NZ Film Freak

RIP Robin Williams

robin-williams-weapons-of-self-destruction-1024

Actor Robin Williams, 63, has been found dead in his home. Cause of death is currently unknown, but a forensic examination will be carried out August 12. “The Sheriff’s Office Coroner Division suspects the death to be a suicide due to asphyxia, but a comprehensive investigation must be completed before a final determination is made.”

http://www.businessinsider.com.au/actor-robin-williams-found-dead-in-his-home-2014-8

I am so upset to hear this news. Good Will Hunting, Good Morning Vietnam and Dead Poets Society are my favourites of Williams’ work. What a shame!

Good Morning Vietnam showed his incredible talent for improvisation. Most of the film was unscripted, with Williams playing the part of a DJ for entertaining the soldiers in the field.

Dead Poets Society featured a fantastic speech which was subsequently used in an Apple advert. He was truly a performer with various talents – from humour to drama. His voice is so recognisable and his performances were so realistic.

A hilarious comedian who will be sorely missed.

GOOOOOOOOOD MORNING VIETNAM!!

Jodie

Hercules

Director: Brett Ratner
Writer: Based on Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steve Moore. Admira Wijaya.
Released: July 2014
Starring: Dwayne Johnson, Ian McShane, Rufus Sewell, Joseph Fiennes, Peter Mullan
and John Hurt
—

Hercules was a blood bath with a sense of humour.

Based on Hercules: The Thracian Wars by Steve Moore, the story weaves in the legends of the Demi-God, Hercules (played by wrestler, Dwayne Johnson), but centered it on the more human aspects of him. The movie follows Hercules and his right-hand men (and woman) into multiple battles, but Hercules soon questions who he is really fighting for.

A violent and relatively shallow film, but the characters make fun of themselves and their circumstances, which saves the movie from the bargain bin.

I did enjoy how the legends of Hercules are being spread purposefully to glorify a mere mortal. With Iolaus (Reece Ritchie) being the storyteller, he exaggerates Hercules’ adventures to encourage followership and unity of the people.

Thought you saw Jude Law? Turns out the character (Autolycus) I thought to be played by Law with olive-tinted skin, darkened hair and green contacts, was in fact Rufus Sewell… Just in case you were as equally mistaken by the little round head and English accent.

Speaking of which, Dwayne Johnson’s accent switches a few times throughout the movie, but does remain the only American accent in the entire film.

As a side note, Johnson’s veins are too visible and makes me squeamish.

Overall, a perfectly adequate film for the lovers of Greek mythology and ancient battles. A chick flick for the men… A man movie, a boy story… If you will.

Jodie’s rating: 6/10

22 Jump Street

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Writers: Story: Jonah Hill and Michael Bacall Screenplay: Michael Bacall, Oren Uziel and Rodney Rothman
Released: June 2014
Featuring: Jonah Hill, Channing Tatum, Peter Stormare and Ice Cube
—

22 Jump Street certainly didn’t match up to its prequel, 21 Jump Street.

This one was long and had as many topless scenes of Channing Tatum as possible… I’m assuming this was written into his contract..?

I didn’t find it as funny as the first one because it was so ridiculous. It was similar to the first but more outrageous. Although, I’m sure the Jump Street fans won’t be disappointed.

The amount of references to the first film kept the cookie-cutter-comedy fresh. The movie made fun of itself, hinting at the repetitive storyline and stereotypical characters they play. This decision saved the film from being put on the scrap heap.

It looks like the cast had a lot of fun on this film. As though it was for themselves rather than the audience. Which was actually okay!

I don’t have a lot to say about this film to be honest. It was a bit weird, quite typical, but not as funny as the first. It’s for the younger Hangover fans and the Channing Tatum lovers.

It is what it is!

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

(Trailer contains bad language. Tut tut.)

Transformers: Age of Extinction

Director: Michael Bay
Writers: Ehren Kruger
Released: June 2014
Featuring: Mark Wahlberg and Stanley Tucci
—

One was enough!

This is the fourth Transformers movie. This has gone on for too long.

It’s about government agencies coming after people who have found a Transformer. Transformers are no longer welcome as they are deemed ‘alien’.

I’m not a Transformers fan, but I can appreciate that cars becoming giant robots are cool.

However, the fighting was endless and exhausting, and acting was hopeless. It was a pointless and boring two hours and 45 minutes.

Assuming that Transformer fans enjoy these movies because of the graphics when the machines physically transform will be sorely disappointed. The entire premise of this fourth film is based around how the man-made Transformers don’t “transform” at all, and when the original machines are about to transform, the camera pans away!

The product placement was blatant and outright ridiculous. Stanley Tucci is amazing, but conveniently drank a Chinese soy-based beverage toward the camera, with the branding beautifully framed and presented. It was pathetic.

If you’re okay with being belittled and being nothing more than a captive audience to sell Victoria’s Secret, Bud Light and energy drinks to, be my guest. But it is certainly an exhaustingly long film with a stupid storyline. Although, to be fair, I zoned out by the time the characters made it to China…

Transformers: Age of Extinction is a three hour ad break.

Oh so boring. Please, no more.

Jodie’s rating: 2/10

Two points were given because:
1. The dinosaur transformer things were pretty cool
2. Stanley Tucci

Dawn of the Planet of the Apes

Director: Matt Reeves
Writers: Mark Bomback, Rick Jaffa and Amanda Silver
Released: July 2014
Featuring: Andy Serkis, Jason Clarke, Gary Oldman, Keri Russell, Toby Kebbell and Kodi Smit-McPhee
—

koba_an-ape-never-forgets I wasn’t expecting much from this sequel, but I thoroughly enjoyed it!

A desolate planet with a small population living within the remains of an apocalypse. The humans are in search of a water supply to ensure electricity to their commune. However, the apes that were used in trials in the prequel have populated the forests where the water supply is.

I found the body language of the apes and the reactions of the humans fascinating.

The apes didn’t use English too much of the time so subtitles were uses, but even without them it was remarkably easy to understand them.It’s clear the makers did their homework regarding the body language of the apes!

la_ca_0403_dawn_of_planet_apes_028 Although, I did find the human storyline almost irrelevant. I was so captured by the story of the apes that the humans became uninteresting. Apes riding horses holding spears? Come on. Who needs people?

It was a great balance between emotion and action. The fight scenes showed off the motion capture incredibly! Particularly with apes riding the horses… I can’t get over how realistic it all was.

An exciting and captivating film about the clash of cultures and revenge. The storyline is more-or-less typical of the genre, but it is one of the best examples of modern film making; taking advantage of today’s technology… The motion capture will make you drool.

Jodie’s rating: 7.5/10

Pizza Shop

Director: George O’Barts
Writer: George O’Barts
Released: June 2013
—

A “raunchy off-color comedy” is an accurate description of Pizza Shop – a cringe-worthy and slow-paced film.

To be fair, the director and writer of the show has said the film is aimed at the audience of immature males. Therefore, I am not the target audience!

An hour and a half of blatant toilet humour and crude content, possibly inspired by the fertile imagination of three teenagers. (At least I hope it wasn’t inspired by real life!)

I wanted to enjoy this movie but the set-ups were too long, the characters weren’t likable or relatable, and the camera work was static – or drifted from side to side indecisively on a dolly.

Wide shot after wide shot kept the viewer disconnected from the action, and the audio quality was poor. From room reverb to the occasional ‘hum’.

The acting wasn’t smooth, with the actors waiting for each other’s lines and occasionally breaking the fourth wall.

The dialogue explained every thought and action, nothing is left to the viewers’ imagination.

Unfortunately, not a film to be recommended unless you enjoy crude, filthy humour, and have insomnia

Good effort, though. Making a feature-length film requires a lot of dedication and enthusiasm. So kudos for the effort.

Jodie.

If you’re keen to have a look, you can buy Pizza Shop here

Check out their official site here

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

The Fault in Our Stars

Director: Josh Boone
Writers: Scott Neustadter and Michael H. Weber. Based on the book by John Green.
Released: June 2014
Featuring: Shailene Woodley, Ansel Elgort, Nat Wolff, Laura Dern, Sam Trammell and Willem Dafoe
—

My friend said this movie was “a real punch in the feels!” I agree.

Do not expect to walk out of the cinema feeling uplifted, inspired or at peace with the world. If anything, The Fault in Our Stars will rob you of the right to complain about your life, and you will find yourself driving home in total silence as you digest this story.

If you haven’t read the book or seen the movie, it is about two teenagers with cancer who fall in love, before being faced with all sorts of tragic circumstances. ‘Heard it before’, I hear you say? On paper, you’re right, but on the screen, it is certainly something a little different.

It isn’t sugar-coated, or glazed too much with the flawlessness of Hollywood cinema. The raw and truthful tale of two kids with cancer has leapt to the fore with this film.

Depending on how close to the topic you are will depend on how much you take away. For a simple and sheltered viewer, like myself, I found the balance between reality and fantasy well done. But certainly not as inspirational as I expected.

The rumours are true: do expect to have a fat cry during this movie. But it’s not just the circumstances of the story that will trigger the tears, it’s the fantastic acting and soundtrack that work together so damn well that could cause the crying.

For me, I wept because the song “Wait” by M83 was so gorgeously teamed up with the most well-acted scene… It was just so amazing! I was in awe.

If you’re feeling good about your life and need to be reminded that other people aren’t having such a great time, watch The Fault in Our Stars. You will find your high spirits will crash down below ground level.

If you’re not into the storyline, experience it for the music!

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

BEWARE: This trailer makes this romantic drama seem like a coming of age, Perks of Being a Wallflower kind of deal.
It’s not.

Frozen

Directors: Chris Buck and Jennifer Lee
Writers: Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee and Shane Morris
Starring: Kristen Bell, Idina Menzel, Jonathan Groff, Josh Gad and Santino Fontana
Released: November 2013
—

I’m not a huge fan of the cheese-covered conservative Disney films in general. I avoided watching Frozen until just last week, but I have to say, I was pleasantly surprised.

This was a modern story where the main characters are not searching for true love for once. In fact, it was based around friendship and family.

The disneys-frozen-2013-screenshot-anna-bell trailer includes all of the cheese, targeting the younger audience with the shallow humour.

However, the humour in the movie is actually quite funny and target toward an older audience too.

I love how the characters are flawed. The princesses are far more relatable because they’re not perfect. In fact the Queen’s sister, Anna (pronounced Ana), is weird, quirky, funny and spontaneous who makes mistakes.
frozen-olaf-and-sven-367698
The characters look shallow in the advertising of Frozen, but they’re actually all lovable in the movie. From Olaf the snowman to Sven the reindeer.

I love the setting – Scandinavia is a beautiful choice, and a step back from traditional Disney settings where snow and blizzards are traditionally used as a backdrop to the tragic scenes.

The down-side were the accents… Only the main characters had American accents, which clashed with the Scandinavian community…

frozen-let-it-go-full-scene-watch-now Disney has still kept with the baby-faced women with figure-hugging dresses. I think this is still a bit old fashioned. Why not have normal-sized eyes with a proportional body?

I always get annoyed with ALL the female characters having long hair in Disney films. I’m glad to see the likes of Tangled embracing short hair, but I think there should be a balance…

(Yes, I have short hair).

But the soundtrack was incredible with extremely catchy songs you won’t be able to get out of your head for weeks… Not even exaggerating. Kristen Bell does a magnificent job of voicing Anna – I had no idea she could sing!

Overall it was a fun film and worth a watch. A genuinely enjoyable film for the family.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

The Lego Movie

Directors: Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Writers: Dan Hageman, Kevin Hageman, Phil Lord and Christopher Miller
Released: April 2014
Starring: Chris Pratt, Will Ferrell, Elizabeth Banks, Will Arnett, Nick Offerman, Alison Brie, Charlie Day, Liam Neeson and Morgan Freeman
—

I feel silly thinking this kids’ movie could be anything but a shallow cartoon.

Animation aimed at children but also being entertaining for adults, such as The Lion King and the Toy Story trilogy, have been and gone.

Perhaps it’s just going to be a string of cheaply made kids movies from now on. With famous voice actors dragging it to the cinema.

I thought it had a blatant moral of “be yourself”. But then I realised it’s a bit deeper than that – it’s about breaking out of the mould created by society. Liking the same songs as everyone else and told to be happy by staying in the same job for the rest of your life is the lifestyle the protagonist breaks out of.

The Lego Movie was bizarre and silly. It’s a film with a lot of hugely successful actors lending their voices to characters made of bricks.

The lego-bricked world is smart on one hand, but also looks pretty cheap.

There were a few funny one-liners, and I loved Liam Neeson’s two-faced character. His voice was hilarious.

A very similar story and appearance to Wreck It Ralph… which I gave a 5/10.

The same directors did Cloudy With A Chance of Meatballs which I gave 6.5/10

I found it a bit dull, not very quirky or clever and quite a boring family movie. I know it’s aimed at children though, so my expectations shouldn’t be high anyway… Even so, I think they’re underestimating how much children can understand.

Where’s the ’90s Pixar movies at!?

Jodie’s rating: 5/10

Lone Sailor

A photo I took on the way to a music festival in late 2013

Jodie.

What Was Yesterday – My Secret Island

This is a song by the German band named My Secret Island. I was going to call them a goth-rock band based upon their latest single: What Was Yesterday because of their zombie-themed music video and heavy guitars.

However, looking through their back catalogue I found a fantastic range of genres including a cover of T. Roe’s Sheila from the 1960s and a more upbeat electro-rock sounding song named Evil Fire.

What Was Yesterday is a rock song with a well done music video portraying a sort of Frankenstein-zombie apocalypse story. It’s awesome to see a band take as much time with their music videos as they do with their songs.

If you isolate each component of this song you will get the essence of this genre mash-up.

The drumming reminds me of sixties rock ‘n’ roll during the verses, but along with the heavy guitars, it becomes a darker sounding goth-rock throughout the chorus. The vocals are definitely has a pop-punk sound which keeps My Secret Island from slipping into being too mainstream or too metal. Which I like!

I haven’t heard anything like them before, yet it sounds so recognisable… They’ve thrown our favourite genres and sounds into a pot, creating a Frankenstein sub-genre (which matches their horror music video perfectly!).

I thoroughly enjoyed this single, and I loved that music video! It’s off beat and fun… Yet dark and intense.

Their Facebook page is here.

Check our their new single, What Was Yesterday below.

You can purchase their music here:
Musicload: http://goo.gl/N43Nz4
Amazon: http://goo.gl/aiqr0O
iTunes: http://goo.gl/BNV4xd

Jodie.

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

Broken Record – Short Film

Director: Andy S. McEwan
Writer: Andy S. McEwan
Released: April 2014
Featuring: Steven Patrick, John Gaffney, Darren McColl, Chris Quick, Paul Massie, Karen Quick, Alan Cuthbert, David Marshall and Tony Quigley
—

A great 11 minute film about two men finding a suitcase full of old records which they reckon will bring them thousands of pounds.

I enjoyed this film, it is simple and very well produced. The lighting is great, the camera work is steady, the sound is even, and the acting is natural. It’s come together very well indeed.

The storyline has a couple of plot-holes, like the context of the first scene, I’m not sure if they are painters painting a house or clearing out a deceased relative’s home. Not that it would have contributed hugely to the story anyway.

I’m not sure what the men decided to do regarding getting rid of the third guy who wanted some of the profits either, it wasn’t entirely clear.

BR02 I think if each scene began with a wide or establishing shot, it also would have helped to give context of the situation.

The continuity was impressive, every shot led seamlessly to the next.

Despite those nit-picking critiques, I thought it was funny and enjoyable. A great scene is hidden at the end of the credits so keep an eye out!

A fantastic piece of work by Pentagram Productions UK (@PentagramProdUK and their Facebook Page).

This team have clearly worked well to make a short film. They should certainly be recognised for their skill and technique of film making.

Check out this fun Glasgow film below.

Jodie

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

A Great Speech: Touchscreen

I’ve been getting into ‘Poetry Slams’ which are basically poetry competitions but with the energy and intricacy of rap battles.

I posted one called Shrinking Women a while ago which was incredible.

Since then, I have found many others, with this one standing out called Touchscreen.

It’s about the lack of physical touch in our technology-drowned world, and our desire for our more primal and natural interaction to return.

This is incredibly well written and delivered.

…Apple picking has always come at a great cost
iPod iMac iPhone iChat
I can do all of these things without making eye contact…

…so when my phone goes off of my hip iTouch iTouch iTouch and iTouch because in a world
Where laughter is never heard
And voices are only read
we’re so desperate to feel
that we hope our Technologic can reverse the universe
until the screens touch us back
and maybe one day they will
when our technology is advanced enough …
to make us human again

Jodie.

The Way Way Back

The Way Way Back is a funny, feel-good film, similar to Little Miss Sunshine and Juno. It’s an uplifting tale about Duncan (Liam James) who has to endure a summer with his mum Pam (Toni Collette) and her new boyfriend Trent (Steve Carell).

Struggling to withstand Trent’s subtle bullying, Duncan goes out as often as possible. He soon gets a secret job at the local pool, where he gains a lot more confidence and gets a good reputation.

Toni Collette, Steve Carell

It is extremely well cast. Carell does a fantastically accurate job of being a total a-hole. Collette, just like in Little Miss Sunshine, plays the warm mother figure convincingly. She is a fantastic actress. The main character, Duncan is aloof but certainly not played as an emotionless character, which I think should be applauded.

THE WAY, WAY BACK

My favourite character is laid-back Owen (Sam Rockwell), Duncan’s boss at the local pool. He’s a hilarious character who balances the heavy situations out with a lighter perspectives.

The storyline shows how every character is being manipulated somehow. The Way Way Back has the humanity of Little Miss Sunshine, and the devastation of The Perks of Being a Wallflower.

THE WAY, WAY BACK

It’s a blend of sadness and comedy, which I love. It’s definitely worth a watch!

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Captain America: The Winter Soldier

Directors: Anthony Russo and Joe Russo
Writers: Christopher Markus and Stephen McFeely
Released: April 2014
Featuring: Chris Evans, Scarlett Johansson, Sebastian Stan, Anthony Mackie, Cobie Smulders, Frank Grillo, Emily VanCamp, Hayley Atwell, Robert Redford and Samuel L. Jackson
—

Wow! Okay, I haven’t seen the first of the Captain America films (Captain America: The First Avenger) but I feel I still got the impact of the movie without much of the back story.

I haven’t seen the Avenger movies either (don’t kill me!).

Captain America: The Winter Soldier is about Captain America’s (AKA Steve Rogers) past haunting him. He was once in the army where he lost a dear friend, Bucky. The flash backs are gorgeous; back to the 1940s. Steve Rogers is trying to fit into the modern day but the values of the people in charge don’t sit well with him.

Basically there is a lot of action, awesome characters who are well developed, and the plot is so relatable with our current battle against Nanny States and over-surveillance.

I thought Captain America was going to be a patriotic conservative goody-two-shoes… A wannabe Superman if I may say so…

How wrong could I be.

Captain America is a bad ass super soldier with a ridiculously calm attitude. What a dude. With awesome morals, too.

My favourite quote of his comes about when Nick Fury (director of the super-spy agency, SHIELD, that Captain America is a part of) says that the world needs more surveillance to eradicate potential threats to humankind. Captain America/Steve Rogers, finds it difficult to justify this lack of privacy:

“…holding a gun to everyone on Earth and calling it protection… That’s not free, that’s fear!”

But the most impressive character was Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow/Natasha Romanoff. She is equal to male superheroes intelligence-wise and combat-wise. She is also witty… I don’t know if I’m going too far saying this, but she is CLOSE to being a female version of Batman… I’m not taking it back! It’s out there.

It happened.

Natasha is just the coolest. She doesn’t have a fat cry when things get difficult, she is sneaky and knows how to work the system. She is still so feminine without wearing next to nothing too.

I said Black Widow should have shorter hair, but then I realised that would be inconvenient for Johansson’s stunt double whose face is obscured in all the long-shot fight scenes.

captain-america-winter-soldier-sebastian-stan-set-photo_jpg_crop_display A super exciting film that doesn’t let your mind wander during the fight scenes. Relatable characters and plot with awesome enemies. The Winter Soldier is a good-looking son of a gun, yet ridiculously ruthless with an upsetting back story.

Fantastic. Such a fun film. Even for somebody who hasn’t seen the previous film, I thoroughly enjoyed it. Scary, funny, exciting, thrilling and dark.

Go see it.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Pokey LaFarge Comes to Town

I had the best night of my life so far on Tuesday, March 18.

Pokey LaFarge is a ragtime/jazz band whose sound is like no other. Their thirties-based, feel-good music is absolutely incredible, you can’t help but dance and smile.

I knew about these guys months ago, I heard ‘Hard Times Come, Hard Times Go’ on an advert and looked them up. Although, it was their song ‘Pack It Up’ which got me hooked.

I emailed their manager and asked if they would be coming the New Zealand any time soon, because they are now my favourite band and I quite simply have to hear them live. The reply was, to my disappointment, saying it may happen one day but there were no official plans in place.

However, by Christmas I found out they were to play a gig in Auckland.

You can’t imagine my excitment.

When that Tuesday finally rolled around, I was so excited that I decided to get to the venue two hours before the doors opened. I could hear them practising and even caught a glimpse of some of the members!

The total grandiloquent moment that happened next was unexpected to say the least.

Pokey LaFarge noticed me outside and we chatted for ages! Well. 15 minutes. We even got a photo together! He told me about his travels and how he’s really just “a writer at heart”.

To put it into perspective, this was like a tween girl hanging out with Justin Beiber… I know. Incredible, right!?

He asked me what song was my favourite and I said “Pack It Up!” He replied, “Ooo. I may have to practice that one for yah!”

Their set was a gorgeous up-beat hybrid of jazz, blues and ragtime I was dancing and clapping and screaming the entire time.

TJ, the trumpet player, is a talented man to say the least! Gave me chills! He asked if I took swing lessons… He noticed us dancing in the front row!

Ryan, the percussionist, was fascinating to watch. It looks like he gets completely emerged and lost in the music. So awesome. I’m gutted I couldn’t find him after the gig!!

The clarinet and saxophone player is Chloe. I have to be honest, she made me regret giving up learning the clarinet when I was 9… I’m going to dig it out now that I know it is possible for it to sound that amazing!

The highlight was when Pokey said that this next song is dedicated to a “Kiwi named Jodie Hart”. I just died. On the spot. I do remember blurting out an inaudible “blaaaaa… That’s me!”. The song was Pack It Up. It was the single most incredible moment ever.

After the energetic gig, I met up with Pokey again. He signed the song list (that I subtly retrieved from the stage after the set) and told me to keep writin’!

I asked the bouncer if I could sneak past him to meet Joey (double bass), Adam (guitarist) and TJ, he said no. So the only logical thing was to look like I was about to turn away, but then skip past him. He laughed though, so no harm done. I did feel like quite a rebel though…

Everybody was easy to talk to. They are such interesting and talented people who look awesome in thirties attire.

What an unforgettable evening! How will I ever beat that night…

Thank you to the Pokey Lafarge band!

Jodie.
…I’m going to go ahead and take the title of “biggest fan”.

The Louise Log (web series)

I watched Episode 2, Series 3:

After reading a bit about the background, I found the short-and-sweet episodes to be easily digestible.

It is a popular underground web-series about a New York woman surrounded by ‘crackpot relatives’.

The episode I watched was quirky and weird, but almost to the point of being cringe-worthy. The characters were theatrical and outrageous – certainly made for the stage.

It is, however, created by several accomplished writers, directors and actors, particularly with Sundance Film Competitions on their CV.

Although this webcom is not my cup of tea, I can appreciate the amount of work that must go into these weekly episodes. What dedication to make it to their third season of the show, raising over $20,000 to fund it! Plus, the bravery and perfectionism they have to change the actor playing the main character three times during the series.

A very specific kind of humour which I may be missing because of my lack of American culture. But worth a look!

Jodie.

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

Breathe – Jen Hannah

This is a soulful and soft number with talented singer, Jen Hannah.

I can see this song being used on a film actually. Although a tad slow and with repetitive lyrics, I certainly feel the overall emotion and idea of the song has impact. It would support a romantic-comedy, after the ‘crisis’ and during ‘turning point’.

I really enjoy the violin in this song, it binds the whole composition together. The piano is a perfect choice too.

A “primarily self-taught musician”, Jen Hannah is a fantastic singer and deserves much success.

A beautifully composed song for easy-listening, like Norah Jones, Brooke Fraser Kate Bush or Bic Runga.

Check out Breathe and Jen Hannah’s many other tracks on her website HERE.

On her YouTube account is an acoustic version of Breathe

Worth a listen on a lazy Sunday afternoon.

Jodie.

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

Piano Man – Billy Joel

This song is as American and as inspiring as the iconic the Don Mclean song American Pie and the Bob Dylan song Times are a-Changin’.

Sing us a song, you’re the piano man
Sing us a song tonight
Well, we’re all in the mood for a melody
And you’ve got us feelin’ alright

I love songs that tell stories. In Piano Man, Billy Joel is playing the piano is a bar on a Saturday night. In each verse he sings about a regular customer. My favourite story is about the barman who is the nicest of men, but wants to be anywhere but here…

Now John at the bar is a friend of mine
He gets me my drinks for free
And he’s quick with a joke or to light up your smoke
But there’s some place that he’d rather be

He says, “Bill, I believe this is killing me.”
As the smile ran away from his face
“Well I’m sure that I could be a movie star
If I could get out of this place”

Billy Joel has a gorgeously soft, yet strong voice. I heard his song Vienna on the movie 13 going on 30 (aka: Suddenly 30). I looked it up on YouTube and I recognised the song named Piano Man on the side of the page.

The final verse is so powerful!

And the piano, it sounds like a carnival!
And the microphone smells like a beer
And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar
And say, “Man, what are you doin’ here?”

Give it a listen!
I love the music video too…
Jodie.

Flo-Rida & Ke$ha – Right Round (†∆$ Remix)

Flo-Rida’s cover of Dead or Alive’s 1980 dance-floor filler You Spin Me Round (Like a Record), was pretty good – a modern take on a high energy crowd-pleaser. Flo-Rida’s version was a new take on this club classic.

The original was featured on the fun ’80s-based film, The Wedding Singer, and the cover featured on Pitch Perfect. (Both versions were very well utilised in these comedies.)

But Thomas Sturges’ remix of what was a fantastic rendition of a great song, and has put a whole new spin on it.

His dub-step / club version has taken the song in a different direction. His remix of Flo-Rida’s track should be released by the singer’s label. Yes, it’s that good. I reckon it’s much better than Flo-Rida’s version.

Thomas Sturges has, with this remix, proved himself to be a music producer.

In his mix you can hear Flo-Rida’s unmistakable vocals, but instead of a ramble of words, it has become an echoed and vibrant verse.

I can’t fathom how Sturges actually achieved his remix. It must have taken hours. I wouldn’t be surprised if his version gets snapped up by a record company.

Well done, Thomas.

Check the remix out on SOUNDCLOUD. Follow Thomas on TWITTER.

Jodie.

Book me to review your favourite song, music video or film here.

American Hustle

Director: David O. Russell
Writer: Eric Warren Singer and David O. Russell
Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams, Jeremy Renner and Jennifer Lawrence
Released: January 2014
—

I honestly didn’t know what to expect. All I knew was Jennifer Lawrence is in it. Which sold it for me.

Bright, bold, glossy and rawkus. American Hustle shows off the glamorous seventies in a gorgeous light.

In the same way The Boat that Rocked made the sixties nostalgic, American Hustle enhanced our recollection of the seventies.

I was utterly gob-smacked to discover that Danny Elfman composed the music… You can’t even tell. Certainly a step away from the stereotypical sound expected from Elfman.
The actors were incredible. Everyone was so believable and realistic. Kudos to Amy Adams. I lost my faith in her acting ability after Man of Steel, (as Lois Lane) but she has made a come-back, for sure. She even does a fantastic monologue without make-up on.

Bradley Cooper, Christian Bale, Amy Adams and Jennifer Lawrence – absolutely flawless acting.

Someone told me American Hustle is “all cleavage and big hair”… I can’t really disagree with this statement. But it’s shot in such a classy and upbeat way, the plunging neck lines and big up-dos fit perfectly.

The script is beautiful! There are double meanings and strong themes in the dialogue, with funny lines and meaningful quotes.

The story was below average though. It was over-complicated, and relied too heavily on voice-overs. But the overall idea of two con artists and the characters they play to do the illegal dealing is cool.

The music was fun, the pub scenes were moody, and emotions ran high.

Probably not needing to be a two and a half hour movie, but a playful and provocative watch nevertheless.

Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10 – mostly for the acting and script

Movies About Time Travel

I do love time travel. It can be matched up to any theme; romance, action, a light-hearted chick-flick, drama, thriller, comedy… It’s so versatile, yet remains so interesting. It is a theme that explores freedom, risk and responsibility.

But be careful! There are many of us who will be happy to point out the inconsistent, nitty-gritty details when making a story based around time travel.

These are just a few movies that are worth a look if you’re into time travel:

Back to the Future I
Back to the Future II
Back to the Future III
My favourite trilogy of all time. Creative, exciting, relatable and fun. It explores many aspects of time travel – to the future, to the past – and how fragile it can be.

The Time Traveller’s Wife
A romantic film, yet with the time travelling theme. Very well intertwined! I feel like time travelling and not being able to take your clothes would be an unfortunate likelihood. So in that respect, someone’s put a bit of thought into the logistics.
Also, Rachel McAdams… She’s incredible.

About Time
A light hearted and cheeky take on the hereditary time travelling gift. It has a brilliant cast including Rachel McAdams (again) and Bill Nighy. I like how it’s about ordinary people with time travel ability.

The Butterfly Effect
A haunting tale of all the things that could go wrong when time travelling. An ultimate thriller, although very creepy indeed. It has a cringe-worthy feel that reminds me of Requiem for a Dream. Probably not a ‘fun’ film, but certainly an incredibly well-made film.

Looper
Although the storyline was a little disappointing, the creativity of the time travel theme was refreshing. We were seeing a gangster and under-handed use of time travel. It has an action twist to the sci-fi subject.

Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban
My second favourite Harry Potter movie. Purely for the time travelling, I have to admit. But it’s a great story.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1
This is my favourite Harry Potter film. They ‘aparated’ (a magical method of transportation) all over the country. Although, I guess that’s not technically time travel.

Midnight In Paris
No watch, no Tardis. Yet, at midnight every night a 1920s vehicle would pick Gil up and take him back in time. This was a beautiful film, harnessing everybody’s fantasies and bringing them to life.

Hmm. Maybe one day we’ll have time travel!

Jodie.
PS. Where are the female time travellers at?

Top 9: First Class Films About Travelling

I know I need to stop going on about it! But The Secret Life of Walter Mitty is a fantastically inspiring film. It really did make me want to travel. Coincidently, Iceland is my dream location anyway. So that was just the cherry on top.

This got me thinking what other films make you want to quit your day job and get lost in the wilderness.

Into the Wild
A film that keeps coming up in conversation when I talk about travelling films. I have seen the first 40-odd minutes of it, but it didn’t quite grasp my imagination… Perhaps I should give it another shot though. Still shots taken from the film look extraordinary. (Finally reviewed it).

Midnight in Paris
It is a film I marvelled over. It’s a perfect marriage between the environment of a magical and unfamiliar city, plus a fantastical and romantic storyline. Can’t go wrong with a bit of time travel too! The mysterious and enchanting themes will make anyone want to book a flight to Paris.

Eat Pray Love
Now, I need to disclose that this was so disappointing! I thought it was going to be a deep and meaningful tale of self-discovery. However, it was pretty much a chick flick based in three different countries; Italy, Bali and India. But I have to say, I did buy into the dream. To take off for a year! What an experience.

Up In The Air
I know, I know, you pretty much only see airports in this film. But my imagination was harnessed by this movie! Turning up to an airport, picking a place, and going. No strings attached, no worries, just leaving everything behind.

Water For Elephants
Have you ever fantasised about joining a travelling circus? Perhaps it’s not a common dream now days, but I can definitely relate to it. Living rough, never being in the same place twice or staying in one location for too long. The people around you, mesmerised and spellbound by the circus performances.

Cemetery Junction
It’s all about escaping the ordinary life. After being inspired by Julie, a young aspiring photographer, Freddie realises he doesn’t want to live in a sleepy town either. He wants to go on an epic adventure. The film is about him building up the courage to leave; to ditch a town of no potential, to go around the world. It’s a grand idea to ponder.

Chocolat
About a mother and daughter who wander from place to place, finding towns to warm up with chocolate treats. They’re always on the road, floating from town to town, until they finally settle. It is more about the people than the places to be honest, but it’s a magical film with beautiful locations nevertheless.

Brooklyn
One of my favourite films about a young Irish girl who goes to Brooklyn to work, but she’s torn between her life in Ireland and her life in Brooklyn. Should she follow her heart and stay in America? Or should she stay in Ireland with her vulnerable mother and the life that’s expected of her?

Jodie.

Top 4: Feel-Good Film Trailers

I love getting to the cinema early to watch the trailers! But if I’m not watching movies, I’m sifting through film trailers on YouTube.

My attention has been drawn to the skill of making compelling and intriguing trailers, there is such an art to it.

Of course, the idea of a trailer is to get as many people to buy a ticket to the movies as possible; trailers are an advertisement.

Recently, I’ve realised the most compelling trailers have no dialogue. It’s the music that sets the mood.

Such as the first trailer released for the movie: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty. This is so fantastic. Relying completely on the powerful music to sell the story… And it works so incredibly well.

To The Wonder is a romantic movie, which would otherwise not appeal to me. Yet, thanks to the trailer, I’ve already decided I’m definitely going to buy the DVD… I don’t even like romantic films.

They use an uplifting and, once again, powerful piece of music. But this time, a well-spoken speech is added which gives me shivers.

Up In The Air is another example of a speech over music, edited together with a collage of appropriate clips. It simply gives you chills. Although, if I’m honest, it doesn’t quite give you an accurate feel of the actual movie. But it sells it, nevertheless.

Gravity‘s trailer shows so much contrast, sound-wise, music-wise, and the shots used. So intense!

Trailers are the only kind of advertising I consume willingly. I’ve realised it’s the music that has the most impact. The footage isn’t always true to the movie, but the scenes picked for the trailer are purely used to sell the story; it doesn’t need to be accurate.

What trailers have convinced you to go see the movie?

Jodie.

Wild Girl Waltz (Indie film)

A0108 — From left, characters: Angie, Brian and Tara

Director: Mark Lewis
Writer: Mark Lewis
Released: 2013
Starring: Christina Shipp, Samantha Steinmetz, Jared Stern, Brad Hemsath, Scott Lewis, Kim Barlow, Kim Gordon, Alexander Cook, Julian Lowenthal and Sean McDonald
—

This cast and crew deserve applause!

This is a comedy about the adventures of two girls, Angie (Christina Shipp) and Tara (Samantha Steinmetz), who pop some unknown pills to escape boredom in their small town.

Brian (Jared Stern), Tara’s boyfriend, comes home to find the girls high. Brian ends up ‘babysitting’ them and we follow their crazy and hilarious journey through the town.

The script is actually really genuine and funny. Talking in depth about colours and other irrelevant and random subjects.

Brian provides a great balance in the film. We are seeing what is happening through his eyes, rather than the story turning into a ‘Dumb & Dumber‘ kind of deal.

Some of the scenes, particularly the montages, could be edited down to make them snappier and keep the comedic pace.

The acting is certainly believable. The delivery of the dialogue is so genuine in most cases.

The reaction of Angie getting doused in milkshake was great. Also, Brian’s (Jared Stern) conversation about how the girls’ got a pie after leaving them alone for just a few minutes, were all very memorable moments. Very well portrayed!

Actually the ‘pie’ scene where the girls have to hide their drug induced high in front of Mrs. Wolvertine, a church-group friend or Tara’s mum, was hilarious. It was so awkward, but so natural!

Mrs. Wolvertine: [to Angie] Remind Tara if she forgets, will you dear?
Angie: Actually, there is no way I can carry that kind of responsibility…
*sprints over to the truck and throws herself on the flatbed*

The rest of this scene will have you in stitches.

*Brian gets into the car and looks over at Angie with a pie on her lap*
“…where the f*** did you get a pie?”

His facials were so blank yet so confused, it just made that line so funny.

I think it would have been cool to have a few scenes through the eyes of Angie and Tara, or even just a few flashes of their perception.

The photography is pretty good! There were a few shots that could have had better composition. But for the most part, the film is well shot and the audio is clear.

It felt like the cast were completely comfortable, like they were just hanging out with friends. This gave the whole movie a really natural tone, allowing the funny material to come easily.

I was expecting to see a bit more of a character development or a more obvious moral by the end. But a fun film nevertheless!

Well done!
Jodie.

Check out the trailer HERE

Just as a side note: Samantha Steinmetz reminds me of Vera Farmiga