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.
Starring: James Connery, Heather Ann Forster, Stephanie Buttle
Okay, so I was just flipping through the EPG last night and this movie caught my eye. This was a new experience for me since it is the first time I’ve seen a film on television where I actually know the writer. He is a guest lectuerer at the university I attented and he is one of the most intense people I’ve ever met. The film itself was interesting. The manifestation of the main character’s, Lizzie’s, guilt over the death of her friends at her hand as a poltergeist experience is a premise that I’ve seen before but because it is set in a Scottish high-rise council estate, it retains its originality. It was a little too low budget for me. When it comes to films I’m really superficial; I like glitz, glamour and shiny film. I can only think of a handful of low budget films that I actually will watch over and over again. It’s really bad of me but hey, its my taste. Depsite this, I did really get into Urban Ghost Story and thought it was a good example of what Britain can do, even with limited resources. If you wanna watch it because Billy Boyd is in it, don’t bother. He’s in too short scenes as the son of a loan shark and it’s not even a decent part.
BEST QUOTE
Loan Shark: Throw that wee bitch over the fuckin’ balcony!
This is a mock trailer I made for my University Project entitled “Trafalgar”. It is a history/horror film in which 21st Century 4 Royal Navy Sailors find themselves caught up in the middle of a supernatural re-enactment of the 1805 Battle of Trafalgar.
(Disclaimer: this trailer is made up of clips and audio from films that I do not own the rights to. No name or face featured in this trailer is actually affiliated with the project. This was made for an educational project and for no other reason)
In October of 1994 three student filmmakers disappeared in the woods near Burkittsville, Maryland, while shooting a documentary...A year later their footage was found
Writer: Daniel Myrick & Eduardo Sánchez
Starring: Heather Donahue, Joshua Leonard, Michael C. Williams
I watched this movie at one cousin’s sleepover when I was about 12 or 13. It was dark, she had surround sound in her detatched house and it was as scary as fuck then. Now I know that is isn’t actually real footage and the people are really actors, it’s less scary and I can laugh through the film rather than hide in my sleeping bag. Being 10 years older also helps somewhat. The film is very effective. Even it’s tagline suggests it’s real footage of real students who went missing; “In October of 1994 three student filmmakers…blah blah blah. Once you take this away and you find out it was all faked, it’s just not that scary. It follows the mock-u-mentry genre of filmmaking but takes it a step further by blending it with the horror genre. The film industry thrives on these sorts of blending since it surprises the audience and creates more avenues for future films. Character wise, I really really really really wanted the witch to eat/kill/toture/silence Heather Donahue. She just complains which, whilst being a very natural thing to do normally, is just annoying for someone raised on American Hollywood gloss. The Blair Witch Project has more of an British low-budget style to it and encapulates student filmmaking styles. Overall, scary the first time, amusing the second.
Starring: Sandra Bullock, Ben Chaplin, Ryan Gosling, Michael Pitt
I absolutely adore this film. I’m a big Sandra Bullock fan and it’s lovely to see her in something that isn’t a comedy. Murder By Numbers is a mind-fuck of a film in which two bored teenagers attempt to commit the perfect murder. However, they don’t count on interference by homicide cop Cassie Mayweather and her partner Sam (nice to see Ben Chaplin again). Cassie (Bullock) was once nearly left for dead by her husband and therefore, is very serious about catching the killers. In Richard (Gosling) and Justin’s (Pitt) planning the perfect murder, they forget that planning itself can be a mistake and a set of inncoulous mistakes lead Cassie and Sam to them. The problem then is that Richard and Justin are so wrapped up in the ideals of freedom (i.e. commiting crimes and getting away with it) that they start to turn on each other and Cassie gets caught up in the middle. The film is, to a certain degree, badly plotted, messy and obvious in places but the interesting relationship between Cassie, Sam, Justin and Richard does a way to making up for it.
BEST QUOTE:
Richard: Please, that chick spreads like peanut butter.
A forbidden love. An unthinkable attraction. The ultimate price.
Writers: Stephen Schiff (script), Vladimir Nabokov (novel)
Starring: Jeremy Irons, Frank Langella, Dominque Swain
Okay, I’ve seen movies about child abuse before, namely Mysterious Skin (2004) and I recently read Karin Slaughter’s Kisscut. The difference between the latter two and Lolita is that Lolita romantisizes the love between Humbert and Lolita. This is odd. Normally, this behaviour is demonized, we see the abuse from the child’s point of view, how it messes them up. In Lolita, since it is from Humbert’s point of view, we are forced into seeing the abuse as a loving act…which is totally against my nature. I watched it till the end but will not be watching it again. I understand that a body double was used during the sex scenes between Humbert and Lolita but it is the subject matter and its portrayal of being “love” that I can’t get over. At least Humbert and Quilty die at the end which somewhat follows the idea that what they both did was wrong. However, though I hate to admit it, it was well written and acted.
BEST LINE
Humbert: What are you eating?
Lolita: It’s called a jawbreaker. It’s supposed to break your jaw. Want one?
Starring: Chris Evans, Dakota Fanning, Djimon Hounsou
This film is to much like Jumper (2008) and unfortunately, it comes in last in the line of ‘ordinary people with extra-ordinary abilities’. However, this is proabably one of the best. I liked the fact it was set in Hong Kong instead of America because it makes for a more interesting backdrop than once again seeing Americans chase each other around the streets of New York City. It was also a good film for Dakota Fanning as it now shows as an adult (her drunk was very entertaining). She can definitely hold her own amongst her older co-stars. This was evident in Hide & Seek as well. On the whole, an entertaining film with enough twists and turns to keep you guessing.
BEST QUOTE:
Cassie Holmes: I think I just saved your life. No need to thank me, you should just start listening to me.
It was the worst job they ever imagined... and the best time of their lives
Writer: Greg Mottola
Starring: Kristen Stewart, Jesse Eisenberg, Ryan Reynolds
Okay, so I went to see this movie with my mate today (her choice, not mine) but I am so totally addicted now! I was wary since I didn’t particulary enjoy Kristen Stewart’s style of acting in Twilight but I thought the way she behaved in Adventureland was perfect especially when she said “I’m starting to hate myself” in relation to her relationship with Connell…which was just a little bit to creepy for me. She looks younger than she is and so it looked like Connell was dating a schoolgirl but at least the scenes appeared natural not forced. Did anyone else notice that James (Eisenberg) reacted real shocked when Em (Stewart) said “Fuck” the first time?? It was well written, it kept the noisy guys behind me entertained as well. My only issue was that Jesse Eisenberg really reminds me of one of my exes which is about distracting. On the whole, a funny film and Kristen Stewarts acting style suited it. Did y’all know she touched her hair 55 times (according to IMDB) during the movie…something she also did in Twilight. The last scene was my favourite (and not cause it was the ending) it was just so damn natural. GOOD FILM!!!!
BES TQUOTE:
James Brennan: I think somebody was trying to write “Satan Lives” on that wall but they spelled it “Satin Lives”. Em Lewin: One of those textile worshiping cults no doubt.
I'm a Bournemouth University graduate 2009 who would very much would like to actually make a living from writing. I've written two short films; one shown to C4 and the other a narcoleptic love story and I'm currently working as a freelance script reader which means I can write in my (many) spare hours.
Having just had a lecture on Censorship and Regulation, I'd just like to say that any opinions written by me in this blog are not meant to offend and if they do, I will remove or reword them as not to cause offensive. I apologise in advance if I do cause any offense.
Stephen Gately
Patrick Swayze
