Monday, 21 February 2011
The end?
So peeps, this is the end of my 30 film 30 (32) day blog. I can finally begin to rebuild my general sleeping pattern, proper eating habits and watch whatever I fancy when the mood takes me! Hoo rah. But please, if anyone ever wants to recommend a film, make me watch something etc etc do let me know. I enjoyed it immensely despite being refused my prize. Boo challenger boo.
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Some Kind of Wonderful Review
Day 30 - 5th February
Snacks Eaten - Celebratory wine and Chicken pie in Devon
Film 30 - Some Kind of Wonderful
Directed by Howard Deutch
Year - 1987
In true John Hughes style, this film is about teenagers falling in love, coming of age and rebelling against stereotypes. Eric Stoltz plays Keith, an high school student who wants to go to art college who is infactuated with one of the most popular girls in school, Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson). Then one day, much to the surprise of his family, the school and best friend tom boy Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), he gets a date with his dream girl.
Hughes' script is delightfully witty and is everything you could ask for. With help from the popular but spoilt Hardy Jenns, school bully Duncan and Keith's younger sister Cindy, this film boasts some really fantastic characters. A touching if not schmultzy love story that is uplifted with a memorable soundtrack and great one-liners.
Snacks Eaten - Celebratory wine and Chicken pie in Devon
Film 30 - Some Kind of Wonderful
Directed by Howard Deutch
Year - 1987
In true John Hughes style, this film is about teenagers falling in love, coming of age and rebelling against stereotypes. Eric Stoltz plays Keith, an high school student who wants to go to art college who is infactuated with one of the most popular girls in school, Amanda Jones (Lea Thompson). Then one day, much to the surprise of his family, the school and best friend tom boy Watts (Mary Stuart Masterson), he gets a date with his dream girl.
Hughes' script is delightfully witty and is everything you could ask for. With help from the popular but spoilt Hardy Jenns, school bully Duncan and Keith's younger sister Cindy, this film boasts some really fantastic characters. A touching if not schmultzy love story that is uplifted with a memorable soundtrack and great one-liners.
Day Thirty - Some Kind of Wonderful
So for my final film I picked one of my favourites just to round it off. Written by the brilliant late John Hughes, this film is superb. Eric Stoltz is beautiful. The music is ace. And.... Elias Koteas (my connection) is hilarious. One of my favourite lines - 'This is what my girlfriend would look like without skin'. Tee Hee Guffaw. Watch and see. Review to follow.
Shutter Island Review
So... it is pleasant to be back in the land of the internet. I have not been able to post the last of my blogs thanks to ma-hoosive computer issues. So here we go, the last 2 films to end the challenge. Now the blogs more prolonged but the films most certainly watched. so film 29...
Day 29 - 4th February
Snacks Eaten - Pastries from work.
Film 29 - Shutter Island
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Year - 2010
Once again, one of Dennis Lehane's novels has been adapted for the big screen and this time, at the helm is Martin Scorsese. Like the brilliant Mystic River, this story is full of suspense, bold characters and surprising twists. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a U.S marshal who is sent to a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a missing patient. Soon, DiCaprio and his partner (Mark Ruffalo) start to experience strange goings on about the island.
This thriller touches on aspects of Hitchcockian style horror but is not as powerful as some of Scorsese's earlier work. Although thoroughly enjoyable, it was also slightly disappointing. The cast were terrific, one of DiCaprio's shining roles for 2010 as well as Inception. A haunting score complements the mood and allows the film to be effectively scary but without significant depth.
Holly Would. She loves her cheap thrills. So from this to my final film..... Some Kind Of Wonderful!!! the link? come on Hawkeye.
Day 29 - 4th February
Snacks Eaten - Pastries from work.
Film 29 - Shutter Island
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Year - 2010
Once again, one of Dennis Lehane's novels has been adapted for the big screen and this time, at the helm is Martin Scorsese. Like the brilliant Mystic River, this story is full of suspense, bold characters and surprising twists. Leonardo DiCaprio stars as a U.S marshal who is sent to a psychiatric facility on Shutter Island to investigate the disappearance of a missing patient. Soon, DiCaprio and his partner (Mark Ruffalo) start to experience strange goings on about the island.
This thriller touches on aspects of Hitchcockian style horror but is not as powerful as some of Scorsese's earlier work. Although thoroughly enjoyable, it was also slightly disappointing. The cast were terrific, one of DiCaprio's shining roles for 2010 as well as Inception. A haunting score complements the mood and allows the film to be effectively scary but without significant depth.
Holly Would. She loves her cheap thrills. So from this to my final film..... Some Kind Of Wonderful!!! the link? come on Hawkeye.
Friday, 4 February 2011
Day Twenty-Nine - Shutter Island
So from one Scorsese to another. This time he gives us a bit of a horror thriller. Exciting exciting. I will be in Devon to watch my final film. Then I'm on holiday. Feel like I need it. Phew. The link? Martin Scorsese of course.
Goodfellas Review
Day 28 - 3rd February
Snacks Eaten - A creme egg. And its not even easter.
Film 28 - Goodfellas
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Year - 1990
Goodfellas is a gangster film based on the life of Henry Hill, documented in a non-fiction book written by Nicholas Pileggi. It follows the life of Hill as he grows up in the mob and the people around him who influence his criminal choices. Scorsese takes us into a world of corruption, money and crime with Ray Liotta taking up the front role as Hill with a superb supporting cast of actors such as Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci.
With Scorsese taking on another gangster film, we can be ever so grateful he did. Goodfellas portrays the mob lifestyle from a factual perspective which is intriguing but still remains eventful, sometimes unbelievable but brilliant to watch. Liotta, DeNiro and Pesci bring such energy to the roles they play and carry a natural ability that further increases the story's credibility. Scorsese is masterful at making the criminal path Hill chooses appear dangerous while making the characters likeable and easier to relate to. With a clever, often witty script, improvised dialogue and an incredible true story, this film continues to be a classic.
On from this to the next....Shutter Island, the penultimate. Eeeeeeeee.
Snacks Eaten - A creme egg. And its not even easter.
Film 28 - Goodfellas
Directed by Martin Scorsese
Year - 1990
Goodfellas is a gangster film based on the life of Henry Hill, documented in a non-fiction book written by Nicholas Pileggi. It follows the life of Hill as he grows up in the mob and the people around him who influence his criminal choices. Scorsese takes us into a world of corruption, money and crime with Ray Liotta taking up the front role as Hill with a superb supporting cast of actors such as Robert DeNiro and Joe Pesci.
With Scorsese taking on another gangster film, we can be ever so grateful he did. Goodfellas portrays the mob lifestyle from a factual perspective which is intriguing but still remains eventful, sometimes unbelievable but brilliant to watch. Liotta, DeNiro and Pesci bring such energy to the roles they play and carry a natural ability that further increases the story's credibility. Scorsese is masterful at making the criminal path Hill chooses appear dangerous while making the characters likeable and easier to relate to. With a clever, often witty script, improvised dialogue and an incredible true story, this film continues to be a classic.
On from this to the next....Shutter Island, the penultimate. Eeeeeeeee.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Day Twenty-Eight - Goodfellas
Robert DeNiro brings us to some pretty Goodfellas. And we are 3 films away from the end. Imagine the novelty of actually choosing what films to watch. I won't know what to do with myself. Maybe not eat so much movie snack food. Review to follow.
Brazil Review
Day 27 - 2nd February
Snacks Eaten - Another banana. and tea. lots of tea.
Film 27 - Brazil
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Year - 1985
Every time I hear the song 'Aquarela do Brasil', I smile. This theme song sets the tone perfectly for Terry Gilliam's satirical take on a dystopian society. Not dissimiliar to Orwell's '1984' creation, this story takes place in an oppressive, industrial setting and stars Jonathon Pryce as a government employee who has colourful dreams of rescuing a beautiful woman. Brazil is a delightfully bizarre film with some truly brilliant cast members (Pryce, Michael Palin, Jim Broadbent and even Robert DeNiro).
If you are an admirer of Gilliam's, do not shy from delving once again into his amazing imagination. He openly invites you into an adventure so well navigated that all you have to do is enjoy the ride. From mundane scenery and a hopeless society to magical uplifting imagery once again elevated by the theme song.
So we have had a little sci-fi after a little light heart. Now to a bit of grit. Grit embedded in the knees of some Goodfellas. Do I need to keep asking?
Day Twenty-Seven - Brazil
So from Twelve Monkeys to Brazil. We have the wonderful Terry Gilliam to keep us bonded. I actually studied Brazil in college when I did film studies many a year ago. I loved it. It was one of those films that everyone else rolled their eyes at because they hadn't watched a film made before 1999. Thank you Russell Heyworth. Review to follow.
Twelve Monkeys Review
Day 26 - 1st February
Snacks Eaten - A banana. fruit.
Film 26 - Twelve Monkeys
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Year - 1995
The connection from The Sound of Music to Twelve Monkeys? Christopher Plummer, Captain Von Trapp. I love the randomness of going from la la la musical to crazy sci-fi Terry Gilliam. This was one of my first experiences of Brad Pitt. Brilliant character.
Bruce Willis heads up a great cast for Terry Gilliam's futuristic Twelve Monkeys. Haunted by recurring nightmares involving an incident at an airport, Willis plays Cole, a convict who is living in a future where everyone is living underground due to a deadly virus. Using time travel, scientists send Cole back to find the start of the virus so they can find the cure. Gilliam creates an adventure greatly enhanced by a superb cast (Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer) and a hauntingly good music score.
Tricky to follow if you are not totally committed, this film looks seedy and industrial while throwing out some great twists of plot. Pitt shows that he, like many other great actors, can play mentally challenged successfully on-screen. I will say though if you are anything like me, look away when Willis picks up a pair of pliers.
So different from Sound of Music but good different. To be honest the films feel like they are all running into one. I was half expecting Bruce Willis to start singing 'I am 16 going on 17'. Tee hee I would enjoy that. So next film.... Brazil. Link? Pret-tee eee-see.
Snacks Eaten - A banana. fruit.
Film 26 - Twelve Monkeys
Directed by Terry Gilliam
Year - 1995
The connection from The Sound of Music to Twelve Monkeys? Christopher Plummer, Captain Von Trapp. I love the randomness of going from la la la musical to crazy sci-fi Terry Gilliam. This was one of my first experiences of Brad Pitt. Brilliant character.
Bruce Willis heads up a great cast for Terry Gilliam's futuristic Twelve Monkeys. Haunted by recurring nightmares involving an incident at an airport, Willis plays Cole, a convict who is living in a future where everyone is living underground due to a deadly virus. Using time travel, scientists send Cole back to find the start of the virus so they can find the cure. Gilliam creates an adventure greatly enhanced by a superb cast (Brad Pitt, Christopher Plummer) and a hauntingly good music score.
Tricky to follow if you are not totally committed, this film looks seedy and industrial while throwing out some great twists of plot. Pitt shows that he, like many other great actors, can play mentally challenged successfully on-screen. I will say though if you are anything like me, look away when Willis picks up a pair of pliers.
So different from Sound of Music but good different. To be honest the films feel like they are all running into one. I was half expecting Bruce Willis to start singing 'I am 16 going on 17'. Tee hee I would enjoy that. So next film.... Brazil. Link? Pret-tee eee-see.
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