Film News 09/07/12

Michael Fassbender, my Liebling, is set to star in the movie adaptation of the popular game, "Assassin's Creed"! I haven't played it myself but I get the general idea and who better to play a dark, troubled, menacing character than Fassbender aka the young Magneto?

For more info see this blastr article!

Alien vs Fairytale

I had a bit of a Charlize Theron marathon this extended Jubilee weekend, catching "Snow White and the Huntsman" on Saturday and finally getting to see the "Alien" prequel "Prometheus" this Monday! After a slow few weeks in the cinema it was definitely a treat, and though it can perhaps be argued that neither film quite reached their full potential, I thoroughly enjoyed both and will definitely be watching both again.

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

SWATH follows the much repeated story of Snow White, from the day her mother pricks her finger and sheds three drops of blood onto the snow - inspiring her desire for a daughter with lips red as blood, skin white as snow and hair black as ebony - to the conflict between White and her evil stepmother. However, this film adds background and a few plot twists of its own. The main appeal of SWATH - other than Chris Hemsworth as the eponymous Huntsman of course - is that it is, I would argue, an original and innovative adaptation of a well-known fairytale. "Snow White" is one of the Grimm stories that has been most reproduced, but I believe it has perhaps the richest material of any of their best-known stories. It has allowed for some interesting interpretations, such as 1997's "Snow White: Tale of Terror", a decidedly horrific adaptation in which the seven dwarfs are seven thieves, multiple of whom attempt to assault Snow White.

In SWATH, Charlize Theron's evil queen, who marries White's father and takes over his kingdom when he is dead, is heavily fleshed out. Her character is developed more than any other, save perhaps the Huntsman, who had previously only played a minor role, usually only appearing in one scene, if at all. We are gradually shown excerpts from Ravenna's (the Queen) childhood and background, explaining her cruelty and strong desire to be the fairest of them all. The characters are given a far greater degree of depth than your traditional fairytale heroes and villains, transforming this into a more adult, complex story than the base elements of the tale allow. Questions that a more grown up and more modern audience might ask are answered in this relatively intelligent adaptation; questions such as how does this ridiculously evil - though admittedly hot - woman convince the King to marry her and subsequently assume control so easily and why is being the fairest of them all so important that she's willing to rip the heart out of a teenage girl? Other characters are also allowed more substantial personalities: the prince is (slightly) more than a handsome man who happens upon White. The two have a history, it is not merely love at first sight. And of course the Huntsman becomes a hero in his own right, not merely a brief threat to the heroine. In fact, the only lead figures who isn't bulked out appears to be Snow White, though perhaps she requires it less. The seven dwarfs are given a relatively smaller role, being replaced as White's main accomplices by the Hunstman, yet they too have a bit more character and motivation than in the Disney version or the original story. Furthermore, we are revealed an entire kingdom suffering under the Queen's cruel rule rather than just one young girl.

The cast is for the most part solid. Theron is always full of character and has mastered this role of evil queen. She has beauty but also strength and power. She is blonde and angelic at the same time as being creepy and dark. Furthermore, Theron's Queen is both cruel and capable of acts of horrendous brutality, while also allowing us to occasionally feel great sympathy for her. I found Kristen Stewart a perfectly acceptable lead, though the part doesn't really demand much of her. Her English accent passable, though this isn't my expertise, and she managed to avoid annoying me throughout, though one motivational speech she delivers to her army towards the end left me somewhat unconvinced. I do question however, whether she is truly "the fairest of them all" or even fairer than Charlize Theron I would have to question, but I believe she can pull off both a delicate nature and reasonable strength which are needed for this role. She is allowed to mope for almost the entire film so the character suits her well enough. Hemsworth is perfectly believable as the Huntsman, large and powerful and grizzly. I think he is a fine actor, looks aside. He is full of charisma and great at comedy - as he showed us in Thor - but can also convey sadness, desperation and anger. Sam Clafin is effectively a new Orlando Bloom, though potentially a better actor. He is the typical dreamy Prince Charming, with absolutely no physical appeal to me but a sweetness and likability which I'm sure will land him many similar roles.

The visuals are what the films has most been praised for and many have claimed that it has sacrificed plot in the quest for mesmerising imagery and I have to agree to an extent. Some of the costumes are incredibly cool for a start. Ravenna is definitely the most aesthetically impressive character, bearing one robe of black feathers which morphs with her into a flock of crows. The multiple scenes of her aging - as she exerts herself with magic - and regaining youth - as she sucks it out of young maidens - look particularly freaky and cool!The film is full of gothic/horror imagery, such as the Queen immersing herself in a bath of milk and of course the image most associated with this story, the blood red apple on the snow white ground. This story definitely offers many opportunities for elaborate scenery, such as the dark forest and all its ghosts and ghoulies, and the film does appear to want to present us with as many impressive and gorgeous sets as possible, perhaps putting less emphasis on the story which is rushed in a few parts, such as the battle at the end. The potential is definitely here for a fantastic film, but unfortunately it doesn't quite deliver. Nevertheless, it was a very entertaining romp!

PROMETHEUS

"Premetheus" is generally classified as the prequel to "Alien", and it is a prequel in that it is set in the same universe and based around a mission funded by the Weyland Corporation, which pops up in the old Alien and even the Predator franchises, constantly attempting to secure the Alien creature as a weapon. However, this film does not involve a battle between humans and the Alien villains from its predecessors. In this movie, we see a group of scientists on a space mission to discover the origins of man. They land on a planet which they believe holds some of the answers to life's great questions and encounter multiple obstacles and enemies.

Many reviews are giving the general impression that "Prometheus" is a bit of a disappointment, a so-so movie. I personally enjoyed it immensely, though I must concede it is not as good a film as "Alien" or indeed "Aliens" and it definitely lacks in the horror and suspense departments in comparison! Yet several of the film's components make it a good film in my books: like SWATH, it too can boast fantastic aesthetics and effects; there is a solid plot line revolving around the mystery of the origins of man; the cast is pretty impressive, including my actor of the year Michael Fassbender, my period drama love Rafe Spall, and the Swedish "Girl With The Dragon Tattoo" star Noomi Rapace, a growing favourite of mine; and of course, the all important "weehhhr, weehhrr" noise played on all adverts and at the film's climax!

The original beast!

I can see why hard core "Alien" fans might be disappointed, as this is not your typical Alien film. The monsters after whom the original film was named are not the villains in this piece, though there are clear parallels between the horrors encountered in "Prometheus" and those in its predecessor. No enemy in this film can claim to be anywhere near as terrifying as the Alien, which I believe is one of the most original and scariest creatures ever created in film. Nor does "Prometheus" create the masterful suspense which made its forerunners, especially "Alien", such brilliant horror films and thrillers. I barely jumped throughout the film but that doesn't mean I wasn't at times scared and unnerved by what was in front of me. This film is a 15 for a reason, though I would perhaps class it more as an adventure/thriller than a pure horror film.

That said, this is a cleverly devised film with a brilliant special effects team behind it. Some of the shots are incredibly beautiful, for example the opening scene which spans across a planet we presume is Earth, its countryside, its mountains and lakes, ending with an amazing and imposing shot of a waterfall. The ship (Prometheus) itself is incredibly impressive and scenes such as its landing on the mysterious planet where the giant head temple is found look amazing and are brilliant examples of how far special effects have come in the past decade or so. This is a fun, exciting film, both due to visuals and plot. At no point in its 2 hours and 4 minutes is there a lull, for this film is about solving mysteries and answering questions and so it carries a pretty dense plot, perhaps rushed at times if anything.


The cast is impressive, we have all noticed this, but does it deliver? As with most ensemble casts, some elements play only small roles, when some of us would perhaps like to see more of them: Rafe Spall for example, or even Idris Elba. That said, Elba does ooze cool in this film, as he has in every film or TV show I've ever seen him in. Noomi Rapace is playing an English archaeologist, Elizabeth Shaw, whose findings spark the film's mission to outer space. Rapace was brilliant in "the Girl with the Dragon Tatttoo" and I believe she is well cast here, in a role which requires extreme emotions - in many ways completely unlike the sullen, inexpressive Lisbeth -  excitement, fear, grief, and she is clearly capable of emitting great strength and presence. Theron is always great, though unfortunately this role demands very little from her. I would say the stand out star is Michael Fassbender, not because he is one of my favourite actors and I love everything he does, but because he has the most challenging, interesting role: the android, David. David is the predecessor of all the more advanced androids we have experienced in the earlier "Alien" films. I won't list them here incase it proves a spoiler for some of you, but you should really have watched these films by now unless you're too young! David is programmed by the Weyland Corporation to assist all of Prometheus' passengers on their voyage, bu as always, the android's motives seem suspect. He is incredibly intelligent but has not been programmed to feel emotions. There are so many layers to this both sympathetic and yet unsettling character. He definitely stole the show for me and I think the film is almost worth it for his performance alone.

Go see Prometheus if you enjoy adventures, thrillers and mysteries, and if you desire a little more background to the Aliens and their movies. The well-known monsters are not really a part of this film, but not are they completely irrelevant. For the most part this is a film about mankind, nonetheless, it is set in space and it is aware that it is part of a wider franchise.

I also had the great pleasure of seeing the new "Dark Knight Rises" and "The Amazing Spider-Man" trailers both in 3D before "Prometheus" and now I'm ridiculously excited for both, possibly even more for "Spider-Man"! Though I'm not usually too bothered about 3D, I do think it worked well in multiple shots in "Prometheus" and I am very tempted to see "Spider-Man" in 3D for the moments when he swings through New York's immense structures. Batman and Spider-Man will hopefully be two franchises which do live up to the hype this summer!

Film News
Apparently a "Snow White and the Huntsman" sequel is already being planned and discussed, as long as this one can generate enough revenue to justify it of course.

2012

Do you like the title? Eh, eh? It's still a film title, aren't I clever? Anyway, this blog shall be about the films I am most looking forward to in 2012 - I also have an appropriately matching poll on my blog at the moment, but that won't be there forever, whereas this post will!

Anyway, the line-up for 2012's blockbusters is insane! It's like Hollywood tapped inside my brain, fished out all my favourite things - Superheroes? check!, specifically Spider-Man and Batman? check! Christopher Nolan? check! The Lord of the Rings? sort of check! Chris Hemsworth? check, check! - and threw them left right and center at different production companies and directors until the following glorious ensemble of movies was created!

1. Avengers Assemble

   It's already out, but boy haven't we been waiting long for this one? It's only May but I can already say with relative confidence that this will be in 2012's top 10, as will the following films on this list I hope.
   I went to see this for a second time in 3D on Friday and I do actually believe that in some places it is an improvement.The vortex opened by the Tesseract is pretty cool in 3D, as is much of the final battle scene on the streets of New York. I also had the pleasure of seeing adverts for not one but two more films from this list: "Snow White and the Huntsman" and "Prometheus", as well as the trailer for "Dark Shadows", which also has strong potential to be a brilliant blockbuster!

2. The Amazing Spider-Man

    I loved Sam Raimi's original Spider-Man franchise with Toby Maguire and I believe the shots and special effects showing the web-slinger swing his way through Manhattan are still some of the coolest and most thrilling scenes in ay super-hero movie. That said, I have been pulled in by the allure of Marc Webb's (appropriate name right?) revamp, starring the incredibly talented and charismatic Andrew Garfield and the beautiful and hilarious Emma Stone. I love the dark twist, though that may be very unoriginal of me, but I'm hoping that this Spider-Man will be to Raimi's what Nolan's Batman was to Burton's: dare I say it? Gritty and dark!

3. The Dark Knight Rises

   Anyone out there who didn't love "The Dark Knight" is probably not the sort of person who's going to read my thoughts on films and any super-hero fan worth their salt is by now getting rather desperate to see this latest installment in Nolan's Batman series. 
  However, the build up to this film began so long ago and expectations have been so high that it's getting to the point where people are asking if it can really ever live up to all the hype. I say, if anyone can achieve such a film, it's Christopher Nolan.
   Batman is one of my favourite super-heroes (second to Spider-Man funnily enough). He faces perhaps the best villains of any hero franchises and holds one of the best back-stories (up there with Spider-Man again). There is a rich abundance of Batman history and characters that should mean that Nolan can't have run out of steam and won't be reproducing a Batman film we've seen before. He's brought us multiple new characters and faces: Bane, who is a completely different breed of villain to characters such as Ra's Al Ghul ("Batman Begins") or the Joker or Two-Face ("The Dark Knight"). Added to this we have Hathaway's Catwoman (or Selina Kyle), who should mix things up a bit with her ambivalent alliances and other additions such as Gordon-Levitt's policeman John Blake and Cotillard's Miranda Tate, of whom little is still known. This could be the best film of the year (bar "the Hobbit" perhaps) if Nolan achieves its potential.

4. The Hobbit

   Since I was 11, "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy has remained on the top of my film list. Until I die, no matter what technological advancements the movie industry sees, even if they manage to resurrect Heath Ledger and he and Chris Hemsworth do a buddy cop movie, LOTR will always be a perfect film in my eyes.
   It has what is probably the best story ever told at its center, some of the best set pieces of any film ever and an ensemble cast that cannot be beaten, even by "Avengers Assemble".
   Now, almost 10 years after "The Return of the King" left our screens, we are being presented with an additional not one but TWO movies to savour and love. And what makes this that bit more perfect is that "the Hobbit" ended up being directed by the man who brought us the originals. Is there any way this film could be anything but awesome? I'd be amazed if Peter Jackson managed that.

5. Prometheus

   The "Alien" saga is  a classic, we all know this, and there could be an argument for it holding some of the greatest horror films and thrillers of all time.The alien itself I would class as being the best, most original and most stylistically perfect movie monster ever. There are so many levels to it: The monster itself, the eggs, the face-huggers, the different forms the alien can take, the acid blood, etc. It's so well thought through. And many argue that Ridley Scott's entry, the first film in the saga, remains the most frightening. It creates suspense and oozes horror better than any other film I've seen.
   This new installment is still a bit mysterious to us as it would appear that Earth's heroes face a different foe, but one that we all presume must hold some link to the eponymous alien creature. And I believe that is this film's greatest asset at the moment. It is perhaps the film that has gauged my curiosity more than any other this year. Even after the new trailer, with lengthier clips and more dialogue, we still have no idea really what's going on and I really, really want to know!
P.s. What a cast ay? Michael Fassbender, Noomi Rapace, Idris Elba and Rafe frikkin' Spall!

6. Snow White and the Huntsman

   I guess this year everyone's noticed the oddity that is two Snow White films turning up at once. There have of course been other adaptations since the classic Disney version in 1937, like "Snow White: A Tale of Terror" in 1997 or that random TV version with Lana from "Smallville". But these few and scattered attempts have spanned over seventy years and now we have two such films coming out within a few months of each other!
   "Snow White and the Huntsman" has seemed to me destined to be the greater film (as opposed to "Mirror Mirror") from the word go. Once again, the director has chosen the dark, sinister path that has made some of this decades most popular franchises. There is a far greater focus here on battles and good versus evil, on the sadistic nature of the queen and the struggle of Snow White to become an empowered young woman than on the traditional fairy tale romance of "boy saves weak girl in need". There is a prince but from what I can tell he forms a very small part of the story. The seven dwarfs, sorry, make that eight here, also seem to play a relatively small role. In fact, one could argue that this film barely represents the traditional children's story we're all so familiar with. Then again, that's not necessarily a bad thing.
   We all enjoy a fresh new take on a well-known tale. Christopher Nolan's Batman did so well because it was an incredibly modernised interpretation of a character who has seen many portrayals in film, TV and literature. If this Snow White is to really capture our attention and stick in our memories, it has to be something new. Also, I'm very happy with the focus on the Huntsman as he is played by Thor (OK, Chris Hemsworth, but here he's clearly just being a dark-haired Thor) and carries far more appeal than Sam Claflin's (bleh) Prince. I'm also hoping that there will be less focus on this "fairer than them all" business, as I don't think that I could sit through two hours of people telling me that not only is Kristen Stewart hotter than Charlize Theron (mmhmmm....), but that she is fairer than them all!

In summary, 2012 is gonna be off the hook!!!

An Unusual Mind

Before I say anything else, I have to make a retraction on this blog (how serious, ay?). I believe a few posts a go, when discussing David Cronenberg's films, I stated that he had made 2004's "Crash", the one about racism and a car crash, but I have since realised that his film named "Crash" was the 1996 version with James Spader and Holly Hunter about car crashes and sexuality. I do apologise.

So, I was pretty off with my predictions for the BAFTAs. Basically, all of them seem to have gone to "The Artist" (Best Film, Best Director, Best Actor,...), which I haven't seen, so my judgement was obviously not well backed. I cannot believe it won Best Original Screenplay, as was said when the award was received, you wouldn't think a silent film requires one, but logically it must do. I did predict that "The Artist" might win Best Director, but did not realise the amazing success it would be. I guessed right that Meryl would win best actress, and I'm sure she is incredibly deserving of it, from what I've see of her amazing Thatcher imitation, but I think everyone could have predicted that victory. "Shame" won nothing unfortunately, though Fassbender turned up, looking handsome as ever. The ONE candidate for the Orange Rising Star Award that I'm not really familiar with won, so obviously this was not my year for being in with the best films. I do genuinely believe that, despite having only seen "Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy" on the Best Film list, I have seen some amazing films this year, worthy of some significant recognition, such as "Shame", "Submarine", "Troll Hunter" and many more I'm sure.

I am very excited, however, to see Stephen Fry back behind the wheel, presenting the BAFTAs as he was born to do. He is the reason it surpasses all other award shows, with his wit and humour, making several hours of sitting still and watch other people win awards, a jolly good romp. He is quintessentially British and so the perfect candidate to present the biggest British film awards of the year.

I missed my weekend-ly visit to the cinema this week because of party arrangements for my flatmates birthday - it was a smashing do I can tell you. I was hoping to go and see "Chronicle" on Saturday, but there is still time and I have managed to catch up on an important one this Monday evening, that is "A Dangerous Method"...

We had a scary moment when going to see this at the Showcase, when we noticed that written outside the cinema with all the film titles was "Dangerous Minds", but NOT "A Dangerous Method". When we went inside the board said "Dangerous" and that was all. As you can guess, everyone thought I had read the title wrong on the website. But then I have never heard of "Dangerous Minds" and was hoping the cinema had got it wrong. I am still not sure if the latter is the case, but what we ended up seeing was definitely "A Dangerous Method" and we sighed with relief when this title came up at the beginning of the credits. 

This is the story of Freud (Mortensen) and Jung's (Fassbender) relationship and how it went from friendship to rivalry, and the sexual relationship between Jung and one of his patients (Knightley). I approve very much of the casting for this film. As you know I am a big Fassbender fan, but I also love Keira Knightley and, well, who doesn't love Aragorn? All three performed their parts very well. Knightley's was probably the most challenging, having to play a mentally disturbed young woman with all sorts of ticks and outbursts. Mortensen impressed me greatly, though it's harder to pin down why. His performance was very subtle, but I believe it is that he seems to have adopted a completely new person - this may largely be down to the new nose he seems to have been given for the part. The scenery is also perfectly chosen, swapping between two beautiful settings, Switzerland and Vienna. Cronenberg makes the most of the natural beauty as well as of the gorgeous architecture of early 20th century Europe.

It is very interesting subject matter and shows you into some of the most important foundations for modern psychology. Cronenberg gives us a good, detailed contrast between the theories of Freud and Jung, he does not sacrifice the science and psychology for sex, which actually is not as prominent or superfluous in the film as the hype might have you believe. Sex is merely used to show us the issues which surround Sabine's (Knightley) madness. The film, however, has to span over about 15 years I believe, so one can be transformed, just by a cut from scene to scene, several years forward, which can make the film feel a bit rushed, though at the same time, the lengthy period covered makes the film appear longer than it is. It is by no means dull, but perhaps the pacing is a bit off.

I also caught up on "Drive" this Monday afternoon, another in the category of Best Film for the BAFTAs. Again, I wasn't too anxious to see this in the cinema, but what a fantastic film, I must admit. At the end I was completely drawn in, hooked, and I don't know if it's the fantastic final scene or the music, but something clicked in me as the film reached the end.

This is the story of a professional stuntman, with a skill for driving, who earns money on the side as a get away driver and falls in love with a married mother, dragging himself into robbery, murder and mob revenge. First of all I have to rave about the music, because it was superb. It is subtle and understated, like much of the film, especially Gosling's performance, but it is powerful. Often there is just a continuous, simple beat, whose pace changes with the pace of the film. This beat caught me straight away, it is dull and thudding, intense and immediate like the film, and it seemed to me almost as if the film had a pulse. Perhaps the pulse of the Driver (Gosling).The pace of the beat sets the mood of the scene perfectly. The sound track, like much of the film, is very 80s. The pop songs used remind very much of that era, they are often quiet and beautiful, frequently juxtaposed against a heavily violent scene. This creates an eerie atmosphere and emphasises the subtlety in the Driver's actions and manner.

The lighting is also beautifully crafted. Most of the scene is set in relative darkness, often with dull, orange-y, fiery lighting, giving the impression that the sun is setting. It is very much an evening based film. The Driver's face, and those of other characters, especially Irene (Carey Mulligan), is therefore usually in relative shadow, and it casts a still feeling on the film, reflecting his still personality. It also reflects the shadows over the Driver's identity. Where did he come from? What is his name? What is he really feeling under that frequently emotionless facade? The dull lighting also allows for many moments of highlighting just the Driver's intense eyes as he speeds through the night. All of Gosling's acting is done through subtle changes in his eyes and mouth. He has beautifully expressive eyes I have noticed.

Ryan Gosling is of course one of the big names of 2011, starring in "Drive", but also "Crazy, Stupid Love" and "The Ides of March", he's one to watch it would seem. As I have said, the acting all comes from his eyes and mouth. His character is very quiet, he barely speaks unless it is absolutely necessary, preferring to use slight nods or head-shakes, barely noticeable, to respond when he can. Watching the BAFTAs, I heard Gosling describe his character as half man, half machine, and when he meets Irene, the machine half is drawn the more out of him, leading to some incredibly violent scenes in the second half. Mulligan also masters this subtlety, managing to show the great emotion and turmoil her character is going through, without making much noise.

The film is very stylised. The credits appear very 80s, like the music, in the odd, hand-written font, and the bright pink colouring, as if you're watching a Brat Pack film. Everything, the music, the settings, the lighting, to the font of the credits at the beginning and end, is chosen to exact detail.

It is an incredibly moving film, though I don't think you realise you are being moved straight away. The Driver's relationship with Irene and her son is incredibly complex. He appears to show no emotion, but is clearly very protective of the boy, he puts his life on the line to protect them, and he is incredibly loyal to his boss, Shannon, played by the wonderful and lovely Bryan Cranston, aka Hal from "Malcolm in the Middle". Despite the horrific acts of brutality which the Driver deals out, despite his apparent lack of emotion, there is something incredibly beautiful about this man. Though he barely ever gets excited or raises his voice during all of the terrifying events, when the ones he loves are hurt, he shows true anger. This film must be watched, if for no other reason than the terrifying penultimate scene on the beach at night.

Shame Fassbender!

My last poll on Heath Ledger vs. Joseph Gordon-Levitt was a 50/50 split! In conclusion: They're both AMAZING!

How many posts is this now which have Fassbender at the center? I know, I have a problem and many people are probably sick of it, but seriously, you have to check out the film I am about to mention...

I watched "Fish Tank" last night. What a film! I've been meaning to watch it for ages now. It won so many prizes, the Jury Prize at Cannes 2009, the Bafta for Best British Film, and people keep recommending it to me. Then again, you know, it's one of those films where you think about watching it and are like "I'm not in the mood to be depressed" or can find no one in such a mood to watch it with you. But it definitely paid off and I genuinely believe I can call it one of my favourite films now.

"Fish Tank" is about a teenage girl, Mia (Katie Jarvis), who lives in an East London council estate, whose father is absent for an unmentioned reason, whose mother (Kierston Wareing) is frequently drunk,who spends much of her time alone, drinking, seeming to have isolated herself from her only friends. She swears heavily and in one of the earliest scenes nuts a girl in the face! But Mia also is an aspiring, talented hip-hop dancer, who sneaks away to a deserted council flat to practice her moves, who (literally) tries to free a starving horse from its chains, who clearly just wants someone to say a few nice words to her. I believe this is the main message of the film. Mia's mother, Joanne, is clearly very unhappy, she pushes around her two daughters and is foul-mouthed in front of even her youngest (who must be about 10). In turn, the two girls are aggressive and adopt bad language naturally. Then Connor (Michael Fassbeder) appears, the mother's new boyfriend, he's handsome, charming, friendly and good with the girls. Joanne is happier and so kinder to her daughters and in turn the youngest, Tyler, begins to behave more like a happy teenage girl and even Mia at times is sociable. Unhappy people find it difficult to be affectionate or sympathetic, but they are often unhappy because they have no one treating them humanely.

Things are not so simple with Connor however, and this is another clever trick of the film. Though he is amiable and generous, especially towards Mia, there are clear signs throughout that his treatment of the 15-year-old is not as innocent as it should be. The director (and writer), Andrea Arnold, seems to want us to judge Connor's behaviour, but then never makes it easy for us to do so. Is he all bad? Are things really so black and white. People definitely aren't and Arnold understands this and this is what she wants to show us. We see a better side of Mia's mother and sister when they are treated with affection, we see that our initial judgements of the family are unfair. Maybe judging Connor is not so straightforward either.

The film is brilliantly shot. Camera angles frequently change to show you events from a new and interesting perspective. In one scene, Mia films Connor changing his shirt and dolling himself up: we go from a head-high shot of Mia with the camera to a shot from below, as Mia lies down, from between her arms, almost from the cameras perspective as we watch Connor. We are seeing what she sees and how SHE perceives this new man in her life. The lighting is also meticulously chosen. A friend I was watching it with pointed this out specifically in a scene in which Mia dances for Connor. It is dark outside, the lights are off in the house, all we have is the streetlight from outside creating a shadow in the room. We watch the silhouette of Mia, the dark, expressionless form, clearly depicting the tension and inappropriate sexuality of the scene.

All the performances are flawless. Kate Jarvis, who plays Mia, must have been about 18 when she filmed this, very young and depicting flawlessly someone even younger. At no point in the film do you doubt her authenticity as she conveys anger; frustration; hope; suffocation - in this fish tank she lives in - as she knows there's something bigger out there for her; desire for a much older man. This is not an easy task for a first time actress, spotted by a casting agent while arguing with her boyfriend at a train station, and no one can doubt the beauty of this performance. Fassbender has a challenging role, making himself likeable while also incredibly suspicious. You know really that his intentions are not pure, but he seems to bring happiness to an unhappy family. He plays perfectly in that field of grey which we cannot judge. Kierston Wareing is always brilliant, I first saw her in Martina Cole's "The Take", as the beautiful but disturbed and deeply depressed Jackie. Though not one of the two main roles in "Fish Tank", she conveys depression and despair, in some cases happiness and hope, more naturally than many other actresses with her looks. There is also a brilliant performance from the young Tyler (Rebecca Griffiths).

If I have not convinced you yet with this length appraisal, I don't know what will. OK, one more thing: I know I shouldn't be noticing this in this particular film, but 32 year old Michael Fassbender is one of the most beautiful things I have ever seen. His first appearance, in the kitchen wearing only jeans, shows off his... lets say impressive body. While watching it I invented a new - well, new is a strong word - to describe the effect this actor has on women: He leaves you "Fassbendered". That plus his star performance should get any Fassbender fan interested. By the way, do we fans have a name? Can we be Fanbenders? Or does that just sound wrong?

Film news:
Having created a Twitter account I'm getting all the good film news! And I read this little treat yesterday. Jesse Eisenberg and Mia Wasikowska are to star in Richard Ayoade's next directorial venture, "The Double", based on Dostoyevsky's novella of the same name. It is the story of a man whose life is shaken greatly by the appearance of his doppleganger.A story of great loneliness. The film is to start shooting this summer and I already can't wait for its release.

On other news, for comic book and comic book film fans, there are to be prequel graphic novels written to Alan Moore's "Watchmen". A series of books focusing on individual characters, Ozymandius, the Comedian, Nite Owl, also one on the Minutemen and more. It is likely that Alan Moore will not agree with this, I'm not sure how I feel about someone else trying to take over from the genius himself, but I am intrigued to see the stories and I shall secretly hope that more films will be made!

I am going to try to keep up to date within this blog on what films are coming out in the next few weeks (that I think worth mentioning), so that you and I can both make sure we're on top of the important dates!


February 3rd
Martha Macy May Marlene 
(I have always, not so secretly, bee a massive Olsen twin fan, so I am curious to see this new, third Olsen acting, in a role which has been highly critically acclaimed!)


February 10th
A Dangerous Method
Star Wars: The Phantom Menace (3D)
The Woman in Black
(Daniel Radcliffe in a period drama? Hell yeah!)

It's A Wonderful Day For Film

This day was going to be aaaaall about my university work, but instead I have learned some very interesting things from my friend IMDB! This post is completely focused on film news (though I did today watch "The Diary of Anne Frank" (1957) but I can't be bothered to talk about that right now.

Firstly, a little more Fassbender news. Have you had enough yet? I hope not, because as I said, this is HIS year. I have discovered he is making a film with BRAD PITT and CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, called "Twelve Years a Slave", directed by, surprise surprise, Fassbender's 2nd biggest fan (after me), Steve McQueen. The film isn't set to come out until 2013, little information is known at the moment and these are the only actors as of yet linked to the project, but aren't they enough? Luckily, the film is based on the book of the same title, so we are not at a loss for insight on the subject matter. The general description is a story set in the mid-1800s of a man living in New York, Solomon Northup (who also wrote the book), who is kidnapped and forced into slavery in the deep south. Yes, this is almost word for word from IMDB and any other non-detailed source you read and yes, the film isn't due for release for a year yet, but it's definitely something to get excited about, especially if you want more on the Fassbender-McQueen collaboration.

Secondly, the man I probably mention second most, after Fassbender, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has a cracking year ahead of him, and many films I don't believe I have mentioned coming out. He has five set for this year alone: "The Dark Knight Rises", "Premium Rush", "Looper", "Lincoln", and "Django Unlimited". Of course, I have told you about the first and last of these, but I want to give some details on the ones inbetween. "Lincoln" excites me the most, in which Levitt plays Abraham Lincoln's son, Robert Todd Lincoln. The film is about Lincoln's struggle against slavery and stars... dun dun dun!! One of my all-time favourites, Daniel Day-Lewis as Lincoln himself. Watch this space for some BRILLIANT acting. If anyone can completely personify someone else's being, its Day-Lewis. "Looper" also looks to be full-on entertainment. Partly because the synopsis is so frikkin' cool: a killer who works for the mob of the future discovers one of his targets is his future self. And partly because that killer is Gordon-Levitt and his future self is none other than Bruce Willis, cool guy extraordinaire!

I hope this has wet your appetites! I know they're all going on my list of must-sees.

Treasure - the "Lonely" - Island

I got three films in this week, not bad, could be better, but there's SO MUCH work to do at the moment for my degree. I went to see "Haywire" as promised in the cinema, and I also watched "Hot Rod" for a second time this Friday and "American Pie 2" (I've only seen no.1 before) Saturday evening.

I shall first of all consider "Haywire". This is the story of a private firm which hires out black ops super soldiers. Our heroine, Malory Kane (Gina Carano), is one of said super soldiers. Betrayed by her firm and framed for murder, she goes on the run, beating the s**t out of every Hollywood A-lister who tries to stop her. And many do! In an interview in Total Film I read that Carano, for whom "Haywire" is her first acting experience, until now known as "the face of Mixed Martial Arts", was seen by Steven Soderbergh being generally bad-ass and skilled on SBS (Sorry Bro: Sports) and Soderbergh basically went "I want to make a film about that lady!" You can definitely see this in the final product.

The film is basically one and a half hours of fights and impressive stunts, wrapped in a very suspect plot. Carano does all her stunts and she is pretty impressive. She thoroughly pulverises Channing Tatum,  Michael Fassbender and Ewan McGregor, and those are just the famous ones!  Add to that she is a very sexy woman and does not perform badly as a first-time actress, this is definitely her film. The plot on the other hand is a bit loose. You're not really sure who, what or why when it comes to the double-crossing behind the entire chain of events for most of the film. Why did they kill that guy and frame her for it? Who are all these men in Dublin that Fassbender is talking to? Why do they pick Kane to place the blame on? It is vaguely explained at the end, but even then the plot cracks are not sufficiently sealed. The film was not as entertaining as I hoped it would be, specifically because when Kane is not kicking ass, there's nothing to hold onto or think about, that said, the fights and the chase sequences, through Barcelona, Dublin, New York, and so on, are well done and keep you entertained until the end.

 Now, on to "Hot Rod"! I don't believe I have yet revealed my huge crush on Andy Samberg, but the man is amazing! I have much love for "the Lonely Island", especially their songs "Mother Lover", "Boombox" and "I Just Had Sex". For me, they form the only funny part of SNL (Saturday Night Live), which, despite the participation of amazing comedians such as Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Bill Hader, etc., constantly disappoints (I'll admit, I've only watched two full episodes, but they did not make me laugh once).

"Hot Rod" stars Andy Samberg as Rod Kimble, a wannabe stunt man, who is pretty awful at every stunt he tries, probably the least bright bulb in the entire bulb factory, but incredibly endearing and lovable. When his stepfather needs a heart transplant but can't afford the $50,000 it costs, Rod steps up and offers to raise the money by jumping 15 school buses on his motorbike. He is constantly trying to seek his stepfather's (Ian McShane) approval, which involves trying to beat him in a fight and his logic is "I'm going to make you better, so I can punch you in the face!" Rod's brother is played by fellow Lonely Islander Jorma Taccone and the film is directed by the third and final Islander, Akiva Schaffer, and the trio's style is firmly stamped all over the project.

The plot of this film, like that of "Haywire", matters very little really. It is merely a framework within which Akiva Schaffer can place his unique and odd comedic clips, for example, my favourite scene in the ENTIRE film, in which Rod, out of the blue, starts pronouncing all words beginning with "w-", "hw-":

This sort of joke, completely random and dropped straight away after it is used, is one of many such jokes that run through the film. Of course, most comedies don't have a a plethora of running jokes, such concepts are not as common as of-the-moment  gags, but the comedy in this film seems more random and quintessentially "Lonely Island". It works fantastically for my funny bone. The entire screenplay is well written and each scene contains its own little comedic treasure, making the film almost a series of witty sketches. That said, the sweet characters and amusing concept of Rod wanting to save his stepfather's life, only so that he can then beat the shit out of him and prove his manhood, hold all of these sketches together and make it worthy of the title "feature film" and not merely a feature-length sketch show. If this hasn't convinced you that this is a must-see piece of tomfoolery, consider the additional cast members of Will Arnett, Danny McBride and Bill Hader. If they are the markers of a film you'd like, get on "Hot Rod".  

I think it would be appropriate this week to look at my Top 5 Comedies, don't you? (As usual, I will try to cover films I have not already discussed):

1. Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
"Dodgeball" is the story of small-time gym owner Peter La Fleur (Vince Vaughn), who must drum together a team of weak-bodied, but lovable losers to win a dodgeball competition with a $50,000 prize so that he can save his all-inclusive, caring gym: they are true underdogs! Their rivals are a team led by Globo-Gym owner White Goodman (Ben Stiller), an evil, idiotic, perverted ex-fatty. This and "Zoolander" are definitely two of my favourite, and what I consider to be the best-written, comedies I have ever seen. Though the latter was written by Ben Stiller and "Dodgeball" was not, their style is definitely the same and spawned such films as "Anchorman" and many other films starring Will Ferrell or Steve Carrell or Paul Rudd - none of which are as good I might add. "Dodgeball" has some of the best lines of any comedy ("Nobody makes me bleed my own blood"), some of the best performances (Stiller, Vaughn, Rip Torn, etc.) and it is consistent through to the end.

2. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
I love this film. It's so witty, what a fantastic script! It's an intelligent, dark detective story set in Hollywood, starring Robert Downey Jr. and Val Kilmer, who both own their roles. I must thank this film for helping revive RDJ's career and bringing him into my life. The plot is complex and gripping, the acting and the script are air-tight.

3. Heathers
A very dark comedy here, the story of high school girl Veronica (Winona Ryder): bored of the popular crew (the "Heathers") of which she is part, she accidentally turns to assisted murder when an (incredibly) attractive new student arrives (Christian Slater) with psychopathic tendencies and a liking for Veronica. It's dark but incredibly fun, well-performed, it has a unique style and really addresses teenage life, full of slang, image issues, bitchy popular girls and goofy popular guys.

4. I Love You Man
This is sooo much better than it should be. Can Paul Rudd do wrong? I think not. Does anyone NOT have a bit of a crush on him? Of course not, even my dad does. In "I Love You Man", Paul stars as Peter, a 30-something about to be wed, who realises that he has no male friends and so no best man. Of course, hilarious hijinks ensue. With a brilliant performance as well from the one and only, Mr Andy Samberg, as Peter's younger, gay brother. This film is "heart-warming" made flesh!

5. Clueless
Suuuch a good chick flick. One of the best, alongside "10 Things I Hate About You", "Easy A" and "Mean Girls", this is Jane Austen's "Emma" turned modern day high school drama. Much as I find Alicia Silverstone pointless, she nails the vapid, spoilt, yet caring Cher who enjoys setting all her friends up yet can't find a decent man for herself. Also starring Paul Rudd in the first role I saw him in, back when he was the film hunk,  this is a must for Rudd fans. Another brilliant script and heartwarming tale, no chick-flick lover can miss this, but neither can fans of good comedy.

Film news: Have you heard of the two new Snow White films to be released this year? First in March "Mirror Mirror: The Untold Adventures of Snow White" and then in June "Snow White and the Huntsman". The former stars Lily Collins as White and is a comedic take on the story, the dwarves being rebels enlisted to help White gain back the kingdom from the evil queen (Julia Roberts). Despite the fact that Kristen Stewart is to play White in the latter, it intrigues me more, probably because it appears to be a darker take on the story, and also largely because Chris Hemsworth is to play the eponymous Huntsman. It involves another quest to destroy the evil queen, this time with the Huntsman as White's ally.