This is a Poster-Appreciation Life- 2013 edition

Who doesn't love a good poster? 2013 movies had some pretty remarkable poster though I am really starting to feel that official posters aren't half as fun or creative as the teaser ones. You'll see.

First, let's start with the boring stuff-

At least August: Osage County's one sheet is somewhat funny but there really isn't any imagination put in either of these posters. Just stills from the movie. Even the fonts are dull.

In contrast, these three just hit the nail on their USPs without getting boring. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is about Ron Burgundy and the mustache *is* kind of a big deal when it comes to him.

In case of the one sheet of The Kings of Summer, though the tagline is larger than the name of the film, it shows that this film is about a bunch of boys having fun in the nature and it really captures that spirit, which was what made the film so enjoyable.

And All is Lost is simply put 'Robert Redford stranded on a boat' and again, the poster is really showing that.

Somebody at Marvel got stingy-

I actually liked the Iron Man 3 poster when it came out but COME ON! More imagination, please?

Character posters galore-

Every film nowadays has a character poster set. While I do think it was necessary for something like Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2 as it was the end of a major franchise that had so many people in it, I think in most other cases, they're just kind of bleh.

The Great Gatsby character posters, for those literary nerds who *really* wanted a Myrtle Wilson poster. I won't be too mean about it though because the poster with Isla Fisher's Myrtle is my favourite among these.

And American Hustle of course. LOOK! SPARKLE, HAIR AND CLEAVAGE! TA DAAAA!!! Again, I happen to love the ones with the ladies and I actually feel that this film probably only needed character posters and not a normal movie one.

Posters I really like because of their colour-

This too uses an image from the movie itself but the shades make it romantic and wistful. 

Xavier Dolan is some insane prodigy when it comes to colour. The film was gorgeous and so is this poster. 

It's the most elusive one sheet of the year, but it's just so captivating! Something about the blue-grayness of the eyes against that shirt and the background. And of course, Joaquin Phoenix's face is magical.

I could have never guessed what the movie was about if I had just seen this poster, but it's alluring. And I like that it has colour. And Frances is dancing :)

There were a number of posters for Blue is the Warmest Colour but this one is my favourite. Mostly because of the blue, on both the background and in Lea Seydoux's hair. It's straightforward and eye-catching.

And the (almost) monochrome beauties-

I just really like the simplicity and the starkness of these two.

A thousand silhouettes...

Though both these films ended up being meh, I like how the posters capture the iconographies of their respective franchises. Superman's speed, his cape, and the way both of them sort of merge make a rather striking one sheet for our man of steel. And while the movie kind of wasted Benedict Cumberbatch's Khan (spoilers?), this Star Trek Into Darkness poster emphasizes on his destructiveness well and of course there is the cool Starfleet sign amidst all that.

Tease away: Why weren't these the official posters again?

A lot of people complain about the shallowness of the character of The Bling Ring but Sofia Coppola had warned us from the beginning. You don't even need to see their faces. Their designer shades tell all.

This poster is hilarious. Yes, it kinda sorta encapsulates the father-son theme of the movie, but I almost wish the movie was about biker Ryan Gosling taking care of a baby. That would've been fun.

My favourite thing about The Wolverine was how comparatively small scale it was and how that helped focus most of the story on Hugh Jackman's legendary mutant. I like the simplistic yet powerful approach on this teaser poster too.

Disney-fied-

Much like the Man of Steel and Star Trek Into Darkness posters above, both these posters evoke the spirit of Disney, though in very different ways. I think the Saving Mr. Banks one sheet is adorable. Some of my most favourite moments in the movie was whenever it referenced Mary Poppins and this poster shows that. And the Escape from Tomorrow one is plain cool. I want it on my wall even though I have little-to-no interest in watching the movie.

Disappointing movies with great posters-

By far the most disappointing movie of last year, and I *do* blame the posters partly for my raised expectations.

(PS. this isn't the last mention of Only God Forgives in this list)

This is such a crazy one sheet but it's awesome too. Unfortunately, the film only got the first part right.

Coming to my absolute favourites of the year...

Again, the teaser posters rule. The actual Catching Fire posters, character or otherwise, are very generic and blah, but these two teaser posters are stunning. I love the colours in the first and the details in the second. Shame the studios don't run with the more artistic one sheets.

Spring Breakers had a plethora of posters. My favourite is yet to come but these two beauties came close too. I like how different both these posters are in a way, from the font to the feel, and how both apply to the movie. Spring Breakers is a movie that defies definition, hence giving so many options for various kinds of posters.

And now, my top 3-

I still love this poster, no matter what my feelings towards the movie are. It's got the Gos; it's bloody, weird and straight up unforgettable. The movie is *kind of* like that but in a bad way. Ah well.

AND TIE FOR #1!

I can't choose between these two. I absolutely adore both of them. The Spring Breakers one is cheeky, colourful and totally amazeballs in its girly violent spirit, much like the movie. And just the intricacies and attention to detail in the Stoker poster are astounding. I love the thought put into both of them. Brilliant!

And that's it. What did you think? Which 2013 poster was your favourite?

Thoughts

Helloo people! Here are my thoughts for you-

1) First of all, OMG YOU GUYZ! 

I kind of half-expected this to happen. I honestly thought they would leave the Fields of Trenzalore part for when Matt Smith actually ends his run as the Doctor since it's supposed to be the "fall of the Eleventh" and all. Now I don't think they will actually reveal his name. I have been trying to think of what the Doctor's name could be and I can either imagine it being something very large and unpronounceable like HUHGUBHIHCINAGHXYGFUMIOKJQOWOJFIGU or something like, well... Tom. The best theory I have found on Tumblr so far though is-

BBC: OMG the episode is called "The Name of The Doctor". Are we really going to reveal the most important secret in the history of the show?
Moffat: Of course we're not.
BBC: But the poster said...
Moffat: Nothing, I have a reputation to uphold.

Anyways, it will probably be the Doctor telling only River Song his name, who will be back as we can see on the poster. I have an inkling that this might be the last River episode as this probably will lead to the events of "Silence in the Library"/"Forest of the Dead". Still, can't wait to see her interact with Clara. Also, for all the people crying out in anger, even if Moffat magically makes up a name, it is a perfectly good point to do it as this episode will set in motion the events to be shown in the 50th Anniversary. Speaking of-

2) Oh MTV Movie Awards happened. Can I just say I love most of the winners? I mean The Avengers, Loki, Rebel Wilson, Jennifer Lawrence, Emma Watson, Bradley Cooper, Silver Linings Playbook getting Best Kiss and not Twilight, and Leonardo DiCaprio was also nominated. Of course my favourite moments out of the very few that I saw were purely eye candy related- scruffy Chris Pine and suited-up Tom Hiddleston. And when the first gave an award to the other, my ovaries died.

3) The official selection list of Cannes 2013 is out. The Great Gatsby will open the festival. There are a lot of films in the line up that I haven't heard of, but hopefully we see a lot of big winners this year. The films I am really excited about are The Bling Ring, Inside Llewyn Davis, The Past, Behind the Candelbra, Venus in Fur, and most of all Only God Forgives. Nicolas Winding Refn won Best Director for Drive two years ago and Only God Forgives is looking really fantastic so far.

4) Guillermo Del Toro's next film, Crimson Peak, is getting quite the cast. Emma Stone, Benedict Cumberbatch, Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam. My first thought of course was "REDHEAD HEAVEN!!" but of course then I remembered that Stone isn't a real ginger. Still, talent and beauty and one totally old school horror film sounds rather brilliant.

5) In other Emma Stone news, her film with Cameron Crowe and Bradley Cooper now has Rachel McAdams too. This is one charismatic crowd. Also, she is set to star in Alejandro González Iñárritu's next film Birdman that has one helluva cast including Edward Norton, Andrea Riseborough, Zach Galifianakis, Naomi Watts and Michael Keaton.

6) Gahh Hollywood!- They're going to remake Point Break. Next they're asking Seth MacFarlane to host the Oscars again? What? Was I the only one who saw him sing "We Saw Your Boobs"? And then apparently Michael Bay will let some reality show decide the Asian cast of Transformers 4. He's so funny. Also the Hercules movie will star Kellan Lutz and look at all the fucks I don't give.

7) David O' Russell's next movie has a name now- American Hustle. I am loving the wacko looks of its stars Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Bradley Cooper, Jeremy Renner and Amy Adams. Excited to say the least.

8) Posters- Thor the Dark World has Thor and his hammer... yeah...  The Bling Ring looks like fun. I love the materialism in Sofia Coppola's movies. There are loads of pictures that have been released too. Finally, Only God Forgives has a hot French poster (hot because of the Gos, duh) and a ridiculously awesome neon poster out.

9) The final ballot of LAMMY 2013 is open and many of my favourite blogs have been nominated so yaay! I haven't voted yet but I will do so soon.

10) Trailers- Since Only God Forgives has pretty much dominated this post, let's start with its 2 new trailers. I don't think it's sane to be this turned on by trailers, but hey, here I am! Also Kristin Scott Thomas is fabulous. Star Trek Into Darkness's final trailer is the awesomest one yet and I really cannot wait to watch this film. The Kings of Summer looks really fun and gotta love Nick Offerman. Steven Soderbergh's final film Behind the Candelbra looks pretty good. The Hunger Games: Catching Fire's trailer is interesting because it shows President Snow's, played to perfect eerieness by Donald Sutherland, evil workings. Also yaay Philip Seymour Hoffman! There is yet another Romeo and Juliet film, this time starring Douglas Booth and Hailee Steinfeld as the star-crossed lovers. Wasn't this supposed to be from the point of view of Rosaline? Anyways, it looks very dull except for all the Damian Lewis parts where I laughed out loud inexplicably. Elysium, though it seems to have a very worn-out concept at its core, looks like it is going to do something very different with it which is what I expect out of the makers of District 9. Man of Steel finally has my attention as its latest trailer lets go of all the Batman-y Malick-ness and looks all kinds of epic. Plus Amy Adams and Michael Shannon, woo hoo! Lastly, one of my most favourite trailers this week has been that of Filth's. I don't know what James McAvoy has done to himself, but god, it is amazingness itself.

Bye all!

"Wanna fight?"

Drive is one of my most favourite movies of all time. It is currently at #39 in my top 100-ish list. So when it was announced that its director, Nicolas Winding Refn and its star, Ryan Gosling, are reuniting for another film, I was psyched as hell.

The film, Only God Forgives, is about a man named Julian who runs a Thai boxing club and runs a drug operations in Bangkok. When his brother is killed by a retired cop Chang, who is also known as the Angel of Vengeance, his powerful gangster mother Jenna orders him to exact revenge and raise hell.

The trailer looks awesome. The things I love about it:

All the red.

All the violence.

ALL the Gos.

The four things that had stood out the most in Drive for me were the direction, the look with all the neon and that elevator scene, the music and the character of the Driver. Only God Forgives too seems to be delivering on all those fronts and more. Julian, who is being played by Gosling, is a lot like the Driver in his silent, lonely, violent ways. Also, Kristin Scott Thomas looks amazing and I think will be an excellent villain. Vithaya Pansringarm's character looks intriguing and badass as hell.

Eeep! Now excuse me while I go rewatch Drive.

Thoughts and FYCs

1) The LAMMYs are here, folks! Here is my banner-

If you would like, please do vote for me in these categories. You can see my blog's design and this is a Weekly Thoughts post. As for Funniest Writer- Q: What is red and smells like blue paint? A: Red paint. *drops the mic and walks away*

The entire Eligibility List is out and I would be checking them out soon. However, I already know that two blogs that I will be voting for a lot are And So It Begins... and Cinematic Corner. Alex Withrow is a shoo-in for the Most Knowledgeable Writer. Dude has watched every movie ever, seriously! And though Being Norma Jeane is in the Best Design category too, Sati's site is, and this is probably the highest praise I can give to anything, the Ryan Gosling of blogs. It's gorgeous! Also, I am conflicted between Alex's "In Character" thingies and Sati's "Visual Parallels" for Best Running Feature.

2) Anyways, getting back to film world, Steven Spielberg was in India recently and is thinking about making a film about the India-Pakistan-Kashmir conflict. Woah! A part of me thinks it will be brilliant and a part of me, i.e. the part that remembers Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom only far too well, is scared. That was one ridiculously inaccurate and racist film and was saved only because Harrison Ford is a god. One of the names being thrown about for the Bollywood cast of the Kashmir film is that of Anushka Sharma, which is awesome because she is a wonderfully charismatic and beautiful actress who can actually act- a rarity in Bollywood. I guess I do want this to happen. Also if Spielberg comes to Calcutta, I'm sooooooooo stalking him.

3) Jane's Got a Gun. I don't really have anything funny to say about that. I don't need to. *drops the mic and walks away*

4) Ryan Gosling is apparently taking a break from acting. RUBBISH, I TELL YA'! Yes, him directing How to Catch a Monster is the single-most awaited event of my life right now, but still. He's an amazing actor! He can't talk all this crap. In the meantime, some stills from his upcoming potential epic, Only God Forgives have been released.

5) Speaking of, my ovaries explode and go to heaven at 7:32 in this video-

This film will be the death of me. It's going to be really experimental though, so I am a tiny bit scared too.

6) TV talk- Season 3 of American Horror Story will be called American Horror Story: Coven. So witches it is, and glamorous ones at that. Can't wait! Bates Motel started this week and it wasn't half bad. Freddie Highmore's face is really weird and distracting, though not in a good way, but he was pretty creepy as Norman Bates. I thought Vera Farmiga's Mrs. Norma Bates was exactly like how I had imagined her to be, except she's obviously much prettier. Girls, thankfully, had a pretty great season finale. Was anyone else reminded of Manhattan's Isaac Davis when Adam ran across Brooklyn streets to Hannah? They are both completely insane romantic gestures if you think about it.

7) Trailers- Despicable Me 2 looks fun enough. You know, I would really like to have some minions. THE BEST STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS TRAILER YET! As much as I love Kirk and Spock, I am definitely going to end up siding with Benedict Cumberbatch's villain. I know it.

8) Oh and have you guys been listening to Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere. It's absolutely fantastic. Everyone in it is doing a great job, with special props to Scottish king, James McAvoy and the angel of voices, Benedict Cumberbatch (yes, I did just write that. It's allowed because it's true).

9) New header and sidebar pictures. YAAY!

10) Finally, Matt Smith wants to be a Bond villain. I don't know if he's menacing enough to be a main villain, but he can be like a side-villain and fight Q. I would really, really, really like that. So would, it seems, Sir Ian McKellen-

Would not mind sharing Matt Smith with him one bit. Nope.

Please vote and adieu!

Thoughts

       Hello my lovelies. I haven't blogged in a while and that is because I have been really uninspired and the cold makes me super lazy. This is the first weekly thoughts post of 2013 actually, and here are my thoughts-

1) Sundance Film Festival is go! I have actually been avoiding any and all reviews. Stoker isn't being received very well, which is a shame because it looks pretty awesome. Daniel Radcliffe is apparently really good in Kill Your Darlings, so yaay! And then there is Before Midnight, whose every mention makes my heart race. Apparently, it's the best in the series so far. I don't know if that is even remotely possible, and I am going to continue to be skeptical and totally blind about this movie, because I don't want hype or spoilers ruining it for me.

2) J.J. Abrams is making Star Wars Episode VII. I like Abrams, and I'm neutral towards Star Wars (except when it comes to Han Solo of course- so hot!) so we will see how it goes. 

3) Leo DiCaprio, who is the star of my new banner, is taking a long break from films. Honestly, I don't blame him. The man tries and he tries and he tries and nothing. Boo you whore (all of the awards).

4) I saw Gangster Squad. What a waste! The only thing worth watching in that film is Ryan Gosling, in his impeccable suits. And the cinema hall I went to did something to his voice which made him sound like a whiny, little girl so they ruined that as well.

5) Emma Stone will be starring in Guillermo Del Toro's horror flick Crimson Peak. I think most actresses do a horror movie at some point, but if you have to do it, Del Toro is definitely the way to go. And with Stone's ginormous eyes, it will be even more believable. Charlie Hunnam will also be starring.

6)  Trance has a super trippy poster out. And of course trippy and Danny Boyle makes me think of Trainspotting, so this film is going to be gooooooood.

7) Trailers- Mud, which looks very good actually. Take Shelter was an amazing film, even if too slow at parts and this looks more thrilling. The trailer says that it has Matthew McConaughey's best performance, which after 2012, is something to get excited about. I am not a big Coen brothers fan, but I am actually looking forward to Inside Llewyn Davis. The cat and Carey Mulligan have made me excited. Spring Breakers looks crazy but it might be a good kind of crazy, we'll see. Also, how fucked up do those Disney tween stars turn out at the end? Trance looks great. Love the cast, love Boyle, love McAvoy's pretty blues. I think this film is going to be epic. Finally, the 20 second teaser of Only God Forgives came out and holy hell, does it look freaking brilliant! Ryan Gosling in suits, beating up people with his bare fists- yes, please.

8) This-

I always liked her. Always.

9) Finally, since we are on the subject of the Gos-

When I was a kid my Dad came upon a truckload of cellophane and he wanted me to help him sell it. So I was taking it to the kids at school, trying to sell it to my teachers. I went and stood in front of the supermarket. I had a fantasy that one day someone would buy all of it. That some guy would just come along and be like ‘I’ll take em all’ It never happened. So I was walking out of Ralph’s one day and I saw these kids trying to sell these cookies and I was like yeah, I’ll take them all. So I bought hundreds and hundreds of boxes. I didn’t realize how many boxes I was going to have. I had a car full of them. I didn’t know what to do so I started just like throwing them out the window to people on the street.

Ryan Gosling- part superhero, part Santa, Total God.

Toodles.

Hellooo 2013!

       Happy New Year folkses. And with this new year, we have a whole slew of films that need to be seen. 2013 seems pretty awesome all in all. I am going to dub it "The Year of the Cumberbatch".

These are some of the films I really want to see in 2013- Prisoners, The Place Beyond the Pines, Gangster Squad, Pain and Gain, Man of Steel, The Double, To the Wonder, The F Word, Horns, The Butler, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag, Matru ki Bijlee ka Mandola, The Dallas Buyer's Club, Diana, Nightingale, The Railway Man, Lovelace, This is the End, White Bird in a Blizzard, Oz: The Great and Powerful, Warm Bodies, I'm So Excited, Percy Jackson: Sea of Monsters, Elysium, Pacific Rim, Now You See Me, Oldboy, Jack Ryan, Blood Ties, Monsters University, Admission, 42, Movie 43, Kick Ass 2, 300: Rise of an Empire, Thor: The Dark World, The Wolverine, The Lone Ranger, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, World War Z, Nymphomaniac, The Zero Theorem, The Young and Prodigious Spivet, Venus in Fur, Frances Ha, Frank, Trance.

And my 25 most-anticipated films of 2013 are-

25) Iron Man 3

The Avengers is still my favourite film of last year, and RDJesus as Iron Man was a big reason for that. In spite of the slightly disastrous Iron Man 2, I am really looking forward to this movie. Yes, it looks like it is going down the "dark, tortured superhero" path (thanks Batman), but I am sure it will be very funny too.

24) August: Osage County

I have heard great things about the play and the cast is to die for. Plus, Ewan McGregor and Benedict Cumberbatch in one film- Hey!

23) Don Juan's Addiction

Seeing how good Argo was, I have a new-found respect for actors-turned-directors. And I adore JGL as it is. 

22) Untitled Woody Allen film

It is a normal thing to go gaga over the cast of a Woody Allen film. But I am especially psyched about Cate Blanchett headlining this. Also I think it will be a drama, which just increases my excitement.

21) The Wolf of Wall Street

Leo is back with Martin Scorsese in this. Though more than anything, I am excited about the Matthew McConaughey role, since that man has made me a fan post-2012.

20) The Counselor

The first of the Pitt-Fassy collaborations of the year. It is written by Cormac McCarthy and being directed by Ridley Scott, so good stuff all around.

19) The Monuments Men

This film has one helluva cast and I usually like George Clooney's directorial features a lot. Very intriguing plot too.

18) Her

I have really liked/loved everything that Spike Jonze has made, and this sounds very endearing. A man who falls in love with a computer reminds me of Jonze's lovely short, I'm Here. Can't wait.

17) The Great Gatsby 

Originally slated to come out in 2012, this adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic will at least be very interesting, and very stunning to look at. Still not sure about the 3D though.

16) Side Effects

Steven Soderbergh's last theatrical feature. 'Nuff said.

15) Fading Gigolo

John Turturro's directorial debut starring Woody Allen. It can go eitherway, but I have an inkling that it will be excellent.

14) Labor Day

Jason Reitman is one of my most favourite directors and I love all his films. This one stars Kate Winslet. WANT!

13) Untitled Terrence Malick film

It has Ryan Gosling and Michael Fassbender sharing the same screenspace (hopefully! Control your editing tendencies, Malick!) and this is MY list. Plus it will be pretty. (Only the shallow know themselves etc.)

12) Kill Your Darlings 

I love a cast of young actors and this film has some of the best around- Daniel Radcliffe, Dane DeHaan, Elizabeth Olsen, Jack Huston. Plus the Beat movement is always fascinating.

11) Anchorman : The Legend Continues

Because I love lamp.

10) The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

This one will have Benedict Cumberbatch's voice and Lee Pace being a pretty elf. And of course, my fake husband (well, one of them) Martin Freeman. Yaay! And definitely going to watch this one in 24 FPS.

9) Much Ado About Nothing

No, I am not much of a Shakespeare fan. But after 2012, I am definitely a Joss Whedon fan. And he made this film randomly while on a holiday, in twelve days. And it's in black and white.

8) Twelve Years a Slave

This film has one of the best casts EVER. The second Pitt-Fassy collaboration of the year, with Benedict Cumberbatch, Paul Dano, Paul Giamatti, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Quvenzhané Wallis, Adepero Oduye, Sarah Paulson and so on. Of course, the star of the show would be one of today's most daring and capable directors, Steve McQueen.

7) Gravity

Another film that was supposed to come out in 2012. Love Alfonso Cuarón and apparently the visuals of this film will blow our minds.

6) The Bling Ring

Sofia Coppola is one of my most favourite filmmakers, and in this film she will show a group of high-life loving robbers. Plus, Emma Watson was born to be in a Sofia Coppola film.

5) Only God Forgives

Drive ranks high in my top 100 films of all time and the Gos and the Refn are back again! All the beaten-up Gosling photos are so hot, it's killing me.

4) Stoker

Fucked-up family films are literally the best. And this looks batshit crazy. Gorgeous cast and please let this be Matthew Goode's big role.

3) Star Trek Into Darkness

Star Trek is still one of my best cinematic experiences. I had so much fun in that film that when the sequel was confirmed, I was going crazy with excitement. Then they announced that Benedict Cumberbatch will play the probable villain...

2) Before Midnight

The sequel everyone wants and doesn't want. How does one improve on perfection, except that that actually happened the last time around. If this is done well, this might be the last part of one of the greatest film trilogies ever made, and with my second-favourite onscreen couple.

1) The World's End

Speaking of greatest film trilogies and favourite onscreen pairs, THIS FILM IS IT! I have been waiting for this film ever since I heard that Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz are a part of the Three Favours Cornetto trilogy. Every announcement of this film has had me screaming like a fangirl. Added to the dynamic duo of Simon Pegg and Nick Frost (BEST ONSCREEN COUPLE EVER), my husband Martin Freeman is there too. I have no doubt that I will love this film. We just have to see how much.

Here's to an ab fab film year :)