Red Carpet Picks: Hits & Misses

My MOST favorite dresses:

1)  Meryl Streep-(Chris March) A vision in white.  Classic. Beautiful cut, subtly sexy. Love it.

2)  Maggie Gyllenhaal- (Dries Van Noten) Unique color pattern.  Simple design.  Clean lines.  Total leading lady look.

3)  Luciana Damon- Soft & romantic.  Flowy goodness.

4)  Nicole Richie- (Reem Acra)  Vintage inspired.  This is a dress I liked because it suited her perfectly.

5)  Zoe Saldana-  (Givenchy)  Looks like a flower in bloom.  Lush color.  Interesting.

My LEAST favorite dresses:

1)  Charlize Theron- (Dior Couture) I did not ‘get’ her “cupcake” dress.  Was there a point?

2)  Amanda Seyfried- (Armani Prive)  Bland & lackluster dress.

3)  Kate Winslet- (Yves Saint Laurent)  B…O…R…I…N….G.

My favorite 3 Male looks:

1) Robert Downey Jr.-(Lanvin) I like the daring.  Not traditional.  Fun & playful.

2)  Sam Worthington- (Brioni)  Black tie/Tux.  Handsome & classic.

3)  Jeremy Renner- (Armani) Really dig the white shirt/white tie.  He cleans up nice.  *wink*

44/365 The Queen

Starring: Michael Sheen, Helen Mirren

Genre: Biopic

Discovery: Recommended by my Gabs

Summary: Queen Elizabeth II has to deal with one of the biggest events in her reign, the death of Princess Diana.  All eyes are on her.  What will she do?

First Glance: Instead of focusing on the lifetime of one of the most influential queens in England, it takes a small piece of time; after the death of Princess Di.  The locations were not the appropriate ones to real life but they serve their purpose. Showing the opulence and isolation that one experiences being head of the monarchy.  Beautifully shot.  Acting was brilliant by both Mirren (she channeled the spirit of the Queen) & Sheen in their perspective roles.  Michael Sheen plays Prime Minister Tony Blair, who at the time “pushed” the Queen to move in a new direction to address her ‘people’.

Deeper Look: To say that I put seeing this movie off would be an understatement.  I didn’t watch it despite the fact it garnered many Oscar nominations.  I was hesitant because I thought it would be a dull look at such a mysterious figure.  Truth is, not even her ‘people’ know her, she stays very close to the vest in her public persona.  When I lived over in England there was a lot of animosity towards her and much love for the Queen Mum, not sure why.  I find Elizabeth II utterly fascinating. A woman who has reigned through so many major events in British history with a quiet, reserved composure.  What must it be like to hold dear & be accountable for the very lives of people in the country of England.  I believe no one can truly understand that pressure and responsibility. (Behind the scenes girl says:  The costumes were spot on & perfectly representative of royalty.  Most actually mimicked what she wore in real life.)

What I Took Away from this Movie: Tradition is important.

Final Glimpse: If you haven’t seen, you MUST.  It is fantastic.

43/365 Tsotsi

working on this review.

42/365 Bright Star

Starring: Abby Cornish, Ben Whishaw, Paul Schneider

Genre: Romantic Drama

Discovery: I really enjoy films about poets & their lives.

Summary: The love story of John Keats and Fanny Brawne.

First Glance: While a few creative liberties are taken, this is a well developed story. We are introduced to Fanny, who is a successful seamstress/designer. When she meets John, their attraction is instantaneous and unexplainable (the very words of Keats himself). He becomes a mentor to her.  Teaching her about poetry.  A love affair is born; however, cut tragically short when he is forced to move to Italy because of his illness.

Deeper Look:  The two most impressionable things about this movie are:  1) How amazingly it captured that time period.  Locations were stunning.  Walking through gardens or trekking through the forest filled me with thoughts of what it would have been like to be there.  Chemistry galore between Abby and Ben.  Such longing & intensity that ‘first loves’ often have. (Behind the scenes girl says: The costumes are based off of Fanny’s own designs.  I was enraptured by them.  Giddy is more like it.  Each and every one was a work of art.) 2) We have a strong, romantic heroine in Fanny Brawne.  She is no shrinking violet.  Fanny is brave, loyal, and courageous.  She loves with her whole heart.  Very admirable. (Thank you Abby, for bringing such depth to her.)  PS This movie revolves around the love affair of the two more than the life of John Keats, fyi.

What I Took Away from this Movie: It isn’t the length of a love affair it is the depth.

Final Glimpse: Lavish costumes, superb cinematography, and awesome acting create an amazing tale of love & loss.  The romantic in me loves this movie!

41/365 The September Issue

Starring: Anna Wintour, Grace Coddington, various Vogue employees

Genre: Documentary

Discovery: Been waiting for this one!  Finally.

Summary: This doc follows the two main people in Vogue, Anna (editor-in chief) and Grace (creative director), in the making of the biggest issue of Vogue, THE SEPTEMBER ISSUE (in the year 2007; which turned out to be the largest of all time)

First Glance: Director RJ Cutler took a very interesting tact when shooting this film.  Instead of shooting to create a story, he shot to see what story was there.  I find that infinitely more enjoyable.  So we, the viewer, are treated to this ‘inner sanctum’ look of just what it is like creating the mega issue of September.  Known as THE BIBLE.  He is very respectful of the people, being careful to not tread  into judgmental realm.  I LOVE the clothes!

Deeper Look: RJ explores exactly what goes into creating those phenomenal spreads (most of the ridiculously beautiful ones can be credited to Grace Coddington, who is my new fashion crush).  I so appreciated that.  It would be easy to act dismissive or mock such a subject.  Anna and Grace share an interesting relationship; one that spans the course of 20 years.  Seeing it play out on screen is engaging to watch, you feel like you are being let in on the biggest secret ever. Anna is cool efficiency perfectly foiled against Grace’s warm, creative spirit.  One of my favorite parts is when we get to see Anna previewing Oscar de la Renta’s next season, you get a sense of how truly influential she is in the business.  What she says with just a look speaks volumes.  No wonder Anna is so legendary.

What I Took Away from this Movie: The love of clothes & fashion DOES NOT make you shallow.

Final Glimpse: Fashion AND story beautifully blend in this doc. A “10″!

40/365 Ice Castles (2010)

Starring: Taylor Firth, Rob Mayes, (blink and you miss it cameo by Michelle Kwan)

Genre: Romance

Discovery: Temporary Insanity

Summary: Lexi is an up-and-coming ice skater with the ‘perfect life’ until an accident on the ice tests her passion & love for skating.  Her boyfriend helps her journey back to the Nationals (without anyone knowing she is blind).

First Glance: Normally, I am a sucker for an underdog triumphs/ love story.  This time I’m left feeling like I ate way too much cotton candy & my stomach hurts.  It’s sweet and poignant in all the ‘right spots’ but it lacks.  No chemistry between the leads which I demand in my romantic genre flicks.  I can’t help it, I don’t want to look away when they kiss because it feels wrong.  :-)  Hollywood, next time you cast a real skater in the lead, please make sure she can act not just look pretty on ice.  Please.

Deeper Look: The theme of ‘you can do whatever you put your mind to’ & ‘love conquers all’ is alive in well is this sappy story.  The original did it MUCH better.  I won’t be bragging that I spent 90 minutes of my life watching this movie.  In fact, I wish I could erase it from my mind right now.  (Behind the scenes girl says: they couldn’t even go all out in those fantastic glittery over-the-top costumes ice skaters wear.  Everything was bland and muted.  Blech) Also, how can NO ONE know you are blind until you trip on a teddy bear AFTER the program is over?  Just sayin’.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Smaltz can only take you so far.

Final Glimpse: Maybe on any other day I would have liked this movie for its sweetness, but today it felt cloying.  In the words of Chris Farley: Me no likey.

40-45/365 Work in progress

Before you throw in the towel on my lovely project, let me tell you.  Life has been buggered the past week.  Watched all my movies and didn’t write a single review.

On to it because like I promised, this is a journey.

My schedule for today.  Catch up.

Reviews as follows:

Shutter Island

Bright Star

Tsotsi

The Queen

The September Issue

Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou

STAY TUNED…

39/365 I Hate Valentines Day

Starring: Nia Vardalos, John Corbett

Genre: Romantic Comedy

Discovery: I wanted the “September Issue” got this because no copies of the other.

Summary: Genevieve, owner of a local floral shop, meets Greg.  They develop a relationship through her rules of “5 dates and out”.  Thing is she discovers she wants more than just 5 dates with Greg.

First Glance: Nia (Genevieve) not only plays the lead in the film, she is the director.  It shows.  I actually turned it off and played it with the commentary hoping it would help to know what was going through her mind.  It did.  That is the first time in the history of the world that I watch the movie only with the commentary.  It sucked that bad. ** Note- John Corbett is a charming, likable leading man.

Deeper Look: I can’t even give you a deeper look because that would require this movie having a bigger theme than a wacky mess.  Nia was utterly charming in ‘My Big Fat Greek Wedding’; however, she can not act and relies on her zany clueless female role.  After the 3rd time, it’s enough already.  I’m over it.  It’s sloppily shot, horrible cuts, and ridiculous framing.  I can always find something good about a movie, not so in this case.  I would plead to Nia and crew:  please no more movies like this.  HORRIBLE.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Not a darn thing.

Final Glimpse: This movie made $5,000 in 3 theaters.  That tells you something right there:  People actually have good taste.

38/365 Shutter Island

Starring: Leo DiCaprio, Mark Ruffalo, Sir Ben Kingsley

Genre: Suspense Drama

Discovery: Trip to movie theater, this was my pick.

Summary: Detectives Teddy Daniels (Leo DiCaprio) and Chuck Aule (Mark Ruffalo) are sent to Shutter Island in order to investigate a missing persons case at a mental hospital run by Dr. Cawley (Ben Kingsley).  As they pursue their case, a deeper plot starts unravelling.  Is this hospital what it says or is it a front for a sinister plot to control the patients for selfish gains?

First Glance: I will say this bold and outright.  This movie is a total treat in cinematography-land.  The DP Robert Richardson should get massive props for making this film a big part of what it is.  A visual delight.  It’s moody, dark, devious, and mysterious.  (Behind the scenes girl says: His idea to backlight the cigarette smoke is a favorite trick of mine, creates such an interesting dimension to a mundane activity.  Thanks to the gaffer for making that happen & those electrics who do the grunt work!)

Deeper Look: To gush about how I love this movie would not even begin to tell just what I find so great.  A huge part of it is that:  I love mysteries.  I like drama.  I like costumes.  I like period pieces.  I like rain.  I like old buildings.  I like great acting. This movie played to all those ideas.  It brought me to the child-like wonder that I watch movies with when I get really involved.  It doesn’t happen every time, so when it does I take notice.  Does that mean I think this is a movie coup with no flaws? No. It has a few.  None that I care to highlight.  I would rather you watch for yourself and draw your own conclusions.  You may just love it like I do because it’s a darn good movie.

What I Took Away from this Movie: Scorcese is a master storyteller (and no, i don’t love all his movies).

Final Glimpse: This review took me over a week to write because I was really unsure that of how to share just why I loved this film so much.  It’s not perfect but I did not want it to end.

37/365 Wristcutters: A Love Story

Starring: Patrick Fugit, Shannyn Sossamon, Leslie Bibb, Shea Wigham

Genre: comedy/fantasy

Discovery: The title caught my attention.

Summary: Zia (Patrick Fugit) kills himself after being dumped by his girlfriend and is sent to an afterlife specifically for peeps who commit suicide.  There he meets Eugene (Shea Wigham) and Mikal (Shannyn Sossamon) as they navigate their path through the afterlife visiting bars.  Zia finds out that his ex-girlfriend is there and he seeks to find her; which alters the path of his existence.

First Glance: It’s hard to describe just what I felt about this film.  A few words that comes to mind are: Boggled.  Tickled.  Interested.  Reflective.  The director chose some really interesting shots to tell the story, the general tone is summed up in the opening sequence.  You know just what kind of journey you are going to be taking. This isn’t to say you can guess what happens because you can’t.  In fact, you won’t want to.  You will be content to let it just unfold before you as you try catching up with the subjective nature of this film.

Deeper Look: One of the themes I will mention (but not spoil) is the one of suicide. There is no glamorizing but it’s shown very candidly.  If you feel overwhelmed by that topic this may not be a good movie for ya.  It doesn’t dwell though.  It quickly moves on to the love story & growth of the central character. (Behind the scenes girl says: Shea Whigham does one hell of a russian accent.) This flick is charming, something about it beguiled me.  Maybe it is the quirky, twisted nature that it took towards romantic relationships.

What I Took Away from this Movie: What you are chasing isn’t always the best for you.

Final Glimpse: If you can handle the delicate nature of suicide in a plot, this is a really interesting film.

Next Page »