Where were you in '62?

As fashion designer Tom Ford's directorial debut, A Single Man is slowly but surely gathering attention. The film is a somewhat loose adaptation of Christopher Isherwood's novel of the same name, following what is intended to be the last day in the life of George (Colin Firth) after the sudden death of his longtime partner Jim (Matthew Goode). The day is November 30, 1962, and George, a middle-aged English professor in Los Angeles, seemingly has no reason to continue to live. It is a day to clean up his office, empty his safety deposit box, and, most importantly, buy bullets.

Ford takes various liberties with the source material, injecting it with dark humor. The woefully underused Lee Pace features in a memorable scene used to establish the threat of the Cuban missile crisis. Both comedy and tension build in a sequence where George fruitlessly struggles to find a position to shoot himself in that will not produce too much of a mess. Eventually wrapped in a sleeping bag, he is about to pull the trigger when his friend Charlotte (Julianne Moore) calls to remind him that they are supposed to meet. It is a reminder of the absurdity of events that keeps him alive.

While the ever-reliable Firth delivers a subtle portrait of grief, Nicholas Hoult stands out as Kenny, one of George's students. Kenny is fascinated by his enigmatic professor and is determined to learn more about what he is like outside of the classroom. Hoult, most recently known for his role on British series Skins as a power-crazed teen sociopath, provides a contrasting youthfulness that is simultaneously innocent and world-weary; it may be inferred that he is intended to embody the same sort of lust for life that George remembers in Jim. The film reaches its climax when Kenny spontaneously asks George to take a swim in the ocean with him, providing a bizarre and violent sort of rebirth for the mourning man.

Like any designer, Ford focuses on the details. Cigarette smoke is exhaled in dense clouds, teeth look whiter against red lipstick, and eyelashes flutter with pre-Quant amounts of mascara. Particularly notable is a scene in which George sets aside the clothing he wishes to be buried in, including cuff links, leaving a note indicated that the necktie absolutely must be done up with a Windsor knot. On the opposite coast, it is more heavily stylized than Mad Men. Vivid colors burst and fade at key points in George's narrative, while a flashback to a trip to the beach with Jim is completely desaturated. Aesthetics seem to be a priority over emotion; while the cast clearly has excellent chemistry, including model Jon Kortajarena's first attempt at acting, the audience is constantly held at arm's length. Still, there is more than enough fulfillment for the eye, and it feels ungrateful to complain when the attention to detail is otherwise flawless.

Youth In Revolt red band trailer

Youth In Revolt Red Band Trailer - watch more funny videos

Congratulations, Michael Cera, you might just contain multitudes.

Fantastic Mr. Fox in review

Wes Anderson knows who he is. That's more than can be said for many filmmakers. Over the past 15 years, Anderson has established himself as a director with an exceptionally distinct style, not only with his meticulous attention to detail, but with an assortment of signature elements. With Fantastic Mr. Fox, the auteur both embraces and divorces his trademarks.

This is the first time that Anderson has adapted another writer's work. The beloved Roald Dahl book tells the story of a fox, voiced by George Clooney in the film, who steals food from three farmers. The farmers proceed go to extravagant lengths to eradicate the thief, leveling the hill that Mr. Fox and his family call home before laying siege to the entire forest. The Fox family and their animal compatriots must fight back or starve to death. This is a departure from Anderson's typical fare of dysfunctional family journeys, but his trademark dry humor matches well with Dahl's classic British comedy. The original story is widely embellished, most notably to include the characters of Kylie, Mr. Fox's opossum building superintendent (Wallace Wolodarsky); Ash, Mr. and Mrs. Fox's son (Jason Schwartzman); and Kristofferson, Ash's visiting cousin (Anderson's brother Eric). The differences between the naturally athletic Kristofferson and the socially awkward Ash provide one of the storyline's subplots. The additional characters supplement the original story to great effect.

Unlike Anderson's previous work, Fantastic Mr. Fox was filmed using stop-motion animation, a fitting vehicle for his stylistic precision. The hand-made puppets appear to move with remarkable fluidity, yet maintain a D.I.Y. aesthetic. Sets and costumes show the amount of time and effort required to make this film. True to form, Anderson features an oddly-dressed underdog hero, in this case the cape-wearing Ash. The director's stamp is also seen in Bill Murray's role as a badger lawyer, extensive smoking, the use of bright colors, and symmetrical shots; however, it is Meryl Streep that takes on the mother role, rather than usual choice Anjelica Huston. This time around, Anderson's 60s band of choice is the Beach Boys. California surf rock may clash with the English countryside, but the sunny songs reflect the joie de vivre of being a wild animal. In contrast, a schoolyard chant about the malevolent farmers is eerily repeated during points of tension. Ex-Britpopper Jarvis Cocker, whose last film work was for Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, provided the bizarre original "Petey's Song." Other vocal cameos include Adrien Brody, Owen Wilson, and Mario Batali.

While Anderson's previous work had been veering towards self-indulgence (see: slow-motion running sequence set to the Kinks' "Powerman" in The Darjeeling Limited), Fantastic Mr. Fox is a return to the refreshing charm of The Royal Tenenbaums.

Whip It!: Feel good hit of the fall?

I walked out of the preview screening of Whip It! feeling everything that I'm pretty sure I was supposed to be feeling: empowered, exhilarated, and wishing I could kick as much ass as a derby girl. Drew Barrymore's directorial debut is a feel-good story that focuses not on romance, but on being satisfied in your own achievements.

Ellen Page stars as Bliss, an earnest teenager who wants to break away from her overbearing mother, who believes that the best way to get out of their small town is to become a beauty pageant queen. It's an underdog story, yes, but who doesn't love an underdog story? Her ticket to freedom comes from joining a roller derby team in and being surrounded by mold-breaking people who are unlike anyone she has ever met before. The laughs come one after another, the skating scenes are sharply edited, and, the soundtrack features hits from the Strokes, MGMT, Jens Lekman, and Kings Of Leon. (For the record, the Kings Of Leon song is "Knocked Up," not any of the tripe from Only By The Night.)

This is a film by women, starring women. It also showcases female capability; the tagline is "Be Your Own Hero," after all. While there is a romantic subplot featuring a local indie rocker, getting the guy is nowhere near as important as being strong and independent. Best friend Pash and derby team the Hurl Scouts provide Bliss with the support that she needs to come into her own. The lively cast propels the story, with plenty of humor along the way. It's not a movie that takes itself too seriously, though it would be difficult to, considering that it features characters who give themselves monikers such as "Bloody Holly," "Iron Maven," and "Smashley Simpson." What it does do is present a great message in a hilarious, well-crafted package. Whip It! is exactly what's needed to combat the frail, powerless version of femininity that is perpetuated in Twilight.

In the words of the Hurl Scouts’ Coach Razor, "Go getcha some."

A Single Man trailer

This looks visually stunning, for more reasons than one, but what else could we expect from Tom Ford? Everyone looks flawless, and the color palette seems spot-on for the 60s. I can't wait to see this film. With Matthew Goode, Lee Pace, and Nicholas Hoult, how could I not?

Also, it will be interesting to see how much coverage the gay kiss will get. Despite the visibility of Watchmen, Matthew Goode isn't particularly high-profile, though Colin Firth more than balances that out. While it's obviously going to be talked about, hopefully more people have figured out since Jake and Heath that gay scenes don't have to be a big deal.

Youth In Revolt trailer

Youth in Revolt - Trailer No. 1 - Moviefone

Sorry, no embed.

I have to say, this actually looks better than I thought it would. I read the book earlier in the summer after hearing a lot of good things about it, as well as being curious as to the dissimilarities between Nick Twisp and Michael Cera's standard fare. From what's seen in the trailer, his interpretation of Nick seems like regulation Michael Cera playing Michael Cera. As alter ego François, however, he certainly stands out a lot more and shows his potential. I also like the way that François is shown with the two Michaels. Aside from that, Sheeni seems spot on from the way I imagined her in the book, apart from the fact that all of the teenaged characters are clearly older than 14. Still, they look uniformly older, which is what's important. I'm looking forward to this movie a lot more than I was previously.

And I have to say, I love the dress that Sheeni is wearing 54 seconds in.

The return: What I did this weekend

This time, I have a legitimate reason for not updating. I've been abroad for over a month, and lack of time/internet has led me to be almost totally cut off from everything. It's a shame I missed out on the squeefests that resulted from David Tennant kissing John Barrowman at Comic-Con. And Scott Pilgrim becoming a video game! (Note: I do not play video games.)

This weekend, I...
--Saw Paper Heart
--Read Submarine
--Saw Funny People

Paper Heart is a pseudo-documentary featuring Michael Cera and his 33-year-old girlfriend, Charlyne Yi. (IMDB claims that she's 23, but I swear I've read that she's 33.) The film follows Yi as she interviews a wide variety of participants about what they think love is. At the same time, this alternate version of her begins to date the alternate version of Michael Cera. This is the only time in which it has been permissible for Michael Cera to be playing Michael Cera, as he was actually supposed to be playing Michael Cera. Either he knows that he is exactly the same in every movie, or he really is just that boring. But that's beside the point. The film takes a whimsical approach, using paper dolls and home-made props to illustrate the stories of the interviewees. Charming, but bordering on overly precious. I did find it enjoyable enough, but I still don't really know what to think about it.

Joe Dunthorne's Submarine is a coming-of-age story about a vocabulary-obsessed Welsh boy. Quite frankly, it didn't make much of an impression on me--I've already forgotten the ending. Other than that, it was a sufficiently compelling story, full of erratic and hormone-fuelled decisions. I didn't find the narrator to be particularly charismatic, although I don't think he was supposed to be. Between this and my June readings of Fierce People and Youth In Revolt, I have spent quite a lot of this summer reading from the perspectives of teenage boys.

The only Judd Apatow-directed product that I had seen before was Freaks and Geeks, so I wasn't sure what to expect out of Funny People. Well, actually, I didn't expect it to be so blatantly indie. I mean seriously, Jonah Hill wearing a Beirut t-shirt? Are you kidding me? Name-checking Wilco? I've never been an Adam Sandler fan, but Seth Rogen's character was definitely the eyes of the movie. Clocking in at 2:16, it did start to drag a bit towards the end, but the comedic and the serious elements blended well. Also, after seeing this, I'm satisfied with Aubrey Plaza as Julie "The Bitch" Powers in Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. And I want Jason Schwartzman to write at least part of the soundtrack to my life.

The Brothers Bloom in review

After waiting for what seems like at least a year, I finally saw The Brothers Bloom today. It was just as delightful as I expected it to be, sharp, witty, and engaging. Adrien Brody, Mark Ruffalo, and Rachel Weisz were all wonderfully magnetic in the lead roles, while Rinko Kinkuchi provided much of the comic relief without speaking a word. I loved the sense of humor, which was well-established within the first few minutes. The Brothers Bloom may possibly have one of my favorite opening scenes ever.

I saw a lot of Wes Anderson in the aesthetic, which I obviously loved. It was particularly noticeable in the way that the film seemed to be set in its own world to the extent that references to cell phones and other modern conveniences were a bit of a shock. The wardrobe was pretty much fantastic and I want all of it. The pacing was a bit weird at times, with the blend of action and comedy, but you can't have it all.

Oh Goodeness.

Matthew Goode has been cast in Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant's latest collaboration.

I'm trying to formulate words that express how excited I am about this, but all I can really say is that I leapt out of my chair and did a celebratory fist pump. I've been on a huge Matthew Goode kick since the release of Watchmen (I even watched the Spanish movie where he's blond and kind of a pedo), and Gervais and Merchant can do no wrong. I'm so excited!

Further neglect

Here's a new Chanel N°5 advert, directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and featuring Audrey Tautou, naturally. I typically favor a more minimalist style, but Jeunet's wonderful sense of romanticism never fails to disappoint. And of course, Audrey Tautou is pretty much flawless.



In other news, I'm not going to lie, I kind of want to see the new Star Trek movie. I haven't watched the show since elementary school and can't remember anything about it at all, but hey, it's a prequel. Also, as a bonus, this is probably one of the hottest casts around since Watchmen.

I want the one I can't have: 500 Days Of Summer in review

Alright, so, the Nashville Film Festival. You know it's the Nashville Film Festival when the writer of one of the songs on the soundtrack is there to accept a certificate from BMI to congratulate him on the song having been played 4 million times and people in sparkly outfits called Doyle and Debbie kick off the screening with a song about trailer park residents.

500 Days Of Summer is going to be the indie hit of the year. It's easy to tell that from the second you see Zooey Deschanel's bangs in the trailer. From the second you see Joseph Gordon-Levitt sporting a cardigan, a tie, a messenger bag, and giant headphones. From the second the Smiths are mentioned. And it all matches up. Belle & Sebastian are namechecked within the first ten minutes, Regina Spektor and Black Lips songs are heavily featured, and the credits roll to Mumm-Ra. Say what you will, but I am in love with this movie.

Gordon-Levitt is earnest and heart-wrenching as Tom, a greeting card writer who knows deep-down inside that he's risking a broken heart, but keeps on hoping anyways. Deschanel as Summer is his heartbreaker who never does anything truly hateful; Marc Webb, the director, really drove that point home in the Q&A session. She is who she is--a person who is not easily tied down. The chemistry between them is pretty much what drives the movie, and it's certainly effective. The performances come across as being natural. This is a film about genuine people--the way it looks may be stylised and beautifully orchestrated, but the characters aren't.

This movie's got style. Webb's previous work on music videos really shows, and the parade-like sequence after Tom and Summer have sex for the first time is a stand-out, as is a scene where Tom envisions himself in a variety of classic films. The way color is used is great--blue is used to represent Summer--and I want all of Tom's and Summer's outfits, except for the part where Tom wears a brown jacket with black shirts all of the time. It was a beautiful world to be in for those 90-odd minutes.

An observation: On numerous occasions, Tom wears Joy Division t-shirts, one with the Unknown Pleasures artwork and one with "Love Will Tear Us Apart," but the band's music is never used in the film. I can only conclude that their sound is too heavy for the tone of the movie; despite being a story about heartbreak, there's still a sense of lightness to it.

What does Charles Ryder really want?

Over the course of the past few weeks, I've been watching way too many movies that I ordinarily wouldn't have been interested in, just because Matthew Goode is in them and I'm secretly 14 years old. (Chasing Liberty made me want to repeatedly punch myself in the eye, and all I could think about was how weird it is that Mandy Moore married Ryan Adams. My Family and Other Animals was hilarious and a pleasant surprise, and Imagine Me & You was tolerable.) While I do think he is genuinely talented and not just a pretty face, he has unfortunately been in some films that aren't particularly good by a long shot.

Anyways, yesterday I finally got around to watching Brideshead Revisited, which I legitimately have been wanting to see for a while, having loved the book. I wish I'd seen it in theatres, because everything and everyone was beautiful. Castle Howard is so gorgeous. Anyways, I'm not really sure what I thought of it overall. Ben Whishaw's Sebastian was perfectly heartbreaking, but I do wish that there had been more time spent on the Charles/Sebastian relationship. While it was nice that the homoeroticism that was very obvious in the book was fully acknowledged on Sebastian's part, I didn't really get the impression that the attraction was reciprocated. Sure, there was the occasional sidelong glance or gesture, but my interpretation of Charles from the book was one who would have gladly kissed Sebastian. In the book, I thought that Charles' considered Sebastian's beauty with something between lust, infatuation, and an artist's aesthetic reverence. At the same time, Charles was also always very distant, which I thought Matthew Goode's performance captured well. Now, I know that I have to take the book and the film as completely separate entities, but I found the film to be much less passionate and compelling. The film was visually stunning, but fell short when it came to the script.

Nashville Film Festival

On my to-see list at the Nashville Film Festival:

500 Days Of Summer
Sorry, Thanks
Poundcake
Gogol Bordello Non-Stop
Ask Not
How To Be
The Heart Is A Drum Machine

Scattered thoughts on Oscars '09

Oh my God. This was, um, this was not an easy film to make. First off, I have to thank Cleve Jones and Anne Kronenberg and all the real-life people who shared their stories with me. And, um, Gus Van Sant, Sean Penn, Emile Hirsch, Josh Brolin, James Franco and our entire cast, my producers Dan Jinks and Bruce Cohen, everyone at Groundswell and Focus for taking on the challenge of telling this life-saving story.

When I was 13 years old, my beautiful mother and my father moved me from a conservative Mormon home in San Antonio, Texas to California, and I heard the story of Harvey Milk. And it gave me hope. It gave me the hope to live my life. It gave me the hope one day I could live my life openly as who I am and then maybe even I could even fall in love and one day get married.

I wanna thank my mom, who has always loved me for who I am even when there was pressure not to. But most of all, if Harvey had not been taken from us 30 years ago, I think he'd want me to say to all of the gay and lesbian kids out there tonight who have been told that they are less than by their churches, by the government or by their families, that you are beautiful, wonderful creatures of value and that no matter what anyone tells you, God does love you and that very soon, I promise you, you will have equal rights federally, across this great nation of ours. Thank you. Thank you. And thank you, God, for giving us Harvey Milk.
--Dustin Lance Black

Thank you. Thank you. You commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns. I did not expect this, but I, and I want it to be very clear, that I do know how hard I make it to appreciate me often. But I am touched by the appreciation and I hoped for it enough that I did want to scribble down, so I had the names in case you were commie, homo-loving sons-of-guns, and so I want to thank my best friend, Sata Matsuzawa. My circle of long-time support, Mara, Brian, Barry and Bob. The great Cleve Jones. Our wonderful writer, Lance Black. Producers Bruce Cohen and Dan Jinks.

And particularly, as all, as actors know, our director either has the patience, talent and restraint to grant us a voice or they don't, and it goes from the beginning of the meeting, through the cutting room. And there is no finer hands to be in than Gus Van Sant. And finally, for those, two last finallies, for those who saw the signs of hatred as our cars drove in tonight, I think that it is a good time for those who voted for the ban against gay marriage to sit and reflect and anticipate their great shame and the shame in their grandchildren's eyes if they continue that way of support.

We've got to have equal rights for everyone. And there are, and there are, these last two things. I'm very, very proud to live in a country that is willing to elect an elegant man president and a country who, for all its toughness, creates courageous artists. And this is in great due respect to all the nominees, but courageous artists, who despite a sensitivity that sometimes has brought enormous challenge, Mickey Rourke rises again and he is my brother. Thank you all very much.
--Sean Penn

Do a Holocaust movie, get an Oscar. Words of wisdom, Ricky Gervais.

Ben Stiller as Joaquin Phoenix was amazing. I couldn't even tell who it was under that giant beard until he turned to the side and I recognised his profile.

I almost cried during Dustin Lance Black and Sean Penn's speeches, ngl. I'd say I was surprised that Westboro Baptist Church protested, but they've gone so far that they can't be shocking anymore.

As much as I love Paul Newman, etc., the In Memoriam thing took so long that I thought M.I.A. was going to recover enough to show up.

The dance routine to Jai Ho was so epic until John Legend came along. No surprises with Slumdog Millionaire--the little kids were way too adorable, and everyone involved obviously took great pride in their work. Dev Patel, let's get married.

THIS IS THE SKIN OF A KILLER. Our friend RPattz was clearly getting a headstart on looking like a tortured stalker.

Not that Hugh Jackman was bad, but it would have been nice if someone like Tina Fey had hosted. I think that these sorts of things generally go over better if a comedian hosts.

Dominic Cooper was lookin' fly (as were many other people), too bad Zac Efron and Vanessa Hudgens had to be involved in that musical extravaganza. I am so excited for An Education. The previews made me even more pumped for 500 Days Of Summer, too--Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Zooey Deschanel are way too cute.

Death At A Funeral to be remade

Touch and go! Touch and go!

Wow, time for a re-make already? This seems totally unnecessary, the original was brilliant. I don't recall there being very many culturally obscure references--plus, Love Actually has proven that Americans are capable of sucking it up and Googling if they don't understand something.

Death At A Funeral is one of those films that just works. There's nothing particularly out of the ordinary about the style or the setting, and there aren't any fantastic special effects, but the talent of the actors and the way the plot slowly builds up really make it something special. It's one of the funniest movies I've seen, and Americanising it would just cheapen it.

The Keene Act & You

The New Frontiersman has posted a new viral clip for Watchmen. This time it's an overview of the Keene Act, the law that banned costumed heroes.



I'm digging this one, I love that it genuinely looks like it's from the 70s. I wish I was more knowledgeable about propaganda in general, it's so fascinating.

Belated bits of news, name change

• Flight of the Conchords are playing Nashville's historic Ryman Auditorium and it will be amazing
• Empire has some new promo photos for The Boat That Rocked, one of my most anticipated 2009 films. The Boat That Rocked, a comedy about a pirate radio station in the 60s, features Philip Seymour Hoffman, Bill Nighy, Rhys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Emma Thompson, Rhys Darby (Gingerballs ♥), Tom Sturridge, Talulah Riley, Gemma Arterton, and January Jones. With a cast like that, how could you not be ridiculously excited for this film?
• The new Lily Allen album leaked
  
• A nearly-naked photo of Morrissey may be viewed here if you wish to permanently change the way you think about Morrissey
• Franz Ferdinand recently visited Zane Lowe and played a great set at Maida Vale, and Alex Kapranos had a backstage chat with NME.com
  

I've also changed the name to Rushmore Academics, as Are You At The Pictures? was a bit too long for my liking.

Internet Hate Michael, 10 Years Of Dr. Manhattan

Michael Cera: "Arrested Development movie more hypothetical than people think.

Michael Cera, get the hell off of your high horse and make this movie, you are forever indebted to Arrested Development for making sure you continue to get roles as The Awkward Teenage Boy, although you have slightly branched off into The Awkward And Douchey Teenage Boy. Arrested Development is why you have a career, just do it.

Of course, there's also the possibility that Michael Cera realises that his career will be over once he's too old to play The Awkward (And Douchey) Teenage Boy, so he wants to make as much money as he possibly can while he can.

So, if Michael Cera doesn't sign on for the film, how should they deal with it? It would be pretty easy to write out George Michael, since he really wasn't a hugely integral part of the main plot. Yeah, it would be amusing to find out whether or not he and Maeby made it to third base or not, but George Michael could just be off at college or something. (I don't see Maeby being the college type, or at least not the conventional college type--she'd probably end up at some hippie place where they don't have real grades.) Alternatively, they could just have a different actor for George Michael and completely ignore the subject--someone on ONTD was suggesting Dev Patel, who would actually be a pretty good choice. It would also be pretty epic if the singer-songwriter George Michael could make a cameo. I'm never gonna dance again the way I danced with you, Michael Cera.

On another note, there's a new Watchmen promo clip out. This is a fake news report about the 10-year anniversary of the "birth" of Doctor Manhattan.

All the boys and all the girls are begging to if you seek Effy?

Re: 7-minute preview for Skins 3x01
Skins Episode 1 Part 1 Preview

It looks pretty good, I hope the rest of the episode isn't a disappointment. I'm not sure what to think of JJ or Cook, but Freddie seems pretty chill. It kind of seems like they made Cook a douchebaggier version of Chris, but hopefully he'll develop his own personality. Also, why isn't Effy wearing pants? I do hope that people aren't stupid enough to try and recreate that outfit.

Oh, and Watchmen is going to be coming out on schedule! I'm pretty excited, I recently read the graphic novel and was blown away.

Best Of 2008 - Movies

Movies
Milk
Slumdog Millionaire
The Visitor

I am still unqualified to talk about The Dark Knight, due to the fact that I still haven't seen the middle 45 minutes of it. Milk, Slumdog Millionaire, and The Visitor are all wonderfully human stories. I didn't see very many movies this year, but the ones I did see certainly stood out.