Psychotic Angelina Jolie

Yes, this is the August instalment of the PSYCHO PROJECT. This month I will discuss Angelina Jolie's LISA ROWE (Girl, Interrupted). The film is quite good and [thought] provocative, but Angelina Jolie steals the spotlight and the audience simply waits and yearns for HER compelling presence. I'm not sure if Lisa Rowe is really insane or psychotic, but she is wild and too truthful (yes, lies are necessary sometimes). Let's say she has an affair with INSANITY and she lives on the edge, but we can't help but be absolutely enthralled by this lifer. She loves attention, but can you blame her???

 Of course ANGELINA JOLIE won an Oscar for this fascinating role; she was born to embody Lisa Rowe. Actually she's excellent with these 'extreme' characters (GIA is amazing). Anyway, this character has GREAT quotes [and since she wears her heart on her sleeve, her quotes tell us EVERYTHING], and here are the EXTRA SPECIAL ONES:

"You know, there's too many buttons in the world. There's too many buttons and they're just- There's way too many just begging to be pressed,they're just begging to be pressed,you know? They're just - they're just begging to be pressed, and it makes me wonder, it really makes me f****** wonder, why doesn't anyone ever press mine? Why am I so neglected? Why doesn't anyone reach in and rip out the truth and tell me that I'm a f****** whore, or that my parents wish I were dead?"

Quite the potty mouth isn't she? Another reason why Angelina Jolie is perfect, her swearing is indescribably expressive and effective.

"Help me understand, Dais 'cause, I thought you didn't do Valium. Tell me how this safety net is working for you. Tell me that you don't take that blade and drag it across your skin and pray for the courage to press down. Tell me how your *daddy* helps you cope with that. Illuminate me."

"Playing the villain, baby, just like you want. I try to give you everything you want."

"You wanted your file, I found you your file. You wanted out, I got you out. You needed *money*, *I* found you some. I'm f****** consistent-I told you the truth-I didn't write it down in a *f****** book*! I told you to your *face*. And I told Daisy to her face - what everybody knew and wouldn't say, and she killed herself. And I played the f****** villain, just like you wanted."

"Look, she gave your husband a rim job. Big f*****' deal! I'm sure he was begging for it, and I heard it was like a pencil anyway."

OKAY I think that's enough. Even if she isn't TRULY psychotic, she sure does ACT it. At the very least, she wants to pretend as though she is as CRAZY as they come, it's a great way to attract attention. I would know.

 She is a breath of fresh air that we are afraid to inhale, but we're too captivated to turn away. She's naturally intimidating and we fear her, especially in the scene where she chases Susanna (Winona Ryder) OR the one where she jams the door [with a chair] and attacks Susanna... is it wrong that I find her somewhat inspirational? Only a GREAT actress could make the audience admire (rather than just PITY or FEAR) Lisa Rowe, and yet Angelina Jolie DOES NOT have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who's the insane one? HUH?

P.S. Watch GIA. Hauntingly beautiful and beautifully haunting.

Jane Eyre

An alluring/seductive adaptation of the novel.

It's a shame that this film has only raked in thirteen million dollars at the box office; I feel that this adaptation of Jane Eyre could be somewhat mainstream. It's directed with a fiery, modern touch and yet manages to seduce us with the authenticity of a by-gone era. The cinematography and set-designs are not gloriously beautiful, but rather naturally beautiful. I mean, you could examine all the features of the gothic castle without feeling as though your eyes are under attack (that's the best way I can describe it, don't understand? GO WATCH IT YOURSELF... not online, at the CINEMAS... yeah remember that place with... I digress).

The casting is simply superb. Dame Judi Dench is perfect as the hospitable housekeeper, who I reckon has a bit of a 'crush' on Mr. Rochester, but who can blame her. This great performance paints not ONLY a chirpy, old English housekeeper, but rather a faithful servant with true HUMAN desires and concerns. Marvellous.

Mia Wasikowska (made in Australia), you'll remember her as the leading lady of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, is quite likeable as Jane. She isn't radiantly gorgeous and the make-up in this film makes her 'plain', as it should be, but she seems quite intelligent... her eyes subtly hint the vulnerability charactersistic of a mistreated orphan. Her popularity, inside-joke- makes perfect sense. Some people, I can't remember who, think she's not passionate enough as Jane, just because she's not melodramatic, it doesn't mean that her dialogue/portrayal lacks emotions.... in fact, on the contrary, she hits the dramatic arc.

Anyway, to my favourite feature of the film... MICHAEL FASSBENDER as the peculiar Mr. Rochester. He is simply dreamy. He is so DREAMY! I could barely breathe in some scenes. His eyes and his deep, warm voice... oh that gaze! I'm dying, yes I am!!! His sarcastic/hurtful lines are well delivered, his corny lines are seriously delivered, yes, you may laugh, but you NEVER doubt his sincerity... his ROMANTIC lines... I mean Mia Wasikowska deserves some sort of award for her ability to not faint in these scenes! I mean I'm absolutely jealous of her, but they have EXPLOSIVE chemistry... okay, no spoilers...

Another accessible feature of this adaptation is its wonderful sense of humour ,sometimes, not necessarily intentional. I'll let you find out for yourself.

To conclude, the film hints a 'darker' side [to it], but never trails into this rocky path, and risk falling into the genre of MELODRAMA. Oh ALMOST FORGOT! Final praise for the director, he knows exactly what this film should be, and when the film's creepy/eerie atmosphere loses its effect, he casually tosses it in the trash (unlike some... *cough cough* SHUTTER ISLAND... I'm kidding, sort of, I haven't finished watching it). This adaptation is as accessible to the audience as the great new show DOWNTON ABBEY ... maybe even more so, as Jane Eyre has an undeniable fire that compels us (no pun intended, although not a bad pun).

P.S. You can see that I've included MANY photos; it's obvious that I'm one of the film's advertisers (KIDDING... wish I was).

THE DARK KNIGHT

Yes, I know I KNOW that everyone has seen the DARK KNIGHT, loves it and worships CHRIS NOLAN. Point is, it's the best film yet in the BATMAN franchise! Was it nominated for Oscars? Of course. Was it nominated for Best Picture? WHY NOT?

It was a VERY TIGHT YEAR; you know it's crowded when CHANGELING and DOUBT weren't even nominated for Best Picture. Even in the Best Actress category, it was crowded. Of course it was really down to Kate Winslet (The Reader) and Angelina Jolie (Changeling), not that Meryl Streep's portrayal of a strict Catholic nun wasn't pitch perfect (I'm serious, I've seen DOUBT a million times... it's amazing). I haven't seen Melissa Leo's FROZEN RIVER and Anne Hathaway's RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, but their performances look quite riveting. POINT IS, crowded year, and guess who won... SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (BOO)! I'm sorry but I've never 'warmed' up to that film, and CHANGELING is one of my all time favourites (but it wasn't... I DIGRESS). Point is (I keep drifting off the darn point, gosh), I thought BENJAMIN BUTTON should've won. PERIOD.

Back to my ORIGINAL POINT, The Dark Knight missed out (as many other great films did). After that year, the Oscars extended its Best Picture's nominees list to 10 slots (instead of 5), but now they're changing the rules again. So poor Harry Potter may not be able steal a nomination, BUT I SWEAR TO GOD IF ALAN RICKMAN ISN'T NOMINATED... good air in, bad air out.

Anyway, this POST is about the greatness of THE DARK KNIGHT. Since everyone has seen it, I'd like to highlight three things that affected ME most (I'm egocentric that way... suck it up)!

Heath Ledger's (R.I.P) performance as the maniacal JOKER is simply perfect. He lives to see the world burn, and aside from the make-up and those lips *shudder* you can SEE the FIRE in his eyes. Ledger truly embodies this crazy clown, and him wearing a NURSE's uniform... too funny. Even his accent is in character and the way he enunciates words... and how could I forget, his forced laugh 'oh hee ha ha oh hee'. I'm glad that Oscar went to him or I would have to write a whole other post to express my... 'displeasure'.

The scene of the two ferries restored my hope in humanity, what little hope the film's 'terrifying' atmosphere had initally SQUASHED.

Lastly (OF COURSE), the wonderfully shot action scenes. Chris Nolan has a REAL talent for filming adrenaline-inducing action scenes, his chase scenes are quite authentic and thus VERY enjoyable. I mean when I watched it last night, I had to STAND and watch (when it came to these scenes). The Batmobile and all those gears... they never lose their lustre do they? I think that's why Batman is my favourite superhero. Needless to say, the cast is superb. Especially since they replaced Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhal, thank god or I would have had to simultaneously watch and vomit. Oh Heath Ledger WOW, oh Katie Holmes WHERE'S MY BAG? I NEED A BAG!

P.S. I don't care what people say, CHRISTIAN BALE is the perfect batman. Why? Have you seen him with a shirt off (and not just that)? Point is, if the new Batman film (coming out next year?) is just as great, I'll be very very VERY pleased.

AND ALL THAT JAZZ!

YES, I am aware that CHICAGO was released way back in 2002 (prior to the loss of my innocence... long story), but I NEED TO REVIEW THIS MUSICAL. YES, I love it THAT much! MOULIN ROUGE! is the only other musical film in the same league, of course I haven't seen Cabaret, the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins... MY GOD, shame on me. Dream Girls... delightful, love Jennifer Hudson, but er... not in the same league.

ANYWAY, this review is all about CHICAGO! As per usual, I will first praise/trash the cast. This cast is DIVINE, SUPREME and ALL THAT JAZZ. Renee Zellweger is perfect as the 'pretty blonde' who is obsessed/infatuated with fame and 'performing'; it's sad that I can intimately connect with her... only says too much about me, hehe. Richard Gere is SPOT ON as the cocky and manipulative lawyer and the sexy CATHERINE ZETA JONES is only too great as the one and only VELMA KELLY (no wonder she won an oscar for this role). Queen Latifah's pitch perfect (in everyway) delivery of 'When You're Good To Mama' deserves a special mention; oh she is definitely the "biggest mother hen"!

The musical numbers and the choreography truly set the BENCHMARK for musicals; exciting and, when appropriate, sombre. The film simultaneously illustrates Chicago, circa 1924, and Roxie's (Zellweger) glamourised version of life; the great thing is that in both worlds, life is fickle and no one can independently scab more than fifteen minutes of fame... it seems things never change.

The costumes are beautiful and the cinematography pleasures and seduces the eyes. Oh almost forgot, John C. Reilly's rendition of 'Mister Cellophane' succintly conveys his humiliation and vulnerability; it is indeed effective acting. I think that's why I love this film, it is able to mesmerise us with the sparkles, but touches us (not in a weird way, well... I digress) as it emphasises the vulnerability that lives within each and everyone of us. Even the glamorous Velma Kelly has her moments of 'ripped stocking' (no, not in a good way). The line 'nothing stays in fifty years or so it's gonna change, you know', from the wonderfully catchy song NOWADAYS, pin-points the film's message - life is fragile and ever-changing. Yes, APPRECIATE IT!

Taye Diggs' occasional commentary (in Roxie's version of life, where she perceives life as an on-going act... I hope I'm CLEAR) is a nice touch, reminds me of the 'master of ceremonies' in Cabaret... yes I've at least seen the trailer.

Bottom line: before you rush out to LEGALLY rent/purchase the OFFICIAL DVD, be prepared to be RAZZLE DAZZLED!

P.S. please do take notice of my the song titles that I implemented as part of my review!