inside out

Good riddance, 2015!

2015 is finally over.

Anyone else feel like 2015 took a few years too long to come to an end?

Madonna I'm a material girl gif — I am now a material girl.

This time last year, I had just graduated from university to begin my career of job-hunting. I eventually landed a job in the industry I trained in – the media – which is an achievement in itself, really. I have learnt an awful lot about being a grown-up and earning a living.

However, it has meant I haven’t had much energy to do much else. Hence the pitiful turn-out for movie reviews this year.

During my ‘indoor’ time in 2015, I have discovered the TV show New Girl, featuring Zooey Deschanel, and the good-looking Jake Johnson.

Weirdly, I have been able to relate to this fictional show – at least for the first two seasons before it slowly faded into the Hollywood abyss of flattering lighting and two-dimensional characters.

But I digress…

Despite a predominately average 2015, I have ended this year on an unexpected high note by spending December with exciting people, and getting out of my comfort zone.

Now 22, I am ready to continue in this adventurous fashion, by following my passion for writing and travel. I am ready to see things that can’t be found in an air-conditioned office, and tick off some things from my bucket list.

Although, I did actually tick one thing off my bucket list quite recently, for some reason I had written “ride a bus for free” some years ago. I can only assume this was inspired by the Alanis Morisette song ‘Ironic‘

It’s a free riiiiide, when you’ve already paid

But, I really did get to ride a bus for free. The machine that takes your money broke, and the bus driver was all like, “WTF, OMG, YOLO” and let me on for free.

Despite this obvious rush of achievement, I am actually planning to tick larger things off my bucket list this year. Keep an eye out on my blog for developments.

So here we go: Here are the few movies I have reviewed during the year of 2015.

2015 reviewed movies:

Gold, Jerry, Gold!
9.5/10
American Graffiti (re-reveiwed)

9/10
Whiplash
Wild

Hoochie Mama!
8.5/10
Arthur Christmas
A Few Good Men
The Town

8/10
Big Eyes
Inside Out
Godzilla (2014)
Gone Girl

7.5/10
Into the Wild

Giddy-Up!
6/10
What We Did on Our Holiday
Big Hero 6

Yada, Yada, Yada…
4/10
Hector and the Search for Happiness

—

Indie, short and other films:
Goldfish
Courting Chaos
My Lonely Me
In the Mood for Love
All in One Creativity Kit
The American Garage
James Herman Banning: Greatest Story Never Told

All the best for 2016!
Jodie

Goldfish (short film)

Goldfish short film review Director: Dale Driver
Writer: Dale Driver
Starring: Lindsay Bennett, Stephen Fawkes, Aimee Branson
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The first thing I noticed about this nine minute film was the sound. It’s incredible how simple effects, such as the overlapping of sound between scenes can make such a huge impact.

The score during the credits fits the mood perfectly. The sound and original score is by Tony Agar.

Goldfish short film review This is a story about a child, Rosie (Aimee Branson), who in basic terms has Alzheimer’s disease. The mother, Anna (Lindsay Bennett), has a choice: To enjoy the final 18 months with her daughter, or have a procedure that allows Rosie to survive, but with a 99 percent chance of her having no existing memories remain.

‘Delete her life’ – she dies either way.

The second thing I noticed was how believable the actors were. I especially thought the doctor, Stephen Fawkes, was convincing.

A short, simple film that is layered and told in a powerful way.

I thoroughly enjoyed Goldfish – well done to the small cast and crew involved! I think the hardest part is to stay within one’s means when making films. But with three characters and almost as many scenes, they managed to send a strong message without going too broad.

Goldfish short film review But I think this is a heart-warming, yet tragic story. The harsh lighting, score and believable acting certainly carries the emotions across.

I’m fascinated by memory – which is why Inception and Inside Out are two of my favourite films. Goldfish is definitely worth checking out!

blueridgefilms.co.uk
goldfishfilm.co.uk

Jodie

WELCOME TO MY 300th POST!

Director: Pete Docter
Writer: Pete Docter and Ronnie del Carmen
Released: June 2015
Starring: Amy Poehler, Phyllis Smith, Bill Hader, Lewis Black, Mindy Kaling, Richard Kind, Kaitlyn Dias, Diane Lane, Kyle MacLachlan
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What a fantastic premise!

I am fascinated by psychology and why people behave the way they do, and this film has simplified our complex behaviours into an entertaining and interesting animation.

It’s about a young girl… Well, more like the emotions that make up a young girl. We see inside her head and see who controls her moods, decisions and feelings:

Joy, Sadness, Disgust, Anger and Fear.

Each are relatable and lovable, each with pros and cons, strengths and weaknesses. No mood is less important than the other, or more favourable than the other. Which is a moral within itself.

My favourite character was Sadness. Because she seems so helpless and incorrigible, but she’s not self-loathing or deceitful.

Joy was my least favourite… She is positively irritating.

However! I was surprised to notice there are more female characters than male characters.

I love how much we find out about this world – the subconscious, personal values, suppressed memories, even her imaginary friend. But my favourite part is the explanation of dreams…

“Action!”

By turning the brain from a wibbly-wobbly system, a complex map – if you will – of intertwined motorways, power lines, unpredictable traffic jams and road rage. This movie physicalises many components of what makes you, you!

All that is natured and nurtured, all that is influential and permanent. This movie has assigned a character to represent it.

Thoroughly enjoyed it. I think perhaps, on a deeper level beyond the entertainment value, perhaps this film could shine a new light on why people are the way they are. Hopefully increasing understanding and acceptance among us… That’s wishful thinking…

But you should see it.

My only hope is that an R16 version comes out where it’s not an animation, but a real person. Who is a psychopathic murderer like Hannibal… IMAGINE THAT. Watching what Hannibal Lecter is THINKING…

Perhaps a sequel?

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Why not a 10/10? Because it sagged a little at times, and at the end, you realise you spent $18.50 on a children’s movie…