[100M] Elizabeth, Casablanca
51 - ELizabeth
September 4th, DVD
The costumes and hair in this are amazing. Very detailled, and reminiscent of famous paintings and absolutely stunning every time.
There were so many fascinating second characters in this it makes me want to read more about that time, because I odn't know much and it was really interesting. But probably heavily romanced (not Shakespeare in love-heavily). I especially liked Geoffrey Rush and Christopher Eccleston's characters (and their acting didn't hurt either)
Many times, it's filmed from above, or through a curtain, a door, anything, which could be annoying but I enjoyed here because it's all spying and comploting stories and it fits so well. Also, the light is gorgeous, and generally I thought it was very well done.
Cate Blanchett is amazing. I have no idea why Gwyneth Paltrow won the Oscar this year. Everything is Elizabeth is better. Excepted Joseph Fiennes part that's smaller. But Cate Blanchett is fantastic, and I don't think I ever saw her being anything less.
Joseph Fiennes... I know I cheated on you with your brother last week but I still love you. Honnestly, he's the one actor I have no idea if he's any good, because everytime he appears, my brain shuts down. He's really, really hot. Excepted in Goodbye Bafana but I hope he'll get better. Because I want to see more of his hotness. Anyway, it was nice seeing him again, and I was surprised, his part was far bigger than I expected. Speaking of hot people; there's Daniel Craig in this movie. In flowing priest cloacks. Nice.
WTF is Vincent Cassel character on ?
* * * (on a scale from 1 to 5)
(maybe one more because the costumes deserve their own)
52 - Casablanca
September 4th, DVD
No wonder this got so many awards and is still one of the greatest classics. I had never seen it before and was scared to be disappointed but it is so great. I loved how it never gives you more than is absolutely necessary and builds from there. It gives you little bits of the story before the big flashback, and it's a great one, when it could have been redundant, or cheesy.
The exposition voiceover already got me because it's three lines and gives you everything you need to know. I also realized how many movies copy this one. Parts of me knew it before but it's so obvious.
I loved the German singing vs Marseillaise scene. I almost cried at that point. I thought it worked really well AND gives you everything you need to know about how Lazzlo is some kind of amazing hero guy. The construction of the characters, like the story, is really good in this, you learn some bits, you see some others, and it seems like with almost nothing, you get characters that totally make sense.
Rick Blaine is a fantastic character. I had never seen Humphrey Bogart before and I knew I would love him from the first shot of his hands. Of course, it's once again for me the Rhett Bulter effect, at least part of it, because he's such a sad character. And he doesn't want to be a part of the war, but he has to, and I loved, loved how he ends up.
I knew the ending before, obviously, and I'm all for romantic movies but this is about something so much bigger and it works and I was not even sad about the ending because it HAD TO.
The fashion, especially worn by Ingrid Bergman is beautiful. Her hats, her outfits, everything.
* * * * (on a scale from 1 to 5)
(I could probably rate it 5 stars if I had seen it in a theater and not on my couch. Not as a recent movie, but on a decent screen)
In the "great classic movies I should see", do you have anything to recommend first ? I am clearly lacking in this and would like to see more.