10 Rillington Place is more than a classic film. It is frequently referred to whenever the call for the death penalty is made in Britain. The notorious miscarriage of justice i.e the hanging of Timothy Evans, an immature half-wit, for the murder of his wife and child when it is almost universally accepted that they perished at the hands of John "Reg" Christie, is one which will always haunt the British legal system. When Christie was found guilty and hanged as a serial killer of women, the body of Evans was exhumed and reburied in consecrated ground but this did nothing to hide the embarrassment of those who supported the death penalty.
The film is a simple masterpiece and shows Attenborough in one if not the best performances i have seen up till now.
Something that confused me was what did John "Reg" Christie actually do? I think he fancied himself as a landlord but....?
Monday 16 February 2009
Monday 2 February 2009
Revolutionary Road
Revolutionary Road.
Revolutionary Road is a story that you won't be able to shake easily. The film will stick in your head and leave you to contemplate what has just happened on the screen before you. Richard Yates gives us the story of Frank and April Wheeler, the seemingly perfect suburbia couple. We soon find out their marriage is teetering on the edge of a collapse as they are overwhelmed by the fact that they have each made the wrong choices in their lives.
I wasn't quite sure what you were suppose to feel once the film was over. I was numb.
One line in the film has stuck with me (not quite sure how it was worded) "I pity that baby!" I think that will hit home with so many people.
I feel that society or the underprivileged in a way value that a baby can be there where to redeem themselves to make something that will live on. But that isn't the case.
It shows to what extreme people go to avoid misery. Revolutionary Road certainly made me uncomfortable throughout.
Even to watch the trailer it gives you the sense of despair. An almost unbearable urge to look away. Its like a car crash...
The film asks questions like are we really FREE? Is life an illusion?
"I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does. " – Jorge Luis Borges
Revolutionary Road is a story that you won't be able to shake easily. The film will stick in your head and leave you to contemplate what has just happened on the screen before you. Richard Yates gives us the story of Frank and April Wheeler, the seemingly perfect suburbia couple. We soon find out their marriage is teetering on the edge of a collapse as they are overwhelmed by the fact that they have each made the wrong choices in their lives.
I wasn't quite sure what you were suppose to feel once the film was over. I was numb.
One line in the film has stuck with me (not quite sure how it was worded) "I pity that baby!" I think that will hit home with so many people.
I feel that society or the underprivileged in a way value that a baby can be there where to redeem themselves to make something that will live on. But that isn't the case.
It shows to what extreme people go to avoid misery. Revolutionary Road certainly made me uncomfortable throughout.
Even to watch the trailer it gives you the sense of despair. An almost unbearable urge to look away. Its like a car crash...
The film asks questions like are we really FREE? Is life an illusion?
"I cannot walk through the suburbs in the solitude of the night without thinking that the night pleases us because it suppresses idle details, just as our memory does. " – Jorge Luis Borges
Thursday 18 December 2008
M*A*S*H
LOVED THIS FILM!
All of the war themed films i have seen are based souly on war and not really around comedy or anything else for that matter. It was refreshing to see the theme portrayed in a completely different way. "Mash" i feel is one of those films you either love or hate. There is a wit to the film that works well with the theme of war that i feel alot of directors take far to seriously.
The characters in the film are created in such a way that no matter there actions in the film, they could do no wrong. I'm going to sound like a Ned here but its magic! I have since went out and bought the film...
All of the war themed films i have seen are based souly on war and not really around comedy or anything else for that matter. It was refreshing to see the theme portrayed in a completely different way. "Mash" i feel is one of those films you either love or hate. There is a wit to the film that works well with the theme of war that i feel alot of directors take far to seriously.
The characters in the film are created in such a way that no matter there actions in the film, they could do no wrong. I'm going to sound like a Ned here but its magic! I have since went out and bought the film...
Monday 15 December 2008
In the Wild
Gillian recommended this!... Glad she did.
This film was well thought out, really enjoyed it. It was set around one character, at first you don't quite understand his disappearance and then you learn through flashbacks, through him writing a diary and the way he interacts with others in his story. And why he decides to remove himself from society."Into the Wild" shows how society treats money, relying on it for happiness.
Watch it
This film was well thought out, really enjoyed it. It was set around one character, at first you don't quite understand his disappearance and then you learn through flashbacks, through him writing a diary and the way he interacts with others in his story. And why he decides to remove himself from society."Into the Wild" shows how society treats money, relying on it for happiness.
Watch it
Tuesday 25 November 2008
Wanted- Timur Bekmambetov
Wanted!What can i say...pure genius!This film did exactly what it said on the tin.
And when my mum says she enjoyed the film you know its a good'un!
The film was edited to be very fast-paced, it had moments which were well thought-out as freeze-frames, 'sitting on the edge of your seat action'. The history of the Fraternity was placed carefully throughout the film. The film was concentrated to begin with, i felt, more on the character Wesley played very-well by James McAvoy (McAvoy is almost unrecognisable). This showed the journey of Wesley finding out who he was and proving it to himself.
The Fraternity is as far as I'm aware was based on Greek Mythology, Moirae or Moerae was the God of destiny...fate. The Moirae would control the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal from birth to death, its all very fascinating. Although without having researched that i felt a little confused exactly what the Fraternity was regarding and whether it was fiction or truth.
And when my mum says she enjoyed the film you know its a good'un!
The film was edited to be very fast-paced, it had moments which were well thought-out as freeze-frames, 'sitting on the edge of your seat action'. The history of the Fraternity was placed carefully throughout the film. The film was concentrated to begin with, i felt, more on the character Wesley played very-well by James McAvoy (McAvoy is almost unrecognisable). This showed the journey of Wesley finding out who he was and proving it to himself.
The Fraternity is as far as I'm aware was based on Greek Mythology, Moirae or Moerae was the God of destiny...fate. The Moirae would control the metaphorical thread of life of every mortal from birth to death, its all very fascinating. Although without having researched that i felt a little confused exactly what the Fraternity was regarding and whether it was fiction or truth.
Monday 24 November 2008
Richard Attenborugh Visit
Just a massive thank you Andy for giving us the opportunity to be in the presence of Richard Attenborough. His passion was so incredibly moving... It was nice to see that someone no matter their age-still has a burning desire to create and achieve when so many people moan and avoid everyday, as a choir.
I think that everyone should have a chance at least once to sit in a room with a man like Attenborough maybe then the realisation would come that life should not be wasted... :)
I think that everyone should have a chance at least once to sit in a room with a man like Attenborough maybe then the realisation would come that life should not be wasted... :)
Thursday 6 November 2008
Chaplin
Wednesday morning was like every other morning getting ready to come into uni, i would normally have plenty of time either to watch a couple of "sex in the city" episodes or a film. I eventually after much disappointment received my own copy of Chaplin...HOORAY!
So, i began to watch the first half before i came in, when i discovered that on Wednesday morning we were all going to watch Chaplin i was so excited!
I first saw Chaplin not that long ago- it certainly opened my eyes to film making in general. i definitely consider it a classic and timeless piece. The way that Chaplin is presented shows the care and respect that Attenborough has for Chaplin. There is a attention to detail that you don't normally see in alot of drama-doc's which made it personal. The craft that was used to create the opening sequence was so thought out that you automatically had an idea of the person Chaplin was in my opinion.
Richard Attenborough shows 'Charlie's' journey in a series of metaphor's IE.Charlie's mother is booed off the stage by an impatient crowd, so Charlie, who is a little boy at the time, gets on stage to do a song and dance of his own. He performs a song that is very similar to the one his mother performed, but he wins the audience's heart and they respond by tossing coins onto the stage for him. I love the way this scene was shot and in a way i feel it signifies how 'Charlie' realised this was what he was born to do.
Towards the end of the film Attenborough also showed Chaplin's fondness to silent film, his knowledge of why 'The Tramp' could not speak and in a way his loyalty to the craft he had learned at such a young age that made him one of the most timeless and truly memorable filmmakers of his era.
Th piece was beautifully made. I think the purpose of the film was not only to show Chaplin's life but to encourage desires that we all have, to above all believe in ourselves and have hope for the future- very cheesy i know! But it worked!
So, i began to watch the first half before i came in, when i discovered that on Wednesday morning we were all going to watch Chaplin i was so excited!
I first saw Chaplin not that long ago- it certainly opened my eyes to film making in general. i definitely consider it a classic and timeless piece. The way that Chaplin is presented shows the care and respect that Attenborough has for Chaplin. There is a attention to detail that you don't normally see in alot of drama-doc's which made it personal. The craft that was used to create the opening sequence was so thought out that you automatically had an idea of the person Chaplin was in my opinion.
Richard Attenborough shows 'Charlie's' journey in a series of metaphor's IE.Charlie's mother is booed off the stage by an impatient crowd, so Charlie, who is a little boy at the time, gets on stage to do a song and dance of his own. He performs a song that is very similar to the one his mother performed, but he wins the audience's heart and they respond by tossing coins onto the stage for him. I love the way this scene was shot and in a way i feel it signifies how 'Charlie' realised this was what he was born to do.
Towards the end of the film Attenborough also showed Chaplin's fondness to silent film, his knowledge of why 'The Tramp' could not speak and in a way his loyalty to the craft he had learned at such a young age that made him one of the most timeless and truly memorable filmmakers of his era.
Th piece was beautifully made. I think the purpose of the film was not only to show Chaplin's life but to encourage desires that we all have, to above all believe in ourselves and have hope for the future- very cheesy i know! But it worked!
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