Film Club Fridays
DIRECTOR: Wes Anderson

This week, rather than review a new release I've decided to pay tribute to one of my very favourite directors, the fantastic Wes Anderson. Stylistically, you don't get much better - I don't think there is a single director with a more recognisable house style. Everything is so very very aesthetically pleasing, central and well framed. I have a special adoration for the tracking shots which fill almost every single one of his films. In terms of content, I love his take on the "dysfunctional family" and the humour is pretty much spot on for a collection which deal with some surprisingly sensitive issues to say that on surface level they're cutesy and fun.

I find it really hard to pick a favourite as they're all so wonderful, but I think it's probably a toss-up between The Darjeeling Limited and Moonrise Kingdom - if you haven't seen either of those, make sure you get them watched. I had the pleasure of catching the latter at the pictures, on a particularly hot and sunny day, not at all well suited for the cinema - but it was totally worth it. I keep promising myself that I'll buy a copy on DVD and force all of my Anderson-loving friends to watch it with me.

Check out how adorable it is:

I could bore you with pages upon pages of wonderful words on this glorious man, but I'll keep it short and sweet. An Anderson-Marathon is definitely in order for a lazy day off from writing in the not too distant future. In other film related news, I am now officially a member of LOVEFiLM again! They're running a special offer at the minute where you get 3 months for the price of 1, which for the online package that I have is only £4.99, so it's a steal really! If anybody is interested in getting this couple of months free, a friend of mine works on commission for them, so it would be great to help him out by letting him pinch you as a sign-up. (How cheeky of me).

Film Club Fridays
Django Unchained 

On account of being completely consumed with university work and life dramas these past couple of weeks, I haven't actually gotten around to going to the cinema at all, so have decided to post a quick review of the mighty Django Unchained which has had everybody raving this year. After promising about seven thousand different people I would go with them to catch it at the flicks, I ended up missing out entirely. I couldn't quite wait to be able to afford the DVD, so last night my house mate Nathan and I finally got around to seeing what all the fuss was about, whilst gorging on Dominos pizza.

I'm quite the Tarantino fan, one of my all time favourite films being True Romance,  which although is directed by Tony Scott you can tell was written by Quentin. Django Unchained screams Tarantino from the off, a quality that I love in a director, especially when their work is so brilliantly stylised. The over-indulgent cameo towards the end wasn't really working for me, felt a lot like he was just stepping in to cover a role because the actor was missing, and putting on a silly voice, but that could have just been me. Also it was long. Since when have films become three hours long? I mean, I genuinely really enjoyed the film, but I still found myself checking the time. I don't think my attention span has the capability of lasting that long, regardless on the quality of the film. Anyway, back to how excellent it was. I adored the pairing of Christoph Waltz and Jamie Foxx, both excellent actors playing brilliant characters, they seemed to bounce off of each other and have a fun kind of chemistry. Plus when did Foxx get so damn foxy? I have no doubt that I'd swoon too, if he called me "little trouble maker". DiCaprio didn't look too terrible either to say he's aged so horribly, the facial hair is very becoming of him. I also loved the comedy elements in it too, my favourite part being the Ku Klux Klan bit with the bag masks. I won't ruin it for anybody who hasn't seen it, and I realise that it doesn't sound like something I should find funny, but it is supposed to be, don't worry. It really tickled me.

I'm sure you've probably all at least seen the trailer if nothing more, but here it is:

I am really gutted I didn't get to see it on the big screen, I imagine it was all the more dramatic and theatrically gruesome. I'll definitely be giving it another viewing soon, I don't think you can ever get everything from the first watch. This evening I shall hopefully be paying a visit to old favourite, The Showroom, to catch Stoker. Perhaps you will be in for a more up-to-date treat next week!

Film Club Fridays:
The Breakfast Club

This week I was very fortunate to be able to watch The Breakfast Club not only for the first time, but from one of the original 35mms on the big screen. The Showroom cinema offers a special screening each week on a Tuesday night, under the title of "Cult Tuesdays". As I'm both a student, and a member, the tickets are ridiculously cheap, and the atmosphere is always brilliant as it's packed full of filmy-types.

The Breakfast Club is an 80s classic that I'd been meaning to get around to watching for years, so the opportunity to see it in its full glory was not one to be passed up. Directed by John Hughes, this "brat pack" film continues to ring true nearly three decades after its release. Celebrating youth, in all of its teen-angst-glory, the plot is simple and predictable in the most perfect way, a real feel good, high school classic. The soundtrack and wardrobe of the whole film is so brilliantly 80s too - I was instantly coveting everything that the kids were wearing (especially Bender's fingerless gloves, plaid shirt and oversized denim jacket combo).

For anybody who hasn't seen it before, here is what I believe to be an original trailer:

I completely forgot to take photos of Sophie and I enjoying ourselves, but we dressed up for the occasion and I treated us both to a glass of wine, as I'm a darling and know how to treat my woman. I have a few films on the cards for this week, if I don't totally drain my overdraft tomorrow night.

Pinch, punch, first of the month to you all.

Film Club Fridays:
A Liar's Autobiography

On account of being a big film nut, I've decided I'll start posting up a couple of reviews and recommendations. This week shall be the turn of the fairly new flick which is still gracing the screens of many cinemas across the UK - A Liar's Autobiography - The Untrue Story Of Monty Python's Graham Chapman.

The film is a bio-pic on the late Graham Chapman from Monty Python (as the title suggests), and was constructed by 14 different teams on animators - it's pretty out there to say the least. Although its presented as "untrue", it tells the tale of Chapman's life including gory details on his alcoholism and coming-out. I went to see it almost as soon as it was screened as I was particularly looking forward to seeing how mad it would be after catching the advert when I watched The Sessions (another fantastic watch - and potentially next week's review). It definitely didn't disappoint on the surreal front, and as a fan of all things weird and wonderful I was impressed by the way it was all put together. Some of the sections were definitely better than others, but in general it was really sharp and very funny. If you're a fan of Monty Python-esque humour and are looking for something a little different, I would 100% suggest you check it out.

Watch the trailer, it might all make a little more sense:

Next time I go to the cinema I might take a few snaps of me and whoever I've dragged along to make these Friday posts a little more bloggy and cute. A film experience kind of review? I don't know, I'm just testing the water with this, any excuse to throw my opinions at people. If any of you have seen it, be sure to let me know what you made of it too.