Submarine [2010]

Written and directed by Richard Ayoade, Submarine is a film based on a novel by Joe Dunthorne, about the trials and tribulations of a young man who has to deal with love and parental issues. It's a rather dark movie, that deals with depression, fear, death, separation and loneliness, but it somehow shines because of its actors' performance, the sweet, awkward vibe of it and the beautiful way it treats the delicate themes.

Oliver Tate, wonderfully played by Craig Roberts is a shy, introvert 15-year old who is in love with Jordana, a fellow classmate. After he finally conquers her heart and begins dating her, problems in the family start arising, as a former flame of his mother stirs up trouble in the couple's life. We witness a series of funny, but also sad and miserable scenes in which Oliver tries to cope and fix all of the problems the best way a young boy can. Split into three parts, the last one, representing the show down, is the most interesting one, as his desperation on New Year's Eve night to find his mother and "save her" shows us the most emotion we've ever seen him display, and it is moving and unsettling to see.

Although the overall feeling is a dark and deep one, there are several scenes that are awkwardly sweet and funny: the imagining of his funeral, the first conversation he has with his father about love and relationships, his preparation for Thursday night lovemaking, or his desperate act of revenge against the man. As dark and secluded Oliver is, we still care and sympathise with him, and so viewers are constantly rooting for his happiness and success in resolving his problems.

One of the things that made me love and fondly remember this movie are the characters, which are created and portrayed in such an unusual, yet very appealing and entertaining way: from his adorable mother played by the genius Sally Hawkins, to the crazy Graham Purvis (Paddy Considine, with the coolest haircut ever), and his often annoying, but in the end, sad and misunderstood girlfriend, Jordana, all have a certain something that distinguishes them from all typical characters you see in comedies or drama, and I really appreciated that.

Another strong point is the music, as all the song were written and performed by Alex Turner, of Arctic Monkeys fame. I think the soundtrack definitely improved the overall atmosphere and feel of the movie, especially in some parts, like the scene where Oliver reads Jordana's letter, puts his father cassette on and lies on the bed, as it crumbles, with the voice of Alex Turner on the background.

Submarine is a rather typical British movie- dramatic, sometimes a little bit bleak, but with a quirky sense of humour and mountains of talent and quality of filmmaking. Although it ended on a high note, I still found it to be at times depressing and dark. Still, Submarine is a good movie that I recommend!

P.S. If you liked Moonrise Kingdom and its style and humour, I think you will enjoy this, as well- I found a lot of similarities between these two, but maybe I'm wrong.

P.S.2. Ben Stiller, wtf?

True Grit [2010] and future plans

The fourth Coen brothers movie on my list was their latest, True Grit, released in 2010, and based on a novel by Charles Portis (and another movie starring John Wayne) which is new for me, because all the films I saw were written by them, not adapted. [was Fargo adapted or just based on a true story? I can't remember; anyway]. It tells the story of Mattie Ross, a stubborn 14 year old girl who hires an old, mean sheriff to revenge the death of her father, by catching and surrendering Tom Chaney, the murderer, to the authorities. What's the catch? She is going with him into the land of the Indians.  


Again, this film is very different from the other Coens pics and I love that; you never know what to expect from the brothers in terms of storyline, but you know you will always get amazing cinematography, great dialogue, strong characters and peculiar situations and people. True Grit falls perfectly into those lines and turns out to be an entertaining movie, with good intentions, multiple layers and good old time action and fun, to top the visually beautiful scenes and the great acting. 


Speaking of it, the casting is fantastic, especially when it comes down to the two leads, Reubeun Cogburn, played by Oscar winner Jeff Bridges, and Mattie Ross, played by the young Hailee Steinfeld, who, weirdly enough, was nominated for awards in the Supporting role category- her part was as lead as a role can be (stupid phrasing, but you get my point). Matt Damon did his job, but I found his character and his portrayal of it to be a little annoying and exaggerated. 


I liked the fact that the film was pretty straight-forward, tough, with attitude and funny, sarcastic lines, and I especially loved the sequence of scenes at the end- Mattie being attacked, the appearance of Cogburn and La Boeuf, shooting at 120 m, falling etc etc; it was exciting, fun to watch and nicely done. 


True Grit was a very good movie that I enjoyed. If you will ever do a Coens marathon or plan to see some of their movies or if you just like westerns or if just like good movie or if you like Jeff Bridges/Matt Damon/Josh Brolin- get this film now and see it, you will not be dissappointed!


Overall, the Coens marathon was a huge surprise for me- I did not expect to like their movies so much! Each one is unique, with distinctive features and qualities, but all have several key points that make the project better every time, and by now, if you have read my posts, you know them: script, characters, casting, cinematography- any film who excels in these points can be called a great one, so I guess it's safe to say the Coens always do an amazing job! They are now in my favorite directors, but mostly scriptwriters, category, and I can't wait to see Inside Llewyn Davis (written and directed by them, now filming in New York, with Carey Mulligan, Oscar Isaac, Garrett Hedlund, Justin Timberlake and John Goodman), and Gambit, set to be released in 2012, written by the brothers, but directed by Michael Hoffman.


If you're curious about future plans, I plan to do a mini Herzog marathon soon, and then a huge Stanley Kubrick one, with, hopefully, all of his movies (I sure need to watch them, it's embarrassing how many I haven't seen already). Honestly, I have to admit, I am terrified by Herzog, especially his earlier, feature film work, as I saw some trailers and synopsis and they don't seem something I would particularly enjoy, but I will be brave and try- maybe it's not so bad!

So, tell me, did you like my Coen brothers posts? what do you suggest I should do next? any (light) recommendations for the Herzog marathon? 

Easy going Saturday: 2 in 1 edition!

Since it's Saturday, a day in which we all should just relax, I decided to recommend two movies, two sweet Romantic Comedies, from different eras, with totally different actors and storyline, but equally charming and sweet! I always think that too much drama can wear you down, so, from time to time, I prefer these kinds of movies and you should give it a try, too! 

I saw Sabrina and Morning Glory a long time ago, but I still have some of the things I wrote down after viewing them, so here you go!

Sabrina [1954]

„It’s all in the family”

Sabrina, the 1954 version, is such a lovely film, mostly due to its beautiful scenery, the music, the direction and most of all, the actors.

There aren’t words to describe my admiration or love for Audrey Hepburn: she is the incarnation of imperfect perfection. So beautiful, elegant, graceful, sweet, but determined and displaying amazing talent every time she hits the screen, you can’t help fall in love with her. I love the fact that you can tell every emotion on her face; you can understand her and what she is feeling just by examining her posture, her manners, and the way she talks and looks away. She does that so effortlessly that I wonder if anyone can top that. Here, as Sabrina, she lights up every scene and moves you in which way she wants, playing the part of a shy, lonely girl to the T.

Humphrey Bogart is a wonderful actor and no one can say otherwise, but for me he is always so tight, so stiff. I understand, he is a real man, with posture and grace, in control of everything, but I wish I could see more of him, different reactions.  He, as well, gave a great performance and made us understand his character, but I wasn’t convinced. Maybe it was just this part...I don’t know!

As I remember other classic 50s movies I saw, I can’t help realise that it is all about the performance and the actors. In those times, you didn’t have much to go by, in terms of special effects, scenery etc, so the screenplay and the director had to relay on the actors....and in so many ways, it made the movie more interesting, at least for me, it did.

Sabrina is a beautiful movie, and I am sure the Audrey Hepburn lovers and the romantics will love it even more! Enjoy!

Morning glory [2010]

Morning Glory is a beautiful, simple, smartly written romantic comedy in which Rachel McAdams stars as a young workaholic woman who has to deal with the problems that her new job throws at her.

Simple, yet not entirely predictible, it captures the viewer by its fast pace, funny situations and loveable characters. I admired the fact that it wasn’t all about the girl who ends up with the boy, it was much more about the development of the characters, their interaction, especially the non-romantical ones (Diane Keaton and Harrison Ford are especially entertaining). 

It’s an easy choice for a late afternoon or girls night. You should give it a shot, it’s worth it!

What other romantic comedies or nice, normal, entertaining movies do you recommend? What have you seen lately?

Bill Cunningham New York [2010] documentary

The first few shots of the Bill Cunningham documentary tend to push you away, to make you think "why is this creepy old guy stalking girls on the streets of New York?".

This creepy old guy, this sweet, energetic, full of passion guy is Bill Cunningham, a world known photographer who has 2 columns in the New York Times newspaper. His speciality? Street Style- what he basically does is go out every day (or night, in some cases) and shoot random people he finds interesting or fascinating. It can either be because of the shoes, or the funky clothes, or just because the shot might be good (he loves taking photos during a storm or bad weather).  Yes, he is quircky, but his passion is admirable; he is happy with a camera in hand.

The documentary doesn't show too much of his private life, with the exception of his apartment and some close friends- maybe because his story is not interesting, maybe because he doesn't want to share. Bill Cunningham lives in a very small apartment in Carnegie Hall (a building who is currently occupied by offices); he has one bed, a few clothes on hangers spread all around, a lot of fashion books and cabinets, cabinets full of negatives- oh, and the bathroom is on the hall.

At the age of 80, he has something that most people in fashion desire from the first moment they start- respect, admiration and a lot of event invitations. Icons like Anna Wintour talk about him in very high terms: "I said many times that we all get dressed for Bill", and former business partners (like Details founding editor and art director) admire his devotion and passion for passion.

Bill Cunninhgam innovated, he took risks and, not even knowing, he observed and, more importantly, created trends- in fashion and in photography. His street style column forged the way for the thousands of fashion bloggers all around the world today. He is always guided by amazing work ethics and never gives in- for example, he doesn't drink or eat at the events he is invited to.

Along the way, we get to witness some beautiful, but also funny scenes: Editta, his longtime neighbour, trying on hats and talking about her work, the story of the blue jacket he always wears, the constant bantering between Bill and the current Art editor of New York Times, and so on.

He is a sweet man, but you can't help feeling sorry for him, especially at the end, when he responds to a question about his private life by saying that he hasn't had romantic relationships in his life, he just always had clothes on his mind- you expect it, but it is sad; don't people need love to survive? The last question from the reporter was, surprisingly, the one that proved to be the most difficult one to answer: are you faithful? do you believe in God? to which he gives a truly genuine, honest, moving reaction- it got to me. I won't say, that's the beauty of watching the movie for yourself.

Which you should: watch Bill Cunningham New York, especially if you are interested in the fashion industry, or just like interesting characters, cause he sure is one! A good documentary overall!

L'Amour Fou[2011] documentary

L'Amour Fou is a 2010 documentary about the life and work of famous fashion designer Yves Saint Laurent. Depicted with the help of Pierre Berge, his love partner, we learn more about the man, this character and his love for fashion and art.

The film, made by Pierre Thoretton, takes us from the beginning of his career at Christian Dior to his retirement in 2002 (his speech during the announcement is actually the first scene of the documentary and a beautiful one, that sheds light on his beliefs and passion on fashion), lingering much more on his private life then on his business.

In short episodes, the documentary mentions some of YSL most memorable moments of his career: his first collections at Christian Dior, where each one had more then 150 dresses, the Mondrian-inspired dress, the Opera and Russian Collections in the 1970s, his invention of pret-a-porter (ready-to-wear or street clothes), and random images and clips of his fashion shows, all sporting the elegant, classic sign YSL at the beginning of the runway.

One of the major topics discussed is his art collection. Yves Saint Laurent was a true lover and admirer of art, in any form, and together with Pierre Berge, he collected fantastic pieces: paintings from Andy Wharhol, Goya, Mondrian, sculptures by Constantin Brancusi and much more. Each with a beautiful memory attached to it, his partner tells the story of some of the most important ones, everytime shedding more light to the sensible, timid, poetic Yves. After the designer's death, Pierre decides to give their incredible collection to auction and the end captures the grand event that took place in Paris, at the Grand Palais, organized by Christie's. Just to give an example of the earnings and of the valueable items sold, the Brancusi sculpture was sold for 26 milion euros.

But the main aspect that this film ilustrates is the love between Yves Saint Laurent and Pierre Berge. They met in 1958, a couple months after Christian Dior's death (a mutual friend) and they remained together for the rest of their lives (with a brief separation in the 1980s due to the designer's addiction of alchool and drugs). Whilst Yves was the artistic man, the poetic, sensible man in the relationship, Pierre was always his rock, being the pragmatic individual that he needed to survive and make his business florish. They worked together perfectly, complementing each other in business and in love.

From the film-making aspect, it is beautifully made, having photos and footage of past collections interwined with interviews with Pierre and other close friends. The soundtrack, containing mostly melancholic piano parts, has some surprising songs, but stays in tune. The editing, or montage, could have been better, but still managed to capture the true essence of the era.

L'amour Fou is a soft, lovely homage to the great designer that Yves Saint Laurent was. If you like fashion, you should give it a try!



"fashion's role was not simply to make women more beautiful, but also to reassure them, give them confidence and allow them to assert themselves." Yves Saint Laurent

Animal Kingdom[2010]

The first movie I saw in 2012 was Animal Kingdom. It wasn't an obvious choice, but I am glad I saw it, because it is a good film, a well-thought, shocking in some parts, tough film. It tells the story of Josh, a teenager who has to survive through the troubled times his newly acquired family puts him through.

In the first scene, J (James Frecheville) idly watches Deal or No Deal as his mother is laying unconscious on the couch next to him, and even when the paramedics arrive and he coldly replies to them that she took heroine, you know it's not your typical movie. Josh's numbness creates and drives the film forward; the lack of emotion in most of the situations he is faced with, transcends to the movie, as well, giving it a similar vibe.

After his mother's death, he moves in with his grandmother and uncles: Baz (Joel Edgerton) is the one everyone respects and likes, because he cares about them and wants to make things better and easier; Craig(Sullivan Stapleton) is erratic and sells drugs,whilst Darren(Luke Ford), the youngest one, is a quiet figure. They all survive by breaking the law, but they stick together and help eachother. As, for example, Baz tries to do, one day, in a supermarket, when he gives money to his brother Pole, the oldest one, who is currently hiding from the cops. Baz is smart and wants a better future for his family, he even suggests switching to more legal actions, like the stock market. But just when you thought you have found your good guy, BAM, he gest shot and there goes Edgerton and all of the love from this movie. This sets off a chase between the cops and the brothers (they kill two officers out of revenge), as Craig is the next one to be put down by the authorities.

But this story follows Josh, a young man who is trying to survive in a strange world, with a violent, out of control family, who forcefully involves him in their business. The grandmother tries to keep the clan together, but there is not much she can do; Darren is useless, Pole is acting strange and Josh is way out of his element, just trying not to piss off anyone. It doesn't help the fact that a detective(Guy Pearce) is pursuing J, asking for informations in exchange for protection.

The second part of the movie picks up the pace, as Pole's behaviour and actions move the film into a different direction, one that is overwhelming for Josh who swithches from one side to another. The end is a bit confussing, surprising and shocking at first, but then you could understand the reason behind it. I keep asking myself: whose side was Josh really on?why did he changed his mind so suddenly and radically to go from ratting out his uncles to conspiring with his grandmother to kill Pope? Was it his girlfriend? But it's the family's fault that she was dead and that he was in such a deep shit! Maybe it was the faked attack on the house that triggered his change! I don't know, but I like the fact that it made me wonder!

I thought Josh's numbness and lack of emotion will slow down the movie for me, make it boring, but it didn't.  Yes, you are shocked to see a scene like the one where the special agent points a gun at his head and he doesn't react in absolutely no way- it says everything. He went through so much shit as a kid growing with a heroine-addict mother, and more so now, with his family of criminals, that a gun does not even cause a reaction. He is not scared of anything, because he can't find a reason to live properly, to enjoy life. Getting out of that car or getting shot a second after is the same thing to him. He is numb.

But then again, we do see he is alive, that there is something kicking inside him, in some scenes, especially in the one where he cries in the bathroom of his now-dead ex girlfriend; is that girl the only thing able to make him flinch? or was he just fed up with everything? James Frecheville's performance is fabulous and shows so much depth, as he peeled off layers and layers of his characters throught the movie. He suffers the most and has the most remarcable change in character at the end.

Another interesting characters is uncle Pole; since the very first moment, you know something is not right, he is not right. His mood swings, his behavious, his stare, the way he tries to connect with his brothers, everything scream WRONG; you could see it in everything, in his eyes, in his manners, it was just a vibe. He is instable and inpredictable and you know something will happen...and it does. I thought Ben Mendelsohn was fantastic and played the part so well, that I was creeped out from the beginning.

Janine Cody, the grandmother, the Smurf, the matriach of the family, is always on top of the situation, affectionate and supportive all of the time, but shows her true colors in the car scene, showing us a cruel side, but a very smart one. She is the boss and she will have her way, one way or the other. Jacki Weaver is outstanding, her performance is smooth, natural, caring, yet very controled and knowledgeable; the Oscar nomination was rightfully deserved.

The script was very good, with twists and turns and appropriate pace, with distinct, interesting characters who develop throughout the movie in some way or another, great dialogue, and the direction was in point- kudos to David Michod, who achieved both.

Overall, I think it's a very good movie that you should see if you have the chance. It's a more subtle, raw, indirect film about crime, one that creeps up to you and surprises you in many ways.

Senna[2011]

Senna is a 2011 documentary about the life of race car driver Ayrton Senna, one of the best and the most famous people in Formula 1 history.

The story follows the Brazilian from the beginning of his career to his tragic ending. The script takes you through all of the important steps who took in order to become the man he is known to be. From the race which he started in the 13th place, but finished in the 2nd one, to his first World Championship win in 1988, his controversy with Alain Prost in 1989, all the way through his last season at Williams, the company who was responsible for his tragic death during one of the races. Extra bit for Formula 1 lovers or, at least, for those who follow the sport from time to time: you do see the beginning of Rubens Barichello and Michael Schumacher's careers.

I must say I didn't knew too much about him beforehand, so I think the documentary showed a beautiful side of the driver and it all worked out well. Ayrton was a very strong, competitive man, but also, with a lot of faith in him. He once said "If you no longer go for a gap that exists, you are no longer a racing driver" and he is right; plus, you can apply that saying in more then one context, can't you? He understood the sport, he loved it, he was the best at it and he fought for what he believed in. Anyone can appreciate that.

His unavoidable death was sad, but for me, personally, wasn't properly explained or expressed in the right way. You build up a movie like this one, you know everyone is expecting the shocking part, but when you get to it, you use 1 minute and then straight to the funeral; I was a little underwhelmed by it. The saddest moment was the funeral, when we get to see people from his life saying goodbye, his before and after relationships- it got to me.

Senna is probably one of the best documentaries I have seen. I absolutely loved the fact that they used ONLY footage of him and didn't add unnecessary shots, just background voices explaining the situation and how Senna reacted to it. The music suited the vibe perfectly and the editing was superb. I think that even for non-Formula 1 people, this can be entertaining.

Overall, it is a film worth seeing and you should watch it when you have the chance!

Last Night [2010]

Director: Massy Tadjedin

Writer: Massy Tadjedin

Starring:   Keira Knightley, Guillaume Canet,  Sam Worthington and Eva Mendes

It’s all about the eyes! They express all that can’t be said, all that is felt, all that is needed to know in that situation! That is what Last Night is all about: feelings- loneliness, boredom, lack of interest, longing for another, uncertainty, and especially passion and interest...and so much more!

The eyes, which help the audience see and understand the story, also translate the emotions of the 4 main characters, played by Keira Knightley, Sam Worthington, Eva Mendes and Guillaume Canet.  Joanna(KK) is married to Michael (SW), who we find out early on is attracted to Laura(EM). Soon after the departure of the husband on a business trip with the intriguing partner, Jo meets Alex(GC), a former lover who she wasn’t forgot.

Over the course of a night and with the help of some drinks, the feelings come out one by one, some hidden for years, others ignited by random looks over the table. It might seem that one hour and a half is too much for this development, but it isn’t- the script is very good and it all plays out wonderfully. Everything seems effortless, very simple, clean, the little details are what makes this story so believable and loveable. He wants to experience something new, to go into the future, she longs for a lost love, a short, but passionate affair she once had in Paris, looking backward.

I won’t ruin the ending, but I do want to acknowledge a great thing that Alex’s friend says to him at one point, and it goes something like: „you can’t take away the memories she was with him, the years spent with him....”, and it is true, in a way. Those years always haunt each other.

The performances are great (Guillaume Canet is a very charming, talented man), the script is simple, yet real and it's transformed with the help of beautiful cinematography and good direction! All in all, a movie that you check out!

TV: PILLARS OF THE EARTH [2010]

Based on a book written by Ken Follett

Produced by the Ridley and Tony Scott

Starring: Ian McShane, Matthew Macfadyen, Eddie Redmayne, Hayley Atwell, Sam Clafin

Well, let’s start by saying that, if you liked The Tudors or Borgias or even Game of Thrones, you will like this, too. It is very similar to those types of shows; it has the same scenery, the language and clothes are similar and you will find, as usual, brooding men, wars for thrones, betrayal, lust, sex and love, that will eventually conquer all.

What I did love and what it did raise the bar for this particular show, was the aspect of the architecture. The cathedral is a main topic here and it drew my interest. Among all those rather expected storylines of love and dispair, you get to see how one is built, so that, in the end, you can appreciate the true beauty and art of the Knightsbridge cathedral.  

The cast is great and I was so happy to see Rufus Sewell in it, he is one of my favourite actors. Eddie Redmayne comes out as a surprise star of the series, and so does Hayley Atwell and David Oatkes, although I personally didn’t like him at all, but he is good, I give him that.

It starts out simple, laying out all the characters and the different situations, by the middle of it (episodes 3-7) you can’t stop watching it, as each one ends with a cliffhanger, and the last one ties up all the knots and gives us the ending we all have been waiting for.

It’s the typical course of a tv series, but after finishing it, I couldn’t help feeling...unsatisfied. You know what I mean? Because it is so tipical and it deals with storylines we have seen before, I wish he has something extra on the side, maybe a quirckier character, a big OMG moment or sudden death. But hey, it’s just me!

Bottom line, as I said before, if you like these kinds of shows, I recommmend it! It is good!

Blue Valentine [2010]

BLUE VALENTINE [2010]

Director: Derek Cianfrance

Writer: Derek Cianfrance, Cami Delavigne

Starring: Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams

Blue Valentine was one of those movies that I love....the ones whose centre is the character.

Dean and Cindy, the two protagonists, show us their story, going back and forth into their time together. I love the way the script makes those connections between the past and the present so smooth, so meaningful, tying the loose ends together.

During the award season Michelle Williams as Cindy got the better reviews and the acknowledgement for her work, but in my opinion Ryan Gosling just stole the show. He is absolutely fantastic as a young guy, with no bigger plans than just have money to eat and smoke, until he founds Cindy. The way he interprets his part is flawless...it’s not acting, well, it doesn’t seem that way. It all feels so natural, so normal, even the little gestures, like the way he plays with his daughter Frankie. He just proved to me he can do anything and I can’t wait to see more of him.

For some, it might get a little boring, as it doesn’t really have enough action, but the story is so wonderfully told, that I personally loved it. I have to repeat myself and say that the one of the most important things that makes this movie great is the normality of it all, the realness. Like, for example, the scene where Dean makes Cindy listen for the first time their song...it’s not digitally put in the scene, you can hear as if it is played on the stereo.

It is a great film! I recommend it!

What did you think? Who was better: Ryan or Michelle?