Paul

http://www.whatispaul.com/

As a huge fan of Spaced, Shaun of the Dead and Hot Fuzz (and as someone who's met Nick Frost - he was one of the nicest famous people I've ever had the pleasure to meet!) I was looking forward to Paul like you wouldn't believe. I've known about it ever since Simon Pegg and Nick Frost first started talking about it which must have been at least two or three years ago now. I was intrigued at how different a movie Paul would be considering Edgar Wright wasn't going to be involved, as he'd been instrumental in the three previously mentioned Pegg/Frost outings. 


Paul is an alien who crash landed on earth in 1947. Only he wasn't called Paul then. He was pulled from the wreckage of his spaceship and so named by the young girl who found him. Paul is then taken to Area 51 where he remains, a prisoner of the US Government, for the next 60 years. Whilst trying to escape Paul crashes again (this time a car rather than a spaceship) in front of an RV (camper van for you non US folks!) driven by British geeks Graeme (Simon Pegg) and Clive (Nick Frost). The three of them embark on a road trip across America, along the way picking up Ruth (Kristen Wiig), a devout Christian who doesn't believe in aliens, and a series of federal agents following their trail.


I was right to wonder how different Paul would be without Edgar Wright's co-writing and directing skills. And I couldn't help but miss him and wonder what Paul would have been like with him at the helm. Truthfully, probably not that different. I'm not saying I didn't like Paul, just that it was different, and there's not necessarily anything wrong with different. 


I think I just wanted to like it so much and in the end I just thought it was alright. I put down the casting of Paul as one of the reasons I didn't love the film. *If you don't like knowing who voice actors are, please skip to the next paragraph* As mentioned previously, I'm really not a fan of Seth Rogan. I hate to repeat myself but as with the review I did of his film 'The Green Hornet' I feel like he only knows how to play himself. Now I don't honestly know if Paul was written with him in mind. If it was, well I don't really blame him for taking it, as I would probably take any part that Simon or Nick wrote especially for me. But he's not exactly fighting the typecast here. 


I can't fault any of the other cast. Jason Bateman was sufficiently stern as the no-nonsense federal agent who gives chase to the elusive alien and his cohorts. I loved Kristen Wiig, having not really seen much of her before I didn't know what to expect and I thought she was delightful as the shy and innocent Ruth. So sweet and charming but then with a potty mouth you'd never expect! Pegg and Frost were on form as ever, it's always a pleasure to see them on screen together no matter what they're doing. I just wish I could put my finger on why Paul didn't do it for me, maybe I was just looking forward to it too much? Maybe it was the voice casting of Paul, as I thought the CGI was excellent? I wasn't all that disappointed, it just wasn't as great as I'd hoped. Maybe it will be a grower. When I've watched it a couple more times, I'll let you know. 7 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 20th February 2011

UK Release Date - 14th February 2011

Cast Overview:

Simon Pegg ~ Graeme Willy

Nick Frost ~ Clive Gollings

Sigourney Weaver ~ 'The Big Guy'

Jason Bateman ~ Special Agent Zoil

Bill Hader ~ Haggard

Joe Lo Truglio ~ O'Reilly

Kristen Wiig ~ Ruth Buggs

John Carroll Lynch ~ Moses Buggs

Blythe Danner ~ Tara Walton

Jane Lynch ~ Pat Stevenson

Jeffrey Tambor ~ Adam Shadowchild

and

Seth Rogan ~ Paul

Director ~ Greg Mottola

Writer(s) ~ Nick Frost and Simon Pegg

The Princess Bride

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0093779/

For the explanation of how I came to go to a special screening of one of my all time favourite films The Princess Bride, you will need to read the corresponding post on my personal blog as it's kind of a story in itself. 


Having said that I will say that I saw this on the same day as Blue Valentine and at the same cinema, the Prince Charles Cinema in London (http://www.princecharlescinema.com/). One of the reasons I love that cinema so much is the fact that they show quirky independent films on general release as well as special screenings of older classics, such as this.


I honestly can't remember how old I was when my brother introduced me to this film but I'm sure I must have been around 10 or 11 years old. Basically around the age of Fred Savage's character at the start of the story. I loved it instantly as I'm sure any kid that age must have. I continue to love it to this day, for reasons different to those which made me love it as a child, and for many of the same reasons I loved it as a child. It is consistently the film I watch when I'm sick, to make me feel better.


In case you don't know, The Princess Bride is a film based on a book by William Goldman. In the film, the novel 'The Princess Bride' is read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his poorly grandson (Savage). As the grandfather says to the grandson (to get him interested in the book) it's a tale that includes "fencing, fighting, torture, revenge, giants, monsters, chases, escapes, true love and miracles". What more could you ask?


In the enactment of the narration we meet Buttercup, a young woman who lives on a farm in the fictional country of Florin. Her only company is Westley, her farm boy whom she loves to torment. He only ever says three words in response to her every command, "As you wish". One day, Buttercup realises that when Westley says "As you wish" he is really saying that he loves her. This realisation sparks another for Buttercup, that she truly loves him back. Westley has no means for marriage to Buttercup so he seeks his fortune across the seas, but his ship is attacked by pirates with a reputation for leaving no survivors. Buttercup, believing Westley to be dead, is inconsolable. Five years later Buttercup is chosen by the heir to the throne of Florin, Prince Humperdinck, as his bride to be. What Buttercup doesn't know, is that he secretly plans to start a war with the country across the sea, Guilder, by having her murdered and framing the Guilderians for her death.


Has Westley's death all been a bad dream? Does Buttercup succumb to Prince Humperdinck's dastardly plan? Does it all end happily ever after? Well if you haven't already seen The Princess Bride there is NO WAY I'm going to tell you. You will simply have to buy (Amazon - http://tinyurl.com/6caln6a) or rent (LoveFilm - http://tinyurl.com/6boftob) it and find out! To borrow the tagline I will tell you is that this is 'not just your basic, average, everyday, ordinary, run-of-the-mill, ho-hum fairytale'. It's so much more! Among other things it's a love story, a fairytale, a comedy and a revenge plot. 


It has sumptuous costumes and locations, filled with some of the most ridiculous characters you'll ever see. The dialogue is perfectly witty and sarcastic in equal measure, and so completely out of place for the era (and yet perfectly fitting at the same time) it's hilarious. The casting is genius, without any exception. I wouldn't change a single member of this cast or the way they portray their characters. I love the way this movie has me laughing, crying, quoting, caring, hating and adoring every moment. Therefore I think it's fitting that The Princess Bride should be my first - but hopefully not last - perfect 10 of the year. 10 out of 10.

Viewing Date - 14th February 2011

Original UK Release Date - November 1987 (I was 6)

Cast Overview:

Cary Elwes ~ Westley

Robin Wright ~ Buttercup

Mandy Patinkin ~ Inigo

Andre the Giant ~ Fezzik

Wallace Shawn ~ Vizzini

Chris Sarandon ~ Prince Humperdinck

Christopher Guest ~ Count Rugen

Billy Crystal ~ Miracle Max

Carol Kane ~ Valerie

Peter Cook ~ The Impressive Clergyman

Mel Smith ~ The Albino

Fred Savage ~ The Grandson

Peter Falk ~ The Grandfather/Narrator

Director ~ Rob Reiner

Writer ~ William Goldman (Screenplay written from his Book)

Blue Valentine

http://www.bluevalentinemovie.com/

As mentioned previously, I am a big fan of The Notebook. In developing a love of that film I also developed a fondness for it's stars Rachel McAdams and Ryan Gosling. And as such I tend to look forward to their up-coming projects. Blue Valentine is no exception to that rule. 


Blue Valentine had the added bonus of also starring Michelle Williams, who I've been a fan of since her Dawson's Creek days. I was eagerly anticipating the film's release when I read a fascinating interview with Ms Williams in Empire Magazine (http://tinyurl.com/6hq9toh). In the interview Williams talks about how committed she'd been to telling this story, ever since she first read the script when she was in her early 20s*. The interview also sheds light on the director's methods of enabling his actors to get to know each other well enough to hate each other. Williams explains how she and Gosling prepared for their roles by living together for a month, in between filming, in order to find out what would annoy them about each other if they were a real couple. For example, what would make them argue etc.


By the time the film's release date came around, it was obvious that none of the cinemas in my town (or surrounding area) were going to be showing it. I find it's always the way with the ones you REALLY want to see! Thankfully I have an amazing best friend who not only wanted to see the film, but also didn't mind taking time out of her Valentines Day plans to go to London, and see the film with me at the delightful Prince Charles Cinema.


The film flips between present day bitterness and the bittersweet early days of Cindy and Dean. They met by chance when he was working for a removal firm, moving an elderly man into a home. She happened to be visiting her grandmother at the same home on the same day. As Cindy had a boyfriend, she turned down Dean's offer of a date. They meet again a month later when Cindy has become disillusioned with said boyfriend and decides to give Dean a chance. In between these flashes of the past we also see Dean and Cindy as they are now, embittered and worn down by life, family, jobs and each other. The film continues to switch between Cindy and Dean then, getting to know each other and falling in love, to now, knowing too much about the other person and falling out of love. 


While I concede that this is not the cheeriest of films, I thought it did accurately portray the way that people drift apart and how sometimes, love just isn't enough. The interwoven flashback scenes of how Dean and Cindy met and fell in love are so believable. So much so that I felt a little uncomfortable watching the more intimate scenes, as though I were peeking into a real couple's private life through a keyhole. This only speaks of how good Williams and Gosling are, and how much they put themselves into these characters. Their director clearly had method to his madness in having them live together during filming, as I'm sure it was this prolonged time together that made their performances so grounded in reality. 


I can't go so far as to say that the film was enjoyable, as watching two people fight for their love rarely is. But I will say that it was a fascinating insight into the lives of a realistic and thoughtfully portrayed (dis)functional couple. 8 out of 10.

*For the purpose of grasping how long writer/director Derek Cianfrance has been trying to get Blue Valentine made and released, Michelle Williams is now 30.

Viewing Date - 14th February 2011

UK Release Date - 14th January 2011

Cast Overview:

Ryan Gosling ~ Dean

Michelle Williams ~ Cindy

Faith Wladyka ~ Frankie

John Doman ~ Jerry

Mike Vogel ~ Bobby

Director/Writer ~ Derek Cianfrance

Writer ~ Cami Delavigne

Writer ~ Joey Curtis