acoolsha
General entries
True Grit 8 July 11
Section: article
Categories: Film / dvd
I watched the film to the end with many breaks. I know it is based on the novel and not to be considered a remake of the Henry Hathaway film with John Wayne, but if you know this film a comparison is inevitable.
I love the actors in the Coen Brothers film, Hailee Steinfeld (Mattie) was wonderful, but it was thin:
- The lighting, the color timing of the film, was generally very light and washed out, presumably to create a stark, harsh atmosphere, but for me it just looked washed out. color timing →
- I liked the language, emulating, I guess, 19th century U.S. American English, but Jeff Bridges’ accent was weak. I have the feeling that they worked on his accent using the older language instead of separating the two while preparing for the film.
- Matt Damon didn’t suit the role of La Boeuf for me at all, however much I like Damon. And though his Texas Ranger hat may have been authentic, it was a bit embarrassing and distracting.
- Jeff Bridges seemed more grimy than gritty. I was more aware of him being unhealthy than being tough.
- And Dennis Hopper’s stunning and chilling artistry in the 1969 role of Moon just rises up and overshadows the entire scene at the cabin.
- Title: True Grit
- Directed by: Ethan Coen, Joel Coen
- Writing credits: The Coen brothers, based on the novel by Charles Portis
- Starring: Jeff Bridges, Hailee Steinfeld, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin
- Year: 2010
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Nowhere Boy 5 July 11
Section: article
Categories: dvd / Film
Biographical films are usually terrible — a parade of badly made-up actors selected for their strange similarity to the famous persons they should be portraying.
In the case of this film, Aaron Johnson does have a touching resemblance to John Lennon. The makeup and production design was restrained and natural, and the direction of the film is subtle and evocative. Its light feels like Liverpool, though I have only been there once.
Something else which is good, and is being held in John Lennon’s orbit.
Nice to see that Yoko Ono approved:
latimesblogs.latimes.com/gossip/2010/09/yoko-ono-john-lennon-nowhere-boy-premiere →
Based on the memoir of Lennon’s half-sister:
- Title: Nowhere Boy
- Directed by: Sam Taylor-Wood
- Writing credits: Matt Greenhalgh, memoir: Julia Baird
- Starring: Aaron Johnson, Kristin Scott Thomas, Anne-Marie Duff
- Year: 2009
Permalink :: article/645/Nowhere Boy
Case 39 25 August 10
Section: article
Categories: distraction / dvd
I watched this film a few days ago. It was well done and actually scary in the vein of The Exorcist. (Spoiler, obviously.)
One interesting quality was the work of the child actress Jodelle Ferland, who played Lilith Sullivan in the film. In the first part of the film her character was rather affected, as if she was acting like someone’s notion of a girl her age. Well that certainly bore fruit as the film went on, without going into details. She performed very well and was well directed.
Another aspect of the film is that it is yet another film about “evil” children. It is interesting and telling how this genre works so well, is so effective and easy to realize convincingly. To put it briefly, this says a lot about society and its view of children.
- Title: Case 39
- Directed by: Christian Alvart
- Writing credits: Ray Wright
- Starring: Renée Zellweger, Jodelle Ferland, Ian McShane, Bradley Cooper
- Year: 2010 (release)
Permalink :: article/642/Case 39
Films not viewed to end 12 June 10
Section: article
Categories: Film / distraction
Last night I felt like watching an entertainment film, something I categorize as a “distraction,” and I rented a DVD. It turned out I had seen the film already a few months ago. What happened was that I had rented the NTSC (Region 1) DVD which carried the U.S. title, and this time I rented the PAL DVD with a German title, which of course was completely different. The first time I had in fact watched the film in its entirety, barely.
Recently, while looking for a movie at the local DVD rental shop, I used my iPhone Notes app to list movies in the past weeks that I had rented but only partially viewed, usually only watching 3 to 15 minutes. Here is that list:
- Crash and burn
- Double identity
- Kill shot
- Mysterious island
- The box
- The code
- The informant
- Title: Films not viewed to end
Permalink :: article/641/Films not viewed to end