Movie Monday: The Descendants

Golden Globe Best Picture Drama winner The Descendants is released January 27th, in the UK.  I saw the trailer yesterday for the first time and was immediately moved by it.  If this movie hasn't caught your eye yet, then check it out below.  I can imagine it may very well be adorning your "must watch" list too.

Movie Monday: McNally Family Halloween Traditions

Next Monday is Halloween and in the McNally household there are three films that are ALWAYS played around this time and another that I am particularly fond of and so am throwing in the mix this year.  In preparation for this festive time I thought I'd give you a brief synopsis of each so you too can make sure they are adorning your DVD player on All Hallows Eve!

HOCUS POCUS

If you haven't seen this then you are missing out on a Disney Classic.  What better way to celebrate Halloween than with the Sanderson sisters, that's Winifred (Bette Midler), Mary (Kathy Najimy) and Sarah (Sarah-Jessica Parker).  In 1693, Salem, Massachusetts, three evil witches are preparing to suck the lives out of children to ensure their youth and allow them to live forever.  Although they manage to take the life of young Emily and turn her older brother Thackory Binx into a black cat that shall live forever, they are caught and hung.  The villagers of Salem weren't quick enough though and the Sanderson sisters managed to make one last plea to their master, the devil and place a curse on the house, promising to return when a virgin lights the black flame candle on All Hallows Eve.  1993 Max does just that and of course all hell breaks loose coupled with a fair few laughs over the sister's interpretations of modern day life.

WHAT LIES BENEATH


Albeit it's really the music that makes you jump more than anything, we've been playing this movie every Halloween since I don't even know when.  Claire Spencer (Michelle Pfeiffer) starts to see and feel some odd goings-on in her New England home after taking her daughter off to University.  Shrugging the bizarre activity off as an over active imagination and far too much time on her hands the scary happenings become more frequent and disturbing.  Husband, Norman (Harrison Ford) tries to put her mind at ease but Claire continues to delve into all sorts of possible answers and as she begins to unravel the story of her distressing past a year ago, a past she had since forgotten due to a traumatic accident, everything suddenly becomes clear.

PRACTICAL MAGIC


One of my favourite movies ever, from the music to the backdrop of the very eccentric New England home.  The Owen's women have a curse placed on the men they fall in love with by ancestor Maria, who was accused of witchcraft in the 1600's.  Whilst Sally (Sandra Bullock) and Gilly (Nicole Kidman) battle with the opinions of others and their judgement over their witchy history, a sticky jam arises with an abusive boyfriend that leaves all the Owen's women in a bit of a bind.  Spellbinding story!

THE CRUCIBLE


Adapted from the Arthur Miller play based on the famous 1692 Salem Witch Trials, I hold a soft spot for this due to playing Elizabeth Proctor in the school play some years ago now.  It documents the hysteria surrounding the trials and enforced by the children who began to accuse,whilst introducing Salem villagers whom were actually killed or accused at the time.  It touches on storylines however that are thought to be inaccurate and created purely for entertainment purposes.  Abigail (Winona Ryder) begins to accuse fellow town folk of Salem of witchcraft after being caught dancing naked in the woods with other young girls of Salem.  The lies spiral out of control and the girls are all mesmerised by Abigail and her accusations, part excited by the concept of being in control of the village and part fearful that they would be accused next if they rebelled.  Amongst the accused is both John (Daniel Day Lewis) and Elizabeth Proctor who were Abigail's former employers and John her ex-lover.

*Image taken from www.imdb.com

Movie Monday: Because I said so...

Diane Keaton, mother of three beautiful daughters spends all her waking and many sleeping hours trying to control her daughters lives.  Who they date and marry, what jobs they have, how she thinks they should live their lives.  Her biggest worry is her youngest, played by Mandy Moore, who is constantly falling for the wrong guy and seems to have no desire to rush into marriage.  Why does Diane think she is the founder of all knowledge?  Because she says so!

Firstly lets address the fact that any film containing Diane Keaton and Lauren Graham is going to be a thumbs up in my book.  Diane, even though quite type cast, these days anyway, is simply a screen goddess.  When I'm a more mature woman, read 60+, I want to be rocking out the grey streak at the front of my hair, as seen in the Family Stone and the huge skirts she's sporting in this movie.  We'll call it modern chic.

That being said, I recall the reviews of this film, upon it's release into the cinema, not being particularly flattering.  No wonder.  Despite my not so secret love for Diane and Lauren, the film failed to be a hit with me, even just to pass the time.  If I'm honest it was annoying.  Odd word to describe a movie right?  Well imagine an entire scene being devoted to a ringing phone.  An unanswered phone in my world is like nails down a blackboard.  It got to the point that my entire family wanted to jump through the screen and answer it for them.  Diane was also particularly...hmmm....how do I put it...aggravating.  Although, she was meant to be frustrating, so I suppose she did her job BUT she was so frustrating to the point, that again my entire family wanted to break through the screen to throttle her.

Where Because I said so did get it right was with the overall concept of the film.  I dare any of you not to watch it and agree that Diane is a more famous apparition of your own mother.  Her similarities to my busy body mother were uncanny.  Today in fact she, my mum not Diane Keaton, told me, AGAIN, that internet dating was no longer frowned upon and it might be nice for me to find and I quote "a friend".  If you watch this movie you'll understand why this is so poignant.  My father's opinion and believe me he's been forced to watch a fair few chick flicks in his time he's practically a connoisseur, "You've put this on to annoy me haven't you?  It's like watching our lives."

Tune In...

For cutie Gabriel Macht

Cute right?!

Tune Out...

If you live in a house full of women and you are a man

Perfect For...

Watching on your own.  Don't ever watch this with your mother.  If she hasn't already come up with a similarly heinous plan to get you a man like Diane yet, she will do after this.

Here's the trailer...

*Images taken from www.imdb.com

Movie Monday: Bubbles

I can't quite recall how I first came across Bubbles but I know that it was on twitter.  I saw the trailer and was simply captivated.  It incorporated all the things I adore; melancholy music, a picturesque setting and emotional angst seeping from every shot.

A week ago I was lucky enough to see the short in it's entirety at a special screening session that Writer and Director, Leyla Pope, organised at the Soho Screening Rooms.  It was everything the trailer promised to be and such a feat considering she only had 15-20 minutes to tell the story.  My favourite contribution to the piece is the choice of music and where it is placed within.  Music is so evocative and teamed with the talented actors involved and the storyline, it really managed to capture some beautiful moments.  

Small, independent British films don't really get much credit or make it to the big time-it's a tough industry out there-but I can assure you that every single member of the audience a week ago was yearning for Bubbles to be a full length film, as the credits rolled.  So I beg of you, watch this trailer and try and tell me you haven't fallen in love with Bubbles too.  Then head on over to their twitter and facebook pages to show your support.

Movie Monday: One Day



It's not often that I see a film and can't find a few redeeming qualities to it.  In fact more often than not, even if the film is appalling there is still some remote amusement from it because I, as many do, enjoy the act of the cinema.  The concept of sitting in a dark room and totally forgetting who you are, what's going on in your life and instead being completely ensconced in somebody else's thoughts, feelings, actions and consequences.  Unfortunately for the entire of One Day I sat there completely aware that I was indeed in a cinema and completely aware that there were a bunch of mostly very good actors on the screen playing dress up.  It wasn't all the actor's faults though, in several cases they were actually the victim of just some very bad casting.

Before I go any further I think it's very important that you all understand that I was really willing it to be at least vaguely entertaining.  Reviews have been less than complimentary but everybody knows that a critic is far more, well, critical, than the average viewing public.  I also would like you to know that I can critique this myself from both sides of the spectrum as I have both read the book and not read the book.  This leads nicely on to how much effort I put in today to like this film.  Of the five of us that were seeing it, I was one of two that had not read the book.  At approximately 9am I began.  That's right I tried to read the entire 435 pages in  7 hours, which may sound do-able but it actually wasn't when factoring getting ready and getting to the cinema.  I made it eventually to page 229 which took me half way through the book, just enough to get an idea of the characters but I had no idea where they would end up .

The story follows Emma (Anne Hathaway) and Dexter's (Jim Sturgess) friendship across twenty years (I only made it ten in the book) as she struggles with her romantic feelings for him whilst he seems half oblivious to them, half in denial.  The current running through the book and that of the film is that it focuses on one particular day in each of those years, July 15th, as a sample of their lives as the time passes by.

Firstly, let's address the elephant in the room.  Anne Hathaway's accent.  The role called for her to have a Yorkshire accent and it has been widely documented that she did a particularly bad job of it.  I'm no Yorkshire accent specialist but it doesn't take a genius to know that continuity is quite a big deal and that was what I and every other non-yorkshire-accent-specialist, would have noticed.  From the opening credits to lights up it would have been quite understandable for any of us to think that Emma (Hathaway) was having some kind of identity crisis.  Throughout the first scene I actually recall thinking her accent was bad because she sounded like she had a very standard British accent, not quite RP but not far off.  However, just moments later and completely unprepared for it, a broad northern accent suddenly appeared for a sentence before she made a quick return to her previous dialect.  This was a recurring incident throughout the film and no matter how many times it happened it still took me by surprise and resulted in me releasing a little chuckle.  This in itself was incredibly distracting and the main reason why I felt that Emma's character never fully developed in the film for me, that and the fact that there were emotions that weren't played out when they should have been. 

Sturgess's portrayal of Dexter was far better but even he didn't fully develop for me until at least half way through.  One of the most important aspects of a successful film, book or play is for the audience to care about what happens to the characters in it and unfortunately this just didn't evolve for me with Emma and only very close to the end for me with Dexter.

Upon reading the first half of the book and knowing that Emma's hopeless boyfriend Ian was to be played by Rafe Spall, I immediately believed that he was the perfect actor for the part and although I still stand by my initial feeling, Spall overplayed the part and seemed far too much like a creepy old man, that was reminiscent of a David Walliams character from Little Britain.  Ian was so repulsively odd in fact that instead of appreciating that Emma may have felt sorry for him it became impossible to believe that she ever would have gone on a date with him in the first place.  Suki, one of Dexter's many girlfriends fell victim to some really horrific casting.  So much was the case that when actress Georgia King was introduced as the character both my sister and I gasped "No!" in unison.  King, a fantastic actress in the flesh, never quite transfers to the big screen for me, as her characters tend to seem over-dramatised and unbelievable, this teamed with her awkward look means that the pretty, petite and naturally bubbly girl in the book never came alive in the film.  

Very few books ever transfer into film the way we imagine them but I think One Day, even done to the best of it's ability would never have succeeded.  Twenty years, even when accounting for one day a year, is a long time and a couple of hours was not long enough to condense all the emotions and developments of Emma's and Dexter's lives.  Instead we were rushed through the first ten with very little time to take in the relationship or even understand how or why they were friends.  Due to the pace, as an audience member Dexter and Emma were two completely opposite individuals that were friends in the film because the script said so and for no other reason.  The fact that the film races through the first half of the book especially means that it fails to lay the foundations required for us to sympathise with the characters later in the story.  I think it's even fair to say that I was more moved by the trailers of upcoming releases played before, than the actual film.

If you've read the book please take heed of the reviews and do not go and see it.  The version the book has painted in your head is far superior.  If you haven't read the book I'd still recommend not watching it.  If you must rent it, when it comes out on DVD, then do but be warned the storyline almost seems pointless and the characters relationships forced.

I Don't Know How She Does It: The Book

Must Remember

Talk with Paula outlining firm new approach to children's haircuts/time-keeping etc.  Talk with Rod Task outlining firm new approach to role with clients, ie I AM NOT THEIR EMERGENCY GEISHA.  Pay rise: repeat after me, I Will Not Accept Extra Work For No Extra Money!  Get quote for new stair carpet.  Buy Christmas tree and stylish lights (John Lewis or Ikea?)  Present for Richard (How to be a Domestic Goddess?), in-laws (cheese barrel or alpine plants advertised in S.Times colour supplement: where did I put the cutting?)  Stocking fillers for E&B.  Fruit jellies, Uncle Alf.  Travel sick sweets?  Ask Paula collect dry cleaning.  Persnal shopper how much?  Pelvic floor squuuueeeze. Make icing for Christmas cake: too late buy roll-on stuff.  Cards stamps first class x30.  Wean Ben off dummy!  Remember Roo!! Ring KwikToy useless bloody present co. and threaten legal action.  Nappies, bottles, Sleeping Beauty video.  Smear Test!!!  Highlights.  Hamster?  ~ I Don' Know How She Does It, Allison Pearson

You may recall that I featured upcoming SJP movie I Don't Know How She Does It in a Movie Monday post a little while back. I also mentioned that it's based on a book by Allison Pearson of the same name and last week whilst holidaying I finally got to peel open the pages.

The story follows Kate Reddy (SJP's character in the movie) Fund Manager, Wife, Mother, Daughter, Sister, Friend.  She struggles to balance all aspects of her life, most importantly home versus work and tackles the familiar scenario of male/female hypocrisy.  In an attempt to prove that Women really can have it all, Kate begins to lose grip on her marriage and her relationship with her children.  Everyone expects one hundred percent and although she may be attempting it to the best of her ability, eventually something has to give.  Whilst battling sneaky male employees vying for her job, "unmaking" mince pies for the school Christmas assembly in an attempt to give the homemade vibe,  exchanging flirty emails with suave American client Jack Abelhammer, busting her ass to get back home in time to at least put her children to bed, making her husband understand that yes she does need to work as many hours as she does, trying to convince her mother-in-law that she doesn't work as many hours as she does and no her husband isn't wasting away due to her lack of attention to him and her constant, last minute, international, business travel, leaves any reader begging the question "I don't know how she does it!"

Any working mother though will recognise this all too well.  The desire to be successful, the attractiveness of being able to be your own person outside of the home, teamed with the overwhelming guilt that you're missing out on everything, from their first haircut to their ballet recitals.  Allison captures the trials and tribulations of a working mother so perfectly that I was exhausted and convinced that I was one just reading it but pleasantly amused simultaneously.  Her ability to match the emotions Kate is battling with hilarious anecdotes makes this a light, quick and thoroughly enjoyable read but by no means a guilty pleasure.  The characters and storyline is an intelligent journey through the modern world, with honest observations but in a laugh out loud manner.

Reading this the book came to life so it will be fab to see if the film has captured the essence of this read too, which from the trailer, that you can check out on a previous post here, I think it will do!

I Don't Know How She Does It is available at Amazon for £6.39 and is due for release in UK cinemas September 16th.

*Image taken from www.ioncinema.com

Movie Monday: Bridesmaids

I'm a little late to the bridal party with this one as I kind of vowed to myself never to do a Movie Monday on a mainstream film that's been at the cinema for a week or two already.  I'm breaking my vow for Bridesmaids though.  I figure it's still got a good life left in it, at the cinema and I enjoyed it so much I feel like it's my duty to ensure that you all go see it whilst you still can!

In short, Annie is in her 30's and quite frankly has nothing to show for it when bestfriend Lillian, who she believed to be almost as miserable as herself, suddenly announces her engagement. With this newfound reality Annie struggles to not only figure out how she'll fit into Lillian's life in the future but how she'll do so with new BFF Helen vying for Lillian's attention. It's juvenile, it's narcissistic, it's life.

One of the things that makes this film so endearing to me, on face value, is my shock at the practically "nobody" cast.  I don't think I've been living in a cave but the only faces I recognised were loveable Melissa McCarthy aka Sukie from the WB's Gilmore Girls, the late Jill Clayburgh or Ally McBeal's mum to you and of course the very ill placed Matt Lucas, more famously known for his "yeah but, no but" sketches from Little Britain.  None of these would particularly induce star struck status though if I were to meet them on the street.  Okay, okay so writer and lead Kristen Wiig is most famous for Saturday Night Live but we don't get that in the UK so I'm sticking to my original thought process:  Who are these women??? 

I also feel like jumping on a plane and planting a big wet kiss on Hollywood execs cheeks for the sheer genius idea of using women that resembled, well, women.  How refreshing for me to be eyeing up Kristen's crepey skin the entire movie rather than staring longingly at Jennifer Aniston's near perfect complexion, wondering how at the age of 42 she looks better than me, age 26.  Or my disbelief at Lillian being the bride we're all supposedly there to longingly wish we had her life, squidgy round the edges, not vaguely attractive groom and all.  Even uber glam Helen wasn't too perfectly polished. 

 Did I lust over the fashion? 

No. 

Did I turn green with envy for their figures?

No.

Did I go to see the standard shallow, not particularly amusing, oh the mess of a girl ends up turning into the most successful woman ever in the end, film?

No.

I went to see Bridesmaids.  The film that throws together six women of all shapes, sizes and personalities all struggling to lead a particular life that the unrealistic realms of Hollywood enforce on all of us and they are failing. Just. Like. Us.  The big car wreck of the film is, of course Annie (Kristen Wiig) but she's not the only one, each of these women are pushing themselves to be a certain way and lead a certain life.  We watch them try and define themselves with great difficulty and hilarious consequences.  This isn't just a chuckle occasionally movie, I was literally doubled over for most of the 125 minutes.  It is snort through your nose funny.  Don't believe me?

But of course the fact that these are real women, teamed with real flawed lives hits home with the most crucial reason for this films success.  It's real relateable.  I may not be in my 30's but I sure as hell feel like I'm the woman trailing behind all my friends, so it was only apt that I went to see this with one of my best friends, that I too quite shockingly received news of her engagement when least expecting.  I don't know what I was thinking but I'm pretty sure it was along the lines of "she wouldn't dare live happily ever after until I have!"

Tune In...

If you're sick of seeing pretty, thin, Goddesses juggle successful careers and undesirable boyfriends only for said undesirable's to suddenly declare that the Goddesses are "the one"

Tune Out...

If you're living in a dream world and think that SATC2 was realistic.

Team with...
The girl your about to lose to another man and tequila.  Lots and lots of tequila.

Bridesmaids is in cinema's Nationwide

Movie Monday: I Don't Know How She Does It Trailer

What does SJP, Gregg Kinnear, Kelsey Grammer, Jessica Szohr and Pierce Brosnan all have in common?  Seems they're all cast in upcoming movie I Don't Know How She Does It, based on the book by Allison Pearson, which my mum says is fab.

This movie looks a hoot and I already have September 16th penciled in my diary as the release date.  I'm not the most put together or organised of women (not a particularly shocking confession) but I have a lot going on all the time, even without children, so I can already totally relate to SJP's character Kate, as I'm sure a lot of you can.  Plus it's set in Boson for some of the part, my home away from home.  *Sighs*

No deep movie analysis, I'll save that for the release. Just watch and anticipate it's release.


 

Movie Monday: French Kiss

In keeping with my holiday theme I chose French Kiss for today's Movie Monday, for the following reason...

That will be me Thursday morning.

The film follows Kate (Meg Ryan) as she attempts to claim what is rightfully hers, her fiance, from the clutches of a Parisian goddess. She tackles her fear of flying and defies the Canadian government by leaving the country whilst still awaiting her visa, only to jump from one crisis to another. Luc (Kevin Kline) is her unfortunate partner in crime after a chance meeting on a plane. He epitomises everything she despises and the pair immediately detest each other. Despite this Luc attempts to help the damsel in distress, much to her annoyance and manages to hatch a plan with her to win Charlie (Timothy Hutton) back.

This film isn't rocket science but it is entertaining. Ryan's highly strung, neurotic qualities adds to the humour especially when played opposite laid back, antagonistic Kline.  In fact it is his comedic timing and analysis of Ryan's character that is the particular catalyst for most of the laughs.  My only great criticism is the ability to empathise with Ryan after being jilted.  Hutton is no George Clooney.

Tune in...
If you like romantic comedies, basically anything that Meg Ryan's in.

Tune out...
If neurotic female leads make you want to poke yourself in the eye.

Perfect for...

A saturday night alone, with a bottle of red wine and baked camembert in a box avec french bread. C'est magnifique!

Movie Monday: The Romantics

I'm a sucker for emotionally real films that usually reside on the Woody Allen-esque side of cinema. Occasionally there's the odd film replaying on Sky Movies that fits this bill, usually with a fairly good cast and more often than not one that has fallen into obscurity before it's even been released. This weekend I discovered The Romantics.

The cast was brimming with famous faces, Candice Bergen, Josh Duhamel, Elijah Wood, Anna Paquin, Diana Agron, that dude that played Seth in the OC (let's face it he's adorable but if I placed his real name here I'm pretty sure you'd have "who the hell?" faces on, this way we're all on the same page) and Katie Holmes, whom also produced it. Despite it's celebrity friends I have never heard of this movie, I'm pretty sure it's one of those "straight to DVD job-ees" and as my sister, who took her film AS level today, kept on emphasising in some random, revision, research attempt, it's only ever made $106,000 to date.

I'm really selling this for you aren't I?!

The synopsis on Sky Movies is as follows:

"A group of old friends attend a wedding, reigniting a love triangle between bride Anna Paquin, groom Josh Duhamel and writer Katie Holmes."

This was enough to seduce me on Saturday night to record a later showing for the following day.

Upon viewing, it was everything I expected it to be, dark, emotionally tortured and disappointingly honest, aka it didn't stick to the Hollywood ideals of love, romance and happy endings. For the most part it was awkward too. The relationships weren't the only honest facets of the film, there was a particularly cringeworthy scene at a rehearsal dinner when everyones drink fuelled speeches are horrifically tense and generally defy social acceptability. Refreshingly nobody looked particularly glamorous or visually beautiful either, another trait of these "say it how it is" movies that I happen to like.

Spoiler Alert!

The ending was one of those unresolved cliffhanger types, take from it what you will. Or maybe it really did just have no ending. I'm still on the fence with this.

Tune In...

If you like Hannah and her Sisters, Closer, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, hand held camera movies that give it that "you're really there" vibe and emotional disappointment.

Tune out...

If you despise all the things above which most people I know do.

This film really only caters to a specific type. Personally I enjoyed it, enough to watch it again and to own on DVD. My recommendation would be to cosy up to this stark look at romance and friendships on a rainy Saturday afternoon, with a blanket, hot tea, sticky cinnamon buns and a "love sucks" attitude.

The Romantics is showing on Sky Movies until they stop playing it.

*Image taken from www.movies.sky.com