The Month that was- March

March was okay. I'm pretty sure it's going to go all downhill now in terms of movie watching because my extended college dropout vacation is coming to an end. Which is a good thing, don't get me wrong. But yeah.. won't have as much time to give to films anymore probably.


Firsts:

1) Roxanne- For the Demented Podcast. It was fun enough, though incredibly sappy at times. Steve Martin was a treat.

2) I'm a Cyborg, But That's OK- This was for the podcast as well. Do not go into this thinking it is a romcom. In fact, it is a quirky romance. And Korean.

3) American History X- So shocking and harrowing. Great performance by Edward Norton.

4) My Own Private Idaho- This film will only grow on me. It was so strange and beautiful. River Phoenix was a serious talent.

5) Straw Dogs- I really liked it, barring the portrayal of women. Dustin Hoffman is great in it.

6) Wings of Desire- Very beautiful film. I need to see this again, and then I might write on it. One of the best black-and-white-mixed-with-colour films I have ever seen.

7) Rules of Attraction- No where in the league of American Psycho, but it isn't that awful. I really liked one particular scene in it in which this character named Victor describes his Europe trip in a rapid-fire speed.

8) Womb- The things I watch for actors I like! As much as I love Matt Smith and Eva Green, this film was super creepy and not in a good way.

9) Ghostbusters 2- I had not seen this one. Not as good as the first imho.

10) The Player- I really enjoyed it. It was funny and dark and another interesting insight into the world of show business.

11) Gosford Park- I absolutely lurved it. All the people, all the stories, the look and feel. Fantastic.

12) Pickpocket- Quite liked it. I especially enjoyed the way the pickpockets choreographed their stealing routines.

13) Freaks- "One of us! One of us!" Yep, that is addictive. It was so unlike anything I had ever seen, yet I could relate to it perfectly. Incredibly unique.

14) Addams Family Values- Wednesday Addams is my role model. Too cool. Also Joan Cusack should play more villains.

15) Rope- I loved it. I think my favourite Hitchcock movies are the ones that are confined to a small set. Makes it all the more thrilling.

16) Saving Private Ryan- I succeeded in finishing it this time. It is really numbing, but once you get over it, you appreciate the story much more than just the visuals.

17) Dr. No- It was so much more laid back than the James Bond movies of today. Sean Connery was such a dreamboat. Not that amazing, but fun still.

18) An American Werewolf in London- It is not very scary. So I immediately liked it. It is kind of awesome as well.

19) Welcome to the Dollhouse- I know this is supposed to be a dark comedy, but it gave me this dreadful feeling that if I had grown up in US or something, I may have been like Dawn Wiener. It made me thankful for my life as it is, which is a scary thought.

20) The Fall- It is a stunning looking film. That's all I have to say about it. The kid was cute. Yes. Moving on.

21) The Hunger Games- I liked it a lot. I'm not one of those rabid fans yet, but I am looking forward to reading the books and watching the other films. Also, Jennifer Lawrence is the shiz.

22) 2001: A Space Odyssey- Finally saw this too! I had several times before this, but would always lose patience mid-second chapter. But it's so interesting and entertaining and amazing to look at.

23) A History of Violence- I thought it was very good, and rather cool. And I was most blown away by Maria Bello in it.

24) Elephant- This was so strange and gorgeous and alluring. It just invites you in, and you can't help but be drawn to it. I thought it was marvelous.

25) Love Me If You Dare- Deceivingly depressing. Do not think it's a happy film. It is worth a look though. Marion Cotillard and Guillaume Canet are very attractive leads.

26) 21 Jump Street- It was so silly, but good and rather unpredictable silly. They don't make good silly like this much. Loved the Johnny Depp cameo.

27) Far From Heaven- It was pretty perfect. The stories told and untold, the look, the acting, the music- perfection. I love Julianne Moore.

28) The General- My first Buster Keaton movie! I thought it was all kinds of brilliance and I am so looking forward to see his other films.

29) Funny Games- I paused a lot, but I also enjoyed it too. Especially the parts when Michael Pitt spoke to the audience/me. Those were fun.

Rewatched:

1) Edward Scissorhands- It had been too long. It is still as magical and lovely as when I first saw it. Tim Burton and Johnny Depp- vy u no make films like this anymore?

2) Say Anything- Bloody John Cusack with his boombox. So many unrealistic expectations from life.

3) Ghostbusters- I was making a fan out of my brother. Mission accomplished, largely owing to the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.

4) Star Trek- This film gives me so much joy! I love it too much. Also Chris Pine :*

5) The Addams Family- Morticia *and* Wednesday are my role models in this. I need their outfits. Now.

6) Groundhog Day- I hadn't seen this in many many years. I had forgotten much of it, but it was such a lovely film to revisit.

7) The Virgin Suicides- Perennial favourite. I wish I had made it. Also that Trip Fontaine intro.

8) Lost in Translation- Of all the Bill Murray films I saw this month, I still think this is his greatest performance. He should have won the Oscar for it.

9) The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn- I had to show it to my brother. It is a helluva ride still.

10) Anchorman- I love lamp.

11) Marie Antoinette- It is one of the most beautiful-looking films that I have seen; most certainly the prettiest. My favourite Sofia Coppola offering. 

12) The Silence of the Lambs- Hannibal and Clarice forever. Amirite or amirite?

13) Rear Window- This too I hadn't seen in quite a while. I think I like Grace Kelly a tad bit more than James Stewart in this.

14) Scott Pilgrim vs the World- This time 'round (as I see this film A LOT), I noticed how attracted I am to most of the people in it. Just saying. "ONE! TWO! THREE! FOUR!"

15) Carrie- Poor Chloe Moretz. She was doing fine. But now she will fail utterly because no one can match up to Sissy Spacek's performance in this.

16) Shaun of the Dead- Again, showing it to the bruv. He didn't get much, but still loved it. Such is the power of this film.

17) Let the Right One In- This film is so poignant and lovely. Best vampire related thing ever, after True Blood of course.

Shorts:

Vincent- Saw this after the release of the Frankenweenie trailer. It is so morbid and brilliant and unique. I love old school Tim Burton.

TV Shows:

1) American Horror Story- It started out pretty bad, but became decent towards the end. Jessica Lange makes the show and Taissa Farmiga and Evan Peters are really good too.

2) All the episodes of Parks and Recreations that have been released- What had I been doing all my life? I should have followed this from the start. I love it. I love April Ludgate and Ron Fuckin' Swanson and Leslie Knope and Andy Dwyer and Ben Wyatt and Chris and Ann and Mark and Tom and Gerry and Tammys and Donna and everyone!! Can't wait for this to restart.

Final tally:

                                     Firsts- 91                  Rewatched- 45              Shorts- 3

                                                                         Total- 139




I have almost watched 100 new-to-me films already. 300 is my target for this year..
What all did you watch?

Thoughts

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


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


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


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


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


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


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

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

Bye kids.

Thoughts

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

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

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


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


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


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


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

I regret nothing.

Byees.

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

Can films shock us into liking them?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

What do you think?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Keep 'em coming - 7X7 Link Awards

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

Okay rules-

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

3) Linkin' on to seven other bloggers-

Sati of Cinematic Corner

Stevee of Cinematic Paradox

Lesya of Eternity of Dream

Cherokee of Feminising Film

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

Mette of Lime Reviews and Strawberry Confessions

M. Hufstader of The Smoking Pen

Hope you liked it.