One of the best sequels of our time? Well, listen in and find out as Mette, Sofia and I talk about the much anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire, and dissect it and its themes and messages and how cute was Finnick Odair really? We also answer a mini questionnaire about book-to-movie adaptations and our thoughts on them.
Content:
0:19- Chick-chatter
1:50- Trailer
2:32- Interesting Movie of the Fortnight
18:46- The chicks talk about The Hunger Games: Catching Fire
40:43- Mini questionnaire on book-to-movie adaptations
57:20- Plugs and Goodbyes
Songs:
Of Monsters and Men "Silhouettes"
Sia (Feat. The Weeknd and Diplo) "Elastic Heart"
Jim Sturgess "Across The Universe"
Follow us at: facebook.com/acrosstheuniversepodcast Write to us at: acrosstheuniversepodcast@gmail.com Find us on iTunes: search for Across the Universe Podcast Download episodes from: Our Dropbox page
Hii guys! It's December, which is bloody mental. It's still April in my head. Anyways, November was a pretty great month, movie-wise. I had my first proper film festival experience and even though I kind of felt like a zombie for a week after that, I can't wait to do it again. YAAY MOVIES! Firsts:
1) Captain Phillips- Really thrilling. Loved the performances and the direction. My brother loved it too. 2) Frances Ha- Loveliness itself. Greta Gerwig is my queen. 3) The To-Do List- So uneven. I liked some of the ideas in place, but not the movie so much. 4) Thor: The Dark World- Loki is the best! I thought it was really fun and sooo pretty! 5) The Maltese Falcon- Noirvember! Quite liked it, though not one of those classics that really blows you away. 6) Blancanieves- First movie of KIFF. So stunning and smart and, god, Maribel Verdu is ab fab! 7) Don Jon- Really confident debut by JGL. I thought it was really funny, had quite an interesting concept in place and Scarlett Johansson was just amazeballs. 8) Of Good Report- One of the biggest duds at KIFF for me. It was just boring and creepy. 9) Elmer Gantry- For Burt Lancaster's centennial. I thought it was a very interesting film and Lancaster was indeed very good. It was a very loud performance which is something I haven't seen from Lancaster. 10) Night Train to Lisbon- My least favourite film from KIFF. I just thought it was painfully mediocre, especially considering the talent involved. 11) The Future- I quite liked this one. The actress's age kind of shocked me, but both her and Rutger Hauer were very good. Another unique story. 12) The Artist & Model- It was very beautiful to look at. The story was simple but touching. 13) Rock Ba-Casba- One of the movies I just randomly watched, and liked a lot. It was a pretty good story about young Israeli soldiers stationed at the Gaza Strip during the 80s. Also, it did help that there were a bunch of hot guys in uniform in this. I *was* getting slightly bored with all the naked women in all the films so far. 14) Bastards- My worst movie experience during KIFF, which did colour my perspective on the film. 15) Lessons in Forgetting- One of the only Indian films I saw at KIFF. It was quite crude, but it raised some important questions about Indian society. 16) Jealousy- I thought it was an alright movie, but my god, Louis Garrel's face in black and white is something to be worshiped. Well, it should be worshiped eitherways, but it is beautifuler in black and white :P 17) The Past- Another great human drama by Asghar Farhadi. I love the way he fuses other genres, a suspense thriller in this case, in his tales about people who make very human mistakes and their repercussions, especially on children, which just breaks my heart. 18) Ko: Yad- An Assamese film. I thought it was very sentimental and therefore not very good. 19) Pieta- My first Kim Ki-duk film, who is apparently huge in Calcutta. Brutal, affecting, and my god, the main theme of this film is something I did not expect. My admiration for it keeps growing. Must watch more movies by this director. 20) Blue is the Warmest Colour- Absolute love. Favourite movie of KIFF and I adored Adele Exarchopouls and Lea Seydoux. 21) Winter of Discontent- I watched it after Blue and I was totally dazed throughout it. Apparently it *was* quite good. 22) Paradise: Hope- I liked how still the movie was. A very unique perspective shown. 23) The Deep- I fell asleep for about 20 minutes in this film, which is something I regret because I did like whatever I saw. Mette compares it with Gravity, so there you go. 24) Papilio Buddha- I respect this film for just existing and raising the issues it does and showing them so unflinchingly. Also, one of the most well-shot Indian films I have ever seen. Just beautiful to look at. 25) Paradise: Faith- One of my favourites at the film festival. It reminded me of films by Michael Haneke and Yorgos Lanthimos- unsettling in the best way. 26) Touch of the Light- So happy and pretty. Would make the most joyful of double features with The Intouchables. 27) The Great Beauty- Gorgeous to look at, but just empty at its core. The first 20-30 minutes of the movie were like an assault on my senses. 28)Young and Beautiful- Last film of KIFF. Marine Vacth is so unfairly sublime. Just want to stare at her forever. I liked the movie too. 29) An Adventure in Space and Time- TV movie about the origins of Doctor Who. I thought it was very well-made and acted and Matt Smith's face brings me immense joy. 30) Cool Hand Luke- Speaking of sublime, Paul Newman was such a god. Every time he smiled, my insides melted. A very good film overall, though I think I am getting a bit wary of films about defiant men, I don't know why. 31) The Shop Around the Corner- James Stewart is so adorbs. This film was very sweet. 32) The Hunger Games: Catching Fire- One of the best sequels of our time, yes? I loved how well-paced the film was. And Jena Malone of course. Rewatched:
1) Sweet Smell of Success- Noirvermber again. Loved it so much more this time. The dialogue is to die for. 2) Sabrina- One of my favourite movie experiences at KIFF. People kept breaking out in applause. 3) The Apartment- Just the fact that I saw this on big screen fills me up with joy. Perfect film is perfect. 4) Gone with the Wind- For Vivien Leigh's centennial. like it so much more now. They censored all the kisses in this though, which was a bit strange and frankly inexplicable on their part. I did see *everything* else in all other movies. 5) Sunset Blvd.- Best of Noirvember? Yep. Did not notice how hot William Holden looked in it the first time 'round. 6) Frances Ha- If my life was a black and white film, I would totally wear white-rimmed glasses. The cinematography is so great in this. 7) The Nightmare Before Christmas- Where has this Tim Burton gone? TV shows:
All my plans of rewatching Nu Who crashed and burned. The Escape Artist- Really quite thrilling and unsettling. Loved the actors, especially David Tennant. Please watch it! Final tally: Firsts- 196 Rewatched- 77 Shorts- 2 Total- 275 End of year time! I do have things planned for the blog, but I don't want to jinx it.
Ryan McNeil has been hosting a series called the Blind Spot series for the last two years where he attempts to strike off a number of cinephile must-sees from his watchlist. He just announced his titles for 2014 and I think I would like to take part in it as well.
The only reason I had not started this earlier is because I don't do many reviews in this blog and the ones I do are mostly for the films I feel very strongly about. Lately, I have been feeling less and less inclined towards blogging, which isn't something I want. If anything, I hope to take this series as a challenge* for myself to start writing more. And if this also includes me finally watching some of these apparently great movies that have been gestating in my watchlist for far too long, hurrah for me.
The New York Times have released their annual shorts celebrating the year's best performers, and in the case of this year, the best writers. They have all been shot by the incredible cinematographer Janusz Kaminski. As usual, some of them are quite "out there", but I do like the concept a lot and the lines are kind of amazeballs.
Cate Blanchett with line by Andrew Bujalski
"Show me where the bed is, put a blanket over me, and don't ever let me see you again."
This one is definitely one of the weirder ones but god, I love the Cate-ness of it all! She's such a goddess. Also, one of my favourite lines.
Bradley Cooper with line by J.C. Chandor
"I’m broke. I mean it. Don’t laugh. It’s all gone. Seriously, I got nothing left. But I still got this. What’s it worth to you?"
Oooo dancey and sparkly. Also, I don't know how to put this any other way, I was kind of staring at Bradley Cooper's butt throughout it :/
Robert Redford with line by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg
"Actually, I’ve never really liked tofu."
One of my favourites. I love the anticlimactic humour, and boy, is the climax built in this.
Oprah Winfrey with line by Sarah Polley
So you died while I was out. How convenient. I thought it would be easier if you were dead. But actually, it’s just irritating."
OPRAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH! I liked it.
Greta Gerwig with line by Julie Delpy, Ethan Hawke and Richard Linklater
“You look like you want to say something. But don’t. That look on your face is so different now."
I liked this one too, especially the line. Plus, the The Shining-esque setting is pretty awesome. And I am a little bit in love with Gerwig at present.
Forest Whitaker with line by Greta Gerwig
"People are always telling me, ‘It’s so messed up what she did to you.’ Whatever. It’s all in the past."
This was one of the more sensible ones and Whitaker kind of gives it his all. What an actor.
Julia Louis-Dreyfuss with line by Nicole Holofcener
"Yes, I’m wearing a wig."
My absolute favourite. What can I say, I am biased towards red lipstick. And then you pair it with a shiny pistol, a lipstick-stained cigarette and a line like that that just comes out of nowhere- love!
Michael B. Jordan with line by Spike Jonze
"Well, recently I found out that I am alive. And I guess it’s a lot to take in. I didn’t realize exactly what it all entailed. And I really didn’t know it was going to be so incredibly sad."
Just reminds me of how hilarious "Bound 3" actually is.
Oscar Isaac with line by Lake Bell
"I hope this is a joke."
Was anyone else reminded of Amelie? I thought it was funny.
Chiwetel Ejiofor with line by Jeff Nichols
"How long have you been waiting there?"
This was kind of meh.
Adele Exarchopolous with line by Danny Strong
"They call me sexy, smart and sociopathic. But not necessarily in that order."
I am definitely in love with Adele. I thought it was lovely.
I am guessing that the lines were given first and then the shorts were made around them. My favourites turned out to be the really mundane lines that would have probably stuck out in any context. I am super happy that Exarchopoulos and Gerwig were included but it would have been great to see some other biggies of the year, performance-wise, like Scarlett Johansson, James Franco (though he still wins) and Tom Hanks.
Helloo people! I know I haven’t written in for forever, but I have honestly, truthfully, pinky-swearingly been very busy. I came back to India, went back to college, spent an entire week running to and from theatres because of the film festival, and now I’m sick.
1) The film festival was great. It was my first fully immersed festival experience and I did make the most of it. I saw 26 films. My favourite new film was Blue is the Warmest Colour. It really is an excellent movie and Adele Exarchopoulos (I will learn the spelling before Oscars. Yep) is by far my favourite performer of the year. Lea Seydoux is great too. And yes, the 7 minute lesbian sex scene can get a little awkward but do what I did- stare at every middle aged man in the room (and there were so many!!) and see their reactions. It’s hilarious. I saw some other great movies too. Don Jon was awesomesauce and Scarlett Johansson was on fire. Other first timers I really liked were Blancanieves, Paradise: Faith, Pieta, Touch of the Light and The Past. Also, if you are a Louis Garrel fan, watch Jealousy which is in black and white and therefore Garrel is in black and white and then your ovaries die. The films I wasn’t such a big fan of were Bastards, Of Good Report and Night Train to Lisbon. The first was just generally an awful movie going experience which might have made me dislike the film more than I ought to, the second was just boring and creepy and the last one was painfully mediocre. It had Jack Huston (who is American), August Diehl (who is German) and Melanie Laurent (who is French), all playing Portugese people. What? My absolute favourite thing about the festival however was the chance to see classic movies on big screen. I saw Elmer Gantry, Gone with the Wind, Sabrina and The Apartment (YESSSSSSSSSSSSSSS) and really enjoyed myself. The fact that a lot of the people who seemed to be so grumpy throughout the festival just started clapping during the Wilder movies kind of restores my faith in humanity a little bit.
My KIFF experience :P
The Louis Garrel comment on the right is by my friend Alliya and I agree whole-heartedly.
2) Adam Levine has been voted the Sexiest Man Alive by People Magazine. The people at People
Magazine need to fill up the biggest douchebag jar they can find for making this decision. My choice? Duh.
Actually, any one of them will do too-
Yum.
3) The Honourary Oscars were given out recently and Steve Martin, Angela Lansbury, Angelina Jolie and Piero Tossi. I really loved Jolie’s acceptance speech. I am one of those saps who cries watching acceptance speeches (I even cried in Emma Stone’s MTV Award speech), and I thought Jolie’s was really beautiful and heartfelt. And goooo Steve Martin!!!
4) So guess what’s happening this Saturday? Only something I have been waiting forever for. Or, well, since April or something. Anyways, the Doctor Who 50th Anniversary is nearly here! (Isn't my banner awesome?) I already went nuts over the official trailers, though I am cautiously avoiding all other clips since I want a complete experience watching “The Day of the Doctor”. My entire plan of rewatching all of Nu Who and then ranking my favourite episodes before “The Day of the Doctor” *obviously* went kaput since my planning skills suck, but I promise to do one before series 8 next year. Anyways, it seems our dearly departing Doctor, Matt Smith, is in talks to star in Star Wars Episode VII. Of course it is all rumours at present, but if it comes to pass, this will be a massive opportunity for Smith. I just hope he doesn't end up in some ridiculous alien make-up. Especially now that his hair is growing all nicely.
5) Imogen Poots (I love her name so much), might be starring in Todd Field's next film, Beautiful Ruins. It is apparently his most ambitious project yet and it will span over a number of decades, from the 60s onwards. It is about three characters and their lives that is altered by an incident that takes place during the shooting of Cleopatra. I recently watched Little Children and loved it, and this is Field's first movie since then. I think Poots is really pretty and it will be interesting to see her take on such a role.
6) Joe Wright is going to make a film about the origins of Peter Pan called Pan. Generally, I would be against it because I think we *have* had enough of fairytale movies for a decade, but I have really loved everything Wright has made so far (except The Soloist, which I haven't seen). I have full trust in his vision. Javier Bardem is being considered for Captain Hook, according to rumours.
7) ScarJo is on a career-rise again. She kicked ass in Don Jon, but it is her work in Her that is getting awards attention. This is very unusual because she herself, i.e. er perfect sexy human self, is not in the movie, but her voice instead. But it's great to see actors getting recognition for their voice-work. She just got an award at the Rome Film Festival.
8) Fassy is going to star in a gangster film called Trespass Against Us. It will be directed by UK director Adam Smith, who has worked for things like Doctor Who and Skins, and the score will be created by The Chemical Brothers. The movie is "set across three generations of the rowdy Cutler family, who live as outlaws — hunting hares, ram-raiding stately homes and taunting the police. The family have always lived this way but, defying the expectations of his father, Chad Cutler is looking for a way out of the criminal life." Fassy will play Chad and I think will do a really good job. I'm kind of surprised he hasn't done more films like this tbh.
9) Robert Pattinson and Benedict Cumberbatch are going to star in Lost City of Z. The film is based on New Yorker science writer David Grann's book of the same name. Cumberbatch plays Lt. Colonel Percy Fawcett, a British archeologist and explorer who went missing in South America while hunting for the lost city of Z. The book follows the Fawcett expedition and tries to piece together what exactly happened to him and his team, which included Fawcett's son Jack and one of Jack's friends. RPatz will probably play Jack. It sounds like an intriguing project (Brad Pitt's name was attached to it formerly. Now he's producing). The Brit duo is also unique and I'm curious to see how they gel together.
10) Wes Anderson made a short film for Prada starring Jason Schwartzman!
12) Trailers- The Maleficient teaser looks a little half-baked, although it does give us it's two most important aspects of the film-Angelina Jolie as the titular character and Elle Fanning as Aurora. Jolie looks and sounds amazeballs, and if anyone can make me not hate Aurora, it's Fanning. The Wind Rises has a very pretty trailer out and I am really looking forward to it. It looks as lovely and poignant as all the Miyazaki that I have seen. The Devil's Knot looks quite intriguing. I have only seen the first half of the first Paradise: Lost documentary, so it will be interesting to see how the material is treated in this film. Plus, good cast. Speaking of, Muppets Most Wanted looks awesome! I SPOT HIDDLES! I'm really excited about this one. I absolutely adored the first film. Oh God, Noah :/ :/ (See what I did there). But seriously, I don't know how to feel about this film. On one hand, I want to trust Aronofsky and his vision, but on the other hand, there is Russel Crowe and his face that makes me sick for whatever reason. And the material and the way the trailer seems to be treating it does not pique my interest at all. Divergent trailer is meh. I'm just all-round meh about this film. Mehhh. There are two trailers I really loved and are my king of trailers in this post. One is Nymphomaniac. This will be some batshit crazy stuff but lord help me, I'm intrigued. The second is the teaser to The Raid 2: Berandal. THAT'S HOW YOU MAKE A TEASER, PEOPLE!! So fucking awesome.
13) Finally, with "The Day of the Doctor" almost upon us, let's all listen to Sir Ian McKellen's words of wisdom about the show-
Re: Matt Smith- Never knew Sir Ian and I would have so much in common.
DO WEE DOOOOOOOOOO! HAPPY DOCTOR WHO 50TH EVERYONE! ALLONS-Y FOR NOW!
In this episode, Mette, Sofia and I look at some classic film noirs to celebrate Noirvember that has been started by the awesome Marya Gates. Listen as we discuss our favourite cynical morally conflicted heroes, the untrustworthy dames in their lives, the beautiful low-key lit black and white and everything else noir.
I must also apologise here for sounding very dazed throughout the episode. As you will find out when you listen, I was recording after a very hectic week. Apologies to all.
Contents:
0:19- Chick-chatter
2:57- Trailer
3:19- Interesting Movie of the Fortnight
22:05- The chicks discuss The Maltese Falcon (1941)
35:53- The chicks discuss Sweet Smell of Success (1957)
48:07- The chicks discuss Sunset Blvd. (1950)
1:16:28- Plugs and Goodbyes
Music:
Artie Shaw "Nightmare"
The Velvet Underground "Femme Fatale"
Jim Sturgess "Across The Universe"
Follow us at: facebook.com/acrosstheuniversepodcast Write to us at: acrosstheuniversepodcast@gmail.com Find us on iTunes: search for Across the Universe Podcast Download episodes from: Our Dropbox page
