Kes (1969)

Kes (1969)
Directed By: Ken Loach
Starring: David Bradley, Freddie Fletcher, Brian Glover

Plot: A socially awkward boy, Billy (David Bradley), who does poorly in school and has an abusive brother (Freddie Fletcher) discovers a kestrel/hawk in the woods, and decides to take it home and train it. After some particularly bad days at school, one of Billy's teachers has him talk about his bird, named Kes, to his class. Afterwards, Billy allows the teacher to watch him fly it, after training Kes for a few days. Unfortunately, Billy's abusive brother discovers the bird, and kills it.

Review: This movie is shot very, very conventially. There are very few moments when camera movement is used during shots, however, there are impressive moments e.g. Billy gives his monologue to the class about Kes - one of the shots lasts close to 2 minutes, if not, a little over that. The editing is quite typical of a movie this old- the way a shot may fade to black, or to another scene, which is used very little today. There are very few musical cues, usually just during dramatic or exciting scenes e.g. when Billy flies Kes for his teacher.

Juno (2007)

Juno (2007)
Directed By: Jason Reitman
Starring: Michael Crea, Ellen Page, J.K. Simmons
Viewed: 29/3/2012

Plot: A young girl (Ellen Page) named Juno is impregnated after a night with her boyfriend (Michael Cera). Feeling she is "ill-equipped" to take care of it, being in high school, she decides to hand her baby over to a married couple hoping to adopt. Juno breaks up with her boyfriend after a misunderstanding, but soon afterwards, the husband of the married couple moves away, feeling he is unready. After many doubts, Juno reunites with her boyfriend, and lets the wife take her baby, and become a single mother.

Review: For a drama about pregnancy, this is a very colourful movie, even in quite dark rooms, and even when something quite dramatic is happening. Apart from that, this is shot and edited quite conventionally, with few tricks involved. Its scored with a lot of modern-sounding acoustic guitar music, with singers slurring their lyrics and very loudly breathing in between sentences. It quite defies conventions, too, there are plently of naturalistic strong female characters, whilst the males seem very downplayed and unhelpful/incompentent. Generally, this is a well-made and sensible movie.

The Oscars!

Lets have a little (friendly) competition as we approach The Oscars (Sunday 26th February).
http://oscar.go.com/

Follow the link, have a read about the films and then decide (and post!) who you think will win the following categories:

Best Picture: - nominations are:  The Artist, The Descendants, The Help, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close, Hugo, Midnight in Paris, The Tree of Life, Moneyball, War Horse.

Best Actor: - nominations are:  Demian Birchir, George Clooney, Jean Dujardin, Gary Oldman, Brad Pitt.

Best Actress: - nominations are: Glenn Close, Viola Davis, Rooney Mara, Meryl Streep, Michelle Williams.

Supporting Actor: - nominations are: Kenneth Branagh, Jonah Hill, Nick Nolte, Christopher Plummer, Max Von Sydow.

Supporting Actress: - nominations are: Berenice Bejo, Jessica Chastain, Melissa McCarthy, Janet McTeer, Octavia Spencer.

Cinematography: - The Artist, The Girl with a Dragon Tattoo, Hugo, The Tree of Life, War House.

Prize to whoever is the most accurate in their predictions!!  You have five days!

Hi
Remember when you review your films to think about how you could use them for the exam - questions you could ask yourself (and then post your thoughts about) are: if it is a British film is it distinctive or aimed at profit? It is one of the genres Britain as a film industry does well? Is it typical of its genre?

Carry on screaming

1966
Director; Gerald Thomas
Stars; Harry Corbett, Keneth Williams, Jim Dale, Petter Butterworth and Fenella Fielding
Plot;
Carry on screaming follows the life of DS Sidney Bung (Harry Corbett) and his DC Slobotham (Petter Butterworth) as they investigate the disappearance of Albert Potter's (Jim Dale) girlfriend. They soon come across a house that contains the undead beings of Doctor Orlando Watt (Keneth Williams) and his sister Valeria Watt (Fenella Fielding) who secrectly steal girls from the forest using their 'pet' Oddbod. When they have the girls they turn them into wax dolls to send to local clothes shops.
Response;
This film contains typical British humour as it mentions certain inn'your'endos that many Americans wouldn't get. I think that this film would be appropriate for any age but whether they get the humour is a different matter. The film contains many different aspects form other movies such as the concoction from Dr Jekyl's Mr Hyde and the electrical charges from Dr Frankenstien's monster. Overall this film will be suitable for any age as it is alot funnier than it is scary.

Gypo  (2006)


Director:- Jan Dunn
'Stars' :- Pauline McLynn (Helen) and Chloe Sirene (Tasha).


Synopsis:-
The film follows the lives of a family living in a near-poverty stricken lifestyle and on the verge on breaking up , when a Czechoslovakian refugee named Tasha enters their lives via their teenage daughter. She struggles for acceptance and to gain a British passport , so she can begin her new life free from oppression and past experiences. 


Production Companies and Other Aspects:- 
Medb Films , British Broadcasting Company (BBC) , Distant Eyes Films , Molinare Studio, Spotty Dog Films , VMI. 
The film won , and was nominated for multiple awards such as 2005 British Independent Film Award (Won), 2005 Best First Feature (Won) , 2006 Special Mention to Cast and Crew (Won). 


Response:-  
I initially watched the film because the name suggested it would either be a comedy , or a foreign version of Snatch , then i read the information on the back of the cover. Though it wasn't what i expected it still sounded interesting and unique and I thought the film was relatively good and powerful as it showed the reality of the lower class families living in Britain and how they have to overcome everyday challenges. Then when Tasha comes into play it shows how her lifestyle , which in itself is even worse , effects their bonds and their attempt at freedom. It was one of the better British films i have seen as it related to both Foreign and British inhabiters of the UK. 
 

Withnail and I

Director: Bruce Robinson

Main stars: Richard E. Grant, Paul McGann, Richard Griffiths ,  Ralph Brown and  Michael Elphick 

Date of Release: 1987

Date viewed: 4/2/12

Brief Summary:

 Sick of their grotty Camden Hovel, two unemployed actors embark on an ’idyllic’ holiday in the countryside with disastrous results. Nonstop rain, a decrepit cottage, no fuel, and empty store cupboards, force Marwood and Withnail to rely on their own survival skills and the threatening locals; both of which leave much to be desired. Problems only heighten with the appearance of Uncle Monty who, although solving the dilemma of malnutrition, brings a new and unwanted agenda to the equation.

My Response:

With little plot, the film revolves around the wit, intellect and personality of each character, created by the wonderful dialogue which is executed flawlessly.

 It’s interesting, that the film wasn’t an immediate success when it first came out, but was thought to be too ‘Individual’ and ‘art house’ because it is now considered one of the best, funniest and indeed most iconic British comedies ever made.

The idyllic, yet comedic setting of the wet countryside and bad weather is very stereotypically British, but in no way mirrors the normal conformities of popular British film, rather highlighting the dreary aspects of English culture and our famous inability to stop complaining no matter what the situation.

If one thing did irritate me about the film, it was the main characters’ inabilities to stop squandering their money on alcohol. The minute either Withnail or Marwood came into any kind of money, they bought spirits, which although intended as a comedic element, did frustrate me a little.