Film Femme
Aside from my being a self-proclaimed bookworm, I am also a film fan. I can watch movies for the sake of watching, or for the art immersion of it all, or to sustain my need for romanticism in my life (I am a hopeless romantic, after all), or to get my mind to work the hamster wheel (I do love my twisted movies). That said, one can only imagine how difficult my position is right now, as I'm supposed to share my favorite movie. Because, the truth is, I have none.
It's all the same for me - I have no favorite book, I have no favorite song, I have no favorite movie or TV show. Perhaps it's because I only ever care to read, listen to, or watch what really interest me, and it takes quite a lot to interest me. In other words, what I may choose to like have already gone through vigorous and strict quality control, so I couldn't possibly pick just one. That's like asking PepsiCo to choose the best bottle of Pepsi they've ever made. Obviously, they can't pick the rejected bottles, nor can they pick just one bottle that they've released. But, to the customer, the very bottle that he/she happens to be drinking at the moment, may be the bet one yet, as he had craved for it in the first place. So maybe I'll tell you about that. The movie I'm craving for or ranting about as of late.
M. Night Shyamalan is known for well-known supernatural suspense films "Praying with Anger," "Wide Awake," "The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable," "Signs," and "The Village." These films feature original screenplays (all by him) that draw the viewers in and keep them at the edge of their seats. He directed these films, and produced them. He also cameoed in them, usually as an extra. Of all his works, however, his most recent one is what's clinging to me these days.
"Lady in the Water" is a bedtime story, according to Mr. Shyamalan. Curious for a director, producer and writer known for suspense and thriller movie, is it not? Not quite. Historically, bedtime stories are meant to scare children into being obedient and going to bed. Such stories include "Snow White" (which isn't as fairytale-ish as Disney makes it to be), "Rumplestiltskin" (with its haunting dwarf/gnome), "Little Mermaid" (wherein, in the original version, the Little Mermaid dies and doesn't end up with true love at all) and "Little Red Riding Hood" (yet another story wherein the wolf plays the villain). So, was Mr. Shyamalan effective in making a bedtime story? In my opinion, yes, he was.
This movie was so clever, mind-bending and imaginative that I had to sit still for more than five minutes just to catch my breath (or rather, breathe, as I had forgotten how to). After a while, my friend and I could only say one thing: "...... Whoa." And yet another five minutes later, we began exclaiming about the film excitedly.
Why is this my Movie of the Moment? For one thing, the story just seems so incredibly fresh. It was dark, involved supernatural elements, yet seemed so real. I admit that the concept of the gigantic eagle and such (you'd have to watch it to understand) are a bit harder to sink in, though. The plot was dark, twisted, vague, understandable, hopeful and refreshing all at the same time.
Another thing is its actors. Bryce Dallas Howard, the leading lady of "Lady in the Water" had in fact already worked with Mr. Shyamalan prior to this, for "The Village." She pulls another of Mr. Shyamalan's characters off quite well, as she plays the Narf (or water nymph). Paul Giamatti plays Mr. Heep, a normal character that you could meet in an everyday situation. He plays Cleveland Heep quite effectively, and I could not help but empathize with him in the film.
Of course, there's also the shots. There were a number of intersting and creative shots - quite artsy, but somehow they belonged to the non-Indie film. They're the kind of shots that would look great as photos.
Although professional reviewers do not praise M. Night Shyamalan as I do, I praise him through and through. I admit his films are of acquired taste. People who are expecting The Lord of the Rings, Mean Girls, James Bond or The Lake House will, no doubt, be disappointed. But if you're open to twisted movies that make you think, despite some cheesy supernatural areas ("Lady of the Water" is no "Signs" or "The Sixth Sense" in the supernatural department), then I'm sure (or hoping, at the very least) that you'll understand what I mean.
Waiting for my next Movie of the Moment. I hear The Blood Diamond and Martin Scorsese's The Departed are worth watching.
It's all the same for me - I have no favorite book, I have no favorite song, I have no favorite movie or TV show. Perhaps it's because I only ever care to read, listen to, or watch what really interest me, and it takes quite a lot to interest me. In other words, what I may choose to like have already gone through vigorous and strict quality control, so I couldn't possibly pick just one. That's like asking PepsiCo to choose the best bottle of Pepsi they've ever made. Obviously, they can't pick the rejected bottles, nor can they pick just one bottle that they've released. But, to the customer, the very bottle that he/she happens to be drinking at the moment, may be the bet one yet, as he had craved for it in the first place. So maybe I'll tell you about that. The movie I'm craving for or ranting about as of late.
M. Night Shyamalan is known for well-known supernatural suspense films "Praying with Anger," "Wide Awake," "The Sixth Sense," "Unbreakable," "Signs," and "The Village." These films feature original screenplays (all by him) that draw the viewers in and keep them at the edge of their seats. He directed these films, and produced them. He also cameoed in them, usually as an extra. Of all his works, however, his most recent one is what's clinging to me these days.
"Lady in the Water" is a bedtime story, according to Mr. Shyamalan. Curious for a director, producer and writer known for suspense and thriller movie, is it not? Not quite. Historically, bedtime stories are meant to scare children into being obedient and going to bed. Such stories include "Snow White" (which isn't as fairytale-ish as Disney makes it to be), "Rumplestiltskin" (with its haunting dwarf/gnome), "Little Mermaid" (wherein, in the original version, the Little Mermaid dies and doesn't end up with true love at all) and "Little Red Riding Hood" (yet another story wherein the wolf plays the villain). So, was Mr. Shyamalan effective in making a bedtime story? In my opinion, yes, he was.
This movie was so clever, mind-bending and imaginative that I had to sit still for more than five minutes just to catch my breath (or rather, breathe, as I had forgotten how to). After a while, my friend and I could only say one thing: "...... Whoa." And yet another five minutes later, we began exclaiming about the film excitedly.
Why is this my Movie of the Moment? For one thing, the story just seems so incredibly fresh. It was dark, involved supernatural elements, yet seemed so real. I admit that the concept of the gigantic eagle and such (you'd have to watch it to understand) are a bit harder to sink in, though. The plot was dark, twisted, vague, understandable, hopeful and refreshing all at the same time.
Another thing is its actors. Bryce Dallas Howard, the leading lady of "Lady in the Water" had in fact already worked with Mr. Shyamalan prior to this, for "The Village." She pulls another of Mr. Shyamalan's characters off quite well, as she plays the Narf (or water nymph). Paul Giamatti plays Mr. Heep, a normal character that you could meet in an everyday situation. He plays Cleveland Heep quite effectively, and I could not help but empathize with him in the film.
Of course, there's also the shots. There were a number of intersting and creative shots - quite artsy, but somehow they belonged to the non-Indie film. They're the kind of shots that would look great as photos.
Although professional reviewers do not praise M. Night Shyamalan as I do, I praise him through and through. I admit his films are of acquired taste. People who are expecting The Lord of the Rings, Mean Girls, James Bond or The Lake House will, no doubt, be disappointed. But if you're open to twisted movies that make you think, despite some cheesy supernatural areas ("Lady of the Water" is no "Signs" or "The Sixth Sense" in the supernatural department), then I'm sure (or hoping, at the very least) that you'll understand what I mean.
Waiting for my next Movie of the Moment. I hear The Blood Diamond and Martin Scorsese's The Departed are worth watching.
posted by krizia @ 3:18 AM
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