Review: Travels With My Aunt

Last week was abit wishy washy, as there was no usual Wednesday post, there was but not the Peppermint Friday way post if that makes sense. I did touch on something I'm really happy that I touched on and thats women in film, the posts I did were both involving Elizabeth Taylor and Tennessee Williams, and I spoke alot about the women in those stories. So we're gonna carry it on and it was a long time coming so thats what we're gonna do. This weekend I watched Travels With My Aunt, with Maggie Smith and Alec McCowen and thats what we're gonna talk about today.

Travels With My Aunt is about a man called Henry Pulling who's mother has just died (Alec McCowen) and at the funeral his Aunt Augusta played by Maggie Smith who says she raised him and not his mother. She has an African boyfriend called Zachery who is waiting for her, she is then received a package containing a served finger who belongs to her true love Ercole along with a note saying they will be reunited with payment of $100,000. Augusta asks if Henry can accompany her to Paris aware that she is has pay ransom, and its just as the title suggests 'Travels with my Aunt'

Firstly it has Maggie Smith in it, so you're immediately gonna enjoy it, plus its Maggie Smith as more of herself than anything you know what I mean if you watched her in interviews particularly back in the day. She's so acid tongue and witty, that's the Maggie that isn't shown that often and thats why I love it so much. Alex McCowen plays the opposite of Maggie Smith's character Augusta, he's shy, straight guy in the comedy. The character dynamic is amazing love how different they are to each other and it makes it so much more funny. The costumes are amazing aswell, love all the clothes Maggie wears in this film, its set in the 70's and that's an interesting and fun era of fashion and film. The fact that Henry is younger than Augusta and he's much more mature is one of the things that makes me love Augusta and Maggie Smith that much more shes's internally youthful.

The minor characters they meet on the journeys are just wonderful, they're such full of colour. Tooley is a firm favorite she's so quirky and adorable one of my favorite scenes was when she was flirting and encouraging Henry to smoke marijuana. She reminds me of Danielle Foussard from To Catch A Thief that cheeky, funny, slightly naughty girl and that kinda character is always fun to me. All the interesting funny peculiar people they encounter are just so brilliant, like the Taxi driver they meet as soon as they get to Paris he's so positive and can't speak that much English its so accurate its hilarious because we've all met someone like that when we go to different countries and its so bonkers you've gotta laugh at it. 

There is a serious side to it in terms of Augusta and the genuine of her being Henry's Aunt as it can be wishy washy, because throughout the film you're questioning whether or not she's his Aunt, but I'd like it to be one of those make of it what you will moments of film and storytelling. Another serious part of the story is, the problem with Augusta's relationships and how she feels about them. I loved that Augusta has that mind of an 18 year old, and doesn't give a thought about long term marriages, and focusing on the hear and now of relationships and flings. I just hope that I'm like that when I'm at that age. Adding that the 1970's of film and I think I've said this before, but its quite a serious era of film I feel it had much more of the dialogue and styles we see now, and I haven't seen that many 1970s films so its a good one to watch of those who haven't seen many. 

                                                                    
If you watched The Lady In The Van or read the review I did #promo then you'll see the similarities of characters in them both. Maggie is a fantastic Actress and if you loved The Lady In The Van then you'll love this film, just think of Travels with my Aunt as a younger version of Maggie in The Lady In The Van. Alec McCowen was amazing in it, just total opposites from each other, and I love that, just found out Alec McCowen past away only a month ago, so RIP. Give this film a go as its so funny with its witty lines, and brilliant Acting talents from Maggie Smith and Alec McCowen. 

Review: Donnie Darko

Its a gonna be a Sc-Fi week this time, as well why not. I thought I'd start with the Cult Classic Donnie Darko, as thats a Sc-Fi but also its a teen film aswell so thats a nice sub-genre to have.

It takes place in the 1980s, Virginia where a teenager called Donnie Darko played by Jake Gyllenhal who is very troubled. Suddenly when he's in bed at night he is led by a figure who calls himself Frank who tells Donnie that the world with end in 28 days. In the morning he comes home to find a jet engine crashed into his room his sister Elizabeth played by Maggie Gyllenhaal who is his sister in real life tells him no one knows how it happen.

After the incident that occurred to Donnie he is then, stalked by Frank throughout the film. He begins to start a romance towards a new girl in his class called Gretchen who has changed her identity form her previous town. Donnie's teacher is Karen Pomeroy who is played by Drew Barrymore, and is very relaxed, her attitude is annoyed by some of the teachers. From what Donnie's experience at the beginning of the film his attitude is changed, and it affects everyone in the film. Patrick Swayze is in it as the motivational speaker who in some ways was the comic relief of the film

I love how complicated this film was, and I was impressed by Jake's performance as a troubled teenger with something else to be bothered by, as if being a teenager wasn't hard enough, throw in a thing called Frank who stalks him and talks to him and only him. If you thought that Inception was confusing and just a giant mind fuck then watch this, because oh god it goes from one end to the other. The cameo of a young Seth Rogan is seen aswell, and that's something I loved to watch.

The dialogue is brilliant and so clever, every line is said so brilliantly. I love all the extras in the background just as much as I liked Donnie, as its so naturalistic and effortless. I know that some people might think that extras don't do anything because they're not centre stage, but I love scenes where in a classroom and one person's talking and it could be something so boring, and the shot where everyone is just watching them. Its something that I love to notice in films and TV, its nice to see what they're doing or facial expressions they're doing. 

                                                         
However I thought Gretchen was a bit wet, but in some ways I can understand it as with two romantic people, and one is a strong character that's Donnie who is very strong with he as a character and we get him, with who he is. Whereas with Gretchen she is a bit lackluster if that makes sense, I just didn't really get her as a character. Overall I did enjoy this film, and I would watch it again, not my favorite but that's fine. I liked the Sc-Fi part of it being psychological, and the other part is very Coming Of Age based, and I like films that do that where all sorts of things happen in one go.

Frank was a character that I love alot, as he is a very rare character that I don't see often with films. I love the silent treatment he gave Donnie, as it wasn't as if Frank wanted him to die or was torturing him in a way. But it was the sudden voices of Frank in his head, similar to a mental illness in a way, and thats what I loved about that. It can get quite angsty in some places of the film, but that is expected from the teenager aspect of the film. 

I adore this film, and the unique elements of the film from the styling to the fascinating script. The mix of teenagers and sc-fi was the perfect amount for the film, and what it is meant to say. Definitely give this film a watch as you won't regret it, or find anything else quite like it again.

Review: Clue

So this week is abit of a weird one, as this does happen every now and again where my brain can't decide what to do. Where I have no idea what to write about, and or I haven't been watching that much films, because its either I watch TV Shows or I'm abit too busy to watch films that week.

 Anyway on with the review so last week I watch alot of Cagney & Bogart films and they are amazing but they're very serious and crime oriented and I did say this week will be lighter. So I'm gonna talk about Clue one of my favorite films!

Clue is a film thats about the game Cluedo, its about 6 guests who come into a big beautiful house, and suddenly there's a murder like the game Cluedo obviously. Its a hilarious farce and I love farces, as they're aren't that many anymore. It has the amazing Tim Curry who is brilliant as always, being the waiter he in some ways is like the detective. Its nice to see Tim Curry play a character who's completely different from what I've seen before.

The characters are so funny and full of life, I love Mr Green as he is just so awkward and funny, one of my favorite scenes is where everyone has sat down and Mr Green is finding a place to sit and just sits on a table, and it breaks its one of moments where it never gets old and when I first watched it I couldn't stop laughing. 

The film is such a classic and easy to watch, its an interesting concept because theres not that many films that are based off games, as they're usually based off TV Shows, and Books so its nice to see a change. Plus the characters are already quite colourful and all they need is a good storyline and good actors to portray them. With this film it could've gone either way, it could be absolutely awful and a giant cringe fest, or brilliantly funny, and entertaining.

Despite the fact that it is a comedy and very physical with the humour along with witty lines. Its still remains as a mystery, as you don't really know who did it even as the film goes on where you have an idea. Everyone in the film is different in there characters but they're all the same when it comes to revealing information and being clueless. 

                                                               
This film is so British to me even though its set in New England and most of the actors are American, it reminds of Fawlty Towers, and George and Mildred the physical comedy and the light insults between characters when it became too intense. I adore this film so so much, as it makes me laugh everytime without me getting bored of it, and its a cult classic for a reason and I will do a post on Cult Classics as they are so good, and some of my favorite films are Cults. But everyone needs to watch this film, I'm like Tim Curry in this gif for this film.

The dialogue is brilliant, and the physical comedy is on point, the looks at camera angles just the whole thing and what it set out to do is the best. Everyone in this film was amazing at each of there jobs, I urge everyone to watch this film, guarantee it will knock your socks off. 

Peppermint Friday Review #17: Persepolis

In my last post I said that this film was going to be not for kids, as its an Animation but believe me it is not by far.

Persepolis was originally a graphic novel written by Marjane Satrapi, and it tells the story of her life through adolescence and her life growing up in the Iranian Revolution. I loved it so much, its so harrowing to watch, and get into. Now before I didn't know that much about the Iranian Revolution, but watching this film from a first person narrative, and to do it in such a beautiful way is wonderful. 

The artwork is so unique and unlike anything I've seen before, like I said this film is not for kids when I mean kids I mean 12 and younger. As some people might not be affected by the themes and the language of the film, as it is a true story and from what Marji goes through its something no kids should watch. From wonderful free country Marji use to live in she's is then striped from her home Iran and moved to Austria where again she's moved from house to house. 

You see Marji experiencing different views, and being political and seeing the beautiful country with lots of political and strong views on certain things. One of my favorite bits was where Marji was waking around with her head scarf on and she's got a 'Punk Is Not Ded' T-Shirt on, and it makes me smile where despite the War that's gone on, and how much everything in her life has changed, she still remains punk rock.

This film is amazingly done, and I loved every bit of it. Its so beautiful the artwork, the dialogue is perfect it fits in so well. To see Marji grow up and her change overtime, and what she believes and everyone in her family to be affected by everything that goes on in Politics, the War, Iranian Revolution. 

                                                       
I strongly urge everyone to watch this film as its so funny, sweet, heartbreaking and serious everything I love. Next week will be so much fun, as I'm going back to watching some gorgeous film noir. I hope you all have a wonderful and relaxed weekend.

Favourite Comedies

I'm weird when it comes to comedies, as I love TV Comedies much more than film, because that way you get a chuckle every week. I love Comedians like Ricky Gervais, Simon Pegg, Michael McIntyre, I also love comics like Charlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers. I like everything really. 

Hot Fuzz

This was probably the first Simon Pegg film I watched and I knew him from watching Spaced. I love it as it was the first satire comedy film I watched. It just took the piss out of policeman and it took the piss out of a very English town and the people in it. I've said this before but its amazing that they put Simon Pegg who plays the main character as another writer along with the director Edgar Wright. It's a dark comedy and I love dark comedies, I love how sarcastic it is. You'll notice with this there's gonna be alot of British Sarcastic Films.

School Of Rock

Again this is one of the first films I remember watching, I loved it simply because it's about music, and rock. I watched this film with my dad for the first time, as most of my family are into music in some way, so the film reminds of that in a way which is nice. I love Jack Black and Joan Cusack in it, they're such a good couple, a sentence in which I never imagined I'd say.                                                        


Love Happy

I love the Marx Brothers and I think this is the only Marx Brothers, it has Marilyn Monroe in, but only as a bit part in. Then she went on to become this big star and put her name in the poster to drill up more publicity for the film. The Marx Brothers were perhaps the first comic act to have that brotherhood comradery of just funny joking around not taking themselves too seriously. I know that its pretty normal for that sort of comedy to happen now, like The Inbetweeners. Back then it was very new. I love this film it's so witty, and brilliant, although I won't say too much as I will be writing a post all about Comedy of that time very soon!

Run Fatboy Run

Another Simon Pegg film what a surprise, I love this film because it portrays running in such a funny way, as it can be seen as this strict agile military way of a sport. But it doesn't have to be, I love the way its shown. The scene when Dennis gets a blister is the funniest thing in the world, as its so true on so many levels when it comes to blisters, but also totally ridiculous.  

Bruce Almighty

Now this film is something, first and foremost I love Jim Carrey who doesn't? I love the fact that Morgan Freeman's in it I love the fact that its taking something thats usually serious like religion and turning funny. I love Jim Carrey I've seen some of his stand up work and its brilliant.

This post has been hard as I prefer TV Comedies, than Film Comedies I could of done a post of TV instead of Film but this blog is called 'PeppermintFriday-FilmReviews' note the Film. I know what your gonna say 'but its your blog you can do what you want' yes that alone is true but, I'd feel bad for that. But maybe I will do a post on TV, one day.

Review: Young Frankenstein

I was going to do a review of a different film, but then I thought it is actual Halloween I watched this film again last night, and well why not.

The film is like a parody of Mary Shelley's book Frankenstein which is timeless classic. Young Frankenstein is about a man called Dr Frankenstein or should I say Fronkensteen who inherits his great-grandfather's house in Transylvania, he then meets his servant Igor, or should I say eye-gor. Its discovered that Dr Frankenstein's grandfather was doing experiments on raising the dead, Dr Frankenstein then decides to carry on his grandfathers work.

This film is such a big favourite of mine, I love the fact that its so witty and quick but at the same time its so dramatic and mental. The dialogue between Igor and Frankenstein is electric they just bounce off eachother so brilliantly, Frankenstein is played by Gene Wilder who is such a legend and eloquently spoken man. Igor is played by Marty Feldman who has done loads of work in television. Gene Wilder also wrote the screenplay along with the director Mel Brooks. 

Frankenstein also has a wife Elizabeth who is the straight one in this film, as its a comedy they did stick by the rule of funny mad one, funny nice one and as always there has to be a straight one to make it even funnier. Not only that they also stuck by the classic horror, as Frankenstein is traditionally a horror, and traditionally in many horrors theres usually a young woman who's very pretty and quite often screaming. Its traditional but also very modern the humour for me is very quick witted, totally original but also still keeping to the story and the essence of Frankenstein. 

Theres not a whole lot negative about this film, as I don't think I've met anyone who hates this film or has anything negative to say about it, its either they've seen it and loved it or never seen it. Its wonderfully written and still remaining true, and plays homage to the Mary Shelley classic. Some of the lines in the film are absolute classics and are crackers. I think it really helped that Gene Wilder co-wrote the screenplay as he does play the title role, and it makes the lines and timing of it all just much more natural. 

I strongly urge you to watch this film, as its such a timeless classic film. With Gene Wilder you should definitely own a copy of this film.