Tuesday 31 January 2012

Behind the Scenes

This is going to be a montage of what can only be described as random pictures from my phone I forgot to include...
(Oh, and a movie review. Not an Oscar Nom. though, a happy one.)
With Konni, doing Radio OP 
I had a cat phase for a few months after seeing YouTube videos of Maru.
It's gone for now.
Love it.
Can't say I always do it.
My mum's painting from Paris.
Checking to see if the paint is sticking to the cardboard wrapping.
to see a picture of the Artist go to my Paris (part 2) post.
In art class.
A little inspired by the charcoal drawings on the walls in Across the Universe.
 
The movie Carnage in German.
Yeah, can't say I understood all of it.
But from what I did it was very good. Excellent performances. So funny.
 
Bus stop in the morning today
Screen Printing in Art
 Playlists I made for my Mummy!
She finally got them so I can post 'em.




50/50
Adorable. Well cast.
If you liked 500 days of summer, you will like this.
A good one if you don't know what to watch. Funny, sweet, and solid plot.
Love that I can always count on Joseph Gordon-Levitt to deliver.




Saturday 28 January 2012

The Help

This film is so cute! I love that it’s set in the 60s (probably my favourite time period). And the aesthetic is really fun to watch. It really gives the viewer a broad sense of what the civil movement was like from all points of view. Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer give excellent performances and Emma Stone does a great job as always. The only thing that I feel is keeping this movie from a “best picture” is that it was a little too cookie cutter. Although, that was the contrast between the “white” and “black” homes really got the point across. A really enjoyable movie to watch, with plenty of jokes, and it has a strong backbone. Should we feel it deserves less credit just because it was fun to watch? I don’t think so. Although I’m not sure it’s what the Academy is looking for.
My Rating: Have a good night and watch it. It probably won’t win, but thats ok. It’s still a great movie.



Moneyball


Moneyball, staring Brad Pitt was surprisingly real. 
It wasn’t what I had expected at all. It’s not a film about motivating a team or bringing together some lovable misfit players. It is about trying to beat the system. This film isn’t sugar coated. Although, it has some real touching and wonderful human moments. It goes beyond a sport film, and for me it wasn’t really even about baseball. It was more about a man’s pride, regrets and family life struggling against his job. I also enjoyed having Jonah Hill (Get Him To The Greek) in there for a little comedic relief. For the sports fans this probably has that little extra something. I was a little lost with the technical rules of play, but even for a non-fan it was very interesting to see unfold. 

Rating: So far out of all I’ve seen/read, it looks like a front runner. Though, for me, there is just something missing for a “best picture”. Still a great film.



Thursday 26 January 2012

Oscar

(Not the little angry green fury creature, but the other one.)
I really appreciate the Gladiator shot of Russell Crow. Not THAT was a movie.
American Beauty for me is tied with the Crow-man, but unfortunately didn't make the cut...
So here comes the film.
I am planning to watch the main Oscar nominated films.
So far 2 down, 4 or 5ish to go, (not sure whether or not I’m going to end up watching the Artist.. I’ve not been in the best mood for it for some reason). 

Have Seen:
Midnight in Paris
The Descendants

Have Not Seen:
The Help
Moneyball
War Horse
The Tree of Life
The Artist

Don't really want to see: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close or Hugo


A few days ago I put my time in and watched what I was most excited about from the trailer, The Descendants

George Clooney plays Matt King, an aloof dad and “backup parent” when his wife is in a coma after a boating accident. I couldn’t help but feel the similarities to his character in Up in the Air, I didn’t see anything new. Set in Hawaii, Matt is dealing with the fact that they will have to unplug his wife from life support and eventually finds out that his wife was cheating on him. What should have been a quirky story with sarcastic dialogue that highlights Matt’s moral dilemma (which the trailer suggests) turned into a plot line that remained the same the entire movie.  The focal point of the movie is Clooney’s character’s relationship with his daughters (played by Shailene Woodley and Amara Miller). Every piece of dialogue is just an ironic innuendo hinting to Matt’s personal crisis (and leaves the viewer with only remorse and sadness). Furthermore, the characters achievements are not merited, and seem to just happen. I don’t feel that Matt’s character realized anything or changed on an emotional level. The sub plot is centered around this huge amount of land of which Matt and his cousins are the beneficiaries. They plan to sell the land for a massive profit to developers. I won’t give away the ending, but let’s just say it all ended as I expected. 
It’s a nice film. A little too Hollywood and predictable for me. But nice. I think they could have made it darker, with a little more “Little Miss Sunshine” humour, and it would have tipped the scale over, from streamline to smart. 

On Rotten Tomatoes this movie got great reviews (89%). So maybe you will find it more interesting? 

My Rating: Hopefully not a Winner




I have already mentioned Midnight in Paris in a previous post so I won’t get too much into detail.
Quite simply: YOU MUST SEE IT. One of my favourite movies. 

Excellent script
Excellent director (Woody Allen) 
Shows off Paris
Well casted actors (Don’t doubt Owen Wilson, he pulls it off unquestionably.)

Really inspiring film. I left the theatre skipping with my mom through the lit up trees downtown. What’s great is that you feel you learn’t something but didn’t get weighed down by it at all. 

My Rating: I’d love it to win, but I have a feeling it won’t. At least for now.
A great follow up to the movie is “A Movable Feast” by Ernest Hemingway. Once you see the film, you’ll see why.



Monday 23 January 2012

XX + Justice


Heard this puppy in Raha two weekends ago. Fell in love.
Crystallized - Sasha Boat Booty Remix
Originally by the XX
Heard this last weekend. 
French, two guys, sick beats.
No, this is not Daft Punk. It's better.
Why?
Flute Solo.

ON N ON - Justice
Also if you are unaware check out their remix of MGMT's Electric Feel. Stellar! (who says that anymore? me.)

LEG - Last Saturday
I liked my outfit.
H&M jean top with AA pleated skirt.



Incidentally, I have also finished the book The Perks of Being a Wallflower which I highly recommend. (I started it on Tuesday and couldn't put it down until I was finished on Wednesday.) So relatable and quoteable. I've been meaning to read it ever since I heard about the movie with Emma Watson. Definitely will remain one of my all time favourites. 
Also the author is primarily a screen writer, which is what I eventually aspire to be alongside directing. The book sort of reads like a movie, so I am very excited to see it done.
Emma <3
Drew this a little while ago...

Cherries and Whipped Cream

James Vincent McMorrow
Wicked Game (Chris Isaak cover)
Probably no the most appropriate song for this post, but I love it.


So little German insider here. 
Last weekend my host parents and aunt and I walked up to the castle in Kirschlag
What do I think of immediately? 
Food. 


Kirsch = Cherry
Schlagobers = Whipped cream


Review: Ok, so it's actually Kirchschlag. (Thanks Konni for the spell check.)
So really I should be thinking about churches... (Kirche = Church)
In any event, food's better.


Ok here is the BURG in Burgenland.
Burg = Castle
I live in Castleland.



Kirschlag 



Ok, let's get on the flag repair.

And we can't have a post without food.
Nachspeise :)
Sheep; we are in Austria after all.

Sunday 15 January 2012

KUGA Ball


In da KUGA 


Exchange student picture!
Tuuuuuuuuli
So the guy with the suspenders claims to be Chuck Bass.
He also said Tuuli was Serena and that I was Georgina Sparks.
Not a fan.
I'd say I'm truly a Vanessa at heart.

Morning at Konni's




Great French Chick-Flick that we watched in dubbed German.
If you are looking for a pick-me-up watch this.
There are really hot boys in bands that all look like George Craig (from One Night Only).
Win.
Plus the lead girl is really likeable.