I recently re-watched Full Monty and I must say, I still liked it as much as I did the first time I saw it. The Full Monty is one of the most famous, most loved British films ever, because of its success in highlighting a social problem in a funny, entertaining way. It tells the story of a group of unemployed men who decide to put on a striptease show for the local women in order to raise some money, since their job hunting so far wasn't that successful.
As far as British movies go, I think this one is quite memorable. It's not perfect, but its beauty lies in the fact that it treats the British culture and challenges with a lot of humour, heart and realism, and here is where the film's magic sits. It has the accent, the dirty mouths, the crazy characters, and the actual story is both funny and heartwarming. Some scenes, in particular, are hilarious: the auditions, stealing Flashdance, the practices (the Arsenal analogy, and especially, the part where they get undressed in Gerald's house). My favorite moment has to be the dancing in line at the job center, I just love it for its simplicity and fun factor.
It features many fine British actors, like Robert Carlisle, playing Gaz, the main character, a broken man who is trying to keep his son from a messy custody settlement, or Mark Addy (King Baratheon) as Dave, the shy best friend who is reluctant to the whole situation. I also have to mention the famous Tom Wilkinson as the uptight Gerald, most likely to succeed out of the group, who gives a wonderful performance.
In the end, Full Monty is an easy going, funny British comedy that deserves a shot. It might surprise you.
P.S. Advice: put on the English subtitles, if you have the option- sometimes it's hard to understand :)
Short personal update- screenings madness
So you know I told I'd be back after the 1st of september, super active and committed to twitter and blog? Well, I am kind of breaking that promise now, but I have a really good excuse. By some miracle, I got accepted and now attending a special event organised by the distributors of UK showcasing some of the falls biggest films and it's been a crazy, but highly enjoyable and entertaining experience.
I am pretty paranoid about what I can or cannot say and I did sign some embargo papers, so I think I am just going to mention the movies I've seen so far and what I will see today and tomorrow- that should be ok, right? Reviews will be up shortly, especially for the ones coming out in the following weeks, but I will have to wait for others, because of the said embargo.
So far, I've seen Madagascar 3, Hope Springs, Private Peaceful, The Knot, Holy Motors, Anna Karenina, Sweeney, Untouchable, Sister, Rust&Bone, End of watch.
Going to watch: Frankenweenie, Ruby Sparks, Lawless, Now is good, Sightseers and probably Killing them softly
Favourites so far: Anna Karenina, Private Peaceful, Untouchable
You should avoid: The Knot, Sweeney
Please do come back tomorrow, I have a nice special post for you :)
I saw this 1996 comedy, written and directed by Tom Hanks, a long time, on TV, and loved it, for its characters and story, but most of all, for its song, which I still like. Actually, that was the reason I decided to watch it again- I came across 'That Thing You Do' and I said to myself I have to see it again. The film tells the story of a young 1964 band who suddenly comes into the spotlight, as their song becomes a hit all around the country.
The script is simple, sweet and catchy. It doesn't aim to be an award-winning one, but it does want its viewer to be entertained and happy. There are a lot of great scenes, full of energy and youthfulness, like the one when their song is put on radio for the first time, or the screaming girls at the back door exit. It makes you smile, dance and love the characters, but it does also feature moving scenes and back-to-reality moments, as the band falls apart and realise they fell into the trap of the one hit wonder curse.
Speaking of casting, I loved it- you had everyone from Steve Zahn as the wacky guitar man, to the sweet Ethan Embry as the bass player and Tom Everett Scott as Guy Patterson, who is an obvious Tom Hanks wannabe in the making- that being said, he was very charming and played his part very well; I wonder what he's doing now, I haven't seen him in a long time. I have a small crush on Liv Tyler, so of course I liked her character, and I have to mention two fantastic cameos: Chris Isaak, as Uncle Bob, who helps them record their first song, and Brian Cranston..aaa, yes Brian Cranston- it's a very brief moment, you might have missed him, I did, the first time I saw the film, but a couple of nights ago, I literally screamed his name when he appeared on screen.
Just to remind you what the fuss is about, here is the song you can't get out of your head, the one that was nominated for several awards, including Golden Globes and Oscars:
You may not like That Thing You Do like I do but you should
give it a try next time you need to see something light- It's always an easy distraction and a very enjoyable one.
After viewing my first Chaplin movie a few days ago, I decided to have another introduction into the filmography of a famous actor, and this time, I chose Marilyn Monroe, with Some Like It Hot, also starring Jack Lemmon and Tony Curtis.
It's an entertaining story about two musicians caught in the middle of a mob hit, who decide to run for their lives and join an all female band disguised as women. More complications set in as Sugar Kane (Monroe), the lead singer, a sweet, naive, gorgeous woman, comes into their lives and makes their hidden identity that much harder to maintain.
Written and directed by Billy Wilder, "Some like it hot" is a very funny, interesting and appealing movie that has the deserved title of a classic: from the surprisingly good direction and action scenes, to the costumes (which won an Oscar), the well-paced script, up until the amazing performances of all three main actors, everything is perfectly timed and executed. The black and white was appropriate for that era and helped give the film an even bigger touch of glamour, if possible, and the score maintained the rhythm and feel of the story.
The performances were wonderful. Although Jack Lemmon, as Jerry/Daphne, got the most love during awards season, I leaned more towards Tony Curtis, playing Joe/Josephine (quite a revelation for me in this movie), and the wonderful Marilyn Monroe. Both men had palpable chemistry and added more layers of humor and humanity to their characters, especially Curtis, and worked great together with the famous starlet.
As for Marilyn Monroe herself, I have to say I now completely understand the fascination with this woman. Interestingly enough, she was not perfect physically: her face had no particular features, her breast were big, and sometimes with an unflattering shape, and she wasn't, by no means, skinny: actually, she was quite plum in all places. But still, I haven't seen an actress yet with her charm and level of appeal: she is like a magnet for the eyes- it's like the screen lights up when she is on it, it loves her. Her sweet, naive, rather dumb personality, paired with an attractive siluette and undeniable sensuality and appeal made her stand out in every frame, scene, situation or picture. She is a beautifull woman, despite her rather insignificant flaws (she looks stunning in the scene of the night on the train, when she goes to talk to Daphne).
I should know or be used to the fact that pre 90s movies can be funny and entertaining, but I still like the surprise of acknowledging it after every viewing of an old movie. This one was no exception; speaking of which, I think this world perfectly describes classic movies for me, and it is harder and harder to find this quality these days: "entertaining". They make you relax, enjoy the film, not over think or feel extreme emotions- they are just there to offer the possibility of dreaming, of going into an alternative universe where things are fun, dynamic, interesting and worth trying. It has some memorable scenes: the train station, "I wanna be loved by you" performance, the escape from the hotel, the revelation of Joe/Josephine at the end and my favorite, the "seducing" scene on the yacht (his smart plan, her naiveness, the kissing- it was a great one to showcase Marilyn's talent and appeal).
In conclusion, "Some like it hot" is a light comedy that should be viewed for many reasons: Monroe, two great male performances (Lemmon and Curtis), good script, funny scenes and lines and so on. Try it!
P.S. Favorite quotes: - "Look how she moves...she's like jello on springs"
- "I am Fielding the III" - "I am Cinderella the II"
- "Have you ever tried American Girls?"
- "You don't understand, I'm a man" - "Nobody's perfect"
"A real loser is somebody that is so afraid of not winning, they don't even try"
*SPOILERS ahead, beware*
I am so happy I eventually got to see Little Miss Sunshine yesterday; it was one of the sweetest movies I have ever seen, full of hope and life and power, all whilst being entertaining, but also providing a strong emotional connection and relatable characters. Directed by Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris and written by Michael Arndt, it follows the Hoover family into their journey to the Little Miss Sunshine pageant contest in California, where Olive, the youngest, desperately wants to compete.
I loved the fact that they started it by presenting every character with one short scene that perfectly captures the essence of each one; the song, "The winner is" by Devotchka, is amazing and quietly stalks my memories every time I think about the film.
Moving on to the actual story, it is a very interesting one, as it mixes drama, regrets, sarcasm and hate, with love, support, power and sensibility. You have delicate themes like suicide, drugs, divorce, but they are balanced with different sweet moments, like the innocence and determination of Olive, the pep talk Edwin gave to his son, Richard, after he lost his job, or the moment where Dwayne tells Olive to hug his mom. There are some laughing out loud scenes (pushing the car, getting the body out of the window, the final dance), but also some dramatic ones that were perfectly acted; two come in mind here: the table discussion about Frank's attempt to suicide and Dwayne freaking out after he found out he is colorblind (the way he couldn't contain himself inside the car, that build up to the moment in which you knew he was going to scream, and the actual moment, was just brilliant).
My favorite scene has to be the dance at the end, where all the family joins the little girl on stage, in an attempt to protect and encourage her- it has to be one of the most embarrassing, yet hilarious and fun scenes I have watched in a long time. In the end, although there is tension between them, they still love and support each other, no matter what. The script was just fantastic and I am so happy it got the Oscar, it is deserved.
The true magic of this story lies in the characters; they are defined, relatable, interesting; they are people with whom you can create an emotional connection, and most important, they seem real, although they have their little quirky features- you still get attached to them, and that is the best thing a script, actually a film, can hope for. What an array of individuals: the always-complaining grandfather (wonderfully played by Alan Arkin, but Oscar-worthy?hmm...maybe, maybe not), the Nietzche-silenced teenage boy (Paul Dano, with probably the best performance of the film for me, at least, just for that freaking out scene), the success-driven father who hates losers (Greg Kinnear), a mother trying to keep her family together (Toni Collette) and her suicidal brother (Steve Carrel, in his best role yet), and of course, Little Miss Sunshine herself, Olive (Abigail Breslin), who steals the spotlight with her innocence, sweetness and perverence. They are all wonderful and I love their interaction with eachother- the casting was perfect.
As you can see, I can't stop gushing over it, and I might have run out of compliments to give- this movie is that good, and I really hope you saw it or you will see it soon! Amongst a sea of thriller, horror and action movies or tragic dramas, this refreshing comedy/drama stands out and commands attention. I wish more films similar to this one would be made each year!
Saturday Night Live(SNL) is an American late-night live television sketch comedy and variety show created by Lorne Michaels (courtesy of Wikipedia). Running as a TV show, with about 25 episodes per year, it is one of the oldest in American television, with over 37 seasons. It has featured the best actors and musicians from the last three decades and it is considered to be one of the best and sought-after TV gig by the entertainment industry.
SNL has its own type of humour and if you have to like it and get it or else you will find it stupid. If you liked Bridesmaids, you might like SNL, as the style is similar in some points.
Some interesting facts about SNL:
-It has helped launch careers for Dan Aykroyd, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Chevy Chase, Mike Myers, Will Ferrel, Tina Fey and now, Kristen Wiig.
-Some of their most popular sketches were developed into movies, two clear examples being The Blues Brothers (1980) with Aykroyd and Belushi, and Wayne's World(1992) with Mike Myers and Dana Carvey.
-Andy Samberg launched his "musical" career by forming a group with best friends and SNL writers, Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone, called The Lonely Island; their skits/musical numbers are used at least 3 or 4 times during the season. Examples: Dick in a Box,
The structure
Every show starts with what is called a COLD OPENING, a segment with no introductions, just a 5 minute sketch to get loose; it's usually a monologue and most of the times political, and very rarely the best part of the night.
After the main character finishes by saying: "...and live, from New York, it's SATURDAY NIGHT!", it's time for the host monologue, which almost always involves a song in one form or another. There are few funny, memorable ones that I remember, but at least it's a way of getting to know the person better, as most of the time they mock themselves or a recent situation they have been through.
Then you watch 3 or 4 sketches, with some short fake commercials inbetween, and after the first performance of the musical guest, we get to the Weekend Update, a regular part of the show where Seth Meyers (the head writer and once regular player/actor of SNL) talks about the week's main stories (mocking them, of course). Now, I love this part of the show not only for mister Meyeres, who I think is great, but also for some great guests that appear from time to time, like the fantastic Stefon (Bil Hader).
2 or 3 more sketches, the second musical guest performance and we finish with 1(sometimes 2) final ones, the last shot having the host thanking the musical guests, special pop-ups throughout the show and the cast&crew.
The players
My favorites: Jason Sudeikis, Nasim Pedrad, Taran Killam, Kristen Wiig (most of the time), Seth Meyers
Now: Fred Armisen, Abby Elliot, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, Bobby Moynihan, Nasim Pedrad, Andy Samberg, Jason Sudeikis, Kenan Thompson, Kristen Wiig, Vanessa Bayer, Taran Killam, Jay Pharoah
In the past: Billy Crystal, Joan Cusack, Robert Downey Jr(85-86), Rachel Dratch, Will Ferrel, Will Forte, Janeane Garofalo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, Tracy Morgan, Eddie Murphy, Bill Murray, Randy Quaid (85-86), Chris Rock, Molly Shannon, David Spade.
Hosts
As I said, there have been at least 37 seasons of SNL, so obviously I haven't seen all of the shows, but from the last 3-4 years, amongst the best (in my opinion) were: Emma Stone, Justin Timberlake, Jon Hamm, Alec Baldwin, Melissa McCarthy, Jimmy Fallon, Jason Seigel, Jesse Eisenberg, Amy Poehler, Tina Fey, Maya Rudolph (previous players of SNL always make great shows when they are invited as hosts).
Favorite recurring sketches
-What up with that?- Kenen Thompson plays a soulfull presenter of a TV show with a catchy tune (I always sing it with him), great dancers (Jason Sudeikis kills it everytime), 3 guests- Lindsay included (the man who always shows up, but never gets to talk) and impromtu, weird appereance by characters that shouldn't be there. Some don't like it, I think it's funny
-Stefon talks about the coolest place in New York! Just watch it- it's hilarious!
-Bronx Beat- a daytime talk show with Beety (Amy Poehler) and Judi (Maya Rudolph) just bitchin' about life- the latest one got me laughing many times!
-J-Pop America Fun Time Now- this is a rather new one, just started this year, but I love both Taran Killam and Vanessa Byer, and I think it's funny, most of the times!
-Jeunes in Paris- the first one had Emma Stone and Taran Killam (last season) dancing and fighting on a cool, catchy tune in a French bar, and it was the best out of the 4 shown so far, although the 4th one, with Jean Dujardin, is very close to overcoming it!
Memorable (and some of my favorite) sketches
-Justin Timberlake, Kristen Wiig and Lady Gaga- Liqourville
-Being quirky with Zooey Deschanel- The Michael Cera and Mary-Kate Olsen impressions are funny!
-Eminem and Lil Wayne- Valentine's Day on Weekend Update
-Nicolas Cage x 2 on Weekend Update (this is a recurring part/guest of W.U, but this time it has the actual Nicolas Cage)-- Couldn't find a video, sorry
- The Charlie Sheen show- with special guests John Galiano, Moammar Gadhafi, Lindsay Lohan - if interested, here's a link- not the best, but the guests are interesting http://www.ebaumsworld.com/video/watch/81358349/
- Tina Fey as Sarah Palin
Again, the fake interview between her and Katie Couric (Amy Poehler) was better, but no video!
-Justin Timberlake and Andy Samberg- Dick in a box
- Jeunes in Paris- I personally love the first with Emma Stone, but I couldn't find a full-length one, so here is just a 30 seconds preview.
BONUS- Taran Killam got bored one night and decided to do this
There are a lot more, but these came up in my mind when I wrote this, plus I couldn't videos for some! Sorry for the bad quality, Youtube is the only source!
It's not always good, and some jokes are horrible, but for me, it's pure entertainment; when I need something simple, normal, relaxing to watch, just to unwind from university and problems, I watch this or 30 rock or How I met your mother.
Do you watch SNL? what are your favorite sketches? Let me know!
Last Saturday I had the pleasure of seeing The Muppets at the Prince Charles Cinema (yet again, I am becoming a regular), with the help of Den Of Geek- I won a pair of tickets by Twitter (it is fast becoming my best friend and an obsession). Short version of the story: I LOVED IT!
Long version: The viewing started with probably the funniest animated movie/clip/episode/? I have seen in a while- Toy Story: Poultry Palace. Me and the rest of 299 people in the cinema theatre laughed out loud like crazy and it was a great start for the next one hour and a half.
The film is about 3 Muppet fans who learn that Tex Richman wants to drill under the muppet theater for oil, and so Gary, Mary and Walter set out to find the muppets who have been split up for years- it is the story of a reunion of one of the greatest shows in America. James Bobin directed a script written by Jason Seigel (also starring) and Nicholas Stoller.
The film has so sweet and endearing and entertaining, that I walked out of there in a such a good mood, not to mention that I had a smile on my face for 90% of the movie. The script is funny and includes some unexpected moments of reality check ("well, this movie is going to be short", "wow, that was such an expensive looking explosion! I can't believe we had that in the budget" or "I thought my storyline was very intriguing"), that raised laughs from the viewers. The ocassional cameos were a nice touch and helped the storyline (Dave Grohl, Emily Blunt, Alan Arkin, Zack Galifiniakis, Jack Black, Selena Gomez and a very cool scene with Jim Parsons), plus the unbelieveable Gary Cooper musical moment will blow your mind away.
After seeing this movie, I have an even greater respect for Jason Seigel (known for his stint in How I met Your Mother); I recently saw an interview with him talking about the movie and saying that it is his passion project and that he has been trying to get it done for a long time. For me, he seems like a kid in a grown man's body- he is sweet, energetic, fun to be around, just a nice guy and this movie is a great way to showcase that. He managed to make the Muppets story and characters fresh and appealing to everyone, adding so many distinctive elements that make the film even more special and memorable.
Honestly, you may think: "Oh, a Muppets movie? it's for kids, neah, I wont go" but trust me, it's a wonderful film, for all ages and it will make your day! Please give it a shot, it is worth it! It was a great experience for me!
Christmas is not a good time to watch a war movie, or horror or anything too dramatic. You should see something light, funny, interesting. My choice for the 26th of December? Bridesmaids! How was it? I loved it!
The movie, a comedy, had all the right elements: funky, a little bit excentric protagonist, a best friend, weird roommates and, of course, a funny situation that moves along the plot. But still, it exceled in many ways.
First of all, say what you want, Kristen Wiig is funny. Kristen is funny in her own special way, in the SNL way that made her famous and the jokes and style of the famous tv show transcend to the big screen, as well (obvious example, Annie vs Helen speech at the engagement party). The script, co-written by her, has some very funny lines and scenes and doesn't go over the top very often (exception being the very end, with the Megan & Air Marshall video).
3 key moments that had laughing out loud: (1)the last part of the airplane scene ("there's a woman on a wing..."), (2)Annie, in the car with Helen, trying to get Rhodes attention and (3)Lillian, showing up in her designer dress in her apartment, to show Annie. Funny for me, at least.(p.s. I love SNL, as well, some sketches are hilarious, and they have so many talented people in the cast: Kristen, Bill Hader, Seth Meyers, Taran Killam and so on).
Second of all, the story was simple, endearing, and of course, had the classic outline of a comedy (perfect friends, big situation, friends break up, they hit bottom, they reunite, they are both happy bla bla). You know the drill- but Bridesmaids had a little bit more. I don't know what- maybe it was Kristen Wiig, maybe it was Mellissa McCarthy or Rose Byrne (both fantastic from my point of view), maybe it was the chemistry between the women, or the lovely surprise provided by Chris O'Dowd (cool Brit, did you see him present the BIFAs? hilarious), or the funny script- I can't really say exactly, but it worked for me.
Other mentionable elements that I observed during the viewing: ..and the winners for the weirdest roommates in history are Gil and Brynn; did I ever tell you how much I love cupcakes?; Jon Hamm can play a very convincing jackass- maybe he is one in real life?; Megan is right by saying "you're your problem Annie, and you're also your solution!"- we should all learn from that one and stop complaining.
In the end, it was a great, smart comedy! I liked it! You should see it when you have the chance!
You are probably expecting a long, objective, rather interesting review- I might dissapoint with this one! Because for this post I am getting out my girly side, the side who loves cheesy romantic comedies, likes to stare at hot men and secretly wishes she might be in the situations the characters are put in!
Crazy, Stupid,Love is a great movie! Really, I am not saying that just because of Ryan Gosling :), it really does have a great script, it delivers funny, believeable performances and is hilarious. Steve Carrell is at his best in the role of Cal, a man who loses his wife because he forgot to live. His chemistry to Ryan Gosling is amazing and they work very well together, getting the best out of eachother. The forementioned Canadian is...you know; I'm just going to stop complimenting him.
I especially loved Jessica's storyline and the twist in the end with Emma Stone, I was not expecting that, but the garden scene is one of the funniest I have ever seen! Big pluses for Julianne Moore (who reminds me so much of my sister that it creeps me out everytime I see her on screen), Emma Stone (one of the sweetest, nicest, talented girls in Hollywood right now), Marisa Tomei (the single most funny character in the movie) and the little brother- I forgot his name, sorry!
I can't really explain why this movie is worth a drive to the cinema, but if you are looking for a sweet, normal movie for a Saturday night, this is the one! Something for the girls, something for the guys, nothing really complicated! I'm sure you will love it!
Annie Hall is a charming story about the relationship
between Annie Hall and Alvy Singer aka Woody Allen. It was an interesting
movie, with a great script, funny lines and many moments of introspective
thought, because that’s what he likes. The film itself is about Woody Allen,
with Woody Allen, directed and written by him. Now, don’t get me wrong, he is a
fascinating man and I am sure a conversation with him is something a lot of
people would die for, but let’s face it, a relationship? Any woman would go mad
because he is special and he makes you feel “special”, too.
After just seeing Midnight in Paris a couple of weeks ago, I
can really see the fact the he matured a lot and that he thinks in a more organized,
structured, objective way now, in 2011. His 1977 self was very chaotic, it
feels like he had so many ideas and concepts he wanted to implemented and
didn’t really knew how to put it all together in a convincing way. But it was a
great try!
There were some great scenes in it that I will remember: the
dialogue scene in her house, on the terrace, about photography, meeting the
parents and brother(nice surprise by Christopher Walken), the walk after her
first performance etc. and some great
quotes, as well: “Life is divided between the horrible and the miserable” or
the final one:
“After that it got pretty late, and we both had to go, but
it was great seeing Annie again. I... I realized what a terrific person she
was, and.. how much fun it was just knowing her; and I... I, I thought of that
old joke, y'know, the, this... this guy goes to a psychiatrist and says,
"Doc, uh, my brother's crazy; he thinks he's a chicken." And, uh, the
doctor says, "Well, why don't you turn him in?" The guy says, "I
would, but I need the eggs." Well, I guess that's pretty much now how I
feel about relationships; y'know, they're totally irrational, and crazy, and
absurd, and... but, uh, I guess we keep goin' through it because, uh, most of
us... need the eggs.”
Diane Keaton is wonderful in this role, it fits her to a
glove and I love the scene after the tennis match, she is adorable. Woody Allen
is Woody Allen and we can all expect greatness from him!
Overall, an enjoyable movie, although not entirely
captivating! The end made me reconsider some points in my review!
Do you like Woody Allen movies? Which one is your favourite?
