Noirvember: Mildred Pierce

SPOILERS

Based on the novel by James M. Cain, the story about a woman who separates from her husband and has to provide for her two daughters in 1930s. She gets work as a waitress and soon decides to open her own restaurant. She becomes a success and remarries again but she is forever plagued by her demanding elder daughter, Veda, who looks down on her mother throughout her life, no matter what she does. It seems an unusual plot from Cain as he is known for his crime stories but director Michael Curtiz creates a very different beast entirely.

Changing the ending and parts of the story, Curtiz creates a film noir of sorts with Joan Crawford in the title role. The stereotypical roles of the genre are askew and don’t follow the normal pattern, instead it is the camera angles and the superb lighting, especially in the more dramatic moments that make this one the better films of its genre. The film is seen as flashback from Mildred’s point of view as she explains what has happened in the last 4 years to a police detective after she finds out her second husband has been murdered. Cutting back and forward from the past to the present, it unravels as to who the murderer could be.

Crawford is brilliant as the tortured and troubled Mildred, having come from nothing, working her way up in the world, becoming a successful businesswomen when not many thought she could, should be an achievement but Mildred is torn down by her demanding arrogant daughter Veda. Unlike the original novel, Veda eventually gets her comeuppance. Mildred’s strange devotion to her spiteful daughter is elevated when her youngest Kay, dies suddenly and she puts everything into pleasing Veda which is ultimately her downfall.

Veda is actually part of the cause of Mildred’s divorce and downfall. She says at one point that she believes that Veda looks down on her which is why she seeks her approval. Veda’s hate for her mother and where she is from is unexplained, except for when she blames her mother for spoiling her, she bites the hand that feeds her and thinks she is entitled to a better life for no reason. Veda’s character isn’t given depth beyond her childish demands and selfish plans, leaving much of the dramatic to her mother. Mildred changes throughout the film, her character and confidence but she is plagued by her past and told she is worth nothing, Veda is her reminder of this which is why, when the ties are finally cut, she is distressed and relieved at the same time. She is finally free of her demon and can start again, but this time for herself.

A fantastic film, that may be dark and violent, which isn’t just the murder at the start, at least there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

For more #noirvember, follow @little_sister_filmnoir

 

This was originally published on Vulturehound in 2017

Watch List: July

EuroVision

In all honesty, I am not the biggest Will Ferrell fan but I do love Eurovision so I thought, what's to lose watching a comedy written by an American who doesn't really understand the European singing contest as, yes, it is, very European. Despite Australia literally buying its way into a contest it has no place in. Euro, it’s in the title of the contest. For a Netflix original, the quality is very good as those originals tend you have a certain aesthetic now. Icelandic singing duo, Fire Saga have big dreams of representing Iceland at Eurovison and despite their home town not being the biggest fans and through a series of strange events, they make it to the promised land, Scotland as that is where the contest is being held. On their way to stardom, humiliation and triumph they both realise that they had the wrong priorities. The music is amazing, the costumes and supporting cast are also very entertaining and amusing, even Pierce Brosnan’s very dodgy accent is entertaining. If you love Euroviosn, you’ll love this and if you don’t, you will be the end. Even though there are some liberties taken such as, Iceland being bankrupt, that is very untrue and the contest would never be held in Scotland as they are part of the UK and its VERY unlikely that the UK will ever win again AND the semi-finals are not televised. I had to get that out as that bothered me.  4/5

Paradise Hills

A fantastical science fiction story about classes, beauty, oppression and deception all wrapped up in a very extravagantly visual film. Everything about this film is visually intriguing or disturbing, in particular the carousel horse ‘therapy’ sessions and the opening wedding scene. There is so much detail that it was actually quite difficult to hone in on one genre this film could be and on ways prepares you for the knife twist even though you may suspect it. Set in a futuristic society where the upper classes send their disobedient young women to be taught how to act. However, there is something more sinister on the island, ruled over by a striking and again, disturbing being played by Milla Jovovich. The style is so bizarre and, in some ways, misleading in terms of narrative, it reminds me of Tarsem’s films (which I loved). As director Alice Waddington’s previous work is a short film, I’m hoping we see more of her work. 3/5

The Beach House

Full review can be read HERE. 3/5

The Old Guard

My post about the film can be read HERE. 3/5

Mission Impossible: Fallout

Ethan Hunt is at it again and ‘it’ I mean taking on another impossible mission and going against his boss again too. Seeing how brilliantly executed Rogue Nation was, I was eagerly awaiting to see what happening next. But I was very disappointed. The plot is only created when Ethan makes a mistake that could have been avoided and then from there, the story, along with new and old characters, very weak and only as entertaining as it is to watch Henry Cavill in fight scenes, which is usually entertaining but this time, even Cavill couldn’t save the MI crew. 2/5

Desperados

Just when you needed a fun ridiculous rom-com, Netflix provides. This time round, the story is the same old same old. Down on her luck Westly (best name for a girl) is without a job, behind on bills and all she really wants is a boyfriend. She meets a ‘perfect guy’ but instead of being herself, she holds back her personality, don’t try this at home girls and believes she’s happy. But the real story begins when she thinks she’s been ghosted by the perfect guy so sends him a horrible email (don’t know why email – that’s just odd) but it turns out he didn’t ghost her, he was in an accident, in Mexico. So she drags her two friends to Mexico to delete the email. That’s it, that’s the premise. The two friends get a fair share of story but its dull, one wants a kid, the other wants sex, the end. It is funny and silly and you can get carried away with it but it’s nothing ground-breaking. The script is not worthy of the cast’s talent either. 2/5

Come As You Are

My full review is over at Vulturehound and can be read HERE. 4/5

Black Rainbow

A gem from the cusp of the 90s about a spiritual medium who can communicate with the dead but things take a disturbing turn when she starts predicting deaths. Having worked as a medium for years, a gift inherited by her mother, Martha travels the country with her alcoholic father from town to town connecting people with loved ones. She spends her nights at engagements and days hooking up with random strangers, including the very eager sceptic journalist looking for a story. Not quite a murder mystery or crime thriller but a spiritual thriller where ghosts don’t appear but their presence is felt. Sounds more like buzz words but the character of Martha is fascinating, a true dark horse that never really reveals how she does what she does, her powers go beyond speaking to the dead and maybe even time. 3/5

How to Build a Girl

My post about the film can be read HERE. 3/5

The Truth

Hirokazu Kore-eda’s first non-Japanese language film is not quite a story about living in the shadow of a successful parent but more about coming to terms with the emotions that one builds up over time. The bitterness and painful memories cloud over the true intentions someone is trying to convey. Screenwriter Lumir arrives back in France with her daughter and husband to visit her very famous actress mother, Fabienne. They are distant yet close with each other, the daughter still not able to forgive her mother for neglecting her all those years and her mother not caring about being a bad mother only being a good actress. All set against the release of a Fabienne’s memoir which is full of lies and the set of her latest role. Its wonderful mother daughter relationship story that flows with anger and resentment as well as an emotional bond that won’t break. With two fantastic leads, Catherine Deneuve and Juilette Binoche, the film is a delight. 3/5

Come As You Are

Its rare to find a film featuring three main characters who happen to be disabled, this element aludes films, frequently in independent and never in blockbusters or Hollywood films. But 'Come As you Are' which is based on real life experineces and is in fact the third film inspired by those events, been so welcome on the cinematic scene.

My film review is over at Vulturehound and can be read in full HERE.

Watch List: April & May & June

This really should be called Watch List: Lockdown edition but as I don't really want to look back at posts in the future and see the words 'lockdown' in the title, I'll stick to the months. I've rewatched quite a few TV shows and binged throughed new ones but I seem to be winding down. I've gone back over my watch list on Netflix mainly and plucked a few films from there to watch. As there are no new cinema releases, the excitement of going to the cinema is still yet to happen, new releases on streaming services are less exciting but non the less available. I've taken to renting a few titles as well as watching films on Sundays with friends over Zoom but I haven't included every single film I've watched. This is a selection I wanted to write about as I really don't think me mentioning 'Mr Nanny' is going to add to anything.

The Platform

Not always eager to watch the latest horror film but the premise of this Netflix film was something that disgusted and fascinated me. Also having watched this at the start of lockdown really was the cherry on top of the hell cake. Set in a gigantic concrete tower spanning suposedly 200 floors, each floor with two peopl, some criminals, others volunteers and a rectangle hole in the floor, a platform travels down the tower stopping at each level for 1 minute. This platform is filled with food but as it travels down, there is less and less food for everyone. The film is literally a comment on the distribution of wealth and how humanity has failed this. The film is bleak, there's no way to shy away from that but its discussions between the protagonist and his cell mates are what give this story meaning and hammer home that there could be enough food for everyone if they rationed. The realisations at the end are the real horror as they aren't shock moments, they linger in your mind long after the credits roll. 4/5

Love. Wedding. Repeat.

Standard. Rom-com. This literally is a colour by numbers rom-com ticking all the boxes you'd find in the genre. But it is set apart from other films set at weddings by offering several possible outcomes, all with a very amusing scenarios but each ending in chaos and disappointment for most of the characters. With an assortment of characters each with their own plot, it is entertaining and romantic in all the right places. Would be interesting to see the original French film, 'Plan de Table' and its any different. 3/5

Proud Mary

This was a film I almost saw at the cinema, if it had been given a decent release so I was very excited to see it pop up on Netflix. Unfortunately I was left with a knot in my stomach at how disappointing it was. I love hitman films, I love them more when its female protagonist and I love Taraji P. Henson BUT there was literally nothing beyond that. Henson deserved so muc more. The plot was so thin that it didn't make any sense and it ended up being about a kid and how Mary ended up helping that kid. Why do all stories set up to seem like a thriller end up being about a woman protecting a kid? Or falling for the wrong guy? Seriously?? When are we going to get a story about a hitman or hitwoman where she's free from this and able to have her own storyline?? 1/5

The Matchmaker

As an avid fan of Janeane Garofalo I of course went looking for films she was in and hadn't seen and this very hidden gem from 1997 was one that was accessible. As with this type of rom-com, fish out of water, out of towner, culture clash, the plot is high concept for little impact. Garofalo works for a Boston politician running for re-election and sends her to Ireland to look for his supposed Irish roots. But when she arrives in the small town, its right in the middle of the annual matchmaking festival and guess what? She is a a cynic when it comes to romance. There's laughs, there's some kind of love and a bit of sad note before the end but on the whole, its was surprisingly good. 3/5

The Man Who Killed Don Quixote

We've waited over 25 years for Terry Gilliam's magnum opus and after all those changes and re-writes, i think the moment has passed. My full review is over at Vulturehound HERE.

Circus of Books

There are stories within stories when the main subject begins with a book or a film or a beloved and famous bookstore within a local community. Director Rachel Mason delves deep inside the bookstore her parents owned as it plans to close its doors, talking to the people who loved, patroned and worked at the store. The otherside to this film is about how her brothers and her didn't know until much later that it was a gay pornography store, their family history and how their parents kept it this information quiet from them. At times uplifting and inspiring but the personal history of the family steals the hard hitting moments. 4/5

Misbehaviour

Released on the cusp of the cinemas closing down and with little flare, I fear that this brilliant piece of British film will suffer the fate of 'Emma'. Based on the events surrounding the 1970 Miss World competition when Women's Liberation activists staged a protest during the live televised show. We get an insight into the activists lives, the contestants in the pagent and those hosting. These are the films and subjects that need to be shown. The end shots of the real life people and what happened to them after the event is beautifully edged into the frame and inspiring to see what these women accomplished. More of this please. 4/5

To the Stars

An unexpected gem that came out of nowhere, hopefully this will be a hit later on when an audience discovers it. Rent/buy this film!! My full review can be read HERE. 4/5

The Lovebirds

I thought this would get a cinema release but having seen it, I can see why it didn't depsite having the dynamite duo of Issa Rae and Kumail Nanjiani who are so fun to watch but even they can't save the mediocre plot about a secret organisation, blackmail and a corrupt cop. The jokes are there but the couple plot verses the film plot doesn't quite have a balance. Can we get these two in another film together? Also, enjoyed seeing the town where I live appear on screen at the end. 3/5

The Man Who Cried

This film caught my eye while looking through the endless list of films on Netflix (that will happen quite a bit as its lockdown...) and as this is a Sally Potter film, thought it was long overdue to check out her filmography. Potter directed and wrote this story about a young Russian Jewish girl who is separated from her father when he travels to America and her village is burnt down. Her journey back to her father takes her to Paris where she first becomes a dancer then part of an opera company, until the Nazis invade France and she must decide whether to stay or escape. There are low key brilliant performances all round here and it surprising how I hadn't heard of this film before, especially with the cast. An unexpected gem amongst the teen dramas. 3/5

The Legacy of the Bones

I read the first in this trilogy, 'The Invisible Guardian' and was pleased to see the rather faithful adaptation. This second enstallment focuses much closer on Amaia and her psychotic mother, delving deeper into her past and the connect that she has with serveral suicides. Discovering baby bones buried on the family home property and the possible resurrection of a witch like cult, the story and cases become entangled with Amaia once again. This story was even more terrifying than the first as we learn what Amaia's mother was really up to, more family secrets start to surface. 3/5

Body Cam

A horror film that I think was released at either the wrong or right time. My full review is over at Vulturehound HERE. 3/5

Splitting Heirs

A riduculous black comedy from 1993 where Eric Idle and Rick Moranis were switched at birth, now the latter is the Duke of Bournemouth and the former spends the film trying to bump him off so he can claim his rightful title. It is amsuing, far fetched beyond recognition but with John Cleese thrown in there as a shady lawyer along with Catherine Zeta-Jones before she disappeared off to Hollywood and had to fake her own Welsh accent, its not as unwatchable as anticipated. 3/5

The Assistant

This film was much more than I thought it was going to be it deserved it's own post which can be read HERE. 5/5

The Addams Family

Having rewatched the 90s Addams Family films many many times, its hard to picture anyone else as the family. Although the voice cast are quite good matches, the animation is not as pleasing. The story is bold and very in keeping with style of the Addams we know, involving a power hungry TV home make over host and her plans to get rid of the Addams whose home is not fitting with her asthetics but I can't help but going back to the quirky delights of the 90s. 2/5

Plus One

Two best friends from college agree to be each others plus ones at 10 weddings that seem to be happening all in the same year. This is the kind of rom-com I get enjoy, both the leads are cynical, forthright and funny, plus they are the OTP right in front of each other but take a while to realise it. There's genuine friendship followed by genuine attraction and affection. Apart from having to swallow the unrealistic amount of weddingings that they are both invited to, I really enjoyed this one. 4/5

Ema - BFI London Film Festival

Slightly different this time as instead of a review, this is for an interview I had with Mariana Di Girolamo who plays Ema. A hell of a character with a style (which we mention quite a bit) that stands out from the crowd and a personality to match.

A vibrant, sexual rampage with dance sequences to match the energy but with a tragic and heartbreaking story at the core and Ema herself as the conductor for this performance. I was lucky to speack to Di Girolamo about the film, Pablo and Ema, which you can read over at Vulturehound HERE.

Returning to the Afternoon Movies

 On the 16th December 2013 I posted about 'The Amazing Mr Blunden' a classic British film from 1972. With itsd  own charm and weirdness about it, it used to be a film that my sister and I used to watch when we were very young. In fact this was one of the films that we had on a list, a list of films we thought no one else had heard of, at least people our age. There are several on there which we discovered to be films that everyone had seen and there still a few that remain unheard of.

The only connection to this festive season is that the opening scenes take place Christmas Eve but from there we are in glorious Spring time. For a brief summary, its all about the ghosts, the mansion and of course the mysterious man himself, Mr Blunden. 

With the release of a very special edition from Second Sight Films who have recently brough us the delightful 'Flight of the Navigator' back into our homes through its own special release, I have reviewed the film, in full, over at Vulturehoud which you can read HERE.

I also wanted to revisit my post from 2013 as I was still in the very early stages of finding my way writing wise and how I had pictured the blog to be. Honestly, its not my best, but its always good to look back and see how far you've come. But also, just for fun, HERE is the post. And if you want a real throwback, HERE it is from before I changed my blog name.