Saturday, November 28, 2015

Trumbo Review






I went to see the new movie Trumbo this holiday long weekend.  I will confess right away that my main interest in going to see this movie was to see Dean O'Gorman. 

For those that don't know, Dean O'Gorman plays Kirk Douglas in the film about blacklisted award winning screenwriter Dalton Trumbo.

The film of course has a political viewpoint, it's a political film. I mostly keep away from politics on this blog, and I certainly don't want to get into the politics of this one. But I recommend this film to everyone as a good film, good acting, true story. It's not just about Hollywood history, but part of American history, and Cold War history.

I haven't seen any of the shows that Bryan Cranston is famous for, but he made me believe he was this man, Dalton Trumbo. He was funny, tragic, and always human in portraying Trumbo. Lucky for the actor though that we may know this man's films, but few would know the look and sound of the real Trumbo. 

I liked the Trumbo family dynamics too. I especially liked the two young actors who played his oldest daughter at different ages, Madison Wolfe and Elle Fanning. 

Helen Mirren also had the good fortune that most film goers today won't have seen the real Hedda Hopper. Though a good performance, I thought at times she was a bit too extreme in showing Hollywood columnist Hopper's villainous ways. Scary how much power she and fellow columnist Louella Parsons had in their day. 

Not that the Hollywood media still doesn't have power to make or break careers. But now we have Twitter, Facebook, Periscope, Instagram, and who knows what else. 


I also have to confess that I grew up watching classic movies, from the time I was born probably! I know all these legendary actors portrayed in this film very well, know their movies well.What a challenging job for this group of actors. I'm glad none of them tried an impersonation of Edward G. Robinson, or John Wayne, or Kirk Douglas. That would not have been successful, and almost impossible to do without it looking a bit like a comedy act. So, to the actors and director's credit, they all played their characters as "regular" people, with a mannerism or two thrown in to make us acknowledge who they were playing. The one I had the most trouble believing as Edward G. Robinson was Michael Stuhlbarg. But I did believe in the troubles of Robinson as a man, confronted with a choice most of us are lucky we don't have to make. 

To me, Dean O'Gorman was very convincing as Kirk Douglas. He looks very much like the young Kirk. I thought O'Gorman's confident attitude and slight bravado on screen were much like Douglas the man and movie star I've seen in talk shows most of my life. It's a small role, but a pivotal role, in the film. 

And yes, Dean looks very good in the Spartacus....costume.

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Wednesday, November 25, 2015

Watching the BOTFA EE Appendices - Oh Joy



I love all the Behind-the-Scenes docs on all the The Hobbit (and also LOTR) DVDs. Peter Jackson knows how to please us BTS lovers.

Just some random thoughts of moments I liked, or loved, or caught my attention, or made me laugh, or cry, as I'm watching them for the second time. Not anything deep, or any analysis just sitting here watching and enjoying. No particular order either.

SPOILERS (maybe)

-   Wonderful how many of the cast, crew, extras,etc., etc., were affected by The Hobbit when they were children, and their enthusiasm of working on these films now as adults.
 -  Bard (Luke Evans) being hit on the head by that bell- LOL! 
-   Orlando Bloom's Mum as an extra - and his adorable son
-    Richard mentioning how he was mostly hiding when they were filming the BTS documentaries, the reason at the beginning of filming makes me want to go through the screen, space, and time, and hug him. 
-   The amazing dedication and work of the real wizards at WETA
-  Well, well, Adam Brown :)
-   Things they had to do to get to the locations, and things the production people, art directors, etc. have to do in all these locations. Appreciate their work more than ever.
- Andy Serkis needs a comedy role. He could direct it too.
- The Armitage dedication - admire him more than ever after watching all the Hobbit films appendices.
-  My Dwarves - I adore them
-  Worried for them at the Rock and Pillar 
-  I would have done the same as Victoria (Victoria's Cross) - smart woman
-  Loved the story of the retirement village and their connection to the film and also the kids
-   Realizing I have the perfect physical attributes to be a Dwarf woman (come here Thorin my darling)
- Don't understand why some deleted scenes were left out not only of the theatrical version of the film, but out of the EE. Hope we'll see them in a future Director's cut. -Some great scenes. 
- Enjoyed getting to know the Extras and the crew as Extras
-  A surprising regal WETA worker 
- The development of the costumes for Thranduil and Tauriel and the armor for Thorin and the Dwarves, and for Dain, was not only fascinating, but seeing how the concept evolves once the real actors who wear them are there. 
- Also the concepts and designs that Guillermo del Toro and the designers and WETA were working on, and then the change to PJ, and that evolution. Makes me wonder is there any possibility of using all that work in a future GDT film? Also at moments makes me glad that it was PJ who directed the films, because though fascinating, it would have looked so different from LOTR if GDT had directed.
-  What are or were Richard's questions for the Tolkien Scholars - inquiring minds want to know
-   I need to find the story of Thorir
-   We so need that Christmas album 
-   Alan Lee - dance with me! 
-  I want to live in Dale - before Smaug
- Thorin Oakenshield - caterer 
-  Everyone that works on those sets, all of them, deserve a special award  
- Wish we had the wheel in my office 
-   Can't stop watching Thorin's battle with Azog, and it's torture every time
- The moment they all come out of Erebor to fight. Loved watching them film that scene and how excited our dwarf knights and our king were. 
-    Those farewells - I'm still crying 


I'm still watching

Tuesday, November 17, 2015

In the Eye of the Beholder




In the recent Q&A for the Leeds Premiere of Urban and the Shed Crew (link below), Richard Armtage said he "looked like crap"  (forgive the inexact quote) at the end of the shoot for the film. I remembered that during the shoot in 2014 we were lucky enough to see him at several times as himself doing PR for The Hobbit and Into the Storm. 




In the interest of scientific study I offer the photos below of Richard during the filming of Urban (March - April 2014) as well as during rehearsal for The Crucible (May-early June), not long after he finished filming Urban to explore for study purposes if he did look "like crap" during this time.










Crucible Rehearsals in May/June:



You can all come to your own conclusions.



As for me, I think that Richard's definition of "looking like crap" is certainly totally different from mine.  I loved those hair extensions! 



(Photos from RichardArmitageNet.com and Richard Armitage Central)

Day 31 - 31 Day Film Challenger

Favorite Film 



Monday, November 16, 2015

Friday, November 13, 2015

Day 29 - 31 Day Film Challenge

A Show You Would Love to See as a Film




At one time I wanted to see Spooks (MI-5) as a movie, starring the actors in the photo above



Didn't quite happen that way



I haven't seen Spooks The Movie yet - but I will. 


I really believe that there are some stories that are best told on Television, in a longer format than in film. Especially today when many good films aren't given the time for audiences to hear about them and find them at the movie theater. 

Wednesday, November 11, 2015

Chapel FM Urban and the Shed Crew Movie Q&A at LIFF29






Thank you Chapel FM

Candida Brady, Richard Armitage, Bernard Hare




(this definitely goes into the "why I love Richard Armitage" category )

Tuesday, November 10, 2015

Day 27 - 31 Day Film Challenge

Least Favorite Film Based Off A Book






Read the book and liked it as a thriller. It has it's faults, character development being one. But kept me turning the pages in anticipation until the end.

I thought it would make a good film thriller. Two actors I happen to like starring in the film. So what happened that the film felt wrong from the opening scene? 





Monday, November 9, 2015

Elusive Richard and Armitage

Twitter sighting of my favorite cheetah brothers:


Friday, November 6, 2015

Interview with Salome Cast Members Olwen Fouere and Nadine Malouf - Play Closes in DC November 8


Salome - Directed by Yael Farber 








Olwen Fouere mentions watching Farber's The Crucible (starring Richard Armitage) thanks to Digital Theatre and being "astounded by it" 

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Day 26 - 31 Day Film Challenge

Favorite film based off a book 




Sense and Sensibility 
(1995)



I have many favorite films based on books. Very difficult to select just one, but I decided to feature one of my favorite films based on a Jane Austen novel.  

(Yes, I'm not really following the 31 day days countdown- but does it matter? I had good intentions, but, oh well)

Monday, November 2, 2015

Day 25 - 31 Day Film Challenge

Favorite Score







Composers: Trevor Jones and Randy Edelman


The main theme of the movie is taken from the tune "The Gael" by Scottish singer-songwriter Dougie MacLean on his 1990 album 
The Search.







Sunday, November 1, 2015

Day 24 - 31 Day Film Challenge

Least Favorite Trilogy


Difficult time with this one.  Some trilogies I've only watched the first one and then no more. I think Mad Max is not a trilogy, there was a new one recently, wasn't there?

I did watch the first three Mad Max films.  Liked the first, the other two, and especially #3, not so much. Does that count.
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