So you've heard of The Fault in Our Stars. We've been caught up in the tragedy that is Augustus Waters and Hazel Grace. However, but have you ever heard about Tessa?
Dakota Fanning and Jeremy Irvine come together in Now Is Good based off of the novel Before I Die. It's all about young Tessa who, after years of treatment, gives up. She's tired and done. All she wants to do is live before she dies and that is exactly what she does. In the process, we go along a roller coaster ride of emotions. From her mother to her father and from her little brother and best friend to her boyfriend, you will feel a strange happiness and deep hurt as well.
Beautifully crafted and expertly told, this film shows why sometimes the visual images and audio effects of a film can be just as powerful, if not more powerful than the written word itself.
On a personal note, I would strongly recommend wiping off all make-up you had on before if you have any on because you will cry... A LOT. It was haunting and stayed with well into the next day, but is a definite must.
This year in my U.S. History class we happened to begin to discuss movies. And I was delighted for who knows what reason. I mean seriously why on earth would I ever enjoy talking about movies?
Anyways, as we discussed the 1920's and the new forms of entertainment coming about in that era, silent films were brought up. My teacher started out by asking who had ever watched a movie. Naturally 27 students (aka everyone) raised their hands. Next he asked who had seen an old black and white film. More than a few hands dropped and we were down to 19. I was shocked. He proceeded to ask who enjoyed watching black and white movies. The total dropped to 2 people in the room: myself and a friend of mine. Then he asked who had seen a silent film. 3 hands were raised.
Then came the final question: Of you 3 who likes silent movies?
My hand was the only one up.
I got quite a few stares and was even teased for it. We watched Charlie Chaplin's Gold Rush only a few minutes after the inquiry and a girl turned to me and said, "You actually like this stuff?"
"Yes, yes I do." She looked at as if I was insane.
You see, what my classmates failed to see that day was that without silent films, without black and white films, without anything that had come before what we had today we would not have what we have today.
Classics are golden.
They should be valued and cherished because without them, the art form of film making would not be what it is today. And even then, films today could learn a thing or two from the pictures before the talkies.
It doesn't matter if they are colorless. It doesn't matter if they are soundless. Those actors, those set designers and those special effects artists and those directors, they all worked with what they had. And many times, all their hard work paid off. Because many times, the end result was a timeless classic that is revered today.
If you tune in to TCM every Sunday at midnight, you can experience these films. And while silent films aren't for everyone, there are always a few that might stick out when you stumble upon them. Some will leave you breathless. The video above is an example of a film that is like that for me. It's known as "The Serpentine Dance." You'll notice is has color even though it was made before that was technically possible.
That's because the makers went through and painted each and every frame. Can you imagine having to do that?
I was on vacation with my family in Canada when I happened to stumble upon Tom Ford's directorial debut. It was a bit rainy out and my family had all gone to the main lodge at our resort to chat with other guests. I, however, stayed in.
While browsing through the channels I happened upon a title page. "Next: A Single Man starring Colin Firth and Julianne Moore."
For a moment, heavens knows why, I thought to myself, "Colin Firth...isn't that the guy from Total Recall?" (Side note: Colin Farrell was the one in Total Recall. I don't know why I was so confused.) But back on track...I continued to think, "Hmm...I can be okay with this." So I started watching as a man floated and drifted through water and the opening title sequence began.
By the end, I was shocked. This was a film like in other for sure.
It takes place within one day, shortly after the Cuban Missile Crisis. It is about a gay man, played by Colin Firth, who is just trying to get through the last day of his life. You see, he wants to kill himself because his lover, Jim, died in a car accident.
And so ensues a very artistic interpretation of a man giving up. With a style of its own, Tom Ford's lighting shows the highlights of George's final hours. I was very impressed by this movie and if you don't mind watching a film about a gay man I strongly suggest you check this out. And even if you don't like the idea of watching a movie like this I would still encourage you to go in and watch it with an open mind because this is a story about life.
It is a story about life and how everyone struggles with it but their are always people and moments that make it worth while.
This is a movie I've been wanting to see for a while. It had always intrigued me, this idea of Keira Knightley and Steve Carell playing opposite of each other. It is obviously not the most obvious pick. But that, strangely, ends up being the best part about it.
You see, the whole premise of the movie is basically as follows:
There's only 3 weeks left on Earth until the apocalypse
Dodge's (Steve Carell) wife leaves him
...because the world's ending.
Penny (Keira Knightley) can't see her family in England because all air traffic has been shut down
...because the world's ending.
They team up together to find Dodge's long lost love
...because the world's ending.
Now I'm not going to spoil the ending for you because the ending is the best part about it. It's heart wrenching and sad, but it's also heart warming and a weird kind of happy. And while it's definitely not one of the best movies I've seen, the ending makes the okay middle parts worth it.
So check out Seeking a Friend for the End of the World before the worlds ends!
No.
I am not addressing the fact that they have put together a film full of heart throbs. You do not put a bunch of pretty faces together to portray a drama, especially one such as this. (Although it definitely doesn't hurt.)
Based on Posh, a play originally by Laura Wade, The Riot Club tells the story of 10 young men who attend Oxford and as the preview says they're, "Filthy...Rich...Spoilt...Rotten." The story goes along to tell how these young men abuse their power and position, going wild and crazy for a night. But things do not last forever. No one can out run the consequences no matter how rich you are.
With no release date yet for the United States, some patience may be required in waiting for it. However, these characters, without a doubt, will be some that we will love to hate.
He's entertained us for decades and he still hasn't stopped. Whether he's Carl Spackler in Caddyshack, Mr. Bishop in Moonrise Kingdom or even himself in Zombieland, Bill Murray is a non-stop laugh. But he has also brought us great depth in films like Hyde Park on Hudson as he plays FDR and Wild Things as Kenneth Bowden.
He has a new film coming out though. And from what I can tell St. Vincent is something to look forward to. In this new feature film, coming out on October 24, 2014, Murray plays an antisocial and angry old man who is charged with the duty of watching his new neighbor's son, Oliver played by newcomer Jaeden Lieberher.
With a supporting cast that includes Melissa McCarthy and Naomi Watts, this comedy (as advertised) actually seems like it will be a heart warming story sure to entertain us. But it's sure to be a while until October...
So until then here is one of my favorite scenes from Moonrise Kingdom.
A friend of mine goes to Southern Illinois University of Carbondale. He is majoring in film there and one of the organizations that he participates in is called, you guessed it the Movie Camera Militia. They have a page vimeo.com that you should definitely check out.
But until then, I want to share this cute little story with you. I believe it is a great example of how film, even in a short amount of time can show some of the most powerful images. In this case, the story is about a lonely little robot. It's really quite awesome.
Now I can't upload the video, but I can give you the link------> http://vimeo.com/73198871
Check it out and some of the other videos that they are making in Carbondale in their free time.
