Greetings, programs, and welcome to another week on the Awesome Friday Podcast. In this episode, we dive into the neon-lit, glossy action comedy Brad Pitt spectacle Bullet Train and a tour de force performance from Cate Blanchett in Todd Field’s TÁR.
Join us!
Continue reading “Podcast: Bullet Train & Tar”
There is no question that prison is hard on a person, especially in countries like the United States, where the system is set up to be punitive rather than rehabilitative. A long stint can leave a person a shell of their former self unless they have something on the outside to hold on to. In The Unforgivable, that something is a younger sister that the main character isn’t allowed to see. In this circumstance, how do you go on?
Continue reading “Review: ‘The Unforgivable’ is at odds with itself but still works”
Love is in the air everywhere you look around. You’ve got the best of my love. I just can’t get enough of your love, babe. I don’t care who you are, where you’re from, what you did, as long as you love me. I don’t care what they say I’m in love with you. All you need is love. Might as well face it you’re addicted to love. Come and get your love. Can you feel the love tonight?
You can’t?
Don’t worry, you’re not alone. And there’s nothing wrong with that even if all the giant displays of red hearts and fluffy things and greeting cards and hand holding couples all over the mall are trying to tell you otherwise. There’s a lot of love in the world that doesn’t fit into cardboard boxes or perfectly co-ordinate with an arbitrary date in February.
Contrary to the current array of movies playing on television (AMC is playing Titanic back-to-back for 18 hours straight. The boat sank in 3.) there are also a lot of love stories in film. If you’re looking for something to watch tonight but don’t feel like crying alone while watching the Notebook (the tired stereotype of single women on this day), let me recommend some alternatives.
It’s time to interrupt the endless barrage of Christmas calories
that I seem intent on shoving down my throat as quickly as possible
seriously, it’s like Gluttony Man in Se7en
but I don’t have my body tied down,
my arms are wilfully ladling anything alcoholic or sweet or tasty into my mouth
like it’s going out of fashion
to round up what I think have been my personal favourite games and movies of 2013.
Continue reading “Simon’s Best Games And Movies Of The Year”
Gravity is [one of the better cinema going experiences we’ve had this year](https://awesomefriday.ca/2013/10/review-gravity/). There’s one pivotal scene in which Sandra Bullock’s character makes radio contact with the ground but rather than Houston as she’d hoped it’s with someone who doesn’t speak English on a short wave radio.
Now you can see the other side of that conversation. If you haven’t seen the film you may want to wait however this doesn’t spoil the plot of Gravity at all.
Continue reading “Watch This: Companion Short Film to Gravity”
The problem with converting books into movies (or into stage shows or comics or, less frequently, games) is that the medium has certain elements that cannot be recreated. The level of depth and flow of language can only ever be from a certain perspective when flipped into the flesh of a different storytelling vehicle. Ask any *Harry Potter* fan for their favourite entry in the series and they’ll soon light their eyes with elements of the book that the film didn’t capture. The wonderful thing about books is that often they tell a story in a way that could not be expressed as fully in any other medium. These are the ones that capture us and leave us breathless at the end, mourning for the closure of the final page.
What’s so special about *Gravity*, then, is that it is a film equivalent. This story, these characters, this situation – none could be told with the same level of effectiveness in any other form (books included). Not only an easy contender for film of the year, *Gravity* is one of the finest pieces of filmmaking you’ll ever see, and God help you, see it on the big screen. It is the true definition of a “cinema movie”, the white-eyed airless immersion a vital tool in director Alfonso Cuarón’s approach.
Gravity is a movie about a disaster in space and feature striking visuals in director Alfonso Cuaron’s signature style of long takes. It looks absolutely terrifying.
**Note:** I watched the whole trailer and while I won’t go so far as to say it contains spoilers I believe I saw some flashes from the third act that, even out of context, I’m not sure I wanted to see in a trailer. So proceed with caution.
Continue reading “New Gravity Trailer Continues On The Theme of My Worst Nightmare”
Remember the amazing long take sequences in _Children of Men_? It appears that director Alfonso Cuaron is going to give us more amazing single shot moments in his upcoming film Gravity. There’s two new trailers for the film now each of which is just one single shot from the movie and each of which is pretty much guaranteed to make you nauseous and want to see the film.
Let’s watch!
Continue reading “Awesome: Gravity One Shot Trailers and Poster”
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