My 15 Favourite Films Filled with Colour

Down here in NZ, Summer is just around the corner, and there's no better way of getting Summer into my system than by injecting some colour into my life. And you know one way that colour is used better than it is anywhere else? In films. So I decided to compile a list of films that use all of the colours of the rainbow extremely well. There are some films - like Shame or The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo - that use blue hues well, but there are other films that just go all out. And here they are (in alphabetical order):

(500) Days of Summer (2009), Dir. Marc Webb - Despite its summery title, (500) Days of Summer spends most of its time with warm autumn tones. However, thanks to Zooey Deschanel's beautiful blue eyes, Webb decided to dedicate some of the film's palette to the colour blue - as evident in the dance sequence. Plus, a good bit of the film's colour comes from the awesome clothes that Summer wears.

My Movie Biography: 2010 - The Year of Christopher Nolan

(2006, 2007, 2008, 2009) 2010 was such a messed up year. I'm not sure why, but I'm pretty sure I changed my personality about 5000 times, and everyone else changed 5000 times, too. After that year, I kinda swore not to let much bother me, and just take everything a little less seriously. It seems to be working out so far. Anyway, 2010 as it was in movies:

• I went on my first actual plane ride! I went down to Christchurch, which as you know, was left devastated by two earthquakes which occurred late in 2010 and early in 2011. It was my absolute favourite place in New Zealand, mainly because of this DVD store they had there called "Alice in Videoland". Seriously, that place was magical. There were like, all of these themed room for the DVDs. Like, the horror/sci-fi room was all dark and scary. They had so many classic DVDs. The whole place was seriously like another world...kinda like how I imagine heaven. Plus, I'm pretty sure they had every DVD known to man. Yes, there's a huge difference between that DVD store and our DVD store. Unfortunately, it was damaged during the earthquake, but earlier this year it relocated and opened with an arthouse cinema. I'm definitely going down there as soon as I can afford it.
• I saw Avatar. I'm sure that was supposed to be one of those life-changing things, but it really wasn't. I'm no Avatar hater, but I'm pretty sure I was more excited over this special Avatar cup I got at the cinemas. Sadly, that cup has disappeared. 
• Say what you want about The Hurt Locker, but Kathryn Bigelow winning that Oscar for Best Director actually changed my life. Up until that moment, I had always wanted to be an actress. But when Kathryn Bigelow won that award, I realised how few female directors there were. And I thought, "why do something everyone else is doing? Let's be a director!" I still hold on to that stupid dream now, but don't expect me to be the next Bigelow.
• I did happen to win an Oscar that year. Okay, not a real one. I was a part of our school production and I won an "Oscar" for being the best performer in our group. Is this foreshadowing? 

10 Movies I Wish I Had Made

As some of you may know, in the future I wish to become a director. But we all know that that's never going to happen, because basically everyone I've talked to about it has told me that I can't do it (well not everyone, but everyone has frowned upon my career choice). However, I am one of those people who will always "chase my dreams" because I don't want to end up being something boring like an English teacher (which is where I am headed, believe you me). Anyway, here's a taste of the films I wish I had made. Not because I think I could do a better job - because I don't think anyone could - but I just wish I'd thought of these ideas and be the woman behind these films. Basically, it's a taste of the kinds of films I'd like to make in the future if I continue to chase my dreams and avoid being an English teacher...

10. (500) Days of Summer

I'm quite an old-fashioned person. I like old ideas. But what I like even more is when they have a fresh spin on them, just like (500) Days of Summer does with the already worn-out romantic comedy. Also, something else I particularly like in films are non-linear story-lines, which you will see pop up quite a few times in this list. The way that (500) Days of Summer zips and zaps back and forth, whilst giving us all a lesson about love and avoiding clichés, is something which I find simply genius. I wish that I had thought of the expectations/reality scene, too.

9. The Disappearance of Alice Creed

While this movie isn't by any means perfect, it represents two particular things I about cinema: the power of minimal sets/characters and being as low-budget as they come. I love it when movies are deceivingly simple, but they have a few twists and turns which can't be expected. And when movies have extremely simple budgets, then I like them even more. I'd never want to be the one making movies for $200 million.

8. Revolutionary Road

One thing that has always interested me is 50's suburbia, and how people seemed so suffocated by it. The best example of that is Revolutionary Road, which also happens to be a movie about a disintegrating marriage - yet another thing I'd love to make a movie about. Yes, I'm a sick person. And another reason why I would have loved to have made this movie that has nothing to do with Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet? Having Michael Shannon steal the show.

7. The Double Life of Veronique

I just watched this movie yesterday, as I am becoming quite the Krzysztof Kieslowski fan. The Double Life of Veronique is an extremely clever movie which raises a lot of questions - most of those being existential questions. If there's one thing I love seeing in movies, it's existentialism. Oh, and it's beautiful to look at...not that I could ever emulate the beauty that Kieslowski was so good at creating.

6. An Education

An Education is a personal favourite of mine, which I probably love a lot more than anyone else. This is probably because this movie speaks to me on so many different levels - particularly when Jenny has her little speech about how education is boring and everybody is telling her to be bored. I don't know, it's a film which I find a lot of comfort and beauty in, and also a film which always makes me feel like studying and doing well at school...so obviously, I need to watch this movie again.

5. A Single Man

Okay, so I'm not as fashionable as Tom Ford, but I love style in movies. The more stylish, the better. Also, the more depressing, the better. Call me weird, but I quite like movies about suicide, and movies that make me feel extremely depressed. I am a happy person, though.

4. Blue Valentine

Again, here's a film with a non-linear storyline and a love story that's been given a different take. Oh, and it's another disintegrating marriage story. As I said in my review, this movie is "ingeniously depressing". Which is something that I'd love to try and do in the future.

3. Memento

Yes, this is my favourite film. I rewatched it the other day and all I can remember thinking is how much I wish I could have made this film. Obviously because of the non-linear narrative...that is bloody genius. Alas, I'm not as smart as Christopher Nolan and I'd probably end up getting confused with what I was trying to do. I could never make a film noir as smart as this one.

2. The Social Network

There is something about the internet that interests me so much, and if I can ever get around to writing this excellent screenplay I have lingering in my brain (it's not excellent) then it will have a lot to do with the way people use the internet. The Social Network has been described as the 'movie of our generation', and that's another thing that I'd love to try and do, because I'm all for our generation. Plus, I'd have lots of talking...I love listening to people talk.

1. The Virgin Suicides

While a lot of people may disagree, Sofia Coppola is one of my most favourite film-makers. She makes everything look romantic, while being perfectly simple at the same time. The Virgin Suicides is a very simple story of some teenage sisters who are suffocated by their parent's rules and simply being a teenager. There's something about being a teenager that fascinates me, and it's something which I'd love to make a film about. Or I would just love to be Sofia Coppola.

What are some movies that you wish that you had made? 

16 Days of Birthday, Day 9: "You like that movie?"

As many of you may know, I work at a video store. Working at a video store generally means that you often have to recommend movies a lot. Which just so happens to be the thing that I am worst at. Because, I'm pretty sure that nobody in Dannevirke has the same taste in movies as I do. And I'm not one of those old film snobs high on their pedestal...I'm just the teenager who is trying to avoid film snob status.

At the store we have these things called 'staff favourites'. We get a little square of paper and we stick a movie review on it because we really recommend it. Of course, me being me, I usually have the most of these. But I must say, many of the films I pick barely made it through a healthy cinema release, and aren't really considered 'mainstream' here. In fact, off the top of my head, the only 'mainstream' movies I can remember that I staff favourited are Inception, True Grit and The King's Speech.

Then again, Dannevirke being Dannevirke, 'mainstream' has a whole different meaning to what you think it is. The only films that fit into the mainstream category are pretty much just action flicks and gross out comedies. Meh, I like some of these movies, but not enough to staff favourite them. No, I'm more into picking the movies that everyone I know hates, but they were really well received by some of us film-lovers. I'm pretty sure that no one can really understand why a 15 year old girl would like such movies, but there you have it.

One of my proudest moments was when I staff picked Somewhere. You know the one - the really slow Sofia Coppola flick that really doesn't go anywhere. Okay, so maybe the staff pick was more of a warning. If I were to find another person within a 10 kilometre radius of my house that liked it, I would be more than surprised. But to me, while I notice the flaws in Somewhere and why most people hate it, the movie is a beautiful observation of Hollywood life. And guess what? It's done by someone who knows what they are talking about. Plus, Coppola's film-making style is so romantic...I couldn't help but love it. It probably did help that I watched Love and Other Drugs before slipping this in the player, and I was in quite an emotional state (that wasn't due to Love and Other Drugs...that movie was terrible).

A Single Man is another movie I picked. A lot of people I talked to said that it wasn't a very nice movie at all. Which is fair enough, because I'm sure that a movie that deals with death and depression and gay lovers isn't everyones cup of tea. But my goodness, I love this movie to bits. I think it's such a beautifully made and horribly sad movie which observes a day in the life of a fractured soul so well. Unfortunately, very few people I know have been able to see this. Maybe Tom Ford shoulda put some more bombs in it, eh?

The one movie people have a lot of trouble with me liking (though I wasn't around to staff pick it when it came out) is Brokeback Mountain. Now, I know a lot of you film-lovers really dig it, and it obviously should have won Best Picture back in 2006. But let me tell you a story of a customer who rented this movie out. She said she rented it out for a laugh. That's not all she said, though. She started going on about how "disgusting" the movie was and then embarked on a homophobic rant condemning the movie. I don't think I've ever been so angered by another human being in my presence ever in my life. First of all, Brokeback Mountain is one damn good movie with such brilliant performances and direction - plus, it's a moving love story, just as worthy as any other love story. And hey, if you don't like the choices that other people make, it doesn't mean you have the right to condemn it.

Anyway, while I tend not to like anything by Michael Bay or the latest Ashton Kutcher movie, I'm pretty happy with the movies I like. Because, to be honest, at least I'm getting the most out of my movie watching.

Any similar experiences to mine?

Top 10 movies that made me cry like a baby...

Up until late 2008, I used to think I was such a fearless child and I would never cry in any movie. Never. Then I watched a certain movie and it would seem that I can cry in just about any movie I watch. If one thing even remotely looks cryable I will probably turn on the waterworks. This sounds like a very melancholy list, if I do say so myself.

10. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

The end is inevitable, but the outcome is still so sad. However, possibly the saddest part about this movie is Benjamin's voiceover which takes a look at the people he had met during his unusual life:

"Some people, were born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people, dance."

Then we see water rushing through the train station up to the backwards clock. I couldn't think of a more heartbreakingly beautiful way to end a film.

9. A Single Man

There is no doubting that A Single Man is a pretty sad movie right the way through, as it is pretty much a quest for suicide from start to almost finish. But the end is so sad in the way that when someone finally reaches happiness, the world has to go and screw it up again. As George says, though, "Everything is exactly the way it's meant to be."

8. Australia

I've never really talked about this film or my fascination with Baz Luhrmann's films on the blog. I'm a huge fan of Baz Luhrmann's body of work, and even though this is particularly my least favourite, this made me cry the most out of any of them (and hey, Romeo + Juliet and Moulin Rouge! did make me cry a lot). In fact, when I saw it in cinemas about two years back, I think I cried on three separate occasions. It's such a soppy film, but amongst all that sop that I'm usually immune to, there's such raw emotion that I couldn't help to shed a tear for. The only thing was, I wasn't crying as much as the middle aged women three rows behind me. I suspect that had something to do with Hugh Jackman.

7. A Star is Born (1937)



Here is the movie that started it all. Back in late 2008, I settled in to watch A Star is Born, which I bought for $3.50 from a bargain bin at the Warehouse, not really knowing what to expect. Amidst all the really shonky technicolour which hadn't been enhanced for the DVD release, I found my eyes watering towards the end. That was pure shock for me, as I'd never felt that before. And considering this was the first version of this well-known story, I can't even begin to imagine what the Judy Garland version would be like.

6. Inception

Okay, I don't for the life of me know why I cry in this movie every bloody time I watch it. It isn't even that sad. Let's take a trip back to that Thursday night, July 22nd, 2010. I was pretty excited to see this movie. More than that, I just about had a heart attack every time I heard the word 'Inception' mentioned. So, I guess you could say I had high expectations for this movie. I think I cried on three separate occasions, but I can't remember exactly which ones. But by the end, I was bawling my eyes out, possibly from the fact that this movie exceeded my expectations. I actually walked out of the cinemas with tears streaming down my face and didn't stop shaking for like an hour. This may sound strange to all you sane people out there, but Inception hit me in such a weird way that it made me question my sanity.

5. Once Were Warriors

For those of you who aren't familiar with NZ cinema (i.e. all of you), Once Were Warriors is perhaps our most famous movie ever. And guess what? It is about domestic violence. It's pretty much the most disturbing piece of cinema I have ever had to put my innocent soul through, and I'm sure I came out of it damaged. While this is a fantastic film on so many levels, Once Were Warriors is probably one of the hardest films to watch. If you have seen it, I promise you that NZ isn't as violent as this movie makes it out to be, but unfortunately most of what it is saying is true in a lot of parts of this country. This disturbing truth is probably the reason why I found it so hard to keep my eyes dry.

4. Gone with the Wind

It's weird because it took me four watches of this movie to actually cry. I don't know why, but that fourth time this movie really hit me. And ever since, I have been bawling my eyes out during this. There's just something about Scarlett's struggles, Melanie's sweetness and Rhett's discontent that strikes a chord with me. I guess that's why they call Gone with the Wind such a feminine piece of film. And I also guess this film is the reason romantic dramas are so soppy these days.

3. Toy Story 3

I wouldn't say Toy Story 3 is a very sad film. It's just such a tearjerker. Watching the trilogy all together probably made the end of this one even more sad. You see these toys evolve, and soon they become your best friends. But when it all comes down to the end, it feels like a hole has been ripped out of your heart. Even though you know the toys are going to be safe at their new home, you can't help but feel sad because this is the end of an era. But it's a happy ending, all the same.

2. Revolutionary Road

This has to be one of my absolute favourite movies and favourite book, as well. I don't care if Titanic is supposed to be the saddest movie of all time or whatever, because I think this Leo DiCaprio-Kate Winslet outing made me cry the most. It's an ultra depressing film about the dreams of people stuck living a suburban life and a look at a couple on the brink of disaster. The way DiCaprio and Winslet play it out is simply beautiful, but the end is so devastating, and that all comes down to DiCaprio. When I see his face after he finds out what happens, I swear my heart shatters into a million pieces. Every single time.

1. Requiem for a Dream

Okay, so you know how most people watch this movie once and they're like "I'm never watching that movie again!" I was one of those people. Once this movie ended, I started crying uncontrollably. If there's any movie that changed my life, it was this one. However, I got forced to watch it again not so long ago. I warn you, this is not a good idea. Even though I knew what was going to happen, this film hit me like a million bricks. I literally cried for an hour, and then couldn't get to sleep for quite a while (it was 3am, mind you). Seriously, Requiem for a Dream is the most depressing film I have ever seen in my life. I literally feel like my innocence is gone now I have watched this. Some Christmas present this movie turned out to be. (Note: I actually do rank this as one of the best films I have ever seen)

Which movies make you bring out the tissues?

Better Late than Never: My Top 10 Movies from 2010

I've wondered whether I should even bother doing this list since it's now March. Then again, if the Academy can honour movies so 'late', then why can't I?
One of the movies I've chosen is classed as a 2009 film, but it came out here in cinemas in May and I finally saw it in September last year. So that's why it is here. The rest are all 2010 releases in America, and some only came out here this year, but they still get a mention.

Here are some honourable mentions:
True Grit, Nowhere Boy, The King's Speech, Winter's Bone, Me and Orson Welles, The Losers, Iron Man 2, Boy, The Hurt Locker, How to Train Your Dragon, Tangled, The Runaways, Cemetery Junction, Despicable Me, Harry Brown, Unstoppable, Tomorrow When the War Began, Easy A.

10. City Island

This tenth spot has caused me a lot of trouble. But I believe I have picked the right one in City Island. Gosh, I loved City Island. Such an underrated gem which should have been nominated for a screenplay award at the Oscars. It was that good.

9. Black Swan

I don't really need to say anymore than I have over the course of the awards season. Black Swan is beautiful. Darren Aronofsky is a master. Natalie Portman is brilliant. Mila Kunis is so goddamn good looking I want to cry.

8. 127 Hours

James Franco may have failed in hosting the Oscars, but he didn't fail in lifting this whole film on his own. Without Franco in the lead and Danny Boyle doing his amazing directing 127 Hours would have just been some weird film with a guy chopping off his arm. But no, 127 Hours suceeded in making me feel sick, making me love my arm even more and feel instantly uplifted. Too few films do that.

7. Kick-Ass

I know I'm obsessed with a movie when I watch one every day for a whole week (I am not joking). By now, everyone has forgotten about the crazy shenanigans of that 12 year old killing-machine Hit-Girl. Which is a shame because Kick-Ass is damn awesome.

6. A Single Man

I feel like this film should be a little higher up in the list, but there are only so many spots and so many films. I loved A Single Man. It was so heartbreaking and beautifully made by Tom Ford, not to mention the scene stealing jersey that Nicholas Hoult wears (haha). Jeez, everytime I think of this film I feel like crying. It's just so gorgeous.

5. Animal Kingdom



Damn, those Australians done good this time. When I first saw Animal Kingdom, I wasn't overly impressed by it, but then I saw it again and I fell head over heels for it. It has such terrific structure and narrative which gives it this 'pizzazz' which stops it from feeling like another generic crime movie.

4. Toy Story 3

How could you not love Toy Story 3? I mean, there's that scene, at the end, when Andy...(excuse me while I cry into my laptop which will explode soon since it isn't water resistant...)

3. Scott Pilgrim vs. the World

Scott Pilgrim vs the World is the bomb. The caffiene fuelled, eye popping, totally funny bomb. There are simply no more words I can use to describe my love for this film.

2. The Social Network

Yes, I would have rather seen this movie win Best Picture over The King's Speech. It really is the film of our generation. And I just got my 2 disc collector's edition of it! I'm so happy I could die! I finally have my eighth favourite film of all time in my hot little hands!

1. Inception

Yeah, I know how much you were expecting to see Sex and the City 2 here. Sorry to surprise you with this one being number one. I'm Stevee Taylor, I'm a Christopher Nolan-aholic, it's unhealthy, but I don't give a crap. Inception is one frickin' awesome movie, and I won't have anyone tell me otherwise.

5 Favourite Screencaps Meme: A Single Man

Meme is a rather funny word, and I've never really got the jist of what it really means. Anyway, over at fellow blogging site Tumblr, there is a meme making the rounds known as the '5 Favourite Screencaps' meme, where a person will pick a movie and pick five awesome shots. I plan to do a series of these, and need some recommendations/requests. Particularly of movies I have seen. Just leave some requests in the comments, please.

Anyway, the first edition is of one of my favourite movies - photographically speaking - A Single Man. Since I watched it for the first time in ages last night, I felt this would be a good film to start on.

And here they are all together in a collage:

As I said, I WANT REQUESTS! And this will be no fun without anyone else. Feel free to take this meme and meme it on your site too!

Shooting A Single Man

Being made by a fashion designer, Tom Ford, A Single Man was always going to be a beautifully dressed up movie. There are scenes in this movie which seem to perfectly describe the whole movie with their lyrical beauty and spellbinding nature. This movie is the perfect example of why fashion and movies should get together more often.


George finds himself, waking up from what looks like a restless sleep, which a jar of ink spilled over his sheets. He dabs a bit of ink on his finger and puts it up to his lips. I don't know exactly what it is about that scene, whether it be the sadness we are feeling for a character we barely even know yet, or the sheer profoundness we have of loneliness and our ability to connect to his situation. Seeing George, lying there, thinking about taking the first step to his day, is something that we all understand, but it isn't a feeling we like to feel often.


Ah, the beauty of Julianne Moore is enough to make me weak. Here, unlike George, her character is thrown at us in the first minutes she appears. She seems like an uptight drama queen who likes to party and does so to forget about her miserable past life. Charley may be aging, but she knows exactly what life is and knows how she wants to spend it, even if that means trying in the hardest way to get what she wants. This scene shows that...the way she leans back, deeply pleased with herself, in that sort of 'I just got what I want' kind of way.

One of the things I love about A Single Man is that it is an observation of a day, and doesn't spare any moments which would have been cut in a more precisely edited film. George's commute to work-a slow motion piece down his street-adequately shows his relationships with the people he sees most: his neighbours. His observations of them is that Mrs. Strunk is a highly strung housewife who can't help but feel a little disappointed with her life. If she had her way, she would still be a singer. Instead, she has a few kids (one which is a little brat) and a husband to tend to. George feels sorry for their lives, as they are living within the limits of a suburban lifestyle. Sounds a little like Revolutionary Road, yes?


I love these two. Well, mostly Nicholas Hoult. Every time they appear together on screen they are like real-life models on a magazine page. They're young, they're insanely good-looking, and they are hip. Lois is pretty much a walking cigarette ad, and Kenny is just a picture of innocence and beauty. I still don't get their relationship they had going on, but who cares? They're very good to look at, so nothing else matters.


The scene where George meets Mrs. Strunk and her daughter in town is a very interesting one. Jennifer, the daughter, approaches George innocently but you can tell she feels a little threatened by his quiet and often distant nature. This scene only makes the whole thing even more sad because Jennifer obviously wants to get to know her neighbour a bit better; Mrs. Strunk invites him around to a party, an invitation which he rejects because...well, you know why. I'm sure George continues to feel sorry for their lives: sweet natured people trapped in a suburban dream. I feel sorry for Mrs. Strunk. I mean, look at how wonderful she looks? And look at how bored she is with her life.

This is my personal favourite shot of the whole movie. The contrast of the pink Californian sky (seen later in the same scene) and this huge billboard for Psycho is literally one of the most beautifully disturbing things I have ever seen. I guess this background sort of symbolizes George's annoyance with life and how everybody sees him (because he is gay). Major WIN for the art design department!

Carlos. That's all I have to say about that.


The suicide kit. Everything George needs to end his life. This shot is so sombre but also has a dark humour to it: George is very organized and ensures that he goes out with a bang (get it? Okay, I know that was bad taste...)

Charley is the epitome of a flawed masterpiece. On the outside, she seems perfect; however, the cracks of her past and the aging that is seeping through them are starting to show. This adequately describes her character. Charley regrets most of her life, has decided now that she wants to get the most out of it while she still can, and has a longing love for her friend George, someone she knows she can't have. She's almost like a teenager trapped inside an adults body.


Two fractured souls in a conversation, mainly about all the things they regret in life. I really hope that one day I don't turn out like either of them. But I think that's what we are all destined for.


Nicholas Hoult and that sweater! Usually, a simple sweater doesn't completely compliment a character, but in this case it does. That sweater pretty much makes sure the camera can caress Nicholas Hoult's face and give him all the charm and innocence in the world. What that sweater does is devestatingly beautiful. And I'm pretty sure it symbolizes peace in George's life since Kenny seems like an almost God-like figure in the unfurling of George's day. Kenny meant the difference between George's depression and George's eventual happiness.


George comes to the realization that life is still worth living and has undone the whole movie for us. I felt really happy then, like all that weight had been lifted off my shoulders.


But...kill me now. Thanks for making me cry for hours.