The best bit? Alber Elbaz making a cameo appearance at the end. SHAKE THAT ASS!?
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Showing posts with label film. Show all posts
Wednesday, 31 August 2011
Lanvin Fall 2011
The best bit? Alber Elbaz making a cameo appearance at the end. SHAKE THAT ASS!?
Wednesday, 27 July 2011
Lights, Camera, Action part 1
I am really looking forward to the new batch of films that are set to come out in the Autumn. Cinemas are always filled with 'blockbusters' such as Harry Potter and Transformers over the summer, and they really aren't my thing. I thought I'd post about a few I'm excited about, many due to enjoying them in book form.
We need to talk about Kevin
We need to talk about Kevin
Starring Tilda Swinton, John C. Reilly and Ezra Miller, the film is an adaptation of Lionel Shriver’s award winning novel. In my opinion Tilda Swinton is perfect to play Eva, Kevin's mother, she comes across as a straight stern woman who is determined to fulfil her own dreams. On the other hand I'm interested to see how John C. Reilly plays the part of Kevin's father, his casting really doesn't fit the character portrayed in the novel. This may however be down to Reilly's previous comic performances so I will have to see the film before judging anymore.
The main theme of the film is Eva's in ability to bond with Kevin and the depressing effects this has as the years goes by. The grim and murderous subject of the book put some people I've spoken to off the book, they found it too depressing and the character of Kevin sadistic. But all books can't be airy fairy and this looks to be the gritty transition to film it needed. The film premiered at Cannes this year to rave reviews and will also be part of Toronto International Film Festival.
Have you read the book? Are you interested in seeing the film? Let me know what you think of the clips of the film. Part 2 of this feature to come soon.
Friday, 1 April 2011
Submarine
Last night I went to see Richard Ayoade's new film Submarine and wow, it was fantastic.
Normally when I go see the film I have at least read a review or seen a trailer, but I went in stone cold this time. The only information I knew about the film was that the soundtrack was by Alex Turner and it was Ayoade's first feature length film. In a way, I think this lead me to appreciate the film more as I had no preconceptions about it.
The film is adapted by Joe Dunthorne's coming of age novel which centres around the life and thoughts of 15 year old Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts). In an Adrian Mole-esque way the film is narrated by Oliver throughout and set in the late 80's a sense of nostalgia is felt with technology and fashion featuring heavily in the film (Polaroids, tape players, midi pleated skirts and duffel coats). Due to the era and plot the film is on the cusp of being perceived as a 'indie-I'm-better-than-you' film, but it's thankfully avoided due to it's mundane references to pot holes, school boy humour and eczema.
However, the film keeps a deadpan humour throughout. What I enjoyed is the way mundane British traditions, lifestyles and characteristics were played throughout. One which tickled my particularly was when Oliver described a tradition at his mother's work (the local council) where people brought in their own Birthday cake and how odd he found this. At this exact moment myself and my friend turned to each other to say the same is true at our work place....oh dear
1) Oliver pursuing and seducing Jordana (Yasmin Paige) a sulky but alluring brunette with a penchant for pyromania. Jordana's lack of emotion and lip curling half smiles is very reminiscent of a large majority of teenage girls that mesmerise boys. Throughout the film small cracks of emotion can be seen in Jordana and in the end it is her that relies on Oliver rather than the other way round.
2) The dwindling love life of Oliver's parents Jill (Sally Hawkins) and Lloyd (Noah Taylor) and Oliver's own attempts at keeping them together. Although Oliver views his parents relationship as stagnant and past it's best and takes an unusual interest on getting things back on track in an unusually awkward and dead-pan way.
Ayoade, although not staring in the film, can be felt throughout with classic quotes which made the audience erupt with laughter. The humour throughout the film is very reminiscent of Dark Place, with the fast space speech and stills of characters on a black back-lit background accompanied by a descriptive voice over from Oliver.
The main attraction of this film is it's awkwardness and observational humour which is so very British. Either by Oliver failing to be able to piss on demand to vandalise his neighbour's property or Jill believing it more realistic that her son is psychotic over him having a girlfriend.
One last reason to see this film is the amazing soundtrack by Alex Turner which I mentioned earlier, who might I add the main character Oliver has a striking resemblance too! Turner creates a acoustic-folk masterpiece with hints of a Beatles sound and a few remaining gruff Arctic Monkey pronunciations and wording. It creates an background atmosphere which blends in to the film's setting and plot without distracting away from the film.
Normally when I go see the film I have at least read a review or seen a trailer, but I went in stone cold this time. The only information I knew about the film was that the soundtrack was by Alex Turner and it was Ayoade's first feature length film. In a way, I think this lead me to appreciate the film more as I had no preconceptions about it.
The film is adapted by Joe Dunthorne's coming of age novel which centres around the life and thoughts of 15 year old Oliver Tate (Craig Roberts). In an Adrian Mole-esque way the film is narrated by Oliver throughout and set in the late 80's a sense of nostalgia is felt with technology and fashion featuring heavily in the film (Polaroids, tape players, midi pleated skirts and duffel coats). Due to the era and plot the film is on the cusp of being perceived as a 'indie-I'm-better-than-you' film, but it's thankfully avoided due to it's mundane references to pot holes, school boy humour and eczema.
However, the film keeps a deadpan humour throughout. What I enjoyed is the way mundane British traditions, lifestyles and characteristics were played throughout. One which tickled my particularly was when Oliver described a tradition at his mother's work (the local council) where people brought in their own Birthday cake and how odd he found this. At this exact moment myself and my friend turned to each other to say the same is true at our work place....oh dear
(Oliver and Jordana - Source: IMDb)
The film focuses on two relationships:1) Oliver pursuing and seducing Jordana (Yasmin Paige) a sulky but alluring brunette with a penchant for pyromania. Jordana's lack of emotion and lip curling half smiles is very reminiscent of a large majority of teenage girls that mesmerise boys. Throughout the film small cracks of emotion can be seen in Jordana and in the end it is her that relies on Oliver rather than the other way round.
2) The dwindling love life of Oliver's parents Jill (Sally Hawkins) and Lloyd (Noah Taylor) and Oliver's own attempts at keeping them together. Although Oliver views his parents relationship as stagnant and past it's best and takes an unusual interest on getting things back on track in an unusually awkward and dead-pan way.
(Jill - Source: IMDb)
The main attraction of this film is it's awkwardness and observational humour which is so very British. Either by Oliver failing to be able to piss on demand to vandalise his neighbour's property or Jill believing it more realistic that her son is psychotic over him having a girlfriend.
Ayoade and Turner (Source: Independent)
One last reason to see this film is the amazing soundtrack by Alex Turner which I mentioned earlier, who might I add the main character Oliver has a striking resemblance too! Turner creates a acoustic-folk masterpiece with hints of a Beatles sound and a few remaining gruff Arctic Monkey pronunciations and wording. It creates an background atmosphere which blends in to the film's setting and plot without distracting away from the film.
If you get the chance you really should see this film, I can guarantee you will laugh out loud at least once.
Tuesday, 8 June 2010
The Impossible Project
Being a child of the late 1980's/1990's I grew up with Polaroid Cameras. My dad always had his to hand and my brother and I would fight over who got to 'shake' the film and watch the picture develop. It really felt like magic how a photo could be captured and developed in a minute or so in front of my very own eyes.
When I was about 16 years old I decided to take a polaroid of each of my close friends and put them up on my wall, so I always had happy faces staring back at me. I also took my camera to parties/group holidays and everyone would always get so excited.
Then as technology progressed and production moved to outsourcing to cheap factories, Polaroid came to the point where they decided it was no longer cost effective to produce Polaroid Instant Film, as it worked out at about £1 a photo! I remember the sell by date being sometime in 2008 and thought that was the end of Polaroid and that we would have to make do with cheap looking applications on phones to create that Polaroid 'look'.
Around the same time 'The Impossible Project' popped up. This was a project looking into bringing Instant Polaroid Film back to life. They studied the production of the film and bought the last production plant for the instant film. Well it seems they have achieved their mission (albeit a few months ago, I know I'm behind!) and are now selling film again and it isn't too expensive!
I can't wait to start snapping again!
When I was about 16 years old I decided to take a polaroid of each of my close friends and put them up on my wall, so I always had happy faces staring back at me. I also took my camera to parties/group holidays and everyone would always get so excited.Then as technology progressed and production moved to outsourcing to cheap factories, Polaroid came to the point where they decided it was no longer cost effective to produce Polaroid Instant Film, as it worked out at about £1 a photo! I remember the sell by date being sometime in 2008 and thought that was the end of Polaroid and that we would have to make do with cheap looking applications on phones to create that Polaroid 'look'.Around the same time 'The Impossible Project' popped up. This was a project looking into bringing Instant Polaroid Film back to life. They studied the production of the film and bought the last production plant for the instant film. Well it seems they have achieved their mission (albeit a few months ago, I know I'm behind!) and are now selling film again and it isn't too expensive!
I can't wait to start snapping again!
(All Polaroids above are mine expect for the last one which is from The Impossible Project)
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