Holiday Wish List

no one makes me bleed my own blood.

** review to come **

dark comedy drama starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening, Chris Cooper, Wes Bentley, Thora Burch and Mena Suvari. cinematography by Conrad L. Hall. written by Alan Ball. directed by Sam Mendes.

Lester Burnham (Spacey) is not very different from most men. he's in a sexless marriage with a woman (Bening) he doesnt even recognize anymore, has a teenage daughter (Birch) with whom he barely speaks to and has a job which he hates. after meeting his daughter's friend (Suvari), whom he develops an attraction for, he decides to start making changes and live the life that he wants. changes that affect not only him, but those around him.

the combination of the spectacular cinematography of Conrad L. Hall and the direction of Sam Mendes bring to life Alan Ball's wonderfully penned script, making it an instant classic. Ball without a doubt captured the desperation and monotony of the everyday life of average suburbia flawlessly.

the entire cast all deliver great performances, but it is Kevin Spacey's performance that is once again incredible. had the character of Lester Burnham been portrayed by anyone else, he would have seemed creepy and pathetic. but Spacey manages to make the viewer empathize and cheer Lester on, as he makes the drastic changes in his life that ultimately lead to the shocking, albeit poetic, ending.

this movie is one of my favorites for a reason. it truly is a phenomenal film. ♥

fantasy dramedy starring Johnny Depp, Dianne Wiest, Alan Arkin, Winona Ryder and Vincent Price. cinematography by Stefan Czapsky. written by Tim Burton and Caroline Thompson. directed by Tim Burton.

Edward Scissorhands is the tale of a man (Depp) with scissors for hands, whose inventor (Price) passed away before he had a chance to complete him and who is one day taken home with the local AVON sales lady, Peg Boggs (Wiest). it is there that Edward is introduced to the colorful characters that inhabit the local suburban neighborhood. it is also where he is introduced to Peg's daughter (Ryder), with whom he falls in love with.

I cannot say enough about this film. from the magnificently shot cinematography, to the hilarious and heartwarming performances of the talented cast, to the beautifully written story. I absolutely love this film.

every shot of this film is unique and beautiful, bringing to life the characters and their environment in such a way that I had never seen before. as a young girl, it was the visuals in this film that first captured my attention and made me feel as if I were a part of this fascinating world. or at least make me wish that I were. Stefan Czapsky's cinematography is one of the reasons that this film is a classic.

Johnny Depp as the title character and Dianne Weist as the loving and kindhearted Peg Boggs deliver two of my favorite performances on film. Depp is perfection as Edward. I honestly cannot envision another actor in this role. and Weist... ah how I love her. she is definitely one of Hollywood's most underrated actresses. her portrayal of Peg is one of her finest performances. I so want Peg as my aunt!

and of course, where would this film be, if it weren't for the genius that is Tim Burton. his vision is unlike any other. only he can capture the world as he does.

a true classic, one that will forever hold a special place in my heart. ♥

Based on my favorite Hitchcock film, I was very surprised how much I liked this movie...