"Artists use lies to tell the truth."
Apr. 21st, 2006 12:20 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
So. Went to the cinema three times in the course of two days. Yay! Yesterday was BDH Day, with Inside Man (Chewie!) and Slither (Cap'n!), and today was, at last, V for Vendetta.
Apparently people tend not to have liked Inside Man? I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It's not so much about suspense, because everything is very figure-outtable, but it's well acted, well written, and very well directed I found. It was good to finally enjoy Clive Owen that much again, after Derailed, and Spike Lee knows how to direct him and make as much use of his voice as possible. Lovely. And so, yes, the BDH in this movie was Chiwetel "the Operative" Ejiofor, who I liked as much as ever. Wait, no, that's wrong, I didn't like him all that much in Love Actually, but what was there to like, honestly, he was barely in that movie.
And I'm digressing. Watching Chiwetel play in this movie made me think about how much writing a character played by this or that actor made you sensitive to the way this or that actor plays, in general. Writing fanfiction, at least for me, is partly about wrapping my mind around a performance, and what an actor relies on to create a character. And then, to transfer that into something that is adequate to the literary media, instead of cinema/TV. And then you become much more attuned to the way the actor plays, for any part. Anyway. That was the random thought ofthe day yesterday.
Now, Slither? I was actually disappointed, I won't lie. I'd heard so much good about this movie. I'm not saying it was a piece of crap, far from it. But it left me with the impression that, had it been made by Brits? I would've loved it as much as I did Shaun of the Dead. But as is? Maybe it's because I don't know the culture it parodies well enough, I don't know. I loved Nathan, and I loved Greg, and that young dark-haired girl rocks and the blonde's incredibly beautiful, but. I just didn't laugh all that terribly much. (Although I have to wonder, was the grenade "I don't think we'll need it" moment an allusion to Serenity? Because we all went *snicker* at that.)
And finally, V for Vendetta. I actually loved it. You Alan Moore lovers out there, what did he dislike about it? (Bear in mind that I have unfortunately not read the comic.) Hugo Weaving did an amazing job, although I couldn't dissociate the voice from "Hugo Weaving," which was a bit of a shame (and would have happened with Puresex too, had they kept him), but I got over that. All the actors were brilliant, with special kudos to Stephen Rea and Stephen Fry. Who I wanted to cuddle like crazy. I want to see Wilde again. Natalie Portman was pretty good, too. And some of the images were overwhelming. Some priceless lines, too. And oh how I love V's first scene. And the regular Shakespeare quotage. I might actually go and see it again. Maybe. Okay, likely not because I won't have time. But I wouldn't mind it.
I saw the Da Vinci Code trailer twice in two days. It's official, I cannot wait for this movie. Every shot of Paul has me squeeing like a fangirl on crack, which is exactly what I am, except I don't need the crack. He's so very creeptastic. (That said, Tom Hanks still makes me want to beat him on top of the head with a shovel. I can't help myself.)
And now I'm off to watch the second half of last night's Alias. Better be better than the first.
Apparently people tend not to have liked Inside Man? I thoroughly enjoyed myself. It's not so much about suspense, because everything is very figure-outtable, but it's well acted, well written, and very well directed I found. It was good to finally enjoy Clive Owen that much again, after Derailed, and Spike Lee knows how to direct him and make as much use of his voice as possible. Lovely. And so, yes, the BDH in this movie was Chiwetel "the Operative" Ejiofor, who I liked as much as ever. Wait, no, that's wrong, I didn't like him all that much in Love Actually, but what was there to like, honestly, he was barely in that movie.
And I'm digressing. Watching Chiwetel play in this movie made me think about how much writing a character played by this or that actor made you sensitive to the way this or that actor plays, in general. Writing fanfiction, at least for me, is partly about wrapping my mind around a performance, and what an actor relies on to create a character. And then, to transfer that into something that is adequate to the literary media, instead of cinema/TV. And then you become much more attuned to the way the actor plays, for any part. Anyway. That was the random thought of
Now, Slither? I was actually disappointed, I won't lie. I'd heard so much good about this movie. I'm not saying it was a piece of crap, far from it. But it left me with the impression that, had it been made by Brits? I would've loved it as much as I did Shaun of the Dead. But as is? Maybe it's because I don't know the culture it parodies well enough, I don't know. I loved Nathan, and I loved Greg, and that young dark-haired girl rocks and the blonde's incredibly beautiful, but. I just didn't laugh all that terribly much. (Although I have to wonder, was the grenade "I don't think we'll need it" moment an allusion to Serenity? Because we all went *snicker* at that.)
And finally, V for Vendetta. I actually loved it. You Alan Moore lovers out there, what did he dislike about it? (Bear in mind that I have unfortunately not read the comic.) Hugo Weaving did an amazing job, although I couldn't dissociate the voice from "Hugo Weaving," which was a bit of a shame (and would have happened with Puresex too, had they kept him), but I got over that. All the actors were brilliant, with special kudos to Stephen Rea and Stephen Fry. Who I wanted to cuddle like crazy. I want to see Wilde again. Natalie Portman was pretty good, too. And some of the images were overwhelming. Some priceless lines, too. And oh how I love V's first scene. And the regular Shakespeare quotage. I might actually go and see it again. Maybe. Okay, likely not because I won't have time. But I wouldn't mind it.
I saw the Da Vinci Code trailer twice in two days. It's official, I cannot wait for this movie. Every shot of Paul has me squeeing like a fangirl on crack, which is exactly what I am, except I don't need the crack. He's so very creeptastic. (That said, Tom Hanks still makes me want to beat him on top of the head with a shovel. I can't help myself.)
And now I'm off to watch the second half of last night's Alias. Better be better than the first.
no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 06:04 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 06:16 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 06:15 pm (UTC)2) Moore's insane. That's important to remember. That said, they really did slaughter (and by slaughter I mean Hitler and the Jews style) League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, so he already hates Hollywood. Also, he's insane. ...I'll dig up the NYTimes article that lists his complaints, if you really want it.
3) V is my boyfriend.
4) I cannot remember what I was going to say, because I got distracted by number three.
*pets your poor headachey head*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 06:20 pm (UTC)2) Would you mind? I'm really interested. That said, about LXG, I refuse to acknowledge that that movie was made. (So. Painful.)
3) ...okay. I'll keep Mark to myself. (He just sang something. My fangirly self is very fickle.)
4) Very understandable.
*cuddles up* You wouldn't have a Stephen Fry handy to send me?
no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 06:31 pm (UTC)2) LXG is within my top worst five films ever made. I found the article, but it's gone into the NYT locked archive, which means you have to pay to read it. I emailed my comics prof to see if he has it payed somewhere or if the school has access to the site on an educational basis, because I think I need it for my final paper anyway. I'll let you know.
3) Agreed.
4) *hands over Stephen Fry as well and makes you tea*
no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 06:43 pm (UTC)2) Thanks! *shakes fist at the locked archive*
4) Thank you. *crawls onto his lap, cuddles up, and just listens to him talk. about language. with the tea you offered*
And on that note, I'm off to bed. That'll help with the headache better than anything else. Mwah!
no subject
Date: 2006-04-20 07:00 pm (UTC)no subject
Date: 2006-04-21 06:06 am (UTC)