The Kids Are All Right

The family

I'm still trying to work out how I feel about this film. I appreciate it for its originality, incredible acting and all round terrific storyline but unfortunately there were unresolved parts that left me feeling a little disappointed.

The Kids Are All Right revolves around a modern day family; two children and their lesbian mums. When Joni & Laser decide to get in contact with the sperm donor who made their family possible, things begin to change and Nic, the head of the family, doesn't like it.

The film isn't all serious, there are moments where you find yourself laughing quite loud i.e. an interesting D.V.D. that the two mums have sex to, makes for some awkward yet hilarious moments. The acting is also remarkable, but what do you expect when you have a film starring Julianne Moore, Annette Bening and Mark Ruffalo (I'm also a big fan of the Alice in Wonderland star now, Mia Wasikowska, an absolutely stunning yet quirky girl, I'm expecting big things!) Julianne Moore and Annette Bening are perfect as the lesbian mums, there's nothing stereotypical about their roles, they act them out perfectly and flawlessly.

But of course there is the matter of unanswered questions. I'm not going to give the story away, but at the end you are kind of left asking but then what happens with so and so, why are we left with this part unresolved. I guess it's left to interpretation or just assumption, which I can accept, but you can't help but feel a little uneasy.

Overall, I was pretty pleased with the film. It's not something I'd go out and rush to see again, but I'd recommend to those who are in the mood for something original and less Hollywood.

Rating: 3.5/5

Badlands, Carrie & Scott Pilgrim vs the World

Okay, so I'm going to do something kind of different today, rather than review one film I'm going to post a few films I have seen since watching New York, I Love You, with a little rant about what I thought of them and then a rating. I'm doing this firstly because I'm avoiding my assignment which involves me creating an animation in Flash (kill me), and also because I've been a bit slack and haven't posted anything for nearly a month.

Badlands (1973).

The dancing scene! So adorable. And goddamn, Martin Sheen was such a babe in his time.

I absolutely adored this film. Having found out about it from reading one of my favourite coffee table books, 1001 Movies You Must See Before You Die, I went out and purchased it straight away. Unfortunately, being as lazy as I am, I didn't get around to watching it 'til about two months after purchasing it (I still haven't watched Dr Strangelove either, which I purchased in early 2008). Martin Sheen & Sissy Spacek are perfect as the young couple on the run. A favourite part in the film of mine is when they live in their tree house home out in the middle of nowhere. There's an adorable moment when they're just dancing around to their portable radio, it's so sweet. This film has inspired me to check out Director, Malick's other stuff. The Thin Red Line is on the top of my list.

Rating: 4/5

Carrie (1976).

Oh no! Carrie got her period!

Having seen Badlands, I wanted to check out some more of Sissy Spacek's earlier stuff so decided to rent out the horror classic, Carrie. Yeah, I'm not going to lie, usually I love old horror films but Carrie has aged pretty badly. The film opens with a female changeroom at a highschool showing naked schoolgirls walking around. This was a very long opening, basically just filming breasts and bushes all in slow motion... I watched this with my friend Katie and we both just had to laugh because we didn't quite get what the point of it was and it was a little uncomfortable to watch. There's a lot of slapping of students by the gym teacher and just awkward scenes between Carrie and her mother. I enjoyed Sissy Spacek as the character Carrie but apart from that I was a little disappointed and didn't find the film all that frightening.

Rating: 2.5/5

Scott Pilgrim vs the World.

ahhhhmazing!

Yay! I have been long awaiting this film since discovering it on the Internet Movie Database about a year ago. I constantly stalk Michael Cera and Jason Schwartzman's imdb profiles to find out what upcoming films they'll be starring in and to discover they were to be in a film together just got me super antsy. This film definitely doesn't disappoint. Amazing characters (Wallace, a definite favourite played by Kieran Culkin), computer game styling, a band called Sex Bob-omb and amazing fighting scenes where Scott Pilgrim must defeat the seven evil ex's. I went to this one on my own and haven't regretted it. Sitting there and viewing this on my own was one of the best moments of my life. I was so so happy that day. I highly recommend all to see this and view it's glory!

Rating: 5/5

New York, I Love You

A scene from Natalie Portman's short film

Ok, I'm feeling a little hesitant about reviewing New York, I Love You because I see it as a bit of a challenge. So rather than bailing on it, I'm going to give it a shot (this could very much be my worst review, but I'm willing to take a risk).

What makes this so difficult is the fact that New York, I Love You is made up of a bunch of short films. For those of you who have seen Paris, Je T'aime, you will be familiar with the concept. Much like the short films set in Paris, France, New York, I Love You, does the same only in the city of New York (obviously). I loved Paris, Je T'aime, so eagerly awaited to see the same concept taken on in the city of New York. And surprisingly, it seems I prefer love stories told from New York. I actually enjoyed most of the love stories that were shown to me, particularly the ones directed by Brett Ratner, Natalie Portman, Faith Akin and Joshua Marston. Natalie Portman's short film was the one that stood out to me the most though. Her film felt like it was directed by the likes of Sofia Coppola. The shots are beautiful, focusing on the beauty of Central Park, through the eyes of a young girl and her father.

As a single girl, it is somewhat depressing to watch a film(s) like this because it only makes you long for what's on the screen. At the same time, however, I could only kind of laugh at how spontaneous and unbelievable a few of these characters were. So many of them easily approach the other character and talk so openly about sex and whatnot. I wasn't buying it all the time but still found it to be enjoyable viewing nonetheless. As someone who is travelling to New York at the end of the year it only made me want to leave even more, not to find someone, but rather for the beauty that is New York City. The actual city is something you can fall in love with and I think that was something that was portrayed in the film through the way the settings were shot. Natalie Portman's film is of course a huge example of this.

Don't be put off by the fact that the film is made up of a bunch of love stories, they are far from cliche so you won't be rolling your eyes too much...

Rating: 3.5/5

Zodiac

Jake Gyllenhaal & Chloe Sevigny in a scene from the film

I have literally just finished watching Zodiac and I am buzzing so much after it that I don't think I'll sleep at all tonight. Don't be put off by it's 2 and a half hour length, it moves so quickly you could have sworn you sat down to watch it for an hour.

I am a big fan of murder mysteries. My cousin Bree & I lived on documentaries and films on true murder mysteries when we were growing up and are still watching them now. Of course it scared us but we were so drawn in by it that we couldn't stop watching it. We followed stories such the Frankston murders case, the Cromwell St murders, the Ivan Milat murders and more. But I had never once heard of the Zodiac murders on which this film is based.

The Zodiac murders case spans over a number of years following a few killings made by this man who goes by the name of the Zodiac. He promotes himself by writing letters to the newspapers as well as ones in code which people must decipher to find out more about him. I really don't want to give anything away though and I recommend not doing any research before the film because it will only spoil it. Just do what I'm going to do, which is reading about it after! (Something which I do far too often i.e. after I saw Changeling, I was reading about those murders for a few weeks. It's just so damn interesting).

When you have a cast starring actors as brilliant as Mark Ruffalo, Jake Gyllenhaal, Robert Downey Jr and Chloe Sevigny it's highly unlikely you'll be left disappointed. One key thing that really drew me in was the Director being David Fincher who brought us other great films such as Fight Club and Se7en. The cast really don't disappoint, the performances are superb. There is also one scene which truly frightened me, I was hiding behind my pillow in parts, (this rarely happens with me).

I could not recommend this film anymore! Save it for a rainy day when you've got some spare time, or better yet go and hire it right now and watch it immediately! (I am writing this at 1am in the morning though, so am thinking of you readers who are reading this during video store hours).

Rating: 4.5/5

Note: My last 3 paragraphs ended in bracketed sentences, hmmm.

A Single Man

Stills from the film that show Tom Ford's use of experimentation with colour

What drew me into seeing this film was the unusual trailer that was playing on the loop DVD at my work. I think if my review isn't enough to make you want to see Tom Ford's film debut, at least check out the trailer and be amazed. Watch it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aypyJtHzC70

The film is just as hypnotic as its trailer. Ford's use of colour and camera angles/shots are absolutely mesmerizing! And being a fan of Mad Men now, I appreciated the setting being in 1960s America. Ah I just love the fashion, cars and furniture in this film. After seeing Julianne Moore apply eyeliner to her eyes the way she did, I am determined to try it out myself!

Aside from the beauty of the look of the film, the storyline is somewhat lacking. I did thoroughly enjoy the acting by all actors (and if you're not a fan of Colin Firth's usual 'Mr Darcy' role, you'll be quite pleased by this alternative role) and the story was rather intriguing throughout, until the end though. I felt like it was missing something but I just don't know what. A Single Man was originally based on a novel by Christopher Isherwood, so I don't know if it was him that gave up near the end or Ford with the screenplay. I am intrigued to find out if someone else agrees with me on this but unfortunately I don't know anyone else who has seen it. If you have, please let me know what you think!

Despite this though, the film has done very well for itself, receiving Oscar nominations and rave reviews. I should also mention, Nicholas Hoult, who you will recognise as Tony from Skins, makes for a very sexy gay man. I feel kind of weird for saying that, but I am just hoping he is a straight man in real life so it makes me look less strange.

Rating: 4/5

Mad Men

Apologies for not posting anything recently. I honestly haven't been watching many films, and the ones that I have seen I feel are not blog worthy.

Jon Hamm pictured centre and Christina Hendricks in the green

Lately, however, I have been watching a TV series called Mad Men which I am very much addicted to. The series is set in the 1960s focusing on a fictional advertising agency called Sterling Cooper. The title of the series comes from the name given to men who worked in Madison Avenue. They were called Mad Men, obviously taking from the name Madison.

There are so many reasons why I love this series. For one I love the look of the 60s with the fashion, furniture and of course the kind of advertising they did back then with happy housewifes and the ideal American family. The show glamorizes this era with men and women wearing fancy outfits, smoking two packs of cigarettes a day, drinking scotch at 12pm and having scandalous affairs. But of course life isn't always glamourous when we are shown characters' deep and dark secrets and the reality of this 'rich' lifestyle.

The actors are all really spectacular in this series with worthy mentions going to Jon Hamm as the mysterious Don Draper and Christina Hendricks as the voluptuous Joan Holloway.

I'm only halfway through the second series but it should be mentioned there is also a third series available on DVD and the fourth series will air on TV soon.

Rating: 4/5

Bright Star

Abbie Cornish in a scene from the film

It's when I watch a film like Bright Star that I want to runaway to England and fall in love with an English boy. That or I want to be taken back to the 19th century so I can have a boy speak to me in such a gentlemanly manner and woo me with his poetry.

I love period pieces. There's nothing like listening to people speaking so politely, viewing beautiful scenery and handsome men to admire. I'm a huge fan of the BBCs version of Pride & Prejudice, so anything set during the same period will naturally draw me in.

Bright Star tells the true story of the romance shared between poet, John Keats (Ben Whishaw) and student of fashion, Fanny Brawne (Abbie Cornish). Both are delightful in their roles and the romance shared between them is so believable, you feel your heart race when they share their first kiss and when he proposes.

God I'm such a sap for this type of thing, but this truly is a gorgeous piece of work. It's so moving, it even got some tears out of me at the end. That being said though, films are the main source of my crying these days.

This is a beautiful film that I will highly recommend to all that enjoy a romance film with quality.

Rating: 4/5