For the past few days I've had incredibly bad writers block, its been so bad, that I couldn't even collate a sentence together. BUT NO MORE. I've made a promise to be more productive with my days, and so today actually I posted 4 more tweets than usual- I'm now unstoppable. I think my writers block was mainly due to reading the disappointing news that Baz Luhrmann's new film, "The Great Gatsby" was being postponed until summer 2013. So, I've been on a mission to discover any other new releases that may be able to fill the void. Here is my updated list:
"The Hobbit" (2012) Oh man, how have I neglected to mention this film? The classic J.R.R Tolkien novel, 'The Hobbit' has been turned into a film. Directed by Peter Jackson and with a screenplay adapted by the likes of Peter Jackson and Guillermo del Toro. The cast is ample with amazing actors such as Benerdict Cumberbatch, Orlando Bloom, Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Ian McKellen, Billy Connelly. Simulary to Lord of the Rings, its set out to be a classic and simply a darn good film. Admittingly I have never been a fan of Lord of the Rings but for some reason 'The Hobbit' has always been one of my favourite pieces of literature. Here is the trailer:
"Skyfall"(2012)
James Bond. 007. Returns. I've heard it's better than "Quantum of Solace" (2010). That's all I need to know.
"Cirque du Soleil- World's away" (2012)
I vividly remember going to see Cirque du Soleil perform at the Royal Albert Hall in London, several years ago. they were touring with their show, "Alegria" and I was captivated and confused at the same time. Questions like How? Whaaa? and phrases like 'Holy crap!' were expressed as the show progressed and I still remember the theme song (not only because a friend of mine had it as her bridal entrance music to her wedding) The colours, the music (sung in different languages- everyone is included) the acrobats with hoops and other various props, the men in tights- it was a hell of a show so I'm certain this film will be just as exceptional:
"Great Expectations" (2012)
After the amazing television adaptation that was on British screen last christmas I'm unsure whether the film will live up to the series's name. Directed by Mike Newell and starring some...names: such as Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Flemyng, Robbie Coltrane and David Walliams (it's true, imdb doesn't lie). I love the storyline of "Great Expectations" and it is one of my favourite Dickens novels but i'm unsure whether it is the right time for this film to come out relative close to the TV series. Hmm thoughts? Here is the trailer:
I believe I've managed to convince myself that the late release of "The Great Gatsby" (2013) will not leave a black hole in the films-I-must-see list as there seems to be many other films to come and fill the gap.
Unfortunately I have to start this post by dishing up a slice of sad pie, as the release date of Baz Luhrmann's "The Great Gatsby" (which was meant to be 2012), and one of the five films I was très excited about in my previous post, has been postponed to summer 2013. It is thought to be because Baz Luhrmann was worried about the film having too much competition with the other suspected oscar nominated films. It's such a shame, as the promotional campaign was going great and I was getting so ready to commit to wearing 1920s flapper dresses and decadent deco jewellery. Lets just hope that people remember the film by Summer 2013. Well, from a 21st century representation of the golden era to a brilliant actress who actually lived in the 1920s, the beautiful Clara Bow. Technically it would of made more sense to post this entry on my birthday, the 29th July, as it just so happens that this silent movie diva's birthday was also on the 29th July- but no matter, her films can be enjoyed any day or year, and therefore here is my review on her silent film "IT" (1927).
- "What is 'IT'?...
...Self-confidence and indifference as to whether you are pleasing or not~ and something in you that gives the impression that you are not all cold. That's 'IT'!"
~"IT", 1927
"It" (1927) is simply divine, as they used to say back in the 1920s. It's a film where Clara Bow rips her day dress and transforms it into a fabulous evening dress, the prices at the Ritz Hotel range from $2.00- $4.00 instead of the prices for tea being over $16.00, and Clara Bow's character has the incredible flapper name, Betty Lou Spence. It is a silent film but Clara Bow's facial expressions speak volumes. Clara Bow plays a simple shop girl in a department store when she meets a Monty, who claims she has "It", and sex appeal, and so as any gentleman would do, he takes her out to dinner. Whilst at dinner, at the Ritz of course, she meets Mr Waltham: a dashing man who happens to be the owner of the department store. Bow and Waltham fall in love with each other. However there is a problem, not only does Bow come from the lower class but she lives with a friend who is a single mother. Somehow a story leaks in the press that the baby is Clara's. However, Waltham later finds out it has all been a misunderstanding and can't help but fall back in love with the charming Clara. They end up together and discover that they are 'just a couple of It-less Its!"
The film however is not so lighthearted as it originally appears and covers some risky issues. In those days a mother raising a baby by herself was frowned upon but the film takes the subject matter in its stride. The mother of the child looks stressed but she continues to raise her child and Clara seems to have no qualms about the situation her friend is in stating: "poverty is no disgrace until meddling neighbours hear of it." The men's reaction to Clara being a single, working mother is well interpreted as they look frightened and try to avoid Clara until they discover that the baby isn't hers. The film has a happy-go-lucky feel to it and even though it is a silent film, and I know silents are not a popular choice, the film manages to convey such expression with no need for words, yet telling the story so well that the viewer can't help but fall in love with Clara Bow either: "she's a ripping sort, really! She's positively top-heavy with 'IT'," and thats how Bow will always be remembered.
The British summer as good as it's ever going to be, the Olympics are in full swing, and I am amongst many other graduates who are thousands of pounds in debt. Life definitely has its ups and downs but right now my life seems to have stopped with nothing exciting happening at all. But there is a silver lining- or there will be over the next few months/ entering 2013- and here are the five reasons/ or rather five films that I'm hoping will lift my spirits in the future:
1) The new Tarantino movie, "Django Unchained" (2013):
I've already blogged about the legend of the Django character and it all he represents- and this combined with the quirky directing of Tarantino= exciting.
2) I discovered that Anne Hathaway can actually sing and so it is perfectly okay for her to star in Tom Hooper's adaptation of my favourite musical "Les miserables" (2012):
When I first watched this trailer I became dubious about how the musical was going to be adapted on film as the stage production is so amazing (i've seen it twice and would definitely see it again). Seeing Anne Hathaway in the part of Fantine, singing 'I dreamed a dream', came as a bit of a surprise but after some research into Anne Hathaway's singing abilities I'm confident she'll do a great job of portraying such a broken character. Also, for those worried about the other cast members singing capabilities, keep calm and click here.
3) Leo DiCaprio is not only starring in the upcoming "Django Unchained" but he's also portraying F. Scott Fritzgerald's famous Jay Gatsby character in Baz Luhrmann adaptation of the famous novel, "The Great Gatsby" (2012) alongside Carey Mulligan and Isla Fisher:
DiCaprio has indeed been a busy bee. But there is a downside to this film, mainly due to Tobey Maguire just being in the film. Apart from that blip the trailer looks promising and Luhrmann seems to have captured the roaring twenties decadence in his own style and looking nothing like the previous release of the story in 1974 with Mia Farrow and Robert Redford.
4) There is the prospect of Keira Knightley winning an Oscar this year with Joe Wright's "Anna Karenina" (2012):
Although I find Kinghtley's constant pouting in her films terribly annoying, and that added onto the fact that she has starred in a film this year with the unfunny Steve Carrell in "Seeking a friend for the end of the world" 2012 (which I haven't seen yet but it has received mixed reviews) means that my admiration for Knightley wavers. However the trailer for "Anna Karenina" (2012) intrigues me and although I haven't read Tolstoy's novel, yet I believe it is going to be an exceptional adaptation from the speculation around this film. Moreover critics have stated that this is going to be one of Knightly's less stiff performances so lets hope its done with a little less pouting.
5) Finally, the last reason I'm continue to look forward to the future of film and probably the most bizarre reason, is going to see James Franco becoming the Wizard of Oz. Seriously, he portrays the wonderful, maybe not so magical, Wizard and tells the tale about how the wizard came to reside in the emerald city in Sam Raimi's "Oz: The great and powerful" (2013):
Word of warning: the trailer may not appeal to everyone and some people will be doubting the directing ability of Sam Raimi (mainly after "Spiderman 3" (2007) and that awkward dance scene... let's not discuss it again). Moving on, "Oz: The great and Powerful"(2013) is considered to be the prequel to "The Wizard of Oz" (1939) and the film has some great cast members; with the brilliant James Franco who always does a great job in any role he is cast in; Michelle Williams; Mila Kunis and Rachel Weisz. What lets the film down is its concept and that could spell disaster for Frank L. Baum's classic tale of Dorothy and her sparkly red shoes, but the broadway musical "Wicked" has been faring pretty well, so let's just hope that Franco can pull off the story of the Wizard.
So there you have it, the release of these five films in the near future are pushing me to continue to power through the post-university blues. Funnily enough, it is ironic that on a blog post where I am looking forward to the future, all the five films that i've mentioned are costume/ period dramas that are set in the past or a fantasy land. In addition 4 out of the 5 films are adaptations of a famous novels with "Django Unchained" taking inspiration from old Spaghetti westerns- thus the influence of classic literature and old film is going to be hard to miss in the upcoming film industry and so, if I haven't already mentioned, I'm bloody excited.
