Keep an Eye Out For: Mildred Pierce (2011) HBO Mini Series

Ya. You heard me correctly. In my nostalgia for writing papers and being in University level classes I looked at a great post about 1949's classic noir Mildred Peirce. Now I hear Kate Winslet stars as Mildred Peirce in a five part mini series for HBO directed by none other than Todd Haynes. Say whaaa? I heard rumors about this, I didn't know it was in the works, done and ready to air. In case you care. Which you should. It will air, March 27th 9PM on HBO. Check it out! Saw the post in an awesome blog called, Cinema Style. Check out the post here! PS. Even Rachel Wood will play Mildred's treacherous daughter and Guy Pearce her treacherous lover. So excited!

What in god's name!? Remake of the 47 Ronin with Keanu Reeves in the works???

Ya you read that correctly. What the fuck?! I'm sorry but I'm not gonna lie I almost threw up a little when I first read this. /Film reported, saying, "With Keanu Reeves set to star in Carl Erik Rinsch's 47 Ronin, by my math, still leaves about 46 Ronin to be cast." You've got to be kidding me? I will speak no further about the subject matter after this. With the amount of money spent on this kind of bullshit there has got to be a better use for it, this just seems plain wasteful. All that poor film or digital storage (probably going to use some crap Beta camera). I am shocked to know someone even had the gull trying to pitch this BULL. Someone please smack these people out when they come into your office with this shit. Why isn't anyone doing anything about this? Check out the /Film report here.

Happy moviegoing folks!

Movie Wrap-Up!

So it's the beginning of the year and it's of course award season. In my life this subsequently means, in the truest of holiday fashions, a slew of movies are viewed. In no particular order of appreciation here's what has been watched recently and some thoughts on em. Enjoy.

127 Hours

So 1. You're not going to faint it's not that graphic. Be that as it may the success of the film comes from the editing, writing and of course the acting which is in turn from the directing. Ha! No it's not perfect, but it's really well done and goes back to more of the Trainspotting (1996) Boyle traditions than those of Slumdog Millionaire (2008) which is oddly refreshing. The film is smart and manages to keep pretty well on the ball for an action movie about a man who doesn't move for 127 hours. Every visual is anchored with meaning so inevitably the film is beautiful. However it's also impassioned despite how stripped down Franco becomes as Aron Ralston and how brutal his story is. It's easy for something like this to fall into just another Alive (1993) but it works on another wave length and allows for you to be in engaged weather you know the true story or not. Go watch.

True Grit

Oh fratelli coen! Firstly I had a chuckle and a half through this film, so A+. But the more and more I think about it, it wasn't mainly due to script or anything of that fun O Brother Where Art Thou? manner but to Jeff Bridges' performance. So I began to wonder why I was going around telling people I liked it. So it's a great text, but when the DP of your film is saying it's not his best stuff and that DP is Roger Deakins.....it's time for.....awkward silence....and....oh fratelli coen how I wish you would do something like Fargo again. Good effort but you are committing the crime of making us all think your under studio eye and trying to pump out films like it's the 30s and it's just not working for you. Close but no cigar.
 
Black Swan

It's interesting to watch Aronofsky over the years. But I feel like no one scares me quite like him. For some odd reason I just always feel some type of frightened watching his films. I don't know if it's the ultra reality of the world of the film or further more the ultra reality of the emotions and obsession of the film world. Perfection is not a word I'm unfamiliar with, but I believe I have the sense to realize that it's not possible. But where I find this ultra reality comes from is in the sense that I can understand the roots that the protagonist's obsession has. It's a matter of giving up every fiber of your being for your art. No matter how you slice it, you'll find a Nina in every artistic medium and that is what's important here I think and it's done wonderfully. Must watch!

Tron

Watched this with my Brosome! and Pa on a sunny winter's afternoon. FUN AS HELL! Who cares the script is a crapola pot. And who cares that the protagonist doesn't quite live up to any of the acting skills of his counterparts he shares the screen with. Forget it all....cause it's zen Jeff Bridges time! and you know the "dude's" and "awesome's" were improved and kept because they didn't care either. It's the Dude in sci-fi, gaming, zen, magical white castle, in the digital world, fun times and that's it. Just go and watch some cool shit and don't be so up tight! Enjoy!

Black Dynamite

I can't believe I've finally watched this. Michael Jai White is the screenwriter and star of the film and is quite fabulous. Although I enjoyed it immensely, this movie is too funny at times I think and I wouldn't do it justice to even begin to describe it correctly to you. Just watch it! Trust it's a good time. It parodies the American 1970s blacksploitation films, mostly things like Shaft and Sweet Sweetbacks Baadasssss Song. But it's this sense of parody as opposed to satire that deflates it's moments of genius and it falls flat at times. But this film is refreshing to say the least and continues to provide contemporary moviegoers with new avenues to understand cinema a little more. 

Get Low

This film is an exemplar to why casting is so, so, SO important to a film, cause I'm not sure I would have watched it otherwise. Robert Duval is a revelation. Although not sure why I say revelation cause who didn't know he was an amazing actor; but this is definitely one of his best performances. Bill Murray is top notch as usual and I think I might have actually liked Sissy Spacek. A. The story is great. B. You have amazing actors. C. Pretty good script. But unfortunately due to "C's pretty good script" somewhere along the lines the film just looses the roll it had at the beginning and becomes quite flat toward the end. It was a little sad I must say.

Harry Potter

This is a perfect example of a stellar opening set of lines. The image itself is also awesome. (Looked better when I watched it then this screen grab <--) But that's about it that I enjoyed. Which is sad since I am a Harry Potter fan. But I feel now I need to clarify and say I am a Harry Potter book fan. This film is unfinished to say the least and is lacking on so many levels. It's too bad they're making them into two films in order to bank on the franchise as opposed to presenting an audience with a finished narrative. What ever happened to intermissions? Fail. Just Fail.

The Social Network

Now this I loved. I don't know why, but shit, it just hit somewhere. I am not a fan of some of the situations that revolved around the release of this film, particularly TIME putting Mark Zuckerberg on their cover as "Man of the Year." Jesse Eisenberg's crazy amazing performance has nothing to do with, in actuality, who this person is. But I believe one thing is true about why I liked this film. I do not see this as a film about Facebook. It's about friendship, loyalty, honor, pride, shame. It's about deep rooted evils in humans and how they come to pass and how they decay what they've touched. Fincher is getting better and better I think. And despite what all might think right now, I liked the look. It was filmed mostly with practical light and I believe it aids to nature of the film. There are moments when parts of the frame are full of action but hardly visible or in complete darkness. This is the nature of humans, no matter how much we see or think we know about someone there are pieces of us in darkness that only come out to play when we're being challenged (or when money and credit is involved) . How we meet that challenge is the question. This movie is no solution to what has happened but it's definitely asking the right questions. And if Andrew Garfield had a vagina this film could have quite possibly swept the top five nods at the Oscars this year, which hasn't been done since Silence of the Lambs. Watch it!

Somewhere

Probably one of the best representations of celebrity I've seen in a while. Nature to Coppola the film is quite static, there are many shots that just sit and watch. It must have been a joy to shoot...I'm not lying. It's a wait. We see people and things move in an out of frame slowly, swiftly, with gusto at some points, which present itself within the narrative as well as on the screen itself.  Elle Fanning is a marvel as usual and Stephen Dorff is actually quite good and these are the only two constants and anchors here. But I feel indifferent to this film. I feel like I might have caught something undone or that something was missing when I left the theater. But maybe that's the very nature of the film, and maybe my indifference is a garnered and focused response to a very bleak vision of the nature of celebrity and that entire lifestyle. Go watch it's a interesting text to say the least.

No matter what you agree or disagree with, that's about it for now folks. Happy moviegoing!

Amelie

These are my notes as they were written....

JESUS CHRIST!

Narrative and Character - The character intros. The specific hobbies details what they like and don't. Wondrous way to introduce characters. The pasta making scene after the blind man. She speaks about her self in the third person, I never really noticed that.

Editing and Cinematography - The marriage between these two is best exemplified when Amelie brings the blind man across the street and she describes everything they pass. Movement of shtos with character pace time and the reality of sight and sound in this scene is bliss. The shots are quite blurred and if it wasn't for Amelie's descriptions to the old blind man you wouldn't know what they were either. It's like you become the blind man too. IT'S WONDERFUL!

The Script - I need to peruse this script as soon as possible. It's written like literature if it's written like anything the way it actually plays on screen.  The first scene where the TV talks to her and makes her feel guilty about her self pity and "woe is me" attitude....brilliant! Another moment like this the TV says "if amelie chooses to live in a dream and remain and introverted young women she has an absolute right to mess up her life." HA! Loves it too much at this point.

* The final glances to the camera, while Amelie and Nino are riding on the bike together. First both look then just Amelie. Brilliant. Reminds us we're watching fiction. It's a concoction. If you notice each character has their own way they make up stories and life around them. It's wonderful. "Imagination is the one weapon in the war against reality" - Jules de Gaultier

Happy moviegoing folks!

Keep an Eye Out For: Horseshoes & Hand Grenades

A project that originated during my years in high school, Horseshoes & Hand Grenades is what I like to call a passion piece for me. It's a war drama, about a Soldier faced with life or death as a sharp shoot guns him down across the way. The question is raised, How do we consider the fate of someone based on their actions? And over and above that how do we deem someones actions right or wrong when in a situation of life or death? Do we condemn or acquit the behavior based on circumstance?

I'm posting to spread the good word and let all of you know we have a Kickstarter for helping to raise funds for the production. YOU CAN SEE IT HERE!

We're working really hard and we need as much of your support as possible. Help a great cause with an outstanding team! I'll be keeping a tally of our progress on the right sidebar until our goals are reached. Just got to get the widget up and running now! Fingers crossed and thanks to all who spread the word!

Happy moviegoing!

Keep and Eye Out For: Hitcock Biopic

/Film just posted about Anvil! director Sacha Gervasi being in the talks to direct a biopic on Alfred Hitchcock. Check out the /Film post here. I posted about Anvil! The Story of Anvil a while back, check out that post here.

I am quite excited about the possibility of Gervasi to direct a biopic on Hitchcock. No one really has done Hitchcock biopic at least in a full length format so this should be quite interesting. Has the potential to go array but hopefully, with the success of Anvil! on his heels, Gervasi can keep it rolling and rock the house with this one. Either way keep an eye out folks cause this could be good. This could be really good.

Happy moviegoing!

The Brave Little Toaster

When I can't remember the last time I watched a film.... it's time for a refresher. Due to recent mention of this movie and with the hard reality of my robotic response "Oh my gosh! I love that movie!" slapping me in the face I figured I needed to dust off the old VHS again and figure out why I like it so much. Yes I have a VHS copy and yes it still works. I know. I just watched it. Either way, I watched the film and these are my notes based on chronology of plot and not personal importance. 


Fuck I love this animation! - It reminded me of the opening credits of The Land Before Time. Another childhood but recently viewed favorite of mine.


The frightening adventure aspect - I figured the reasons I was so enamored with it when I was a child  was because of this main plot point, it was an animated adventure but with these odd frightening moments that kept my child ass seated for 90mins.

Appliances left in an old cottage set to find their "master" - the genius of this story - After my post viewing research did I find out that the film is based on a book by Thomas M. Disch with the tagline "a bedtime story for small appliances" HA! How wonderful! Time to get the book!


Is the Air Condition voiced by  Jack Nicholson? - I found later on IMDB it isn't, but is voiced by Phil Hartman. Who frequently voices on The Simpson as Troy McClure.


The songs is this movie are priceless hilarity - I didn't know it back then cause to me they were just catchy tunes that I would hum and sing part of the lyrics to, but these songs are crazy! When they are singing about finding ways to get back to the master after the For Sale sign is hammered into the front lawn, they sing: "Master is a man of great reflection." Now I know why my parents refused to watch it with me. These weren't catchy Disney tunes but odd off Broadway animation wonders! And then they were followed by weird moments of action like when Blanket is being stuff into a mouse hole by a bunch of mice after the, what I'd like to call, "music of the forest sesh." Yes you could only imagine, what beauties only 80s animation can bring.

The hardware store - This is a prime explain of singing moments that are frightening yet ever so leaning on the edge of creepy I was talking about above. I'll mention again this isn't frightening in a Disney Snow White's running through the woods kinda way but actually kinda creepy and I don't understand why I child would like this. Maybe cause I didn't know what was happening with my small child brain. But anyhow the appliances make it to the city but are found by a little plump man who looks innocent enough. Once at the store the appliances are bombarded by the "city" lamps and forgotten appliances in a pawn shop which are piece and ripped to shreds at the plump mans desires. It's weird and hard to explain. Just take a look below and see for yourself.



Because yes, this movie is grade B film. But it made me happy once and  despite being more aware of the little odds and ends, I still enjoyed watching it now. Just now it's one of those little creepy diamonds in the rough I hold onto dearly in the cinema vault.

P.s. if you are a TBLT fan here's a little goodie for ya! A printable and then fold-able paper Brave Little Toaster!

Happy moviegoing folks!