the photo phobic

After being incredibly intrigued by the trailer, and the stellar young British cast I have been eagerly awaiting the release of 'Never Let Me Go' for quite some time, but due to all the cinemas in Christchurch being closed this wait was made a little longer. I finally got the opportunity to see it today, and it's safe to say it's a film you will either love or hate. 

On the surface, 'Never Let Me Go' follows the lives of three children who grow up together at a countryside boarding school, and along the way become involved in an emotional love triangle. However, Kathy, Tommy and Ruth were created for a pre-determined purpose and although they are aware of this, as they become adults they must come to terms with the inevitable fate that awaits them. 

The story is an interesting combination of romantic drama, paired with subtle science fiction and despite it's overall  melancholic tone, the film is hauntingly beautiful and moving. Set in the 80's - 90's, the film is also spectacularly shot, making the English countryside dreary yet charming, echoing the mood of the drama. The cast is also excellent in their roles, although Carey Mulligan and Andrew Garfield were the stand-outs for me, each playing their character with such raw emotion that I felt their connection and could empathise with their heartbreaking situation. 

Overall, the film is tragic, but not in a bad way. I thoroughly enjoyed the interesting plot and the fact it left me with so many unanswered questions. It's definitely a film I will gladly see again x 

Its hard to believe that a film could be successful when its about one man, in one confined location, for 100 minutes, but '127 Hours' does this flawlessly. Inspired by true events and the autobiography of Aron Ralston, the film is about a thrill-seeker who gets pinned between a rock and the canyon wall while climbing in the remote Blue John Canyon, Utah. In short, the film about one man's sheer determination, strength and will to live. Considering Ralston is trapped in one place for most of it, it's surprising how well the pace of the film flows and I never once felt bored. With so much screen time on one character, I felt connected to Ralston and could experience his journey, pain and decisions, making me wonder what I would do if I found myself in his situation. However, with several light-hearted moments, in particular Ralston interviewing himself, the film also manages to stay optimistic despite the dire circumstances.  James Franco is simply terrific in his one-man-show sort of role, he carries the film and his intense and emotional performance draws your attention and keeps you interested for the entire duration. Personally, I think it'll be a tough fight between Colin Firth and himself for the Oscar. Although it was brutal at times, I thoroughly enjoyed '127 Hours', and left the cinema with a smile on my face. It's definitely one of the best films i've seen so far this year x

I've been incredibly intrigued to see 'Black Swan' since seeing the trailer for the first time early last year. Since then, my anticipation has only grown which is strange as I usually shy away from films with elements of horror. However, 'Black Swan' has a perfect balance of psychological thriller, horror and drama that kept me guessing from the moment I sat down. It is the story of Nina Sayers, a fragile ballerina who battles with perfection to win the dual role of the Swan Queen in the company's production of Swan Lake. Nina embodies that of the innocent White Swan, but as she delves into her dark side to capture that of the Black Swan, finds herself consumed by obsession, paranoia, and spinning wildly into madness. The film was hauntingly beautiful and a true example of successful art cinema. Not only were the performances by the entire cast fantastic, but so too was the cinematography, mise-en-scene and of course the ballet. Another major appeal for me was the ballet costumes designed by the genius sisters behind Rodarte, all were exquisite but if I had to pick a favourite it would be between the Black Swan and Nina's gorgeous white party gown. The visual effects, particularly the contrasts of dark and light, are also enthralling. I came out of the cinema questioning myself and what I had just seen. This is certainly part of why the film is so successful, as I'm sure if I try to wrap my head around these questions I'll probably end up in the same spiral of madness as Nina. Although not for everyone, 'Black Swan' is wonderfully riveting and will keep you on the edge of your seat the entire time. Its not a film that will be easy to forget x

I admit this wasn't a movie I was that excited about seeing, but am glad I gave it a chance as I actually really enjoyed it. Inspired by true events, Secretariat is an underdog story about a horse who defies all odds to become one of the most successful racehorses in history, thanks to his owner's determination and refusal to give up. Yes, it offers everything you'd expect from an inspirational Disney story, and at times did cross into cheesy territory, but for the most part was exciting and heart warming. As the film is set in the 70's, I also thoroughly enjoyed the costumes, but did feel Diane Lane's unnaturally blue eyes were a tad distracting. Cinematography-wise, it was also pretty spectacular, as was the horse in the title role. It's definitely a feel-good movie for all ages that was a great escape to the cinema on a dull Sunday afternoon x

I'm a huge fan of French cinema, and 'LOL (laughing out loud)' is no exception. I watched it for the second time today and am pretty sure I will be seeing it again before the DVD is due back.  Although based around the usual teen movie issues (sex, drugs, parents and friendship) it's refreshing to see a teen movie where everything isn't so over exaggerated and in your face. LOL is almost reminiscent of an 80's brat pack classic, yet with a modern vibe and of course distinct French flair. I loved every part of the film from the characters and relationships, to the plot and idyllic Parisian set, not to mention the perfect balance of drama and comedy. I'm sad to admit that there is an American remake in the works, although by the same director, I cannot believe it will be any comparison to the French original. Sure Miley Cyrus is full of teen angst but I'm not convinced she'll do the role justice, and of course the dialogue will lack the same pizazz and wit. I definitely recommend seeing the original before the remake comes out, although I am interested to see how they interpret the plot, and who knows maybe Miley will surprise me x

Give or take a few, I saw a total of 113 different movies last year. Although I do go to the cinema a lot, I never imagined it would be that many until my friend Jess and I compiled a list of them all. Looking back I'm also surprised how well I can remember each movie considering the amount of memory capacity that must take up. As there were a lot of great films out last year it was hard to pick the 'best', although picking my favourite was a no brainer (diehard Harry Potter fan here, but to avoid embarrassing myself I will not say how many times I've seen the latest installment). All things aside, here are my winners and losers of 2010: