Game of Thrones: Season Three Review

WARNING!!!  Stop if you haven't finished watching the third season of Games of Thrones. 
WARNING NUMBER 2!! This is a long post. 

I promise I will try my best not to be one of those "that's not how it was in the book" people and keep the two separate, but there are moments it is difficult to do that, when the show doesn't do a character and storyline justice and properly. Especially when how it impacts the future of the story. 

I've also decided that the easiest way to break down my thoughts and reactions to the season is simply by two categories: What I liked and what I didn't like about this season. 

To start, as critical as I may be at times of the show, I felt that overall the third season was done well. In many ways the best so far. The third novel in the A Song of Ice and Fire series - A Storm of Swords is the longest and a fan favourite (including mine). Many things happen that change the course of the series (as if that wasn't known already).   This season the  production value went up, the pace was slowed down and not every episode was crammed with all the multiple storylines, although at times I felt a few scenes where shoehorned in or rushed and not explained.  There was an overall attempt at character development and building and moving the plot forward. To quote Kit Harirngton (Jon Snow), this was an "impact season" as was the first.  It is also important to note, that the third season covered about 2/3 of the novel it is based on. The fourth season will continue and begin to incorporate more of the fourth book- A Feast for Crows. As the series continues, the fourth and fifth book: A Dance with Dragons, will be blended together. This makes sense since book four and five take place at the same time and are parallel, but with different and new character's and their point of views. 

Also, PLEASE hurry George R.R. Martin and finish The Winds of Winter and A Dream of Spring...okay, thanks! 

WHAT I DIDN'T LIKE

I have to start with my biggest criticism of the third season (actually starting form the second half of the second seaon) and that is of the characterization and storyline of Jon Snow. 

For those that know me, my personal crush on Kit Harington is not a factor. I like the character of Jon Snow in the books, especially in the third one and after, he has one of the best story/character arc in the series. It is sad that with a talented actor who understands the character so well and one of the few in the cast to have read the books. This isn't a criticism and I understand the reasons for the actors not wanting to. It is just you can tell through his interviews that Kit understands Jon in a way that the writers of the show don't and have decided to ignore. 

I knew we were in trouble when in the promotion gearing up to the third season there seemed to be a lot of focus on Jon's relationship with Ygritte. I'm not denying the importance of this, but Jon's time with the Wildings impacts who he is later on. This time for Jon is about "killing the boy and becoming a man" to paraphrase a line from the book. He is developing into the leader he is destined to be. Life beyond the wall and with the Wildlings isn't exactly what he thought it would be from what he was told and learned before. I can't say much more than that, but by not showing what Jon learns from Mance Raydar and his relationship with Tormund Giantsbane about the Wildlings will have to somehow be fixed in order to make his future decisions make sense. 

Along with this, they did not show how much inner turmoil Jon is dealing with during this time. He's loyal to the Night's Watch always, and everything he does is linked to the command given earlier in season two by Qhorin Halfhand for Jon to be a double spy that even includes Jon having to kill him. In the book Mance asks Jon why he has left the wall and wants to join the Wildlings just after he tells Jon that he has seen him before in Winterfell during the feast when King Robert asks Ned Stark to be his hand.  Jon knowing Mance is skeptical and he has to be convincing smartly answers- something along the lines of "you were there at the feast, you saw where they put the bastard, away in the other room so as not to offend." Meaning to me that is Jon trying to show that he is sick of being treated like crap and only known for being a bastard and a nobody even at the wall. So by becoming a Wilding, he has become "free" and nobody cares about his background. For someone who is naturally ambitious and wants to make something of himself this works.  In the show Jon's reason is that Commander Mormont knew about Craster sacrificing his sons to the white walkers and did nothing about it. So he "wants to fight for the side that fights for the living." This is enough to convince Mance to give Jon a chance. Please. The biggest fail is the portrayal of Jon's relationship with Ygritte. The show turned Jon into a lovesick puppy and it seemed at times this was something Stephanie Mayer could have written.  

 The show has decided to overdo the romance between Jon and Ygritte. I won’t even go into how annoying T.V Ygritte was/is. There was also hardly any build up this season of Jon showing any interest in Ygritte up to the cave scene. There is no bonding or really getting to know one another. This isn't some love story. Jon deciding to break his vows and have sex with Ygriite was not out of love. The first time was a way for Jon to further prove himself to the Wildlings. He was still under suspicion and this was a last resort for him and to survive. He was still essentially following orders to be a double spy. Jon cares for Ygritte yes, but this is more a young man confused about sex, love and lust, and his loyalty with the first female who isn't a family member he comes across. After every time Jon is "with" Ygritte" he feels guilty and confused. That he has betrayed himself, the Night's watch and even Ygritte.  There is no mountain top kiss, and no teary goodbye. When Jon finally sees his opportunity to leave he does  without hesitation. He gets up on the horse and flees. Ygrittte shoots ONE arrow, not an excessive three to his thigh. She does this not out of some betrayal  but out of anger and loyalty to the Wildlings, just like Jon is loyal to his brothers. She is attempting to stop him from warning the Night's Watch about the Wildling's plan of attack. Some people online have said that Jon is an ass for leaving Ygritte. Haven't they been paying attention? It was always about the Night's Watch and protecting the realm for Jon. What was he suppose to do? Pick up Ygritte and bring her back to Castle Black...that would have gone over well. 

For example: "I know one thing. I know that you are wildling to the bone. It was easy to forget that sometimes, when they were laughing together, or kissing. But then one of them would say something, or do something, and he would suddenly be reminded of the wall between their worlds." (ASOS, p. 559)

"Sometimes Jon forgot how wild she was, and then she would remind him." (ASOS, p. 558)

"Too many lives depended on his somehow reaching Castle Black before the Magnar." (ASOS, p. 560)

So instead of focusing on Jon's development and character, they focused and upped the romance. I've gone long enough about this, but they just didn't do this aspect of the story justice and it is so important. 

A little too much Theon.

Instead of focusing on Jon we get a scene with Theon or another in a brothel. Don't get me wrong, Alfie Allen is a great Theon and brings a depth to him and at times sympathy towards Theon we fight against. Theon is actually not in the third book at all, and doesn't reappear until fourth or fifth, I can't exactly remember. I understand for T.V purposes the audience had to be reminded of Theon and his storyline moved earlier, but I think a few scenes throughout the season could have been enough. That could have been replaced with a Jon or even a Bran scene. I must say, Iwan Rheon as Ramsay Bolton is creepy to watch, but he is so good and is arguably just as evil or more so as King Joffrey. 

Catelyn Stark

Poor Catelyn, and not just for what happens to her at the Red Wedding. That was horrible to read and was also bad, despite knowing what was happening to watch on screen. What upset me was how much reduced  as a character she became. Catelyn has POV chapters and everything is scene though her perspective. I liked that the writers expanded the character of Robb, and it was important in many ways and they had a great Robb Stark in Richard Madden. By doing this, they ended up cutting down Catelyn's character and importance. We don't see how politically smart Catelyn is. How much Robb counts on her advice, even after she releases Jamie Lannister. After all she was raised a Tully and married to Ned Stark for years. She knows how to play the game of politics, differently but just as equally as Cersei Lannister. They are meant to be opposites and balance each other out. Instead she is pushed into corners and reduced as nothing but a grieving mother, which is only part of her character. Michelle Fairley shinned this season when given the chance. Her monologue about praying for Jon not to die, then backtracking on her promise, her monologue about her father and childhood was acted wonderfully. Her final scene as a mother who has just watched her eldest (and to her knowledge her only son) die, reduced by grief and war to kill an innocent person herself, and then finally give up and be killed was heartbreaking. 

Unequal Nudity. 

Not that I'm a perv or anything, but for a show that claims it is and wants to be equal...it isn't. Yes sex and politics go hand in hand, even in the world of Westeros. Always has and always will. Yet there is more female nudity on the show than male. Whether it is a scene in a brothel, Daenerys taking bath, or Melisandre needing to be naked to get king's blood to name a few instances, can feel a little excessive at times. Seeing all of Theon in season one, a brief glimpse of Robb (who dresses while his wife writes a letter naked) and a long shot of Jon jumping into a hot spring doesn't cut it. Again, I'm not trying to be a perv, but if you're going to claim be equal and progressive...follow through. 

Direwolves

More please! I think that's is self explanatory. Not to get on a rant again, but the lack of Ghost by Jon's side is also problematic for plot reasons and that needs to be fixed for future happenings as well. They are just as important as dragons and are intertwined, literately with their characters. 

WHAT I DID LIKE

Jamie and Brianne

The banter and dynamic between these two is perfect. The friendship and the respect the two develop for one another is one of my favourite aspects of the series. I didn't want to start to like Jamie or get into his mindset when reading, but one of the great things about the books and series is that people are not black and white. To start to begin to at least understand Jamie and how he sees the world was extremely interesting to read and now watch. To see him go through a change as a character in how that vision of the world changes as well.. I wouldn't say Jamie is a 'good guy' but he is one of the most humanized, humbled and flawed characters in the series. It will be interesting to see how his character and storyline go (I do have a bit of an idea)  and  I can even accept some of the changes to his story, and they work well for T.V. Nikolaj Coster-Waldau is perfect as Jamie Lannister and Gwendoline Christie as Brianne of Tarth does just as much justice to the character. There should be a spin-off with these two, lol. 

Daenerys the badass. 

I had issues with her storyline last season, but that has almost been entirely fixed this season. We now have seen growth in Dany. She is more confident and stronger with herself and those around her. She is learning to be a leader in a harsh world. Learning the game of politics herself. Some criticisms have been made with how a white character is freeing lesser non white characters who are slaves ( to put it lightly). I can see were they are coming form, especially since in the books the people she comes across are all different in their look and races. Yet sometimes I think we are too sensitive and read too much into nothing. Or maybe I'm just too tired and blinded by my Jon disappointment that I can't think straight, lol. Some exciting stuff for her character is coming and it should be interesting to see how it all plays out in the books and TV series.  

Dragons and CGI

Linked to Daenerys are her dragons. As they grow and become more of a presence the special effects linked to them needs to be good, and they were this season.This is in part the production value being upped and better. That is probably where most of the money went to and the lack direwolves as a result. The show will probably get more money for its budget as a result of this season's success that will also be needed. The cinematography and sets are incredible for a show and will need to continue as more places, characters and crazy events are coming. 

The Red Wedding. 

I remember reading this and being in complete shock at what was happening. I wanted to smash my Kobo, scream and shout and almost gave up on the entire thing. How could this be! Then again, I shouldn't have been all too surprised. If you haven't learned by now, no one is safe in the Game of Thrones  and things can change quickly. Happiness, honesty, loyalty and general goodness tends to be punished. As much as I was dreading this event, a part of me was very curious and interested at how the show would handle this. From the hints and clues throughout the season to the actual event the show did it justice. As soon as the 'Rains of Catamere' began to play and Catelyn lifted Roose Bolton's shirt to reveal chainmail  my heart and stomach began to hurt all over again. And then it happened. Some are calling this a watershed moment in television history, and maybe so. That it will be up there with other iconic T.V moments such as 'who shot J.R.', Ross and Rachel kissing for the first time, and well, Ned Stark's death. It is an important moment in the series that essentially affects everyone. Michelle and Richard nailed it in this scene (I actually almost typed killed it). I'll never forget Robb's look on his face and his voice as he gives up and says "mother," and Catelyn's scream and look of total anguish up to her throat being slashed. RIP King of the North and Lady Stark. 

Want more salt into the wound? As this was Michelle and Richard's last scene to film, Richard admitted to leaving the set as soon as they were finished and got straight on a plane back to London from Belfast, crying 'like a crazy man' the all the way back. Michelle refused to answer calls and emails from the show creators for a week, and when she finally did, she said reason was that she was 'in mourning.' 

Too harsh? Think of this. Catelyn, Robb, Talisa, Greywind and Lady are now all reunited with Ned. 

There are more things about the third season of Game of Thrones that I could talk about, but these are the main issues that stuck out. Overall it was a great season and I can't imagine how difficult it is to adapt thousands of detailed pages into ten hours screen time per season. 

So now we wait. We wait almost a year until next spring for season four. 

Gender Gap In Film Criticism

I stumbled upon this article over at cinemablend.com - http://www.cinemablend.com/new/Study-Claims-There-Significant-Gender-Divide-Film-Criticism-37744.html

As disappointed as I am about this, it is not surprising. I can hardly name more than two female film critics  off the top of my head even though there are more, and that is from my film studies of Laura Mulvey and Kaja Silverman. This issue, and the lack of female directors around the world- not that I’m saying there isn't any. But name a female director besides Kathryn Bigelow (first female to win an Oscar  for directing in 2009), Sofia Coppola, Sarah Polley and the late Nora Ephron? 


"When you read a film review, do you pay close attention to the byline? Does the gender of the critic alter how you feel about the film, or the review? And do you only read reviews by critics of a certain gender? 

These are some of the questions being bandied around thanks to the results of a San Diego State University study claiming that men continue to “dominate” the field of film criticism and, in turn, tend to gravitate toward films that are written and/or directed by other men. THR shares a few of the study’s most interesting (and controversial) findings, while acknowledging that the study’s window of observation only took place over a two-month period this past spring. Over that time period, Martha Lauzen used Rotten Tomatoes to track more than 2,000 reviews written by the sites “Top Critics.” Her findings included: 

 - Men account for 78% of the Top Critics reviews on RT, writing 82% of filed reviews.

- A “large proportion” of the total reviews written by female critics were “about films directed by and/or written by at least one woman." 

- Men, also, disproportionately reviewed films written by or directed by men, though given the dominance of male directors and screenwriters in the film industry, that number would be hard to skew.

Reaction has been all over the place on social media in response to this report going public. Some have expressed outraged. Others aren’t shocked to find women underrepresented in the critical community. But few have come up with suggestions on how to reverse the trend. What do you think? Should there be more female film critics? Why do you think there aren't more women writing film criticism? And did you ever notice a dominant gender in film criticism before this study was released?" 

Another aspect of this study that is disappointing, again not all together surprising is that male critics mainly reviewed films written and directed by other men. And although women supporting other women is always nice, as seen in the statistic of female critics  reviewing films with a female director or writer, it shouldn't matter in the end. As naive and idealistic as this sounds, it shouldn't matter and it should be about the film and the art in the end. Maybe critics should watch edited copies of the film without opening credits and take away the director/writer information in the press kit,  or any  knowledge of the director/writer until after watching and reviewing the film, only knowing the synopsis and cast. 

Dream on right...

Keep trying to break that glass ceiling ladies!  

10 Seriously Insane Ways Famous Movie Actors Got Into Character

I thought I would share this article I found from 'whatculture' website. If you haven't checked this site out before, do so!! I've lost hours of my life because of the this site.

http://whatculture.com/film/10-seriously-insane-ways-famous-movie-actors-got-into-character.php

I've also always been fascinated by method acting in my film studies and general love of cinema. I also find it funny that  in my general knowledge, it seems that male actors in particular have gravitated towards this more than female actors. I wonder why. 

I was aware of most of these, but there were a couple on the list I already know. There are plenty of other examples as well. 

10. Daniel Day-Lewis – My Left Foot

You could easily write an entire list for the extreme ways in which Daniel Day-Lewis prepares for his roles in films, but let’s just get him out the way early shall we? So you have Bill the Butcher from Gangs of New York, in which Day-Lewis trained to be an actual butcher and refused to wear coats in the height of winter on set as it wasn’t in keeping with his character. He also supposedly demanded that everyone refer to him as Mr. President for the recent Lincoln and refused to break character whilst on set.

Then there is his most extreme and possibly most famous example of his extreme measures. It came about for the filming of the 1989 film My Left Foot in which Lewis played Christy Brown, a cerebral palsy sufferer who can only control one limb – his left foot.

To prepare, Day-Lewis (allegedly) refused to leave his wheelchair, demanded that he be force fed and broke to his ribs from remaining hunched over for too long a time, refusing to break character to fully understand the effects of the affliction Christy Brown endured.

This is probably the most famous example of insane ways actors get under their fictional/factual counter parts’ skin, yet with three Oscars to his name for best actor (the only actor to ever obtain such), the man must be doing something right.

9. Heath Ledger – The Dark Knight

It really is hard to believe, but when Christopher Nolan announced he had cast Heath Ledger in the Joker role for The Dark Knight, fan boys were up in arms. Known prior to it for playing pretty boy roles (a Knights Tale, 10 Things I hate About You) and the tortured souls (Brokeback Mountain, Monsters Ball), offering him the role of the Clown Prince couldn’t have been more off the mark. Or at least, so the world initially thought.

Heath Ledger locked himself in a hotel room, isolated himself from the outside world (including his own family) took prescription drugs by the bucket load and descended into a complete personal hell in order to really encapsulate the anarchy that comes with playing The Joker.

Ledger told reporters he “slept an average of two hours a night” while playing “a psychopathic, mass-murdering, schizophrenic clown with zero empathy. I couldn’t stop thinking. My body was exhausted, and my mind was still going.”

“Prescription drugs didn’t help.” he also added.

After tragically dying from a combination of said prescription drugs and exhaustion, the former Joker, Jack Nicholson, infamously stated he knew the reason for his Ledger’s demise.  “Well, I warned him.” – Cryptic and ill timed it may have been, but unfortunately for the world, it is a statement that wasn’t too far from the truth about the dangers of actors losing themselves in the dark world of method acting.

8. Christian Bale – The Machinist

There is method acting or getting into character, and then there is risking your life to evoke a sickening, harrowing feeling with an audience. Christian Bale’s character Trevor Reznik is one of the most memorable film performances for decidedly shocking and incorrect reasons.

The film itself is fantastic, a dark portrayal of a man losing his mind due to insomnia is worthy of any film lovers collection. But the staggering look of Bale can, for some, make it almost unwatchable. Bale went all the way down to 110 pounds (7 stone) for the role, supposedly living off a cup of black coffee, a can of tuna and an apple as his daily diet. The producers stepped in after Bale stated he wanted to lose more and reach 100 pounds, yet fearing for his health, they simply told him that it wasn’t a good idea.

Bale also took up smoking to curb his appetite, all equalling a very bad advert for healthy living, yet the results are a skeletal Bale who acts out of his saggy skin to make the role so believable. The film itself obtained critical acclaim, yet the dramatic weight loss shuns any spotlight on how good the film and its story actually are. Still, when a 30 year old man weights the same as an average 8 year old girl, it really is hard to look anywhere else.

7. Robert De Niro – Taxi Driver

De Niro lived and trained with Jake Le Motta for Raging Bull and Le Motta stated that he became so good at boxing that he could probably switch professions. But you probably all know about that one.

A much more extreme method of getting into character is actually changing your job to suit the role you were about to play. Taxi Driver is as much about driving a car around New York as The Godfather is about guns - there is much more depth to it than that. But old Bobby became a New York Cabbie none the less, to understand the clientèle that a taxi driver endured he obtained a provisional license and did pick ups for a few weeks.

New York in 70′s was a very different place to what it is now. Before the Bloomberg clean up, it was widely reported in the 70′s to be a much more hostile, dirty and frightening place to be due to rising crime levels and unsafe living conditions, a feeling that Taxi Driver really encapsulates. De Niro could have easily been attacked or robbed as many NYC cabbies were back then, yet by actually partaking in the job he was attempting to replicate, it is a real testament to Robert De Niro’s craft as an actor.

6. Tom Cruise – Collateral

You are the most famous movie star working today, your films still manage to top the box office irrespective of quality and you have one of the most recognizable faces in the world. So how do you hide your face to become a generic, unrecognizable everyman?

With the help of an aging beard and different hair cut to make his look totally unlike anything he had done before, Cruise attempted to ‘blend’ into the role of a hitman Vincent in Michael Mann’s Collateral. Playing a man who stalks his victims and takes them out without looking any different than your average Joe is role that Cruise went one step further to achieve.

For a few months before shooting, he worked in LA as a FedEx delivery man, attempting to float into normality by delivering packages around bustling Los Angeles to become anything but the most famous movie star on the planet.

Cruise spoke about the experience stating “I got my mission; go in and deliver this package to this place. Then go to this area, buy a coffee and sit down and just talk. It was just a great acting exercise. I’m a very good stalker now too, which is excellent.”

5. Marlon Brando – The Men

No list about getting into character in extreme ways or method acting would be complete, or worth a grain of salt, without featuring the Granddaddy of method; Marlon Brando.

For the 1950 anti war film ‘The Men’, Brando played a paralyzed war vet who tries to adjust to the world without the use of his limbs. This was his onscreen debut that treated the world to the birth of a star with an incredibly realistic performance of such a harrowing, anti war sentiment laden film. At the time, this kind of film was a shocking watch.

An acting student of  Lee Strasberg, the revolutionary founding father of method acting (who also trained Paul Newman, Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, James Dean, Dustin Hoffman and Jack Nicholson to name a few), Brando popularized ‘the method’ in the 50’s and went on to use it throughout his career, forever the cornerstone and epitome of being at one with your character.

For this his first film, he prepared for it by reportedly lying in bed for a month in a veterans’ hospital. Immobilized and unable to look himself, Brando started a trend that has since stretched itself out across the very best of the acting world.

4. Johnny Depp – Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas

According to legendary film folklore, Johnny Depp approached Hunter S Thompson before filming Fear and Loathing, asking him if he wouldn’t mind if he lived with him for a while, shadowing his every move and becoming life long friends in the process. Thompson agreed, told him to live in his basement for the foreseeable, but under no circumstances smoke any cigarettes down there.

Depp agreed, yet found it odd that Hunter S Thompson, a man renowned for hard drugs use, crazy antics and most aptly, chain smoking asked him to avoid smoking cigarettes in his basement. Depp decided to sit down on a rickety old chair and spark up anyway.

After a few tokes of his cigarette, he noticed that the ash tray he was using (and the man-made seat he was perched in) was nothing but stacks of dynamite. He screamed for Thompson to come down to his basement and confirm whether or not it was real dynamite. Thompson replied that Depp ‘Could have blown us all to bits!’ Smoking does indeed kill, but not if you live as dangerously as Thompson, it would appear that he has much more exotic ways of kicking the bucket.

After his ill timed suicide in 2005, Johnny Depp bank rolled Thompsons life long request to have his ashes shot out of a cannon – A truly explosive friendship from start to finish and one that is proof that sometimes life truly is stranger than fiction.

3. Dustin Hoffman – Marathon Man

Probably one of the most famous lines uttered by the legendary Laurence Olivier was not one spoken in one of his many great roles, but the supposed quip he aimed at Dustin Hoffman of the back of him training to play Babe in the 1976 film Marathon Man.

The story goes that a history student obsessed with running gets placed unintentionally into a nightmare world of international conspiracy involving some stolen diamonds, an exiled Nazi (Olivier) and a really bad trip to the dentist. I know, right? Crazy. The words ‘Is it safe?’ will forever reverberate in your mind when you visit the dentist after this film.

Hoffman, a method actor by trade, got so prepared for the character he played that he lost 15 pounds after running up to four miles a day to get in shape for the demanding role. Legendary Producer Robert Evans claimed that Hoffman would never come into a scene faking the heavy breathing required, and that he would simply run half a mile right before director John Schlesinger yelled ‘action’ to make the scene more believable. This is something that supposedly led to the famous line Olivier fired at him; ‘Why not try acting? It is much easier.’ A moment in cinematic history that Hoffman vigorously denies.

But why would you admit it? One of the greatest character actors of all time destroyed the supposed ‘method’ acting in favour for his preferred way of just pretending to be someone else with one single, now infamous, line. Either way, both performances are solidified as two of the best to come out the 1970′s.

2. Adrian Brody – The Pianist

Adrien Brody is a man who has suffered for his art. He is also a man, whose fall from grace is one of the biggest on the Hollywood timeline, being the youngest person to win an Oscar for Best Actor for his fantastic portrayal  in Roman Polanski’s The Pianist, only to now slump in a swarm of mediocrity and poor film choices.

To prepare for the role of Wladyslaw Szpillman, and in order to feel more connected with the feeling of loss he felt the role required, Brody sold his possessions and moved away before the production of the film.

“I gave up my apartment, I sold my car, I disconnected the phones, and I left,” he says. “I took two bags and my keyboard and moved to Europe.”

His humble outlook towards the role he played, along with the need for the film world to see him at the top of his game is warranted in his sentiments towards the experience:

“The beauty of what I do is it gives you the opportunity to give up who you are and attempt to understand someone else, another time, other struggles, other emotions. If you really do experience a lot of them, you connect and it’s very rewarding.”

Brody’s disconnection with his material life style, is the best example of the positive moral reasons that more actors should partake in this ‘method in the madness’ theory of acting.

1. The Entire Cast – One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest

Strange one this, with the exception of it’s main star, Jack Nicholson, the cast of One Flew Over committed themselves to a psychiatric ward to get into character for the 1975 Oscar littered film. One of the strongest points to this film is the superfluous acting of the supporting cast that includes Danny DeVito, Christopher Lloyd and Brad Diouf.

When you concentrate on the message of the film, it really hammers home the reason these actors divulged in such a method and why Nicholson avoided it. Nicholson is playing the guy who isn’t at all mentally ill, a man who by his own admissions doesn’t need mental help, and who is simply there to get out of work in jail. For that reason, he did not commit himself and thus isolated his connection to the others who were portraying mentally ill patients.

You can see how much of an effect this had on the stars of the film by watching the making of documentary that comes along with the DVD/Blu Ray version of the film. They claim that there wasn’t any acting on show here and that by committing themselves to be a mental asylum, it is nothing but real. We see a distant Sydney Lassick (who plays one of the most interesting fore fronting characters in Cheswick) looking out the window of the mental institute and contemplating his own life and what it means to be institutionalized. His distant look and far away speech simply shows how close he has come to the edge and echoes what the very film tries to portray: In the battle for freedom, does conforming to authority make one more insane, or is it the freedom of expression that sets you free?

Film Review: The Great Gatsby

Directed by: Baz Luhrmann. Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Toby Maguire, Carey Mulligan, Joel Edgerton and Elizabeth Debicki. Screenplay by: Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce. Adapted from The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerarld.

On paper it sounds perfect. Take one of the greatest 20^th century novels about the roaring 20’s and match it with Baz Luhrmann’s grandiose style. Cast (arguably) one of the best working actors as the doomed lead Jay Gatsby- the personification of the rise and fall the American dream. VOILA! An instant hit! Equaling in 51.1 million in its opening weekend; or how much Gatsby spends on one of his parties.

In a way it is perfect how polarizing my feelings and reviews in general have been for the fifth big screen adaptation of The Great Gatsby.

On the one hand you have Luhramann perfectly capturing the obsceneness of how decadent the rich played and lived during this era, as described in Fitzgerald’s novel.  People were prospering, WWI forgotten and years until the depression and WWII.  The American dream was alive and well.  On the other hand, Luhrmann doesn’t have the same critical tone and irony Fitzgerald does.  

This is ironic in itself because Fitzgerald and his wife Zelda were part of that rich circle he criticises.

Luhrmann has a more sympathetic tone towards his characters as well, even if they are suppose to be selfish and empty and carless, or sad and pathetic.  It would have just been nice if he focused a little more on characterization and lingered a little more on the more climatic moments.

His focus seemed to be more on style than substance.

I also felt that having this film in 3D was more distancing and distracting at times and overall not needed.  As well as having Nick Carraway in a sanitarium dealing with his depression and alcoholism by being given a typewriter as part of his therapy, (in the book, Nick is just remembering and retelling the story on his own) bookending the beginning and end of the film felt the same as Christian in Moulin Rouge.

What did Luhramann do right?

His casting.

Leonardo DiCaprio, despite playing a little younger (Gatsby is 32) while Leo is closing in on 40 (typing that made me want to cry a little) is a great Gatsby. He captures his smooth, sleek and charismatic side, while also seeing a more uncertain, tortured, and even pathetic at times in his unwavering dream and vision of Daisy.  He also has one of the best and fitting entrances in a film- complete with slow-mo, close-up, fireworks and swelling music.

Carey Mulligan, despite my first thoughts of being too obvious in her casting is also a great Daisy Buchanan. Daisy is described as “precious,” “airy” and even “light”. Always wearing white and in sparkling jewels. Mulligan is bubbly like the champagne that’s always present, but also captures her sadness, confusion and selflessness.  Daisy is a polarizing character. You can see her as a product of the time and her position in society, or a high-school like mean girl who in the end cares for only herself.

I also must add as a side note that despite Leonardo and Cary acting well in their respected roles, their onscreen chemistry as lovers fell flat to me.

Toby Maguire is not a bad actor and he plays the stories narrator, Nick Carraway pretty much by the book. Nick is not a rich and confident man like Gatsby and Tom Buchanan. Nick is arguabluy the empty vessel  for viewers or readers to place themselves in, since he is retelling the story. Nick is the quiet, shy, good guy who just wants to live his life in peace. We don’t know too much else about him.  This could have just been me, but by casting Maguire, I felt a little like I was watching a 1920’s version of Peter Parker, before he becomes Spiderman.

Rounding out the strong cast is Joel Edgerton as the brutish Tom Buchanan and Elizabeth Debicki as the Katherine Hepburn like Jordon Baker.

I personally like Luhrmann’s use and blend of music and music genres for his films. To me it is the equivalent to what Tarantino does with his music, yet Luhrmann tends to get raked over the coals for it. I did not find it overly distracting having Jay Z (a producer of the film and friend to DiCaprio) play in the background, among other contemporary artists.

What else did Luhrmann do right?  Having costume designer Catherine Martin handle the wardrobe. Absolutely stunning and singlehandedly in charge of bringing back 1920’s style that is seen in all the high end clothing and jewellery shops. Beautiful production design and set decorations all blend and seen beautifully with cinematography by Simon Duggan.

When all is said and done, this newest adaptation of The Great Gatsby is beautiful to watch and listen to if nothing else.  

As one song from the film’s soundtrack states: “A little party never killed nobody.” 

Keep Calm And...Watch Films From the UK!

This summer I am going on a dream trip to the UK! I am so excited and can’t wait! I will be able to scratch off certain countries and cities on my list of places around the world I want to travel to.

In honour of this upcoming trip...a list of some great films that not only take place in the UK, but are UK produced films.

Trainspotting Directed by Danny Boyle

I remember being 11 (maybe 12) and one of my older sisters sneaking me in to watch this film in theatre. I was probably way too young at the time, and I have watched it multiple times since. Sadly I still have to watch it with the subtitles on, because the Scottish accents are just so think at times and the dialogue to rapid that I don’t want to miss anything.  With a kick ass soundtrack that is still awesome to listen to.

I must also admit that I have to thank this film for its hand in turning me off drugs completely.

Director Danny Boyle has hinted recently that there are talks about a sequel in 2016. That there was always an idea to do this and it would take place 20 years after the first film and loosely inspired by the book Porno that is also the sequel to the Trainspotitng novel by Irvine Welsh. 

We shall see if it happens.

 A link to an article with more details of this possibility. This could be good or really bad.  http://collider.com/trainspotting-2-sequel-danny-boyle/

And, agreeing with the above article, one of the best opening scenes for a film...

Pirate Radio (AKA The Boat that Rocked) Directed by Richard Curtis

Speaking about kick ass soundtracks! Pirate Radio is all about the British music scene in the 1960’s. The BBC had a large amount of control and influence on  mainstream radio offered very little promotion to the rise of pop and rock ‘n’ roll music right in its prime. In response to this neglect, DJ’s and other music lovers, set up gorilla like radio stations on boats outside English boundary waters...hence “pirate radio.” 

This became extremely popular and mainstream broadcaster and government took notice and were not happy. 

It is fun look inside this part of British, pop culture and music history.

Elizabeth Directed by Shekhar Kapur

One of the greatest leaders and characters in history, Elizabeth Tudor (the last Tudor monarch and with famous parents King Henry VIII and Anne Boleyn) aka Elizabeth I is shown in a realistic way unlike other portrayals of this famous Queen. We see her shaky rise to the throne and political/religious instability, to becoming known as the “Virgin Queen” and winning the love of her people. The film is filled with the lush visuals, beautiful costumes depicting the Elizabethan fashion and amazing cinematography. Played wonderfully by Cate Blanchett, I am still bitter more than ten years later that Gwyneth Paltrow won best actress over Cate and I still consider it one of the great injustices in Oscar history.

In 2007 there was a sequel of sorts with Elizabeth the Golden Age, where the focus was on an older Queen and the end of her reign.

Fish Tank Directed by Andrea Arnold

A recent trend in the UK film has been the focus on poverty/lower economic status and social issues that link to that and affect everyone.

The film is about a troubled 15 year old Mia, who lives with her mother and younger sister and the fall out within the family (and with Mia personally) that occurs after Mia meets her mother’s newest boyfriend, Conner (played by Michael Fassbender). A difficult film at times to watch but this 2009 Cannes Jury prize winner is worth it.

Sweet Sixteen Directed by Ken Loach

Continuing on the previously mentioned trend is Sweet Sixteen. I actually have to thank a friend of mine who showed me this film. The film takes place in a small Scottish town (again subtitles might be needed) and is a coming of age film about Liam who (along with his friend) come up with ways to make money that are not exactly legal. He does all  of this and buys a trailer so when his mother gets out of prison the day before his 16^th   birthday, he and his mother can live in it. As well as re-establishing a relationship with his estranged more level headed sister and her child, so they can all start fresh and forget the past.

Sadly life doesn't always go the way we want it to.

In the Name of the Father Directed by Jim Sheridan

Did you think that I would do some blog post about UK films and NOT include one with Daniel Day -Lewis in it?

In the Name of the Father is taken from the true story of Belfast born Gerry Conlon, a petty thief who is at the wrong place and the wrong time and  is falsely accused of an IRA terrorist bombing and part of the group known as the “Guildford four.” Gerry’s father (who originally sent Gerry to England to set his life straight) gets mixed up and is also accused of being a terrorist. For 15 years the two are in prison and despite the harshness of prison life stand by their innocence and the injustice done to them. Finally, a lawyer, Gareth Peirce, comes across their case and decides to reopen it. Seeing the mistakes done before and taking a new approach to set them free.

Add a soundtrack by U2 that matches the powerful performances.

It is a sad and touching story of a father and son and the horrors of a justice system gone wrong, and of the IRA and the British government. With a gritty look into the past struggles and the memories that still linger today despite delicate peace treaties.

 Hunger Directed by Steve McQueen

In more “films to make us socially aware” there is the first of three collaborations between Michael Fassbender and Steve McQueen (Shame and the upcoming Twelve Years a Slave are the other two).

Hunger, like In the Name of the Father is also based on true events.  The story of Bobby Sands-an Irish Republican activist who goes on a hunger strike in protest of the treatment of Irish inmates by the British guards and England’s refusal to recognize Bobby and other inmates as political prisoners in well known high security Maze prison in Belfast.

The film starts of focusing on two other prisoners before Bobby Sands enters the picture and is graphic in its violence and the harsh environment of the prison. It should also be noted that there is very little dialogue in the film on top of the slow pace, so try and stay with it. There is a great scene and monologue by Fassbender where is he is talking to a Priest who has come to visit him and pleads for him to stop his hunger strike.

It should also be noted that Fassbender’s physical transformation as he withers away is intense and up there with Christian Bale’s transformation for The Machinist.

Other notable films

      Rob Roy

     Ginger and Rosa

     Red Road

    Harry Potter (What? It takes place in England? And filmed in the UK)

   The Tudors (A TV series about one of the most famous kings in England and filmed in Ireland).

   Game of Thrones (I know, I’m obsessed. Westeros and the culture George R.R. Martin has created is obviously inspired by Medieval England and Europe. Also partly filmed in Ireland).

I’m sure there are plenty I have missed, so feel free to recommend some film for me to watch before my trip!  I've already added The Wind That Shakes the Barley. 

Reading List Update: AKA Books That Are or Aren't Films Yet!

I`m sorry for the lack of posts recently (for those that do read this, lol), but life and lack of ideas/imagination and inspiration have plagued me lately.

I thought I would do a bit of an update with some books that I have read recently.

·         

     The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern 

     The author shows great  talent with her first novel, a bestseller and picked up shortly after its release to be adapted into a film. That is no small feat. 

I found myself engaged and wanting to read on because I was curious as to how it was going to play out and end; how the competition/game would play out between Celia and Marco and affect them and those around them. When I thought I had an idea of what was going to happen next, usually something occurred and I would have to adjust my theories in trying to figure it all out. 

The novel is full of rich details and descriptions of the circus and all the magic that is involved as well as the era, giving the reader what is needed to form the images in their mind. 

Sadly, in a way that is also the one of my minor complaints about the novel. 

Don’t get me wrong, I love the details and the descriptions, and it is important for a book like this, but I think the character development of Celia and Marco and their story slightly suffered from it. I just felt that there was just a little too much in describing the circus, the atmosphere and all the acts, all the talk about the competition/circus from the other characters, that developing the story between Celia and Marco got lost a little. I think there should have been a bit more interaction between Celia and Marco. I understand that they were destined to be together and bound before they even met, the whole love at first sight. Maybe I’m too realistic or whatever, but I would have liked more of their development and getting to know one another and the build up before they admit their feelings to one another. And as much as I liked Celia and Marco, I feel that I still don’t know them that well as individuals/characters like I have with other books. 

     This is being adapted into a film as well, and could be visually STUNNING if done right. I'm thinking something along the lines of The Prestige meets Twelfth Night.  Like the novel, the movie might slightly suffer from focusing on the visuals and not the characters, in particular Celia and Marco. 

·   The Fault in Our Stars by John Green

Another book that is being adapted into a film,  naturally,  with director Josh Boone and scriptwriters Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber (500 Days of Summer, The Spectacular Now) . The story of two teens, Hazel and Augustus who both have cancer and meet a support group was not exactly what I thought it would be. It was slightly predictable at times but the writing is good and the characters believable that attempts to give a realistic look at a  illness, death and other issues through a teenager’s perspective. Not that I know what it is like to have cancer, but I did have some serious health issues at the same age as Hazel and Augustus and there was an element to them and the story that I related to. I did become invested and although by halfway I did have an idea how it would all end, I was still engrossed and entertained with the read.

No official word yet, but early rumours put Shailene Woodley and Hailee Steinfeld in competition and talks for the female lead of Hazel Lancaster. 

With the right script adaptation, casting and direction, this could be a great film. 

·   The Mortal Instruments series by Cassandra Clare

    Book one: City of Bones

    Book two: City of Ashes 

    Book three: City of Glass

    Book four: City of Fallen Angels

    Book five: City of Lost Souls

    Book six: City of Heavenly Fire (coming September 2014) 

No judging, but I read this series after I got through a bunch of heavy books and really wanted something fun and light to read. Or as a good friend likes to call it: “literary junk food” that’s good for the soul. There is nothing wrong with that. Simply put, the story of Clary Fray discovering the secret world of Shadowhunters- half human half angels- who fight demons and the like.  Yes, there is a bit of a love triangle between Clary and the bad boy/but not really a bad boy Jace Wayland and her best friend Simon. Without giving much away, the tirangle is solved halfway in the series and not really the main focus. Arguably more in common with Harry Potter than Twilight.   This is a YA (young adult) series, but compared to other book in the same category, and some personal complaints about the writing and plot, it is a fairly solid and fun read overall.  Also, another friend of mine’s father did some set construction on the film adaption of the first book.  If the first film does well (it most likely will) it has the potential to be a big and successful franchise in the same league as The Huger Games and Twilight. Even with six books (with a really tight timeline) that could make it difficult to keep going.

Film Trailer!

    A Feast for Crows and A Dance with Dragons

   Books four and five in the A Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin

   Book one: A Game of Thrones

   Book two: A Clash of Kings

   Book three: A Storm of Swords

   Book four: A Feast for Crows

   Book five: A Dance with Dragons

   Book six: The Winds of Winter (release date TBA)

   Book seven: A Dream of Spring (release date TBA and final book) 

   This series (for those that have not read the books or watched the HBO show) is difficult to summarize and  describe.  It is more than just bunch of crazy people all fighting and killing one another for the Iron Throne of Westeros.

   I admit I am a complete geek when it comes to these books and the show. I have lost hours on the internet reading and discussing theories on how it is all going to go down in the end.

   I applaud those die-hard fans who have stuck with the series since the first novel was written about twenty years ago and have spent an average of three to five years in between novels.

   Season three starts on March 31 and will cover about 2/3 of the third novel in the series, which is mine and the majority of the fan base’s favourite, and considered to be the better written, or one of the better written books so far in the series. I also loved book one and five.   

   And for a little fun... I would never attempt to speed up a writer’s/artists creative process, but, please George..."write like the wind!". I need to know what happens to my beloved Jon Snow.  

On a more serious note: The show does have the potential to run into a serious problem with catching up or maybe even getting ahead of the books-depending how things go. HBO contracted many of the actors for six seasons (unprecedented before) to 2015/2016. That should bring it to the end of adapting book five for the show. Yet, there is no official word on when book 6 will be released, although going with George’s pattern, not to expect anything before the end of 2014.  Book 7...who knows. Many fans (myself included) don't want the show to get ahead of the books, for obvious reasons. Despite show creators and head writers David Benioff and Dan Weiss being told by George R.R. Martin  how it all goes down and to finish the show should he die before he finished the last two novels. 

A neat article with a more detailed look into this potential problem: http://winteriscoming.net/2013/03/what-if-game-of-thrones-overtakes-the-books/                              

P.S. Should the show adapt all seven books (potentially up to summer 2019) it will be the longest running live action television series in history. The Simpsons I believe have that honour for an animated series.                                                                                                                                                

Just like the story, everything is up in the air. 

  The Last of the Mohicans by James Fenimore Cooper

I will admit that this was one of the most difficult books I have read. Seeing how the novel was written in 1826, the language is dense and not what I am use to and difficult to understand at times.  I was also silly and ignorant when I first started the book. I thought it would be more like the film, but it was not and I was disappointed. The books is more about Duncun and his perspective rather than Hawkeye and Cora, or are more secondary characters.  Having said that, just like when I read my first Tolstoy and Hemingway  I felt a great sense of accomplishment at crossing of another literary classic off the list.

 The Road by Cormac McCarthy

This is not a light, fluff read. It is one of the most dark, depressing and  realistic books I have read. Without giving too much away, don’t expect and hopeful or satisfying end with this one. The story of a father and son, known only as "the man" and "the boy" and their harsh and intense struggle to stay alive in a post-apocalyptic America . I really don't want to say more than that about the book.  The film adaptation (that I watched after reading the book) does a good job with keeping with the spirit and story as well. 

Happy Reading!