L is for the way you look at me

(L) is a film about the subjectivity of love.


The dictionary describes love as "an intense feeling of deep affection", but it overlooks the dismissive nature of our culture and the attempts made by other people to comment on emotions which they do not feel but merely observe in others. Many songwriters and poets attempt to capture the feeling of love within their work and no matter how poignant or apt the words may be, can anyone ever make such a personal feeling universal? The individuality of love is what makes it so universal. That every man, woman and child can feel varying degrees of love in their lifetime from a love which is shared and treasured to an unrequited love that hurts more than any other person could ever recognise exemplifies this. If "All you need is love" then who are we to put boundaries on what love can be and who can feel it, even the darkest souls on the planet have the oppurtunity to feel love and it may not be love as we see it but who are we to criticize or deny it? Love is a subjective feeling and whether requited or not it belongs to the person who feels it, it is their decision whether to share it or not, and even if rejected that love is no less of a love than that of a couple of 50 years. Love like any other emotion is open to interpretation, some will cherish the love of others, some will hide their love for fear of it being tainted but love is an individual experience and like any other emotion it is only the person who feels it to decide what it is or isn't.

Slowpoke ;)

The Genius Himself

There is something infinitely interesting about Mr. David Lynch.

Michel Gondry x Flight of the Conchords

I assume this is the feeling the guy who invented jelly and ice cream got when he tried his first bowl.

Oscar Winners 2009

A fair night overall and a good one for the British Film industry which is always nice to see. However a few stand out performances happened to be overlooked.

Sean Penn was absolutely brilliant as Harvey Milk, however there is something about Mickey Rourke's story and the honesty he portrayed, the way you could see him feel everything that Randy the Ram felt in The Wrestler that set him apart from everyone.

I also feel their will be a lot of people ignoring the foreign language category after the debacle the committee made of this years decision. First by overlooking the outstanding Gomorrah even a nomination and second by choosing a little known Japanese film which I cannot judge because I have not seen it, over Waltz With Bashir. I am in no way saying that the winning film was not a great film, as I have said I have never seen it. However Waltz With Bashir is not just a film, it is a statement, along with Persepolis it is a new adult way of approaching animation and one which many thought should have been nominated in the best film category. This alone sets it apart from any of its competitors in this category.

Although biased because of my love for Mike Leigh I would also loved to have seen him pick up a much deserved best screenplay for Happy Go Lucky.

I am keen to see Anne Hathaway in Rachel Getting Married before saying that Kate Winslet was the right but I have a sneaky suspicion I will disagree with the decision here too.

Also, although a very good film I feel that Slumdog Millionaire does not quite justify it's 9 Oscar haul. In no way knocking the film and its achievement I feel other films were better in the categories of Cinematography (The sadly overlooked for nomination Australia,) and Original Score (Wall-E.)

Despite this I am pleased to see a return to form for the committee. Probably aided by the lack of tough decisions this year they got a lot of decisions right for once. None more so than the Best Documentary to Man On Wire, a well deserved award to a beautifully executed film.

The Best Director/ Best Film to Slumdog Millionaire, which in a year of uninspiring nominations stood out in the pack.

It is also nice to see Penelope Cruz pick up an award, even if she achieved it for a more sedated role than those in which she has achieved her finest performances to date.

In the same vein as this I am glad to see Heath Ledger getting the award for Best Supporting Actor as he dominated the years big success The Dark Knight and stood out like a sore thumb in this category. A posthumous award for a man who was on his way to becoming a marvelous actor.

Lets hope this year is a sign of things to come. That the Oscars do not give in to the demand for more awards to the commercially successful choices and that we see enough brilliant films in the next year to make next years decisions a bit more difficult.

"Do you punch your mother with that mouth?"

"A Race To The Bottom"

A race to the bottom usually refers to people being prepared to settle for "good enough" when they ought to be striving for best. If I can save money by settling for good enough, then a competitor will try to save more, thus lowering their standard below mine. If I wish to compete I need to go lower than them - and so on, and on - in a race to the bottom.
It is variously referred to as "dumbing down" or "appealing to the lowest common denominator" or "a race to the bottom"

Yesterdays Papers

An orange glow makes the cars dance in the dark,
and the rain confuses images of the outside world,
duplicated drivers make their way to unimportant places,
the only thing on these roads that are changing are the signs.

People stand in far off places trying to catch a ride,
leaving their faith in humanity lying on the roadside,
rain batters cardboard placards romantically marked 'Home',
their fate becomes a passing thought, their destiny unknown.

Distant lands welcome worn down faces,
neighbours wave off loves rear lights,
sleep deprived eyes fight for space in the same direction,
a tin box devouring what's inside.

In far off places men sit on sidewalks, abandoned by mankind,
cover their heads with yesterdays papers, the people time left behind,
rain patters against the shell of a once proud man, misery by another name,
wheels roll past to far off places, it's always the same way to the grave.

Political Correctness

Well according to the Daily Mail, The Sun and a large proportion of Britain it has gone mad.

But it is essential.

It had never gone mad it has just made people who did not see themselves as racists realise that they were using racist language in everyday life.

It is not acceptable to use the term Golliwog to describe a black person, it is not acceptable to use the term 'Paki Shop' to describe the local corner shop.

The world is changing, it has changed. Some people have changed and others have walked blindly into the new age blaming the world for their own social failings.

Pride stands in the way of these people accepting they were wrong and joining us in a more multi cultural and diverse world, in a world of understanding.

One day we will all hold hands like in that coke advert and we will sing away the hate and blindness and everyone will stand in the light.

Until then we just wait for better times.

There's Snow Place Like Home

Sorry for the pun.

However, due to the return of the snow I am sat in bed, awake and with nothing to do. I also have now had an important 3 hours worth of going over script and characters cut from my day. This does not please me, and although snow looks nice it is essentially just cold and that is it. The only way I will enjoy snow at all is if it gets me off work tomorrow and God forbid it delays the Berlin trip. If there is even a chance that we will be delayed I am buying a heater and personally melting every bit of snow in Nottingham.

Have a good day.

Liam

Venus (2006) - Roger Michell

Venus is a beautiful film. Beautifully shot, a beautiful story and beautifully acted. The star turn coming from Peter O'Toole and his performance in no way taking the focus away from that of Leslie Phillips who is also wonderful.

The story of a friendship between an elderly actor and a young niece of his long standing friend. The girl who seems the polar opposite of the two aged actors is at the first the object of O'Toole's characters lustful admiration but their relationship soon becomes about more than this. Venus quickly takes you on a whirlwind of emotion, moving you, breaking your heart and finally dumping you back down in the Cafe where you first met the actors.

Wonderfully photographed, barring a few shots which seemed out of place the film is subtle and draws emotion from it's leading characters. The directing is not forceful but rather encourages the viewer to ease earlier concerns about the relationship.

I lost myself in this film. I believed the characters, I believed the situation, I felt the emotions, the desperation and laughed regularly throughout. It is testament to the film that it should provide such a range of emotions, a very good film and one with lasting effect. This is not a blockbuster, do not see it for special effects. See it because you are human and it is not very regularly that we get to be shown something that tells how to feel something better than you could have ever felt it in real life.

I recommend this film.

Sigur Ros

These men own my soul.

Nice Fincher Interview

Check it out if you get chance.


/http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/feb/03/david-fincher-interview-transcript

As it is close to Valentine's and everything.

The sunshine thaws out a cold heart,
As the last trace of hate trickles down a fragile shell,
Flowers grow on the graves of yesterday
As eyes open to a new dream,

Birds sing a different song this morning,
The wind is gentle through the trees,
A hardened stair seems warmed, inviting,
Secrets whisper in the breeze,

The great pretender lays down his mask,
As a smile cracks hardened cheeks,
A battered body finds its final companion,
They spell it L-O-V-E.

Officially the best line up in the history of music

Berlin: 8 Days To Go

Bride Wars

I'd like to say before I leave to see this film

I neither want to see it, nor do I understand why anyone would want to see it.

Alas you let your sister choose and you get this.

Berlin Countdown: 10 Days To Go

Some Helpful German Phrases For The Trip:

deren ist ein Dachs gefangen in meiner Dusche - There is a badger trapped in my shower

nichts ausmacht, er ist eine massive rassistische - Don't mind him, he is a massive racist

Ich spiele lieber Tennis. - I'd prefer to play tennis

Raum für eine weitere - Room for one more

Es wird die Russen aergern. - It will annoy the Russians

Es stinkt nicht wie Schokolade - It doesn't smell like chocolate

sieht aus wie ein rosa Kebab - looks like a pink kebab

Mögen Sie die Musik von Britney Spears? - Do you like the music of Britney Spears?

Ich fühle mich wie ein Paar Socken ist nie genug - I feel like one pair of socks is never enough

There is a God

Genius is not a word I use often but there is only one word that can do justice to this video.

Welcome.

This is the happiest I have ever been.