Post to come, promise!

I did, in fact, see a movie this afternoon. And it was a good one. However, my brain, like my apartment, is currently having organizational issues....So, needless to say I don't think I'm going to get the post out before Monday is officially over, but my brain should be up and running for tomorrow, so watch for it on Tuesday.

127 Hours

Following with the tradition set in the first two posts, I saw yet another award nominated film this week; Danny Boyle's testament to human survival, '127 Hours.' And like last week, it's yet another 'based on a true story' flick.

As we were leaving the theatre my Matinee guest this week, Nicole, "I'm not sure if it's a feel good movie or a downer." Which is an excellent point, this moving is as harrowing as it is moving, but in the end, what this movie really is, is inspirational.

I remember back in 2003 when I first heard the story of the mountain climber who cut off his arm being absolutely astounded. But that was about the end of it, I never really contemplated what must have been going through Aron Ralston's mind as he decided to quit waiting to die and make the decision to live.

One of the things that Danny Boyle has been so successful with as of late is bringing the everyman to the screen. The Aron Ralston at the beginning of '127 Hours' [and I make this distinction because if you asked me now, I would say he most definitely is] isn't a hero. He's a regular guy who likes to climb, who forgets to call his mom back, who wants more from his life than to just be an engineer; nonetheless when faced with a most impossible situation he rises above. When he realises he's well and truly stuck in this canyon he very calmly takes everything out of his pack to see what he has to work with, not only that, but he has the forethought to preserve as much of his water as he can. What is most fascinating about these actions, especially the water, is that after only being stuck for just over 24 hours, he records his goodbyes to his family, convinced that he's not going to survive. Yet he can't give up living; I would like to think that the whole human race has something of that desire to live in it, and not a fear of dying so much as the inability to contemplate not living in the next moment: this is what Danny Boyle puts on the screen for us in '127 Hours.'

James Franco is absolutely terrific as Aron Ralston. While he may confuse some with his jumping all over the place, from 'General Hospital' to a random cameo in 'The Green Hornet' I think he's just a guy who refuses to 'act' by Hollywood's rules, which makes him perfect for the happy-go-lucky Ralston. He brings the horror and heroism of the situation into every moment he's on the screen, and there are a lot of them. He's alone on screen for about 75% of the flick. One of my absolute favourite parts of the movie happens during the first morning after he's been pinned. As the sun rises, it fills the cracks of the canyon with warm sunlight, the absolute delight that comes over Franco's Ralston as he takes off his shoe to bask in the light is incredibly moving. I'd like to say that Franco is even more amazing as it comes to the end when Ralston has finally chosen to cut off his arm, but I have to admit I couldn't really watch it. From when he breaks his own arm so he can cut through I had to turn and look at Nicole, who was, impressively, watching the whole thing [kudos my friend, kudos]. Since the Academy LOVES to give out awards to actors who play real people [Charlize Theron, Sean Penn, Adrien Brody, Forest Whitaker, Reese Witherspoon and Julia Roberts just to name a few, and bonus points if you can name the roles and movies] I think James Franco and Colin Firth are going to be our front runners for this year's Oscar.

One last thing before signing off. Cinematography. Holy cow. Absolutely beautiful. Granted, it's not hard to make Moab, Utah or the Arches National Park look gorgeous, but the way it's put on screen in '127 Hours' is absolutely breathtaking. The warm sun on the honey coloured rocks, it's enough to make you want to go climbing, even AFTER watching the movie. It's also a great contrast between the wide open spaces of the park to the itty bitty space where we spend most of the movie, stuck looking up at the blue sky, wishing, like Ralston, that we could get back out to those lovely landscapes. Needless to say cinematographers Enrique Chediak and Anthony Dod Mantle have my vote for this awards season...that is, they would, if I had a vote.

That's all for now, but I'm going to be back later this week with a round up and review of the many trailers I saw in January, I know I said I was going to do that earlier, but hey, my blog, my rules!

The King's Speech

Yes, yes, I know, it's Tuesday. I'm well aware that I am, in fact, a day late in this post. However! I did see the movie yesterday, so it was actually a matinee that I saw on Monday. [It's also fitting that this movie was nominated for 12 Academy Awards this morning] Also, I was busy yesterday afterwards [a rare thing, I guarantee] watching my dear Vancouver Canucks absolutely trounce the Dallas Stars. Now I won't bore you with the details of how amazing it was to watch my team win, but I do have an interesting observation about seeing it in person. Watching a game at the arena, with all those fans can be quite similar to seeing a movie in the theatre. Both are infinitely better in person. While watching a movie or a game at home is still pretty great, and you can pause to get a drink, or run to the store during intermission, what you really miss is the atmosphere. In the theatre, the lights fade to black, the sound envelops you and you get to watch your movie on a 20 foot screen. For me this never, ever gets old. Which is more than likely one of the reasons I continually shell out $12.50 to see movies at the theatre, even if I have to see them all by my lonesome.

That's enough waxing poetic, I think, on to the flick!

Honestly, I don't think there is a movie that is better suited to a rainy Vancouver Monday than 'The King's Speech.' This time, instead of hitting up Metrotown, I drove out to the SilverCity in Coquitlam, and while the seats weren't quite as nice, the crowd certainly was. It was an interesting mix of lovely old ladies and young folks like me. I'm not surprised that this movie has been nominated and won many a statue this awards season, as the people who give them out love a good 'based on a true story' and I have to admit I'm a sucker for them as well.

Like most living in the Commonwealth I have a very general knowledge about the monarchy, Queen Victoria, Elizabeth I, Mary, Queen of Scots, King Henry VIII [thanks CBC and the Tudors!], you know, the biggies. 'The King's Speech' expanded my knowledge of the current monarch's family and manages to cover an amazingly large amount of information in it's two hours, most of it coming while Geoffrey Rush's speech 'defects' teacher, Lionel Logue, digs into the reasons for the Duke of York's stammer.

Speaking of Geoffrey Rush, he was fantastic. I know Christian Bale snapped up the Golden Globe for best supporting actor, but after seeing both 'The Fighter' and 'The King's Speech' I certainly think the Oscar race is going to be a tight one. There's something perfectly charming about Rush, not only in this role, but in most things he's in. He always seems to have that twinkle in his eye, as if he's in on some secret that you would like nothing more than to know, I don't know, maybe it's an Australian thing. This twinkle was absolutely perfect for Lionel Logue, also an Australian, who uses odd, but effective treatments to help his patients.

Colin Firth was also fantastic as the troubled man who never believed in his ability to be king. As I was watching the movie I went through the movie rolodex in my mind to see if I could remember Colin Firth ever playing royalty before. None came to mind, which I found surprising for a man so well known for playing Mr. Darcy, a nobleman. It just seemed to me that if you can play a member of the aristocracy, a member of the royal family would just be the next logical step up. That being said, there was absolutely NO Darcy in George IV, or Bertie as he was more fondly referred to by family and Logue. Bertie is so self-conscious of his stammer that it takes over all parts of his life. The wireless has just come onto the stage and the Royals no longer just need to look presentable, but also need to be able to speak eloquently to their people, something Bertie could barely do with his wife, let alone in public to strangers. I have to imagine it must have taken Firth a lot of effort to take the stammer on, but he does it beautifully. Your heart most especially breaks for him as he makes up a story for his princesses before bed. A sweet, but still halting story, since not even being home with his family can alleviate his speech impediment. I suppose there is a small part of Darcy in Bertie, and his desire for things to be done in a 'proper' manner. And while he does allow for some protocol to be broken by his unorthdox speech pathologist, that certainly doesn't translate to his brother's insistence on seeing a married [gasp!] American [GASP!]. Guy Pearce [who I LOVE, and, interestingly, another Aussie] plays Edward, who briefly takes the throne after their father dies, but then abdicates so he can marry his twice divorced American, forcing the reluctant Bertie take the throne on the eve of World War II.

The speech, for which the movie is aptly named, comes at the end of the movie, after war has been declared with Germany. It's George VI's first proper address to the Commonwealth since taking the throne from his brother, and while it may be a 'bit halting at the start' as young Elizabeth says, it ends up coming across almost perfectly, and more than that you can tell that he means every word of it, especially now that he can get the words out.

One last note on acting before I sign off. Helena Bonham Carter. I don't know what to say, more than that she was absolutely lovely. I'm so used to seeing her as the evil Bellatrix Lestrage in 'Harry Potter' or all gussied up for one of her many roles in Tim Burton movies. There was no darkness in her Elizabeth, just a wife concerned for her husband. While I do love her as the crazy/neurotic type I would love to see her in more of these type of roles where you can really see how good an actress she is.

Last, but most certainly not least, I'm dedicating this post to my awesome friend Craig. Not because he has a love for period dramas, or the now defunct UK Film Council, but because it was his birthday yesterday and I promised I would. Happy birthday buddy, see a good movie! Which I know is hard in the filmic wasteland that is Prince George!

That is all, see you next Monday!

Welcome back....

...to me blogging. Yes, I know we tried this before, and it was slightly pitiful. But now I'm back with a renewed sense of purpose and well, to be honest, a little more time on my hands.

So, why Matinee Monday? Well, 'cause that's what I did today. I hit up my local theatre and saw two matinees. Green Hornet and The Fighter. Who did I see these flicks with, no one, well, that's not true, there were other people in the theatre with me, just none that were with me. How about you? Are you a person that routinely misses out on seeing a movie that you want to because no one you know wants to see it, or maybe you're like me and relatively new to a city and don't have that many 'movie friends' yet? Do you really let this stop you from seeing movies?! REALLY!?! Why?! I often see movies by myself, and think about it, why not? Sure, when the trailers are rolling you can say to your friend, "That looks great, we should go when it comes out!" or "There's no chance in HELL I'll be seeing that" but other than that you sit and watch the big screen. Now, don't get me wrong, I love seeing movies with friends, but I just don't let the lack of one stop me from seeing a movie.

Now, two quick reviews of the movies I saw today.

#1 Green Hornet at 1:35. I was the only person in the theatre until about 12 minutes before the show started, I was super excited at the possibility of a private screening, but I was foiled!

Anyways, what to say about this movie? It was what you might expect of an action-packed comedy, or maybe it was more a comedic action movie, but either way it was maybe not the best way to spend $15.50. ['cause it was in G-D 3D] The cast was good, Seth Rogen was funny, Jay Chou as well. Christoph Waltz, fresh off his Oscar win for Inglourious Basterds, was, perhaps unwittingly, hilarious as the neurotic baddie with the unpronounceable name.

I could see what they were trying to do, poke fun at the comic book/action genre, but I think the thing that didn't quite make this a great movie was the lack of really great characters. The reason we love, well, I don't know about 'we', but the reason I love comic book movies are the characters. I mean, sure the movie may be called Iron Man, but if it weren't for Tony Stark [and Robert Downey Jr.'s great portrayal of him] it would be pretty boring. Although, Green Hornet wasn't boring, hard to be with all the car chases, explosions and fight scenes; it lacked heart. Without that heart it just fell a little short for me.

#2 The Fighter. I don't think there's any way I could have seen two more different movies. The Fighter was fantastic. Where my first matinee lacked character and heart The Fighter was made up for it in spades. The performances by all the actors were just amazing. After seeing Christian Bale and Melissa Leo win Golden Globes for this movie last night I was a little apprehensive, 'cause I hate it when awards are won and then I watch the movie and end up disappointed. Definitely not the case with this movie. Christian Bale is heartbreakingly great at the crack-addicted, yet family golden boy, Dicky Eckart and whole heartedly deserved his award. As kinetic and chatty as Dicky was, Mark Wahlberg's Micky Ward was perfectly reserved. I like Mark Wahlberg more and more these days, and his quiet performance was the perfect opposite to Bale's. There was a little clip of the real Dicky and Micky at the end of the movie, and it was both fascinating and telling. These two brothers were happy to get their story out there and the actors playing them sure did their homework.

One last thing, this is a 'based on a true story' movie that I'd never heard of the true story before, but I definitely will be googling it tonight.

That's about it for my first post back in the blogosphere, and with many more to come [I hope! Fingers crossed!] I'll be back later this week with a quick rundown of the trailers for my matinees, and trust me, there were PLENTY.