"This is like Spike Lee saying he's white."- FAVOURITE EVERYTHING ELSE OF 2014

          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 :)

• ScarJo in Under the Skin and Lucy- 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.
• Wallace in What If- It's funny and adorable DanRad being funny and adorable. Ovaries = Obliterated.
• Hot Saxophone Player in Ida- I don't care what his name was. He made a to-be nun horny AND he plays the sax *fans herself*
• Peter Quill aka Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy- Because there weren't enough shirtless scenes.
• Jerome in Nymphomaniac, part 1- 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.
• Hiccup in How to Train Your Dragon 2 and Tadashi in Big Hero 6- Because HELLO hot animated characters!
• Rita Vratasky in Edge of Tomorrow- Because look at those biceps!
• Mahabir in Highway- 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.
• Adam in Only Lovers Left Alive- Marlowe wanted to use him as inspiration for Hamlet. And he's a rockstar. And he looks good naked.

Sexiest Character of 2014- David in The Guest

Yeah, so I made this list so he could top it, *obviously*. The filmmakers deliberately objectified 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.

• Dave Skylark in The Interview- He's such an idiot but god he's hilarious.
• Anna Morales in A Most Violent Year- She had me at "This was very disrespectful." *swoons*
• Donna and Nellie in Obvious Child- I adored both of them. Yes, Donna is more fun but Nellie is so no-nonsense.
• M. Gustave in The Grand Budapest Hotel- Both delightful and heartbreaking.
• Bobo, Klara and Hedvig in We Are the Best!- Because they remind me of the kind of friends I have had, but with mohawks.
• Rocket in Guardians of the Galaxy- I never expected that he'd end up being my favourite but I just get his sense of humour. He's fucking badass.
• Detective Rhonda Boney in Gone Girl- 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.
• Batman in The Lego Movie- Best. Batman. Ever.
• Rani in Queen- I just think we can be best friends, that's all.

Favourite Character of 2014- Eve in Only Lovers Left Alive

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.

• Gone Girl- I love each and every casting decision made for this film. They are all perfect for the roles they play, big or small.
• Calvary- 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 The I.T. Crowd, Littlefinger and Bernard Black- if that's not awesome, I dunno what is.
• Pride- The film is such a collaboration. No one really outshines anyone else because everyone is so lovely.
• Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Guardians of the Galaxy- I always love the ensembles Marvel picks out and last year was no different.

Favourite Ensemble of 2014- Birdman

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.

• Eleanor's hair in The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby- I have such a crush on that hair. It's gorgeous.
• Food in Chef- No explanation needed.
• The tank in The Interview- *in a valley girl accent* Uhh, it plays Katy Perry.
• The hotel in The Grand Budapest Hotel- How I wish it was real!
• The blood goblets in Only Lovers Left Alive- Has blood ever looked more delectable? (Don't answer that, please).
• The hot sauce in Top Five- If you've watched the movie, you know what I'm talking about. I cried laughing.
• The clothes in God Help the Girl- I just want all of them. Even James'.
• The cheekbones in Maleficent- #cheekbonesgoals 

Favourite Object of 2014- the Train in Snowpiercer 

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.

Favourite Quotes of 2014

(The first one is my #1 and all the others are in random order.)

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?

Also in Best of 2014:
My Favourite Shots
My Favourite Scenes
My Favourite Heroes and Villains

"I am a hat. You are a shoe."- MY FAVOURITE HEROES AND VILLAINS OF 2014

   HEROES

    
           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. 

10.

Father James in Calvary

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.

9.

LGSM and the Miners in Pride

Pride 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.

8.

Emmett in The Lego Movie

The Lego Movie, 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.

7.

Rita Vratasky aka Full Metal Bitch in Edge of Tomorrow

She's a total fucking badass who outshines Tom Cruise in his own action movie. Need I say more?

6.

John Wick in John Wick

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.

5.

Rani in Queen

Queen 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.

4.

The Guardians in Guardians of the Galaxy

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.

3.

Hiccup and Toothless in How to Train Your Dragon 2

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.

2.

Sandra Bya in Two Days, One Night

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.

1.

Steve Rogers in Captain America: The Winter Soldier and Curtis in Snowpiercer

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. 

VILLAINS

          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).

10.

Mercedes in 22 Jump Street

Life lesson: college girls can be evil masterminds. Plus, it was hilarious that even she couldn't escape the awkwardness of that age.

9.

Kim Jong-un in The Interview

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.

8.

Koba in Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Rise of the Planet of the Apes set up the stage for the horrifying-looking Koba and he fully delivered in Dawn. 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.

7.

Michel in Stranger by the Lake

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 :(

6.

Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler

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.

5.

Minister Mason in Snowpiercer

The worst kind of bureaucrat, Tilda Swinton based this role on "a complete smash cut of all the monstrous, maniacal, political clowns." Of course, she *is* funny but she is also a symbol of oppression and intolerance.

4.

The Babadook in The Babadook

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.

3.

David in The Guest

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.

2.

Terence Fletcher in Whiplash

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.

1.

Amy Dunne in Gone Girl

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!

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!

     Who were your top heroes and villains of last year?

See also:

My Favourite Shots of 2014

My Favourite Scenes of 2014

The Ten: Most Iconic Movie Characters

        There's a new relay race by My Filmviews and Anna from Defiant Success has tagged me and so here I am. These are the rules:

A list of 10 iconic movie characters has been made. That list will be assigned to another blogger who can then change it by removing one character (describing why they think it should not be on the list) and replace it with another one (also with motivation) and hand over the baton to another blogger. Once assigned, that blogger will have to put his/her post up within a week. If this is not the case the blogger who assigned it has to reassign it to another blogger. After you have posted your update leave the link in the comments here and I will make sure it gets added to the overview post.

First, the race so far:

• My Filmviews
• Keith and the Movies
• FlixChatter
• A Fistful of Films
• The Movie Scrutineer
• Cinematic Corner
• And So It Begins...
• The Cinematic Spectacle
• Rambling Film
• Reel Talk
• Defiant Success

The Iconic Characters

Rocky Balboa

James Bond

Ellen Ripley

E.T.

Dorothy Gale

Indiana Jones

Darth Vader

Mary Poppins

Han Solo

Who I'm removing

Michael Myers

The Halloween movies are definitely part of movie history but I feel that some others like Megan MacNeil from The Exorcist and Ghostface from Scream have become more iconic. Also, I couldn't really touch any of the other characters.

Now for my pick, I had to brainstorm quite a bit. I really wanted to choose a female character and was *this* close to picking Holly Golightly when I figured that she is perhaps more of a cultural and fashion icon than a movie one. Next I thought about going with some really sexy character and then it dawned on me:

My choice

Mrs. Robinson

Mrs. Robinson is arguably the sexiest movie character of all time (followed by Stanley Kowalski and Indiana Jones). Her icon status is almost aspirational. Women wish they could be as attractive as her and I'm fairly sure every guy wants her. But of course if you've watched the movie, you see the main reason why Mrs. Robinson is so enticing- we barely know anything about her. We don't even know her first name for crying out loud! Yet there is so many little clues for us to ponder over about what kind of a person she is and what sort of a life she might have led. She is the most interesting character in the movie by a mile and the one we end up remembering the most and not just because of the legs (again, the sexiest legs in movie history followed by Dr. Frank-N-Furter's). Just like Benjamin, she has seduced us, and I think she deserves a spot in this list for that.

        I now pass the baton on to my fellow chick with accent, Mette from Lime Reviews and Strawberry Confessions.

Spin-off Blogathon- the Poet and the Wife

             For her new blogathon, Sati asked us to choose a character who appears briefly in a movie and who we would like a whole another movie about. I must confess, I had to do a lot of brainstorming for this, partly because my memory is awful and partly because the characters I *did* remember were all amazing and it was pretty difficult to choose from them. As a result, I have two choices (sorry, Sati!) and I hope you like them.

Honourable mentions: Julian from Children of Men, Lt. Archie Hicox from Inglourious Basterds, Wallace Wells (or really anybody) from Scott Pilgrim vs. the World.

         My first choice is the street poet in Before Sunrise who Celine and Jesse meet by the Danube canal. He was played by Dominik Castell. I am cheating here a bit because I had already written something related to this in a long-forgotten post. I have always been fascinated by him- the way he just appears, the way he writes poems instead of begging, the poem he writes for them, the way he recites it, how it is totally perfect for Jesse's and Celine's situation- it's all so romantic and almost fairytale-like. I think of Before Sunrise as a fairytale because the entire possibility of something happening like that is nothing less than pure magic. And the poet is the most fantastical element in it for me.

          So here's my pitch for the movie about this poet: it is a tale of magic realism. The poet is a man who was cursed by the woman whose heart he had broken after he had wooed her with his words. His curse is that he has to live forever, eternally appearing to lovers and writing poems for them which deepens their affections for each other but he himself can never fall in love. He will witness all kinds of romances and meet all kinds of couples. Being in their company but incapable of feeling the words he writes, he will begin to hate love but it is his burden to keep seeing true love all around him. As in the case of Before Sunrise, there will be a lot of conversation and it could perhaps be called "Fantasy Parade".

         My second choice is Laura Linney's character in The Truman Show, Hannah Gill who plays Truman's wife Meryl Burbank in the show about his life. It is a rare feat that in a movie starring Jim Carrey I find another actor the funniest one in it, but so is the case with Linney's Hannah. All her product placements are so inane and her utter confusion at the change in Truman's character is one of my favourite things about the movie. Agreed, hers is a pretty big role (cheating again! Soz) but I would love a film about her. I know how in the film, the "actors" talk about how it is a privilege to be part of this grand concept and production, but I have always been curious about what kind of lives the people who willingly become a part of this whole fake world might lead. And of course, Meryl is the most fascinating out of all of them- she actually becomes someone's wife and they share a physical and somewhat emotional bond together. Also, this was before the reality TV era so it is doubly fascinating.

        My pitch: The film is set after The Truman Show has come to an end and Hannah is without a job. She is addicted to being on TV and has problems connecting with people because she has relied on scripts for so long. The only acting jobs she gets are those in which she plays characters just like Meryl. People all around her treat her differently. In flashbacks we find out how she started working in The Truman Show and how she fell in love with a woman during its shooting but she had to give her up to become Truman's wife. I can imagine the film having elements of To Die For and Young Adult. Tentatively, let's call it "Product Placement" because why not.

Across the Universe Podcast: Episode 9

Episode 9: Crushcruscrush

In this episode, Mette, Sofia and I deal with much lighter and sillier and gigglier fare as we list our Greatest Cinematic Crushes. We feel it is the perfect topic for the end of summer and we had a lot of fun recording it, and hopefully it is as entertaining listening to it.

Also, a note for our listeners: we have reached the maximum storage capacity on Podomatic and as a result have deleted a couple of our earliest episodes. For those who are new to Across the Universe Podcast and wants to listen to these episodes, we will soon have them available for download, the details of which will be given by the time the next episode airs. Stay tuned :)

Content:

0:23- Chick-chatter

4:07- Trailer

4:48- Interesting Movie of the Fortnight

25:11- The chicks discuss each of their Top 5 Cinematic Crushes

1:20:29- Plugs and Goodbyes

Music:

Paramore "Crushcrushcrush"

The Cardigans "Lovefool"

Cilla Black "Across The Universe"

Follow us at: facebook.com/acrosstheuniversepodcast
Write to us at: acrosstheuniversepodcast@gmail.com
Find us on iTunes: search for Across the Universe Podcast

Across the Universe Podcast: Episode 3

Episode 3: A Girl Like You

In this episode, Mette, Sofia and yours truly discuss our female role models in films. We have quite a varied list so I hope you enjoy. Once again, my internet had problems so please bear with us.

Content:
00:38- Chick-Chatter
02:02- Introduction
02:43- Trailer Time
03:32- Interesting Movie of the Fortnight
19:00- General Discussion on Our Top 5 Female Role Models
1:10:22- Plugs and Goodbyes

Music:
The Troggs "With A Girl Like You"
Laura Marling "Master Hunter"
The Beatles "Across the Universe"



Follow us and give us your feedback at: facebook.com/acrosstheuniversepodcast
Write to us at: acrosstheuniversepodcast@gmail.com
Find us on iTunes: search for Across the Universe Podcast

My Top 10 Male Performances

        Very soon it is going to be the third anniversary of this blog and to celebrate, I am making various film-related lists. In this list, I enumerate some of my favourite performances by actors. The list is in random order with my absolute favourite performance crowned at the end.

Brad Pitt in Fight Club

In a way, Pitt's Tyler Durden is my least favourite character of the main trio of Fight Club. But the more I think about it, the more amazed I am by his performance. Durden is crazy, strong and charismatic, someone not dissimilar to Satan in Paradise Lost, and Pitt brings to it so much energy and danger to Durden that one cannot imagine anyone else in his place.

Favourite scene- After being bloodied by the owner of the basement in which he holds his fight club, Tyler laughs hysterically and spits blood all over the man, leaving him very frightened indeed.

Robert De Niro in Raging Bull

If you know me, you would know of my abhorrence towards sports and everything sports-related, in however big or small way. In spite of this, I could not help but be gobsmacked by De Niro's legendary turn as Jake LaMotta.

Favourite scene- LaMotta in his prison cell, punching and hitting his head against the wall and then collapsing crying.

Ralph Fiennes in Schindler's List

I have often spoken about how Schindler's List is sometimes a bad example for me for a Holocaust movie because I am so enchanted by Fiennes' Amon Goeth, in all his repulsive glory. He personifies everything that was wrong about that time and the worst acts of genocide and hatred that the world ever saw. It is a scarily brilliant performance.

Favourite scene- Goeth looks at the mirror and like a benevolent god says, "I pardon you."

Ryan Gosling in Drive

I have a thing for internalised performances. Gosling's Driver is a lonely and taciturn man who has a very lethal side to him that he keeps just under control. This underlying current of danger that is always present in his performance gives him a sort of edge that makes him one of the coolest anti-heroes of our time.

Favourite Scene- The Driver interrogates Blanche. The restrained anger is terrifying.

Malcolm McDowell in A Clockwork Orange

Speaking of anti-heroes, I am particularly partial to my favourite one, Alex DeLarge who is brought to life by McDowell. His DeLarge thrives on violence and Beethoven. I think this is a very brave performance in many ways. Not everyone would like to be the embodiment of nihilism but McDowell does it fantastically.

Favourite scene- The Minister of Interior feeding Alex while Alex artfully taunts him.

Johnny Depp in Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl

Whatever one says or thinks of his career choices now, Depp's ability to morph into a character is astounding. And his Captain Jack Sparrow feels almost like a real living and breathing person. He isn't Depp as Captain Jack, he is Captain Jack himself. Depp immerses himself in this role completely, with all the mannerisms and acting and charm, and gives us a modern hero like we've never had before.

Favourite scene- "She's safe, just like I promised. She's all set to marry Norrington, just like she promised. And you get to die for her, just like you promised. So we're all men of our word really... except for, of course, Elizabeth, who is in fact, a woman."

Al Pacino in Dog Day Afternoon

The only word I can use to describe this performance is all-encompassing. I really do not believe that there is any emotion that a human being can go through that Pacino's Sonny doesn't go through in this film and he shows it all so beautifully.

Favourite scene- Sonny talks to Leon on the phone. We get to see just how confused this man is about everything that is happening to him.

Bill Murray in Lost in Translation

Sofia Coppola wrote this part for Murray and it was really custom-made for him. While being one of the funniest men alive, Murray brings a sort of tragedy and vulnerability in this persona of him. A most nuanced and lovely performance.

 Favourite scene- When he first says goodbye to Charlotte and watches her walk away while having to take pictures with the hotel staff.

Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs

For a character who is there for only sixteen minutes in the film, Hopkin's Hannibal Lecter pervades the entire running time because of his unforgettable menace and startling softness towards Clarice Starling. My favourite villain ever.

Favourite scene- When we finally see this "monster" in action and then him listening to music covered in another man's blood.

Which brings me to my favourite male performance-

Adrien Brody in The Pianist

Just look at the stills above. This is towards the end of the film, when Brody's character Władysław Szpilman is finally playing a piano after having witnessed the horrors of Holocaust. He starts out at peace and then after seeing one of his friends outside the recording room starts to feel happy, but soon reality hits him and all that he suffered and lost is remembered and he starts to cry, only to try to compose himself and finish his beautiful piece.

I was stunned by Brody when I first saw The Pianist. He is alone throughout a major part of the film, barely talking to anyone... in a room, living, surviving. His character goes from being a sprightly attractive man at the beginning of the film to someone who is can barely walk straight and is almost ape-like by the end . There is so much pain and guilt and fear in this performance that it just breaks my heart. I have never seen a more deserved Oscar winner.

Favourite part- Szpilman walking down pillaged streets, crying, and when he plays a piano at the command of a German soldier.