A Headless Woman

Sometimes it is refreshing to see a subtle film. A Headless Woman demands a deep performance from the lead actress by basing a feature length film around the effects of a 10 second event. The additional characters accent the experience of said event, but with remarkable and unspoken loyalty. The silent malaise of the main character works to curb any dramatization of the categorically terrible event so as not to distract from the more deep rooted emotions that become more and more evident as the film progresses. A Headless Woman works as an interesting character study over a case study, and should be watched without distraction.

A Single Man

I watched an interview with Tom Ford a month ago where he stated that his filmmaking and his fashion are two separate entities. After watching A Single Man, it was clear to me that he was being a little too ambitious about that statement, which worked wonderfully. Not only was the fashion of the film completely breathtaking, interesting and remarkably diverse, but the cinematography was on point. The sudden outburst of colour at opportune times during the film really called to popular film as an art. Yes, it was a pretty film, but what was even more surprising was the complexity and precision of the plot. A fashionable film is often devoid of a decent storyline, but Colin Firth as a grieving professor was particularly intriguing. He showed great depth, and I understood some of the hype around his performance. A Single Man is essentially Tom Ford's wet dream, but who cares when it works out so well!

James Cameron, racist.

Okay so I am being a little facetious with the title, but was anyone buying it? Not only is it basically the plot line to Dances With Wolves (and I'm sure I am the millionth person to point it out) but it's so blatantly problematic. Apparently coming up with an 'alien race' really meant blending a couple that already exist on earth. Wow, SUCH creativity. Furthermore, the white man saves the day again? And not only that he does it while posing as an Avatar. Sure, they've accepted him into their tribe, but somehow by the end of the film the message is: White man can perform your identity better than you can. It's silly, and I can't believe that in 2010 this kind of shit is still being made, and not only that but POPULAR. Don't even get me started on the ablest problems as well. I just think that there should be more questioning of these portrayals of identity, and more accountability. Avatar, really?!!

Costa-Gavras a Go-Go

I've been too poor to go to the theatre lately, so we'll be throwing it back this rainy and overcast afternoon. Between the Kenneth Anger shorts i've been consuming (and of course requisite episodes of Gossip Girl, Modern Family, and Park & Recreation) I watched two Costa-Gavras films. My co-workers were aruging as to which was better, so i watched both, and concluded that both are amazing in their own ways. Depicting politically charged events without seeming preachy is kind of a feet, but both films are just so remarkably engaging that it's hard to feel they are talking at you.

Z (1969)
Based around the murder of a leftist politician during a crowded and heated situation between the followers of the politician and the protestors against him. I liked that the murder was during the begining yet the film didn't lose any momentum. I remember when I saw the murder, I felt so outraged. I wanted to yell at my TV screen. That alone would prove a successful film, but it is to stylisically advanced that it really deserves it's criterion release. The depiction of the wife's grief was a highlight.

Missing (1982)
Probably more accessible than Z, Missing stars Jack Lemmon and Sissy Spacek. The story revolves around the "true events" of the dissapearance of American jouralist Charles Horman, and depsite the fact you pretty much know at the begining he is dead, you can't help but wish and hope with the father and wife. I enjoyed how Lemmon's character, a Christian scientist, sat in almost complete ideological opostion to Horman's wife, played by Sissy Spacek. Missing is equally engaging as Z, but some of the scene are overwhelming and heart breaking, the helpless feeling by the end when Horman's coffin slides from the airplane edges it ahead.

Ultimately, if your interested in watching a movie that really envelops you but not in an escapist way, both Z and Missing are good choices. Actually, watch them both.

2012: Don't worry, it looks cool when you're doomed

First and foremost, I should say that 2012 is not ostensibly a "good" film, in fact it's complete schlock, but in the best way. As an avid fan of disaster cinema I couldn't help but pick out all the references to other movies (*cough* Posiedon Adventure) though it doesn't do so in a smart way, but i'm easy. Though more disaster porn than disaster cinema, I couldn't help but share in Woody Harelson's aw at the distruction of our planetin 2012. Throw in lots of non-sensical plot points and a reaffirmation of the nuclear family and you've got a high concept film. Oh, and just so you're sure to fill the theatre, base it around not leaving Joe Shmoe behind in the midst of a recession. Well, actually only one family so don't all come running at once.

Feminist FlashBack: Born In Flames

As part of my independent higher learning, I'm ghost taking a course. By that I mean, I have the syllabus, and I am just going through it myself by watching the films and doing the readings. Most of it 've already done in previous classes but there are a few films I haven't seen, one of them being Born In Flames. From the title song that plays throughout to the seemingly found footage implanted at opportune times, Born In Flames caputres the feeling of a movement in one of the most provocative ways i have seen to date. Since I usually concern myself with as many female filmmakers, women's films, and anything of feminist interest, I figured there was a reason i hadn't seen this yet. Midway through, and after I cleaned up all the drool from being so enamored with it I asked myself WHY haven't I seen this? And furthermore, is that Kathryn Bigelow? The answer is, yes it is, and not seeing this film must be a fluke. Born in Flames put all of the femnist film theory, particularly that of constructing a women's history through it's own filmic means, into perspective. Watch and learn, ladies (and gentleman), watch and learn.

Zombieland

Horror-Comedy tends to be a pretty interesting genre because it seems to be easy to mess it up since you have to turn horrific events into something comical. Zombieland takes a nerdy kid, turns him into a reluctant killer and pairs him with the complete anti-thesis to him. The hilarious rules, mixed with well-placed narration over pretty gorey zombie killings is perfect. I knew i'd like it from the opening credits, and the film upholds throughout, though falling a little too sentimental for my tastes about a 3/4 of the way through. The BEST part for me was Emma Stone in a pretty breakout performance and of course the Bill Murray cameo. Seriously, i laughed until I cried at that part. Add in the "Zombie Kill of The Week" and you realize that the writers had just as much fun writing the film as you did watching it.
4.5/5