Richard Curtis, creator of Four Weddings and a Funeral, Notting Hill, Love Actually, and the writer of that Van Gogh episode of Doctor Who, a British institution, a man capable of spreading warm fuzzies over scones and a pot of tea, serving it up in a couple of hours for joyous film entertainment. Basically, if you're down and feeling a bit glum and you're feeling like the world is a cruel and horrible place, watch anything with Richard Curtis' name attached and you will feel a sudden warm happy feeling.
About Time follows a standard theme, it's a love story, but it's also as much about the people around the core couple, populated with familiar tropes, but as an additional wrinkle there is the added aspect of time travel. Perhaps Curtis was so influenced by his love of Doctor Who (long time fan, great man) and decided to weave this into a story. But time travel isn't so much at the forefront of the story, as much as it is a story telling device, there is a whole load of rules to adhere to, but the time travel never really impedes massively on the story telling. It's a bit saccharine, but as I've previously mentioned, you're not going to see a Richard Curtis film to be challenged or thrilled; although there is a delightful sensation just by seeing things go right.
The film follows a formula, you can almost predict how certain things might unfold, but the film throws curveballs and delights in subverting expectations by tweaking things with the time travel allowing the main character to repeat a scene. Obviously it doesn't outstay it's welcome and the travel thing doesn't solve all his problems, and as time goes on our main character learns to live without such helpful redos.
Best place to start? Domhall Gleeson, to be from here, known as Ginger Hugh Grant. This guy is a great actor, and bless him, he is doing some great work here, but from the accent, to the social awkwardness, to the slightly squinty eyes, it's just all something a certain Hugh Grant gained fame for a couple decades ago in previous Curtis films. I adore this man, Gleeson (not Hugh Grant), he played Levin in the recent adaptation of Anna Karenina and was painfully underused (I understand why Levin's part wasn't as massive as it could have been, they basically used all of his essential moments but there was just never enough time...) and was also in Black Mirror earlier this year which was heartbreaking. As a romantic lead? He worked great, he was loveable sweet and just all around adorable... I think I'm in love.
Rachel McAdams, you are adorable, you are sweet, you possibly are the most beautiful creature on this planet, the exact lovely lady every man would want to take home to meet his mother. She just effuses warmth that woman, and is a perfect fit in this film. As for the rest of the cast? Well it's a line up of what is essentially a Curtis character countdown!
Tom Hollander is the curmudgeonly angry chap who is a standard misanthropic genius man, he hate everything but he goes along with everything and plays happy with people regardless because he's a softie underneath, obviously.
There is the main guy's sister, she's a bit batty, a bit mad and happy and quirky, a catalyst when things get a bit slow, also in a happy healthy brother/sister loving relationship, it's all good. Then there are the main character's friends, the ginger kid from Skins third generation (I nearly fell off the sofa wondering when the hell did he grow up?) and some dweeby chap he works with at the lawyer firm or something who is so criminally dumb I wonder how he is a lawyer, and most importantly if they hiring insanely idiotic people like him then either I a) have a chance as a lawyer finally using my history degree for good and not ... absolutely nothing, or b) my theory about nepotism ruling the entire universe stands tall and I should just give up.
Other thoughts? Uhhh... It's just a great film. Why? Because even though I really hate voiceovers. I loathe them... but Curtis seems to rely so heavily on them with his affable male leads - Hugh Grant usually, narrating the main themes of the story being told, just to make sure the people with even the lowest attention spans can grasp what it is the film is about. About Time? It's about appreciating what you have, living every day by just being a nice person and spreading good feelings wherever you go. Basically, be nice and happy and everything will turn out alright? Such a cliche, but people forget to just be nice nowadays it's just so pleasant to be in the company of a film which wants everyone to just smile and be happy.
About Time is a standard British film, and everything about it, from the scenery, to the people, to the situations, are all achingly charming and delightful. It's set in an ideal beautiful world where people learn from their lessons and gradually grow and become better people, it wants you to do the same, it wants to take your hand and say, be the better person! What's wrong with that? Let's all be nicer and happier! I felt so much happier after seeing this film. Sure, you could say, it's all manipulation, but it comes from a man who honestly just wants everyone to just smile and be loved, because it's the entire body of his work which says this over and over, I don't think he is manipulating me, he's just trying to share his life view. There aren't many films like this nowadays, brimming with optimism and love, and it's just really nice to know that I can rely on someone to keep providing me with them, and keep me smiling. Cheers Curtis.
Tuesday 17 September 2013
Thursday 12 September 2013
The Way Way Back
Films with Sam Rockwell are 80% better, fact. Every now and again a film comes along which infinitely lifted to a higher plane by the inclusion of Sam Rockwell, nothing has ever been more true than with this film, although Seven Psychopaths comes to mind too... Right so I have no real indication of what I should say about this film apart from, every second of Sam Rockwell is pure electricity. Well actually a person at work the other day say they saw it and declared they had no idea who a certain someone was and were impressed by the way he essentially stole every scene. So what else do you need to know?
Well, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon wrote and directed the film about a teenage boy's summer of emotions. Mum is with a jackass played by Steve Carrell, there was just so little acting involved in this role, he wasn't doing anything, it was such a lame role, easy man to loathe, nothing interesting to take away from it, boring. Then there is Toni Collette being harried and emotional, to be fair she has always excelled at this since Muriel's Wedding; I've never forgiven her for making my feelings so sad. Then there is the kids, totally non-descript, the girl who now plays younger Carrie. Most importantly Jim Rash and Nat Faxon make appearances in their own film, Jim Rash plays socially awkward pain in the bum member of staff, everyone takes great joy in mocking him, we all get a good laugh. Nat Faxon is best bud and all around nice guy and gets to do a nice Ben from Ben and Kate style list of dance moves, damn memories... Obviously it's only interesting to me that Nat Faxon's co-star Dakota Johnson who played Kate in Ben and Kate (a show I did not want to be cancelled.) has been cast as Anastasia Steele in the 50 Shades of Grey film opposite the delectable Charlie Hunman, not that I would go see that trash... Oh and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Jim Rash is Dean Pelton from Community but everyone in the entire universe knows this. Maya Rudolph is the most hard working member of staff at the water park and she bounces off Sam Rockwell delightfully. Alison Janney is playing the best female role being a fantastically terrible person who for all their insane faults is still likeable. Then there's the kid with the lazy eye who is great.
This is a film which encapsulates that summer feeling and brings us a reminder that Water Parks are essentially awesome, but then when you actually drag your bum around one all day it's in actuality the biggest load of awkward rubbish ever... Then this is combined with hanging around adults who are all essentially all drunk randy fools, and about as idiotic at teenagers but with worse manners. It's great that the socially uncertain kid with the broken home can find some joy in this world considering his life is an omnishambles at this particular moment. Sadly enough even though it's September this is a distinctly summer film. Then there is the amount of shots of the kid sitting in the car looking stoically emotional...
As far as characters go everyone comes as either bland or simplistic. Which is fine but when you've got bottled fireworks in the form of Sam Rockwell with his magical charisma and awesome glittering through every scene it's so hard for anyone else to compare. Once again, I can't stress this enough, Sam Rockwell is a force of nature. I adore him. I implore you to see this film just for him alone, I know I see most films with Sam Rockwell in just because his name is attached to it, he is perfection. It's a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, and puts a smile on your face sure. Sure it's predictable, but it's fun and sweet and I enjoyed it.
Well, Jim Rash and Nat Faxon wrote and directed the film about a teenage boy's summer of emotions. Mum is with a jackass played by Steve Carrell, there was just so little acting involved in this role, he wasn't doing anything, it was such a lame role, easy man to loathe, nothing interesting to take away from it, boring. Then there is Toni Collette being harried and emotional, to be fair she has always excelled at this since Muriel's Wedding; I've never forgiven her for making my feelings so sad. Then there is the kids, totally non-descript, the girl who now plays younger Carrie. Most importantly Jim Rash and Nat Faxon make appearances in their own film, Jim Rash plays socially awkward pain in the bum member of staff, everyone takes great joy in mocking him, we all get a good laugh. Nat Faxon is best bud and all around nice guy and gets to do a nice Ben from Ben and Kate style list of dance moves, damn memories... Obviously it's only interesting to me that Nat Faxon's co-star Dakota Johnson who played Kate in Ben and Kate (a show I did not want to be cancelled.) has been cast as Anastasia Steele in the 50 Shades of Grey film opposite the delectable Charlie Hunman, not that I would go see that trash... Oh and I would be remiss if I didn't mention that Jim Rash is Dean Pelton from Community but everyone in the entire universe knows this. Maya Rudolph is the most hard working member of staff at the water park and she bounces off Sam Rockwell delightfully. Alison Janney is playing the best female role being a fantastically terrible person who for all their insane faults is still likeable. Then there's the kid with the lazy eye who is great.
This is a film which encapsulates that summer feeling and brings us a reminder that Water Parks are essentially awesome, but then when you actually drag your bum around one all day it's in actuality the biggest load of awkward rubbish ever... Then this is combined with hanging around adults who are all essentially all drunk randy fools, and about as idiotic at teenagers but with worse manners. It's great that the socially uncertain kid with the broken home can find some joy in this world considering his life is an omnishambles at this particular moment. Sadly enough even though it's September this is a distinctly summer film. Then there is the amount of shots of the kid sitting in the car looking stoically emotional...
As far as characters go everyone comes as either bland or simplistic. Which is fine but when you've got bottled fireworks in the form of Sam Rockwell with his magical charisma and awesome glittering through every scene it's so hard for anyone else to compare. Once again, I can't stress this enough, Sam Rockwell is a force of nature. I adore him. I implore you to see this film just for him alone, I know I see most films with Sam Rockwell in just because his name is attached to it, he is perfection. It's a pleasant way to spend an afternoon, and puts a smile on your face sure. Sure it's predictable, but it's fun and sweet and I enjoyed it.
Tuesday 3 September 2013
The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
Now there is one reason I went to see this film, and I should probably be ashamed to say this; I have a ridiculously inappropriate girl-crush on Lily Collins. She is literally the most beautiful thing in this world at the minute, Lord knows how Phil Collins of all people managed to spawn such a delightfully gorgeous little nymph.
If there was anything worth saying about this film, well I would have said it by now, and I've been sitting on this blog all week waiting to figure out what exactly I want to say. Obviously Miss Collins would not even be acknowledged weren't it for her prestigious parentage, but hey, the whole eyebrow sensation and the impeccable fashion sense are doing her favours. I can't say she's a dreadful actress, in fact she's good at beguiling looks and pained expressions, there is a distinct lack of charisma, but when she looks so damn good, well it doesn't really matter does it. Considering a good chunk of the film is spent basically just looking at her, and getting her to dress up in various outfits and looking damn good regardless of how gothic things get I think she does quite well. She even acknowledges how ridiculous the outfit they put her in as she yanks off those crazy thigh high boots at one point, but then she has to put them back on again, for safety's sake, in case she steps on something sharp, like a stiletto heel... Apart from that she is just pretty... And that's all films are about lately, casting extremely pretty people in pointless roles.
What was I even talking about? Oh right! The film! This film is so boring... I forgot sleeping was an option after paying for the ticket. There are certain segments where I was so bored with what was going on I was just looking at film errors, like the blatant green screen seam, or the fact that Lily Collins has red hair dye staining her forehead from recent touch ups to keep that unnatural shade vibrant. Is gothic culture that intriguing? Do we all need to be clad in leather with garish tattoos to hunt demons? Is that necessary? Why don't people just dress normally?
The only normal thing about the film was Robert Sheehan, and he was given, unrequited best bud role which just made him look emasculated and lame. Plus he clearly has a vampire bite and doesn't need his glasses later on in this film, do we get any resolution on that? Also speaking of problems with the plot. Incest? Really? Lane Pryce made a point of telling gothic, never convincing, Henry VIII to just flat out lie to the kids about their parentage, but that whole turning the ring around so the W was an M or whatever, well that was just damn convincing. Obviously it's a thread that is completely ignored at the end, they'll have their forbidden love regardless. It just made me feel uncomfortable for the rest of the film because it's just thrown in there as a complication for them to overcome, but it's just... Well, it just didn't work on any level. I'm not that squeamish when it comes to these things, I fricking love The Borgias, but this just failed on so many levels.
I really have little else to say about this film except it's been done. Love Triangle, check, teenage girl discovering supernatural powers, check, girl discovering her natural abilities far surpass that of anyone who has trained their whole lives just to piss off everyone, check, gay for flavour, check, gothic everything, check, Aidan Turner as a werewolf, check (damn hot one at that...)
Bored. I'll be off...
If there was anything worth saying about this film, well I would have said it by now, and I've been sitting on this blog all week waiting to figure out what exactly I want to say. Obviously Miss Collins would not even be acknowledged weren't it for her prestigious parentage, but hey, the whole eyebrow sensation and the impeccable fashion sense are doing her favours. I can't say she's a dreadful actress, in fact she's good at beguiling looks and pained expressions, there is a distinct lack of charisma, but when she looks so damn good, well it doesn't really matter does it. Considering a good chunk of the film is spent basically just looking at her, and getting her to dress up in various outfits and looking damn good regardless of how gothic things get I think she does quite well. She even acknowledges how ridiculous the outfit they put her in as she yanks off those crazy thigh high boots at one point, but then she has to put them back on again, for safety's sake, in case she steps on something sharp, like a stiletto heel... Apart from that she is just pretty... And that's all films are about lately, casting extremely pretty people in pointless roles.
What was I even talking about? Oh right! The film! This film is so boring... I forgot sleeping was an option after paying for the ticket. There are certain segments where I was so bored with what was going on I was just looking at film errors, like the blatant green screen seam, or the fact that Lily Collins has red hair dye staining her forehead from recent touch ups to keep that unnatural shade vibrant. Is gothic culture that intriguing? Do we all need to be clad in leather with garish tattoos to hunt demons? Is that necessary? Why don't people just dress normally?
The only normal thing about the film was Robert Sheehan, and he was given, unrequited best bud role which just made him look emasculated and lame. Plus he clearly has a vampire bite and doesn't need his glasses later on in this film, do we get any resolution on that? Also speaking of problems with the plot. Incest? Really? Lane Pryce made a point of telling gothic, never convincing, Henry VIII to just flat out lie to the kids about their parentage, but that whole turning the ring around so the W was an M or whatever, well that was just damn convincing. Obviously it's a thread that is completely ignored at the end, they'll have their forbidden love regardless. It just made me feel uncomfortable for the rest of the film because it's just thrown in there as a complication for them to overcome, but it's just... Well, it just didn't work on any level. I'm not that squeamish when it comes to these things, I fricking love The Borgias, but this just failed on so many levels.
I really have little else to say about this film except it's been done. Love Triangle, check, teenage girl discovering supernatural powers, check, girl discovering her natural abilities far surpass that of anyone who has trained their whole lives just to piss off everyone, check, gay for flavour, check, gothic everything, check, Aidan Turner as a werewolf, check (damn hot one at that...)
Bored. I'll be off...
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)