Gemma the Great

Originally posted Sept. 3, 2011.

I’ve recently found out that supermodel Gemma Ward has been cast to play a role in the upcoming Gatsby film. While her character’s name is unknown, the role is said to be of some significance.

For those of whom aren’t familiar with Miss Ward in the fashion industry, if you caught the latest Pirates of the Caribbean, you would have seen her as Tamara the First Mermaid. This information I’m getting from IMDB.

I am still unsure of how I feel about this development. As the film is gaining a lot of attention, with big names attached to it, I cannot help but expect a lot from her. I mean, I guess there are lots of model turned actress success stories. Perhaps Gemma will deliver and change my perspective.

Hell hath no fury like an ape scorned...

Lesson 1: Testing on animals is NOT good.
Lesson 2: Don't piss off a chimp.

When the full trailer for Rise of the Planet of the Apes was released, I was none but pleased to see the ever-attractive James Franco and ever-gorgeous Freida Pinto sharing the screen in the much anticipated prequel. Later I learned that Andy Serkis decided to bust out the green suit again to play another CGI character.

I will be honest, I have never seen the original. Nor have I seen the 2001 remake by Tim Burton. The only movie with chimps would have been Tarzan... the Disney version. So when I saw the trailer, I couldn't help but gawk at the advancement of film-making technology. It is armed with CGI work that rivals Avatar... the apes look incredibly lifelike!

The film surrounds a genetic engineer named Will Rodman. His research is primarily on finding something that will hopefully cure Alzheimer's -- a disease his own father has. Will tests out a drug on a chimp named Bright Eyes and sees that her intelligence is growing -- a telltale sign that his drug should help Alzheimer's sufferers. When Bright Eyes goes bananas, her life comes to an untimely end and her newborn baby is left without a parent. Will shows compassion towards the chimp and brings him home where he is given the name Caesar.
As the chimp becomes part of the family, the intelligence Bright Eyes possessed is passed onto Caesar and as each day grows, his IQ increases.
One day, Alzheimer's troubles the family when Will's father gets into a neighbor's car and causes a ruckus. As Will's father is being verbally abused by the angered neighbor, Caesar watches in his room window. Protective of his family, Caesar rushes outside to protect Mr. Rodman. This results in Caesar being violent towards the neighbor, and ultimately is pulled away by animal control to a compound where other chimps live.

Thus begins the downfall of Caesar's trust in humans, and the rise of the apes.

If you have seen the trailer, you obviously know what happens. The chimps are outraged by the way they are being treated by humans so they break out of the compound. What else is next but a showdown with the humans. They literally go ape shit on San Fransisco.

For most of the movie, I found myself growing fond of Caesar. He is so lovable, but so misunderstood. About half the movie is seeing Caesar growing up. I did not find it slow at all. It was all rise, but it was gradual and I liked that. It wasn't too slow paced.

What I didn't enjoy is that Tom Felton's character seems so Draco-like. Having watched him play Malfoy for the past 10 years, I couldn't help but see him as his Potter persona. Although I really like him, I wish he didn't always have to play the bad guy...

While Andy Serkis was blowing me away with his best ape impression, James Franco didn't act as well as he did in 127 Hours. However, the focus of the movie is not on him. His looks and beautiful co-star made up for his lack-luster performance. Again, the focus of the movie is not on humans so I don't have much to say about Freida Pinto. She's just really nice to look at... She didn't have much to say so I can't criticize too much.

I have to admit that the film was great and well received. Achieving over 80% fresh on Rotten Tomatoes is quite the accomplishment for the remake. It ends leaving the audience itching for more. Luckily, there will be more Apes swinging our way in the future.

Who shalt play Romeo?

According to Perez Hilton the role of Romeo has been cast by Douglas Booth. This I confirmed on IMDB. The name is not familiar to me, but like Hailee Steinfeld, a name I am sure we will be hearing for years to come.

...Actually, now that I think about it, he was the boy Miley Cyrus allegedly dated briefly after her initial split from Liam Hemsworth. Anyways, he will soon have another reason to remember his name. The fresh faced newcomer will be starring alongside Hailee Steinfeld as the famous star crossed lovers. While I know absolutely nothing about him, I think he is the appropriate age to star as the leading male.

In similar news, Holly Hunter is set to play the Nurse, and (Vampire Diaries fans rejoice) Paul Wesley will play Paris, the guy who does not get the girl. Shouldn't matter, he's so good looking, he should get pity dates easily.

Read more about it on Perez's website!

So long, Farewell

There once was a boy named Harry

Whose name was mentioned in a prophecy

One must die

While the other survives

And thus it all began

Hunting for Horcuxes

Voldy's soul now fluxes

Voldemort rises again

His power so great

Harry’s life was up to fate

…and the Battle was less than accurate.

Like my fellow Potter fans, I have been anticipating “The End” since the release of the final novel. It was inevitable, and for most it means the end of their childhood. I am one of them.

I started reading the series when The Prisoner of Azkaban had already been published. A friend introduced me to the magical world of witchcraft and wizardry and it was unlike anything I had ever read. I was fully immersed in their world.

All 7 books were published within 10 years, and similarly, the films were also released within 10 years. If I started reading the books when I was just shy of the age of 10. It means that Harry Potter has been part of my life for 12 years.

More than half my life has been dedicated to the series and I’m sad it has come to an end. However, the purpose of this post is not to bore you with my laments, but to share my thoughts on the final gift the franchise could give.

After being blown away by Part 1 of The Deathly Hallows, I expected no less from Part 2. Because I had not read the book since 2007, I felt compelled to refresh my memory and read it once more. 

I believe the movie was a joy to watch – cinematically speaking. 3D didn’t do much for me but I got Harry Potter glasses out of it. The film was full of emotion… those who have read the books will understand why. For those of you who don’t read the books and haven’t seen the movie yet, I will not spoil it for you. The most frustrating aspect of the movie was the inaccuracies that plagued the film.

Movies based off books have the difficulty of staying true to the original, for many reasons. The Harry Potter film franchise was no exception.

While I love the films, a part of me is always disappointed with the film doesn’t match the book. However, I must constantly be reminded that it is the Director’s vision not mine, that budgeting must play some role in the omission of characters, and again, it is someone else’s interpretation.

I liked the film, for it bade farewell to the beloved franchise… but unfortunately it was laced with inaccuracies.

While it saddens me to see it all end, I find comfort in the fact that Harry, Ron and Hermione still have adventures on paper.

Auf Wiedersehen, Harry Potter.

Not your typical "Chick Flick"

Behold, Judd Apatow's latest -- Bridesmaids. It's The Hangover but with chicks. This hilarious film was released earlier this month and I was beyond excited to see it as I am a fan of Apatow's previous works. I expected a lot of laughs, crude humor, and obscenity.

When Annie's best friend Lillian becomes engaged, she's asked to be Lil's maid of honor. At the engagement party, she meets the rest of the bridesmaids.
There's Becca, a seemingly innocent newly wed who's nothing but smiles. Rita, a housewife and mother of 3 boys who's itching for girly time. Megan, Lil's fiance's sister who's low maintenance and has no filter, literally (she belches and passes gas like it's nobody's business). Lastly, there's Helen, Lillian's fiance's boss's wife, who's beautiful, passive aggressive, and Annie's competition as BFF.
Annie has to endure all the duties of maid of honor while keeping up with the other girls and trying to upstage Helen (which later seems impossible).
 
Toss in some vulgar language, cat fights, innuendos, hilarious catchphrases, sexual content and lots of puking, and you've got an Apatow movie. He sure knows how to cross the line.

Kristin Wiig is also worthy of acknowledgement. The story allows for her comedic styling to shine through. Joining her is fellow SNL regular Maya Rudolph and both funny ladies work really well together. Alongside the duo is Jenny McCarthy, best known for her role on Gilmore Girls. It was refreshing to see her play someone who's completely different to Sookie St. James. Rose Byrne adds to the group. Her striking good looks are deceiving, and she proves she's more than just a pretty face. Another recognizable face is Ellie Kemper (Erin from The Office). Though her character is similar to that of Erin, she's a great addition to the cast and brings a lot of laughs with her. Lastly, there's Wendi McLendon-Covey. I haven't seen much of her, but she's a very funny lady, as made evident in the movie's outtakes that made it on Funny or Die.
This talented group of women makes it clear that raunchy comedy isn't just for boys.

There were some really uncomfortable scenes to sit through, but the hilarity of the rest makes up for it.
I really did enjoy this movie and would recommend it to anyone who possesses a funny bone.

From Chuck to Tybalt

2 months ago, I blogged that Hailee Steinfeld had been cast to play Juliet in the upcoming adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

Well I've just read that Ed Westwick will be playing Juliet's cousin Tybalt in the Shakespearean love story.
You've probably seen him in the CW hit show Gossip Girl, in which Ed plays Chuck Bass. A heavy schemer who is devilishly charming. He plays that role with ease, and from what I know of the character Tybalt, I believe Ed's familiarity with playing the douche-bag will help him deliver a notable performance.

I can't wait to hear who will be cast to star opposite Hailee. She's only 14, so he's got to be age appropriate, otherwise it could get creepy.

Crap, please let it be anyone BUT Justin Bieber?!?
Who would you like to see play Romeo?

Read more about it on Perez!

Not high, just Limitless

Imagine if you could take a drug that would help you to tap into your brain's full potential. Now think about the possible repercussions if that information fell into the wrong hands...

Eddie Mora is a struggling writer who suffers from chronic writers block. When he reconnects with an old friend, he is offered a revolutionary new drug called NZT that allows him to recall anything and everything he's ever seen, heard or read, learn any language and understand complicated equations and come up with intense algorithms. 

Soon he finds himself working for a very successful broker and taking over Wall Street.

Someone soon finds out about his secret and wants to get their hands on his stash. Eddie's life is no longer safe as he attempts to keep his supply safe while trying to dodge his enemies.

Sounds intriguing huh? It was interesting enough to keep my attention, and Bradley Cooper's good looks made it even better. While his piercing blue eyes were enough for me to finish the movie, his acting chops were made quite prominent. Though I've really only seen him act in comedies, this movie seemed to give him the opportunity to showcase his action film, leading man talent. I don't think he'll be saying his thank yous at the Oscars any time soon, but his success rate can only go up from here.

Another name you might recognize is that of Robert De Niro. He plays financial mega-mogul Carl Van Loon who becomes Eddie's boss. His character isn't all that exciting. He's kind of an instigator of Eddie's addiction to the drug though. In order to impress his boss, Eddie needs to keep taking NZT to do so. De Niro's character is neither the bad guy or the good guy. I don't really have much else to say about him. He's a great actor, definitely not his best role, but pretty interesting I guess.

Abbie Cornish's name is also listed on the poster, so it's a given that her character is important enough to the plot. Yes, she is Eddie's girlfriend, who's kept in the dark about NZT until his life depends on it. I don't know much about her except she's Ryan Philippe's ex-girlfriend and she's in a new-ish film called Suckerpunch and that's about it... Her acting is decent enough that she's convincing enough in the film.

Limitless as a movie is entertaining. The concept is really interesting and makes me wish there was such a drug out there... Hahah Just kidding. Kind of. Imagine how much better my blog entries would be!?

Check it out. It's pretty good.

Up, up, up she goes!

Hailee Steinfeld has been cast to star in the latest film adaptation of Romeo and Juliet.

She's the youngest, but most "age appropriate" to play the role of Juliet. After watching her in True Grit I expect nothing but another amazing performance.

She may only be 14, but get used to it because you'll be hearing her name a LOT.

This is one star that is far from burning out.




Read more about it on Perez's website!

Never say "Never" (NO. Not Bieber movie...)

Never Let Me Go is a little known film I stumbled upon. I'll be honest, one of the main reasons why I even decided to watch it was because Andrew Garfield is my newest Hollywood crush and I just wanted an excuse to gawk at his amazingness.


So let's get to it.


In actuality, the film is an adaptation of a novel with the same title by Kazuo Ishiguro, a Japanese-British author. The film follows the lives of Tommy, Ruth and Cathy, three students of Hailsham, a boarding school situated in East Sussex, England. The school seems normal enough, until it is revealed to the students that they are raised for the sole purpose of becoming organ donors. And that they would cease to exist after all their vital organs have been donated.
In spite of this, the friendship between the three becomes a mixed love triangle. As kids, Cathy develops deep feelings for Tommy and it is clear he fancies her as well. But when she reveals her love for him to Ruth, Cathy is betrayed as Ruth and Tommy become a couple soon after.


Eventually as they've grown, Ruth and Tommy finally part and he and Cathy are given a chance at love. But reality rears its head and their lives change drastically.


As weird as this may sound, I really enjoyed the use of drab colours and gloomy settings throughout the movie. What does that mean you might ask. Well, everything was really subdued. The colours were were mainly blues, greens, grays etc., nothing overly colourful. I think it helps to convey the melancholy atmosphere that surrounds the plot. It's a little depressing, but the colours bring so much more meaning to the movie.


Colours are an additive, but what brings meaning to a script is the delivery of the lines. The actors essential. Films would not exist if there wasn't anyone to star in them. Director Mark Romanek cast 3 extremely talented actors; Carey Mulligan, Keira Knightly and newcomer Andrew Garfield (swoon). All of whom have prestigious award nominations to their name. Mulligan and Knightly have both received Oscar nominations, and Garfield is well on his way to one as well. But for now, I'm sure he's content with his Golden Globe nod. 


With talents such as these, the film can't go wrong. The trio has great chemistry and the love triangle is strikingly believable. I'm a huge fan of Keira Knightly, and it was crazy to dislike her character in a movie. Ruth is a sullen, jealous girl and I believe Keira embodied the character fully. I'd like to think that she's not actually like that in real person, but damn, she played that role with ease.  


Andrew Garfield played Eduardo Saverin in The Social Network which was his most memorable role to date. It was different to see him in a romantic scenario -- definitely a change, but a refreshing one. It just goes to show that he will not be typecast to one genre, which will soon be made apparent once his portrayal of the new Spiderman hits theaters.


This was the first film I'd seen Carey Mulligan as a lead role. I had seen the most recent Pride and Prejudice but had no idea that she was one of the Bennett girls till I IMDb'd her later. So I'll be writing as if I never knew that and this was the first film I'd seen her in. I think she is a strong actress. Knowing that she had been acknowledged by the Academy, I'll admit that I had a pre-instigated notion about her. But she did not disappoint. She has proven that she is someone to watch for, as she shows a lot of promise.


Drama, Romance, Andrew Garfield. Seriously, what more could you ask for? Hahaha.
In all seriousness, decent film -- I was pleasantly surprised. May even read the novel.

B-B-B-Brilliant

Nominated for 12 and winner of 4 Academy Awards, Tod Hooper presents his latest triumph -- The King's Speech. A film about a monarch who with a speech impediment who struggles to find his voice. This film follows King George VI on his journey to the throne and how he ultimately overcomes his stutter. 

Concerned for her husband, the Duchess of York stumbles upon Lionel Logue, a speech therapist. She convinces His Majesty to attempt therapy. And what they find is not only improvement in his speech, but an unlikely friendship begins to grow between Lionel and Bertie (King George VI).

After hearing countless good things about this movie, I had to see it. However, with school and a wedding on my mind, it got pushed back. Until I watched the Oscars on Sunday, February 27th, when The King's Speech took home 4 awards, including Best Actor, Best Director aaaand Best Picture. Huge awards. Finally, incentive for me to watch the film.

I was none but pleased with it. The royals always seem to fascinate me. I'm unfamiliar with the history before Elizabeth II (well except for what I've seen on The Tudors), so it was interesting to learn about her father. I gained much respect for the monarch. His story is inspiring not only to stammerers, but to all who suffer from any speech impediments. His first wartime speech was a clear example of his accomplishments.

As the King, I believe Colin Firth delivered the performance of a lifetime. For his efforts, he was awarded both a Golden Globe and Academy Award. Rightly so. He's come a long way from What a Girl Wants. I've seen his talent grow and grow since then, and I strongly believe he is now one of the most talented actors currently in the business. Oh plus the way he pronounces his r's is simply adowable! Wight?!

But he's not the only talented actor in the movie. Both Geoffry Rush and Helena Bonham Carter give notable performances. Geoffrey Rush plays Lionel, who is compassionate for the King, but also challenged him. Because of this, the two strike up a friendship that lasts till the end of their lives. Rush is hauntingly believable, and you'll love his character for never giving up even when achieving results seemed impossible. As for Bonham Carter, it was refreshing to see her with a non-crazy role! Damn, she must be a good actress. She can nail both crazy and non-crazy. I can say with confidence that Rush and Bonham Carter are two of the finest British actors around.

That being said, please check this movie out. It's a drama, but there are a few good laughs. It's enjoyable through and through. You'll learn a lot about the frustrations of stuttering and you will appreciate all the work that goes into correcting it. The King's Speech was no doubt one of the best movies of 2010.

Boyle's Best

127 Hours tells the gripping true story of Aron Ralston. An engineer who found excitement in mountain climbing.

Director Danny Boyle recaps the events that took place in April 2003. Aron Ralston was going about his way climbing through the canyon, when a loose boulder fell and pinned his right arm against the rocks. The film captures Aron's struggle to fight for his life with the little supplies he had.

Now I remember hearing about the news at age 13. I don't think I reacted appropriately -- I mean, a guy cut off his arm to save his life. The words went in one ear and out the other. They had no semantics till I watched 127 Hours.

From the get-go, I was bracing myself for the inevitable arm-cutting scene. But before that could happen, we had to see Aron run out of "lifelines" in order to conclude that cutting his arm was the only means of saving his life.

He gets trapped early on in the movie, and since it runs for about 90 minutes, I was wondering how they would fill up the time. In fact, Boyle decided to throw in some flashbacks, which I found to be an interesting additive. It gives the audience a peek at what Aron's life had been like. Who his family was, who he'd loved, even what he had done the morning of the accident, etc. It's realistic to add in the flashbacks. I would think that if one was presumed to die soon, one would reminisce on the past and what could have been.

Finally I get to the moment I've been waiting for -- the arm cutting scene. I'm indifferent when it comes to blood and gore. I don't love it, but I can stand to watch it. Having said that, on this occasion, when there's much arm cutting, vein pulling, and bone breaking, I'll admit I was quite tense throughout. Thankfully, I was watching it in bed, so I watched from behind my comforter.  Great scene. Pivotal.

It's amazing how actors can use their talent to manipulate you to feel as their characters feel. James Franco delivers a performance that is Oscar worthy. I experienced Aron's triumphs and tribulations. When he attempted to push the boulder off his arm, I could feel my own teeth gritting as he pushed and struggled. It's a rare aptitude that few actors possess. James Franco proves once again that he is an A-list actor who can portray both a stoner and biological character with ease.

Bottom line: Boyle + Franco = a force to be reckoned with. Well done sirs.

True Hit

Following the murder of her father, a 14 year old girl hires an old US Marshal who has "true grit" to help her track down her father's killer in order to bring justice. Along the way, they meet a Texas Ranger. And the posse of three travel through deserts to find a killer. Based the novel True Grit by Charles Portis.

I think this is my first Western film. Wasn't sure what to make of it, but it's been nominated for 10 Academy Awards, so I decided to see what all the hype was about.

Jeff Bridges is even more badass than I originally thought he was! He portrays the Marshal as a man with a tough exterior, a drunkard at times, downright stubborn, and hard to strike a deal with. He is very convincing while doing so. I admit, I disliked his character at first, but I think a strong character like his like a strong cheese... It's an acquired taste. You grow to like it. I don't want to give too much away, but I ended up loving him towards the end.

A performance that I'd really like to praise is by newcomer Hailee Steinfeld. A 14 year old that shows a lot of promise in the industry. Like her character, she is also 14. She plays a very head strong young lady who has plans to avenge her father's murder. Her character's persistence and stubbornness is positively endearing, as she shows that she is passionate about only one thing. I hope to see Hailee in more movies. She has a bright future ahead of her.

While generally, I wouldn't pick a Western film to watch, I'm glad I chose to give True Grit a try. It broadened my horizons, and even exceeded my expectations. I'll admit though, I may or may not have fallen asleep after the first half. In my defense, I was exceptionally tired. BUT if I hadn't, the movie would have had more of an effect on me. And I liked it. Jus' sayin.

Valentines Day is fast approaching...

For better or for worse. One of the most important vows a couple makes, when they stand before God and before their friends and family, is to spend the rest of their lives loving each other. For better or for worse.
Ponder that for a bit...

Here we have Blue Valentine. The title is appropriate, as a certain holiday is coming up and being the sucker for romance movies I am, I gave this one a try.

Blue Valentine is about a married couple who find themselves at an impass. While thinking about what they can do to make their lives work, the audience is taken back to when the couple first met and see when they fell in love.

Dean (Ryan Gosling) is a 20-something year old man who finds a job as a mover for a moving company. Cindy (Michelle Williams) is on her way to becoming a doctor. Both paths cross when Dean catches a glimpse of Cindy as he is leaving a retirement home (where Cindy spends time with her grandmother). Dean instantly realizes that he has experienced love at first sight. About a month later, he revisits the home in hopes of running into his lady love again. He doesn't, but instead sees her on the bus he takes home. And thus the fairytale story begins...

So how do they end up in such a rut? When do people start falling out of love? Is that even possible? Having seen my own parents break up, I think about it from time to time. Throughout the movie, when it goes from present day to the past, then back again, I get frustrated because I just don't see how this couple can fall out of love. If I wasn't watching this alone, I probably would have been more vocal with my frustrations.

Bravo to Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams on stellar performances. I found myself fighting for each character on separate occasions. That's what you're supposed to do as an actor right? Make the audience feel the emotions you (the actor) are trying to convey?
At times, I would be so enamoured with their lovey-dovey-ness. At other times, I just wanted to slap them both in the face and give them a piece of my mind.

Now I don't know what the message of the movie was, but what got me the most was when Dean confronted Cindy and said, "For better or for worse. You broke your promise..."

When I started watching Blue Valentine I was expecting an epic love story. Instead, I get this Debbie-downer of a movie that gets me thinking all about the downsides of love. Just what I needed this holiday. But in all seriousness. I'm not bashing the film. It's well done. The acting was great. I was really invested in the characters (maybe a little too invested) and it was worth watching. Just maybe not this close to Valentines Day...

With that aside -- I want to wish you all a very happy Valentines Day. Much love.

Love, Drugs and Parkinsons?

I saw the trailer for Love & Other Drugs during the summer and almost immediately thought it was going to be a bust. So I avoided seeing it in the theater for fear of being disappointed.

"So what made you decide to give it a try?" you might ask... Having written many midterms over the past week, and overcome a stupid illness (I still don't know what it was) -- I needed to blow off some steam and just enjoy a movie. I mean, I don't have class till 4 tomorrow soo why not?

First off, this movie is just under 2 hours. It is up to you to decide whether or not that's time worth spending watching a chick flick. I'll leave it at that.

Usually, I'd say 2 hours is a bit long for a chick flick. But this movie was pleasantly enjoyable. I'm a sucker for Jake Gyllenhaal's puppy dog eyes and goofy smile, and I'm not gonna lie, I kind of have a girl crush on Anne Hathaway. They're both pretty to begin with, and putting them together just works. I'm not going to pretend to know what I'm talking about because this is probably bull spit.

Having worked together on Brokeback Mountain, I'm assuming that they'd be comfortable enough to shoot a whole other movie. And goodness I hope they were, 'cause this movie required them to be a bit more intimate. Yep, they gotta do the nasty, and Anne Hathaway's gotta show her, umm, assets. I'm not sure if it's completely necessary for the plot, but it's a little somethin' somethin' for the poor fellas that are dragged out to see a girl movie with their significant others.

Sex aside, there were moments where I would melt and hear an "Awwwwwww" float out of my mouth. Others where I'd LOL for real. And "WHAT THE F--- WERE YOU THINKING" would cross my mind here and there. You know, all that wonderful roller-coaster-of-emotion goodness that all good chick flicks need.

All of the above comments are brought to life by two actors who are gifted in their craft. Golden Globe nominations were in order for their performances. By no means is this movie Oscar material, but nominations for Globes were well deserved. Hathaway plays a 26 year old woman who lives with Stage 1 Parkinsons, and Gyllenhaal plays a pharmaceutical rep who falls in love with someone who sees him as a good person who is worth something.
She nails the tremors that come with Parkinsons, and he does a great job at falling in love with Anne Hathaway. But let's get real, that's not very hard is it? Hahahaa I kid, I kid.

Overall? I think Rotten Tomatoes should give this movie a bit more credit. Having received more "rotten" reviews than good ones, I was hesitant. I normally heed RT's warnings of (lack of) freshness, but I believe Love deserves to be watched and enjoyed.

Give 'er a try. Fall in like with Love & Other Drugs.

Ready. Set. Blog!

Here I am. Starting a blog. Writing about... nothing in particular. 

Ah well. Everyone's gotta start somewhere right? 

So how does one go about finding a subject to write about? Clearly, I've never done anything like this. Forgive me if this post is boring/random/plain stupid, but this is my first one. Bear with me. I guess I can start with reviewing the most recent movie I deem worthy of seeing, yeah?

Why don't I begin with my favorite movie of the 2010 holiday season; Black Swan. 

Great film. Now, I am by no means a critic of any sorts. I have my opinions -- whether they mean anything or not is up to you

First of all, I would like to credit Rodarte for designing amazing costumes for this movie. Being the little girl that I am, I love pretty things. And those ballerina costumes were damn pretty. 
 I love that the costumes were essential to the plot. They were (as the cliche goes) the icing on the cake. The Mulleavy sisters designed costumes that fit the story line, as well as each of the characters. Not to mention, soooo beautiful.

Secondly, as a classically trained musician, I should be wired to like classical music right? RIGHT! The use of Tchaikovsky's Swan Lake and an original score by Clint Mansell captured the atmosphere of the film perfectly. The hauntingly beautiful melody from Swan Lake still lingers in my temporal lobe, and I find myself humming it to myself from time to time. Yeah, I'm even thinking of changing my ringtone to that. It's not too creepy right?

Thirdly, the film is listed as a "psychological thriller". I don't want to give away any details in particular, but for those of whom have seen it, WILL agree that this chick is messed. I found the concept of the movie so incredibly smart (not to mention dark). The parallels between Nina and her Swan Queen role in the ballet are so close it's shocking, and the twisted course her life takes has a few surprises here and there. I won't lie; I've seen it 3 times and it still gave me the creeps. Oh, and I may or may not have jumped a few times.

Black Swan in a nutshell is... Brilliant. Worth seeing. Natalie Portman deserves that Oscar.