♥ ♥ Amy ♥ 's Talk

The Proposal

It's good to see Sandra back. This is a funny rom com about a horrible boss who forces her assistant to marry her to allow her to stay in the US. They travel to Alaska to announce their engagement to his family with funny consequences. Great cast and plot.

Julie & Julia

Fun story! Loved the parallels between the two women's lives. Loved Meryl and Amy as usual but I especially enjoyed Stanley Tucci in this role. All around great cast. Never knew how great Julia Child was either. It was kind of a downer that they said the real Julia hadn't liked Julie's blog. Wished they could have explained more about that. Anyway it was a fun movie. No apologies! Bon Apetit!

Across the Universe

The very few number of my friends who have seen this, loved it and told me that it's a must see. So now that I've finally brought myself to watch it, after having a lot of difficulty finding it, found out that I too thought it was a great movie. There are only one actor I recognize in the whole movie, and that was Salma Hayek as the singing nurse! I've always been obsessed and thought that a movie without an famous person in the main role can't possibly be a good movie. But I've been totally overruled! Great movie, and of course great music, since it's The Beatles! Good acting aswell, I would definitely recommend this!

Million Dollar Baby

"If there's magic in boxing, it's the magic of risking everything for a dream that nobody sees but you."

This is a film you don't see very often. It's powerful, moving, inspirational and so heartwrenching that I cried through the whole second half. I didn't watch it for years because I presumed that it was just about boxing - but the boxing actually comes second to the focus on human relationships and experiences. It's emotionally very, very powerful. And although the story is incredibly sad, it manages to keep it's humour throughout - I absolutely loved the screenplay, and that's something that I really admired about the script. I thought it was so well written and that the characters were realised with such clear precision.

It's also beautifully directed by Clint Eastwood - it looks film noir in places, and is generally very artistically done and in-keeping with the tone and mood of the film. The actors all give stellar performances (Clint Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman were all nominated for an Academy Award, the latter two won) - and I think the pure dedication shown by Swank in terms of preparation for the role was Oscar deserving in itself.

Please watch this film - it deserves to be viewed, and you will take more from it than you gave up to watch it.

The Shining

"Heeere's Johnny!"

I love this film!! Everything about it is just perfect, I can't praise it enough.

The film is a brilliant work of art throughout, with memorable scenes that it'll always be known for - the axe through the door, the woman in the bathtub, the twins, the maze. One of the scariest bits for me was actually the part where Jack's wife comes upon his 'novel' that he's supposed to be writing - and it's just pages and pages of 'All work and no play makes Jack a dull boy'. The thought is just terrifying! It's a whirlwind journey throughout, even despite the fact that it's set in an empty hotel. Stephen King definitely knows how to scare people - aliens and guys with masks aren't always the answer - what's more terrifying is a member of your family, someone you love and trust, coming after you to kill you whilst you're trapped in a deserted hotel in the middle of winter. Kubrick directs this masterfully, and most of the shots are just beautiful. He's made an incredible film.

I'm also floored by the actors' performances - Jack Nicholson is an impeccable actor, and he gives a brilliant, terrifying performance. I think Stanley Kubrick managed to get the most out of his actors as well, and there's no doubt that this film would not have been as brilliant if it was directed by anyone else. It's not your average horror film, not anything like most of the crap that's churned out nowadays - even if you're not a fan of horror movies, this is a must-watch. It's scary without having to be gory, and that's part of its appeal - it's an immediate favourite and a classic.

An epic masterpiece.

I Heart Huckabees

"Ah, here he comes! The man-poet who banged France's dark lady of philosophy. The parking lot crusader of truth... who turned his back on his other like a cold-blooded gangsta."

This is another film I've recently rewatched in the hope of finding something more there than I did on my first viewing. And I did.

I was pleasantly surprised to find that I really enjoyed the film this time round - I think that the first time I watched it I was too young to really understand it and appreciate it's nuances, but I was actually very impressed with it! I LOVE Mark Wahlberg in this film, and Jason Schwartzman does a great job - actually, all the actors did a brilliant job (even though I prefer Jude Law without the American accent..) and the storyline is just so original you sort of can't help but admire it. I found it to be very funny, charming and just overall really enjoyable - something I would watch again. It asks the questions we're all asking, and even though it doesn't answer them, that's not a downfall. The film is about looking inside of yourself to find your true sense of self, and I think it's brave to have tackled these kind of things - and it's pretty damn good to have tackled them in a way that makes it accessible to audiences, it does it in a humorous way and isn't too philosophical or melodramatic about it all. I loved it.

Just shows that perhaps you should give those films you didn't understand a second chance. :)

Rope

One of Hitchcock's greats about two men who attempt the perfect murder simply for the thrill of it. Shot entirely in real-time through eight consecutive shots, this is a revolutionary piece of cinema!

The Accidental Tourist

"I'm beginning to think that maybe it's not just how much you love someone. Maybe what matters is who you are when you're with them."

I love this movie - the story is so original, and the characters so true to life. I love William Hurt and Geena Davis in this film (she won an Oscar for her performance as the kooky Muriel) and thought all the actors gave brilliant performances. A very touching story about a father trying to cope with the death of his son, and despite the serious material it still manages to be very humorous. I would definitely give this a rewatch & encourage everyone to at least give it a viewing!

Stand by Me

Absolutely incredible! A moving story about brotherhood as four boys set out on an adventure to find a missing teenager. Very sad at times, also very exciting at others. A really great film!

The Ugly Truth

I thought it was pretty funny albeit somewhat raunchy. These critics lead depressed, non-romantic lives. So sad. I liked seeing these two as an on-screen couple. Love Jerry and Katherine is great. She definitely has a top spot as a romantic comedy queen. :)

Before Night Falls

"Leonardo da Vinci was homosexual, so was Michelangelo, Socrates, Shakespeare, and almost every other figure that has formed what we have come to understand as beauty."

A very powerful film, artistically directed by Julian Schnabel, which follows the life of Cuban poet and novelist Reinaldo Arenas - all the way from his childhood to his death at the age of 45. After all the hardships Arenas suffers under the oppressive rule of Fidel Castro, it is a tragedy that what takes his life in the end is AIDS.

Excellent performances from all the cast, and showcasing some of Arenas' actual literary work, this film is definitely worth a watch - whether people want to learn more about his life, or about the lives of those who lived in Cuba during the rule of Castro. The film is 2 hours long, and sometimes it becomes difficult to keep up with who the other characters are, as it spans across a lifetime, but it is generally very well done - and I believe that it would have been very different if directed by someone other than Schnabel. He depicts the harsh realities of Arenas' life without embellishing any of the facts, and this makes it all the more gripping.

It is probably not a film I would watch again, but I would encourage people to at least give it a single viewing.



Also worth a watch for the small but memorable appearance of Johnny Depp as Bon Bon and Lieutenant Victor. :)

The Tracey Fragments

This is a film that has bright, exciting ideas about cinema as a storytelling medium and a vessel for emotional power. Employing bold editing techniques and visual concepts, the film is a character study that gives us the internal and external view of the title character's world. Ellen Page's work is much better in this film than in her Oscar-nominated performance in Juno (released the same year). This film jarred me, astonished me, affected me and gave me something to talk about for days afterwards. Definitely a favorite.

The Tracey Fragments

This is a film that has bright, exciting ideas about cinema as a storytelling medium and a vessel for emotional power. Employing bold editing techniques and visual concepts, the film is a character study that gives us the internal and external view of the title character's world. Ellen Page's work is much better in this film than in her Oscar-nominated performance in Juno (released the same year). This film jarred me, astonished me, affected me and gave me something to talk about for days afterwards. Definitely a favorite.

Secretary

"One scoop of creamed potatoes. A slice of butter. Four peas. And as much ice cream as you'd like to eat."

One of my favourite films. The actors are brilliant in this film - the chemistry between Maggie Gyllenhaal and James Spader is just pure magic. I love how this film is something you don't quite expect.. it really surprised me. The first time I watched it I wanted to watch it again straight after! It's a beautiful story, and not your typical rom-com, which is a definite plus. Just love it. Would definitely recommend - be open minded enough to give this a watch.

V for Vendetta

"The only verdict is vengeance; a vendetta, held as a votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and the virtuous."

Very good film, based on an epic comic book. The film, which is set in a dystopian era under a fascist regime, has very important themes, and is probably best described as a political thriller. However, just because it portrays an important message is not to say that it is a boring film. It has been adapted for the screen with the intention of making it accessible to the mainstream population. It is as much an action film or a romance, as it is a political thriller - and overall it is left up to the audience to interpret for themselves the themes that are put forward.

Hugo Weaving does an impeccable job as the man behind the mask, the terrorist and vigilante known only as 'V', and the supporting cast are equally as believable and well cast (particularly Natalie Portman). The film was made by the creators of the Matrix Trilogy, and also features a beautiful soundtrack by Dario Marianelli. Would rewatch many a time!

Everyone should read the comic book and watch the film, they're both incredible pieces of art.

Empire of the Sun

"Learned a new word today. Atom bomb. It was like the God taking a photograph. "

Beautiful film - I loved it. A very good screenplay by Tom Stoppard, an interesting story (semi-autobiographical), and brilliantly directed by Steven Spielberg. I believe Christian Bale was the highlight of this film, however. You can clearly see that he was a superstar already at 13 years old. He just did a stellar job. Definitely worth watching, and rewatching.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince

The sixth chapter of the adored Harry Potter series is certainly not a dissapointment, as Harry comes into the possession of an old book previously owned by the Half-Blood Prince. Great action!