With all the excitement being generated around the upcoming Prometheus, I suddenly needed to see old Michael Fassbender interviews. This is not very old, but I find it hilarious how the somewhat old-fashioned David Letterman tries to ask Fassy about his racy role in Shame. Also how the audience claps at everything, and I mean EVERYTHING, Fassy says. And why wouldn't they? This man is god-like.
Monday, 30 April 2012
Saturday, 28 April 2012
"I still believe in heroes."
Note: What shall now ensue is a highly excited, and most likely klutzy, energy-bubble-of-a-review. Just think that a happy Hulk wrote it :)
WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?! As much I was looking forward to it, a little part of me was certain that The Avengers, with so many other generally entertaining films leading up to it, a plethora of "heroes" ready to outshine each other, a probably incompetent script, and possibly one too many Michael Bay-esque explosions, would be a bust. Even my more hopeful side was pretty convinced that it would fall prey to at least one of the dangerous missteps above. But WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT IT WILL BE *THIS* MINDBLOWINGLY BRILLIANT!!
Nick Fury, director of the secret agency S.H.I.E.L.D., has the Tesseract, a mysterious object that is the source of unknown energy, and with the help of physicist Dr. Erik Selvig, is trying to harness its power. When the Tesseract suddenly gets activated, it opens a portal through which the exiled god Loki steps through. Loki has made a pact with an evil alien race called the Chitauri, who will help him conquer Earth in exchange for the Tesseract. Loki, forever the god of mischief, starts to wreak havoc the moment he comes and soon Fury has to recruit a team of super soldiers, assasins, a demi god and a Hulk to fight these lethal enemies and save the earth.
I am not going into more detail than that. Prior to watching it, I carefully, and with rather difficulty, avoided all the reviews of this film, and I think everyone should do that (except this one of course *wink*). You may think that the one billion promotional photos and videos may be giving things away, but it really is not the case. The film was literally nothing like what I expected it to be. I mean I am no comic book nerd, and those who are may know details about the stories that I didn't. Still I am quite the lover of superhero movies, well-made action movies, smart movies, movies with great one-liners, movies that are outstanding ensemble pieces and movies with a superb supervillain for me to geek out on. The Avengers was all of this, and maybe even more.
Let's break this down one by one. This might just become my favourite "superhero" superhero film ever, when compared to every other film of this genre except the Nolan Batman trilogy because those films are a number of other things too. Ever since Ironman in 2008, the big screen adaptations of Marvel comics have been a big marketing campaign with little clues and pointers spread out throughout them. One may even say that the whole of Captain America was more or less a trailer to The Avengers. It must have been a colossal task to put it all together in such a way that everything fits and that all the major characters that we have seen and loved in the previous films get enough spotlight, while also creating a unique and effective story. Joss Whedon of the Buffy fame, who also directed the film, co-wrote the story with Zak Penn and they were successful in completing this task. Sure there was some science-y jargon that no one got, but it is an intelligent script, and equally important, a really funny one. This film is packed with one-liners and humorous situations. Like in the case of Tintin, it is a whole another experience when a full house laughs and cheers at a joke or a scene, and The Avengers provided us with many such instances that made it really fun.
Now since it is a superhero film, there are some expectations that we all go in with. We know that there will be a few blasts and and a couple of brawls and maybe some shooting etc. The special effects in The Avengers were very good. While I wouldn't call them groundbreaking, I will say that they were exactly the right amount. There wasn't the novelty of Ironman's suit, which is still incredibly cool, or the glittery world of Asgard, or an astoundingly tiny version of Chris Evans. But I liked the fact that the effects in The Avengers don't overwhelm you, which is what they usually seem to do. I did see this in 3D and too much CGI becomes painful, but the film used the technology skillfully. The overall look and feel of the film definitely was quite stunning. Even amongst the booms and bangs, we see characters fighting at street level and it just felt so normal when compared to say huge metal robots bashing down buildings like bowling pins. The action sequences were quite cleverly crafted so as to use the various powers of all these different superheroes perfectly. Also, this is the film where I feel Hulk has the most realistic look yet.
Coming to the cast, this film truly wins for me in what it manages to do with such an assortment of extraordinary persons. Too many cooks can spoil the broth, and similarly too many superheroes probably can destroy the world, or worse a film. However, The Avengers finds itself in the company of those rare films where ensemble casts work immaculately well with each other. The story gives enough room for each character to grow and flesh out without focusing on any one individual. Even someone as relatively common as Agent Phil Coulson, played by the lovely Clark Gregg, has an excellent character arc and story. Talking about them separately, the returning and already established superheroes- Ironman, Thor and Captain America, are as fun and heroic as ever. Robert Downey Jr. who plays the "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" Tony Stark/Ironman is cocky and epic and has some of the best lines in the film. The ginormous Chris Hemsworth is Thor, who is now humble, but still has the airs of a god and a complimenting presence. Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America is remains as the goody two-shoes, and adorably so. These three clash the most because they have each battled evil before, and they each think their own way is the right way.
But I really appreciated the script when it came to the characters we didn't know as well. Jeremy Renner plays Clint Barton/Hawkeye, a character we knew nothing of, and he is given an interesting story. Another elusive character is that of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow played by Scarlett Johannson. This is definitely one of the best performances that she has ever given. She was cool and tough and though in no way Russian, pretty kickass nonetheless. Now Bruce Banner/Hulk has been portrayed twice before onscreen and though I like Edward Norton, I was never into the big green guy. However with Mark Ruffalo's nuanced meekness, the change becomes all the more amazing. While I still proclaim that all the characters were on an equal footing for me in this film, I have to give extra credit to Whedon for finally making me a fan of Hulk. I can now see what little boisterous boys see in him and I seriously admire that.
Last but not the least, Tom Hiddleston as Loki was a fantastic supervillain. It is no mean feat for a relatively new comer like him to stand his own against so many more accomplished actors playing such juicy characters. But Hilddleston's Loki, with his eloquent and poisonous way of talking, chilly glare and snarly smile, and quite a commanding presence, is a serious antagonist for all our heroes. One scene where I especially liked him when he almost slithers down a flight of stairs in Germany before striking someone with his sceptre. It is quite an Alex DeLarge sort of moment. Also when he is ruthlessly insulting Natasha, I couldn't help but think about The Silence of the Lambs. These are some of my favourite negative characters, so you can understand how much I love Loki.
All hats off to Whedon for what he has done with this film, against all odds. He has managed to make an impeccably entertaining film, with rich and memorable characters and some splendid action sequences. I had written in my review of Chronicle that it is the superhero film to beat this year. Well, the Avengers have just hauled its little telekinetic ass out of this world. This may just become the superhero film to beat ever. I hear people are already campaigning for The Avengers to get a SAG Best Ensemble nod, and I am totally joining the party. It is too early to say now, but this may also become my Harry Potter film of the year, which is the film I personally will dream about getting a Best Picture Oscar nomination in spite of well, reality.
In conclusion I will just like to say that I threw a fit to watch The Avengers on the opening weekend, and I am a person whose aim in life is to get independence like a fully-functioning adult. However, I acted like a child to see this film, and that is just what some of us have to do sometimes. Of course it was completely worth it, but it is also fun to be a little kid for a while with the big explosions, the whole bunch of hilarity and the good old heroes beating the villains. The Avengers let me be that little kid and it was marvelous (pun maybe intended).
WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT?! As much I was looking forward to it, a little part of me was certain that The Avengers, with so many other generally entertaining films leading up to it, a plethora of "heroes" ready to outshine each other, a probably incompetent script, and possibly one too many Michael Bay-esque explosions, would be a bust. Even my more hopeful side was pretty convinced that it would fall prey to at least one of the dangerous missteps above. But WHO WOULD'VE THOUGHT THAT IT WILL BE *THIS* MINDBLOWINGLY BRILLIANT!!
Nick Fury, director of the secret agency S.H.I.E.L.D., has the Tesseract, a mysterious object that is the source of unknown energy, and with the help of physicist Dr. Erik Selvig, is trying to harness its power. When the Tesseract suddenly gets activated, it opens a portal through which the exiled god Loki steps through. Loki has made a pact with an evil alien race called the Chitauri, who will help him conquer Earth in exchange for the Tesseract. Loki, forever the god of mischief, starts to wreak havoc the moment he comes and soon Fury has to recruit a team of super soldiers, assasins, a demi god and a Hulk to fight these lethal enemies and save the earth.
I am not going into more detail than that. Prior to watching it, I carefully, and with rather difficulty, avoided all the reviews of this film, and I think everyone should do that (except this one of course *wink*). You may think that the one billion promotional photos and videos may be giving things away, but it really is not the case. The film was literally nothing like what I expected it to be. I mean I am no comic book nerd, and those who are may know details about the stories that I didn't. Still I am quite the lover of superhero movies, well-made action movies, smart movies, movies with great one-liners, movies that are outstanding ensemble pieces and movies with a superb supervillain for me to geek out on. The Avengers was all of this, and maybe even more.
Let's break this down one by one. This might just become my favourite "superhero" superhero film ever, when compared to every other film of this genre except the Nolan Batman trilogy because those films are a number of other things too. Ever since Ironman in 2008, the big screen adaptations of Marvel comics have been a big marketing campaign with little clues and pointers spread out throughout them. One may even say that the whole of Captain America was more or less a trailer to The Avengers. It must have been a colossal task to put it all together in such a way that everything fits and that all the major characters that we have seen and loved in the previous films get enough spotlight, while also creating a unique and effective story. Joss Whedon of the Buffy fame, who also directed the film, co-wrote the story with Zak Penn and they were successful in completing this task. Sure there was some science-y jargon that no one got, but it is an intelligent script, and equally important, a really funny one. This film is packed with one-liners and humorous situations. Like in the case of Tintin, it is a whole another experience when a full house laughs and cheers at a joke or a scene, and The Avengers provided us with many such instances that made it really fun.
Now since it is a superhero film, there are some expectations that we all go in with. We know that there will be a few blasts and and a couple of brawls and maybe some shooting etc. The special effects in The Avengers were very good. While I wouldn't call them groundbreaking, I will say that they were exactly the right amount. There wasn't the novelty of Ironman's suit, which is still incredibly cool, or the glittery world of Asgard, or an astoundingly tiny version of Chris Evans. But I liked the fact that the effects in The Avengers don't overwhelm you, which is what they usually seem to do. I did see this in 3D and too much CGI becomes painful, but the film used the technology skillfully. The overall look and feel of the film definitely was quite stunning. Even amongst the booms and bangs, we see characters fighting at street level and it just felt so normal when compared to say huge metal robots bashing down buildings like bowling pins. The action sequences were quite cleverly crafted so as to use the various powers of all these different superheroes perfectly. Also, this is the film where I feel Hulk has the most realistic look yet.
Coming to the cast, this film truly wins for me in what it manages to do with such an assortment of extraordinary persons. Too many cooks can spoil the broth, and similarly too many superheroes probably can destroy the world, or worse a film. However, The Avengers finds itself in the company of those rare films where ensemble casts work immaculately well with each other. The story gives enough room for each character to grow and flesh out without focusing on any one individual. Even someone as relatively common as Agent Phil Coulson, played by the lovely Clark Gregg, has an excellent character arc and story. Talking about them separately, the returning and already established superheroes- Ironman, Thor and Captain America, are as fun and heroic as ever. Robert Downey Jr. who plays the "genius, billionaire, playboy, philanthropist" Tony Stark/Ironman is cocky and epic and has some of the best lines in the film. The ginormous Chris Hemsworth is Thor, who is now humble, but still has the airs of a god and a complimenting presence. Chris Evans as Steve Rogers/Captain America is remains as the goody two-shoes, and adorably so. These three clash the most because they have each battled evil before, and they each think their own way is the right way.
But I really appreciated the script when it came to the characters we didn't know as well. Jeremy Renner plays Clint Barton/Hawkeye, a character we knew nothing of, and he is given an interesting story. Another elusive character is that of Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow played by Scarlett Johannson. This is definitely one of the best performances that she has ever given. She was cool and tough and though in no way Russian, pretty kickass nonetheless. Now Bruce Banner/Hulk has been portrayed twice before onscreen and though I like Edward Norton, I was never into the big green guy. However with Mark Ruffalo's nuanced meekness, the change becomes all the more amazing. While I still proclaim that all the characters were on an equal footing for me in this film, I have to give extra credit to Whedon for finally making me a fan of Hulk. I can now see what little boisterous boys see in him and I seriously admire that.
Last but not the least, Tom Hiddleston as Loki was a fantastic supervillain. It is no mean feat for a relatively new comer like him to stand his own against so many more accomplished actors playing such juicy characters. But Hilddleston's Loki, with his eloquent and poisonous way of talking, chilly glare and snarly smile, and quite a commanding presence, is a serious antagonist for all our heroes. One scene where I especially liked him when he almost slithers down a flight of stairs in Germany before striking someone with his sceptre. It is quite an Alex DeLarge sort of moment. Also when he is ruthlessly insulting Natasha, I couldn't help but think about The Silence of the Lambs. These are some of my favourite negative characters, so you can understand how much I love Loki.
All hats off to Whedon for what he has done with this film, against all odds. He has managed to make an impeccably entertaining film, with rich and memorable characters and some splendid action sequences. I had written in my review of Chronicle that it is the superhero film to beat this year. Well, the Avengers have just hauled its little telekinetic ass out of this world. This may just become the superhero film to beat ever. I hear people are already campaigning for The Avengers to get a SAG Best Ensemble nod, and I am totally joining the party. It is too early to say now, but this may also become my Harry Potter film of the year, which is the film I personally will dream about getting a Best Picture Oscar nomination in spite of well, reality.
In conclusion I will just like to say that I threw a fit to watch The Avengers on the opening weekend, and I am a person whose aim in life is to get independence like a fully-functioning adult. However, I acted like a child to see this film, and that is just what some of us have to do sometimes. Of course it was completely worth it, but it is also fun to be a little kid for a while with the big explosions, the whole bunch of hilarity and the good old heroes beating the villains. The Avengers let me be that little kid and it was marvelous (pun maybe intended).
Thursday, 26 April 2012
Thoughts
Another week people. It rained here the other day and it was amazing. But then, the bugs came. Ugh Indian monsoon -.-
1) I have no one to watch The Avengers with. I hate this world. Team Loki forever! Also, speaking of other blockbusters and teams, Josh "Peeta" Hutcherson adopted a special needs puppy and named it Driver, after Ryan Gosling's mysterious character in the awesome Drive. So obviously, I am with the bakers now!
2) Okay am I the only one who hates studios revealing information on sequels before the first part has even been released? I mean as evident as it is that nothing will happen to Ironman and Black Widow in The Avengers, they can shut up about how RDJ and Scarlett Johannson are returning in Ironman 3 for a second. Especially considering The Avengers is what all the other Marvel films have been building up to. Having said that, I am beyond pumped about the other cast members joining Ironman 3- Sir Ben Kingsley as the villain, the always brilliant Guy Pearce and maybe even La Chastain, in some sexy scientist role. Also, it seems that The Amazing Spiderman 2 is already getting written by the Star Trek writers. The first part hasn't even released yet. It is okay to plan ahead, just release the news afterwards.
3) Best Film News of the Week- The World's End, which is said to be the last part in the Blood and Ice Cream/ Three Cornetto Flavours Trilogy, all directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, aka Best Onscreen Couple EVER, is being written. Or rather has already been written by Wright and Pegg and its second draft is ready. OMGOMGOMG! I live for the day it gets made, and I am seriously not exaggerating. Let the world literally end after that and I would not care at all.
4) And now for some bad news, at least for me- the much awaited Darren Aronofsky "Noah" movie has found its savior, in the form of Russel Crowe. Ai yai yai... I really do not like Crowe. He's my anti-Depp and I find it very difficult to sit through his films. Gladiator was good but I did fall sick after watching it. And I like L.A. Confidential because it is a great film and has Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey in it. I have only been looking forward to his next film Les Miserables because it will have the wonderful Hugh Jackman singing in it. I was quite excited and intrigued about the "Noah" film... I don't know how much I want to see it anymore.
5) Trailers- The trailer to Oliver Stone's Savages was released a few weeks back but I forgot to post it. It's a bit crazy, but I guess we expect that from a Stone movie. However, the block of stone that is Blake Lively telling us at the beginning of the trailer that she may die at the end of the story is a humongous faux pas. It just makes the film extremely predictable no matter how it ends unless she is somehow strapped onto a cow-shaped Death Star and oh I don't know... it's all bad!! I do like the fact that it has Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro though. Hope Springs, which has Queen Meryl reuniting with The Devil Wears Prada director, David Frankel. It looks sweet and also stars Tommy Lee Jones, who is always a delight in lighter roles like this one, and Steve Carell. The *hopefully* final trailer to Pixar's Brave has been released. I can't wait for this film and Merida's hair enough. Lawless has a friggin' awesome trailer out. Firstly it has an absolute dream cast- Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Mia Wasikowska, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce and oh so sexy Jessica Chastain. Secondly, I love Prohibition-era stuff, especially those big-ass tommy guns. Finally, the trailer of the week comes in the form of the lovely Ruby Sparks. I love Paul Dano! It is made by the wonderful people who made Little Miss Sunshine and I completely adore the premise of the story. I can see myself becoming obsessed with this film and hating reality even more after that. It also stars the likes of Annette Benning, Antonio Banderas and Steve Coogan.
6) Finally, I'm in love with this song and video-
Adieu mon chérie.
1) I have no one to watch The Avengers with. I hate this world. Team Loki forever! Also, speaking of other blockbusters and teams, Josh "Peeta" Hutcherson adopted a special needs puppy and named it Driver, after Ryan Gosling's mysterious character in the awesome Drive. So obviously, I am with the bakers now!
2) Okay am I the only one who hates studios revealing information on sequels before the first part has even been released? I mean as evident as it is that nothing will happen to Ironman and Black Widow in The Avengers, they can shut up about how RDJ and Scarlett Johannson are returning in Ironman 3 for a second. Especially considering The Avengers is what all the other Marvel films have been building up to. Having said that, I am beyond pumped about the other cast members joining Ironman 3- Sir Ben Kingsley as the villain, the always brilliant Guy Pearce and maybe even La Chastain, in some sexy scientist role. Also, it seems that The Amazing Spiderman 2 is already getting written by the Star Trek writers. The first part hasn't even released yet. It is okay to plan ahead, just release the news afterwards.
3) Best Film News of the Week- The World's End, which is said to be the last part in the Blood and Ice Cream/ Three Cornetto Flavours Trilogy, all directed by Edgar Wright and starring Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, aka Best Onscreen Couple EVER, is being written. Or rather has already been written by Wright and Pegg and its second draft is ready. OMGOMGOMG! I live for the day it gets made, and I am seriously not exaggerating. Let the world literally end after that and I would not care at all.
4) And now for some bad news, at least for me- the much awaited Darren Aronofsky "Noah" movie has found its savior, in the form of Russel Crowe. Ai yai yai... I really do not like Crowe. He's my anti-Depp and I find it very difficult to sit through his films. Gladiator was good but I did fall sick after watching it. And I like L.A. Confidential because it is a great film and has Guy Pearce and Kevin Spacey in it. I have only been looking forward to his next film Les Miserables because it will have the wonderful Hugh Jackman singing in it. I was quite excited and intrigued about the "Noah" film... I don't know how much I want to see it anymore.
5) Trailers- The trailer to Oliver Stone's Savages was released a few weeks back but I forgot to post it. It's a bit crazy, but I guess we expect that from a Stone movie. However, the block of stone that is Blake Lively telling us at the beginning of the trailer that she may die at the end of the story is a humongous faux pas. It just makes the film extremely predictable no matter how it ends unless she is somehow strapped onto a cow-shaped Death Star and oh I don't know... it's all bad!! I do like the fact that it has Salma Hayek and Benicio Del Toro though. Hope Springs, which has Queen Meryl reuniting with The Devil Wears Prada director, David Frankel. It looks sweet and also stars Tommy Lee Jones, who is always a delight in lighter roles like this one, and Steve Carell. The *hopefully* final trailer to Pixar's Brave has been released. I can't wait for this film and Merida's hair enough. Lawless has a friggin' awesome trailer out. Firstly it has an absolute dream cast- Shia LaBeouf, Tom Hardy, Mia Wasikowska, Gary Oldman, Guy Pearce and oh so sexy Jessica Chastain. Secondly, I love Prohibition-era stuff, especially those big-ass tommy guns. Finally, the trailer of the week comes in the form of the lovely Ruby Sparks. I love Paul Dano! It is made by the wonderful people who made Little Miss Sunshine and I completely adore the premise of the story. I can see myself becoming obsessed with this film and hating reality even more after that. It also stars the likes of Annette Benning, Antonio Banderas and Steve Coogan.
6) Finally, I'm in love with this song and video-
Tuesday, 24 April 2012
My 50 Movie Wishes
Inspired by Sati's and Tyler's Movie Wishes lists, I decided to make one of my own. I think mine is a bit more general and not so much about specific movies. There are quite a few about actors and some even personal. Anyways, I hope you enjoy them :D
1) I wish that Johnny Depp would star in a small independent film and give a powerhouse performance and once again show the world the depth of his talent.
2) I wish the Indian film industry was run by Aamir Khan, the Akhtars and Vishal Bharadwaj.
3) I wish there was a film made just about Mrs. Robinson.
4) I wish Harry Potter would have never ended.
5) I wish Gone with the Wind would have ended.
6) I wish I lived in the land of Pixar.
7) I wish Woody Allen makes films forever.
8) I wish Katherine Heigl would have never starred in films and thus not ruined the name of romcoms.
9) I wish all romcoms could be like The Apartment.
10) I wish Ralph Fiennes would get his Oscar already.
11) I wish all films were as beautiful as Pan's Labyrinth.
12) I wish that Quentin Tarantino continues to make brilliant films and not retire at 60.
13) I wish I could watch films without over-analysing them with my mathematical brain and thus enjoy films by David Lynch and the like.
14) I wish someone adapts Lolita truthfully and ruthlessly and not make it all about guilt and self-loathing.
15) I wish critics would appreciate comedians like Jim Carrey and Bill Murray more.
16) I wish there was a film just about Mickey from Snatch.
17) I wish I fully understood The Virgin Suicides.
18) I wish all films were as quotable as Mean Girls.
19) I wish Fassy becomes the next James Bond, 60s style.
20) I wish Winona Ryder makes a comeback.
21) I wish Edgar Wright finishes his Blood and Ice cream trilogy soon, and then continue to make more and even awesomer trilogies with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, aka Best Onscreen Couple EVER.
22) I wish David Fincher had won the Oscar for directing The Social Network.
23) I wish all films were as enjoyable as Star Trek (2009).
24) I wish James Dean would have made more films.
25) I wish Kieran Culkin, Emile Hirsch and Paul Dano came in more films.
26) I wish all child actors could act as well as Natalie Portman in Leon or Jamie Bell in Billy Elliot.
27) I wish there was a film about Maggie Smith being the best Maggie Smith she can be.
28) I wish Julianne Moore would have her Oscar already.
29) I wish all films were released everywhere and at the right time.
30) I wish Paul Thomas Anderson would make a comedic film again.
31) I wish more films would properly sexualise their male leads instead of their female leads, like Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire.
32) I wish the AMPAS weren't so close-minded when it comes to films about kids and teenagers.
33) I wish people would truly appreciate Ewan McGregor.
34) I wish all performances could be as brave as Charlize Theron's in Young Adult.
35) I wish 3D was only used for films that require it, and not dance movies or concert movies or period movies.
36) I wish Adrien Brody would get roles according to his caliber.
37) I wish more films could make me as crazy about the musical score and soundtrack as Kill Bill Vol. 1 does.
38) I wish all films could end the way Before Sunset does- leaving us asking for more and at the same time for nothing else because that would ruin the magic of it.
39) I wish people wouldn't judge Marie Antoinette for all its shallowness, but instead with all its shallowness.
40) I wish Emma Stone would portray Lauren Bacall in a biopic.
41) I wish all supporting actors were as amazing as Donald O' Connor and Jean Hagen is Singin' in the Rain.
42) I wish they never played the bloody banjo music in the actual sex scene in Bonnie and Clyde, an otherwise very sultry film.
43) I wish they wouldn't make another Batman movie for at least the next 20 years.
44) I wish people looked up to 12 Angry Men at least the same way they do to To Kill a Mockingbird.
45) I wish Jack Dawson hadn't died.
46) I wish David Fincher makes a film inspired by his Madonna "Vogue" video.
47) I wish Frodo was less of a pain in the ass- LOTR would've been even more perfect then.
48) I wish Tilda Swinton keeps giving her awe-inducing performances forever.
49) I wish Edward Norton would get his Oscar already.
50) I wish some day I could write and direct films, and hopefully good ones at that :)
1) I wish that Johnny Depp would star in a small independent film and give a powerhouse performance and once again show the world the depth of his talent.
2) I wish the Indian film industry was run by Aamir Khan, the Akhtars and Vishal Bharadwaj.
3) I wish there was a film made just about Mrs. Robinson.
4) I wish Harry Potter would have never ended.
5) I wish Gone with the Wind would have ended.
6) I wish I lived in the land of Pixar.
7) I wish Woody Allen makes films forever.
8) I wish Katherine Heigl would have never starred in films and thus not ruined the name of romcoms.
9) I wish all romcoms could be like The Apartment.
10) I wish Ralph Fiennes would get his Oscar already.
11) I wish all films were as beautiful as Pan's Labyrinth.
12) I wish that Quentin Tarantino continues to make brilliant films and not retire at 60.
13) I wish I could watch films without over-analysing them with my mathematical brain and thus enjoy films by David Lynch and the like.
14) I wish someone adapts Lolita truthfully and ruthlessly and not make it all about guilt and self-loathing.
15) I wish critics would appreciate comedians like Jim Carrey and Bill Murray more.
16) I wish there was a film just about Mickey from Snatch.
17) I wish I fully understood The Virgin Suicides.
18) I wish all films were as quotable as Mean Girls.
19) I wish Fassy becomes the next James Bond, 60s style.
20) I wish Winona Ryder makes a comeback.
21) I wish Edgar Wright finishes his Blood and Ice cream trilogy soon, and then continue to make more and even awesomer trilogies with Simon Pegg and Nick Frost, aka Best Onscreen Couple EVER.
22) I wish David Fincher had won the Oscar for directing The Social Network.
23) I wish all films were as enjoyable as Star Trek (2009).
24) I wish James Dean would have made more films.
25) I wish Kieran Culkin, Emile Hirsch and Paul Dano came in more films.
26) I wish all child actors could act as well as Natalie Portman in Leon or Jamie Bell in Billy Elliot.
27) I wish there was a film about Maggie Smith being the best Maggie Smith she can be.
28) I wish Julianne Moore would have her Oscar already.
29) I wish all films were released everywhere and at the right time.
30) I wish Paul Thomas Anderson would make a comedic film again.
31) I wish more films would properly sexualise their male leads instead of their female leads, like Marlon Brando in A Streetcar Named Desire.
32) I wish the AMPAS weren't so close-minded when it comes to films about kids and teenagers.
33) I wish people would truly appreciate Ewan McGregor.
34) I wish all performances could be as brave as Charlize Theron's in Young Adult.
35) I wish 3D was only used for films that require it, and not dance movies or concert movies or period movies.
36) I wish Adrien Brody would get roles according to his caliber.
37) I wish more films could make me as crazy about the musical score and soundtrack as Kill Bill Vol. 1 does.
38) I wish all films could end the way Before Sunset does- leaving us asking for more and at the same time for nothing else because that would ruin the magic of it.
39) I wish people wouldn't judge Marie Antoinette for all its shallowness, but instead with all its shallowness.
40) I wish Emma Stone would portray Lauren Bacall in a biopic.
41) I wish all supporting actors were as amazing as Donald O' Connor and Jean Hagen is Singin' in the Rain.
42) I wish they never played the bloody banjo music in the actual sex scene in Bonnie and Clyde, an otherwise very sultry film.
43) I wish they wouldn't make another Batman movie for at least the next 20 years.
44) I wish people looked up to 12 Angry Men at least the same way they do to To Kill a Mockingbird.
45) I wish Jack Dawson hadn't died.
46) I wish David Fincher makes a film inspired by his Madonna "Vogue" video.
47) I wish Frodo was less of a pain in the ass- LOTR would've been even more perfect then.
48) I wish Tilda Swinton keeps giving her awe-inducing performances forever.
49) I wish Edward Norton would get his Oscar already.
50) I wish some day I could write and direct films, and hopefully good ones at that :)
Monday, 23 April 2012
"Be afraid. Be very afraid."
In a recent post, I described myself as an easily freaked-out wimp-of-a-girl. From this information, one may surmise that I don't tend to watch a lot of horror movies. But even so, there are some horror 101 ideals that I, like everyone else, have grown up with and that are completely ingrained in me thanks to popular culture. For example, a person trying to teleport himself and during the process a fly gets in with them, and they are teleported as part-man-part-fly. My most vivid memory of this paradigm is in a Dexter's Laboratory episode. So when one watches the origin, or at least whatever made such a concept a part of culture, it is always interesting to see whether the idea can still seem fresh and exciting. David Cronenberg's The Fly is exactly that.
I have already explained the basic plot, to which this film adds a layer of doomed love. Seth Brundle is the scientist who makes the teleportation device. He meets Veronica Quaife, who is a journalist, and they start working together to chronicle his work on the device for a book. Soon enough, they fall for each other, much to the chagrin of Veronica's boss and ex-boyfriend Stathis Borans. When she has to go see him suddenly to straighten things out between them, a slightly melancholy and very drunk Brundle decides to teleport himself. But unbeknownst to him, a fly enters the teleport pod and both of their genes get merged when the teleportation takes place. His physique and personality begin to change. Veronica notices this and tries to find an explanation to help Brundle but he pays no heed. Eventually things get ugly and frightening.
This is quite the cult film, but the basic idea was first shown in the original The Fly, a 1958 film that has a really fantastic tagline- "Once it was as human as you and I! The FLY". It's like a chant. The Cronenberg 1986 version obviously has the now-iconic "Be afraid. Be very afraid" as the tagline, as one can see in the poster and also in the title of this post. Don't you love finding the birth-place, so as to speak, of famous expressions like this one? I would have actually associated it with some sort of film noir, though I guess it makes more sense in this context.
Now I said in the opening paragraph of this post that The Fly manages to stay exciting and fun despite the story being known to most of us. There are three reasons for that. The first is the brilliant and dynamic performance of Jeff Goldblum as Seth Brundle. As Brundle starts to morph into Brundlefly, we see how his personality changes to. How he is at the beginning of the film is completely different from how he is at the end. Yes that happens with most characters in practically every movie, but it is more marked here not only because of the look, but also due to the very sharp changes in his nature throughout the film. Goldblum manages to portray all these different facets of Brundle's shifting personality perfectly. He is goes from being a likable nerd to a detestable jerk to someone who has to be pitied for whats happening to then and finally he is scary and pathetic. At the time of the film's release, there was a lot of Oscar talk for his frankly electric performance, but we all know how small-minded the Academy tends to be.
The second reason has to be the makeup. Now that did win an Oscar, and deservedly so. The whole transformation of Brundle into Brundlefly is a slow but conspicuous process and Chris Walas designed and executed it. Apparently the whole gruesome transition was an allegory to diseases like AIDS and the ageing process, so the conversion happens step by step. It is really incredulous to look at. I personally wasn't that freaked out by the gory makeup and things falling off faces and melting limbs. I was generally really impressed by the monster movie feel of it, and found it humorous in parts. Not in a Scary Movie kind of a way, but just that it was so extreme at times that I couldn't take it as seriously as the characters in the movie did. Added to that, the last fifteen minutes of the film where most of the gross stuff happens kept getting stuck in my stupid DVD player, and it stopped at the most outrageous moments that inadvertently made this a really hilarious experience for me (I wish I had taken screenshots but I am an idiot!). Of course, I don't hold that against the film at all. If anything, it made it better for me.
Finally, I really enjoyed the story. I liked the romance between Brundle and Veronica, the latter played by the gorgeous Geena Davis. In my opinion, it is more of an ill-fated love story and it reminded me of King Kong quite a lot. Goldblum and Davis had a great chemistry together. Sure she gets a bit damsel-in-distress-y towards the end, but I thought she was smart and cool. Also it was an intelligent script. It had some great lines and it was one of those scripts that provide us with the different pieces of a puzzle, in the sense that everything in the story fits. All the information that is given to us has a point and fits somewhere in the grand scheme of the film. I find that very admirable. It is quite intense too, which is where I think the real horror part comes to play. As I said above, it was meant to draw parallels to some really serious topics, and also to the inevitability of ageing. That is something which makes all of us very afraid, and the film attempts to evoke similar feelings in us, in its own blood and guts and vomit-y enzymes sort of way.
Finally, with the release of Cosmopolis coming close, everyone has been talking about the crazy Cronenberg days. If you are like me and haven't seen any of the films from that period, I think The Fly is a great place to start. It is strange but it is still sensible and very entertaining. I reckon it will only get weirder, but I am uncharacteristically optimistic.
Thursday, 19 April 2012
Thoughts
I'm back in India. I've seen only 3 films yet and the damn heat is killing me and I want to live in a fridge! Okay then... moving on.
1) The 2012 Cannes Film Festival's line-up has been released. It is pretty amazing and I really wish I could go there and watch the films. It starts with one of my most anticipated films of this year, Moonrise Kingdom. The other films include Cosmopolis, On the Road, Rust and Bone, Lawless, Paperboy, Amour, Like Someone in Love, Killing Them Softly and so on. Some of these will most certainly go down as the best of the year (see: The Tree of Life, The Artist and Drive from last year).
2) Speaking of On the Road, the promoters have been releasing character posters for a while now. They were being released in sort of an ascending order of importance, or well presence of the characters in the book. Until they decided to release the poster of Kristen Stewart as Marylou last. That is really odd. Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, played by Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund respectively, are the true leads of the novel and I don't get why that is being overlooked because Stewart is the "bigger star". This film has an impressive cast with the likes of Oscar nominees Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams. Sigh... I'll never truly get marketing. My favourite poster is that of Kirsten Dunst's as Camille. It is absolutely transplendent.
3) Well even though I don't understand marketing, I know that the Prometheus team are true masters of it. I'm sure everyone has seen the viral of Fassy as David, the gently creepy android. All the websites posted about it at once, though my favourite is the one by Sati at Cinematic Corner. She was also the first one to voice out the fact that this implies robotic Fassys for everyone! I voiced it aloud to myself... that doesn't count, does it? Another post this week I really loved, and well contributed a teensy bit towards, was Stevee a.k.a. Christopher's Conversation with Mean Girls. I love everything Mean Girls. Even if it punches me in the face, it will be AWESOME.
4) I've spent the majority of this week watching John Green videos on his VlogBrothers Youtube channel. I know that I am very very late to this party, but man oh man, so glad I came! I love him even more now. Also his kid is the cutest thing in the world, and I don't even like babies! All hail Henry Green.
5) Trailers- Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike has a trailer out. This was being called the male stripper movie, and I thought it will be the objectification of men in all its splendour, but it is yet another romantic-y film with Channing " Human Blowfish" Tatum in it. Gahhhhh! With custom furniture, no less. The trailer of Pitch Black Heist, a short film starring Fassy and Liam Cunningham has a gorgeous black and white trailer out. The trailer to Here which stars Ben Foster, looks simple and beautiful. It has a gorgeous poster too, though I can't find a link presently. Finally there is Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, which is one of the films being shown at Cannes this year. It looks mental, but I am intrigued enough to give The Fly a try (that rhymed!) asap. Also, I think Robert Pattinson looks really goooood... he doesn't need to sparkle anymore, thank god.
6) Finally, with everyone going gaga either for or against Titanic 3D (I have no opinion because the bloody IMAX here isn't showing it!!), this seems relevant-
1) The 2012 Cannes Film Festival's line-up has been released. It is pretty amazing and I really wish I could go there and watch the films. It starts with one of my most anticipated films of this year, Moonrise Kingdom. The other films include Cosmopolis, On the Road, Rust and Bone, Lawless, Paperboy, Amour, Like Someone in Love, Killing Them Softly and so on. Some of these will most certainly go down as the best of the year (see: The Tree of Life, The Artist and Drive from last year).
2) Speaking of On the Road, the promoters have been releasing character posters for a while now. They were being released in sort of an ascending order of importance, or well presence of the characters in the book. Until they decided to release the poster of Kristen Stewart as Marylou last. That is really odd. Sal Paradise and Dean Moriarty, played by Sam Riley and Garrett Hedlund respectively, are the true leads of the novel and I don't get why that is being overlooked because Stewart is the "bigger star". This film has an impressive cast with the likes of Oscar nominees Viggo Mortensen and Amy Adams. Sigh... I'll never truly get marketing. My favourite poster is that of Kirsten Dunst's as Camille. It is absolutely transplendent.
3) Well even though I don't understand marketing, I know that the Prometheus team are true masters of it. I'm sure everyone has seen the viral of Fassy as David, the gently creepy android. All the websites posted about it at once, though my favourite is the one by Sati at Cinematic Corner. She was also the first one to voice out the fact that this implies robotic Fassys for everyone! I voiced it aloud to myself... that doesn't count, does it? Another post this week I really loved, and well contributed a teensy bit towards, was Stevee a.k.a. Christopher's Conversation with Mean Girls. I love everything Mean Girls. Even if it punches me in the face, it will be AWESOME.
4) I've spent the majority of this week watching John Green videos on his VlogBrothers Youtube channel. I know that I am very very late to this party, but man oh man, so glad I came! I love him even more now. Also his kid is the cutest thing in the world, and I don't even like babies! All hail Henry Green.
5) Trailers- Steven Soderbergh's Magic Mike has a trailer out. This was being called the male stripper movie, and I thought it will be the objectification of men in all its splendour, but it is yet another romantic-y film with Channing " Human Blowfish" Tatum in it. Gahhhhh! With custom furniture, no less. The trailer of Pitch Black Heist, a short film starring Fassy and Liam Cunningham has a gorgeous black and white trailer out. The trailer to Here which stars Ben Foster, looks simple and beautiful. It has a gorgeous poster too, though I can't find a link presently. Finally there is Cronenberg's Cosmopolis, which is one of the films being shown at Cannes this year. It looks mental, but I am intrigued enough to give The Fly a try (that rhymed!) asap. Also, I think Robert Pattinson looks really goooood... he doesn't need to sparkle anymore, thank god.
6) Finally, with everyone going gaga either for or against Titanic 3D (I have no opinion because the bloody IMAX here isn't showing it!!), this seems relevant-
Ways Titanic could have ended-
Bloody James Cameron and suicidal Leo!! My Jack :'(
Sorry for spoiling the ending for the two people who haven't seen Titanic yet. The ship sinks too :(
Adieu
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