Selma Review-Super Late Film Reviews

1964: Selma, Alabama. Despite being given the right to vote, African Americans around the country are being denied said right through rigorous intimidation and unfair practices. Enter Martin Luther King Jr, played to nuanced perfection by British Actor David Oyelowo who leads the inhabitants of Selma on a tumultuous journey from Selma to Montgomery in order to secure their rights in the face such violent and prejudiced opposition. So begins Ava DuVernay’s visually beautiful, quiet exploration into the people involved with the Civil Rights movement, their relationships and their personal struggles.

As the film opens to King and his wife Coretta (Carmen Ejogo) preparing for King to receive the Nobel Peace Prize, we in audience immediately realise this film will be big on the quiet interactions of its characters. Further reinforcing this is the innocent chatter of a group of young girls in church, chatter which is quickly cut short by what I can quite easily say was one of the most shocking scenes of violence I have ever viewed.

In the face of stubbornness from the President Lyndon B. Johnson, the fight for their right to vote is taken to Selma where before long, King and his colleagues become embroiled in a battle that completely transcends race and simply the displays the struggle for power between the oppressed and their oppressors.

Selma was certainly beautiful and intimate, with director DuVernay favouring close up shots to emphasise each character’s expression and reactions, giving a strong sense of humanity, person and realness to each individual role. In all honesty, the images that sear my mind are of the people; their emotions given more than just a cursory pan but rather a full focused moment in our sight. Unfortunately, this attention to detail meant that scenes were often protracted and bereft of enough action, often leaving the audience bored.

The standout of Selma was David Oyelowo’s performance as King.  All in all, Selma was a good film and despite it’s somewhat cliché ending (the whole end a historical/biopic film with ‘what happened after’ text writing thing is a bit done to death) and lack of real action, its great scenes redeemed it to a degree and left me thinking about it long after I walked out of the cinema.

7/10

All photos from the Selma promotional website

Super late Film Review: Kill Your Darlings

It’s quite unfortunate that I live in the middle of nowhere because that means that I never get to watch the movies I’m interested in on time. Cinemas are a pain and release dates make me cringe. Spoilers are the bane of my existence. Also, independent movies are practically a myth here.

Although somehow, I have managed to watch Kill Your Darlings directed by John Krokidas. The biopic revolves around the life of Allen’s Ginsberg and his interactions with Lucien Carr, William S. Boroughs and Jack Kerouac from the moment where Ginsberg is first dazzled by Carr and drawn into the subversive world of drugs, jazz and the beat movement to the aftermath of the murder of David Kammerer at the hands of Carr. The movie stars Daniel Radcliffe and Dane Dehaan and a bloody amazing cast.

I really, really enjoyed this film. I think the most important film is allowing the person watching to forget that watching and actually getting them to believe that they’re experiencing the events and Kill Your Darlings did just that. Radcliffe was the perfect choice to play the naïve and creative young Allen Ginsberg but I think it was Dane Dehaan who stole the show, portraying the emotional struggle of the brilliant yet flawed Lucien Carr. Ben Foster’s William Burroughs was as dry and witty as I could have ever hoped for.

4/5

Collage by Zaitoon

I’m a bit cynical when it comes to films. I’m the one that laughs in horror movies because the blood spurts ten feet (but come on, who doesn’t?). I’m also the one says, and very loudly, ‘I wouldn’t have shot it like that’. I’m critical though I have no right to be, but what can I say: I love my movies. With all my cynical and pretentious beliefs around films, there are really some films I can find absolutely no flaws in. I simply enjoyed the film. I didn’t laugh (unless I was supposed to) and formed little attachments to the movies that had me quoting lines and adopting mannerisms.

The Royal Tenenbaums

The Royal Tenenbaums, written by Wes Anderson and Owen Wilson was my gateway drug to Wes Anderson. Everything in this movie was spot on, the aesthetics, the dialogue, the plot, the actors, the… You get my point, I loved everything. The movie tells the story of a family of child geniuses and their relationship with each other and their absentee father. Gwyneth Paltrow’s Margot Tenenbaum had me suspiciously hording my secrets and wearing little barrettes in my hair (and let me tell you, I did not achieve the same affect). Luke Wilson’s Richie Tenenbaum showed me what is was like to love someone and know you can’t have them. Kumar Pallana’s Pagoda made me laugh and love his loyalty and humour. I loved this movie so much, and if anyone knows where I can get a headband like Richie, tell me now.

Les Misèrables

Someone once told me they didn’t like Les Mis (what we hip-hopper kids call it) (Just me) because there was too much singing. To which I replied with lowered brow and confused tone ‘It’s a musical’. The singing was the best part. I know the words to ‘At the End of the Day’ and I’ll sing it at the most inappropriate of times. Whenever I need a pseudonym, I go by Jean Valjean. Always. When mum tells me to do the dishes, I lock myself in my room and yell ‘Vive La France’. At the end of Les Misèrables I sobbed like a baby for 2 hours. I was subdued for a week and if that isn’t powerful stuff I don’t know what is.

 I also have a massive crush on Eddie Redmayne. That is all.

The Hunger Games

Come on, who didn’t like this? I read the book when I was like 13 and loved it, but never in my wildest dreams did I think the movie would be so faithful to the book. AND GOOD TOO. So many people don’t like Jennifer Lawrence as Katniss (I think she’s perfect) and that’s all a matter of opinion, but Josh Hutcherson as Peeta is just undisputed genius. He brought Book Peeta to life in a way I wasn’t expecting at all. Also, I want to be Amandla Stenberg? Her portrayal of Rue was so innocent and beautiful, no-one can ever watch Rue’s death scene without crying, or at least a little sniffling. If I ever make a movie, I’d cast her front and centre.

Dirty Picture

Dirty Picture is a Bollywood film starring Vidya Balan (my favourite Bollywood actress full stop). The movie tells the story of Item Girl (A dancer in Indian films, usually quite provocative) Reshma or as she is known in her films, ‘Silk’. I can tell you know there is no happy ending. Though the movie is so realistic and colourful it is by far my favourite Bollywood film. You can’t help but love Silk. She’s confident, driven, funny and honest. She’s the perfect heroine, you can’t help but root for her to leave her life of poverty but at the same time you can see her flaws, her imperfections and you wish she did too. After watching this I started raising my eyebrows sardonically whenever I talked to someone, in imitation of Silk.

I was asked if I had a twitch.

Anyone else a film manic? Yes? YES?!

By Zaitoon