I watched the 2004 movie Speak just the other day and it reminded me that excluding the Twilight franchise, Kristen Stewart is actually a good actress with a respectable body of work, such as this movie, Adventureland and The Runaways. Directed by a woman, based on a book written by a woman, this film dares to tell a young teenager's story following her rape at a party and her subsequent withdrawl from everyone around her. She can barely admit to herself what happened, let alone tell anyone. It is a moving, important story.
Speak is a beautiful and poignant film, one that I wish more people had seen. It is certainly a story worth telling. All roles are wonderfully acted, including Kristen Stewart in the lead, a role that involves more in her head voiceovers than actual speaking lines. But she acts. You see Melinda, her character`s pain, rejection and gradual healing and return of confidence in her face and body movements as she slowly accepts the reality of what happened to her. I consider this a must-see movie.
The cast was well rounded with excellent performances by Elizabeth Perkins as Melinda`s mother, Steve Zahn as Melinda`s art teacher who inadvertently helps her deal with her pain and anger over what happened, and Hallee Hirsh as her ex-best friend who is angry with her for calling 911 at the party, not knowing what happened. This movie is a giant piece of truth amid the typical glossy crap that usually adorns movie screens. Probably why people haven`t seen it. But you should. I cannot stress the importance and quality of this film. It needs to be seen. Women`s voices need to be heard and our stories need to be given the same level of respect as men`s on the silver screen. This is the kind of film I can wholly support.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
War is show business, that's why we're here
Last week, courtesy of Netflix, I got a chance to watch Wag The Dog. According to Netflix, it was a top pick for me, predicting I would love it. Turns out, the prediction was right. This is a spot on, fantastic political satire. I love this movie. Very well acted, particularly great performances by Dustin Hoffman and Robert De Niro. The plot kept me interested and it was eerily relevant to my life.
Watching this movie, I felt like it should have been made more recently than it was. Wag The Dog came out in 1997. Yet it features a presidential sex scandal, a fictitious war, the CIA being suspicious (their usual) and this speech below on fighting a war to preserve one's way of life:
Well, I have, too. Would you do it again...? Isn't that why you're here? I guess so. And if you go to war again, who is it going to be against? Your "ability to fight a Two-ocean War" against who? Sweden and Togo? Who you sitting here to Go To War Against? That time has passed. It's passed. It's over. The war of the future is nuclear terrorism. It is and it will be against a small group of dissidents who, unbeknownst, perhaps, to their own governments, have blah blah blah. And to go to that war, you've got to be prepared. You have to be alert, and the public has to be alert. Cause that is the war of the future, and if you're not gearing up, to fight that war, eventually the axe will fall. And you're gonna be out in the street. And you can call this a "drill," or you can call it "job security," or you can call it anything you like. But I got one for you: you said, "Go to war to protect your Way of Life," well, Chuck, this is your way of life. Isn't it? And if there ain't no war, then you, my friend, can go home and prematurely take up golf. Because there ain't no war but ours!
This feels more like it could have been written in 2003-2004ish times than 1997. I laughed a lot at this movie, but at times the laughter got to the awkward point where it was only funny because the other choice was to cry at how true it has become.
This movie is not perfect. Like many, it doesn't measure up well when considering the Bechdel test (see http://bechdeltest.com/ for more information - unrelated thought, I should consider an entry on this topic) but at least it features an interesting female lead. It is certainly worth watching if you enjoy a good political dark comedy.
Watching this movie, I felt like it should have been made more recently than it was. Wag The Dog came out in 1997. Yet it features a presidential sex scandal, a fictitious war, the CIA being suspicious (their usual) and this speech below on fighting a war to preserve one's way of life:
Well, I have, too. Would you do it again...? Isn't that why you're here? I guess so. And if you go to war again, who is it going to be against? Your "ability to fight a Two-ocean War" against who? Sweden and Togo? Who you sitting here to Go To War Against? That time has passed. It's passed. It's over. The war of the future is nuclear terrorism. It is and it will be against a small group of dissidents who, unbeknownst, perhaps, to their own governments, have blah blah blah. And to go to that war, you've got to be prepared. You have to be alert, and the public has to be alert. Cause that is the war of the future, and if you're not gearing up, to fight that war, eventually the axe will fall. And you're gonna be out in the street. And you can call this a "drill," or you can call it "job security," or you can call it anything you like. But I got one for you: you said, "Go to war to protect your Way of Life," well, Chuck, this is your way of life. Isn't it? And if there ain't no war, then you, my friend, can go home and prematurely take up golf. Because there ain't no war but ours!
This feels more like it could have been written in 2003-2004ish times than 1997. I laughed a lot at this movie, but at times the laughter got to the awkward point where it was only funny because the other choice was to cry at how true it has become.
This movie is not perfect. Like many, it doesn't measure up well when considering the Bechdel test (see http://bechdeltest.com/ for more information - unrelated thought, I should consider an entry on this topic) but at least it features an interesting female lead. It is certainly worth watching if you enjoy a good political dark comedy.
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Fish Tank
I am a little in love with Netflix. For only $8 a month I can watch all kinds of movies and documentaries that I wouldn't normally get to see. Case in point: Fish Tank. This British Indie piece of genius didn't play many places or do much business in North America although it is considerably better than a lot of other films that do. Written and directed by Andrea Arnold, this film revolves around a lower class teenager, Mia. It is a gritty and unflinching look at her life. She acts so tough to cover up anything that might hurt. She drinks, swears a lot, gets into fights and lashes out at people. She finds solace in hip hop dancing. Her mother's new boyfriend changes things when he comes in to their lives.
Andrea Arnold presents a poignant portrait of this angry young woman as she tries to navigate a life where she spends too much time alone and doesn't have many options. I could feel that this film was written and directed by a woman. First off, it revolves around a female character. Mia is not some ideal woman nor is she weak or spending all of her time searching for a man. Her story is presented as one worth telling regardless of gender, something that does not happen enough. Also noticeable is the absence of the "male gaze" in the presentation of the film. This film looks like how life can feel. To me, that means something. It is a harsh look at what life can be. Fish Tank is certainly worth watching and I highly recommend it to anyone who bothers to read my musings on the movies I watch.
Andrea Arnold presents a poignant portrait of this angry young woman as she tries to navigate a life where she spends too much time alone and doesn't have many options. I could feel that this film was written and directed by a woman. First off, it revolves around a female character. Mia is not some ideal woman nor is she weak or spending all of her time searching for a man. Her story is presented as one worth telling regardless of gender, something that does not happen enough. Also noticeable is the absence of the "male gaze" in the presentation of the film. This film looks like how life can feel. To me, that means something. It is a harsh look at what life can be. Fish Tank is certainly worth watching and I highly recommend it to anyone who bothers to read my musings on the movies I watch.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Fight Fire With Fire
The title of this post is the tagline for The Girl Who Played With Fire, the second of the Millennium trilogy. I recently watched both this movie and The Girl Who Kicked the Hornet's Nest. Both excellent adaptations for the screen. The second film of the trilogy might very well be my favourite. I love the plot and the characters. Lisbeth Salander is the best character in any film I have seen recently. She kicks some serious ass. She is not a perfect character. She shuts down and pushes people away. She is human. And she is awesome.
She gets revenge. Women in movies don't often get to get revenge and still be the hero. Women in movies usually get saved by the man, and get heterosexual romance as their reward for being nice. Women who speak out get punished. Not this time. She gets revenge and she lives. No sappy romantic ending in sight either.
One of my favourite scenes has got to be Lisbeth walking in to a trial all punked out. It is a giant middle finger to the system. And I love watching her and her (female) lawyer win their case resoundingly, exposing abuse and corruption for the awful criminal acts that they are. It made me want to cheer out loud. I loved the feeling that I was watching something that really connected. Also I always love a good courtroom drama so this was extra special.
All I really have to add is to go watch these movies! Now. Before the Hollywood versions come out. They are fantastic pieces of cinema that we are lucky to have at least semi-mainstream.
She gets revenge. Women in movies don't often get to get revenge and still be the hero. Women in movies usually get saved by the man, and get heterosexual romance as their reward for being nice. Women who speak out get punished. Not this time. She gets revenge and she lives. No sappy romantic ending in sight either.
One of my favourite scenes has got to be Lisbeth walking in to a trial all punked out. It is a giant middle finger to the system. And I love watching her and her (female) lawyer win their case resoundingly, exposing abuse and corruption for the awful criminal acts that they are. It made me want to cheer out loud. I loved the feeling that I was watching something that really connected. Also I always love a good courtroom drama so this was extra special.
All I really have to add is to go watch these movies! Now. Before the Hollywood versions come out. They are fantastic pieces of cinema that we are lucky to have at least semi-mainstream.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
I'm gonna make him an offer he can't refuse
The Godfather. What do I even say about this movie that hasn't been said a thousand times before? This is a film from what is in my opinion, the height of filmmaking. Coppola in his prime, New Hollywood, the emergence of the director as the real star.
Everything about this movie is pure brilliance. The score, the brilliant writing, the amazing directing and the mind-blowing acting. From the moment the camera pans out enough to see Marlon Brando, he ropes you in. I think he might be one of the best actors of the 20th century. He is such a genius without necessarily doing a lot. Every time he is on screen it feels special somehow. And Al Pacino, sometimes I forget how good he is. James Caan is a bit of a scene stealer here too. But what gets me most is the directing. The baptism cut with shots of assassinations? So genius.
Sometimes with movies that I have heard so much raving about they simply cannot live up the expectation. And sometimes they surpass it. The late 70s were such an amazing era in movie making. I love the grittiness and the violence. Sometimes seeing the shot to the head and the blood, the effect of violence, is necessary for it to hit home. Surpassing my expectations was no easy feat. Sometimes everything comes together to create brilliance.
Watching the evolution of the Michael character from outsider of the family business to running it is some brilliant acting. The way he delivers his lines is exactly what it should be. He starts out not wanting to be like his father, wanting something different from the previous generation, even his father wanted different for him. And he ends up not only in the business, but running it as almost a mirror image of his father. When he "settles family business" it is so cold yet so classic.
Everything about this movie is pure brilliance. The score, the brilliant writing, the amazing directing and the mind-blowing acting. From the moment the camera pans out enough to see Marlon Brando, he ropes you in. I think he might be one of the best actors of the 20th century. He is such a genius without necessarily doing a lot. Every time he is on screen it feels special somehow. And Al Pacino, sometimes I forget how good he is. James Caan is a bit of a scene stealer here too. But what gets me most is the directing. The baptism cut with shots of assassinations? So genius.
Sometimes with movies that I have heard so much raving about they simply cannot live up the expectation. And sometimes they surpass it. The late 70s were such an amazing era in movie making. I love the grittiness and the violence. Sometimes seeing the shot to the head and the blood, the effect of violence, is necessary for it to hit home. Surpassing my expectations was no easy feat. Sometimes everything comes together to create brilliance.
Watching the evolution of the Michael character from outsider of the family business to running it is some brilliant acting. The way he delivers his lines is exactly what it should be. He starts out not wanting to be like his father, wanting something different from the previous generation, even his father wanted different for him. And he ends up not only in the business, but running it as almost a mirror image of his father. When he "settles family business" it is so cold yet so classic.
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