I celebrated finishing Kazou Ishiguro's "Never Let Me Go" by watching the 2010 film. I'm gonna go ahead and state the obvious, the book is better. It isn't so much better that I sat in face palm for the entire 103 minutes. I felt instead like the film did a good job of capturing the "essence" of the novel while at the same time highlighting some of my favorite moments and scenes. My main complaint would be that the film plods along a little quickly, whereas the book moves slower, revealing the nuances of the plot slowly rather than dropping them mid gait. It's hard to sell someone on this film or book without giving too much away but I'm going to try.
It's a story told by Kathy H. about growing up at Hailsham with Tommy and Ruth. Hailsham is a school and residence for very special students. Essentially Hailsham prepares their students for their future. When the students leave Hailsham as young adults, they become carers before becoming donors. Carers are a sort of care-aid for the donors, and the donors essentially exist for the purpose of periodic organ harvesting for the remainder of their short lives. This bleak fate is not the forefront of the novel or film, its the complicated relationship between Kathy, Ruth and Tommy. The bonds, love etc between these three childhood friends becomes the sacrifice on behalf of medical progress rather than their actual physical bodies. The limited time in which the characters actually have to live is frustrating and heartbreaking, more heartbreaking is the time within that limited frame that they manage to waste and loose. Essentially the film and the book will break your heart, and despite the whole distopian aspect of the plot, it actually feels entirely too close to the finality, truth and reality of life.
Elia Kazan directed some of my absolute favorite old films such as : A Streetcar Named Desire, East of Eden, On the Waterfront and Baby Doll. He was blacklisted in the industry for testifying for the House Un-American Activities Committee and ratting out some of his fellow industry pals. One might argue that he didn't have a ton of choice in the matter. Either way it was this exile that allowed for his friendship with play-write Tennessee Williams to bloom, leading to some of his best work. He was a huge supporter of method acting and was known as an "actor's director" you can thank him for sharing the genius of Marlon Brando with the world.
I am rambling.
I was stoked to discover that Zoe Kazan, my new actress crush, was his granddaughter. You may remember her from her short bit (nude scene) in Revolutionary Road. She is also in the tv show that I have been dieing to watch, Bored to Death. Im going home to download The Exploding Girl asap.
Lately I've been feeling as though I have little to look forward to, particularly in a film realm. None of the releases lately have managed to illicit even an eyebrow raise from me. Today I decided that enough is enough and perused the apple trailers for some gooduns. I sorted through all the crap and came out with a few gems that tickled my fancy.
In no particular order...
Jane Eyre- March 2011
I really enjoyed reading Jane Eyre and I thought I was going to be bored out of my mind. Without giving too much away, I enjoyed the creepiness of the book. Essentially I'm referring to the "eeriness" of Mr. Rochester's house and his situation. I also rather like Mia Wishaiodahfoafaosfwhatsherface from Alice in Wonderland(though i detested that movie). I think she may turn out to be somewhat brilliant at acting. Dame Judi Dench is always a treat and I've loved Jamie Bell ever since Billy Elliott.
All Good Things- Dec 3
My life has been seriously lacking in Kirsten Dunst these past few years and I'm sure many will agree. The Virgin Suicides and Marie Antoinette are two films I adore and watch regularly to get my Dunst on. Also included would be Strike (Alternately titled All I Wanna Do, Interview with the Vampire and Eternal Sunshine). (and when I'm feeling super 13 again, Bring It On and Crazy/Beautiful). Pair this snaggle toothed honey with the ever puppy dog eyed Ryan Gosling and you have yourself a intrigued and slightly aroused Gillian. All perversions aside, this coupling should be just as awesome as the Levitt/Deschanel duo earlier in the year. This movie looks well filmed and riveting. It had me at "Based on true events".
Tron-Dec 17
I don't think I need to explain this one. It's not so much that I WANT to see it, I feel as though I HAVE TO. Too many hours spent watching Tron in high school getting squiffy to not give this next round a go.
Sucker Punch- March 2011
I'm a total sucker for these gritty overly gray HD nerd baiters. You're never quite sure if the depiction of women is supposed to be empowering or completely exploitative, though your always sort of leaning towards the latter. (and when you're really honest with yourself you kinda just don't care). My favorite part of Sin City was the team of badass hookers so I imagine this film sort of being a veritable "Badass Team of Hookers Big Day Out" sort of flick. I also saw copious amounts of dragons, swords, samurais, bewbs, fishnets, guns, explosions, fire and fighter planes so I feel as though my hands are somewhat tied on this one. I'm in, I'm in, I'm so freaking innnnnnnnnnnnnnn.
Biutiful
Another movie from Alejandro Gonzalez Inarritu, who is kind of a big deal, having directed and produced 21 Grams, Amores Perros and Babel. I can't really explain what makes me want to see this movie, other than my undying love for Javier Bardem (I'm a sucker for a roman nose). I feel like the synopsis on IMDB is sort vague "This is a story of a man in free fall. On the road to redemption, darkness lights his way. Connected with the afterlife, Uxbal is a tragic hero and father of two who's sensing the danger of death. He struggles with a tainted reality and a fate that works against him in order to forgive, for love, and forever." as is the trailer but in all the right ways that make me want to see it. I love those multiple seemingly disconnected plot lines and I'm especially stoked when they all come together in the end. (Crash 2004, amiright?)
Blue Valentine
I've been eagerly awaiting this movie since it was the talk of Sundance a million years ago (I am prone to exaggeration). Michelle Williams has come a long way since her days on Dawson's Creek, as has Ryan Gosling since his stints on Breaker High and Hercules. (Now if only Jimmy would hit it big) These two have been busting their little acting chops for a while now and they both seem to favor the smaller indie flicks over the blockbusters; I appreciate the actors who don't just choose the path of least resistance.
This is probably the movie I'm most excited for so I wish they would stop teasing me with the freaking COMING SOON at the end of the trailer. WHEN BLUE VALENTINE?? WHEN?!?!?!?
Restless
I love Gus Van Sant. Sometimes he has a tendency to drag on a scene to the point of pretentiousness (Eff yew Last Days) but My Own Private Idaho, Drugstore Cowboy, Good Will Hunting, Elephant and Milk are some of my absolute favorite movies. I didn't love Paranoid Park but I did love this scene of skating the fullpipe.
Anyways, Mia Witiahsiodwhatsherface really is on a role this year, this film looks really awesome, sort of sad and oddly coherent for a van sant movie.
Black Swan
I'm really just sort of interested in seeing Natalie Portman go batshit crazy. It looks confusing, crazy and a little sexy?
Never Let Me Go
I'm not entirely sure what this is about but my cousin Erika told me to watch and I do what she tells me because she is freaking rad. Also I really love Carey Mulligan.
Also Mark Romanek directed One Hour Photo and that film was pretty oddball and awesome so I'm psyched.
Anyways, there you have it. I feel like my life has purpose again.
I went to see "Let Me In", for a review of this movie please refer to my earlier review of "Let the Right One In" since they are EXACTLY the same. http://cquilty.blogspot.com/2009/02/let-right-one-in.html The original is still far superior but they did a damn fine job of copy and pasting the entire film, though somehow in the process some of the atmosphere was still lost. I was sad to see the cat scene go, and I didn't like the c.g'd Abbey climbing and jumping, she just looked like Gollum.
I've also been checking out the film series that runs every Wednesday night. I usually had to miss these movies due to class but I am a liberated girl now so I piled in with all of Chilliwack's senior citizens to catch the weekly movies. Last week was "The Kids Are All Right". I will watch anything with Julianne Moore so I was down to watch her as 1/2 of lesbian couple rearing two children who are curious about their sperm donor dad (played by the always dreamy, Mark Ruffalo). This movie was especially naughty with lots of cussing and lesbian encounters so I was pretty tickled to see the haughty Chilliwack society slowly exiting the film. Lesbians, BOO! The movie was actually pretty funny and charming. The cast was astounding but I did have a few issues with the plot. Some of the consequences just didn't match with the acts themselves, things went from light to downright depressing pretty quick and I felt mostly confused. Julianne Moore's North Carolina accent seemed to be slipping in quite a bit making her even more adorable than usual. I never have seen such an impressive cluster of mouth breathers in one film either. Close your damn mouth people! (I'm looking at you Ruffalo!)
Here is a movie one should procure immediately, legally or otherwise. People are always listing Labyrinth and The Dark Crystal as their favorite childhood movies but those films can go pound sand because Ridley Scott puts Jim Henson to shame. Legend has it all: goblins, unicorns, dwarfs, elves, fairies, tom cruise (pre-dental work) in a mowgli-esque loin dress, Tim curry, devils, love, death, magic. Mia Sara is Princess Lili, you may remember her as Ferris Bueller's hot girlfriend Sloane. She looks quite a bit like Jennifer Connelly's Sarah from Labyrinth but that old stick in the mud Sarah never wears anything this scandalous. That dress is practically showing her belly button! But you have to work it when you want to impress the gigantic Lord of Darkness played by Tim Curry (who is a way more unsettling Tranny than Bowie could ever be) Don't be fooled by how unusually jovial he looks in that picture, he is not a friendly fella. He is pretty much pure bad and wants to take over everything good and pure and make it evil. (Hence Princess Lili in that skanky dress) This movie is super pretty and ethereal while at the same time super scary and creepy. The super 80's soundtrack originally recorded by Tangerine Dream is also a real treat, prepare for lots of synth.
I've gone to see two films in the last forever, one I seriously enjoyed and the other bored me to tears. Good news first... I was simply tickled by the teen movie "Easy A". I love high school movies, they are basic, attractive and generally enjoyable. I would attribute a large part of the success of this film to Emma Stone. She is attractive, charming and funny. She's not unrealistically attractive or witty which makes her more accessible. It would have been tragic to see a Megan Fox type in this role. She's essentially a modern day Molly Ringwald (gotta love the gingers). Speaking of old Molly, John Hughs references abound in this movie, which is probably why I liked it so much. The plot is not terribly controversial, it pretty much debunks the whole "any publicity is good publicity" notion and supports the whole "gossip is bad" concept. Not really life changing stuff but provides fodder for an entertaining hour and a half. One really should watch this film in appreciation of Amanda Bynes extensive film career as she has since announced her retirement (via Twitter) from the film industry at the ripe old age of 24.
The Town could have used some of Emma Stone's adorable gingery lispiness because Ben Affleck's broody Boston schtick is getting olllllld. This film has all the elements of a good heist flick, car chases, shoot outs, close calls, explosions, but it has so much of these bank heist cliches that no moment feels climactic and it comes across like a pizza with way too many toppings that just slides off and burns your chin leaving you with nothing more than a humiliating facial wound. Also Blake Lively shouldn't be so hasty trying to get out of her "Gossip Girl" commitments because no one has told her that real acting is more than pouting, runny makeup and cleavage. Jeremy Renner pretty much played the same character he played in "The Hurt Locker", maniacal. I really didn't care about Affleck's whole wounded little boy story and when he went into a soul bearing monologue i found myself painfully aware of the fact that he was ACTING. This movie was definitely NOT worth the 10.25 I paid to see it at our local ANCIENT theater, the nibs were tops though...
