Film Snip, In The Soup by Alexandre Rockwell
Intrigued by the cover depicting black and white film shots of men in bowties and tails and the promise of an “unheralded gem” from Time Out, and the tagline: A Comedy about getting in over your head, I was treated to a corking comedy which imbued subtlety and elegance. In The Soup doesn’t follow a predictable plot, it had believable casting and interesting details that made it at times beautiful but mostly hilarious to watch. A young Steve Buscemi is superbly cast as Adolpho, a writer living alone in an American apartment block, who struggles to pay his rent and takes part in a late night TV show called The Naked Truth to earn a quick buck. Realising this is not the path to great fortune, he places an Ad in a local paper offering his script for sale. Someone phones him back and this is the reason he meets Joe the charming and gregarious wannabe producer of his film script. Steve Buscemi has this particular look of distrust and astonishment mingled with naivety and a charming bedraggled stance that is perfect for his role while Seymour Cassel plays the suave and chippy, old, sugar daddy mobster with a younger pretty thing hanging off his arm. Unlike more rough and ready gangster films, this one had much less blatant violence and more comedy and eloquence in the characters and the narrative. I particularly like the gradual relationship that develops with Adolopho’s neighbour Angelica and her family, and the unexpected uncle figure Adolpho finds in Joe, albeit an unhinged party padre. Joe who has a way with words and the mobster connections to back them up, quickly smoothes things over with the corrupt landlords, flashing the cash in a mannered fashion, frequently afterwards having a pretext to turn up unannounced at Adolpho’s apartment.
The characters are quirky, nobody is sentimental or cliché, unless for comedy effect. The film depicts the chaos and glamour of living life in the wings of a man who promises to get cash money for a film that ultimately never gets made. What happens instead is their crime waves, most of which are petty thefts and others merely implied, fund a series of party’s and they blow most of the cash living it up with liquor and girls. The moral of the story, don’t post Ads for scripts in the free paper and expect to meet ordinary people. In The Soup is genius in its simplicity, with compelling character development and a believable and funny plot at just the right length of around 90 minutes. I’d watch it again, which makes it a classic.
Film Snip, The Bothersome Man by Jens Lien
This Norwegian film was produced by ICA films in 2008 and has been described as the intersection between David Lynch, Samuel Becket and Jacques Tati. I would also add to that John Malkovich, for the tunneling scene in particular and the general sense of people being interchangeable in different situations, in the work place with a never ending supply of replacements and in love.
It depicts modern love and wealthy aspirational lifestyles with deadpan humour, sardonic sarcasm and at times blunt honesty. Unfulfilled by his ideal life with interior designer Anne-Britt (Petronella Barker), he starts dating another lady from work who turns out to also have a few men in her life, non which she is particularly ecstatic about, responding to invitations and declarations of feeling with a non plussed response “we could do that”. Like the title itself, bothersome man is neither an offensive or flattering term, it is just someone who is slightly annoying, a bit of a pest. The biggest complaint in this town seems to be that the drink doesn’t get you drunk and the food doesn’t taste of anything, suggesting a state of bland mundanity.
My favorite scene sees 40 year old Andreas (Trond Fausa Aurvåg) grabbing for a handful of home baked, gluttonous looking cake, through a tunnel he and a neighbor have carved from a small, decidedly bodily crevice in search of a sound and a smell more moving and effecting than anything else they experience in their lives. The tunnel no doubt acting as a kind of womb and the cake perhaps a metaphor for savour, taste, wholesomeness and desire. It brings to mind the stock phrase that tries to sum up the greed of success of having your cake and eating it. The symbol of cake as a special occasion or treat, of sweetness is also childlike and he later reflects to his boss that he misses children in this corporate business environment he lives in with only other Yuppies and Dinky’s (Duel income no kids yet) for company.
In western cultures, small trivialities are all that gnaw at the conscience of the professional accountants, office clerks, business men and women, the office workers in grey suits with nothing more important to consider than what kind of sofa to purchase. I laughed with a real sense of horror and guilt when out of boredom Andreas tests the limits of an industrial paper guillotine one day in the office, resulting in a mildly annoyed response from colleagues at the disturbance he causes to their routine, rather than any concern as his hand spouts forth copious amounts of blood, weakening him to his knees.
Much of the film depicts very gruesome black comedy injuries, so extreme and gruesome that they become cartoon like in absurdity while remaining believable in the context of the characters depressed state. It is not the wince inducing gore of the injuries themselves and vain attempts at suicide that are most repellent but the way people respond so nonchalantly to them, and that is what makes it black comedy; the dark undercurrent that is only made comedic by the pristine and orderly environment those acts are played out in. I read today in the Financial Times in an article by Leslie Hook on Ai WeWei, that 40,000 people loose their fingers a year through industrial accidents in factories in Southern China. The worst that happens to Andreas, despite his desperately bored attempts at suicide and self-harm, is he recovers in record time and gets the sack, replaced by another office worker who greets him from his was-desk.
Gray suits and inner dreariness, everyone in that town appears so ordinary, so superficially happy with no signs of feeling otherwise, making it a classic vision of the human condition, about individuals as outsiders experiencing alienation against the backdrop and numb repetition of a town following the status quo. It is well worth watching for those with a stygian sensibility towards comedy or if you liked the Coen Brothers Fargo or Being John Malkovich.
Film Snip, Never Let Me Go by Mark Romanek
I went to see this screen adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro’s novel, at the much loved Ultimate Picture Palace in East Oxford, and joined the queue of people outside. I overheard a couple mistakenly saying that UPP is a cinema that shows only old film’s and perhaps this is a common misconception of the cinema, which has a mix of old and current films on its program.
Never Let Me Go, suggests from the Title to belong to the genre of Romance, and indeed the title has been taken from a fictional love song by Judy Bridgewater. Set in the 1970’s the costume and tone have a somber and austere quality and with the lighting and coloration of the shoot in subdued hues of hospital gown greens, browns and grays with some pretty pastels you could be forgiven for thinking it was the 1950’s.
Locations used in the film include Ham House and Garden in Richmond, a 17th Century building that is the façade of Halisham School, a boarding school where the film begins, and where the main protagonists Kathy, Ruth and Tommy are schooled. They grow up and move to live in the countryside in the cottages where they have space to develop relationships, the one thing that is truly theirs. The children who grow up at Halisham are less than ordinary, they live excluded and isolated lives, out of societies gaze and as such come across as naive and innocent in their outlook on life.
This is a film in which horror and ethics are quietly and efficiently put out of mind and we are offered romance as a solace so that what we most remember is the story of young love and the trials of growing up, with a science fiction twist that subtly presents itself as accepted fact. Don’t let the term Sci-Fi put you off, the narrative is barely interrupted by the new information the children come across about their purpose in life, the tone is little disturbed like the face of the head teacher who dispassionately sets out their daily rules. That is what is most disturbing about the book and the film, the understated and clinical way horror is presented as fact using euphemism’s such as ‘Completion’ rather than ‘Death’. The audience is left subtly affected by what they learn and only encouraged to feel slightly appalled at the way the young people from this strange and isolated boarding school are made to believe is their purpose in life.
Dispassionate and accepting of their situation there is not much scope within the plot for shows of raw emotion or much of a range for the actors to revel in, more a subdued and quiet acceptance of their lot in life. Carey Mulligan who plays Kathy has to remain stoic and supportive throughout as a carer living as she does to sooth the pain of others. I am reminded of Ian McEwen’s Atonement, partly because Keira Knightley plays key roles in both films and because they are both adaptations from tragic romance novels that I read in tangent, in which there is also a love story that is suspended by the actions of a young girl. In Atonement, Knightley’s character was on the receiving end of unrequited love here, she is the girl who prevents another’s love from flourishing.
Having read the book first, non of the twists in plot were a surprise to me however the novel has been artfully translated into film and will surely haunt me more visually in it’s film form. I really enjoyed hearing Tommy’s explanation of the purpose of art and his hopeful philosophy that art could reveal truths about his soul and the rare moments of humor and understated beauty in the cinematography.
Radio Rahkeem and company
Film Snip, Do The Right Thing by Spike Lee
Filmed in 1988 in a predominantly African American community in Brooklyn’s Bedford-Stuyvesant this film was the first that made this area the subject and the setting in as series of films by Spike Lee and it has since been the set for M.I.A’s video paper planes and has been mentioned by hip hop stars and rappers such as Mos-Def and Jay-Z as Bed-Stuy. It is also the location for the TV series; Everybody hates Chris, which is about the comedian Chris Rock’s childhood in Brooklyn.
Do The Right Thing, is based on real news events of racially motivated killings such as Michael Griffith in 1986, a black youth from the area killed by a mob of white youths. The film therefore attempts to bring to light real problems happening at that time through a fictional narrative and tells the story of Sal’s Pizzeria, a family run business ran by American Italian father and sons team, which sits opposite The Korean general store. Tensions and relationships unfold in the town, revealing resentments and grudges that the businesses in Bed-Stuy are not being owned or run by African Americans who are the main customers at the stores. What starts as a small but angrily put opinion that there are no black people on Sal’s wall of fame turns into a full fledged riot and becomes a pivotal point in the story. The film by exposing these tensions hoped to encourage people to do the right thing and opt for non violent solutions and dialogue.
From the DVD blurb, “This powerful portrait of urban racial tension sparked controversy everywhere it played while earning popular and critical praise. The hottest day of the year and an explosive day in the life of Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn. The community will never be the same again. A truly stellar cast includes Samuel L Jackson, Rosie Perez, John Turturro, Danny Aiello, Ruby Dee, Richard Edson, Giancarlo Esposito, Robin Harris and Bill Nunn.”
The film was shot over eight weeks using natural light to portray the hottest day of the year at three main stage set locations, employing extras who lived in the community and involving the unemployed wherever possible. There was a sense from the making of the film bonus material that filming there helped raise the profile of a minority area and that the film crew tried to involve the community as much as possible in yard parties and through paid employment.
Samuel Jackson has a starring role as Senior Love Daddy, a Radio host broadcasting for and about his community on the last number on the dial but the first in your hearts 108 FM. He plays all the favorites black stars of the day and from history such as Public Enemy, Biz Markie, Steel Pulse, Charles Mingus, Aretha Franklin, Fred Wesley, Duke Ellington, Count Basie, Al Geroe, Michael Jackson and Tina Turner and many more too numerous to mention. The day starts with his jovial announcement of a heat wave and warnings against leaving your hair curlers in. As an ending quote and message the film quotes Martin Luther King on his ideas on racial tensions and violence.
Martin Luther King JR
“Violence as a way of achieving racial justice is both impractical and immoral. It is impractical because it a descending spiral ending in destruction for all. The old law of an eye for an eye leaves everybody blind. It is immoral because it seeks to humiliate the opponent rather than win understanding. It seeks to annihilate rather than convert. Violence is immoral because it thrives on hatred rather than love. It destroys community and makes brotherhood impossible. It leaves society in a monologue rather than dialogue. Violence ends by defeating itself. It creates bitterness in the survivors and brutality in the destroyers.”
Despite the serious subject matter the film is both humorous and shocking, humorous perhaps mostly for some of the fashion trends it digs. A favorite quote from one of the old guys who sit out in the yard is “What you ought to do is boycott the barber who F***** up your hair” in response to the idea that Sal’s Pizzeria should be boycotted. If you haven’t seen the film and you love the eighties then you are sure to love this guy’s apparel, one of the main characters and local celebrities Radio Rahkeem. Radio Rahkeem is a lively but angry character who is always to be seen carrying a sizable ghetto blaster and sporting some ‘Word up’ Bling. Here is his philosophy:
“Let me tell you a little story of Love and Hate. Hate: it was with this hand that cane iced his brother love. Love, these five fingers go straight to the soul of man. The right hand had the hand of Love. The story of life – static. One hand is always fighting the other this hand Hate is always kicking Loves arse. It looks like Love is finished, but hold the press…as the right hand is coming back, yeah he’s got Hate on the ropes now. Left hand Hate KO’d by Love.”
Film Snip, The Kings Speech, by Tom Hooper
I’m not very up on my history, lets just say it’s rusty at best, but you don’t need to be a history buff to enjoy this film. Despite the historical setting and the Royal characters involved in this story, the film remains lighthearted and occasionally raised a respectable chortle from the audience.
Colin Firth plays his role very convincingly as the nervous less gregarious younger heir to the throne of King George V who was King during WW1 from 1910-1936. In the face of his irresponsible brother King Edward VIII abdicating the throne in 1936, he has to step up as King George VI. It falls on him to announce the beginning of the Second World War, and so begins his reign during a challenging and difficult period of world history. This is not the first time Helena Bonheim Carter has played a Queen, most recently she played The Red Queen in Alice and Wonderland, and there is a touch of irreverence and fun that lingers in her regalness here.
Propelled by his wife, we see His Royal Highness making friends with a regular man called Lionel (played by Geoffrey Rush), his Australian speech therapist, who takes a personal approach in guiding Bertie, as he fondly refers to him, through his stammer. Where all the experts in the land have failed to find a remedy and cure the mechanical problems of his speech impediment, Lionel helps reassure and befriend the King and put him at ease. Lionel insists on there being an equality in their relationship in order to get to the core of his difficulty, finding memories that could have triggered the hesitation in his speech and finding ways through the pauses. Lionel is welcomed into their Royal company at all official public speeches to help conduct the flow of words and coax the voice of a king to flourish where it once fled.
It is not often that films tackle the problem of public speaking and you really feel for him during the silences when in front of an expectant audience the words don’t flow and you are willing the words to appear .I am reminded of Nicholas Hytner’s, The madness of King George the III, 1760-1820, which is another great film on the biopic of a Royal that perhaps has more to grapple with on the subject of his perceived to be mental Illness and episodes of dementia. It is rare to see beneath the public mask of perfection and glimpse the fragility and fear present in all humans, even Royals.
Colin Firth has been hotly tipped for Best Actor at the Baftas after the film received a standing ovation at its premiere at Toronto Film Festival. His previous achievements include his roles as Mr Darcy, in the BBC adaptation of Pride and Prejudice, Mark Darcy in Brigit Jones Diary, his role as an author called Jamie, in the Romantic Comedy, Love Actually, as a soccer fan in Fever Pitch and perhaps less known as a suddenly bereaved professor in, A Single Man. The Kings Speech was one of the last British Film Council productions on a budget of £9M. It has won one golden globe at the Oscars and been nominated for 14 Baftas making it one of the most heavily nominated films in history.
Is it a coincidence that the cinemas are getting all patriotic on us in the run up to William and Kate’s Royal Wedding in an attempt at stoking the collective Royal mania in preparation for the pomp and pride that will occur on 28th April with the lovely couples big day? It’s certainly good timing. To run with a theme, if you haven’t yet seen Helen Mirren as The Queen, from Stephen Frear’s 2006 production, that would bring us bang up to date. Random thought on a possible future scenario, who could you envisage playing Charles and Camilla or even William and Kate in a future Royal film?
Film Snip, Garden State by Zach Braff
A film about a character called Andrew Largeman, an aspiring actor who has spent most of his life in Los Angeles feeling numb and unable to feel emotion from his prescribed lithium medication. He returns to his hometown in New Jersey to attend his mum’s funeral and has to face his therapist father who he hasn’t seen in nine years. Mostly though he reconnects with his friends who seem to be either blissfully un-ambitious stoners, regular workers in the tourist industry or living it up from the earnings of an innovative Velcro™ design. He seems to have a following of fans that recognize him mostly from a role in a film as a mentally challenged baseball player. Luckily for him he meets a girl called Sam (played by Natalie Portman) at the hospital where he has gone to check on his headaches, and gradually builds a new relationship.
The best thing about this film is the all too brief scene in which Andrew wears a homemade shirt with the same print as the wallpaper he stands in front of and the scene towards the end where they visit a boat house at the edge of an infinite abyss and the three friends stand in the rain and have an existential scream into space wearing raingear fashioned from bin bags. The middle bit has good parts too, a funny video shot of Sam Ice-skating in a crocodile suit as a little girl, and the partying at their rich but lazy friend’s mansion house. The mode of transport is pretty cool, scooting around on a bike and sidecar, the soundtrack is quite contemporary and Natalie Portman’s performance is charming and believable as is actor and director Zach Braff. Peter Sasgard’s character has definite nods towards The Big Lebowsky’s Dude or Ricky from Trailer Park Boys in his attitudes to material gains. A feel good Rom-Com with intriguing characters and interesting scenic details, set to a great soundtrack, what more could you want from a film?
life is a dream has done some interesting snipping and I like this infinite twirl!
Source: xlifeisadreamx-lemongrass-tea
life is a dream has done some interesting snipping and I like this infinite twirl!
Source: xlifeisadreamx-lemongrass-tea
