Changeling

This is how the film was sold to me...

'Angelina Jolie'

'A Clint Eastwood film'

'A true Story'

I have been looking forward to this film for ages, its been one of those instances were you watch the trailer and wish you were seeing that film instead of whatever you've come to see. When the trailer ends I was really curious and was thinking about Changeling even as another film was beginning. I think this is down to the fact its a true story, and the trailer has been really well cut to intice you in. However I was pleasantly surprised by the film having a complete other dimension not mentioned in the trailer, usually with trailers this good they've used all the best bits.
Changeling is a true story of single mother Christine Collins who comes home one day to find her son Walter has dissapeared. The LAPD are corrupt and are uninterested in the wereabouts of the child but rather how they look to society. They find 'a boy' a bring him to her, she says he is not her son, they try to convince her that he looks different because of the trauma he's gone through. Confused she takes him home, but becomes absolutely certain that this is not Walter. Her defiance make her a neausance to the LAPD who take every measure to brake her spirit, they eventually force her into a phyciatric ward.

This film really shows how hard it would have been to be a woman in the 1920's, especially a single parent. Without the help of the Pastor she would have had no hope. I found Changeling deeply distressing (which I think is how Eastwood wanted me to feel) Christine Collins is a gentle, vaunrable woman, and to see her being put through hell when she needs help the most is very upsetting to watch. especially with the subject matter, abduction is a parents worst nightmare and to go on this journey with Christine Collins was, like I said deeply upsetting for me. I really found, watching the film that I felt all the emotions that the character was going through, I felt angry, hopeless, ect. There was never a brake where I came back to reality. Throughout the film I was really with this character, I thought it was very powerful to be able to do this for the entire length of the film.
Its a true story which makes it all the more terrible and horrific, this film would not be as effective if it was not a true story. I was shocked at how people can be treated, and angry that if the LAPD would just DO THEIR JOB they could find the childs wereabouts, but it's the time wasting that made me really angry, they have the power to help her and they not only don't but they hinder her being able to even do it herself by locking her up and declairing her insane!

I thought Angelina Jolie was outstanding as Christine Collins, so much so that I forgot it was 'Angelina Jolie' and really believed she was that character. The performances from the cheif of the LAPD, and Gordon Northcott who's performance was truely unsettling and disturbing, just as intended.

Eastwood really takes you into that period, the detail and use of browns and turquoise that were fashionable in the 1920's added to you being completely drawn into the world. I thought technically Changeling was wonderful, Eastwood is very good at conveying the story and the emotion he capture is astounding, I found this also with 'Million Dollar Baby', he really gets the best out of his actors which I really admire.

This is the first ever film I have seen alone in the cinema, I found I responed to it in a much more personal level without distractions, however I think because of the subject matter I won't see this type of film alone again!

I thought Changeling was the best film I've seen this term by far, nothing else comes close. I definetley am expecting Oscars for this film without a doubt.

AHHHHHHH!

I just watched the new Harry Potter trailer! Harry Potter is without a doubt my favourite time of the entire year!
I have to stop watching the trailer though because it makes me to excited about seeing it...I only have to wait until July!

...Did you know that In 2003 the word 'Muggle' entered the Oxford English Dictionary!

KILL BILL (volume 1)

I can't believe I've finally seen this film, it's one of those ones I'd wanted to see for years and never quite got around to it...
I the story of 'the bride' was a very interesting one, which makes me want to see volume 2. however the killing off people one by one became slightly tedious to me, as it was just a fight sequence-a fight sequence-a fight sequence...I thought in any other film this tediousness would have been hightened but seen as Kill Bill is so visually stunning, each fight sequence was like watching a beautifuly choreographed dance, the blood gushing from sliced off limbs (in a very over the top manner) made the viloence very beautiful to watch. Tarantino knows that the vibrant red blood is a very beautiful thing to see visually if done well, I think this was demonstrated by having a fight in the crisp white snow, obviously blood will be spilt and the result is a beautiful looking scene. I thought the fights were very well edited, I noticed Tarantino would start a shot close up and as all the background assasins jump close to the camera it would zoom full out in a second adding to the speed and movement of the actors. I thought this was really effective, and I hadn't really seen it used this way many times before.
I loved the manga animation sequence showing the history of one of the assassins, again showing violence in an incredibly beautiful way and the jumps to black and white in other scenes.
I was surprised by this film, I had heard it was incredibly violent, but It wasn't really? I mean it had fight sequences but the violence that there was was made to look more theatrical than anything.
I thought it was visually stunning and worth watching for the cinematograhy, direction and editing. I'd also like to mention that I think 'Kill Bill' is an incredibly simple yet catchy title, it sums up pretty much the whole film. And her yellow and black jumpsuit is again very clever as yellow and black will now always be assosiated with this film, its very iconic, I think Tarantino has a good eye for these details and his films have a certain style to them. This one is a mixture of many film genres, he has the detectives who are straight out of a spagetti western, martial art inspired sequences, ect...

I think he's very clever in capturing his audience, I mean the opening shot with the pregnant bride heavily beaten up and covered in blood, this immediately hooks the audience because its two completely contrasting images put together.

Finally the silent films begin...

We had our first screening of two silent films today. The first was 15mins of 'Our Boy' starring Jackie Coogan, this film had not been digitally restored, I like this, the fotage didnt look too clean, but it added to the story which is about immagrants and so this didnt bother me at all. Then we watched Charlie Chaplin's 'The Kid' written, directed and starring Chaplin, with little Jackie Coogan playing the kid. I just thought this film was wonderful, I had only seen snipetts of it and never the full thing. It was very different to 'Our boy', although the story of coogan being an orphan who comes into a large fortune was the same. The kid had been digitally restored and had more of a modern narrative, and like Andy said one thing Chaplin did well was to show you the world/location of the story which is definetly key to helping the audience in engulfing the story. I noticed how 'The Kid' had more technical merit, like its sets, costumes, cinematography and transitions between shots, but Chaplin never let this come before the storytelling. Its obvious which was more important to him.
I have seen a few silent movies, in my favourite ones I really admire how powerful they are emotionally for how long ago they have been made. For instance when Jackie Coogan gets taken away from the tramp...this is one of the sadest things i've EVER seen. I was shocked by how upsetting I found it, becasue ive seen so much now at the cinema which tries to shock/upset you, but nothing like this. I think this is maybe because it's silent, there's just the overwelming musical score and its left up to you to imagine how loud the child is crying, its aweful to watch. I think also because Jackie Coogan gives such a powerful performance, you imediatley presume because he's so young that he's not acting and is genrally a small child under extreme distress, making it seem very real and upsetting to watch. I realised how clever Charlie Chaplin was, he cast 'The Kid' so well, that child is the most adorable thing I've ever seen, in his oversized clothes, and he can obviously give a descent performance. I was also surprised how funny the slapstick comedy was, I was really impressed, the comedy mixed with drama keeps the audience gripped. I'd definetley like to see more of Chaplin's films.

MUSICALS MUSICALS MUSICALS!!!

Today all classes were cancelled, this was annoying as we had come in for NOTHING!-but the day was not wasted as we went to Cinworld to FINALLY see Mamma Mia! I have wanted to see this film for so so long now, Its the kind of film I knew I'd love from the trailers, I absolutly love musicals and I absolutley love Abba!-so it seemed absolutley perfect for me!
Where I live back home, the cinema has only one screen, it was showing Mamma Mia, I went so many times but it was fully booked EVERY NIGHT IT SHOWED! It ended up being extended for more and more weeks (which has never happened before at this cinema) I was always too late to book a ticket! I am glad I saw it first at the cinema though, and not on DVD (which I thought would happen.) I think this film would definetly benefit from a cinema viewing before watching it at home, you can feel the buzz and energy from the audience. Im sure it will do really well on DVD, I will definetly buy it!
I thought the film was so fun and energetic, exactly what you'd want to see when told it's a love story with Abba songs. In no way did it dissapointed me, I just wanted to go back in straight away and see it again! I loved the Greek location, it added to the magic, as it was soooo beautiful, everyones brown and having a wonderful time, singing and dancing Abba songs (again what more could you want) I thought it was very well cast. I thought the Abba songs really worked with the story and didnt feel too placed, which could have ruined things. After the first song you really just accepted the outbursts into song and dance, which is important I think. It didnt matter that none of the main cast are terribly good singers, infact I thought this was endearing and added to the fun!
Straight after Mamma Mia! We went to see High School Musical 3 Senior Year. "YES, I AM A HIGH SCHOOL MUSICAL FAN!!!" I thought this one had much higher standards of choregraphy and some very original dance sequences, In particular I enjoyed the car lot scene. Even the opening shot of the film showed how much bigger their budget was, it looked more like a hollywood film, more sophisticated shots, but still keeping the same subject and fun which was interesting to see.
I much preffered Mamma Mia as a film and musical, but I wasnt dissapointed by high school musical, I really enjoyed it!
It was alot of musicality to see in one day, It was weird coming out and not having strangers burst into song and dance everywere!
I am really glad I saw them both...especially Mamma Mia!

'Worst Director Of All Time'

Edward D.Wood, Jr the legendary 'worst director of all time' this film by Tim Burton is a biopic of the life and work of this intreguing man. It concentrates on the best-known period of his life in the 1950s, when he made 'Glen or Glenda', 'Bride of the Monster' and 'Plan 9 From Outer Space'. I really enjoyed the way Tim Burton touches on both his transvestism and his close friendship with horror star Bela Lugosi, who once played Dracula.
I really enjoyed this film and I am glad I watched it now, seen as a lot of the content coincides with what were discussing in class to do with the film making industry, just like when I watched Chaplin, I enjoyed watching it from a filmmakers point of view. I find you take something extra away from the story that only people in or interested in the film making industry will empathise with.
I love the black and white and just like all Tim Burton's films, it is visually breathtaking.

The best week ever!

I can't quite express in words how awesome last week was. First to be in the same room as Richard Attenborough, listening to his wondeful stories of his experiences in acting and directing. He came accross as a very lovely, genuine man who has experienced a lot and still believes in film as a powerful tool for awareness in issues close to his heart. I think this is very inspiring because he doesn't just look at films as entertainment but sees their ability to change peoples views and opinions. Which is obvious in 'Cry Freedom', he also doesn't screen test his actors he goes on his first insticts which from a directors point of view is very interesting I think. He spoke of his fondness for Chaplin movies and gaining two sisters who were adopted by his parents.
I was obviously very excited to be in a class with James McAvoy, one of my favourite actors at the moment, who I never thought I'd see in real life! Who joined us for a class with the 4th year DFTV and 2nd year actors, this class was not really aimed at us, it was definetly more beneficial to the actors. However it was good to see the level 4's and what kit they are using, and to see them working with actors. This week was pretty unbelievable really, and it made me realise just where I was and how lucky I am to be at the RSAMD.

The Lady Vanishes

Murdo, Phil, Benoit and I decided to watch The Lady Vanishes this evening after some pretty good Lasagne from Lidel!-Took us a while to start watching as we had to wait for Benoit to go out for a smoke...
I knew Flight Plan with Jodie Foster was a sort of remake involving a plane instead of a train, but I haven't seen it. I thought this film was really funny, and the story is one that holds your attention as you want to find out what is happening. It was really enjoyable, I know Hitchcock usually has a cameo appearence in his films, but I couldnt find him in this one? I may need to watch it again..

'Creative Review'

Ive been trying to watch more short films as were having to come up with short film premises in screenwriting. I can't find my more recent Creative Review discs, this one is a 2005 disc.
These two movies were shown at Rushes Soho Shorts Festival 2005, the Best short film (Mercy) and the Best newcomer (Who do you Love?)
Mercy, by Candida Scott-Knight, centers “around the daily grind of a young boy who is living in a modern day hell. His mother is a heroine addict who uses prostitution to pay for her habit and he is bullied at school.
”Who do you Love?, by Jim McRoberts, sees a little girl in a similar situation. Living in extreme poverty, her mother uses (and abuses) her to make a living.
I've found most short films we watch are very uninspiring, I much prefer the graphic design film entries, music videos, and the adverts which are very interesting to watch especially as they're split into prize catagories for cinematography, editing ect...
The two I'd like to mention are the advert winning the most awards which was Johnathan Glazer's Ice Skating Priests for Stella Artois (I've noticed Stella Artois put a lot of time and money into their advertising, they win many awards) For this advert they won Best Director, Best Casting & Best Use of Recorded Music.
And the prize for Best editing went to Richard Orrick @ Whitehouse for Road To Lisbon, again Sports companies (like Adidas) put a lot of money into advertising, This advert is amazing in it's editing, it has really good rythym which works extremely well with the rythym of the football being played similtaniously.

Hello, anybody lose their secret CIA shit? I don't think so!

I really enjoyed 'Burn After Reading', I've enjoyed every film I've seen by the Coen Brothers so far. They tend to look at society and issues. I get the impression they are always trying to convey a message to us. They take these ideas and exaggerate them in a wonderfully bizzare way. I thought this film fitted this pattern, however it didn't seem like a full film, more a glimpse into American society -Almost like watching a fable or an idea rather than the film? It did have a very strong message. This made it no less enjoyable to me personally, but I know some people like to see the generic 'film format' like we've been discussing in screenwriting. This film definetly didn't have a generic format. It emphasised the glimpse of America by having the opening shot of zooming into the world from space to a specific location and again at the end zooming out from where it started -making it very circular in format, you ended up where you started.
I love the mix of comedy contrasted to scenes which were verging on horror! I think it's a typical Coen Brothers film. Not as strong as their others but still worth watching! People have very mixed opinions on Brad's performance, I thought he was one of the best parts of the film, I couldn't stop laughing whenever he was on screen, and I dont usually laugh out loud at the cinema! I'd also like to appologise to Murdo for spoiling the ending...I THOUGHT YOU'D SEEN IT!

Choke

As soon as 'Choke' started my heart sank, I thought of yet another 'American Pie sex obsessed comedy' just as the trailers misleadingly suggested. Sex obssessed? yes, but with a point- seeing life through the eyes of a sex addict. A touching performance given by Sam Rockwell playing Victor Mancini, the sex addict protagonist. Who's performance carries the entire film and Shows sex addiction very honestly for what it is, an empty life.
'Choke' is a dark comedy, sometimes uncomfortable to watch as it bravely draws its laughs from meaningless sex and the mentally ill. The story has some loose ends, and plot lines such as the 'son of Jesus christ' sub plot needed more depth as it just added confusion and seemed unessesary.
'Choke' is a very honest film, with a lovable protagonist. Very well cast, refreshing to see actors who look like everyday people, especially the women who are usually over glamourised in films which deal with sex, even Rockwell's character being an 'average joe' added to this realism. Like most Indie films its intentionally unglamorised giving it charm.
At the heart of this film is the human need to find love and above all, one mans journey to self discovery. A highly original film definetly worth seeing.

"I am not a number, I am a free man!"

I would like to mention one of my favourite TV series 'The Prisoner' I think its incredibly stylish and I became very hooked on the plot when I started watching it a few years ago. I would like to mention it seen as we've been discussing broadcasting and reality TV in class. I think many of the ideas in this show are similar to Big Brother or the Truman Show, I think this show was way ahead of its time.
Patrick McGoohan plays a British spy who resigned abruptly from his job, at the start we do not know why? He is then kidnapped and transported by to 'The Village', where everyone is known by a number -and names are never used. We don't know who Number 1 is, McGoohan only converses with Number Two (played by a different actor each week), who wants to discover why McGoohan (Number Six), resigned from his job as a spy (we the audience don't know this either), Number Six remained silent about his reasons, just as number 2 remains silent when asked the question "Who is Number One?"
Like Big Brother there are cameras wired all over McGoohan's house in 'the village' and also surrounding every inch of 'the village' itself making it near impossible (He is a spy) for him to escape. Even the fact that at the village you are given a number and there is no identity for the inhabitants has similarities with reality TV. This series is incredibly original and there is a tremendous attention to detail in every aspect of 'the village'.
This TV show also has one of my favourite title sequences (its quite long compared to title sequences nowdays, but its like an episode in itself shown everytime), the whole story of Number 6 being kidknapped is in the title sequence, we see him driving his incredible stylish car through the streets of London, which is really well filmed in my opinion, with great music.
I love this series and would recommend it to everyone..."be seeing you!"

W.

A few of us went to Cineworld today to see' W.' Oliver Stones new film about George W. Bush thanks to Paul 'the disission maker' Forest.
I found this film had my attention completely up until about half an hour from the end, where I thought it went on for too long without anythin new happening. This film made me feel very sad for Bush in a way I cant quite explain? The film really focused on his relationship with his father 'poppy', who's constantly patronising, belittleing, comparing him to his 'angelic' brother Jeb, which is sad to see in any film let alone one about the president.
This film really heavily focused on showing Bush to be a man of simple pleasures at heart, you really get the impression that he'd be happy just to have a quite life with his family, dogs, drinking beer or Jack daniels (a lot of advertising for jack Daniels in this film!) and watching baseball. It makes out that he gives up his dream to prove something to his father, to show he can do what his father believes him to be incapable of. This makes me empathise with him, he does care about being president but much more, he wants to prove something to 'Poppy' and himself.
The film shows his journey from a young man in Texas to the President of the united states in the white house. Quite a contrast, the man 'W' is quite different too, in his younger days he seems quite the fun, outgoing charming kind of man. In the white house you get the impression he is out of his depth and is not a natural public speaker and almost fell into this role by accident or chance.
I think its hard to understand how this film was supossed to make you feel? I think this is because it didnt make up its mind. It wasn't really a satire, or a biopic or a documentary drama? I didnt feel Stone really made a desicion about what its suppose to be, which is confusing to watch. Also I get the impression Stone is trying very hard to be unbiased, not to seem like he's idealising Bush or anti him, which I completely agree with but again this makes the film more confusing to the audience.
I thought Josh Brolin gave a very good performance of Bush, and I did really enjoy this fim, like I said it made me feel sympathetic to Stone's Bush so I think it is emotionally engaging. Some of Bush's real phrases were in the script like saddam hussein 'Misunderestimating' him!

"As time goes by...the posters just get better"

I have just bought this BEAUTIFUL casablanca poster! humphrey Bogart is not in the usual 'male lead' top left corner, he is placed in the bottom right corner but still has pride of place by the way the other characters have been formatted around him. Its more obvious in my poster but the other characters have a red tint to them and Bogart is shining with light, looking extremely heroic.
I found just like the 'Goodnight and Goodluck' posters they are very different. The one we looked at in class was the 2nd one, which I really like but I don't think it conveys the mood of the film as much as the one I bought. Although I always love garish Kitsch coloured posters, the one I bought is more like the colours and tone you see in the film. I think it's trying to appeal to a wider audience as it looks a bit more like a 60's James Bond 007 poster, showing that there is a love interest, a gun, bad guys ect. Where as the garish poster conveys a love story only.
The 3rd Casablanca poster ive put in because i think its quite unusual in its design and layout, you dont often see movie posters with a layout like this, with the two main characters in the middle and the others in a circle around them. As soon as I saw this poster it made me think of a theatrical poster, a musical or something...very unusual...
I love how in this era film posters were painted or drawn, not always from photographs like todays. I found a book today in Forbidden Planet of Horror Movie posters like 'the invisible man' which I havent seen yet, but I think I might buy it, its that or food for the week? Hmmmm the book I think!

"If this world is temporary, identity is an illusion, then everything is meaningless and it doesn't matter if you use petroleum..?"

Last night I watched 'I heart huckabees' directed by David O. Russel. This film is one of my favourite comedies EVER! I think it's hilarious, I like all films with Jason Schwartzman starring, he seems to choose his roles very wisely.
I thought I'd mention it in my blog because although it is very different to Donnie Darko, this films plot similaly deals with (among other things) philosophy and existence, the meaning of live and each individuals purpose. Its unusual to have a film that deals with these issues as a comedy but I think it works really well, this contrast makes the film have a very eccentric style. I think its a highly original film, and I really admire the screenplay by David O. Russel & Jeff Baena, its very clever & witty.

...I'd also like to mention how much I like the graphics used on the wonderful poster and advertising, they use squares a lot in the film to represent 'matter' so I like how thev'e encorporated this into the design. Also the coulours used on the poster show the exact colours used throughout the film, so if you like the look of the poster you'd definetly like the look of the film!-clever use of design to entise you...

Boy and Bicycle and other things...

We started off the week with screenwriting, we got feedback from our short stories, I need to develop my characters more. We watched some more short films including some well known director's first film shorts. This was really cool, the one that stood out for me was a short film by Ridley Scott, about a boy and his bicycle. Although I didn't like it for the narrative, it didn't have much of a story. I liked it because I thought it was really beautifully shot, black & white, quite over exposed. I liked the use of the bicycle in each shot, it showed a very close relationship between someone and an object. I was really impressed by that one in particular.

We watched Donnie Darko, the teen cult film. I have seen this film many times, but not for at least a year. My impression of the film hasn't changed much actually it had a massive impact on me when I first saw it, so much so that I remember exactly where I was and who I watched it with. I think now I respond more to different aspects of the film. I used to watch it and empathise with Donnie's character, this time around I found myself more interested in the story, and time twists (obviously I will always watch anything with Jake in it). I think when I saw this film for the first time I hadn't seen anything like it, it was very new and dark to me and that's what made me like it. I think watching it now, there have been quite a few film which touch on a similar subject. I've watched many things like 'The Butterfly Effect' which deals with time, 'Igby Goes Down' about a troubled teenager, this film has a very similar tone but is much darker in content that 'Donnie Darko', and now that Im a few years older I feel I need to see films that go further like 'Igby Goes Down'. I still love to watch Donnie Darko, I lthink its a fantastic story, the use of music gives a very particular style and certain parts of Donnie Darko really remind me of a 80's music video. The film has a very unpretentious quality that I think makes it special, if a big mainstream Hollywood director had made it, with the issues it touches upon, I think it easily could have been a very pretentious film. However it keeps a good balance between being unpretentious and a bit bizarre at the same time, which was the mix that was needed to appeal to its target audience of teenagers. They love to feel like they've found something unique that related to them, but it wouldn't have worked with an obvious ending or meaning. The film needs to be whatever they need it to be or need it to mean to them as an individual.

We also watched King Of Comedy, I really enjoyed this film actually. I found it really funny in places, but i though I'd find it more embarrassing but I actually didn't, I found Robert Pupkin to be quite endearing, he just wanted a chance!
I loved 'Chaplin', I really enjoyed this film, I thought it was wonderful. Andy had told us that Charlie Chaplin had inspired Richard Attenbrough to be an actor/director. I think watching it you could really tell, there was a real feel of respect and love for Chaplin, without being idealised. It had my attention all the way through (I was so pissed off with the fire alarm interupting-how rude!) I loved the sequence were they were trying to hide Chaplin so they could finish the film, it was all sped up and slap-stick in a very Charlie Chaplin-esque way! I like films that show how film-making evolved, like singin' in the rain this one showed the evolution on talking pictures and the impact they had on the industry. I also really liked how it ended with a sequence from a real Charlie Chaplin film, I felt that was the best way to end it.

OBAMARAMA!!!

I was really happy we won the election on Monday! Everyone put a lot of work into it and I felt it really paid off. It would have been really embaressing to lose against the third years, seen as we were the 'good guys.'
I was really surprised by the extreme questions from the 4th years at the end, all I can say is "thank God we had Murdo!"

...Obama won the real election!!!

Zach Braff I love you!

I watched two films from the RSAMD library, both having recieved many award nominations.
The first was 'Spellbound' Jeffrey Blitz's documentary following eight young kids who want to win the national spelling bee! I dont think I'd ever seen a DVD box covered with so many nominations, including best documentary, which I think it fully deserved. I loved the quirky nature of this documentary, it doesnt fall into what i've now come to expect from documentaries. I found it really funny, and actually very intense, I had no idea spelling bees were taken so seriously in America. the film was split up really well, with each kids story told one after the other, was really effective for keeping your attention. Definetly one of the best documentaries I've ever seen.

The other film I watched was 'Garden State' written and directed by Zac Braff. I had wanted to see this film for a very long time, I know it has become quite a cult film, so I wanted to see what I made of it.
Again, it has been nominated for many awards at many film festivals. I really enjoyed this film, it had a real eccentric quality, which I always love to see, I get so annoyed with every film being pretty much the same nowadays, that I find films like these really refreshing. The script was very different, and I'd say, very original. I enjoy films that deal with self discovery in an off-beat way, and this film had just the right amount of comedy and drama for me. I thought it was very artistic (which I find alot of 'Indie' film are) and a lot of care had been taken over the sets -like the bottom picture, with the the wallpaper, thats awesomely weird! The characters werevery exagerated but this made them appear more real? I can't quite work out why? I think you can tell that much of the script was drawn from Braff's true experiences, and because he is starring aswell, I found it to be a very truthful film. I hope he makes many more!