Rest In Peace

Rest In Peace

Edward Woodward

1930-2009

New Moon (2009)

Director: Chris Weitz

The Next Chapter Begins

Writer: Melissa Rosenberg (script), Stephanie Meyers (novel)

Starring: Kristen Stewart, Robert Pattinson, Taylor Lautner

Friday, opening night, I was lined up outside the Apollo Cinema waiting with a bunch of serious Twilight fans. Let’s get something straight, I’m a fan of the books but I don’t go in for that whole t-shirt-poster-scream-your-head-off things.  The was decent, alot better than the first (which means Stewart and Pattinson weren’t unbareable to watch during the first 30 mins) but it felt very superficial. The best things about it is;  Taylor Lautner and his pack without their shirts (in retrospect Robert Pattinson should definately keep his on in future) and the one liner shorts between Jacob and every other character. The film was a good laugh but did not meet my expectation; the actors seem to make an art out of doing nothing lol, nothing really happens until the end and then, well, it ends. And then everyone groaned that it had ended (not sure why, they all read the book). I’ll continue to see the next 2 films, but I’m not expecting miracles.

BEST QUOTE

Jacob: (about Mike) What a marshmellow!

7/10

The Children’s Hour (1961)

Director: William Wyler

What Made These Women Different?

Writer: Lillian Hellman (play), John Michael Hayes (script)

Starring: Audrey Hepburn, Shirley MacLaine, James Garner

This was a vital text during my dissertation because it is fundermentally about lesbianism. The plot centers on two school headmistresses, Karen (Hepburn) and Martha (MacLaine), who are caught up in a viscious lie spread by one of their pupils. The pupil in question is a little bit pyscho and the kind you want to strangle on sight. The lie takes their school (no one wants their children taught by lesbians), it takes Karen’s relationship with her fiancee, Joe (Garner) and eventually takes Martha’s life. Though this film was made at the end of the production code era, it is fairly out there for it’s time, but it panders to the code by having Martha, who finally admits that she does have “unnatural” (their word not mine) feelings for Karen. These feelings are unrequinted though and although, Karen asks Martha to come with her when they leave, Martha can’t go one feeling this way and kills herself. It’s a well acted piece that manages to discuss the issues and prejudices of the time without even ever mentioning the word “lesbian” lol.

BEST QUOTE

Mrs. Lily Mortar: God will punish you.
Martha: He’s doing all right.

7/10

Two Weeks Notice (2002)

Director: Marc Lawrence

A comedy about love at last glance

Writer: Marc Lawrence

Starring: Sandra Bullock, Hugh Grant

This a no-frills, cute, little rom-com starring two rom-com veterans, Sandra Bullock and Hugh Grant. Bullock plays a legal aid lawyer who is accidently hired by English rich buisness man, Grant. Needless to say, things don’t go well; Lucy (Bullock) finds herself being treated as more of a nanny to the oblivious George (Grant) and eventually, she quits. After she tries to quit a few times, they fall in love ect. Pretty straightforward stuff and something the actors could do with their eyes closed. However, rom-coms are meant to inforce the idea that anyone can find love anywhere and the film meets its quota.

BEST QUOTE

George: Before you came into my life I could make all kinds of decisions now I’m addicted, I have to know what you think. What do you think? [holds up cufflinks]
Lucy: I think your the most selfish human being on the planet.
George: Well that’s just silly. Have you met everybody on the planet?

6/10

Stigmata (1999)

Director: Rupert Wainwright

The Messenger is Here

Writer: Tom Lazarus

Starring: Patricia Arquette, Gabriel Byrne, Jonathon Pryce

This my ultimate favourite film. Religious conspiracies, supernatural happens, priests, churches, I was in heaven when I flipped over and saw this on one night. I know own it on DVD and watch it alot. It revolves around the suposed banning of The Gospels of Thomas by the Catholic Church (which is false, they were never repressed). A priest who translated the gospels dies and his spirit is transfered to a 23 year old hairdresser (Arquette) through a rosary given to her by her mother. However, things are not always as simple as they sound, Father Almeida gives her more than a message; he gives her the stagmatic wounds as well. The priests in charge then try and kill her so that the Gopsell will stay hidden. It’s a bit violent in places, but brilliant and the way in which it is shot is fabulous. Though it’s about religion, it doesn’t preach it and is every so slightly Dan Brownish.

BEST QUOTE

Dr. Reston: And are there any problems with a significant other?
Frankie: Yes…
Dr. Reston: Which is?
Frankie: I’m not very significant.

10/10

Why do the women in Scrubs have boy names?

Elliot

Danni

Taylor

Jordan

Jamie

So, I was watching Scrubs the other day and it suddenly occured to me that the many of the main female characters all have male names. Okay, I get that Danni, Taylor, Jamie and Jordan are all now unisex names that are perfectly acceptable for a girl to have now but still, they are essentially masculine names. Many of my friends think that male names for girls are sexy but they also fit with a stereotypical view. Despite the thousands of female doctors we now have, many people still assume that a doctor if all the information they recieve is Dr. Reid ect. I’m guilty of this…depsite the fact my specialist is a female, I naturally assumed she was a man when I first got my appointment letter through. I don’t know why the creator’s have a fondness for unisex names but if it isn’t concious, then maybe their just subconciously pandering to the view that medicine is still a male profession. Note, the only main female character to have a proper girl’s name is Nurse Carla. Nursing is, after all, a female profession.

Btw, I’m not saying that all the female characters have boy’s names, I know they don’t lol…but there is a large amount in relation to the number of main/serial female characters. Just an observation lol.

Wanted (2008)

Director: Timur Bekmambetov

Choose your destiny

Writer: Michael Brandt & Derek Haas

Starring: James McAvoy, Morgan Freeman, Angelina Jolie

My ex-flatmate gave me this movie to cheer me up after a particulary gruelling dissertation meeting and, depsite being in my early 20s, I decided that maybe an assassin for a secret organisation might be a better career move than writer. That idea soon disappeared and I continued to finish the disseration. Wanted isn’t deep, it isn’t original but it is glossy, hyped up and has guns and cars. It’s a mindless action film that is easy to watch when your mind has exploded. Also, British star, kudos.

BEST QUOTE

Wesley: [to Fox, while being chased by Cross] I think we lost him… I think we lost him. Can you let me off at the next corner, please?

9/10

The Haunting In Connecticut (2009)

Director: Peter Cornwell

Some things cannot be explained

Writer: Adam Simon & Tim Metcalfe

Starring: Kyle Gallner, Virginia Madsen, Elias Koteas

My brother’s girlfriend suggested I catch this movie and I’m glad I did. Though it had all the hallmarks of every other supernatural horror film I’ve ever seen, it had Kyle Gallner in it. Only wish he was in more that I’ve seen. The film follows a teenage cancer patient, Matt (Gallner) as his family are forced to move into a house closer to his hospital for financial reasons. Whilst in the house, strange things start happening and after nearly being killed by a ghost he’s got a supernatural attatchment too, he finds his cancer has gone. This is based on a true story (as the title cards at the end show) and is very similar to The Amityville Horror film which are based on true events years after DeFeo killed his family. According to IMDB this movie is rougly based on the stories of Al and Carmen Snedeker who lived in a haunted funueral parlour converted into a house. I have no knowledge of the case. This film was good, however, and had me hiding underneath the duvet on many occasions.

BEST QUOTE

Matt Campbell: Doctor says to patient, “You have cancer and you have Alzheimer’s.” Patient says to doctor, “Wooo! At least I don’t have cancer.”

8/10

If… (1968)

Director: Lindsay Anderson

Which side will you be on?

Writer: David Sherwin & John Howlett

Starring: Malcolm McDowell, David Wood, Richard Warwick

The film was a core text in my Film Studies A-Level at college and it is an awesomely random film. It follows an anti-instituional character, Mick Travis (McDowell) as he returns to study at a 1960’s private school in England. Him and his friends are all about teenage rebellion and the film comes to a dramatic ending when Mick, Johnny, Wallace and some girl the three picked up ub a cafe open fire as the school’s teachers and students come out of the church.They were already seriously warped by the ideal that war as the last possible creative act(??) The film is shot in a picture of black and white and colour with occasional random inserts. Though the film may be considered hard work to get through, it is a masterpiece of it’s time.

BES T QUOTE

Mick Travis: What stands, if freedom falls? Who dies, if England lives?

8/10

Birthday Girl (2001)

Director: Jez Butterworth

Before They Share A Future, They Have To Survive Her Past

Writer: Jez Butterworth & Tom Butterworth

Starring: Nicole Kidman, Ben Chaplin, Vincent Cassell, Mathieu Kassovitz

I find this a bit of a random film. My confusion starts and ends with the fact that Nicole Kidman is in this film. It’s a Film4 movie with writer/directors who have only done a few films before and since. It seems a bit of an odd project for Nicole Kidman to get involved with. Saying that, it is a very funny film. John (Chaplin) seems stuck  single after the break-down of a relationship many years before. He works long hours and lives in a limited area and concludes the only way to find a wife would be to buy one from Russia. Enter, Nicole Kidman as “Nadia”, a chain-smoking Russian beauty who appears not to speak a word of English. Depsite attempts for John to send her back, he finally starts to fall for Nadia (who pulls him in by acting out his deepest sexual fantasies). However, Nadia is actually a conwoman, named Sophia, working with two other Russians Alexei (Cassell) and Yuri (Kassovitz). Together, they get John to rob a bank and John finds himself having to fight to keep Sophia safe and keep their future. The film is odd, funny and not remotely deep but will stop you feeling lonely one late night. Heads up; the Russians are played by one Australian and two French guys lol. For those who want to see British stars in British films we have;  Steve Mangan, Alexander Armstrong, Sally Philips and a brief cameo by Ben Miller.

BEST QHOTE

Nadia: You can’t hurt me more than I’m hurt already.
John: Well, Nadia, if it’s all the same to you, I’d like to give it a bash.

6/10