December Watch List

La Belle et la Bete

I had that there was to be a French film of Beauty and the Beast and I was pleased to see the cast. Vincent Cassel as the beast and Lea Seydoux as Belle. The story follows the original fairytale up to a point. The Beast's backstory is different, in this version, he was happily married but he was obsessed with hunting a golden deer. Even after his wife begs him to stop, he kills the deer only to see it transform into the deer. Then theres a bit about her father being god of the forest and he punishes the king turning him into a beast. Then theres a side story involvong Belle's brothers (note in the original story she has no brothers) who are in debt. They send the debters to the Beast's castle as it has money, jewels and other fine things. The relationship between Belle and the Beast also felt rushed which is a shame as the film is amazingly beautiful to look at and the story is an interesting adaptation. I think of the Disney one and can't help but compare. Still, if you manage to track down a decent version of the film, it's definitely worth a look. 3/5   

Carol

I've read many articles and reviews of 'Carol' based on Patricia Highsmith's The Price of Salt and they all praise the film for various reasons, some different, but they all say, this is a love story, a simple love story set against a difficult background and at a time when things were'nt easy. Carol's sexual orientation is never said outright, it's implied. Therese is just starting to understand her own but again, nothing is labelled, which I feel makes the love story between these two women all the more meaningful. Therese even tries to discuss love at one point with her clueless boyfriend. He says he loves her but she openly asks if he has ever fallen in love with a boy, hinting at her own feelings for Carol. While Therese is almost carefree and young, Carol is burdened with a husband who won't let go and a daughter who she will do anything for. Her troubles hang over the couple at the centre and in the end become each other's undoing, until Carol breaks the mould and defies convention. She says she cannot go against her own grain. She illustrates how painful it is to live a lie and does her best to continue life the way she wants but what she wants is Therese. The film is beautiful, particularly when Carol and Therese first meet, but at times so tragic. The tragedy is elevated by the quietness of the film and the characters looks towards each other, so much is conveyed in a look. But do not despair there is a happy resolution to this love story. Both leads are brilliant in their own way, the fuss that surrounds the film is deserved and understood. 4/5 

Bridge of Spies  

 I'm not Tom Hanks's biggest fan and I wouldn't see a film because he's in it. To be honest I'm not a massive Spielberg fan either but I like most of his films, I mean, Jurassic Park/World, it's pretty darn hard to beat Dinosaurs (but Star Wars did). The reason why I so desperately wanted to see this based on fact film about how a Russian spy was defended by a good and moral insurance lawyer who then went on to negotiate an exchange for an American pilot in East Berlin, a place where no one wanted to be, I wanted to see it because the Coen Brothers co wrote the screenplay. That's how much I needed a Coen Brothers fix. I'm too impatient to wait until February for Hail, Caeser! Tom Hanks is one the greatest 'everyman' character actors. He slips into James B. Donovan's shoes like a glove and I was honestly moved by his performace and determination to get both the American pilot who crash landed and the poor American student, wrongfully arrested. He wants them both, no one gets left behind. Although a little one sided, the film depicts the AMericans has being too quick to judge and not really thinking it through, except Donovan of course, it shows the Americans being far 'nicer' than the Russians and the Germans. It was too biast but a brilliant cast and story none the less. I was please to notice the Coenesque dialogue from the first few scenes, such great writing. I also noted, as did my friend who I saw it with, that the film was slow paced but still had your attention throughout, there wasn't a moment I looked at my watch. A slow moving thriller, it's something that you have to be skilled at. Ok, yes, I just really love the Coens. 4/5

Star Wars: The Force Awakens  

Star Wars is just such a big deal at the moment I will say nothing until the New Year and my thoughts on it. I leave you with my rating which is 5/5. I will write a separate post for the film.

 

Blind Spot: Double Indemnity

Almost all done for the year. My second to last film of the series I have had on my shelf, still in the wrapping since 2008. It was back in college when I started to watch more Film Noir films, even bought a book about it. Back then, I barely bought any film related booked, and that Film Noir book was one of my first. I was already an admirer of Billy Wilder's films, especially Some Like It Hot, I was raised on that, and so to my delight he had directed a Film Noir film that was, said to be, one of the best of the genre. Complete with brilliant typical voice over, femme fatale and a murder plot it was the perfect set up for me. But why had I waited 7 years to watch it? I have no idea. I suppose I wanted to devote some time to the film, give all my attention. When The Matinee posted about the Blind Spot series, this was the perfect chance.

I had actually seen clips of the film before but only what was included in Dead Men Don't Wear Plaid. I was still intrigued even though the story sort of resembled The Postman Always Rings Twice. But this was all about insurence. Oh and murder.

Insurence Salesman Walter Neff (Fred MacMurray), by chance goes to see one of clients about motor insurence but instead meets his intriguing and beautiful wife Phyllis. She plays the bored but concerned housewife trying to trick Walter into letting her sign accident insurence for her husband. Walter sees right through her plan and guesses murder. But already under her spell, infatuated the two begin an affair. Walter eventually comes round to the idea of murder and the two plan the would be perfect plot. When Phyllis' husband 'accidentally' falls from a slow moving train and breaks his neck, at first no one is none the wiser until Walter's colleague, an investigator of claims, smells foul play. Soon the deadly couple's plan and feelings unravel. 

Although the film has very stereotypical elements of Film Noir, there are things that are slightly skewed. The lead male is not a detective or a useless drifter, he's an insurence saleman. The 'detective' role is Keyes, Walter's colleague who can sniff out any false insurence claim by listening to what he calls 'the little man' inside him. But although he knows something is wrong the $100,000 claim after thinking it over, he doesn't suspect for one moment his friend and colleague is involved. Unlike other Film Noir genre films, the story had a central friendship, Keyes and Neff. Unlike the be all and end all relationship of a man and a woman having an affair. The two friends, have some great exchanges and also alters the dynamics of the film. The little things make all the difference, such as the ongoing exchange where Neff always lights Keyes' cigars for him. These are welcomed. Especially as insurance is not the most exciting of settings.

It's not surprise that the film has some similarities to The Postman Always Rings Twice as the original novella was written by James M. Cain. As the film was made at the time of the damned Hayes Code, the original ending, double suicide, was cut. The ending that Billy Wilder planned involved Neff going to the gas chamber with Keyes watching but instead the film ended with the two men on the ground, Neff dying and Keyes lighting his cigarette for him, a gesture of friendship.

Of course the story is really all about the femme fatale in this story, Barbara Stanwyck, she plays ice cold Phyllis who plays three women technically. The unwanted housewife, the lover and the sinister killer. She has the ability to be emotional and pretend to show love but in one quick stare morph into a cold hearted killer. It's brilliant to behold the changes.

Another brilliant part of this film was the opening titles. A lone man on crutches. Combined with the eery music of impending violence, it not only set the tone but the anticipation until the voice over starts, as thats what the audience waits for. But this image, important to the story, is an ominous prelude which I thought was an excellent touch.

At last I got to watch this film. It's a tick on this list as well as my 'must watch more Film Noir films' list. A true classic I believe.


To see where it all started and for an excellent insight to film, have a look at The Matinee and have a look HERE for more Blind Spot posts from other bloggers. 

Once Upon A Star Wars...

Note: This was written before I went to see Star Wars: The Force Awakens. I have since seen the film, twice. It's amazing. I also tried to write a post about the new film but I ended up having to redact everything.

Seeing as Star Wars: The Force Awakens is soon to be upon us, I, like any other film blogger out, am going to cast my mind back to yester year when I first saw Star Wars.

To be honest, I don't actually remember when exactly it was. But I remember seeing the film taped off the TV, my family were great for taping movies not buying them, except Disney. It has advert breaks too and it was an old brown TV with an ancient VHS player. Things were slightly out of focus (I swear) or maybe just softer. And in true family tradition, I saw The Empire Strikes Back first. I didn't actually see A New Hope until much later. This happened with quite a few films, hence the tradition. I seemed to watch Ghostbusters 2 first, The Temple of Doom first, Back to the Future 2 first. It's odd that.

Of course, having grown up on such delights as 80's, 70s and 90s movie classics as well as a few random choices into the mix. I was also brought up on a catalogue full of old 'black and white' movies, especially the Marx Brothers films. With excellent film education, of course I loved Star Wars.

The fact it was a story or saga set in space didn't even enter my mind. All I saw were ships, lightsabers, aliens, Chewie yelling, hating Lando and getting very distressed when Luke lost his hand. The famous line, 'I am your father', was just a line to me then. I hadn't grasped how big a plot point this was, even after I watched Return of the Jedi. Watching all three together, the penny dropped.

After I saw the whole trilogy I'm afraid I didn't run out and buy lots of merchandise, I wasn't obsessed. I did all that when I was 13 years old with Lord of the Rings. But I did frequently watch the Star Wars films over and over until the Empire Strikes Back video jumped in places. But my parents still refused to buy the real videos.

Years later, going to college and Uni, I met others who grew up on Star Wars and, after years in secondary school where they all thought I liked 'boys' films, I was free to talk Star Wars as much as possible. I got more into the Star Wars universe but shamefully, I still don't own any of the DVDs. Yet. I was put off massively by the prequel films which I dislike intently. Then again by the added CGI garb added to the original trilogy.

The 'hype' of the new trilogy, or at least the new film was felt by everyone, or anybody who ever liked, watched, remembered Star Wars and what a huge effect it had on everyone. I swear every year at London Comic cons people go crazy for the films and there are always dozens of talks, signings and such things to keep Star Wars fresh in our minds. Obviously this year was the lead up to one of the best films of the year. Or set to be one of the best films of the year.

My friends are Star Wars fans and my sister is a Star Wars fans, my brother-in-law is also a Star Wars fan. Even my physio is a Star Wars fan. In a way its comforting to be able to completely geek out about these films with everyone. Free from the judgement of secondary school, its just a breath of fresh air. I was able to go completely crazy of The Hobbit without many people thinking I was odd. Star Wars is just such a huge phenomemnon it cannot be ignored and any lover of sci-fi and films has a special place for Star Wars.

This seems to be turning into 'what Star Wars means to me' but I just wanted to share the first time I saw the films and how theu have evolved for me. Like any super nerd, I pre-booked tickets for the film and I actually wanted to see it in IMAX, the Force demanded it. Once I've seen it, I won't post a review at the risk of spoiling anything. But I am super excited!

To all Star Wars fans - may the Force be with you and you love the film.

Thursday Movie Picks: Family Get-Together/Reunions

Don't forget to check out what Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks. 

Families seem to gather for only a few reasons, funerals, weddings, births, Christmas and when someone returns home.  Or in the case of one pick, all of the above.

This Is Where I Leave You

Funerals are always a place where family are together. Unfortunately I know this from personal experience. There's the joy of seeing family you don't often see but then there's the sad reason why you're together. This film had the bitter sweet effect. Similar to Parenthood, the siblings aren't estranged, but there are the typical one. Three brothers, one sister, one is responsible taking on the family business. One has just ended a marriage after his wife cheated on him. One has all the children and in an unhappy marriage. And then theres the 'black sheep' lazy one. Everyone has a part and they come together dealing with their father's death in different ways. As with death, revelations are made, truths come out and not everyone is happy in the end.

8 Women 

This story is brilliant. All women, set in the 50s, Christmas time, murder mystery and theres music. Unfortunately, only half the songs are good. Of course its based on a play and it feels like it too the way the set is laid out and with the finale bow at the end. The film takes in a homecoming, the eldest daughter, Christmas time and a death. The death is unexpected but its what draws everyone in. It's a 'who done it' with several marvelous twists. And, yes they're all family (except the maid).


                                                                 Parenthood 

Technically this Ron Howard film is one long gathering as the siblings and their families live close by and are always gathering together. Four siblings, each with out their own issues, family, children, jobs, debt and money problems, but as I said they always gather togteher, even for births.

Thursday Movie Picks: Movies Set in a Hotel

Don't forget to check out what Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks. 

The Grand Budapest Hotel

The most successful and most popular of Wes Anderson's films, which is a bigger scale than his previous films to Fantastic Mr Fox. Anderson's films are full of quirk and delight but the amazing attention to detail and the how each character is well sculpted, even the smallest of roles, are what make his films amazing. I expect this film to appear on other lists, its just so brilliant. With obvious imfluences from older movies and European films too, a collections characters are brought together in one way or another to the named famed hotel. Gustave H. concierge of the hotel along with his junior lobby boy, Zero, become embroiled in a murder plot, a will and a missing painting. It's just pure brilliance.

What's Up Doc?

This film is has one of the best car chases and it happens to be in San Francisco so you can imagine the landscape. The whole film starts with 4 indentical bags, which causes confusion and mayhem with a little help from Judy (Barbara Streisand) who is taken with music researcher, Howard (Ryan O'Neal). Each person owning a bag is staying the hotel for different reasons. One is involved in a jewellr theft, the other is involved with spies and the other two belong to Judy and Howard. I couldn't stop laughing when I saw it and every time since.

A Night in Casablanca

One of the later Marx Brothers' films, not as brilliant as 'Day at the Races' or my favourite 'A Night at the Opera' but it has some funny moments, a scene involving a cupboard is great as well as most of Groucho's lines. Set in a hotel in, yes, Casablanca, where a Nazi criminal who keep murdering the hotel managers to get to the gold hidden within the hotel. Groucho plays the next the manager who is unaware of the murders. Chico owns the Yellow Camel Company, a taxi service with camels, and Harpo is ever silent buddy, they all team together to get to the bottom of the murders.

Blind Spot: City Lights

I have three films to get through this month as I missed a few during the year so I needed to start early. I'm an admirerer of Charlie Chaplin, ever since my mum taped Modern Times off the TV when I was younger, still in school. She said it was a brilliant film but silent. The fact that it was black and white didn't bother me as my sister and I grew up on old movies. Silent film was new for me. With patience and curiosity I watched the film. A brilliant masterpiece. I continued to search for more Chaplin, watching his short films on DVD and as time went by and You Tube was born, I found his films on there too. It's odd to think that I didn't grow up with You Tube. Skipping to the end, I had wanted to see the film where The Tramp (Chaplin's film alter ego) fell in love with a blind girl and added City Lights to my list.

I've seen plenty of clips from the film from never the film in its entirety. Hailed as one of Chaplin's better films, with a memorable score and touching story. The humour in the film is all slapstick alongside a cleverly choreographed boxing match, which for me, was the best scene in the film. City Lights, released in 1931 was the first film where Chaplin, as well as director, composed the film score. The chase music at the start of the film is the music I've heard most often when Chaplin's films are talked about.

The Tramp, sleeping on a new statue unveiled in front of a crowd is chased away. While wandering the streets, he meets a young blind girl selling flowers. He buys one but as she is about to give him his change, a wealthy man gets into a fancy car, slamming the door. The girl, upon hearing the door, thinks The Tramp is a wealthy man.

The Tramp saves a millionaire from killing himself and start a strange friendship where the millionaire only recognises him when he's drunk. The Tramp, wanting to help the blind girl, gets job the loses it. Desparate to help the blind girl with rent, he takes part on a boxing match in the hope of winning the prize money, but loses. He then meets the drunk millionaire who gives him money but he is hit on the head and sobers up. The millionaire claims to not know The Tramp and says hes been robbed. Before he is arrested, The Tramp manages to get the money to the blind girl so she can have an operation to fix her eyes. The Tramp goes to jail for months and returns to find the blind girl. She has her own flower shop and can see. She recognises The Tramp from his hands, the two are reunited at last.

It is a very sweet story, a simple love story really with comedy added in around it. The comedy in the film is classic slapstick which is funny in places but I think what I found the most humerous were Chaplin's expressions, especially in the changing room of the boxing arena. He is strange behaviour forces another boxer to dress behind a curtain. Little touches such as this, set the film apart, but Chaplin was in a league of his own. I've haven't seen any Buster Keaton though, and I know everyone said he was the master. Many of the scenes, mostly with the drunk millionaire, centrered around silly jokes like being drunk, falling over, eating decorations thinking its food and are sometimes played a little too long. I can imagine a 1930s audience absolutely loving the comedy though. I hate to say it, but its all very tame compared to modern comedies. But silent movies are a completely different genre I suppose.

The boxing match, as I mentioned, is my favourite scene. I laughed the most during this part as well as cheering The Tramp on. With the added brilliant score, the tension and comedy are brought together to end in a unfortunate climactic end with The Tramp being dragged away. The little touch which I found hilarious is when The Tramp's opponent, on the way to the ring, punches a man, knocking him out. At the end of the match, the same man is seen running away when the opponent returns. It's all the bottom of the sceen so not in an obvious eye-line. Just on the edge of the frame, suggesting another storyline playing out.

Rooting for the underdog is what the films featuring The Tramp is all about. You want him to help the blind girl, you want him to win the match, you want him to get away from the police and you want him to find the blind girl again. The love story is beautifully framed each time, whether they are side by side, or he's leaning to look through her window or they are looking into each other's eyes. It's romantic with an ending that needed just a few more minutes to play out. But the hope throughout that the girl will accept The Tramp is fulfilled, she loves him for who he is not what he is. The silence added a sense of elegance, especially with only expressions and looks to interpret.

City Lights was added last minute and I'm glad I did include it in the list. It's spurred me on to find more of Chaplin's features, the ones I haven't seen, just o explore his storytelling as well as the comedy.

To see where it all started and for an excellent insight to film, have a look at The Matinee and have a look HERE for more Blind Spot posts from other bloggers.