Winter Break Movies!

This winter break I'm trying to watch a movie a day! This has mostly succeeded, here is my list so far:

Saturday December 15th: Mulholland Drive dir. David Lynch
Sunday December 16th: Hour of the Wolf dir. Ingmar Bergman
Tuesday-Wednesday December 18th-19th: Closer dir. Mike Nichols
Thursday December 20th: Following dir. Christopher Nolan, The Runaways dir. Floria Sigismondi
Saturday December 22th: Drive dir. Nicolas Winding Refn (rewatch)

Mulholland Drive dir. David Lynch

Well I finished Mulholland Drive late last night and let me say that was a mind fuck. I finished Twin Peaks and needed some crazy Lynch in my life and did I get some.

The thing with Mulholland Drive is that it almost tells two different stories. I don't want to give much away but it seems to be a neo noir in the first half and a (revenge) love story in the second. I enjoyed the first half more but the more I thought about the second half, the more I understood the first. My favorite scene that stuck with me throughout the whole movie was the Club Silencio scene. My mind could not handle it. I still have to think about the movie, it definitely requires a second viewing.

I also recommend looking at David Lynch's ten tips for unlocking the movie:

• Pay particular attention in the beginning of the film: at least two clues are revealed before the credits.
• Notice the appearances of the red lampshade. 
• Can you hear the title of the film that Adam Kesher is auditioning actresses for? Is it mentioned again?
• An accident is a terrible event....notice the location of the accident.
• Who gives a key, and why?
• Notice the robe, the ashtray, the coffee cup.
• What is felt, realized and gathered at the Club Silencio?
• Did talent alone help Camilla?
• Notice the occurrences surrounding the man behind Winkies.
• Where is Aunt Ruth?

Oscar Watch/My New Love: Argo *spoiler alert if you didn't pay attention in history class*

Argo. Where do I begin? If you look at my last post about The Master and how much I loved it, well I loved Argo much more because it combined my favorite things: US history and movies!!

The Iran Hostage Crisis is what drives Argo into it's synopsis. Ben Afleck plays Tony Mendez, a CIA operative who has the "best bad idea" to get the six US diplomats out of Iran. It's all explained in the trailer, Mendez creates a fake movie called Argo and the six diplomats pose as workers for the movie. Crazy premise but perfect execution.

The film is a pure thriller. I was into it right when it started and still extremely into it when it ended. I was extremely worried for the hostage's life (because I didn't pay attention in history class), who by the way should win the SGA ensemble award because they were all pretty damn good.

What I liked most about the movie, besides the constant thrills and history, is that it stayed pretty close to the truth. Of course some scenes were over dramatized (such as the climactic airport scene but that was worth it) but it stayed close to the story. Even the actors who played the hostages were made up and dressed to look like how the real hostages looked, no Hollywood glamour, The post script at the end of the film also explained what happened after the plane landed. The only aspect they didn't touch upon is the fact that Canada helped out the hostages even more than they did in the movie (and they helped a lot in the film). The post script does clear some of that up though, not all.  Argo is just a out of this world story that actually happened in real life.

Really really good. See it in theaters if you can. It's worth it.

FUN FACT/SPOILER: Remember at the end of the movie where Mendez and the crew get held up by the Iranian guards? Well, according to Wikipedia, that didn't happen but they were held up by a flight delay. Now that's a hell of a lot more suspenseful then officials will ever be.

Oscar Predictions:
Best Picture (hopefully the winner)
Best Director
Best Actor-Ben Afleck
Best Supporting Actor-Alan Arkin
Best Cinematography
Best Editing
Best Screenplay

I also want to give a Best Supporting Actor to Bryan Cranston...I think the Academy will notice him because he's had so much success with Breaking Bad and everything in his life, but it's iffy so I'll come back to the list as soon as awards season gets closer.

Why hello

Currently it is 12:53 AM and I'm struggling to write an essay woot woot. I haven't seen a film in theaters since The Master since I've been so busy with COLLEGE. Anyways, here are the movies that I WILL see hopefully in theaters if not then illegal downloading it is (don't arrest me NSA)

• Argo
• Seven Psychopaths
• Frankenweenie (little late but oh well)
• Perks of Being a Wallflower

ALSO CRITERION COLLECTION HALF OFF SALE

DON'T FORGET IT'S ALSO ART HOUSE FILMS THAT AREN'T CRITERION

I don't know what to get yet. I'll re look at my wish list but I'll probably cave and get Rosemary's Baby and The Royal Tenenbaums.

Oscar Watch: The Master *mild spoiler alert*

I'm starting a new theme of posts called "Oscar Watch" where I review a film that just came out that I think should be nominated for the Academy Awards or that is expected to be nominated.

Last night I saw Paul Thomas Anderson's The Master and my god was it amazing. It feels like I haven't seen that great of acting...ever. The cinematography was gorgeous and the music was epic and I would've wrote this review last night but it just would have been ALSGJEWLGLANAL. I couldn't even put into words how great it is but now I think I can.

I know a lot of people want to see the film because of the Scientology roots but going into the film I had no clue what is was going to be about. I just saw the first teaser trailer, the one where Freddy (Joaquin Phoenix) is being interviewed. The film actually focused on a philosophy called The Cause which was not specifically Scientology but I understand how people can see similarities.

I haven't really heard of the film until all the people I follow on Tumblr started posting gorgeous stills from the trailer and mentioning 70mm screenings across the US. I really wish I saw the 70mm screening at the American Cinematheque because it would have been gorgeous because FILM.

Many have praised the acting in the film and I agree, the acting was phenomenal. Phillip Seymour Hoffman was great as usual, actually I think he's always great and should always be winning Oscars.

Joaquin Phoenix really made the movie. The scene with him and PSH, when PSH was running questions at him while Joaquin's character was not allowed to blink....that scene was absolutely phenomenal and if I was still an actor* then that would have been my main source of acting inspiration. Actually that should be everybody's source of acting inspiration whether they act or not.

Even though I don't like her on a regular basis, Amy Adam's really stood out as the wife of The Master.  Her character was strong, believable and she stole the show in a few scenes that I won't say here because I want you to watch the movie. Amy's really improving as an actress and this film really shows off her skills.

While all of the actors were amazing I thought the cinematography stole the show. Each shot of the sea was breathtakingly gorgeous. I just went through the trailer and tried to screencap a picture for you all to see but alas there weren't any. Just go watch the film to see for yourself.

Last but not least the music was like the cherry on top of a perfect sundae. The score went along perfectly with the film's time period and it made the audience feel tense or melancholy or whatever the film wanted to make you feel in each certain scene. It was remarkable.

Please everybody go see The Master I think it's still in limited release but take the trip out to the city and go see it.

Hopefully it will be nominated for:
Best Picture
Best Director
Best Actor-Joaquin Phoenix
Best Supporting Actor-PSH
Best Supporting Actress-Amy Adams
Best Cinematography
Best Costume Design
Best Original Score

Jabberwocky dir. Jan Svankmajer

Jabberwocky is by far my favorite Jan Svankmajer short so that is why I chose it to be the first film I screencap on my blog. It is a beautiful yet horrifying (doll cannibalism!) surrealistic film that tends to bring up more questions than answer them. I've never seen anything like it.

Also the music is entrancing and beautiful so even if you don't watch it just listen to it the music is great.

I am entranced with the dance of the knife. It is beautiful yet tragic at the same time.

Watch it here

Criterion Collection Wish List

My New Love: Rosemary's Baby

Can I just talk about how much I love Rosemary's Baby? And how I'm so happy that it's getting a Criterion release? I decided to watch it because of Mia Farrow's pixie cut but I ended up getting much more out of it than just hair inspiration. 

I thought Rosemary's Baby was going to be a flat out horror film, with gore and everything. I was pleasantly surprised when the film turned out to be more suspenseful rather than scary, driving more like a Hitchcock film than anything else. 

Mia Farrow is the star and the driving point of the film. She was quite amazing as the frail yet protective Rosemary Woodhouse. I applaud her performance.

I knew right after watching the film that it would be one of my favorites. I'm excited to get the new Criterion release to watch the masterpiece in full BLU-RAY.

Hello
I just wanted to set up a blog where I can post about my feelings about films and talk about them.