I may have lost my heart, but not my self-control. “Emma” (1996)

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directed by Douglas McGrath
© 1996 Miramax Films. All Rights Reserved.

Yesterday, I told you about this year’s film adaptation of the book “Emma” by Jane Austen. Even though it’s not the only adaptation, it would be quite hard to tell you about all of them. For sure there are also series based on the same story, so if you’re a fan of the book, you can find several different versions to watch and compare. Still, there’s this one adaptation that I’d like to tell you about because it’s somehow significant for the film industry. In 1996, Douglas McGrath directed “Emma” and the film even won an Oscar in 1997. “Emma” was nominated in two categories: Best Costume Design and Best Original Musical or Comedy Score. What’s surprising, they didn’t win for the costumes, but for the score. And it’s quite funny to me, because I hadn’t known about it before watching the film and while watching, the score was something I noticed. It’s indeed lovely and really makes you “sink into the story”. Oscar well-deserved! This time I’m not writing you about the plot, because it’s almost the same as in the newest adaptation, so if you’re curious, check out my recommendation of “Emma.” (2020). Even though I liked the new version’s form a bit more, I think this one is also worth checking out. Especially for the score and the actors. And especially, especially for Ewan McGregor in that ridiculous wig. Oh boy, I won’t forget this view for a long time…

My rating: 6/10
S.

Inno-cence. “Emma.” (2020)

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directed by Autumn de Wilde
© 2020 Focus Features. All Rights Reserved.

I was avoiding this production for some time because I generally need to be in the right mood to watch a costume drama. I have to say that except marvellous costumes and scenography, those films are often copy-paste. So when I found out about this new remake of Jane Austen’s book, I thought “ho, ho, ho, maybe another time”. And the time came. And I liked it very much. And I’m still surprised. Since it’s a popular novel, perhaps some of you already know the story of Emma Woodhouse. However, for those who haven’t read the book, I can tell you a few words about it. So, Emma (Anya Taylor-Joy) is a wealthy lady living in the 19th century. I guess you can imagine what was expected from women back then – they were supposed to behave in a certain way, look neat and the only thing they should be thinking of was getting married as soon as possible. Emma is slightly different. She’s an incredibly classy young lady, but she’s definitely not going to become somebody’s wife anytime soon. Instead, she’s very much interested in the love lives of her friends, so she focuses on their romances. Emma is “living” other people’s lives so much, she doesn’t even notice her own secret admirer… Before writing the novel, Jane Austen said “I am going to take a heroine whom no one but myself will much like”. I’m afraid I also like her, dear Jane. And I guess a lot of other women can say the same. Yes, Emma is selfish and she can seem annoying at first, but, for me, she’s like a 21st century woman who was born two centuries too early. But getting back to the film, I really liked it not only because of the main character, but also because of the form. It’s actually a very modern costume drama with too many jokes to consider it a serious production. And something that always makes my day – marvellous camerawork. So, surprisingly, I had fun watching a film adaptation of a Jane Austen’s book. Who would have thought?

My rating: 7/10
S.

Good Afternoon, Good Evening and Good Night. “The Truman Show” (1998)

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directed by Peter Weir
© 1998 Paramount Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

Have you ever thought that we’re all living in some kind of a game? And right now, our “Player” is trying to do the same as some people playing The Sims and deleting the pool ladder when Sims are swimming. Just, in our case, it’s more like deleting the door and setting fire. What a lovely year we’re having, right? Anyway, I’m sure most of you have seen “The Truman Show”, but for those who haven’t, let me explain why I started the post with such random nonsense. The main character of the film is Truman Burbank (Jim Carrey). He’s an ordinary man, working in an ordinary town, not travelling at all because of his fear of… water (you’ll get it) – generally, nothing interesting. However, the thing is that Truman is living in a show. His own show. His life is, in fact, a reality program broadcast live 24/7. All people “living” in the town are actors and the town is actually a huge set. Truman doesn’t know about this, because he’s programmed to be scared of travelling, so he’s never tried to leave the town. One day, despite a totally different scenario planned by the producers, Truman falls in love with one of the actresses, Sylvia (Natascha McElhone). The woman is about to be kicked out of the show, but before she leaves, she tells Truman that his life is a lie. And from now on, the man starts questioning his reality and wishes to find Sylvia. Basically, a smart Sim noticed us deleting the pool ladder and he wants to leave the game. This film is an absolute must-see and perhaps it would be even more meaningful to see it in the current times. What if we’re living in a show like Truman and the producers have come up with “a bit of drama” for the year 2020 to improve ratings? Okay, okay, don’t freak out. But this film is really worth reflecting on because some take it as a creepy comedy, some others as an incredibly serious drama. So I guess it’ll be a surprise for you. Fun fact: after the release, several people started thinking they are like Truman, living in a show, and such case has been called “The Truman Show delusion”. Imagine the power of cinema…

My rating: 7/10
S.

Fate has decided so. “18 Presents” (“18 regali”, 2020)

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directed by Francesco Amato
© 2020 Lucky Red. All Rights Reserved.

I was struggling a lot watching this film. I mean, I wasn’t sure if it’s average in a good way or in a bad way. Don’t get me wrong, if you’re a fan of “18 Presents”, I can really understand why. But I’m one of those people who can’t just enjoy a film because it’s “cute”. Or at least not that often. Unfortunately, I focus too much on details and I hate to say that this film is absolutely illogical. But let me tell you about the plot and then I’ll share my concerns (for those who’ve seen the film). The story is about a couple, Elisa and Alessio (Vittoria Puccini and Edoardo Leo), who will soon become parents. One day, Elisa finds out that she has cancer. Luckily, the baby is fine, but Elisa might not make it after the birth. That is why the woman prepares 18 presents that her daughter will be getting each year for her birthday. Later we see Anna (Benedetta Porcaroli), Elisa and Alessio’s daughter, as an 18-year-old. The girl is full of anger and she decides to run away from her 18th birthday party. At that night, she gets hit by a car and… And that’s all you should know for now. So if you haven’t seen the film, go check it out. If you have, keep reading *SPOILER ALERT* So… what the hell happened in the screenwriters’ heads? I mean, she meets her dead mother on her birthday. Okay, kind of acceptable. And then Elisa takes this random girl home, agrees to host her, finds her a job and start living as if they were besties. Not acceptable. At that point, I wanted to stop watching. Literally. They say it’s based on a real story… oh boy. Anyway, somehow I forced myself to finish the film and the climax was a bit better, but still seemed as if someone combined three different ideas into one. *END OF SPOILER* However, I think that the idea for the film was good enough to make me watch till the end. If someone asked me if it’s a well-written film, I would say “not really”. But if you asked me if it’s a good drama, I would have to say “yes”, because I imagine lots of you crying a river, especially at the end. And I’m giving an extra point for the actors, because they did a decent job in this one. Finito!

My rating: 6/10
S.

Man, with money in your pocket, you’re as free as the wind! “The Southerner” (1945)

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directed by Jean Renoir
© 1945 United Artists. All Rights Reserved.

Today’s film is a 1945 black & white production about farmers. Please, don’t skip this post. I know how it sounds and if you’re a fan of modern cinema, you may think I’m crazy trying to recommend you such a production. Give me a chance, though. Firstly, it’s not such an American drama as it may seem. It was indeed produced in the US, but its director was Jean Renoir, a French filmmaker. Perhaps it doesn’t mean anything to you, but I’ve noticed how different this film is from its other “peers” made in the US. But let me say a few words about the plot: Sam Tucker (Zachary Scott) is a share-cropper working hard together with his wife Nona (Betty Field) and Uncle Pete (Paul E. Burns). One day, the old uncle dies on the field because of fatigue and heat, but before he does, he tells his nephew to start working for himself. After the funeral, inspired by his uncle’s words, Sam decides to take his wife, their children, Granny (Beulah Bondi) and start a new life on their own farm. Even though they have a huge land, it’s incredibly neglected, including the house. After the arrival, Sam is worried that he may fail his family because there’s so much to be done and so little money in their pockets. However, Nona disagrees with her husband and encourages him to stay and work it out together. Even though this film wasn’t much liked by the people living in the southern US (because, in their opinion, it presented Southerners as white ignorant imbeciles), I still think it shows the beauty of hard work, getting out of one’s comfort zone and mutual support in relationships. The decision to grow their own crops wasn’t easy, but it’s a challenge that may lead to a better life quality. Besides, I adore how Nona and Sam work together and act like real partners, not like two separate individuals. So even though it’s about farmers, I find this film worth watching because of many valuable messages. Oh and I love their daughter-grandma relationship in this film. Amusingly adorable!

My rating: 6.5/10
S.

We didn’t discuss the cat. “The Squid and the Whale” (2005)

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directed by Noah Baumbach
© 2005 Samuel Goldwyn Films. All Rights Reserved.

Noah, oh Noah. Not sure how familiar you are with Noah Baumbach and his productions, but each time I watch his films, I feel empty inside. It’s not like those films are bad, but they are definitely emotionally draining and quite depressive. So even though I appreciate the work, I wish I could eat a bucket of ice cream to sweeten my day after a “film meeting” with Noah Baumbach. Anyway, today I have an interesting film about… oh well, hard to say. Because even if you can find descriptions of Baumbach’s films, it’s always about more than that. But I will let you discover the deeper meanings yourselves. Basically, the story goes like this: Bernard and Joan (Jeff Daniels and Laura Linney) are a married couple and they have two sons, Walt and Frank (Jesse Eisenberg and Owen Kline). One day, the parents inform the boys that they are going to get divorced. From now on, Walt and Frank need to accept their new reality. Sharing their life with two individuals, moving from one house to another and generally learning to be children of two “strangers”, not a loving couple. I’m not the biggest fan of the way Baumbach presents life in his films, I find them very personal and not much universal, if you know what I mean. I guess only some people could really feel the same watching as him producing those films. Personally, I cannot connect with the characters that much, but I still appreciate such topics presented on the screen. In this production, the focus in on the boys, who experience their parents’ divorce in two different ways. And I think it’s something we need to see, because a divorce isn’t just two people splitting. It’s always much more complicated and it affects more people. And even the cat. Oh, and in this film you can also see young Jesse Eisenberg before he created Facebook. *wink, wink*

My rating: 6/10
S.

Music is the one thing that we all understand that we don’t understand. “Score: A Film Music Documentary” (2016)

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directed by Matt Schrader
© 2016 Gravitas Ventures. All Rights Reserved.

How important is music in films for you? Because for me, it’s something that makes watching a film a real experience. Obviously, back then we didn’t have any sound in films and people were still watching them. But perhaps you didn’t know that it was quite popular for cinemas to have bands/small orchestras playing during the projection. So that the bunch of viewers didn’t have to sit in silence for the whole time. Still, I believe that we don’t appreciate musicians working for the film industry enough. When we have all those award ceremonies, only film fans follow all the categories. A random person knows just the main winner or the actors who’ve got the awards. Which is extremely sad, because even though I’m not a musician, I definitely follow and appreciate what those incredibly talented artists do for all of us. Can you imagine LOTR without its famous theme? Or Harry Potter? Or Star Wars? Or any other top productions? Some of you may know the soundtrack of films you haven’t even seen. That’s the power of music in the film industry. Today, I’m recommending you a wonderful documentary that focuses on the people responsible for the best experiences, memories and feelings we’ve all shared watching numerous films. Even though I’d been aware of their work a bit, I learned a lot thanks to this documentary. It’s full of fun facts and interviews with important composers. Not only I enjoyed it a lot, but I also ended up listening to all my favourite film soundtracks in that evening. Perhaps it will inspire you to pay more attention to the sound in the next productions you’re about to see. Huge respect is not enough in this case. Not enough.

My rating: 9/10
S.

The most powerful male gets the most babelicious female? “I Could Never Be Your Woman” (2008)

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directed by Amy Heckerling
© 2008 The Weinstein Company. All Rights Reserved.

Let’s finish this week with a bit of love, shall we? Unfortunately, we’ve just lost a wonderful actor, Fred Willard, so this post is dedicated to him. Thank you, Mr, Willard, it was pleasure. And if you’re not much familiar with Willard’s acting, you may see him in today’s film. Don’t be surprised about my rating. I honestly love this comedy, I’ve seen it several times and everything works there, so why shouldn’t I appreciate it? The story is about Rosie (Michelle Pfeiffer), who’s a 40-year-old single mother of the 13-year-old Izzie (Saoirse Ronan). When the girl falls in love with her classmate, Rosie starts questioning herself as an attractive woman. Even her ex-husband (Jon Lovitz) encourages to find a date. However, she’s too busy working on her life project – “You Go Girl” TV show, of which she’s the producer and scriptwriter. One day, her boss (Fred Willard) demands changes in the shows, so Rosie needs to create a new character. During the casting, she meets Adam (Paul Rudd), who seems to be incredibly charming, a big goofy, but definitely memorable. When those two start working together, it’s not only about the show, if you know what I mean. Sounds cheesy? Perhaps, but, as I said before, this comedy has everything. The main character is a woman with real issues – she’s middle-aged, single, lonely and scared. Her daughter is not a loser or a school star (which are the only two types that most films show), she’s an ordinary girl struggling with teenage problems. Then there’s the self acceptance message, the respect towards women message, the love is for everyone message, the natural can be beautiful message and, yes, I absolutely adore this film. Even though it’s supposed to be a silly rom-com, I love it.

My rating: 9/10
S.

The clear path is never the right one. “Onward” (2020)

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directed by Dan Scanlon
© 2020 Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. All Rights Reserved.

This time I didn’t cry! I almost always cry watching Disney/Pixar productions, but this time it didn’t work. And I know why, but first let me tell you what this strange new animation is about. Imagine the world full of mythical creatures. We, as humans, aren’t much mythical so we’re not here. Sorry. But you can see all those orcs, gnomes, fairies and whatever you can imagine. The main character is Ian (Tom Holland), who’s an elf. He lives with his mother Laurel (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) and his brother Barley (Chris Pratt). The boys’ father died before Ian was born, so Barley remembers him a little, Ian, however, didn’t have a chance to meet him at all. Now their mother is dating Colt (Mel Rodriguez), a centaur police officer (I know how it sounds and I had to tell you about it). Anyway, that’s not the point. The most important part is that Ian turns 16 and his father left him and Barley something special that was supposed to be given to them after they are both over 16. They receive a magical staff, a rare gem and a letter from their father, where he explains that using these things the boys can resurrect him for a day. Barley, as a huge geek, tries to do it several times, but fails. However, Ian gives it a chance and, by accident, resurrects… his father’s legs. Yes, his father’s legs. Moving legs, nothing else. So in order to see the rest of the man, the brothers decide to go on an adventure, find another gem and do more abracadabra. Still, they have only 24h before those legs disappear. To be honest, I had bigger expectations about this film. I mean, I love all Disney/Pixar productions with my whole heart, but this one was just too much. I feel like they wanted to make it modernly mythical, but, in the end, it’s just a bit annoying weird-creature circus. Still, I loved the jokes, I loved the animation and I loved the message that we get at the end. Besides, the story, even though it’s presented in a fantasy world, reminds us of our own reality, where people keep following new technologies and forget about the “magic of the past”. So even though I am still slightly disappointed, I’m giving a thumb up.

My rating: 7/10
S.

I had a little girl once… “Angel of Mine” (2019)

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directed by Kim Farrant
© 2019 Lionsgate. All Rights Reserved.

Today, I have a nice thriller/drama for you that I wouldn’t watch if Noomi Rapace wasn’t there. Unfortunately, I have a feeling that without her, I’d rate “Angel of Mine” a bit lower. Luckily, she’s there and she plays the main role so you’re safe, at least for me. Noomi plays Lizzie, a woman who lost her baby daughter Rosie in a hospital fire accident. We meet her 7 years after that tragedy. She’s no longer with her husband Mike (Luke Evans) but they both try to raise their first child, Thomas (Finn Little). One day, Lizzie goes with her son to his friend’s birthday party and during it she spots a little girl. Somehow, the woman feels that this little girl is… her daughter. I mean, at first she starts observing and asking about her, but when she manages to meet her family and get closer, Lizzie is almost sure that’s her child. It sounds ridiculous and everyone around her thinks she’s lost her mind, because, since the tragedy, she hasn’t been doing fine. So even if her idea seems absurd, we, as viewers, begin to believe her. At least that happened with me. I was struggling whether to trust her or the people who seem to be more rational in this case. Personally, I wasn’t surprised about the ending and I know that a lot of people were even disappointed, but generally, the film’s atmosphere made by Noomi Rapace is incredible. I simply adore this woman and what she can express on the screen. So even if you won’t like the story, you should be satisfied with the main character at least.

My rating: 6.5/10
S.