Snapshot Sixty- 21

Today I am blogging my very first, 'snapshot films in sixty seconds'. As it is evidently clear from the ice ages that have passed since I last posted on this blog, maybe longer reviews aren't my forte, or simply, are too time-stealing for me to sit down and write very often. So here sees the start of my new quick fire, films in sixty second-esque reviews. 

21, directed by Legally Blonde's Robert Luketic and released in 2008, Jim Sturgess portrays the too-clever-for-his-own-good Ben Campbell who's aim is to fund a $300,000 tuition fee ticket to the med school of his dreams, Harvard. A dream that seems far fetched, for a poor yet grade A achieving senior mathematics major. 

At first everything about this film screams Good.Will.Hunting. from the financially struggling genius to the whimsical professor, and not only this but 21 is set in the very same, 'Massachusetts Institute of Technology'. However this story, based on a truth told in the book, Bringing Down The House, takes a different turn when Professor Micky Rosa (Kevin Spacey) cuts Ben a break by introducing him to his all star blackjack team where Ben joins a few fellow students to learn the intricacies of card counting and they set off for Vegas to make their fortune. 

Laurence Fishburne and Kate Bosworth also star in this highly entertaining film, capturing moments of incredible success with devastating consequence and a few great laughs- typical when a too-clever-for-his-own-good maths major is involved. 

#GoodnightOneTreeHill

This blog will be a little different. I have said that this will be a place that I shall share my thoughts on films and although this shall not comply I feel that it is important and has come at an appropriate time.

I shall not claim I fell in love with film watching Citizen Kane, nor my first memory placed in a cinema, Speilberg's finest bouncing shadows off of my face. I cannot say for certain that I was ultimately spurred by Scorsaese nor first caputred by Kubrick. However what I can speak, hand on heart, is that a flicker of this fire was ignited by a story told by the little show that could.

My first memory of One Tree Hill is browsing the shelves of a film shop, aged 9, armed with a paper square (marked with the then-to-me somewhat disconnected words; one, tree and hill), the explained and ingrained mental image of an orange box with two boys and three girls and my sisters voice in my head "make sure you get season one. The first season. The complete season one!" My finger trails the various boxes on the shelf until I get to 'O', pull out this orange box and for the first time I come face to face with five characters from whom one day I would learn so much. 

With some disregard for what then to me seemed like 'just another TV show' I handed the DVD to my mother, pleased that I had sorted out my sister's birthday present and totally unaware of the effect that 'just another TV show' would have on me some day in the far future. 

It wasn't until several years down the line I started watching One Tree Hill for myself and it wasn't for a few further years when looking at the series one box-set that I made the connection between what was now my favourite show to my experience in the film shop, aged 9. 

It is strange how insignificant moments as these are extracted from the whirlpool of memories and forgotten yesterdays that swim at the back of our brain, to the forefront of our consciousness hence making them totally significant. It is quite amazing! And so I wanted to share with you the little show that became a flicker of the flame that is my desire to tell stories. 

Although One Tree Hill has not been the highest rated or reviewed show, and still may be off the radar of a wide scale audience, even after being shown for nine years, it has proven time and time again to be of a vital importance to the loyal supporters that have come back each week to be enthralled, inspired and moved by a story of heart. For me it was not about the reality of these situations, it was about heart. And heart is what the show embodies. Heart is what clung to an audience; what had people coming back for more. A story. A gentle voice that through the brash noises of a cheap, commercial and outrageously explicit environment, simply and calmly let it's little voice be heard. 

I cannot pinpoint an exact pivotal moment or assume it happened gradually over a space of time but somehow I became enthralled and entwined in these stories. Held in moments, felt and hoped, for and with characters. And over some point during this time I asked how this could be? How could this work of fiction affect me so much, reduce me to tears, make me laugh, make me smile. And at that moment, whenever it was, I realised what I wanted to do; tell stories. 

One of the many lessons learned from 9 years of One Tree Hill is about success. How it is not the sweet chink of money falling into your bank account, nor the fame or fortune that rolls in waves of public recognition. Success is not found by making 10 right decisions and learning nothing. Success is making 20 wrong ones and learning everything.

This is success.

A success from which this little show is coming from and where I hope I am going.

Mark Schwahn- you are a genius! I thank you and everyone from the bottom of my heart for this voice, and for making One Tree Hill what it is. If one day I tell a story that touches one person like your show reached me. If it motivates someone. Inspires someone. I shall regard that a great success.

Wild Bill

With Wild Bill hitting cinemas any time soon I thought it would be fitting to write a few words about this film, having been lucky enough to see a pre-screening of it last month. Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels star, Dexter Fletcher, replenishes a Western title once more in his directing debut Wild Bill about a 'top class nut job' released from prison on parole after eight years. Bill returns home to his family to find his now unrecognisable eight and fifteen year old sons fending for themselves. With Bill's return, one more mouth to feed and social services breathing down his neck, fifteen-year-old Dean struggles to balance acting son, parent (to both Bill and brother, Jimmy) and worker on top of the usual turmoil of teenage life in the back streets of London. However when things turn rough for eight-year-old Jimmy as he is swept into a current of danger and dealing we soon see how far Bill will go in an attempt to make things right.

Charlie Creed-Miles stars as Bill and Will Poulter gives a dazzling portrayal of Dean with shining performances from a charming Sammy Williams (Jimmy) and Iwan Rheon (dealer Pill) adds some great moments of comedy to the mix. I thoroughly enjoyed this tale that at times had the whole room roaring with laughter and at other points held the audience captive in scenes of high peaked emotion. I urge you to see this film, a great tribute to its culture and an absolute credit to its director. Now I've seen this, I can't wait to see what Dexter Fletcher does next!

So please watch this trailer and go see Wild Bill, I must say it is well worth it! I look forward to seeing how well it does with its release and wish everyone involved all the praise it deserves and more.

Matilda

"I'm smart; you're dumb. I'm big; you're little. I'm right; you're wrong and there's nothing you can do about it!" Or there is, it seems, as shown by a misunderstood Matilda who starts life in the unfortunate household of Mr and Mrs Wormood, whose cruel words and greedy outlook on life fuels an anger in Matilda that spurs her ability to create magic and use it for good, of course.

Danny DeVito directs this 1996 screen adaptation of best-seller Road Dahl's fictional novel, Matilda putting his unique vision onto the screen in a classic, fun and adventurous feature. Young superstar Mara Wilson stars as Matilda, the unwanted daughter of antagonised parents; Harry and Zinnia Wormwood (Danny DeVito and on and off-screen wife Rhea Perlman) who's special character shows at an early age as she begins to read through everything she can find making her an extremely smart, witty and brave individual with a knowledge and manor way beyond her years. Her favourite books transport her into worlds of adventure, hero's and make-believe however soon she realises that she has a magic of her own.

At six and a half, Matilda is granted her greatest wish- to go to school, however when she arrives Crunchem Hall Elementary School is not how she imagined, with intimidatingly grey grounds and a wicked and pitiless headmistress, Mrs Trunchball (Pam Ferris) who is notorious for locking unruly students in the 'chokey', Matilda's only escape is the class-room, which has an entirely different atmosphere created by the caring and affectionate Miss Honey (Embeth Davidtz) who appreciates Matilda for her brilliant intelligence. As Matilda develops a loving relationship with Miss Honey she soon finds out secrets about Mrs Trunchball's and Miss Honey's past giving her the opportunities to put her newly found magic to the test.

Mara Wilson is the perfect choice for Matilda with her adorable nature and sometimes dazzling, sometimes mischievous smile, she portrays Dahl's heroin with all the magic and imagination from the original and enchantingly wonderful novel. Partners DeVito and Perlman are well suited to the comic double of The Wormwoods playing the obnoxious and greedy caricatures that evoke both dark humour and hilarious stupidity. Ferris perfects the exaggerated 'baddy' and Mrs Trunchball's tyrannical presence is felt every time she dominates the screen. Davidtz wonderfully portrays Miss Honey and like the name, she personifies sweetness. You might have already guessed it but in my opinion the casting strikes gold. 

The musical soundtrack to Matilda is further to credit for my love for the film with a mischievous score that drives scenes of Matilda's humour, Mrs Trunchball's rage and lots of magic. The score is composed by David Newman and is accompanied by two songs; Thurston Harris' bouncing 'Little Bitty Pretty One' and Rusted Root's 'Send Me on My Way' featured twice in the film.

DeVito has transformed one of my favourites of Dahl's imaginative worlds from book to screen encapsulating all the fun originally intended, making, for me, one of my all-time favourite childhood films. However having watched it recently for the first time in a long time, I have discovered that now I love it even more!

Catch Me If You Can

I would have to say that I gobble up any films that are based on true stories especially when they give the real life people a cameo role. This is often secretly hidden and is more of a 'did you know?' kind of fact. For example recently I discovered that in The Pursuit of Happyness (staring Will Smith as Chris Gardner) the real Chris Gardner walks across the screen in the final frame as Will Smith turns to see him reflecting what he will become in the future. A very subtle trick but if you know it's there it makes a lot of difference. It adds more depth to any film. Catch Me If You Can is another example in which the main character, being Frank W. Abagnale, Jr. is played by a young looking Leonardo DiCaprio, but if you look closely you see that the real Frank has been given a cameo role as a police officer in the French scenes. I think it is a fantastic addition to a true-story film. 

Leonardo DiCaprio on set with the real Frank Abagnale Jr.

An American film, released in 2002 and staring Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks, Catch Me If You Can tells the real story of how Frank William Abagnale, Jr. poses as a PANAM air pilot, a lawyer and a doctor, forging checks and making $2.5 million over 26 different countries all before the age of 21. The film presents the chase by Carl Hanratty, an FBI check fraud agent (Tom Hanks) as he tries to track down Frank in an intelligent drama with moments of comedic wit. It also stars Christopher Walken, as Frank's father, for which his performance earned him a BAFTA for best supporting actor amongst many others. 

The film, directed by Steven Spielberg, starts off with a recreation of the 70's TV show To Tell The Truth where the real Frank Jr. actually appeared in 1977. We are then flashed back to the past and the real story starts when Frank Jr. and his parents are forced to move from their lavish home to a small flat due to Frank Sr. being denied a business loan. At this time Frank Jr. starts at a new high school where his faking antics begin as he pretends to be a substitute teacher, unrecognised for two weeks. As he returns home from school one day he finds his parents filling papers for divorce. Frank Jr., faced with the hard decision of which parent to live with, decides to run, to a new life of frauds, faking and forgery. 

I very much enjoyed this film, and both leads do a tremendous job as presenting themselves as the real life people. It is a very bright, intelligent film that proves as both entertaining and satisfying to watch. This is what the real Frank had to say about Catch Me If You Can on his website: 

    

"I am honored that Steven Spielberg, Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Hanks participated in the making of the movie inspired by my life."

Frank Abagnale wrote the book, of the same name, prior to the film and then went on to sell the film rights in 1980. Catch Me If You Can has also appeared on Broadway as a musical.

My Girl

Released in '91, set in '72, here comes the heart warming My Girl directed by Howard Zieff and staring a young Macaulay Culkin and Anna Chlumsky. This could very well be the first film I cried watching and one of the very first films I fell in love with. Everything about this film defines beauty; from the songs that make me wish I was born in the 70's to the extraordinary relationship between two friends.

11 year-old, motherless, Vada (Anna Chlumsky) lives in Pennsylvania with her father (Dan Aykroyd) and her grandmother, in the house that doubles as a family-run funeral parlour, which consequently gives Vada a somewhat distorted view on death. When Shelly DeVoto (Jamie Lee Curtis), a make-up artist arrives, to take up a job offer at the parlour, Vada sees her Dad turn into an unfamiliar romantic which nudges Vada towards acknowledging her own feelings. Along with her friend Thomas J, the two of them share their thoughts on life and tackle their world together, but when horrendous events occur Vada is forced to open-up, accept and come to grips with a new life of adolescence. 

It's always hard to find anything critical to say about a film you've grown up watching and have never really looked at  through a critic perspective but rather just enjoy, so I will simply have to say that the whole film is just magic. Anna Chlumsky and Macaulay Culkin do wonders for a story oozing in innocence. Only recently have I discovered that Jaime Lee Curtis stars in this film and I have to say she does a tremendous job adding some lifting moments of comedy when Shelly's ex-husband arrives to take away her home (a beloved camper van). 

Some wonderful songs illustrate this film, with The Moffatts 'Do Wah    Diddy Diddy' and The 5th Dimension 'Wedding Bell Blues'. The credits roll up with the title song, The Temptations, 1964 'My Girl'.

So in essence My Girl is a coming of age film that describes perfectly the tale of a childhood and a girl grasping life, love and loss all too quickly. It is a film that I have always been infatuated with and one that will always be among my all-time favourites.

The sequel; My Girl 2, released in 1994 follows Vada on a new adventure finding the story of a life lived by her mother.

Veronika Decides to Die

Whether the title gives it away or not, I have to say this is not the most light-hearted film I have watched and asides from Charlie Chaplin, it is probably one of the most silent films I have ever seen- I think that's what makes it so great.

I'm not sure, but I don't know if it ever screened in cinemas in the UK. I had never seen it advertised on television or at the cinema, no posters or anything. Maybe I wasn't looking. Veronika Decides to Die was one of the many titles that Sky + Anytime had recorded on my behalf in some attempt to persuade me to watch. It worked! I cannot say the same for many of the other names that frequently appear on the list; 'Too Fat for Fifteen' and 'Cannibal Island' to name a few- they could be great, I don't know- I haven't watched them!

Released in 2009 it stars Sarah Michelle Gellar who is probably most well-known for her role as Buffy in Buffy The Vampire Slayer and although comic this probably doesn't suggest serious acting, but do not be fooled . She has really proven herself in this film as 28 year-old Veronika, who after a failed suicide attempt ends up in a mental institution where she is told by her doctor (David Thewlis) that she has a fatal medical condition that will only allow her a number of days to live. In essence this film is about a girl who during a crisis, tries to grasp a new perception and valuation of life.

My favourite aspect of this film is the music. The score was created by Murray Gold, who has been the musical director of Doctor Who, for the past six years, but takes a different turn composing for this seriously intense drama. The music drives a story with little dialogue. It's stunningly quiet and calm and it really works!

I wouldn't say it was sensational or at all thrilling but if you're looking for a relatively intellectual and moving film, I would definitely recommend!