Those who know me well understand that I have a fascination with all things paranormal or unexplained. The story of the Phoenix lights is particularly interesting to me. On this, the 20th anniversary of the mass UFO sighting, I share with you a well-executed documentary that has always stuck with me.
I recently bit the bullet and administered an ad-blocking program to my computer. As an avid YouTube watcher, it's one of the best digital decisions I've ever made. But when I'm on my mobile device, I still suffer through those pesky commercials. While most ads are no more than time thieves, when properly executed, they occasionally deliver inspiration and guidance. Enter the promo for Frank & Lola that ran before a vlog I watched from a Wiccan medium who lives in DC (shout-out to Psychic Bob).
Deliciously described as a 'psychosexual noir', Frank & Lola delivers in the form of fast-paced suspense and erotic romance. Viewers are taken inside the scattered lives of characters whose worlds are divided between the bright lights of the two very different cityscapes of Las Vegas and Paris. In his feature debut, writer-director, Matthew Ross, enchants with seedy cinematography that perfectly sets the tone. Fans of similar movies within the genre such as Manhattan Night will enjoy this film as well. 7/10.
It's not often that I pay much attention to current movies that are being released. I prefer to find them a bit more organically. I must have totally missed any marketing or promos that was done for Manhattan Night. Recently, I randomly caught the trailer but quickly discovered that the film was out earlier this year. It can now be viewed online in its entirety.
Adapted from the 1996 crime novel Manhattan Nocturne by Colin Harrison, the story promises many thrilling twists and turns. Several reviews are rather abysmal but I rarely agree with critics. I have yet to check this one out for myself but it looks exciting and is on my watchlist. I will update this post with my thoughts after I view the film.
UPDATE: I'm not sure how I feel about this movie. There was several elements that I really admired but overall, I think it will be forgettable. The acting was superb. I thought Adrien Brody and Yvonne Stahovski had immense chemistry. The cinematography was beautiful. The score was nice. And the noir vibe that director Brian DeCubellis created was one of the strongest aspects of this film. I simply found the story itself to be lacking with certain arcs borderline ridiculous. This genre of film is out of the norm for me. I enjoyed spending a couple hours with it but would I recommend it to someone else? Perhaps, but it definitely caters to a specific audience. It had an old-world vibe that some movie buffs could either love or hate. If you enjoy dark mystery and erotic romance, you might find something here. 7/10.
When I was in upstate New York last month, I went to a small theater to see a JFK Jr. documentary (loved him). During the previews, there was the trailer for this film. I immediately sent myself a text so I wouldn't forget the title. It's a good thing that I did because it might have been impossible to come across this film again. And nothing drives me crazier than not being able to source a song or movie that is escaping my memory.
I haven't seen it just yet but the script and cinematography does look promising. I enjoy deeper movies that are centered around travel & romance so I have a feeling I might like this one.
To read more about There Is a New World Somewhere or to find out if it is showing in an area near you, click here.
UPDATE: I'd rate this movie a 7/10. Kept my interest. I watched on Amazon Video since my iTunes rental didn't play.
SEMI-SPOILER: As a hopeless romantic, I hope the director, Li Lu, pulls a Linklater and films a sequel to this with the same characters 9-10 years from now. There Is a New World Somewhere shared similar elements with Before Sunrise. And any movie that can even closely be compared to my favorite of all time is worthy of a recommendation.
1. Star Wars
2. Ghost
3. The Sixth Sense
4. Spider-Man
5. Scarface
6. The Godfather
7. Guardians of the Galaxy
8. The Avengers
9. Frozen
10. The Lord of the Rings
11. Transformers
12. Pirates of the Caribbean
13. Despicable Me
14. The Hobbit
15. Inception
16. The Sound of Music
17. Interstellar
18. Fight Club
19. Indiana Jones
20. Saving Private Ryan
21. Gladiator
22. The Departed
23. Braveheart
24. Inglourious Basterds
25. Fargo
26. Into the Wild
27. No Country for Old Men
28. 12 Years a Slave
29. The Terminator
For the past decade or so, I've really been drawn to Jim Morrison. While I've been a fan of The Doors for much longer, I find their personal lives to be very fascinating. Inside glimpses into this era aren't always easy to come by. I was delighted when I heard about the release of this groundbreaking documentary by way of Coast to Coast AM.
via The film's producers:
Feast Of Friends, filmed in 1968, was the first and only film produced about The Doors by The Doors. It offers a cinematic look at The Doors on the road during their summer ’68 tour. Whilst never truly completed, the film provides a stylistic approach in true sixties cinéma vérité style. Concert performances are intercut with fly-on-the-wall footage of the group in their natural habitat, sometimes playful, sensitive, chaotic and touching. Other than a few appearances in film festivals in 1968, an official release would never be seen until now. Completely restored from the original negative, as supervised by Jim Morrison, the film has been colour corrected and cleaned in high definition with the soundtrack totally remixed and remastered by long-time Doors’ collaborator Bruce Botnick.
For those who are unfamiliar, The Chair is a television project on Starz that gave two upcoming, young directors the opportunity to create a debut feature film from the same source material. The results were two staggeringly different films. Had I watched these movies separately, without any prior knowledge of its origins, I would have never guessed they were related. Being both from Pittsburgh (the setting of the project) and an aspiring screenwriter, I found this series both informative and entertaining.
My only concern with The Chair was the voting process for the winning film. I think it was absolutely fantastic that the audience got to participate and select the best film. That being said, there's no way this project had a chance at delivering a fair winner.
From the perspective of Shane Dawson's Not Cool, we have someone who is widely well-known, arguably one of the most famous people on the internet. He's already successful in his own right. He didn't need this opportunity. Open voting involving Shane versus anyone is not going to be fair- no matter how strongly he may or may not have urged his young fan base to be honest. Current views on the Not Cool trailer: just over 3.5 million.
From the perspective of Anna Martemucci's Hollidaysburg, we have a person who is close friends with the executive producer of the show, Zachary Quinto. I'm not challenging the integrity of the people behind the scenes of The Chair, but hypothetically, had her film genuinely won and she was up against anyone other than Shane Dawson, people would be whispering. Current views on the Hollidaysburg trailer: just under 50 thousand.
While I believe Hollidaysburg was obviously the stronger of the two films, I doubt there will be a chance for it to truly shine. The director who deserved the $250,000 to hone her craft will be robbed of the victory. But all is not lost. The industry was no doubt watching. More people know her name. A great little movie was made. Martemucci should be proud of her work. As a female writer, she inspired me.
Not Cool
Hollidaysburg
Now Playing: "Spirit In The Sky" by Norman Greenbaum
*This song is the best. Perfect for All Souls' Day, tomorrow.
Here we have a film that perfectly exemplifies one of the reasons why I no longer watch or work in television news. I studied broadcasting in college and worked in the field after graduation. "If it bleeds it leads" is certainly the name of the game. We live in a twisted society. Looking forward to seeing this one. Also, Jake Gyllenhaal is a friend to Pittsburgh. So there's that. Brilliant actor. And a resounding "HELL YES!" to the Kendrick Lamar song used in the shorter trailers running on television.
Now Playing: "Backseat Freestyle" by Kendrick Lamar
*Obviously!
Liam Neeson is one of my favorite actors. Love him. I appreciate a well-crafted thriller and this one looks pretty good. The Soundgarden cover by Nouela in the trailer certainly didn't hurt, either. Nice work.
Now Playing: "The Wolves Act I and II" by Bon Iver
*Where would I be without Justin Vernon? That man's music has gotten me through so much.
The other day, I was in a bit of a somber mood and willing to watch something moving on Netflix. The service recommended Charlie Countryman. The title threw me off but the face on the poster drew me in. I've mentioned in the past my alarming interest in Shia LaBeouf. He just does something for me. Where other girls are repulsed, I am intrigued and dare I say, turned on.
The same can be said for reviews. When a film generally receives negative feedback from both audiences and critics alike, I'm more than willing to give it a shot if it looks good to me. This film is a perfect example as to why I'm happy to think for myself; I rather enjoyed it. The acting was superb, the cinematography gorgeous, the message endearing.
Evan Rachel Wood, another one of my favorite actors, paired very well against LaBeouf. As I had recently returned from traveling abroad, I was eager to take in the scenery that the Romanian backdrop provided. While the piece certainly wasn't perfect, the ending more than made up for any misgivings. The soundtrack (The xx, M83, Moby) also did a fantastic job of adding to the overall vibe of the film.
If you're a fan of romance, American films with a foreign feel or you're just a bit of a weirdo like me, check this one out. You won't be disappointed.
Now Playing: "Soul to Squeeze" by Red Hot Chili Peppers
Here, we have a movie that my intuition tells me will either be very entertaining or so bad that it's actually good. Either way, I need to find myself a Valentine, get to the theater and see what this one is all about. I'm a sucker for a sexy little romance and what better love story plot is there than a good girl-bad guy scenario? So over-dramatic, so cliche, so perfect.
Perhaps it's because he shares the same exact birthday with one of my best friends so I know our Gemini-Aquarius compatibility is on point, or maybe it's because I grew up watching him on Even Stevens, but Shia LaBeouf just does it for me.
“The first info we got — and I’ll never forget this because my entire team reacted with such fear — the first request from the production end, not Lars, was for pictures of my penis. Lars goes, ‘Send him the letter. The letter was, ‘Are you game?’ I guess the first test was, ‘Let’s time how long it takes this motherfucker to send his dick over the Internet.’ It was like 20 minutes; they were like, ‘All right, kid’s ready.’”
It wouldn't quite feel like the holidays without watching some of my favorite Christmas movies. Here is a small list of some of the films I enjoy watching the most during this time of year...
A Christmas Story (1983).
The King of Christmas movies in my eyes. I keep this playing on TBS all day long on Christmas day. It just isn't the same without watching this movie once (or 10 times).
The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)
I find Rankin/Bass movies to be so adorable. I've loved them since I was little. These are the movies I'll want to show my own children the most someday.
Christmas Vacation (1989)
I love this one. A true classic comedy.
The Family Stone (2005)
I remember seeing this one at the theater with my family when I was home for college break. It's not for everyone but it's one of my favorite modern Christmas movies.
Home Alone (1990)
This was one of the earliest movies I remember. In grade school, it was always the one we watched on movie days. I love the vibe of this. John Hughes was the master.
Now Playing: "Big Jet Plane" (Acoustic) by Angus and Julia Stone
*This version is beautiful but the original is one of my absolute favorite songs of the past decade.
Apparently Safety Not Guaranteed came out last year but I don't remember ever seeing any trailers or hearing a thing about it. I'm really glad that I stumbled upon it on Netflix. Simply put, this was one of the most outstanding films I've seen in quite some time. It was completely original and the type of screenplay that I'd want to write. In fact, the movie itself reminded me of a Missed Connections ad that I posted here on my blog a couple years back (check it out here).
Charming, funny and surprisingly profound, I would definitely recommend seeing Safety Not Guaranteed. The cast was superb. This is a movie for people with an open mind and a longing for the past. If you've ever had your heart broken or known pain of any kind- the type of wound that time didn't seem to heal, this movie will capture that feeling. You'll finish with a sense that you're not in this thing alone.
Now Playing: "Shake" by The Head and the Heart
*This song fits the film perfectly!
Often times, it seems as though films with a predominant female cast (especially of the younger variety) receive harsher than necessary criticism. Until now, I had never even heard of 2009's Tanner Hall. After catching a bit of the film on late night television, I did a bit of research (of the Rotten Tomatoes and IMDb persuasion). The reviews were abysmal. But the plot and cast (Rooney Mara, Georgia King, Brie Larson, Amy Ferguson, Tom Everett Scott, Amy Sedaris, Chris Kattan) intrigued me. I gave Tanner Hall a viewing on Netflix. I'm so glad that I did.
Now I can understand that this isn't a movie for everyone. It doesn't have an extremely broad appeal but for those who can get behind its message, it is superb. If you're a female who enjoys a well-presented coming-of-age tale, this is a nice one to see. I thoroughly enjoyed the performances and found the pace of the film to move quite nicely. It's one of most underrated movies I've had the pleasure to watch. Fans of Now and Then, Mona Lisa Smile, and An Education will likely appreciate this hidden treasure of a film.
Now Playing: "Your Ex-Lover Is Dead" by Stars
*Beautifully placed
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't know how I didn't notice the exact moment this trailer was released but I was beyond excited to find it when I did! I can't wait to watch this movie! I will see it the weekend it gets released in my city. I LOVE LOVE LOVE Before Sunrise and Before Sunset. I've mentioned this countless times here on my blog. They're my favorite movies. I just know I'll love this one as well :)
I normally roll my eyes at the mere idea of a film remake. Why mess with perfection? Remakes have that uncanny ability to ruin a good thing while wasting time recreating trash. But this trailer looks promising. Julianne Moore is one of my favorite actresses and I trust her ability to choose a good script. What I've seen from Chloe Moretz I can also get behind.
The original Carrie is one of my favorite horror movies so I'm particularly protective of its integrity. This isn't the first time someone's tried to mess with the pig's blood since '76 but it may be the only version that actually worked. I might see this one in the theater in October but I'll definitely view it when it hits Netflix.
I just got back from seeing this one. For those who don't know its premise, it centers around a family in the immediate aftermath of the 2004 tsunami. If a movie can capture the intrigue of my Mom who had not been to a theater since seeing Titanic in 1997 (no exaggeration), it deserves a mention.
I thought The Impossible was very well done. The young child actors in the film really impressed me (and were absolutely adorable might I add). The entire cast was excellent. I also really enjoyed the cinematography. If you're a fan of films that are inspired by actual events, this is something you'll appreciate. The Academy also acknowledged lead actress, Naomi Watts, with a best actress nomination.
When a film moves you to tears, it gets an A in my book. An awkward exit from the theater is well worth the experience. The message of The Impossible is one of fate, family, camaraderie and love.
Sidenote: I adored the use of Damien Rice's "One" cover in the trailer above:
I'm living life in beautiful Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. I hold a journalism degree from West Virginia University. I have worked in television news, fashion marketing, PR, and cosmetic sales. My love for writing and sharing with the world my various passions is strong. One of my many ambitions is to be published and continue creating in the fields of digital and print media, literature and film. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, going to concerts, reading, following Pittsburgh sports and traveling as often as possible. Some of my favorite things include beauty, style, architecture, books, tarot and astrology, thrifting and my shih-tzu, Ireland. I’m engaged to the love of my lifetimes and we look forward to starting our next chapter together. If you have any questions or comments, I would love to hear from you!
