So this past maybe week and a half has been not so great. Well, no. I could safely say it’s been pretty shit. It’s a combination of many things. Mainly hurtful things/issues that I thought I wouldn’t have to deal with. So my anxiety levels have been really high lately. Not many people know that I have pretty bad anxiety but I’m not going dive into a sob-story now. My point is, when I am feeling like everything is just falling apart, there are certain movies that I watch that make me feel better. So, I thought I’d make a short post that was a bit more personal.
I have a few go-to movies for when I’m sick, sad, angry, anxious…well you get it. But hands down, at the top of my list is, Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. (The old one with Gene Wilder in case there’s confusion)
I’ve seen it so many times that I’ve lost count but it never fails to pick me up.
So my question to you is, do you have a specific “bad day” movie or movies?
What is it?
Seriously, I wanna know.
Director: Steve McQueen
Writers: John Ridley (screenplay) and Solomon Northup (book, “Twelve Years a Slave”)
Cast: Chiwetel Ejiofor, Michael Fassbender, Lupita Nyong’o
My thoughts on 12 Years A Slave are a little clouded. It reads like a piece of art more than a film which is not necessarily a bad thing, just different. Good different.
In a nutshell: It’s the story of Solomon Northup, a free black man living in upstate New York who gets tricked, kidnapped and sold for slave labour in the South (I believe Louisiana) for 12 years, leaving behind his wife, children, home, identity and freedom.
My thoughts:
I’ve been going back and forth, saving this draft for over two weeks now because I can’t quite put my finger on what I want to say about this movie. I think I’ll just stick with my initial reaction of it being a work of art.
Steve McQueen is a beautiful director, in every sense. He’s honest with his camera work and those moments where he just lingers on one shot really just dig into you and nestle themselves inside you. They actually say and evoke so much more than the dialogue. It’s weird to call a film about slavery beautiful but I don’t know how else to describe it. Maybe hauntingly beautiful if I’m being cliche.
The cinematography is stunning and so is the language. It was so rhythmic and elegant, that for awhile it sounded like pure poetry.
I can see why the film is getting such great reviews and attention. All the performances were honest. Chiwetel Ejiofor wears bravery well and he’s the reason you have hope through the movie with lines like “I don’t want to survive. I want to live”. On the other end, Michael Fassbender succeeds in being as revolting as humanly possible. The film and the actors really aim to leave you speechless and thought provoked.
I also thought that omitting the dates to indicate how much time had passed was very smart. It added to the overall feeling of hopelessness and eternal torture.
Now for the not so great stuff. It’s not the most moving film I’ve ever seen about horrid historical events. (Yes I know, please don’t hate me. I chalk it up to years of desensitization.) At times, it felt emotionally distant and that is probably why I’m not connecting 100%. Don’t get me wrong, there are some very powerful scenes, especially from Lupita Nyong’o, but it didn’t hold through the entire film for me. But I can say that I do feel the passion that McQueen put into the film. It is oozing with his essence and conviction and is an important film.
What bugged me a bit too was the score and I was surprised that Hans Zimmer was behind it. Personally, I found that sometimes it was a bit unnerving but I guess it helped keep the somber tone throughout the film. To me, it was just a little choppy and distracting at times.
Despite that, it is still a must-see and it looks like it will probably be the Oscar winner for Best Picture this year.
What did you think about 12 Years a Slave? Have you read the book? (Yes, there’s a book)
Director: Martin Scorsese
Writers: Terence Winter (screenplay) and Jordan Belfort (book)
Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Margot Robbie
The Wolf of Wall Street eats its way through your heart and then devours your morality; greed is not just good, greed is great.
Now, people who know me will say that I’m automatically biased towards the film because:
1. I adore Martin Scorsese…and I don’t mean that lightly in any way. I wish I could keep him in my pocket.
2. Leonardo DiCaprio is a God amongst men one of my favourite actors.
In a nutshell:
The Wolf of Wall Street is based on the book/memoir written by Jordan Belfort (played by DiCaprio) chronicling his rise to the top as a sharp-tongued stock broker on Wall Street during the ’80s/’90s, which he does in a less than upstanding manner.
Fair warning before you see this movie. Set aside a fair amount of time in your schedule, make sure you use the bathroom right before, get food and call your family and tell them you love them because this movie is 3 whole hours of debauchery. It’s basically Scorsese unbuttoning and spreading his arms as wide as he possibly can. I have to also say that he holds nothing back; if you’re not into seeing sex and drugs in an up-close and more than raw way or are just not fond of hearing the word f*** used excessively, then this movie is not for you………(Nah screw it. See it anyway. It’s Scorsese!)
I’m not sure what to pinpoint this movie as because it’s such a mixture of things but I can say that it is definitely one part comedy. There were moments where I laughed until I cried. It is elegantly directed by Scorsese and he shows off his seamless sequencing (very reminiscent of Goodfellas) especially in the scene where…well if you watched it you’ll know exactly what I’m talking about. He really works best with anti-heroes and they truly come alive in his hands.
Some of the dialogue reminds me a little of Tarantino in the sense that there’s an abundance of it but some of it isn’t conducive to the plot so much as it’s there to aid in developing the characters and your feelings towards them when they’re not “on show”. If that makes sense. You’re hoping that in some of the “quieter” scenes you’ll see a different side to these guys but the conversations are still as raunchy and over the top when they’re just sitting around.
Leonardo DiCaprio is phenomenal as Belfort. He’s riveting and most importantly, believable. I was blown away just by the energy coming off of him in the film. He’s my choice for the Oscar but there’s a lot of buzz around other big performances this year. Jonah Hill is also stepping his game up and is actually becoming an actor to keep your eye on.
What I would hate for people to take away from the film is that it’s condoning this kind of excess, simply because it’s masked by such hilarious comedy. I have to point out that (and maybe it’s done on purpose) you don’t really get to see the people that these men have stepped on or the relationships they’ve ruined, for a reason. Think about that for a second…if you saw the wreckage they left behind then you’d feel slightly more judgmental. But! It works to Scorsese’s advantage this way because it plays into the selfishness of the characters. Me, me, me, money, money, money.
At the end there’s a moment where the camera pans to a group of people, listening to Belfort speak and it’s uncanny how alike you and the people on the screen look; both audiences extremely captivated, eyes wide and mouths agape, by the entirety of his personality. Could the road to hell and eternal damnation look anymore appealing than it does in this movie?
The Wolf of Wall Street is unapologetic in every sense of the word. It’s as if Scorsese is handing you this cast of outlandish and perverse characters like a grenade that he’s already pulled the pin on. Another must-see in my opinion.
Fun thing to look for: The real Jordan Belfort makes a cameo appearance near the end of the film. (Introducing DiCaprio.)
What did you think of The Wolf of Wall Street?
Should Leonardo DiCaprio finally take home the Oscar?
Let me know what you liked/didn’t like by leaving a comment here or on the ColourmeMovie Facebook page.
You can also like the page, which would be a pretty nice thing to do. ^_^
So it’s halfway through February but still early yet. I’m in between writing reviews so I thought I’d make a list of movies that I’m looking forward to spending money on this year. (Most of the list comprises of blockbusters. Smaller indie films not included.)
What movies are you looking forward to this year?
Leave a comment below or on the ColourmeMovie Facebook page. ^_^
15. HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON 2
I’m a huge animated movie fan. The first movie was pretty solid and well done for something that didn’t come from Pixar. It’s been 5 years since Hiccup and Toothless came together so I’m excited to see how the story continues. Release Date: June 13th 2014
14. 22 JUMP STREET Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill actually make a pretty good team. Shocking, yes? They pulled the first one off so hopefully this one is as entertaining. Hooray for mindless fun! Release Date: June 5th 2014
13. NOAH I would say a good chunk of people already know the story of Noah. This biblical epic is in the hands of Darren Aronofsky (think Black Swan, Requiem for a Dream, The Fountain) so I’m anxious to see how it’s executed. I expect it to be visually stunning. Release Date: March 8th 2014
12. TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES I will continue to wait with bated breath for a solid TMNT movie…That is all. Release Date: May 16th 2014
11. MALEFICENT This one is pure curiosity. I have to see if Angelina Jolie can pull this off. She definitely looks the part. Release Date: May 28th 2014
10. THE GRAND BUDAPEST HOTEL You have to believe in the genius of Wes Anderson. I expect some great, witty humour and a story that’s new to my senses. Plus the cast involved looks pretty stellar. (Ralph Fiennes, Bill Murray, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Owen Wilson, Willem Dafoe..the list goes on and on really) Release Date: March 7th 2014
9. DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE APES
The apes have gone wild. This should be a pretty gritty pick-up from the first movie. Also, Gary Oldman is on board with this one and he’s always amazing to watch. The trailer is pretty chilling too. “I need to speak to Caesar!” Release Date: May 21st 2014
8. THE AMAZING SPIDER-MAN 2 The first one was great and I enjoy Andrew Garfield as Spiderman. Also, it looks like they’re bringing out some cool villains. Rhino and Electro…Need I say more? Release Date: April 17th 2014
7. GUARDIANS OF THE GALAXY Aye….this could be hit or miss. It’s this high up on the list because I’m excited about it and hoping that it works but I’m not putting my neck out on a block for it just yet. Release Date: August 1st 2014 (image via Yahoo Movies)
6. TRANSCENDENCE First film debut for Wally Pfister (top notch cinematographer who regularly works with Christopher Nolan). The trailer gave me a good vibe…And well Johnny Depp. Release Date: April 17th 2014
5. INTERSTELLAR I put a lot of my trust in Christopher Nolan. Sci-fi, worm holes, time travel..all things that peak my interest. Release Date: November 7th 2014
4. THE HOBBIT: THERE AND BACK AGAIN The first one was good, the second was better and I’m hoping this instalment just ups the ante. Who doesn’t like to get lost in Peter Jackson’s brain anyways? Release Date: December 17th 2014 (image via middleearthnews.com)
3. X-MEN: DAYS OF FUTURE PAST I’m a huuuuuge X-Men fan. This one connects original cast with new (X-Men First Class) which is already perfection. If that fusion goes smoothly then this one is definitely going to impress. With any luck it’ll be released just in time for my birthday! Release Date: May 23rd 2014
2. GODZILLA Oh boy. oh boy. ohhhh boy. Have you seen this trailer? Have you?! It already looks leaps and bounds better than the 1998 remake. Plus, we get to see what Bryan Cranston’s been up to since the end of Breaking Bad. (still a sore topic of discussion with me…) Release Date: May 16th 2014
1. THE HUNGER GAMES – MOCKINGJAY PART I I’ve read the books and I loved them. (The second one being my favourite) Mockingjay is totally different from the first two because the games are over and the war that has been brewing is on in full force. Shit has hit the fan. Release Date: November 21st 2014 (image via screenrant.com)
Let me know what movies you’re waiting to spend your hard earned money on this year !
Note: Keep in mind that all dates of release are for the U.S.
Director: David O. Russell
Starring: Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Christian Bale, Jennifer Lawrence, Jeremy Renner
Written by: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Let’s start off with a bang! Chest hair, plunging v-necks, an untouchable soundtrack and the best comb-over/toupée combo to ever grace my eyes just scratches the surface of American Hustle.
Written by David O.Russell and Eric Warren Singer, American Hustle is based loosely on the Abscam sting operation of the late ’70s early ’80s, where a con artist helped the FBI catch sticky-fingered members of Congress taking bribes. (There’s a “Sticky Bandits” Home Alone joke rolling around in there somewhere). Russell brings together his favourite actors to form a truly superb ensemble; Christian Bale and Amy Adams (The Fighter, 2010) and Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence (Silver Linings Playbook, 2012). He definitely hit the jackpot because this foursome is a match made in heaven. Did I mention Robert De Niro and Louis C.K. are also in this mix? He’s been known to say that he likes to focus on character development over plot and this method has brought him a lot of success thus far. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
Cut to the opening scene of a, to put it lightly, very rotund Christian Bale as Irving Rosenfeld meticulously grooming a toupee to perfection. He means serious business with his hair as much as he does with the fake art and false bank loans that he makes a living off of. He meets Sydney Prosser (Amy Adams) and it’s an instant connection, complete with eye-gazing and Duke Ellington. When Irving reveals what he does for a living, Sydney jumps on board and kicks their relationship and his conning into high gear. Sporting a new persona as Lady Edith, a Londoner with impressive banking connections and a fake but convincing English accent, she becomes a viper in a v-neck dress that won’t quit.
Naturally, when fraudulence and chemistry is at its peak and they begin to have some serious fun…they get caught…by the tightly permed FBI agent, Richie DiMaso (Bradley Cooper). Oh that head of hair. One way to describe Cooper’s performance is that he’s simply insane. He’s up and down, neurotic, overly ambitious, greedy for recognition and talks without taking breaths. When he inveigles Irving and Sydney to help expose conmen Congressmen (like Mayor Carmine Polito played by Jeremy Renner), things start to get a little unhinged. Alliances change and you’re left thinking, “Wait, are they conning me now?”. To put the cherry on top of this already delicious cast is Lawrence, who waltzes in as Irving’s wife, Rosalyn, and sits on the sidelines like a ticking time bomb. Sitting at home with her son, fawning over her nails, she still pays enough attention to her husband that she could blow a hole in the entire operation if she wanted to.
Through most of the movie, the actors spend a lot of time bouncing intense and humorous dialogue off each other in pairs (Adams and Bale, Adams and Cooper, Lawrence and Bale, you get it) and each pairing is dynamic and entrancing in its own way. Bale is extremely convincing and I would quickly dub him the King of physical transformation. Adams comes off as the heart of the movie and she gives a truly perfect and vulnerable performance. (I think Adams may be one of those actresses that people tend to underestimate though.) Cooper has an uncanny ability to be hysterical without really doing anything? By nothing I mean that he’s somehow mastered subtle comedy which is a relief from the overworked, just plain stale comedy in some of his previous movies…Yes I’m looking at you Hangover 2 & 3. Lawrence is the “it-girl” at the moment and personally, I think will continue to reign supreme. She really can do no wrong and consistently manages to steal the spotlight time and time again. It’s really a great blend of music, striking cinematography, sequencing and is authentic to the mid ’70s era/vibe so I think Russell succeeded in what he set out to do.
My only qualm with the film is that it’s a bit long and during some bits you struggle to keep up with names and faces that ultimately don’t matter in the end. Eep!
But, I give him an A+ for creating such driven, cantankerous and for lack of a better word, ‘real’ characters. The actors have done such a phenomenal job connecting with their characters that you want to cheer for the ‘bad guys’. You willingly strap into the roller-coaster of imploding and exploding characters and when you get to the top, the drop is definitely worth all the wait.
I must add that apart from falling in love with the entire essence of the movie, there’s also a soundtrack woven in that blew my mind. Seriously, have a listen.
So what’s the verdict?
A lot of the reviews/opinions seem to be that people either love it or hate it. To me, it’s a definite must-see.
If you’re anything like me, you’ll be calling your microwave a ‘science oven’, wanting to desperately know the end of the ice-fishing story and raving about this movie for days after.
What are your thoughts on American Hustle? Boring, overhyped or just right?
Leave a comment here or on the ColourmeMovie Facebook page. ^_^
Time to get formalities out of the way, so I’ll try to keep it short and sweet! My name is Megan and I created this blog with one, now-that-i-look-back-it-kind-of-seems-daunting goal of watching 50 movies over the course of this semester. I should note that I am not a film student nor am I even close to being an acclaimed movie critic sadly. I just appreciate all the intricacies of film making and enjoy getting caught up in a really good movie. Hopefully, I get to expand my memory bank of movies, revisit some that are just too great to ignore and interact with other people who enjoy film as well.
So, what to look forward to?
– Reviews of movies (both recent and classic)
– Movie specific days; Cult Classics, Oscar Nominees, Top 10 Best/Worst Lists, etc
– Movie trailers and other random movie related posts.
Please feel free to follow, like, comment and enjoy ColourMeMovie on:
1. Twitter
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