Posts Tagged ‘Film’

I’m usually not a fan of Swedish movies, mostly because the actors always have ‘the Swedish way’ to act: they have a very theatrical flair to their acting.
However a couple of weeks ago when I had the chance to see Tomas Alfredson’s ‘Let the right one in’ I was positively surprised. It was a delight; Good actors, beautiful cinematography and not too predictable.

Here in England I think it has been promoted as a vampire/horror film, which I find very misleading. Sure, it’s a film about vampires and it has some gruesome scenes but the core is all about alienation and loneliness – made in a beautiful way.

As I already mentioned the cinematography is great, it really captures the bitter cold Swedish winter in a Stockholm suburb. If you, like me, are used to that you can actually see approximately how cold it is during the different scenes. This kind of detail is continues throughout the film, another great example of that is the eyes and face of Eli (one of the main characters) that changes in a very subtle way in relevant scenes.

But what I’m most impressed of is actually the very good and realistic acting, especially by the two young main characters. They don’t do huge gestures or articulate ridiculously; they act like ‘normal’ 12-year olds.

I saw the film for the first time about 3 weeks ago and since then I’ve already seen it once more. It’s one of those films that stick to your mind, you walk around thinking of it all the time. It’s definitely one of my favourite films now.

tagged Film let the right one in this is now

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Making a movie with guys dressed up as rabbits, boeings crashing on a house, spatio-temporal travels and becoming instantantly cult, this is the tour de force accomplished by Richard Kelly in 2001 with Donnie Darko.

With Southland Tales, he persists in the apocalyptic fantasy genre and imagines a hallucinatory piece that will keep you on the edge of your seat if mixture of genres doesn’t bother you.

Ranging from fantasy to polar and musical, Kelly is a cracked director who masters perfectly his subject by bringing us into a not-so-unlikely world as it looks pretty much like America nowadays.

Overprotected America fed by Big Brother, new energies that screw up climate, dazed cops, ecoterrorists, mind-wrenching drugs, pornstars in tv shows, manipulative elites … Just open your newspaper and you will see that nothing is more ‘now’ that the world depicted in “Southland Tales.”

The end of the world is approaching and Kelly draws the beginnings of the disintegration of this frightened and corrupt Western world with impressive cinematography.

One might think that he draws inspiration from Lynch’s work as they both use the same obscure coded language sometimes, but while Lynch films low-keys and convey to the spectators a feeling of disturbing blackness, Kelly films in scope with a warm Californian light and offers a joyful apocalypse of a staggering beauty.

Of course you won’t get this movie at all like everyone else, but never mind, “Southland Tales” is basically the world we’re living in and it doesn’t make sense anymore, we’re observing and waiting for the end of the world as spectators.

Richard Kelly said it himself : “This is the way the world ends.” Perhaps a bit of a Cassandra’s prediction but it’s more present than ever.

Alan Smithee
http://score-blog.blogspot.com

Faire un film avec des mecs déguisés en lapins, des Boeing qui se crashent sur ta baraque, des voyages spatio- temporels et devenir instantanément culte, c’est le tour de force réalisé par Richard Kelly en 2001 avec Donnie Darko.

Avec Southland Tales, il récidive dans la fresque apocalyptique et nous livre une œuvre hallucinatoire qui vous collera au fauteuil si vous n’êtes pas hermétiques au mélange des genres.

Du fantastique au polar en passant par la comédie musicale, Kelly est un réalisateur superbement foutraque qui maîtrise pourtant son sujet de bout en bout en vous emmenant dans un univers pas si improbable puisque totalement en adéquation avec l’Amérique d’aujourd’hui.

Amérique ultra sécuritaire perfusée au Big Brother, énergies nouvelles qui foutent en l’air le climat, flics à la masse, terroristes alter mondialistes, drogues surpuissantes, pornstars à la une des shows tv, élites manipulatrices… ouvrez vos journaux et vous verrez que rien n’est plus « now » que le monde dépeint dans « Southland Tales ».

La fin du monde est proche, Kelly dépeint les prémices de la déliquescence de ce monde occidental vérolé, apeuré et corrompu avec une cinématographie bluffante.

On pourrait parfois penser que le petit gars lorgne sur l’œuvre de Lynch, leur langage codé et parfois incompréhensible pourrait se comparer mais là où Lynch filme des clairs obscurs et balance aux spectateurs une noirceur dérangeante, Kelly filme en scope avec une chaleureuse lumière californienne et offre un apocalypse joyeux, mystique certes, mais d’une beauté confondante.

C’est sûr vous ne pigerez rien comme tout le monde, mais peu importe, « Southland Tales » au fond c’est le monde d’aujourd’hui et avouez qu’on ne pige rien non plus à ce qui se passe sur notre planète, on regarde et on attend la fin du monde en spectateurs.

Richard Kelly le dit, « This is the way the world ends », prédictions de Cassandre peut-être mais plus actuel on ne fait pas.

Alan Smithee
http://score-blog.blogspot.com

tagged apocalypse Film southland tales

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The evolution of special effects in the cinema has undergone a major revolution over the past years. As a result, many different types of projects leverage the use of modern technologies in order to “deceive” us visually and make us believe that this is the reality while it is unreal elements. These are the genres of film more given to fiction which should be more appreciated for these changes.

My name is Felipe Rivero de Aguilar González and over the last 6 years I’ve been managing Uruloki:: Blog, a blog devoted to Spanish cinema of horror, science fiction, fantasy and comics. All these genres I speak devotedly have revolutionized the modern cinema, taking genres that were not appealing for the public at first sight to levels never imagined before. The “now” of science fiction, fantasy, horror and movies based on comics and graphic novels has a turning point from which nothing had been done before such heights.

This year, we will celebrate the tenth anniversary of the premiere of one of the most regarded sci-fi movies. This film, which I consider an evolution of this cinema genre, reached a milestone by making use of old techniques of oriental films, but giving them a twist as never seen before. I’m talking about Matrix by Wachowski Brothers, the film that led us into the next century and that “now” is seen as a touchstone in the spectacular evolution of the cinema genre worldwide. It has been so cutting edge in its aspects that it still remains on top in terms of design and twists. The fantasy is also not left behind. ‘Now’ in this genre is also represented by the boldness of Peter Jackson to film one of the novel which had the biggest impact on readers’ mind for over half a century. The Lord of the Rings by John Ronald Reuel Tolkien is a bedside book and almost a part of our lives. Hugely studied, read by millions of readers in hundreds of languages, his movie surprised by the greatness that digital technology could achieve for the creation of imaginary worlds of fantasy.

It is at this moment that we need the real “now” of modern cinema. It’s 2009 and as from now we have been marked by the growing use of modern technology and the ongoing evolution in three dimensions. Avatar, the new epic vision of the ever-surprising and innovative James Cameron will be released this year. A secret project which however is known for its reached hyperrealism which won’t differentiate the real actors of those who are not. The use of 179 cameras that simultaneously record the factions and movements of the actors will be almost a decisive step and may prior to the actual creation of virtual characters of almost human characteristics. It is too soon to talk about this film, but it will lead to creative richness, epic adventure and, again as in Matrix and Lord of the Rings, vanguardism. ‘Now’ this is time for change, for marking a new turning point in what is known as FX cinema. However, it is viewed more and more as an innovative & necessary element for the evolution of cinema.

Uruloki
http://www.uruloki.org/felipeblog/

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La evolución del efectismo en el cine ha sufrido una gran revolución a lo largo de los últimos años. Si bien son muchos los proyectos de géneros diversos que aprovechan el uso de modernas tecnologías para “engañarnos” visualmente y hacernos creer que esto que vemos es la realidad, cuando se trata en verdad de elementos inexistentes, son los estilos de cine más dados a la ficción los que se deberían llevar el gran reconocimiento por estos cambios.

Me llamo Felipe Rivero de Aguilar González y desde hace más de 6 años mantengo Uruloki::Blog, un blog español dedicado al cine de terror, ciencia ficción, fantasía y cómics. Todos estos géneros de los que hablo con devoción han revolucionado el cine moderno llevando estilos otrora no tan apetecibles para el público en general a niveles nunca antes imaginados. El “ahora” de la ciencia ficción, la fantasía, el horror y el cine basado en obras gráficas y cómics tiene un punto de inflexión a partir del cual nada de lo antes realizado había alcanzado semejantes cotas.

En este año se celebran por ejemplo el décimo aniversario del estreno de una de las películas más a tener en cuenta dentro del amplio espectro que es la ciencia ficción. Este film, que considero una evolución de este tipo de cine, marcó un hito haciendo uso de viejas técnicas de películas orientales pero dándoles un giro como nunca antes se había visto. Hablo de Matrix de los Hermanos Wachowski, la película que nos llevó al nuevo siglo y que “ahora” se ve como piedra de toque en la espectacular evolución del cine de género mundial. Ha sido tan vanguardista en estos aspectos que aun hoy sigue estando en lo más alto en cuanto a concepción y sorpresa. La fantasía tampoco se le queda atrás. El “ahora” en este género viene representado por la osadía de Peter Jackson a la hora de llevar al cine una de las obras literarias con más repercusión en las conciencias de lectores durante más de medio siglo. El Señor de los Anillos de John Ronald Reuel Tolkien es un libro cabecera y casi parte de nuestras vidas. Infinitamente estudiado, leído por millones de lectores en cientos de lenguas, su salto al cine sorprendió por la grandeza que las técnicas digitales pueden llegar a lograr para la creación de mundos de fantasía imaginarios.

Y es en este momento en el que es necesario del verdadero “ahora” del cine moderno. Este 2009, y de aquí en adelante, vendrá marcado por el pujante uso de modernas y en continua evolución tecnologías en tres dimensiones. Este año se estrenará Avatar, la nueva epopeya visual del siempre sorprendente e innovador James Cameron. Un proyecto secreto del que sin embargo se sabe que el hiperrealismo alcanzado hace indiferenciable a los actores reales de los que no los son. El uso de 179 cámaras que simultáneamente graban las facciones y movimientos de los actores que luego serán criaturas implican un paso casi definitivo y puede que previo a la verdadera creación de personajes virtuales de características casi humanas. Pronto es para hablar de este film, pero ya se manejan términos como riqueza creativa, aventura épica y, nuevamente como en Matrix y El Señor de los Anillos, vanguardismo. “Ahora” es el momento del cambio, de marcar un nuevo punto de inflexión en lo que se conoce vulgarmente como cine de efectos especiales y que, sin embargo, se concibe más y más como un elemento innovador y necesario para la evolución del cine.

Uruloki
http://www.uruloki.org/felipeblog/

tagged Film science fiction

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all rights reserved (c) cool shutter

It’s difficult to talk about ‘time’ or the concept of ‘now’ without resorting to some sort of cliché. “Where has all the time gone?” “Time flies.” “Christmas feels like only yesterday.” “We’re reaching the end of the first decade of the new millennia. How did that happen so quickly?” Warning, more clichés to follow, but bear with me.

Scary, isn’t it?  Time whizzes by so fast, it’s difficult to keep up.  Before we know it, years have passed and we’ve been so wrapped up in the day-to-day demands of our lives, we haven’t achieved what we set out to do in the first place.  This is where mid-life crises looms and we desperately re-evaluate what we want to do.  More often than not, it’s too late.  We’re too old, too fat, too tired, too busy.

There is one cliché that we should try to embrace: carpe diem. Crikey, good advice from Robin Williams, who knew?  Yes, it’s a bit corny but when it comes down to it, there’s no better way of grabbing the best of the present and making the most of now. Ironically, we put up lots of psychological barriers for the things we really want to do.  Fear of failure. Not enough money.  Too risky.  Personal/family responsibilities.  Some of these barriers may be genuine but more often than not, they’re just excuses.

For example, if you want to be a writer. Just write. That’s all you have to do.  Write.  Find the time.  Keep writing.  Send your stuff out.  Take the rejection.  Keep going.  If you’re talented and lucky enough, something will break, but what excuse do we have not to write? Everyone’s got a spare half hour somewhere.

Me? I’m making the most of now by writing/directing a short film in the hope of attracting interest to a feature film project I’m passionate about.  To do this, I know I have to step up to the plate.  To take responsibility of what I want to do and what I want to achieve.  I’ve never directed before, and the prospect is daunting but very exciting.  Bit by bit, the production is coming together, and the short film is becoming a reality.  I’m way out of my comfort zone but, minor panic attacks aside, I’m enjoying every minute and pushing myself as far as I can.

I don’t want to look back in ten years time and say: ‘gee, why didn’t I make that short? Why didn’t I give it a go?  I shoulda, woulda, coulda, but it just didn’t happen.  Ah well, never mind…’  I know this situation could occur all too easily, so I’m fighting it as much as possible.  Make things happen.  Life isn’t a dress rehearsal.  It’s far too short. You only get one shot.  Take a chance. Make the best of it.  We can take advice and inspiration from these cliches without having to live our lives as one. Avoid the mundane traps and the easy routine.  It’s time to be bold and ambitious. That only happens by doing something now. NOW!

http://dannystack.blogspot.com/

tagged Film Scriptwriting this is now

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As difficult as catching a cloud, as easy as telling our name, ‘now’ is something so brief, and at the same time, so tangible and real in our lifes, that we live in the paradox of going through it and leaving it behind. Those are supreme moments, keys elements of our lifes, which, however, are left behind, without the possibility of preventing it.

In the first place, I thought about putting together this fleeting ‘now’ with the slow passing of time which appeared in the film ‘The Remains of the Day’. But a few minutes later, one scene caught my attention: Rutger Hauer in ‘Blade Runner‘, talking about wonders he had seen and enjoyed. “And all those moments will disappear, like tears in the rain”:

That’s the meaning of ‘now’. Wonderful moments which slip between our fingers like the water flow. Unique, unforgettable, and unrecoverable.

Manuel
http://unrinconapartado.es/wordpress/ (personal blog)
http://www.noescinetodoloquereluce.com/

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Tan difícil como cazar una nube, tan sencillo como pronunciar su nombre, el ‘ahora’ es algo tan fugaz, y, a la vez, tan tangible y presente en nuestras vidas, que vivimos en la paradoja de pasar por él mientras va quedando atrás. Son instantes supremos para cada uno de nosotros, son esos elementos que forman nuestra vida, pero que, inevitablemente, se van quedando atrás, sin que podamos hacer nada por impedirlo.

Inicialmente pensé en asociar ese ‘ahora’ fugaz con el lento discurrir del tiempo que aparece en la magistral Lo Que Queda del Día, pero, a los pocos minutos, una imagen me cautivó: Rutger Hauer en Blade Runner, hablando de maravillas que solo él ha visto y disfrutado. ‘Y todos esos momentos desaparecerán, como lágrimas en la lluvia’:

En eso consiste el ‘ahora’. Maravillosos momentos que se nos escapan de entre los dedos como el agua que fluye. Únicos, inolvidables, e irrecuperables.

Manuel
http://unrinconapartado.es/wordpress/ (blog personal)
http://www.noescinetodoloquereluce.com/

tagged Blade Runner Film this is now

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