Silver Linings Playbook

I can't help but get a little personal with this review. I grew up with a bipolar parent and have intimate knowledge with the highs and lows of such a crippling disorder. So often depression is depicted in film as something 'hollywood', that is to say inaccurate. The thing is depression doesn't just affect the person suffering, it also affects those who love them. Silver Linings Playbook by director David O. Russell is a refreshing film, which depicts bipolar disorder for all it's colours.

The film follows Pat (Bradley Cooper) who at the opening of the film has spent 8 months in a mental institution. I don't want to give anything away, but let's just say his bipolar spoke for him when it shouldn't have. He moves back home to his parent's house and has one mission: get his wife back. Enter Tiffany (Jennifer Lawrence), a recent widow who's trying to work through her own crazy circumstances. The two are brought together, each with their own agenda, and something spectacular happens.

This film is inspiring and uplifting. The acting is incredible, each emotion played authentically. Robert DeNiro shines as Pat's bookie, OCD father, and Jacki Weaver brings heart to her role as Pat's mother, who's trying to keep her family in tact. I have to be honest in saying that before this film I never really enjoyed Bradley Cooper as an actor, he'd never before been given a chance to show his talent. This film has changed my view of him. He brings truth to his character, showing the different elements that make up bipolar disorder. His character reminded me of something I had long forgotten; even depression has it's highs. Jennifer Lawrence is stunning as a grieving, emotionally lost, yet strong young woman. I have enjoyed watching her career thus far and can't wait to see what else she brings to the screen. She's definitely one to watch for.

I recommend this film for various reasons. It's a smart screenplay under great directorial guidance. The acting is of the highest level. And most importantly, it brings to light the reality of a disorder that so many suffer under. It reminds us that we all deserve a second, or maybe even a third chance at happiness.

Argo: A Review

Fifteen years ago Ben Affleck burst onto the Hollywood scene with the 1997 film Good Will Hunting, which he co-wrote with childhood friend Matt Damon. Affleck and Damon went on to win an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay. It seemed however that Affleck's acting career was quickly overshadowed by Damon as Hollywood played it's all time favourite game of comparison. In 2003 as Damon was riding the high of the successful The Bourne Identity (Dir. Doug Liman), Affleck was trying to get away from the negative publicity that swarmed his critically panned film Gigli (Dir. Martin Brest).

Affleck directs on the set of Argo

Affleck had a skill however that Hollywood had yet to see. In 2003 he directed a film he had written called Gone Baby Gone, an emotionally charged drama centered around the kidnapping of a little girl in Boston. He followed this with The Town in 2010, a critically acclaimed drama, set near Boston, in which he directed and starred. It seemed that Affleck had successfully stepped out of the shadow and into his very own spotlight. With two dramas under his direction, it wasn't a surprise to learn that his third film would also be a drama. It was a surprise however that he chose to take on a highly political subject like the 1979 American Embassy hostage crisis in Iran. 

Affleck's Mendez goes through the plan with the American fugitives 

Argo begins in the thick of it, the protests outside the American Embassy in Tehran. Flags are being burned, anti-American slogans are shouted passionately. Affleck doesn't just fly the camera through quickly and rush to the American point of view. His camera stays with the protestors, hearing their anger, letting them have their say. By the time you do get inside the embassy and meet the six fugitives to be you have an understanding that this is not a film about who is right and who is wrong. Politics, although always in the background, are never focussed on. 

Mendez and O'Donnell (Bryan Cranston) pitch the best bad idea they've got 

Just before the embassy is overrun six employees escape and are taken in by the Canadian Ambassador, Ken Taylor and his wife. There is a line in the film which states that the British and the Kiwis refused them help. This is factually incorrect. The British and the Kiwis helped get the fugitives to the Canadians, and Taylor and his wife played a much larger part in the rescue. This is a story where only one true hero can emerge however, and not surprisingly that hero has to be American.

John Chambers (John Goodman), Leister Siegal (Alan Arkin) and Mendez (Affleck) have one last toast before showtime

The film is emotionally powerful to say the least. It has you on the edge of your seat all the way through, allowing enough humour to break the tension, but never too much to distract from the gravity of the situation. The idea of sending Tony Mendez (Affleck) into Iran as a would-be filmmaker for the fictional film "Argo", and walking out with the six hostages posing as a film crew is ludicrous, yet as the film quotes "it's the best bad idea we've got". The first half of the film sets up the fake film. It needs to be real, so real that Hollywood buys it. Enter our producer Leister Siegal (Alan Arkin) and makeup artist John Chambers (John Goodman), the only two Hollywood players that know the truth of what the CIA is attempting to do. Arkin and Goodman supply much of the comic relief in the film and do it so brilliantly you eagerly anticipate their appearances on screen. Affleck's Mendez is sober, solemn and serious, the key player in showing the tension. As our protagonist his point of view becomes ours, where he goes we go, and where he goes is where no American would want to have gone in 1980. We have no reason to believe that he will be successful except for a short acknowledgement that he is the best and he's never left a man behind. However, we find ourselves daring to believe he'll be successful because the alternative is too tragic to consider.

The stakes are high as Mendez and the fugitives are questioned by security 

What follows is a suspense-ridden, high stakes game of cat and mouse where the only way to win is if the mice keep a step ahead of the cat at all times. The cinematography creates the illusion of it being shot in the early 1980s, lending a nostalgic, somewhat documentary feel, creating a sense of realism. Although Mendez is clearly the hero of the film there is still a sense of ensemble work from the supporting cast, including a great performance by Bryan Cranston as Mendez's CIA supervisor Jack O'Donnell. 

Affleck may never be able to fully shed the horror that was Gigli, but if that old Hollywood adage that you're only as good as your last film holds true then Affleck is going to be ok. 

Women at War

Last Friday I attended a screening of the documentary The Invisible War (Dir. Kirby Dick, 2012) at the Vancouver International Film Festival. Going in I knew it would be a difficult watch, with a subject matter that revolves around the rape of soldiers in the US military I anticipated that it would be a heavy film. I didn't anticipate however the strong reaction it would have with myself and the audience around me.

The documentary investigates what can only be described as an epidemic of sexual assault in the US military. The statistics tell us that 20% of female soldiers in the US military have been sexually abused. We know from statistics that 80% of sexual abuse victims do not report assaults, therefore the number would in fact be significantly higher. The film introduces us to a number of rape victims from a series of military outfits including the Navy, Marines and Coast Guard. It is nothing short of horrifying listening to their experiences, going from proud, dedicated soldiers to broken victims at the hands of not only the perpetrators, but also the US military.

Elle Helmer

Hearing their ordeals was difficult enough. The sobs of the audience members around me told me I wasn't alone in this. Where it gets really difficult however is when you find out what the US military did after the victims reported their assaults. That would be a whole lot of nothing. Due to the military's own form of justice the victims had to go through their chain of command to report the abuse. Those in positions of power however are not trained or equipped to deal with such matters, and as one interviewee noted it would be seen as a leadership failure if it got out that there had been an assault in their unit. Therefore the assaults are 'dealt' with by the military, and this usually means that the perpetrator walks off free.

Kori Cioca and her husband 

That unfortunately isn't the worst of it. The majority of  women who did report abuse ended up being investigated themselves. They were told that their accusations were false, or that they had bought it on themselves. One of the women we see, Kori Cioca received her papers and was discharged after she reported the rape. Her story is particularly tragic. Not only was she sexually violated, she was also physically abused by her attacker, so much so that it broke her jaw. When we see her in the film she has been on a soft diet for two years because of the injuries she received at the hands of the perpetrator. She has been waiting over 14 months for medical aid from the military, and near the end of the film we find out she has been denied. A variety of ridiculous reasons are given, one being that she was two months shy of the two years of service needed in order to be eligible for aid. She was two months short of two years because she was discharged for reporting her attacker. He is currently still working at the US Coast Guard.

The film brings to light the military sexual assault prevention and assault program, which basically consists of telling female soldiers to walk with a buddy, and reminding male soldiers to "ask her when she's sober". When they interview Kaye Whitely, the former director of the program she clearly has no expertise and no actual system in place for rape prevention. The whole program seems to be an attempt to appear as though prevention is in place when it is fact not.

I cannot recommend this film enough. Although the subject matter is heavy and the stories disturbing, it is vital that we bring such atrocities to light and ensure that this does not continue to happen to both men and women in the military. The film encourages us to share this story with friends and to sign this petition: http://www.change.org/petitions/support-military-sexual-assault-survivors, and I encourage you also. Please check out http://invisiblewarmovie.com/ for more information and make sure that you spread the word and ensure that the victims never have to feel invisible again.

There Should Have Only Been One

I'll never forget when I was 17 years old and was at the movies with my father. I can't recall the film we were watching but a trailer came on and my dad, who rarely gets excited about films, couldn't hold back his excitement. The trailer was for The Bourne Identity. My father had read the book and he spoke of it's intrigue and mystery so naturally I had to read it too. I ended up being the only one in the family to read the trilogy. I fell in love with the chaotic world of Bourne. I eagerly anticipated The Bourne Supremacy and was a little stunned to find that they had completely parted ways with the novels, however The Bourne Ultimatum was so much fun I didn't mind at all. The latter two films were directed by Paul Greengrass, a director who is able to keep a handle on the story whilst creating thrilling action scenes. All three Bourne films were written by Tony Gilroy, a very talented screenwriter. 

After hearing that Matt Damon didn't want to do another Bourne film I resigned myself to the fact that the films had come to an end. Hollywood however will never let a cash cow die. I was both excited and a little apprehensive when I found out that a new film entitled The Bourne Legacy was being made. When I saw that it was being written by Gilroy I realised that there was nothing to worry about, until I saw that Greengrass was not on board. Rather than replacing Greengrass with an equally skilled director producers handed the reigns to Gilroy, whose directing credits had only two films (Duplicity, Michael Clayton). But what is quantity when there is quality? Peter Jackson was relatively unknown when he took on Lord of the Rings, and look at him today. So I swallowed my doubt and went to watch the fourth Bourne film.

Although the film is called The Bourne Legacy this is not a film about Bourne. He is merely the tip of the iceberg as the film quotes. This installment follows Aaron Cross (Jeremy Renner), a soldier who is part of a program designed to create super soldiers. After the CIA failed to capture Bourne they go into disaster mode and decide to shut the program down, which basically consists of killing everyone involved. On that list is Cross and Dr. Marta Shearing (Rachel Weisz) a scientist who administers the medication to the soldiers. Cross and Shearing go on the run from the relentless Col. Eric Byer (Edward Norton) and his team who sit in the comfort of their office whilst tracking the two down. In the previous Bourne films Jason fought to catch up with the CIA, to find out the truth he desperately searched for. In this latest film it is the CIA who are trying to catch up, and they really aren't very good at it, Cross and Shearing are always two steps ahead.

Cross is not Bourne and the film takes great pains to remind us of that. The source of his super strength is from the medications he's been taking, whereas Bourne's skill set was purely from training. If this was Batman Cross would be Robin. Cross also has his memory, he knows his past, he figures out quickly what's going on and he is able to make decisions based on those facts. Shearing has a much more important part in the film than women in previous Bourne films. Cross would not have been able to survive without her. Both Renner and Weisz have great chemistry on screen. Although their characters are never shown to be physically involved there are more than enough glances and hand touching to get the point across.

Renner is a great upcoming actor who I believe has a long successful career ahead of him. With films like The Town, The Hurt Locker, Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol and The Avengers behind him he already has made a name for himself in tinseltown. He brings vulnerability and integrity to Cross and you really can't help but root for the guy. Perhaps if this was it's own film, without the Bourne name being attached to it then there would have been more opportunity to explore this character more. As it is however Cross seems as though he's always two steps ahead of the CIA but three feet deep in Bourne's shadow. Anything he can do Bourne can do better.

The main issue with this film is the directing. The marriage of Greengrass' direction and Gilroy's script in the previous two films meant that both story and visual were at their best. With Gilroy wearing both screenwriter and directing hats there was a loss in quality of both. The greatest flaw is the ending, or lack thereof.  There is a spectacular motorbike chase scene and then two minutes after that ends we hear that famous Moby song signaling the end of the film. It came on so abruptly that I felt there must have been a mistake. And there was. Gilroy forgot to write an ending. The hollywood demon must have sat on his shoulder all along because the film sets itself up for sequels. The problem however is that the film can't stand alone, whereas all three previous Bourne films could. So many questions are asked, very few answered. I have a feeling we may never get them answered.

My recommendation is that you go see this film knowing that you'll get great action scenes, talented actors playing underwritten roles, and an incomplete story. This is not a Bourne film, Jason Bourne jumped off that roof and perhaps we will never see him again...but remember, this is Hollywood and cash cows never die.

Why do we fall?

I was a good wife and waited for my husband's day off to go see The Dark Knight Rises, though truth be told it drove me crazy hearing all the wonderful things and having to wait. But good things come to those who wait, and I was rewarded for my patience.

The Dark Knight Rises is the best film I've seen all year, perhaps the best film I've seen in many years. It is the perfect finale to an already outstanding trilogy. This seems like quite the statement to make but I stand behind it. There are many factors that determine how great a film is: screenplay, directing, acting, cinematography and the score to name a few. Some films reach greatness on some of these levels but miss others. As we've come to learn with Chris Nolan's previous work he is a man who knows how to take us to levels we hadn't fathomed before (cough cough Inception cough). TDKR is no exception.

Let us begin with the acting. There are some outstanding performances in this film. I feel that I have to mention Sir Michael Caine as Alfred first. He doesn't have as much screen time as he did in the first and second installments but his performance packs an emotional punch. He brings heart and soul to the film, in many ways he is the voice of the many, he doesn't possess the physical strength of the heroes but he brings his vulnerability and love of Bruce to the point where he humanizes him, reminds him of his own limitations. The next actor I need to mention is Tom Hardy as the frightening Bane. His physical possession of the screen is intimidating enough, but he also brings a calm and destructive control. He's a villain you will love to hate, and will also come to understand.

Anne Hathaway is wonderful as Selina, she is sexy, sophisticated and strong. She isn't just there to be a pretty face and a nice body. Her character has purpose, a very important purpose and Anne shines in the role. Christian Bale is back again as the complex Wayne and heroic Batman. We get to see him as Wayne more in this film which was nice, I felt it gave more insight into the character. We also get to see more weakness in him which only adds more to the triumph of his rise from the (literal) hole he finds himself in. Joseph Gordon Levitt has a great performance as Blake. Like Alfred he shows the world of Gotham through a citizen's eyes. He proves himself to be a true hero without a mask. Morgan Freeman as Fox, Gary Oldman as Commissioner Gordan and Marion Coutillard as Miranda give nothing but the fine performances we have come to expect from them.

The screenplay is spectacular, I don't really know what else to say about it. There are so many great twists and turns, secrets are revealed, lives are lost, heroes rise. There is never a dull moment, nothing felt too long or too short. There is some foreshadowing, one in particular that made me know early on how it was going to end, but that didn't make it predictable, it made it feel complete. The ending is exactly as it should be. Both Chris Nolan and Jonathan Nolan wrote the screenplay and with brilliant minds like that at the helm it's easy to just let go and know that the story is in safe hands.

The cinematography by Wally Pfister is joyously moody. I know that's quite an oxymoron but it truly is. The lighting is dark, the ambiance tense, but there's a charge in the air, and as Selina says a storm coming. Throughout the film you feel that storm brewing purely through the lighting in the scenes. Batman has always excelled in the dark, it's his element, but perhaps this time the shadows will not be the allies he has found them to be previously.

Director of the year goes to Chris Nolan (sorry Joss Whedon, I truly do love you too). This man is unstoppable. Watching Memento years ago I knew that he would be one of the greats and he has not disappointed. I cannot begin to imagine the daunting task it would have been to direct a film of TDKR size. I have seen a few behind the scenes clips and it looks overwhelming. Hundreds of extras, enormous sets built, not to mention the constant hold he has on the story at all times. As an aspiring director I find myself in awe of such talent. What I wouldn't give to be able to shadow that man through the process of making one of his films. In an earlier post I saluted Joss Whedon, in this one I bow down to Nolan.

TDKR is one of those films that I found myself wanting to clap, gasp out loud, and at one point actually physically stopped myself from making a sound. It's a true hero film in that you really believe in Batman and you want to see him rise no matter how far he has to fall first. We've seen his beginning, we've seen him fall and now we get to watch him rise. It's okay to feel a little emotional about that.

Rise

Another senseless tragedy has occurred. Early this morning a theatre in Colorado was packed with fans watching the premiere of The Dark Knight Rises. Thirty minutes into the film a gunman walked in, threw gas and opened fire. Twelve people were killed, over 40 wounded, and countless affected.

I am not writing this to talk about what happened, because the media is covering those aspects. Here is the latest update from CNN if you're interested. I am not writing this to go into detail about the human psyche, ask questions about why or how this could have happened. These too will be answered over time, and by someone else. I want to focus this post on the where of it all.

One of the places I have always felt happiest is in a movie theatre. There is some comfort in those dark, cool cinemas where the real world turns off and an exciting new one replaces it for 120 minutes. But there has always been a nagging fear in the back of my mind, a what if? What if someone took advantage of this location? Here we all are, crowded together. Humans don't let each other get that close anymore, it's one of the last places in western society where we can sit close together, without concern of who's to the left or right of you. You're safe, surely, this is a place for entertainment and fun. Who would take advantage of that? But of course there are those that would, and have. A cinema is a black box with limited exits. There aren't many ways to get out in a hurry, especially if everyone is panicking.

My second home doesn't seem so safe when you look at it that way. After today's tragedy there are many who might fear that they will never feel safe in a cinema again. I cannot speak for those who have survived the tragedy or who survive the victims. But I will try speak for the rest of us. Fear has the potential to stay a long time after tragedy strikes. Ever since 9-11 the fear of flying has increased. I'm sure many people taking the London underground still struggle with the fear of "what if it happens again?". I'll never forget the day I was at Concordia University in Montreal and heard that a shooter had gone into the Cegep next to us and killed a student. It stops you in your tracks. Makes you wonder if you'll ever see the world the same again. Tragedies change everything, they shift us all in different ways.

This tragedy will leave it's mark, as all do. However this tragedy doesn't just impact the people involved. It happened in a movie theatre, during one of the most highly anticipated films of the year, on its release day. There is talk that Warner Bros. may cancel all DKR screenings across the US. This may seem extreme but think about it, they need to make the expected gross off of this film, much of which will come from the US, and many Americans will be afraid to go to the cinema to see that film so soon after this happened. I can understand that. But I feel the need to defend my second home. Because dammit, I won't let anyone take it from me. The suspect of this shooting could have done it anywhere else, a park, a mall, a school. They've been the locations of such tragedies before. I am not sure why he chose that cinema, and that film. I am sure there will be those who will try to link the film to the killings, just as they tried with gaming and the Columbine tragedy. But here's the thing, this had nothing to do with the film, it had to do with one sick man's wrong decision.

My heart goes out to all those grieving this pointless tragedy, I cannot begin to understand what such loss feels like. We live in a dark world with many clouded minds. Sometimes, and particularly on days like today, it's hard to imagine the world as anything but dark. It's on those days that I usually go to my second home and let a film remind me of what it's like to feel magic and wonder. No one will ever take that from me. I will not fear a movie theatre, and neither should you. The most safest places on this earth can become the most dangerous if the wrong people are there, but we cannot live in fear of 'what ifs?' When I go to see The Dark Knight Rises next week I will think of the victims of this tragedy, but I won't let fear stop me from escaping from this difficult world for 120 mins, and neither should you.

That man has taken too much all ready, I will not let him take the happiness I feel in my second home. I will rise above fear.

The Good but not Amazing Spider-Man

Usually I can review a film right after seeing it. This was not the case with The Amazing Spider-Man. I needed to take a couple of days and reflect upon it before writing. The reason for this is because this film is not bad but it's not great either. It's somewhere in between and those films are the toughest to review. I think the best approach is for me to discuss what I liked and what I didn't.

I'll admit that I went into this film with no expectations except for the hope that it'd be better than the Sam Raimi films. It's not that I hated them, at the time they were quirky and were the rebirth of the marvel hero film so to speak. But boy have we come a long way. We as viewers are no longer satisfied with a simple hero story anymore, we aren't as easy to please as we once were. With films like Thor, Iron Man and The Avengers the bar has been raised. We know what great cinema is and we won't settle for less. The Amazing Spider-Man is much better than the Raimi films for reasons I'll discuss further. However plot wise it is lacking and doesn't come close to the brilliant superhero films of late. 

Let's get the bad over with shall we. The number one problem with this film is the script. The first third of the film takes its time setting up the plot, Peter Parker's (Andrew Garfield) abandonment issues and teen angst, his inevitable transformation into Spider-Man, and Uncle Ben's (Martin Sheen) untimely demise. In the first act we see Parker go from nerd to vengeful super human. The problem however is that a whole third of the film is dedicated to what we already saw in Raimi's 2002 Spider-Man. So much time is dedicated to what we already know is going to happen that the second and third acts feel rushed, leaving many plot holes and unanswered questions. I have a feeling that director Marc Webb (yep, that's his name!) wanted to allude to plot points, leave some ambiguity, however you have to be a very talented director, aka Chris Nolan, to pull this off, and unfortunately Webb does not possess skills like Nolan.

The main plot points of this film are a: Parker's transformation into Spider-Man, b: Parker's desire to know why his parents left him, c: Dr. Curt Connors (Rhys Ifans) transformation into The Lizard, and d. Parker's choice to go from vengeful vigilante to super hero. Plot point a is rushed to the point that you ask yourself how he learnt so quickly to control impulses that in the last scene destroyed his bathroom. Plot point b goes completely off screen after the first act. I imagine Webb has decided to leave this for the sequel but still, some indication of that would be nice. Plot point c in my opinion could have completely disappeared from the film. I know we need a villain but I think it would have been more interesting to focus on Parker's transformation and the city's response to this rather than play it out against a giant lizard. Plot point d is done relatively well but I found myself wondering if he would ever catch his Uncle's murderer, rather than just give up the search all together.

So as you can see the script definitely had glitches, and there are many other unanswered questions. What happened to Rajit Ratha after the bridge? And what happened to all those released scenes leading up to the film? None of them were actually in the film. The reason Parker climbs the fire escape to Gwen Stacy's (Emma Stone) apartment is because in a removed scene the doorman wouldn't let him in. This scene is available on YouTube here: Doorman Scene. Supposedly Ratha had a scene that showed his death but that was left on the cutting room floor too. I understand the need to cut scenes for timing but to cut plot points seems a little risky.

Technically speaking I saw a few odd edits that made me lose immersion briefly, it's not often there are editing problems in a big budget film like this but I noticed at least two. I also wasn't a fan of the music choices. I love Coldplay, don't get me wrong, but was "Till Kingdom Come" the best song to play as Parker discovers his new skills? Maybe a more upbeat up tempo song might have worked better. And while we're on it I don't think 3-D lent anything extra to the film. A few of the POV shots were great but apart from that it wasn't necesary. But now I'm just getting picky so let's move on shall we?

You must be wondering after all that what I can say that is good about this film. Well there is one thing that saved it from its limited script - the acting. I was really impressed by Garfield as Parker/Spider-Man. He bought a raw emotion to the role that Toby Maquire was unable to do. I found myself connecting to this lost and fragile yet indestructible hero. He also bought an endearing awkwardness to the role. Add to that Emma Stone as Parker's love interest and you have a winning combination. Their chemistry on screen was off the charts, it's not surprising they've been dating since the shoot. Webb obviously noticed their ability to light up the screen together and used it to his advantage. Martin Sheen played a loveable Uncle Ben and the wonderful Sally Field was charming yet underused as Aunt May. Denis Leary was great as Captain Stacy, Gwen's father. He had a great character arc throughout the film and bought that Leary charm we all know and love.

So as you can see I'm a little torn in regards to this film. I didn't like the script but loved the acting. The plot lacked completion but the performances were great. Technically I think the film was out of it's depth but once again you can lose yourself in the characters and not get too caught up on it. It's almost unfortunate that a film like The Avengers came along because so few films are going to be able to do what it did - combine wonderful SFX with an intriguing and complete story, spectacular characters and a talented cast. If I'd seen this film first perhaps I would have been less critical but alas, I am a spoiled viewer and have had a taste of greatness and now it's all I want. So my advice is that you should see this film, let yourself be entertained and try not to ask too many questions afterwards. Perhaps if we're lucky Joss Whedon will take on the sequel.

Snow White as you've never seen her before...

I had been looking forward to seeing Snow White and the Huntsman for some time. The trailers grasped my attention and I hoped that we would finally get a good film that re-imagines a classic tale. However, like many I was hesitant, a little worried that it would go where so many had gone before, into a world where great imaginative films go to die with stunning visual effects and no soul. Well I am delighted to say that Snow White and the Huntsman has no place in that dark forsaken place.

The first thing you will notice about this film is that it is in fact visually stunning. The cinematographer for this film is Greig Fraser. I am not familiar with his work but will definitely be keeping an eye out for him. Cinematographers paint with light, and this is evident throughout the film. The use of colour is beautiful with some scenes reminiscent of Ridley Scott's Gladiator, whose cinematographer was John Mathieson. I love the use of deep reds in films that have darker tones. I found myself captivated by the early scene where the soldiers run to battle Ravenna's army. With its moody shadows, bursts of flame and red flags blowing in the wind the frame is nothing less than art. The most beautiful scenes are those with Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron). Her outfits are incredible and the use of these materials on frame are spectacular. I particularly loved her outfits that were designed around the raven.

Now the reason this film doesn't go to that sad place where stunning films go to die is because this film also has a soul. This is an original take on a very well known tale. I have never heard the story of Snow White told in this way, and therefore had no idea what to expect. To be honest my limited knowledge of the tale begins and ends with Disney. This is no disney tale however. Our Snow White may be a prisoner but she's quite capable of rescuing herself.

The premise of the film is that Snow White (Kristen Stewart) is imprisoned by her step mother, Ravenna, who kills Snow White's father and takes over the kingdom. When Snow White comes of age Ravenna is horrified to discover that she is no longer the fairest of them all, Snow White is. I have to add a side note here, the re-imagination of the mirror was incredible. Ravenna finds out however that if she consumes Snow White's heart she will be immortal and forever young. She asks her brother to bring Snow White to him but she manages to escape and runs into an ominous forest. Ravenna then demands that the Huntsman (Chris Hemsworth) who knows the forest go in after her. She says that if he brings Snow White back she will bring his dead wife back to life.

I think many people were confused when Kristen Stewart was cast to play Snow White. Her films till now have not highlighted any of her acting skills, many claiming that she appears wooden on screen. I wasn't  expecting a great performance from her but was pleasantly surprised to discover that the girl can act. Her American accent is transformed into a more British lilt in this film and she doesn't do any of those annoying hand to hair gestures common in the Twilight films. She breathes a new life into Snow White, who in this tale is not some lost Princess looking for a Prince, rather a strong, pure-hearted young woman looking to heal a land long ravaged by desperation and despair. I read a review where the critic claimed that it was ridiculous for Stewart to be cast opposite the gorgeous Theron, when Snow White is supposed to be more beautiful. Firstly I think it's appalling that this critic went as fair as to mock the state of Stewart's teeth, secondly I like that the film focusses more on inner beauty than outer. I found that Stewart looked lovely on film, but more than that I found the way they portrayed her inner beauty to be refreshing. This is a woman whose heart can heal your wounds, take away your pain. She breathes light into dark and that is where her beauty comes from.

The Huntsman in this tale is not simply the muscles of the mission. In fact we learn early on that there are some tasks Snow White can do better than he can. The Huntsman is in a state of deep grief over the loss of his wife and has chosen to fill the void with alcohol. We see a great and subtle change with the Huntsman throughout the film. The Prince is part of the mission also, and we know from the traditional tale that it is the Prince whose kiss will bring Snow White back to life. But this is not the traditional tale.

I have read reviews where people stated their unhappiness with the ending, with it's vague romance between Snow White and the Huntsman. I didn't have any problem with the ending. I thought it suited the film perfectly. As for the romance aspect, I enjoyed the subtlety of it. I can't really imagine how declarations of undying love or excessive displays of affection would have placed in this film. I have always been a fan of longing looks, slight touches and charged energy on film. It's harder to act and therefore much more affective.

I have to make mention here of the seven dwarves. I liked their portrayal in this film. They were more heroic than comedic, with a back story, some humour, but mostly they provided a different insight into the world this film is based around. There has been some controversy over the use of regular sized actors, as opposed to casting little people. I can understand the frustration of those who feel this encroached upon roles that should be reserved for a people who feel they already have such limited choices. But I also understand why execs wanted to cast well known actors like Bob Hoskins, Ian McShane and Nick Frost. Either way the actors did well and brought a new twist to the seven dwarves.

Snow White and the Huntsman is an imaginative film that unlike other fairy tale films (I'm looking at Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland here) takes time with plot and gives a heart beat to the film. The visuals are superb, the acting genuinely good, and the story intriguing. All in all it's a great "once upon a time" that leads us to a "happily ever after"...or at least hints at it.

Game of Thrones Season Two

Unless you've been living under a rather large rock these past few months then you know all about the excitement surrounding Game of Thrones season two. I fell in love with this series when it premiered in April 2011. It's like a much darker, more sexual Lord of the Rings. I have not yet read the books but my husband has and so he became a guide of sorts during this season.

Season one left us with heartbreak, death, hope and exciting new beginnings. The much adored Ned Stark had been killed thanks to Joffrey who had claimed the throne at Kings Landing. The Stark children were scattered. Arya was hiding under disguise as a boy, Sansa was a prisoner of Kings Landing and soon-to-be bride to Joffrey, Bran and his younger brother were left at Winter Fell, Robb was preparing for battle, and Jon Snow was at the wall. Dany however had discovered her true calling as the mother of dragons when she and her 'children' emerged from the fire untouched.

At the start of Season two things are in complete disarray. Arya is on the run, Robb is at battle, Bran is a child making the decisions of men, Sansa is doing her best to play dutiful princess in waiting, and Jon is learning the hard way in the Night's Watch. Theon Greyjoy reunites with his father and sister years after being taken prisoner at Winterfell. The meeting does not go as he planned and he spends the rest of the season trying, unsuccessfully, to earn respect of the men of the Iron Islands. Dany is having a tough time. Most of her men abandoned her after the death of Drogo. Those that remain are starving and exhausted. When she comes upon the city of Quarth she knows it is her last hope. She doesn't have the easiest time in Quarth, many try to take advantage of her, but they are foolish to underestimate the mother of dragons.

I found Dany's story to be the least exciting of the series, up until the last episode when she finds her strength. My husband tells me that she has a great storyline in the third book so I look forward to seeing that. I really enjoyed the character arc of Dany in season one. She went from being a woman sold for a throne, to a woman in love, a widow, and then finally a dragon lord. In season two the focus around her character was primarily on her love for her dragons. At the moment they are still babies but once they have grown I feel as though Dany will hold more power than the seven kingdoms combined.

I enjoyed Arya's storyline in season two. She's a clever girl who knows how to survive. She saves a man named Jaqen H'ghar who makes her a promise that he will kill three people for her. She gives the first two names but realises that she needs more than just three. And so she gives Jaqen H'ghar his own name, forcing him to help her further until she unnames him. He proves to be a handy person to have around in a sticky situation. Along her journey Arya met up with Gendry, who is the bastard first born son of Robert Baratheon, the former king of Westeros. His 'son' Joffrey now sits on the throne, but we know that Joffrey is actually the son of Cersei and her brother Jaime. Therefore Gendry has more power in his blood than he truly realises. It's not surprising then that all the children of Robert were ordered killed in order to keep Joffrey on the throne. At the end of season two Arya is on the run again with Gendry after Jaqen H'ghar helps her escape from Harrenhal.

Sansa has an interesting season also. She is becoming a woman more and more. She is much less annoying in this season, many of her childish tantrums replaced by fear and survival instincts. We see some wonderful moments between her and the hound who seems to go out of his way to ensure her safety. At the end of season two Sansa is happy to find out that Joffrey has replaced her as his future bride. The happiness is short lived when she is told by littlefinger that this doesn't mean her freedom, she will always be one of Joffrey's toys.

Robb himself grows up a lot in this season. He fights, reaching many victories, and he meets and falls in love with a woman. At the end of the season Robb loses his virginity and marries her even though he is promised to another. This will no doubt cause many problems for Robb in season three.

Jon has quite an adventure when he is ordered to kill Ygritte, a wildling. He chooses not to kill her and ends up being captured by the wildlings. Another guard of the Night's Watch is taken prisoner with them and he chooses to let Jon kill him in order to gain the respect of the wildlings. The season ends with Jon a prisoner.

Jaime Lannister is not in the season much but is a prisoner of Robb's army for most of the season. Then one day Catelyn sends Brienne, an incredible female warrior, to take Jaime, much to Robb's anger. The season ends with Brienne and Jaime on the road and we get to see some of the strength Brienne possesses. I look forward to seeing more of both characters next season.

The true star of season two is of course Tyrion who uses his wit and intelligence to take control of King's Landing. In the penultimate episode of the season there is a huge battle at King's Landing and Tyrion proves himself as a leader. Unfortunately the arrival of his father does not bode well for Tyrion. We last see him injured in bed, hidden away at the request of his father, his lover Shae vowing to stay with him. The only good thing about seeing Tyrion at the bottom is that I know he will have one epic rise to the top. He is by far the best character of this series and a fan favourite. I can't wait to see where he goes in the next season.

I am of course missing many other plot points in this summary as there are just too many to write about. I thought this season was excellent. We got to see a new side to all the characters, plans were made, schemes plotted, battles fought, lost and won, heroes killed, villains too. My only complaint would be that I wish we got to see more of the dire wolves. They were such an important part of season one but have all but disappeared in season two. Here's hoping the make a grand return in season three. I have no idea where season three will go, everything has changed for all the characters, but I for one am counting down the days till it gets here.