Last night, I invited my dear pal Linda over to pick a classic movie we could watch while eating tasty artery clogging pizza.
She chose "Gone with the wind".
and it went on for AGES.
It was so long! There was an intermission ( which I fast-forwarded) quickly followed by me having to "flip the disc".
The colours were gorgeous though. But the characters were awful. Especially that Miss Scarlett. She's a mean little minx. A selfish woman who got what was coming to her.
I can't see why this was labelled on the back as one of the greatest movies of all time. The characters are moaning, melodramatic women stuffed in tight corsets and huge fluffy gowns.
The only honour you could find was in a character named Melanie who is completley unselfish.
I don't know about this movie at all. But I doubt I will watch it any time soon, unless I decide to read it.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
part one of three: thingsI did recently that a terrible film student such as myself can be sufficiently proud of.
I did three things recently that a terrible film student such as myself can be sufficiently proud of.
1. FINALLY see Citizen Kane
2. Attend Tropfest.
3. Watch the Oscars (some of it)
Lets be clear, my ignorance has kept me from knowing a LOT of things. It still to this very day makes me weep into my pillow at night like a small malnourished child. (malnourished in matters of cinematic culture that is.)
From what I knew, through the sifting and gleaning of name dropping, lecturers and film lists...Citizen Kane is something of a GREAT FILM. It graces the lists of many influential lists and the lists of Film buffs
Citizen Kane was on one of my lists: Films I know I am supposed to have seen and loved because I wish to be considered somewhat of a cultured intellectual.
I approached the viewing of Citizen Kane with my mind blank. No, I was not tainted by the reading of blurbs! Nor was I was tainted by the affairs of history. I am honestly admitting. I knew not of Orson Welles, except his name was infuriatingly familiar. I prepared to be politically challenged in a way where anything remotely intellectual, and anything regarding politics challenges my mind to comprehend them. Politics bores me...intensely...so rarely do I delve into anything regarding politics, political history etc...
What the hell was this going to even be about?
The DVD cover told me 'Politics' . Cue audible groan by ignorant and terrible film student.
Some guy is standing behind a podium, his hand is outstretched in a manner that proclaims a sense of command, dare I say dictatorship, dare I say politics (more groaning). The backdrop behind him is his enlarged face, fearsome in my opinion.
I honestly though Citizen Kane was going to be about some man, a politician, obviously great.
From its ominous establishment, I was very confused and very intrigued. After a montage of elaborate castles and statues, a dying man whispering the words rosebud, a broken snow globe in some crazy place called Xanadu....all I could think about was fairy tales and Olivia Newton John.
Thats where I let my ignorance die....and my film buff inside me relish the visual imagery. When you watch Citizen Kane you see a tragic tale of a man who rose to immense power and wealth and isolated himself from his friends, his lovers and the world.
The little girl inside me LOVED it!
( And may I remind you, this is before I knew about the history!)
I have since learned that the film is way ahead of this time. That Orson Welles was a young prodigy who was somewhat of a rebel, incredibly successful at such a young age. He challenges real life media tycoon William Randolp Hearst in a portrayal that sought to get the movie banned and pretty much wiped off the face of the earth. Ah, It truly is beautiful when you discover that history teaches you that art can never really die....and that life is cruelly ironic.
The irony being that Citizen Kane is effectively Orson Welles and Vice Versa.
Effective immediately, I must see more movies that I should have seen.
1. FINALLY see Citizen Kane
2. Attend Tropfest.
3. Watch the Oscars (some of it)
Lets be clear, my ignorance has kept me from knowing a LOT of things. It still to this very day makes me weep into my pillow at night like a small malnourished child. (malnourished in matters of cinematic culture that is.)
From what I knew, through the sifting and gleaning of name dropping, lecturers and film lists...Citizen Kane is something of a GREAT FILM. It graces the lists of many influential lists and the lists of Film buffs
Citizen Kane was on one of my lists: Films I know I am supposed to have seen and loved because I wish to be considered somewhat of a cultured intellectual.
I approached the viewing of Citizen Kane with my mind blank. No, I was not tainted by the reading of blurbs! Nor was I was tainted by the affairs of history. I am honestly admitting. I knew not of Orson Welles, except his name was infuriatingly familiar. I prepared to be politically challenged in a way where anything remotely intellectual, and anything regarding politics challenges my mind to comprehend them. Politics bores me...intensely...so rarely do I delve into anything regarding politics, political history etc...
What the hell was this going to even be about?
The DVD cover told me 'Politics' . Cue audible groan by ignorant and terrible film student.
Some guy is standing behind a podium, his hand is outstretched in a manner that proclaims a sense of command, dare I say dictatorship, dare I say politics (more groaning). The backdrop behind him is his enlarged face, fearsome in my opinion.
I honestly though Citizen Kane was going to be about some man, a politician, obviously great.
From its ominous establishment, I was very confused and very intrigued. After a montage of elaborate castles and statues, a dying man whispering the words rosebud, a broken snow globe in some crazy place called Xanadu....all I could think about was fairy tales and Olivia Newton John.
Thats where I let my ignorance die....and my film buff inside me relish the visual imagery. When you watch Citizen Kane you see a tragic tale of a man who rose to immense power and wealth and isolated himself from his friends, his lovers and the world.
The little girl inside me LOVED it!
( And may I remind you, this is before I knew about the history!)
I have since learned that the film is way ahead of this time. That Orson Welles was a young prodigy who was somewhat of a rebel, incredibly successful at such a young age. He challenges real life media tycoon William Randolp Hearst in a portrayal that sought to get the movie banned and pretty much wiped off the face of the earth. Ah, It truly is beautiful when you discover that history teaches you that art can never really die....and that life is cruelly ironic.
The irony being that Citizen Kane is effectively Orson Welles and Vice Versa.
Effective immediately, I must see more movies that I should have seen.
Wednesday, January 7, 2009
The Truman show, Seven Pounds
I'm truly terrible aren't I? No updates in a while from little old me then. Especially on the cinephile side of me.
Now I'm sure everyone is all buzzing about seeing Yes Man. But I can't afford that. So I watched The Truman Show, The movie came up during dinner at the (hopefully-future-in-laws or HFIL) The dinner conversation had steered to film, I shame-faced, admitted to not ever getting the chance to watch The Truman Show, but I had still saved face by admitting I shared a love for Forrest Gump with the HFIL Dad and how awesome Pulp Fiction was. Being the awesomely cool HFIL's that they are. They lent me the DVD and so I watched it with my boyfriend.
The Truman show was actually a text that most English Students had to study, while others Studied Rabbit Proof fence. Sadly, my class didn't see it, so the oppurtunity never arose. I can't quite remember what we had to watch for the same module, But I have fond memories of enjoying Strictly Ballroom, The Castle and The Big Sleep (Yay, Bogie!) and The Interview ( An aussie film which Ivoluntarily studied .)
I easily warmed to Jim Carrey without being afraid of him ( Which can and does happen sometimes!) For those of you who have never seen or heard of it. Truman is a man born into a reality tv program. His every waking moment recorded by thousands of cameras. His wife, his neighbours are all actors. The surprising thing about The Truman show is although it was made in the late 90's. Released in 1998 to be exact, To me it's a scarily accurate pre-cursor to the reality- tv age of the new millenium in which we now live. A little stepford wives, but essential in conveying a creepy Utopia.
Two things let me down in this film.
Initially I found the ending quite abrupt and was sad that it was over, but in retrospect found it fitting for the film. Traditionally the audience expects to see Truman re-united with his long lost sweetheart. But as soon as he steps out the door we see no more of Truman. Like the Truman show being finally over, so is our film. Then the audience is kind of made aware of the eerie doppleganger echo. Watching, watchers... Watching ourselves. Essentially, what this film does and does well is remind us that we are a nation of voyeurs that love to watch. That need to watch. Every viewer I'm sure can relate to sensation of following a television programme, especially if its horrible reality television.
The second thing that let me down, Is no ones fault entirely. You can't help when its been 'so-many' years since a films release that you kind of can kid your way into saying you're a film buff and have watched so and so, since you've heard about it, read about it, you know everything about it ...except watch it really. ( I'm totally convinced I've seen Psycho based on the fact I've read so much about that one shower scene, have seen so many spoofs, spin offs and student horror re-enactments, ) Intertextuality is inevitable....
however I digress, the point is I began to look for clues while watching Truman, I spent so much time fitting into the role of super sleuth that I had forgot to just enjoy myself and watch the film. I kept looking for cameras and clues. Perhaps if I attempted to view the film without knowledge of the film's synopsis. I would have been subjected to an entirely different experience. That is what I regret. The first un-tainted viewing. I am sure there will be no follow up sequential viewing to pick out the things I missed because I spotted so much of it in the first viewing.... ah well.
Now, knowing nothing about a film on the other hand is quite a whole new slice of proverbial pie. Part of the reason I like stumbling across foreign and indie films on SBS while channel surfing. Like the other night when I stumbled across the end of a Bogie film (I'm still not sure what it was..but YAY Bogie) If you can tell me....10,000 points for you* It involved Bogie, a Bolivian (Or some South American country) towering Boxer named El Toro (I think) who gets beaten to a pulp and asks Bogie for his money but an infuriated Bogie finds the boxer is robbed blind by the dodgy bookies...
Not knowing a thing about a film proved interesting when I saw Seven Pounds. I knew NOTHNG about it. Except Will Smith was in it. The Trailer was so enticing. I remember sitting in the cinema with my jaw dropped and audibly whispering "Wow..."If a trailer could do that, I wonder what the whole film could do?
I kept trying to figure out what it was about. Was Will Smith a Man with God like abilities that could change people's lives? Was he there to kill people. How intriguing? How open-ended ...how ambiguous....enigmatic...
I don't really have the heart to divulge details despite a spoiler warning. However the film reels you in and keeps you guessing. Which is why notletting people know anything about it was a clever move by the film publicity.
Look out for an outstanding performace by Woody Harrelson.
However on a slightly sour note, The Will Smith Cycle which seems to be happening seems to not give Will Smith any greater range then the smart, somewhat isolated guy who can fix things or utterly destroy them...physical or emotional...
just think - The Pursuit of Happyness -(same director of Seven )
I am Legend
and (sadly) I get reminded of the fiasco that was Hancock.
If you can overlook Will Smith character temper tantrums and relish in the non-linear scene pattern you will come out a little teary eyed and all humanitarian, gearing up to donate pints of blood.
*All points aren't redeemable for anything but my opinion of how awesome you are.
Now I'm sure everyone is all buzzing about seeing Yes Man. But I can't afford that. So I watched The Truman Show, The movie came up during dinner at the (hopefully-future-in-laws or HFIL) The dinner conversation had steered to film, I shame-faced, admitted to not ever getting the chance to watch The Truman Show, but I had still saved face by admitting I shared a love for Forrest Gump with the HFIL Dad and how awesome Pulp Fiction was. Being the awesomely cool HFIL's that they are. They lent me the DVD and so I watched it with my boyfriend.
The Truman show was actually a text that most English Students had to study, while others Studied Rabbit Proof fence. Sadly, my class didn't see it, so the oppurtunity never arose. I can't quite remember what we had to watch for the same module, But I have fond memories of enjoying Strictly Ballroom, The Castle and The Big Sleep (Yay, Bogie!) and The Interview ( An aussie film which Ivoluntarily studied .)
I easily warmed to Jim Carrey without being afraid of him ( Which can and does happen sometimes!) For those of you who have never seen or heard of it. Truman is a man born into a reality tv program. His every waking moment recorded by thousands of cameras. His wife, his neighbours are all actors. The surprising thing about The Truman show is although it was made in the late 90's. Released in 1998 to be exact, To me it's a scarily accurate pre-cursor to the reality- tv age of the new millenium in which we now live. A little stepford wives, but essential in conveying a creepy Utopia.
Two things let me down in this film.
Initially I found the ending quite abrupt and was sad that it was over, but in retrospect found it fitting for the film. Traditionally the audience expects to see Truman re-united with his long lost sweetheart. But as soon as he steps out the door we see no more of Truman. Like the Truman show being finally over, so is our film. Then the audience is kind of made aware of the eerie doppleganger echo. Watching, watchers... Watching ourselves. Essentially, what this film does and does well is remind us that we are a nation of voyeurs that love to watch. That need to watch. Every viewer I'm sure can relate to sensation of following a television programme, especially if its horrible reality television.
The second thing that let me down, Is no ones fault entirely. You can't help when its been 'so-many' years since a films release that you kind of can kid your way into saying you're a film buff and have watched so and so, since you've heard about it, read about it, you know everything about it ...except watch it really. ( I'm totally convinced I've seen Psycho based on the fact I've read so much about that one shower scene, have seen so many spoofs, spin offs and student horror re-enactments, ) Intertextuality is inevitable....
however I digress, the point is I began to look for clues while watching Truman, I spent so much time fitting into the role of super sleuth that I had forgot to just enjoy myself and watch the film. I kept looking for cameras and clues. Perhaps if I attempted to view the film without knowledge of the film's synopsis. I would have been subjected to an entirely different experience. That is what I regret. The first un-tainted viewing. I am sure there will be no follow up sequential viewing to pick out the things I missed because I spotted so much of it in the first viewing.... ah well.
Now, knowing nothing about a film on the other hand is quite a whole new slice of proverbial pie. Part of the reason I like stumbling across foreign and indie films on SBS while channel surfing. Like the other night when I stumbled across the end of a Bogie film (I'm still not sure what it was..but YAY Bogie) If you can tell me....10,000 points for you* It involved Bogie, a Bolivian (Or some South American country) towering Boxer named El Toro (I think) who gets beaten to a pulp and asks Bogie for his money but an infuriated Bogie finds the boxer is robbed blind by the dodgy bookies...
Not knowing a thing about a film proved interesting when I saw Seven Pounds. I knew NOTHNG about it. Except Will Smith was in it. The Trailer was so enticing. I remember sitting in the cinema with my jaw dropped and audibly whispering "Wow..."If a trailer could do that, I wonder what the whole film could do?
(possible spoiler warning- don't read on if you intend to see this film )
I kept trying to figure out what it was about. Was Will Smith a Man with God like abilities that could change people's lives? Was he there to kill people. How intriguing? How open-ended ...how ambiguous....enigmatic...
I don't really have the heart to divulge details despite a spoiler warning. However the film reels you in and keeps you guessing. Which is why notletting people know anything about it was a clever move by the film publicity.
Look out for an outstanding performace by Woody Harrelson.
However on a slightly sour note, The Will Smith Cycle which seems to be happening seems to not give Will Smith any greater range then the smart, somewhat isolated guy who can fix things or utterly destroy them...physical or emotional...
just think - The Pursuit of Happyness -(same director of Seven )
I am Legend
and (sadly) I get reminded of the fiasco that was Hancock.
If you can overlook Will Smith character temper tantrums and relish in the non-linear scene pattern you will come out a little teary eyed and all humanitarian, gearing up to donate pints of blood.
*All points aren't redeemable for anything but my opinion of how awesome you are.
Thursday, December 18, 2008
Twilight : A Tweenie's Wet Dream
As far as movie hype is concerned, I was kind of living Ostrich style with my head in a ditch. I was actually more hyped about Australia and I still haven't managed to see that. My first collision with anything Twilight was earlier this year when a dear friend was engrossed in a book. I read a page or two, the blurb and pretty much got the vampire, teen romance thing (wanted to vomit a little, but didn't ) and thought the writing held up okay. Like many many cases of book to film transaltion, the consensus is that films never live up to the mighty page. But Alas! I don't have any authority to defend the author's vision, since I haven't read the book.I was pretty much kept in the dark about the whole thing. No teaser trailers crossed my path, save for a few television spots. The theatrical movie poster however I did see. And the girl in that poster is nothing like the girl in the movie. Movie girl trumps poster girl in this instance. Movie/ poster Vampire/Edward Cullen/Robert Pattinson of Cedric Diggory/Harry Potter fame however... WIN! Everyone will talk about that guy, And half the world loves him, but I hope half the world loves the girl. She was a refreshing actress and character, in a world of predictable cliche movie montages. And there were sadly many.
The one thing that annoyed me throughout the whole film was the one guy who decided to translate "vampires, darkness, mystery" into ( let's whack on a blue filter on the camera for the whole duration of the film! The kids will love it!
To be honest. I hated it, I find filters a lazy way to carry out a look and feel of a picture. It worked well in some scenes, especially the baseball scene, which was the standout. I admire it more when cinematographers work with colour pallets, the precision and control that goes into that often labour intensive process of sticking to a pallete of certain colours is more impressive.
The inner teen in me relished the film for its romantic moments, but everyone in my cinema laughed during the kiss. A friend of mine told me how she endured an audience of gushy, sighing pre-teen girls.
The only way you will grab enjoyment from the film is if you fill one or more of the selection criteria:
a) you liked the books
b) you have a crush on Robert Pattinson
c) you love vampires
d) you really love vampires
e) you really love Robert Pattinson
f) you are 12
g) you enjoy over-dramatic montage and blue filters
h) you really really really love vampires
i) you are 12
anyway, crumpets...let me know what you thought.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Scarface (1983)
Before I watched scarface, I always envisioned it was about some angry guy in a suit and a tommy gun.
My power of foresight is amazing.
To be honest, I don't know how I lived my life without ever seeing this movie. But then I realised that I only recently turned 20. And my do- gooder self aboded by its R18+ rating.
Al pacino is awesome. Because of this movie. I will now make the world 10% more annoying by reciting: "I am Tony 'fucking' Montana!"
"you want a piece of me?"
"Say Hello to My Little Friend"
Tony Montana ( Al Pacino), a Cuban refugee is after the american dream. Which is simplified as : having money, power and the women. ....Maybe a Tiger in your yard...and your bosses' woman. Oh and mountains of coke! ( the powdery white drug stuff!) Like all gangster films, It follows the rise and fall of man trying to do good in the world.
Set in Miami in the eighties, be prepared to see floral print shirts, Bikini babes and big hair. Some of the scenes, especially the riot scene in the beginning make me giggle, because the acting is so bad. But its worth watching it and sitting through its extra long running time.
should you see it?
yes! fuck! yes!
- but it does run for an unecessarily long time
I can see why its a favourite for so many, In many respects it is truly a cult film. Its worth watching to hear Al Pacino pull off a Cuban accent. If you can ignore the blood and violence
( which in my opinion is quite tame to more recent Hollywood ventures)
you are in for a fucking treat my friend!
Say Hello To My Little Friend
This idea of mine has been on the back burner for a while. So, it's time I kick some ass and get on with it.
So let me start with a brief and awesome introduction.
I'm the 'terrible film student'! It's not actually a good thing. You know that friend of yours that owns like fifty gazillion DvDs has seen their favourite film 300 times and can recite whole chunks of kick ass dialogue. That pretentious ass of a kid who will stare in horror and amazement when you tell them you haven't seen The Godfather or Kubric's 'A Clockwork Orange, shaking their head in utter disappointment and 'tsk tsk tsking' away at you as they continue to rattle off a whole list of canonical films that you should have seen because if you haven't you can't go on living and that you bury your head in a sandpit and die?
good news: That kid isn't me.
In fact. I'm doing this to prove that you can still love cinema you just don't have to name drop to prove it. It's not all about what everyone else likes...what everyone else tells you to watch. It's the art and images and sounds and dialogue that sticks with you. About the films you do manage to watch. It's not about pretending you have seen the films you should have seen and that everyone else has. It's about being true to what YOU find appealing in film and cinematic experiences. It's about when you go try to go to bed at night and you can't get a shot out of your head.Or how you keep wondering how the magic of cinema captivates you continuously or makes you laugh notoriously, makes you fall in love and die and come to life again. Its about enticement....entertainment
and if you think a movie is boring you should have the guts to say why!
This for me is a little experiment if you will. Kind of like a movie book club. Where I go about watching movies and writing about them. Without trying to sound too contradicting, I believe I'm a terrible film student (or at least not so good) because I haven't built up a large enough film repertoire to be able to give an honest opinion. I'm slowly going to make my way through watching some canonical films and I'll give anything a go that I can get my hands on, plus I am open to recommendations.
Coincidently, I study photography as well. So at times I might draw your attention to photography and other media related outlets, but I'll try to stick to cinema.
tfs
So let me start with a brief and awesome introduction.
I'm the 'terrible film student'! It's not actually a good thing. You know that friend of yours that owns like fifty gazillion DvDs has seen their favourite film 300 times and can recite whole chunks of kick ass dialogue. That pretentious ass of a kid who will stare in horror and amazement when you tell them you haven't seen The Godfather or Kubric's 'A Clockwork Orange, shaking their head in utter disappointment and 'tsk tsk tsking' away at you as they continue to rattle off a whole list of canonical films that you should have seen because if you haven't you can't go on living and that you bury your head in a sandpit and die?
good news: That kid isn't me.
In fact. I'm doing this to prove that you can still love cinema you just don't have to name drop to prove it. It's not all about what everyone else likes...what everyone else tells you to watch. It's the art and images and sounds and dialogue that sticks with you. About the films you do manage to watch. It's not about pretending you have seen the films you should have seen and that everyone else has. It's about being true to what YOU find appealing in film and cinematic experiences. It's about when you go try to go to bed at night and you can't get a shot out of your head.Or how you keep wondering how the magic of cinema captivates you continuously or makes you laugh notoriously, makes you fall in love and die and come to life again. Its about enticement....entertainment
and if you think a movie is boring you should have the guts to say why!
This for me is a little experiment if you will. Kind of like a movie book club. Where I go about watching movies and writing about them. Without trying to sound too contradicting, I believe I'm a terrible film student (or at least not so good) because I haven't built up a large enough film repertoire to be able to give an honest opinion. I'm slowly going to make my way through watching some canonical films and I'll give anything a go that I can get my hands on, plus I am open to recommendations.
Coincidently, I study photography as well. So at times I might draw your attention to photography and other media related outlets, but I'll try to stick to cinema.
tfs
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