Thoughts

     I know I said that I'm on hiatus but too much has been happening in the movie world and Twitter barely does justice to my deep, profound thoughts on them, and so here we are!

1) GOSLING FANGIRL TIME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!- So deep, yes? Anyways, not gonna lie, this was kind of the whole reason to make this post. The Gos has been sort of M.I.A. since Only God Forgives and, of course, it's been dreadful. This week he has answered all my (and, like, other people's. Whatever) prayers. First, the news broke out that he will star in his Disneyland buddy Guillermo del Toro's Haunted Mansion, which is awesome. Reportedly, this isn't as scary as Crimson Peak is, rather it's a supernatural family film (whatever that means). Next, it was reported that Gos and Emma Stone will replace Miles Teller and Emma Watson in Damien Chazelle's next, the musical La La Land. I was already really excited about this movie because of Chazelle and as much as I adore Teller and Watson, I am wayyyy crazier about the Gos and Stone, who have great onscreen chemistry together as seen in Crazy, Stupid, Love and even Gangster Squad. Plus, I have greater faith in their singing abilities. And then came the news that sort of pushed me over the edge. While everyone was losing their shit over the new Star Wars movie (yes, it's exciting but calm down), I had a massive freak out about the news that the Gos may be starring in the Blade Runner sequel. LIKE OHMYGODIDEAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (That was an example of how coherent my thoughts were after I read about this). Normally, I wouldn't be this pumped about a sequel to a film that is as perfect as Blade Runner but the inclusion of Denis Villeneuve had already warmed me to the idea. Then came the Gos news and the thought of him as a blade runner or a replicant or anything really- FUCK YEAH! I can't wait. For any of these. All seem like really good projects and by directors who I already love. Yaay for Gos!

2) The Cannes Film Festival lineup was just announced and many of my most anticipated films of this year are on it like Carol, Macbeth, Sicario, The Lobster, Irrational Man and Mad Max: Road Warrior, plus other films that sound really interesting like Louder Than Bombs, The Sea of Trees and Mountains May Depart. There are also two Indian films entering the festival- Masaan directed by Neeraj Ghaywan and Gurvinder Singh's The Fourth Direction. As always, I wish I could go there and watch the movies but since that's not gonna happen, I hope these movies are good and I don't have to wait for forever to watch them.

3) Eddie Redmayne is in talks to star as Newt Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them movie trilogy. I like Redmayne and I understand that he's hugely bankable right now and he would be good in this role, but after rumours spread about Matt Smith circling the role, I can't help but be disappointed by their actual choice. Sorry to go full Whovian-Potterhead head on you but Smith is such a Hufflepuff. He's already played a role that resonates with both children and adults alike and he would have been perfect! Also, Smith and badgers are already a thing :(

4) I am obviously dying for The Avengers: Age of Ultron and it's getting some really interesting reviews so far. One of the main reasons I will love this movie is its cast. Such crazy, awesome dorks-

Peter Pan :')

5) Trailers- Um, it's been too long to talk about ALL the trailers so I'll just talk about the ones I've been obsessing over for the past few weeks. Let's start with The Hateful Eight teaser. I love it. I think all teasers should be like this- actually teasing us by not blatantly showing what the film is about. I know there must be a hundred clues in the teaser which we'll understand once we've watched the movie but for now, it's just cool and bloody and fun. The new Star Wars trailer is pretty cool too. It has Han Solo and Chewbacca in it so yay for that. I just wish there was more Oscar Isaac because, well, duh. Ant-Man finally looks totally awesome. The new trailer gives us an idea of Ant-Man's powers which is good because until now, I was basically going to watch it for Paul Rudd's abs. I have declared everywhere that Mad Max: Road Warrior has my favourite trailers of all time and this one is no different. Goddamnit, I want this film in my life right now! Speaking of, how wonderful does Me and Earl and the Dying Girl look? I saw the trailer and I knew I would love it.  An older trailer that I really loved was of Slow West's. It looks like a really fun movie, which I wasn't expecting. Plus, the shot of Fassy sitting and smoking his cigar is my desktop wallpaper because, um, duh. Spectre is another trailer that's been out for a while which I really liked it. It looks stunning, though I wish Lea Seydoux was in it. The Suffragette teaser is a bit weird. The music is too loud and I'm not sure that #VotingMatters is the best way to promote a film. Dil Dhadakne Do is a new Bollywood film by Zoya Akhtar and it actually looks really good. I like its cast and dysfunctional families is a rare subject for a Bollywood film. Coming to television, True Detective season 2's teaser trailer is quite good as it doesn't really tell us anything about the story and because of Colin Farrell's mustache. Orange is the New Black season 3 trailer is even better. I mean, #SorryNotSorry is what I'm talking about, man! That's an awesome hashtag. Learn something, Suffragette!

6) Finally, Anna Kendrick spoke my mind when she tweeted this-

I mean...

God, I've missed this.

I don't know when I'll be doing this next. I should have a few posts up but I'm on a Mad Men binge atm so no promises. Bye all :)

Let's Get It Started- MY 30 MOST ANTICIPATED FILMS OF 2015

         I usually post this list on 1st January every year but due to exams etc., I wasn't able to. However, it is finally here! It was very hard to make it. I started with 20 movies in mind, then I did some research and the list expanded to 25 and today I looked at some more "most anticipated" lists and now this list contains 30 films. Well, technically 31. You'll see. 

        It was super weird to actually make this list because we've been talking about 2015 and all its big movies for AGES and now that it's here, it's just strange. My list has a few of the blockbusters but a lot of the smaller, indie directors that I have grown fond of in the last couple of years have their films coming out this year and I have more of those. I feel like Adam Driver is in all the films in this list (Year of Adam Driver?), followed by Alicia Vikander and Tom Hardy.

       I must also plug the upcoming Across the Universe Podcast episode where I list down what was my top 5 most anticipated 2015 films (the list is slightly altered now) along with Mette and Sofia. Keep your ears out for that one.

30.

The Man from U.N.C.L.E. (Dir: Guy Ritchie)

I have kicked out a lot of what might be much better movies to keep this on my list because, well, LOOK at these two men! And there's Alicia Vikander and Elizabeth Debicki who are also super hot (and Hugh Grant who used to be hot). It could be a lot of fun. I still really like the first Sherlock Holmes movie and I just rewatched Snatch and remembered the amazingness Ritchie is capable of. Here's hoping it's not another This Means War.

29.

Demolition (Dir: Jean-Marc Vallée)

Jake Gyllenhaal is in a lot of movies this year and though this is the only one making my list, I'm sure they will all be amazing seeing the track he's on. I haven't seen Wild yet but Vallée gets really good performances from his actors. I also like its story.

28.

Untitled Woody Allen Project

Seeing Woody's track record, this one should be good. I love the pairing of Joaquin Phoenix and Emma Stone and also that Woody is setting the film in America again. Please let this be a Blue Jasmine and not a To Rome with Love!

27.

Ant-Man (Dir: Peyton Reed)

This was my #1 most anticipated film of EVER when Edgar Wright was attached to it. He left but we do have a very interesting cast led by the adorable and now officially hot Paul Rudd, so I am still looking forward to it. Marvel does try to do different things within the superhero genre parameters and this one has been described as a heist movie and I am curious to see how they pull it off.

26.

The Revenant (Dir: Alejandro González Iñárritu)

As Michael Keaton said in his Golden Globe speech, every actor now wants to work with Iñárritu. So it was obviously really exciting to hear that he's teaming up with Leo DiCaprio and Tom Hardy next. The story is a kind of a revenge western and I can't wait to see what they all do.

25.

Silence (Dir: Martin Scorsese)

I love stories about religion and Scorsese has been trying to make this one for a long time. Though it also stars Liam Neeson and Adam Driver, I am most excited about Andrew Garfield because he hasn't had a chance to really act since The Social Network and he has so much potential which could be tapped into in a film like this. You go, Garfield!

24.

Tulip Fever (Dir: Justin Chadwick)

Honestly, the only reason I am so looking forward to this is Jack O'Connell. Pretty sure he doesn't even have a big role but that's who I'm here for. Although the story IS interesting and the rest of the cast, led by Dane DeHaan, Alicia Vikander and Christoph Waltz are also good so I'm not completely insane to include it here.

23.

Joy (Dir: David O'Russell)

Yes, American Hustle was a pain in the ass but I can't forget how much I loved Silver Linings Playbook and the awesomeness of JLaw and O'Russell coming together. This is quite a zany subject for a biopic (it's about the creator of something called the Miracle Mop?) and I feel that both the film and JLaw will do a really good job.

22.

Magic Mike XXL (Dir: Gregory Jacobs)

I adore Magic Mike and though I never imagined it having a sequel, I am totally OK with one, or twenty tbh as long as these gorgeous men keep stripping :P I'm curious to see how this one will fare without Soderbergh however.

21.

Money Monster (Dir: Jodie Foster)

Hello again, Jack. I didn't even know this film existed or that he's now working with Hollywood heavyweights like Julia Roberts and George Clooney, but yayy! It seems like an interesting story and I'm pretty sue Jack (and everyone else) will be up to the task. I'm also excited to see what Foster does.

20.

Untitled Cameron Crowe Project

Emma Stone, Bradley Cooper, Rachel McAdams, Bill Murray etc. etc- this film has an amazing cast and Crowe is capable of greatness and I am basically pumped!

19.

Life (Dir: Anton Corbijn)

Corbijn made one of the most stunning and heartbreaking biopics that I have ever seen, Control, and now he's making one again about another tragic, young talent- James Dean. I still don't understand how a film that stars Robert Pattinson and Dane DeHaan has the latter starring as Dean and not the former but I'm going to put my trust in Corbijn.

18.

Mad Max: Fury Road (Dir: George Miller)

This film is on my list solely on the basis of its trailers. I honestly prefer watching its trailers to watching entire films, they are *that* spectacular. I hope the film delivers on the promise.

17.

Bombay Velvet (Dir: Anurag Kashyap)

This is the only Bollywood film in my list and it had to be here because of the director and the talent involved. Though I have only seen 3 of Kashyap's films, I am already a fan and this is the starriest movie of his so far, so I am intrigued to say the least. Both Ranbir Kapoor and Anushka Sharma can actually act, and that too really well, and I like that they're taking a chance with an offbeat director like Kashyap.

16.

Frankenstein (Dir: Paul McGuigan)

Daniel Radcliffe as Igor? James McAvoy as Frankenstein? The writer of Chronicle and the director of Lucky Number Slevin and Sherlock's "A Scandal in Belgravia"? And all of this in one film? What is this awesomosity and when can I watch it?!

15.

Star Wars: The Force Awakens (Dir: J.J. Abrams)

I like how little we know about this film and how much potential it has in all our eyes. The new cast is diverse and exciting. Abrams at least can make fun movies. And the teaser was awesome! I'm in.

14.

Tomorrowland (Dir: Brad Bird)

I have infinite faith in Bird because I have loved all his films so far and though this ones seems a bit risky, I think he can pull it off. Also, Britt Robertson is adorbs.

13.

High Rise (Dir: Ben Wheatley)

I am so intrigued by the plot. It's like a dystopia in a building, which kind of reminds me of Snowpiercer, which is obviously a good thing. Plus the whole cast is amazeballs and it is led by the brilliant Tom Hiddleston. Cannot effing wait.

12.

The Lobster (Dir: Yorgos Lanthimos)

Lanthimos previous two features, Dogtooth and Alps, were thought-provoking and unforgettable works of art. This is his English language debut and this story is equally tantalizing, as is the cast he has rounded up which includes Colin Farrell, Ben Whishaw, Rachel Weisz and John C. Reilly.

11.

Midnight Special (Dir: Jeff Nichols)

I really liked Take Shelter and Mud broke my heart. So I was on board with anything Nichols made next. Then came the news that it will star Kirsten Dunst, Nichols regular- Michael Shannon, and Joel Edgerton and that it has a sci-fi angle and I got really excited. I think this film will be great.

10.

Sicario (Dir: Denis Villeneuve)

After Prisoners and Enemy, I can watch a washing powder commercial directed by Villeneuve. Lucky for me, his next project is slightly more interesting than that. It's about a CIA agent who is pushed to her ethical and moral limits on a job across the borders. Also it stars Full Metal Bitch herself, Emily Blunt and Josh Brolin and Benicio Del Toro. I love Blunt and am super stoked to see what she does in this film.

9.

Crimson Peak (Dir: Guillermo Del Toro)

Del Toro is returning to his horror roots with this film that has a very exciting cast- Hiddles, Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain and Charlie Hunnam. I love that Hiddles is playing a creepy charmer and the whole ol' timey horror feel of this film. If it is even 1/20th as good as The Devil's Backbone, it will be worth the price of the cinema ticket.

8.

Inside Out (Dir: Pete Docter)

My love for Pixar has been well-documented on this blog. Unless it is a movie about cars, I am here for any and every thing Pixar does, and ever since I heard about the concept behind Inside Out, I have been really curious to see how they tackle it. Plus I love the fact that Amy Poehler is in a Pixar film. Dawwwwwww.

7.

Spectre (Dir: Sam Mendes)

I loved the hell out of Skyfall and when it was announced that Mendes is returning for the next Bond too, I couldn't wait! This is set in a post-Skyfall world with (spoilers) a new M and it will be interesting how the new dynamic between Ralph Fiennes' M and Daniel Craig's Bond will develop. Also, it has Lea Seydoux, Monica Bellucci and (yawn) Christoph Waltz, who plays the villain (double yawn). As excited as I am for this film, I still wish they had the balls to make someone like Seydoux the villain. Still, Bond is Bond and we always want more of him.

6.

Macbeth (Dir: Justin Kurzel)

Fassy as Macbeth and Marion Cotillard as Lady Macbeth are two of my most favourite casting decisions of all time. These are such meaty roles for actors like them, who have immeasurable talent, and I am sure that they will find new things to explore and portray in something as well-known as the "Scottish play". Plus, the film is said to be really dark and gritty and I am so ready to experience all of that.

5.

The Death and Life of John. F. Donovan (Dir: Xavier Dolan)

Dolan is my new film god and he can do no wrong in my eyes. So obviously,  I was pumped for his English language debut. Then he went and Twitter-flirted with Jessica Chastain and got her to star in what has been described as a Miranda Priestley-ish role in his film about the film business and I got even more excited. However, he then cast Kit "Stupidface" Harrington and the film slipped a couple of places in this list. Still, I think if anyone can maybe make me hate Harrington's face less, it is Dolan and also, I have tried imagining what Chastain will be like in this film and it has given me goosebumps.

4.

Carol (Dir: Todd Field)

This film was in my most anticipated list last year and it is here again because I really cannot fucking wait for this film. I think it will be wonderful.

3.

Mistress America and While We're Young (Dir: Noah Baumbach)

I've tagged them both here together because while for some, While We're Young is a 2014 film, it will only come out here this year, and then there is Mistress America which is also supposed to release in 2015. I have heard great things about the former and the latter reunites the lovely Greta Gerwig and Noah Baumbach after the delightful Frances Ha, which I loved to bits, so it automatically becomes a must-watch for me.

2.

The Hateful Eight (Dir: Quentin Tarantino)

I don't need to explain this one, right?

1.

The Avengers: Age of Ultron (Dir: Joss Whedon)

If you weren't expecting this as my most anticipated film of 2015, you really don't know me. Hello, I am Nikhat and I FREAKING LURVEEEEEEEEEEE THE AVENGERS!! Okay? Okay. 

I have honestly been waiting for this film ever since I saw The Avengers and my excitement has only increased exponentially since then. Still, I am not hoping for it to be better than The Avengers or something equally futile like that- I just need it to be really good. I have become a Whedon fan post-Buffy and I really think he can pull something like this off. Also, James Spader's Ultron sounds terrifying and good supervillains are literally the best.

Are you excited about any of these? What are your most anticipated 2015 releases?

Thoughts

        Helloo all! Question- if you decided to go to a red carpet with a paper bag over your head, what would you write on it?

       Questions like this keep me up at night...

       Anyways, my movie-related thoughts for this week:

1) I have been planning to start on Ben Wheatley's filmography for a while now. Looks like his latest project is going to give me the push I needed. High Rise, based on the novel by J.G. Ballard, is about a doctor who gets involved in the secret world of a high rise built during the Thatcher era in England where the tenants are divided into quarrelling classist factions. And none other than Tom Hiddleston is going to star as the doctor whose name is Robert Laing. Hiddles is doing great things with his career and this whole projects sounds very exciting. Wheatley is also going to direct the first two episodes of Doctor Who series 8 so I'm really pumped to see his work.

2) One of my most anticipated films of 2015, the Fassy-Cotillard starrer-Macbeth, has started filming. While  the Macbeths are as perfect as they come, the rest of the characters are also going to be played by some excellent actors. Paddy Considine is going to be Banquo, Sean Harris is Macduff, and Jack Raynor and Elizabeth Debicki are also in the film. I am guessing that the former will play prince Malcolm and the latter will be Lady Macduff. Eitherways, this is one amazing and rather hot cast. I am currently studying the play in college and I swear, I just keep imagining this film during the lectures. I need it. Justin Kurzel is directing it.

3) Criminally underrated Paul Bettany will star as the Vision in the upcoming The Avengers: Age of Ultron. Bettany is actually one of the original Marvel actors from phase 1, voicing Tony Stark's awesome interface Jarvis. Of course, I am fairly certain this will be addressed in the movie. In the Marvel comic-verse, Vision goes from being a baddie android to a good guy and even marries the Scarlet Witch, who will be played by Elizabeth Olsen in the movie. I guess I should be more skeptical about this film because seriously, where do you go from after The Avengers, but I'm super duper excited about all these developments. It has started filming today in Johannesburg. BIG HULK YESSSSS!!!

4) Leonardo DiCaprio and Jonah Hill, easily my favourite on screen couple of 2013, are going to reteam for a drama about the bombing during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Hill will play Richard Jewell, a security guard who was first hailed as a hero for discovering the bomb and helping people to evacuate only to then be suspected as the perpetrator behind the bombing. Leo will play his attorney. After The Wolf of Wall Street, I am ready to watch these two in anything whatsoever and this actually sounds pretty fantastic.

5) Other casting stuff- Ewan McGregor, Tye Sheridan, Ciarin Hinds and Ayelet Zurer will be starring in Rodrigo Garcia's Last Days in the Desert. In it, McGregor will play a double role of a holy man and a demon who journeys through a desert. The synopsis is described as "an encounter with a family struggling to survive in this harsh environment forces the holy man to confront his own fate." McGregor is one of my most favourite actors and this sounds like an interesting plot. Emma Watson will star alongside Ethan Hawke in Alejandro Amenábar's Regression which is about "dealing with one's deepest primal fears". Amenábar directed one of my most favourite horror movies, The Others, so I will be looking forward to this. Johnny Depp and Tom Hardy will co-star in Black Mass about Whitey Bulger, one of America’s Most Wanted men and the leader of the the Winter Hill Gang, and who was also apparent;y an FBI informant. Depp will play Bulger and Hardy will play an FBI agent named John Connolly who was a childhood friend of Bulger's. One of Depp's best performances ever was in Donnie Brasco and it will be great seeing him go down the gangster road again, especially after his recent career choices.

6) If you weren't aware of it already, my fellow chick with accent from German/Danish-land, Mette has started a Youtube channel with her sister and it is awesome. Check out their second video-

7) Posters- Under the Skin's poster is a thing of beauty. I am kind of skeptical about the film because it really does not seem the kind I will like, but the poster is definitely gorgeous. The Transcendence poster is a bit creepy and not in a good way. It makes me feel gross for some reason. However, The Poster Of The Millenium, THE Poster To End All Posters is THIS ONE. It's from a Bengali movie called Obhishopto Nighty which roughly translates to 'haunted nightgown'. This poster is literally everywhere in my city. I don't know whether to laugh or cry. #onlyinIndia

8) Trailers- Not really a trailer but here's a 15 minute long "foreshadowing" of the upcoming season 4 of Game of Thrones, with bigger dragons and more Hodor (everyone say "HODOR!"). I can't wait. I have my Red Wedding t-shirt ready for the season premiere. The Two Faces of January's trailer is really thrilling and the film looks gorgeous. Pretty impressive people involved too. The second trailer of Hannibal is even more stunning than the first. Ugh! Finally, the trailer of the week is the latest one of Richard Ayoade's The Double. It looks crazy and creepy and cool and I still love Jesse Eisenberg in spite of how much picturing him as a tattooed Lex Luthor makes me anxious.

9) Finally, I adore the "Celebrities Read Mean Tweets" feature on Jimmy Kimmel. Benedict Cumberbatch's was one of the best-

His cheekbones though.

Toodles!

Thoughts

Hiiii guys!! Let's just get down to my thoughts this week-

1) So remember how I talked about an inter-year drama competition in my college in the last thoughts post? Well, guess whose play grabbed the best play, best director, best actor and best supporting actor prizes?! All the hard work and body aches and lack of sleep paid off splendidly on the day of the competition and we did win ALL OF THE AWARDS (except technical but that's all cool).

All the years of winning academic prizes (nerd alert) have not made me as happy as getting this, which I got along with my co-director Garima. 21 is going pretty great so far :)

2) Charlie Hunnam dropped out of the 50 Shades movie. Hehehehehehehee. Yeah, this movie is totes going to happen.

3) Speaking of the "other" sex movie that I can't seem to quite make up my mind about, Nymphomaniac has released possibly my favourite character posters of all time. I love it. I love it for the same reason I love the opening scene of Marie Antoinette. I think von Trier is daring us to mock him and it is awesome. Just look at those faces. He and the film's publicity team totally know what people think the film will be like and they're giving it to them. LET THERE BE PUN-Y HEADLINES!

4) Matt Smith has officially stepped down as the Doctor *sniff* and is now going to play none other than Patrick Bateman in the American Psycho musical. This leaves me with conflicted feelings because as happy as I am for Smith and have full faith in his acting and singing abilities, an American Psycho musical just sounds like sacrilege of the highest kind. Like superior business card + dinner reservation at Dorsia X 100000000 BAD!!! Why are they making this musical at all? Apparently there's some song where people gyrate about brands or something. What?! But still, go Matt Smith!! :/ :/

5) One of my most anticipated films currently in production has a release date now. The Fault in Our Stars, the film based on John Green's amazing novel, starring Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort will release on 6th June, 2014. I am super duper excited for this film. In related news, the director of last year's beautiful The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Stephen Chbosky and the writers of The Spectacular Now (which stars Woodley) and (500) Days of Summer, Michael H. Webber and Scott Neustadter will team up to make While We're Young. This is based Adena Halpern's book 29 about a woman in her seventies who gets to become to her twenty-something self for one day. It will star Emma Watson who was in Perks. I think it sounds amazing. These are a group of extremely talented people who are more than capable, as we have seen, of showing incredible stories onscreen. I am looking forward to the movie a lot.

6) Benedict Cumberbatch is all over the place! He was voted Sexiest Male Movie Star by Empire Magazine (Miss Watson got the title in her sex). His interview on Reddit was awesomesauce. I mean, he talked about his, Matt Smith's and Hiddles's cheekbones! If I ever write a book on bone structure, those three will be part of the Holy Trinity of Cheekbones (I'm a little obsessed with cheekbones if you weren't aware...). He also came on the Graham Norton Show with none other than Harrison Ford. My favourite thing though was his "Rickman-Off" with Jimmy Fallon-

Simple joys of life.

7) Following the news of Elizabeth Olsen joining the cast of The Avengers: Age of Ultron as the Scarlet Witch, we now know that Aaron Johnson will play her onscreen brother, Quicksilver. I'm pretty happy about this. I like Johnson as an actor and I really hope there's a nice scene where all the male superheroes get shirtless. Well, Johnson and Chris Evans at least.

8) I know I don't usually talk about any television shows (except Doctor Who and Sherlock of course) but I have been watching a number of shows that I just feel like sharing my thoughts on. First of all, this season of American Horror Story is going to be awesomeness itself. I loved the first episode "Bitchcraft". The name alone gave me unimaginable joy but what a fantastic episode and ZOMG what a cast! Of course the older actresses, Jessica Lange, Kathy Bates and Angela Basset are on fire, but I am very pleased with the entire ensemble. My only issue with this season is the lack of Zachary Quinto who would have made it so much more sassier and beautiful. Next, there is the Vampire Diaries spin-off The Originals, which I daresay is going to surpass, well, the original. It has all the hotness, crazy twists, zingy one-liners of The Vampire Diaries minus the annoying romantic drama. WIN! I'm really enjoying it. I literally just started watching Sleepy Hollow and that too is quite an entertaining show. It reminds me of Elementary a bit, but I do like the story and Tom Mison is pretty. Another new show that I am liking a lot is Masters of Sex. I mean, Michael Sheen and Lizzy Caplan in a period setting- 'nuff said. Finally, I would just like to mention that I was really distracted by Chris Pratt's obvious fitness throughout the season premier of Parks and Recreation. PROMINENT SEXY CHEEKBONES, OH MY!

9) Stevee's back!!!!!!!! Yaayyy! This also gives me the perfect opportunity to say that Jessica Chastain's Facebook statuses are among the things that make life worth living.

10) Posters- I still haven't watched Gravity :'( But do check out these spectacular fan posters. Even though I just professed my love for the Nymphomaniac character posters, I also really adore those of American Hustle. I would actually build an altar to the Amy Adams one. The posters of The Double are supremely cool and weird and I need this movie like now. I really like Oldboy's new poster. It's interesting and fans of the original will see a lot of familiar elements. The US poster of Blue is the Warmest Colour is very pretty too. A bit of a cliche to say it, but I do really love the colours in it. Conversely, I despise the Labour Day poster. Yes, just use the one official and rather boring image of your film so far as its poster without even trying to change it a teeny bit. Gahh.

11) Trailers- The only thought that kept going through my head while watching the Charlie Countryman trailer was that Ron is in a film with Mads Mikkelsen and Hugo Stiglitz! I can't quite give a shit about anything else in it, sorry. I couldn't even watch all of I, Frankenstein's trailer, soooo... Why Aaron Eckhart, why? The full trailer of Monuments Men has more Jean Dujardin, so yaay! And the full trailer of American Hustle made me even more excited about the Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence. Yes, Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper and Jeremy Renner all also look great and will probably be excellent in the movie, but it's a total ladies show for me. The new trailer of The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug gives me hope because a) I think they *will* show Thorin as more of a dick in this one, which he was in the book, b) I am totally going to get aroused by a CGI dragon's voice in this movie. Benedict, you beauty. I really liked the trailer of Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit because hey, Chris Pine in a suit being all action hero-y! My priorities are so sorted. I think it will be a fun movie though, so there you go. 

12) Finally, I don't know how but I missed it when they announced that Henry Cavill and Armie Hammer are co-starring in Guy Richie's The Man from U.N.C.L.E. But goodness, look at the all-man gorgeousity-

The mind races.

This turned out to be quite a hormones-driven post. Sorry about that. Byeeeeee.

Thoughts

Hiiii guys! I know I am the worst blogger in the world and I'm really sorry for not posting anything of late but here are my thoughts:

1) Life update/sleep-deprived rant- So the reason I haven't been blogging is because I am generally too tired to write down lucid thoughts. I mean, you guys follow me on Twitter, so you obviously know... I don't think I've mentioned this but I finally started 2nd year of college and it's been pretty hectic so far. There was the annual prize day last week and yours truly here won a certificate of effort in film studies. Yaay! I wore my grandma's silk sari, which is a really difficult thing in itself and gosh how do Indian women do it all the time(!), and took a million crazy photos with my friends because we were super bored. Next, I am directing a one-act play for the drama competition again. If you remember, this was the same competition I took part in last year when one of the actors ended up getting dengue though we don't know that at the time and she forgot all her lines and as a result everyone else forgot their lines and I was having panic attacks backstage but we still managed to bag the technical prize. This year we intend to win, well, ALL OF THE AWARDS, but first and foremost, put on a good show. Speaking of, yesterday my friend Alliya and I went to watch a play called "Colour Blind" starring Kalki Koechlin, and it was great, and then we actually got to meet her! For those unacquainted with Indian cinema, the only Hollywood actress I can think of who is most like Koechlin is Jennifer Lawrence, at least in terms of acting skills.

Me, Kalki Koechlin, Alliya

I've never met an actor before, especially someone whose work I really admire and I was very starstruck. Everyone go watch Dev D!! I had such an adrenaline rush throughout the evening that I'm pretty sure I'm going to have low adrenaline (is that a thing? It feels like a thing) for a month. So yaay, more sleepiness! Also, I waste so much time on Twitter, it's ridiculous. I would leave it were it not for all the awesomesauce conversations about 90s Bollywood or hot men. Anyways, that's all about me. To the actual film stuff now...

2) It's been ages since I saw Fargo and I have been thinking of rewatching it. Looks like I'll have to do that pretty soon because who should bag a major role in the Fargo miniseries but my fake husband, Martin Freeman! He's going to play Lester Nygaard, the character played by William H. Macy in the movie. I am very curious to see how this turns out. I'm not the biggest Coen brothers fan but I did like Fargo quite a bit.

3) The Tarzan movie is still happening! Alexander Skarsgard in playing the jungle man and Christopher Waltz has joined the project as the baddie and the producers are trying to get Emma Stone to get on board as the leading lady. I. Am. There.

4) So Oscar talk has started in full swing now. 12 Years A Slave won the main award at Toronto Film Festival and is apparently the frontrunner for Best Film. It's a little too early to start speculating about that, imo, but it looks like a lot of studio heads have gotten cold feet and many "Oscar-bait" movies have been postponed to next year. A pretty cool teaser of Foxcatcher released (see below) the day before yesterday, followed by a quite unexpected announcement of its delayed release in 2014. Joining it is Nicole Kidman-starrer Grace of Monaco, The Immigrant which has Marion Cotillard and Joaquin Phoenix, and Scorsese's The Wolf of Wall Street appears to be heading in the same direction. Just this shows how unexpected award seasons can be so people should calm down. I'd also like to note here that the previous TIFF winner was one of my two most favourite films of last year and can't wait to see if something similar happens this time.

5) Alex Withrow's blog turned 6! He's posted his first short in celebration (which I still haven't watched, sorry Alex!!!). Everyone go wish him and watch the short 'cuz he's awesome.

6) Angelina Jolie's next film Unbroken, about a World War II hero, Lou Zamperini has cast Jack O'Connell as its protagonist. I suppose this is old news but I just found out about it and I'm super happy. I am a massive fan of O'Connell's thanks to Skins and I think this sounds v. promising. If you read about the life of Zamperini, the man had one obstacle after another, including a meeting with Hitler, and I am excited to see both Jolie's and O'Connell's work. The cast also includes Garrett Hedlund and Chronicle's Alex Russell.

7) Photos- The first official image of Kenneth Branagh's Cinderella has arrived and it has Lily James, who is playing the eponymous heroine and looks pretty convincing. On another fairytale movie set, a number of photos of Into the Woods, Rob Marshall's new musical, have found their way online. LOVE Chris Pine's hair. He's such a Disney prince, it's mental. Also, do see the first official image of Queen Meryl Streep being all ab fab in blue hair. Also, the first image of Fury has been released. This has a pretty amazing cast of Brad Pitt, Logan Lerman, Michael Pena and Shia LaBeouf, and I am looking forward to it.

8) Everyone has watched this, yes?

Cedric Diggory 4eva! Also that shot on the beach is like everything I want in life.

9) The Avengers: Age of Ultron has an official plot synopsis now!!!! Here it is-

"As the US Government creates a force known as Ultron, The Avengers are told they are not needed any longer. But when Ultron turns against Humanity, it’s time for The Avengers to assemble yet again for their most dangerous challenge ever."

I AM V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V.V. EXCITED FOR THIS FILM!!!

10) Trailers- Need for Speed which looks okay but I love Aaron Paul so I'm excited for it. Jude Law-starrer Dom Hemingway looks brilliant and I think I will love it. It also has Richard E. Grant and Emilia Clarke who most oddly plays Law's daughter but whatevs. Frozen actually looks pretty fun and I love Christmas-y movies so I will wait for it. The fourth teaser of Nymphomaniac has come out and I think it is my favourite so far. Alexander Payne's next Nebraska finally has a trailer out and it looks pretty damn awesome and I think I will like it a lot. The now-delayed Foxcatcher has a pretty intriguing trailer indeed and I think Steve Carell is going to kill it. Last but not the least, have you checked out the opening credits of the new American Horror Story season? Never have nightmares been better justified.

11) Finally, I feel that my blog needs more Idris Elba. Heck, we *all* need more Idris Elba-

Congratulations on your everything.

Namaste.