Month: June 2015

100 Word Review – The Wind Rises (2013)

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Another truly beautiful animation from the creators of Howl’s Moving Castle and My Neighbour Totoro. This is the sort of biopic that could only come from the mind of the breathtakingly talented Hayao Miyazaki.

Based on the life of Jiro Horikoshi, designer of the Mitsubishi fighter planes that were used by the Japanese during World War II. In true Miyazaki style, it follows not only the facts of Horikoshi’s life but also his dreams, where he has conversations with Giovanni Battista Caproni, the famed Italian aeronautical engineer.

It combines the historical and the fantastical with moments of romance and tragedy.

100 Word Review – The Artist (2011)

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If you haven’t seen this already where were you in 2011? It is a masterpiece of silent filmmaking in the modern age.

George Valentin (Jean Dujardin) and his dog are silent movie stars at the peak of their career in Hollywood’s golden years. He meets Peppy (Berenice Bejo) an aspiring dancer and helps her with her career. But as talking pictures takeover, their lives are sent spinning in very different directions.

Hilarious, romantic and dramatic, writer and director Michel Hazanavicius perfectly captured the essence of that tumultuous time in Hollywood’s history and translates it for a modern audience. It’s technically flawless!

100 Word Review – Coherence (2013)

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I don’t want to tell you anything about the plot of this film for fear of giving away something crucial, so instead I’m going to tell you about how this wonderful independent Sci Fi film was made.

Writer and director James Ward Byrkit spent over a year constructing the concept for this feature. The actors never saw a script. It was shot in one house over five nights. At the beginning of each shooting session each actor was given information about their character and what they should reveal.

The result is magnificent. It’s trippy, thought-provoking and just brilliant. Watch it!

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Goodfellas – Films Don’t Have A Gender

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Recently, a friend sent me a link to an article in the TPM referencing a New York Post Critic, Kyle Smith, and how “women are not capable of understanding Goodfellas“.

I honestly don’t know where to begin. Should I first handle the obviously ludicrous implication that 52% of the population are the same because they were lucky enough to be born with a uterus, or the idiotic idea that gender dictates taste, intelligence or capability to understand popular culture?

Having spent the best part of my life watching films which are generally considered “masculine” I can tell the difference between the good, the bad and the down-right ugly.

(While I’m on the subject, why is it that films with a female lead are considered “feminine” or “girly” and therefore not to be taken seriously? I asked a friend recently if he had seen Bridesmaids, to which his response was a laughing “it’s a girls film”, as if that was reason enough! “Chick flick” is such a degrading phrase. Why isn’t there a male equivalent? Could “dick flicks” be a thing? I know there are “bromances” but they’re not quite the same thing, are they? Obviously, films starring male comedians are fun for all the family, but as soon as you place women in the starring role they are not suitable for men. Here was me thinking that a sense of humour transcended gender. Anyway, where was I…)

I like Goodfellas. As is often the case with Martin Scorsese’s work, it is a well constructed story full of three-dimensional characters which is beautifully shot. Ray Liotta, Robert De Niro and Joe Pesci are perfect in their roles, indeed Pesci won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. But beyond this, it is bloody brilliant. It is full of suspense, violence and humour and, for those of us who are not part of the mafia, allows us to escape and experience another world.

But this is all beside the point. It doesn’t matter that I am a woman. I do not speak for all women, I would not dare to. In the same way that I would not presume that Kyle Smith speaks for all men, or all Americans or even all Goodfellas fans. I understand that critics are constantly looking for different angles from which to tackle their subject matter, and being controversial is an excellent way to get free publicity.

It’s a shame that this particular critic has decided to cross that line between controversial and idiotic. I hope for his sake that he doesn’t believe what he has written. Lines such as “What would “GoodFellas” be like if it were told by a woman?” and “women are the sensitivity police” show such a lack of understanding. To say that a film which managed to get to number 17 on the IMDb Top 250 Films isn’t beyond the comprehension of half the world is… well, I’m speechless.

It must be very difficult to live in such a polarised world. If Goodfellas and other Scorsese films have taught us nothing else, it’s that people are always more complicated than they appear.

Never Seen … My Neighbour Totoro (1988)

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About a month ago, I set Callum Dunbar the challenge of watching My Neighbour Totoro, a wonderful family-friendly Japanese animation that has become a cult classic, which he had never seen before. Here’s the conversation we had after he’d watched it.

*WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Elspeth H (EH): So today we’re talking about My Neighbour Totoro, the Studio Ghibli classic from 1988. Am I right in thinking you hadn’t heard of Studio Ghibli before?

Callum Dunbar (CD): That’s correct. My cultural knowledge is fairly crap when it comes to Japanese films.

EH: So you hadn’t seen any Japanese films before?

CD: Nope. Nothing. The only Japanese anime I’ve ever seen is Pokemon. If you can call that…

EH: That counts.

CD: My expectations were not very high.

EH: In what way? In terms of the complexity of the animation?

CD: Yes, in terms of the animation I had extremely low expectations.

EH: What was it you were excepting?

CD: I was expecting a Japanese fairytale. A magical Japanese fairytale.

EH: And was it what you were expecting?

CD: Not at all. It was something far more complex and subtle than a fairytale. I guess it was more real and more hopeful than a fairytale as well.

EH: You found it hopeful at the end?

CD Yes, I did. It wasn’t just saying … there was no really hero, which I liked. There was no male character saving a helpless female life.

EH: Which is always refreshing to see.

CD: Which is why Frozen is such a great film because it breaks out of all those kind of tropes which I like.

EH: I guess there are similarities to Frozen, actually, in that there are two sisters and it’s about the elements and nature and the power of those things.

CD: Yes, I agree. And it has an interesting narrative as well. It’s exploratory in a way that other Disney films and other fairytales aren’t. It was far less of a fable. It wasn’t trying to teach me something, it was trying to ask me things which I think is good for children. But it’s equally entertaining for adults.

EH: I was going to ask, you watched it with your daughter didn’t you?

CD: I did.

EH: And how old is she?

CD: Olivia’s just six.

EH: What did she think of it?

CD: She loved it. In fact as soon as the film ended she asked me to restart it for her. She’s never done that before. it’s quite something. To get Olivia to sit still and do anything is a miracle.

EH: What was it she enjoyed about it do you think? Did she empathise with the children or was it the magic of the whole thing?

CD: Yeah, I think the fact it was a young girl. I think she liked Totoro. Actually I know she liked Totoro.

EH: You can get a Totoro onesie by the way, just if you’re thinking birthdays or Christmas…

CD: I think that’s it. I can’t speak for her but I think she liked the imagery, like the cat bus. We both liked that as fans of Alice in Wonderland.

EH: Admittedly I was much older than six when I watched My Neighbour Totoro for the first time, but I still found the cat bus kind of creepy and scary. But she didn’t find that?

CD: No, I don’t think so. But even if she did find it creepy, I think creepy is a good thing. It’s one of those films that expands the way you see things, which I really like. I really liked that. And maybe she was too young to get that but I think it was a good experience for her to watch it. It is exploratory in the art work and so on.

EH: There’s a fair amount of darkness in it as well. There are some really harsh and scary moments.

CD: At the same time, it’s not dragons, it’s real world darkness.

EH: So as you watched it with Olivia, I’m guessing you watched the dubbed rather than the subtitled version?

CD: Yes, the Disney release.

EH: I would recommend watching it by yourself with the subtitles instead. There is definitely a difference. Would you recommend it?

CD. Yes. And I’m not someone who watches films. Definitely watch it with a child as well. I should have asked Olivia what she thought because her reaction was very interesting. There must have been something in it that held her attention which, apart from the obvious ones like Frozen, I’ve not seen her do before.

EH: I’ve heard of other children reacting to it in a similar way. Identifying with the two sisters. I think that kind of childish madness is quite universal.

CD: Absolutely. And imagination. You know it touches on themes of your parents blaming things on your imagination, which I think is something all children can relate to. But it celebrates that as well. In the same way that Roald Dahl’s Matilda does that. And I know Olivia likes that too.

EH: So did it meet all your expectations? How did it stack up?

CD: It exceeded them by a long way.

EH: You like the animation style?

CD: I loved it. I thought the art work was beautiful. I thought the colours were beautiful. I thought the setting was beautiful as well. I just loved it.

EH: So have I created a Ghibli fan?

CD: I think so. I’d definitely watch more Ghibli.

EH: Would you be interested in watching some of the more grown up films? The wonderful thing about Ghibli is it covers quite a wide spectrum, unlike Disney which sticks to children’s films.

CD: I definitely think I would. I like to try all things and I felt like I got something new from that film. Yes. 100%.

EH: Fantastic. Any favourite moments?

CD: The cat bus.

EH: I rather like the dust mites. You know when you walk in to a room and it feels a bit like a lot of dust mites disappearing into corners and cracks?

CD: I like the … it’s hard to explain… I like the narrative and that it wasn’t a cause and effect narrative. So at the end when the girls left the corn on the window sill and the fact that the film didn’t end with them all visiting the mother in hospital. I really liked those things, it wasn’t obvious. And there’s the scene were they find the child’s shoe floating in the pond. It cranks up the tension, is this the younger sister’s shoe? and it’s not. And it just leaves it there. I loved it.

EH: Marks out of 5?

CD: Five. Better than Ghostbusters.

You can find Callum’s blog here or follow him on Twitter here.

We’d love to know what you thought of My Neighbour Totoro the first time you saw it. Was it the first Studio Ghibli you saw? Are you a fan? What do you think of Callum’s first impressions? Do you have a film you think Callum should watch? Please use the comments box below to join in the conversation! 

100 Word Review – Spy (2015)

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The best spy film I have seen in years! 

The magnificent Melissa McCarthy stars as Susan Cooper, a CIA agent who has been out of the field for 10 years, working intelligence in the “basement” with friend Nancy (Miranda Hart). Will she be able to remember her training, combat her awkwardness and save the world (or at least America)?

Written and directed by Paul Feig (Bridesmaids, The Heat), expect laughs explosions and some seriously butt-kicking action. Jude Law, Rose Byrne, Jason Statham, Peter Serafinowicz and Alison Janney make up part of the ridiculously talented supporting cast.

Go watch this film! NOW!

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Never Seen … Star Wars (1977)

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I set Callum Dunbar the challenge of watching Star Wars, another of my favourite films, which he had never seen before. Here’s the conversation we had after he’d watched it.

*WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS*

Elspeth H (EH): So this week you watched Star Wars (1977) – the original episode. You hadn’t seen it before?

Callum Dunbar (CD): I hadn’t. I haven’t seen any of the original films.

EH: How have you existed without seeing Star Wars?

CD: Probably the same way I’ve existed without watching Ghostbusters.

EH: So it’s not that you’d had the opportunity to watch them and you’d decided not to?

CD: No, the chance never came about. Which is surprising because I love the Phantom Menace. [pause] Don’t make that face.

EH: OK, and what were you expecting from the film?

CD: C3PO and R2-D2. I was expecting the “Luke, I am your father moment”, but that didn’t happen in this film. Actually I was expecting the chase at the end with the X-wings, because I’d seen that on a ride at Disneyland. I was looking forward to that bit.

EH: So you had some experience of the film?

CD: I had some experience, mainly of different characters – like Chewbacca.

EH: Can you make the noise?

[pause]

CD: No. My girlfriend thought that Chewbacca was irritating and couldn’t understand why he was there. I had to explain that he was Han Solo’s co-pilot. She shouldn’t have been so dismissive.

EH: Chewbacca is my favourite character. But we’ll move on from that. Did the film meet your expectations?

CD: Yes. Definitely.

EH: It was everything you were hoping for and more?

CD: Yeah. It was awesome.

EH: What did you think of the special effects? I know when you watched Ghostbusters, there were some issues there.

CD: I thought they were really good. Especially as it was the 1970s. I mean, I was watching a re-mastered version and you could see where the re-mastering had been applied. But the sets and the costumes were just fantastic; the amount of extras; the budget must have phenomenal. It was great. I think I loved it most as a feat of imagination; the amount of things going on and the size of the vision is what I enjoyed.

EH: It’s a whole universe.

CD: Even down to the way the droids were loaded into the X-wings. It was just amazing.

EH: So, it was different from what you’d expected it to be?

CD: Urrm… It exceeded my expectations in terms of scale. It was huge.

EH: You can understand why it has a fanbase the size that it does?

CD: Yeah. Absolutely. I went straight onto Wikipedia and started researching different characters. I already know what happens in the next ones.

EH: You’re an idiot. [laughter]

CD: Yep, I just think it’s fantastic. Completely immersive. It’s awesome.

EH: So you want to watch the next ones?

CD: Yes. I want to watch all nine.

EH: Well, there’s only six at the moment. The next one’s out in December, so you’ve got a good couple of months to watch all of them before then. Did you know it won Oscars?

CD: No.

EH: It won six.

CD: I’m not surprised.

EH: I’ll admit, I didn’t know that until I was checking it on IMDb earlier and I was impressed. I was going to ask if you wanted to make any guesses as to what happens in the next ones, but you’ve already Wiki’d it! So you know! You’ve destroyed this interview! [laughter]

CD: Sorry! It’s only because it was so good.

EH: Are you going to go away and buy all of the paraphernalia that goes with being a Star Wars fan? Are you going to be dressing up in your robe with a lightsaber?

CD: Probably not. I probably will dress my daughter up as a Tuscan Raider if I get the chance.

EH: Does it make you think less of Episode 1: The Phantom Menace, now that you’ve seen how good the first film is? Can you appreciate why I pull a face when you say “Phantom Menace”?

CD: Yes – especially given the 30-year gap between the two.

[EH rants about how much she dislikes The Phantom Menace, possibly unjustly as she’s only seen it once.]

EH: Good. Let’s move on. I have real problems with the Phantom Menace.

CD: I can see that. I also liked the fact feudalism and other medieval institutions had been taken into space. Darth Vader is a lord and there are princes and princesses. Again, it’s down to the size of the vision. Also, the references to Imperial and Republican history.

EH: Fantastic. I don’t really have any other questions for you. I kind of just wanted you to geek-out on the whole thing. Buy the posters that kind of thing.

CD: I won’t be doing that. But I will understand more t-shirts now, I think.

EH: I was going to say! Because there is so much in this world that is Star Wars-related…

CD: Exactly.

… May the Force be with you.

You can find Callum’s blog here or follow him on Twitter here.

We’d love to know what you thought of Star Wars the first time you saw it. Are you a fan? What do you think of Callum’s first impressions?Please use the comments box below to join in the conversation! 

100 Word Review – Stranger Than Fiction (2006)

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“This may sound like gibberish to you, but I think I’m in a tragedy.” – Harold Crick

Harold Crick (Will Ferrell) is an IRS agent who starts hearing his life narrated (by Emma Thompson) in his head, foretelling his upcoming death. Running out of options he seeks the help of a local literary professor (Dustin Hoffman).

This is a brilliant comedy that combines philosophical and literary theory to examine our control over our own destiny, how far we would go to preserve that, and what it’s like to live a story.

Queen Latifah and Maggie Gyllenhaal co-star in this extraordinary film.