Bad Wolf Bay

To His Coy Mistress

2010-09-07T11:54:00.001-07:00

by Andrew Marvell

Had we but world enough, and time,
This coyness, lady, were no crime.
We would sit down and think which way
To walk, and pass our long love's day;
Thou by the Indian Ganges' side
Shouldst rubies find; I by the tide
Of Humber would complain. I would
Love you ten years before the Flood;
And you should, if you please, refuse
Till the conversion of the Jews.
My vegetable love should grow
Vaster than empires, and more slow.
An hundred years should go to praise
Thine eyes, and on thy forehead gaze;
Two hundred to adore each breast,
But thirty thousand to the rest;
An age at least to every part,
And the last age should show your heart.
For, lady, you deserve this state,
Nor would I love at lower rate.

But at my back I always hear
Time's winged chariot hurrying near;
And yonder all before us lie
Deserts of vast eternity.
Thy beauty shall no more be found,
Nor, in thy marble vault, shall sound
My echoing song; then worms shall try
That long preserv'd virginity,
And your quaint honour turn to dust,
And into ashes all my lust.
The grave's a fine and private place,
But none I think do there embrace.

Now therefore, while the youthful hue
Sits on thy skin like morning dew,
And while thy willing soul transpires
At every pore with instant fires,
Now let us sport us while we may;
And now, like am'rous birds of prey,
Rather at once our time devour,
Than languish in his slow-chapp'd power.
Let us roll all our strength, and all
Our sweetness, up into one ball;
And tear our pleasures with rough strife
Thorough the iron gates of life.
Thus, though we cannot make our sun
Stand still, yet we will make him run.

The Lover That Fled Love Now Follows It With His Harm

2010-09-07T06:25:00.001-07:00

by Sir Thomas Wyatt

SOMETIME I fled the fire, that me so
brent,
By sea, by land, by water, and by wind ;
And now the coals I follow that be quent,
From Dover to Calais, with willing mind.
Lo! how desire is both forth sprung, and spent!
And he may see, that whilom was so blind,
And all his labour laughs he now to scorn,
Meashed in the briers, that erst was only torn.

Remember

2010-09-06T17:06:00.001-07:00

by Christina Rossetti

REMEMBER me when I am gone away,   
Gone far away into the silent land;   
When you can no more hold me by the hand,   
Nor I half turn to go, yet turning stay.   
Remember me when no more day by day 
You tell me of our future that you plann'd:   
Only remember me; you understand   
It will be late to counsel then or pray.   
Yet if you should forget me for a while   
And afterwards remember, do not grieve:
For if the darkness and corruption leave   
A vestige of the thoughts that once I had,   
Better by far you should forget and smile   
Than that you should remember and be sad.

La Belle Dame Sans Merci

2010-09-06T12:19:00.000-07:00

original version

by John Keats

Oh what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,
    Alone and palely loitering?
The sedge has withered from the lake,
    And no birds sing.
Oh what can ail thee, knight-at-arms,
    So haggard and so woe-begone?
The squirrel's granary is full,
    And the harvest's done.
I see a lily on thy brow,
    With anguish moist and fever-dew,
And on thy cheeks a fading rose
    Fast withereth too.
I met a lady in the meads,
    Full beautiful - a faery's child,
Her hair was long, her foot was light,
    And her eyes were wild.
I made a garland for her head,
    And bracelets too, and fragrant zone;
She looked at me as she did love,
    And made sweet moan.
I set her on my pacing steed,
    And nothing else saw all day long,
For sidelong would she bend, and sing
    A faery's song.
She found me roots of relish sweet,
    And honey wild, and manna-dew,
And sure in language strange she said -
    'I love thee true'.
She took me to her elfin grot,
    And there she wept and sighed full sore,
And there I shut her wild wild eyes
    With kisses four.
And there she lulled me asleep
    And there I dreamed - Ah! woe betide! -
The latest dream I ever dreamt
    On the cold hill side.
I saw pale kings and princes too,
    Pale warriors, death-pale were they all;
They cried - 'La Belle Dame sans Merci
    Hath thee in thrall!'
I saw their starved lips in the gloam,
    With horrid warning gaped wide,
And I awoke and found me here,
    On the cold hill's side.
And this is why I sojourn here
    Alone and palely loitering,
Though the sedge is withered from the lake,
    And no birds sing.

Cemetery Junction

2010-09-04T09:35:00.000-07:00

Prior to seeing Cemetery Junction, I was a little conflicted. I was really excited about seeing the film when I first heard about it, but after seeing the trailer was less so. I really did not want to get all hyped up about seeing the film only to be disappointed. That said, I LOVED it!

The film is a sort of coming-of-age tale about a boy named Freddie. More than anything, he does not wish to turn into his father. He gets a job as an insurance salesman, and as his life changes, it becomes harder and harder to hold onto his old one. His friend Bruce wants desperately to leave Cemetery Junction, but spends every day working in the factory and every night drinking and getting into fights. Snork, the final member of the trio, desperately wants a girlfriend, but doesn't really know how to talk to women.

Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant are geniuses. They were able to create a film that was both heart-warming and crude and was both bittersweet and hilarious. Though this work of genius would be nothing without the right casting to pull it off. Ricky Gervais was hilarious as Mr. Taylor (Freddie's obnoxious and borderline racist father). Christian Cooke, Tom Hughes, and Jack Doolan played off of each other perfectly as Freddie, Bruce and Snork. Finally, Ralph Fiennes and Matthew Goode were the perfect stiff-upper-lip pair as Freddie's boss and co-worker.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! Meet Me In St. Louis

2010-09-02T16:36:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Meet Me in St. Louis. This was one of my favorite films when I was a kid, so I was really excited to recast it. The original film came out in 1944 and was adapted from a series of short stories that were originally published in the New Yorker by Sally Benson from 1941 to 1942. Those stories were later published in the novel, 5135 Kensington.

The first character that I recast was Esther Smith. She was originally played by Judy Garland. For my adaptation, I cast Lauren Ambrose.

The second character that I recast was Rose Smith. She was originally played by Lucille Bremer. For my adaptation, I cast Christina Hendricks.

The third character that I recast was Tootie Smith. She was originally played by Margaret O'Brien. for my adaptation, I cast Iris Apatow.

The last character that I recast was John Truett. He was originally played by John Drake. For my adaptation, I cast Ian Somerhalder.

So what do you all think? Have you seen the original? Who would be in your adaptation?

Broken Embraces

2010-09-02T15:55:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Broken Embraces, the most recent film by Pedro Almodovar. I really loved it. This may have been one of his most beautiful films yet. It was visually stunning.

The film begins with Harry Caine. He is a blind screenwriter. He lives with his assistant, Judit, and her son, Diego. Harry's past is a mystery until the death of a wealthy businessman begins to bring everything to light. A series of flashbacks tell the tale of Mateo Blanco, a screenwriter who falls for the businessman's mistress, Lena.

If you have seen other works by Pedro Almodovar, then you will notice many familiar faces in this film. Blanca Portillo and Tamar Novas play Judit and Diego. Penelope Cruz was most impressive as the sweet, sensual, and funny Lena.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

After.Life

2010-09-02T15:37:00.000-07:00

I recently saw After.Life and must admit that I was a little disappointed. The film came out last year. The majority of the film takes place in a funeral home. After a terrible accident, a woman wakes to discover that she is dead. Although she feel alive, her body is slowly decaying, and although she can speak and move, the undertaker is the only one who can see and hear her. The undertaker must persuade her to accept her death and move on, but the woman's fiance seems unable to let go.

This film was disturbing and slightly intriguing. Unfortunately, despite having an excellent cast, the film simply fell short. There simply was not enough really going on to hold my interest, and the characters never really became three-dimensional.

The film is visually beautiful and definitely worth a watch if you find yourself with some time on your hands, but it is definitely not a must-see.

The Killer Inside Me

2010-09-02T06:41:00.000-07:00

I recently saw The Killer Inside Me and really liked it. The film came out this past year. There was another adaptation that came out in 1976. Both films are based on the novel of the same name by Jim Thompson that came out in 1952. This particular adaptation was adapted for the screen by John Curran and directed by Michael Winterbottom.

The film is classic pulp noir with a twist. Unlike other films of this kind, the Killer Inside Me really delves into the mind of a killer, and Casey Affleck is perfect in the role. He plays Lou Ford, a quiet and polite deputy sheriff. He lives and works in a quiet Texas town, but due to circumstances, is slowly unmasked as a killer.

Jessica Alba and Kate Hudson were each superb as the two women that love him. Hudson plays Ford's first love, the sweet and respectable Amy Stanton. Alba plays Joyce Lakeland, a prostitute that lives on the outskirts of town that manages to awaken the hidden side of Ford. The rest of the cast includes Elias Koteas, Simon Baker, and Bill Pullman.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! X Men

2010-09-01T19:45:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is X Men. Thus far, I have been very happy with a majority of the casting in the live-action versions. That said, there are a couple of characters that I did have a problem with. I did this recast, like all of my recasts for fun. I looked at the recent live-action X Men films as well as the popular animated series from 1992 and of course the original comics.

The first character that I recast was Wolverine/Logan. He was played by Hugh Jackman. For my adaptation, I cast Gerard Butler.

The second character that I recast was Storm/Ororo Munroe. She was played by Halle Berry. For my adaptation, I cast Sanaa Lathan.

The third character that I recast was Jean Grey. She was played by Famke Janssen. For my adaptation, I cast Rachel Hurd-Wood.

The fourth character that I recast was Cyclops/Scott Summers. He was played by James Marsden. For my adaptation, I cast Peter Facinelli.

The fifth character that I recast was Jubilee. I chose Kristen Stewart

.The next character that I recast was Gambit/Remy LeBeau. He was played by Taylor Kitsch. For my adaptation, I cast Jason Behr.

The next character that I recast was Rogue/Marie D'Ancanto. She was played by Anna Paquin. For my adaptation, I cast Rachel McAdams.

The next character that I cast was Professor Charles Xavier. He was played by Patrick Stewart. For my adaptation, I cast Ben Kingsley.

The last character that I recast was Magneto/Eric Lensherr. He was played by Ian Mckellen. For my adaptation, I cast Harrison Ford.

So what do you all think? How many of you were fans of the original animated series? Who would be in your adaptations?

It's a Wonderful Afterlife

2010-09-01T19:16:00.000-07:00

I recently saw It's a Wonderful Afterlife and really loved it! So far, many of Gurinder Chadha's films post-Bend it Like Beckham have disappointed me. I am very happy to say that this film subverted all low expectations.

The film was very over-the-top, but definitely in a good way. The film focuses on the lives of a small group of people within the Indian community in London. One seemingly normal, traditional, Indian mother uses her obsession with her daughter finding a suitable match as her motivation for becoming a serial killer. She is able to kill any and all that get in her way fairly easily until she comes across one obstacle...she is stuck with the annoying band of ghosts until her own death. Trust me, this film is much better than it sounds!

As with any Chadha film, one may expect a wonderful cast of characters. I was also happy to see some familiar faces. Sendhil Ramamurthy of Heroes fame plays the charming and gorgeous D S Murthy. Mark Addy was the perfect counterpart as D I Smythe. Sally Hawkins plays the kookie friend, and Jimi Mistry plays her fiance.There was absolutely no one in the film that did not pull-off his or her role.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

The Eve of St. Agnes

2010-09-01T17:54:00.000-07:00

by John Keats

This excerpt is from the very end of the poem.

Tis dark: quick pattereth the flaw-blown sleet:
"This is no dream, my bride, my Madeline!"
"Tid dark: the iced gusts still rave and beat:
"No dream, alas! and woe is mine!
Porphyro will leave me here to fade and pine.---
Cruel! what traitor could thee hither bring?
I curse not, for my heart is lost in thine
Though thou forsakest a deceived thing;---
A dove forlorn and lost with sick unpruned wing."

"My Madeline! sweet dreamer! lovely bride!
Say, may I be for aye thy vassal blest?
Thy beauty's shield, heart-shap'd and vermeil
dyed?
Ah, silver shrine here will I take my rest
After so many hours of toil and quest,
A famish'd pilgrim,---saved by miracle.
Though I have found, I will not rob thy nest
Saving of thy sweet self; if thou think'st well
To trust, fair Madeline, to no rude infidel.

"Hark! 'tis an elfin-storm from faery land,
Of haggard seeming, but a boon indeed:
Arise---arise! the morning is at hand;---
The bloated wassailers will never heed:---
Let us away, my love, with happy speed;
There are no ears to hear, or eyes to see,---
Drown'd all in Rhenish and the sleepy mead:
Awake! arise! my love, and fearless be,
For o'er the southern moors I have a home for thee."

She hurried at his words, beset with fears,
For there were sleeping dragons all around,
At glaring watch, perhaps, with ready spears---
Down the wide stairs a darkling way they
found.---
In all the house was heard no human sound.
A chain-droop'd lamp was flickering by each
door;
The arras, rich with horseman, hawk, and hound,
Flutter'd in the besieging wind's uproar;
And the long carpets rose along the gusty floor.

They glide, like phantoms, into the wide hall;
Like phantoms, to the iron porch, they glide;
Where lay the Porter, in uneasy sprawl,
With a huge empty flagon by his side;
The wakeful bloodhound rose, and shook his hide,
But his sagacious eye an inmate owns:
By one, and one, the bolts fill easy slide:---
The chains lie silent on the footworn stones,---
The key turns, and the door upon its hinges groans.

And they are gone: ay, ages long ago
These lovers fled away into the storm.
That night the Baron dreamt of many a woe,
And all his warrior-guests, with shade and form
Of witch, and demon, and large coffin-worm,
Were long be-nightmar'd. Angela the old
Died palsy-twitch'd, and meagre face deform;
The Beadsman, after thousand aves, told,
For aye unsought for slept among his ashes cold.

Black Sheep

2010-08-26T18:07:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film called Black Sheep. The film came out about four years ago in New Zealand. It takes place on a small farm where a few genetic experiments have turned the local sheep into bloodthirsty killers.

I am sure that hearing a description of this film simply sounds ridiculous, but I actually thought that it was pretty good. The acting and story-line was not great, but it is certainly a zombie cult-classic in the making. The film itself was really well-done. All of the action and special effects were done by WETA (the team behind the Lord of the Rings trilogy).

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! Aladdin

2010-08-26T17:49:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Aladdin. Most people are familiar with the Disney adaptation. This was certainly my first exposure to the tale. I looked at the Disney adaptation when making my casting decisions. I also looked at the film, Arabian Nights. This miniseries was an adaptation of One Thousand and One Nights. Aladdin was a middle-eastern folk-tale that was added later to the book by Antoine Galland.The original tale takes place in a small Chinese city. When making my casting decisions, I wanted to stay true to the original while keeping with the fun of the Disney adaptation.

The first character that I recast was Aladdin. He has been played by Scott Weinger and Jason Scott Lee. For my adaptation, I cast Takeshi Kaneshiro.

The second character that I recast was the Jasmine/Princess Zobeide character. She has been played by Linda Larkin and Vanessa Mae. For my adaptation, I cast Ziyi Zhang.

The third character that I recast was the Genie. He has been played by Robin Williams and John Leguizamo. For my adaptation, I cast Rupert Friend.

The last character that I recast was the Jafar/Mustappa character. He has been played by Jonathan Freeman and Hugh Quarshie. For my adaptation, I cast Eamonn Walker.

So what do you all think? What adaptations have you seen? Have you read the original folk-tale? Who would be in your adaptation?

Volver

2010-08-26T17:22:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Volver by Pedro Almodovar and really enjoyed it. This film came out about six years ago. Translated, the title means "to return." I do not want to say too much about the plot of the story, because I do not want to give anything away. The film focuses on a woman named Raimunda, her sister Sole, and her young daughter Paula. Shortly after the sisters' great-aunt dies, Sole is visited by the ghost of her long dead mother. As Sole tries to hide the ghost of her mother, Raimunda is busy hiding a secret of her own.

I have come to expect great things from the combination of Pedro Almodovar and Penelope Cruz. In this instance, I was not disappointed. Penelope Cruz was amazing as Raimunda. She was beautiful and gave an extremely real and emotional performance.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Chloe

2010-08-14T06:54:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film called Chloe. It was written by Erin Cressida Wilson and directed by Atom Egoyan. The film was adapted from another film called Nathalie that came out in 2003 and was written by Anne Fontaine.

The film begins with a doctor. She suspects that her husband is cheating on her. She hires an escort to tempt her husband in the hopes that she might find out the truth once and for all. It proves to be a more difficult task than she originally anticipated. She is soon pulled into a downward spiral that eventually puts her entire family in danger.

This film was a lot more interesting than I was led to believe from the trailer. The three main character were much more three-dimensional than I expected. I found myself "rooting" for all of them. The husband and wife were excellently portrayed by Liam Neeson and Julianne Moore. The escort was played by an extremely dynamic Amanda Seyfried.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

The Runaways

2010-08-14T06:36:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film that came out earlier this year called The Runaways. I was actually really excited to see this film. It was pretty entertaining to watch, but overall not that great. The soundtrack was was amazing (as would be expected), and a few of the actors gave really good performances, but for the most part, the film was awkward and uneventful. If I had to make a clear judgment, I would say that the film is worth seeing, but probably not more than once. It is definitely not a must-see.

That said, there were several really good performances. I would feel remiss, if I did not at least mention a couple of them. Kirsten Stewart played a young Joan Jett. Stewart is sort of a hit or miss actress. When it works, it really does, and when it doesn't, it really doesn't. I am happy to say that this time, it really worked. She has never been very good at playing very versatile characters. Luckily, this role seemed to be made for her. The only other really stand-out performance came from Michael Shannon. I have not seen very much of his work, but every time I see him in a role, I find myself surprised by how talented he is. In this case, he played Kim Fowley. This was a really over-the-top character. Shannon was really able to make the character work and be believable in a way that I do not think many could. He is definitely one to watch.

Dream Cast Thursday! Anna Karenina

2010-08-12T19:46:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Anna Karenina. It was originally a book by Leo Tolstoy that was first published between 1873 and 1877. I have never read the original novel, but for my remake, I looked at the four film adaptations that were released in 1935, 1948, 1997 and 2000.

The first character that I recast was Anna Karenina. She has been played by Greta Garbo, Vivien Leigh, Sophie Marceau, and Helen McCrory. For my adaptation, I cast Hayley Atwell.

The second character that I recast was Count Vronsky. He has been played by Fredric March, Kieron Moore, Sean Bean, and Kevin McKidd. For my adaptation, I cast Ewan McGregor.

The third character that I recast was Alexei Karenin. He has been played by Basil Rathbone, Ralph Richardson, James Fox, and Stephen Dillane. For my adaptation, I cast Rufus Sewell.

The fourth character that I recast was played by Alfred Molina and Douglas Henshall. For my adaptation, I recast Paul Bettany.

The last character that I recast was Kitty Scherbatsky. She has been played by Maureen O'Sullivan, Sally Ann Howes, Mia Kirshner, and Paloma Baeza. For my adaptation, I cast Natalie Portman.

So what do you all think? What adaptations have you seen? Have you read the original novel? Who would be in your recast?

Lawn Dogs

2010-08-12T19:16:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a movie called Lawn Dogs. The film originally came out in 1997 and was written by Naomi Wallace and directed by John Duigan. The film focuses on a relationship between a ten year old girl with wealthy parents and a young man that mows lawns for a living. The relationship is innocent, but immediately faces trouble from outside forces.

This film was really simple and really beautiful. I really enjoyed it a lot. More than anything, I enjoyed seeing the magnificently subtle performances from Sam Rockwell and Mischa Barton. This is definitely a must-see film! I would definitely recommend it.

Dream Cast Thursday!

2010-08-06T07:44:00.000-07:00

Hello All! The following is a list of upcoming Dream Cast Thursdays, so make sure to get your dream casts ready. If there is anything that you would like me to cast in the future, leave it as a comment...

Anna Karenina
Aladdin
X-Men
Meet Me in St. Louis
The Misfits
Lady Chatterley's Lover
The Great Gatsby
Gaslight
The Breakfast Club

I cannot wait to see all of your casts and remake suggestions!

Dream Cast Thursday! Bringing Up Baby

2010-08-05T12:34:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Bringing Up Baby. The original film came out in 1938 and was written by Dudley Nichols and Hagar Wilde and directed by Howard Hawks.

The film focuses on a serious paleontologist named Dr. David Huxley and an eccentric heiress named Susan Vance. They were originally played by Cary Grant and Katharine Hepburn. For my adaptation, I cast Matthew Bomer and Thandie Newton.

So what do you all think? Have you seen the original? Who would be in your remake?

The Definition of Love

2010-08-05T12:09:00.000-07:00

by Andrew Marvell

My Love is of a birth as rare
As 'tis, for object, strange and high;
It was begotten by Despair,
Upon Impossibility.

Magnanimous Despair alone
Could show me so divine a thing,
Where feeble hope could ne'er have flown,
But vainly flapped its tinsel wing.

And yet I quickly might arrive
Where my extended soul is fixed;
But Fate does iron wedges drive,
And always crowds itself betwixt.

For Fate with jealous eye does see
Two perfect loves, nor lets them close;
Their union would her ruin be,
And her tyrannic power depose.

And therefore her decrees of steel
Us as the distant poles have placed,
(Though Love's whole world on us doth wheel),
Not by themselves to be embraced,

Unless the giddy heaven fall,
And earth some new convulsion tear.
And, us to join, the world should all
Be cramp'd into a plainsphere.

As lines, so love's oblique, may well
Themselves in every angle greet:
But ours, so truly parallel,
Though infinite, can never meet.

Therefore the love which us doth bind,
But Fate so enviously debars,
Is the conjunction of the mind,
And opposition of the stars.

Ode to Salvador Dali (excerpt, translated)

2010-07-22T08:16:00.000-07:00

by Federico Garcia Lorca

...I sing your restless longing for the statue,
your fear of the feelings that await you in the street.
I sing the small sea siren who sings to you,
riding her bicycle of corals and conches.

But above all I sing a common thought
that joins us in the dark and golden hours.
The light that blinds our eyes is not art.
Rather it is love, friendship, crossed swords...

Dream Cast Thursday! Gilda

2010-07-22T08:11:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Gilda. The original film came out in 1946 and was written by Jo Eisinger and directed by Charles Vidor.

The first character that I recast was Gilda. She was originally played by Rita Hayworth. For my adaptation, I recast Rachel Weisz.

The second character that I recast was Johnny Farrell. He was originally played by Glenn Ford. For my adaptation, I cast Robert Downey Jr.

The last character that I recast was Ballin Mundson. He was originally played by George Macready. For my adaptation, I cast David Strathairn.

So what do you all think? Have you seen the original? Who would be in your adaptation?

Night of Sleepless Love (translated)

2010-07-22T08:01:00.000-07:00

by Federico Garcia Lorca

We two, the night ahead, the full moon looming:
I began to weep while you laughted.
Your scorn became a god, and my complaints
were little doves and moments in a chain.

We two, the night ahead, crystal of pain,
and you wept over deep and distant things.
My sorrow was a clump of agony
resting on your fragile heart of sand.

The dawn drew us together on the bed.
Our mouths were waiting near the frozen spout
of blood that spilled forth in an endless flow.

The sun came through the shuttered balcony
and the coral of life opened its branch,
and settled here upon my shrouded heart.

Little Ashes

2010-07-22T07:42:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Little Ashes. The film came out two years ago and focuses on the early relationship between Federico Garcia Lorca and Salvador Dali. The performances by Javier Beltran, Robert Pattinson, and Marina Gatell were all pretty good, but something simply did not ring true for me.

I thought that this film was interesting, but is definitely not a must-see. That said, I would recommend this film to any one who is a fan of or is interested in Federico Garcia Lorca, Salvador Dali, or Luis Bunuel.

S. Darko

2010-07-22T07:32:00.000-07:00

I recently saw S. Darko. The film came out last year and is the sequel to Donnie Darko (2001). The film takes place seven years later and follows Sam Darko. She is continuing to deal with the death of her brother and has fallen into her own world of darkness and dreams. Sam struggles as she looks for meaning in the people around her. After a horrific accident, Sam and her friend Corey becomes the part of a chain that involves a war veteran named Iraq Jack, a missing child named Billy, and a hole in the universe. Things can only be set right with a sacrifice.

I really enjoyed watching this film. The style really matched the original, and this film managed to allude to the original without repeating itself too
much. The acting was nothing special, though I was also really glad to see that the same actress that originally played Samantha Darko (Daveigh Chase) was cast. Chase was supported by an ensemble cast that includes James Lafferty, Ed Westwick, John Hawkes, Jackson Rathbone, Elizabeth Berkley, and Matthew Davis.

This film isn't really a must-see, but I would recommend it (especially to those who enjoyed the original film)!

Speak

2010-07-22T07:15:00.000-07:00

I recently saw an original Showtime film called Speak. It came out in 2004 and tells the story of a young girl. She has all of the normal worries of any girl going to high school for the first time, but also has a secret that is affecting her life more profoundly than any one could imagine.

I really enjoyed this film. Though viewers may not share Melina's secret, they are definitely able to identify with her in other ways. Kirsten Stewart gave one of the truest performances that I have ever seen from her. Though her story is compelling, this film would not be nearly as interesting were it not for all of the sympathetic and three-dimensional minor characters. The film has a wonderful ensemble cast that includes Elizabeth Perkins, D.B. Sweeney, and Steve Zahn.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is really a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! Suddenly Last Summer

2010-07-22T04:50:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Suddenly Last Summer. The original film came out in 1959 as is an adaptation of the Tennessee Williams play by the same name that was published a year before. A television adaptation came out in 1993. A stage adaptation of the original play came out more recently. I looked at all of these when making my casting decisions.

The first character that I recast was Catherine Holly. She has been played by Elizabeth Taylor, Natasha Richardson, and Carla Gugino. For my adaptation, I cast Natalie Dormer.

The second character that I recast was Violet Venable. She has been played by Katherine Hepburn, Maggie Smith, and Blythe Danner. For my adaptation, I caste Annette Bening.

The last character that I recast was Dr. Cukrowicz. He has been played by Montgomery Clift, Rob Lowe, and Gale Harold. For my adaptation, I cast David Conrad.

So what do you all think? Who would be in your adaptations?

I am Dina

2010-07-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film called I am Dina. The film came out about eight years ago and tells the story of a girl named Dina as she grown up in Norway during the 1860s. The film begins with a strange and horrific accident that causes the death of Dina's mother. As she grows up, she begins speaking to her mothers ghost and develops a strange fascination with death. This fascination and Dina's own wildness makes and breaks many relationships in her life.

This film was very unique and fascinating. It was really refreshing to see this type of period piece, when so many out there tend to be on the romantic and sappy side. It was not only the story that made this film great. The performances draw the viewer in and create a truly fascinating piece. The cast included Maria Bonnevie as Dina, Gerard Depardieu as a family friend and love interest of Dina, Hans Matheson as her only true friend, Mads Mikkelsen as her enemy, and Christopher Eccleston as another love interest.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Good Dick

2010-07-20T09:52:00.000-07:00

I recently saw an indie film called Good Dick. It came out two years ago and explores a complex relationship between an extremely introverted girl that stays in her apartment all day and watches pornography and a young man that works in the video store that she frequents.

I originally began watching this film because I was kind of bored, and because it was available on hulu. That said, I absolutely loved it. It was extremely powerful, but also extremely subtle.

The film was written and directed by Marianna Palka. She also played the leading character. Far too often, films fail in some way when someone chooses to write, direct, and star in a film. In this instance, this was not the case. I really enjoyed the film. I also truly enjoyed Palka's performance. It was not until afterward that I found out that she wrote and directed the film as well.

Jason Ritter also gave an extremely powerful performance as the leading male. He managed to be aggressive, vulnerable, and awkward all at the same time.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Daisy Kenyon

2010-07-08T09:14:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Daisy Kenyon and was extremely disappointed. The film originally came out in 1947. At first it looked as though it would be a classic noir film with a strong Joan Crawford as a central character. She must choose between the married Dan and the sweet Peter.

Honestly, this film just barely held my interest. No one had any onscreen chemistry, and rather than being a strong female character, Crawford spend most of the film making bad choices and then whining about them. She goes back and forth between men, and rather than presenting the "I don't belong to any man" message shown on the poster, the film basically states that she needs a man to be happy and will settle for just about anyone. Dana Andrews and Henry Fonda were extremely uninteresting as the men that she must choose between.

This film is definitely not a must-see.

The Chatterley Affair

2010-07-08T08:31:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the Chatterley Affair and really enjoyed it. The film came out in 2006 on the BBC. It deals with the trial in 1960 in which the publisher of D.H. Lawrence's "Lady Chatterley's Lover" was brought to court under England's Obscene Publications Act. More specifically, it deals with the affair of two married jury members.

This film was really interesting to watch. The plot that was separate from the actual trial was extremely interesting. The trial itself was also very interesting. Many literary figures and English scholars were brought in to discuss the book. David Tennant gave an especially interesting cameo performance as Professor Richard Hoggart. The two main jury members were played by Louise Delamere and Rafe Spall. There performances seemed very simple, but always genuine.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?

2010-07-08T08:15:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is What Ever Happened to Baby Jane? . The original film came out in 1962. I looked at that cast as well as a stage cast when I made my casting decisions.

The first character that I recast was Blanche Hudson. She was originally played by Joan Crawford. In the stage production, she was played by Vanessa Redgrave. For my adaptation, I cast Sigourney Weaver.

The other character that I recast was Baby Jane Hudson. She was originally played by Bette Davis in the film and Lynn Redgrave on stage. For my adaptation, I cast Susan Sarandon.

So what do you all think? Have you seen the original? Who would be in your adaptation?

A Passionate Woman

2010-07-07T20:00:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film based on the true story of a British housewife. The film comes in two parts and is called A Passionate Woman. Part one takes place in the 50s and part two takes place in the present and each is from Betty's point of view. She is content, but is not particularly happy in her marriage. As a young woman, she has a brief affair with her Polish neighbor. Now, as her son is about to get married, it seems as though all of her secrets will come crashing down on her.

I liked the first part of this film a lot more than the second part. None of the performances in the second part of the film seemed particularly compelling or true, and nothing much really happened at all. Billie Piper was amazing as Betty in the first party of the film, but in only 90 minutes, was not really able to delve as deeply into the character as I would have like. That said, I think that I am particularly critical of the film, because I liked it so much.

This film is definitely a must-see, and I would definitely recommend it!

A Different Loyalty

2010-07-07T19:38:00.000-07:00

I recently saw A Different Loyalty. The film is based on the true story of Kim Philby. He was a high-ranking member of British Intelligence. Unbeknown to his wife, Eleanor Brewer, he was a spy for the Soviet Union.

In the actual film, Rupert Everett plays Leo Cauffield. He meets Sally Tyler (Sharon Stone) while in Beirut. Both have been married before, but are also both truly happy for the first time with each other. After a brief period, the film goes back and forth in time and shows the destruction the occurs after Leo is exposed as a traitor.

I did not expect much prior to seeing this film, and I wasn't really disappointed or surprised. The film worked to pass the time, but is definitely not a must-see.

Another Life

2010-07-07T19:17:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Another Life. The film is set in Edwardian London. It follows Edith Thompson over a period of several years. She is in love with Percy. After marriage, everything changes. Percy wants her to be everything that a traditional and subservient wife should be. Edith is a dreamer and wishes for more. She soon meets Frederick. Everything ends with a murder trial.

There was not a lot to this film, but it is definitely worth checking out. It is currently available at hulu. It is the kind of film that ends exactly where it starts. None of the plot points were hugely unexpected. I was probably most surprised with Ioan Gruffudd. He gave a performance that I definitely did not expect. This character was unlike any other that he has ever played.

This film is not really a must-see, but I would still recommend it.

Wilderness

2010-07-07T07:02:00.000-07:00

by Carl Sandburg

There is a wolf in me...fangs pointed for tearing gashes...a red tongue for raw meat...
and the hot lapping of blood-I keep this wolf because the wilderness gave it to me and the
wilderness will not let it go.

There is a fox in me...a silver-gray fox...I sniff and guess...I pick things out of the wind
and air...I nose in the dark night and take sleepers and eat them and hide the feathers...I
circle and loop and double-cross.

There is a hog in me...a snout and a belly...a machinery for eating and grunting...a
machinery for sleeping satisfied in the sun-I got this too from the wilderness and the
wilderness will not let it go.

There is a fish in me...I know I came from saltblue water-gates...I scurried with shoals of
herring...I blew waterspouts with porpoises...before land was...before the water went
down...before Noah...before the first chapter of Genesis.

There is a baboon in me...clambering-clawed...dog-faced...yawping in a galoot's hunger
...hairy under the armpits...here are the hawk-eyed hankering men...here are the blond
and blue-eyed women...here they hide curled asleep waiting...ready to snarl and kill...
ready to sing and give milk...waiting-I keep the baboon because the wilderness says so.

There is an eagle in me and a mockingbird...and the eagle flies among the Rocky Mountains
of my dreams and fights among the Sierra crags of what I want...and the mockingbird
warbles in the early forenoon before the dew is gone, warbles in the underbrush of my
Chattanoogas of hope, gushes over the blue Ozark foothills of my wishes-And I got the
eagle and the mockingbird from the wilderness.

O, I got a zoo, I got a menagerie, inside my ribs, under my bony head, under my red-valve
heart-and I got something else: it is a man-child heart, a woman-child heart: it is a father and
mother and lover: it came from God-Knows-Where: it is going to God-Knows-Where-For I
am the keeper of the zoo: I say yes and no: I sing and kill and work: I am a pal of the world: I
came from the wilderness.

Dream Cast Thursday! Tretya meshchanskaya

2010-07-01T10:02:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Tretya meshchanskaya or Bed and Sofa. The original film first came out in Russia in 1927. The film involves a husband and wife named Kolia and Liuda. Kolia's old friend, Volodia, is unable to find lodgings. He stays with them. At first life is wonderful, but soon things become more complicated.

The first character that I recast was Liudmilla. She was originally played by Lyudmila Semyonova. For my adaptation, I cast Eva Green.

The second character that I recast was Nikolai. He was originally played by Nikolai Batalov. For my adaptation, I cast Marton Csokas.

The last character that I recast was Volodia. He was originally played by Vladimir Fogel. For my adaptation, I cast Paul Bettany.

This film is very hard to find, but there is a fairly decent dvd version with English subtitles. I definitely recommend that you all try to see it and come up with your own dream casts.

Fireflies in the Garden

2010-06-28T12:49:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Fireflies in the Garden and really loved it. The film is based on the poem by Robert Frost and was written and directed by Dennis Lee. The film centers around Michael in both the present and future. The film has a simple story at the forefront. Upon arriving home for the graduation of his mother, he finds that his mother has died in a crash. The more complicated story comes in the form of flashbacks. Through these flashbacks, Michael must deal with his mothers death and hope to fix the very flawed relationship that he has with his father.

Although Michael is at the center of this film, it is truly an ensemble effort. There there many strong and recognizable actors. The true surprise is that many of the more recognizable names were in very unexpected roles. Michael is played by Ryan Reynolds. His aunt and best friend is played by Emily Watson and Hayden Penettiere. Michael's parents are played by Julia Roberts and Willem Dafoe. Carrie-Anne Moss and Ioan Gruffudd play small but very powerful supporting roles.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Fish tank

2010-06-28T12:02:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film called Fish Tank. I actually really enjoyed it. The film focuses on a young girl named Mia. She lives on an Essex estate. She has no friends, feels like an outsider with her mother and sister, and has been expelled from school. She spends her days wandering around and practicing her dancing in a vacant flat. Everything changes when her mother brings home a new boyfriend that encourages her to come out of her shell.

There were a lot of new and interesting faces in this film. I have seen Michael Fassbender in many films before, and am usually impressed with his work. This film left me particularly impressed with seventeen year old Katie Jarvis. She played the lead role, and ended up having to take a lot on. There is not much dialogue in the film. In fact, many scenes portray Mia simply by herself. Jarvis did a remarkable job of portraying every feeling and saying nothing.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! The Brontes

2010-06-25T13:32:00.000-07:00

For this week's Dream Cast Thursday (technically Friday, since I have been getting these posts out later and later), I will be recasting novels by two of the Bronte sisters. Jane Eyre was published by Charlotte Bronte in 1847, and The Tenant of Wildfell Hall was published by Anne Bronte in 1848. When making my casting choices for Jane Eyre, I looked at several adaptations. I looked at the versions of Jane Eyre from 1983, 1996 and 2006, and I looked at adaptations of Wide Sargasso Sea from 1993 and 2006.

The first character that I recast was Jane Eyre. She has been played by Zelah Clarke, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Ruth Wilson. For my adaptation, I cast Claire Foy

The second character that I recast was Edward Fairfax Rochester. He has been played by Timothy Dalton, William Hurt, Nathaniel Parker, Toby Stephens, and Rafe Spall. For my adaptation, I cast Rufus Sewell.

The next character that I recast was Mrs. Fairfax. She has been played by Jean Harvey, Joan Plowright, and Lorraine Ashbourne. For my adaptation, I cast Susan Sarandon.

The last character that I recast was Bertha or Antoinette Cosway. She has been played by Joolia Cappleman, Maria Schneider, Karina Lombard, Claudia Coulter, and Rebecca Hall. For my adaptation, I cast Mili Avital.

When casting The Tenant of Wildfell Hall, I looked at one adaptation from 1996. The first character that I recast was Helen. She was played by Tara Fitzgerald. For my adaptation, I cast Charlotte Riley.

The second character that I recast was Gilbert Markham. He was played by Toby Stephens. For my adaptation, I cast Henry Cavill.

The third character that I recast was Huntingdon. He was played by Rupert Graves. For my adaptation, I cast Jude Law.

The last character that I recast was Mr. Lawrence. He was played by James Purefoy. For my adaptation, I cast Alex O'Laughlin.

So what do you all think? What are are favorite Bronte novels? What are your favorite adaptations, and who would be in yours?

The Escapist

2010-06-22T19:06:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the Escapist and absolutely loved it! The film came out two years ago. It stars Joseph Fiennes, Liam Cunningham, Brian Cox, Dominic Cooper and Seu Jorge as five convicts hoping to escape a prison in London. Each man has a unique skill that makes him necessary for the plan to work. The only thing standing in their way is the convict that basically runs the prison and his junkie brother (Damian Lewis and Steven Mackintosh).

This film was definitely thrilling, but was also very much a psychological drama. The entire cast was really good, but Brian Cox was especially good. Without his performance, I do not think that the film would have been nearly as good. It is through his performance, that all of the others seem to work. He really holds them together. I would definitely recommend this film. It is a must-see!

In the Loop

2010-06-22T18:44:00.000-07:00

A little while ago, I saw In the Loop. The film came out last year and is a comedic, but serious look at the governments of the United States and the United Kingdom over the course of several days. The Prime Minister and President each want a war. The British Minister for International Development states on the radio that war is unforeseeable. He later recants and states that "to walk the road of peace, sometimes we need to be ready to climb the mountain of conflict." Both pro and anti-war factions from each government begin maneuvering in response.

This film had a magnificent cast. Peter Capaldi, Gina McKee, Tom Hollander, Mimi Kennedy, Anna Chlumsky, and James Gandolfini were all especially good. The dialogue was witty, and everyone involved was really able to pull it off.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

A Little Bit Wicked: Life, Love and Faith in Stages

2010-06-22T18:27:00.000-07:00

I just read A Little Bit Wicked by Kristin Chenoweth. This memoir was published a couple of months ago. This was a really fun read. Chenoweth did use a ghost writer, but upon reading the book, I still had the feeling that she was speaking to me. Although this book was full of fun and interesting tidbits, anecdotes, and nuggets of wisdom, it probably would not be very interesting for someone who was not at least a little bit interested in Kristen Chenoweth, her work, or theatre in general. So if you are one of those people, I would definitely recommend this book.

Dream Cast Thursday! Oscar Wilde

2010-06-17T22:12:00.000-07:00

I have been really excited about unveiling this Dream Cast Thursday for a while.This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Oscar Wilde themed! This week, I will be recasting An Ideal Husband and the Importance of Being Earnest. Both were originally comedic stage plays by Wilde, but there have been many adaptations. An Ideal Husband was performed for the first time in 1895. The Importance of Being Earnest also premiered in 1895. When choosing my cast, I looked at adaptations that came out in 1999 and 2002.

The first character that I recast from an Ideal Husband was Lord Arthur Goring. He was played by Rupert Everett. For my adaptation, I cast Michael Fassbender.

The second character that I recast was Miss Mabel Chiltern. She was played by Minnie Driver. For my adaptation, I cast Anna Friel.

The third character that I recast was Sir Robert Chiltern. He has been played by Jeremy Northam. For my adaptation, I cast David Tennant.

The fourth character that I cast was Lady Gertrude Chiltern. She was played by Cate Blanchett. For my adaptation, I cast Rosamund Pike.

The last character that I recast from an Ideal Husband was Mrs. Laura Cheveley. She was played by Julianne Moore. For my adaptation, I cast Rebecca Hall.

The first character that I recast from the Importance of Being Earnest was Jack Worthing. He was played by Colin Firth. For my adaptation, I cast James D'Arcy.

The second character that I recast was Gwendolen Fairfax. She was played by Frances O'Connor. For my adaptation, I cast Kate Winslet.

The third character that I recast was Algernon Moncrieff. He was played by Rupert Everett. For my adaptation, I cast Lee Pace.

The last character that I recast was Cecily Cardew. She was played by Reese Witherspoon. For my adaptation, I cast Juno Temple.

So what do you all think? Have you read/seen the plays? Which are your favorite adaptations and who would be in your cast?

Dream Cast Thursday! Roman Holiday

2010-06-10T13:22:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Roman Holiday. The film originally came out in 1953 and was written by Ian McLellan Hunter and John Dighton and directed by William Wyler. This film has always been one of my favorites. The characters and actors are completely intertwined within my head, so going in, I knew that finding a new cast would be difficult.

The first character that I recast was Princess Ann. She was originally played by Audrey Hepburn. This was probably the hardest character to cast, because in my mind, there is no one like Audrey Hepburn. She is a legend and an icon. I went back and forth between many actresses. For my adaptation, I finally decided on a French actress named Audrey Tautou.

The second character that I recast was Joe Bradley. This was somewhat easier, but still a really hard decision to make. He was originally played by Gregory Peck. For my adaptation, I chose an Australian actor named Simon Baker.

The last character that I recast was Irving Radovich. This was the easiest of the decisions to make, because once I had the actor that I finally chose in mind, there seemed to be no one better suited for the part. He was originally played by Eddie Albert. For my adaptation, I chose another Australian actor named Joel Edgerton.

So what do you all think? Have you seen the original? Who would be in your adaptation?

Goya's Ghosts

2010-06-08T13:04:00.000-07:00

I was completely amazed by this new film that I saw. Goya's Ghosts came out in 2006. I remembered seeing the trailer and wanting to see it, but I never really got the chance. The story was not particularly groundbreaking. The thing that really amazed me were the performances. There were a couple of really good performances from Javier Bardem and Stellan Skarsgard, but I was completely blown away by Natalie Portman. She played two different characters. Many actors have done this before, but she really got it right. I saw two completely different performances side-by-side.

The film is based on the painter, Goya. He faces the Spanish Inquisition after his muse, Ines, is arrested for heresy. Goya uses his connection to Brother Lorenzo in order to set-up a metting between powerful Inquisitors and Ines' family. The plot thickens as political and religious power changes hands and people change sides.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

The Long, Hot Summer

2010-06-08T12:39:00.000-07:00

I just saw The Long, Hot Summer and really enjoyed it! The film came out in 1958 and was based on The Hamlet by William Faulkner. The film follows Ben Quick. He is a con man and has been accused of barn burning. This is considered a very serious offense. Ben is soon hired by Will Varner. Will wants Ben to take the place of his son, Jody who lacks ambition and has been unable to get his wife pregnant. Will also wants Ben to marry his daughter, Clara.

The dialogue and the casting decisions for this film were brilliant. This was one of the very few situations in which a real-life couple actually managed to have chemistry on-screen. Joanne Woodward did a pretty good job in the role of Clara Varner. Paul Newman and Orson Welles were magnificent in the roles of Ben Quick and Will Varner.

I really enjoyed this film. I would definitely recommend it. It is definitely a must-see!

New York I Love You

2010-06-07T23:07:00.000-07:00

I just saw New York, I Love You and actually really liked it. It came out last year. I originally heard some bad reviews. Many people said that it did not live up to Paris, Je T'aime, but I think that in some ways, it was actually better. I did not like the fact that, unlike the first film, every story seemed to be a pretty clear-cut love story, but I did like the presence of closure that I found in many of the stories that was simply not as present in the first film.

I do not want to go into detail about the actual stories, because that would give too much away. What I will say is that I was impressed with many of the cameos both in front of and behind the screen. These cameos included Bradley Cooper, Natalie Portman, Shia LaBeouf, Orlando Bloom, Hayden Christensen, Ethan Hawke, Christina Ricci, Rachel Bilson, Robin Wright, Anton Yelchin, James Caan, John Hurt, Andy Garcia, Chris Cooper, Cloris Leachman, and Julie Christie.

There were many actors that continually give the wonderful performances that I have come to expect. A few surprised me. I was really impressed by the performances of Orlando Bloom, Shia LaBeouf, and Bradley Cooper. Most of the actors were cast outside the normal roles that they are given. It was a really pleasant surprise.

I would definitley recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

My Top Ten List

2010-06-07T21:31:00.000-07:00

1. All About Eve
    1950
    Dir. Joseph L. Mankiewicz
    Wri. Joseph L. Mankiewicz

2. Kiss, Kiss Bang, Bang
    2005
    Dir. Shane Black
    Wri. Brett Halliday
            Shane Black

3. Braveheart
    1995
    Dir. Mel Gibson
    Wri. Randall Wallace

4. The Fifth Element
    1997
    Dir. Luc Besson
    Wri. Luc Besson

5. Titanic
    1997
    Dir. James Cameron
    Wri. James Cameron

6. Young Frankenstein
     1974
     Dir. Mel Brooks
     Wri. Mel Brooks
             Gene Wilder

7. Reservoir Dogs
    1992
    Dir. Quentin Tarantino
    Wri. Quentin Tarantino

8. M
    1931
    Dir. Fritz Lang
    Wri. Thea von Harbou
            Fritz Lang

9. The Importance of Being Earnest
     2002
     Dir. Oliver Parker
     Wri. Oliver Parker
             Oscar Wilde

10. Silverado
      1985
      Dir. Lawrence Kasdan
      Wri. Lawrence Kasdan
              Mark Kasdan

It took me a really long time to narrow down this list. In case you are interested, here are some of the films that I considered that did not make the list:

L.A. Confidential, Moonstruck, Aliens, Gone With the Wind, Almost Famous, Anastasia, The Boondock Saints, Diner, The English Patient, Leon: the Professional, Legends of the Fall, Love Me If You Dare, Notorious, A Room with a View,The Descent, 28 Days Later, Glorious 39, Notturno Bus, and Double Indemnity.

Dream Cast Thursday! Peter Pan

2010-06-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Peter Pan. The character originally appeared in The Little White Bird (1902) by J.M. Barrie. He then appeared in Peter Pan in Kensington Gardens, or the Boy Who Wouldn't Grow Up (1906), and finally in Peter and Wendy (later called Peter Pan and Wendy and finally called Peter Pan - 1911). There have been many adaptations, but when making my dream cast, I looked at Hook (1991) and Peter Pan (2003).

The first character that I recast was Peter. He has been played by Ryan Francis and Jeremy Sumpter. For my adaptation, I cast Asa Butterfield.

The second character that I recast was Wendy Darling. She has been played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Rachel Hurd-Wood. For my adaptation, I cast Elle Fanning.

The third character that I recast was Captain Hook. He has been played by Dustin Hoffman and Jason Isaacs. For my adaptation, I cast Richard Armitage.

The last character that I recast was Tinkerbell. She has been played by Julia Roberts and Ludivine Sagnier. For my adaptation, I cast Cloe Mackie.

So what do you all think? What is your favorite adaptation? Who would be in your remake?

Update

2010-06-02T22:39:00.000-07:00

Currently Reading:
The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson

Currently Watching:
ER, The Complete Eleventh Season

Currently Listening to:

The Fame Monster By Lady Gaga

The Girl in the Cafe

2010-06-01T08:13:00.000-07:00

I finally saw the Girl in the Cafe and really enjoyed it! I do not know why it still surprises me, but I am constantly amazed by the number of versatile characters that Bill Nighy is able to flawlessly create.

The film came out in 2005 and focuses on the relationship between Lawrence, a civil-servant currently preparing for a G-8 summit that will determine how much time, effort and money will be used to reduce extreme poverty and Gina, a young Scottish girl with nothing but time on her hands.

Bill Nighy and Kelly Macdonald were both amazing, and as usual I can only expect the best from director David Yates (State of Play and the Way We Live Now) and writer Richard Curtis (The Boat that Rocked, Love Actually, Notting Hill, Four Weddings and a Funeral, and Blackadder). I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

The Brothers Bloom

2010-06-01T07:51:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the Brothers Bloom and actually really enjoyed it. When I first saw the trailer a few years ago, I was really eager to see the film. Later, the film came out to really mixed reviews and didn't have a very wide release, so I am just now getting a chance to see it.

The film follows two brothers, Stephen and Bloom. As children, they were moved from foster home to foster home. They very quickly learn that they can only rely on each other. They manage to survive by becoming con artists. The film quickly fast-forwards to their lives as young men. They are still conning. Stephen is the mastermind, Bloom is the actor, and Bang Bang (a silent and mysterious Japanese woman that simply appeared to them one day) has a knack for blowing things up. The majority of the film takes place during what they have decided will be their last con. The victim is a very eccentric and lonely heiress named Penelope Stamp.

I really enjoyed this movie. It has everything that you would expect from a a caper-film of this kind. There is humor, romance, and very genuine emotion. The dialogue is well-timed and witty, and the actors really seem to pull everything together. No actor particularly stood out, because it was truly an ensemble film. Mark Ruffalo (Stephen), Adrien Brody (Bloom), Rinko Kikuchi (Bang Bang), and Rachel Weisz (Penelope) were all really wonderful.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is really a must-see!

Gideon's Daughter

2010-05-31T22:22:00.000-07:00

I just saw Gideon's Daughter and absolutely loved it! People are probably tired of hearing me go on and on about how much I love Stephen Poliakoff as both a writer and director, so suffice it to say that he definitely did not disappoint (here is a link to my reviews for other Poliakoff films).

The film tackles many issues including the idea of family, grief and celebrity and takes place in the tumultuous summer of the New Labour election victory and Princess Diana's death.

As usual, Poliakoff delivered an excellent screenplay, but this particular film was really a character piece. The more important moment were the ones when nothing was being said at all. There were three key performances that made this film so wonderful and managed to make everything come together and work. No particular performance stood out. Bill Nighy, Miranda Richardson and Emily Blunt were all fantastic (though at this point, I believe that I would be much more surprised if one of them gave a performance that was anything less than absolutely fantastic).

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream Cast Thursday! Henry VIII

2010-05-27T20:11:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Henry VIII. I was really excited to do this one, because I love 16th century English history. The story of Henry VIII and those figures that surround him have always captivated audiences. There have been many adaptations, but when deciding my dream cast, I looked at four specific ones. I looked at Henry VIII (2003), The Other Boleyn Girl (2003 miniseries), The Tudors (2007), and The Other Boleyn Girl (2008).

The first character that I cast was Henry VIII. He has been played by Ray Winstone, Jared Harris, Jonathan Rhys Meyers, and Eric Bana. For my adaptation, I cast James Purefoy.

The second character that I recast was Katherine of Aragon. She has been played by Assumpta Serna, Yolanda Vazquez, Maria Doyle Kennedy, and Ana Torrent. For my adaptation, I cast Giovanna Mezzogiorno.

The third character that I recast was Anne Boleyn. She has been played by Helena Bonham Carter, Jodhi May, Natalie Dormer, and Natalie Portman. For my adaptation, I cast Emily Blunt.

The fourth character that I recast was Jane Seymour. She has been played by Emilia Fox, Naomi Benson, Annabelle Wallis, and Corrine Galloway. For my adaptation, I cast Sienna Miller.

The fifth character that I recast was Anne of Cleaves. She has been played by Pia Girard and Joss Stone. For my adaptation, I cast Ruth Wilson.

The sixth character that I recast was Catherine Howard. She has been played by Emily Blunt and Tamzin Merchant. For my adaptation, I cast Karen Gillan.

The last character that I recast was Catherine Parr. She has been played by Clare Holman and Joely Richardson. For my adaptation, I cast Kate Winslet.

So what do you all think? Which adaptations have you seen and which one is your favorite? Who would be in your adaptation?

Eden Lake

2010-05-25T22:13:00.000-07:00

I just saw Eden Lake and absolutely loved it. As much as I really love films that deal with monsters, fantasy and all that is unreal, I also really love and am truly scared when a film deals with the opposite. The film begins with a young couple starting their romantic weekend at a small, secluded lake that is to eventually be overrun by developers and become just another section of suburbia. Their weekend is disrupted by a group of hoodies. The couple clashed with the group of kids, and things escalate until the group decides to wreak havoc and seek revenge on the young couple. Now the couple must make their way back to the small town on the other side of the woods before the hoodies catch up to them. It literally becomes a fight for survival.

When I first saw the trailer for this film, I did not expect much. It seemed like just another scary movie, but the actors delivered amazing performances (Michael Fassbender and Kelly Reilly were wonderful), and the filmmakers delivered an amazing film. The performances really rang true, and the extremely suspenseful film left me full of anxiety. I absolutely loved it. People watch scary movies for the experience, and this film did not leave me wanting.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Les Liaisons Dangereuses

2010-05-25T21:50:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching Les Liaisons Dangereuses. It is based on four volumes published by Pierre Choderlos de Laclos in 1782. I have seen several adaptations for this story and have like all of them (including Dangerous Liaisons, Valmont and Cruel Intentions), so I was pretty eager to see this one. I was especially eager to see Rupert Everett in a French-speaking role. Overall, I must say that I was completely disappointed from beginning to end. The story and the performances were flat and rushed, the actors did not seem believable in the roles, and the editing made it all feel a little too much like a telenovela.

I would definitely not recommend this film. It is definitely not a must-see.

The Damned United

2010-05-22T21:32:00.000-07:00

I just saw the Damned United, and really liked it. Michael Sheen must be a really good actor to work with. I feel like every single film that he does now has either the same writer or director of at least four other films that he has done in the past. The Damned United was directed by Tom Hooper and written by Peter Morgan (Frost/Nixon, The Queen, and the Deal). It was based on the novel by David Peace.

The film goes back and forth in time, but focuses on the 44 days in which Brian Clough was the manager of Leeds United. There was a lot of friction due to the dirty tactics of some of the players, his dislike for Don Revie (the previous coach) and the sudden disappearance of his right-hand-man, Peter Taylor. I know very little about the history of English Football, but found this film to be really interesting. There was just enough back-story to give the necessary information without overwhelming me.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Incendiary

2010-05-22T21:15:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Incendiary. It took me a little while to actually get into the film (it was one of those situations when the film is really good, but is a completely different type of film from what you expected after watching the trailer), but by the end, I was really enjoying it.

The film was made a few years ago. The film follows a young wife and mother. One the day when her husband and son are killed in a terrorist attack, she is in the arms of another man. She is consumed by grief and guilt. She begins spiraling downward. Meanwhile, two men fight for her affection.

The story itself was a lot slower than I expected, but the performances definitely made up for it. Ewan McGregor was his usual self. I was really impressed with Michelle Williams and especially Matthew Macfadyen. I had seen several of Macfadyen's performances, but this one really blew me away.

I really enjoyed this film. I would definitely recommend it. It is definitely a must-see!

One More Kiss

2010-05-22T20:58:00.000-07:00

I recently saw One More Kiss (1999). I have been trying to get a copy of this film to watch for a while now. I was pretty excited when I saw it show up on Hulu the other day. That said, after seeing it, I am a little disappointed. None of the actors were particularly bad (though none of them were particularly good either). I was particularly disappointed with Gerard Butler's performance. Many of his performances in the recent years have led me to expect much more from him.

The film follows a woman that has found out that she is dying. She returns home to Scotland so that she may spend her remaining time with her father and ex-boyfriend. In the process, she ends up breaking up her ex's marriage, wines a lot, and basically learns nothing.

I would not recommend this film. It is definitely not a must-see.

Dream Cast Thursday! Little Women

2010-05-20T19:25:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Little Women. It was originally a novel by Louisa May Alcott and was published in two volumes in 1968 and 1969. There were three adaptations that I looked at when making my decisions. These adaptation came out in 1933, 1949, and 1994.

The first character that I cast was Abigail "Marmee" March. She has been played by Spring Byington, Mary Astor, and Susan Sarandon. For my adaptation, I cast Emma Thompson.

The second character that I cast was Jo March. She has been played by Katharine Hepburn, June Allyson, and Winona Ryder. For my adaptation, I cast Rachel McAdams.

The third character that I recast was Meg March. She has been played by Frances Dee, Janet Leigh, and Trini Alvarado. For my adaptation, I cast Rebecca Hall.

The fourth character that I recast was Beth March. She has been played by Jean Parker, Margaret O'Brien, and Claire Danes. For my adaptation, I cast Carey Mulligan.

The fifth character that I recast was Amy March. She has been played by Joan Bennett, Elizabeth Taylor, and Kirsten Dunst. For my adaptation, I cast Elle Fanning.

The last character that I recast was Theodore "Laurie" Laurence. He has been played by Douglass Montgomery, Peter Lawford, and Christian Bale. For my adaptation, I cast Matt Bomer.

So what do you all think? Which adaptations have you seen? Who would be in your adaptations?

Dream Cast Thursday! King Arthur

2010-05-17T15:17:00.000-07:00

I'm sorry that this one is so late. Things have been pretty crazy this week. For this week's Dream Cast Thursday, I will be recasting the King Arthur legend. There have been very many adaptations of this story. I looked at several adaptations when making my decisions. I looked at Camelot (1967), First Knight (1995), Merlin (1998), The Mists of Avalon (2001), and King Arthur (2004).

The first character that I recast was Arthur. He has been played by Richard Harris, Sean Connery, Paul Curran, Edward Atterron, and Clive Owen.For my adaptation, I recast Michael Fassbender.

The second character that I recast was Guinevere. She has been played by Vanessa Redgrave, Julia Ormond, Lena Headey, Samantha Mathis, and Keira Knightley.For my adaptation, I cast Anna Friel.

The third character that I recast was Lancelot. He has been played by Franco Nero, Richard Gere, Jeremy Sheffield, Michael Vartan, and Ioan Gruffudd.For my adaptation, I cast Henry Cavill.

The fourth character that I recast was Merlin. He has been played by Laurence Naismith, Sam Neill, Michael Byrne, and Stephen Dillane. For my adaptation, I cast Peter O'Toole.

The fifth character that I recast was Morgaine. She has been played by Helena Bonham Carter and Julianna Margulies.For my adaptation, I cast Polly Walker.

The last character that I recast was Mordred. He has been played by David Hemmings, Jason Done, and Hans Matheson.For my adaptation, I cast Rupert Friend.

So what do you all think? Do you like the King Arthur legend? Which is your favorite adaptation? Who would be in your remake?

Crimes of the Heart

2010-05-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

I recently saw Crimes of the Heart. It is based on the play by Beth Henley that was originally completed in 1978. The screenplay was also adapted by Beth Henley and the film was directed by Bruce Beresford.The film was released in 1986.

I really enjoyed this film, and it was cast absolutely perfectly. The film takes place over a period of a couple of days and focuses on the lives of three sisters. The eldest sister, Lenny (Diane Keaton) is turning into an old maid while taking care of their grandfather. Babe (Sissy Spacek), the youngest sister, has just shot her husband. Meg (Jessica Lange), the middle sister, has been trying to make it in Hollywood as a singer/actress, but has returned after hearing that Babe has been arrested and that their grandfather is dying.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

Dream CAst Thursday! Cat on a Hot Tin Roof

2010-05-06T18:45:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. It was originally a play by Tennessee Williams and was originally published in 1955. When developing my cast for my adaptation, I looked at the casts from the film adaptations made in 1958 and 1984 and the Broadway adaptation that came out in 2008.

The first character that I recast was Brick. He has been played by Paul Newman, Tommy Lee Jones and Terrence Howard. For my adaptation, I cast Patrick Wilson.

The next character that I cast was Maggie. She has been played by Elizabeth Taylor, Jessica Lange, and Anika Noni Rose. For my adaptation, I cast Natalie Dormer.

The last character that I recast was Big Daddy. He has been played by Burl Ives, Rip Torn, and James Earl Jones. For my adaptation, I cast Richard Griffiths.

So what do you all think? What adaptations have you seen? Who would be in your remake?

Personal Effects

2010-05-01T16:32:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching Personal Effects. It came out last year and is based on a short story by Rick Moody (the Ice Storm) called Mansion on the Hill. I really enjoyed it.

The film follows Linda. She is a single mother of a deaf-mute boy named Clay. Her husband was shot and killed by his friend. She meets Walter and a courthouse. His sister was brutally raped and killed. Walter and Clay are each unsure of how to deal with their anger. Things become more complicated as Linda and Walter develop an intimate relationship while both waiting for justice after their loved ones' murders.

The performances in this film were amazing. Michelle Pfeiffer (Linda), Spencer Hudson (Clay), and Kathy Bates (Gloria, Walter's mother) were amazing, but I was especially impressed with Ashton Kutcher (Walter). Over the years, I have becomes more and more impressed with him as an actor, but this performance really blew all other performances of his away!

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

War and Peace

2010-05-01T16:14:00.000-07:00

I just finished watching War and Peace. This particular adaptation came out in 2007. It is adapted from the novel by Leo Tolstoy that was originally published in 1869. I have never read the novel, so I am not sure how closely this adaptation followed it, but I really enjoyed it!

The film focuses on several aristocratic, Russian families and takes place over the period of time directly before to directly after the French invasion of Russia during the Napoleonic Wars. The film follows Count Pierre Bezukhov, Prince Andrei Nikolayevich Bolkonsky (Pierre's close friend), Princess Maria Nikolayevna Bolkonskaya (Andrei's sister), Countess Natalia Illyinichna Rostova (she is in love with Andrei), Count Nikolai Illyich Rostov (Natalia's brother), Sofia Alexandrovna Rostova (she lives with the Rostovas and is in love with Nikolai), Prince Vasily Sergeyevich Kuragin, Princess Elena Vasilyevna Kuragina (Vasily's daughter), Prince Anatol Vasilyevich Kuragin (Vasily's son), Maria Dmitryevna Akhrosimova, Amalia Evgenyevna Bourienne, and Vasily Dmitrich Denisov.

The film had a lot of characters. One reason that I was able to keep them all straight was because of the magnificent performances. I was very happy to see Alessio Boni in another role. I have seen him in several other films, but have never seen him in an English-speaking role. I also really enjoyed Malcolm McDowell and Brenda Blethyn, but the actor that I was probably most impressed with was Clemence Posey. I have seen her in several roles before, but never one that was so three-dimensional. She gave a really amazing performance.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

The Door in the Floor

2010-04-30T17:47:00.000-07:00

I recently saw the Door in the Floor, and really liked it! The film takes place over a period of one summer. A couple decides to separate just as a young student comes to work for the husband as an author's assistant. The couples two sons dies years before. They now live alone with their young daughter. Soon the student becomes a pawn for both the husband and wife.

Everyone in this film was absolutely amazing. Jon Foster plays the student and Kim Basinger plays the wife. They both did really well, but the two that I were most impressed by were Jeff Bridges and Elle Fanning. I have come to expect wonderful and powerful performances from Bridges, but I was really pleasantly surprised by Fanning's performance. I have seen her in many roles before, but this definitely seemed to be the most challenging. She handled the part very well.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!

What Rats Won't Do

2010-04-30T17:33:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a film called What Rats Won't Do. The film came out in 1998 and is the original film that Laws of Attraction (2004) is based on. I did not like it nearly as much as Laws of Attraction, but it was still pretty good. The film follows Kate Beckenham (Natascha McElhone) and Jack Sullivan (James Frain). Kate is a barrister. She is engaged to Graham when she comes up against Jack in court. They are on opposing sides of the biggest case of their careers when the sparks begin to fly.

The film is currently available for free on hulu, but it is not a must-see. If you want to see a good film, you should see Laws of Attraction.

Dream Cast Thursday! Beauty and the Beast

2010-04-29T21:17:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Beauty and the Beast. The very first version of the fairy tale was published in 1740 by Madame Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot. The most well-known version of the tale was published in 1786 by Jeanne-Marie le Prince de Beaumont. The original tale involves a wealthy merchand and his three daughters. Two of the sisters are selfish. Belle is the sweetest. He looses all of his wealth, and they all must live in a small farmhouse. One day the merchant goes to town and promises all of his daughters a gift. The two eldest ask for jewelry. Belle asks for a rose. The merchant becomes lost in a forest and eventually comes upon a castle. The owner leaves him food and drink. After resting and eating, the merchant leaves. As he is leaving, he sees a rose and picks it. The owner, a beast, becomes angry and imprisons him for stealing his most precious possession. The merchant explains the situation. The beast allows him to leave if the merchant will send his daughter in his place. The beast treats Belle well and proposes to her each night. Each night she refuses and dreams of a handsome prince that also asks. She tells him that she loves him only as a friend. Belle becomes convinced that the prince is a prisoner in the castle. She becomes homesick. The beast allows her to return home only if she promises to return. Belle's sisters are jealous of all of the gifts that the beast has given Belle. Every time she is about to leave, they beg her to stay. When Belle finally returns, the beast is nearly dead. She weeps over him and tells him that she loves him. Her tears transform him into the handsome prince.

The first character that I recast was Belle. Before casting her, I considered two adaptations. In the Disney adaptation from 1991, she was played by Paige O'Hara. The second adaptation was the television series from 1987. In this adaptation, she was Catherine and was played by Linda Hamilton. For my adaptation, I recast Rose Byrne.

The second character that I recast was the Prince/Beast. He has been played by Robby Benson and Ron Perlman. For my adaptation, I recast Martin Henderson.

The third character that I recast was the father. He was originally played by Rex Everheart. For my adaptation, I recast Bob Newhart.

The last character that I recast was the Gaston character. He was originally played by Richard White. For my adaptation, I recast Jon Hamm.

So what do you all think? What adaptations have you seen, and which one is your favorite? Who would be in your adaptations?

Dream Cast Thursday! A Streetcar Named Desire

2010-04-23T08:56:00.000-07:00

Sorry for the late posting. This week has been pretty hectic. This week's Dream Cast Thursday is A Streetcar Named Desire. The original play by Tennessee Williams was written in 1947. There have been many film adaptations (1951, 1984, 1995).

The original 1951 film kept the original Broadway cast (except for Jessica Tandy who was replaces by Vivien Leigh). I tried to look at all of them when making my choices.

The first character that I recast was Blanche DuBois. This was hard for me. In my mind, I have such a clear picture of who she is. She has been played by Vivien Leigh, Ann-Margret, and Jessica Lange. For my adaptation, I chose Julia Roberts.

The second character that I recast was Stanley Kowalski. He has been played by Marlon Brando, Treat Williams, and Alec Baldwin. For my adaptation, I cast Desmond Harrington.

The last character that I recast was Stella Kowalski. This was probably the easiest character of the three to cast. Once the other ones were chosen, she just seemed right. She has been played by Kim Hunter, Beverly D'Angelo, and Diane Lane. For my adaptation, I cast Rachel McAdams.

So what do you all think? Have you read or seen the play? What adaptations are your favorites? Who would be in yours?

Dream Cast Thursday! Fried Green Tomatoes

2010-04-15T20:12:00.000-07:00

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Fried Green Tomatoes.

This was a really hard film for me to recast. The original actors are SO present in my mind. It is really hard to see any other people in the roles. The first character that I recast was Ruth Jamison. She was originally played by Mary-Louise Parker. For my adaptation, I cast Kate Beckinsale. The next character that I cast was Idgie Threadgoode. She was originally played by Mary Stuart Masterson. For my adaptation, I cast Natalie Portman. The third character that I recast was Ninny Threadgoode. She was originally played by Jessica Tandy. For my adaptation, I cast Vanessa Redgrave. The last major character is Evelyn Couch. She was originally played by Kathy Bates. I considered this for a long while. For a little while, I considered Mary Kay Place, but I ended up just not being able to recast her. There was no one that I could think of that would do this character justice.

So what do you all think? Have you seen the original? Who would be in your remake?

Future Dream Cast Thursdays

2010-04-09T08:34:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone! I thought that it might be a good idea to let you all know about some of the Dream Cast Thursdays that will be coming up. Start thinking about your casts now. If there is any particular book, movie, television show, etc. that you would like me to recast in the future, please let me know in the comments.

Fried Green Tomatoes-Thursday, April 15

A Streetcar Named Desire-Thursday, April 22

Beauty and the Beast-Thursday, April 29

Cat on a Hot Tin Roof -Thursday, May 6

King Arthur-Thursday, May 13

Little Women-Thursday, May 20

Henry VIII-Thursday, May 27

Peter Pan-Thursday, June 3

Roman Holiday-Thursday, June 10

An Ideal Husband

The Importance of Being Earnest-Thursday, June 17

Jane Eyre

The Tenant of Wildfell Hall-Thursday, June 24

Bed and Sofa-Thursday, July 1

Whatever Happened to Baby Jane-Thursday, July 8

Suddenly Last Summer-Thursday, July 15

Gilda-Thursday, July 22

Bringing Up Baby-Thursday, July 29

Meet Me in St. Louis-Thursday, August 5

I hope that you are all as excited for these upcoming casts as I am. I am kind of starting to run out of ideas, so please leave some in the comments. Have a good weekend!

Women in Trouble

2010-04-08T20:24:00.000-07:00

When I was working at the Chicago International Film Festival this past October, there were a lot of movies that looked really good, that I was sadly just unable to see. Women in Trouble was one of them. I am really happy that I finally got a chance to see it. It was written and directed by Sebastian Gutierrez and had a wonderful ensemble cast.

Several women (and one girl) in L.A. are hiding something from someone else, or discovering something hidden from them. Maxine (Sarah Clark), a therapist, discovers her husband (Simon Baker) cheating on her with the mother of Charlotte (Isabella Gutierrez), a 13-year old patient. Addy (the other women, Caitlin Keats) and her sister Doris (Connie Britton) have withheld from the girl the truth about her parentage. Holly (Adrianne Palicki), and adult film actor, isn't telling her friend Bambi (Emmanuelle Chriqui) how she feels about her, and another actor, Elektra (Carla Gugino), who discovers she's pregnant, hasn't told the baby's father (Josh Brolin) that she loves him. A stuck elevator, a car crash, mid-air turbulence, a flight attendant, a shotgun-wielding bartender, and her roommate, who's a masseuse, help the women communicate.

This film is definitely a must-see!

The Greatest

2010-04-08T10:43:00.000-07:00

I just saw the Greatest and really loved it! The film was written and directed by Shana Feste, and came out in the UK at the end of last year.

The film follows a couple, their son, and a young girl named Rose. Under normal circumstances the family would have nothing to do with this girl, but they find themselves thrown together. Allen and Grace have recently lost their eldest son. They along with their younger son, Ryan are attempting to cope. This is when Rose shows up. Although she barely knew their son, she was the last to see him and is now pregnant with his baby. She has no where to go and no family to turn to. This grieving family decides to take her in.

I enjoyed this film a lot more than I thought I would. This very easily could have become a cliche, but it didn't. This is not a sappy drama about healing and is not an inspirational melodrama. From beginning to end, the film just felt real.

Every performance was good. It really was an ensemble effort. Every characters rang true. Carey Mulligan and Johnny Simmons were really good, but I was especially impressed with Pierce Brosnan and Susan Sarandon.

This is definitely a must-see film!

Dream Cast Thursday! The Touch Series

2010-04-08T10:25:00.000-07:00

For this week's Dream Cast Thursday, I will be casting an adaptation of the Touch Series by Laurie Stolarz. Laurie Stolarz is one of my favorite authors, and if you haven't read any of her books before, you should definitely check them out (see my review of Deadly Little Lies, the second book in the Touch Series).

The first two characters that I cast were Camelia and Kimmie. The books are centered on the life of Camelia. She is sixteen years old and has led a fairly normal life. That is, until she starts receiving mysterious phone calls and threatening notes. Kimmie is Camelia's confidant and best friend. She is sweet, but edgy. She is creative and is always there when Camelia needs her.

These characters were difficult for me to cast. I wanted to make sure to cast characters that not only fit the part, but would be able to work together. Camelia and Kimmie are best friends. This is something that needs to come across. I ended up casting Evan Rachel Wood as Camelia and Kristen Stewart as Kimmie.

The next characters that I cast were Adam, Wes and Ben. Adam is introduced in the second book. More than anything he wants to design buildings. He works at Knead with Camelia. He is sweet and is there for Camelia when she needs him, but is he really as perfect as he seems? Wes is the third link in Camelia and Kimmie's trio. Like Kimmie, he is sweet and is always there for Camelia. When ever she has a problem, he manages to put his two cents in. Sometimes his advice makes sense, and sometimes it doesn't, but his heart is always in the right place. Ben is introduced in the first book. He is a new guy at school. He is mysterious, and there are rumors that he killed his last girlfriend, but when Camelia begins receiving threatening messages, he may be the only one that can help.

These characters were easier for me to cast. Once I cast the girls, they sort of fell into place. I cast Kyle Schmid as Adam, Emile Hirsch as Wes, and Joseph Gordon Levitt as Ben.

So what do you all think? Have you read the series? Who would be in your adaptation?

Cracks

2010-04-06T10:34:00.000-07:00

I just saw a very interesting drama called Cracks. It came out at the end of last year and was written by Jordan Scott, Caroline Ip, and Ben Court and directed by Jordan Scott. It was originally a novel by Sheila Kohler that came out in 2006.

The film is set at an elite, all girls boarding school in England in the 1930s. A new girl arrives at the school. When the attention of their favorite professor, Miss G, shifts to this new girl, the students become jealous and hurtful.

The film was visually stunning. The scenes when the girls go to the lake to swim and the scene when they stay up late for their midnight feast for St. Agnes are some of the most beautifully directed scenes that I have ever seen.

The cast was also wonderful. Eva Green and Juno Temple were especially wonderful. These roles were perfect for them. I have seen Juno Temple in many films now where she had been the "bad guy." This was the first time that I actually felt for her and felt that she was a sympathetic character. Sinead Cusack also did a really good job (although her role was not very large). This was the first film that I have ever seen Maria Valverde in, and she did a remarkable job. It would have been very easy for her to become a very cliche character, but this was not the case. Despite first impressions, I found myself really feeling for every single one of the characters.

This film is already out on dvd in England, but is available at a few places online. I recently saw a trailer at on the Apple trailer website, so I believe that it will be getting some kind of a release in that states (but I am not sure how wide of a release). I would definitely recommend this film. If you can find it somewhere, you should definitely watch it. It is really a must-see!

Glorious 39

2010-04-05T19:55:00.000-07:00

I just saw another excellent film by Stephen Poliakoff (see my other reviews of Poliakoff films). It is called Glorious 39 and takes place in England, in the summer of '39. The film follows the Keyes family. The eldest sibling's name is Anne and her life begins to unravel as she stumbles upon a secret involving a movement in favor of making a deal with Hitler.

As with all Poliakoff films, it was very character driven, but this film was more than simply characters. In addition to wonderful performances, the film itself was absolutely stunning. Jeremy Northam, Eddie Redmayne, Juno Temple, David Tennant, and Julie Christie all gave really good performances, but I was extemely impressed with Bill Nighy and especially Romola Garai. This was probably my absolute favorite performance of Garai's.

This film is DEFINITELY a must-see! I have already added it to my amazon wishlist, posted the trailer to facebook and recommended it to nearly everyone the I know!

The State Within

2010-04-05T19:36:00.000-07:00

I recently saw a really good BBC drama called the State Within. The film follows the English Ambassador to Washington as he uncovers a web of deceit, conflicting interests, and diplomatic incidents. This is another of those times when watching a series where I was really happy that I started it during winter break. This was a real edge-of-your-seat thriller. I absolutely could not stop watching.

The series was written by Lizzie Mickery and Daniel Percival and directed by Michael Offer and Daniel Percival. Although the writing and directing was wonderful, this series would be nothing without the wonderful actors. Absolutely everyone did an amazing job. Eva Brithistle and Ben Daniels did really good jobs, but I was especially impressed with Jason Isaacs and Sharon Gless.

I would definitely recommend this series! It is definitely a must-see!

Inside Daisy Clover

2010-04-05T19:24:00.000-07:00

I just saw Inside Daisy Clover and have to say that I did not really like it. It came out in 1965. For those of you who have not heard of it, the film follows a fifteen year old girl. She dreams of being a movie star, but when she finally gets her wish, things do not exactly go as planned.

The film was written by Robert Mulligan. The original novel that the film was based on and the screenplay were both written by Gavin Lambert. I think that the real problem was the storyline. The film seemed really choppy. I also did not really identify with any of the characters. It was hard to root for anyone when I did not really get a sense of who they were. The actors all gave fairly adequate performances considering. I would really expect less from Robert Redford, Christopher Plummer, Natalie Wood, and Ruth Gordon.

I most likely would not recommend this film to anyone. It is not really a must-see!

State of Play

2010-04-03T22:57:00.000-07:00

I'm not sure how many of you saw State of Play when it came out last year. I still haven't gotten a chance to see it, but a little while ago, I was able to see the BBC miniseries that it was based on. I am not sure how true this new adaptation stayed to the original. Having not seen the new version, I can only comment on the original.

The series takes place over six episodes. I cannot say much without giving away plot developments. The film follows the lives of several journalists and one member of Parliament and his family as they all uncover a huge story. It all begins one morning when two seemingly unrelated events occur. The MP's research assistant is killed on the London underground and that same morning a teenage drug dealer is shot.

The series was directed by David Yates and written by Paul Abbott. It is an extremely intense, edge-of-your-seat thriller. I found myself unable to stop watching from episode to episode. Luckily, I first saw this over winter break, and was able to completely stop everything else.

The ensemble cast in this film was AMAZING! Polly Walker, Marc Warren, James McAvoy, and Kelly Macdonald were all pretty good. I had seen all of them in other roles before, so I wasn't very surprised. I was extremely impressed with David Morrissey and Bill Nighy. They constantly seem to raise the bar. This project was no different. The person that I was most impressed with was John Simm. He was especially good! I had previously only seen him as the Master. This was a completely different role for him. It was really interesting to see him develop this whole new character.

I would definitely recommend this film to anyone and cannot wait to see the remake! It really is a must-see!

Clash of the Titans

2010-04-03T17:49:00.000-07:00

I just saw the Clash of the Titans and actually really liked it. I have been pretty hyped up about the remake ever since I hear that they were doing one (see the post that I wrote when I originally heard about the remake). I was always a huge fan of the original ever since I was little and was very pleases to see that they remained pretty true to it. Most of the major plot changes that were made were made for the better. The original film came out in 1981. Both films follow Perseus. He is the mortal son of Zeus and must embark on a quest in order to defeat the Kraken and to save Argos and Andromeda.

The main issue that I had with the remake was the lack of coverage of the other gods. A few gods and goddesses are briefly shown on Olympus, but Zeus and Hades are the only ones that get any real screen time. The original showed a lot more interaction between the gods and goddesses. That said, the characters that were shown were very interesting. This is a pretty simple story. Without the interesting characters, it would just be an action movie. No characters were shown very in-depth, but there was just enough to keep the audience involved and caring about what was happening. This was definitely not Liam Neeson or Ralph Fiennes best performances. Sam Worthington and Alexa Davalos were okay. I was really impressed with Gemma Arterton, Jason Flemyng, Mads Mikkelsen, Liam Cunningham, Hans Matheson, and Nicholas Hoult.

I would definitely recommend this film. It is definitely a must-see!