Blind Spot Series: Breakfast at Tiffany's

A few people have been surprised that I haven't seen this film but to me, it just never appealed. Visions of the Holly Golightly ‘look’ were everywhere, on bags, t-shirts, purses, posters and it was rather suffocating. There has always been a part of me that was intrigued by the film as it was based on Truman Capote’s novel but apart from that I have avoided it. I picked it for my blind spot list this, as it was just the time to watch it. I had actually planned this film for February but plans do change.

I think I misunderstood what sort of film this was. Being a film for icon Audrey Hepburn or was it the film that made her an icon, she is Holly Golightly, a fun loving, easy-going socialite who may or may not be a call girl. When writer Paul (George Peppard) moves into the building the two become friends despite their obvious attraction to each other. Paul is trying to write but is in the middle of an affair with rich married woman who basically pays for everything. He's her project/charity, while Holly accepts money from weird rich guys and works for a mobster in jail. The two are just perfect for each other. But Holly, who calls herself a 'wild thing' that doesn't belong to anyone, can't seem to see what would be best for her. 

Holly is laid bare almost in this film, from the start. We see her at the start dressed in the famous outfit eating breakfast starring through Tiffany's in the early hours of the morning. This is who Holly is. She's dressed up putting on a facade and looking through at a world she wants to be part of. All so we think. We later see her going on 'dates' with wealthy men, hosting crazy parties, planning on marrying a rich guy but she keeps coming back to Paul for company. We also meet her husband she married at 14! Nice pleasant older man who took her and her beloved brother in. But she had the wedding annulled and moved away. She had out grown that old life. We also see her go through tragedy, her brother dying, arrested, abandoned by her supposed fiancé. Holly is in the spotlight and Paul is telling the story. We never get the know Paul, apart from the fact he's a writer and he's a kept man and that he's in love with Holly.

It's difficult to say if this is a love story or about two people who are trying to avoid commitment and life by taking money of others to skim through life. Holly's cat, named Cat, could be seen as a metaphor or a symbol for Holly. She does compare herself and cat to being wild and not belonging to anyone not even each other. Paul then retorts that thinking like this has cut her off  (basically) and she'll be alone. Cat is in a way a connector for them, like Holly he is wild but wants a home, he never runs away. Like Paul he is also an outsider, sulking around in the background at parties not really wanting to be involved. And the end scene just creates this visualisation.

I was surprised and enjoyed the film for the most part but Micky Rooney cast as Mr. Yunioshi almost ruined the film for me. It's beyond racist and I really can't see why they didn't cast a Japanese actor. It may be a sign of the times but it was terrible. 

Not wanting to end on a bad note, I'll leave it on this...

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: Cults/Secret Socities

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

Its odd how everyone wants in on a secret society and cults are seen as scray things to avoid and usually involve the devil or someone being sacrificed. Well, that only applies to one pick this week...

Sound of my Voice

This was one of those films where I was dying to see but was quite disappointed by the end. A couple wan to make a documentary about a cult that they have heard about and their leader who claims to be from the future. They infiltrate the group but end up being on opposingsides about the leader, Maggie. There is a good story here but very little action. The cult seems non threatening but when Maggie wants to meet a young girl who she claims is her mother, the couple have to decide whether its gone too far or not. The ending is unsettling and makes you wonder but as a whole, the film loses pace too soon.

Eyes Wide Shut

Stanley Kubrick's finaly film about a man who tries to find out about a secret society was underwhelming.  The then married Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman was meant to be a 'big deal' but just wasn't. After being invited to a party with his wife, Bill encounters strange happenings and decides to pursue them. After speaking to a piano player he knows, he finds out that he has a 'gig' playing blind folded. Bill, curious, goes along to this 'party' dressed in costume and mask to discover that it is an orgy of some sorts as well as a strange ritual. People die and disappear myteriously and Bill's wife, Alice has weird dreams where she has sex witho other men while he watches. As I said, not great.

The Wicker Man 

 The film is disturbing and you can feel the creeping terror throughout the film. The notorious ending is horrible mostly because of how helpless the situation is and how terrifying. The late great Christopher Lee is perfect as the head of the weirdo cult of Summerisle but I'm actually feeling scared just thinking about the film again. Let us not think about the remake. Ridiculous really.

September Watch List

Ben-Hur

This review was actually posted up a few days before the release date. What you say! Posting film reviews during the actual month of release? Yes, it was indeed. A rare and hopefully to be repeated occurance. The review was written for Vulturehound, a pretty awesome culture magazine. Have a read of it HERE.  2/5

Cafe Society

Woody Allen's latest offering is lavish, beautiful, bitter but not as sweet as I hoped. With my mixed feelings about An Irrational Man, I had hoped that Cafe Society would follow in tradition, one bad one good pattern but the story about a New Yorker guy moving to LA to start a life and falls in love with the first woman he meets is predictable. The woman he adores is seeing a married man, someone close to home, so he ends up moving back to New York to help his gangster brother run a nightclub. The voice over throughout the film interrupts the story and takes away dialogue from secondary characters which is a shame. But it's the predictable story love triangle that grated on me and the fact certain people knew they had made mistakes almost straight away. Hope Woody Allen hasn't lost his touch already. 3/5

The Program

 The Lance Armstrong scandal was something I remember hearing about but never really looked into it. America's prized athlete and massive liar. This is less about Armstrong's live as shown by the weird scene where he meets and marries his wife only for her not appear in the film ever again, its more about his rise, illness, unrealistic rise then massive fall. The fact that he claims many times that all the cyclists were doping is just sad that it got that deep. It was good see Chris O'Dowd is a serious role and Ben Foster was pretty menacing. What was good about this story was that it didn't make me want to watch the documentary instead. 3/5

Hunt for the Wilderpeople

it has been too long since I gave a high rating to a film, but I have been going on about Taika Waititi's amazing hilarious film since June when I saw it at Edinburgh Film Festival. I wrote briefly about how much I loved the film HERE. The film also won the audience award for best film at the festival, well deserved. What's not to love about buddy journey comedy through the New Zeland bush. Excellent dialogue, brilliant cast and beyond beautiful views. 5/5

Jane Got A Gun

After a long and difficult journey to the screen which lasted all of 5 minutes, Jane makes it to DVD success. A small cast do well to build the tension and a good story. Unfortunately, the story is nothing new or spectacular. That aside, the checklist of Western traits, flashbacks, revenge, lost love, civil war gets in the way, homes built in the middle of nowhere and the classic shoot out. Natalie Portman and Joel Edgerton make a great duo. Most of the film is made up of them talking and looking at each longing to sau something that they don't need to say. Glad I watched it and DVD too, this was a wait for the home video situation. 3/5

War on Everyone

I was lucky enough to snab a ticket to see pretty damn good film at Empire Live and I'm so glad I did. Two cops, both bad, one with a family who breaks his son's xbox and the other single who own a huge empty house to himself and love Glen Campbell. Both cops are pretty awful. They accept bribes, do coke with criminals, run over mime artists and occasionally follow up on leads if it's in their interest. The script is razor sharp genius from the mind of John Michael McDonagh who gave us Calvary. He was funny but to the point in the Q&a after the film which made him even greater. The characters in the film are terrible but they have weird moments where they prove they're humans. Michael Pena and Alexander Skarsgard are brilliant at the centre and are supported by a great creepy cast too. Cannot love this movie enough. 4/5

I have also included TV this month as I wrote a post about it for Vulturehound. Full post can be read HERE.

Empire Live - Day Two

After some late night bowling and all that excitement my friend (Foxo) and I needed a rest. For the second day of Empire Live the first thing we wanted was a late lunch.

Once satisfied we then went looking for churros and were mightly let down by Las Iguanas who lied to us. But enough of this and on with the show!

We visited a Q&A briefly with two cinematographers, but no sooners had we had consumed our free drinks at the Empire Hub we had to dash over to the superscreen for a mastermind quiz with Jason Isaacs. A last minute edition to the schedule, but we already had the 'surprise' slot tickets. Along with some very amusing stories, Isaacs is full of them, we got to learn a few things about the movie business along the way. Such as, if someone won't send you the script to a film, you know it won't be good, even if a billionaire is financing it and it apparently won't be seen by anyone, still think twice about it.

Next, we dashed over to the Hub one last time to catch a few minutes of the panel we both really wanted to see, Women on Screen. Proving a popular and hot topic, it was crowded in the bowling alley but due to not so great scheduling from Empire (c'mon guy!) we had to miss most of it.

We dashing over to the superscreen, in time for a our final event of the weekend, a screening of High-rise, which we both love and some footage from Free Fire, all from the mind of screenwriter Amy Jump and director, Ben Wheatly. The latter being there for a great Q&A, talking about the process, ideas and wish lists. It was great seeing High-Rise again, especially on such a gigantic screen. Except there were a few moments, skin peeled off a severed head, angry spit on a door, dog food from the can that were pretty disgusting on the huge screen. A few bits felt like they were missing too...but apart from that, just brillaint.

Shorter than Saturday but no less tired afterwards. Now for the long road to no sleep until next Saturday probably.

Empire Live - Day One

This weekend was all about film. So, my favourite kind of weekend. Months ago my friend (Foxo) and I bought tickets to this event. We thought we'd see some movies, maybe some others things, enjoy some drinks, go bowling and the event did exactly what it said on the tin. Almost.

There was a bit of embellishing going on from Empire, claiming a preview of Free Fire, Ben Wheatly's much anticipated film. When in fact it is was exclusive footage. Even Wheatly who was there at the screening for High-Rise pointed this out. And there were some weird things happening with the schedule.

We had tickets for High-Rise, which, started midway, the panel discussion, Women on Screen, which we both really wanted to see BUT this very popular and interesting discussion was not placed well in the schedule. This annoyed me greatly. So, Empire, remember this, you put a hot topic panel in the middle of other popular items, you will annoy your loyal readers.

We stepped out of the tube and headed for the much-changed O2, well the surrounding part has changed a great deal since I was there last. The first thing we did, apart from seek out coffee (needed my fix) was marvel at the Dome. It truly is gigantic and only half of the Dome, as I’m sure most know, is used or open to the public. 

We headed over to the superscreen to stare and marvel at a sneak preview at Luke Cage footage with the man himself, Mike Colter, who almost ran into in our hurry to get there. Mixed in with a Q&A with Colter, we got see some exclusive clips and some trailers. I was looking forward to the series but now I am completely hyped up for it. Only a week until it appears on Netflix! Colter too was brilliant, telling us some funny stories but the highlight came from a child in the audience asking what his ideal costume would be. Colter basically described a onesie with gold on it. An excellent start to the weekend.

Next we downed some sushi as it was the only place that didn’t have a extra long queue outside then we dashed back over to the superscreen again for a last minute addition to our own schedules, War on Everything. I loved this film, a mixture of hilarious dialogue, horrible characters you can’t stop watching and even some heartfelt moments that maybe shouldn’t be. As I said, I loved it. But I think director John Michael McDonagh stole the show. Not only should he have his own films school, with his words of wisdom and blunt honesty, he’s a damn fine screenwriter. Another very funny interview and Q&A. I admired Calvary, his second film and I should see The Guard, very soon.

Before we went to our final event of the day we snuck away to check out the Empire Hub, which was in the Brooklyn Bowling alley. We had a look around, scoped out the bowling situation and were weirded out by the ‘art’ that decorated the bathrooms.

Last event was a live director’s commentary of The Raid with Gareth Evans and Empire’s own Chris Hewitt. Luckily I had already seen the film so I got to sit back and laugh at the anecdotes from Evans. It was insane how much he remembered about each of the extras and the extras and some of the actors were just normal everyday guys. There were even some shots and mistakes that Evans happily shared with us going into detail about the smallest of things. It was such a great experience and in fact, made me enjoy the film more.

After the film we headed back over to the bowling alley as we were determined to get our free drinks AND bowl before we had to run for the last train. As there were only two of us, we naturally put fake names into the game. So the winner of the game was Astronaut Mike Dexter and close on the heels was Foxy and in 3^rd place, Night Cheese.

And this was all just day one.

Thursday Movie Picks: Teen Angst

Oh there is so much angst out there. It takes different forms but when its all about angst-y teens, things get crazy, 'real', emotional and sometimes tragic. Chose a classix, a favourite and a new-ish discovery that I'm so glad I found.

Also its a day early as I might forget tomorrow - my timing is all messed up as the sleeping issues continue.

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

Turn Me On Dammit

Less angst and more frustration really but still a brilliant film and finally from a teenage girl's perspective. Alma lives in a small village in Norway and she has a crush on a boy. She spends her free time hanging out with her friends at a bustop drinking cheap alcohol and calls a sex line everyday. Alma really wants to have sex. But when the boy she likes weirdly pokes her with his dick and then later denies it, Alma is then picked on and ostracized from her friends.

Rebel Without a Cause 

The ultimate teen angst film which I had to include as James Dean makes a star turn. Three disillusioned teens, with problems at home, end up together after being arrested for different things that reflect their issues. I saw this years ago and loved it but I think I need to see it again as I can't quite remember what else happens.

Heathers

I think I've used this film before but it fits so perfect AND I've got a couple of the off-broadway musical songs in my head. The Heathers are the ruling clique at highschool but their friend, Veronica, once an outsider, has grown tired of them and their ways. When new dangerous kid, JD arrives, he and Veronica start something after killing the lead Heather and framing it as suicide. A brilliant film that isn't given enough credit and is actually a prelude to films like, Mean Girls. The musical music is pretty good too, wish I had seen it on stage.

Lazy Sunday: Death of a Loved One

This next Lazy Sunday Murder Mystery is familiar territory but falls into the Scandi-Noir genre and ia highly addictive watching. Back in 2014, my aunt and uncle introduced to me Swedish TV series about a female amateur detective.

Set in the 1950s Sweden, Puck Ekstedt, doesn’t conform. She gives talks about literature and is fascinated by murders. She wants a PHD and she doesn’t know if she wants children. There are only a precious 6 episodes in the Crimes of Passion series, based on the novels by Maria Lang and unfortunately, it doesn’t look like they’ll be anymore. I became a little too obsessed with the series, re-watching them all on a loop on my ipad during my lunch breaks at work, but they were just so very good, plus the opening titles are brilliant.

I ended up watching the last three episodes first, as these were the ones that were taped by my family and I was so eager to watch more; I downloaded the rest of the series and devoured them. The terrible comparison that was mentioned was that the series was like ‘Mad Men meets The Killing’. This is completely wrong. The stories are set in the 50s and there are murders that take place. Nothing like either show. Just to be clear.

Apart from Puck, the main characters are Einar Bure, called Eje, who is dating Puck at the start of the series, and Christer Wijk, a police superintendent, womaniser and Eje’s best friend. Together, the three of them solve murders. 

The first episode, Death of a Loved One, is set on a remote island that can only be reached by boat the perfect place for a murder. Her colleague, Rutgar, invites Puck to a small party to celebrate Midsummer on the small island. She is persuaded to go after she hears that Eje, an old friend of Rutgar’s is going; he and Puck have started dating. But during the festivities, two old friends of the party show up uninvited. Things take a turn, as truths people wanted hidden start to creep out. The next day Puck discovers the body of one of the guests. She tells Eje and he contacts his friend, Chrsiter Wijk who is a detective in Stockholm. But once he arrives on the island, the body is missing.

The setting for this story is beautiful, a forest wonderland surrounded by sea, with a beach and perfect house situated in the middle. All the characters and suspects all seem to have motives and various secrets they wish to hide. Past heartaches and lies come to the surface, while Puck, the outsider takes note of everyone’s behaviour and remembers every detail. Catching the eye and admiration of Christer but all she and Eje seem to want is a few minutes alone together. 

There is even a nod to Agatha Christie’s And Then There Were None when someone comments that they’re getting picked off one by one. The death count for this story was actually quite low but nearly everyone comes out of this with wounds. An excellent start to the series.

Lazy Sunday: Pigeon

Does anyone remember Pushing Daisies? I’m sure most of you do. It’s the show about Ned, the pie maker who has the unusual and restrictive gift of bringing back the dead. But he can only bring people back from the dead for 1 minute, any longer and someone else goes instead. Once he touches a dead thing for the second time, they’re dead again forever. He can bring back anything that’s dead, plants, animals and even food. Things become complicated when he bring back his first love, Charlotte ‘Chuck’ Charles. 

Along for the ride and the business is Emerson Cod, a private investigator who works with Ned, making his casework easier, sometimes. Apart from Chuck, he’s the only other person who knows about Ned’s gift, although Olive Snook, Ned’s faithful friend and waitress at his café, The Pie Hole, should have been told. The gang of four make a great team, sometimes by accident, other times on purpose. 

Now that you’re up to speed, I can talk about this week’s Lazy Sunday Murder Mystery. Each week on Pushing Daisies, the gang solve a murder mystery, beginning with Emerson be hired and Ned touching the corpse for information. Chuck is along too to help as ‘the alive again avenger’, a name Emerson hates and Ned becomes worried about seeing as Chuck is meant to be dead.

When a pigeon crashes into the Pie Hole’s window, Ned accidentally touches the bird, keeping it alive for longer than a minute, a load of water bugs meet their end restoring balance. Olive takes it upon herself to get the pigeon well again so it can send its message, as it is a message carrier pigeon. Not long after this event, a plane crashes into a building, killing the pilot and ruining ‘Conrad’s’ apartment. While Chuck consoles ‘Conrad’ with coffee, Ned and Emerson discover another body, the real Conrad who died when the plane crashed. It turns out that the fake Conrad, real name Lefty Lem, is an escapee from prison. Why the pigeon? Well, the pigeon is a key part of the mystery and it all makes sense.

Filled with delicious pies, retired windmill communities, missing limbs and an always amazing and delightful colour palette, this is one of my favourite episodes from Season one of Pushing Daisies which fits along side Agatha Christie adaptations in the ‘cosey crime’ division.

Thursday Movie Picks: College Movies

Not a great fan of college films as they tend to be about the same old thing or just horror films. For me I had to dog real deep for these choices. I couldn't find any decent films set at University either, apart from Starter For Ten but I wasn't particularly fond of that film. Not really a University Challenge nerd, unlike my Dad. So I've gone for those I enjoyed and found weird.

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

Slackers

 When I found out that Jason Segel and Devon Sawa were in this almost hidden early 2000s so called rom-com set in college, I bought it for less than £1 and sat through it. To be honest, its not that great but if you're hungover and its the nearest thing to you, it's not a bad watch. A convolutred plot involving three, you guessed it, slackers who have scammed their way through 4 years of college, are found out by a very young (and annoying) Jason Schwartzman as 'cool' Ethan. Ethan is obsessed with Angela and has been stalking her. He makes a deal with the slackers, if they get him a date with his dream girl, he won't tell on them. Simple plot but it goes all over the place.

Damsels in Distress

Greta Gerwig being herself in this delightfully odd slightly comedic story about a group of female college students who the campus' suicide prevention centre. The plot wanders away from what they are trying to achieve and doesn't make sense some of the time and even has two amusing but beautifully crafted dance numbers at the end. Dispite the somewhat strange goings-on, I thought this was a nice, yes nice, change from the usual college movie garb.

Monsters University

I can't remember if I have already used this Disney Pixar sequel, but as I'm not a fan of college films, this was one I really liked, even though I know it was not liked but others. Before Monsters Inc, Mike and Sully went to college, both wanting to be scarers. Mike the underdog, Sully getting by on his family name and no hard work end up being thrown together in a competion, the 'Scare Games' where they fight for their futures at college. I thought the games were just great fun and sometimes you just need that from Pixar Disney. 

Lazy Sunday: The Body in the Library

 

Following on from a few weeks ago, this Sunday's murder mystery is another favourite of mine and another create of Agatha Christie's, Jane Marple.

Unlike Poirot's stories, which are set during 30s, Miss Marple's are set during the 50's. This opens up to post war stories, more glamorous costumes and even more charming country villages and seaside resorts. Marple is known as the ‘nosey old biddy’ to anyone who doesn’t really know her and her talents as an amateur sleuth. There is probably room for a prequel series of the young Miss Marple but there has never been one in development. Although there was talk of a film being made with Jennifer Garner of all people who, would make Christie turn in her grave. Luckily, as there has been no word of this hideous film again, its dead in the water.

The Body in the Library from the ITV series was the first episode, the Marple series, featuring Geraldine McEwan as the first Marple. The episode actually changes quite a few things from the original book, including the time the story is set, the identity of one of the killers and adding a slight twist, which when you think about it, isn’t so surprising anymore but was for the period. I actually think it works better this way.

Unlike other Poirot, Miss Marple is modest and doesn’t feel the need to gather suspects together to present her findings. Sometimes it works out that way but sometimes she simply informs the police and the detective she had been ‘assisting’. Marple’s skills come from experience and that age-old gift of being able to read people and sometimes, like Poirot, understand and sympathise with them, whether they are the murderer or a victim.

The Body in the Library starts with a body being found in the library of Gossington Hall, the home of Marple’s close friend Dolly Bantry and her husband Arthur. The body is soon identified as Ruby Keene, a dancer at the Majestic Hotel in nearby Danemouth. But no sooner as her cousin identifies the girl, it turns out she was actually reported missing by a guest at the hotel, Conway Jefferson, an old friend of the Bantrys. So Marple and Dolly decide to take an impromptu trip to the seaside to investigate further.

One of the better Marple stories, even if it was altered from the original. It was actually quite relaxing to watch on a rainy afternoon with a coffee and raspberries. Miss Marple has a clear and clever way of conducting her investigations and does so with an impish manner than only she could get away with.  Re-watching this episode has made we want to revisit more tales of Marple, watch this space.

Blind Spot Series: Russian Ark

Before there was Victoria, the recent film about a Spanish woman who gets caught up in a heist after a night out, a film that was made in one shot, there was Russian Ark. Filmed in a single 96 minute shot with a steadicam, which was and is grounding breaking. Using over 2,000 actors and 3 live orchestras, the film was shot at the Winter Palace of the Russian State Hermitage Museum, using 33 rooms.

The technical side of the film, planned and the actually filming over power the actual story which there is none. An unamed narrator, presumed to be a ghost and his companion, named 'the European', who he meets by chance wander around the rooms, sometimes interacting with people, sometimes invisible. They observe and comment on the activitives and events, as well as the art, sometimes in great detail. Their travels around the palace/museum takes them through 300 years of history, witnessing historical and fictional people. Ending on a mass exit of everyone leaving the building until the narrator looks outside to see they are surrounded by the sea.

This was not what I expected. I thought that a narrator would pass from room to room observing moments in history but instead, it felt that the narrator was lost and the often rude 'European', meant to be a French traveller, Marquis de Custine, was there to intrude on and criticise the Russian history. At times it was difficult to know who was speaking as everyone's voices mould into each others. The fact that the film was made in a one continuous shot makes the film feel longer that what it actually was, 96 minutes. The film was difficult to follow as imortant moments followed dull ones. It was also odd that there was a narrator and on screen companion.

Feeling less like a narrative film and more like a documentrary, as art was the main subject, with various theories being stated and few close ups of the paintings being discussed. The narrator seems to follow 'the European' around and apologise for his words. What I found interesting was the that 'the European' was dressed in black and along the way, he meets others dressed all in black. Some are in 'costume' while others are dressed in modern clothes. These characters seem the same as our guides, they are lost, but they are lost in the art on the walls. They look and act out of place, making it feel that there are other travellers in time.

For me, it got to a certain point where I was not engaged in what was happening, either due to the characters taking were arguing about art and where they were or that it took ages to move to a new room. I cannot fault the excellent planning and brilliance of the idea as well as the costumes and the musuem itself plays a vital role, but overall it wasn't what I expected and I feel I can only admire the surface of the film and nothing more.

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.

August Watch List

A few days late for August - I was waiting to add a couple of last minute films....

The BFG

For those who didn't love and treasure Roald Dahl's beloved children's story, The BFG or see the 90s animation with weird music, the story is about Sophie. Sophie is an orphan who is snatched up after witnessing a giant blowing dreams into people's homes. She is taken to Giant Country and into the care of The BFG (big friendly giant). They become friends and hatch a plan to get rid of the evil giants who eat people every night. They seek the help of the Queen of England and set the plan in motion. Usually children's films have an underlining feeling that they are for adults as well but not this one. I went with my mum as she loves the story too and she used to put the story tape on during dinner for my sister and me but we both agreed that it was very 'child friendly'. In fact this film would be a perfect 'Afternoon Movie'. But for me, it was tad too child like to fully immerse myself in. 3/5

Suicide Squad

I would say, I've been waiting all month to write about the squad but now that it comes it, there has been so much written, my thoughts might just be run of the mill. Not being a big fan of DC Comic films, apart from the Christopher Nolan films, I was really looking forward to this from the minute it was announced. I watched all the trailers, loved the artwork and was so impatient to see the film I went at a 12pm showing. I loved it to a point. That point was finding out that The Joker who had been 'bigged up' was a side character and that the real 'big baddie' was disappointing. The reason for the crazy suicide mission was also an anti climax and the intro to the squad was uneven, some members had more attention which didn't need to happen. BUT despite all this, I still enjoyed it. The villains of DC comics are great fun and still kept their mean side except when fighting for each other, which, I thought was good. They aren't heroes, they don't get to go home at the end of the day, after all, they are criminals. My favourite was probably the squad member with the smallest part but she was wicked crazy with that sword. I have her funko pop staring at me right now. I can understand why the film wasn't well liked but in the progress of DC comic films, they are getting better. 4/5

Beyond the Lights

A film about a new singer in the limelight who becomes overwhelmed and tries to commit suicide only for an LA cop to save her. Then the two have a connection, fall in love and come to realise what they really want. It's not really the sort of film that I would go for but I like the two leads, Gugu Mbatha-Raw (Belle) and Nate Parker and of course Minnie Driver. Plus the film was written and directed by Gina Prince-Bythwood and I'm all for championing women! The film just shows up how disgusting the music industry is and how women are treated so the love story was a welcome factor. Not my usual but I'm glad I was open minded about it and enjoyed it. 3/5

The Childhood of a Leader

Something of a mystery, this film directed by actor Brady Corbet, centured around a young boy over a few months. We know already he will be a leader and with that hanging over us, the tension builds thanks to the amazing score, which if it wasn't there, I don't think the film would have had the same effect. Prescott, (a brilliant Tom Sweet) is living in France with his American politician father and his cold French mother during the time of the creation of the Treaty of Versailles. The film is split into sections named as tantrums except the final and shortest section which is strange but to the point. It also forces us to expect a tantrum creating tension once again. At first its seems that Prescott already has something not quite right about him but once the maid, the only person he likes and trusts is dismissed, he explodes and implodes all at once. Overall I enjoyed, except for the final scenes, they didn't seem necessary and make a suspected plot point very obvious which ruined the mystery about the other characters. But the score is just brilliant and really does make the film. 3/5

Julieta

The long awaited Pedro Almodovar film that returns to his meldramatic roots? I think Almodovar has many roots that it would be difficult to say. This film reminded me of All About My Mother and Talk to Her, the film drips with melodrama and wonderful colour palette for both the flashbacks and the present day. Julieta, (Emma Suarez and the unbelievably beautiful Adriana Ugarte as the younger) is all set to move to Portugal with her partner until bumps into someone from her past who tells her about her daughter, Anita. She has not been in contact with her for 12 years and through flashbacks, Julieta relates the story of how she met Anita's father and how things used to be, up to the present. Throughout it is believed that Julieta had done something terrible but in fact it is Anita who is the one we should question. I didn't feel that there was any resolution to this film and there were very important questions left unanswered. Although it was brilliant, I can't shake the open ended feeling at the end. 3/5

The Bling Ring

Like Sofia Coppola, I was drawn to the real story of a group of LA teenagers who robbed celebrities' homes. It sounds unbelievable that they got away with this for so long but in a way it isn't. The lives of the rich and famous who leave their doors unlocked and leaves thousands of dollars lying around the house. The group broke into Paris Hilton's house, which the real house actually features in the film, multiple times. The group want the lifestyle and act so casually about their crimes, they seem numb to any wrong doing, apart from a few moments of panic. They get away breaking in and stealing so many times they act invincible until they are caught on security tapes and their worlds come crashing down. Everyone went on about Emma Watson in this film but she's not even the main focus. She was good, she was made for this airhead LA bitch teen but the real standout performaces come from the virtually unknown before this film, Katie Chang as the ring leader Rebecca and outsider Marc played by Israel Broussard. 3/5

Thursday Movie Picks: World War Two

I struggled a bit with World War One films but now with World War Two, it seems I am spoilt for choice. There are so many brilliant stories about this time in history, I tried to vary the perspective.

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

Flame and Citron

Danish film based on real events, starring Denmark's finest, Thure Lindhardt and Mads Mikkelsen as resistance fighters, code named, Flammen and Citron, during the Nazi occupation of Denmark. An excellent story but also quite grim as you would expect for this time. Double crossing agents, attempted assasinations and the down fall. But at the end of the film, there is a note about the legacy of Bent Faurschou-Hviid (Flammen) and Jorgen Haagen Schmith (Citron) that brings hope.

A Matter of Life and Death

I had to include the marvelous piece of film that no doubt will be popular (I'm guessing). Beginning with the supposed death of Peter Carter, a British Royal Air Force pilot who, after speaking with June, an American radio operator based in England, jumps without a parachute from his plane. His 'guide' from Heaven misses him as he was lost in the fog. So the question is, should Peter be taken to Heaven or be allowed to live. Powell and Pressburger created a sprawling story that takes place in Heaven and Earth, with numerous people, to make one decision that could change two people's lives. Not to mention the beyond beautiful Heaven court 'room'. Watching it again, it made me think that it could have been made yestersay, in terms of story not production, although, the staircase scene is one of my favourites. The scene at the start of the film has influenced many a film, including Captain America.

The Aryan Couple

 I discovered the trailer to this film years ago and waited for the film's release but it was another wait for nothing. That was back in 2004. It seemed that the film didn't get a DVD release in ages, but I tracked down a copy eventually. In Germany,  Joseph Krauzenberg, a wealthy Jewish industrialist who agrees to hand over his wealth, homes and art collection to the Nazis in exchange for his family's crossing to Switzerland. Unknown to him, his two most trusted servants, a young married couple, Hans and Ingrid have been passing themselves off as Aryan when in fact they are Jewish and working for the resistance. When the Nazis arrive at Krauzenberg's home, the couple debate whether to kill the high ranking officers.

Had to mention... Memphis Belle

I have to make a special mention to Memphis Belle, mostly because I had planned for months on using it for this very theme but then forgot and started picking the others. I also think I used it before. I started watching this film about a crew of ten men on their 25th and final mission on their American Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber plane, by accident and soon became hooked. Based on true events and real soldiers, the film has a great cast and its a rare 'feel good' war film.