movie

Great Expectations

Monday 9 June, 2014 · 22

i have been thinking about the 1998 film Great Expectations all day after posting about artist Kim McCarty earlier this morning. something about her work reminded me of the beautiful artwork created for the film by Italian artist Francesco Clemente.

this was one of my favourite movies as a teen – it was released when i was 15. going hand in hand with other bittersweet overly dramatic romantic films of my teen years like Romeo and Juliet and Cruel Intentions. especially at a time when we discovered a lot of our music via movie soundtracks – Life in Mono was one of my FAVOURITE songs after seeing this movie.

i have also spoken about the anomaly of Gwnyeth Paltrow often on twitter. i have loved her in so many movies (Sliding Doors, Emma, Tenenbaums, etc etc) but she is somehow kind of annoying these days. conscious uncoupling.

anyway, great film – and one to be reconsidered, and rewatched.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

Monday 3 March, 2014 · 16

last night i was lucky enough to see an advanced screening of Wes Anderson’s new film The Grand Budapest Hotel as part of the Design Indaba Film Festival. now, i must admit that i was pretty disappointed by his last film Moonrise Kingdom, so i didn’t get too psyched about this one. in fact, the trailer made me doubt the film just a little bit (another reason not to watch trailers, ever!) so i went in pretty excited – because it IS Wes Anderson after all – but wasn’t about to get my hopes up.

and now i can tell you: this is his BEST movie since The Royal Tenenbaums (one of my favourite films ever). in my humble opinion, of course. it is absolutely beautiful to watch, i don’t think that any of his films has impressed me as much on a visual scale. the setting is unique. the story is just wonderful, and i was actually on the edge of my seat at many moments as it unfolded (what’s going to happen!) the actors are brilliantly cast: Ralph Fiennes made me forget that he was ever Voldemort. Tony Revelori is a delight, Willem Dafoe is menacing, Tilda Swinton is unrecognisable, Jeff Golblum is Jeff Golblum. but above all, it’s dark in parts – so dark in fact that i was quite surprised. some moments elicited audible gasps from the audience.

i walked out grinning from ear to ear, and i wanted to watch it again. again, again! that hasn’t happened in a while. so, go see it when it comes out near you. it is releasing in the US on 7 March and in SA on 20 March.

also be sure to travel through the interactive website for the film, it is a dream. and the film’s dedicated tumblr.

The Comparisons Project: Cracks

Monday 18 July, 2011 · 12

Hila picked Cracks for our next comparisons project - a film I have been meaning to watch for ages but just never got round to. i actually find myself watching less and less films these days, as any available tv time is dedicated to my series addiction (cough game of thrones cough). so this was a great “excuse” to indulge in some eva green action – one of my favourite actresses who has a knack for playing seriously unhinged characters.

i’ve been seeing screenshots of Cracks floating around on various blogs and other places on the web since it was released, which painted the film as being quite dreamy and beautiful. i felt the complete opposite while watching it, however, something you will probably understand if you have seen the film yourself. i can’t say i enjoyed it. not that it matters – that’s not the point of this exercise.

i paired scenes from the film with paintings by post-impressionist Moise Kisling - there’s an underlying sense of unease in his work, especially his portraits… something that i felt throughout the film. Hila’s poem follows.

edit: felt i needed to add a post-script after Kate’s comment below, i only found out that the film was based on a book after i had watched it. not only that, but it is written by south african born author sheila kohler and set in a south african boarding school (nogal)

words by Hila Schachar

paintings from top to bottom: untitled ; les enfants du docteur tas, louis et zoucha ; portrait de femme ; ofelia ; nu couchi dans les feuillages ; les mains ; tulips ; untitled ; l’attente ; eve ; la naufragée

adam simpson & the baftas

Wednesday 2 March, 2011 · 11

i don’t know how i hadn’t seen these until now. adam simpson was commissioned to do an interpretation of the five best film nominees for the brochure artwork of this year’s BAFTAS (which was on 13 february) – um, WOW!

the king’s speech

Sunday 23 January, 2011 · 18

i watched the king’s speech this weekend and unsurprisingly loved every minute of it. colin firth is as good (great) as everyone says he is, geoffrey rush is always brilliant and helena bonham carter is flipping delightful. the set design & colour palette throughout the film is also quite mesmerizing - lionel logue’s office in particular. if this movie doesn’t win every single award it will (hopefully) get nominated for at the oscars, it’ll be a damn shame.

also look out for jennifer ehle (lizzie from the bbc production of pride & prejudice) as geoffrey rush’s wife!

be sure to read my post about king george & elizabeth, i love them even more now after watching this.

somewhere

Sunday 27 June, 2010 · 0

somewhere – sofia coppola’s new film. how beautiful is i’ll try anything once playing in the background?

cracks

Thursday 13 May, 2010 · 7

has anyone seen cracks yet? i’ve been wanting to watch it mostly because of eva green (i don’t like the term girl crush because it’s kind of annoying… but yes, girl crush).

the movie looks really intense, but has stunning visuals & the costume design looks impeccable.

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prête-moi ta main

Thursday 11 March, 2010 · 2

i watched a french romantic comedy last night called i do: how to get married & stay single (prête-moi ta main). it’s not a rom-com the way american ones are – in other words it’s actually funny and not schmaltzy at all. if you want to watch a light hearted movie that will really make you laugh (and you don’t mind subtitles), go rent this now.

unfortunately will ferrell is planning on starring in an american remake. sigh.

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