Thursday Movie Picks: Heist Movies

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

All my picks are or have been remade. My guess is that heist films are timeless and can easily be remade. But when films are remade across the pond, its 9 times out of 10 been bad. A suggestion is - just don't remake British classics in modern US. 

The Ladykillers

As much as I love the Coen brothers, they're remake is just not good and in no way a match for the towering brilliance of the Ealing Comedy original. The Ladykillers is absurd when you think about it but at the same time pure genius on all fronts. A literal band of misfit robbers plan to rob a security van at Kings Cross station, part of the play is an alibi in the form of Mrs Wilberforce, a kindly old lady who has a room to rent. The robbers pretend they are am amateur string quintet and 'practice' while making their plans. The robbery goes off without a hitch but it is the fallout afterwards that is trips them up as one by one their greed gets the better of them. A true original.

The Italian Job

Going with the car colours which happen to work for the UK and US. I've only ever seen the end of the original, which is rather annoying as it gives it all away, sort of. My Dad loves the original Italian job and thought this wasn't too bad. I can't even remember what they're stealing, why they were stealing or what was happening. Whatever, I only watched it because Edward Norton was in it. I recall this film came out near to the time when Jason Statham started to ruin his career and there was the car chase but thats it. 

Ocean's Eleven

This is a remake so slick I can't be angry with anything that happens in the film. Clooney, Pitt and Damon, now a power trio. The cast actually boasts some brilliant talent here as well as having Soderbergh directing. I confess I've never seen the original film and I really should see it as I love this one very much. I didn't like the franchise tha followed, those were unnecessary. A heist that takes a team of 11 to complete and isn't just about the money but for something more, with a very entertaining Vegas background and Don Cheadle trying his hardest to convince us he's cockney, what more could you want.

Blind Spot Series: The Lives of Others

The Lives of Others came out in 2007 (in the UK) and it conjured up a storm. Winning the Best Foreign Language Film at the Oscars and the BAFTAs as well as winning many other awards in Europe. I was in college when the film was released but that point I never really saw foreign films at the cinema, only at home. It was around this time I got my first job so I had money, finally, to spend on DVDs. The Lives of Others was one of the first DVDs ever bought. I started to watch this film in 2007 but for some reason, I stopped. The film, like many others, remained on my shelf for years until after University when I culled my collection. I ended up giving the film away to my aunt and uncle who likes it. I included the film in my list as I thought it was a modern classic, especially as Ulrich Mühe, who starred in the film, died soon after the film's release. He was a notable actor in Germany and this, I would have thought would have been his breakthrough. After 7 years I watched the rest of the film, remembering where I left off. 

Set in 1984, East Germany, the Stasi are spying on thousands of citizens and forcing thousands to spy for them. Gerd Wiesler, a well known and well established Stasi officer agrees to monitor a notable playwright, Georg Dreyman, after his superiors, one eager for a promotion, the other wanting to break Dreyman up with his well known actress girlfriend, Christa-Maria. It transpires that the Minister of Culture has black mailed Christa into performing sexual favours to avoid being black listed, unknown to Dreyman. With Wiesler listening and wtaching, he asists in Dreyman discovering whats been happening. After the suicide of of one of his best friends who was black listed some years ago, the once loyal Dreyman writes an article to be published in West Gemany about how the government doesn't care about the high rate of suicides. Weiesler, who has now started to sympathise with Dreyman doesn't report this activity. But when Christa is arrested for buying medicine, she is forced into revealing that Dreyman is the author of the article, but again Wiesler steps in and removes the unregistered typewriter used to write the article from Dreyman's flat, thus clearing him of any charges. But in a tragic twist, Christa wracked with guilt runs into the road is hits by a lorry, killing her. Wiesler, now in disgrace is moved to an undignified department within the Stasi.

 Years later the wall comes down, he walks out of the Stasi knowing that the organisation will also fall. A few more years later Dreyman finds out that he was under surveillance and requests the records. The transcripts do not reflect the real events and he realises that an officer had helped him. Dreyman finds Wiesler, now a postman, but chooses not to approach him, instead he dedicates his latest book to HGW XX/7, Wiesler's code number, thanking him.

 There is far more to the film than I can summerise but these are the bare bones of the story. One thing that struck me was the moment the Berlin wall comes down in 1989. All that is celebrated is a fellow Stasi agent in the same place as Wiesler hears in the radio about the wall and then they all walk out after Wiesler. Nothing more is said. These large events in history do not matter to a character like Wiesler. He understands what is happening and what will happen and decides methodically what is to be done.

The emotional balance in the film is off kilter but it is on purpose and the characters are elevated because of this. Wiesler barely shows any emotion throughout. His small expressions are like delicate little ticks that lets the audience know what this character is feeling. He feels compassion when Christa dies and hope when he buys a copy of the book dedicated to him from Dreymen. His anger and disgust is more obvious but he knows better than to lash out at any moment. At first he comes across as ruthless when teaching a class of recruits on how to tourture someone but gradually you can see his world slowly shattering as he wakes up to the type of organisation he has joined.

It's been a long time coming and I can't decide whether the wait hindered my opinion or enhanced the experience of the film. I'm annoyed as I can't remember why I stopped and why I gave the film away. I bought it specifically because it had won awards and had been recommended. In some ways, I'm glad it took me 7 years to finish the film as I now have knowledge I didn't have back the. I now recognise the cast of the film and have seen other films they've been in. The subject matter is also more familiar to me and I can appreciate German cinema after studying film studies for 2 years and film and TV for a further 3. My own knowledge has also improved. But had I seen it 7 years ago I feel I would have been more affected by the characters and the story. I am stunted in some ways that i cannot always just enjoy and appreciate a film for what it is, a story with interesting characters. 

My expectations were high for this film and it did deliver. The story itself is just one of many about those who suffered at the hands of the Stasi, I felt like I was watching a ghost film. The shadows of an excellent film were there but I felt too much like an outsider. I'm not sure if I can explain this well enought to get across my weird standing on my viewing experience. I hope it is clear that the film was what it promised to be, a story about dissolution, desperation and how kindness can be unexpected.

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.  

Thursday Movie Picks: Music Biopic

There are so many great music biopics out there, but there equally ones that aren't so jazzy. I thought I'd choose a range of musical genres. Don't forget to check out what Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks.

Walk the Line

I love Joaquin Phoenix so of course I ran to see this film when it first came out. I knew a little bit about Johnny Cash and had heard some of his music before. I knew he was infamous as well as famous, but casting Pheonix was a stroke of genius. Johnny Cash even approved him for the role before he died. He was electrifying. I also loved that he sang all of of the songs too so naturally I own the soundtrack too. How Johnny Cash went from singing hymns to country music and from being the 'black sheep' of the family to being one of the most famous singers is pure brilliance throughout.

Amadeus

Where is Tom Hulce?  Well, he's now an award winning broadway producer but for me, he'll always me the insane incarnation of Mozart and of course Quasimodo from Disney's Hunchback of Notre Dame. The esteemed Salieri relates to a priest how he killed Mozart out of jealousy. Just like the poster and trailer says, its about music, madness and murder and its simply superb.

Control

  Ian Curtis, from Joy Division, was a name a read about frequently during my school days. His name and Richie Edwards (former Manic Street Preachers musician who disappeared) were always on the cover of NME (New Musical Express) which I read every week when at school. I liked some of of Joy Division's music and I liked a few other bands who had been compared to them. Of course Joy Division, after Curtis' death went on to become New Order. The film chronicles Ian's marriage to Deborah Curtis when they were 19 and 18, the formation of Joy Division, his struggles with epilepsy, his affair with Belgium journalist and his suicide at the age of 23. This was another film wth excellent casting, before he was famous Sam Riley is a perfect fit for Ian. The film is beautifully photographed which is no surprise as it was photographer Anton Corbjin's directorial debut film.

Thursday Movie Picks: Intersecting Stories

Usually, intersecting stories means the newest rom-com and 'how many 'famous' people can we fit in one film' but it can also mean, an excellent ensemble cast and hard hitting drama. Maybe that's going over the top. I went for a Mexican, Polish and Irish film this week, makes it different from my usual American and British picks.

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

Amores Perros

I expect this to be a popular pick just because of the brilliant Alejandro González Iñárritu's vision, as he wrote and directed this film which was debut feature. Three stories which intersect through a fatal car crash. I've read that the classes in Mexico City are very far apart and they only way for the three protagonists to meet or interact is in this way. Working class Octavio, who goes into dog fighting to save money to run away with his sister-in-law, Valeria, the rich and famous model left in a wheelchair after the accident and the homeless/hitman El Chivo, who cares more his dogs than people. It's gritty but you become obsorbed in the stories. Plus, Gael García Bernal is in it, love this actor.

11 Minutes

To be fair, this is a cheat pick as it hasn't been released in the UK or US. I saw this film at the BFI Film Festival in October. Each 'story' covers 11 minutes of each character with a view point. They all intersect in small ways at first until a the massive pay off sequence near the end where every character we've seen so far is featured. It was Poland's official entry to the Oscars 2016, alas, it was picked but its a damn good film. I wrote a longer post HERE if anyone is interested. I really hope it gets release date soon.

Intermission

Like Amores Perros, several characters all collide, at first, through a bus crash and cross over throughout the film. It's a black comedy with heartbreak, crime, reality TV and a debate over whether a female character has a moustache or not. It has a great cast and in parts genuinely funny but its quite dark too.

Thursday Movie Picks: Movies Narrated by Narrators That Do Not Appear on Screen

This was a difficult theme this week. There are plenty of films out with narration but to add the fact the narrator doesn't appear was tricky. Last week's new release Hail Caesar! would have been a great pick but I thought I'd go with some others, two of which are from my top 10 favourite films. Don't forget to check out what Wandering Through the Shelves picked, the blog that started Thursday Movie Picks.

The Royal Tenenbaums

From the moment you hear Alex Baldwin's silky husky voice, you are welcomed into the arms of the strange but almost functional Tenenbaum family. Three genius siblings, a talented mother and the terrible person as the head, plus s few odd balls, old friends and cuckholded spouses to round out the cast. The intro to the film with its prologue and enjoyable opening credits, Alec Baldwin narrates us through the story with ease. 

The Virgin Suicides

I half thought about not including this pick, mostly because it is unclear if the narrator actually appears in the story but the actor, Giovanni Ribisi, does not physically appear. The strange and tragic story about 5 sisters in the 1970s who are kept away from society (practically) to the point they literally lock them away in their house, forcing them to commit suicide. On the surface, it may be obvious as to why they did it, but there is a constant mist of mystery surrounding the girls thats never really solved. The narrator acts as another spectator, rather than offering another point of view but its needed to voice the thoughts of those who don't speak. This is the film that I see as Sofia Coppola's winning film, not the over blown Lost in Translation. 

Amelie

Another film with a most excellent opening prologue and introduction. The narrator, André Dussollier, gives us, the audience a few facts about key characters and even minor ones too, with light anecdotes accompanied by equally amusing visuals. The narrator is actually intergual to the story of Amelie as she tries to do kind acts for people, as well as fall in love and try to decide what she wants from life. The narrator expresses feelings for the characters in the most deadpan way which I loved. 

Hail, the Coens!

I think it goes without saying, I love the Coen Brothers and I like to think I know about them too. I even wrote my disertation about violence anf genre twisting in their films for University. Having to research about two directors/writers work for an entire years has got to mean I like their work. So again, it goes without saying I've been extremely excited about Hail Caesar!

I remember reading about the film years ago, back when Burn After Reading was out. The original script was said to be about a theatre troupe in the 1930s who put on a production of Shakespeare's Julius Caesar. Then A Serious Man arrived and I was thrilled to see it at the BFI Film Festival. Like a 'fan girl' I squealed with joy as I was literally a few feet away from, I have the photo to prove it. Then the story died down about Hail Caesar! and True Grit was made. I actually saw that film three times at the cinema. More rumours about Hail Caesar! circulated and there was a story change but the one consistant was that George Clooney was involved. Then Inside Llewyn Davis came out featuring quite a few actors that hadn't appeared in Coen Brother films before. I got to see this film at the festival too, premiere night, 2nd row. Again, I was in heaven. Then finally a trailer appeared for Hail Caesar! and it was everything I had hoped it would be.

I won't go into too much details about Hail Caesar! as I will include it in my Watch List this month but I will say is a brilliant film. At first I was surprised at how much attention the film has been given. Usually the Coen's films gain interest from the faithful cinephiles and Coen fans and those 'in the know'. But Hail Caesar! has got everyone saying they want to the film. I think its due to the appearence of Channing Tatum and Scarlett Johansson that has given the film it's push, as well has having a star studded film. Burn After Reading also boasted a star studded cast but again Hail Caesar has the edge but setting itself in 50s Hollywood, the height of the star system in studios. It has the glamour and strange underbelly and this was also when Communism was being hinted at among Americans. Not only did the Coens film their film but they also shot several scenes from other films in the film, no easy task. Everything was just pitch perfect throughout but enough of me talking about the film, that is for later.

Apart from being excited about the film, I re-read some Coen books as well as a quick flick through Ethan Coen's solo work, such as his book of poetry, 'The Drunken Driver Has The Right Of Way', his plays, 'Almost an Evening' and his book of short stories, 'Gates of Eden'. I actually had the book on cassette and during Uni I became a little obsessed with the story that Steve Buscemi read. Along with all this reading and watching new clips of the film on YouTube I went to a Coen Brothers themed quiz hosted by Little White Lies.

I dragged my sister along to a pub in Islington, which she found out was haunted, and we became Team 'Nice Marmet'. My sister then told me (but I already knew) that she had only seen 1 or 2 of their films. But it was no matter, I was confident we would/could do well. There were 5 teams, all with more people, one particularly large team seemed cocky, but still I had faith. The rounds were quite difficult especially the last round which weren't questions about the Coens but random questions that were connected to The Big Lebowski, like, how much does a bowling pin weigh. Anyway, the cocky team won and one guy was just so arrogant every one in the room boo-ed him of stage. My sister and I came 3rd, which, considering there was only two of us is pretty damn good. Then, here is where I get big headed, my sister did say that she helped with a few questions but I answered the rest. I'm quite proud of that. But I think if I was on my own I wouldn't have had the confidence, my sister was needed, I couldn't be 'Nice Marmet' alone.


I enjoy quizes, mostly film related ones but a Coen one was too hard to resist. I just need a Wes Anderson and Edgar Wright one and I'm set.

As I said, what I thought of Hail Caesar will be told in my Watch List. But my opinions in short will be on Twitter much sooner.