9jnfiPKvAwAiBiX92RvBzgMvZ9FXLNXVtmVRO7gDfjX4oJ7OppI38PB2bWpA0VEWJaZHgm-qIKb2VMQczYXB0yxcaeQxU1yFJsMoGCA6CtfyUyU/s320/my-week-with-marilyn-2.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693009130396810258" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 222px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| THE MUPPETS |</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybJPUSrXjKW6ZvsH8_eW-YtpnzjTdZBb03P0EHGnArqp3Fp6oRCDtKA__R7mx7iyZyg1tfMi2hMIBJ-sIRSBr8RB6KvtZqT77wNaHGg1-WqyT9pLznvnFh7AU1_1i8MlMviDbD26HDvY/s1600/The-Muppets-2011-Cast.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhybJPUSrXjKW6ZvsH8_eW-YtpnzjTdZBb03P0EHGnArqp3Fp6oRCDtKA__R7mx7iyZyg1tfMi2hMIBJ-sIRSBr8RB6KvtZqT77wNaHGg1-WqyT9pLznvnFh7AU1_1i8MlMviDbD26HDvY/s320/The-Muppets-2011-Cast.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693009663189885570" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 169px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| THE DESCENDANTS |</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgJ1zJdKLogAzae9X0tY1jnHM4wAqjZ8lmadDXaKugYh2HDvz16AiAePAXShyphenhyphenRr1Kz-GB-ZStefEBUCHJ4D-dvuXFjjHejELomqiNRKApb3F5KV5KYl_l7pqzEpgbB80yOxyJoFsgdqw/s1600/george-clooney-as-matt-king-in-the-descendants.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFgJ1zJdKLogAzae9X0tY1jnHM4wAqjZ8lmadDXaKugYh2HDvz16AiAePAXShyphenhyphenRr1Kz-GB-ZStefEBUCHJ4D-dvuXFjjHejELomqiNRKApb3F5KV5KYl_l7pqzEpgbB80yOxyJoFsgdqw/s320/george-clooney-as-matt-king-in-the-descendants.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693010106790360562" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 205px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGON TATTOO |</div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">(I am really in love with the original trilogy of this film adaptation so was slightly annoyed to hear it was remade. But, hearing that David Fincher did it makes me more intrigued)</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm7zuBxDlOzw9MF5YyihwuHyBauwFI1-8V6IX2a1JL0Xz96LqitSDA2UfPhJLGkBRZJ1helmafrSl2PRPFIhqUnB9StWwAFuktBGZokHPzOwwYN8biMuWq7UT6CYGip8Tvh892tX24LU/s1600/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2011-20110816003344361_640w.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZm7zuBxDlOzw9MF5YyihwuHyBauwFI1-8V6IX2a1JL0Xz96LqitSDA2UfPhJLGkBRZJ1helmafrSl2PRPFIhqUnB9StWwAFuktBGZokHPzOwwYN8biMuWq7UT6CYGip8Tvh892tX24LU/s320/the-girl-with-the-dragon-tattoo-2011-20110816003344361_640w.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693011014711751922" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| YOUNG ADULT |</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud6zrs8tnGvpNdkZ3eoEyNWuECKoyCQawM7xhYHli7U8Exnbrc6Aog6eB3se6XfjwmKYRwLNYEdYq8ekCNWWDsGVDk96SSxzmSzbGboHc1LEw70iSb20kcJFwcIC6eBLBtbXVCaAXdXY/s1600/young-adult.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhud6zrs8tnGvpNdkZ3eoEyNWuECKoyCQawM7xhYHli7U8Exnbrc6Aog6eB3se6XfjwmKYRwLNYEdYq8ekCNWWDsGVDk96SSxzmSzbGboHc1LEw70iSb20kcJFwcIC6eBLBtbXVCaAXdXY/s320/young-adult.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693011542542435010" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 158px; " /></a><div><div><div><div><br /></div></div></div></div><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| LIKE CRAZY |</div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div></div></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09St1MqtYymO9w0O8EKr0xQm0VYzBmFCIUxMGCt_WGI2exD0B8O6w9U_wQ41v8CkIvBuQb8YhDjfNSYuVVvcTgY-KgXiYYD8h3DZZeYFPN-IRIRoFq5GMwtkhblxpZvCpzRDRiI1O6d0/s1600/Like-Crazy-beach.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi09St1MqtYymO9w0O8EKr0xQm0VYzBmFCIUxMGCt_WGI2exD0B8O6w9U_wQ41v8CkIvBuQb8YhDjfNSYuVVvcTgY-KgXiYYD8h3DZZeYFPN-IRIRoFq5GMwtkhblxpZvCpzRDRiI1O6d0/s320/Like-Crazy-beach.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693012005780538658" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 175px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| THE ARTIST |</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiYRAI17IFODtReXKIFD05kHGJ8fYPXwxD7vTcwU5Pfd-P-7WyvFbL0zErdNgF7EbUkUozPJUGIe-CLK0sbESFG69BkTIkyGGLAyk7v44u9TBm3ctRC8jTj-u0yTVdeXR6Si1h8YpLck/s1600/the-artist-poster.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipiYRAI17IFODtReXKIFD05kHGJ8fYPXwxD7vTcwU5Pfd-P-7WyvFbL0zErdNgF7EbUkUozPJUGIe-CLK0sbESFG69BkTIkyGGLAyk7v44u9TBm3ctRC8jTj-u0yTVdeXR6Si1h8YpLck/s320/the-artist-poster.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693012310224875426" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 180px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| SHAME |</div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">(Michael Fassbender... so in love with you ever since I saw you as Magneto in X-Men: First Class!)</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp9JfeWLnzCpcZ5UWMm8ku7ONARAcvmz9dADZaF52gEN8XwygwRMmUD4Pa2zYkyc8N157Uh1UnuCUt9dJYuw7CCOqK-F5oZa3oslBUojFW3YlmzDC1t9VzG-jfKg9mtreiLfPZiytKxU/s1600/shame-movie-image-michael-fassbender-05.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgOp9JfeWLnzCpcZ5UWMm8ku7ONARAcvmz9dADZaF52gEN8XwygwRMmUD4Pa2zYkyc8N157Uh1UnuCUt9dJYuw7CCOqK-F5oZa3oslBUojFW3YlmzDC1t9VzG-jfKg9mtreiLfPZiytKxU/s320/shame-movie-image-michael-fassbender-05.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693013037551386514" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 213px; " /></a><div><div><div><div><div><div><div style="text-align: left; "><br /></div></div></div></div></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; ">| 50/50 |</div></div><div><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV_wTMLIdvOKyBZNj2AbLU5uRPCfgfuLPfUf37ceFMTHt9DANBFK59Qg2S8EUJPXd08bd43RHm2zg_phsIDxcW5NQ0FLmWeCfgGEnxhUJK0IZJNoRN0JYXxbKSUeCsVXhkMBnUhYq9_8/s1600/Joseph-Gordon-Levit-Seth-Rogen-50-50-Aug24ne.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinV_wTMLIdvOKyBZNj2AbLU5uRPCfgfuLPfUf37ceFMTHt9DANBFK59Qg2S8EUJPXd08bd43RHm2zg_phsIDxcW5NQ0FLmWeCfgGEnxhUJK0IZJNoRN0JYXxbKSUeCsVXhkMBnUhYq9_8/s320/Joseph-Gordon-Levit-Seth-Rogen-50-50-Aug24ne.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693013420613386738" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 203px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| A DANGEROUS METHOD |</div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;">(Michael Fassbender again... god almighty!)</span></div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zuzkm0m-UlreycpninaPzRkIgaDBZ5-2sSnJtMELzTQTKjNtbvg9nimqU_O8-XxTUH9808bwzh1ryZp1GVlYQo7GTfxrT7KkqM76iAu3IV2GrES-0vBK8z_LNymLcozDB9K74tdp3_s/s1600/a-dangerous-method-460x307.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Zuzkm0m-UlreycpninaPzRkIgaDBZ5-2sSnJtMELzTQTKjNtbvg9nimqU_O8-XxTUH9808bwzh1ryZp1GVlYQo7GTfxrT7KkqM76iAu3IV2GrES-0vBK8z_LNymLcozDB9K74tdp3_s/s320/a-dangerous-method-460x307.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693013904239721266" style="display: block; margin-top: 0px; margin-right: auto; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: auto; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 320px; height: 214px; " /></a><br /><div><div style="text-align: center; ">| THE RUM DIARY |</div></div></div><div style="text-align: center; "><br /></div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUaUkuaOW0_YfBHydzMKZBVuReonvIG-B6MSz08iU403bjP-nSOh2exJmTqMLsXt9XZoQaoYqa4udLWMi2MBe91kPlk7mBoTK0vqtCdceYTvNDuQDcPbgNwq_govONesc2pHYN-IjNJA/s1600/johnny-depp-the-rum-diary-with-amber-heard.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 320px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoUaUkuaOW0_YfBHydzMKZBVuReonvIG-B6MSz08iU403bjP-nSOh2exJmTqMLsXt9XZoQaoYqa4udLWMi2MBe91kPlk7mBoTK0vqtCdceYTvNDuQDcPbgNwq_govONesc2pHYN-IjNJA/s320/johnny-depp-the-rum-diary-with-amber-heard.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5693014263639317442" /></a><div><div><div><div><div><div><div><div> </div></div></div></div></div></div></div></div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-47453688572537542652011-12-24T05:53:00.000-08:002011-12-24T06:18:57.690-08:00G E N T L E M E N B R O N C O S<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpzs_qJWNJ4wbDj8IiIgkeTWRzm3lx_bYCjBH0-EARI5auKOlTeit5-U2p-YAi_CKsdnuU3LViJvUZYP9rEzbXhkyFdjgYBVRZ-YwqWpA-fU0gHCv2bwbACLrPD8b9oFV7zpCnwQ1qx4/s1600/chev%2527s+version.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 214px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYpzs_qJWNJ4wbDj8IiIgkeTWRzm3lx_bYCjBH0-EARI5auKOlTeit5-U2p-YAi_CKsdnuU3LViJvUZYP9rEzbXhkyFdjgYBVRZ-YwqWpA-fU0gHCv2bwbACLrPD8b9oFV7zpCnwQ1qx4/s400/chev%2527s+version.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5689697605769537266" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:78%;">'Oh my holy crap, surveillance does... I hate those. This is ridiculous, that's the most well guarded yeast factory I've ever seen!' </span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:78%;">- A hilarious moment from the film.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"></div><div><br /></div><div>This is Jared Hess' third feature film, following <i>Napoleon Dynamite</i> and <i>Nacho Libre. </i>I happened to catch <i>Gentlemen Broncos </i>on television one Sunday afternoon but was unable to finish watching it due to some commitments. But, I did manage to find it a few weeks later and view the second half of the film. I was drawn in immediately during the first viewing and was again during the second. I really admire Hess' unique style. I wouldn't know how to describe it but he seems to be inspired by the 1980s with his use of fashion, music, settings and props. It's totally corny but he makes it really cool.</div><div><br /></div><div><i>Gentlemen Broncos </i>tells the story of Benjamin, a shy teenager who writes sci-fi novels and lives with his strange mother who is a fashion designer of hideous sleepwear. When he attends a writers convention he meets his favourite author, Chevalier who turns out to be a bit of an arrogant asshole. </div><div>Benjamin is played by my new favourite actor, Michael Angarano (mentioned in <i>Ceremony</i> review) who is perfect as the insecure Benjamin. Jemaine Clement (<i>Flight of the Conchords</i>) is hilarious as Chevalier putting on an amazing voice as the rude sci-fi author. </div><div><br /></div><div>Hess' style is amazing in this film and the characters are quirky and unique (Hector Jimenez as Lonnie is a standout, his facial expressions are hilarious), however, the story was somewhat lacking. The film starts out really great, but kind of loses it an hour in. It must be hard for Hess to live up to his debut feature, which became insanely popular worldwide and had us all saying, 'Your mum goes to college,' and so on. Unfortunately <i>Gentlemen Broncos</i> doesn't quite have the same appeal as <i>Napoleon Dynamite</i> but it still maintains the quirkiness minus the memorable quotable lines.</div><div><br /></div><div>Look I'm going to give this a good rating because I did find it rather entertaining and fairly amusing. It just probably isn't the best thing to come from Hess (which is forgivable of course.)</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating: 3.5/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-47602188823592762252011-11-07T20:40:00.000-08:002011-11-07T21:23:38.271-08:00D R I V E<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpKGeOzqAIBkcstI2qa4Hvk1-uuLcoJ4MF41Mzg2Qd3LfBCa9PnjVAbhVZfrMz_vtdU9H5SrSkunycgLosPBVvuP_muOi3Go0NSRslVg-H1wVOLa8oJjrNIFyIeRMRohtQNEn7H0FTtw/s1600/Drive_Ryan_Gosling_May10_8.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 287px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlpKGeOzqAIBkcstI2qa4Hvk1-uuLcoJ4MF41Mzg2Qd3LfBCa9PnjVAbhVZfrMz_vtdU9H5SrSkunycgLosPBVvuP_muOi3Go0NSRslVg-H1wVOLa8oJjrNIFyIeRMRohtQNEn7H0FTtw/s400/Drive_Ryan_Gosling_May10_8.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672487545449445986" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">A standout performance by Ryan Gosling</span></div><div><br /></div><div>This has to be one of the best films I have seen this year if not <b>the </b>best. After seeing Ryan Gosling in <i>Crazy, Stupid, Love </i>the other week and now this; it makes me wonder if there's nothing Gosling can't do. He has to be one of the greatest actors of our time.</div><div><br /></div><div>There is so much I could say about it but I have no idea where to begin. I'm not going to tell a synopsis of the film but rather describe why I enjoyed it so much.</div><div><br /></div><div>Firstly, the look and style of the film is brilliant. It is shot so beautifully. Most of the scenes are dark though. I was completely unaware of how violent this film was until I saw some pretty graphic scenes. (There's quite a confronting scene taken in an elevator... not going to give it away, but oh boy!) So it's not for the faint hearted because trust me these guys are not pussies, this is like some Tarantino shit.</div><div><br /></div><div>The soundtrack is phenomenal! PHENOMENAL! I am listening to it as I write this and I am getting major goosebumps. The soundtrack and my dear friend Gabby is what made me want to see this film. After she played me 'Nightfall' by Kavinsky & Lovefoxxx, I was like, 'Girl! I need to get me that soundtrack and see this film immediately!' </div><div>The song 'Tick of the Clock' by The Chromatics used in the opening sequence is perfect! It works so well with the intensity of that scene, helping to build the tension. The soundtrack along with the look of the film & the bright pink titles seem to be influenced by the 1980s, which also work very well with the film. The 1980s influence was a big plus for me.</div><div><br /></div><div>All of this along with the performances of the entire cast (except for perhaps Carey Mulligan who I found to be inappropriately casted as Irene) was exceptional. Gosling is a stand out for sure but Bryan Cranston, Albert Brooks, Christina Hendricks, etc. are all flawless! </div><div><br /></div><div>I cannot stop thinking about <i>Drive </i>since I got home from the cinema and it will probably be on my mind for the rest of the week. I am highly recommending this one. Do not miss it!</div><div><br /></div><div>Rating: 5/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-24944617527630654532011-11-07T00:58:00.000-08:002011-11-07T01:29:23.854-08:00G I R L , I N T E R R U P T E D<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdlB15z0MMoxlhRgGNwYu9QKst950wwB9cnrOze6OxDBiWpL6oRyyNUcLJqRTFXV1WKJgXT-TAfVfeHl27BqOqHhdKwxdDvogauLx6sAFnkB46DA0Bq0PoxbQZNDZz8mH7XaJZLvCkBA/s1600/Susanna-Kaysen-Girl-Interrupted-Winona-Ryder-girl-interrupted-16476411-852-480_large.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 226px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZdlB15z0MMoxlhRgGNwYu9QKst950wwB9cnrOze6OxDBiWpL6oRyyNUcLJqRTFXV1WKJgXT-TAfVfeHl27BqOqHhdKwxdDvogauLx6sAFnkB46DA0Bq0PoxbQZNDZz8mH7XaJZLvCkBA/s400/Susanna-Kaysen-Girl-Interrupted-Winona-Ryder-girl-interrupted-16476411-852-480_large.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5672180164524740002" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:78%;">Winona is too cute with that pixie haircut. Such a style icon.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><i><div style=" ;font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:-webkit-xxx-large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-size:13px;"><i><br /></i></span></div></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:100%;">'Have you ever confused a dream with life? Or stolen something when you have the cash? Have you ever been blue? Or thought your train moving while sitting still? Maybe I was just crazy. Maybe it was the 60's. Or maybe I was just a girl... interrupted.'</span></i></span></span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color:#333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 18px;font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">These were the first words that Winona Ryder said at the beginning of the film as the character Susanna Kaysen. This film literally grabs you from these beginning words & holds onto you until the closing credits.<br /></span></span></div><div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I am no stranger to this film. I own it on D.V.D. & have seen it numerous times. The reason behind me reviewing it is because this week on my radio show we are talking about the extraordinary Winona Ryder. In my opinion the first 15 or so years of her career were phenomenal. We saw her in such films as <i>Heathers</i>, <i>Beetlejuice</i>, <i>Mermaids</i>, <i>The Age of Innocence</i>, <i>Little Women</i>, <i>Reality Bites</i> and of course the phenomenal <i>Girl, Interrupted</i> which, I think, is most definitely one of her best roles.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><i>Girl, Interrupted </i>is based on a true story following Susanna Kaysen who checked in to a mental hospital in the 1960s after she nearly killed herself or as she puts it, 'I was trying to make the shit stop.' Believing she doesn't belong there, Susanna tries coping and along the way befriends her fellow mental patients including, Lisa (Angelina Jolie) a sociopath.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">What I love about <i>Girl, Interrupted </i>is the setting of the 1960s, the awesome soundtrack, the performances of all actors are phenomenal (Goldberg, Jolie, Murphy, and most definitely Ryder who really should have won an award), and although it's a dark story it has it's subtle humorous and beautiful moments i.e. when Susanna sings 'Downtown' to one of the patients to cheer her up - so sweet!</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">I think Winona Ryder is exceptional in this film! I absolutely adored her as Susanna. I found her incredibly smart, witty, insightful and very real. I never tire of watching this film. Definitely a Winona classic from the 1990s.</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;"><br /></span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; "><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family:georgia;font-size:100%;">Rating: 4.5/5</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: rgb(51, 51, 51); line-height: 18px; font-family:Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;font-size:13px;"><br /></span></div></div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-44165133367360802212011-10-31T05:29:00.000-07:002011-10-31T05:55:24.496-07:00S P U N<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4JeFB-NsIzjQnffMZMvhc0yQ3tbA0UppgCjddJfoj_xpro_P2iN_gEU3CBz4Ss6PvK_Zz7M95Pab2mSbLUE5O18UcQ2okp4VgGx_psAUGIBHGJo-hVXqfVjBf6KX8bPUvm0sWruae08/s1600/500full.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 267px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr4JeFB-NsIzjQnffMZMvhc0yQ3tbA0UppgCjddJfoj_xpro_P2iN_gEU3CBz4Ss6PvK_Zz7M95Pab2mSbLUE5O18UcQ2okp4VgGx_psAUGIBHGJo-hVXqfVjBf6KX8bPUvm0sWruae08/s400/500full.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5669634319536648162" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;"><div style="text-align: center;">Mena Suvari & Brittany Murphy in a scene from the film</div></span><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">What I like about <i>Spun</i> is that it portrays the awful side to the life of drug taking/dealing that puts you off ever wanting to become a part of that world as well as adding some humor to the genre which you don't often see. Drug films are often so in your face and off-putting that it can make you feel ill & depressed. So it was nice to see a film that didn't indulge in the ugly side of the drug world as much.</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Spun</i> spans three days in the life of Ross, (Schwartzman) a young guy hooked on speed who visits his dealer and then chaos ensues. We are introduced to an abundance of characters and some bizarre events occur. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">This film really does have an amazing cast; Brittany Murphy, John Leguizamo (that guy who played Tybalt in Luhrman's <i>Romeo & Juliet</i>), Mickey Rourke and the amazing Deborah Harry (who plays Ross' dyke neighbour/phone sex worker - brilliant!) All actors are perfect in their roles and seeing Murphy as the bubbly Nikki makes you feel a little sad that she died so young because it really does remind you how good of an actor she was. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i>Spun </i>doesn't shy away from your typical drug style film editing. There's the fast paced scenes when Ross is waiting for his next hit & then the chill that follows once he has snorted the speed, the extreme close up shots; in particular the eyes when they dilate (<i>reminiscent of Requiem For A Dream), </i>and<i> </i>just simple things like make-up (Mena Suvari's teeth are a great example, oh boy are they gross).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">I did enjoy <i>Spun, </i>it wasn't your stereotypical druggie film. I like that there was humorous moments i.e. the cops from the over-the-top 'Bust' show. </div><div style="text-align: left;">Of course the fact that Jason Schwartzman was in it also made it all the more appealing. It's not a typical role for him but he still manages to do an excellent job and still look babe'n (in a 'speed freak' kinda way).</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">Rating: 4/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-91097106786571411542011-10-23T03:40:00.000-07:002011-10-23T04:03:02.561-07:00B U R L E S Q U E<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVALECpm3xkqI5PiT9paYchKGeJhUowQszLBx9BLmlHzPqRRLwWQIkHv1rfcOLAKiWnjae-lCPVi3608WidXurP2fqwfOi8UCsqGZ8gKufrj3rgvhkCQsr1xmjpMANWhUpCeZXOp8tZlU/s1600/2010_burlesque_046.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVALECpm3xkqI5PiT9paYchKGeJhUowQszLBx9BLmlHzPqRRLwWQIkHv1rfcOLAKiWnjae-lCPVi3608WidXurP2fqwfOi8UCsqGZ8gKufrj3rgvhkCQsr1xmjpMANWhUpCeZXOp8tZlU/s400/2010_burlesque_046.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5666640101559511762" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">Cher... she may be getting old but that girl's still got it</span></div><div><br /></div><div>I am never hesitant to raise my hand to the fact that I am a fan of the fabulous Cher. For me it started as a young girl hearing the single <i>Believe;</i> I woke up early every morning to watch Rage waiting for that clip to come on. Later I would receive a <i>Cher: Greatest Hits</i> album on my 12th birthday and go on to create dance routines to such classics as<i> Gypsies, Tramps & Thieves, The Beat Goes On </i>and many more. Another great thing about Cher is she is an incredible actor. Some of my favourite films she has starred in are <i>Mask</i> and <i>Mermaids</i>.</div><div>So my point to this is I was pretty excited about the release of <i>Burlesque,</i> (but not excited enough to see it at the cinema or rush to see it when it was released on DVD... ok so my love for her isn't as strong as when I was playing with Barbies) and watched it in preparation for my film based radio show* this week. The topic being, Musicals.</div><div><br /></div><div>So what did I think about Cher starring alongside Christina Aguilera in the end... Not much really. Sadly I was a little disappointed. The storyline had been overdone, small town girl with big dreams moves to the city and tries at nothing to pursue her dream of becoming a singer/dancer... The storyline may have been lacking but the songs and dancing were what kept me watching this film. It really stuck to the Musical genre, not holding back on the show tunes. Most of the songs started to sound the same, but a few of the numbers where quite good. Sadly Cher only performed in two songs though... boo! </div><div><br /></div><div>I hate to say it but I was distracted throughout <i>Burlesque </i>often playing <i>Fruit Ninja</i> on my phone and I paused it about three times to go and do other things. Look I'm a GenY girl with a short attention span; you just gotta keep me entertained is all I'm saying. And lets face it, Christina Aguilera is pretty painful and to see her playing the sweet girl next door type in this film is even more aggravating. As much as I love you Cher you just didn't save this one for me! </div><div><br /></div><div>Rating: 1/5<br /><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:78%;">*Yes, I have a radio show now. A little guiltless promotion on the side: http://syn.org.au/program/ellys-film-review</span></div></div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-87339228867338943012011-09-22T08:25:00.001-07:002011-09-22T08:40:05.806-07:00C E R E M O N Y<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRn80KgmhBqEY6cj9KFFbC5PXk9RLeF1w51ekE5-wnbDrmJCTmPmv3HARyeKgTQgZdzY2YMQtD9XPuZSUTEZN01zVos49mu1weiTsp0wst6l5_GUN4KLHpdK_O-r1okCRTm4yL7yC8XM/s1600/C+E+R+E+M+O+N+Y.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 266px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzRn80KgmhBqEY6cj9KFFbC5PXk9RLeF1w51ekE5-wnbDrmJCTmPmv3HARyeKgTQgZdzY2YMQtD9XPuZSUTEZN01zVos49mu1weiTsp0wst6l5_GUN4KLHpdK_O-r1okCRTm4yL7yC8XM/s400/C+E+R+E+M+O+N+Y.jpg" border="0" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5655207769556683458" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Michael Angarano and Reece Thompson in a scene from the film</span></div><div><br /></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Two names: Michael Angarano and Reece Thompson.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">These two guys star in Max Winkler's (Harry Winkler's (The Fonz) son) debut film; </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Ceremony.</span></i></div><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Michael Angarano is none other than little William from Cameron Crowe's </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Almost Famous </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">who shouted in the backseat of his mum's car, "I'm eleven? ELEVEN?!" He is also Jack McFarland's sperm donor child, Elliott in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Will & Grace</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">. Now Angarano is 24-years-old and I gotta tell you, he is babe'n!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The other guy I mentioned; Reece Thompson, a name you will have recognised from my last review, is the main reason I hired this film and being the bitch I am, I have now lost interest in him and have developed a crush on Angarano. Something about that mustache in the first third of the film and his slicked back hair just made me go, "Ohhhh </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">yep</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">."</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So as for the film, it's got a lot of cool things about it; witty banter, and an awesome party that I so badly wanted to be a part of and indie fashion (think wayfarers, cardigans, old-school suits).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Being Winkler's first film though, I'm not going to be totally harsh. The film had a lot of promise what with the cast and all but the story was kind of lacking and for the second half I found myself playing Monopoly on my iPhone whilst taking occasional glances at the screen, (yeahhh never a good thing).</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">It wasn't a completely disappointing film, I just felt that it started out so well but just kind of fell flat at the end. Plus I wasn't really buying the relationship between Angarano and Uma Thurman. That or I was feeling a little envious of Thurman...</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"><br /></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rating: 2.5/5</span></div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-77772197938662875152011-08-16T17:49:00.000-07:002011-09-23T19:16:04.354-07:00D A Y D R E A M N A T I O N<div align="center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CD8n6yAai9zt2yq4w-ur6CcOcUBOIhPpeGGXYG2ik-WV4ZopG7XecZ8Ejfrl-vnKT8SNLNihvV90l5tVw3unnBoWlvWTU3dwe6jKi53cuBBtyB5qZxKnMSagGvPwLhtBBIlhf4jkj6Q/s1600/daydreamnation2-thumb-450x254-22683.jpg"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 226px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5641621841268179970" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9CD8n6yAai9zt2yq4w-ur6CcOcUBOIhPpeGGXYG2ik-WV4ZopG7XecZ8Ejfrl-vnKT8SNLNihvV90l5tVw3unnBoWlvWTU3dwe6jKi53cuBBtyB5qZxKnMSagGvPwLhtBBIlhf4jkj6Q/s400/daydreamnation2-thumb-450x254-22683.jpg" /></a> <span style="font-size:78%;">Kat Dennings and Reece Thompson in a scene from the film</span></div><span style="font-size:78%;"></span><br />Described as being like, 'Juno as reimagined by David Lynch...' I'm not entirely sure if that's a good comparison but there are moments in this film that are abnormally cool, so to speak.<br /><em><br /></em><div><em>Daydream Nation</em> features everything you'd expect from an indie teen film; a soundtrack featuring <em>Stars, </em>young guys experimenting with drugs, affairs with teachers, bike riding, house parties, cupcakes and of course Kat Dennings and Reece Thompson. I suck though, having not seen Reece Thompson in anything before seeing this film, so of course after falling in love with him after this I jumped onto imdb and wrote down everything he has been in followed by me going into work and searching all those films. (Yes, I can turn into a creep sometimes when it comes to cute male actors.)<br /><br />This is a super cool teen film. It's dark in parts and hilarious in others. Reece Thompson's character is quirky and adorable. Kat Dennings is the new girl in school; confident and sexy. But I can't help but notice she has a 'Keira Knightley nose' (looks like she's constipated most of the time) which is kind of distracting and annoying. I had noticed this before when I saw her in <em>Nick & Norah's Infinite Playlist, </em>I didn't let it ruin the movie for me then so this time was definitely no exception.<br /><br />I highly recommend this film to those of you who love a quirky indie teen film. Sure they're making a heck load of them these days, but like I have said before, this is one film genre that isn't getting old for me.<br /><br />Rating: 4/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-34009899927689139282011-06-25T21:40:00.000-07:002011-09-22T08:49:58.594-07:00B R I D E S M A I D S<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcLEt9aLsGpX00foIuPvhlNC5vWZSaSJVWnPXHsA9Wxonv-45piItcHOJw5EFHisgubNzpeh_tT9it1Z-QRuUhdAyLJUcJVEaJGcvcrWN3LEajDZgxxJ1cctJrJO7JMwfeOnAtAgCU4A/s1600/bridesmaids_movie_62129-480x360.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 300px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5622384463224586354" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibcLEt9aLsGpX00foIuPvhlNC5vWZSaSJVWnPXHsA9Wxonv-45piItcHOJw5EFHisgubNzpeh_tT9it1Z-QRuUhdAyLJUcJVEaJGcvcrWN3LEajDZgxxJ1cctJrJO7JMwfeOnAtAgCU4A/s400/bridesmaids_movie_62129-480x360.jpg" /></a><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">"I had a dream last night that we went down... you were in it." </span></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Okay so I'm not the kind of person to see a movie at the cinema more than once, mainly because I can see them for free when they come out on D.V.D. (perks of working at a video store). I have only ever done it with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> (I saw it three times, I kid you not) and now the hilarious film </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bridesmaids, </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">which I saw twice last week!</span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">I honestly don't think I have laughed so hard throughout a movie. There are hardly any moments in this film where you're not smiling or crying with laughter. I can't stop quoting it... "What kind of a name is Stove? Are you an appliance?" (If you have seen it, you totally just laughed then.)</div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So what is B</span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">ridesmaids</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> about, I hear you ask. It follows Annie (Kristen Wiig) who is asked by her best friend to be her maid of honour. It is after this we meet the bride's bridal party consisting of some amazing characters but the best is definitely the groom's sister, Megan played by the hilarious Melissa McCarthy. Her character is brilliant and provides for some super hilarious moments i.e. when she takes a whole bunch of labrador puppies (party favours) from the bridal shower. Amazing stuff!</span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">What I love about </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bridesmaids </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is that the characters are very relatable. The conversations that are shared between Annie and her best friend remind me a lot of my conversations with my best girl friends. It's also a female take on the male driven films that we love like </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">The 40-Year-Old Virgin</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> & </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Superbad. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Paul Feig has done a great job with </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Bridesmaids</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, it's super hilarious and still kind of keeps that chick flick feel without being overly lame. I could not say a bad thing about it. Go and see it!</span></div><br /><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: left">Rating: 4.5/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-25236743240358367952011-06-19T04:28:00.000-07:002011-09-22T08:50:18.950-07:00R A B B I T H O L E<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qiBfmqxtwbXN1sHjeYskvLIAUwbt54vsivq_K9FKqEO6tG5yhJp1fGV_u86RL3O1aIqu6XOX4VgzzYA9n0Lu0se82gjJFXciULcOFbqcYh1qWHtahLAjugnVetp-JFHrnVQzjWnarvk/s1600/ff2010_2_rabbit_hole.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 218px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5619895897825931826" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6qiBfmqxtwbXN1sHjeYskvLIAUwbt54vsivq_K9FKqEO6tG5yhJp1fGV_u86RL3O1aIqu6XOX4VgzzYA9n0Lu0se82gjJFXciULcOFbqcYh1qWHtahLAjugnVetp-JFHrnVQzjWnarvk/s400/ff2010_2_rabbit_hole.jpg" /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Kidman and Eckhart in a scene from the film</span></div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Okay, unlike a lot of people out there, I am not a Nicole Kidman hater. She doesn't shit me. I can see why some get irritated by her, but fortunately I can still watch films starring her and not want to throw myself off a bridge by the end of it. So with that being said, I was really looking forward to seeing </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rabbit Hole </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">starring Kidman of course and the awesome Aaron Eckhart (awesome because he was awesome in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Thank You for Smoking... </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">enough said). The film tells the story of Becca and Howie who are coping with the fact that their son died eight months ago. It's a hard topic to handle for </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shortbus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> director John Cameron Mitchell, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">(yes I couldn't quite believe it either... from </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Shortbus</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> to </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Rabbit Hole</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">, very interesting indeed) </span>but he does it well.</div><br /><div>Visually this film is shot beautifully. I really appreciate it when a film captures the small things and takes pleasure in them. Such as the simple moment of Kidman planting a flower in the beginning of the film where we see Kidman in focus and then the camera focuses on the flower. Simple. Beautiful. Mmmm yeah.</div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I also really liked Miles Teller in the film, a bit of a newcomer and someone I think we'll be seeing a lot of in the future. I won't go into detail who his character is but what I loved about his character was in the beginning we didn't see his face but rather these drawings he was creating for his comic book, 'Rabbit Hole.' (ahhh link to the title of the film!) The illustrations are so amazing to look at and are quite original in style. Whoever they got to draw those in the film is seriously talented.</span></div><br /><div>I truly enjoyed this film. I was completely engrossed in the characters' lives from beginning to end and even got a little teary! (Always a good sign for me)</div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">So I highly recommend to check it out unless you are one of those Nicole Kidman haters... shame on you! She was totally awesome in </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Moulin Rouge! </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Yep, I said it. </span></div><br /><div>Rating: 4/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-48236264358694185822011-06-04T07:56:00.000-07:002011-09-22T08:50:39.172-07:00U N M A D E B E D S<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqRe5n1NNrxV8cktjYFFyBJgz3BqrfNzwnzwmPu_d9G00GI-BQVrcDLF3ikrq9RZkU5HxawXas3UVtoc9CvjiiOoeyGXwe8hBAzxLIJWfMay0LaHdTgytqAjplbAhO9XISqF5qxAVUCE/s1600/unmade_beds.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 400px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 266px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5614382395282535714" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUqRe5n1NNrxV8cktjYFFyBJgz3BqrfNzwnzwmPu_d9G00GI-BQVrcDLF3ikrq9RZkU5HxawXas3UVtoc9CvjiiOoeyGXwe8hBAzxLIJWfMay0LaHdTgytqAjplbAhO9XISqF5qxAVUCE/s400/unmade_beds.jpg" /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Vera and the babe aka my new obsession...</span></div><br /><div>I literally just finished watching<i> Unmade Beds</i>. Yes I can't hold back the excitement, I have to type this now, that's how freaking amazing this film was. I'm sure this review will be poorly written but alas I am way to antsy, fingers must type away now.</div><br /><div>So why did I see this film? One of my favourite customers happened to return it this evening & upon returning it informed me that she Loved this film. Without hesitation I returned it in the system & then immediately brought up my name & scanned that baby!</div><br /><div>The film is set in London where foreigners, Vera & Axl are living/visiting. They both live in the same warehouse but they don't come acquainted til two thirds into the film. Axl is sweet & all but Vera totally stole it for me. Her story is such an intriguing one. It seems she has just broken up with her boyfriend and in amongst getting over him, she meets a strange man in a bar. They spend a night together in a motel where they just sleep & nothing more. Then as fate has it they run into each other again and after that encounter they decide to keep seeing each other but never exchange numbers or tell each other their names; just set a date and place and meet up. This relationship they share is so exciting and the way it's shown is done so beautifully. For example, one time when they meet we are shown clips of them catching a train, walking along a beach, smoking cigarettes and overhead we hear a conversation between them where they reveal a secret about themselves. Visually it is so beautiful but we never see them have this conversation we just hear it. So good!</div><br /><div>I got to tell you I am so in love with this man that Vera shares this unusual relationship with. He got me giddy from the get go. This may lead to me watching every film he has ever been in... Yes once I see a babe in a film I am all over that (I am a creep).</div><br /><div>This film was told and shot so beautifully. It makes me really appreciate being young and makes me want to make the most of my youth whilst it's still around... I kind of just want to party now and meet a boy. Yep.</div><br /><div>Rating: 4.5/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3494261825548866751.post-11497449693772769322011-05-20T05:29:00.000-07:002011-09-22T08:51:01.048-07:00W I L D A T H E A R T<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBCpqVj25vyDZbrb1Gs3T7o2Nx8dCVVUNlefnkbh5keM8Mq8xeLS0461BOadedc79oDPMy4pm_jCF_hxvQCBtHgUrs-XZaDwj80MXtPHBsg9gwDk5Od3tXyQTyJ9ifmDzddwrU9N8M1o/s1600/wildatheart..png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; MARGIN: 0px auto 10px; WIDTH: 244px; DISPLAY: block; HEIGHT: 400px; CURSOR: hand" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5608779071719587026" border="0" alt="" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNBCpqVj25vyDZbrb1Gs3T7o2Nx8dCVVUNlefnkbh5keM8Mq8xeLS0461BOadedc79oDPMy4pm_jCF_hxvQCBtHgUrs-XZaDwj80MXtPHBsg9gwDk5Od3tXyQTyJ9ifmDzddwrU9N8M1o/s400/wildatheart..png" /></a><div style="TEXT-ALIGN: center"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqPA2jzsB_T6gbluGpPScGZqU376-Yi1qMFyIYhwFG_U0gdjJT8jojzL33MDprr24U702eUkoelGGZMz4UaKokTqzqFsyiv8yqHGHYk2MDOTGQEVPa1oBejEn-gE-lWF8T2g_eLsMSJ2s/s1600/wildatheart..png" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><span style="COLOR: rgb(0,0,0); -webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none" class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:x-small;">Some still shots from the film. Bobby Peru pictured third from the top... oh so creepy!</span></span></a></div><br /><div>David Lynch. Painter. Filmmaker. Musician. Iconic. Genius. Unique. So damn cool. (oh & babe.)</div><br /><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Just some words that come to mind when I think of David Lynch. Just in case you didn't notice... I am a fan of the man that is David Lynch. I have been obsessed with him ever since viewing </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Mulholland Drive. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I may have caught on late but after seeing some of his other gems like Blue Velvet & the best TV show ever created: Twin Peaks!!! I have gone crazy over this guy, grabbing as many books as I can on the guy and reading as much as I can about him. It was after reading </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Lynch on Lynch</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;"> that I became interested in his film </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wild At Heart. </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">I finally saw this film a week ago and let me tell you, my feelings for Lynch have not changed, the film made me love him even more. (Yes in my fantasy world I am madly in love with Lynch).</span></div><br /><div><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">Wild At Heart </span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size:small;">is so Lynch-esque. It's dark, hilarious in parts, totally whack and inspiringly creative. I loved his use of close-up shots of something as simple as lighting a match and then the smoking of a cigarette. The sound effects used in this re-occurring shot are also amazing. I love Lynch's use of sound in his film, it's so creative and intense. The story follows young lovers Lula and Sailor on the run from Lula's overprotective mother, Marietta (who is a total nut by the way and covers her entire face in red lipstick at one point in the film - amazing scene!). In amongst this long road trip we are encountered with some strange characters, Bobby Peru being a noteworthy mention (boy is he a scary looking man). Another noteworthy mention is a scene where Lula is talking about her crazy cousin Dell. It is completely unrelated to the storyline but it's such a great moment in the film where we see a little moment of Dell's mannerisms and for that short moment you are left in hysterics. I have re-watched it on YouTube so many times and laugh every time.</span></div><br /><div>I really could go on and on about this film. It is high up there now with my favourite films of all time. I could not get enough of it. I am a biased Lynch fan but fuck it, I'm giving this a very high rating.</div><br /><div>Rating: 5/5</div>Elly Bruinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03402013439259136460noreply@blogger.com0