Tag: film

Film Review: “Brave” Strikes a Bullseye

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn FilmLeave a comment

Hear ye, hear ye! Disney and Pixar’s latest animated feature film hits right on target!

From the dream team that brought us classics such as Toy Story, Up, and Monsters, Inc. comes Brave, a tale set in a medieval Scottish kingdom with Princess Merida of the Dunbroch clan at the helm of all the action. Merida is an unconventional princess who defies the prim and proper ways of a young lady, as she prefers exploring the great outdoors to practicing her royal duties within the walls of her family’s castle. When she discovers that she is soon to be betrothed to a suitor from a neighbouring clan, the headstrong heroine is determined to do whatever it takes to change her fate, leading her to unleash a magical spell that may threaten the lives of her family and her kingdom. Merida sets off on an adventure to undo the curse and faces the most challenging test of her boldness and bravery.

If that synopsis is not enough to incite you into the theatres, here are my seven reasons as to why Brave deserves a big ‘Bravo!’

Continue reading at The Hudsucker.

Film Review: The World is Watching The Hunger Games

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn FilmLeave a comment

The world is watching The Hunger Games.

Suzanne Collins’s gripping series of a dystopian society whose government marches their children off to fight to the death has hit the big screen. The adaptation captures the essence of Panem and its districts, the control of the Capitol, and the brutality of the arena – all while foreshadowing how the game of survival eventually ripples into the start of a rebellion. Riveting and real, the film retains the book’s intensity and sensitivity through naturalistic execution, from the swift camera movements to the stellar sound editing. Jennifer Lawrence leads the cast of exceptional actors. Her portrayal of the bold and brave Katniss Everdeen sets a new standard for empowered female characters.

Caution: The Hunger Games is sure to be a hot ticket at the theatres this month. Run, don’t walk, to the nearest showing, and may the odds be ever in your favor!

Highlights from the 2012 Oscars

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn Entertainment, FilmLeave a comment

As I have expressed in my previous posts on the Golden Globes, 2011 was one of my favourite years for film. On this Oscar Sunday, the 84th Annual Academy Awards brought this incredible 2012 awards season to a close, giving Hollywood one last chance to recognize the great cinematic achievements of the past year.

These were some of my favourite moments from tonight’s ceremony…

  • The Artist winning the biggest award of the evening, Best Picture, along with Best Director (Michel Hazanavicius), Best Actor (Jean Dujardin), and Best Original Score (and Best Animal for Uggie… what do you mean that category doesn’t exist? Give a dog a bone, won’t ya?). As my friend Tania says, “to carry a story solely through expression and direction is art.”
  • Martin Scorsese’s Hugo scoring the most trophies in five art and technical categories: Cinematography, Art Direction, Visual Effects, Sound Editing, and Sound Mixing. The magic of Hugo is in the captivating cinematic experience it offers its audience.
  • The Muppets winning Best Original Song for “Man or Muppet”, which is one of the funniest musical numbers I have ever seen!
  • Octavia Spencer winning an Oscar for her Supporting Actress role in The Help and accepting her well-deserved award with tremendous emotion.
  • Meryl Streep receiving her third Oscar for her role as Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. While I was convinced that Viola Davis would win for her performance in The Help, it was a tough roll between all of the magnificent women nominated in this category. Meryl’s gracious and graceful acceptance speech reminded us of why she is one of Hollywood’s most beloved actresses.
  • Christopher Plummer finally getting his first Oscar for Best Supporting Actor in Beginners. He makes history as the oldest actor to receive an Academy Award at the age of 82. Yay, Captain Von Trapp!
  • Always a bittersweet favourite is the In Memoriam segment of the show. Esperanza Spalding delivered a stunning rendition of What a Wonderful World as the photo montage played. It was surreal seeing Whitney Houston among the list of great talents who have left us. Has it really been a year since Elizabeth Taylor passed away?
  • Presenters like Robert Downey Jr, Gwenyth Paltrow, Emma Stone, Ben Stiller, Chris Rock, Kermit the Frog and Miss Piggy (can they please host next year’s Oscars?), and the cast of Bridesmaids conjuring up some laughs to entertain the audience members and viewers at home.

 

“You’re only two years older than me, darling. Where have you been all my life?”
– Christopher Plummer

The Bechdel Test for the 2012 Oscars

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn Entertainment, FilmLeave a comment

Last year, three of the films nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards featured women in its leading roles (Black Swan, Winter’s Bone, The Kids Are All Right).

This year, the frontrunner for many of the awards at tomorrow’s Oscars is The Help, a movie which features a cast of strong female characters. But are women truly making gains in Hollywood in terms of female representation?

In the video above, Feminist Frequency’s Anita Sarkeesian applies Allison Bechdel‘s Bechdel Test to the 2012 Best Picture nominees to assess the presence of female roles in these acclaimed motion pictures. To pass the test, a film must fulfill three requirements: It must 1) have at least two female characters 2) who talk to each other 3) about something other than a man.

While the test does not determine the quality of a film, the evaluation of gender bias in current movies does bring to light the systemic problem within the Hollywood film industry. Many of the films we see cater to the interests of men and fail to tell women’s stories as they really are – complex and interesting. After looking at the Bechdel Test Movie List, an online database of films measured by the test, I am astonished over how so many popular movies do not meet the simple requirements of the test. This makes the under- and mis-representation of women in the film industry a glaring reality.

The next time you watch a movie (or even your favourite television show), consider the Bechdel Test and see which ones pass and which ones flunk.

View the original Bechdel Test for Women in the Movies video here.
See more conversations on Pop Culture at Feminist Frequency.

Tom Hardy the Film Warrior

On By Elizabeth Rosalyn TheIn Entertainment, FilmLeave a comment
Ever since I had the pleasure of meeting actor Tom Hardy on the set of the romantic comedy, This Means War back in 2010, I have vowed to watch as many of his films as possible. I assure you, this is not the easiest commitment, since many of his UK-based projects are hard to find and many of his films in general contain heavy and graphic subject matter I am not used to seeing, but being the devoted fan I am to the entertainers I support, I do it anyway.

Continue reading “Tom Hardy the Film Warrior” →