Thoughts

Am I the only one who is annoyed with the new blogger layout thingy? Ugh.


1) Biggest casting news/ controversy of the week- Chloe Moretz has been cast as Carrie White in the remake of the 1976 horror classic. The role had been made famous by the incredible Sissy Spacek. After the news broke out, I actually rewatched the film, and yes, I too cannot see Moretz playing the part of the shy and troubled teen. She would be a good Chris Hargensen if you ask me. Their hairstyles look similar as well. Apparently for the role of the dreaded Margaret White, they are trying to cast Jodie Foster or Julianne Moore. They both played Clarice Starling, which is a weird connection for this role. But I can see both of them being very good, especially Moore. So at the end of the day I am pretty against this whole project because I just know they'll have the dying students filming the prom scene in their IPhones in order to "modernise" it; and if they absolutely must do it, just cast someone more suitable for the role.


2) You know what film should be made already- a Bacall and Bogie biopic. There is a really wonderful quote by Lauren Bacall that I absolutely love, "No one has ever written a romance better than we lived it" about her stormy and passionate relationship with Humphrey Bogart. If that ain't a basis to make a movie, I don't know what is. Also they should make it now because Emma Stone HAS to play Bacall. She can do the voice and they even look similar. She was born to play this part and we will have to wait many, many years to get someone this perfect again (the reason I am so freely giving out MY ideas). For Bogart, I think Johnny Depp or even Viggo Mortensen would be ideal. He was less classically handsome, however swoon-worthy still, and a real man. Make this happen you lazy bums at Hollywood. Please!


3) So I was looking at my Youtube homepage for trailers because no big trailer has been released this week as everyone is too busy watching The Hunger Games, and I came across the news that Liam Neeson will be appearing in The Dark Knight Rises as his character from Batman Begins, Ra's Al Ghul. I am totally blanking here- did he not die in the film? Anyways, I'm so excited for TDKR *insert teenage girl scream*!!


4) While Moretz as Carrie as the biggest casting news, the BEST casting news of the week is that Stanley Tucci will be co-starring with Emma Watson in David Yates's Your Voice in My Head! I had originally been a bit against this project, but casting the absolutely lovely Tucci in place of people like George Clooney and Tom Hanks is such a huge plus point. I love Stanley Tucci. His characters make me happy. From The Devil Wears Prada to The Terminal, and even Captain America, he always brings something to the table. His super creepy role in The Lovely Bones too made me smile... a bit... at the start. He is my favourite underrated actor and it is simply superb that he is getting to be a lead in a film like this. Of course my favourite underrated lead actor is Ewan McGregor. When will they understand his worth? (And unfortunately, that is mostly a rhetorical question).


5) Did I say there were no big trailers this week? Scratch that- a HUGE trailer, i.e., the teaser to The Twilight Saga: Breaking Dawn, part 2 has been released *insert a truckload of teenage girls' screams*!!! Oh good lord. Edward actually says the words, "We're the same temperature now." That is possibly the WORST line I have ever heard in a film. The only response I can come up with to that would be "Ha ha ha. What a story, Mark," from the epic, The Room. This line has never been used more appropriately than here. 


6) Finally, this is funny but also sadly true-

I don't know why but this makes me think of all the remakes that *will* take place in the future...

Bye kids.

Thoughts

Yes I am a couple of days late. Had to watch this huge adaptation which everyone loves etcetera etcetera.

1) Speaking of which, you know how many people are not going to watch The Hunger Games this weekend due to the crazy hype? I have decided not to review it because of the overwhelming number of reviews in my dash (all excellent ones o'course). My priority right now is the acquire the book asap, even though I am currently super broke. Also my mother, who I saw the movie with, does not approve of all the killing in it and thinks that I am crazy for wanting to read it. So glad I never saw Fight Club with her. My excellent best friend has suggested that I should sell her Twilight books online and buy The Hunger Games with the money. So proud of her :D

2) Photos- I did a poll on him, but I forgot to talk about how freaking amazing Daniel Radcliffe looks à la Allen Ginsberg on the set of Kill Your Darlings! Tumblr has exploded with fangirls crying over his poofy hair and perfect face and stuff. Also another Emma Watson has donned on some extensions for her role in Sofia Coppola's Bling Ring. Apparently she's not the lead, but she has some dance in it with a gun while being scantily dressed (so says Tumblr). Then there are photos of Hugh Jackman as Jean Valijean from the set of Les Miserables. It looks pretty intense, and if Tom Hooper makes this film properly, I may start to stop hating him a little bit for stealing that Oscar from David Fincher. And I might finally read the book. Lastly, there are photos from the set of To Rome With Love. Jesse Eisenberg and Ellen Page look adorable, but I liked the previous two names of the project, i.e., Bop Decameron and Nero Fiddled so much better.


3) Trailers- good week. It started with the awesome full trailer of Prometheus. I still don't get it completely, but it looks pretty darn amazing. It will definitely be a visual treat, if not anything else. Then another Charlize Theron flick, Snow White and the Huntsman has its official trailer out. This too looks spectacular, and I want a Queen Ravenna poster for my room. Then Abraham Lincolm: Vampire Hunter has another trailer out which gives us a little bit more insight into the film. I like the OTT aspect of this film and I think it will definitely be fun. Robert Pattinson is getting ready to totally shirk off his sparkly girl-toy image with Cosmopolis. The teaser looks completely insane. I don't know how much I will like the film, but I am pretty excited to see what Pattinson is going to do with such an extreme role. The almost opposite of him is Oscar nominee Saoirse Ronan who is going to be seen in the Stephenie Meyers's "non-Twilight" book's adapatation, The Host. Why is she doing this? Also, what a terrible teaser.


4) Speaking of trailers, they showed the trailer of Street Dance 2 before The Hunger Games. It actually says it is "THE BIGGEST MOVIE OF THE YEAR". I mean do they really think that? I am all for ambition, but that is sort of extremely ridiculous. Also there was the trailer of the water Transformers movie, Battleship, which I had totally ignored. Why does it have Rihanna? Why does it have Alexander Skarsgård? And why is Liam Neeson in it?! What madness!!


5) New Doctor Who companion! Jenna-Louise Coleman. She seems sweet, but I desperately wanted a male companion for Matt Smith's Doctor. But according to head-writer and total troll Steven Moffat, she will meet him in the most surprising of ways, in the Christmas episode of this year. And the episode before that it the goodbye to Amy and Rory Pond, played by Karen Gillan and Arthur Darvill. I cannot imagine Matt without Karen! How awful :'( This episode has the dreaded Weeping Angels returning, and "not everyone gets out alive this time". I really hope Moffat doesn't kill off the Ponds. That will be awful and I will cry buckets of tears. Also there is Doctor Who convention going on in Cardiff right now, and I am sitting in my room in a whole another continent. FML! (Sorry- had to vent).


6) Finally, did anyone notice how Peeta threw bread to Katniss in The Hunger Games? Too funny.

I regret nothing.

Byees.

"I am to provide the public with beneficial shocks."- Alfred Hitchcock

Can films shock us into liking them?

            It is a thought that occurred after having seen two movies recently that left me completely shaken.

           The first was American History X, which is a film outpouring with hate, of the worst kind. It is sickening to think that actual people exist who are capable of so much unnecessary and inhumane hatred. Edward Norton's performance itself sends chills down one's spine. There are a few truly shocking moments in this film. I would like to talk about one in particular, which is the ending. I for one, am not the biggest fan of it. I think its main purpose, if not the sole one, is to shock us so much that we can't forget it. But is that the same as liking it? After reading another blogger's review of the film did I find any meaning in it. Otherwise I thought it was a good cinematic trick to make one remember the movie through the shock, and then maybe also because it follows the path of some truly great movies that have ended in a similar way.

          The second film that I saw was Saving Private Ryan. This too is a very violent film, and even though we can never truly understand what war feels like just by watching it, we are completely stunned and horrified by it nonetheless. The film is so ruthless and hard-hitting in this aspect, that the actual story sort of faded in comparison. It is only after I had started to recover from all of that, did the story began to sink in. And then just thinking about it, the whole mission shown in the film seemed futile to me. I don't think any good came out of it, even for the ones who survived. But then it is the shock element that saved the film for me and I got why it was so important. The truth is that there never is a logical or well thought-out reason for wars where so many men die and kill each other. But they do happen, and in the horror of it all people are so shaken and benumbed, that they do whatever they are told and don't really consider the reasons behind it. It is that alarming and terrifying a place to be and in this way I think the film gets us as close to real wars as films can possible get.

          Now this was one kind of shock that films provide us with, which are fortunately unknown to most of us in real life. The other kind that I will talk about is a whole another ball game. Okay so I am nineteen years old, as you may or may not know. The main bulk of the better movies that I have seen in my life have been watched within the last four or five years. Basically it was most of my teenage, which is considered by many as the "formative" years of a person's life. At the risk of sounding like a loser valedictorian in a terrible high school movie, these were the years when I basically found my voice and formed my ideas and thoughts and personality and whatnot. And since films play such a huge part in my life, they were crucial during this whole process too. So when a relatively prudish sixteen year old watches A Clockwork Orange for the first time, it is quite shocking a film to take it all in. Yes this film too is violent, or rather a bit "ultraviolent", but it honestly was all the nudity that astonished me. I did like the film immediately, but in retrospect I think a big reason for that was probably that I thought it was cool to like something this shocking. I think many a times, especially while growing up, we say that we like something because it is cool and bold and mad. It was only after I read the book and then watched it again that I truly loved it for all it was. 

          I guess I can club this experience with another film, one that I saw after some time, that is The Dreamers. This film had such an outrageous depiction of sexuality that I think I was a even bit scared of it originally. I think everyone must have gone through a phase like this during their adolescence. You may have undergone this phase before me but do keep in mind the huge cultural gap I have with most of you reading this. Anyways, the shocking nature of sex shown in films like these are kind of eye-openers, and I mean that in the cleanest sense. I would even go as far as to say that it helps us accept and understand the world and the kinds of people in it better. We grow up from being people who giggle at things or are "grossed out" by them to those who can perceive things as they are and just move on.

            Of course now both these films are among my absolute favourites.

            For obvious reasons, I will not talk about horror films in this context. But I will talk about the apparent "horror" movie, Antichrist. Now this is prime example, in my opinion, where the filmmaker intends to shock us so much that we may begin to think that we are watching something profound. It is the worst. The last half hour of this film is incredibly agonizing to sit through. Like how I spoke about the "cool" aspect of liking things above, this film feeds on a similar idea of showing something incredibly mundane and confusing that no one comprehends but then it gets accepted as a mind-blowing ballsy work of art, because people are oh so hip and deep. I am not trying to insult anyone who likes this film or their intelligence, but I think this film is one of the many that uses the element of shock to bewilder people into getting things that aren't really there to get.

         So in conclusion of what I hope is a slightly coherent article, I would just like to say that these are a few of my experiences with shocks in movies. If I had to answer my question, I think I would say that films do not necessarily shock us into liking them, but the shocks can almost guarantee a second watch that could lead us to forming better opinions of them, positive or negative. Except Antichrist. Never watching that again.

What do you think?

“I don't think there is any truth. There are only points of view. ”~ Allen Ginsberg

Ginsberg was pretty awesome. Very soon we will be shown two different versions of him in two very diverse films played by two British actors, both who hold unique places in my heart.

First we have Tom Sturridge, who will be playing Jack Kerouac's version of Ginsberg, Carlo Marx, in the upcoming film adaptation of On the Road. He was the reason I got into this film and the book and consequently Ginsberg himself.

I know the film will mainly focus on other characters, but I loved mad and amazing Carlo in the book. I do hope Sturridge does him justice.

Then we have Daniel Radcliffe playing the poet in Kill Your Darlings, which will focus on a murder and the birth of the Beat Generation. 

Radcliffe is my favourite person in the world and this is going to be a very interesting project. He seems to be going all the way for this. He has brown eyes even, which is insane!

I don't know if I have really presented their cases, but I do have a poll! Yaayy! Choose your British Ginsberg, people of the blogosphere and beyond.

Keep 'em coming - 7X7 Link Awards

The fantastic Diana from Aziza's picks gave me this award. It's nice and fun and I even get to bitch about people. A bit :P Hurrah!

Okay rules-

1) Tell something that no one knows about me- I actually had to take help from my best friend for this. Her first suggestion was obviously to tell everyone I have the awesomest best friend in existence, but I'll use the other one: I have a fetish for red lipstick. I guess it comes from films, especially those set before 60s, where the women always wear red lipstick and they just seem to glow. I think it is endlessly classy and cool and the people who think it is trampy, well I feel sorry for their closed minds and dead souls.

2) Link to one of my posts that I personally think best fits the following categories: Most Beautiful Piece, Most Helpful Piece, Most Popular Piece, Most Controversial Piece, Most Surprisingly Successful Piece, Most Underrated Piece, and Most Pride-Worthy Piece. 

*I can't decide on just one for many of them. I am indecisive too, but you already knew that.

Most Beautiful Piece- Firstly Marie Antoinette vs A Single Man as it compares the two most beautiful films that I have seen. Secondly  this one because like duh (Stevee would be happy).

Most Helpful Piece- Ha why would people come to this blog for help? I don't think I have written anything remotely helpful to anyone, but maybe if by chance film makers come across this post, they will hopefully stop killing kids in films.

Most Popular Piece- Well the one with the most page views has nothing to do with films at all and the views are only on the basis of the pictures. The next one is also because of the pictures but it has film value- my favourite stars in black and white. The post with the most comments is the one on the posters of 2011.

Most Controversial Piece- I think it will have to be my thoughts on morality and films.

Most Surprisingly Successful Piece- Films that made me which I posted during my 18th birthday celebrations. It is a predecessor to my 100 Favourite Films somewhat, but what amazes me about it is that it has no pictures. So I suppose I must have done something right :)

Most Underrated Piece- I guess this is the prime example of my sense of humour totally missing its mark, but I really thought my post about band names made from films was going to become viral or something. 

Most Pride-Worthy Piece- I have three. First is my goodbye letter to Harry Potter which is really close to my heart. Then my comparison of Holocaust Horrors- Schindler's List and The Pianist, that people actually read. Finally what I think is the best review that I have written, There Will Be Blood.

3) Linkin' on to seven other bloggers-

Sati of Cinematic Corner

Stevee of Cinematic Paradox

Lesya of Eternity of Dream

Cherokee of Feminising Film

Ruth of ...lets be splendid about this...

Mette of Lime Reviews and Strawberry Confessions

M. Hufstader of The Smoking Pen

Hope you liked it.

Thoughts

1) Trailers- Let's just delve right into it, shall we? I sort of feel like writing an ode to Eva Green à la Angelique Bouchard after watching the Dark Shadows trailer. Never thought it was possible for me to write or even think this, but this trailer has too much Johnny Depp *gasp*! I was kind of expecting it to be a Michelle Pfeiffer fest, because I love that woman. But what it lacks in La Pfeiffer, it makes up with Green's sex-crazed witch-goddess act. I can't help but like the intro to the 70s with the music and the lava lamp and the "Reveal yourself tiny songstress!" Also I have a good feeling that I will make HBC my newest role model after watching the film- I love that voice and that attitude. Chloe Moretz is getting annoying though, and after watching the Addams Family movies this week, I wish she would have been a tad Wednesday-esque. On the whole it looks good-ish, slightly funnier than what I expected. I really hope Tim Burton and Johnny Depp and Michelle Pfeiffer all succeed in this. God knows they, and I, need it. The other big trailer this week was On the Road's, which I already somewhat discussed here. There is also Now is Good starring Dakota Fanning and certified pretty boy Jeremy Irvine. It looks like it will be depressing, but nice still. I like Irvine in the leather jacket so I will probably see it (shallow people be hailed!).

2) Rupert Grint will star in The Drummer, a film about the last years of Beach Boys' drummer Dennis Wilson's life. I am so glad that the trio are getting acting jobs after the end of the Harry Potter series. As expected, Emma Watson is most in demand and Daniel Radcliffe too is lining up roles, mostly thanks to his awesome personality, but I was quite skeptic about Grint's ability to land roles. But thankfully, this kind of role seems perfect for him. He will play a mail-room intern who befriended Wilson. Wilson will be played by the always-brilliant Aaron Eckhart. Also joining the cast is the amazing Vera Farmiga as Fleetwood Mac singer Christina McVie and mini-Jessica Chastain only in terms of ubiquity and nothing else, Chloe Moretz as Wilson's daughter.

3) Speaking of in-demand fourteen year olds, Elle Fanning will play Sleeping Beauty opposite Angelina Jolie's Maleficient, in Disney's Maleficient. I am all for this. I love both these actresses, and post-Oscar-leg, I think Jolie would be deliciously brilliant in this role. I want to say that I can think of an actor who would do the Prince role well, but I don't know. Maybe Logan Lerman? Or what about Matt Lewis? He's totally hot now, even though there is no chance in hell either of them will be able to hold their own in the presence of Jolie.

4) I have been watching a lot of sitcoms this week. Well not a lot, just Bored to Death and Parks and Recreation. The former is witty-ish and the cast is nice, but it isn't really that funny. Or maybe I haven't yet reached the part when it gets good. The latter is fantastic, and by that I do mean me-falling-on-the-floor-and-rolling-like-a-potato-sack-and-laughing-and-crying-hysterically fantastic!! I want to be April Ludgate. I know I'm pretty late to this party, as it takes me a long time to get to TV shows, but boy am I glad that I have arrived!

5) Finally, following the Dark Shadows chain of thought, and the unending anticipation for The Avengers, I give you this-

LAWYERED!

Catwoman > Ironman.

Toodles.

"Why do we spend our time living through them?"

          I love films. I really do, but there are times when I feel like the films that I loved when I was younger are the only ones that will stick with me properly. I feel that I am getting more and more cynical and irritable and frankly stupid, especially over the last couple of years, and that this may get in my way in enjoying films the way I used to. I know it is a dumb thought and that I am relatively quite young and my film knowledge is minuscule, but it still worries me a bit. Well, it worries me a lot because I don't know what I would do in my life if I stopped loving films. Thankfully there are enough films out there, though it takes me a while to get to them, that make me, for lack of a better word, reaffirm my faith in cinema and its power to shock, entertain and inspire.

          I'll give you an example before starting this apparent review (it is coming, I promise!). As stated above, my film knowledge is tiny and I had never seen a Robert Altman film up until last month. I started with MASH and then a few days back saw The Player. Needless to say, I enjoyed both of these films immensely, but that little spark that goes off when I really fall in love with a film didn't happen. So of course, the feeling of doom that I described earlier took hold of me and I started thinking that if I don't love films by a bona fide master like Altman, whose films have inspired film makers such as P.T. Anderson, how could I justify calling myself a cinephile (I am really paranoid, if you haven't guessed that already)? It is then that I sat down and watched a film that I know comes on the TV a lot but I have never watched because I thought it would be "dull" and I would hate it. The film is Gosford Park. And oh glorious cinema!

          If I had to give the most basic of plots, I would just quote the character of Morris Weissman from the film, "Most of it takes place at a shooting party in a country house. Sort of like this one, actually. Murder in the middle of the night, a lot of guests for the weekend, everyone's a suspect. You know, that sort of thing." Of course that is just the first layer. The story is set in early 30s, in a wealthy British home where a shooting party has been arranged. There is a wide range of characters present, divided between the "upstairs" or the rich masters group, and the "downstairs" or the group of servants. A few main ones are Sir William and Lady Sylvia McCordle, who live in Gosford Park and are the hosts, their aunt Countess Constance and her lady maid Mary, Weissman and his valet Henry Denton and actor Ivor Novello, the Stockbridges' valet Parks, Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Croft who are in charge of staff dowstairs, the housemaid Elsie and the footman George.


          Altman is known for his genius of making films with large ensembles. In Gosford Park, he takes it to a whole another level by showing the interactions between all these characters, within their own units and with each other. Everyone is besot with problems, and most of their problems are related to the haughty and cruel Sir Williams. But being the perfect guests and the perfect servants, they all have to follow a code of conduct and act cordially towards each other. There is plenty of gossip and scandals that come to light, and show how the many characters are each imperfect in their own way, no matter what is their standing in the society. And yes, a murder does take place, but in the grand scheme of this film, it is only a plot point.

          Another plot point would be the social commentary. I love the little worlds that this film tries to explore. I think there are many films that have shown the British upper class and similarly many that have shown the troubles of the servant class. Each come with their own brand of wit and humour. One cannot choose which one is better or more proper or anything. In many ways the rules and regulations of correct behavior  followed "downstairs" is more rigorous than "upstairs". We also see how the upper class exploits the lower class, but the film doesn't judge them very harshly because everyone is human there. One instance is when the Inspector and his constable come to investigate the murder. The former represents the upper class and tries to look all competent and he hushes his lower class partner whenever he actually unearths some substantial clues. It is all very funny, and I found that very commendable because we are not supposed to criticize them, but just observe things as they were, or rather still are.


          Then it also shows us a bygone age where etiquette came first and everything else followed. I have seen films from and about this era, but I don't think I have ever seen anything that shows the workings of a household like in Gosford Park. The character of Constance is a prime model for this. She looks like someone who belonged in a different age, when kings and queens were still prominent- she even wears a tiara to the dinner. The way she interacts with everyone younger than her, whether it be her naive lady maid or the oh so disagreeable Novello, we can understand how much she doesn't belong there, just like us if we were there. But she has fun, and so do we. As I said, this film makes us observe things and here the setting isn't just a setting, but an important part of the whole story. Gosford Park is as much about Gosford Park as it is about anything else.

          Cast-wise, this film is abundant with fantastic actors. I think everyone will agree that Dame Maggie Smith as Constance is easily the standout, but after her I feel everyone else has the same footing. All their little stories are intertwined and are equally important in the telling of the story. I thought everyone from the proud and mean McCordles played by Michael Gambon and Kristin Scott Thomas, the sweet Mary played by Kelly Macdonald, the seemingly honest Parks played by Clive Owen, the slightly slimy George played by Richard E. Grant, the conflicted and good-natured Elsie played by Emily Watson, the upright Mrs. Wilson played by Helen Mirren and then the obviously pouty and disagreeable Henry Denton played by Ryan Phillipe (no one does spoilt quite like him), was great. There are many others- the one that made me happiest was Stephen Fry as the Inspector. I don't know why Helen Mirren was nominated for her role though; I personally feel her character and performance was just as good as that of Macdonald or Watson. Maggie Smith however, was absolutely fabulous. She is the funniest, most unique and entertaining character of the lot, and even though she gives off the airs of a snob, she is quite kind-hearted still. I loved watching her every time she was there on the screen.


          Of the seven Oscars that Gosford Park was nominated for, it only won for Best Original Screenplay (robbed in the other categories by the completely inferior A Beautiful Mind). Julian Fellowes was given the job because Altman felt that he knew how such houses worked. And as I wrote earlier, that is one of the many charms of the film. He did so and gave the many characters depth and richness. He manages to explore the "upstairs" world and the "downstairs" world superbly. I love the dialogue, and how different it is for both these places. It is funny and snappy and sad and shocking, all in the right measure. There are parts of it which are obviously improvised by the many actors, but even so, to create such complex characters is more than commendable and absolutely award-worthy.

             Since I am talking about award-worthy things, I thought the cinematography and the music in the film were absolutely impeccable. Even though most of the film is set within a massive manor, it looks absolutely beautiful. The wooden interiors, and lamps and candles, and the different lighting for "upstairs" and "downstairs" make it such a treat for the eyes. I love how the beauty of the house accompanies the ugliness of its inhabitants. Also, it was very much crucial to the Agatha Christie-esque whodunnit murder mystery aspect of the film. Then the score by Patrick Doyle, which is understated but adds to the mood and the loveliness of the setting, is ideal. Finally the Ivor Novello songs that are sung by Jeremy Northam, who was playing the character, or by his brother, are excellent for two reasons. One because of the remarks by Maggie Smith's character throughout, which are hilarious, and the other because of the way it leads, rather deceivingly and brilliantly, to the act of murder. I think these two scenes, along with the one which has Mrs. Wilson and Mrs. Croft towards the end, stick with me the most.


         Finally, finally, I come to directing and to Altman. As I said, I am completely in awe by how he was able to direct so many actors and so perfectly too. I like the way he lures us into this film, into all of these characters, and into Gosford Park. I could not tear my eyes away from the screen. So many facets to a film that could have as simple as how Mr. Weissman describes it. And most fantastically, Altman does manage to mystify us with that part of the story as well. Another thing was the comedy. Yes I have seen only three of his films, but all of them had a certain sense of humour about them and I think it works best for me in this film. It isn't harsh or sarcastic or anything, but one look from Maggie Smith or a phone call for Weissman or even just a glimpse of Sir Williams beloved dog, and we cannot help but be amused. To make a British period murder mystery comedy which provides an insight into the workings of the upper class and the lower class and their varied natures, and well; if that doesn't make me a die-hard fan, I don't know what will! Simply put, I am blown away by Mr. Altman's work here.

           Coming a full circle, films like Gosford Park, directors like Robert Altman and actors like Maggie Smith make me thankful for the art of cinema. Even if I try to stop loving films, I know that gems like these would never let me, and that once again I will be filled with wonder and amazement.

Married Life

One of my absolute favourite scenes ever. The happiness, the sadness, and most of all the love. Pixar can really create magic, and this scene, in all its simplicity, is probably the most magical of them all.

So I did my first podcast...

... and it was interesting. It was part of Random Ramblings of a Demented Doorknob's The Demented Podcast. I was anxious as hell. I mean I had planned on being really funny and witty and smart, but well I was a total James Franco. Also in between my dad woke up and started screaming in Hindi. But fortunately unfortunately most of the podcast was lost. I don't mind all that much because I hate my voice and stuff (why do people talk to me?).

    Still it was a good experience and I am very thankful to Nick and Steve for inviting me to do this.

"Somewhere along the line I knew there'd be girls, visions, everything..."- Jack Kerouac, On the Road

          One of my favourite things about being a female cinephile (I guess it's the same for guys) is that I tend to watch practically every film of an actor I am currently obsessing over. There have been quite a few over the years. One of which was Tom Sturridge. Now he hasn't come in a lot of films, so it also became a sort of anticipation-mixed-celebrity crushing in which I wait and wait for the next film he does to gush over how brilliant and *obviously* gorgeous he is. The last proper film he came in was The Boat that Rocked in 2009, which I love. It was then that he became attached to play Carlo Marx in the film adaptation of Beat Bible, On the Road.


           Now I had not really heard a lot about the book before this even though I had gone through my Bob Dylan phase. But then I went ahead and bought it and read it and loved it. I started listening to Allen Ginsberg reading Howl on Youtube whenever I felt pissed off, and collecting Charles Bukowski poems from Tumblr. So you can say that I was hooked onto this idea. But then the film never released last year as it was supposed to.


         Finally, after waiting for nearly two years, when the hormones have worn off and all I want is to see a decent albeit bound-to-be-slightly-disappointing adaptation, the trailer to On the Road has been released. I like the trailer. I had inhibitions about Garrett Hedlund and Kristen Stewart playing iconic characters like Dean Moriarty and Marylou, but they look good, or rather good enough. I have been a fan of Sam Riley ever since I saw the incredible Control, so I think he'll do this well. And the rest of the cast, which has Kirsten Dunst, Amy Adams, Viggo Mortensen and yes, Sturridge (a part of me can't help but cry "YAAAAY!!") look pretty spot on though even though I pictured them a little differently. My favourite part of the trailer is of course that they used possibly my favourite quote from the book in it, the quote that made me sit back and think that I am reading something important here,

“And I shambled after as I've been doing my whole life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars.”

        I have seen parts of The Motorcycle Diaries so Walter Salles looks like an able director. The look is great. Things are loud and mad. And I know Oscars just got over and I should not be thinking of all this, but the two male leads and perhaps Stewart and Mortensen could get awards recognition for this film. So yes, all in all, the trailer does make me feel that the wait has been worth it. As it says in the book, "...and the things that were to come are too fantastic not to tell."

Thoughts

I am sorry I am late again. Okay thoughts.

1) So I introduced my younger brother to Ghostbusters this week. And he loves it! I feel proud. Also, he has declared that Stay Puft Marshmallow Man is the greatest villain of all time. Good stuff.

2) Woody Allen will be starring in John Turturro's new film, Fading Gigolo. This film will also star Sharon Stone and Modern Family's Sofia Vergara. I'm pretty psyched. I find the whole idea of neurotic and nervous Allen conversing with loud and occasionally incoherent Vergara incredibly hilarious. Also I love Turturro, though I haven't seen any of the films he has directed.  

3) Pictures and posters- Johnny Depp's next two films have pictures out. First there is Tim Burton's Dark Shadows. It looks cool (Miss Pfeiffer is the SHIT), but I'm scared to expect a lot. In all fairness I have never not liked a Burton film except Planet of the Apes (I'm terrified of that one). But I was watching Edward Scissorhands last week, and both Burton and Depp together had so much potential then, and they seem to be just wasting it. Especially Depp. Gah!! His other film is The Lone Ranger, which also has Armie Hammer. It's so obvious Johnny Depp would be wearing a crow on his head. He needs to do something toned down and brilliant. He is one of the greats. It's about time he shows that again. Then poster-wise, we have the absolutely lovely Moonrise Kingdom. I had this Matt Smith black and white photo as my desktop wallpaper for about six months since it has the weeping angel and the Ood head and the bow tie and Matt's incredible bone structure etc. and I couldn't find anything to replace it with. But the poster has done it. It is so beautiful and childlike and romantic. I am completely in love with it.


4) I saw American Horror Story this week. It started out terribly. I hate it when things jump around in films and tv shows. I need a flow in things, or I get annoyed very quickly. Thankfully the show picked up its pace and started focusing on things. I really liked Jessica Lange in it, and Zachary Quinto was a pleasant surprise. Taissa Farmiga is really pretty and perfect for a Sofia Coppola film (her next role). Finally I'm in love with a ghost (Tate <3). This always happens. I'm looking forward to the next season in which everything will start anew. I like it when that happens because I generally cannot watch TV shows as they tend to drag on forever.


5) Trailers- Men In Black 3 which is starting to look decent-ish, though I can't really imagine Andy Warhol being an alien-fighting secret agent. Ice Age: Continental Drift has a trailer. Now logically speaking, how is it possible for the same group of animals to survive the Ice Age, the end of Ice Age, whatever the hell happened in the 3rd one (was it dinosaurs?) and now breaking up of the continents? Did it even happen this fast? I'm sorry but this is all I can think of. I don't hate these films and enjoy then adequately (I always cry at the end of the first one), but enough. Brave's Japanese Trailer is awesomeness itself. I almost want to watch it in Japanese now, but I love Scottish accents. Finally people will get off this film's back and stop comparing it to How to Train a Dragon. Pixar FTW.


6) Speaking of Pixar, an artist named Kyle Lambert has made a series of paintings entirely on his IPad, mashing up Toy Story and Stanley Kubrick's horror classic The Shining. It's pretty rad and well, makes one look at the cartoon film in a whole new light.


7) Finally, the Scorsese drinking game has gotten pretty famous. Let's hope we can start a new trend.

YASSS.

I like how I get excited by all this, even though I come from a family of teetotalers.

Okay byee.

"Maybe our favourite quotations say more about us than the stories and the people we're quoting." - John Green

     I'll go a step ahead of the incredibly talented Mr. Green here and say, maybe these quotations even teach us somethings, that perhaps if we weren't such cinephiles, we would have never known about. These are the 101 things that films have taught me:

1) The following is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to persons living or dead is purely coincidental. Especially you Jenny Beckman. Bitch. -(500) Days of Summer

2) I haven't got a brain... only straw.  -Wizard of Oz

3) I am Jack's smirking revenge.
I am Jack's cold sweat.
I am Jack's raging bile duct.
I am Jack's complete lack of surprise.
I am Jack's wasted life.
I am Jack's inflamed sense of rejection.
I am Jack's broken heart.
- Fight Club

4) We'll always have Paris. -Casablanca

5) You see, before he came down here, it never snowed. And afterwards, it did. If he weren't up there now... I don't think it would be snowing. Sometimes you can still catch me dancing in it. -Edward Scissorhands

6) There are some places that the road doesn't go in a circle. There are some places where the road keeps going. -Pleasantville

7) Oh bliss! Bliss and heaven! Oh, it was gorgeousness and gorgeousity made flesh. It was like a bird of rarest-spun heaven metal or like silvery wine flowing in a spaceship, gravity all nonsense now. As I slooshied, I knew such lovely pictures! -A Clockwork Orange

8) Tom, try to understand. You'll be fine. In your world, things have a way of always working out right. -The Purple Rose of Cairo

9) Nazis. I hate these guys. -Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

10) My friends, I address you all tonight as you truly are; wizards, mermaids, travelers, adventurers, magicians... Come and dream with me. -Hugo

11) Isn't everything we do in life a way to be loved a little more? -Before Sunrise

12) She needs to sort out her priorities. -Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone

13) Meet me... in Montauk... -Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind

14) Look, in my opinion, the best thing you can do is find a person who loves you for exactly what you are. Good mood, bad mood, ugly, pretty, handsome, what have you, the right person is still going to think the sun shines out your ass. That's the kind of person that's worth sticking with. -Juno

15) You're all flops. I am the Earth Mother, and you are all flops. -Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?


16) Luke, I am your father. -Star Wars Episode V: Empire Strikes Back

17) You can never replace anyone because everyone is made up of such beautiful specific details. -Before Sunset

18) When you grow up, your heart dies. -The Breakfast Club

19) Fuck me, I love Keats. -Bridget Jones's Diary

20) Listen, look, I know you think I'm very boring, you know... but once I ripped my vest off in front of a woman, and... it was very effective actually. It produced a very atavistic response. -Submarine

21) Oh man! I shot Marvin in the face! -Pulp Fiction

22) People will say we're in love. -The Silence of the Lambs

23) Christian, you may see me only as a drunken, vice-ridden gnome whose friends are just pimps and girls from the brothels. But I know about art and love, if only because I long for it with every fiber of my being. -Moulin Rouge!

24) These are hard times for dreamers. -Amelie

25) Anyone can cook. -Ratatouille

26) She's gone. She gave me a pen. I gave her my heart, she gave me a pen. -Say Anything

27) Drop the "The." Just "Facebook." It's cleaner. -The Social Network

28) When she jumped, she probably thought she could fly. -The Virgin Suicides

29) Rock and Roll is a prostitute, it should be tarted up. -Velvet Goldmine

30) Whether to kill yourself or not is one of the most important decisions a teenager can make. -Heathers

31) Look, other bands, they want to make it about sex or pain, but you know, The Beatles, they had it all figured out, okay? "I Want to Hold Your Hand." The first single. It's effing brilliant, right? That's what everybody wants, Nicky. They don't want a twenty-four-hour hump sesh, they don't want to be married to you for a hundred years. They just want to hold your hand. -Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist

32) All men are islands. And what's more, this is the time to be one. This is an island age. -About A Boy

33) One does not simply walk into Mordor. -Lord of the Rings: Fellowship of the Ring

34) Don't say anything at all. Nothing. Then, when the tension becomes too much to bear, you finally, finally, you just say: "How about it, then?" -The Boat that Rocked


35) Glen Coco? FOUR for you, Glenn Coco! You go, Glenn Coco. -Mean Girls

36) They say girls are always mean to the boys they like. So maybe Ruth had liked him all along. Maybe I should have teased him too. -Never Let Me Go


37) Wiggle your big toe. -Kill Bill Vol. 1

38) I don't believe in God, but if I did, he would be a black, left-handed guitarist. -The Dreamers

39) The rifle is the first weapon you learn how to use, because it lets you keep your distance from the client. The closer you get to being a pro, the closer you can get to the client. The knife, for example, is the last thing you learn. -Leon the Professional

40) Love is too weak a word for what I feel - I luuurve you, you know, I loave you, I luff you, two F's, yes I have to invent, of course I - I do, don't you think I do? -Annie Hall

41) Mrs. Robinson, you are trying to seduce me. -The Graduate


42) That's the way it crumbles... cookie-wise. -The Apartment

43) I am the king of the world! -Titanic

44) Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it. -Ferris Beuller's Day Off

45) Oh, I lie now and then, I suppose. Sometimes I'd tell them the truth and they still wouldn't believe me, so I prefer to lie. -The 400 Blows

46) I got some bad ideas in my head. -Taxi Driver

47) I love you, and you don't pay me. -My Own Private Idaho

48) We are Sex Bob-Omb and we are here to make you think about death and get sad and stuff. -Scott Pilgrim Vs The World

49) People are always talking about freedom. Freedom to live a certain way, without being kicked around. Course the more you live a certain way, the less it feel like freedom. Me, I can change during the course of a day. I wake and I'm one person, when I go to sleep I know for certain I'm somebody else. I don't know who I am most of the time. -I'm Not There

50) There's nothing tragic about being fifty. Not unless you're trying to be twenty-five. -Sunset Boulevard

51) You don't buy black lingerie unless you want someone to see it. -10 Things I Hate About You

52) I'm going to burn down the cinema on Nazi night. -Inglourious Basterds

53) There is truth, and there are lies, and art always tells the truth. Even when it's lying. -Being John Malkovich

54) What came first, the music or the misery? People worry about kids playing with guns, or watching violent videos, that some sort of culture of violence will take them over. Nobody worries about kids listening to thousands, literally thousands of songs about heartbreak, rejection, pain, misery and loss. Did I listen to pop music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to pop music? -High Fidelity 

55) If heaven is such a wonderful place, how is getting crucified such a big fucking sacrifice? -Igby Goes Down

56) Let's never come here again because it would never be as much fun. -Lost in Translation

57) By all means move at a glacial pace. You know how that thrills me. -The Devil Wears Prada

58) The truth is… I am Ironman. -Ironman

59) Hey Paul! Try getting a reservation at Dorsia now, you fucking stupid bastard! -American Psycho

60) I am a star. I'm a star, I'm a star, I'm a star. I am a big, bright, shining star. That's right. -Boogie Nights

61) Dear Leonard. To look life in the face, always, to look life in the face and to know it for what it is. At last to know it, to love it for what it is, and then, to put it away. Leonard, always the years between us, always the years. Always the love. Always the hours. -The Hours


62) I detest cheap sentiment. -All About Eve

63) It is very difficult for me to be happy, and for other people, it just seems so simple. -Young Adult

64) That Paris exists and anyone could choose to live anywhere else in the world will always be a mystery to me. -Midnight in Paris

65) Choose Life. Choose a job. Choose a career. Choose a family. Choose a fucking big television, choose washing machines, cars, compact disc players and electrical tin openers. Choose good health, low cholesterol, and dental insurance. Choose fixed interest mortgage repayments. Choose a starter home. Choose your friends. Choose leisurewear and matching luggage. Choose a three-piece suit on hire purchase in a range of fucking fabrics. Choose DIY and wondering who the fuck you are on Sunday morning. Choose sitting on that couch watching mind-numbing, spirit-crushing game shows, stuffing fucking junk food into your mouth. Choose rotting away at the end of it all, pissing your last in a miserable home, nothing more than an embarrassment to the selfish, fucked up brats you spawned to replace yourselves. Choose your future. Choose life... But why would I want to do a thing like that? I chose not to choose life. I chose somethin' else. And the reasons? There are no reasons. Who needs reasons when you've got heroin? -Trainspotting

66) Learning mechanics is easier than learning male psychology. You can figure out a bike, but you can never figure out a man. -Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown

67) We are not Groupies. Groupies sleep with rockstars because they want to be near someone famous. We are here because of the music, we inspire the music. We are Band Aids. -Almost Famous

68) It's too bad she won't live! But then again, who does? -Blade Runner

69) I'm gonna treat you so nice, you're never gonna let me go. -Pretty Woman

70) What a piece of work is a man! How noble in reason! How infinite in faculties! How like an angel in apprehension. How like a god! The beauty of the world! The paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me, no, nor women neither. Nor women neither. -Withnail and I

71) Heeeere's Johnny! -The Shining

72) This is where I live. This is me. I will not allow violence against this house. -Straw Dogs

73) I didn't even know where Bruges fucking was. It's in Belgium. -In Bruges

74)  Now Woody, he's been my pal for as long as I can remember. He's brave, like a cowboy should be. And kind, and smart. But the thing that makes Woody special, is he'll never give up on you... ever. He'll be there for you, no matter what. -Toy Story 3

75) They say when you meet the love of your life, time stops, and that's true. What they don't tell you is that when it starts again, it moves extra fast to catch up. -Big Fish

76) I don't want realism. I want magic! Yes, yes, magic. I try to give that to people. I do misrepresent things. I don't tell truths. I tell what ought to be truth. -A Streetcar Named Desire

77)  Moses supposes his toeses are roses, but Moses supposes erroneously. Moses he knowses his toeses aren't roses as Moses supposes his toeses to be. -Singin' in the Rain

78) I like the pink. It's like candy. -Marie Antoinette

79) Fuckin' beauty queens blowing chunks everywhere. I-I've never seen anything like it before, and I live in L.A. -Drop Dead Gorgeous

80) That's all he ever wanted out of life... was love. That's the tragedy of Charles Foster Kane. You see, he just didn't have any to give. -Citizen Kane

81) I'm thinking thin. -Requiem for a Dream

82) You're not anybody in America unless you're on TV. On TV is where we learn about who we really are. Because what's the point of doing anything worthwhile if nobody's watching? And if people are watching, it makes you a better person. -To Die For

83) Oh, my God! I wrote a hit play! And I'm in love with you. -Rushmore

84) The greatest trick the Devil ever pulled was convincing the world he didn't exist. And like that, poof. He's gone. -The Usual Suspects

85) You can go to places in the world with pudding. That's funny. -Punch-Drunk Love


86) As the sound of the playgrounds faded, the despair set in. Very odd, what happens in a world without children's voices. -Children of Men

86) He's all right! Aren't you, cat? Poor cat! Poor slob! Poor slob without a name! The way I see it I haven't got the right to give him one. We don't belong to each other. We just took up one day by the river. I don't want to own anything until I find a place where me and things go together. I'm not sure where that is but I know what it is like. It's like Tiffany's. -Breakfast at Tiffany's

87) Franz thinks of everything and nothing. He wonders if the world is becoming a dream or if the dream is becoming the world. -Bande à part

88) I am a false prophet! God is a superstition! I am a false prophet! God is a superstition! I am a false prophet! God is a superstition! -There Will Be Blood

89) You're tearing me apart! -Rebel Without a Cause

90) You know, that guy Jay's got it right, man. He has no delusions about what he does. Us... we like to make ourselves seem so much more important than the people that come in here to buy a paper, or, God forbid... cigarettes. We look down on them as if we're so advanced. Well, if we're so fucking advanced, what are we doing working here? -Clerks

91) Sometimes there's so much beauty in the world, I feel like I can't take it, and my heart is just going to cave in. -American Beauty

92)You can do it Bruce! -Matilda

93) I believe whatever doesn't kill you, simply makes you... stranger. -The Dark Knight

94) I hope they are watching... they'll see. They'll see and they'll know, and they'll say, "Why, she wouldn't even harm a fly." -Psycho

95) Vice, Virtue. It's best not to be too moral. You cheat yourself out of too much *life.* Aim above morality. If you apply that to life, then you're bound to live life fully. -Harold and Maude

96) This isn't a hospital. It's an insane asylum. -M.A.S.H.

97) The way I see it, if you're gonna build a time machine into a car, why not do it with some style? -Back to the Future

98) Take car. Go to Mum's. Kill Phil - "Sorry." - grab Liz, go to the Winchester, have a nice cold pint, and wait for all of this to blow over. How's that for a slice of fried gold? -Shaun of the Dead

99) As you wish. -Princess Bride

100) Nobody's perfect. There was never a perfect person around. You just have half-angel and half-devil in you. -Days of Heaven

101) Good morning, and in case I don't see you, good afternoon, good evening, and good night! -The Truman Show