Movie Mondays

My recommendation of the week is The Artist and not just because it won Best Picture.  I finally got my chance to see it on Friday and I am just blown away!

Personally, I think a lot of people don't realize how important sound is to film.  It can completely elevate it or tarnish it.  This film shows what I would like to believe is a pretty accurate depiction of what the end of the silent film era was like.  Actors got "voice fright" (the voice equivalent of stage fright).  Several careers were destroyed in the dawn of sound because they couldn't keep up with the times, or sometimes because the times could not accommodate distinctive accents. And that's very much what this film is portraying!  George Valentin was the biggest silent movie star in the world and then one day came sound.  That's all I want to say about the plot because I don't want to spoil anything!

Now that I've mentioned the plot, allow me to possibly overstate that this is one of the most delightful films ever thanks to the incredibly, expressive Jean Dujardin and cutie director Michel Hazanavicius. No, but seriously look me into my blog-hidden face and tell me that this:

 isn't the cutest man that ever stood behind the camera (and yes, I've already considered that he's cuter than Wes Anderson)!

Go and watch this movie! Tootles!

Movie Mondays

Yes, tomorrow is Valentine's Day so I thought I'd blog about a film that was about love.  I'm feeling like a non-traditionalist today so my recommendation is Blue Valentine.

It's a great film so don't be too scared to watch it.  It's a realistic film about the courtship of a relationship, but unlike most films it even shows us the hardships.  But of course I can't really talk about the film without mentioning the performances.  Ryan Gosling and Michelle Williams deliver two of the most raw performances of their careers.  The two actors completely immerse themselves and vibe off each other to bring their characters to life.  As tragic as the story of the film is, you can't but find it all so amazingly beautiful.

Now I don't necessarily recommend watching this as a date film unless you're absolutely confident in the relationship.  If you guys fight a lot, step away from this movie!  If you and you're significant other (or maybe you're single) appreciate good cinema then by all means, press play!

Enjoy. Tootles!

Movie Mondays

This week I thought I'd recommend a personal favorite.  It was the one movie I had a hankering to watch last week and it's called Ghost World.  Yes it is based on the graphic novel by Daniel Clowes.  I love this movie because it feels insanely real.  I'm not gonna lie, for some reason I relate to the female lead.  Who am I kidding.  In my head I am a cynical mess that would love to speak every truth as it comes to my mind no matter how weirdly, bizarre or harsh it may be.  I'd love to wear masks for no reason at all, but if you've seen my twitter profile I clearly do it already.  I have crushes on the loner types.  And finally, I sure as hell would love to make out with Steve Buscemi! Just putting it out there.

It's one of the best movies ever made about a teenage girl, and you can quote me.  Specifically you can quote the fact that I didn't call this a teen movie because it is so far from it!  It stars Thora Birch and Scarlett Johansson and it is incredibly funny(it's actually very understated.  I also recommend it if you dislike extremely pretentious people!

Movie Mondays

I think there is obvious information being poured into my posts.  I love movies.  I love them with a burning passion, always have and always will.  So I thought I should start a segment where I recommend and discuss them.  I'll start off easy and engage myself to answer the age old question: are you an Audrey or a Marilyn.  Okay, it's not really an age old question, unless you think Mad Men is age old.

I am an Audrey!  Believe me, there was totes a time when I thought I was a Marilyn, but it was an uneducated answer.  I was supposed to love Marilyn, right?  Because growing up it seemed that everyone did love her.  I grew up for a few years not knowing who Audrey Hepburn was (or Marilyn).  So I educated myself.  I watched movies and I basically lost myself in a world where Holly Golightly plays "Moon River" and Jo gets what I would love to believe is the first full fledged geek to chic makeover in movie cinema.  I became an Audrey.  I won't knock or anyone that adores her because I've been there, but I'd love to hear a different answer the next time that I ask, "why do you love Marilyn?" other than "because she was gorgeous" or "because she's sexy."  Are we clear?

Here are some of my favorite Audrey quotes:
"Nothing is impossible, the word itself says I'm possible."
"If I'm honest I have to tell you I still read fairy-tales and I like them best of all."
"The most important thing is to enjoy your life--to be happy--it's all that matters."
"I was born with an enormous need for affection, and a terrible need to give it."
“The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure that she carries, or the way she combs her hair. The beauty of a woman is seen in her eyes, because that is the doorway to her heart, the place where love resides. True beauty in a woman is reflected in her soul. It's the caring that she lovingly gives, the passion that she shows & the beauty of a woman only grows with passing years.”
“I believe in being strong when everything seems to be going wrong. I believe that happy girls are the prettiest girls. I believe that tomorrow is another day, and I believe in miracles.” 

My first recommendation is Funny Face.  It's a truly delightful film; it's lots of fun, which is what a movie should do for you.  It might just be my favorite Audrey film and it also stars Fred Astaire! Enjoy, tootles!