A Week at the Movies

Sadly, I spent most of the past week being very sick. I only made it in to work two days and despite spending a lot of time at home on my couch I didn’t blog, I barely read any blogs, I fell behind on email, and I hardly did any reading. It was that kind of sick where you feel unable to do anything but stare at your television and try not to plot the absolute demise of the co-worker you are fairly certain put you in such a tragic state and forced you to squander the little paid time off you had been hording.

So what did I do? Well, I slowly worked through the very long queue of Netflix movies I have been collecting for nearly a year. I thought I would give you a little review as some of them were wonderful and I would highly recommend!

Documentaries:

This is an absolutely stunning and breathtaking documentary that I cannot recommend enough. It was so beautiful; full of nature, landscape, history, and culture. This is a series of about 6 episodes and I was spellbound every minute.

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I have to admit I wasn’t familiar with Grey Gardens until the version with Drew Barrymore came out. I haven’t seen that one yet, but the original was… very hard to describe. Sad, funny at times, tragic, depressing, and yet still all the while: fascinating.

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Another documentary with stunning cinematography. Who wants to join me on an expedition to see the disappearing glaciers? Also some very troubling info on climate change… I hope you will watch it!

Dramas:

Anthony Hopkins at his understated best. This falls in the beloved category an old friend of mine would affectionately call “pointless English films”. It is slow, but moving. The story follows the would-be romance between an English butler and the head housekeeper at a beautiful English manor. It often made me think of another favorite, Gosford Park. I think it may be the same estate location? Anyway, I can’t believe I didn’t see it before now as it was just my kind of film.

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How did I not see this one before now? This could warrant a post all it’s own. (…and probably will eventually at Steam Spectre!) Turn-of-the-century boarding school students take an exquisitely romantic picnic in the Australian landscape and a few never return. The quiet mystery and horror is just what I love in my “scary” movies. The pacing reminded me of an M.Night Shyamalan film although the conclusion is… Well, if you haven’t already, I should just let you see it for yourself. It is adapted from a book which the author claimed till her death was based on fact… Creepy. Definitely a new favorite.

Just in case you aren’t convinced, let’s have a few movie stills shall we?

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I watched many others, but these were the most notable. I do think that the instant watch feature on Netflix is the most ingenious of inventions… I hope you all had healthier weeks and happy weekends!

Also: thank you to those who have ventured over to Steam Spectre! If you would like to follow me there as well I would be delighted!

To be a Wild Thing

I just wanted to say: I loved it dearly. Something about this film just crept into my soul and found a familiar place to stay. This movie resonated with me and so clearly captured pieces of the darker side of childhood that we sometimes like to forget. Here it is both beautiful and sad and I don’t know what else to say, but that I really loved it.

The Wild Things Are Coming!

Tonight we bought the CD and I’m am so very excited to see this! Karen O. of The Yeah Yeah Yeahs did the soundtrack for the film and really, does it get any better? I think she is rather amazing…

To be a Princess

Alfonso Curon’s A Little Princess was one of my very favorite movies when I was growing up. It still is actually! It is such a beautiful film. Such lush and magical cinematography!

I can’t even count how many childhood games this book inspired. Most involved me and my friends as plucky orphans up against some evil headmistress. (There was also usually an elaborate escape from the orphanage through “secret” passage ways using long forgotten  maps.)

The scene where Sarah dances in the snow and bows to the mysterious Indian man across the rooftops uplifts my soul every time.

And I think perhaps this film was the beginning of my fascination with India…

If you have never seen it: You must!

And if you have: See it again!

A Series of Unfortunate Events

I’ve been feeling a little under the weather lately. Not only in the sickly sense, but I’ve fallen into a pretty downhearted state. I had to call in sick on Friday which has only left me racked with guilt. It was a necessary action, but somehow the three day-turned four day weekend feels rather tarnished. I feel better today, but I’ve been a little depressed. My boy is away for the weekend and I’ve stayed pretty hermited away in my apartment.  With the wedding and all it’s surrounding celebrations behind me, I realize it’s a little difficult to face the mundane humdrum of everyday life. I’m grateful to have a job, but it’s far from my ideal profession and I’m feeling quite uninspired.

However, I really dislike feeling this way so I try to make lists and remind myself of the things that do inspire me and spur creativity. My first step was getting out the apartment and spending some time at the bookstore. This was definitely a big help. I picked up Lucy Gayheart because I adore Willa Cather. I also bought A Passage to India because I want to go there very much and because E.M. Forster also penned another great favorite of mine, Howard’s End. Last, but not least, I purchased Under the Tuscan Sun which I have yet to read and thought might serve for some much needed escapism.

I’m also watching one of my favorite movies, A Series of Unfortunate Events. No matter how many times I see it, I am captivated every time…

One of my favorite parts of the film: the animated sequence during the closing credits. Delightfully Gorey-ish.

What kinds of things pull you out of a gloomy mood and inspire you?

A Different Way to Fly

I love vintage looking hot air balloons and imaginative Victorian flying contraptions. In reality I think I would be rather terrified to actually ride in a balloon, but romantically it sounds delightful! There is a fascinating short film here if you would like to watch a creepy Victorian  adventure about a man and his flying machine…

Here are some haunting movie stills from The Mysterious Geographic Adventures of Jasper Morello.

Lost in Wonderland

I am so excited about Tim Burton’s new take on Alice in Wonderland. It doesn’t come out until next year, but don’t these stills look amazing?

Where the Road Bends…

This spellbinding documentary is a must see for anyone who knows they were once a gypsy…