The Perks of Being a Wallflower
The ultimate 'hipster' film, whoever has watched this knows that it's far from it- it may be brilliantly indie in a lot of ways, and all is done with a vintage, realistic vibe. This is Stephen Chbosky at his finest- writing a novel, then directing a film based on his novel, and rightfully so. No one could have pulled this film off better- it is quietly brilliant, cheesy quotes and all. The plot is a cliche- teenage boy starting high school, friendless and lost. Charlie, with a history of mental illness, is not ordinary- and this movie is far from it too. With brilliant characters, a clever storyline, beautifully edited and angled shots, The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a must-see movie, especially for young adults.
Tick Where It Hurts
Ever since Stray Dog, Bertie Gilbert's first short film was released, Bertie hasn't stopped in single-handedly putting together two more films, only with the help of a small crew, all ideas being his own. Tick is extremely clever and well filmed- the plot is strong and engaging, the camera angles and lightening is beautiful and well thought out, with hidden messeges in the film, exploring different elements and adding a sense of brilliance to the film. I love Tick and how the more often you watch it, the more hidden touches you discover. Tick is only 20mins long, and available on Bertie's channel.
Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
This has to be the most clever movie I've seen since Shutter Island- it has the most clever plot twist in the end, and once again, is really well shot, scripted and edited. I love how it takes a turn and leads the viewer to be a little puzzled and wondering, but lets you figure out the turn of events yourself. That is an element a lot of films lack- innovation and mind play. Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind is an another brilliant film- starring Jim Carrey, however not in his usual comical role. Jim is a gifted actor, whether the film is a comedy or not, like this one. Kate Winslet stars as Clementine, with her blue hair and her wit, the opposite to Jim Carrey. A very under rated film, this is excellent and a must-see.
Now is Good
Every once in a while, Channel 4 gathers its best British young actors and puts together a film- like Now is Good. Now is Good is based on a book, and I am a little annoyed they didn't use the original title- Before I Die- but it's probably to attract a wider audience. I've read the book, and I did like it- but I loved the movie. I've watched it probably about 7 times now, I love the brilliant recognizable British faces (anyone remember Effy? She's in this), and the discovery of Kaya Scodelario from this is what led me to watch Skins. I cry lots at the end, every time- it is a very pretty, well shot film, with phrases that tug your heartstrings and scenes that add a taste of poignancy. Definitely watch this- and bring tissues.
Calvary
Calvary has to be the first proper Irish-made film I've seen, featuring well-known Irish actors (Chris O'Dowd) and even Irish settings (Sligo and Dublin). I saw Calvary in the cinema, and with a PG 15+ rating, it contains some strong scenes, but nothing too awful. I love how almost controversial this film is- it features elements from Irish history and reputation that aren't the prettiest, however they are spun together in the best ways. Again, I'm a sucker for beautiful films- and this is no exception, with gorgeous shots of the Irish nature, and in general, it is filmed extremely well. Give this film a go if you know a thing or two about Irish history in the 20th century, and you will definitely enjoy it.
We Need To Talk About Kevin
I think I mentioned this in an another blog post, but I do strongly recommend you watch it. It will make you uncomfortable in the best ways possible, but nonetheless it is an excellent film. It may get a little tedious, so it is best suited for older viewers. Once again, the shots are beautiful, with raw emotions in each and every scene. This will definitely stay in your memory if you watch it, so take in every scene. The film is a tale of a mother's voes, but it is a remarkable movie.
127 Hours
You would have to live under a rock to not hear about this film, the baffling true story of a mountain-climber who, on one of his adventures, accidentally trapped his arm under a rock. With very little food, 100ml of water and a camcorder, his battle for survival begins- and this movie is an outstanding adaptation of the nightmare he went through in 3 days. James Franco even looks like the original mountain climber, adding a very real feel to the film. The shots, the editing, the scenes and the hallucinations the climber went through are expressed beautifully in this film. Yes, you may need tissues for this- but you will feel very lucky to be alive afterwards.
One Day
A very underrated film. When released, it was met with very harsh reviews, saying that the book was a lot better and the film adaptation was very poor, as it left a lot of parts out. This movie began my uncanny obsession with indie and beautifully built films. I saw the movie, loved it, read the book, loved it. Anne Hathaway is, as usual, unbelievable in this- she remains probably my favourite actress of all time, with the exclusion of her role in Alice in Wonderland (cringy, if anything). The concept of this film is very clever, the plot is very well thought out, and I love how the scenes transition form 1988- 2011, so there's no 'boring bits'. This is not a chick flick at all- it is a love story, and a brilliant one at that. Watch the movie, read the book- both are golden.
The Hunger Games Saga
Not to be your typical fangirl, but I love the Hunger Games to absolute pieces- I love the storyline, I love how innovative and creative the storylines are, and I love how the entire series is restricted to 3 parts- admittedly, some parts of Catching Fire are similar to the first movie, but each and every part is very clever, exciting, incredibly captivating and even poigant. The visual effects are a little dissapointing, but the Jennifer Lawrence-ness and the beaaautyy of Gale incorporate drama elements to the films- the performances are definitely noteworthy, as there is a lot of famous, gifted actors- however the shots are quite disappointing. Nevertheless, this saga is excellent- highly worth a watch.
Submarine
Another British modern classic, thanks to Channel 4 and their casting abilities. Craig Roberts is a genius- being only 23 years old, he has over 10 years of experience in filmography, and being unbelievably talented doesn't hurt. Jordan Murphy (Chops in My Mad Fat Diary) also makes an appearance, and Yasmin Page stars alongside Roberts as Jordanna, all gifted, natural actors. I love the indie atmosphere in this film, the vintage feel is extremely effective and gives a very unique feel to the movie. It explores the life of teenager Oliver Tate, all in the backgroud of the album Alex Turner wrote, exclusively for Submarine. Directed by Richard Ayoade, the star of The IT Crowd, it is an excellent, true British film- one I could watch over and over.
Thanks for reading! What are some of your all time favourite films?
My Twitter- @gabysayshey
Gaby x
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