A Look At Four Foreign Films

When 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.

Trishna (2011)

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.

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.

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.

It's a tragic story that leaves you with an ambiguous ending that is a little frustrating.

Carne trémula/Live Flesh (1997)

This Spanish film, set in Madrid, comes from the ever so talented Pedro Almodóvar, who I have become obsessed with ever since seeing All About My Mother and The Skin I Live In.

This film stars a very young Penelope Cruz who has featured in many of Almodóvar's films as well as Javier Bardem who is now married to Cruz. Live Flesh 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.

When watching an Almodóvar film you got to be prepared for some raunchy sex scenes, Live Flesh 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.

I will always be in awe of Almodóvar's creations, I am eager to see many more of his films. And I always love hearing the Spanish language.

Dayereh/The Circle (2000)

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 A Separation and the film adaptation of the graphic novel Persepolis; both films set in Iran, both stayed with me long after the viewing. I think Jafar Panahi's The Circle will have the same effect.

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.

The Circle 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.

Så som i himmelen/As It Is In Heaven (2004)

I really wanted to like this movie. I really did. Instead I just felt annoyed and aggravated by it.
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.

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. 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??? 

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.

Celeste & Jesse Forever

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 Celeste & Jesse Forever does.

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.

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.

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.
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.

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!

Rating: 4/5

Ruby Sparks | Wuthering Heights | Silver Linings Playbook | Liberal Arts

RUBY SPARKS

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.
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.
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.

WUTHERING HEIGHTS (2011)

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.
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.
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.
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.

SILVER LININGS PLAYBOOK

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.
This is such an original film with really great performances that keep you intrigued for the duration of the film.
And Jennifer Lawrence, so hot right now. I will see anything with her in it.
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.
Definitely check this one out.

LIBERAL ARTS

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.
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.
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.

Hitchcock

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!

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.

'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.
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.

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.

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.

It's such a relief I enjoyed this film.

Rating: 4/5

TV - Top 3 Series I'm Currently Watching

I 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.
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.
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).
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).

FRINGE

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.

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.

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.

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.

ADVENTURE TIME WITH FINN AND JAKE

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.

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.

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.

I can't stop spreading the word about this series. Seriously, get on it! You will not be disappointed.

BREAKING BAD

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. 

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.

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.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower

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 The Perks of Being a Wallflower, 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)

The Perks of Being a Wallflower 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.

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).

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!

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).

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!

Rating: 4.5/5

Seven Days, Seven Movies

DAY ONE: Thelma and Louise

Some times I think that Ridley Scott has only ever made Sci-Fi films like Alien, Blade Runner & more recently, Prometheus. But he has actually made more action films (a lot with Russell Crowe starring in the main role), including the 1991 classic, Thelma and Louise.
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.
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.

DAY TWO: 30 Minutes or Less

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 Pineapple Express as Red) and Aziz Ansari (who is Tom, the Indian wannabe African-American in Parks and Recreation). I should have expected as much though because it comes from Director Ruben Fleischer, who directed the the also very disappointing, Zombieland, which only had one funny scene featuring Bill Murray.
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.

DAY THREE: Martha Marcy May Marlene

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. 
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.
And if you watch it on DVD, be sure to check out the director's short film, Mary Last Seen, 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.

DAY FOUR: My Week with Marilyn

Whoever thought this film could actually work? A true story depicting the time Marilyn Monroe spent in England to make Laurence Olivier's film, The Prince and the Showgirl, 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.
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.
It's such a great film and I frown upon the critics who say it is a film about nothing.

DAY FIVE: The Skin I Live In

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.
It is definitely my pick of the week and the best film I have seen since Drive.

DAY SIX: Friends With Kids

Yay! I love a film starring Saturday Night Live actors (Bridesmaids getting a worthy mention). This stars a bunch of Bridesmaids 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).
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.
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!

DAY SEVEN: Kramer vs Kramer

1970s Meryl Streep = total babe! Aside from that, Kramer vs Kramer 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.