Dir. Luc Besson "Leon"

What a weird film. Graphically violent so don't watch if afraid of blood and guts. Deals with some really raw issues: family dysfunction, police corruption, a little Lolita in places (with guns). The premise of the film is that a young girls family is killed in a drugs feud. Angry and revenge filled she enlists the help of her next door neighbour (who happens to be a hitman) to teach her how to "hit" the man who did this (who happens to be a high up cop). Along the way, the two fall in love (of a kind). Ensue much gun fighting and blood. But its really good. The actors who play the main characters do so sympathetically. And there is some humour to it as well. The fact that she wants to learn how to "hit" and it almost as merciless in her dealings as the hitman who trains her goes to show that age is not an indicator of maturity. If wanting to kill could be termed an indicator of maturity. The fact that the hitman finally learns to love and is willing to kill himself to protect that other can be seen to mimic the paternal role which she did not have in her actual father. Leons love of a peace lily and that the peace lily survives is an indicator of hope and his humanity. The fact that the peace lily finally comes to rest at a school can be seen to show that learning never ceases and that finally his role of teacher can be fulfilled in an established manner. Like I said, its not for everyone. And it can make uncomfortable viewing. But it is beautifully shot and sympathetically portrayed.

In one sentence? A film of hope and survival

In three themes?

• Hope
• Love
• Survival
  

Jerome K Jerome: Three men in a Boat

A delightful little nineteenth century novel. Almost a 1880's road trip. Basically, three men embark on a river boat ride down the Thames enjoying various scrapes and jaunts along the way. It is humorously written, and at times poetical in description following 'J', his disreputable dog Montmorency, Harris and George as they wind their way along the riverbank. It isn't meant to be a social commentary but does reflect the times in which he wrote and expectation of ease which men of a certain class enjoyed. The fact that they are so disparate in personality and yet have to endure a small boat in which to live thus highlighting their differences even more only serves to strengthen the image of the middle man. It is a beautiful story written in first person by J. He tangents off at times to recollect antics by his uncle, friends and family to bring more clarity to the tales involving the trip at hand. You can try doing the trip yourself if you like, and it would be interesting to see the places so concisely described by Jerome.

In one sentence? A nineteenth century male road trip

In three themes?

1. Back to nature
2. Friendship
3. Description
   

Dir. Ridley Scott "Blade Runner"

A seminal work of science fiction film noir. Set in the not so distant future of 2019, the film tells the story of a blade runner - a detective assigned to the 'retirement' of replicants (human clones) - who is hunting four escaped replicants and falls in love with a fifth. It is a classic piece of cinematography - lavishly pictured future settings with intricate background, particularly the japanese origin symbol which highlights one of the themes of the story. Where do we come from? What is it to be human? These questions are asked of the audience through the replicant and their quest to discover themselves and facing death - their own natural death at age four or the one given them by the detective. The idea of the hunter falling in love with the hunted only adds to the blur between the reality of the human versus the reality of the clone - just how close to the one do you have to be to understand the material everyday of the other? Batty, the lead replicant built for self sufficiency (played expertly by Rutger Hauer) is the final replicant to be 'retired' although this is not strictly true as he naturally dies in the final showdown with Harrison Fords' detective Decker - he kills his 'father' when he is unable to gain extra longevity (the fact that he kills his father by gouging his eyes out could be metaphorical for the key to the soul - by symbolically 'taking' the key to his fathers soul he elicits control and creation for his own. This is reflected in the fact further in that he can be both murderer and creator - he lets Decker live by saving his life thus 'creating' Decker again.) That JS Sebastian - the replicant builder - suffers from the methuslah complex (premature aging) reflects problem faced by his creation though his is natural disorder and thus shows that neither creator nor creation is free of outside forces. There are so many themes and questions in this thought provoking film that it is hard to know where to start. Birth, death, love and hate combine to make this somewhat 1930's esque detective film noir deeper than its contemporary sci fi peers.

In one sentence? A 1930's detective with sci fi cult appeal

In three themes?

1. Life
2. Death
3. Humanity
   

Disclaimer

I would just like to say that the opinions contained in this blog are solely my own and may not represent the views of everyone. It is not intended to cause offence to anyone either living or dead. Cheers hope thats clear.

Dir. Jean-Pierre Jeunet "Amelie"

I can't convey how good this film is. It is a timeless classic, universally liked and just a treasure for any DVD collector. Yes, it is subtitled but its not as intellectual as that, its just a brilliant fairy tale like film. Audrey Tatou is perfectly cast as the rather strange heroine with whom you identify with from the first. Her odd upbringing, her quirky quirks. The photography for this film is also a wow factor. Its french, by the way, and as with many french films just beautiful to watch. The tale is that of Amelie (Tatou) and her obsession to do good. She does it in very strange ways and she also falls in love along the journey. This is where the fairy tale starts, and this notion of the film as a fairytale for adults is enhanced by the narrator - imagine your parents reading it to you as a child in bed and you get a sense of familiarity, a sense of understanding, of falling in love with the character and the story. Watch for the Gnome postcard scenes - priceless. If you don't at the end of it feel warm and fuzzy inside clearly you've been thinking of other things or - sadly - just didn't get it. Suddenly, France seems a wonderful place to live - in its tenament blocks which look so picturesque, its quaint little cafes and old style stations. Its pure escapism for the soul plus looks good on the DVD shelf.

In one sentence? A feel good fuzzy french flick

In three themes?

1. Love
2. Life
3. Acceptance & Growth

Hilary Mantel: Beyond Black

Not bad, not bad. A typically English novel. Lots of references to English towns and there is a sense of..well, rain, throughout. Grey, dreary, closed in. Its beautifully written. Not pacy. Put simply suspense filled. Briefly, it a tale of a medium coming to terms with her past and how this relates to her future. If you're a devout religious anything, don't read it, it deals with spiritualism in a very honest manner, putting across both a sceptics insight and a believers but it may still unsettle those of a more conservative nature. As a thriller goes, it is very thrilling. Don't read this alone in an old victorian house, you will be nervous. Mantels' detail is haunting (pardon the pun) her main character sympathetic. You will find yourself wanting to beat up various characters along the way (even the main one) and say: pull yourself together, get a grip. There's a certain mirror holding quality to it, the reflections of the characters within others is interesting and the power interplays make you stop and think. This is one of the novels which may seem 'old lady-ish' and I wouldn't say its for a young audience - I mean the under thirty fives - but if you do attempt it, keep in mind the style is that of a much older generation. I like the style, personally, it does have some flowery prose and it does follow conventional structure, but I think to a certain extent it is this style which carrys the plot to its best advantage. Although it does have one large failing: the ending. Its disappointing. Its almost like Mantel ran out of steam - and it is quite a chunky book anyway, however this is not a reason to simply give up the ghost (there's those puns again! do excuse them). The tying up of the loose ends you would expect just doesn't occur and you almost want to re-write the ending itself. Yes, the revelation near the end is revelatory but it isn't enough. A comfortable book that makes you wonder - wonder where it could have gone, that is.

In one sentence? A book at bedtime with Cocoa and the cats

In three themes?

1. Belief
2. Self discovery
3. Relationships

Robert Lasher: For Fucks Sake

This is definitely one of those 'what the..?' unputdownable books. A true new generation American classic. Imagine a stoned John Steinbeck and you'll get the idea. Briefly, its one mans road trip (amongst other trips) and encounters with the opposite sex. Lasher takes you on a no holds barred ride through the American country. Snappy sentences, interesting language usage - it wouldn't pass an English exam but I can imagine it might make the syllabus! I can picture teenagers loving this and liberal parents reminiscing over their lost youthful life. Again, its a cult classic. But one you'll have an straightforward opinion on. Sex, violence and lots and lots of drink. You can tell it was written by a man, it has such a masculine style and no dithery flowery prose, the words flow out and can be seen to be firm, solid, brook-no-argument. He's a meat and two veg man, and he knows he's learning whats what. It a fast paced, hard hitting impact book. If you're a woman reading it, you'll come out of it feeling faintly angry at your own sex for making life so complicated - it actually comes across as quite a feminist novel, in places you can visibly see the controlling hold that women have over men (quite an empowering revelation) but at the same time, like I said earlier, you can't help but feel that at times women can be so cruel and unthinking. You get an insightful look into the male mind - if thats what you want. Lasher creates a character that is an appealing anti hero. A rogue and a player and a lost soul all in one. Summarised, read, laugh and cry at it. Its an interesting cocktail mix, if you haven't drunk or done anything well..ermm...less than appropriate, prepare to feel morally superior and wistful at the same time, if you're basically a reformed bad boy/girl prepare to feel nostalgic and read over a favourite tipple.

In one sentence? A new generation American cult classic

In three themes?

1. Self discovery
2. Control
3. Sex & Relationships

Elizabeth Kostova: The Historian

You might have seen this one hanging around lately at the bookstores. Stacks and stacks of paperback versions (I like to get the hardbacks if I can) infiltrating the space. Briefly, it's about one womans search for the real Vlad Dracul Tepes, following in her parents footsteps, after her father goes AWOL. Think the Da Vinci code but for vampire loving literatis'. And it's good; time consuming and could quite easily lose a few hundred pages, but the detail in the description of the landscape, and how this is created to reflect the character's shifting mood is exquisite. The main character (the narrator) begins as a young girl and over the course of the story her personality grows into that of a woman, through her realisation of her parents as people, with a past and life independent of the label 'parent' - and what a past they have! creepy vampire librarians, dastardly deeds in church crypts and monastaries. It isn't hide under the covers stuff, but then I don't think that was what Kostova was aiming for. The vast area over which the search for Vlad goes and the historical and political detail involved in firstly, his life and then his influence in the society he ruled gives a far more interesting read than the run-of-the-mill vamp novel. Kostovas factual yet descriptive style can be dry at times and yet it reminds me of Stoker and the original 'Dracula' novel, which surely is a plus. When the introduction of Vlad is made (oh yes, he makes an appearance) it is faintly unsatisfying, one can't help but feel..not cheated...but that the meeting would be more intense if it was through that of the narrator instead of a third party, however, this may be the effect necessary to keep the reader interested - the hope that this meeting will occur. The key theme which shouts out is that of transition, its a coming of age novel with a twist; family dynamics and secrets make for chewably intellectual thinking. If you choose to google bits you'll be pleasantly surprised and I can see this being an underground cult conspiracy classic, by the end you want it to be real and due to the facutal style in places it could almost be so. It may not be a religious figure Kostova dives into - like the Da Vinci code, but Vlad has inspired generations of writers and researchers. In another year or so, I bet you can take a 'Historian' sightseeing holiday. Summarised, it's a must read - as long as you have the time, yes, you can pick it up and put it down but if you've got a book buying habit this book could quite easily escape through the 'whole read' stack. If you manage to get to the end, you'll feel like you've read a classic and very proud of the fact too.

In one sentence? A new cult conspiracy classic

In three themes?

1. Historical Politics
2. Transition & Growth
3. Parental Relationships & Control

Introduction

For all those literature junkies & those film buffs out there, for those starting to read and wondering what books are worth your while and what books just simply...well, aren't, and for those film buff beginners wanting a better synopsis than the back of the DVD provides here's a (not quite definitive) book and film review of those little works of fiction (and some non-fiction) which occupy a dusty corner of my house.