Eden Lake

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!

Dream Cast Thursday! Great Expectations

This week's Dream Cast Thursday is Great Expectations. It was originally published as a serial in 1860 by Charles Dickens. I will be looking at two adaptations. The first adaptation of Great Expectations came out in 1998. The second Great Expectations adaptation came out in 1999.

The first character that I recast was Pip (Finnegan in the 1998 adaptation. He is the protagonist of the novel. He is born an orphan and eventually goes from being a blacksmith to a gentleman. He has been played by Ethan Hawke and Ioan Gruffudd. For my adaptation, I cast Max Brown.

The second character that I recast was Estella. She is Miss Havisham's adopted daughter and the object of Pip's affection. She has been played by Gwyneth Paltrow and Justine Waddell. For my adaptation, I cast Kelly Reilly.

The last character that I recast was Miss Havisham (Miss Dinsmoor in 1998 adaptation). She is a wealthy spinster that has taken on Pip as her companion. She has been played by Anne Bancroft and Charlotte Rampling. For my adaptation, I cast Helen Mirren.

So what do you all think? Have you read the novel? Have you seen the adaptations? What do you think? Who would you recast?

Joe's Palace and Capturing Mary

I recently saw two films written by and directed by Stephen Poliakoff. I have enjoyed other films that I have seen by him in the past (especially Perfect Strangers). I had pretty high expectations for these films and am very happy to report that I was not disappointed.

The first film that I saw is called Joe's Palace. It came out in 2007. It is a drama that centers on the relationships between Joe and Elliott and Joe, Richard and Charlotte. Elliott is the rich, eccentric owner of a grand mansion. Joe is the young man hired to care for the empty house. Richard is in government. He and Charlotte are both married to other people. They come to the house for privacy.

The cast was amazing. One thing that I have come to expect from Poliakoff films is the amazing casts. Elliott Graham is played by Michael Gambon. Joe Dix is played by Danny Lee Wynter. Richard Reece is played by Rupert Penry-Jones. Charlotte is played by Kelly Reilly. Michael Gambon and Kelly Reilly were especially phenomenal. I kind of expected a wonderful performance from Gambon, but was absolutely blown away by Reilly.

The companion piece to Joe's Palace is Capturing Mary. This film came out later in 2007. This film also involves Joe, but revolves around Mary Gilbert (a older woman trying to come to grips with her past and the part the Greville White plays). The setting for this film is once again in Mr. Graham's magnificent mansion.

Joe is once again played by Danny Lee Wynter. Mary Gilbert is played by Maggie Smith and Ruth Wilson. Greville White is played by David Walliams. This cast was also magnificent (as expected). The one surprise was David Walliams. I have always seen him in comedic roles. This was the first realy dramatic role that I had seen him in. He was amazing!

These films are definitely a must-see. I would suggest seeing Perfect Strangers first. Poliakoff does an absolutely magnificent job of bringing realistic dramas about family secrets and the past. They are always a real treat.