tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-91482200428504027962024-03-13T18:43:19.720+05:30Being Norma JeaneNikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.comBlogger555125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-5920126413436528862023-02-11T16:30:00.003+05:302023-02-11T16:31:00.288+05:30Favourite K-Pop Songs of 2022<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZDFic00uVQNynpWlP5SlyDEI-OFQsUXwqK7Z257DvqWIfCWs59KioKuu1Vko3nbejGV8kDdjpYWxqspvHGsYqF6ALfYEWUs0jzM21_INBOack3BFvWknE_5V__oXjS8VDG8X5cACEwe-kKPNdh6447WB9TuDAVr4gI8bDo4cDlA2qFKk0oGuStSfig/s1500/Best%20kpop%202022.png" style="font-family: helvetica; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="1500" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhXZDFic00uVQNynpWlP5SlyDEI-OFQsUXwqK7Z257DvqWIfCWs59KioKuu1Vko3nbejGV8kDdjpYWxqspvHGsYqF6ALfYEWUs0jzM21_INBOack3BFvWknE_5V__oXjS8VDG8X5cACEwe-kKPNdh6447WB9TuDAVr4gI8bDo4cDlA2qFKk0oGuStSfig/w640-h320/Best%20kpop%202022.png" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"> </span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm back! With this list! I hope to make some film lists too because 2022 was a great year for films, but you know what else was really good this year? K-Pop, obviously. It was also a very tumultous year for me personally because my beloved BTS went on a group hiatus. However, that did give me a chance to dig a little deeper into the discographies of other artists.</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Honourable Mentions: <i>"Love</i>" by Monsta X, <i>"Hype Boy"</i> by NewJeans, <i>"Opening Sequence"</i> by TXT, <i>"Don Quixote"</i> by Seventeen, <i>"2 Baddies"</i> by NCT 127, <i>"Shut Down"</i> by Blackpink, <i>"1, 2, 3 Eoi!"</i> by Mamamoo, <i>"Sour"</i> by The Rose, <i>"Sexy Nukim"</i> by Balming Tiger (Ft. RM), <i>"Crush Hour"</i> by Crush (Ft. J Hope).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">10) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pKdBFeewZYE" width="640" youtube-src-id="pKdBFeewZYE"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"More"</i> by J-Hope</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">NO ONE thought sweet, adorable, the personification of sunshine itself J-Hope had this song in him. While the darker theme is shocking, what is being said, or rather shouted, is very much a continuation of both BTS's and Hobi's own messaging and journey. The mix of rock and hip-hop is honestly thrilling but it's J-Hope's flow that's the star of the song (like it is in almost every BTS song).</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">9) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/vJvX9L6FCWI" width="640" youtube-src-id="vJvX9L6FCWI"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"Heart Burn"</i> by Sunmi</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The first time I heard this, I thought it was nice but forgettable. Boy, was I wrong! The song gets stuck in your head and you find yourself humming it all day long. Also I’m pretty sure the music video is inspired by the wonderfully wacky <i>The Love Witch</i> so it gets extra points for that. </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">PS. This entry is dedicated to my Sunmi fangirl friend, Sasha :D</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">8) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/8dJyRm2jJ-U" width="640" youtube-src-id="8dJyRm2jJ-U"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"That That"</i> by PSY Ft. Suga</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The purest serotonin rush of last year was when Suga superhero landed into frame with an eagle cry announcing his entry, in the jubilant <i>"That That"</i>. This song just makes one want to dance. It's hilarious, entertaining and catchy as hell!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">7) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/r5n1GCY-nYQ" width="640" youtube-src-id="r5n1GCY-nYQ"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"But You"</i> by Ikon</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was an early contender for my favourite song of the year because it's very much made for me. The 80s pop feel, the desperate romantic lyrics, the absolutely gorgeous video- all catnip for someone like me. I also really loved the way the different voices switch and layer throughout the song, which help in creating its perfect dreamy atmosphere. A bop!</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">6) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/4vbDFu0PUew" width="640" youtube-src-id="4vbDFu0PUew"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"Fearless"</i> by Le Sserafim</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is hands down the most 2000s Bollywood sounding song of the year/decade, in a good way. It's pure nostalgia porn to me. Pre-teen Nikhat has danced many a dance on a song like this. Pure vibes. No notes.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">5) </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/2vfmL4q2koo" width="640" youtube-src-id="2vfmL4q2koo"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/uQM5fAzsfTc" width="640" youtube-src-id="uQM5fAzsfTc"></iframe></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;"><b><u><i>"Still Life"/"Change Pt. 2"</i> by RM</u></b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Your girl cannot choose. Honestly, picking just two songs from this album was difficult enough. On one hand, <i>"Still Life"</i> is poetic, artistic and the perfect amount of funky thanks to the delightful Anderson .Paak, and the video is a doozy. And on the other side, we have <i>"Change Pt. 2" </i>which just sort of stops you in the tracks with its beat and swag and Namjoon's immaculate delivery. Reportedly he was drunk when he recorded it, and that rawness gives the song an edge that's hard to talk about without fanning oneself.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">4)</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/cpB2ZMzXrss" width="640" youtube-src-id="cpB2ZMzXrss"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"BTBT" </i>by B.I. x Soulja Boy Ft. DeVita</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Full confession- I have no idea what "BTBT" means or what this song is about. It just sounds incredibly sexy and hip and the dance video pretty much matches that feeling. The dancers are absolutely fantastic and this video is endlessly rewatchable.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">PPS. This entry is dedicated to my B.I./Ikon fangirl pal, Getter :D</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">3) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/pSUydWEqKwE" width="640" youtube-src-id="pSUydWEqKwE"></iframe></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"Ditto" </i>by NewJeans</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had been thinking about this list for the last couple of months of 2022 and was pretty certain about what my picks were going to be. Enter NewJeans with <i>"Ditto"</i> on friggin 19th December, who managed to almost obliterate the competition in one breezy, dreampop-y bang. The moment that first "Woo woo woo woo ooh" hit, I was completely under its spell. It's girl pop perfection, equal parts mesmerizing and wistful, and obviously an earworm to boot. The video is reminiscent of <i>The Virgin Suicides</i> with a tasty little twist at the end.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">2) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/c6ASQOwKkhk" width="640" youtube-src-id="c6ASQOwKkhk"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"The Astronaut"</i> by Jin</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Jin was the first member of BTS to enlist in Korean mandatory military service and it was a moment all of us in the fandom had been dreading for years. On the flipside, all of us were very excited about what his first solo venture would sound like, and <i>"The Astronaut"</i> was everything we wanted and more. Along with his besties Coldplay, Jin gifted us a gorgeous pop rock piece about love and farewells and promised returns. The music video is one of the most cinematic BTS ones yet, capturing the heartbreaking beauty of the song and Jin's worldwide handsome looks.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">1) </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/aqW4xXUgmno" width="640" youtube-src-id="aqW4xXUgmno"></iframe></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><b><u><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><i>"Run BTS"</i> by BTS</span></u></b></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">The moment I heard Yoongi's "Yeah yeah" backed by guitar riffs, I knew I was in for a ride. And it has felt the same way each and every time I have heard this song. The reasons I love this song are many of the reasons I love BTS itself. For starters, naming this song <i>"Run BTS"</i> which is not only the name of their hilarious and legendary variety show, but also a regular motif in their music (BTS's <i>"Run</i>" is an underrated classic) was fucking awesome! It is reminiscent of the hip-hop heavy tracks that made BTS so beloved in the first place, but it also exhibits their growth and expertise through each of the members' performances. The vocal line is the smooth and sexy counterpart to the rapline's fire verses. The lyrics is an ode to BTS itself, their hard work, their relationship but it also functions a call to action to themselves, which is almost poignant given their hiatus. The way the song feels like it could have only been made by BTS, the choreography hits you in the same manner! It is precise yet free, hard but cool. The moment the group's leader RM stands above them all, leading them and us, singing "Run beautiful, run yeah you gotta run" gives me goosebumps no matter how many times (and there have been many many many times) that I watch it. This is the BTS I love and adore and they're here to stay.</span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">And that's all folks. K-Pop is becoming bigger and bigger every year so do list down some of your own favs! Byeeeeeee!</span></p>Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-51586965331913494542022-01-02T14:38:00.001+05:302022-01-02T18:04:23.812+05:30Favourite K-Pop songs of 2021<p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9qvV_-YXLIZZ6XJF8_TbTkA4j4HskbnMyujpTGZ2qBBXZ0VUdzlqOdZxFs7MGq5rLxIm5MiBHGuhMoe3oqG9jDZl7YGA154NFm_zlScbAvsUkKTa1-iIP-PMLPgqfScYKP0NkQeltOgcOYyoZMiog7bQtsZeJa7c78lIVQHAJfAwAWbu_Dp4TR6P17Q=s6912" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3456" data-original-width="6912" height="375" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEj9qvV_-YXLIZZ6XJF8_TbTkA4j4HskbnMyujpTGZ2qBBXZ0VUdzlqOdZxFs7MGq5rLxIm5MiBHGuhMoe3oqG9jDZl7YGA154NFm_zlScbAvsUkKTa1-iIP-PMLPgqfScYKP0NkQeltOgcOYyoZMiog7bQtsZeJa7c78lIVQHAJfAwAWbu_Dp4TR6P17Q=w640-h320" width="750" /></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;">Hello everyone and a very happy New Year!</span><p></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><span>2021 was easily the worst year I have ever lived through and I am very happy to see it go. However, one of the things that got me through it is *cue surprised gasps* K-Pop! I admittedly mostly listened to older favs but thanks to my fellow chick with accent </span><a href="https://twitter.com/MettelRay" target="_blank">Getter</a><span> and this list by </span><a href="https://www.teenvogue.com/story/best-k-pop-songs-2021" target="_blank">Teen Vogue</a><span>, I was able to fill up some blind spots. In fact, I was so into some of them, I thought why not come back to my rusty old blog and talk about them!</span></span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;">If you are among the few awesome people who still know me from my blogging days, I think you are well acquainted with my love for BTS. Some day I might write about them in detail but in case you're remotely interested in exploring the world of K-Pop, I wanted to help you get started on that journey :P This is a vast, varied and extremely fun genre that's obviously becoming a huge thing now. I know probably only like 10% of what is out there but this year I want to enjoy just being a fan of things, and hopefully write about them too. So please do enjoy this list and I hope you find some new favourites too!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><b>Honourable mentions-</b> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qRdTyoZd3rg" target="_blank">"Rush Hour"</a> by Monsta X, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s1kwS3riCQI" target="_blank">"I'm a B"</a> by Hwasa, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WzcjCrmKBqg" target="_blank">"Cinema"</a> by CIX, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tGaff8z5wCo" target="_blank">"Spicy"</a> by CL (Remix), <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SK6Sm2Ki9tI" target="_blank">"Traffic Light"</a> by Lee Mujin, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YY0HKm51q-c" target="_blank">"Anti-Romantic"</a> by TXT, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WAXmph1FEI0" target="_blank">"Yours"</a> by Jin, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xmxcnf2v_gs" target="_blank">"Stereotype"</a> by STAYC, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GLlP-CNlY9I" target="_blank">"Red Lipstick"</a> by Lee Hi </span></p><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>10) Rock With You by Seventeen</b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WpuatuzSDK4" width="640" youtube-src-id="WpuatuzSDK4"></iframe></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It's an impossibly sweet song with a very catchy chorus that just makes you wanna bop your head.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>9) Peaches by Kai</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/GUdnTGnm6Yk" width="640" youtube-src-id="GUdnTGnm6Yk"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I'm going to give you all <b><u>One</u></b> guess what this song is about... The video is absolutely mesmerizing and Kai looks like an absolute dream.</span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>8) Rosario by Epik High ft. CL and Zico</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/FCsLikmxhV0" width="640" youtube-src-id="FCsLikmxhV0"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">It is an absolute perfect collaboration. The song has a great vibe and a great entry point for someone who doesn't like the stereotypical K-Pop song.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>7) Feel Like by WOODZ</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/z2KMxSb4GIo" width="640" youtube-src-id="z2KMxSb4GIo"></iframe></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">I had really fallen in love with a Woodz song a couple of years back and then I sort of forgot to check back with him which was clearly a mistake because this song is a VIBE! Listen to it and tell me if it didn't make you sway...</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>6) Life is a Bi... by BIBI</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Jn7AYYJKwwE" width="640" youtube-src-id="Jn7AYYJKwwE"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This is one of the songs that I came across in the Teen Vogue article and it completely rocked my world! It is very catchy but at the same time, the lyrics are quite kooky and angsty, which just makes the whole thing more fun. BIBI in this video makes me think of all the fucked up heroines from the Korean New Wave cinema which was, hilariously, my introduction to South Korean entertainment before BTS (it seems absolutely nuts to me now but oh well).</span></div></div><p><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>5) Bad Love by Key</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/OYWWnd9ACMI" width="640" youtube-src-id="OYWWnd9ACMI"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">An absolute goddamned banger. This has very Weeknd feels, both in terms of music and lyrics. The red outfit Key wears in the video is absolutely tattooed in my brain now.</span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>4) LMLY by Jackson Wang</b></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QIMihDOXMpY" width="640" youtube-src-id="QIMihDOXMpY"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This was the second song I found through the Teen Vogue list. I adore Jackson as a K-Pop idol and had somehow completely missed this release even though it is literally everything I love in a song. I have a huge soft spot to 80s inspired sad love songs that one can dance to. The video, that is co-directed by Jackson, is an homage to Wong Kar Wai films so that's an added bonus.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>3) Butter by BTS</b></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/WMweEpGlu_U" width="640" youtube-src-id="WMweEpGlu_U"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">*Of course* this is the song that I have heard the most from this list or even outside it this year. I have been a BTS fan for 4 years now but even I wasn't prepared for the absolute suaveness of Butter. This is the best they've all probably looked, and the song is truly an earworm. Very retro, very pop- all good!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>2) Lilac by IU</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/v7bnOxV4jAc" width="640" youtube-src-id="v7bnOxV4jAc"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">This song is IU saying farewell to her 20s and it's wistful and dreamy. Her voice is absolutely incredible and you kind of want to exist within the song, which is maybe the point of being at the end of your 20s, not wanting to let go of this idealized part of your life. I too am turning 30(!!!!!!!!) in 2022 so the song just hits a lot of right places.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica; font-size: medium;"><b>1) <span style="text-align: left;">0X1=LOVESONG (I Know I Love You) by TXT feat. Seori </span></b></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="385" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/d5bbqKYu51w" width="640" youtube-src-id="d5bbqKYu51w"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;">A lot of the songs in my list have a retro feel but none feel as nostalgic to me as this one does. This reminds me of the angsty pop rock I listened to as an early teen and not to beat a dead horse but I am turning 30(!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!) this year so "I Know I Love You" just completely knocked me over. I was very surprised by this more rock turn by TXT and they completely committed to it and Seori's soft voice compliments the highs of this song so well. A total triumph.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: helvetica;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: helvetica; text-align: left;">I hope you had fun with this list and I really really wish 2022 is great for all of us!</span><p></p>Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-65512537489288781352021-04-08T20:38:00.001+05:302021-04-12T10:00:04.492+05:30A Look Back<p><span style="font-family: arial;">Hi everyone! Remember me?!</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I wish I could say I'm back but I think we all know that's not going to happen. If any of you listen to the <a href="https://acrosstheuniversepodcast.wordpress.com/" target="_blank">podcast</a> I am part of, you may have noticed my utter discomfort at plugging this blog at the end of each episode. This is because the last post on it was in <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2019/09/my-tv-alphabet-blogathon.html" target="_blank">2019</a> and I haven't done regular posting since 2014 (0, 1, 2, 2, 1 and 21 have been the number of posts for the last <b><u>7</u></b> years respectively).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Oh I should give a fair warning first: I will be using "I" many, many times in this, um, whatever it is, because it is about, well, me *insert cringe face*. <b><i>I</i></b> truly, unironically apologize for all the narcissism <b><i>I</i></b> am about to display.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Anyway, I have been thinking about this blog on and off for the past few months, probably because I currently have a LOT of time on my hands, what with Corona and everything. I've been contemplating deleting it because my tastes have transformed so much since I first started this that I don't know what the point of it even is. Still, I thought let me first refresh my memory and see how good or bad is it really. And having done that, I think the answer is both? But more than anything, it is a time capsule of a very specific, and now looking back at it, formative portion of my young adulthood. </span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">This blog was something that was attached to my personality- like I have made or tried to make friends using it as one of my quirky identity tools. If I had to super duper generalize me throughout my life, I have been Chubby Baby, Math Girl, Film Girl and BTS Girl (which is the, uhh, era we're in now). This blog was at its heyday during my Film Girl phase, which hasn't technically ended yet. I mean if anything, I am actively trying to turn that phase into a career so we shall circle back on that in a few years. But still, the way I consumed and talked about movies in my late teens and early 20s is something I think about often and wonder if I'll ever have that voracity again. I'm currently struggling to watch any films that require any emotional attachment (one of the last films I saw was <i>Godzilla vs Kong</i>), opting instead for comfort sitcom rewatches and YouTube videos on things like makeup guru drama, comedy sewing videos, cooking videos and any and all <i>Say Yes to the Dress</i> videos. And obviously, BTS.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Back to the blog and Film Nikhat though, I feel like I owe it to her/me to explore this little nostalgia nook that I built for myself before possibly hiding it away forever.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">My very <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2009/12/beginnings-and-endings-of-all-human.html" target="_blank">first post in this blog</a> is, I feel, very characteristically pretentious. I also can't help but find it adorable because apparently I had a very messy 2009? I can't remember at all why that could be except for maybe being separated from my closest friends because we took different academic streams. It's just funny to think of yourself from 11 years ago now and try to remember the overwhelmingness of being a 17 year old girl.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Some of my other blog highlights are my most popular post which was part of a <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2013/01/movie-jail-relay-race.html" target="_blank">blogathon</a> no less (do people still do that?) and the last post I did with <a href="most anticipated films of 2017">colours</a>. Some of my OG followers might remember how that was one of my trademarks because I really just wanted to stand out. I mean, the way I write has also been influenced by this blog because I deliberately tried to be "cool" and conversational (notice all the "uhhs" and "ums" (btw brackets were also used for the same reasons)).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">All of this just feels impossibly sweet to me right now. I'm probably hormonal but I appreciate how much Film Nikhat tried as well. I am also both impressed and shocked by how much I shared with the world through this blog. As addicted to it as I am, I struggle with social media. My first thought before posting anything is "Why would people care" which I can strongly and safely assume is NOT what social media is about. I have caught myself judging people on social media for like putting themselves out there. I don't even personally tweet that much. If you go down my Twitter timeline, it's mostly retweets about BTS, some film-related stuff, some horrible news item because the world is a burning garbage dumpster, and more BTS. It's just very easy to use other people's willingness to express themselves as your own proxy feelings.<br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">But I had somehow forgotten how much I used to talk about myself on this blog. I mean there are <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2012/06/once-upon-time-there-was-girl-named.html" target="_blank">lists</a> upon <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2012/08/liebster-award.html" target="_blank">lists</a> upon <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2010/05/film-lovers-are-sick-people-francois.html" target="_blank">lists</a> of me talking about me or using films to define me. While I didn't read the lists apart from their names (I'd suggest you do that too) because I got embarrassed, I was honestly surprised by how much I shared with strangers. Regularly.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Sadly, what I did remember of putting a lot in this blog, and probably a major reason why I've been avoiding this blog, is Woody Allen. So much of this blog is overflowing with reverance for him that I don't even know where to begin. My young cinephile days were heavily influenced by his films, some of which I still can't pretend to dislike because of how life-changing they felt. The only people/things I admired almost as him were Johnny Depp (yikes), <i>Harry Potter</i> (sigh) and <i>Doctor Who</i> (BLESS!). Not going to lie, sometimes it feels like I did dig my own grave. But of course, my film tastes have changed immeasurably since that time. I don't even know how much I agree with my <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/p/blog-page_18.html" target="_blank">Top 100 Films</a> as published in this blog because tastes and prefrences evolve, and I am confused whether to show or hide that evolution.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Full disclosure though: I HAVE archived some extremely cringey and beyond precocious posts that I just couldn't stand, but they weren't like "serious". It's just that my ego can occassionally be delicate.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Speaking of evolution that accompanies the wonderful, painless journey of growing up, another thing this blog has are important life milestones of Film Nikhat. I posted about when I graduated from my <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2011/03/high-school-is-like-training-wheels-for.html" target="_blank">school</a>, this very weird post about <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/03/special-super-random-thoughts-post.html" target="_blank">death</a>, as well as posts about turning <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2011/08/happy-birthday.html" target="_blank">19</a>, <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2013/08/twenty-one.html" target="_blank">21</a>, <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2014/08/so-i-saw-fight-club-with-my-little.html" target="_blank">22</a>, <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2013/08/across-universe-podcast-episode-8.html" target="_blank">23</a> and the <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2012/09/thoughts-on-turning-20-and-list.html" target="_blank">especially 20</a>. I actually reread this post today for the first time in nearly a decade, and well it was a trip. Reading it, I don't feel so different from that Nikhat but I know that I am <strike>(or like I was right this whole time about secretly being a very wise genius)</strike>.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I think I am still processing all of this. When I had started this blog, I had been separated from my closest friends who sat in a different classroom from mine. Coming to present day, I have now spent more than a year not having properly met most of my friends. I remember I used to count down to when school will finally get over but I don't really have that option at this moment. I hope things get better soon but also I am happy I got a chance to look back. As much as I admire Film Nikhat for being so dedicated to this blog and loving and talking about films, I also know so much of what I thought or wrote then was adapted to fit the critical consensus. As much as I wanted to stand out, I also desperately tried to fit in, and I do like that Current Nikhat (aka BTS Girl) is so much more confident in what she likes or dislikes and also has a deeper understanding of both those things. I have often talked about it on the podcast but I was part of a film production which really challenged a lot of my pre-conceived notions with respect to cinema, and that too made me reevaluate what I really love about films.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">I still do love films. Very much. In the Turning 20 post that I tagged above, there was this line-</span></p><p><i><span style="font-family: arial;">"And as I do in any given situation, I started thinking about films."</span></i></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">That did tug at my heartstrings a little bit because I still do so, in any situation (well, along with BTS now but you geddit). Even in something like <i>Godzilla vs Kong</i>, I felt the magic of cinema, and whenever that happens, I think about how I still very much am Film Girl and because this blog is so intrinsically connected to her, I feel a lot of warmth towards it.</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">It took my two days to think of how to end this because I still am not fully sure what *this* is. I guess I needed some clarity on why I am still keeping this blog around, at least for a bit, and I suppose this is me trying to get that (and very cleverly making a sort of blog post out of it).</span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;">Anywho, I thought the best way to conclude is to fully lean into the two things that made the Being Norma Jeane blog what it is- narcissism and lists! So here are some of my favourite posts from this blog :-</span></p><p></p><ul style="text-align: left;"><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/05/the-one-where-i-list-men-with-hot.html" target="_blank">The One Where I List Men With Hot Beards Because Of Reasons</a>- self-explanatory.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2013/05/across-universe-podcast-episode-1.html" target="_blank">Episode 1 of Across the Universe Podcast</a>- dawww nostalgiaaaaa! By the way, we're very close to our 100th episode so stay tuned for that!<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2013/06/thoughts.html" target="_blank">Random Thoughts Post</a>- remember when I used to do these! The reason I chose this specific one is for like the whole Mads Mikkelsen bit. I honestly am the MOST SHOCKED that I came up with this and am like 62% sure this is probably plagiarised.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2012/05/critical-eye-vs-eye-candy.html" target="_blank">The Critical Eye VS Eye Candy</a>- An age old question. 19 year old Nikhat was wise beyond her years, clearly.<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2013/07/do-i-regret-watching-before-midnight.html" target="_blank">Do I regret watching Before Midnight?</a>- still my favourite thing I ever wrote on this blog.<br /></span></li></ul><div><span style="font-family: arial;">(I have purposely avoided any reviews because I was too terrified to read any of them lest they undo, well, ALL OF THE ABOVE).</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Okay so I can't actually end this without saying a huge thanks to anyone and everyone who has ever commented on this blog, tagged me in blogathons and overall supported my love for films. Without any doubt, the best things that have come from this blog are the friendships that I have made <strike>along the way</strike>. It's hard to imagine a different Nikhat if Film Nikhat hadn't happened like this. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">FINALLY properly ending this with, of course, some BTS:</span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9IHwqdz8Xhw" width="320" youtube-src-id="9IHwqdz8Xhw"></iframe></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><div><span style="font-family: arial;">Thank you for reading this :)</span></div>Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-35048451800073164502019-09-26T19:44:00.002+05:302019-09-26T19:44:52.337+05:30My TV Alphabet Blogathon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3SWz3n_Ss4/XYh3MfuXeZI/AAAAAAAALLs/VDSZcbwoR5Il0p2h9U7AGvk00Q8Bn8DqACLcBGAsYHQ/s1600/WOOP3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1065" data-original-width="1385" height="492" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-t3SWz3n_Ss4/XYh3MfuXeZI/AAAAAAAALLs/VDSZcbwoR5Il0p2h9U7AGvk00Q8Bn8DqACLcBGAsYHQ/s640/WOOP3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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Hi guys! Look who has emerged from the shadows of laziness and the doldrums of non-creativity to take part in a TV blogathon! My fellow chick with accent, <a href="https://mettelray.com/" target="_blank">Getter from Mettel Ray Movie Blog</a> has come up with a new blogathon years after her Movie Alphabet Blogathon, <a href="https://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2012/11/my-movie-alphabet.html" target="_blank">something</a> I had participated in when I had first discovered her awesome blog (P.S. Some of the picks have NOT dated well). I felt it was only right to take part in this blogathon as well. </div>
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I have become more of a TV viewer than a film viewer because of very many reasons and this was surprisingly difficult to make. I've tried to include as many of my favourite ever shows in any way possible, whether it be through a character or an episode. Getter has some cool rules in place too (might have not *fully* followed all of them...) which are:</div>
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So following the last command, here are my funnnnn picks for the TV Alphabet blogathon. Woooo!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>#</b></span></div>
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<b><u>30 Rock</u></b></div>
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One of the most meta comedies I have ever seen, I can't wait to rewatch it and fall in love with it all over again.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>A</b></span></div>
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<u><b>Agent Carter</b></u></div>
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My absolute favourite superhero show! Hayley Atwell as Peggy Carter is beautiful, brave, vulnerable and kickass and her chemistry with James D'Arcy's Jarvis was just as superb. I really loved the setting and the female badassery that got to shine in this show and it is missed sorely!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>B</b></span></div>
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<b><u>The Book of Nora (<i>The Leftovers</i> S3x08)</u></b></div>
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The most perfect series finale I have ever seen- so good that it made the whole show that lead up to it even better in hindsight. Carrie Coon and Justin Theroux were just breathtaking in the episode and it tied up everything in this maddening and ambitious series so well.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>C</b></span></div>
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<b><u>Chandler (<i>Friends</i>)</u></b></div>
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He's simply the best and funniest part of probably the most famous show of our time. I'm rewatching the series again and Matthew Perry just kicks it out of the park with Mr. Bing every episode. Also I HAD to use a Chandler zinger for this, duhhh!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">D</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Doctor Who</u></b></div>
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One of my OG favourite shows that I have fangirled about in this blog a lot. I know I've only put two Doctors in the picture but everyone in New Who is lovely and it's a show that is equal parts amazing, hilarious and heartbreaking. Especially the last part. Pretty sure this is one of the reasons I love crying watching shows so much.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">E</span></b></div>
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<b><u>The Entire History of You (<i>Black Mirror</i> S1x03)</u></b></div>
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There are some truly epic <i>Black Mirror</i> episodes but for some reason this one has stuck with me the most. I think perhaps because this is the type of technology I most wish existed but then in true <i>Black Mirror </i>fashion, the episode explores how it can completely destroy lives- not because of some dystopian Skynet type world domination thing, but simply because of our flawed humanity. Both Toby Kebbell and Jodie Whitaker are great in it.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">F</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Fleabag</u></b></div>
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HOLY MOLY THIS FUCKING SHOW! I get giddy when trying to talk about how amazing and original and devastating and sexy and funny it is! And I tell everyone! Even before the stupendous second season which is one of the most perfect things to ever exist ever, I was a huge fan of goddess Phoebe Waller-Bridge's broken and fourth wall breaking protagonist Fleabag and all the equally flawed characters that inhabit her world. But then second season happened and HOT PRIEST happened and I have no words but to say that WATCH ITTTTTT!!!!!</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>G </b></span>(Wild Remote Entry)</div>
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<b><u>Gilmore Girls and The Good Place</u></b></div>
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<i>Gilmore Girls</i> is one of those personality-developing shows for me. I saw it in my formative years when all I wanted to be was Rory Gilmore and find a Jess Mariano to fall in love it (not gonna lie- still totally do). Of course, every character in this show is lovely (except Dean. I hate Dean) and it's just one of those shows I'll probably be rewatching till I die. </div>
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<i>The Good Place</i> is one of the most ingenious shows of our time. There are so many twists that take place that I've absolutely stopped trying to predict anything and I wait for all the new ways the writers will surprise and floor me. But that's not even the best part. Nor is its fantastic cast (D'arcy Carden, you infinitely talented being). My favourite thing about this show is how it actually cherishes goodness in people. I have started to really love pop culture that is about empathy and kindness and inclusivity and just being nice because that's really not our world anymore and <i>The Good Place</i> is exactly that. It's healing. And hilarious. I love it.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>H</b></span></div>
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<b><u>Hannibal</u></b></div>
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Probably my favourite looking show ever. Everything from the sets to Hannibal's suits to the food to the most incredible crime scenes- it was all stunning and singular. Of course the most gorgeous were Hannibal and Will themselves and their twisted romance.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">I</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Imperfect Harmony (<i>Selfie </i>S1x10)</u></b></div>
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RIP <i>Selfie</i>. You were gone before your time. The show, that was based on Pygmalion and starred the perfectly cast Karen Gillan and John Cho (put him in more romcoms, you cowards!) as the Eliza Doolitle and Henry Higgins of today, was really funny and sweet and could have been a great romatic sitcom. This episode was the big romance episode or so we had been led to believe but it ends up being something sadder and more beautiful, which is perfectly encapsulated in Gillan's poignant rendition of "Chandelier". </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">J</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Jane the Virgin</u></b></div>
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Quite possibly my favourite TV show ever. If <i>Gilmore Girls</i> was crucial for teenage Nikhat, <i>Jane the Virgin </i>was one of the shows that gave adult Nikhat her voice and understanding of the world. Simply put, it is about love- between family, between lovers, between friends and also between a show and its audience. I am incapable of deciding what was the best thing about the show- its mercurial writing that went from comedy to romance to thriller in minutes, its stupendously talented cast lead by the magical Gina Rodriguez, or its gorgeous direction that captured both of its telenovella fantastical elements and real world issues equally and perfectly. The show had twists that would make <i>Game of Thrones </i>blush but it was never twists for twists sake but careful character work and well, character love. I LOVED the characters as if I knew them and was invested in them like they were my own people. It had a brilliant ending too. God, I will miss this show so much!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">K</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Knockoffs (<i>Broad City</i> S2x04)</u></b></div>
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Much like <i>Jane the Virgin</i>, <i>Broad City</i> was also a female led and voiced show that changed my perspective of the world and what stories can be about. Which is why I chose THIS episode to elucidate my point. An episode which features a funeral, an underground market for designer knockoff bags, a 'will they or won't they' moment and of course, as seen from the picture above, dildos and pegging- only <i>Broad City</i> could have done it and through it commented not only on modern day dating but also grief and ways people deal with it. It is also a rip-roaringly funny.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">L</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Late (<i>The Handmaid's Tale</i> S1x03)</u></b></div>
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Gosh, what a brutal and unforgettable episode. This is THE feel-bad series that shows us a world that could exist very easily today. Alexis Bledel is shattering in "Late", often just emoting with her enormous horrified eyes at every awful thing happening around her. Reed Morano's direction just got under my skin and never truly left. Wherever the series did go after it, this was an hour of terrifying perfection.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">M</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Mr. Bean</u></b></div>
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Before I sat down to make this list, I was very sure that I wanted to include one childhood favourite in it. Between <i>Powerpuff Girls</i>, <i>Rugrats</i> and <i>Mr. Bean</i>, Rowan Atkinson's taciturn comedy hero won. I have many precious memories attached to this show, that still holds up today because of Atkinson's complete immersion into this role of a bumbling, slightly malevolent but ultimately sweet fool. I honestly even love the movies. There's something about Mr. Bean, you know?</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">N</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Ned and Chuck (<i>Pushing Daisies</i>)</u></b></div>
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I'm sorry but I can't choose just Ned! It HAS to be Ned AND Chuck because they are THE OTP, guys! I don't make the rules (Getter does but I'm sure she'll understand). <i>Pushing Daisies</i> is the most colourful and cute show about death ever and Lee Pace's Ned and Anna Friel's Chuck were the heart of it. Their doomed love story destroyed me many times over but I wish it had even more times because this show and this romance ended far too soon!! #BringItBack</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">O</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Orange is the New Black</u></b></div>
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However many shows Netflix comes out with, it will never reach the heights of <i>OITNB </i>for me. The show opened up a whole world many of us didn't know about and showed us the inner lives of so many types of women- black, white, old, young, trans, gay, straight. It had its flaws but when it was good, it was the freaking best! It was daring and open and most importantly, constantly empathetic and so very human.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">P</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Parks and Recreation</u></b></div>
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Probably my favourite comedy show. I love the characters. I love the actors. Leslie Knope is a goddamn hero. Ron motherfucking Swanson is my dream bestie. Ben Wyatt is everything I want in a man. Jerry is, well, Garry. *in Billy Eichner's style* I JUST LOVE THIS SHOW SO MUCH, IT MAKES ME SICK!!!</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Q</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Quite Interesting aka QI</u></b></div>
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Fun fact: I'm a nerd. So yes, I love a quiz show where I learn facts and also get to laugh a lot. Thank you very much. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">R</span></b></div>
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<b><u>Run BTS</u></b></div>
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Guys, I don't know if you know this about me but I'm oh so slightly obsessed with BTS. Like, in case you still follow me on Twitter, I don't know if you noticed that AT ALL. Btw, thanks everyone who isn't an Army who still follows me. You guys are true friends :)</div>
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But anyways, I do really love the band and the members that form it. This is their variety show in which they usually have a topic and they play games or something around it. This is my ultimate comfort show at present. It's funny and sweet and I just love their friendship so much, it actually hurts my heart. </div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">S</span></b> (Wild Remote Entry)</div>
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<b><u>Sherlock and Sharp Objects</u></b></div>
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<i>Sherlock</i> is another show I have written and spoken about a lot. Not counting its last disastrous season, the show was damn near faultless in my eyes. I do want to revisit it as an older, less impressed-by-sociopathic-men person but I couldn't possibly leave it out of this list. I loved all the performances, especially that of the leads Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman. It was really stylish fun!</div>
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<i>Sharp Objects</i> was my favourite show of last year. I have never seen anything that put us in the headspace of its protagonist like it did. It was a horror show of the mind and the body. The acting across the board is fantastic. There are images from the show that are etched into my mind forever. </div>
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<b><u>True Blood</u></b></div>
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Oh <i>True Blood</i>, you marvelous mess. I have a special place in my heart for this show, with all its zaniness and camp and nonsense. It was just so entertaining! The first 4 seasons were actually really good and even though it went so spectacularly off the rails in the later seasons, I couldn't stop watching! Also Pam and Eric forever.</div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-large;">U </span></b>(Wild Remote Entry)</div>
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<b><u>Unbelievable </u></b></div>
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This is from 2019 but I had to include it. The most feminist crime show I have ever seen, I was constantly amazed by the littlest details in it that set it apart. It is really infuriating but at the same time, it is hopeful. Merritt Wever is totally the stand out for me but all the performances are excellent.</div>
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<b><u>Veep</u></b></div>
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Oh you acerbic wonder! There was so much to love about comedy-turned-documentary <i>Veep</i> but my absolute favourite thing about it was its insults. The crowning glory in my eyes was the following addressed to, obviously, Jonah: "<i>You're Frankenstein's monster, if his monster was made entirely of dead dicks.</i>"</div>
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<b><u>The Wedding (<i>Outlander</i> S1x07)</u></b></div>
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The most romantic and sexiest television episode/piece of art to ever exist. THE FEMALE GAZE, PEOPLE! Fuck me, you almost don't need to watch the rest of the show to watch this episode. It's so good!!</div>
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<b><u>Crazy E<span style="font-size: large;">X-</span>Girlfriend</u></b></div>
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I NEEDED to include this show somehow and I've not watched <i>The X-Files</i> or <i>Xena</i> so this I think was the best compromise. This was such a brilliant show. A musical romcom about mental illness! It was as funny as it was damning. The songs were especially genius, from "You Stupid Bitch" to "Let's Generalize About Men" to "Buttload of Cats". I feel like rewatching all of it right now!</div>
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<b><u>You're the Worst</u></b></div>
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The anti-romcom about the worst humans who are ultimately just that- human. Hilarious and devastating in equal parts, it reached such heights when it was firing on all cylinders.</div>
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<span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>Z</b></span></div>
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<b><u>The Zeppo <i>(Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i> S3x13)</u></b></div>
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If you have seen this episode, you know why I chose this still and not of "the Zeppo" Xander. Xander was my least favourite thing about the show and yet I love this episode, which was a great example of <i>Buffy</i> at its finest. The show was so surprisingly experimental and concept driven and its best episodes were just that. OBVIOUSLY my favourite such episode is "Once More With Feeling" but I needed a Z :P</div>
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And that is it, folks! I hope you liked the list and please do check all the other entries from this brilliant Blogathon :)</div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-64699914732813878902018-03-22T17:25:00.000+05:302018-03-22T17:25:10.278+05:30"What is line?" FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES OF 2017Since all this is being published after the Oscars, we know who all were the "best" performers of this year were *cough* Gary Oldman shouldn't have won *cough*. Well, my list is a bit different. I actually started making these lists because of how much I loved my #1 performance and HAD to write about it somewhere. So without much further rambling introductions, here are my top 20 performances of 2017:<br />
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20.<br />
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<b><u> Ryan Gosling in <i>Blade Runner 2049</i></u></b><br />
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As wonderful as the Gos is at comedy, there's a reason he became known for his strong and silent characters. His K is a replicant who longs to be human, but he cannot show it apart from the most smallest and heartbreaking of gestures. Gosling does so much with so little.</div>
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19.<br />
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<b><u> Lesley Manville in <i>Phantom Thread</i></u></b><br />
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The most delicious performance in this list. Again, it's a performance of control and how terrifying it can be when we see it slip ever so little. Also her line readings ARE AMAZEBALLS! Scary, but amazeballs.</div>
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18.<br />
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<b><u>Catherine Keener in <i>Get Out</i></u></b><br />
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I feel like Keener is Manville's character if she knew hypnosis, and was obviously a rabid racist. Has someone stirring tea ever been more frightening?</div>
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17.<br />
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<b><u>Daniel Kaluuya in <i>Get Out</i></u></b><br />
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It's one of the most iconic shots of this year, when tears are falling from Kaluuya's face as he sits paralyzed in horror. There's a reason for that. He lets you feel the dread, the utter helplessness. You cannot escape it. Other than that scene too, you can kind of see what he's thinking but still not really, which is an interesting tightrope that he walks on throughout the film, and I am so glad he's been rightfully rewarded for it.</div>
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16.<br />
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<b><u>Rajkumar Rao in <i>Trapped/Newton/Bareilly Ki Barfi</i></u></b><br />
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He's one of the best Indian actors of his generation and 2017 was a great year for him to showcase his immense potential. Each role couldn't be more different than the other. In <i>Trapped</i>, he is a man battling for survival, both physically and mentally. In <i>Bareilly</i>, he plays the scared pushover and the over-the-top extrovert equally well. In <i>Newton</i>, he is someone who has to witness the complete break of a system and figure out how to be someone who can still be moral in an amoral world. Rao does all of these roles justice and then some.</div>
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15.<br />
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<b><u> Jennifer Lawrence in <i>mother!</i></u></b><br />
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For most of the film, I kept waiting for "mother" to turn into the JLaw we all know now- headstrong, vulgar, bold, loud. But she is none of that. Lawrence's personality is so big that we sometimes forget that she's a pretty fantastic actress and <i>mother!</i> is testament to that. The film is focused on her face because she is the eyes of the audience to the madness that is her life. We have to be connected to her emotionally for the movie's outlandishness to make any sense. Lawrence shows exactly such vulnerability. I don't understand the backlash against her at all. Sure, the film is divisive as fuck but Lawrence has given a complete against-type, open and intimate performance that should be lauded by all.</div>
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14.<br />
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<b><u> Meryl Streep in <i>The Post</i></u></b><br />
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Let me just say off the bat, this is a very very good performance. But I think one of the reasons why it is so high up is because of the character too and how Streep embodies it. I connected to the character completely, and the arc she goes through and the way Streep portrays it, it really moved me. This is one of my most personal picks, if that makes sense.</div>
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13.<br />
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<b><u>Harry Dickinson in <i>Beach Rats</i></u></b><br />
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The first of my "WHERE DID THEY FIND HIM/HER?!!" picks. He is so good in this film playing a teenager exploring his sexuality in a world where something like that still isn't easy. Even though his character doesn't speak much, there's an openness about Dickinson's face that I so love in actors. His eyes speak volumes and it's very compelling to watch.</div>
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12.<br />
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<b><u>Saoirse Ronan in <i>Lady Bird</i></u></b><br />
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Ronan is already kind of a legend at 23. Each of her THREE Oscar nominations couldn't have gone to more disparate characters. As Lady Bird, she is all confidence and confusion mixed in a perfectly imperfect concoction. I think all teenage me would have wanted is to be her but (relatively sorta) grown up me sees and appreciates the complexity in the character and how deftly Ronan brings that out.<br />
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11.<br />
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<b><u> Barry Keoghan in <i>The Killing of A Sacred Deer</i></u></b><br />
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He's so creepy and unnerving in this. I mean, who can forget that spaghetti scene? Lanthimos has a way with weirdo characters and Keoghan plays one of the most unforgettable ones. Just thinking about him gives me the heebie-jeebies and if that's not an impactful performance, I don't know what is.<br />
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10.<br />
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<b><u> Sally Hawkins in <i>The Shape of Water</i></u></b><br />
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When I think about Hawkins in this movie, the first thing I think about the scene when she tells Richard Jenkins's character about how the creature completes her and how much that made me cry. Hawkins is such a luminous presence. I'm always excited to see her in a film and she was such a perfect choice for this character because of how well she expresses joy and sorrow and everything in between even without words.<br />
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9.<br />
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<b><u> Hugh Jackman in <i>Logan</i></u></b><br />
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Jackman has played Logan/Wolverine for 17 years. You would think one would have seen all that is to offer with this one character but he saved the best for last. There is of course tragedy in the story of Wolverine but there's also the idea of him being invincible to match that. In <i>Logan</i> however, we don't have that safety net anymore and what we are presented with is a broken, dying man, who has lived through so much and probably watched everyone he's ever cared about die. We don't see this in the film but we see it in Jackman's performance. He is so heartbreaking yet ferocious in this. It's a crying shame that the performance didn't get the awards love it deserved but at least we can be happy knowing people will be talking about this more than some damn British guy made of makeup.<br />
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8.<br />
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<b><u>Allison Williams in <i>Get Out</i></u></b><br />
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Her true brilliance shines upon a rewatch. She is so eerily fantastic in this, dropping enough hints along the way but still managing to shock us with her true intentions. It's perfect casting that is elevated by an even more perfect performance.<br />
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7.<br />
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<b><u>Margot Robbie in <i>I, Tonya</i></u></b><br />
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This movie was so surprising but not Robbie's performance. Ever since the first trailer dropped, I knew this would be one of THE performances of the year. I have an affinity towards arguably terrible characters who are really passionate about something. It kind of made me think of Selina Meyer from <i>Veep</i>. Of course Robbie's Harding wasn't remotely as awful but the scenes that show her love of skating, they were really powerful and have stuck with me ever since.<br />
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6.<br />
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<b><u> James Franco in <i>The Disaster Artist</i></u></b><br />
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Franco is just tremendous as Wiseau, the actor and the person. When he commits to a role, there are very few like him. His Wiseau is equal parts funny and poignant and kinda unforgettable.<br />
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<b><u>Timothée Chalamet in <i>Call Me By Your Name</i></u></b><br />
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He beat Franco purely based on that last scene. That scene broke me. My other favourite thing about this performance is how I know with every rewatch I'm going to like it more and more. Having read the book, I was on a lookout for certain things Chalamet's Elio does and while in the book his emotions are bursting out of him since we are completely privy to his thoughts, the movie version is more silent and secretive but still grappling with the same feelings and urges. I don't think I was able to see all of it and it still pretty much blew me away. Can't wait to fall in love with him falling in love all over again.<br />
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<b><u> Chris Pine in <i>Wonder Woman</i></u></b><br />
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I kinda need the clap emoji to make my point come across fully but Imma try anyway- CHRIS PINE'S LAST SCENE IN THE PLANE WAS SOME GOD LEVEL ACTING AND WE ARE ALL BLESSED TO HAVE WITNESSED IT! He was so funny and effortless in the movie and the look he gives at the end has been seared into my brain and more importantly my heart ever since. I'll write more about <i>Wonder Woman</i> in other posts but that film works because it makes you feel and Pine's Steve is the actual heart of the film.<br />
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3.<br />
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<b><u>Vicky Krieps in <i>Phantom Thread</i></u></b><br />
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She's the second of my "WHERE DID THEY FIND HIM/HER" choices. And I mean, where do you find an actress who not only meets Daniel Day-Lewis in a scene head on but out-acts him? What? Is she magic? Krieps is a force of fucking nature in this film. She starts out all shy and redfaced but from the moment she tells Day-Lewis's character that he would lose if he played the blinking game with her, you could sense she's not some wide-eyed ingenue. She drives the movie like her character who breaks the routine of the Woodcocks' lives with her determination and individuality. Again, I had a really good feeling about her because the last time Paul Thomas Anderson introduced an actress in his films, it was Katherine Waterston and lemme just say, he's on a helluva roll in this particular road.<br />
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<b><u>Laurie Metcalf in <i>Lady Bird</i></u></b><br />
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Well, she sort of played all our moms, didn't she? It's a brilliant performance that is so specific that you find elements in it that you can relate to in your own experiences with your mother. I wrote above about how teenage me would've idolized Lady Bird if it had come out then but I am so glad it came out now because I can see the hurt and pain and love and sacrifice in her Marion which I wouldn't have understood at a younger age. I think the time in a teenager/young adult's life when they realize that their parents are normal people too, who also make mistakes and are trying to make the best of everything, is underrepresented in films and <i>Lady Bird </i>shows that so well and we wouldn't have the full impact of it without Metcalf's multifaceted and true-to-life portrayal.<br />
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1.<br />
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<b><u> Florence Pugh in <i>Lady Macbeth</i></u></b><br />
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As I wrote in the intro, the only reason to make any of these lists was so that I can find a way of praising this performance. It is amazing. It actually reminds me of Amazing Amy but like more evil and human at the same time. Pugh's Katherine is all desire. She has to be cunning and cruel to get her desires fulfilled and we're just along for the ride. There's a reason the film is named upon one of the most infamous women in literature, who begged the powers to take away her kindness and fill her with poison... there's a reason she's often called the fourth witch. Funnily enough, watching it, I was reminded of a quote from the film <i>The Witch</i> which was "Wouldst thou like to live deliciously?" Pugh's Katherine does and she's willing to sacrifice everyone in her path for it. Everything that Pugh does in this film is so deliberate and natural at the same time. Her boredom, her lust, her anger, her jealousy, her cruelty- it is all a joy to behold. I can imagine people being disgusted by her but I was just fascinated by this little giant of a woman, who btw obviously also tops my "WHERE DID THEY FIND HIM/HER" picks. It is a brave and gutsy performance, one that takes hold of your brain and doesn't let go, which I suppose is appropriate given the character. She's not one to be forgotten. She simply wouldn't allow it.<br />
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So what were some of your favourite performances from 2017? Lemme know in the comments below. Also Next up we have EVERYTHING else I loved about 2017 movies!</div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-22938982609312880692018-03-21T14:42:00.000+05:302018-03-21T14:43:35.542+05:30"'Let the past die. Kill it if you have to." FAVOURITE MOVIE SCENES OF 2017SHE LIVES!! Yes, peeps who still follow this blog (first of all, thank you so much! Second of all, why????), I am back... sorta. I haven't made end of the year lists for the past few years now and that sucks because this was one of my favourite things to do. 2017 was a crazy year for the world and an interesting one for films. I think, if we survive the next few years without a nuclear war breaking out etcetera, that films made 2017 onwards will be studied by future generations for their themes and trends, some of which reflect in the scenes chosen below. So without further adieu, these are my favourite scenes of 2017:<br />
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<u><b>Crossing the wall- <i>Baahubali 2: The Conclusion</i></b></u></div>
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For those of you who haven't heard of <i>Baahubali</i>, it is one of the biggest films in Indian film history and a massive pop culture phenomenon. Channeling my inner Stefon, it has <i>everything</i>- men with superhuman strength, dysfunctional families, royal intrigue, romantic subplots, elephants, flying ships, legendary cliffhangers, flashbacks and so on. They're a really fun bunch of films completely sincere about their over-the-topness. For that, I have chosen a scene which is easily the most unrealistic, almost to the point of laugh-out-loud absurdity, where the laws of physics are not just defied but recreated from scratch. It's the FUNNIEST scene of the year if not of all time. I can't write more about it, you just have to <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bdfgf0bP9v4" target="_blank">experience it</a> yourselves. You're welcome, plebs. </div>
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14.<br />
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<b><u>The soirée- <i>Princess Cyd</i></u></b></div>
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Have you ever wanted to live in a scene? This scene is like all my hopes and dreams of being an intellectual with equally intellectual and lovely friends, hanging out, casually reading gorgeous poetry, realized into a perfect little scene. Gaahhhhh, I want!</div>
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P.S. I'm definitely not an intellectual.</div>
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13.<br />
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<b><u>Stairway fight- <i>Atomic Blonde</i></u></b></div>
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Yes, stairway fight scenes done in single takes are kinda over and done with now but this is a really well directed and thrilling scene. My favourite thing about it is how hurt everyone, especially Charlize Theron, appears which is something usually done away with in order to add a layer of coolness, but here we feel every punch or every fall and the scene is all the better for it.</div>
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12.<br />
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<b><u>Alma's surprise dinner- <i>Phantom Thread</i></u></b></div>
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I love me an awkward, confrontational dinner scene and that's exactly what we get here. The zingers, the acting, the frustration- it is all there and it is all delicious.</div>
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11.<br />
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<b><u>The Wake- <i>mother!</i></u></b></div>
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Of course the last act's descent into hell leaves a lasting mark, but I think the Wake is like every introvert's personal nightmare come to life- when you have to deal with a lot of strange people but also cannot be angry because of the occasion (unless they break your sink, of course). The Biblical symbolism and Jennifer Lawrence's acting makes it even better, or at least unforgettable.</div>
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10.<br />
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<b><u>Coco- <i>Coco</i></u></b></div>
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Few things make me cry as much as Pixar. The central themes of this film- family, memories and of course music all culminate in this scene and man, it's a helluva tearjerker.</div>
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9.<br />
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<b><u>Kylo and Rey team up- <i>Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi</i></u></b></div>
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Spoilers but like this was fucking cool. It looked amazing- the contrasting lightsabers, the backdrop, the action. I know people are divided about this film but I don't think anyone was disappointed by this team up. Bonus points for how it ends with the reveal of Rey's origin.</div>
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8.<br />
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<b><u> Punishing the Father-in-Law- <i>Lady Macbeth</i></u></b></div>
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Katherine is an evil bitch, no doubt about it. But when this scene comes along, we're still not aware of how full of poison she is and the terrors she's going to unleash. So, we just watch and enjoy how she handles a really dickish oppressive older white man, and it's just fun. </div>
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7.<br />
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<b><u>K vs Deckard in Vegas- <i>Blade Runner 2049</i></u></b></div>
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Simply the most aesthetically stunning scene in a film full of them. Elvis!!</div>
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6.<br />
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<b><u>The Sunken Place- <i>Get Out</i></u></b></div>
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Apart from maybe the first place entry, this is probably the most symbolic scene of 2017. But it's not just that, it's much more. The sense of dread, helplessness, horror, Kaluuya and Keener's fantastic performances and the complete unexpectedness of it all make it one of the best scenes of the year.</div>
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5.<br />
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<b><u>The premiere- <i>The Disaster Artist</i></u></b><br />
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Imagine watching The Room for the first time, without being aware of its unique pop cultural position. Now imagine being the person who made it, who has to sit with a blind and blunt audience who carelessly deride your life's work. This scene is really funny and heartbreaking and surprisingly inspiring. What's not to love?<br />
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4.<br />
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<b><u> Laura introduces her claws- <i>Logan</i></u></b><br />
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This was one of the coolest, most surprising scenes of last year. Who could've seen it coming? Dafne Keen is the littlest badass ever who makes a big group of strong men tremble in their shoes. Most epic introduction of 2017.<br />
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3.</div>
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<b><u>Visions of Gideon- <i>Call Me By Your Name</i></u></b><br />
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Okay show of hands- who all were completely destroyed by this?<br />
Me too. So sad. So beautiful. #creys4eva*<br />
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2.<br />
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<b><u>The projector scene- <i>It</i></u></b><br />
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2017 was a great year for horror and this was the best old-school horror scene in it. The use of the photos, Pennywise's reveal, the utter powerlessness, Pennywise jumping out of the friggin' screen right at you! So scary and so effective.<br />
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1.<br />
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<b><u>No Man's Land- <i>Wonder Woman</i></u></b><br />
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I wrote about common themes in films at the start of this post. I think this scene directly plays into that. There is, what feels like, a sort of shift in the world. Because things are so bad, when something is good, fighting against it, it feels huge. This scene encapsulated that and then some. Symbols are important- they convey so much with so little and Diana, out on the battlefield, with her shield that doesn't seem magical because it is but because how and why she's holding it, deflecting bullets, saving people, being Wonder Woman without anyone even saying it... it wasn't just important, it felt monumental. Groundbreaking. Earth-shifting. I'm so happy it exists and women of all ages can see it.<br />
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And that's it! Stay tuned for my favourite performances, films and everything else of 2017. It's good to be blogging again! Let me know what you thought of these scenes and what were some of your own favs!</div>
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*I'm sorry I can't express emotions without added stupidity.</div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-67728478364772762502017-05-15T13:36:00.000+05:302017-05-15T13:36:38.042+05:30So I directed something...<div style="text-align: left;">
Hello guys! It's been a long time. In case you didn't know, I've been studying in a film school for the past two years and I want to be a director and I've been trying to focus on that. I've made a couple o things before but I didn't really like them enough to ever post about them. This is the first time I've made something I'm kind of proud of and that's why I'm here, shamelessly plugging myself. My co-director Piyush and our whole team worked really hard on it and I wanted to share it here. It's a cover music video/ short film on the song "Feeling Good" by Muse. I've posted it on a number of platforms but I think it is fitting for me to post it here too. This blog has been a big influence on my cinematic aesthetic, and I greatly value the opinions of fellow bloggers. Whatever you may think about the video, please let me know!</div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-42024699701967945112017-01-04T14:32:00.000+05:302017-01-04T14:37:46.074+05:30MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2017<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: x-small;">Image source: <a href="https://dribbble.com/shots/3132466-New-2017-Animation" target="_blank">Dribble</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Happy New Year, everyone! I am back, for now. I hope to be better this year but am not making any promises, again, since I am trying to get more focused about my career. I will be turning 25 this year which just sounds mental to me because, and this is the best way I can put it, I do not feel old enough to be 25. Is that weird? Am I alone in this? Am I secretly trying to be <i>Frances Ha</i> still? I don't know *insert shrug*.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Anyway, let's get to the actual post. I didn't make this list last year, or rather I did write a draft but never published it, but I had to make one this time because I'm very excited about some of these films! There are 20 films in the main list and I don't remember if it was always this way but they are there because of the directors. Quite a few of them are only sophomore attempts by their makers but I was blown away enough by their first films that they beat others made by more experienced, even revered auteurs. Another thing I noticed was that a number of these, including the honourable mentions, are made by women. I did participate in the 52 Films by Women challenge last year and though regrettably I didn't reach my target (I clocked in at 42 films), I am actively seeking out more films by female directors. Still, the films that are there, I wasn't even trying to purposely incorporate them in this list to make it diverse- I am just *that* pumped for them. They HAD to be there!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><u><b>Honourable mentions</b></u>: <i>Rangoon</i> (Vishal Bhardwaj),<i> Trapped</i> (Vikramidtya Motwane), <i>Bareilli ki Barfi</i> (Ashwiny Iyer Tiwari), <i>Guardians of the Galaxy vol. 2 </i>(James Gunn), <i>Redoubtable</i> (Michel Hazanavicius), The Untitled Woody Allen Movie, <i>Song to Song </i>(Terence Malick, which has been in my list for the past 4 years now), <i>Wonder Woman</i> (Patty Jenkins), <i>Based on a True Story</i> (Roman Polanski), <i>God Particle</i> (Julius Onah), <i>Mute</i> (Duncan Jones), <i>The Discovery</i> (Charlie McDowell), <i>Darkest Hour</i> (Joe Wright), <i>Spider-Man: Homecoming</i> (Jon Watts), <i>Mary Magdalene</i> (Garth Davis), <i>John Wick 2</i> (Chad Stahelski, David Leitch), <i>Get Ou</i>t (Jordan Peele), <i>T2</i> (Danny Boyle), <i>War for Planet of the Apes</i> (Matt Reeves), <i>Alien: Covenant</i> (Ridley Scott), <i>Logan Lucky</i> (Steven Soderbergh), <i>Logan</i> (James Mangold), <i>You Were Never Really Here</i> (Lynn Ramsay), <i>Suburbicon</i> (George Clooney), <i>Yeh Din Ka Kissa</i> (Noah Baumbach), <i>The Shape of Water</i> (Guillermo del toro), <i>Under the Silver Lake</i> (David Mitchell), <i>Downsizin</i>g (Akexander Payne), <i>Coco</i> (Lee Unkrich), <i>The Snowman</i> (Tomas Alfredson), <i>Dunkirk</i> (Christopher Nolan), Untitled Detroits Movie (Kathryn Bigelow), <i>Happy End </i>(Michael Haneke), <i>The Kidnapping Of Edgardo Mortara</i> (Steven Spielberg) and finally, <i>Okja</i> (Bong Joon-ho).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">(I said I was excited)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The List</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">20.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Thor: Ragnarok (Taika Waititi)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Thor is pretty much my least favourite Avenger. Having said that, this movie sounds like fun. Marvel is prettiest when it's not on Earth but then <i>GotG vol. 2</i> could've also been in this list. Lord knows I love the first one to bits. However, it will be difficult creating that magic again. <i>Thor 3</i>, on the other hand, has one of the most interesting new directors at its helm- someone whose previous works like <i>What We Do in the Shadows</i> (endlessly rewatchable) and <i>Hunt for the Wilderpeople</i> (lovely and weird) are as far from the usual superhero fare as, well, Asgard is from Earth. Plus Cate Blanchett is playing the goddess of death named Hell. JUST TAKE ALL MY MONEY!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">19.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Three Billboards Outside Of Ebbing, Missouri (Martin McDonagh)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>In Bruges</i> to me is one of the most perfect films ever. I doubt I will ever not give McDonagh a chance because of it. Yes, it's true that <i>Seven Psychopaths</i> was super disappointing but I am willing to overlook that. Also this sounds more <i>In Bruges</i>-esque, with the great Frances McDormand playing a woman who goes against the police in her town after her daughter is murdered. Meaty stuff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">18.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmbb3I6uX0w/WGvVrkEz2NI/AAAAAAAAI60/YUKuQU40s-oXh7-Q-0Qkp2E7fOAM4jDYACLcB/s1600/suspiria1-horz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pmbb3I6uX0w/WGvVrkEz2NI/AAAAAAAAI60/YUKuQU40s-oXh7-Q-0Qkp2E7fOAM4jDYACLcB/s1600/suspiria1-horz.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Suspiria (Luca Guadignino)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I love the original. I wasn't that jazzed about <i>A Bigger Splash</i> but I remember adoring <i>I Am Love</i> and Guadignino creates gorgeous visuals in both. Plus there's Tilda Swinton. Good or bad, it would be something to behold.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">17.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EPZgii2k5-k/WGvVId-i8CI/AAAAAAAAI6M/CVvH00FOy_kFBKIx261fE-59VOQsk_YXgCLcB/s1600/ladybird1-horz.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EPZgii2k5-k/WGvVId-i8CI/AAAAAAAAI6M/CVvH00FOy_kFBKIx261fE-59VOQsk_YXgCLcB/s1600/ladybird1-horz.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Lady Bird (Greta Gerwig)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Yes, I did put that picture of Gerwig because I find it very hot. Moving on. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">As you may have noticed in my opening paragraph where I reference a certain Miss Hallida, played and co-written by Gerwig, that I am a huge fan of hers. So imagine my surprise and delight when I find out that not only is she directing a semi-autobiographical high school film, but that it also stars the always amazing Saoirse Ronan! Woo for me!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">16.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XI7Zlz430Ao/WGvVDZVOQKI/AAAAAAAAI6I/ZZiXgqMerYIZVvdWy9LuiiJ53XFu0A-dQCLcB/s1600/fashion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-XI7Zlz430Ao/WGvVDZVOQKI/AAAAAAAAI6I/ZZiXgqMerYIZVvdWy9LuiiJ53XFu0A-dQCLcB/s1600/fashion.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><span style="font-size: large;"><u>Yet-to-be-titled-Fashion-Movie (Paul Thomas Anderson)</u></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I find this picture to be so antithetical to how both these men are commonly perceived. Anywho, I really didn't want to put this film in the list, just to spite fanboys. The universal adulation can get a bit annoying but I had to be fair and this sounds like a very fascinating film. I'm in.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">15.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Mother (Darren Aronofsky)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Aronofsky is always interesting. Plus, I really want to see what he does with JLaw. She's been Katniss. She's been David O'Russell's muse. This is new territory and I'm looking forward to see their professional pairing. And assuming the titular mother is played by La Pfeiffer herself, that is some very thrilling news because hello, Barbara Hershey in <i>Black Swan</i> and Ellen Burstyn in <i>Requiem for a Dream</i>! Fun!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">14.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmrkkAwOvzg/WGvU60nZ41I/AAAAAAAAI6A/ql-p1lq99Jwpv-iMqu8vlmVFCZXHcWpkwCLcB/s1600/ep8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-LmrkkAwOvzg/WGvU60nZ41I/AAAAAAAAI6A/ql-p1lq99Jwpv-iMqu8vlmVFCZXHcWpkwCLcB/s1600/ep8.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Star Wars Episode VIII (Rian Johnson)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Honestly, just RIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSONRIANJOHNSON!!!!!!!! Also Rey, Finn and Poe are so great! (RIP Carrie Fisher)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">13.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_SfKc6alwg/WGvViGjreuI/AAAAAAAAI6o/gZ6ljKmeakcW3tzcI8O9m6wczuYtcWLygCLcB/s1600/stalin.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U_SfKc6alwg/WGvViGjreuI/AAAAAAAAI6o/gZ6ljKmeakcW3tzcI8O9m6wczuYtcWLygCLcB/s1600/stalin.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>The Death of Stalin (Armando Iannucci)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">HOLY SHIZNITS YOU GUYS, THIS FILM! 1) It's made by the best political satirist currently in the game; 2) the cast has Jeffrey Tambor, Steve Buscemi, Michael Palin, Paddy Considine and many more; 3) could there be a better film made in today's shitstorm of a political climate? 4) and finally, imagine the insults!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">12.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AFHYKEsYtzU/WGvVB_y57KI/AAAAAAAAI6E/MBsWD5KO4LAsBBBqyrfunGywYAFRKxQRQCLcB/s1600/howtotalk2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-AFHYKEsYtzU/WGvVB_y57KI/AAAAAAAAI6E/MBsWD5KO4LAsBBBqyrfunGywYAFRKxQRQCLcB/s1600/howtotalk2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>How to Talk to Girls at Parties (John Cameron Mitchell)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The short story is an other-worldly (that's a spoiler there), mesmerising little gem that has some of the most beautiful concepts I have ever read. I don't know how it will translate into a feature film but Mitchell is daring and innovative enough to tackle it. Also, this is the first of 3 films starring Elle Fanning in my list (Nicole Kidman is there as well).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">11.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKMLJq6klqw/WGvUt3snqZI/AAAAAAAAI50/nMZF2yF2E-YePEGrxSyZsj7fK8wvr9PBQCLcB/s1600/annihilation.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DKMLJq6klqw/WGvUt3snqZI/AAAAAAAAI50/nMZF2yF2E-YePEGrxSyZsj7fK8wvr9PBQCLcB/s1600/annihilation.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Annihilation (Alex Garland)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Ever since I watched it more than a year ago, I don't think I've been able to completely shake <i>Ex Machina</i> off. It was bold, gorgeous and totally unique. It's obvious that have high hopes from this one. The cast is to die for- Natalie Portman, Gina Rodriguez (!!), Tessa Thompson, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Oscar Isaac (maybe we get another dance sequence? Here's hoping).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">10.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UKZIC--PLM/WGvVR5KU8AI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/fDO21DegAOI1Y-82YCsf5JtIH6_XA9F9gCLcB/s1600/lego.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8UKZIC--PLM/WGvVR5KU8AI/AAAAAAAAI6Y/fDO21DegAOI1Y-82YCsf5JtIH6_XA9F9gCLcB/s1600/lego.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>The Lego Batman Movie (Chris McKay)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Will Arnett's portrayal of Batman in <i>The Lego Movie</i> was the best Batman that ever Batman-ed. I am sooooooo pumped for this film! Michael Cera as Robin! Jenny Slate as Harley Quinn! Rosario Dawson finally playing a real superhero, Batgirl! Zach Galifinakis as The Joker (now I'm imagining him in <i>Suicide Squad</i> and maybe that would've been a better movie?), and Ralph Fiennes as Alfred! Everything IS awesome!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">9.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VC2vdSyMyO8/WGvViWXyk2I/AAAAAAAAI6s/MGloS4beCxMoUzS8GYfbeMzakgp0NeiLQCLcB/s1600/sacreddeer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VC2vdSyMyO8/WGvViWXyk2I/AAAAAAAAI6s/MGloS4beCxMoUzS8GYfbeMzakgp0NeiLQCLcB/s1600/sacreddeer1.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>The Killing of a Sacred Deer (Yorgos Lanthimos)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Here for the next Lanthimos mindfuck. Next! </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">8.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pMnQsMKmLQ/WGvVpsd3xnI/AAAAAAAAI6w/zmwUXKIdHDQts4YwsjHENQ0IjvAZShRQQCLcB/s1600/storm%2B4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-6pMnQsMKmLQ/WGvVpsd3xnI/AAAAAAAAI6w/zmwUXKIdHDQts4YwsjHENQ0IjvAZShRQQCLcB/s1600/storm%2B4.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>A Storm in the Stars (Haifaa al-Mansour)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>Wadjda</i> is one of the best, most delightful and hopeful films of the last decade. The fact that it was by the first Saudi Arabian female director makes it even more outstanding. This is al-Mansour's first English language film and wow, the story she's bringing to the screen is one helluva doozy. It's about the love story between Mary Shelley and Percy Bysshe Shelley and how it inspired the creation of "Frankenstein". Elle Fanning is in this too. Also, Tom Sturridge stars as Lord Byron making all of teenage Nikhat's fantasies come true.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">7.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vUBOOOEEb8/WGvV1uQN2cI/AAAAAAAAI68/619kscHuSHglCsc_xO2sOfMPwZBOIpgtwCLcB/s1600/tully.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-9vUBOOOEEb8/WGvV1uQN2cI/AAAAAAAAI68/619kscHuSHglCsc_xO2sOfMPwZBOIpgtwCLcB/s1600/tully.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Tully (Jason Reitman)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">At one point, Reitman was one of the most engrossing filmmakers around. He's made some flops since but with <i>Tully</i>, he is back with the core <i>Y</i>o<i>ung Adult</i> team- Diablo Cody and Charlize Theron. <i>Young Adult</i> is such a incredible little arsenic-filled cookie of a movie and Reitman works best with Cody's scripts. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">6.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0G7dFJly5w/WGvU0SLGkbI/AAAAAAAAI54/RMD9Up7Wpawsv5df8ECI2zACorhRo4AEQCLcB/s1600/bladrerunner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0G7dFJly5w/WGvU0SLGkbI/AAAAAAAAI54/RMD9Up7Wpawsv5df8ECI2zACorhRo4AEQCLcB/s1600/bladrerunner.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Bladerunner 2049 (Denis Villeneuve)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">There's no way this film can be bad, right? It seems like a mathematical impossibility. The original is a masterpiece, Denis Villeneuve is at the top of his game, Ryan Gosling is having a mini comeback moment, there are other ab fab actors like Robin Wright, Mackenzie Davis and yes, even Jared Leto involved, and obviously, Rick Deckard is back, baby!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">5.</span></div>
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<a href="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RiZTSqfAkwg/WGvVJfUK2KI/AAAAAAAAI6Q/Akst1aAQ8MEgPKPmaE5Tp-VhHYLJdaVTwCLcB/s1600/landline.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RiZTSqfAkwg/WGvVJfUK2KI/AAAAAAAAI6Q/Akst1aAQ8MEgPKPmaE5Tp-VhHYLJdaVTwCLcB/s1600/landline.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Landline (Gillian Robespierre)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><i>Obvious Child</i> is a movie that shouldn't even have existed- an abortion romcom? What? But it does and not only that, it is freaking fantastic! I am here for anything Gillian Robespierre does next and this time, it's another of my favourite sub-genres- the dysfunctional family drama. The lovely Jenny Slate is there too, along with Edie Falco, John Turturro, Finn Wittrock and Jay Duplass.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">4.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXsdXIfaYs8/WGvVaIU73cI/AAAAAAAAI6g/mqnomdyboawPBFMjrMAD-awozOqTprbnwCLcB/s1600/rockthatbody2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LXsdXIfaYs8/WGvVaIU73cI/AAAAAAAAI6g/mqnomdyboawPBFMjrMAD-awozOqTprbnwCLcB/s1600/rockthatbody2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Rock That Body (Lucia Aniello)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">I don't know if you know this about me but <i>Broad City</i> is my life! I love that show with all my heart and Aniello who co-wrote the film with another <i>Broad City</i>-regular, Paul Downs, has been heavily involved with the show from the start. The premise of this film on Wikipedia reads "A male stripper ends up dead at a Miami beach house during a bachelorette party weekend." It stars ScarJo, Ilana Glazer, Kate McKinnon, Jillian Bell, Zoe Kravitz and Demi Moore. I need this film in my life like right now!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">3.</span></div>
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<a href="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fLWqt1tmNQ/WGvV6D1yBfI/AAAAAAAAI7E/eJJrWQDqgs82jxnsSGlpd1zRgTgq65JzgCLcB/s1600/wonderstruck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-3fLWqt1tmNQ/WGvV6D1yBfI/AAAAAAAAI7E/eJJrWQDqgs82jxnsSGlpd1zRgTgq65JzgCLcB/s1600/wonderstruck.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Wonderstruck (Todd Haynes)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">Haynes is such a beautiful filmmaker and having read this book, I cannot wait to see what he does with it. The last two times he had Julianne Moore as the lead, it resulted in some of the most unforgettable films ever- <i>Safe</i> and F<i>ar From Heaven</i>. Apparently one of the time periods depicted in this film will be like a silent movie. Oooo.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">2.</span></div>
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kACsM7H9b8U/WGvUtkk2VPI/AAAAAAAAI5w/3sBnZoZYYhYwEGfjrsSYUUEpmU4_vic-gCLcB/s1600/babydriver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kACsM7H9b8U/WGvUtkk2VPI/AAAAAAAAI5w/3sBnZoZYYhYwEGfjrsSYUUEpmU4_vic-gCLcB/s1600/babydriver.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>Baby Driver (Edgar Wright)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">The only reason this isn't at a shared #1 spot is because of this fucking guy's face. I don't know what it is about Ansel Elgort's face but I just really want to punch it. No idea how I will make it though the film seeing that he's the lead but if anyone can make me forget about Elgort's smug little face, it's Wright. This is a heist movie fuelled by a soundtrack and it sounds right up Wright's alley. The rest of the cast, especially Jon Hamm, is awesome. This isn't a straight-up comedy but Wright hasn't disappointed me even once.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">1.</span></div>
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<a href="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLhBlRU9rZs/WGvU38Hih7I/AAAAAAAAI58/hdsLig589Jk9VAMv8Wtrel1CGGbyQY-WwCLcB/s1600/beguiled1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #9fc5e8;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-MLhBlRU9rZs/WGvU38Hih7I/AAAAAAAAI58/hdsLig589Jk9VAMv8Wtrel1CGGbyQY-WwCLcB/s640/beguiled1.jpg" width="530" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8; font-size: large;"><u>The Beguiled (Sofia Coppola)</u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">What else could it possibly be? My favourite female filmmaker and indeed one of my favourites ever is back and with a remake of one brilliantly creepy-sounding films from the 70s. It reunites her with her original muse, Kirsten Dunst. There is also Elle Fanning, Nicole Kidman and Colin Farrell. The story, which is about an injured soldier entering the world of an all-girls boarding school, has some serious <i>The Virgin Suicides</i> mysterious feel to it. Also, in the photo above Fanning and Dunst are sitting on Beyonce's "Sorry" chair and that has to be a sign, right?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #9fc5e8;">God, I really, really want to be right about these films! Which 2017 movies are you most excited for? Do you think we'll all be alive to see a Most Anticipated Films of 2018 list? Who even knows? Yay, future!</span></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-77716445697511190922016-10-04T00:41:00.000+05:302016-10-04T00:41:29.411+05:30Indian Women Scorned- Thoughts on Angry Indian Goddesses, Pink and Parched<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TQqETQ3_GY/V_KhkV25LRI/AAAAAAAAI4g/goYqmH85cgsn4DJyZRdEZwvPkWXIC6B1wCLcB/s1600/posters.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-4TQqETQ3_GY/V_KhkV25LRI/AAAAAAAAI4g/goYqmH85cgsn4DJyZRdEZwvPkWXIC6B1wCLcB/s1600/posters.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Hello people of the blogging world. It's been a while. A long, long while. And obviously, my maybe comeback post (not making any promises) is about three films that the majority of you all haven't seen because they're Indian films. Oh well. Good job, Nik.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> I have been meaning to write a post for ages now but nothing has really inspired me like the films at hand. These are all "feminist" movies primarily focusing on a group of women and reflect the state of womenhood in India. I'll talk about them one-by-one, in order of viewing and, as it turns out, quality.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> The first film I saw is called <b><i>Angry Indian Goddesses</i></b> and it is directed by Pan Nalin. It came out sometime last year and I remember it being in the news because the Indian Censor Board had made many cuts and as far as I can recall, people had liked it. I was just really intrigued by its title and its premise which was sold as the first female buddy movie of India. And it kind of starts off that way after the introductory scenes of all the six main female characters in which they kick some male ass in their own styles (set to "In the Hall of the Mountain King" no less). They all come together at the Goan residence of one of the leads who is going to get married.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> I was intrigued at the set-up first. Sure they seemed like slightly broadly-sketched representations of the "modern Indian woman" but I could live with that. I guessed the first "twist" almost immediately which I'm sure most people can given how progressive this film is supposed to be. Also, to be completely fair to the movie, there were moments in it that were well-shot and it didn't seem to be falling into the traps that are usually present in Hindi movies. However, it had many, many other failings.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Here's how I can best describe it: Nalin, Subhadra Mahajan, Arsala Qureishi, who are the writers of the film according to its Wikipedia page, probably made a list of all the issues plaguing Indians currently, mainly the women, and then decided to address all of them one-by-one. This movie is like a checklist of "Big Social Problems GAHHHHHH". Law against homosexuality- check. Isolated childhood because of working parents- check. Rape in India- check. Family pressures on women- check. And so it goes on. None of it is subtle, obviously. There are I think three separate occasions when the women sit in a circle talking aloud about the topic at hand. I mean talk about being spoon-fed. And finally, the writers decide to actually execute one of these issues which results in these women becoming the "angry Indian goddesses" they are, and it is one of the most awful, idiotic, exploitative climax and endings I have ever seen in a film. It properly pissed me off and made me feel sick in a way openly regressive Bollywood films (which is probably 80% of them) have never managed to do. It is such a tone-deaf film, it could be taught in film schools to show what not to do with your scripts and characters.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Before I make this whole post a rant about the dreadfulness of <i><b>Angry Indian Goddesses</b></i> (and that fucking last act!!!), it's better to move on to the next film in my list. <b><i>Pink</i></b>, directed by Aniruddha Roy, is a 2016 film which follows three young women who get involved in a court case after one of them broke a bottle on a powerful man's face when he had tried to molest her. Their lawyer is a retired and sick man who wants to defend the victims against the social and cultural stereotypes used to defame modern and outgoing women in India. He is played by famous Indian actor Amitabh Bachchan.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> I was excited about the concept of <i><b>Pink </b></i>even though I had found its trailer to be quite confusing. Then the reviews started rolling in and it was getting a lot of love from everywhere. Believing the hype, I went with my two roommates (our living conditions are very similar to the women in the movie which is a bit creepy). My three word review for it would be that I was disappointed.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> The thing about <b><i>Pink</i> </b>is that it is a pretty silly movie about a very important topic. I cannot fully hate it because it does spread an incredibly crucial and much-needed message about consent and the possibility of that actually educating people is perhaps much bigger than what all it does wrong story-wise. Also, it is quite entertaining and well-acted. My main complaint comes from the disservice it does to the genre of legal dramas. Legal dramas are usually about morality but there is also intelligence in them. <b><i>Pink</i></b> foregoes any intellect in order to cultivate and present a moral message to its viewers. It's so stupidly sentimental in the central court case. I am no lawyer but I could point out ten different things that could've been done in that case. I feel frustrated just thinking about it because what were the writers even thinking? Also, once again, the way the women have been written was wildly inconsistent and even though they tried to make them like "real" women, there was something severely lacking in them. For a film about gender issues, the men and women were all very caricature-esque. <b><i>Pink </i></b>could've been really good, even great, if only the writing matched the the gravity of its message.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> All of which brings us to <b><i>Parched</i></b>. I first heard about it from <a href="https://twitter.com/mettekowalski" target="_blank">Mette</a> when she praised it on our last <a href="https://acrosstheuniversepodcast.wordpress.com/2016/08/17/episode-54-summer-blockbusters/" target="_blank">podcast episode</a>. It is directed by Leena Yadav who is the only female director among these three movies and it shows instantly. This film is also mainly about three women and unlike the other two cases, they are not urban but rather belong to a small rural community which does not even have a single television set. Also unlike the other two, these women feel like real, living, breathing ladies with flaws and desires and one gets completely roped into their world. This film shows many hardships that women face as well, that too in a way more patriarchal and oppressive environment than those shown in the first two films, but they are organic and don't feel like they've been stuffed down our throats.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> I loved this film so much that I have already started praising it and not even discussed its plot. As I wrote above, it is about three women- one is a lonely widow who is looking for a bride for her son, one who has an abusive husband and incapable of getting pregnant and one who is a sort of stripper and prostitute. But they are all loyal, fierce friends and again, of all the three films, this friendship rang the truest and strongest for me. THIS is a female buddy film in which you get to see how nurturing and accepting female friendships can be, especially in a world where women aren't valued enough. There is also a fourth female character who, although not a part of this trio and without as much screentime, has her own journey. There are many trials and tribulations that the women face and we see many other "Big Social Problems GAHHHHHH" in their lives and world but it is full of subtlety and at the same time, the film is also wild and vibrant.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Leena Yadav had made two films before <b><i>Parched</i></b>. I faintly recall watching her debut film <b><i>Shabd</i></b> but I doubt it was anywhere as rich as her latest offering. Not just the acting but also the way it looked was gorgeous. Russel Carpenter, who shot Titanic, was the cinematographer. This film was also quite controversial because it has a nude sex scene which had leaked in porn sites here months ago and yet was censored upon its theatrical release. Such is India. I feel sad that it is not getting the love it deserves. People LOVE <b><i>Pink</i></b> but will probably ignore <b><i>Parched</i></b> because of the lack of big names in it. It is a truly wonderful little gem.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> There has been a lot of focus on female directed films recently, what with Marya E. Gate's <a href="https://cinema-fanatic.com/a-year-with-women/" target="_blank">A Year With Women Project</a> and the <a href="https://womeninfilm.org/52-films/" target="_blank">52 Films By Women pledge</a> and so on. I have <a href="http://letterboxd.com/nikhat/list/52-films-by-women-2016/" target="_blank">also pledged</a> to watch 52 films by women this year even though I am lagging behind a bit, and have generally tried to become more curious about women-directed films. Normally I can sub-consciously understand the difference between a women-directed and a male-directed film but never has the contrast been as great for me as it has with these three movies.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> The first thing I did after watching <b><i>Angry Indian Goddesses</i></b> is to check if it was a man who wrote and directed it, and indeed it was. Of course I am not saying that men cannot write complex women. My favourite filmmakers include Woody Allen and Quentin Tarantino and my life begins and ends with <b><i>The Hours</i></b>. I cannot make a claim about Indian filmmakers because I am not as well-versed in Hindi films lately. Still, taking these three films into account, it does reveal something about the way men and women write female characters in a female-driven movie that is making some sort of a social commentary. The male writers and directors clearly seem focused on the "Big Social Problems GAHHHHHH" at hand, not really caring enough about if the female characters are realistic and human. They just draw an idea of what they think the modern, complex woman should look and act like as one can see from the <b><i>Angry Indian Goddesses</i></b>' poster's tagline- "angels, lovers, victims, killers, buddies... women" but just listing all these words doesn't necessarily change them into complicated, life-like beings. Again, not making a generalisation (but am, kinda) but since their characters are not well-written, the rest of their story also falters. Instead of tackling the obstacles through the characters and their setting and actions, they change the characterization and situations to best serve the matter that need to be shown (GAHHHHHH). The whole effect obviously is one that which feels very contrived and infuriating. I was angered by <b><i>Pink</i></b> because it made so many stupid story-telling choices. It even has the cringeworthiest of all cringeworthy moments where the North-Eastern girl actually announces in court that she gets harassed more because of her ethnicity. Let's not even get started on <b><i>Angry Indian Goddesses</i></b> because I'll never stop then.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Yadav on the other hand has devoted herself into realizing a film teeming with life and colour where the characters drive the plot. She wrote them with such care that I wanted to befriend them. I felt transported by this film. Sure, there are also some formulaic plot points in it but that almost doesn't matter in a film this vivid and lively with characters to match. These are flawed, sexy, funny women because they just are. It's not to serve a bigger goal the way it is in the cases of <b><i>Angry Indian Goddesses</i></b> and <i><b>Pink</b></i>. They don't make martyrs of themselves even though they too live under conditions that could be classified as "Big Social Problems GAHHHHHH" (I think I'm going to trademark this term).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Basically, it's just a better film and women rule and men suck! I'm kidding of course but I do have some pretty strong feelings about all these films, evidently. They brought me out of my cocoon of laziness. I would strongly recommend <b><i>Parched</i></b> to everyone and you can also try <i><b>Pink</b></i> and <b><i>Angry Indian Goddesses</i></b>, the latter just to see about how terrible that final act is. Worst. Ever.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> Since I do not want this to end on such a negative note, I'd just like to say that it is always encouraging to see Indian filmmakers tell women's stories but the focus should always be on the women, on showing their varied and intricate lives because we cannot help but identify some part of ourselves with them and so it is always better to see them being more like us. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">I hope that makes some sense. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">GAHHHHHH!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">PS. It's good to be back :)</span>Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-46426336152644124722015-10-14T01:12:00.000+05:302015-10-14T02:32:12.068+05:30The Months that were June, July, August and September + Life Update Hellooooo everyone! How have you been? It's been forever (or well, four months). Much has happened.<br />
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<u>Life update</u>: So I moved out of my house in Calcutta and I'm currently living in Noida. WOOOO ADULTING! Or well, sorta adulting 'cuz I am living in a hostel where I get my meals (pure vegetarian ones though- yuck!) and get my room cleaned once in a while. But like, baby steps. I have a roommate and a poster of <i>Fight Club</i> on my wall- total college experience! My post-graduation has begun. I'm learning cinema which is like woahhh! It's been slightly difficult because my college is very Bollywood oriented as most of the students here plan on working there after they've graduated. All of these years of neglecting Bollywood has come to bite me in the ass. Everyone also talks in Hindi a lot which is strange for me, and my brand of humour tends to fall flat here a bit. Oh well. C'est la vie. People are still nice though. There's a lot of casual sexism so I'm basically turning into a feminazi. In my batch of 52 people, there are only 5 girls, which is a) sad, b) weird because I just spent three years in an all-girls college. Noida itself is really boring and bland and suburban and a ghost town, especially after having lived in places like the UAE and Calcutta. I hope I move to Delhi by next semester. Oh, I've made two shorts already. The first one was absolutely goddamn awful and I've disowned it. The second one was nicer. I may link it at some point in the future when I am more secure with my own talent or whatever. So yeah. That's more or less it. College hours are insane which is why I am too tired to blog (or start blogging, whatevs) usually. I am really going to try though. Promise! OH and I'm also 23 now. Woo! This is the year, people. I'm going to meet my Jesse/Celine (personality-wise, I mean). I know it.<br />
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Also, it's been a shitty bunch of months in regards to my movie-watching. I keep trying to take out time for it but sleep. It's the best. What to doos? I don't even remember what all TV shows I have watched in these months. There's a good chance I've missed out on some below.<br />
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Firsts:<br />
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1) <b><u>Pitch Perfect 2</u></b>- Not remotely as good or funny as the first. I really liked the German team though.<br />
2) <b><u>Bottle Rocket (short)</u></b>- I finally started reading<i> The Wes Anderson Collection </i>and so I decided to watch each movie before its section in the book. This is the only one I hadn't watched before. It was fun.<br />
3) <b><u>The Second Best Marigold Hotel</u></b>- Plane movie. I thought it was cute. I like these films.<br />
4) <b><u>The Lost World: Jurassic Park</u></b>- What rubbish. Bleh af.<br />
5) <b><u>Jurassic World</u></b>- It was fun but like why did it make so much money? Also, depressingly sexist. Also those kids were the worst. Something should have eaten them.<br />
6) <b><u>From Russia With Love</u></b>- I liked how sort of low-key it was.<br />
7) <b><u>Dark Places</u></b>- It was such a boring adaptation even though they put everything from the book in it.<br />
8) <b><u>Goldfinger</u></b>- Funnnnn. I enjoy this kind of Bond more.<br />
9) <b><u>Don't Look Back</u></b>- It was my Blind spot of some month, I don't even remember. I have been really bad with respect to the Blind spot series but I will hopefully watch and do a mini review on them soon.<br />
10) <b><u>Inside Out</u></b>- How beautiful and profound and touching and brilliant. Pixar at its best.<br />
11) <b><u>Terminator: Genysis</u></b>- The shit I watch for Matt Smith.<br />
12) <b><u>Far From the Madding Crowd</u></b>- It was lovely and Matthias Schoenaerts is the sun *fans self*.<br />
13) <b><u>Cars 2</u></b>- It was for the <a href="https://acrosstheuniversepodcast.wordpress.com/2015/08/08/episode-48-pixar-a-retrospective/" target="_blank">Pixar episode</a>. The only film I hadn't seen so far. It wasn't as bad as I thought it would but like why would you make a movie about the Lightning McQueen's tow truck friend?<br />
14) <b><u>Ant-Man</u></b>- It was fun but fuuuucccckkkk I swear on Chris Evans's perfect pecs, I have never been more attracted to a Marvel leading man before. Goddamn, Paul Rudd. Goddamn!<br />
15) <b><u>Chinatown</u></b>- I had always watched it in parts but never together and good god, this is one brilliant fucking movie. I loved it!<br />
16) <b><u>The Sting</u></b>- I really liked it but it's already sort of faded from my mind. I do remember how much Robert Redford looked like Brad Pitt in it though.<br />
17) <b><u>Trainwreck</u></b>- It started out really fun but it sort of fizzled out towards the end, but I still really liked it. Amy Schumer is God.<br />
18) <b><u>I Love You Man</u></b>- I was craving a bit more Paul Rudd. It was really fun. He's so cute.<br />
19) <u><b>About Elly</b></u>- Another excellent Asghar Farhadi film. I especially liked the way this showed men "taking charge".<br />
20) <b><u>Paris in the North</u></b>- My college hosted a tiny Icelandic film festival and this was one of the films they screened. I liked the way it looked but I thought it was meh otherwise.<br />
21) <b><u>Metalhead</u></b>- Also part of the festival. I found it a bit dull in spite of its subject. I fell asleep in the middle.<br />
22) <b><u>Tomboy</u></b>- I am trying to make a conscious effort of watching more female-directed movies and this was the first. I loved it. Beautiful.<br />
23) <b><u>Queen of Earth</u></b>- Elizabeth Moss is a powerhouse. That is all. I really really liked Katherine Waterston too. That face-poking scene still haunts me.<br />
24) <b><u>Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation</u></b>- My first theatre experience in Noida! I really liked it and I am in love with Rebecca Ferguson. Make her the next Bond. Please.<br />
25) <b><u>The Man from U.N.C.L.E</u></b>.- It was not good but it definitely looked good. Especially the cast. Especially Cavill. Also, Elizabeth Debicki is too stunning.<br />
26) <b><u>Magic Mike XXL</u></b>- Bless this film. So feminist and hot and fun. LOVE!<br />
27) <b><u>Heaven Knows What</u></b>- I loved how raw yet sort of poetic it was. I don't even know how Arielle Holmes did it.<br />
28)<b><u> A Pigeon Sat on a Branch Reflecting on Existence</u></b>- I loved the way it looked and how absurd it was but it really tested my sleep-deprived self's patience by the end.<br />
29)<b><u> Love & Mercy</u></b>- It was really good. I especially loved Elizabeth Banks.<br />
30) <b><u>The Night Porter</u></b>- It was so much tamer than I thought it would be and it just stretches on forever. But good god, Charlotte Rampling was one of the most beautiful women ever, wasn't she?<br />
31) <b><u>I Know Where I'm Going</u></b>- I would call it a lesser Powell-Pressburger film because it felt so common, unlike everything else I have seen of theirs. The Scottishness was fun though.<br />
32) <b><u>American Ultra</u></b>- I thought it would be so much more fun. Meh.<br />
33) <b><u>The Overnight</u></b>- Now THIS was fun. And very unpredictable. I enjoyed it a lot.<br />
34) <b><u>The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials</u></b>- I actually liked it. It wasn't as good as the first one but it was entertaining enough.<br />
35) <b><u>Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</u></b>- I just didn't love it. I couldn't even tell you why. It had a lot in it I loved but somehow the movie just didn't do it for me the way I expected it to.<br />
36) <b><u>21 Grams</u></b>- For the film club. OH BTW GUYS, did I tell you I'm in the core committee of the film club in my college? My chief aim in life currently is to get them to screen movies made by women. It will happen. Yes. Also, I loved the movie.<br />
37) <b><u>Everest</u></b>- I found it a bit bland. Like it looked good and all but I didn't really care about any of the characters.<br />
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Rewatches:<br />
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1) <b><u>Bottle Rocket</u></b>- For the Wes Anderson Collection. I liked it more this time.<br />
2) <b><u>White Chicks</u></b>- I suddenly really needed to rewatch this but it's not as funny as I remembered.<br />
3) <b><u>Rushmore</u></b>- For the Collection. Still perfect.<br />
4) <b><u>The Royal Tenenbaums</u></b>- I *finally* love this movie. I get it now guys. Also for the Collection.<br />
5) <b><u>The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou</u></b>- For the Collection and much better this time 'round too.<br />
6) <b><u>Mad Max: Fury Road</u></b>- Rewatched it twice in the theatre. Favourite movie of the year still.<br />
8) <b><u>The Hours</u></b>- For Stephen Dillane. Perfect tearjerker is perfect.<br />
9) <b><u>Hotel Chevalier</u></b>- I have been obsessed with "Where Do You Go To My Lovely" ever since.<br />
10) <b><u>The Darjeeling Limited</u></b>- I was most excited about this section in the Collection 'cuz of the Indian setting and I wanted to see what made Wes Anderson choose it.<br />
11) <b><u>Fantastic Mr. Fox</u></b>- I really think it's underrated as hell. So good.<br />
12) <b><u>Moonrise Kingdom</u></b>- The last film in the collection (I bought it before The Grand Budapest Hotel was released). Lovely as always.<br />
13) <b><u>Jurassic Park</u></b>- So effing great. Simple and effective and timeless.<br />
14) <b><u>Whiplash</u></b>- I had to make my brother watch it.<br />
15) <b><u>Spy</u></b>- Because it's hilarious.<br />
16) <b><u>Thelma and Louise</u></b>- For the Road Trip episode. Best. Road. Trip. Movie. Ever.<br />
17) <b><u>Y Tu Mama Tambien</u></b>- For the same episode. Sexy af.<br />
18) <b><u>The Graduate</u></b>- Watched it the day I became a graduate because I am cliched like that.<br />
19) <b><u>What We Do in the Shadows</u></b>- Still insanely funny.<br />
20) <b><u>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</u></b>- I think it was an in-flight movie. Can't remember. I still enjoy it like hell.<br />
21) <b><u>Toy Story</u></b>- For the Pixar episode (same for below). Love.<br />
22) <b><u>A Bug's Life</u></b>- Really like.<br />
23) <b><u>Toy Story 2</u></b>- Love + underrated.<br />
24) <b><u>Monsters Inc</u></b>.- Love and all of the tears.<br />
25) <b><u>The Incredibles</u></b>- Love. Especially Mrs. Incredible. She's the real hero of the story.<br />
26) <b><u>Wall-E</u></b>- I loved it sooooooooo much this time.<br />
27) <b><u>Cars</u></b>- Enjoyable and better than I remember.<br />
28) <b><u>Brave</u></b>- Love. Especially Merida's hair.<br />
29) <b><u>The Boat that Rocked</u></b>- Was showing it to my brother. It's wayyy more sexist than I remember but I still enjoy it a lot.<br />
30) <b><u>Toy Story 3</u></b>- Love. All of my creys.<br />
31) <b><u>Up</u></b>- That first 10 minutes, man.<br />
32) <b><u>Monsters University</u></b>- Also underrated.<br />
33) <b><u>The Deep</u></b>- It was screened in the Icelandic Film Festival. I really liked it this time.<br />
34) <b><u>Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist</u></b>- Started my 23rd birthday with it. It was a great idea.<br />
35) <b><u>The Dreamers</u></b>- Ugh this film. Too beautiful with too many beautiful people.<br />
36) <b><u>Cinema Paradiso</u></b>- First film screening of the film club. That ending #neverendingtears<br />
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37) <b><u>Amores Perros</u></b>- Film club. The third story isn't the greatest.<br />
38) <b><u>Marie Antoinette</u></b>- I felt like rewatching it. It's so beautiful and great.<br />
39) <b><u>Pushpak</u></b>- Watched it in class. It's quite good, although I did fall asleep a little bit in the middle.<br />
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TV shows: (I'm just giving a brief overview of what I thought and not the extra stuff because of the number of shows)<br />
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1)<b><u> Hannibal, season 3</u></b>- Oh <i>Hannibal</i>, you were too beautiful to live in this world/our television screens. It's one of my favourite shows of all time and I was very, very sad to see it go but god did it end incredibly! Obviously, a part of me hopes it's not the end but the ride was glorious nonetheless. I will almost definitely write more on it when I make my end-of-the-year lists.<br />
2) <b><u>Game of Thrones, season 5</u></b>- This was a more problematic season but it had its moments. Season 5 will go down as the season I finally started rooting for Jon Snow only to *SPOILER ALERT THOUGH LET'S BE HONEST YOU ALL KIND OF ALREADY KNOW ABOUT THIS* watch him be repeatedly stabbed and left for dead in the end *END SPOILERS*.<br />
3) <b><u>Twin Peaks, season 1</u></b>- I really, really like it. Not everything works for me (I'm looking at you James-Donna, Big Ed and his woman problems), but what does, really, truly does.<br />
4) <b><u>Orange is the New Black, season 3</u></b>- I thought it was the best season so far. I love how much it focused on everyone, even the smaller characters. The ending was great. Special shout out to how hot Ruby Rose is.<br />
5) <b><u>Penny Dreadful, season 2</u></b>- What a fantastic season! I don't know what I loved the most- Vanessa and Ethan's romance, a proper formidable villain played by the excellent Helen McRory or the character arc of Brona/Lily played by the most surprising Billie Piper.<br />
6) <b><u>True Detective, season 2</u></b>- Well, everything can't be great, can it? I mean, it wasn't totally terrible thanks to Colin Farrell and Rachel McAdams but it really was a pretty tedious season except for those annoyingly enticing cliffhangers.<br />
7) <b><u>Inside Amy Schumer, season 3</u></b>- SO. GOOD. I highly doubt any episode this year is going to beat "12 Angry Men Inside Amy Schumer" for me simply because it is one of the greatest television episodes I have ever seen and I am going to make it my personal funny feminazi Bible.<br />
8) <b><u>Mr. Robot, season 1</u></b>- It was such a surprisingly good show. I especially love the way it looks and its title card. Rami Malek is unsettling and fascinating.<br />
9) <b><u>Silicon Valley, seasons 1-2</u></b>- I like it a lot and its sort of understated comedy. It's very clever.<br />
10) <b><u>Orphan Black, season 3</u></b>- I think the show became really good this season again. Tatiana Maslany is God (okay, yes I did write that Amy Schumer was God before but Maslany could actually be playing Schumer for all I know. Think about it).<br />
11) <b><u>Queer as Folk, series 1-2</u></b>- Holy fucking cow, this show! Aidan Gillen! I mean WHAAAAAAAAAAT?!! I loved it and him and how hot and fun everything was. Also, I can never look at Littlefinger the same way again.<br />
12) <b><u>You're the Worst, season 1</u></b>- You all know how much I love romcoms and how much I love things that play with the romcom genre even more. So yeah, I adored this. Horrible people in love- yay!<br />
13) <b><u>Agent Carter, season 1</u></b>- Rewatched it because Peggy is the greatest.<br />
14)<b> <u>Broad City, seasons 1-2</u></b>- Well, I continuously rewatch episodes from this. I've lost count how many times I've done that.<br />
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Books:<br />
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1) <b><u>The Wes Anderson Collection by Matt Zoler Seitz</u></b>- Oh this book is lovely. I really enjoyed reading it and I love looking at all the pictures. It makes me feel like a little kid :)<br />
2) <b><u>V for Vendetta by Alan Moore</u></b>- Really great. I need to read more graphic novels (and like novels in general).<br />
3) <b><u>Wonderstruck by Brian Selznick</u></b>- My brother had bought this book for me ages ago but I *had* to read it after I heard that Todd Haynes is adapting it. It's beautiful and poignant.<br />
4) <b><u>The Hippopotamus by Stephen Fry</u></b>- Oh he's such a fun writer. The way he forms sentences- god, I wish I was that clever! Also, this book had the most detailed description of bestiality I have ever read (also the only description of bestiality I have ever read). Wowsers.<br />
5) <b><u>The Girl on the Train by Paula Hawkins</u></b>- I read it while I was on a train :P It was good but the book has been over-hyped.<br />
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Final tally:<br />
Firsts-<b>120</b> Rewatched- <b>75</b><br />
<b>Total- 195</b><br />
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And I'm done! Phew! I am determined not to let another four months go by without any posts. I don't think I will post a lot but I do miss blogging a lot so I want to come back to it.<br />
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<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-13073498287429129702015-06-15T02:15:00.001+05:302015-10-13T23:34:09.493+05:30The Month that was May Sorry for being so late again, guys. This month has been a hectic/anxiety-inducing/avoiding any type of work kind of month so far. I've finally chosen where I'm going to do my masters. It's in a place called Noida which is near New Delhi. I'll be living on my own for the first time in my life- it's really exciting and scary. I don't know what's going to happen to the blog when college starts. We'll see when the time comes, I guess.<br />
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Anyway, May was a fairly good month in terms of movies and books. Not *as* much TV because I took a vow to give it up for two weeks if my flight from Delhi which was experiencing loads of turbulence would stop shaking so fucking much... and it did. Honestly though, I just wanted to see if I could do it. The number of TV shows below appears large but they were shows I was following weekly. No binging apart from <i>Mad Men</i>. This gave me time to read more, although I hardly read anymore so it's still not that much. Also, I caught up on some older movies that I had been meaning to watch for a long time but had been putting off to watch more recent stuff/TV.<br />
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Firsts:<br />
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1) <u><b>While We're Young</b></u>- It was funny but it's probably my least favourite Noah Baumbach film I saw.<br />
2) <b><u>Wake Up Sid</u></b>- It's been on my watchlist for the longest time. I quite liked it. Konkana Sen Sharma is so pretty.<br />
3) <b><u>Ex Machina</u></b>- It's my favourite film of the year so far. It's really smart, and the kind whose brilliance dawns on you after you think about it. I loved its gender commentary and subversion. It's gorgeous to look at and fantastically acted and goddamn, that dancing scene!<br />
4) <b><u>Piku</u></b>- It was very sweet although I did think that constipation as a theme was pretty weird. Irrfan Khan is so attractive.<br />
5) <b><u>Slow West</u></b>- I liked it although I think you need to be familiar with/actually like the western genre to understand what it does differently, and I don't qualify for either of that so I don't really get the acclaim apart from how stunning it looked. Plus, Fassy in long-johns *adds infinite points to rating*<br />
6) <b><u>Mad Max: Fury Road</u></b>- Excellent. Amazing. Gorgeous. Everything everyone said about it was spot on. Second favourite of the year currently.<br />
7) <b><u>Girlhood</u></b>- Joining the ranks of all the people who said this is better than Boyhood. I especially loved the "Diamonds" scene (and I've been listening to that song non-stop ever since).<br />
8) <b><u>Fire</u></b>- Super late <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.ae/2015/05/mini-reviews-blind-spot-edition.html" target="_blank">blind spot</a>. Pretty good, weird tantric porn music in the sex scenes notwithstanding, of course.<br />
9) <b><u>All That Jazz</u></b>- <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.ae/2015/05/mini-reviews-blind-spot-edition.html" target="_blank">Blind spot</a>- Quite brilliant, especially Roy Schneider's performance.<br />
10) <b><u>The Age of Adaline</u></b>- I watched it for the insanely hot Michiel Huisman and in that regard, I wasn't disappointed. Everything else in the movie is meh.<br />
11) <b><u>The Verdict</u></b>- I read "Making Movies" so I thought I should watch a Sidney Lumet film after that.<br />
12) <b><u>Million Dollar Baby</u></b>- I really expected to hate it but it was fine. I really did not like the score though.<br />
13) <b><u>Tie Me Up! Tie Me Down!</u></b>- Stockholm syndrome brought to you by Technicolor! I liked it :P<br />
14) <b><u>A Prophet</u></b>- After Jacques Audiard won the Palme d'Or for <i>Dheepan</i>, I had to check this out and lo and behold, I absolutely LOVED it! So, so good.<br />
15) <b><u>Spartacus</u></b>- It was good but god, it went on forever.<br />
16) <b><u>Safe</u></b>- Getting ready for <i>Carol</i>. It was terrifying and incredible.<br />
17) <b><u>Tomorrowland</u></b>- Don't get the hate for it. I thought it was lovely and uplifting and beautiful to look at.<br />
18) <b><u>Alphaville</u></b>- The story was interesting but god, the voice of Alpha 60 was painful.<br />
19) <b><u>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof</u></b>- I really thought I had watched it but apparently not. I was surprised at how sexy it was. I prefer the play slightly more but good lord, how attractive were Liz Taylor and Paul Newman?!<br />
20) <b><u>Killer's Kiss</u></b>- So I thought that I have finally finished Kubrick's filmography with this but turns out there's another feature he made before it. Anyhoo, I quite liked it. The acting wasn't the greatest but it was shot really well and the kisses were indeed great.<br />
21) <b><u>Results</u></b>- It started out well but I think it lost its way in the middle. Guy Pearce is so fit in it.<br />
22) <b><u>Kramer vs Kramer</u></b>- I'm also consciously trying to slowly make my way through the Best Picture Oscar winners. I thought this was great and very affecting.<br />
23) <b><u>La Jetée</u></b>- Fantastic. Never seen anything like it but I absolutely loved it.<br />
24) <b><u>Much Ado About Nothing</u></b>- Very fun especially because of Kenneth Branagh and Emma Thompson. Although, dafuq Keanu Reeves?<br />
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Rewatched:<br />
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1) <b><u>Black Swan</u></b>- My friend went a little nuts over Vincent Cassel and that rubbed off on me so I *obviously* had to rewatch this.</div>
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2) <b><u>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</u></b>- Better the second time 'round imo. The excitement has settled down and one can focus on the script better.</div>
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3) <u><b>Kingsman: The Secret Service</b></u>- Fun! Fun! Fun!</div>
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4) <b><u>Spring Breakers</u></b>- I made my <a href="http://lambcast.podomatic.com/entry/2015-05-15T14_12_21-07_00" target="_blank">Lambcast</a> debut! Woo hoo! Love this film.</div>
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5) <b><u>The Usual Suspects</u></b>- I'm also trying to rewatch old favourites that I've only watched once. The movie is as excellent as I remember.</div>
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TV shows: (skipping quotes because of the number of shows)</div>
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1)<u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">Parks and Recreation</u><u style="font-weight: bold;">, season 7</u>- Like the fucking idiot I am, I forgot to include this in my last monthly round-up. I love this show, forever and always. It was an excellent season with beautiful and hilarious episodes and great acting all around. I can't choose an MVP because all these characters were so special. My favourite episode, if I had to choose one, was probably <b>"Ron and Leslie"</b> because I loved the emphasis on the friendship of these two wonderful characters.</div>
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2) <b><u>Mad Men, season 6 and 7</u></b>- AAAAAA I finished watching the episodes just in time! I saw the last two episodes ever of this show with everyone else and it was awesome. I just wish I had started the show sooner. Again, it's difficult to choose a favourite season 7 episode because of the way I watched the show but it's probably <b>"The Strategy"</b> because of the Don and Peggy dance. Uhh MVP is hrd as well. I love <b>Peggy, Sally, Roger, Joan </b>and Meredith but everyone's acting is excellent. I suppose <b>Jon Hamm, Elizabeth Moss</b> and <b>January Jones</b> gave my favourite performances over all.</div>
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3) <b><u><i>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</i>, season 2</u></b>- It had a lot of breaks so I am not sure whether this season was better than the last but I loved it all the same. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>- One image from this season that has forever been burned in my mind in the room with all the dolls. So I guess <b>"The Road Trip"</b> wins this title. I liked Sophia. b) <u>MVP</u>- Everyone in the main cast is great but I'm going to choose<b> Kyra Sedgwick's Madeline Wunch. </b>She's such a worthy opponent to Captain Holt.</div>
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4) <b><u><i>Outlander</i>, season 1</u></b>- I LOVE this show. It's become one of my favourite shows of all time already. I love the characters and the central love story and how the female lead is placed up and centre of it all. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>- Well, <b>"The Wedding"</b> topped <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.ae/2015/02/why-is-your-penis-on-dead-girls-phone.html" target="_blank">my favourite episodes</a> list of last year. It's still probably my favourite but one also has to mention the most brutal episode of television I have ever seen, the season finale<b> "To Ransom A Man's Soul"</b> which is the flip side to "The Wedding" in regards to the way sex and intimacy is dealt in both. b) <u>MVP</u>- Both Sam Heughan and Tobias Menzies are excellent but <b>Caitriona Balfe's Claire Beauchamp Randall Frase</b>r is the show's heart and soul. Even in the last two episodes where the men have more memorable scenes, Balfe manages to equal them through her own subtlety.</div>
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5) <b><u><i>Jane the Virgin</i>, season 1</u></b>- This has become one of my favourite shows of all time as well. I can't choose a favourite episode. I know I chose the first one in my <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.ae/2015/02/why-is-your-penis-on-dead-girls-phone.html" target="_blank">year-end list</a> but that's only because it needed to be represented. Every episode is great in its own way. I love all the actors, the Latin Lover Narrator, the visuals, the music, the telenovela elements mixed with the real emotional relationships in the show- ugh, everything is beautiful. Though I must give a special shout out to Jamie Camil who plays Rogelio, a character that would have been a caricature in lesser hands, and Anthony Mendez whose Latin Lover Narrator is a character in his own rights, the show would be nothing without the absolutely lovely and luminescent <b>Gina Rodriguez</b>. Her comic timing is matched by her ability to find new emotional depths in the crazy life that her character leads, and her chemistry with each and every actor on the show is top-notch. She can and she did, you guys.</div>
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6) <b><u><i>The Flash</i>, season 1</u></b>- Heyyy this was fun! I don't love it as much as <i>Agent Carter</i> or <i>Daredevil</i> but I like the actors and the characters and the visuals are pretty good too. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>- <b>"Out of Time"</b>. Just like, SO much happens! It's probably the most excited I was all season. b) <u>MVP</u>- Grant Gustin's Barry Allen is adorable but I have a soft spot for <b>Tom Cavanagh's Harrison Wells</b>. He's so deliciously evil. Love supervillains.</div>
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7) <b><u><i>New Girl</i>, season 4</u></b>- This was a weird but a pretty good season. I liked that everyone was friends this season again. Much like <i>Brooklyn Nine-Nine</i>, this had wayyy too many breaks for me to judge it properly. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>- <b>"Clean Break"</b>. It's a great episode but it would be here on the basis of that proposal alone. DAWWWW! b) <u>MVP</u>- I think this was a pretty good season for <b>Damon Wayans' Coach</b>. He will be missed.</div>
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Books:</div>
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1) <b><u><i>Middlesex</i> by Jeffrey Eugenides</u></b>- I thought the ending was rushed but I loved everything else about it. It's so fantastically written.</div>
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2) <b><u>Sharp Objects by Gillian Flynn</u></b>- Ooo this one was scary. I love the way Flynn's mind works. Also, I don't know how she imagines such awful women but it's fascinating.</div>
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3) <b><u><i>Making Movies</i> by Sidney Lumet</u></b>- I have had this book for about two years now and I was done with hating myself for not reading it already. It's really good and informative and I have a lot of stuff underlined for hopefully the future.</div>
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4) <b><u><i>Cat on a Hot Tin Roof</i> by Tennessee Williams</u></b>- I was getting desperate to catch up on my Goodreads Reading Challenge (which is only 30. Please don't judge) so I decided to read the thinnest books I own. I know it's a play but I own it as a book so... :P I really liked it.</div>
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5) <b><u><i>The Importance of Being Earnest</i> by Oscar Wilde</u></b>- Trivial but so much fun!</div>
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6) <b><u><i>Incest</i> by Marquis de Sade</u></b>- It was intriguing but I could have done without all the judgment throughout the book. Let me judge on my own! I know incest is bad ffs!</div>
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Final tally:</div>
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Firsts- <b>83 </b> Rewatched-:<b> 36</b></div>
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<b>Total- 119</b> </div>
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And that's it. No promises for what's to come this month :(</div>
<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-43840649355359405192015-05-28T02:20:00.002+05:302015-05-28T02:20:44.558+05:30Thoughts<span style="color: #ffe599;">1) Hi guys? Wassup blah blah blah, cutting right to the chase here- TILDA SWINTON JUST JOINED THE <i>DOCTOR STRANGE</i> MOVIE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! OMG YOU GUYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! And this is the movie which has Benedict Cumberbatch playing the lead. This is already the most alien-looking cast of all time. Swinton is going to play, get this, a Tibetan mystic called the Ancient One who mentors Strange (is that his real name?). I mean, duh! Also, it seems that this character was male in the comic but like why would you cast some man when you can get Tilda? I knew there was a reason I loved MCU. Now all I really, really, *really* need is for Loki to somehow find his way into this film.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">2) <u>Video</u>- I didn't get to watch this until today and I actually cried laughing. I am starting to really like Kit Harrington, the weirdo sketch dude, now.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">Everyone is great in it but I especially loved Harrington, Leslie, Rheon and Clarke. And, man, does Peter Dinklage have charisma!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">3) <u>Trailers</u>- The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oquZifON8Eg" target="_blank">Crimson Peak</a> trailer nearly killed me. This film is going to be so fucking awesome. And goodness gracious, Hiddles in THAT scene *fans herself*. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ncvFAm4kYCo" target="_blank">Point Break</a> remake looks sooo meh. The main guy is even more expressionless than Keanu Reeves (who seriously works his expressionless-ness). Also, why anyone would remake <i>Point Break</i> when <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kSUk7GJKHBU" target="_blank">Hot Fuzz</a> exists is beyond me. I got teary-eyed just watching <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M9LNsSjnqBM" target="_blank">Diary of a Teenage Girl</a>. I just know that I will love it. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fqUa5sYHC9s" target="_blank">The End of the Tour</a> looks pretty good too. I haven't read any of David Foster Wallace's books but I aim to before watching the movie. Love the cast. Speaking of, I thought the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IeOxo7o9T8Q" target="_blank">Steve Jobs</a> trailer was fairly decent and I don't know how but I missed the announcement that Kate Winslet is in it. It feels like forever since I've seen her in anything. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y1wRv8vTpxo" target="_blank">Pan</a> looks pretty. That's it, really. All I could think of during <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-44_igsZtgU" target="_blank">The Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials </a>trailer was how Aiden Gillen has transformed into Littlefinger and he seems to be that character in everything he does. But also, heyyyyy Dylan O'Brien! Missed you and your incredible arms #objectifyallmen. I am dying to watch <i>Macbeth</i> now and its <a href="http://www.indiewire.com/article/watch-michael-fassbender-and-marion-cotillard-coronate-and-conquer-in-first-macbeth-clips-20150522" target="_blank">clips</a> are just fueling that fire. God, this movie is going to be amazeballs. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2l0dbvkCV5w" target="_blank">Cooties</a> looks hilarious. I generally don't like it when kids die in movies but hey, zombie children sound terrifying. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JNrDBU71lww" target="_blank">A Very Murray Christmas</a> trailer has a lot of Bill Murray in it so that's, um, fair. Are you guys watching the <i>Hannibal</i> teasers? This is only <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9pNXLmDdrL0" target="_blank">one</a> of them but I love all the happy music they're playing in them. I so can't wait for that show. Finally, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-FtenR69qmk" target="_blank">Scream Queens</a> kind of makes me think of <i>Drop Dead Gorgeous</i> and I love that. Emma Roberts can play such a great, posh bitch.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">4) Finally, someone needs to release footage of the interactions between these two, in a non-creepy way of course-</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">And to put this into perspective-</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599;">Now I want both of them to make a movie together. Not just that, seeing how much Dolan hung out with Sienna Miller during the festival, I want him to meet Tom Sturridge (Miller's baby-daddy and my 16 year old-self's dream man) and put him in his movies because Sturridge is practically custom-made to be in them.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ffe599;"> Yes, this was random. I honestly didn't care for any other news items that much. Okay byeeeeeeeeeeeee!</span></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-85481889279276457022015-05-25T23:33:00.001+05:302015-05-26T11:42:18.783+05:30Mini Reviews- Blind Spot Edition<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><br /></span>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i7-uOTQ0ow0/VWNc-m-EEgI/AAAAAAAAI08/9QiJGqVO4Kw/s1600/blindspot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-i7-uOTQ0ow0/VWNc-m-EEgI/AAAAAAAAI08/9QiJGqVO4Kw/s1600/blindspot.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Yes, I know I am terrible. All I can say is that it is actually a real shame that I haven't been able to write about (or even watch) my Blind spots in the past three months because I had a lot to say about them (or for at least three of them). Enjoy, I guess.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">February- A Matter of Life and Death (Dir: Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger, 1947)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><u>Basic plot</u>: Before his plane crashes, British Air Force pilot Peter Carter contacts an American radio operator June and talks to her for a few minutes. This crash was meant to take his life but Conductor 71, who was supposed to take him to the "Other World", missed him due to a fog and Peter washes up on the shore where June finds him and they fall in love. This causes a great deal of confusion in the "Other World" and they try to get Peter back but he refuses because he now has a reason to live for. His "hallucinations" get treated by a friend of June's, Dr. Reeves, who becomes Peter's attorney in the appeal for his life.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Oh I loved this film! I wanted to write about it on Valentine's Day but yeah, that didn't really happen. I love movies in which something as conceptual as love being stronger than death is explored not only in terms of drama but intellectually as well. It was beautiful to look at- the "Other World" was black and white, with huge halls and never-ending stairs and colossal statues, and earth was in Technicolour and as vibrant as other Powell-Pressburger films. I just felt so moved while watching it. The film also explores trauma suffered by soldiers and it keeps the visions Peter has ambiguous so we don't actually know if they happened or not. I think it depends on the person watching and I like to believe that they weren't simply hallucinations of a damaged mind but something real- that a person's soul matters so much that there is a humongous trial held for it and that a genuine tear born out of love can save that very soul.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> It wasn't perfect however. For most of its running time, I was sure that I will put this film in my top 100 but then something really odd happened. During the trial, there is a huge argument about which country is greater- England or USA. I can see how this would have worked when the film came out but it just made it tedious to watch now. It's the only thing in the film that makes it seem dated and it's especially jarring because everything else about it is so timeless.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Coming to the actors, I thought David Niven as Peter and Roger Livesey as Dr. Reeves were both the best. I saw Tilda Swinton of all people praise Livesey in an interview a few months ago and I can see why. He was really wonderful in the movie. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> This is my third Powell-Pressburger film and it's my favourite so far. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">March- O Brother, Where Art Thou? (Dir: Joel Coen and Ethan Coen, 2000)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><u>Basic plot</u>- Based on Homer's <i>The Odyssey</i>, the film follows three escaped convicts in 1930s Mississippi who try to find their hidden treasure and in their journey, they record a hit song, meet a bank robber, have one of them turned into a toad, save their black friend from a KKK meeting, reunite another one of them with his family, and stay out of the clutches of a relentless devil-like policeman who is after them.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> While I wouldn't call it a dud exactly, this is my least favourite Blind spot entry so far. Maybe it's due to that fact that I haven't read <i>The Odyssey</i>, or watched <i>Sullivan's Travels</i> (which is another of its inspirations), or how much I hate country music, or probably a combination of all of this that made the film kind of a blah watch for me. This film is more or less a musical so the songs played a huge part in it and also in how I felt about it. Sure, it was funny seeing George Clooney sing and dance, or just the faces that John Turturro makes, but it wasn't enough. I just didn't care for it.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> One thing I will say is that the film is absolutely gorgeous to look at and even though I didn't appreciate the story, I thought it was very well-made.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> The Coen brothers are a sort of hit and miss for me. I do however tend to like their films more upon a rewatch and that might happen with <i>O Brother Where Art Thou?</i> in the future, though I have a feeling that the country music is going to be a real obstacle even then.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">April- Fire (Dir: Deepa Mehta, 1996)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><u>Basic plot</u>- For 13 years, Radha has lived with a husband who has purged desire from his life, calling it the root of evil. His younger brother, who is in love with someone else, is forced to marry Sita, a free-spirited girl who wants love but finds none in her marriage. Living together in a house, neglected by their husbands, Radha and Sita find love and desire in each other.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> While watching this film, all I could think of was the Whitman quote Robin Williams' character quotes in <i>Dead Poets Society</i>: "<i>most men live lives of quite desperation.</i>" Watching it, I could see that most women, especially those bound in heavily patriarchal and tradition-filled communities like those in India, really do live lives of quite desperation. But to be fair, I feel like each and every character in this movie was restricted in their own way. It's just that Radha and Sita, played so wonderfully by Shabana Azmi and Nandita Basu respectively, had their restrictions put upon them and they finally rebelled. I like how the film slowly questions the ways women are oppressed in Indian societies, through religion, traditions and patriarchy. A woman's desire seems bound to that of her husband and the film shows how that is not true and that to desire for things is what living actually is.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Again, it is not a perfect film. I had never watched an Indian lesbian drama. In fact, I thought of it more as a love story than a lesbian story, sort of like <i>Brokeback Mountain</i> was when it came to men. This is because, as many gay activists pointed out, to see it simply as a lesbian story makes it appear like lesbianism is caused due to marital neglect by women's husbands, which gives out a terrible message. For me personally, it was odd watching all of them converse in English because of the setting. Also, I thought that the music in the sex scenes was something out of one of those tantric porn videos which made them kind of pervy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> I wanted to watch a film directed by a woman for my Blind spot series. This is the first film by Deepa Mehta that I have watched and I am definitely keeping an eye out for her. I like the way she mixed the Indian culture, often showing us the stories that birthed it, and the way it has Westernized. I hope more people make movies like this.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8; font-size: large;">May- All That Jazz (Dir: Bob Fosse, 1979)</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><u>Basic plot</u>- Joe Gideon, a musical theatre director and choreographer, lives a life of excess- whether it is his smoking, his women, his medication or his work. Starting everyday with an "It's showtime!", jazz hands and all, he immerses himself in this elaborate life, creating a huge musical and editing a film on a stand up, until this excess catches up with him.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> There are many things to love in this film. Obviously, there are the musical aspects. I could see how this film gave rise to things like <i>Chicago</i>- where the musical elements are a sort of commentary on someone's life. In this case it's Gideon, whether it is his beginnings, his illness, the five stages of grief or his end. The songs are from different genres, the set-ups are spectacular and they all look great. There is also the musical Gideon is working on and oh my god, this film had the sexiest musical number I have ever seen. "Take Off With Us" turns into basically an orgy and it is completely amazing. The other musical numbers are fantastic too but this one is sticking with me forever.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Another reason I loved this film was Roy Schneider. I never, ever, ever, ever thought he could do a role like this. He was sexy and mean and cool and conflicted and damaged and cocky- gaahhh, so good! I mean, he was quite an asshole but he still managed to make him heartbreaking. Such an inspired casting choice.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> The film is based on Fosse's own life and though occasionally it is a bit indulgent, I like it when filmmakers reflect on their own experiences through their art. I did think that <i>Cabaret</i>, the only other film of his that I have seen, had a better story and a perfectly matched style, but this was more ambitious and, obviously, I respect that. I can also see myself liking it more and more as time goes by.</span><br />
<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-48619835628187281042015-05-08T23:14:00.001+05:302015-05-08T23:26:07.572+05:30The Months that were February, March and April<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> Welcome to another unnecessarily massive post because I was too lazy/busy with stupid exams to do one each month! All I want to say is that I watched an obscene amount of TV for someone giving her final college exams.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Firsts:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">1) <b><u>Beyond the Lights</u></b>- I really liked it. It could've been totally cliched but it felt very raw and real.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">2) <b><u>The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Him</u></b>- God, James McAvoy is so underrated.<br />3) <b><u>The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her</u></b>- The best one and I really liked this order.<br />4) <b><u>The Voices</u></b>- It's kind of quirky but then it gets too depressing. Ryan Reynools is really good.<br />5) <b><u>Chariots of Fire</u></b>- I liked it a lot, surprisingly. I'm not one for sports movies generally.<br />6) <b><u>Ordinary People</u></b>- I really liked it although it's annoying that Timothy Hutton got an Oscar for this role and Logan Lerman got nothing whatsoever for <i>Perks of Being a Wallflower.</i><br />7) <b><u>Bananas</u></b>- Super fun.<br />8) <b><u>The Liability</u></b>- Watched it for Jack O'Connell. It was pretty okay.<br />9) <b><u>Roy</u></b>- Worst 2015 movie so far.<br />10) <b><u>Spanking the Monkey</u></b>- Cannot believe that David O'Russell made this. Loved it.<br />11) <b><u>A Matter of Life and Death</u></b>- This was my February Blind spot which I didn't write on... yet. I loved it.<br />12) <b><u>In the Heat of the Night</u></b>- I don't think it's aged very well even though its message still applies, sadly.<br />13) <b><u>Fifty Shades of Grey</u></b>- Unintentionally hilarious. Johnson's pretty decent.<br />14) <b><u>3 Women</u></b>- I didn't know this was going to be so surreal.<br />15) <b><u>Wild Tales</u></b>- Awesome. Best kind of humour ever.<br />16) <b><u>Kingsman: The Secret Service</u></b>- So much fun! The weird princess bit at the end notwithstanding, it's my favourite 2015 film so far.<br />17) <b><u>Ugly</u></b>- So unnecessarily bleak.<br />18) <b><u>Charade</u></b>- Fun!<br />19) <b><u>Zero Motivation</u></b>- I loved it. More films like this, please.<br />20) <b><u>The United States of Leland</u></b>- It was kind of terrible. Not all Gosling movies are good :/<br />21) <b><u>The DUFF</u></b>- I liked it a lot. Mae Whitman rules!<br />22) <b><u>Romy and Michele's High School Reunion</u></b>- I don't know why it took me so long to watch it. It's fucking brilliant!<br />23) <b><u>All Good Things</u></b>- All the talk about <i>The Jinx</i> got me to check it out. Both the Gos and Kirsten Dunst were v. good.<br />24) <b><u>Focus</u></b>- The leads were great. The film, not so much.<br />25) <b><u>Cinderella</u></b>- Absolutely lovely.<br />26) <b><u>Thirteen</u></b>- Wowsers, that was dark.<br />27) <b><u>A Girl Walks Home Alone At Night</u></b>- It got a bit slow in parts but I really liked it. Totes dressing up as the Girl at some costume party.<br />28) <b><u>Office Space</u></b>- Meh.<br />29) <b><u>Dum Laga Ke Haisha</u></b>- A really sweet and simple Bollywood film.<br />30) <b><u>Mad Max</u></b>- It's like a lame origin story.<br />31) <b><u>Mad Max: Road Warrior</u></b>- THIS IS WHAT I'M TALKING ABOUT! SO GOOOOD!<br />32) <b><u>The Cook, the Thief, His Wife & Her Lover</u></b>- I don't know why but I thought this was going to be a "light" comedy. Yikes!<br />33) <b><u>Step Brothers</u></b>- Laughed a lot.<br />34) <b><u>It Follows</u></b>- It wasn't that scary. I actually went with my dad and he fell asleep during the movie and he hated it. I liked it, especially the music and the way it's shot.<br />35) <b><u>Fast and Furious 7</u></b>- It's fun as long as no one talks.<br />36) <b><u>A History of Violence</u></b>- I've watched it in parts but never completely. Really good.<br />37) <b><u>O Brother Where Art Thou?</u></b>- I'm not the biggest fan of country music so that got a bit annoying but I liked it.<br />38) <b><u>The Avengers: Age of Ultron</u></b>- First day, first show! I was going to review it as soon as I came back home but my brother forbade me till he had watched it and now I kinda don't want to anymore... I still might but in short, I liked it a lot but it had issues.<br />39) <b><u>Adult Beginners</u></b>- I thought it was like a lesser The Skeleton Twins.<br />40) <b><u>Lost River</u></b>- Weird as fuck but not completely terrible. Never going to forget Ben Mendehlson dancing ever.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Rewatched:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">1) <b><u>Stoker</u></b>- <a href="https://twitter.com/lady_sati" target="_blank">Margaret</a> went Goode crazy and so I had to rewatch this *fans herself*<br />2) <b><u>Run Lola Run</u></b>- For our <a href="https://acrosstheuniversepodcast.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/episode-42-90s-kids/" target="_blank">90s episode</a>. Still one of the craziest, coolest films I have ever seen.<br />3) <b><u>La Haine</u></b>- <a href="https://acrosstheuniversepodcast.wordpress.com/2015/03/30/episode-42-90s-kids/" target="_blank">90s episode</a>. Cute, adorable Nino Quincampoix from <i>Amelie</i> made this. Like WOAH!!<br />4) <b><u>Can’t Hardly Wait</u></b>- 90s episode. Fun!<br />5) <b><u>Election</u></b>- Tracy Flick is such a fascinating character. I kinda hate her but I also have mad respect for how passionate she is.<br />6) <b><u>Casablanca</u></b>- Valentine's Day tradition.<br />7) <b><u>Bridget Jones’ Diary</u></b>- Ditto.<br />8) <b><u>Chungking Express</u></b>- New addition to Valentine's Day tradition.<br />9) <b><u>The Breakfast Club</u></b>- For it's 30th anniversary. I'm so scared that one day I will start identifying with Vernon :/<br />10) <b><u>Kill Bill vol. 1</u></b>- It's been too long since I had watched this. I should make a Withrow-esque "__ Things I Love About Kill Bill that No One Talks About" list because god, I adore this film.<br />11) <b><u>Kill Bill vol. 2</u></b>- Same.<br />12) <b><u>Captain America: First Avenger</u></b>- After watching <i>Agent Carter</i>, I got really thirsty for my favourite Avenger (if we don't count Peggy Carter herself)<br />13) <b><u>The Avengers</u></b>- See.<br />14) <b><u>Captain America: Winter Soldier</u></b>- Seeeeee.<br />15) <b><u>Drive</u></b>- It's been forever since I watched this too. I think it's kind of a perfect movie.<br />16) <b><u>Zoolander</u></b>- After the <i>Zoolander 2 </i>announcement, this had to be revisited.<br />17) <b><u>Selma</u></b>- Amazing<br />18) <b><u>Star Wars episode IV: A New Hope</u></b>- I think a huge reason why I can't ever love <i>Star Wars </i>(or the original movies at least) is because Luke bores the living shit out of me.<br />19) <b><u>Star Wars episode V: Return of the Jedi</u></b>- I kind of really like Lando.<br />20) <b><u>Mommy</u></b>- I cried so much this time. It broke me all over again.<br />21) <b><u>The Heartbeats</u></b>- There is maybe too much slo-mo but who cares if it all looks so gorgeous?<br />22) <b><u>I Killed My Mother</u></b>- Anne Dorval is aging like fine wine, isn't she?<br />23) <b><u>Scott Pilgrim vs the World</u></b>- Another one I hadn't watched in forever. I will never get bored of this film<br />24) <b><u>(500) Days of Summer</u></b>- Is the ending a happy one? Like really?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">TV shows: (I'm skipping favourite quotes because there are so many)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">1) <i style="font-weight: bold; text-decoration: underline;">Mad Men</i><u style="font-weight: bold;">, seasons 1-6</u>- I started watching this the day before my exams started because, duh. It's fantastic, of course. I am sorry that I waited so long to start it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">2) <b><u><i>Buffy the Vampire Slayer</i>, season 6 and 7</u></b>- These aren't the greatest seasons but I love this show so much. For one thing, it has one of the best episodes of all time, "Once More With Feeling".</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">3) <b><u><i>Grantchester</i>, series 1</u></b>- <a href="https://twitter.com/MovieNut14" target="_blank">Anna</a> lured me in by sending me links of the hot James Norton. He plays a priest in this show. What priest looks like that? (he's the one in the 2nd pic on the 1st row).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">4) <b><u><i>Daredevil</i>, season 1</u></b>- Really, really good. I especially loved the fight scenes (the hallway fight, amirite?) and the way the hero and the villain are so similar. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>: "Speak of the Devil". I liked how much we could feel Matt's mortality in this. Also, the two meetings between Matt and Fisk were both brilliantly handled. b) <u>MVP</u>- Though both Charlie Cox and Vincent d'Onofrio are excellent, I have a soft spot for Rosario Dawson's Claire. I wish we had more of her (one of the biggest flaws of the show for me).</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">5) <b><u><i>The Mindy Project</i>, seasons 1-3-</u></b> They cancelled it, those assholes! Anyways, I really enjoyed it. An Indian woman who eats a lot and has a thing for hot, white guys and romcoms? It sure does sound familiar... Also, Chris Messina dancing is my sexual orientation from now on.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">6) <b><u><i>Agent Carter</i>, season 1</u></b>- SO FUCKING AWESOMESAUCE! I love it. I love the setting, the action, the banter and of course Peggy. Peggy is the badass goddess of my dreams. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>: "A Sin to Err" because we finally get Peggy showing those misogynistic assholes in SSR what a badass goddess she is. b) <u>MVP</u>: I loved James D'Arcy's Jarvis but this show belongs to Hayley Atwell's Peggy. She was already one of my favourite parts of <i>Captain America: The First Avenger</i> and in this show, she balances the action, the comedy and the emotions equally well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">7) <b><u><i>Inside Amy Schumer</i>, season 1 and 2</u></b>- This show is the bestest thing ever and Amy Schumer is my god.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">8) <b><u><i>Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt</i>, season 1</u></b>- Really really fun. "Pinot Noir" is actually my ringtone. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>: "Kimmy Goes to Court" simply because who would have thought that *that* person is the father. b) <u>MVP</u>: As enjoyable as Titus Burgess and Jane Krakowski are, Ellie Kemper's Kimmy is my favourite. Her optimism is infectious even though my cheeks hurt just looking at her smiling so much.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">9) <b><u><i>Pushing Daisies</i>, season 1</u></b>- I suddenly had the urge to rewatch it. Watching season 2 is too painful because of how the show just ended after that :'(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">10) <b><u><i>The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst</i></u></b>- After seeing the way people were losing their shit over this on social media, I had to check it out. That ending, man. WOW!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">11) <b><u><i>Broad City</i>, Season 2</u></b>- The show that is my life. Season 2 was actually better than 1. How did they do that? a) <u>Favourite episode</u>: "Knockoffs". We meet Ilana's mom, go underground designer knockoff bags shopping with them, deal with loss of a loved one, finally have Abbi and Jeremy go on a date, have Abbi and Jeremy do "pegging", see two people have a serious conversation about relationships while one of them has a dildo strapped on to their crotch the entire time- all of this in like a half-hour episode. It's incredible. b) <u>MVP</u>: I can't choose between Ilana and Abbi so this one is for Paul Downs' complete devotion to both Trey and his porn star alter ego Kirk Steele.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">12) <b><u><i>Fresh of the Boat</i>, season 1</u></b>- This is such a fun show too. I especially like the 90s aspects of it. And how totally adorbs Evan is. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>: "Very Superstitious" Jessica is my favourite part of the show so seeing her go nuts over the number 4 is hilarious. Also the freak out Louis has after removing his jade locket. b) <u>MVP</u>: Constance Wu is killing it as Jessica. I can watch her all day.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">13) <b><u><i>Better Call Saul</i>, season 1</u></b>- I have a weird feeling I might end up loving this more than <i>Breaking Bad</i>. Mostly because I feel so much worse for poor Saul/Jimmy. Really excellent show in its own right. a) <u>Favourite episode</u>: "Pimento" because of that long time coming confrontation between Jimmy and Chuck. Heartbreaking stuff. b) <u>MVP</u>: In <i>Breaking Bad</i>, I always thought of Saul Goodman as someone really sleazy but now I just feel the pathos of the character which is so beautifully brought out by Bob Odenkirk. He's doing truly wonderful work.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Books:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">1) <b><u>Tampa by Alissa Nuting</u></b>- Oh this book is so filthy but so fun! I enjoyed it to bits. It's a blast being in the head of someone so heinous.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">2) <b><u>The Sense of an Ending by Julian Barnes</u></b>- Ironically, it's the ending I didn't like. Really beautifully written otherwise.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Final tally: </span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> Firsts- <b>59</b> Rewatched- <b>31</b></span><br />
<span style="color: #f9cb9c;"> <b>Total- 90</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c;">Here's hoping I'm better this month onwards.</span><br />
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-32768648991447059792015-05-02T19:36:00.001+05:302015-05-04T16:45:32.054+05:30The One Where I List Men With Hot Beards Because Of Reasons<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> So I'm going to preface this post by saying that this has nothing to do with films or TV or things that aren't hot, bearded actors. It's just a random post that I have made for my satisfaction and it's dedicated to my friend <a href="https://twitter.com/MovieNut14?" target="_blank">Anna</a>. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> If you guys follow us on Twitter, you would have come across the almost daily conversations between us about attractive, male actors, 'cuz that's how we roll.</span><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> Buzzfeed made an </span><a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/jamiejones/actors-who-prove-a-beard-is-not-always-best#.ffr7xJVWV" target="_blank">idiotic list</a><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> a few weeks back and Anna suggested I should make something in response to it and this is it- equally idiotic but more accurate imo. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> So the first 20 actors here look infinitely better with some sort of beardy-scruffy-stachey (actual term that exists) thing going on and I have photographic evidence to prove it!</span><br />
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-raN9zEuHhxA/VUP_J7aqNfI/AAAAAAAAIxo/j7ZnKt5FMbE/s1600/evans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-raN9zEuHhxA/VUP_J7aqNfI/AAAAAAAAIxo/j7ZnKt5FMbE/s1600/evans.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Chris Evans</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">This whole list is because Buzzfeed had the balls to put him in that list. LIKE ARE YOU BLIND, BUZZFEED?! (I realize that Buzzfeed is not an actual person but come on!!)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRaLmq0LOm0/VUP_IyxRA7I/AAAAAAAAIxE/WNgTiXDGwB0/s1600/dornan.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-FRaLmq0LOm0/VUP_IyxRA7I/AAAAAAAAIxE/WNgTiXDGwB0/s1600/dornan.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Jamie Dornan</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">As awful as <i>Fifty Shades of Grey</i> was, my biggest issue with it was that Chistian Grey was clean-shaven (yeah okay, I have issues. Whatevs). I mean, half of Dornan's sex appeal lies in his beard.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mOm4NOV5pJk/VUP_OZx-meI/AAAAAAAAIy8/pMmFiurWU8o/s1600/pine.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-mOm4NOV5pJk/VUP_OZx-meI/AAAAAAAAIy8/pMmFiurWU8o/s1600/pine.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Chris Pine</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The man who single-handedly/beardedly started my obsession with hot beards. #scruffygod</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_PTF9_v04c/VUP_KU3PNMI/AAAAAAAAIxc/7J5gD5hPN1c/s1600/gosling.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-f_PTF9_v04c/VUP_KU3PNMI/AAAAAAAAIxc/7J5gD5hPN1c/s1600/gosling.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Ryan Gosling</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I find every Ryan Gosling hot- even the one in<i> Lars and the Real Girl</i> or when he's balding in <i>Blue Valentine</i>- but the hottest Gosling is scruffy Gosling,</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNXwhSdXCnM/VUP_MAAcX4I/AAAAAAAAIx4/WmYPnn8c75A/s1600/huisman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-vNXwhSdXCnM/VUP_MAAcX4I/AAAAAAAAIx4/WmYPnn8c75A/s1600/huisman.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Michiel Huisman</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I don't know how else to describe it but I find his beard romantic. I mean, he's good-looking or whatever clean-shaven but with a beard, it makes me think of being whisked away on a horse</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULtvuC78Ctk/VUP_LhqPLOI/AAAAAAAAIxw/BZCaFTGRGQg/s1600/hardy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ULtvuC78Ctk/VUP_LhqPLOI/AAAAAAAAIxw/BZCaFTGRGQg/s1600/hardy.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Tom Hardy</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Hardy himself said that he looks cuter with a beard. I would go with hotter/sexier/everythinger but yeah, okay.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALlaZgpD_fM/VUP_NRlkbxI/AAAAAAAAIyI/0vwbJd7EGkY/s1600/mcavoy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ALlaZgpD_fM/VUP_NRlkbxI/AAAAAAAAIyI/0vwbJd7EGkY/s1600/mcavoy.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>James McAvoy</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Right?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dPYOi8PFUlI/VUP_KvBlehI/AAAAAAAAIxk/7JLN7P6B7Vo/s1600/gyllenhaal.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Jake Gyllenhaal</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He was originally on the other list but no, he looks better with a scruff.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HYL8DKZm7W8/VUP_JKHM9QI/AAAAAAAAIxM/8rEaENiwWjU/s1600/elba.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Idris Elba</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Classic example.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-WLhg-W4JP0E/VUP_O9idNoI/AAAAAAAAIyk/-EY1ngJ2Idw/s1600/radcliffe.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Daniel Radcliffe</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I look at the first one and I go "Awww." I look at the second one and I'm like "DAYUM!"</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-NKSJTXOPHTI/VUP_P93H2CI/AAAAAAAAIyw/fQMGl1w3cew/s1600/ruffalo.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Mark Ruffalo</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Classic example #2.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pyr7HslVs6c/VUP_LxK_qSI/AAAAAAAAIx0/tF0ji_SabR0/s1600/hemsworth.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Chris Hemsworth</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The second one looks like he could be the sexiest man alive. The first one, not so much.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Jean Dujardin</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Sexy Frenchman beard.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VHTTzYI4Pcw/VUP_OqNT8fI/AAAAAAAAIyg/Xsm0o8WP0ck/s1600/pratt.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Chris Pratt</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Yes, all the Chrises are in this list.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Ranbir Kapoor</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He was on the other list too but again, he fits better here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-r25ciDDpWOs/VUP_NN4g8VI/AAAAAAAAIyQ/jVilrtFfWsM/s1600/jordan.jpg" /></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Michael B. Jordan</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I think he looks kinda terrible as Johnny Storm tbh. So much cuter with facial hair.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><b><u>Hugh Dancy</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He just looks like such a child in the first picture.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n68T2JvVR5s/VUP_HrgAfWI/AAAAAAAAIw8/H1CwCxOaYOI/s1600/carell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-n68T2JvVR5s/VUP_HrgAfWI/AAAAAAAAIw8/H1CwCxOaYOI/s1600/carell.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Steve Carell</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I realized in the middle of award season how attractive Carell looks with a scruff. Wit and scruff, amirite ladies?</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPW5kkQZsAM/VUP_HgFdx-I/AAAAAAAAIw0/rynUM5uKeDI/s1600/affleck.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-VPW5kkQZsAM/VUP_HgFdx-I/AAAAAAAAIw0/rynUM5uKeDI/s1600/affleck.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Ben Affleck</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">No, I don't really find Ben Affleck hot but the beard hides his stupid butt chin! It makes all the difference in the world.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNlReG_AU7s/VUP_QCpGe3I/AAAAAAAAIy0/Ze-aoHfObHk/s1600/singh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KNlReG_AU7s/VUP_QCpGe3I/AAAAAAAAIy0/Ze-aoHfObHk/s1600/singh.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Ranvir Singh</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Ew I feel gross just including him but in spite of myself, I am attracted to the second picture. Ew ew ew!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> And now for 5 actors who are equally hot no matter what. Bastards.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vvev48xsLug/VUP_aaNoLgI/AAAAAAAAIzo/BCxjhCggEEw/s1600/fassy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Vvev48xsLug/VUP_aaNoLgI/AAAAAAAAIzo/BCxjhCggEEw/s1600/fassy.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Michael Fassbender</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He is never not hot.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKFyWrw-7do/VUP_ZQ2FUlI/AAAAAAAAIzY/iysPqy21q8E/s1600/cassel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-LKFyWrw-7do/VUP_ZQ2FUlI/AAAAAAAAIzY/iysPqy21q8E/s1600/cassel.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Vincent Cassel</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He was in the first list originally but then I rewatched <i>Black Swan</i> and goddamnit, this man can get it! Also, a bit of Lea Seydoux for additional hotness!</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8owRPlw56c/VUP_ZWt00TI/AAAAAAAAIzU/nnL0qtGOgK0/s1600/cavill.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-T8owRPlw56c/VUP_ZWt00TI/AAAAAAAAIzU/nnL0qtGOgK0/s1600/cavill.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Henry Cavill</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He's easily one of the most beautiful men on this earth, facial hair or no facial hair.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jt2enlH9OFE/VUP_anAXyrI/AAAAAAAAIzg/7kpCiwSdTl8/s1600/hiddles.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-jt2enlH9OFE/VUP_anAXyrI/AAAAAAAAIzg/7kpCiwSdTl8/s1600/hiddles.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><b><u>Tom Hiddleston</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I can't choose.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O-tWN6q0Y-I/VUP_ZT_RqPI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/pJE50dfeJN4/s1600/cumberbatch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O-tWN6q0Y-I/VUP_ZT_RqPI/AAAAAAAAIzQ/pJE50dfeJN4/s1600/cumberbatch.jpg" /></a></span></div>
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<b style="color: #d5a6bd;"><u>Benedict Cumberbatch</u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Nope.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">AND I'm done! Please don't unfollow me because of my shallowness!!</span></div>
<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-77662017274536729682015-05-01T23:06:00.000+05:302015-05-08T23:27:34.945+05:30Thoughts<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">This week's post has some really, seriously serious stuff and a lot of normal, dumb shit one expects from this blog. Enjoy, I guess.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">1) So, last week was a pretty stressful week. Everyone knows by now what happened in Nepal. We felt the tremors of the original earthquake and many aftershocks later. That first tremor on the morning of the 25th was the strongest and longest tremor I have ever felt. It was almost funny at first- as my friend described it, it felt like we were surfing- but then it started to get scary. I live with my grandparents and at the time, it was only me, my grandmother and our maid in the apartment, which is on the 3rd floor of our elevator-less building. My grandma has a bad leg and at that point, everything I had ever read about what to do in an earthquake situation started going through my head. Thankfully, and I really mean that, nothing worse happened and we didn't have to take any measures. There was another rather strong tremor the next day and for about four days, I just permanently felt like I was at sea. Like every time I thought about tremors, I felt them. This is obviously nothing, rather minus nothing, compared to what the real victims of the Nepal earthquake went through. Watching the death toll rise every hour or so was terrifying too. It was just a strange feeling to have felt something, however slight, that caused so much destruction. I really don't want this to sound like I'm making this about me. Oh god, I hope I am not Hannah Horvath-ing this awful thing. I just really wanted to share this. It was something that I couldn't stop thinking about and I just wanted to put it in words.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">2) That was the really, seriously serious stuff. Let's go revert back to what this blog is about. Harry Potter! <i>Doctor Who</i>! Ryan Gosling! Abs! MAN-BUTT! Okay, we're back.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">3) I also gave the last of my college exams this week. So I am currently at that awkward not-an-undergraduate-not-really-a-graduate phase. I have some free time in my hands but I have to give a couple of entrance tests to qualify for post-graduate courses in May. Once I have selected a college, I will be living on my own for the first time in my life. I am really excited/anxious about that. And I will be learning film-making properly and I can start actually doing what I want to truly do in life (hopefully) :) Yeah, so that was an update about my life or whatever right now. How are YOU guys?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">4) Xavier Dolan had announced that he's making <i>The Death and Life of John F. Donovan</i> with Jessica Chastain and Kit Harrington (who I have officially warmed up to) but before that, he's going to make <i>Juste La Fin Du Monde</i> or <i>Only the End of the World</i> which will star *cue drum-roll and fangirl screaming* Marion Cotillard, Lea Seydoux, Vincent Cassel, Gaspard Ulliel and Nathalie Baye. I am not that familiar with Baye's work but the other four- oh my gawd!!! Like not only am I a huge fan of their acting, but I swear I have had (or rather still do) crushes on all of them. I mean, holy shit, this film is going to look soooo beautiful! It's based on a play by Jean-Luc Lagarce about a dying writer who comes back to his family after 12 years (why is everything 12 years long now??) and I just know I am going to be destroyed by it but goddamn, I want it in my life! Dolan's only 26 and he's making friggin' 2 movies this year with certified stars and acting giants (and Harrington) and what the fuck is even my life?!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">5) <i>Obvious Child</i> was one of my favourite films of last year and its director Gillian Robespierre is now making a show with its star Jenny Slate and Ari Graynor (who I have loved since <i>Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist</i>). Yayyyyy! It's been described as "two gutsy born-and-raised New Yorkers who discover each other in their 30s" and they then decide to go on a road trip after making a film together. I can't wait.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">6) Speaking of comedic female duos, you guys must know about my crazy love for <i>Broad City</i>. Two of its writers, Lucia Aniello and Paul Downs (who plays the hilarious Trey on the show) are going to write an all-female spin-off of <i>21 Jump Street</i>. I can only hope and pray that they get Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Wexler, aka my personal goddesses, to star as leads. As for the Jonah Hill and Channing Tatum characters, they are apparently going to be a part of the next <i>Men In Black</i> movie because this is some shared universe? Also, did you guys know that they're making another of those Dan Brown-Tom Hanks movies and it has Felicity Jones in it? I completely missed its announcement and I am baffled as to why it's even being made. Not even my undying love for Ewan McGregor could make me watch <i>Angels and Demons</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">7) <b><u>Videos</u></b>- I can't choose which form of objectification of the two <i>Avengers</i>' Chrises by Ellen DeGeneres on her show was better-</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/53Xed2dIAZo/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/53Xed2dIAZo?feature=player_embedded" width="600"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Pxj9kArocXU/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="399" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/Pxj9kArocXU?feature=player_embedded" width="600"></iframe></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Okay, I can. It's Hemsworth (can you say life goal much?) but Evans is so cute!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">8) Ava DuVernay got a <a href="http://www.buzzfeed.com/juliegerstein/barbie-made-an-ava-duvernay-doll-and-its-pretty-awesome?bftw&utm_term=4ldqpfp#.bfX8B67p7" target="_blank">Barbie doll</a> made of her! That's soooo cool! Like, who even needs an Oscar when you have your own Barbie? This has actually become a life goal because I was OBSESSED with Barbies as a kid and I didn't even know this was a thing that was possible. Also, I really want the DuVernay Barbie but it's not in production and even if it was, it will never sell in India *sighs*.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">9) <b><u>Trailers</u></b>- <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzkTbO78L5k" target="_blank">Legend</a> looks fun and brutal and it has 2(!!) Tom Hardys. I also spotted <i>Kingsman</i> star Taron Egerton in it so I am definitely looking forward to it a lot. I forgot to post about the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CE3e3hGF2jc" target="_blank">Black Mass</a> trailer which also I liked. I can only hope that this is a return to form for Johnny Depp. I don't know about you guys but I think <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZvOnxL2pKbI" target="_blank">Irrational Man</a> looks great. I adore both Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone and I like that both of their characters seem to be narrating. And now for something terrible- the <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYUTv-LhRw8" target="_blank">Fifty Shades Darker</a> teaser :X :X I mean, why?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">10) Finally, as much as I like looking at Sam Heughan's ass, my true <i>Outlander</i> crush is Caitriona Balfe. Not only is she an amazing actress, she's absolutely stunning to look at. Some reviewer called her a brunette Cate Blanchett and I can see that. Can you?</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">And that's it. Bye, guys. I am not Hannah Horvath!</span></div>
<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-49018351676927590142015-04-17T23:39:00.001+05:302015-04-17T23:39:05.219+05:30Thoughts I know I said that I'm on hiatus but too much has been happening in the movie world and Twitter barely does justice to my deep, profound thoughts on them, and so here we are!<br />
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1) <b><u>GOSLING FANGIRL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</u></b>- So deep, yes? Anyways, not gonna lie, this was kind of the whole reason to make this post. The Gos has been sort of M.I.A. since <i>Only God Forgives</i> and, of course, it's been dreadful. This week he has answered all my (and, like, other people's. Whatever) prayers. First, the news broke out that he will star in his Disneyland buddy Guillermo del Toro's <i>Haunted Mansion</i>, which is awesome. Reportedly, this isn't as scary as <i>Crimson Peak</i> is, rather it's a supernatural family film (whatever that means). Next, it was reported that Gos and Emma Stone will replace Miles Teller and Emma Watson in Damien Chazelle's next, the musical <i>La La Land</i>. I was already really excited about this movie because of Chazelle and as much as I adore Teller and Watson, I am wayyyy crazier about the Gos and Stone, who have great onscreen chemistry together as seen in <i>Crazy, Stupid, Love </i>and even <i>Gangster Squad</i>. Plus, I have greater faith in their singing abilities. And then came the news that sort of pushed me over the edge. While everyone was losing their shit over the new <i>Star Wars</i> movie (yes, it's exciting but calm down), I had a massive freak out about the news that the Gos may be starring in the <i>Blade Runner</i> sequel. LIKE OHMYGODIDEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That was an example of how coherent my thoughts were after I read about this). Normally, I wouldn't be this pumped about a sequel to a film that is as perfect as <i>Blade Runner</i> but the inclusion of Denis Villeneuve had already warmed me to the idea. Then came the Gos news and the thought of him as a blade runner or a replicant or anything really- FUCK YEAH! I can't wait. For any of these. All seem like really good projects and by directors who I already love. Yaay for Gos!<br />
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2) The Cannes Film Festival <a href="http://www.indiewire.com/article/2015-cannes-film-festival-reveals-its-complete-lineup-live-20150416" target="_blank">lineup</a> was just announced and many of my <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.in/2015/01/lets-get-it-started-my-30-most.html" target="_blank">most anticipated films</a> of this year are on it like <i>Carol, Macbeth, Sicario, The Lobster, Irrational Man</i> and <i>Mad Max: Road Warrior</i>, plus other films that sound really interesting like<i> Louder Than Bombs, The Sea of Trees</i> and <i>Mountains May Depart</i>. There are also two Indian films entering the festival- <i>Masaan</i> directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and Gurvinder Singh's <i>The Fourth Direction</i>. As always, I wish I could go there and watch the movies but since that's not gonna happen, I hope these movies are good and I don't have to wait for forever to watch them.<br />
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3) Eddie Redmayne is in talks to star as Newt Scamander in the <i>Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them</i> movie trilogy. I like Redmayne and I understand that he's hugely bankable right now and he would be good in this role, but after rumours spread about Matt Smith circling the role, I can't help but be disappointed by their actual choice. Sorry to go full Whovian-Potterhead head on you but Smith is such a Hufflepuff. He's already played a role that resonates with both children and adults alike and he would have been perfect! Also, Smith and badgers are already a <a href="https://www.google.co.in/search?q=matt+smith+badger&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=sjkxVdycAcTX8gWvxoHYAg&ved=0CB0QsAQ&biw=1366&bih=643" target="_blank">thing</a> :(<br />
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4) I am obviously dying for <i>The Avengers: Age of Ultron </i>and it's getting some really interesting reviews so far. One of the main reasons I will love this movie is its cast. Such crazy, awesome dorks-<br />
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Peter Pan :')</div>
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5) <b><u>Trailers</u></b>- Um, it's been too long to talk about ALL the trailers so I'll just talk about the ones I've been obsessing over for the past few weeks. Let's start with <a href="http://thefilmstage.com/trailer/quentin-tarantinos-the-hateful-eight-teaser-trailer-officially-released/" target="_blank">The Hateful Eight teaser</a>. I love it. I think all teasers should be like this- actually <u>teasing</u> us by not blatantly showing what the film is about. I know there must be a hundred clues in the teaser which we'll understand once we've watched the movie but for now, it's just cool and bloody and fun. The new <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ngElkyQ6Rhs" target="_blank">Star Wars</a> trailer is pretty cool too. It has Han Solo and Chewbacca in it so yay for that. I just wish there was more Oscar Isaac because, well, duh.<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pWdKf3MneyI" target="_blank"> Ant-Man</a> finally looks totally awesome. The new trailer gives us an idea of Ant-Man's powers which is good because until now, I was basically going to watch it for Paul Rudd's abs. I have declared everywhere that <i>Mad Max: Road Warrior</i> has my favourite trailers of all time and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hEJnMQG9ev8" target="_blank">this one</a> is no different. Goddamnit, I want this film in my life right now! Speaking of, how wonderful does <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2qfmAllbYC8" target="_blank">Me and Earl and the Dying Girl</a> look? I saw the trailer and I knew I would love it. An older trailer that I really loved was of <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QN877ZLwAs" target="_blank">Slow West</a>'s. It looks like a really fun movie, which I wasn't expecting. Plus, the shot of Fassy sitting and smoking his cigar is my desktop wallpaper because, um, duh. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ashLaclKCik" target="_blank">Spectre</a> is another trailer that's been out for a while which I really liked it. It looks stunning, though I wish Lea Seydoux was in it. The <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MQn_SLx_f1s" target="_blank">Suffragette</a> teaser is a bit weird. The music is too loud and I'm not sure that #VotingMatters is the best way to promote a film. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfnJCv4_1Ts" target="_blank">Dil Dhadakne Do</a> is a new Bollywood film by Zoya Akhtar and it actually looks really good. I like its cast and dysfunctional families is a rare subject for a Bollywood film. Coming to television, <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4OfU7CGY5DQ" target="_blank">True Detective season 2</a>'s teaser trailer is quite good as it doesn't really tell us anything about the story and because of Colin Farrell's mustache. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=njy0dFFlpAc" target="_blank">Orange is the New Black season 3</a> trailer is even better. I mean, #SorryNotSorry is what I'm talking about, man! That's an awesome hashtag. Learn something, <i>Suffragette</i>!</div>
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6) Finally, Anna Kendrick spoke my mind when she tweeted this-</div>
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I mean...</div>
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God, I've missed this.</div>
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I don't know when I'll be doing this next. I should have a few posts up but I'm on a <i>Mad Men</i> binge atm so no promises. Bye all :)</div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-74128866465426561262015-03-13T03:50:00.001+05:302015-03-13T03:53:02.761+05:30Special Super Random Thoughts Post About Death and Disney Hi guys! Long time, no see etcetera. <br />
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Okay so it's like 3:45 am here and I was in my bed trying to sleep but I couldn't because I was having my occasional thoughts about aging and mortality and about how I am going to age and then DIE one day and I was thinking of how I will be 70 years old in 2062 (if I don't DIE that is, duh) and then I thought about how Disney will still be announcing sequels then and now I am very confused about what to think/feel. I mean, does anyone else feel that Disney is going to be announcing sequels till the end of time? Isn't it weird/creepy?<br />
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So yeah, I wanted to share that with you guys (I would have tweeted it but it's too long and did I mention it's 3:45 am here?).</div>
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Also, since we're on the subject, here are my two cents of the Tim Burton's live-action <i>Dumbo </i>remake and Frozen 2:</div>
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1) Why, Tim Burton? Why?! Also dafuq, Disney? <i>Dumbo </i>is an extremely depressing and disturbing movie as it is and I can't even imagine the trainwreck this film will be. Tim Burton, you were meant for greater things!!!</div>
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2) I am not completely surprised that <i>Frozen 2</i> is a thing but I swear, if it isn't about Elsa falling in love with her Disney princess, I am so not watching it! (Okay I am but still!)</div>
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Sorry if this was a waste of your time, guys. Here's Chris Hemsworth's abs and also the rest of him to make it up :D</div>
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I would also like to add that this blog is probably on hiatus till my exams get over in May (I may or may not post super random stuff like this so yeah, Idk). Byeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!<br />
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-17457877514257439232015-02-18T02:11:00.000+05:302015-02-23T21:14:18.938+05:30"I fell in love with him the way you fall asleep: Slowly, and then all at once."- MY FAVOURITE 25 FILMS OF 2014 I saw 132 2014 films which is probably the most I have ever seen of any year. My first 2014 film was <i>Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit </i>and the last one was <i>The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby: Her</i>, which also gives you a sort of idea of the range of the films from last year. It had everything and I mostly loved all of it. I mean, if you go through my <a href="http://letterboxd.com/nikhat/list/2014-movies/" target="_blank">Letterboxd list</a>, I honestly only really dislike the last 15-20 movies. So, it has definitely been a task choosing my top 25. I wish I could have gone with a smaller number but it wasn't possible because of the caliber of these films.<br />
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One thing I noticed about my list is that most of the films are either bleak as hell or full of exhuberance and humour. In fact, the higher one goes on the list, the more fun my choices become. I think I chose heart over matter this time but I don't regret anything. I like films that make me happy. These films did. So without further adieu, these are my picks:<br />
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25.</div>
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<b><u>The Double</u></b></div>
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I am a crazy<i> Submarine</i> fangirl so I was super excited to see what Richard Ayoade does next and <i>The Double</i> didn't disappoint. One of the most unique looking and sounding films of last year, it also features a spectacular Jesse Eisenberg performance (or two). Plus, it has<i> Fight Club</i>-esque elements so, obviously, I was pleased.</div>
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24.</div>
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<b><u>Starred Up</u></b></div>
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I don't know how else to put it but to say that this film explores emotions through violence. It actually made me cry at the end which I wasn't expecting at all. It's very gritty and scary but there is a sensitive side to it as well. It also has fantastic acting all around and it has put my man, Jack O'Connell, in the well-deserved spotlight.</div>
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23.</div>
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<b><u>Force Majeure</u></b></div>
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Many of the films in my list have to do with expectations put on people based on their gender. <i>Starred Up</i> was one, <i>Force Majeure</i> is another. This is a very darkly funny look at the male ego and what happens when a man doesn't react the way he is required to. It is also a gorgeous film and has the best crying scene that I have ever watched on film.</div>
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22.</div>
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<b><u>Only Lovers Left Alive</u></b></div>
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Oh it's just so cool and romantic and dreamy. The cast is perfect. Even smaller roles like that of Mia Wasikowska and Jeffrey Wright stick with you long after the film is over. Also, it made vampires awesome again.</div>
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21.</div>
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<b><u>The Babadook</u></b></div>
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I feel that the best horror movies are rooted in something real and emotional and <i>The Babadook</i> has that. It's a film about a mother's anxiety and guilt about her troubled son and their complicated past and all of this manifests in the form of the dreaded Babadook. It is also very cleverly made, my favourite thing about it being the Babadook book itself.</div>
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20.</div>
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<b><u>PK</u></b></div>
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Rajkumar Hirani is my favourite Indian filmmaker and <i>PK</i> once again proved this. Tackling religion in a country like India is one of the most difficult things one can do, but then also managing to make a wholly entertaining film with lots of heart in it- that needs to be lauded.</div>
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19.</div>
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<b><u>Locke</u></b></div>
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I had no idea what <i>Locke</i> was going to be about when I started watching it. Turns out, it is also about the male ego- the way one man, because of his past, has envisioned his life and during this car journey, everything he has ever built is put at stake and it is up to him to come to terms with this situation. It's riveting in terms of its story, acting (a phenomenal Tom Hardy is our sole hero) and the way the whole thing executed.</div>
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18.</div>
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<b><u>Selma</u></b></div>
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One of my favourite things about <i>Selma</i> was its focus. I haven't seen many biopics that are centred like that, especially not in 2014. It is a story about one event and how it affects everyone connected to it and how that has repercussions not only in the time of when the film is set but even till now. It is a fantastically well-made film and one that is painfully relevant in the intolerant and oftentimes inhumane world we live in.</div>
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17.</div>
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<b><u>Pride</u></b></div>
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This was originally going to be my favourite shot of 2014 not because it is some cinematographic gem (why I had to leave it out of my best shots list in the end :() but because it is one of the most beautiful moments in the cinema of last year. In it, a person comes out to a friend and then they just continue preparing bread for sandwiches because their relationship is based on something beyond sexual preferences and there is total acceptance of that between them. The film is full of these tiny but significant moments of human kindness and friendship and it is, therefore, simply a joy to watch.</div>
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16.</div>
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<b><u>Birdman</u></b></div>
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I still feel terrible about not watching it in the theatre because I am fairly certain it would have been higher in my list if I had. Still, this film is a spectacle to watch and not simply because of the way it is shot but also due to its story, themes and acting. It is also very funny which I didn't expect it to be at all.</div>
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15.</div>
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<b><u>Nightcrawler</u></b></div>
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Speaking of funny, there were so many moments of uncomfortable laughter during this film. But I couldn't help myself! It is a very clever film that gives us one of the most compelling monsters of our time in the form of Louis Bloom. It boasts of a game-changing performance by Jake Gyllenhaal and it totally makes the viewers complicit in the dirtiness that the film portrays. I enjoyed the hell out of it.</div>
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14.</div>
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<b><u>Under the Skin</u></b></div>
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I really expected the film to go over my head and me hating it as a result. Instead, I loved it. The striking visuals and eerily fantastic score aside, this film subverts one's ideas about sexual predators, by literally putting the woman on the front seat. It is also about the beauty of this world and how it is perceived by an outsider. A wholly unnerving work of art that does get under one's skin and stays there.</div>
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13.</div>
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<b><u>The Grand Budapest Hotel</u></b></div>
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This is the Wes Anderson film that even Wes Anderson haters like. And I love him so of course I cherish this film. It is as beautiful as it is funny. I do think it loses its footing a bit which is why it's not higher up on this list but on the whole, it makes one wistful for a place and time that probably never existed until Anderson made it real for us.</div>
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12.</div>
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<b><u>Calvary</u></b></div>
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I have a thing for films about religion and<i> Calvary </i>had me hooked from its legendary first line itself (for those who don't know, it's "<i>I first tasted semen when I was 7 years old</i>." This is said during confession in a church- I know, right?). It is a bleak film that gives us a week-long look into a modern-day priest's life and the people and circumstances that he has to deal with while also trying to keep his faith alive. Of course, it has the McDonagh humour there too and a truly excellent ensemble lead by the one and only Brendan Gleeson, who gives his best performance to date in it.</div>
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11.</div>
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<b><u>Queen</u></b></div>
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One of the first 2014 films I fell madly in love with and which remained in my top 10 until very recently. It is a very fun film about a simple Indian girl who goes on her honeymoon alone, which is where she finds herself. Much like <i>English Vinglish</i> from a couple of years back, this film also tackles the issue of the Indian woman's emancipation though on a broader scale. The film takes very smart decisions with the course of its heroine's adventures and I sincerely hope this is the start of a new trend in Bollywood.</div>
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10.</div>
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<b><u>The Lego Movie</u></b></div>
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I really do feel that this is one of the most intelligent films of last year. It is full of contradictions that work almost miraculously. It is about a commercial product but it satirizes corporations. It makes fun of the "Chosen One" trope but it also pays homage to it. It is about creativity as much as it is about following rules. Most shocking of all, it has a fun Batman! Mind = Blown.</div>
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9.</div>
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<b><u>Snowpiercer</u></b></div>
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This is the film which finally replaced <i>Queen</i> and that too upon rewatch. As much as the shock factor is responsible for the impact the film has on the first watch, knowing about it makes it even richer upon subsequent viewings. It is a very dark movie that explores questions about humanity and tyranny but also a really thrilling one where we never know what to expect. It has a truly tragic hero and one of the most fun villains of last year. The train itself is a marvel (no pun intended), through which we see some of the most spectacular sets and visuals of last year.</div>
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8.</div>
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<b><u>Two Days, One Night</u></b></div>
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This is a movie that couldn't be more different than its predecessor in its setting and themes but is also something of a thriller. Of course it takes place in a very realistic backdrop and the conflict that drives the film seems very trivial but the amazing thing about the film is how it manages to give it its due importance because that's how real life is. It's the small things that matter and even those stand for something bigger like individual versus community, as shown in the movie. Added to that, we have the always sensational Marion Cotillard delivering yet another superb performance that elevates the film even more.</div>
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7.</div>
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<b><u>Nymphomaniac, vol. 1</u></b></div>
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I chose not to consider <i>Nymphomaniac</i> as one big movie because to me, the first part can exist almost completely on its own. I mean, it does have my second most favourite ending of the year (#1 ending is coming next) and I don't particularly think of it as a cliffhanger but rather as another instance of Lars von Trier's twisted humour. </div>
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<i>Nymphomaniac, vol. 1</i> is the most entertaining von Trier film that I have seen and it's one of the most enjoyable films of last year for me. I found most of it hilarious, from the way numbers and angles appear on screen to Seligman's academic approach to everything Joe says to Joe's deadpan delivery, especially during the penis catalogue, to obviously the Mrs. H incident and so on. There are also moments of sheer beauty in this film and even the darker parts have an emotional resonance to them and are not for shock value (which, unfortunately, most of <i>vol. 2</i> is). I think the movie is a very interesting exploration of a young girl's sexuality and I appreciate the way it is tackled. If only von Trier had not, well, von-Triered the second part, the whole story could have been so much richer.</div>
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6.</div>
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<b><u>Whiplash</u></b></div>
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I just love how confident this film is. Nothing in it is out of place. It is a precise, stylish, gut-wrenching look at the beginnings of an artist and the ruthless teacher who gets him to that place. I have spoken/written enough about its ending. I love it to bits. In its entirety, however, there are other films I love more but it is definitely a game-changing movie for me because it has completely transformed the way I look at films now.</div>
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5.</div>
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<b><u>Obvious Child</u></b></div>
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I just feel like gushing every time I talk about this film. An abortion romcom that never makes light of its issues but still manages to be incredibly funny and real and lovely. The writing, the characters, Jenny Slate's wonderful lead performance- all of it is on point. And of course, I have a soft spot for romcoms and any film which tries to find new directions in the genre, which <i>Obvious Child</i> does remarkably, has all my love.</div>
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4.</div>
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<b><u>Gone Girl</u></b></div>
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(That btw is the funniest moment of the film for me.)</div>
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<i>Gone Girl</i> is just so many things- it's a murder mystery, an investigation into the lies that make a marriage, a satire about media, a look into societal expectations of what makes a "cool girl" and a "good guy" and how it tears it apart, a Hitchcockian thriller and so on. I basically think Fincher is God and in this film, he has teamed up someone with an equally twisted mind and sense of humour- Gillian Flynn. Both of them together, along with one of the best casts of the year, have given us this beautiful pulp masterpiece. I'm not even going to start with how great Rosamund Pike is in it because I'll never stop. It's just an excellent film that keeps on giving.</div>
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3.</div>
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<b><u>Mommy</u></b></div>
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This film is the most alive movie I have ever seen. It is very hard to write about it because I don't have anything to compare it to. Sure, the plot isn't something very unique and Xavier Dolan himself has tackled many of its issues in his earlier films, but the film is bursting at its seams with energy and life. Even in the quieter moments, it gets to you because you are so involved with what you are seeing. And what you are seeing are these beautiful, flawed people who love each other but are also constantly hurting each other and it's just so immersive that you're left devastated by the end. Plus, there's the cinematography and the music and the acting and gosh, everything! Just like <i>Whiplash</i> but on a bigger scale, I will never look at movies and what they can achieve the same way again after having watched <i>Mommy</i>.</div>
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2.</div>
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<b><u>Guardians of the Galaxy</u></b></div>
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As much as I love the space epic elements and all the fighting and cool shit in it, the ultimate reason why this film is so high up is its humour. It is precisely the kind of humour I love. AND there are like so many types within that! There's deadpan, sarcastic, plain fucking rude etcetera. Also, the humour has a place within the story of the film just like its amazing soundtrack does. As much as the film sticks to the Marvel formula, it also deviates from it in the ballsiest of ways and it actually references it IN the movie itself and I have mad respect for all of that. Finally, it is friendship that saves the galaxy. If that doesn't make you feel things, you're basically the grass that Rocket is made to kick.</div>
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1.</div>
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<b><u>We Are the Best!</u></b><br />
This film gives me ALL OF THE FEELS!<br />
I have, again, spoken a lot about it on the podcast, but to give a gist of it, (I'm going to go into deep stream-of-consciousness mode now) the story of these three 13 year old Swedish girls from the 80s reminded me of my own teenage which took place in mid-2000s in Dubai and though the settings couldn't be more different, the fact is that this film is a celebration of female friendship at that age and I know what that feels like. I'm sure even guys can relate to it- when you have your own group of misfits and those moments when you feel like even more of a misfit but your friends are always there for you. And this is the age when adolescence is just starting and it's confusing and fun and the film captures all of that!<br />
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It may be set 30 years in the past but it takes place very much as the girls are living it. Therefore, it feels immediate and spontaneous, just like the song the make up. And oh god, that song was when the film had completely won me over because I WAS THAT GIRL! (In that I hated and still hate sports). There were numerous other places I connected completely with this film and even when I didn't, I had such a blast watching these three awesome girls find their way through punk and friendship.<br />
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This film is infectious with its warmth and sense of fun and I just love it with all my heart.<br />
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And with that, I can finally and fully close the book on 2014. I don't know when we'll get a film year like that again or if I'll be able to watch so many films from one single year any time soon. It was definitely a transformative year for me as a cinephile and yeah, I loved it :)</div>
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My other Best of 2014 lists include:</div>
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<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/were-about-to-crash-into-sun-yeah-but.html" target="_blank">Shots</a></div>
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<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/would-it-be-alright-if-i-show-children.html" target="_blank">Scenes</a></div>
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<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/i-am-hat-you-are-shoe-my-favourite.html" target="_blank">Heroes and Villains</a></div>
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<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/do-i-look-like-double-fucking-rainbow.html" target="_blank">Performances</a></div>
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<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/this-is-like-spike-lee-saying-hes-white.html" target="_blank">Everything Else</a> (i.e., Sexiest Characters, Favourite Characters, Ensembles, Objects and Quotes)</div>
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<b><i>What were your favorite films of 2014?</i></b></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com16tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-3613296428380544032015-02-17T02:37:00.001+05:302015-02-17T15:35:29.529+05:30“Do I look like a double fucking rainbow to you?!”- MY FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES OF 2014<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"> There were a ridiculous number of great performances in 2014. It has honestly broken my heart to leave some of them out of this list (especially looking at you, Rose Byrne and Antoine-Olivier Pilon). I do like how this list has more women than men proving yet again why I loved last year so much from a cinephile's point-of-view. So without further adieu, these are my 25-ish ('cuz there are actually 31- you'll see) favourite performances of 2014:</span><br />
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">25.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Patricia Arquette in <i>Boyhood</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">The number of times I had to remind myself that this is an actor acting and not a real person was insane. Though it is supposed to be Mason's story, I was most interested in what was happening to Arquette's character, partly because of the story and mostly because of her fantastically layered performance. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">24.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Felicity Jones in <i>The Theory of Everything</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I know Redmayne is probably walking away with the Oscar for his performance in this movie *shudders* but I honestly believe the only awards-worthy work was done in the film by Jones. She was the heart and strength of the film for me. Her work is very subtle yet completely heartbreaking.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">23.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vq-VCVjGyGk/VOBWEz5EMuI/AAAAAAAAInY/LvuEKl8KN9I/s1600/22-eisenberg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-vq-VCVjGyGk/VOBWEz5EMuI/AAAAAAAAInY/LvuEKl8KN9I/s1600/22-eisenberg.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Jesse Eisenberg in <i>The Double</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Eisenberg is known to play the vulnerable nerd or the cocky asshole. In <i>The Double</i>, he plays both. However, it does not seem like he's relying only on his strengths because it is the moments of quiet desperation and simmering anger in between these two personas that constitute some of the best acting of last year and they are the reason why he's here on this list.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">22.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DbxB0OUpjk/VOBWGFoSdFI/AAAAAAAAIng/eAjKfF2KJDs/s1600/21-serkiskebbell.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5DbxB0OUpjk/VOBWGFoSdFI/AAAAAAAAIng/eAjKfF2KJDs/s1600/21-serkiskebbell.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Andy Serkis and Toby Kebbell in <i>Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I don't want to sound like a broken record by saying how good Serkis is because it's just a fact. This is arguably his best work. It's Kebbell who was more astonishing. He brought such terrifying viciousness to the character of Koba and almost outshined even a seasoned artist like Serkis through his performance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">21.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgs0x-QEaQc/VOBWHlYVzkI/AAAAAAAAIno/bTWaogkgdxk/s1600/20-martin.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-bgs0x-QEaQc/VOBWHlYVzkI/AAAAAAAAIno/bTWaogkgdxk/s1600/20-martin.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Stacy Martin in<i> Nymphomaniac</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I'm still trying to wrap my head around the fact that <u>this</u> was Martin's first film. She's not here only for her bravery but also for completely <u>being</u><i> </i>this very unique woman, embodying her aloofness, her horror over losing her ability to feel pleasure, her pain over her father's condition, her dry humour and so on. Can't wait to see what else Martin does.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">20.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPKM0mqLRsw/VOBWJebmBAI/AAAAAAAAInw/zkiBKX43xRc/s1600/19-swinton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-DPKM0mqLRsw/VOBWJebmBAI/AAAAAAAAInw/zkiBKX43xRc/s1600/19-swinton.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Tilda Swinton in<i> Snowpiercer</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Apparently the role of Mason was meant to be played by a man. Needless to say, no man or woman could have done what Swinton did with the role. Taking inspiration from the likes of Margaret Thatcher and Adolf Hitler, Swinton flawlessly turns into this living, breathing political cartoon who is a riot every time she's on screen.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">19.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Keira Knightley in <i>Begin Again</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Around the same time last year, when I saw <i>Last Night</i> for the podcast, I was first made aware of how good Knightley can be in modern roles. I always thought she's best suited for period films but it's the present day which brings a relaxed, confident air to her performances and I think her work in <i>Begin Again</i> is her best to date. From her singing to her effortless chemistry with everyone around her, she shines the most here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">18.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RjQ8Z5jkGc4/VOBWL2Z-gXI/AAAAAAAAIoA/afeiHqZGfVA/s1600/17-dorval.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-RjQ8Z5jkGc4/VOBWL2Z-gXI/AAAAAAAAIoA/afeiHqZGfVA/s1600/17-dorval.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Anne Dorval in <i>Mommy</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">There are just so many shades to Die. She's loud, angry, sexy, confused, vulnerable, bitter, loving, sad and the list goes on, and Dorval portrays all of these. It's a complicated role and a complicated performance. Much like the film, she is on the edge of being overly-dramatic but she never goes overboard and in fact makes Die someone painfully and beautifully human.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">17.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfKUYx0vth8/VOC-WOvcynI/AAAAAAAAIqQ/fHJ6ia5B0QQ/s1600/23-keaton.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-kfKUYx0vth8/VOC-WOvcynI/AAAAAAAAIqQ/fHJ6ia5B0QQ/s1600/23-keaton.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Michael Keaton in <i>Birdman</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Keaton is someone I only associated with his Batman films and even in those, other actors outshone him completely. Therefore, I was very pleasantly surprised to see that he can do a role like this. The movie is basically in his character's head and a lot of it is totally nuts but Keaton makes it all believable. His frustration, his self-doubts, the pain caused by the various relationships he has, the madness and confusion of his inner and outer lives, the quieter moments of resignation and sadness- it's a truly fantastic performance and one I hope he wins an Oscar for.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">16.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pAAQ-VeEa88/VOBWNKZNqBI/AAAAAAAAIoI/b9aP15bsFJ4/s1600/16-gugu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pAAQ-VeEa88/VOBWNKZNqBI/AAAAAAAAIoI/b9aP15bsFJ4/s1600/16-gugu.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Gugu Mbatha-Raw in <i>Beyond the Lights</i> and <i>Belle</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">God, where did she come from? She's awesome! And she couldn't have played two more different roles in one year, BOTH of which she was excellent at. On one hand, she was this Rihanna-esque rising music star battling with insecurity and on the other, she was a mixed-race 18th century English woman slowly gaining confidence and understanding of the world around her. I prefer the first a little bit more because it could have been such a one-note, predictable performance but instead Mbatha-Raw found such raw and genuinely emotional places to take it to. The same could be said of her performance in <i>Belle</i> as well. Truly, a revelation.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">15.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC9sNhGG2sY/VOBWQVaBupI/AAAAAAAAIoQ/qHN_hdoudMw/s1600/15-mcavoy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-zC9sNhGG2sY/VOBWQVaBupI/AAAAAAAAIoQ/qHN_hdoudMw/s1600/15-mcavoy.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">James McAvoy in <i>The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">He's been so overlooked in people's best performances list and I don't understand why. Chastain had the more showy role of the two and she delivers completely (more on that later) but, like fellow and similarly ignored Scotsman, Ewan McGregor, McAvoy here is the quieter yet stable counterpoint to her performance and he is just as heart-rendering, if not more, at the end.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">14.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OVj9npb5Xc/VOBWRRF5RgI/AAAAAAAAIoU/zUWo2866OUc/s1600/14-moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-2OVj9npb5Xc/VOBWRRF5RgI/AAAAAAAAIoU/zUWo2866OUc/s1600/14-moore.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Julianne Moore in <i>Maps to the Stars</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I love her whole performance but it's really the scene in the toilet that made me put her here. How can someone be so absurd and normal at the same time? I dunno, ask Moore. She's done it before with <i>Boogie Nights</i> (one of the greatest performances of all time) and she did it again here. I am completely, 100% going to pretend it is her performance here that she's actually winning her Oscar for.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">13.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Jessica Chastain in<i> The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I would have put her performance in <i>A Most Violent Year</i> here too but her complete work over the two Eleanor Rigby movies has totally wiped it off my mind. This is the best she's ever been. Like Die earlier, Chastain's Eleanor also goes through a gamut of emotions but she's so much harder to read. There is a resistance to show how she feels but the beautiful thing about Chastain's work here is that you can see that as well. Since the films are named after Eleanor, she's more or less the axis around which both the stories turn and Chastain is able to portray that. Of course, she is tremendous in <i>Her </i>but even in <i>Him</i>, where she is playing a colder, more aloof version of Eleanor, she makes her presence felt throughout the film.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">12.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDlICXS3gBU/VOBWT_RH-rI/AAAAAAAAIoo/xrD3rhBj0bQ/s1600/12-tabu.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-gDlICXS3gBU/VOBWT_RH-rI/AAAAAAAAIoo/xrD3rhBj0bQ/s1600/12-tabu.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Tabu in <i>Haider</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Tabu showed in<i> Haider</i> why she's considered one of the best actors of Indian cinema. Sure, the film is about Haider (who is based on Hamlet), but it is Tabu's Ghazala who steals the show. I must give props to the director Vishal Bharadwaj as well for creating a character like her, a middle-aged mother who is completely driven by her passions no matter how unorthodox they may be, a rarity anywhere but especially in Bollywood. However, it would all have been for nought if Tabu hadn't given such a daring and unforgettable performance in that role.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">11.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Jenny Slate in<i> Obvious Child</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Kinda like Moore, Slate fully won me over at one point in her performance- it is when the *SPOILERS BUT NOT REALLY* abortion is finally taking place and the close-up is on Slate's face. It starts out as funny because she looks stoned almost but then her eyes well up and tears stream down the side of her face and you feel so much for this woman. Of course, there is a sadness in the film but there is also life and happiness and Slate embodies both those parts so well. It is a very sweet performance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">10.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Jack O'Connell in <i>Starred Up</i>, <i>Unbroken</i> and<i> '71</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I have been raving about O'Connell everywhere on the internet. I have been a fan since his <i>Skins</i> days but I too was amazed by the caliber of performances he's given this year. Of course, <i>Starred Up</i> has his best performance. He's almost like an animal. His physical acting is only matched by his raw, emotional sensitivity. As for <i>Unbroken</i>, I think he really elevated the film as much as he could. He has such charisma. Finally, in<i> '71</i>, the whole film is so gritty and intense and O'Connell is a major reason for that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">9.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">J.K. Simmons in <i>Whiplash</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">I almost just want to write that I will never see <i>Juno</i> the same way again and leave it at that. There's such vehemence in this performance. It blows one away until they're left quivering, even more so because, just like with the Miles Tellers' character in the movie, we are constantly taken in and manipulated by it and we are surprised at every turn.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">8.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Brendon Gleeson in <i>Calvary</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Remember what I wrote about McAvoy earlier- just take that and like multiply it a thousand times and that's how appalled I am at everyone for not giving this performance its due attention. There is such inner turmoil in Father James' life that Gleeson is able to portray. He is supposed to be stoic because he's a priest but we feel the anger, the sadness, the frustration of this man who is still, after all, just a man. It is a finely tuned and deeply human performance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">7.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Edward Norton in <i>Birdman</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Norton in <i>Birdman</i> reminded me why it is I fell in love with him in the first place. He is totally unpredictable. Every time I thought I had this character figured out, he went and did something completely opposite to what I was expecting and Norton not only performs the different facets of this character's personality brilliantly, but also those tiny moments of when he's transitioning from one to another. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">6.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Marion Cotillard in <i>Two Days, One Night </i>and<i> The Immigrant</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Similar to Arquette, watching Cotillard in <i>Two Days, One Night</i> was a constant series of "Oh crap, she's acting here!" She became Sandra so completely that it was baffling to think that this is not a someone who really exists whose life we are following and who we are witnessing actually go through clinical depression. Cotillard is completely immersed in her role. She is very good in <i>The Immigrant </i>as well, delivering a nuanced and oftentimes surprising performance </span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">5.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Tom Hardy in<i> Locke</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Seriously, when was the last time you were interested in listening to someone talk about concrete? I'm gonna go with never (no offence meant to anyone who works with concrete and reads this blog). But listening to Hardy talk about it, I was completely riveted, enthralled, spellbound, rapt! <i>Locke</i> was sold as the movie with Tom Hardy in a car and it's an excellent movie mostly because of the Tom Hardy part. I love one-man movies because it must be so difficult to act on your own and not having someone to react to, and Hardy faces this challenge head on. He explores so many sides to this character in such a short movie with such a constricted setting. It's a masterclass in acting.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">4.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Essie Davis in <i>The Babadook</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Of all the performances in this list, I have a feeling I will grow to love this one the most over the years. I was already more impressed with it when I rewatched the film. The way Davis goes from meek and tired to ferocious and unhinged over the course of the film is just staggering. It's not just her face or her physicality but also her voice that changes. There is such control in this performance. It is definitely going to go down as one of the best roles in horror history.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">3.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Ralph Fiennes in<i> The Grand Budapest Hotel</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Like Leo last year, seeing an established "dramatic" actor tackle a funny role has brought me great joy. Obviously, Fiennes already gave us a taste of comedic chops in<i> In Bruges</i>, but he's just spectacular in <i>The Grand Budapest Hotel</i>. From his proper mannerisms to the delectable way words just flow from his mouth, to the fact that though this is a comedy performance, there is such a poignant undercurrent that runs through it that Fiennes brings out in the way he acts and speaks, it is simply a delight to watch him in this role.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">2.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Jake Gyllenhaal in <i>Nightcrawler</i> and<i> Enemy</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">At one point during <i>Nightcrawler</i>, I remember thinking to myself "<i>THIS guy played Bubble Boy.</i>" It is mental to think about how far Gyllenhaal has come as an actor. Though I thought his work in <i>Nightcrawler</i> was better than <u>both</u> his roles in <i>Enemy</i>, the fact that one actor in one year has managed to give these absolutely crazy yet disturbingly believable performances, all of which are so varied and complex in their own ways, needs to be lauded by one and all. I am fully on board with whatever Gyllenhaal tackles next.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">1.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Rosamund Pike in <i>Gone Girl</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">And then there was one. And what a performance at that!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">More than anything else, it is Pike's voice as the real Amy that has stuck with me. As incredible as it is to watch her transformation from pretty waif into psychotic mastermind on screen, the fact that she manages to even lace her voice with that creeping madness is what blows my mind. It gets under your skin.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Though of course, it is the expression her eyes too that can be so innocent in the first scene and completely predatorial in the last that makes her performance the best of the year.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Plus, I can't leave out talking about how multi-layered her work is. She is funny, ethereal, terrifying, manipulative and so much more. She did something I didn't think was possible- outdo the book Amy. I don't remember the last time the cinematic portrayal of a literary character not only matched my expectations, which in itself is rare, but also brought out sides and depths that weren't in the book.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;">Basically- Amazing Rosamund is amazing.</span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #d5a6bd;">What were your favourite performances of 2014?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><u>Also in Best of 2014</u>:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/were-about-to-crash-into-sun-yeah-but.html" target="_blank">Shots</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/would-it-be-alright-if-i-show-children.html" target="_blank">Scenes</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/i-am-hat-you-are-shoe-my-favourite.html" target="_blank">Heroes and Villains</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #d5a6bd;"><a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/this-is-like-spike-lee-saying-hes-white.html" target="_blank">Sexiest Characters, Best Characters, Ensembles, Objects, Quotes</a></span></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com14tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-62727217849529884732015-02-14T00:12:00.000+05:302015-02-14T00:18:12.055+05:30"This is like Spike Lee saying he's white."- FAVOURITE EVERYTHING ELSE OF 2014<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"> Okay since lists are awesome and I am a lazy ass, I am going to give you guys a condensed but hopefully fun version of these other "Best of 2014" superlatives. My favourite Performances and Films are yet to come but this is, as the title says, everything else :)</span><br />
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<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>ScarJo in <i>Under the Skin</i> and <i>Lucy</i></u></b>- Both very different yet completely effective types of sexy. ScarJo is basically a sex goddess and we should all worship the ground she walks upon.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Wallace in <i>What If</i></u></b>- It's funny and adorable DanRad being funny and adorable. Ovaries = Obliterated.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Hot Saxophone Player in <i>Ida</i></u></b>- I don't care what his name was. He made a to-be nun horny AND he plays the sax *fans herself*</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Peter Quill aka Star-Lord in <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i></u></b>- Because there weren't enough shirtless scenes.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Jerome in <i>Nymphomaniac, part 1</i></u></b>- I really did not want to find him attractive but the way the present him, hands and all, I couldn't help myself. Also, I feel like that's tmi but I needed to explain this one.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Hiccup in <i>How to Train Your Dragon 2</i> and Tadashi in <i>Big Hero 6</i></u></b>- Because HELLO hot animated characters!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Rita Vratasky in <i>Edge of Tomorrow</i></u></b>- Because look at those biceps!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Mahabir in <i>Highway</i></u></b>- He's a truck driver who wears a lungi aka the fugliest item of clothing in the whole wide world, and STILL manages to look hot.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Adam in <i>Only Lovers Left Alive</i></u></b>- Marlowe wanted to use him as inspiration for Hamlet. And he's a rockstar. And he looks good naked.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><u>Sexiest Character of 2014</u>- <b><span style="font-size: large;">David in <i>The Guest</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Yeah, so I made this list so he could top it, *obviously*. The filmmakers <a href="http://hervioleteyes.tumblr.com/post/109587566207" target="_blank">deliberately objectified</a> him. I mean, come on! And it's not just the body but also the eyes and the voice. Yeah okay, I get that he's like a lean (oh god, soooo lean!), mean, killing machine but nobody's perfect.</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Dave Skylark in <i>The Interview</i></u></b>- He's such an idiot but god he's hilarious.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Anna Morales in <i>A Most Violent Year</i></u></b>- She had me at "<i>This was very disrespectful.</i>" *swoons*</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Donna and Nellie in <i>Obvious Child</i></u></b>- I adored both of them. Yes, Donna is more fun but Nellie is so no-nonsense.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>M. Gustave in <i>The Grand Budapest Hotel</i></u></b>- Both delightful and heartbreaking.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Bobo, Klara and Hedvig in <i>We Are the Best!</i></u></b>- Because they remind me of the kind of friends I have had, but with mohawks.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Rocket in <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i></u></b>- I never expected that he'd end up being my favourite but I just get his sense of humour. He's fucking badass.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Detective Rhonda Boney in <i>Gone Girl</i></u></b>- I had found her super annoying in the book but Kim Dickens brought such humour to the role. Plus, she's efficient and I like that.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Batman in <i>The Lego Movie</i></u></b>- Best. Batman. Ever.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Rani in <i>Queen</i></u></b>- I just think we can be best friends, that's all.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><u>Favourite Character of 2014</u>- <b><span style="font-size: large;">Eve in<i> Only Lovers Left Alive</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Okay another bit of information about me none of you want- I really wish I was a vampire. I think they're cool as fuck and Eve might be the coolest, nicest, most magical one ever. I love that she's not jaded because of the amount of time she's lived on earth, rather she's constantly amazed by things around her. It's a beautiful quality to have.</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><i><u>Gone Girl</u></i></b>- I love each and every casting decision made for this film. They are all perfect for the roles they play, big or small.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u><i>Calvary</i></u></b>- The first time I saw it, I couldn't stop gaping every time a new totally excellent Irish actor popped up. This film has Mad-Eye Moody, Roy from<i> The I.T. Crowd</i>, Littlefinger and Bernard Black- if that's not awesome, I dunno what is.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u><i>Pride</i></u></b>- The film is such a collaboration. No one really outshines anyone else because everyone is so lovely.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u><i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i> and <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i></u></b>- I always love the ensembles Marvel picks out and last year was no different.</span></li>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><u>Favourite Ensemble of 2014</u>- <b><span style="font-size: large;"><i>Birdman</i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Everyone is just soooooo good in this film! Sure, I have my favourites but all the actors did fantastic work in the film and they all get their moments to shine.</span></div>
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<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Eleanor's hair in <i>The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby</i></u></b>- I have such a crush on that hair. It's gorgeous.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>Food in <i>Chef</i></u></b>- No explanation needed.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>The tank in<i> The Interview</i></u></b>- *in a valley girl accent* Uhh, it plays Katy Perry.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>The hotel in <i>The Grand Budapest Hotel</i></u></b>- How I wish it was real!</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>The blood goblets in<i> Only Lovers Left Alive</i></u></b>- Has blood ever looked more delectable? (Don't answer that, please).</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>The hot sauce in <i>Top Five</i></u></b>- If you've watched the movie, you know what I'm talking about. I cried laughing.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>The clothes in <i>God Help the Girl</i></u></b>- I just want all of them. Even James'.</span></li>
<li><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><b><u>The cheekbones in <i>Maleficent</i></u></b>- #cheekbonesgoals </span></li>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><u>Favourite Object of 2014</u>- <b><span style="font-size: large;">the Train in<i> Snowpiercer </i></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">A world inside a train. Of course, it isn't a very good world and I don't particularly like the train or what it stands for but I loved what they did with it. The way it reveals itself was one of the greatest joys of watching this amazing film.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6; font-size: x-large;"><b><u>Favourite Quotes of 2014</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">(The first one is my #1 and all the others are in random order.)</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kh0bJgRfSbs/VN3640wQaCI/AAAAAAAAIms/FSZt5kGMwHg/s1600/quotes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-kh0bJgRfSbs/VN3640wQaCI/AAAAAAAAIms/FSZt5kGMwHg/s1600/quotes.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Phew, that's a lot! Do you guys have a favourite or sexiest character or most loved object or ensemble or quote of last year? What are they?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b4a7d6;">Also in Best of 2014:</span><br />
<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/were-about-to-crash-into-sun-yeah-but.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">My Favourite Shots</span></a><br />
<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/would-it-be-alright-if-i-show-children.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">My Favourite Scenes</span></a><br />
<a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.in/2015/02/i-am-hat-you-are-shoe-my-favourite.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: #b4a7d6;">My Favourite Heroes and Villains</span></a><br />
<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-58760125851797383392015-02-13T00:44:00.002+05:302015-02-13T00:44:47.635+05:30"I am a hat. You are a shoe."- MY FAVOURITE HEROES AND VILLAINS OF 2014<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"> <u><span style="font-size: x-large;"><b>HEROES</b></span></u></span></div>
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"> </span><br />
<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"> I have never made a Favourite Heroes list before but because of, well, my number 1 spot, I had decided very early in 2014 to make this list. The only problem was that I usually always prefer villains to heroes and I thought I wouldn't get enough characters to make a list out of. However, I was wrong and in fact, I had to leave out quite a few in my heroes list. There's just something about the kind of characters of 2014 films with their different types of heroism that is genuinely inspiring. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">10.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0G09n5H1bY/VNxd9DOwIiI/AAAAAAAAIi0/ScmVUy5Ziho/s1600/10-fatherjames.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-P0G09n5H1bY/VNxd9DOwIiI/AAAAAAAAIi0/ScmVUy5Ziho/s1600/10-fatherjames.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Father James in <i>Calvary</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">He is the good priest who has to pay the price for a bad, bad world. James' heroism comes through not only because nearly everyone else around him is fucked up in their own way but also due to the fact that he too has a dark side within him and he has to come to terms with that. The name of the film alludes to Jesus Christ's sacrifice for the sins of the human race and Father James, in a much smaller yet significant way, also does that.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">9.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ2CR6KEp08/VNxd-pNoWzI/AAAAAAAAIi8/pt6CvgBII-o/s1600/9-pride.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qJ2CR6KEp08/VNxd-pNoWzI/AAAAAAAAIi8/pt6CvgBII-o/s1600/9-pride.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">LGSM and the Miners in <i>Pride</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i>Pride</i> is the kind of movie that fills one with infinite hope because we see that there *are* really good, solid people in this world no matter from however small a place they come from. Both the LGSM and the miners fight for their right to be heard and accepted and their mutual love, respect and support for each other wins at the end. Also the fact that all of this actually happened makes it even better.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">8.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j-ZAeIRDScU/VNxeAHDHvZI/AAAAAAAAIjE/px5LK2Ev4WY/s1600/8-emmett.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-j-ZAeIRDScU/VNxeAHDHvZI/AAAAAAAAIjE/px5LK2Ev4WY/s1600/8-emmett.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Emmett in <i>The Lego Movie</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i>The Lego Movie</i>, among many things, is a very clever deconstruction of the "chosen one" trope and so of course the "Special" had to be here. The Special is basically the most ordinary person one can find but the film shows how even someone as apparently unimaginative and unremarkable as Emmett can become the hero of the story and become special once he believes in himself.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">7.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyBwNUSwgx8/VNxeBOm6MBI/AAAAAAAAIjM/E21XJmO4ixo/s1600/7-fullmetalbitch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-vyBwNUSwgx8/VNxeBOm6MBI/AAAAAAAAIjM/E21XJmO4ixo/s1600/7-fullmetalbitch.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Rita Vratasky aka Full Metal Bitch in <i>Edge of Tomorrow</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">She's a total fucking badass who outshines Tom Cruise in his own action movie. Need I say more?</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">6.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6BHYldWcQc/VNxeEoKI0BI/AAAAAAAAIjU/Ylu-IOyoZ1w/s1600/6-johnwick.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-c6BHYldWcQc/VNxeEoKI0BI/AAAAAAAAIjU/Ylu-IOyoZ1w/s1600/6-johnwick.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">John Wick in <i>John Wick</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Oh he's just soooo cool! I love a good revenge flick, especially those with the Russian mafia and world class assassins. Also, as scared as I am of dogs, taking out a whole bunch of scary guys in retaliation for killing his puppy, all while wearing a well-tailored suit is like the height of chivalry and badassery.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">5.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTOWsZN7T2k/VNxeHRt-2cI/AAAAAAAAIjc/4gEJWh7P5ks/s1600/5-rani.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tTOWsZN7T2k/VNxeHRt-2cI/AAAAAAAAIjc/4gEJWh7P5ks/s1600/5-rani.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Rani in <i>Queen</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i>Queen </i>is the story of an Indian woman's emancipation and how traveling opens up not just her world but her mind too. On purely realistic levels, Rani is the most inspirational person on this list for me because I get where she was coming from and I love where she and the film goes in her journey of self-discovery. I mean, the scene where she saves her bag from the thief was the moment she becomes this person for me because I never expected that but that is exactly what makes it so liberating and awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">4.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leb0fhiKib4/VNxeHw-_nhI/AAAAAAAAIjk/vTsb_hU_GI0/s1600/4-gotg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-leb0fhiKib4/VNxeHw-_nhI/AAAAAAAAIjk/vTsb_hU_GI0/s1600/4-gotg.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">The Guardians in <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">These bunch of a-holes, consisting of a hot thief, a green assassin, a crazy muscle guy, a talking raccoon and a walking tree save the whole galaxy through the power of their camaraderie. As rude and sarcastic as they are, the fact their friendship saves the day is all kinds of adorable and heartwarming.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">3.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dQwJb_WzWQ/VNxeJAHwerI/AAAAAAAAIjs/3cyJGlzRocM/s1600/3-hiccupandtoothless.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-1dQwJb_WzWQ/VNxeJAHwerI/AAAAAAAAIjs/3cyJGlzRocM/s1600/3-hiccupandtoothless.png" /></a></span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Hiccup and Toothless in <i>How to Train Your Dragon 2</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">While the first film was about the formation of this unlikely partnership, the second one shows the true heroes both Hiccup and Toothless are. They become the alphas of their own packs through their inherent goodness and courage and trust in one another.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">2.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Go7QcNCMuBg/VNxeLp-jLxI/AAAAAAAAIj8/StZ3_A2P3jk/s1600/2-sandra%2Bbya.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Go7QcNCMuBg/VNxeLp-jLxI/AAAAAAAAIj8/StZ3_A2P3jk/s1600/2-sandra%2Bbya.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Sandra Bya in <i>Two Days, One Night</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">I can't tell you how much Sandra's small victory meant to me when I watched the movie. It reminded me of something I had done myself a while back which mostly only pertained to me but it was something that changed my life. Compared to some of the other characters in this list, what Sandra does seems absurd and insignificant but there is a true heroism in it. I love stories about everyday heroes and Sandra, who does the frankly daunting task of convincing her fellow workers to give up their bonus for her job while she's battling depression, is definitely one such person.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">1.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xsbVQB6eku8/VNxfFAxEhYI/AAAAAAAAIkQ/-WsRsDDmS1I/s1600/1-evans.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xsbVQB6eku8/VNxfFAxEhYI/AAAAAAAAIkQ/-WsRsDDmS1I/s1600/1-evans.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Steve Rogers in <i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i> and Curtis in<i> Snowpiercer</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">I saw Winter Soldier and Snowpiercer within a short while of each other and I knew then that no other character last year can beat both these Chris Evans' roles. And no, I couldn't choose between the two. Both of them are different but very powerful heroes in their own way. Steve is like the best person ever and he has to face the corrupt world he has woken up to and figure out how to still stick with his ideals in it. Curtis, on the other hand, is a man with a dark past and he reminds me of a Greek hero because he is so brave and so tragic. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9; font-size: x-large;"><u><b>VILLAINS</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"> And now we come to the villains. We've got some pretty memorable ones in 2014, proving yet again why it's such a brilliant film year (I'm just going to keep harping on about this, soz).</span><br />
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">10.</span></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Mercedes in <i>22 Jump Street</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Life lesson: college girls can be evil masterminds. Plus, it was hilarious that even she couldn't escape the awkwardness of that age.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">9.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hGPlrS3ZnGw/VNxfQBAyW1I/AAAAAAAAIkg/X6tMCYFyqV0/s1600/9-kim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-hGPlrS3ZnGw/VNxfQBAyW1I/AAAAAAAAIkg/X6tMCYFyqV0/s1600/9-kim.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Kim Jong-un in <i>The Interview</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Do I really have to explain this one? Props to Randall Park for having the balls to play this role. I liked that as funny and pathetic as he was, there were proper moments of despotic madness there.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">8.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LidJMNa6txQ/VNxfRcajoiI/AAAAAAAAIko/cjflOC8dygk/s1600/8-koba.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-LidJMNa6txQ/VNxfRcajoiI/AAAAAAAAIko/cjflOC8dygk/s1600/8-koba.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Koba in <i>Dawn of the Planet of the Apes</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><i>Rise of the Planet of the Apes</i> set up the stage for the horrifying-looking Koba and he fully delivered in <i>Dawn</i>. Through him, we see how destructive greed, anger and jealousy are, in humans or in apes. He is manipulative and powerful and shows what a true tyrant can do.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">7.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1mVWPgZeSs/VNxfSuODTuI/AAAAAAAAIkw/fhG2K8kf_Uk/s1600/7-stranger.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-v1mVWPgZeSs/VNxfSuODTuI/AAAAAAAAIkw/fhG2K8kf_Uk/s1600/7-stranger.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Michel in<i> Stranger by the Lake</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">On one hand, he is a cold-blooded killer, and on the other, he's a sex god who looks glorious naked (he *just* missed out in my Sexiest Characters list that I'm going to post tomorrow). I'm as conflicted as poor Franck :(</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">6.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsmel2dNMzY/VNxfUMQzMjI/AAAAAAAAIk4/hXPW4q-mHd4/s1600/6-lou.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xsmel2dNMzY/VNxfUMQzMjI/AAAAAAAAIk4/hXPW4q-mHd4/s1600/6-lou.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Louis Bloom in <i>Nightcrawler</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Like the coyote from which Jake Gyllenhaal drew inspiration for this role, Bloom is a brutal scavenger. He's also hilarious. The only reason he's not higher on the list is because I feel that in the movie, the society is as bad a villain as Bloom since we not only let people like him exist but also prosper.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">5.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgfMgdFhHcc/VNxgKl_tgNI/AAAAAAAAIls/_lKl_IyuNmk/s1600/5-mason.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-KgfMgdFhHcc/VNxgKl_tgNI/AAAAAAAAIls/_lKl_IyuNmk/s1600/5-mason.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Minister Mason in <i>Snowpiercer</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">The worst kind of bureaucrat, Tilda Swinton based this role on <i>"a complete smash cut of all the monstrous, maniacal, political clowns.</i>" Of course, she *is* funny but she is also a symbol of oppression and intolerance.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">4.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6V7mlSGRl_o/VNxfWI1FCDI/AAAAAAAAIlE/rdWacgGt62E/s1600/4-babadook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-6V7mlSGRl_o/VNxfWI1FCDI/AAAAAAAAIlE/rdWacgGt62E/s1600/4-babadook.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">The Babadook in <i>The Babadook</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Speaking of symbols, the Babadook stands as much for the parental anxiety and guilt about sometimes hating your child as it does for all the unseen things that go bump in the night. Plus, I am never going to unhear its frightening voice.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">3.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pYkzwZ__r0/VNxfX38e-cI/AAAAAAAAIlQ/2680yz-cTzA/s1600/3-guest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_pYkzwZ__r0/VNxfX38e-cI/AAAAAAAAIlQ/2680yz-cTzA/s1600/3-guest.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">David in <i>The Guest</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">I'm still not over what a total psycho he turned out to be. Like Emmett earlier, he completely upends our ideas about him. We seem to be okay with him hurting the "bad" guys but once we see his utter indifference towards killing however many people, we are shocked. The hot hero turns out to be the brainwashed villain and it's perfectly awesome.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">2.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EynzlsG1kx4/VNxfYvUDH4I/AAAAAAAAIlU/tU_YHx53a-k/s1600/2-fletcher.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-EynzlsG1kx4/VNxfYvUDH4I/AAAAAAAAIlU/tU_YHx53a-k/s1600/2-fletcher.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Terence Fletcher in <i>Whiplash</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">In many ways, he's the scariest character on this list simply because people like him definitely exist. Yes, he has a philosophy behind his methods and whether you agree with it or not, there's no denying that he's terrifying motherfucker. I would never ever ever want to cross paths with someone like him.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">1.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErIOMHcc1Yo/VNxfZjYquWI/AAAAAAAAIlg/dX3hR7kiOrQ/s1600/1-amy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ErIOMHcc1Yo/VNxfZjYquWI/AAAAAAAAIlg/dX3hR7kiOrQ/s1600/1-amy.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Amy Dunne in <i>Gone Girl</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">It almost looks like she's praying in this picture but she's actually holding a boxcutter with which she is going to murder someone moments later. BOOM! THAT'S WHY SHE'S NUMBER 1, BITCHES!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Amy Dunne is a cinematic villain for the ages. She's gorgeous, psychotic, proud, bitchy, manipulative, deliberate and she gets what she wants, whether it is getting her cheating husband framed for her own murder or the adoration of all the silly people who play into her hands. She defies, gloriously I might add, all the societal expectations put on her gender and she makes them turn on their heads for her own benefit. I lurrrve, loave, luff her!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"> </span><b style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #a2c4c9;">Who were your top heroes and villains of last year?</span></i></b></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;">See also:</span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/were-about-to-crash-into-sun-yeah-but.html" target="_blank">My Favourite Shots of 2014</a></span></div>
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<span style="color: #a2c4c9;"><a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.in/2015/02/would-it-be-alright-if-i-show-children.html" target="_blank">My Favourite Scenes of 2014</a></span></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-39786821246626405962015-02-12T02:35:00.000+05:302015-02-12T11:41:29.529+05:30"Would it be alright if I show the children the whoring bed?"- MY FAVOURITE SCENES OF 2014<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> As I wrote yesterday, 2014 was an great film year and there are many, many scenes that have stood out in both good and bad movies. I tried limiting this list to 10 scenes and I failed. I have a good feeling I have forgotten at least a scene or two but I am pretty happy with what I have here. I noticed that I have shown preference to more humorous stuff this time. Not sure why. It is what it is.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><u>Note</u>: There are spoilers in this list for people who haven't seen <i>Gone Girl</i>, Whiplash and Guardians of the Galaxy.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><u>Honourable mentions</u>: The penis catalogue in<i> Nymphomaniac, vol.1</i>, "Bismil" in <i>Haider</i> and Noni singing "Blackbird" in <i>Beyond the Lights</i>. It's difficult to pinpoint singular scenes from <i>Birdman </i>because of the format of that movie. Still, special shout-out to the scenes between Emma Stone and Edward Norton on the roof and Riggan's fight with the critic.</span><br />
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">15.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AcT7jBKq0RA/VNtXV4ERp5I/AAAAAAAAIf0/F0I4zyibz8w/s1600/15-godhelpthegirl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AcT7jBKq0RA/VNtXV4ERp5I/AAAAAAAAIf0/F0I4zyibz8w/s1600/15-godhelpthegirl.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">"I'll Have to Dance with Cassie" in <i>God Help the Girl</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><i>God Help the Girl</i> was an odd little musical and it reaches its highest point with this little dance number. It is absolutely delightful and the song is addictive and it just puts me in a good mood every time I watch it or even think about it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">14.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Ubl19bcbs/VNtXBL_hAwI/AAAAAAAAIfk/0h3SZZXj5cM/s1600/14-dinner.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-m6Ubl19bcbs/VNtXBL_hAwI/AAAAAAAAIfk/0h3SZZXj5cM/s1600/14-dinner.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The Dinner scene in <i>Nightcrawler</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Speaking of things that put me in a good mood when I think about it, this scene has stayed with me wayyyy more than any of the more disturbing/cooler scenes in this totally disturbing and cool movie. I seriously just think of how odd and creepy and funny it is at random moments and laugh to myself. Both Russo and Gyllenhaal are excellent here.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">13.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icHclYSbeyg/VNtW9Llq2WI/AAAAAAAAIfU/uO9oYCwHsMI/s1600/13-beginagain.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-icHclYSbeyg/VNtW9Llq2WI/AAAAAAAAIfU/uO9oYCwHsMI/s1600/13-beginagain.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Greta and Dan listen to music all night in <i>Begin Again</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Awww this scene is so adorable. It makes me think of one of my most favourite quotes from one of my most favourite movies- "<i><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsLqJmGvGNI" target="_blank">You are literally like my musical soulmate</a></i>."</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">12.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNweBdjGTV8/VNtW_RulwQI/AAAAAAAAIfc/8A8rnFhipmQ/s1600/12-godzilla.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-CNweBdjGTV8/VNtW_RulwQI/AAAAAAAAIfc/8A8rnFhipmQ/s1600/12-godzilla.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The H.A.L.O. jump in <i>Godzilla</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">This scene is here not only because of its stunning visuals but also because of its completely unnerving sound. There's a sense of apocalyptic dread that the scene presents so well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">11.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pemBxGPFidw/VNtWxzq3uMI/AAAAAAAAIfM/fVH7-P9aJWY/s1600/11-gotg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pemBxGPFidw/VNtWxzq3uMI/AAAAAAAAIfM/fVH7-P9aJWY/s1600/11-gotg.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The Dance-off in <i>Guardians of the Galaxy</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">There are better action pieces in the film but I still cannot believe that they had the balls to do this in its main climactic scene. The music in the film is a major aspect of why everyone loves it so much and here it is put front-and-centre in the most insanely awesome way.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">10.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIr6UsufRIw/VNtWqpjlopI/AAAAAAAAIfE/8VocQV6z4Ok/s1600/10-22jumpstreet.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-cIr6UsufRIw/VNtWqpjlopI/AAAAAAAAIfE/8VocQV6z4Ok/s1600/10-22jumpstreet.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Jenko finds out about Captain Dickson's daughter in <i>22 Jump Street</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Yes, the ending is far more clever but I seriously think I out-laughed a completely filled cinema hall in this scene. It's just too fucking funny! His dancing notwithstanding, this is the moment Channing Tatum totally won me over.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">9.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCWHHadULdY/VNtdwTNH8vI/AAAAAAAAIg8/XvAQxjmIVxg/s1600/9-cap2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-aCWHHadULdY/VNtdwTNH8vI/AAAAAAAAIg8/XvAQxjmIVxg/s1600/9-cap2.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><span id="goog_1437531647"></span><span id="goog_1437531648"></span>The Elevator fight in <i>Captain America: The Winter Soldier</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Even though Cap is my favourite Marvel superhero because of his inherent goodness, a scene like this proves that he is also a total badass. I loved the action sequences in the film and this one was definitely the best. My favourite moment from it: Cap gives everyone a choice to get out before he basically beats them up to a pulp. What a gentleman.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">8.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8k735Fkt9IQ/VNteBnL6l5I/AAAAAAAAIhE/ARd9J8Qw1vk/s1600/8-snowpiercer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8k735Fkt9IQ/VNteBnL6l5I/AAAAAAAAIhE/ARd9J8Qw1vk/s1600/8-snowpiercer.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The School in <i>Snowpiercer</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">This scene captures the sort of tonal change that Korean movies usually seem to have- it is absurd, satirical, terrifying and thrilling. Allison Pill's cameo here is my second most favourite of the year. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">7.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_YcYurp8yM/VNteVsci3FI/AAAAAAAAIhM/9jKBxJdBkbs/s1600/7-skeletontwins.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-a_YcYurp8yM/VNteVsci3FI/AAAAAAAAIhM/9jKBxJdBkbs/s1600/7-skeletontwins.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Lip-syncing to Starship in <i>The Skeleton Twins</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">There are a precious few things in the world better than Bill Hader and Kristen Wiig full-on dramatically lip-syncing and dancing to Starship's "Nothing's Gonna Stop Us Now". It is as beautiful as it sounds and I can watch this scene on repeat.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">6.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPgG39Jy8NQ/VNteXR9__WI/AAAAAAAAIhU/zDCEEnSyuX4/s1600/6-raid2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-xPgG39Jy8NQ/VNteXR9__WI/AAAAAAAAIhU/zDCEEnSyuX4/s1600/6-raid2.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The Car fight in <i>The Raid 2</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><i>The Raid 2</i> is one fantastic action sequence after another but this one takes the cake. I don't know how they choreographed and then filmed this scene. There are fights going on within cars, outside cars and between cars, all simultaneously. If they make any more sequels, I'd love to see them try and top this scene.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">5.</span></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgkQxT2-hMA/VNtgbZkc6_I/AAAAAAAAIh0/Q0qqDWeLvOA/s1600/5-guest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qgkQxT2-hMA/VNtgbZkc6_I/AAAAAAAAIh0/Q0qqDWeLvOA/s1600/5-guest.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The High School Battle in <i>The Guest</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">I am taking the whole part that takes place in the school into account (because I can). It looks gorgeous and I love how bloody it is. The final showdown between our villain and heroine nearly made my heart stop, and this also has my favourite use of soundtrack among last year's films. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">4.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8q4uAB4x04/VNtgizJ2LWI/AAAAAAAAIh8/8OxGvW25pWw/s1600/4-nymphomaniac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-I8q4uAB4x04/VNtgizJ2LWI/AAAAAAAAIh8/8OxGvW25pWw/s1600/4-nymphomaniac.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Mrs H. in <i>Nymphomaniac, Part 1</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">I know I laughed the most in <i>22 Jump Street</i> but this is still the funniest scene of last year. It's Lars von Trier's sick humour at its best. Just so awkward and weird and Uma Thurman friggin kills it every second (my absolute favourite cameo of 2014). The whoring bed, the traumatized children, the fact that this woman makes tea for her husband who's just left her, the girl he has left her for AND the other beau of this girl, and the screaming- so good!!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">3.</span></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YxkIy4MMrJM/VNtgppHCyEI/AAAAAAAAIiE/utnea9coX7w/s1600/3-noah.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-YxkIy4MMrJM/VNtgppHCyEI/AAAAAAAAIiE/utnea9coX7w/s1600/3-noah.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The Creation scene in <i>Noah</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">As much as I enjoyed <i>Noah</i>, I have nearly forgotten it except for this scene. Of course there is a Biblical source to the whole movie which this scene very clearly shows, but this movie is also about death and violence and the scene portrays that incredibly well too. It is breathtaking to look at as well.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">2.</span></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-obKMIHfxsXs/VNtgy1oSlfI/AAAAAAAAIiM/ZAIKkaQcMKE/s1600/2-gonegirl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-obKMIHfxsXs/VNtgy1oSlfI/AAAAAAAAIiM/ZAIKkaQcMKE/s1600/2-gonegirl.png" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">Amy kills Desi in <i>Gone Girl</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">I was so sure no scene would beat this when I had watched it for the first time. One did but that doesn't make this scene any less brilliant. It is Hitchcockian and brings to mind not only something like <i>Psycho</i> but also Hitch's quote about why blondes make the best victims (ha!), "<i>They're like virgin snow that shows up the bloody footprints</i>." Rosamund Pike is at her cool blonde best here and poor Neil Patrick Harris really gives it his all (no pun intended). It is shocking, scary, stunning and unforgettable.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">1.</span></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EaA1zhgXK5E/VNtg3D259AI/AAAAAAAAIiU/Uac3Z2F-cMg/s1600/1-whiplash.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #b6d7a8;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-EaA1zhgXK5E/VNtg3D259AI/AAAAAAAAIiU/Uac3Z2F-cMg/s1600/1-whiplash.jpg" height="680" width="680" /></span></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">The Final Performance in <i>Whiplash</i></span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;">If this scene was a whole film by itself, it would have been my favourite film not just of 2014 but probably this entire decade. Yeah, yeah, I do know it won't work without what comes before it but god, I have never been that shaken like on a molecular level by any scene like this before and probably never will. The music, the cinematography, the editing, the way the dynamic shifts between our protagonist and antagonist within the tiny moments of this scene- just everything is goddamn out of this world! This scene makes me feel like I can like punch a hole through the wall or the moon or something. It is a marvel of a scene and it has changed the way I think about movies and what movies can do. I was and still am completely blown away by it.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #b6d7a8;"> Tomorrow, I am going to post my Heroes and Villains lists. You can check out my <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2015/02/were-about-to-crash-into-sun-yeah-but.html" target="_blank">Favourite Shots of 2014</a> list here.</span><br />
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<b><i><span style="color: #b6d7a8;">What are some of your favourite scenes of 2014?</span></i></b></div>
<br />Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-45136295742697284572015-02-10T22:23:00.001+05:302015-02-12T02:59:12.522+05:30"We're about to crash into the sun." "Yeah, but it's gonna look really cool."- MY FAVOURITE SHOTS OF 2014<span style="color: #ea9999;"> If I wanted to follow tradition, there should have been 14 shots in this list, just how there were <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.com/2014/02/beautiful-things-dont-ask-for-attention.html" target="_blank">13</a> shots last year and <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.in/2013/02/and-in-that-moment-i-swear-we-were.html" target="_blank">12 </a>the year before that. However, 2014 was an extraordinarily good year for films and for being a film fan and I just cannot choose between the following. So here are all of the shots!</span><br />
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">Note: The shots are in alphabetical order except the last one which is my favourite shot of 2014.</span><br />
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjsrc3N1lLY/VNorOduDGDI/AAAAAAAAIcg/ibuKMamlxRQ/s1600/babadook.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-tjsrc3N1lLY/VNorOduDGDI/AAAAAAAAIcg/ibuKMamlxRQ/s1600/babadook.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SrwWOqOLCiA/VNorn5ps5QI/AAAAAAAAIcw/mLprRrbfkPM/s1600/birdman.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-SrwWOqOLCiA/VNorn5ps5QI/AAAAAAAAIcw/mLprRrbfkPM/s1600/birdman.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzdr6-oigto/VNorcq2nfXI/AAAAAAAAIco/zoez5c87Xuk/s1600/dawn.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-uzdr6-oigto/VNorcq2nfXI/AAAAAAAAIco/zoez5c87Xuk/s1600/dawn.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhJSkwnYs7A/VNorpW_ak3I/AAAAAAAAIc4/U97SLVCIQWo/s1600/godzilla.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OhJSkwnYs7A/VNorpW_ak3I/AAAAAAAAIc4/U97SLVCIQWo/s1600/godzilla.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4z_qvKiWzAs/VNoryZYN0RI/AAAAAAAAIdA/WhgnyJmYij0/s1600/gonegirl.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-4z_qvKiWzAs/VNoryZYN0RI/AAAAAAAAIdA/WhgnyJmYij0/s1600/gonegirl.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OcAGcwprVqo/VNor6QTC8_I/AAAAAAAAIdI/JD70mXakATY/s1600/gotg.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-OcAGcwprVqo/VNor6QTC8_I/AAAAAAAAIdI/JD70mXakATY/s1600/gotg.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZxghErCpPg/VNosLR718JI/AAAAAAAAIdQ/aeC99Aphcng/s1600/grandbudapest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-cZxghErCpPg/VNosLR718JI/AAAAAAAAIdQ/aeC99Aphcng/s1600/grandbudapest.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwCUS7XkjK8/VNosRayw36I/AAAAAAAAIdY/hvAF-nIpNVA/s1600/guest.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-xwCUS7XkjK8/VNosRayw36I/AAAAAAAAIdY/hvAF-nIpNVA/s1600/guest.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HYg-nYDM6I/VNosVbNICNI/AAAAAAAAIdo/blxR6j6WySg/s1600/immigrant.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3HYg-nYDM6I/VNosVbNICNI/AAAAAAAAIdo/blxR6j6WySg/s1600/immigrant.jpg" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XB7B396OKGI/VNosYtZMEUI/AAAAAAAAIdw/mMONieMFljI/s1600/mrturner.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-XB7B396OKGI/VNosYtZMEUI/AAAAAAAAIdw/mMONieMFljI/s1600/mrturner.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4tkX07XyNjs/VNoscWq0OmI/AAAAAAAAId4/MAeVveZqBqk/s1600/nymphomaniac.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-4tkX07XyNjs/VNoscWq0OmI/AAAAAAAAId4/MAeVveZqBqk/s1600/nymphomaniac.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXEVpo3cAlY/VNosjs9fLLI/AAAAAAAAIeA/pDhlll6Pzxs/s1600/snowpiercer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-pXEVpo3cAlY/VNosjs9fLLI/AAAAAAAAIeA/pDhlll6Pzxs/s1600/snowpiercer.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2gkL-HgOog/VNosm_Yg2pI/AAAAAAAAIeI/lZzJM6DDWa0/s1600/starredup.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Z2gkL-HgOog/VNosm_Yg2pI/AAAAAAAAIeI/lZzJM6DDWa0/s1600/starredup.png" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5J8zWYXe7UU/VNos56TdOOI/AAAAAAAAIeg/TianlvbCkRQ/s1600/whiplash.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #ea9999;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-5J8zWYXe7UU/VNos56TdOOI/AAAAAAAAIeg/TianlvbCkRQ/s1600/whiplash.png" /></span></a></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: #ea9999;">And my favourite shot of 2014-</span></b></u></div>
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<u><b><span style="color: #ea9999;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b20MYTGWBaU/VNvJhX8d56I/AAAAAAAAIik/ka_dRL3IGZo/s1600/mommy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-b20MYTGWBaU/VNvJhX8d56I/AAAAAAAAIik/ka_dRL3IGZo/s1600/mommy.jpg" /></a></span></b></u></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;">As breathtaking as all the shots above are, my heart nearly burst out of my chest when this one happened. For those who have watched the film, they know exactly what I'm talking about. Watching <i>Mommy </i>was like watching something dynamic, almost living and this shot was the one where what I was seeing matched what I was feeling. One could argue that it works better in motion but no other singular moment in film last year or maybe ever has made me go "Oh fuck" like this shot. It is unbelievably beautiful.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #ea9999;"> And with that, my "Best of 2014" lists are go! Watch out for my Favourite Scenes tomorrow. </span></div>
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<b><i><span style="color: #ea9999;">What was your favourite shot of 2014?</span></i></b></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9148220042850402796.post-442691040721055732015-02-03T21:15:00.000+05:302015-02-03T21:15:59.521+05:30"Why is your penis on a dead girl's phone?"- BEST OF 2014: TV EDITION! Yeah I know, that's some post title. It's my favourite television quote of last year simply because the hype for it was HILARIOUS! Anywho, it's finally list-making time on my blog and for the first time ever, I am doing a television list, or rather 3 of them (this is going to be a looooong post). This is because I am becoming more and more of a TV fiend. I may not watch as much as some other bloggers out there but I am definitely watching the most TV I have ever done in my life. A lot of big shows one expects in lists like these like The Good Wife or Mad Men and so on, you won't find in mine because I still haven't gotten around to watching them. I think my lists are a bit off-the-centre but I hope you like them all the same.<br />
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I should add that I'm considering 2014 as a normal calendar year and not in the TV calendar way which is honestly confusing to me. Also, though I haven't written any honourable mentions, believe me, there are loads.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">FAVOURITE EPISODES OF 2014</span></div>
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10.</div>
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<b><u>"Moving Up"- <i>Parks and Recreation</i> (6x21/22)</u></b></div>
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The only reason this is so low in my list is because I had watched it so long ago. But I remember loving it to bits and thinking it was a befitting series finale to a most wonderful show.</div>
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9.</div>
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<b><u>"Apartment Hunters"- <i>Broad City</i> (1x09)</u></b></div>
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Honestly, any episode of <i>Broad City</i> could have made it in but I feel like with its impossibly awesome opening scene and Amy Sedaris' legendary turn as the craziest broker ever, this one deserved a spot here the most.</div>
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8.</div>
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<b><u>"Chapter 1"- <i>Jane the Virgin</i> (1x01)</u></b></div>
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Again, I have loved all the episodes of this show so far but the first one gets major props for introducing us to its crazy telanovela world and its lovely characters and just getting us addicted to all of it almost instantly.</div>
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7.</div>
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<b><u>"In Summation"- <i>The Fall</i> (2x06)</u></b></div>
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Maybe it's because this show is so fresh in my mind but god, this episode was the bomb! The interrogation scene alone cemented a spot for it on this list. And then there is that excruciating and plain awesome ending.</div>
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6.</div>
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<b><u>"The Secret Fate of All Life"- <i>True Detective</i> (1x05)</u></b></div>
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I just never saw this episode coming, like in a million years. It turned everything around. The main mystery was ostensibly solved and we still had half a season to go. Also, it looked great.</div>
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5.</div>
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<b><u>"Listen"- <i>Doctor Who </i>(8x04)</u></b></div>
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I was genuinely scared during this episode, which is the last thing I expect from a show like <i>Doctor Who</i> but there you go. Also, it was ballsy to go the places it went- from having a major part of the episode being a realistic romcom to actually taking us to the Doctor's childhood.</div>
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4.</div>
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<b><u>"Mizumono"- <i>Hannibal</i> (2x13)</u></b></div>
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This episode is the embodiment of all Hell breaking loose. I was devastated by the end but I loved every minute of it. Can you imagine if the show ended with it?</div>
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3.</div>
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<b><u>"His Last Vow"- <i>Sherlock</i> (3x03)</u></b></div>
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The bleakest <i>Sherlock </i>episode to date, it gave us one of the most shudder-inducing villains that I have seen and to see Sherlock and John tackle him was a helluva ride. It also had Sherlock almost dying AND Sherlock making out with a girl so there's that. And let's not even talk about that cliffhanger.</div>
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2.</div>
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<b><u>"Fight"- <i>Masters of Sex</i> (2x03)</u></b></div>
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The first of the two episodes in this list where most of the action, so to speak, takes place between a man and a woman in a room over the course of a night. This is one of the finest hours of television of last year and will go down as one of the highest points in the show's history. It is sexy, heartbreaking, amazingly acted by both Lizzy Caplan and Michael Sheen and just gorgeous. </div>
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1.</div>
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<b><u>"The Wedding"- <i>Outlander</i> (1x07)</u></b></div>
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I would say spoilers except everyone has already freaked out about this episode. This is the sexiest television episode I have ever seen. A whole hour built around two people coming together and god, it is amazing. Yes, the sex scenes are great, especially due to the fact that they're from a woman's perspective (gasp!), but this is also an intensely romantic episode and also very funny. It almost works as a standalone episode if you have a basic idea of what the show is about but the build-up to it is even more fantastic. So yeah, call me a pervert if you will but I loved the hell out of this episode.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">FAVOURITE PERFORMANCES OF 2014</span></div>
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15.</div>
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<b><u>Karen Gillan in <i>Selfie </i>(RIP)</u></b><br />
As much as I loved Amy Pond, Gillan was always overshadowed by Matt Smith and Arthur Darvill in <i>Doctor Who</i>. So I was really not expecting the burst of energy that she brought to Eliza Dooley. Her crazy accent, her readiness to make a total fool of herself, the quieter, emotional moments, that "Chandelier" cover- all of it was so pleasantly surprising. I really hope some other great comic role comes Gillan's way soon.<br />
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14.</div>
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<b><u>Peter Capaldi in <i>Doctor Who</i></u></b><br />
Speaking of <i>Doctor Who</i>, I didn't think I would get over Matt Smith so quickly but Capaldi is fantastic in this role! One of my favourite things about last series was how often I thought that maybe he is the villain, which was so unique. And it made his inevitable goodness that much more impactful. Also, bless the Scottishness and the eyebrows.<br />
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13.</div>
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<b><u>Abbi Jacobson and Ilana Glazer in <i>Broad City</i></u></b><br />
This is the first of the 3 pairs in this list because none can exist without the other. In Abbi and Ilana's case, it is a little difficult to separate their real selves from the characters they play but who cares when all of it is sooooooooooo fucking hilarious?! Both of them are great in this show!</div>
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12.</div>
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<b><u>Pedro Pascal in <i>Game of Thrones</i></u></b><br />
He was delicious. Not only because of the sexiness but because there was so much to sink one's teeth into in a performance like this. He was cocky and dangerous and courageous and heroic.</div>
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11.</div>
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<b><u>Gina Rodriguez in <i>Jane the Virgin</i></u></b><br />
This show has a lot of wonderful performances but Rodriguez really leads the bunch with her funny as well as poignant take on a young woman who is trying to figure out what to do in a totally insane situation. Also, it's amazing to root for a genuinely good person and Rodriguez makes us do that.</div>
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10.</div>
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<b><u>Finn Wittrock in <i>American Horror Story: Freak Show</i></u></b><br />
Though his work out in tighty-whities bring Patrick Bateman to mind, Wittrock's Dandy is another type of psycho all together. One of the most enjoyable and terrifying characters of last year, Wittrock shone brighter than any of his more famous co-stars by really embracing the crazy.</div>
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9.</div>
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<b><u>Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey in <i>True Detective</i></u></b><br />
I seriously cannot pick one over the other. Of course <i>True Detective</i> came out at the height of McConaissance and he did incredible work in the show but at the same time, I couldn't help but think that Harrelson was the most perfect casting choice in the show.</div>
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8.</div>
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<b><u>Gillian Anderson and Jamie Dornan in <i>The Fall</i></u></b><br />
These two get a slight edge over my #8 pairing because I was constantly surprised by them. I never know what to expect from this show and a huge reason for that is the two lead performances. One keeps somewhat rooting for Dornan's Spector even though we know he's a bad guy and sometimes Anderson's Stella makes it really hard to care for her but she's never not fascinating.</div>
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7.</div>
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<b><u>Jenna Coleman in<i> Doctor Who</i></u></b><br />
I don't know what Moffat did between series 7 and 8 but he made Clara into a real person and finally gave Coleman a chance to showcase her talents properly. She's so good in this series, exploring Clara in and out. Yes, sometimes the show tries to paint her character in broad strokes but Coleman always finds something real and human even then.</div>
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6.<br />
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<b><u>Lizzy Caplan in <i>Masters of Sex</i></u></b></div>
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Ugh she's just soooo good in this show! Again, it's a show full of excellent acting but Caplan is still head and shoulders above everyone else. Her character is so complicated but Caplan is able to reveal everything about her in such heartbreaking ways.</div>
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5.</div>
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<b><u>Martin Freeman in <i>Fargo/Sherlock</i></u></b><br />
Yes, he was better in <i>Fargo</i> but I love John and drunk John so you all can suck it! I never could have expected someone as sweet and kind-looking as Freeman to play a character like Lester Nygaard. It's not just that he's bad, but that he's so goddamn pathetic and Freeman just makes it so believable. Also that accent, oof! </div>
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<b><u>Benedict Cumberbatch in<i> Sherlock</i></u></b><br />
This ranking is almost solely based on his performance in "The Sign of Three" which I feel is Cumberbatch's best performance to date. It shows his emotional, dramatic, comic, purely fucking alien sides perfectly.</div>
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<b><u>Billy Bob Thornton in <i>Fargo</i></u></b><br />
No one has made me laugh and subsequently unable to sleep at nights as well as Thornton did last year. Lorne Malvo is completely unpredictable and Thornton is able to infuse just the right amount of sinister with humour and yet feel like a real person to make us react that way to Malvo.</div>
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<b><u>Tatiana Maslany in <i>Orphan Black</i></u></b><br />
I just never remember that this is ONE person playing all these characters. She's on this list purely for that one/multiple moments during every episode when I am completely taken aback that these are not separate actors playing these various, complex roles.</div>
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<b><u>Lorraine Toussaint in <i>Orange is the New Black</i></u></b><br />
I wrote in <a href="http://beingnormajean.blogspot.in/2014/09/the-months-that-were-may-june-july-and.html" target="_blank">September</a> that no other television performance of 2014 will beat Toussaint for me and looks like I was right. She was incredible as Vee. Though I had issues with such a humane and compassionate show for giving us an out-and-out villain, she made it worth it. She was so manipulating that even the audience could get confused. She went from emotion to emotion but with such control, it was awe-inspiring.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">FAVOURITE TV SHOWS OF 2014</span></div>
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<b><u><i>The Fall</i>, series 2</u></b><br />
I have a thing for super bleak British dramas and this one is probably my favourite of the lot. I just never know how to react. It constantly provokes unconventional responses and evaluations because it refuses to get bogged down by the expected formula of such shows.</div>
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9.</div>
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<b><u><i>Game of Thrones</i>, season 4</u></b><br />
This was one of my favourite seasons just because it was nice for a change to see some of the bad guys get punished. As enjoyable as the show it, it feels masochistic at times to constantly have your favourites ripped away from you. Of course, that *did* happen in this season as well, but we got some well-deserved redemption. Plus, Khaleesi objectifying Daario for all womenfolk, amirite?<br />
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8.</div>
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<b><u><i>Hannibal</i>, season 2</u></b><br />
I would have probably placed this show here based on its visuals alone. It is the best-looking show on television. #fact But it is also like a fever dream that keeps evolving and changing and morphing into new, beautiful, terrifying shapes and we can't help but be mesmerised by it all. It also has fantastic performances and god, this show made me want to eat a human leg so make of that what you will.</div>
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7.</div>
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<b><u><i>Veep</i>, season 3</u></b><br />
The funniest season of the funniest show on TV. The only reason I don't have any of the actors in my favourite performances list is because I love all of them! Seriously, I cannot decide. Everyone is so funny in this show and the writing is on point and the humour is razor sharp. I love it.</div>
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<b><u><i>Masters of Sex</i>, season 2</u></b><br />
It's interesting to see how this show is moving from season to season. Since this has a historical base, they do try and do service to that, but at the same time, it is ultimately about the people. While the first season was more about the study, this one sees how it has truly impacted the lives of everyone involved. The writing, acting, look- everything continues to be top-notch. I want more.</div>
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5.<br />
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<b><u><i>Jane the Virgin</i>, season 1 (so far)</u></b></div>
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All the other shows in this list have been evaluated on their complete seasons/series but in spite of having just half of its season out, I had to put <i>Jane the Virgin</i> here. First and foremost, it's because I love this show. I am not the genius who realized this but the show is like <i>Pushing Daisies</i> meets <i>Gilmore Girls</i> meets <i>Ugly Betty</i>- there's that much magic, colour, human warmth, humour and culture in it. Secondly, I just don't see it getting bad. It keeps finding new ways to surprise and entertain and invigorate us with its loveliness. It is both the most melodramatic and the most beautifully human show in this list.</div>
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<b><u><i>Doctor Who</i>, series 8</u></b><br />
I had no idea how I was going to deal with this series. <u>My</u> Doctor was gone and this was the first time I was actually seeing a new Doctor at work. There was going to be a shift not just in the Doctor's personality but also in his relationship with Clara, who had been quite underwhelming as a companion so far herself. And my gosh, were all my doubts baseless or what?! Moffat and Capaldi have given the show a novel, exciting direction for a new <i>Who</i> fan like me. It was a pretty fantastic series with some truly stellar episodes and characters, from Missy to Danny Pink to Twelve himself.</div>
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<b><u><i>Fargo</i>, season 1</u></b><br />
I will be the first one to admit that I didn't think this show would work, and I became a <i>Fargo</i> the movie fan last year itself so that was pretty pretentious of me. I will have you know that I was obviously completely wrong and idiotic, as all pretentious people are, and this show is fucking genius! It is so funny and dark and filled with so many great characters. The time shift was one of my favourite moments of television last year. I love the violence in it because it is actually entertaining and not gratuitous. Also, like <i>Jane the Virgin</i>, it is so awesome to champion a truly good protagonist.</div>
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<b><u><i>Broad City</i>, season 1</u></b><br />
I feel like this is a show I needed all my life and I didn't even know it and I am so glad that I have found it. I keep rewatching it because it makes me cry with laughter. It is totally insane but in such a good way! I just can't get enough of it.</div>
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<b><u><i>Sherlock</i>, series 3</u></b><br />
You guys know how impatient I am, right? I mean, I don't ever publish reviews here because I get bored while writing them and I want something else. Watching a western seems like the cruelest punishment one can give me. All of this has a point, I promise, and that is it has to be a very special kind of show that will make ME wait two years for it and then deliver something that will make me willing to wait even longer after that. And that was what series 3 of <i>Sherlock</i> was. True, they were not able to really match up to expectations with "The Empty Hearse" but even in a lesser episode like that, there were countless moments of gold. Then we got "The Sign of Three" and "His Last Vow" which were the funniest and the darkest episodes of the show respectively, and well, some of its best.<br />
If you watch this show as much as I do, you see that every series is a movement into developing the character of Sherlock who has gone from a "high functioning sociopath" to basically a total softy who deeply cares about a few but significant people in his life and can do any and everything for them. And none of that is possible without giving due importance to these other characters who also get their time to shine. I swear, I am not merely fangirling. This show and this series are excellent television in every sense.<br />
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Phew! If you've made it this far, here's a virtual pat on the back from me to you *pats and then subtly wipes her hand on her clothes*. I will soon start with the film version of this post and those will be shorter and more varied. Yayy for blogging!</div>
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<b><i>What do you all think? What were your favourites?</i></b></div>
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Nikhathttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10379713171889712078noreply@blogger.com13