Man On The Street

Before the Sartorialist, there was Bill Cunningham.
Street-style fans, do not miss this documentary.

Man On The Street - The New Yorker

Bill Cunningham New York Film

Put Down The 3D Glasses, And Get Out Your Phrase Books

I'm looking forward to so many films this year!

L'Amour Fou  

A documentary on the rise of the Yves Saint Laurent empire, and his life-long partnership with Pierre Bergé. 

Nannerl, Mozart's Sister 

Beautifully shot in Versailles, this film tell's the story of Mozart's talented, older sister Nannerl. The decadent costumes, and stunning set designs, are sure to please any fans of Marie Antoinette.

Bus Palladium

Everyone knows I'm a sucker for any movie with 70s/80s soundtrack. Named after the Paris Nightclub, Bus Palladium follows a group of childhood friends and their band Lust, trying to make it big in the music industry. The French hotties in this are just a bonus, really

A Cat In Paris

Dino is a cat with a double-life; common house-cat by day, and skilled thief at night. One of this year's festival highlights, and it's only animated feature.

The Princess of Montpensier 

"... perfectly cast and expertly acted tale of forbidden love centring on a young noblewoman who is torn between duty and desire." 

Gaspard Ulliel is in it. That's all I needed to know.

You can check out the FULL LIST OF FILMS!

Other films that took my interest were:

Just A Beginning

My Afternoons with Marguerite

The Wedding Cake

On Tour

I had to narrow it down to five though, to get the multiple pass for $60 and save myself some money. I just remembered I'll be a student again by March. Phew! Gotta love student pricing.

[PRESS START]

Just thought I'd share this awesome Scott Pilgrim vs. The World poster I got from work. It's not the official movie poster, but I like this one better. It was designed especially for Comic-Con 2010 by Andreis Costa.

I will try to post more, or rather more purposefully, probably after this weekend. I'm working for all of it plus Monday, and then I have my belated graduation mid-week to get ready for. I'm not sure why, but I'm stressing out about it to be honest. My sentiments aren't really there, since I completed my degree about a year ago. I'm wondering if we really throw our little black hats in the air like in the movies, because I wouldn't like to get mine mixed up with someone else's. Especially in this heat. Nothing like a sweaty hat... bleh! My friend thinks I should smuggle one of those mini fans that run on AA batteries just incase it's really hot, and my iPod Touch in case it goes on forever. I'm sure Angry Birds will make the hours fly by. No pun intended.

Wenmay x

How To Be Alone

I haven't been very inspired lately, so I haven't had much to post about. But this afternoon, this little gem fell into my lap (Thanks to my friend Melody who shared it). The direction, music, and animation in the film reminded me very much of the opening sequence of the movie Juno.

I too have often thought about the strange and unnecessary fear of doing things alone; afraid to be seen alone in public places. Earlier this year, I traveled on my own for a month, and I was forced to make do with my own company - which meant taking tours by myself, doing activities by myself, and yes, dining at dinner alone. I admit, I also felt the self-conscious sting of requesting a table for one. But now and again, I'll go see a movie on my own, not just because my friends aren't interested in seeing a particular movie. I'll go out and eat on my own, or just sit somewhere with a coffee and book and just people watch. I had my own revelations about being on my own, which I was reminded of in the message in this short film. Prepare to be charmed...

HOW TO BE ALONE by Tanya Davis

If you are at first lonely, be patient. If you've not been alone much, or if when you were, you weren't okay with it, then just wait. You'll find it's fine to be alone once you're embracing it.

We could start with the acceptable places, the bathroom, the coffee shop, the library. Where you can stall and read the paper, where you can get your caffeine fix and sit and stay there. Where you can browse the stacks and smell the books. You're not supposed to talk much anyway so it's safe there.

There's also the gym. If you're shy you could hang out with yourself in mirrors, you could put headphones in (guitar stroke). 

And there's public transportation, because we all gotta go places. 

And there's prayer and meditation. No one will think less if you're hanging with your breath seeking peace and salvation.

Start simple. Things you may have previously avoided based on your avoid being alone principals. 

The lunch counter. Where you will be surrounded by chow-downers. Employees who only have an hour and their spouses work across town and so they -- like you -- will be alone.

Resist the urge to hang out with your cell phone. 

When you are comfortable with eat lunch and run, take yourself out for dinner. A restaurant with linen and silverware. You're no less intriguing a person when you're eating solo dessert to cleaning the whipped cream from the dish with your finger. In fact some people at full tables will wish they were where you were.

Go to the movies. Where it is dark and soothing. Alone in your seat amidst a fleeting community. 

And then, take yourself out dancing to a club where no one knows you. Stand on the outside of the floor till the lights convince you more and more and the music shows you. Dance like no one's watching...because, they're probably not. And, if they are, assume it is with best of human intentions. The way bodies move genuinely to beats is, after all, gorgeous and affecting. Dance until you're sweating, and beads of perspiration remind you of life's best things, down your back like a brook of blessings.

Go to the woods alone, and the trees and squirrels will watch for you.

Go to an unfamiliar city, roam the streets, there're always statues to talk to and benches made for sitting give strangers a shared existence if only for a minute and these moments can be so uplifting and the conversations you get in by sitting alone on benches might've never happened had you not been there by yourself.

Society is afraid of alonedom, like lonely hearts are wasting away in basements, like people must have problems if, after a while, nobody is dating them. but lonely is a freedom that breaths easy and weightless and lonely is healing if you make it.

You could stand, swathed by groups and mobs or hold hands with your partner, look both further and farther for the endless quest for company. But no one's in your head and by the time you translate your thoughts, some essence of them may be lost or perhaps it is just kept.

Perhaps in the interest of loving oneself, perhaps all those sappy slogans from preschool over to high school's groaning were tokens for holding the lonely at bay. Cuz if you're happy in your head than solitude is blessed and alone is okay.

It's okay if no one believes like you. All experience is unique, no one has the same synapses, can't think like you, for this be releived, keeps things interesting lifes magic things in reach. 

And it doesn't mean you're not connected, that communitie's not present, just take the perspective you get from being one person in one head and feel the effects of it. take silence and respect it. if you have an art that needs a practice, stop neglecting it. if your family doesn't get you, or religious sect is not meant for you, don't obsess about it. 

you could be in an instant surrounded if you needed it

If your heart is bleeding make the best of it 

There is heat in freezing, be a testament.

This video was made by Andrea Dorfman and Tanya Davis. Davis provides these beautiful words, and performs in the video. All the direction, filming, editing, and animation is by Dorfman. It was filmed in Halifax, Nova Scotia.

For more information on Tanya, go to http://www.tanyadavis.ca
For more information on Andrea Dorfman go to http://www.andreadorfman.com

Wherefore Art Thou... Gnomeo?

I have to admit... I really want to see this. Love that they cast James McAvoy as Gnomeo, haha. I'm wondering if they'll both die at the end though, being a kid's movie and all.

Going The Distance

Seeing "Going The Distance" this weekend was surprising. I had somewhat low expectations walking into the cinema, despite there being a few of my favourite actors in the film (Charlie Day, and Jason Sudeikis) but I actually loved it. Apparently no one else in the cinema found it as funny as my friend and I though. One thing I am sure of is that, without the on/off screen chemistry of Barrymore and Long, the movie probably would have flopped.



The other surprise? A pretty decent soundtrack that holds its own; featuring music from Band Of Skulls, Cat Power, Passion Pit, Eels, and The Boxer Rebellion. In my opinion, its the first soundtrack to genuinely come close to the experience of hearing the Garden State soundtrack for the first time. Barring the use of The Cure's song Just Like Heaven (there really needs to be some law banning the use of it in romance movies any more). 



The movie features the London-based, Indie-Rock band The Boxer Rebellion, who actually appear in the film. I hate having to draw comparisons, but I was hooked from the first listen. So this is a video of their song "If You Run", which is performed in the film, and I just completely fell in love with it.

Movies That Would Have Been Ruined By Facebook

The Empire Strikes Back

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Terminator 2: Judgement Day

Fight Club

Came across this Moviefone article via Daily Candy. Hahaha, I love "Terminator 2" and "Eternal Sunshine...".

See full article HERE.

The Runaways: Opening night @ Cinema Paradiso

Los Angeles 1975, Joan Jett (KRISTEN STEWART) and Cherie Currie (DAKOTA FANNING), two teenage valley girls with punk in their blood, meet and become the heart and soul of the seminal all girl band, The Runaways.

Writer/Director Floria Sigismondi brings The Runaways to the big screen in this story of a group of extraordinary young women as they rise from rebellious Southern California kids to rock stars of the now legendary band that paved the way for future generations of girl musicians. Under the Svengali-like influence of rock impresario Kim Fowley (MICHAEL SHANNON), the group evolves into an outrageous success and a family of misfits. With its tough-chick image and raw talent, the band quickly earns a name for itself—and so do its two leads: Joan is the band’s pure rock’ n’ roll heart, while Cherie, with her Bowie-Bardot looks, is the sex kitten. [www.lunapalace.com.au]

The Opening Night event will be at the Cinema Paradiso on Thursday, July 15 @ 8pm.

I've been wondering when this would be coming to Australian shores. From the general consensus I've gathered, this movie isn't half bad. Most likely, it's going to dismissed straight away because of a certain Twilight-related actress (or two technically), but most critics I've read have only faulted story development rather then any leading performances. I'm not a huge Runaways fan by any means, but I know enough of their music to say how shockingly well Kristen Stewart channels Joan Jett, particularly her eerily similar vocals on 'I Love Playing With Fire'. So I'll admit, I'm mainly going to see how well Stewart pulls this one off, but there's still a story here that needs to be heard. 

Watch The Trailer

Event Information

The Runaways

Be Young. Be Free. Be Somebody.

CEMETERY JUNCTION (2010) tells the funny, touching, and universal story of being trapped in a small town and dreaming of escape. In 1970s England, three friends spend their days joking, drinking, fighting and chasing girls. Freddie (Christian Cooke) wants to leave their working-class world but cool, charismatic Bruce (Tom Hughes) and lovable loser Snork (Jack Doolan) are happy with life the way it is. When Freddie gets a new job as a door-to-door salesman and bumps into his old school sweetheart Julie (Felicity Jones), the gang are forced to make choices that will change their lives forever.

Written and directed by Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant, this is their first film collaboration on the silver screen. Its set in Reading, Berkshire, where Gervais grew up.

Being a fan of Extras and The Office (Boo! American version! lol), I'm pretty curious to see how their writing translates to feature length film. And quite the reverse of their previous work, the film is actually meant to be a drama; uplifting but with comedy sprinkled through out. Its supposed to have a killer soundtrack, which I've always been a sucker for. Also, is it just me or does Christian Cooke look like a younger, (arguably) more attractive version of Gael Garcia Bernal?

I know I'm a self-confessed Anglophile, but still I really can't wait to see this film.

Watch the trailer

Beyond The Pole. An Arctic Comedy.

After the long True Blood season 2 marathon I had last night, I still can't get Alexander Skarsgard off my brain, hehe. Thankfully, not only is Alexander in all seriousness, sex on legs, he also happens to be a great actor. I'm actually trying to track down some of his Swedish movies (over the last few years, I've really developed a love of foreign films). But anyways, one of his new movies coming out is a British film called Beyond The Pole, and from the trailer I saw, it looks so hilarious!

Brian and Mark are setting out on the first carbon neutral, organic, vegetarian expedition ever to attempt the North Pole. Simultaneously Saving the Planet and getting into the Guinness Book of Records they hope to kill two birds with one stone. Unfortunately, they have never done anything like this before. 

Its still going through the festivals I think, but I can't wait to see it.

Watch the trailer: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I548m50YX8w

Micmacs

I am loving all the French movies I've been able to see lately. I went to the Luna Leederville yesterday just to see any movie, and lucky for me Micmacs was playing.

Jean-Pierre Jeunet is amazing; the way he creates his quirky little worlds, and charms us with his eccentric, clever characters. Very entertaining, but I would have liked to laugh just a bit more.

Is it better to live with a bullet lodged in your brain, even if it means you might drop dead any time? Or would you rather have the bullet taken out and live the rest of your life as a vegetable? Are zebras white with black stripes or black with white stripes? Is scrap metal worth more than land-mines? Can you get drunk from eating waffles? Can a woman fit inside a refrigerator? What's the human cannonball world record? All important questions to ask, while watching this movie.

Alliance Francaise French Film Festival: Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky

Today marks the first day of the Alliance Francaise French Film Festival, in Perth. This year, I'm excited about Jan Kounen's bio-pic Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky. The film was adapted from Chris Greenhalgh's book. It is part true, part embellished, as is the book.

Picking up the story of Chanel more or less from where Anne Fontaine's Coco Avant Chanel left off, director Jan Kounen beuatifully captures the charisma of two monumental personalities against the opulent backdrops of 1920s Paris. 

I bought my tickets online today. I can't wait to see all the beautiful costume designs and get a glimpse into Chanel's magnificent art deco mansion. 

Coco Chanel & Igor Stravinsky is showing at the Cinema Paradiso, March 31.
www.lunapalace.com.au/ 

New York, I Love You

Last night I went to see 'New York, I Love You' at the Luna Leederville Outdoor cinema. Feeling appropriately nostalgic for the City, I thought I would spend the night going back to the streets and sounds of New York. It was just a bonus that Bradley Cooper was there too. Hah.

Following the film 'Paris Je T'aime', 'New York, I Love You' follows the intimate lives of New Yorkers as they search for love. It is directed by some of today's most imaginative filmmakers, and has an all-star cast. This film is the second episode in the 'Cities of Love' series, conceived by Emmanuel Benbihy. The next episodes will be in Shanghai, Rio De Janeiro, Jerusalem and Venice, and Timbuktu. 

I really enjoyed this film, but my only qualms were that I felt a bit lost at times in some stories. There were quite a few unexpected laughs, and most importantly the performances were convincing and certainly charming. Though I have to mention being completely confused by Hayden Christensen's random Italian accent, and Shia LaBouf's gimpy leg. However, I loved the choice of locations, the characters were all interesting and surprising, and I was glad not to see New York being over glamorized or just a show of tourist sights. Because I did fall in love with this city, and it's so much more. Glad to see Orlando Bloom not in a period piece as well. Overall nothing special, but still a wonderful celebration of love in New York, and the love of New York.