Fandom and the Kingdom of Confusion

For today's post I'd like to light the lights, cue the sound and flip the camera around to show a different side of film and TV, a side dominated by you: the fans.

Fans can be a powerful force, we have seen time and time again what potential they have, particularly in large numbers. Shows like Community are back on the air because the fans fought for them. Films like Twilight, regardless of quality, will thrive because of their dedicated fan base. Fans create communities, come up with teams, slogans and spend hours debating with each other on the internet. There's a wonderful side of fandom, where people can find others who love the same film or TV shows as them.

However, there's a dark side of fandom too, and today I'd like to address that side.

When I was a teenager there was no such thing as facebook or twitter. The most I did on the internet was chat with friends on msn or send emails. The complex online world of today did not exist when I was 16. My favorite shows were Dawson's Creek, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, and Roswell. I had the posters on my wall, dreamt of marrying one of the many good looking male leads, and wished I could look like one of the many beautiful female leads. The stars of these shows felt like a million miles away from me, and growing up in New Zealand, they pretty much were. I, like many young fans, got wrapped up in the world of these shows. Fell in love with the characters as they fell in love with each other, and fantasized about living in their fictional worlds. There were no blurred lines however, I knew that I was firmly on the ground of reality while these stars appeared to fly. I loved that they seemed that way to me. Unreachable but something to aspire to.

Today the lines have blurred. The stars no longer fly but instead walk among us in reality. Thanks to online social networks like twitter and facebook we can now know more about celebrities than we'd ever hoped to know. I follow a bunch of different celebrities on twitter, each of them tweeting about random aspects of their day. Every now and then they'll say something Hollywood regarding a premiere or expensive vacation, but for the most part they tweet just like the rest of us. And why shouldn't they? I mean they are just like the rest of us. The only difference is that their job is in the spotlight, doing something so many of us wish we could do, and they get paid a pretty penny to do it.

But here is where the confusion lies. These celebrities are walking among reality with us, but they are still as unreachable as they were when I was 16. Just because they are on twitter, confessing to things I didn't need to know does not mean that they are your new best friend. It does not mean that you have the right to publicly criticise them, judge them, hold them accountable for things their character does on a show, things the writer writes or the director directs. Feel free to send them a tweet telling them you like their work, you're a fan etc. If you're lucky they may pick yours amongst the millions of tweets they get a day and respond. Most of the time it will go unnoticed however. This is no different than when people used to write and mail fan letters to celebrities. Rarely did they respond back then. Social networks like twitter have made reaching out to celebrities so accessible that most do not understand the sheer volumes of messages celebrities receive each day.

Matt Davis who plays Alaric on The Vampire Diaries

I have been reading about a twitter war that's been going on in regards to a group of Vampire Diaries fans who reached out the the show's stars asking for a tweet from Paul Wesley for a fan who had recently passed away. Matt Davis who plays Alaric on the show did not appreciate the quantities of messages he got and dismissed them. Fans got mad, attacked and made him out to be the cruelest person. I have to ask a question here. What right do fans have to demand anything from celebrities? It's tragic that a young fan died, but people die every day, and celebrities can't get caught up in that because at the end of the day they are just doing a job. If they choose to respond then great, if not then let it be. It's your right to ask, it's theirs to refuse. To attack a celebrity because they didn't give you what you want only proves that today's fans don't quite get it. Celebrities that tweet are in the majority having a one-way conversation. They speak, you listen. You speak, they don't hear. That's how it's always been. The wall between reality and fiction still exists, it's just invisible now.

I think it's great when celebrities reach out to their fans. Social networks like twitter have made it possible for them to interact with their fans more, give a more personal appreciation for their support. But there will always be a divide between celebrity and fan. There has to be, for safety and also in order to keep the mystery. You are a fan because you aspire to be like them, which means you see them as something higher than yourself, something you can strive to be like. If we break down this wall then that disappears.

Stars belong in the sky where they can shine their brightest. I never want to live in a world where the wall breaks down and that sky goes dark.

Post Oscars Review

Yesterday was the 84th Annual Academy Awards. I love Oscar season. I throw parties, live vicariously through those present at the ceremony and act as though I am present at the ceremony, much to my loved ones dismay.

So how did they do?

Firstly, I am so happy Sacha Baron Cohen went to the Oscars as his character The Dictator. Throwing the 'ashes' of Kim jung Il on the pretentious Ryan Seacrest really made my night. Did you see his face? Classic!

Our host for the evening was the talented yet safe Billy Crystal. I really appreciate him as a comedian, his experience as an eight time Oscar host, and his long Hollywood career, however he brought nothing fresh, new or exciting to the event. I know people were upset after Hollywood tried to pump some fresh blood into the mix with hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco, sure, it didn't go well. But did we need to revert back to times long gone? I think the Awards need younger hosts that connect to the younger audiences whilst also having the experience and talent to entertain all ages. This isn't an easy feat but surely in La La land they can pool together some potential.

Ok, let's talk about the winners. Now I really have to mention here how frustrating it is when people say that they can't understand how The Artist won considering it's a silent film. Those people should take a little walk down film history. Some of my favourite films are silent films and they emote as much as any film with sound can. I was very happy that Hugo picked up five awards (Cinematography, Art Direction, Sound Mixing, Sound Editing, and Visual Effects) I absolutely love this film. Check out my  Hugo Review.

There were no surprises for Octavia Spencer's win as best actress in a supporting role, Christopher Plummer as best actor in a supporting role, and Jean Dujardin as best actor. There was some surprise however when Meryl Streep won best actress. No one can deny Meryl's talent, she is untouchable and an inspiration to any actor. Viola Davis however blew people away with her performance in The Help. It's a tough call, two spectacular actresses up for one award. There's definitely going to be those for and against the final decision but I think we can all agree that they are both amazing.

My favourite win of the night was when Brett McKenzie took home an Oscar for his song "Man or Muppet" from The Muppets. Seeing a fellow kiwi on that stage only brings me joy and pride. He's a wonderful comedian and song writer and it's great to see him acknowledged by the Academy.

I really love the Oscars. I do a countdown and read up everything I can in the days leading up to the ceremony. I have spent the last ten years dreaming of going there myself one day, and I still believe with unabashed certainty that I will. However I have to admit that the past couple of years the Oscars have lost a bit of their sparkle. I think I can reach out a little farther and say that in the past couple of years the film industry has lost some of its sparkle. What I would love to see is more films being nominated that speak to a wider audience. There were a few snubs this year that many weren't happy about (Ryan Gosling and We Need to Talk about Kevin for example). It's never going to be perfect, but there seems to have been a wider disconnect this year.

Perhaps because of the Anne Hathaway/James Franco debacle the Academy tried to stay away from doing anything "young". That's a mistake however. This may have been the 84th Annual Academy Awards but that doesn't mean the median age of viewers are in their 80s. I think they need to reach out more to the youth, get the youth excited about the film industry because they are the future of the industry. I love how diverse film is, there is room for everyone regardless of age, sex, race, religion, sexual orientation. I just want to see an Academy Awards show that represents that too.

Films You Should Be Watching On Pay Per View

Tonight my husband and I decided to make some pizza, pour some vodka sodas and watch pay per view. Two excellent films later I thought it was worth giving them a shout out on my blog.

Drive

I know there has been a lot of hype about this movie. It came out just as my husband and I made our big move across the Pacific so we didn't get to catch it at the cinema. I really loved this film and here's why.

1. Editing
I could go on and on about how spectacular the vision of this film was. The way they shot it and then arranged the shots was nothing short of brilliant in my eyes. The shots toyed with the timeline giving you moments that were conflicting in all the right ways. This film relies heavily on visual as it is very sparse on dialogue. The shots tell the story and they do so in a beautiful way. If you're interested in film editing then I recommend that you check this film out. You could turn the sound off and watch it and still catch all the emotion.

2. Soundtrack
The music in this film is so great, like a flashback to the '90s. I loved the mix of genre. In some scenes there was upbeat, fast-paced techno pop and in others there were slow, melodic, haunting tunes. This combined with editing and the use of slow motion married sound and image in a perfect and surprising combination.

3. The Dialogue
Or more importantly, the lack there of. At one point I turned to my husband and commented on how the sparse dialogue rendered the film more realistic. In life there are so many moments of silence where all the words are played out in our thoughts and eyes. In most films directors fear the silence and fill it with nonsense. This film did not. It not only allowed silence, it reveled in it. I felt myself captivated by the story because I was able to follow it without being force fed the constant thoughts of characters.

4. Ryan Gosling
This was a spectacular performance by Gosling. To be a truly great actor you have to be able to tell the story, the emotion through your eyes. If you can show me rather than tell me then I know you can act. It was about 20 minutes into the film that I realised he'd hardly spoken. I was able to get the essence of the film purely through the emotion he projected through his eyes. When he does speak however, you listen, his words are few but they hold a certain power.

I thoroughly enjoyed this film. It was refreshing to be able to watch a film and make sense of it on my own without all the words. There are some pretty epic car chase scenes too.

50/50

My husband and I saw this at the cinema and loved it so much we thought we'd re-watch it. It's a simply but beautifully told story of a 27 year old who has just found out he has a tumor with a name no one can pronounce and a 50% chance of survival.

There are a couple of scenes that I wanted to mention. The first is the one where Adam (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) finds out about the cancer from his detached doctor who seems more interested in his conversation with his tape recorder. When I was 18 I had a tumor removed and I will never forget what it was like sitting on the other side of that desk as the doctor explained things to me that were beyond my knowledge. All the words were lost on me except for when she mentioned that it could be cancer. That word hits you like a knife through the heart. Luckily for me my tumor was benign, but I really loved this scene because it was so true to what I remember of that traumatizing experience.

The other scene I have to mention is the one where Adam's best friend Kyle (Seth Rogen) confronts Adam's girlfriend Rachael (Bryce Dallas Howard). This was one of those scenes where you really want a character to do something and they follow through. I wont say anything in detail because I don't want to ruin it for you but when you see the film you'll know what I mean.

Joseph Gordon-Levitt did a wonderful job as Adam, carrying the weight of the burden he carries with grace and a dawning understanding. You would think that a film about such a serious and life altering topic would be heavy, but the film does a great job of showing humor in even the worst moments. The characters are lovable and the relationships between them authentic. I really enjoyed the connection between Adam and his sweet therapist Katherine (Anna Kendrick).

So that's how I spent my Sunday night. What about you? Seen any good films lately?

My Favourite War Films

I am a huge fan of war films so I thought it was time to do a list of my favourite war films. Here it is in no particular order:

Tears of the Sun

I had no expectations when I first saw this film, but even if I had I know it would have exceeded them. This is a great tale of heroism and bravery, and the choices that have to be made in war. Starring Bruce Willis as Special Ops Commander Lt. Waters who leads a team into the incredibly hostile jungle of Nigeria to rescue a doctor (played by Monica Bellucci). The problem is that she won't leave without the 70 refugees she's been taking care of, and there's only room for one more on the helicopter. Waters then has to make a choice, force her to leave, or take a risk and try and save them all. There are some scenes that haunt me to this day, but I'm glad for them. This film opened my eyes to a brutality that the news really hasn't done justice to. 

Band of Brothers

I won't go into detail with this one as I've already written two blog entries dedicated to the miniseries here: Band of Brothers. All I can say is that this is a spectacular series and I highly recommend it. 

Jarhead

It's been called a war film without war and there were many critiques of the film, some stating it didn't have enough of a political standpoint, others claiming it to be anti-war. I think Mendes created a film that perfectly described the Gulf War: thousands of marines went to the desert to fight, for what, they didn't know, but they were trained to kill and they waited for their chance to finally get the pink mist. The film has such a strong political undercurrent, which makes a comment not only on the Gulf war, but also the Iraq and Vietnam wars. A great film for anyone who appreciates films that focus on the implications of war. 

Saving Private Ryan

There are those who think this film was too American, with an American focus. It's true, there is a significant lack of the other participants of the second World War. However, it's a brilliant film and tells a great story. The film is loosely based on the four Niland Brothers who served in WWII. It was believed that only one brother had survived and so he was sent back to the US. However they discovered that one of his brother's also lived and was a POW in Burma. I think the film is visually spectacular and has some of the most vivid and realistic war scenes I've seen in film. It's a great tale of heroism and camaraderie. 

Apocalypse Now

My first blog post was dedicated to this film. I was so surprised by how amazing it is. I knew it was a classic, had heard a lot about it but so many films are talked about that way and fall below expectation. This one surpassed mine, exceedingly. Check out my review here: Apocalypse Now.

Platoon

A classic, and one of Charlie Sheen's finest performances. This Oliver Stone film looks at the Vietnam war through the eyes of Chris (Sheen), a young and naive soldier who quits college and volunteers for Vietnam. He discovers the brutality of war, his fellow soldiers and the psychological effect this can have.  I love the final scene with Chris' VO when he says:  "I think now, looking back, we did not fight the enemy; we fought ourselves. The enemy was in us." This reminds me a lot of Jarhead, and the message that film carries. A wonderful film that shows the true, brutal side of the Vietnam war, because let's be honest, that's the only side that war had. 

The Hurt Locker

I love this film for two reasons: it's an epic war film, and it's an epic war film made by a woman. Kathryn Bigelow, I salute you! What I enjoyed about this film is that it focusses on an Army bomb squad in the Iraq war. It shows the story of Sgt. First Class William James (Jeremy Renner) a soldier whose life is war. Even when he's away from the front line he can't wait to go back. A lot of war films focus on the reluctant hero, the struggle as they try to get home. This film focusses on a war junkie who is happy to place himself in the most dangerous situations. It's slow paced, which I enjoyed. This is not a war film focussed on fight scenes, this is a story of the psychological side of war and why, for some soldiers, war is where they're at their best. 

Three Kings

A wonderful, sometimes hilarious, look at the Gulf War. The film opens on Troy (Mark Wahlberg) who can't quite remember the rules of engagement. A pretty funny scene follows as he tries to figure out whether he should or should not shoot his opponent. When Troy, Archie Gates (George Clooney) and Chief Elgin (Ice Cube) go in search of stolen gold they end up finding a group of people who need their help. There are some moments in the film that are reminiscent of Tears of the Sun. Once again it's heroism and bravery that are the focus of this tale. Sometimes we are given the opportunity to be more than we think we're capable of, and sometimes in the search of materialism we discover what truly matters.

Justified

Introducing my new obsession: Justified

I was looking through Netflix in the hopes of finding something to fill the hole that the end of Life left. Scrolling along I saw a TV series and checked out the blurb. At first it didn't pull me in so I went on browsing, ended up watching some Firefly. Last week however I was drawn back to that TV show. It was a slow day so I checked it out. In the week that's past I've watched the first two seasons and eagerly anticipate the third, which has just started. 

Justified tells the story of Raylan Givens (played by Timothy Olyphant), a US Marshall who is reminiscent of Wyatt Earp. Armed with good looks, good manners, a cowboy hat and a fast draw, Raylan has earned himself a reputation. The pilot opens with Raylan working in Miami. He shows up at a plush restaurant where the criminal he's been hunting is sitting at a table. Raylan had given him 24 hours to get out of town, unfortunately he chose to stay. A shoot out ensues, the criminal is killed and Raylan's boss is less than thrilled. As a punishment Raylan is sent back to him home state of Kentucky where he will Marshal the surrounding small towns, including his hometown Harlan.

His first assignment is a case involving his coal mining friend Boyd Crowder. For Raylan everything is different, yet everything is the same. His ex wife Winona works at the court house where the Marshals office is, he finds himself constantly in Harlan, the very town he swore he'd never return to, and surrounded by the people he swore to never see again. However Raylan has an in on the town that no other Marshal has. And because of that knowledge he is able to get one up on the criminals that have long been running Harlan.

The show is really well written, full of action, suspense and drama. It's a 21st century Wild West, where the O.K Corral is a daily occurrence. The characters are well developed and come with interesting back stories. Allegiances change continuously and love is lost and found again. Olyphant is mesmerizing as Raylan, commanding the screen with his intense stare. The surrounding characters are complex and Walton Goggins who plays Boyd Crowder is worth mentioning. His character has a great character arc over the first two seasons, going from psychotic to religious nut and finally resting on a loyal but lovable criminal.

Season Three has just started and I can't wait to see where the show goes next. The stakes have been raised and there's sure to be some spectacular shoot outs, all of which I'm sure will be justified.

My favourite films adapted from books

I love books, I love film, what I love most is when a great book is adapted into a wonderful film. Today's post is dedicated to the books I've read and loved that have been adapted into films equally as great. 

Atonement

I really enjoyed this haunting tale of love, war and childhood naivety. The book follows the story of Briony Tallis, a young girl in 1935 who makes a terrible mistake for which others have to pay. When I think of the best film adapted from a book I think of Atonement. The film took no shortcuts. It told the complete story of the novel beautifully. Performances by Keira Knightley and James McAvoy were wonderful and brought the characters of Cecelia and Robbie to life. 

The Lord of the Rings

My father turned me onto the Lord of the Rings books. They are his favourite and when I was 11 he gave me The Hobbit and from then on I've been a huge fan of Tolkein's LOTR series. Peter Jackson is my favourite director and I loved his interpretation of the books. It was a challenge for sure to take a beloved series like this and adapt them into film. I know when the first buzz started there were those that thought relatively unknown Jackson couldn't pull it off. He did though, and brilliantly. The films are visually stunning and the changes that were made to the story only enhanced it. 

Harry Potter

I was late on the Harry Potter bandwagon. I read the books after I'd seen the first three films. What I love about these books is that it doesn't matter if your 12 or 22, they make you feel that childhood magic, that feeling that anything is possible in a world full of wonders. I was able to enjoy the final films of Harry Potter after reading the books and loved them. I particularly enjoyed the last two films based on the final book "The Deathly Hallows". They were dark and tense but also kept that childlike imagination alive. 

The Help

A very moving and socially important book, The Help tells the story of Skeeter who, in 1960s Jackson, Mississippi decides to write a tell-all book from the help's perspective. I remember being horrified at some of the things the women described had been done to them. Although the book is fiction, the torture and beatings are not. The suffering of the African Americans during such a turbulent time in history is something we must never forget, and so I am grateful for books like this, which bring it to light. The film is really great and entertaining. It's not as heavy as the book, leaving a lot of the brutal stories out, but it still makes a wonderful point on how a few people can make a positive change. 

The Time Traveler's Wife

The Time Traveler's Wife is a beautifully written book that kept me on edge the whole time. This love story follows Henry who has a strange condition, he time travels without the ability to control it. Through his travels he meets Clare at different ages. They eventually meet up in the present. She has known him most of her life, he is meeting her for the first time. It sounds confusing but the book is written so well you never get lost. The film is wonderful also and I loved the connection between Rachel McAdams' Clare and Eric Bana's Henry. The film has altered the story slightly, which is to be expected, but still keeps the main plot points. 

The Notebook

The Notebook has become one of the most loved love stories. It tells the passionate story of Noah and Allie who meet in their teens in 1940. They are from different social statures and are eventually separated. Years later, she's engaged to someone else, and he's just finished the house he promised he'd build her. They are thrown back together and discover that a love like theirs can never die. The film is as beautiful as the book. Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling dated during filming and their spark is evident. The Notebook goes down in history with romances like Casablanca and Gone with the Wind. 

The Bourne Trilogy

One of my favourite books series. I remember going to see a film one day with my father and there was a trailer for The Bourne Identity. I had never heard of the book before but my dad was so excited about it I thought I'd give it a shot. I loved the book and ended up reading the trilogy quickly. I also love the films. The films however are very, very different from the books. The first film has the most similarities to the book, but the second and third are entirely different. I was quite shocked when I watched The Bourne Supremacy, I had loved the book and was expecting something similar to it. Instead they killed off a character that I knew to be vital in the second and third books. I loved The Bourne Ultimatum though, the film was very different but highly entertaining. The films are so different from the books, I recommend you read them, they show a side of Bourne the films never went close to. 

Bridget Jones's Diary

Such a classic and funny story. Bridget is one of my favourite characters. She makes all the wrong choices, falls over her own feet, but is also the most lovable and endearing book character I've ever read. Renee Zellweger's portrayal of Jones is spot on. Her british accent sounds authentic and she is hilarious to watch. I enjoyed the books but loved the films more.  

Pride and Prejudice

I watched the BBC version of Pride and Prejudice many times growing up. Then I saw the Keira Knightley film and fell in love with it. I didn't actually read the book till a couple of years ago. I had seen the films so many times I thought I might perhaps be bored knowing so much of the story already. I was wrong. The book is so well-written that it captures you and allows you further into the psyche of Elizabeth than the films allow.

This year there are a few films coming out that are adapted from some of my favourite books. These include:

The Hunger Games

I'm highly anticipating this film. I really enjoyed the first two books of the trilogy. I am also interested to see how they develop the characters of Katniss, Peeta and Gale. In the books Gale is more of a secondary character. I hope that the films put him more front and centre, I think it will add more to the struggles Katniss faces in and out of the arena. 

The Lucky One

I just finished this book last night and I loved it. The story follows Logan Thibault who while serving as a marine in Iraq finds a photo of a young woman. It becomes a sort of lucky charm, keeping him alive when others around him die. After a series of events he decides to walk to North Carolina to find her. Elizabeth is a single mother who lives under the threat of her ex-husband and his family. When she and Logan meet they embark on a passionate love affair, but his secret threatens to destroy them. I am looking forward to the film and hopefully it will bring to life the beautiful tale of Elizabeth and Logan. 

The Hobbit

The Hobbit is one of the most anticipated films of 2012. I am very excited for it. My family went to every LOTR film premiere and also again on Christmas Eve. I may just have to make a trip to New Zealand so that we can keep this tradition alive. 

So that's my list. What's on yours? 

Damian Lewis

Damian Lewis is a name you should all come to know. He is an incredibly talented actor who has proved himself to be versatile in many different roles. Lewis comes from England, he actually lived on the famous Abbey Road. His American accent is so authentic however that you would never think that he comes from anywhere but the States.

I first saw Lewis in his role of Captain Winters in Band of Brothers. If you've read some of my previous posts then you can probably tell that I am a huge fan of Band of Brothers. I read that when the cast heard that Brit Lewis would be playing the hero Winters there was some question as to how he could pull it off. However when he sat down with them and spoke with his American accent no one questioned that he wasn't from the US. Lewis shines in this role and bought authenticity to Winters on screen. It was an incredibly powerful performance, my favourite of all the easy company men.

I then started reading about the show Homeland and thought I'd give it a shot. I watched the first season in three days and am now eagerly anticipating the second. In the show Lewis dons a uniform again as Sgt. Nicholas Brody, a Marine who has returned home after going missing in Iraq eight years earlier. Claire Danes plays Carrie Mathison, a CIA Agent who believes that Brody isn't the hero everyone is making him out to be. Although Lewis looks similar to Winters in this role, he couldn't be playing someone more different. Brody has a dark secret and perhaps Mathison is closer to the truth than she realises. If you haven't seen then show then I recommend you watch it. The writing is brilliant and the story constantly changes and keeps you guessing.

A friend of mine recommended I check out Life on Netflix. I managed to watch the two seasons within a week. Lewis plays Charlie Crews, a detective who was wrongly accused of murder and sent to prison for 12 years. The first episode follows him on his first day back on the force with new partner Dani Reese. Crews was awarded $50 million for his wrong conviction. He lives in a furniture-less mansion with ex-con Ted Earley, who he trusts with his finances. Crews goes through some beautiful cars in the show, one which is run over by a tractor, another which he gives away only to get it back painted in flowers. He then buys himself a Maserati, only to be forced to put bullets into it. The show follows Crews and Reese as they work on different homicide cases. Crews however is also doing his own hunt for the people who put him behind bars in the first place. Lewis' Crews is a lovable character who has a newfound love for fruit after spending 12 years without it. He is all about zen but 12 years in prison has taught him some particular skills, so don't get on his bad side. If you have Netflix check it out, it's really entertaining.

It's a shame they cancelled Life, but we now get to see Lewis in Homeland and so that's definitely a great compensation. I really enjoy seeing him in these different performances and can't wait to see what season two of Homeland brings, and to watch Lewis continue on what promises to be a spectacular career.