"I am not formed by things that are of myself alone."- FAVOURITE SCENES OF 2013

        They're finally here! My "best of 2013" lists are go! I begin with my favourite scenes/sequences of the movies that released in 2013. Last year I divided this list into a normal Best Scenes list and a Best Action Scenes list but this time, it's back to being one list. 

P.S.- There are a lot of endings that have made their way into this list so SPOILERS of course!

P.P.S.-I am going to say right from the start that 2013 was a fantastic year for movies and all my lists are actually very long and I am only highlighting a part of them, so please don't think that I don't appreciate the things that haven't made it into my lists.

Honourable mentions: The dance scene in The Heat, the Gos gets his ass kicked in Only God Forgives, "Let It Go" in Frozen.

10.

 Westray dies in The Counselor

One the whole, I found The Counselor to be dull and forgettable, except for one fantastically shot and freakishly creepy death scene towards the end. This mode of killing was described earlier in the movie and seeing it executed is both brutal and thrilling. Brad Pitt does excellent dying man acting too. Best death scene of the year :)

9.

Ryan gets detached in Gravity

This scene stood out the most for me on my first viewing of Gravity and it *almost* distracted me from the enjoying the rest of the movie because I was that floored by it. In one single take, the kind that the duo of Emmanuel Lubezki and Alfonso Cuaron have become famous for, we see Sandra Bullock's Ryan Stone spiraling into space and how the camera moves closer and closer to her until we start seeing from her perspective and then it moves back out again. It's absolutely gobsmacking, visually, thematically and emotionally. Bravo.

8.

Barrel of monkeys in Iron Man 3

Some time at the beginning of 2013, Iron Man 3 was my favourite movie of the year and this scene had contributed a lot to that (admittedly I had seen about 5 movies at that point). As fun as Jaegars and Kaijus fighting each other was, this is THE action sequence of the year in terms of pure action, thrill, innovation and just delight. We actually fear for those people's lives and it is amazing to see Iron Man save them in such a way, along with that hilarious twist at the end of it.

7.

The ending of Captain Phillips

Captain Phillips is a very tense movie that keeps you enthralled throughout, barely letting you catch a breather and it is the same way for the characters in it, especially Tom Hanks' Captain Phillips. We see all the hardships that he goes through, protecting his ship from the Somali pirates and then being kidnapped by them, and how he still remains stable and calm. We almost wonder at his resilience to these incredible events, but then, right at the end, he lets go. And its shattering. I dare you to watch that scene without crying.

6.

Going to The World's End in The World's End

Gary King and his two musketeers come face-to-face with the Network at the last bar of their epic bar crawl and the one-liners that are unleashed have to be seen/heard to be believed.

It is the ultimate scene about defiance. Beatiful.

"Go back to Legoland, you cunts!"

5.

Frances' speech in Frances Ha

I was tempted to put the awesome dance-y run across New York streets set to David Bowie's "Modern Love" here, but I was left with my mouth hanging open and my heart completely gone when Greta Gerwig's Frances explains to some people at a dinner party what she wants in life. 

"It's that thing when you're with someone and you love them and they know it, and they love you and you know it, but it’s a party! And you're both talking to other people and you're laughing and shining and you look across the room and catch each other's eyes. But not because you’re possessive or it's precisely sexual but because that is your person in this life. And it's funny and sad but only because this life will end. And it's this secret world that exists right there in public unnoticed that no one knows about. It’s sort of like how they say that other dimensions exist all around us, but we don't have the ability to perceive them. That’s what I want out of a relationship or just life, I guess."

When movies manage to explain something that you know to be true but have never articulated, it's just the best thing ever. I cried.

4.

The ending of This is the End

I am not going to write about it in case someone who has not watched the movie is reading this post. All I am going to say is that I was ASTONISHED, SHOCKED, SURPRISED, FUCKING MINDBLOWN at it. Never expected it in a million years and god, it was heavenly ;-) 

3.

The piano duet in Stoker

Holy moly, I have never been aroused more in a scene that doesn't involve Ryan Gosling, ever. It's sinister and sexy. The chemistry between Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode is fantastic. The fact that nothing happens makes it even more eroticised. Musical notes and sexual tension heightening together to reach a crescendo, oh my!

2.

Lemmons in The Wolf of Wall Street

I am taking into account the full sequence from the Country Club to Jordan saving Donnie's life because I can. Everything, from the way Leonardo DiCaprio distorts his face when the lemmons trip starts, to the way he crawls, to the never ending steps in the Country Club, to the opening of the car door, to him screaming nonsense on the phone, to him fighting Jonah Hill's equally tripped out Donnie, to Donnie stuffing his face with salami because why not, to the juxtaposition of Popeye eating his spinach and Jordan snorting his coke- it is all part of the funniest sequence of the whole year. It's crazy and unbelievable and rip-roaringly hilarious and man, Leo is officially the modern master of physical comedy. I can't imagine the state of the set on the days this whole sequence was shot.

1.

"Everytime" in Spring Breakers

Even a doped out Leonardo DiCaprio opening his Lamborghini with his legs cannot trump this scene in terms of what-the-fuck-ness. As funny as this scene is, what with James Franco's Alien showing his sensitive side by playing and singing "Everytime" by Britney Spears, "one of the greatest singers of all time, an angel if there ever was on this earth," on his white grand piano while the sun sets to inspire a trio of girls in leopard-print monokinis and pink ski masks to go rob spring breakers followed by the actual, rather violent robbing, it simultaneously subverts and pays an ode to pop culture, which is what I love about it the most. Think 20-30 years ago, such a scene would have been set to classical music and it would have been big men carrying out these armed robberies. But the world is changing and pop culture is changing and the American dream is changing and the scene captures all that, amidst some of the most beautiful cinematography of the year. It is monumental.

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?

HELLO OSCAR NOMS!

           Yes, I know that the Oscar nominations are almost upon us, but it's a blog tradition and it brings me joy. I will list all of my choices for the Oscars in the Film, Director, Acting and Screenplay categories. I still haven't seen Nebraska, Inside Llewyn Davis, Philomania, Fruitvale Station and All is Lost which I think are the only other possible Oscar contenders.


Best Film: I'm going to go with 6 nominations though we don't know how many there will be. 

Mine- 1) Gravity
2) Frances Ha
3) The Wolf of Wall Street
4) Her
5) Stoker
6) Spring Breakers

Special wish that has no chance- Not that 50% of my list has any chance, but still, I wish foreign films like The Lunchbox, Wadjda or Blue is the Warmest Colour (which should really, really get consideration) were included.

Theirs- 12 Years A Slave, American fucking Hustle, Captain Phillips, Dallas Buyers Club and Nebraska will make it in. From my list, Frances Ha, Stoker and Spring Breakers probably won't get any nominations, *especially* not here. If the Oscar voters are really impressed, also watch out for Lee Daniels' The Butler, Inside Llewyn Davis, Rush and Philomania.

Winner- It's between 12 Years A Slave and Gravity. If American Hustle wins this, I will probably punch a hole through my TV.


Best Director: I think there's going to be a split between Best Film and Best Director this year too.

Mine- 1) Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
2) Edgar Wright, The World's End
3) Harmony Korine, Spring Breakers
4) Paul Greengrass, Captain Phillips
5) Martin Scorsese, WoWS

Special wish that has no chance- The daring that took to make Wadjda, Haifaa Al-Mansour should definitely get some award.
Theirs- Steve McQueen for 12 Years A Slave, which is fair even though I have liked his other work much more. The adorable Spike Jonze might make it in with Her and David O' Russell is apparently the new Oscar favourite so yeah, him. The Oscars also love the Coen brothers so I won't be surprised if they are nominated for Inside Llewyn Davis.

Winner- Cuarón. It really is a no-brainer.


Best Actress: This can see a repeat of last year's Best Supporting Actor category with all past winners being nominated.

Mine- 1) Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
2) Adèle Exarchopoulos, Blue is the Warmest Colour
3) Cate Blanchett, Blue Jasmine
4) Sandra Bullock, Gravity
5) Brie Larson, Short Term 12

Special wish that has no chance- Scarlett Johansson for Her. It's kind of like Anthony Hopkins in The Silence of the Lambs. Her presence permeates through the whole film, and to do that with just your voice is amazing.

Theirs- Amy Adams will become a 5-time Oscar nominee with her role in AH. Then there are the British greats, Emma Thompson for Saving Mr. Banks and Dame Judy Dench for Philomania. It's the Oscars so a Mery Streep nomination is never shocking. My poor Greta and Adèle and Brie have no chance in hell.

Winner- "'Blue Moon' was playing- you know the song, 'Blue Moon'..." Queen Cate is in it to win it.


Best Actor: I thank Stevee Taylor for reminding me who should get nominated.

Mine- 1) Leonardo DiCaprio, WoWS
2) Leonardo DiCaprio, WoWS
3) Leonardo DiCaprio, WoWS
4) Leonardo DiCaprio, WoWS
5) Leonardo DiCaprio, WoWS

Special wish that has no chance- If this was the actual line-up, Leo would win! Anyways, I spoke about how Tye Sheridan and Simon Pegg deserved to be in that category.

Theirs- The real travesty is that Leo might not even be nominated, at which point I will start a week-long marathon of crying and cursing. WHAT MORE DO YOU WANT, ACADEMY?! They will definitely nominate Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years A Slave, Tam Honks for Captain Phillips, Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club, Bruce Dern for Nebraska and the maybes for that fifth spot (GIVE IT TO LEO, YOU BITCHES!) include Robert Redford for All is Lost, Michael B. Jordan for Fruitvale Station, Forest Whitaker for The Butler, the beautiful Joaquin Phoenix for Her and Oscar Isaac for Inside Llewyn Davis.

Winner- If it was me, there is *only* one winner. But in case said winner doesn't get nominated because there are a lot of idiots in the world, I would really like to see Tam Honks win.


Best Supporting Actress: For once, I don't want to see JLaw get anything.

Mine- 1) Scarlett Johansson, Don Jon
2) Shailene Woodley, The Spectacular Now
3) Lea Seydoux, Blue is the Warmest Colour
4) Emma Watson, The Bling Ring
5) Sarah Paulson, 12 Years A Slave

Special wish that has no chance- What I said at the beginning of this category.

Theirs- Pretty certain no one from my list will make it in. Lupita Nyong'o in 12 Years A Slave is loved by most people. Apparently June Squibb is fantastic in Nebraska so her. Julia Roberts in August: Osage County who just missed my list. Oprah with her Oprahness might make it in for The Butler. And finally, Sally Hawkins, who really was lovely in Blue Jasmine.

Winner- Though I liked Paulson more, Lupita is a stunning woman and that Oscar will look very nice with her.


Best Supporting Actor: *the forgotten category* I forgot to include this the first time I published this post. Guess that means something.

Mine- 1) James Franco, Spring Breakers
2) Jonah Hill, WoWS/ This is the End
3) Matthew Goode, Stoker
4) Jake Gyllenhaal, Prisoners
5) Matthew McConaughey, WoWS/ Mud

Special wish that has no chance- Hiddles as Loki? Pwease.

Theirs- I don't think my list will make it in at all. As I said, I've lost interest in this category. Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club is a sure-shot. John Gandolfini for Enough Said, Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips, Fassy for 12 Years A Slave, Daniel Bruhl for Rush and Bradley Coooper for AH all seem like good bets. They are *all* very good, but come on, ALIEN!!!!!

Winner- Leto. Shoulda been Franco.


Best Original Screenplay: I never finished reading any of these so guesses abound.

Mine- 1) Noah Baumbach and Greta Gerwig, Frances Ha
2) Jonás Cuarón and Alfonso Cuarón, Gravity
3) Spike Jonze, Her
4) Woody Allen, Blue Jasmine
5) Nicole Holofcener, Enough Said

Special wish that has no chance- I'm going to go with The World's End, 'cuz it's hilarious, badass and deeply affecting.

Theirs- Again, the Coen brothers are a big favourite, and so is Alexander Payne for his work in Nebraska. American Hustle might make it in here so boooo. I do think that all my picks do have some chance so let's keep hoping.

Winner- Possibly Jonze. Which is awesome because he's like cute but looks hot in a suit and seeing him win will be nice.


Best Adapted Screenplay: I've read The Great Gatsby. That's it.

Mine- 1) Terence Winter, WoWS
2) Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater, Before Midnight
3) Abdellatif Kechiche and Ghalia Lacroix, Blue is the Warmest Colour
4) Tracy Letts, August: Osage County
5) Sofia Coppola, The Bling Ring

Special wish that has no chance- Does Much Ado About Nothing count? If it does, then Joss Whedon! Please!

Theirs- 12 Years A Slave and Captain Phillips will definitely be in there. 

Winner- I really want WoWS to win this- "I WILL NOT DIE SOBER!"


Special mention: Best Costume Design- I have v.v.v.v. strong feelings about this category this year so here it goes.

Mine- 1) Stoker
2) Laurence Anyways
3) Spring Breakers
4) The Bling Ring
5) Blue Jasmine/ Frances Ha/ WoWS

Theirs- 12 Years A Slave, which I'm okay with, and a whole lot of other movies with period settings. I really wish they would consider contemporary movies in this category. Sure Stoker or Spring Breakers don't have the extravagance of the clothes in The Great Gatsby, but the clothes are actually a big part of the movie, both aesthetically and symbolically. Both The Bling Ring and Blue Jasmine costumes speak about the lifestyle of the people in the movie more than "oh they wore this because everyone else at the time wore it". Frances's clothes reflect the way she matures. Laurence Anyways is brighter and flashier than all the American Hustles in the world and again, the clothes mean something. And whoever put Leo in that blue suit in WoWS just needs all the awards.


      So um, that's it! Let's wait and watch how the Oscars step over and crush all my hopes and dreams.

My Top 10 Films of 2013, Somewhat

       My annual incomplete favourite movies list is here! As usual, due to the unfairness of the universe and general release dates problems, there are a number of 2013 films I have not been able to watch and therefore am unable to do a proper best films list. I hope to do my year's favourites sometime in February, as always, so look out for things like performances, scenes, shots, films etc. then.

10.

Spring Breakers

It's a wonderful feeling when you see a film and you know that it is something totally original and it's unlikely you'll ever seen anything like it again. This film is as insane as it is beautiful, both a satire of and an altar to American pop culture, a feminist coming-of-age tale and a gangster flick- there is no one way of describing Spring Breakers and I love it for it.

9.

Blue is the Warmest Colour

I guess coming-of-age is a recurrent theme for my favourite movies this year, because in Blue as well, we see the enticing and flawed Adèle grow up while falling in and out of the most maddening and consuming sort of love. A gorgeous look at a character to whom Adèle Exarchopoulos gives it her all.

8.

Mud

This film broke my heart. The realisation of how true everlasting love doesn't exist in the real world is affecting enough, and then we have actors like Matthew McConaughey and the excellent Tye Sheridan who were just so good. Really touching film.


7.

Stoker
My first favourite film of this year. It's almost addictive in a way. The actors, the story, the cinematography, the music- I have had a constant need to keep revisiting this film throughout the year because of these. It's sexy and creepy just like that unforgettable piano scene. Really gets under your skin.


6.

The Blue Umbrella
Very few things make me as happy as a Pixar short, and I really do think this is one of their best. "The course of true love never did run smooth," as the Bard said, and we see that in the simplest yet most magical way in this short about a blue umbrella falling in love with a red umbrella.


5.

Wadjda
I regret not having written a review of this because it is easily the most inspiring film I have seen all year. Both the character of Wadjda and the efforts of director Haifaa al-Mansour warrant that title. It's lovely and hopeful and Wadjda is truly my hero.


4.

The Lunchbox
An Indian housewife makes food to impress her husband but the tiffin intended for him accidentally reaches a lonely widower and thus a most unexpected romance begins. This film does so much right, from the isolation felt by people in big metros to the adorable humour to getting the perfect tone between both, largely due to the phenomenal cast of character actors and the fantastic direction. Films like this keep my faith in Indian cinema alive.


3.

Gravity
I don't claim to be an expert on what makes a classic and what doesn't, but I genuinely feel that in years to come, Gravity will be hailed as one. To mesh so perfectly a tale of the triumph of human spirit, a nail-biting thriller and a visual extravaganza and just that, without any deviations or distractions, keeping the audience as rapt as possible, is no simple task. Kudos to Alfonso Cuarón and his team.


2.

Frances Ha
There's a lot in this movie that screams "First World Problems", but the moment Frances, played by the luminescent Greta Gerwig, says "I'm not a real person yet," it started to feel universal. Frances Ha is about a certain time in our lives when our dreams and reality go their separate ways. I can see it happening to me, and whereas that would usually just fill me with paralysing fear, the adorkability of Frances and the simple humour and pathos that pervades the whole film weirdly gives me hope. Added to that, the film is one of the most truthful portrayals of female friendship, and is reminiscent of Woody Allen's movies and the French New Wave. Altogether, it's like magic.


1.

Stories We Tell
I have not seen many documentaries in my life and so Stories We Tell completely caught me completely by surprise. It's so personal yet so universal. Sarah Polley traces her mother's life and subsequently her origins with the help of her family and close friends, and through that also explores the nature of stories and memories. I thought it was beautiful and brave and ingenious and nothing like I have ever seen before. Michael Polley's narration and the obvious love and caring that everyone in this film has for each other had me crying buckets. I really love this film.

       Happy New Year everyone :)

Making a Case for Best Actress for Greta Gerwig

For my last post for Stevee Taylor's "Making the Case for" Blogathon, I look at one of the most delightful performances of this year that's just about stolen my heart.

Greta Gerwig's Frances reminds me a lot of Annie Hall. She's funny, sweet, flustered, confused and at the end of the day, very real. I loved how one could see her flaws and still be delighted by her and for her. Gerwig just puts so much life into this role that you feel like you are watching Frances herself and not someone who is playing a role. Maybe it's because I haven't seen any other Gerwig performances barring that in To Rome with Love that I feel so, but still, I do believe there is this naturalness and effortlessness, even in all the little quirks, that I have not seen this year. And she's just so likeable! I know that that isn't really a criteria for a good performance; in fact, it's usually the opposite, but for a role that could have come off as whiny and pompous and clingy, and there are definitely moments of that, Gerwig just manages to put so much charm into Frances. When she dances or runs or invents truths or tells people what she wants in life or just stares across a room, it is, to borrow a phrase from Miss Frances, like magic. You are drawn to her, and not because she's pretty or quirky or charismatic, but because she's also normal, and that's okay. Gerwig's Frances taught me that it's okay to be okay, and I really hope and pray that all the awards voters see that and feel that too. It's just such a wonderful performance.

My previous posts:

Making a Case for Comedy

Making a Case for Best Actor for Tye Sheridan

Thoughts

     Yes, this was supposed to be posted two days ago. Sorry for the tardiness people. Downton Abbey had taken over my life. It's pretty fun. I want to be Maggie Smith in my next life. "What is a weekend?"

1) I meant to write about this last week but my memory has become shite now. Anyways, what is with all these television shows being adapted from famous films?! So far I am only excited for Hannibal, which is based on the Thomas Harris books on Hannibal Lecter. Hugh Dancy will play Will Graham, the role that Edward Norton played in the grossly under-viewed Red Dragon. The role of Lecter, made famous by Sir Anthony Hopkins, will be played by Mads Mikkelsen in the show. The best thing about it though is that it has been created by Bryan Fuller, who made my darling Pushing Daisies. Another show is Bates Motel, which is a prequel of Psycho. I got a little warmed up to it when Vera Farmiga took on the role of Mrs. Bates, but then it was announced that Freddie Highmore will play her son, Norman Bates. That's goddamn ridiculous. He's Charlie from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory for crying out loud! And his total blandness in The Art of Getting By is making me terrified of watching this show, and not in a good way. Norman Bates is one of my two favourite cinematic villains (coincidentally, the other is Hannibal Lecter) and he is just going to get butchered in this show. Ugh. And then, shows based on Heathers and The Apartment are in production as well. The Heathers one will apparently be about the daughters of the characters in the cult classic, called the Ashleys. As Heather Chandler would say, "Well, fuck me gently with a chainsaw."

2) Silver Linings Playbook won the top prize at TIFF '12. Who would've thought? Okay so now my most anticipated films of this year are: 10) Silver Linings Playbook, 9) Beasts of the Southern Wild, 8) Much Ado About Nothing, 7) Argo, 6) Skyfall, 5) The Master, 4) Perks of Being a Wallflower, 3) The Hobbit, 2) Seven Psychopaths, 1) Django Unchained. One more film that has caught my eye is Noah Baumbach's Frances Ha. It just looks like something I would like. 

3) Posters- The new Hitchcock biography named Hitchcock (what else?) has caught my eye too, but I am not adding it to the list till a trailer comes out. Which will not be long, I presume, since the absolutely delicious poster has been released. It has the right amount of Hitch's signature cheeky, morbid humour. Also it will be cool to see if Sir Anthony Hopkins can come in the way of Daniel Day Lewis's Lincoln for that much wanted Oscar (I am on the side of the former presently). Skyfall has a number of posters out. There are two main ones. I like the cool blue one more than the more classic one, but both are good. I just think the former is what we would expect out of Craig's Bond, and I like how minimalistic it is. There are a character posters too, like that of the baddie, played by Javier Bardem. Finally there is the surprisingly brilliant poster of Michael Bay's next, Pain and Gain. Have we misjudged him? :O

4) Trailers- The new Hobbit trailer is all kinds of pretty and has re-bumped the film to nearly the top of my most-eagerly-awaited list. This book made me happy, and I adore both Bilbo Baggins and Martin Freeman. Also I am guessing Peter Jackson will try his best to justify the three movies, so maybe he'll make them super-awesome. There is the trailer to the Ethan Hawke starrer horror movie, Sinister. It does look a bit creepy, but it will strictly be a DVD watch for me, if anything. The new Skyfall TV spot has reassured me that Bardem will be a truly scary villain indeed. Also I promise you that I am going to hoot in the theatre when Daniel Craig fixes his suit after jumping on an exploding train. I must. Another TV spot that has coloured me impressed is Park Chan-wook's Stoker that has three actors I really love- Nicole Kidman, Mia Wasikowska and Matthew Goode. A proper trailer will come out later this week, but I think this film has the fucked-up family/ lots of awesome violence thing down. The extended look at Les Misérables is impressive, but I'm still not all that buzzed about this film. Except for Hugh Jackman and Anne Hathaway of course. I will probably sell my left kidney to see Jackman sing, and that part in the video when he does gave me goosebumps. Finally, the trailer of the week is Jab Tak Hai Jaan, which has Shahrukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Katrina Kaif and looks like what a Bollywood film should look like. I have missed those kind of films. Let's hope it is good, in spite of how weird SRK and Kaif look with each other.

5) Finally, Parks and Recreation has returned! Woo hoo! "Meet the meat" has to be one of the funniest things that has ever been said. Anyways, here is Adam Scott speaking about my philosophy in life when it comes to sports-

Well said sir.

Toodles.