The Iron Lady (2012)
15 Sunday Jan 2012
Posted 2012, Biographical, Drama, Reviews
in15 Sunday Jan 2012
Posted 2012, Biographical, Drama, Reviews
in10 Tuesday Jan 2012
The cinematography is absorbing andeverything is gorgeously shot. Everything was so convincing I forgot I waswatching a film from 2011. Everything has been executed so perfectly. Thecostumes, the old Hollywood sets, the cars, the streets, everything! Half thetime it felt like an authentic 20’s silent film and I kept forgetting it wasmade in 2011. The music was beautifully done and is one of the elements thatgive it the most authenticity. Whetherit is that song, “pennies from heaven”, or the opening sequence, or even theboogie-styled jazz, you really feel like you watching a film made in the 20’s. A round of applaud for Ludovic Bource’s work here.
Malcolm McDowell in his cameo to the right. |
Some enjoyed the film, although not tothe extent I did. I cannot see anything wrong with this film. The story hasbeen done a few times in cinema, (finest example is of course Singin In The Rain), but the fact thatsomeone went and made a silent film today; Especially with how cinema hasevolved. Therefore, it is a blissful homage and reminder of the era. Despitebeing a little old fashioned, it still connects to the audience with itslovable charm, wit, humour and gripping plot. You don’t need to be a historianor know about the talkies and their revolutionary impact either, because thefilm presents those details enough. For those unaware, it will be athought-provoking experience, and for those who know, it will be a portrayal ofbrilliance.
Fun fact: The film is shot in 1.33:1 ratio, just like how they did it back in the day.
08 Sunday Jan 2012
Posted 1975, Directors: Stanley Kubrick, Drama, Reviews
inDirected by: Stanley Kubrick
Genre: Drama
Country: United Kingdom
At the height of fashion in the mid 70’s, the film captures the 18th century in a gloriously shot manner, with almost every shot being like apainting on a canvas. Stanley Kubrick,who directed, produced and wrote the screenplay of the book, has once more madea distinctive film with storytelling and visual beauty looking at British aristocracyin the 18th century. This time Kubrick has creates a historical epicand in the 3-hour runtime it has, the life of Lyndon is curiously interesting.Three hours is a reasonably long time to watch a film, but sometimes it works, creating a film with a distinguished atmosphere. Just look at the Lord of the Ringstrilogy.
It appears that old Kubrick hastaken special care with this film ensuring every shot has atmosphere. Whetherwe are following Lyndon as he walks through the forest with his cousin, or ifwe are seeing the Lyndon mansion and its grounds, the film is definitely filledwith florescent and beautiful cinematography. With fashionable classy clothesof ye olden days and authentic looking set pieces, you definitely get warpedinto the time of the 18h century. It has never been captured withsuch visual grace, which proves Kubrick is a great visionary storyteller. The visualsof this film push the technology of its time (as Kubrick done also with 2001), and it has some of the finestcinematography of any 70’s film.
Barry Lyndon isone of Kubrick’s underrated films, which is agreeable to some extent. The actingwas interesting, the set pieces were beautiful, and the story that follows aman’s rise to wealth and crumble was plenty to love. However, with this in mindthe film does not explore much. It is a film that simply follows one characters rise and fall and can be quite boring at times. I think its lackof character that brings the film down a little. We have plenty of characters,but no truly engaging ones, except for Lyndon.
Extra Information:
Produced by: Stanley Kubrick
Written to the screen by: Stanley Kubrick
Runtime: 186 Minutes
Distributed by:
Age Certificate: PG