Movie #391 - The King's Speech

The King's Speech
2010 - Rated R - 1 hr 58 min
Director: Tom Hooper
Starring: Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, Guy Pearce, Michael Gambon, Derek Jacobi, Timothy Spall

Biopics like this always make me nervous there'll be excessive characterization of real people from history. (Well, it's kind of a biopic, though not really. The point remains, there are historic figures here, played by modern actors.) But since even the Queen herself has given a nod to this movie (which portrays her father, King George VI), I watched it with confidence.

This was my second viewing (just got it for Mother's Day!) and I loved it even more.  It's so heavily focused on the relationship built between Bertie and Lionel that the speech problem takes a back seat.  The goal is to help him overcome his difficulty with speech, it's true, but the friendship heals him much more than the therapy does!  Carter, as always, is spot on as a young Queen Mum. Firth... well, he won the Oscar, so there you go. And Geoffrey Rush is also outstanding here.  With three strong performances, I can see how this took Best Picture this year.

Movie #385 - Harry Potter & The Dealthy Hallows (Part I)

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1
2010 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 26 min
Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint, Bill Nighy, Richard Griffiths, Julie Walters, Bonnie Wright, Fiona Shaw, Alan Rickman, Ralph Fiennes, Helena Bonham Carter, Jason Isaacs, Tom Felton, Timothy Spall, Michael Gambon, Robbie Coltrane, Brendan Gleeson, David Thewlis, John Hurt, Frances de la Tour, Rhys Ifans, Imelda Staunton, Miranda Richardson, Warwick Davis

The casts of these movies keep getting longer and longer! But what a great cast of main characters this franchise has built, honestly! I have to say that almost everyone chosen, even the most lovable characters and the most hated villains, are so spot-on cast that I have no complaints! And who doesn't think Carter is the craziest Bellatrix Lestrange there could ever be?

Anyway, back to this review. The seventh book took a lot of heat for being reeeeallly boring for the first half, likes its warming up for the epic battle at its conclusion.  But I've always argued that it should be exactly that. Rowling's writing has always been an excellent mimic for the feeling of her hero, and as Harry feels aimless in his wanderings for the horcruxes, we get to feel it right along with him.  I've always felt that to be a strength of her style, a treat for us readers. If you disagree, you're clearly just reading for the juicy bits.

So this movie also took a lot of heat for "dragging" and while I agree that it probably didn't need to be over two hours by quite so much, I think it captures that aimless feel of the book.  We get to see our favorite trio turn on one another and really feel the pressure, the burden placed on their shoulders at such a young age.  It's fitting, too, that we should sit and feel pressured, burdened by their struggle.  It's like the full-experience kind of movie and book we should expect from such a big franchise.

And I, for one, am a big fan.

Movie #369 - Conversations with Other Women

Conversations with Other Women
2005 - Rated R - 1 hr 24 min
Director: Hans Canosa
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Aaron Eckhart, Brian Geraghty, Brianna Brown, Thomas Lennon, Olivia Wilde

I'd venture to say that this is probably the most Indie film on this wall.  But I like this one, mostly for the performances of both Eckhart and Carter. I'd watch her play any role, it's true.

Here, they play an ex-married couple who end up at the same wedding, both with the same agenda: have a one-night stand and then go back to their separate lives.  Seems innocent enough... until it gets a little more complicated.  The lesson? Sex complicates things, perhaps.  Or, there's no such thing as closure. 

Most of the movie is shot in a frustrating two-frame fashion, which is distracting at first.  For some scenes though, watching both of their faces and catching simultaneous expressions is totally worth it.  With no "off-camera" time, both actors have to give full-out performances.  And while the movie does get a bit more artsy at times than I usually enjoy, it's not self-indulgent or preachy.  It's just telling a story.

And we just get to watch it.

Movie #353 - Lady Jane

Lady Jane
1986 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 22 min
Director: Trevor Nunn
Starring: Helena Bonham Carter, Cary Elwes, John Wood, Patrick Stewart

Be still my heart... but does it get any better than the love story portrayed here by Carter and Elwes? They're both so young and adorable, and the chemistry between them, from their first tiff to their final goodbye, just oozes from the TV. For real.

Based on the true story of Lady Jane Grey--the pawn in her family's plot to take the throne of England from Henry VIII's daughter Mary (later Bloody Mary for her rampant executions of the Protestants)--Lady Jane is one of my very favorite movies.  Historically, it's almost perfectly accurate, which is saying a lot. That's not often the case with these historical bio-pics.  Although the love between the heroine and her hero might be a teensy bit exaggerated, it makes for a compelling story for sure.

This movie makes me cry every time, after all these years. And it probably will for the rest of my life.  It's so tragically sad, what happens to these young kids, and none of it's their fault. It speaks to the times, the high cost of political anarchy, and the heartbreaking result of overcontrolling parents.

And all they wanted was a real shilling.

Movie #279 - Charlie & the Chocolate Factory

Charlie & the Chocolate Factory
2005 - Rated PG - 1 hr 55 min
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Freddie Highmore, David Kelly, Helena Bonham Carter, Noah Taylor, Missi Pyle, James Fox, Deep Roy, Christopher Lee

Okay, so it's not the original (entitled Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory), but to be fair, it's miles closer to the original book by Roald Dahl, starting with the choice of title.  But of course, it's Tim Burton and Johnny Depp collaborating once again, so it's got to be weird.  Them's the rules, see?

And perhaps my opinion is skewed, because I happen to be madly in love with Johnny Depp, but I liked his interpretation of the hermit/genius Willy Wonka.  He didn't just copy Gene Wilder (who's portrayal is legendary), instead he was brave enough to do his own thing. Make it weird. Make him talk in a funny voice.  And make him wear purple rubber gloves. 

It's hard to compare the two versions, so I won't. I think each can be celebrated for its own unique take on the children's classic book.  Plus, Deep Roy makes one heck of a troop of Oompa Loompas. And Freddie Highmore's just plain adorable.

Movie #262 - Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince

Harry Potter & the Half-Blood Prince
2009 - Rated PG - 2 hr 39 min
Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Michael Gambon, Jim Broadbent, Bonnie Wright, Helena Bonham Carter, Timothy Spall, Alan Rickman, Robbie Coltrane, Warwick Davis, Maggie Smith, David Thewlis, Gemma Jones

The end of this movie still gets me.  And every time, I remember reading the end of this book in my hotel room in Italy and looking at Mike and saying, "WHAT?! Are you KIDDING ME?!"

JK Rowling wasn't kidding, despite the various websites that sprung up between books 6 and 7 arguing the contrary. 

And although the end of the movie is different, it's nice that it doesn't leave the same ambiguity as the book.  No Fawkes flying into the sky imagery. No confusing colors of light deployed from Snape's wand to throw you off track.  Honestly, read it.  You'll see what I mean.

Of course, this movie has to cut out lots as well, since it's too large to comfortably fit everything into a film adaptation.  I think this is one of the better ones, but I'm always biased because I've read the books so I know what's going on.  If you watch this without reading the books, I can't promise you'll catch everything.

I guess what I'm saying is, go read the darn books already.

Movie #261 - Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix

Harry Potter & the Order of the Phoenix
2007 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 18 min
Director: David Yates
Starring: Daniel Radcliffe, Rupert Grint, Emma Watson, Richard Griffiths, Fiona Shaw, Ralph Fiennes, Brendan Gleeson, Gary Oldman, David Thewlis, Maggie Smith, Jason Isaacs, Imelda Staunton, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Warwick Davis, Helena Bonham Carter, Robbie Coltrane

These movies are jam-packed with acting royalty, aren't they?  Seriously. If I could write a book series and have all of these actors in it, wow....  I can't even tag them all, that's how many there are! Blogger won't let me, stupid Blogger.

So this has always been my least favorite book.  It's too long, too dark, too much brooding.  But that's the whole point. I love it for what it represents to the series: Harry's adolescence ending, his painful adulthood beginning.  And isn't Imelda Staunton just the perfect "headmaster" you love to hate?  There are many great things about this book, all of which are captured here.  Not the least of which is Helena Bonham Carter's introduction as Bellatrix Lestrange, one of my favorite characters of all time.  Honestly, how crazy is this woman?

I guess I love this one for being unapologetically true to what it has to be, but it's still uncomfortable to read/watch.  I only wish there was more of the Weasley twins war on Umbridge in the movie.  That stuff is gold.

Movie #203 - Fight Club

Fight Club
1999 - Rated R - 2 hr 19 min
Director: David Fincher
Starring: Brad Pitt, Edward Norton, Helena Bonham Carter, Meat Loaf

This is one of the best movies on this damn wall, I'm telling you.  I've read the book as well, which differs a bit from the movie, but both stories are so well done, it's nuts.  I still remember the first time I watched this movie and go to the end, and how mad I was that I didn't figure out the twist earlier. And how excited I was that I picked up on it just before they spell it out.

Of course, when you watch the movie again, knowing the end, there's always new clues to discover.  This is one movie you can watch over and over, always picking up something you didn't notice before.  All three main actors give some of their best performances. I'm pretty sure this is my favorite of Brad Pitt's roles, by far.  And for Helena Bonham Carter, this was an important movie for her - it was her first major role in a US (non Merchant Ivory) film.  World, meet Helena. I've loved her since the first time I saw this.

All right, enough gushing. You get the idea. I love this damn movie.

Movie #134 - Corpse Bride

Corpse Bride
Warner Bros
2005 - Rated PG - 1 hr 17 min
Director: Tim Burton, Mike Johnson
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Emily Watson, Tracey Ullman, Albert Finney, Richard E. Grant, Christopher Lee, Deep Roy

Tim Burton and his usual cast of characters are animated this time, yet still as eerie and dark as usual.  The premise is a strange one - nervous groom-to-be accidentally marries a dead girl when he recites his vows as practice in the woods.  You know, the kind of thing that happens every day.

As Mike and I discussed while watching this one, it's as bittersweet as Burton's other movies.  Even when the characters have it all resolved in the end, there's still this unaddressed sadness within them.  In this movie, our corpse bride is about as cheerful as Edward Scissorhands.  Really, there can be no happiness for her, only resolution.

This is another one of those animated movies for adults that kids might also like (because it has singing?).  It's not really kids movie subject matter, but it's presented in a way that's friendly for all ages.  Still, do you want your kid thinking he can accidentally marry dead people? That'll be a confusing conversation...  Enjoy.

Movie #70 - Big Fish

Big Fish
Sony Pictures
2003 - Rated PG-13 - 2 hr 5 min
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Billy Crudup, Jessica Lange, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotillard, Steve Buscemi

First Batman, then Beetlejuice, the second shelf turned out to be a veritable resume of Tim Burton's work. By 2003, however, his unique style was a bit more refined and he handles this tall tale like an epic movie. Visually, this movie is gorgeous. The field of daffodils, the giant fish, all of it is well done.

Albert Finney plays that stereotypical dad who always has a story to tell, some of them widely exagerated but usually rooted in truth. To tell us the story, we have Ewan McGregor as the young dad, his life a constant string of adventures from age 18. You could probably read into this movie to find elements from tales like the Odyssey or even Forest Gump, but it is unique enough to distract you from these similar "epics." In this movie, you'll find yourself wondering which parts are true and which are fabricated, but hoping that all of it did really happen.

Finney, still verbose as ever even on his deathbed, can't seem to connect to his adult son. The son, who perceives everything his father says to be a bedtime story, grapples with the impending loss of his father, a man he feels like he never understood. Their relationship is the real focus of this movie, with each tale driving them farther and farther apart.

As with most Burton films, the emotions and issues addressed her are commonplace. The relationships between father and son; the grief of loss; the desire to feel we've made a difference in our lives. But also like other Burton films, the characters are a bit quirky, the circumstances a bit off beat, and the premise an extreme version of what you might find in reality. I think this movie is one of his best.

Movie #22 - Alice in Wonderland (2010)

Alice In Wonderland
Walt Disney Pictures
2010 - Rated PG - 1 hr 49 min
Director: Tim Burton
Starring: Johnny Depp, Helena Bonham Carter, Crispin Glover, Matt Lucas, Mia Wasikowska

Alright, I really really wanted to love this movie when I saw it in the theater last spring. To be honest, I didn't hate it but I really didn't love it either. It's another Burton/Depp/Bonham-Carter collaboration, so of course, it's dark and quirky, with just a side of mania. I liked the premise of the grown up Alice returning to Wonderland (or Underland) to slay the Jabberwocky, since it was a fresh way to adapt the classic story. Still, there were times where I felt like Tim Burton was too busy being Tim Burton... you know what I mean?

Overall, it's not bad. Johnny Depp does a great job, since he is at his core a talented character actor. The Scottish accent thing, I didn't even mind, although some people did. Helena Bonham-Carter is also entertaining, as usual. And they cast a great newcomer as Alice. I really enjoyed this movie, but I didn't feel like it lived up to all the hype. I don't know how it could have been improved, I just know that it could've been. Does that make sense?