5 films for March

Either renting them from lovefilm or borrowing them from the uni library, I am taking out numerous amounts of dvds. Watching them all in quick succession, absorbing all I can; I regularly find myself forgetting what I watched, when I watched it or if I even liked it.

So I shall keep tabs here. Some recent movies I have watched

Naked Lunch

Director: David Cronenberg, 1991

 

  

This really was one of the weirdest films I have ever seen. 

I’m not one to shy away from strange and surreal but this was extremely bizarre! 

An exterminator becomes addicted to bug powder and starts seeing phallic creatures in strange places and objects. 

The man's own typewriter turns out to be an agent,

 it warns him against other typewriters which are spies absorbing secrets. 

The typewriter is a strange mutation, half mechanic half sexual organ. 

 

The anus was referenced a lot in this film and appeared regularly 

in the set and creatures: Quite disturbing.

but the film had lovely green hues, exciting creatures, prosthetics and themes and is probably why it slightly reminded me of 'delicatessen'.

Cronenberg's 'the fly' is another classic I have yet to see!

Malèna

Director: Giuseppe Tornatore

 Monica Bellucci was so elegant and alluring.

 She was silent for most of the film but it didn’t make her scenes any less pleasing 

to watch. The women of the town had such disdain for this woman 

because of her aloof beauty. I found the scene where the women 

attack Melena horrible to watch. It really showed how monstrous women

 can be towards each other. I also assume this had a lot to do with the 

nature of fascism, considering Malena had moved to this town from another 

part of Italy. I’m sure the film was symbolic of a lot more, 

I just do not know so much about Italian history during the war.

 Its quite shameful for me, I really want/need to know more history. 

When the women gave guilt offerings to Malena at the food market, Im sure it was reference to something more.

 I loved the film on the level I understood, but with further research hopefully I will understand the films symbolic references to history 

I loved Renato and his new found exploration of manhood. 

His first female fantasy. 

 

 

The way he tears the undergarments from Malena's washing line and scurries home to sniff them. Eww!! 

His fathers outrage when he discovers his sons crime. 

The hysterical scenes that follow in the Amoroso household. 

Renato's scenes were very witty. 

 

 Though this film was very powerful, 

it was also very dear, sweet and suprisingly witty

 

What's eating Gilbert Grape?

Director:  Lasse Hallstrom, 1993

It was brilliantly acted. Leonardo was very believable and moving as the young brother with autism. Though the film does not say Arnie is autistic, I gather he is from the mannerisms and behaviour patterns. With his childlike trusting and playful nature, Leonardo portrayed this beautifully. 

 The scene with the burning house was really nice visually. Especially the way all the furniture was gathered in the field around them. The collection of their belongings scattered around them in the field, as they silently watch their house ablaze.

Even though the film had a lot of heart, It wasn't something I could watch again.

I wanted to be moved, but I couldn't help feeling depressed and dispirited. I find films set in desolate towns have such a feeling of hopelessness and I felt so drained by the sadness of Gilbert’s situation. 

                               I didn't really enjoy it, but I could appreciate its heart 

Some other films:

 'Withnail and I' 1987

 Richard E Grant was very funny as the out-of-work actor who takes a trip to the countryside. Plenty of drinking wine, smoking cigarettes and dramatic speeches about the dire situation he is living in

Beautiful Lies, 2010

 De vrais mensonges (original title)

On the poster it promised “matches the heights of amelie”

foolish of me really to expect this film to be anything like Amelie. 

Just because it stars Audrey Tatou doesn't mean it will be anywhere as good....

and it wasn't 

 It was mediocre

nothing special

A nice idea about a hairdresser who writes anoynmous love letters to her mother in order to cheer her up....but I found Émilie's character too rude. 

she wasn't cheeky in a playful way, she was just really unmannerly...and it wasn't likeable.

Sleeping Beauty, 2011

 

 

This film was quite dull.

There were some interesting ideas but they didn't have much impact.

The fairy tale element could have been pushed further, 
something more could’ve happened.

A lot of people have said the film was a waste of time.
 If Emily Browning had not been the main character perhaps this would’ve been so.

However, Emily Browning was so beautiful, it just made the film very easy to watch. Her nude scenes exposed her perfect porcelain skin, she was the perfect choice. If you watch the film just for her beauty, it is enough.

Emily didn’t have a chance to do much acting because her character was so dull. Except for in the last scene which had a lot of impact on me.

This film is like a beautiful painting and nothing more- but I didn't mind that