Remember that show... Taken

Remember that show about alien abductions that shows what happens to three generations of three different families and how they are affected by the abductions.

The mini series is also known as 'Steven Spielberg presents Taken', which had 10 episodes, each running nearly 2 hours long. Althought each episode was equivalent to watching a feature length film, every episode continued the story about three families and how they were affected or connected to the aliens. Spanning decades, characters came and went, with only Dakota Fanning's character Allie narrating each episode but only on screen appearing in the last 4 episodes. Starting in 1944 as a year before World War II ends and ending in present day (back then it was 2002).

Beginning in 1947 with the UFO crash in Roswell, New Mexico, this triggers ambitious Air Force Captain Owen Crawford into changing his way of thinking and becomes a shady government conspirator, who freely murders whoever might be in his way. The Crawford family become the main antagonists throughout the years of the show.

In 1944 pilot Russell Keyes and the rest of his crew are abducted by aliens and are experimented on. As a fighter Russell fights and kills the aliens who had disguised themselves as German doctors. Intrigued by his resilience and ability to survive the experiments, the aliens save him but continue to come for him. Scared that they'll come for his son Jesse, he becomes a drifter hoping the aliens won't find him. The Keyes family are the fighters but end up traumatised by their experiences.

In the same year as the UFO crash, Sally Clarke, a lonely waitress with two children and a husband who is always out of town, meets 'John' the supposed survivor alien from the crash. They share a special bond and she becomes pregnant by him and Jacob is born (played by a very young talented Anton Yelchin) The Clarke family are those who seem to experience the gentler side to aliens.

Over decades and years of experiments, the aliens plan to breed a being that will help them ends with Allie Keyes who is the daughter of Charlie Keyes and Lisa Clarke. She has great powers and is wise beyond her years. The epic last 4 episodes of the series are the best as there are showdowns, characters meeting for the first time and it all links in together.

It's a show that I think has been forgotten about, maybe because the episodes were really long or it was on TV at the same time as the first season of '24' (my sister and I had fights over who got to record their show) or maybe the show is over looked as 'just another alien abduction story', but this saga is brillaintly crafted with a standout cast and it does indeed have that Spielberg touch, which is a good things this time. I'm hoping it will have its time again in the spotlight and used as an example on how to craft gripping and well crafted TV but until that day, I'll keep talking about it and correct people and say 'no not the spin of the Liam Neeson films, the one about the alien abductions!'

March Watch List

Patti Cake$

 Developed at the Sundance lab by writer and director Geremy Jasper, this story about New Jersey rapper Killer P aka Patti Cake$ aka Patricia Dombrowski who works at a dive bar where her mother goes every night to get drunk and sing karaoke. Patti and her best friend Jheri want to get out of their nowhere town and make it big as rappers. They meet the talented and very quiet self-named Basterd who creates their music. Together with Patti’s Nana they write, record and self produce an EP. Even though I’m not a huge music fan, I like what I like and that’s that BUT I appreciate a story about a talented women just trying to get on with her life, dreaming big but also ready to take chances even it means being put on the spot. Patti is brave and even when she hits rock bottom, her friends are there to talk her back up. The lyrics themselves are good and the performance the group PBNJ gives is epic. 4/5

Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story

Famous actress Hedy Lamarr is an enigma. A woman who was indeed very beautiful but who longed to be appreciated for something other than her looks. She was actress, producer and inventor. When tapes from a long lost interview are found behind a bin in a journalist’s office, Hedy gets to tell her side of the story. Starting from her life in the city she loved and longed to go back to, Vienna, to her time acting and going to Hollywood, to when she invented technology that is still used today to her last year as recluse when she didn’t even see her family, the documentary interjects her voice in the interview with interviews from those who knew her. It’s a sad story of a talented woman who wasn’t entirely appreciated for all her talents. 3/5

Tomb Raider

 I originally went to see this film because I was intrigued by the positive reviews and because it was so damn cold I need to be inside somewhere warm. I’m not a gamer nor am I a fan of Angelina Jolie so I never saw the first films. But with a fresh start and actress I actually admire, an action film seemed like a great choice for a Saturday afternoon. I was pleasantly surprised by how much I enjoyed the film, genre clichés and all! Alicia Vikander deserves more credit for sure and the story was pretty darn good. Lara Croft still in denial about her father’s disappearance decides to pick up the mystery where her father left off and sets in motion a dangerous journey to an island that shouldn’t exist. Far better than expected, complete with an Indiana Jones vibe that isn’t tacky but actually pretty darn spooky. And no hideous ‘love’ story to be bored with either, Roar Uthaug, you’re just spoiling me now. 3/5

Isle of Dogs

 Review of this superb animated film can be read on VultureHound HERE. 5/5

Annihilation

  

I think I have too many thoughts to be summarised into one paragraph for this film. Post coming soon! 4/5 

Boy

Taika Waititi's wonderful second feature that never got a release in the UK until recently. With a few rare screenings around London, the film finally got a DVD release. Boy is about an 11 year old Alamein Jr who lives with his four young cousins and 6-year-old brother Rocky and their Nan. He is obsessed with Michael Jackson and makes up stories about where his Dad has been. But when his Dad, just released from prison returns, he thinks will get better. It’s not quite a coming-of-age story, more a comedic family drama that is full of imagination, ending on the inspired Thriller- Haka. I can see why this was such a hit in New Zealand and hopefully will be seen by more people now, as it deserves its time in the cinema sun. You can also see Waititi's style emerging from his feature debut, 'Eagle Vs Shark' to 'Boy'. 4/5 

Deidra and Laney Rob a Train

A Netflix original movie that if it hadn't been on Netflix would have most likely missed. These are the films that do well on Netflix. There are a few originals that are queued up and happy to see on a smaller screen because it’s more about the storytelling and characters than it is about being a spectacle. Siblings Deirda and Laney need money after their mother has a breakdown and is arrested. With Laney reluctantly taking part in a pageant and Deirda keeping her family together and trying to apply for college, they are desperate enough to literally rob trains and sell on the stolen good they find. The sisters (Ashleigh Murray and Rachel Crow) are superb with natural chemistry and likable that they are relatable too. Even though what they are doing is wrong, they have fair reason to do what they do. But overall it’s about what family will do for family. 3/5

Jessica Jones Season 2

POSSIBLE SPOILERS

With a flurry of new shows appearing on Netflix every week it seems, sometimes the streaming service's staple shows or those that brought in the subscribers are released without fanfare. A trailer may be out on social channels but that's as far as it goes meaning big hitters such as Jessica Jones season 2 are let out quietly.

The show had some momentum after The Defenders was released last year, bringing the four New York based heros and crime fighters together in a shaky truce. Jessica, who always works best alone, much like the others in the group, was being set up for another solo story. Despite the big showdown in The Defenders, Jessica seems barely affected by the aftermath, instead she continues, business as normal. She drinks, takes a case, drinks at a bar, takes photos of adulterers, drinks some and blacks out at her home slash office. So far so Jessica. But when her best friend Trish, radio presenter and would be journalist, chases a story about how Jessica came to be the superpowered woman she is, things take a turn.

Season two picks up, as if The Defenders didn't really happen, which is odd but at the same time makes no difference. Mentions of Kilgrave and the mental scars he left on Jessica resurface including an actual appearence from the villain in the form of a hallucination later on the on the series when Jessica questions herself for the hundredth time. The focus for the series is about Jessica's origins and her family, gulit taking over her bit by bit. The story is set up well, with a group of cases presented, including one that sounds odd and most likely to be the red herring that really gets the ball rolling. With ex-addict neighbour Malcolm as her assistant who she regularly fires and yet he still comes back, things at Alias Investigations seem to going well, even when a rival investigator comes knocking. Trish and Geri also get their own messed up storylines that go nowhere at first then take sharpe dramatic turns. Geri's story at least involves her signature cold as ice expressions as well as a mini sweet revenge plot but Trish literally goes off the rails all the while claiming she is a journalist.  The core story with Jessica is about her own issues. The first season was about an evil villain who used, abused and terrorized her and how she overcame him. This season is about dealing with the loss of her family and finding out the truth about those rose tinted days before the car crash.

In a way, the three main women of the show go through literal and metaphorical changes throughout the show. Geri finds out she has limited time left and decides to bit back when she is pushed out by her partners at her law firm. Trish starts to evolve into a real journalist and then destroys everything in her life, leaving her boyfriend, losing her job, ruining her relationship with Jessica. Jessica looks for answers and tries to deal with the aftermath when she meets someone from her past.

The trend in the Marvel TV shows is have a hard hitting first half, then slowly make everything worse for everyone involve as well switching villains. The latter part really annoys me as it doesn't work. A twist half way through a story isn't a twist, its actively a bad decision. In my opinion. But Jessica Jones sets itself apart slightly by having a villain in place but to find out he was never really the 'bad guy' but someone who tried to do good but ended up with a mess on his hands.

Jessica Jones season two isn't perfect and is by no means as good as season one in story terms, but it has some great episodes early on and has the honour of having each episodes directed by a woman. It was announced that half the episodes would be directed by a woman but then, why not all of them? It really makes a difference, concerning certain details and it great that this was idea was put in motion. I'm hoping this encourages more shows, especially those about female characters where there are more women directing.

Make of it what you will but I always prefered Jessica Jones when she was on the case where it wasn't so personal. We'll see what happens next.

Poisonin', Ropin' & Shootin'

Everyone knows the song, but it was only last year that I first saw the film. As soon as the music starts up and the one and only Dolly Parton's voice subtly plays against the sequence of women getting up and going to work you already feel like its going to be a great but tough day.

On the surface, '9 to 5' is a comedy, possibly more in the screwball comedy arena, which is about three women who have to deal with a hideous boss. They hate him but, as they all need their job, they are limited in power. That is, until they day that one of them accidentally lives out a fantasy and almost kills the man. Simmering just below the surface there are voices of three women, who become fast friends, who aren't going to take the treatment anymore and make changes that improve the whole office staff's lives.

Three very different and independant women taking on a sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical bigot is a fantasy come true for many people who have had a boss that bad or one that is just plain awful. Violet, Doralee and Judy play out the fantasty as just that, each with their way of getting revenge on Mr Hart Jr. By shooting him, tying him in rope after objectifying him and finally poisoning him in a fairytale dream. Watching all three scenarios come true in some way or other is deliciously satisfying and even more so when they string him up as a prisoner in his own home. The sting of how things really are in the workplace, regardless of the time, some things are still painfully relatable to today's work place. After all the women's efforts to improve the work place they are congratulated but not to theor faces, instead a selfish idiotic man, their boss, is given the credit and told the equal pay things will be squashed. The film even manages to get political about equal pay and good for Colin Higgins (also director) and Patricia Resnick for including this in the film.

For laughter and look back what everyone wore to work, '9 to 5' is an overlooked brilliant film.


Thanks to Park Circus, '9 to 5' is being screened as part of BFI's Girlfriends season. You can catch a screening of the film Sunday 18th March at 5:45pm. Check out other great films being screening in the season HERE.

Jungle Red

When a film is named 'The Women' you'd expect a certain type of story and possibly stereotypical characters. Although when the film was released in 1939, the poster carried the tagline 'It's all about men', it isn't all about nasty two faced behaviour. The characters do also show genuine compassion for one another. But the main themes of the film is meant to be about friendship but how women try to 'take down' other women, usually involving men, is also a huge part of the story. Forgive me if this sounds bitter but I haven't gotten to the best part of what makes 'The Women' so delightfully brilliant.

The comedy craeted from these characters is simply divine. With genuine laugh out loud moments, if unfortunate as the comedic moments are from someone else's demise. Looking back at some scenes, you can't help but think the behaviour of these women is reflection on what women are like. Seeing a spiteful character get her comeuppance, is amusingly satisfying. At the same time, watching a character complain about her husband to the point of divorce the melt into the phone when she calls to tell the good news (she's pregnant) is the same feeling. Being able to switch emotions at the drop of a hat feels like something only a woman (on screen) can do, making you want to cheer and laugh at the same time.

Written by Clare Boothe Luce in 1936, screenwritters Anita Loos and Jane Murfin adapted it for film, following in suit of the title, the film famously only features women, whether it is the main cast or background artist, only women are on screen. Cleverly picking a location that (at the time) only women would be seen, a salon providing everything a woman desires to keep fit, refreshed and not to mention, beautiful. The opening sequence is women talking, snippets of conversations taken out of context and finally stopping on a manicurist putting 'jungle red' nail polish on Slyvia, an unbeliavle cutting Rosalind Russell who enjoy every minute of the role. When Slyvia is told a rumour about her 'dear' friend Mary Haines (Norma Shearer), that her husband is having an affair with a perfumer counter girl (Joan Crawford), she smiles with glee and immediatly calls a friend to share the gossip. From here, marriages are ruined, friendships strengthened, friendships ended, spite and malice exchanged, a very amuisng fight, an exquiste fashion show and the feeling that things will be alright in the end.

Having been written by a woman, adapted by a woman, I wonder if it would have been different if it had been directed by a woman. In the 2008 adaptation, characters are slightly altered by the bare bones are still there. But as Diane English wrote and directed, characters are seen to develop make positive changes and there is far less gossip exchanged. Gossiping is always seen as something women do and that hammered home in director George Cukor's film. But I suppose we can only wonder.

The casting in the film is a stroke of genius. Every woman sinks their teeth into the part they have, even Joan Fontaine's meek and naive Peggy Day who's husband is jealous she has a little bit more money that he does. With dignity and grace Norma Shearer centers the main plot as Mary Haines, who is blissfully happy one minute and devastated the next. She stands by her principles and pride throughout, waiting for silly off screen husband to come to his senses. Rosaline Russell is the anti Girl Friday as the main cause for spreading gossip like poison. Her comedic waspish remarks don't stop, not even in the fact of ruin and an embarassing divorce. Joan Crawford plays the part of the perfumer counter sales girl as if she was born for the part. I can't help but wonder if this was literally how Hollywood saw her; a husband stealing arrogant snake. The image followed her throughout her career and personal life.

With a cast so brilliant in their comedic timings and naturalistic delivery of some of the more caustic and cutting lines, 'The Women' is perfect to seek out in celebration of International Women's Day or any other day in fact.

Thanks to Park Circus, 'The Women' is being screened as part of BFI's Girlfriends season. You can catch a screening of the film Saturday 17 March 2018 at 3pm. Check out other great films being screening in the season HERE.

#BFIGirlfriends  

#TheWomen 

@ParkCircusFilms

@BFI

February Watch List

    

The Shape of Water

This wonderful fantasty fairytale like period drama with a science fiction edge was one of the best films at LFF 2017 and will most likely be one of the best films this year. My review is over on VultureHound which you can read HERE. 5/5

Brakes

Meant to be the anti Rom-Com, the idea of seeing nine couples at the end then at the start is an concept that sounds fascinating on paper but on a micro budget, even with great British talent, it falls short of funny and more bitter and sad. My review is over on VultureHound and can be read HERE. 2/5

78/52

An entire documentary discussing and analysing the shower sequence in Hitchcock’s Psycho seems like overkill at first, but listening to the insights of directors, writers, actors, editors and scholars, there is far more to this documentary that meets the unblinking eye.

Released in 1960, Hitchcock’s Psycho, based on the novel by Robert Bloch, was a step away from his previous thrillers. It broke barriers with its characters, story and inspired countless homages and is considered a prelude to the slasher film genres of the 70s and 80s. Hitchcock wanted to shock his audience, give them something new to talk about and cause uproar. Through just one scene, the Master of Suspense choreographed the infamous shower scene where a mystery killer murders his lead character.

Cutting between interviews, archive footage and reenactments of ‘Psycho’, the scene is dissected and discussed in great detail, speculating why choices were made, if these were for cinematic or story purpose. The admiration that those being interviewed have for Hitchcock and his stylized murder is surprisingly enthralling. Drawn in by the blood hitting the bathtub, the quick deeps cuts, Mrs Bates in shadow and the Janet Leigh’s terrified last look as the camera zooms into her eye, every inch of the three minute scene is analysed.

Hitchcock achieved his purpose of scaring his audience to the point of screaming with fright. The combination of the violent death and music so unbelievably perfect, anyone who hears it automatically feels the hairs on the back their neck stand on end. With just seventy-eight shots, fifty-two cuts, and a scene that inspired an entire film for other filmmakers to theorize was something that Hitchcock would never have fathomed. ‘Psycho’ will always be treasured as a classic horror and one of Hitchcock’s best films, as both box office sensation and art house film, it is a film which reveals secrets as well keeping them, only making the film more infamous. 4/5

Band Aid

Having waited for feels like months to see Zoe Lester's directorial debut which she also wrote, co-produced and starred in, I hyped myself up for it watching the trailer, clips and music videos quite frequently, but the film delivered on its comedic and tragic moments in equal measures. About a married couple both grieving in different ways after a miscarriage, they continue their age old arguments until they decide to sing about their fights. Finding a new release in creativity, they slowly mend and confront their issues. The songs and scenes are perfectly executed, as Zoe Lester and Adam Pally make an excellent on screen couple. Another refreshing portrayal of the couple is that in no way do they flirt or consider an affair with anyone else, which is usually the way these stories about a marriage go. It's fun, sad and honest which is not seen in quite a few films of this genre. 4/5

Lady Bird

Greta Gerwig has had quite a bit negativity thrown her way in the past, saying she plays the same role in all her films. She gained recognition for 'Frances Ha' and 'Mistress America', co-writing and acting in both and with the semi-autobiographical Lady Bird, I feel that this is Gerwig's time to show what she can really do. Set in 2002, Christine, insisting she is called Lady Bird, lives in Sacremento but dreams of moving to New York. In her last year at school before college, she explores acting, falls for two very different boys, lies about her life, fights with her mother and goes behind her back to apply for colleage on the East Coast. On the surface the story is simple but underneath an indepth look at a character, a teenage girl with so much determination and hope, that I personally find easy to relate to. Even though I'm not American and I didn't experience every exactly how it happens in the film, I felt at ease with the characters, enjoying the effortless flow of time and especially the pains of going to a Catholic all girls secondary school. That s**t never leaves you. 5/5

The Square

Art in all its hideous glory. The winner of the Palme d'Or at Cannes, The Square is a hilarious look at the everyday and observations in what is art. I reviewed this for VultureHound which you can read HERE. 5/5

Black Panther

This isn't just the next installment in the Marvel (ever expanding) Universe, its groundbreaking on so many levels. Picking up soon after the events of Civil War, now King of Wakanda, the secret super advanced country in Africa, T'Challa mourns his father and begins to take his place and fulfil his role as Black Panther. With an intro into how Wakanda was formed and the arrival of vibranium, crashing to Earth, sets the audience up for look at and celebration of African culture as well as a great story. After the celebrations and intro to the main city, the story turns to revenge, red herrings and the confusing return of a CIA agent (could have been someone else right?). The revenge story starts out strong but rather goes off road with a somewhat one dimenstional villain BUT the amazing cast more than make up for this. As much as I enjoy watching Chadwick Boseman fighting his way through the story, its the women of the film who are the real weapon of choice and reason to watch the film. The warrior women serving as T'Challa's bodyguards, Nakia; a spy and multi talented fighter and T'Challa's sister, Shuri, who is technologygenius. All these characters are inspirational and don't feel like an add-on, much like many of the other female characters in the MCU. 4/5

She Makes Movies

It's high time I showed a little more appreciation for the women behind behind the camera. With the Oscars just a few days away, I wanted to shine a light on Greta Gerwig.

As I was trying finish my watch list, I tried to write a short paragraph conveying my love for Gerwig's Lady Bird and I found I had a bit more than a few words to say.

As part of the Mumblecore film movement, she appeared in several films and co-wrote Hannah Takes the Stairs and Nights and Weekends, in which she also co-directed as well. Gerwig has been critiqued for 'playing the same role' in the past but after a few mainstream film roles in Greenberg, Arthur and No Strings Attached, she started to take on more interesting characters.

For me, Frances Ha was a turning point. A dancer trying to get by after her best friend moves in with her boyfriend. Each chapter of the film explores her state of mind mirrored in where she is living at that point in time. Anyone in their 20s trying to figure out what they are doing with their life can understand and relate to the film. I admired the bizarre 'Damsels in Distress' about a clique at a college who run the suicide prevention centre, using the medium of dance to help people. For all its flaws, Lola Versus was even a stand out character for Gerwig. A step up from the mumblecore films but still embedded in that universe. Mistress America, my favourite film of 2015, was further proof, for me, that Gerwig was no a one trick pony. Sharing writing duties with partner Baumbach again after Frances Ha. Centered around two women who are about to become step sisters who meet in New York when one of them starts college there.

When you think of Gerwig, you think of two things, struggling artist and New York. These are two things others would associate with Woody Allen BUT if justice is served (hurry up justice), this will no longer be the case. It was strange to find out Gerwig hails from the Sacremento when her heart seems to be in New York. This is obvious is her directorial debut, Lady Bird, which is semi-autobiographical and effortlessly pieced together.

For Gerwig to win the Best Director award at the Oscars would be phenomenal, especially as she is only the fifth woman EVER to be nominated for this award. But my personal feelings on the film politics of Hollywood and awards are that they don't need it, but sometimes it matters. She is my favourite to win because not only would this be a triumphant win for women in film, I also believe she deserves it for writing and directing a perfectly formed film.

Good luck Greta!