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Category Archives: Analysis
TV Shows I’ve been watching this month
Hello readers, As lockdown is easing gradually in the UK and life hopefully will be returning to its pre-pandemic state, cinemas will be opening and production will increase. However, we are not quite there yet and this month I have … Continue reading
François Ozon: How French Cinema moved me
François Ozon has made this film into a visual masterpiece. The plot of the film does not have many big twists or dramatic moments but with his direction, you feel as though this tiny French fishing town is the centre of the universe and all that really matters. The emotions of the characters go from big to small and are only present in front of certain other characters which was a good decision. It let the characters preserve their feelings and let them build up to crescendos which did not always end well for them. The locations used are all picturesque and fit into ideas of life in France at the time. There are strong and bold colours without crazy patterns to distract the eye. The fashion is all time-accurate with lots of double denim and block designs. The music used also contributed to the tone and emotions of the film. His writing, while macabre at times never tipped into depressive or gory but toed the line of acceptable for a death-obsessed teenager to say. His choice to focus on Alexis and let the audience be one step ahead of him was a great way to tell the story. Continue reading
My Top 20 Films of 2020
A recent viewing for me over the Groupwatch Feature on Disney Plus. The animated version was a childhood favourite of mine so I was sad that I did not get a chance to watch it at the cinema last September. Its release on Disney Plus was a delight for me and despite some controversy surrounding its locations, I think this is an important film for Asian representation in Western culture and especially for women. Mulan volunteers to fight in the Chinese Imperial Army some one thousand years ago. In the live action version, Mulan lives in a poor village and takes her father’s place due to his ill health whereas in the original version, Mulan is a princess and takes his place to prove herself. I loved Yifei Liu’s performance as Mulan; I remember they spent a long time trying to find the right actress and I think the casting was perfect. She was able to portray vulnerability and femininity at the beginning and then brute strength and leadership as a soldier. The fight sequences were impressive and used clever techniques as well as offensive action. Scenes with the snow avalanche and the final showdown were particularly impressive as well as the general production design. It did not feel like a typical cuddly kids film and I think it was a good move to get rid of the songs, no matter how great they were. I really loved this film but it was missing that extra something that makes me give a film full marks. Continue reading
Posted in Actor/Actress, Analysis, Director, Film, Film Recommendations
Tagged Alexandra Shipp, Alexxis Lemire, All the Bright Places, Amazon Prime, Andrew Bachelor, Andrew Rannells, Andy Samberg, Anna Camp, Birds of Prey, Bong Joon-ho, Burn Gorman, Camila Mendes, Charlize Theron, Chiwetel Ejiofor, Chloe Coleman, Chris Hemsworth, Chris Pratt, cinema, Cristin Milioti, Dan Stevens, Daniel Diemer, Dating Amber, Dave Bautista, DC Comics, Demi Lovato, Desperados, Disney, Disney Plus, Disney/Pixar, Eli Brown, Elle Fanning, Enola Holmes, Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga, Extraction, Fiona Shaw, Fionn O'Shea, Frances De La Tour, Gina Prince-Bythewood, Godmothered, Graham Norton, Harley Quinn, Harry Melling, Helena Bonham Carter, henry cavill, Isla Fisher, Issa Rae, J.K. Simmons, James Corden, Jennifer Niven, Jillian Bell, Jim Parsons, Jordan Fisher, June Squibb, Justice Smith, Karan Brar, Keegan-Michael Key, Keiynan Lonsdale, Kerry Washington, KiKi Layne, Kumail Nanjiani, Lamorne Morris, Leah Lewis, Liza Koshy, Lola Petticrew, Louis Partridge, Luca Marinelli, Luke Wilson, Madison Iseman, Margot Robbie, Marwan Kenzari, Matt Bomer, Matthias Schoenaerts, Meryl Streep, Millie Bobby Brown, Mulan, My Spy, Nasim Pedrad, Netflix, Netflix Party, Nicole Kidman, Onward, Palm Springs, Parasite, Peter Gallagher, Pierce Brosnan, Rachel McAdams, Robbie Amell, Ryan Murphy, Sabrina Carpenter, Sam Claflin, Sharon Horgan, Simone Kirby, The Boys in the Band, The F**k-It List, The Half of It, The Lovebirds, The Old Guard, The Prom, Tom Holland, Tyler Hoechlin, Will Ferrell, Work it, Yifei Liu, Zachary Quinto
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My Thoughts on Christmas TV shows
The show centres around Johanne, a 30-year-old nurse. She attends her family’s annual December 1st celebrations and when receiving many questions about her love life and lack of boyfriend, Johanne invents a boyfriend and has until Christmas Eve to find one. I think this premise works really well in Norway as December 1st is not a traditional family gathering in the UK or US so there would have to be another reason for the family to get together. Continue reading
Honey Boy – My Thoughts
I think it shows how rich and powerful the script and the belief in the director to have a female director narrate this story. It is from a male perspective about male relationships; father and son; roommates at rehab; an all-male AA meeting; the Big Brother programme but I think Alma Har’el added some great narrative and design choices to an already strong script. Her directive decisions elevated the film to include great visuals along with the story. I applaud the producers and studio for promoting a female director especially someone who had never done a narrative film before Honey Boy. I think this example goes to show that women are just as capable as men when it comes to being behind the camera. Continue reading
Posted in Actor/Actress, Analysis, Director, Film, Film Recommendations
Tagged Honey Boy, Lucas Hedges, Noah Jupe, shia labeouf
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My First Trip back to the Cinema
Of course, being stuck in a time loop is no new plot device as seen in films such as Groundhog Day which set the precedent for this sort of films; Source Code; Happy Death Day and Looper. What was different about this time loop was that there were multiple people stuck in the loop. The two main characters Nyles and Sarah played by Samberg and Milioti respectively are both guests at a wedding in Palm Springs. Nyles is the boyfriend of bridesmaid, Misty and Sarah is maid of honour to her sister, Tala. The two have never met before the loop starts but quickly become allies. Continue reading
My Theories and Musings on Season 4 of 13 Reasons Why
One of Clay’s traits is that he needs to be needed. He feels pushed out a little at the beginning of the season with his parents and Justin. He needs to feel wanted and when his parents shine a little more light on Justin, he feels a little left out. When Tyler calls Clay, he feels needed again. Ever since the tapes, there have been reasons for Clay to be needed for multiple people but after Monty’s death, there was no new crisis until Clay subconsciously created one. Clay needs all his friends focuses together on one thing in their senior year. Continue reading
Posted in Analysis, Television, TV Recommendations
Tagged 13 Reasons Why, 13RW, Alex Standall, Ani Achola, Bryce Walker, Charlie St George, Clay Jensen, Diego Torres, Hannah Baker, Jessica Davis, Justin Foley, Season 4 of Thirteen Reasons Why, Series 4 of 13 Reasons Why, Tyler Down, Winston Williams, Zach Dempsey
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New Television Shows I have been watching in Quarantine
The premise is fairly straight forward as the current POTUS has announced plans for a Space Force in the US but that’s where reality stops. Some of the situations, the characters find themselves are hysterical yet almost believable. Mark is played by Steve Carell the co-creator of the show and he has some brilliant co-stars. John Malkovich plays his number two, scientist Dr. Mallory, Lisa Kudrow is his incarcerated wife, Diana Silvers is his teenage daughter Erin. There are many other comedy actors involved as well as some I haven’t seen do comedy or anything else. Continue reading