Peppermint Friday Review #13: Gummo

This is a weird one, as I had to watch this again because and I know this is gonna sound abit stupid to say but I didn't get it the first time, as if I didn't watch it properly but it was so weird I didn't know what it was about. The film is about....I'm not sure the outline plot on IMDB is 'Lonely residents of a tornado stricken Ohio town wander the deserted landscape trying to fulfill their boring, nihilistic lives.' But this story has a hundred different plots and it doesn't necessarily consist if that makes sense. 

Its like short films, improv scenes and home movies collided into one, there were bits of the film I thought 'thats interesting' not that I liked them but found interesting, but also there were bits that I hated and they were the constant images and scenes of dead cats or cats being shot and chase. That kinda stuff makes me abit uncomfortable because I love cats and animals, and I cannot stand to see animals particularly. I can kinda understand and see how the Director/Writer wanted it to be portrayed as the boys were just bored and wanted something wild to do, or because they were very poor and had bad families, could be anything for the reason, I don't know but that creeped me out. 

The Director/Writer of the film is Harmony Korine who made the recent film Spring Breakers, but other than that I'm not that familiar with his work. But that doesn't mean anything, one thing that I found fascinating was the bunny boy throughout the film, he provided an air of mystery throughout the film, particularly when the boys are shooting him with pretend guns, bunny boy doesn't say anything and thats one of the reasons why he's a mystery of course and the character sets out to be a mystery.

One thing that made me cringed so badly, and just makes me cringe in general was the girl in the end who shaved off her eyebrows and that makes me cringe, and I don't know what it does but I hate it. Anyway I thought she was quite nice, because it felt that she didn't realise herself if that makes sense. She was just really genuine, throughout the film I mean the majority of the characters for me anyway didn't really feel real, they might for you and thats great. I loved the soundtrack of the film, as it was added like lighting is makes the scene.

Put it this way I will never forget this film, as it dented itself into my memory. Not for good reasons not for bad, I mean it did feel like an Indie film, and in some ways it was and it did feel like allot of improv was in the film, and apparently it was. Its very organic this film, and its different and incredibly unique and that is always a good thing, but I didn't like the amount of dead cats there were in the film, but also they were lacking in the wardrobe department for guys, as most of the men in this film were shirtless. Not that thats, bad or good, merely an observation. The cast in the film didn't go on to other things, and it felt that they were real people not actors, apart from Chloe Sevigny, and she was married to Harmony Korine. Anyway this film is weird one, but I included it as the main character is a teenager. But I can reassure you all that next week, will be lighter.

  

Review: Submarine

This week is gonna be abit different, as its Halloween Week I did think 'maybe I should do a Halloween Horror Week' but I'm not that into Horror Films but I like them, just not into them, so I'm gonna do is a post on my favourite horror films, because I do have favourites and I'd like to point out that most of them will be classic horror, as thats what I'm into more, anyway thats what's gonna happen at Peppermint Friday this week. 

Anyway, we're talk about Submarine, a film that I love very much. So much so, its one of my all time favourite films. 

This film is set in Swansea, and it's about this teenager called Oliver Tate, played by Craig Roberts. He is a very awkward person, and a wallflower, he starts dating a girl in his class called Jordana Bevan played by Yasmin Paige, she's a destructive girl, and the only way I can describe her is like a young version of Mia Wallace in Pulp Fiction, but Welsh. Its also about there families, and its a real-coming of age story. 

I love this film as its not your typical teen film, its so quirky and relatable obviously this film has elements of being very indie, and depressed and 'oh its so hard my life sucks' but in some ways it is very much that, as it can be hard to communicate with your feelings, and what to say and what not to say. I do feel its a big confusion, and you have that with this film, particularly with Oliver. As with he is the most inarticulate but really thoughtful and articulate, but I really like that I like that Oliver and Jordana are so flawed, so that I can relate to them. Personally thats what you want in teen coming of age film, totally flawed characters, and the fact that for me its set in really grim town in Swansea. I'm not from Wales thats the thing, Its just really british for me.

I love the soundtrack to this film, its stunning and fits perfectly with this film. The soundtrack is by Alex Turner, I listen to the soundtrack quite alot and its wonderful to listen to. Theres a link if you want to buy the soundtrack or film, I think you should as they are incredible pieces of work. The film is directed by Richard Ayoade who is known for Maurice in IT Crowd, its unbelievable that he created this beautiful, simple atmosphere of the film, and its such a geeky aesthetically pleasing film to watch.  

The film also centrefolds around the worry of Oliver over his parents whether or not they will split up or not as they have a new neighbour Graham who Jill has taken a shine to on top of that Oliver is also worried about his father's mental health, Jill and Lloyd Tate whos played by Sally Hawkins and Noah Taylor who are both fantastic. What I love is that they are both very quirky people, they are both portrayed by incredible actors. Its a very likeable film, I also love the dynamic of distinguishing between a new character to a setting and how it effects everyone but not making it totally about that new character it just shook things up abit. 

I love that the story is in first person from Oliver's perspective. As I feel teenagers are selfish, and they see things from there eyes, and its all about them. Its also a very human trait that we are all selfish in a way, but I feel very much that if a film makes you really I mean really think about life, or the decisions you're going to make or have made, or anything I feel like its a film that's done its job. If its changed you or made you think in a certain way then I personally feel its done it's job as a film, and a story. 

The costume are brilliant they fit so well with the film, I love the coat that Jordana wears. Another thing that I love about this film is that the main two actors Craig Roberts and Yasmin Paige are both actors who were in children's shows in CBBC, when I was a kid. Craig was in Story Of Tracy Beaker which I use to watch all the time. Yasmin Paige was in Sarah Jane Adventures and again I use to watch it all the time, partly because it was made by the same people who made Doctor Who, and I was a big fan well still am. For me its a real like, throwback and its amazing because they're in this film playing such different characters, Its lovely to watch.

I also love that its a love and a coming of age story but its not, and its an amazing film. I always find myself if I don't know what mood I'm in I'll just watch this, its so aesthetically pleasing I urge you to watch this more than anything.