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Roma (2018)
A Beautiful Slice of Life-Making the Mundane Extraordinary
This film is not plot driven. Because it's not plot driven each scene holds the viewer for longer then your usual film. I feel like with most films it's one scene and there's a rush to get to the next, always looking ahead to what's going to happen when the scene is over. This film is different in that it takes it's time for you to get to know and understand it and draw your own conclusions from it. It is a slow burner with no real goal or end point in sight other that just being. And for most people's lives I think that's realistic. From day to day most of what we do is pretty mundane with extraordinary moments thrown into the mix. This film makes the mundane beautiful. From the running of the tap, to the rain tapping on the window to the time consuming chore of turning all the lights off at the end of the day, you feel like you're really there.
This film was really reminiscient of 'The Florida Project', one of my favourites, The acting was really superb and at some points during the film I forgot it was fiction and it was like watching a real life account of someone's life.
I found this film really comforting in many ways. One of the loveliest scenes was when all the family were on the sofa watching a movie and Cleo joined in. There was something really homely and inviting about it which was pretty incredible considering it was black and white. And because it was in black and white it made every other sense heightened. You could hear every background noise, every smell and sense every atmosphere. There were many points throughout the film where I was acually imagining the colours. Lighting also played a really key part too, demonstrating the level of ambience that permeated the film,
I found this film really calming in a lot of ways which is why when it drew its conclusion it was even more hard hitting then I expected.
Superbly acted, superbly shot. Worth a watch.
Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again (2018)
Something Lacking
As a huge fan of the first mamma Mia, I was beyond excited to see what this sequel held. I'd heard great things about this film, some even saying it equalled and was even better than the first. And while it's true I had high hopes for this film, even if these hopes weren't quite as high as they were, I think I still would have felt the same.
In short, the newer cast just weren't as good as the original cast. They weren't as funny (I needed more Julie Walters) or as good in the musical numbers. Lily James though I have to say was brilliant. Her voice was like velvet and she really carried the film through. But really, she was the only new cast member I enjoyed.
The songs:
While I thought the song choices were great! There was something that was just a bit lack lustre in all of the performances. Maybe it's becauss the voices weren't as strong and there wasn't as much need for "belting" which I think is a necessity in a musical. The style kind of reminded me of La la land (sorry, wasn't a fan) where the performances just didn't hit that sweet spot. The numbers for me were also too big, too many people I couldn't see who was who, and it made the experience a lot less intimate then I would have liked. However there were some gems like angel eyes and kissed the teacher.
Story: so to me there wasn't really a storyline. Not on the same level as the first film. In short, Sophie is re-opening the hotel and in the mean time we flashback to Donna's life. SPOILER. For what good reason did they need to kill Donna off, REALLY. MERYL Streep literally made the firs film, and I think it was a real shame we missed out on her talents for this instalment.
If you are a fan of musicals, you will enjoy this film. But I'm sorry to say that this was not the Mamma Mia I had hoped and wished for.
The Stanford Prison Experiment (2015)
Mindboggling Concept
My friend, who studies psychology recommended this film to me as I love anything to do with how the brain works and the consequences that can come from it. I had a pretty good idea going into this film what it would be about. However, seeing it on the big screen was something different entirely. Just the way each individual's personality shifted and altered, and for some, adapted was a scary look into the capability of human beings, given the correct circumstance. The idea that we can take on another persona, and not always consciously depending on your environment is a truly staggering thought.
While some may say this film was slow, it was a slow burner and I think that played to its advantage. If the participants went cray cray in the first ten minutes then it would be nothing to do with mind control, or authority or pure brain power. Not to mention it's entertainment value would be severely diminished. The acting was superb from each of the cast members. And while it was a lengthy two hours, time flew by for me because of how fascinating it really was. Scary to think this experiment really happened. Would recommend!