NEW BLOG

Brand new spanking blog is up and running in place of this old thing, so please visit, follow, comment and ENJOY!
Here’s the address: http://girlonfilm2011.blogspot.com

Rock, paper, scissors – rock ALWAYS wins!

I write this still shuddering with tremors of anxiety following last night’s screening of 127 Hours. In all honesty, although I’m a huge fan of Danny Boyle, I had my reservations about the story of a climber stuck (quite literally) between a rock and a hard place. I had anticipated tedium, desperation and gore. Foolish Carlin, it’s SO much more than that.

Boyle delivers the story of overly-ambitious outdoorsman Aron Ralston with the trademark style, pace and originality seen in Slumdog Millionaire and 28 Days Later. Using the same team from Slumdog clearly pays off; everything from the music to the split-screen action engages the audience from start to finish.

For those entering the cinema knowing the plot, the over-whelming sense of dread of what’s to come is constant, but is frequently reduced to more of a dull pang during scenes of humour and poignant flashback. Any film that keeps the audience urging on the protagonist even on the cusp of inevitable horror is, quite frankly, ruddy impressive.

James Franco gives an outstanding performance in what is fundamentally a one-man show; conveying a spectrum of emotions convincingly, with just the right amount of humour and charm to keep the audience captivated and rooting for him.

It’s impossible not to mention “the scene” – the one in which Ralston is forced to tear off his own arm with a blunt knife, in a state of dehydration and delirium following five days trapped in the canyon. I think it’s safe to say not one person in the full cinema sat comfortably through this scene. There were gasps, squeals and jackets at eye-level for the entirety. Upon exiting the cinema, everyone looked suitably exhausted.

Those of a nervous temperament/ with high blood pressure should perhaps give this one a miss – anxiety junkies will be in their element!

Diary of a sicko

If there are 3 things I hate it’s people who are intolerant of other people’s cultures, the Dutch and being ill.

Having spent the last week feeling terrible (cheers swine flu jab, I look forward to seeing you again same time same place next year, ya bas) I’ve spent the majority of my time watching a smorgasbord of films. Not all bad then.

An ecclectic array of genres, my selection process basically consisted of watching whatever was in arms reach. So if you’re looking for any method to my madness – stop it.You won’t find one.

So sit back, relax, and enjoy  a run down of my daily prescribed viewing.

Day One – The First Dull Pangs of Nausea Strike: La Vita e Bella

Roberto Benigni‘s unforgettable tale of a courage, love and selflessness is masterfully emotive. Simultaneously unsettling and uplifting, the story of a protective father who sacrifices all to protect his son from the horrific realities of a Jewish concentration camp following the German occupation of Italy is enough to turn anyones frown upside down. The audience can easily forgive the outlandish and implausible elements of this story (fairytale pauper winning princess, duping the Nazi system time and time again) in favour of the overwhelming sense of human spirit and optimism. Flu is crap but life is most definitely beautiful.

Day Two – Headaches, fever and longing: A Very Long Engagement

Nothing better on a miserable afternoon of wallowing than a good weepie, a classy French one of course. Audrey Tautou convincingly conveys the relentless turmoil of a young woman deseperately trying to locate her fiance who disappeared somewhere in the trenches of the Somme during World War One. Mathilde (Tautou) is no helpless, weeping damsel as she strives and conives her way through the murky depths of deceit and confusion to find her love. Jean-Pierre Jeunet stays true to stylish form artfully depicting love, mystery, bittersweet humour and betrayal.

Day Three – No Voice? No need: I Love You Phillip Morris

Slight change of pace here. The reason I say “no need for a voice” is that if you bare in mind throughout this film that the story is entirely NON-FICTION, you’re rendered speechless anyway. This comedy drama depicts the alarmingly far-fetched (yet true) actions of con artist/ prison escapee Steven Jay Russell and his mind-bending determination to be renunited with the love of his life. Jim Carrey pulls this off superbly, with the poignancy and humour he displays in Man On The Moon.  Not at all what I expected but I’m reluctant to give anything away, so just watch and have a browser open on wikipedia as you watch…

Day Four – Woozy, snoozy and wishing to be boozy: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

Like countless others I wasn’t best impressed with the trailors for Edgar Wright‘s comic book caper about an unlucky-in-love lad who finds himself battling the seven evil exs of his new beau. “Pahh, more comic book swill,” I sighed, mentally filing it under “ones-not-to-watch-unless-on-a-plane”. Well I’ll gladly eat those words, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Wright’s original and unique visual wizardry takes the audience on an engaging cinematic journey unlike any other with the sharp, pacy dialogue keeping the smirks and laughter frequent. Michael Cera plays Pilgrim as…well Michael Cera (OK he’s a one trick pony but it’s a pretty good trick) and Kieran Culkin is a surprising treat, as Pilgrim’s razor-witted room-mate. Quirky.

Day Five – Feeling human once again: The Social Network

Well and truly worthy of it’s quadruple Golden Globe win on Sunday night, David Fincher‘s depiction of the rise of a social networking phenomenon exceeds all expectations. From the top-notch casting of Jesse Eisenberg as Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg to the fast-paced and witty rhetoric between characters, this film ticks every box. Fincher depicts an undoubtedly fascinating story, without sensationalising a thing. Utterly engrossing,  I again found myself trawling through wikipedia fact-checking as I watched. Worthy of the hype and accolades, in short – brilliant.

Films NOT To Watch When Ill

1. The Exorcist (excess vomatron)
2. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (Augustus Gloop = guaranteed boke)
3. Titanic (Warning: may cause seasickness – mostly as a result of Winslet’s horrific accent)

Hornets and kids toys and bears, OH MY!

WITH the curtain drawn on 2010, it’s time to look forward to the cinematic offerings in store for 2011. From comic books to cartoon classics; they’re all getting the Hollywood treatment and being brought to the silver screen. But is this exciting or just plain lazy?

2010: a year that brought us A Prophet, Inception, The Social Network and Four Lions, in short – a year of original, ground-breaking cinema. So with the onslaught of adaptations and sequels 2011 has in store, the risk of audience disenchantment is high.

Billy Bob Thornton sent ripples of malaise through Hollywood last month when he told The Telegraph that, in his opinion, we are in the ‘worst era for Hollywood’ and that most motion pictures of late are solely ‘geared towards a video game generation’. Are these just the grumblings of a middle aged man bemused by the next generation or does he have a point?

Well, with the countless comic book capers and innumerable cartoon classics being brought to the silver screen this year, he’s certainly caught on to something…

Graphic fiction novels: an infinite treasure trove of blockbuster fodder, providing generation after generation of fanatics with excitement and escapism. Superman, Spiderman and The X Men are now regarded as film stars as much as they are comic book characters, and this trend looks set to continue.

2011 offers up more than a handful of comic book adaptations. The Green Lantern (June 17) and The Green Hornet (January 14) are among the many releases of this year, with the most hotly anticipated of the all expected set to be the summer smash – Captain America: The First Avenger (July 22).  This certainly is one genre that need never fear a drought.

Similarly, cartoon classics such as Yogi Bear (January 2) and Winnie the Pooh (July 16) are being reinvigorated and introduced to a new generation of young movie-goers; evoking excited gasps from tots and woeful sighs from parents the world over.

Even popular 70s toy Stretch Armstrong has been given cinematic rights, with believe it or not (rather the latter) a feature film rumoured to come out in April.  Almost ridiculous enough to work?

NAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH.

Word on the street is that ambitions are now set to film it in 3-D with Twighlight’s Taylor Lautner in the starring role (I couldn’t make this stuff up) therefore pushing back the release date until 2012.

Out of sheer curiosity (and childishness) I really hope this is not just an online rumour, I smell Oscar nominations…

Fans of these light and fluffy family capers should head for the cinema, armed with optimism and enough sugary E numbered snacks to slip into a diabetic coma.

Everyone else, I recommend the following:

Black Swan (Jan 21st)

The King’s Speech (Jan 7th)

127 Hours (Jan 7th)

Mad for Mad Men

You can only imagine my horror last Christmas upon unwrapping the ‘WILDCARD’ gift from my mum and finding True Blood. Trying desperately to stifly my disdain, I mustered a forced smile and said, “Cheers Irene, vampire porn? You know me so well.”

But alas, this did not deter the bold Renee! This year, as I cautiously unravelled what was blatantly a boxset, internally fighting the pangs of last years disappointment in attempts to convey a more appreciative demeanour, I was taken a-back by her choice. Two words: MAD MEN.

Brilliant.

I’d been intrigued by the series for some time now, but like many, unless given the boxset in some entirety (ie. the first three seasons in one slick package) I just never found the time. That is until now. I’m currently in the throes of what can only be described as addiction.

The Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning drama set in the 1960s New York advertising industry is witty, fast-paced and enthralling. Everything from the sexist, ego-driven businessmen and tragic Stepford-esque housewives to the decadent fashion invites me in.

Having inexplicably managed to watch the first 2 seasons in little over a week (during the festive party season no less) I look forward to stifling the unavoidable January blues with more of the same, whilst scanning the Sunday Times Style suppliment for advice on how to become a Joan or a Betty and starting my ‘Don Draper for president’ campaign.

5 Reasons to become a MADdict

1. The wit – Hilariously dry, mocking and satirical of an era shrowded in pathos and sexism it’s hard to form a solid opinion on anyone as they all wrestle against changing ideologies in a drastically changing time. Ohhhh the inner turmoil. Love it.
2. The tragedy -  Adultery, alcoholism, racism, homophobia, sexism…the list is endless. Cannot.get.enough.
3. The fashion – Winning gongs and acclaim in its own right, the fashion of Mad Men has become an empire unto itself. From vintage to bohemian, this era is brought colourfully and vividly to life through costume and it continues to inspire legions of fashionistas. Long live the Bettys!
4. Don Draper – The man, the myth, the enigma. Jon Hamm depicts the shows protagonist with such suave charisma that the audience are forced to forgive his short-comings (infidelity, heavy drinking etc) in favour of his charm and mystique. The mystery of Draper is alluded to early on in season 1 when a colleague remarks, “Draper? Who knows anything about that guy? He could be Batman for all we know.” And you know what, he absolutely could.
5. Joan Holloway - Christina Hendricks is the real-life Jessica Rabbit, a fiery femme-fatale that contradicts and complies to the stereotypes of her day. Fabulously fierce.

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