Monday, January 31, 2011

Bright Star (2009)


Director: Jane Campion

It's 1818 in Hampstead Village on the outskirts of London. Poet Charles Brown lives in one half of a house, the Dilkes family who live in the other half. Through their association with the Dilkes, the fatherless Brawne family know Mr. Brown. The Brawne's eldest daughter, Fanny Brawne, and Mr. Brown don't like each other. She thinks he's arrogant and rude, and he feels that she is pretentious, knowing only how to sew (admittedly well as she makes all her own fashionable clothes), flirt and give opinions on subjects about which she knows nothing. Insecure struggling poet John Keats comes to live with his friend, Mr. Brown. Miss Brawne and Mr. Keats have a mutual attraction to each other, a relationship which however is slow to develop in part since Mr. Brown does whatever he can to keep the two apart. But other obstacles face the couple, including their eventual overwhelming passion for each other clouding their view of what the other does, Mr. Keats' struggling career which offers him little in the way of monetary security (which will lead to Mrs. Brawne not giving consent for them to marry), and health issues which had earlier taken the life of Mr. Keats' brother, Tom.




Friday, January 28, 2011

My Name Is Joe (1998)


Director: Ken Loach

Two thirtysomethings, unemployed former alcoholic Joe and community health worker Sarah, start a romantic relationship in the one of the toughest Glasgow neighbourhoods.



Tuesday, January 25, 2011

Dreams (1955)


Director: Ingmar Bergman

Two women, a fashion editor nearing her mid-thirties and a model who's just twenty, go to Gothenburg for a photo shoot. Suzanne calls her lover, desperate to see him. Doris, the model, is stopped on the street by an elegant older man who offers to buy her the gown she is eyeing in a boutique window. Later that day, each women meets up with her man, and seduction seems imminent until each is interrupted by another woman, in one case, a wife, in another, a daughter. Desire and self-respect, aging and failure play out in both encounters. Suzanne and Doris look for lessons learned, and an unlikely friendship evolves.



Monday, January 24, 2011

Black Swan (2010)


Director: Darren Aronofsky

Nina (Portman) is a ballerina in a New York City ballet company whose life, like all those in her profession, is completely consumed with dance. She lives with her obsessive former ballerina mother Erica (Hershey) who exerts a suffocating control over her. When artistic director Thomas Leroy (Cassel) decides to replace prima ballerina Beth MacIntyre (Ryder) for the opening production of their new season, Swan Lake, Nina is his first choice. But Nina has competition: a new dancer, Lily (Kunis), who impresses Leroy as well. Swan Lake requires a dancer who can play both the White Swan with innocence and grace, and the Black Swan, who represents guile and sensuality. Nina fits the White Swan role perfectly but Lily is the personification of the Black Swan. As the two young dancers expand their rivalry into a twisted friendship, Nina begins to get more in touch with her dark side - a recklessness that threatens to destroy her.





Tuesday, January 18, 2011

Milou en Mai (1990)


Director: Louis Malle

Against the background of the 1968 student unrest, Milou's children, grandchildren, in-laws, and assorted others gather at his vineyard for his mother's funeral. To start with everyone is squabbling over the inheritance but gradually the countryside, the May weather, and life with unexpected shortages engender a more relaxed mood, even when the funeral is postponed indefinitely by a striking cleric.



Monday, January 17, 2011

Drop Dead Fred (1991)


Director: Ate de Jong

A young woman who's attempting to find her place in the world battles with her controlling mother and a womanizing husband finds comfort and confusion with the appearance of her childhood friend. It is a zappy movie that emphasizes self-actualization.



Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Pretty in Pink (1986)


Director: Howard Deutch

Young Andie is one of the not-so-popular girls in high school. She usually hangs out with her friends Iona or Duckie. Duckie has always had a crush on her, but now she has met a new guy from school, Blane. He's one of the rich and popular guys but can the two worlds meet?




Factory Girl (2006)


Director: George Hickenlooper

A beautiful, wealthy young party girl drops out of Radcliffe in 1965 and heads to New York to become Holly Golightly. When she meets a hungry young artist named Andy Warhol, he promises to make her the star she always wanted to be. And like a super nova she explodes on the New York scene only to find herself slowly lose grip on reality...



Thursday, January 6, 2011

The Thief (1997)


Director: Pavel Chukhraj

In 1946, a soldier fathers a child then dies before its birth. Jump to 1952: on a train, the child and his mother meet a handsome soldier who makes a play for her. She accepts. Posing as a married family, the soldier finds them a rooming house where he becomes everyone's favorite through his good looks and generosity. Meanwhile he gives the boy, Sanya, lessons in life: to fight back, to win at all costs. The child's mother, Katya, is head-over-heels in love with Tolyan, the soldier, but the relationship becomes rocky when Tolyan's true plans for the rooming house become clear. It starts them on a treadmill of flight that risks Katya's life, Tolyan's liberty, and Sanya's trust.



Monday, January 3, 2011

Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982)


Director: Amy Heckerling

Follows a group of high school students growing up in southern California, based on the real-life adventures chronicled by Cameron Crowe. Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner are looking for a love interest, and are helped along by their older classmates, Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, respectively. The center of the film is held by Jeff Spicoli, a perpetually stoned surfer dude who faces off with the resolute Mr. Hand, who is convinced that everyone is on dope.