Fight Club (1999) - David Fincher

I had to write an essay on a film, taking into account the Joseph Campbell book, The Hero with a Thousand Faces, and so I chose Fight Club, because I know it very well, and could write a bit about it. I've been suffering from Writer's Block recently though, so it was more difficult than I had anticipated. I even watched the film with commentary on, whilst struggling for ideas. The commentary was interesting, but a lot of what Helena Bonham Carter was saying didn't seem to fit with the film that was on screen, it was poorly edited into the parts with the boys talking, and that was a real shame, because she made some very good points.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Lolita (1997) - Adrian Lyne

The critically underwhelming film version of what I can only describe as the book that made me most uncomfortable whilst reading on the bus. It was good, but it lacked both the loveable Humbert Humbert from the novel, and also the sheer shock factor that was also entailed within the novel. I am watching the Stanley Kubrick version on Thursday to compare the two, so expect a longer post soon. Jeremy Irons, however, was believable as the lead role.

★ ★ ☆ ☆ ☆

Shutter Island (2010) - Martin Scorsese

Aside from his short, The Big Shave (1968), I think this may be the first Scorsese film I have ever watched. I know: bad film student, but a brilliant movie to introduce me to Scorsese's work. It was stunning, and the twists and turns were perfectly done by Scorsese in his own mise en scene style. I look forward to more of the same, the dramatic mix up of style and auteurship when I watch his others.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

The Letter (1940) - William Wyler

We are doing about stars in our American Cinema History class, namely Bette Davis. From this film, she seems like a whore, one that none of the audience seemed particularly caring about. Whether this was intentional on the studio's part, as she was demanding about her contract, asking about upgrades from that of a usual actress, is anyone's guess. It is a possibility though.

 ★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

Hitchcock (2012) - Sacha Gervasi

I liked it, in parts. Some bits were too gimmicky. It was alright though. Anthony Hopkins was the only person that could have done justice to the role. Scarlett Johansson's character could have been made more 3 dimensional.
The film did give us some insight into the creepiness and oddness of the famous director, and as a film student, this film was interesting purely for that fact.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆ 

Oldboy (2003) - Chan-wook Park

This was a present from a friend for my birthday. (You'll never guess what film studies students buy each other.) I wouldn't say I'm not a fan of foreign films, I just don't think they're shown enough at local cinemas, and therefore I haven't seen as many of them as I have seen, like, the big Hollywood ones.
Anyway, this was a really good film. I thought the main antagonist (Ji-tae Yu) gave the best performance, and made the bad guy seem more human, particularly towards the end, which was obviously helped by the use of the director's flashbacks.
Aside from being a little slow and repetitive in places, it was a really good film, that dealt really well with a taboo subject. Without using spoilers, I feel it gave a new sort of vibe or feeling to the subject, giving everyone's norm and morals a good shake. Obviously, without seeing the film, you won't know what I'm talking about. So, go rent a copy, or buy it from that store that's closing down; I'm sure it won't be too expensive.

★ ★ ★ ☆ ☆

American Beauty (1999) - Sam Mendes

Doing Film Studies as a degree, at a well respected university in North West England, there are certain assumptions: 1) you watch film in spare time, as well as in class, 2) you know your stuff on films, 3) you won't get a job at the end of it. Other than the third one (hopefully), these rules are true for me, which makes me wonder why I have not seen this stupendous piece of American cinema before.
The film, starring Kevin Spacey, Annette Bening and Thora Birch as an average American family; as all families have, they have some troubles, but these troubles become more prominent, when the father of the family, played by Spacey, winning an Oscar for his troubles, develops an infatuation with his daughter's best friend, played by Mena Suvari, in a role the opposite of her most remembered performance as Heather in American Pie (1999) - Paul Weitz (you know, the semi-attractive choir girl that Oz gets with.) So yeah, a good cast, expertly headed by Spacey, and I think this film is proof that a good casting director, in this case, Debra Zane, can make or break a film.
The appearance of the petals are a great piece of prop work, that give them so much significance, that I know viewers will remember the film whenever they see any kind of romantic flower-y stuff.
Bad points would be the character of the creepy filmer dude's romance. I don't get what makes him attractive. He is just creepy. That part was a bit too unrealistic to me, but in the end it didn't matter, as it was negated by all the positive points I could find in the film.
Watching it, finally, made me understand certain jokes from pop culture: ones that I remembered from Family Guy and Not Another Teen Movie (2001) - Joel Gallen as well, which is nice.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★

PS This is my first five starrer. Yay!