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Cries from the Heart (1994)
An Emotional Journey Through Autism and Sexual Abuse
When I first came across "Cries From The Heart," I was a little hesitant to watch it because it dealt with two topics that are very near and dear to my heart; autism and sexual abuse. Naturally, I scrolled past it but soon found myself intrigued by the plot and decided I would give it a go. Thankfully, I am glad I did.
Set in a beautiful little town somewhere in suburban America, a young mother must come to terms with her inability to cope with her 7 year old autistic son, Michael, and after being persuaded by her ex-husband, she decides to place Michael in a well-known special needs school where he can receive the care that she is unable to give him. However, one day, after learning how to type on a computer by his dedicated teacher, Terry, Michael makes a startling admission that turns everything on its head.
It is now up to Terry and his parents to convince the jury that this strange little autistic boy is, in fact, a very reliable witness and that his way of communicating through a computer is, in fact, him communicating.
What struck me the most about this powerful story was the chemistry between the cast members and how convincing they were. To start, Bradley Pierce was cast as the young Michael and his performance was both realistic and very moving. Also worth mentioning is Melissa Gilbert who played Karen, Michaels mother. Gilbert was brilliant in her role and had great chemistry with the young Bradley Pierce so they made a really beautiful fit. Furthermore, I have to congratulate Patty Duke who played Michaels' dedicated teacher, Terry. She was incredibly convincing in her role and all three of them made a great team on screen.
Moreover, I have to give credit to the artistic director, Michael Switzer, for his accurate portrayal of autism and the guidance he gave Pierce to bring this special little boy to life. The tics and other strange behaviours Michael exhibited was very convincing and very typical for autistic children. Bradley Pierce was able to bring depth to his character and gave an astounding performance.
Finally, there were various themes that stood out in the film, most notably, the unique bond between student and teacher, as well as, the issue of how autistic children experience sexual abuse and how convincing their unique ways of communicating are in the eyes of the law. This was one of the many questions posed by the film: Can an autistic child really understand and communicate what has happened to them? And are they able to learn?
I will let you make up your own mind about that. Personally, I feel it is a shame this film did not make it onto the big screen as it would have reached a bigger audience if it had but nevertheless, if you are a big 90's lifetime movie fan and have an interest in autism, I highly recommend you watch this film as it truly is a remarkable story of how one little boy managed to gather all the courage he could to confront his victimizer and convince a whole courtroom full of people that he does, in fact, have his own voice.
The Lion King (2019)
An Unemotional Portrayal of a Disney Classic
So I watched the live-action version of The Lion King last night and was left utterly disappointed. As a hardcore 90's kid, I grew up with the animation version which might make me a little biased but this version was truly remarkably underwhelming.
To start, I would like to thank the CGI team for the stunning visual effects. I found myself captivated by the beauty of the Savannah and the stunning creatures that lived there. From the opening scene up to the very last one, I felt the effects were brilliant and very real-to-life. I imagine it took a lot of hard work to bring the story to life from animation to live-action and for that reason and that reason alone, I was very impressed by the visual aspects of the film.
However, the voice acting was well under par. I felt many of the actors did not express emotion enough which made the whole story seem very uninviting and flat. I mean, even the great James Earl Jones who returned as the great Mufasa was very underwhelming.
What was most striking about the animated version, apart from the emotion expressed by the animated characters was the fact that the voice acting was brilliantly executed and exciting. The musical stylings of James Iron who played Scar, Rowan Atkinson who played Zazu, Whoopi Goldberg who played Shenzi and even Jonathan Taylor Thomas who played young Simba drew me in from the very first moment and captivated my heart.
In this version, the songs were appalling, apart from 'Hakuna Matata' which I really enjoyed, the rest were way under par. In 'Be Prepared', I could hardly hear what Chiwetel Ejiofor was singing and the iconic 'I Just Can't Wait to be King' was bland and missed the awesome Rowan Atkinson flair I was looking forward to.
All in all, the cinematography was epic but the story lacked heart due to underwhelming voice acting and bland musical numbers.
Dumplin' (2018)
A Beautiful Portrayal of Beauty
I have wanted to see Dumplin' from the first moment I watched the trailer a year ago and now, I finally had the chance to see it and it blew me away. As a plus sized woman in her early 30's, I found the film very moving and beautiful, not because it features a plus sized girl entering a beauty pageant but because of the story beneath the story. But I'm getting ahead of myself here.
To start, the choice of acting talent in this film could have been better. Danielle MacDonald was not very likeable as the main character Willowdean, however, she did a fair job at portraying the inner struggles her character was going through.
On the contrary, Jennifer Aniston did a fantastic job as the mother, Rosie. She managed to bring an edge of coldness to her unsupportive attitude toward her on-screen daughters' decision to take part in the beauty pageant and then captured every mother and daughter's heart when she finally realised how strong and beautiful her daughter is.
Furthermore, the underlying themes were beautifully incorporated but you have to really pay attention to notice them. One prominent theme was Dumplin's struggle with overcoming her own insecurities about her weight and beauty. What really touched me was her back and forth conflict with herself and those around her as she slowly realised that she is great just the way she is. Having gone through similar experiences as an overweight teen, I empathize with her and was deeply moved by her transformation.
All in all, I really enjoyed Dumplin' and would recommend this movie to anyone who is looking for a film about friendship, love and self-acceptance.
The Grinch (2018)
A Satisfying Watch
I have always been a big supporter of the wonderful world of Dr Seuss with his nonsensical stories and interesting characters. Having read How The Grinch Stole Christmas perhaps twice in my life, I am very unsure of the plot of the book itself however, I found this animation version quite satisfying to watch.
To start, the CGI effects and animation was beautifully done. The colours were bright and bountiful as were the characters, however, I still maintain that Jim Carrey would have done a fantastic job lending his voice to one of his most notable roles as the Grinch but I believe that Benedict Cumberbatch did a great job nonetheless.
Other noteworthy actors are Pharrell Williams as the narrator and Kenan Thompson as Mr. Bricklebaum. The soft, crispy tone of Williams' voice brought a soothing sense to the narration which probably resonated well with the children in the movie theater. In contrast, Kenan Thompson's notable voice brought a sense of wonder and excitement to the storyline as well as his character Mr. Bricklebaum which made him very enjoyable.
However, I quite enjoyed Anthony Hopkins as the narrator in the live-action version of How The Grinch Stole Christmas because he told the story with flare and easily manipulated his voice to enhance the various dramatic events that took place.
I suppose comparing the two is probably not a good idea so my overall experience of Dr Seuss's The Grinch was good. I enjoyed the different twist on a lovable children's story and found the film quite enjoyable.
Maleficent: Mistress of Evil (2019)
Enchanting on so many levels!
I was very excited when I found out that they were working on a second Maleficent film and could not wait to see it. Luckily, I had the chance to view this amazing film on the very last day of its airing at the cinema and I am very happy I did.
To start off, I would like to comment on the set and costume design. As with the first film, the set and costume design in 'Maleficent: Mistress of Evil' was beautifully executed and completely enchanting, so much so that it felt as if I was viewing the film in a fantasy world. As for the CGI effects, they were nothing but flawless. The cute little fairytale creatures and even the fighting scenes were beautifully done.
Furthermore, the choice of acting talent in this film (as with its predecessor) was perfect. There were many familiar faces such as the beautiful Elle Fanning who reprised her role as Aurora, Angelina Jolie as the mistress of evil, Maleficent as well as her faithful servant, Deval, played by Sam Riley. Fanning and Jolie make a stunning pair on screen. Their portrayal of 'mother and daughter' was flawless as was Jolie's portrayal of Maleficent's inner struggle with herself as magical creature and her love for Aurora.
Surprising and expertly executed was the addition of new cast members. Michelle Pfeiffer was brilliant in her role as Queen Ingrith. Pfeiffer brought an extra level of resentment and coldness to her performance which made Queen Ingrith even more convincing and evil. Another new addition worth mentioning is Harris Dickinson as Prince Philip. While Brenton Thwaites was a great Prince Philip in the first installment, I felt Dickinson somehow did it better and would have preferred him in the first film.
All in all, I enjoyed the film very much. The actors did a fantastic job at keeping their audience interested and it was a great choice of distraction from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. As for the themes, they too were expertly executed as we got to see a little more of the complex, yet tragic nature that is Maleficent. I definitely recommend this to anyone who wishes to escape from life for a while.
Bohemian Rhapsody (2018)
Electrifyingly Beautiful
I would like to start off by saying that I am not particularly drawn to biopics so I was a little hesitant going into 'Bohemian Rhapsody,' however, I was pleasantly surprised to find that I actually enjoyed this two and a half hour biopic of Freddy Mercury's flamboyant and somewhat troubled life. Considering that it took 10 years to make this stunner, I think they did an amazing job.
As a lover of all things Rock 'n Roll, Queen has always been a staple in my household growing up, however, I never understood why people were so drawn to Freddy and his fellow band members until I watched 'Bohemian Rhapsody.' I now understand why he was such an amazing performer and why people could not help but love him.
To start off, I would like to take a moment to congratulate director Brian Singer on his choice of cast members. The acting was flawless and very captivating. Rami Malek in particular, was astounding in his role as Freddy Mercury. He was able to mimic Freddy's unique and often ostentatious on-stage movements flawlessly and was able to bring Freddy's struggle with his sexuality to life, showing just enough emotion to draw the audience in. This was nothing short of an stellar performance.
Furthermore, the editing of the final product was expertly done and even though Rami Malek was lip syncing his way through this performance, the editing of these scenes was flawless. So much so that anyone who doesn't know Mercury's unique voice will think Malek was singing all of those parts so well done to the editing team on making it look real.
Moreover, the themes portrayed in the film, that of sexual orientation, music and aids were all brilliantly executed and the film gave a great overview of the man that was Freddy Mercury. As I watched him unfold on the screen, I felt myself overcome with emotion and empathy for it was his inner struggles that made him the amazing performer that he was and it is films like 'Bohemian Rhapsody' that help fans understand the blood, sweat and tears that goes into a rock 'n roll record or any other record for that matter.
If you love rock 'n roll music then this biopic is definitely the one for you and even if you are not such a fan, I highly suggest you give this one a go. It was absolutely beautiful in every way and I look forward to more from this outstanding director.
The Exorcism of Emily Rose (2005)
A Tragic Story of Demonic Possession
As I read through various other user reviews, I noticed two distinct "flaws" that the viewers were commenting on and that is the religious undertone of the film and the apparent exploitation of the tragic death of a young girl. While I sympathise with many viewers and agree that the death of Anneliese Michel was very tragic, I think it's important to remember that this is a film created to entertain viewers and that's exactly what it did.
The apparent exploitative aspects of the film was not clear to me because there were many differences in the film that did not correlate with the true story it is based on. Whether we like to admit it or not, there are many of us who question the existence of both good and evil, and what "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" did, was it awakened our instinctive human nature: our insatiable curiosity about the morbid and dark aspects of life.
As such, I will be giving my own interpretation of the film based on my experience while watching it. After all, that is why we review films, is it not? To relay our experience to help others decide whether to watch the film or not.
I'm going to start by giving a short summary of the plot. The film centers around the trial of Father Moore who stands accused of homicidal negligence when he performed an exorcism on Emily Rose. Throughout the film, there is a time jump between the past and present as defence lawyer, Erin Bruner tries to discover what happened.
The atmosphere of the film was very ominous and added great zest to its horror factor. The tone was set beautifully with very little lighting in most scenes and eery camera movements throughout. Of course the CGI effects were also executed well or perhaps all due credit should go to the make-up artists who did an amazing job on Emily's transformation from a "normal" girl to that of an ill-looking possessed soul.
As for the acting talent, I have to compliment the casting director's choice of actors and actresses. Jennifer Carpenter was outstanding in her role as Emily Rose and somehow managed to make both "possession" and "psychotic epilepsy" believable. Another stand out performance was that of Tom Wilkinson who played Father Moore. Wilkinson's performance was very believable and I felt myself sympathise greatly with Father Moore, even so far as believing that his faith was sincere. And of course, no one commanded my attention quite like Laura Linney did. She played agnostic lawyer Erin Bruner and had me glued to the screen from start to finish - her performance was both sincere and riveting.
Furthermore, the underlying themes in the film is what made it so creepy. Not only does the film touch on the biggest of all taboos; demonic possession but it also touches on the most basic of all human qualities: our tendency to try to rationalise everything and it's this aspect of our human nature that was so beautifully portrayed by the members of the courtroom, from judge to members of the jury. Another noteworthy theme was that of religious faith which weighed whether exorcisms are in fact real or whether they are nothing more than psychological manipulation aimed at making the possessed soul believe they are possessed.
Whether you believe in a higher power or not, there is no denying that "The Exorcism of Emily Rose" awakened your imagination and left you questioning your own ideas about faith and demonic possession. That is what I took away from the film and that is why I think it deserves an astounding 8 out of 10 stars.
A Quiet Place (2018)
A Harrowing Tale of Survival
When I started watching "A Quiet Place" I did not have much hope for the film as I hold the horror genre in high regard and I have been enticed far too many times only to be left disappointed. However, "A Quiet Place" did not disappoint at all, in fact, I could not look away from start to finish.
Set in a post apocalyptic world where alien creatures with incredibly good hearing have invaded earth, a young family must do everything they can to survive without making a sound. The premise for "A Quiet Place" is eerily similar to "The Silence" and mimics the post apocalyptic world of "Birdbox" the only real difference being the fact that in "Birdbox" people have to wear blindfolds because if the creatures see you looking at them, you die.
However, "A Quiet Place" was a lot better than "The Silence" and "Birdbox" in that the characters seemed more realistic and the actress who played the deaf girl is deaf in real life. John Krasinski was great as Lee Abbot, a devoted husband and father who tried everything to protect his family from these alien invaders. Krasinski who directed the film, played alongside his real life wife, Emily Blunt, who played Evelyn Abbot in the film. Her performance was astounding and the chemistry flowed in abundance between the two of them.
Another noteworthy performance was that of deaf actress, Millicent Simmonds who played Regan Abbot, the only deaf character in the story. What enticed me about Simmond's performance was the way she portrayed Regans' struggle as a teenage girl trying to prove to her father that she is capable of doing everything her brother can do (despite being deaf) and dealing with the death of her younger brother for which she feels responsible.
As for the atmosphere, "A Quiet Place" definitely set the tone brilliantly as there isn't much noise throughout the film and I often felt as if I was deaf. I felt empathetic with the characters and almost felt as if I was in the film with them.
Moreover, the CGI aliens were brilliantly done and they are definitely the stuff of nightmares. While they did not scare me as much as gross me out, I did cringe every now and then when the camera zoomed in on their grotesque appearance and often felt myself stay quiet as I watched them approaching.
All in all, I felt the film deserved the hype it was given. While there were small errors made in the film and some scenes needed a little tweaking, I felt the film captured life in a quiet world much better than "The Silence" did.
The Haunting of Hill House (2018)
In A league Of Its Own
My experience of The Haunting of Hill House was laden with feelings of sadness, despair, hopelessness and the deepest empathy you can imagine. As a sufferer of depression, I know these feelings all too well and felt completely lost in what turned out to be a visual representation of what I experience on my really bad days. However, the series also left me consumed with gratitude and appreciation for the effort and care that was put into developing the characters and the plot.
The Haunting of Hill House is an on-screen adaptation of Shirley Jackson's novel of the same name. The series follows the Crain siblings who grew up in what would eventually become an infamous haunted house and delves into the long-lasting effects of their experiences while living in Hill House. Flashing back and forth between past and present, each episode is dedicated to one family member and shows what their experiences were in childhood and ultimately how they became what they became in adulthood.
While all the actors had me glued to the screen there were three who rose above the rest. Carla Gugino was flawless in her role as Olivia Crain. I was absolutely captivated by her performance and empathised with her character as she descended into a state of utter despair. Another standout performance was that of Katie Siegel who played Theodora Crain. Her portrayal of a broken, isolated and cold woman with supernatural empathetic powers was astounding and I still get the shivers when I think about her breakdown scene. Finally, Victoria Pedretti's performance as Nell Crain was so convincing, I had did not stop crying throughout her episode and felt every ounce of her despair and hopelessness as she descended into a state of severe depression. She was without a doubt absolutely brilliant in her role.
Of course, I feel it is important to mention that the child actors were all astounding. I can only imagine how difficult it is to play such a dark role at such a young age but they managed to pull it off and were all very convincing.
Furthermore, I'd to give praise to the director and writers who took their time developing the perfect characters. Mike Flanagan is undoubtedly a director who takes pride in his work and pays attention to the smallest details to make sure audiences have the best experience possible.
Moreover, the cinematography was brilliantly executed and although aesthetically it was very dark and cold, the time and effort that went into the directing and editing of the series made it as great as it is.
In my humble opinion, The Haunting of Hill House is an allegory of life and death, and how these two extremes affect the people we love and those who love us. On the surface, it is simply a story about a family who is being haunted by spirits but underneath, it is a story that deals with mental illness, the effects of bad childhood experiences, what happens after death, and what can be found when you're stuck between death and whatever lies beyond it, limbo, if you will.
All in all, The Haunting of Hill House is an incredibly dark and despairingly sad series that will take you to the darkest corners of your mind and leave you questioning your own ideas about life and death. This is what makes it an amazing series and I advise you to go in with an open mind. Forget what others have said and make up your own mind about it.
IT (2017)
IT Horrified Me
I was a bit apprehensive when I heard about the new adaptation of Stephen King's IT because I have a fear of clowns and horror movies just don't seem to scare me anymore. However, IT has most certainly managed to horrify me in the most amazing and scary ways possible.
Set in the the late 80's, IT follows a band of bullied teenagers from a town called Derry who face their worst fears when a shape-shifting creature starts snatching children from the streets. Together the children set out to banish both the creature and their tormentors which takes them on a harrowing journey through adolescence.
What made this film particularly terrifying was not so much the cannibal shape-shifting creature that was killing the children but rather the situations the children had to face both at home and at school. Here you have a town that is in disarray and teenagers free to roam about the streets without any proper parental guidance, resulting in a horrifying portrayal of everything that can go wrong with parenting.
The brutal and real-to-life portrayal of bullying gave me the creeps and made me feel incredibly uncomfortable. From innocent name-calling to the brutal attack on a boy with a knife, IT covered the whole scope of bullying and painted a horrifying image of what children are capable of.
Moreover, there was no end to the acting talent in this film with Jaeden Lieberher as Bill Denbrough and Sophie Lillis as Beverley Marsh, not to mention Bill Skarsgard as Pennywise. Lieberher whom I have encountered in other films was astounding in his role as Bill. He portrayed a stuttering, grieving older brother with great ease and managed to captivate me from the beginning. Sophie Lillis whom I have never seen before IT, was brilliant in her role as Beverley Marsh and Bill Skarsgard made a pretty impressive cannibal clown.
Aesthetically, the film had everything you would find in a horror movie -- gratuitous violence, blood and gore, a shape-shifting monster and jump scares that would have frightened me more if they weren't so predictable.
Nonetheless, IT is a coming-of-age story that portrays everything that could possibly go wrong in childhood and how significant events can impact who we grow up to be. Dealing with themes such as bullying, child abuse, teenage hormonal angst and grief in such a horrifying way, makes IT one of the best horrors of it's time.
Pete's Dragon (2016)
A Magical Masterpiece
"Pete's Dragon" had me glued to the screen from beginning to end and was in a word, flawless. While I have read many reviews calling it "appalling" and "a waste of time," I found it rather beautiful.
The story line, while cheesy and cliche, took me on an adventure through friendship, love and heartache. As an adult, I cried from beginning to end and took a journey back into my childhood, reconnecting with my long-forgotten imagination and I found myself believing in magic again.
The cinematography was brilliantly done. The camera angles and movements added a new element to the adventure and depicted the emotional element really well. The music was also expertly chosen as it awakened your emotions and added to the magical connection between Pete and his dragon, Elliot.
The choice of acting talent was also brilliantly done. Little Oakes Fegley was brilliant in his role as Pete and is definitely one to look out for in future films. His portrayal of a 'feral" child was flawless and his endearing spirit could be felt throughout the film.
Another acting talent worth mentioning is Bryce Dallas Howard who played Grace, the forest ranger. She is one of the few actresses who portrays her characters with grace and poise and seems to treat them with the respect they deserve. Her portrayal of Grace was flawless and she epitomized her character's love for the forest and empathy for Pete's situation beautifully.
The CGI animation was beautifully done, in my opinion and I imagine that a lot of love and effort went into creating such a stunning creature. Elliot, the dragon, was both relatable and magical. For that, I would like to thank Disney for bringing him to life and for treating him with the respect he deserves.
I would however advise parents to watch the movie before allowing their children to watch it as some scenes may be disturbing for them. Consequently, I would recommend that children younger than 8 years old not be allowed to watch the film as they cannot distinguish between fantasy and reality yet and may be traumatised as a result.
All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed the film and highly recommend it to anyone who would like to escape from the world for a while.
Hereditary (2018)
An Uncomfortable Portrayal of Grief and Sorrow
Hereditary is another one of those allegory films that has many interpretations which was brilliantly depicted throughout the film. The difference between Hereditary and Mother! for example, was the fact that Aster gave the audience subtle clues that hinted at many interpretations whereas Mother! left you feeling confused for weeks.
The choice of acting talent was a perfect fitting for the film. Toni Collette who played the mother was astounding in her role and managed to take me through the horrifying and debilitating journey through grief. She is one of the few actresses that can personify any character.
Another outstanding performance was that of Milly Shapiro who played Charlie, the daughter. There was something eerie about her performance that I still can't explain but she really gave me the creeps whenever she was shown on the screen.
And let us not forget Alex Wolff who played Peter, the son. His transition from a normal teenage boy to one dealing with overwhelming grief and guilt was slow but amazing. His eyes told you everything and I find him one of the best among the new generation of actors.
As for the cinematography, I felt the movement of the camera and the camera angles added to the eerie atmosphere of the film and brought it's paranormal element to life. It felt as if you were a spirit watching the events unfold from every possible corner of the house. The choice of music was also done well and obviously chosen for a reason which managed to make the hair on the back of my neck stand up.
Furthermore, when it comes to the genre of the film, I wouldn't categorise it as a horror per se because while there was a little bit of everything, it didn't horrify me as much as it left me feeling overwhelmed with emotion and somewhat depressed at the end. To me it felt more like a psychological thriller that took me on a harrowing journey through grief, depicting what the mind is capable of when you suffer the unbearable loss of a family member.
All in all, I found the movie disturbing in the best way possible and will definitely recommend it to my family and friends. The great thing about movies are the fact that not everyone will experience them the same way. Finally, the best part of this movie was the fact that there was no sex scenes which proves that not every horror or thriller needs sex to sell.
Schindler's List (1993)
A True Depiction of an Unspeakable Horror
So I watched Schindlers' List on Saturday and must admit while I found it rather disturbing, I could not look away for the whole duration of the film. It is no secret that I have always been drawn to movies with a powerful message and find myself searching for existential meaning in almost everything I am exposed to, however, the Holocaust did not only mark a pivotal point in our human history but symbolised the most disturbing and darkest side of our human nature; our insatiable appetite for power and control, and the hateful disregard for human life.
Consequently, we are repeatedly reminded of the extent to which our human indecency can go which often leaves us wondering when it will happen again. By now you would have guessed that the movie is about Oskar Schindler; a German businessman and member of the Nazi Party, who, after witnessing the deplorable way his Jewish factory workers were being treated by the Nazi soldiers, set out to help them. Liam Neeson was flawless in his portrayal of Oskar Schindler and gave the character the angelic finesse he deserved. I am almost certain that Oskar Schindler would have been pleased with Spielberg's choice of acting talent. I found myself drawn to the character in a very intimate, yet spiritual way, something I am still unable to explain.
And Ralph Fiennes who played the role of Amon Goeth; the model SS soldier who became commandant at Plaszow and was responsible for the liquidation of the Krakow Ghetto; was outstanding. As I watched his character transform from a devoted SS soldier to a sadistic commandant, I felt Spielberg's choice was quite fitting and became somewhat captivated by Fiennes's performance. I could almost feel the immense hatred he had for the Jews and found myself hating him back.
Whilst the content of the movie was very heavy, the cinematography was, in a word, flawless. The decision to shoot the film in black and white gave it a vintage feel and added an extra layer of frightening truthfulness. The iconic soundtrack triggered many emotions which led to many uncontrollable crying moments. Fair warning though, the genuine portrayal of violence in the film might scar some sensitive viewers and should not be taken lightly.
Furthermore, I found myself questioning whether or not any of the SS soldiers went through existential moments where they questioned the ethical nature of their orders and by extension their actions. There must have been times when they were emotionally distraught and unable to complete the orders that were given to them. I cannot imagine that none of them struggled to sleep at night knowing that they were murdering, no, slaughtering innocent people on a daily basis. It is unfathomable that so many people were brainwashed into believing the ridiculous antics of one monstrous man.
And finally, there were three scenes which stood out throughout the movie. The first was the scene with the little girl in the red dress. It is believed that she represented the innocence of the Jewish people, which I feel is correct, however, I also think that she represented the horrifying truth of what was to come.
The second was the scene where the Jewish prisoners were ordered to exhume the bodies of their fallen comrades and told to push them into a bonfire in order to dispose of them. Oskar is present at the cremation and notices a wheelbarrow containing the bodies of children, amongst them, the little girl in the red dress who he had spotted running into a building in the Ghetto when he watched the SS soldiers liquidating the Ghetto. I believe this may represent the loss of innocence and symbolised the complete lack of regard for human life.
The final scene was the scene where Oskar breaks down after he is handed a gold ring that the Jews he saved had made for him to say thank you for saving them. This is probably one of the most iconic scenes in the movie because it speaks volumes as to the horrors that Oskar had witnessed and the empathetic human nature during times of hardship.
The Green Mile (1999)
An Emotional Masterpiece!
There have been a few times in my life when a film moved me to such a degree that I cry for hours after the end credits have rolled... last night was one of them. I avoided watching The Green Mile for years after my very first experience left me crying for a whole week and experiencing intense nightmares about it. One could say that I was probably not emotionally ready to handle a movie of this magnitude and while the emotions I experienced were very real to me, I never grasped the underlying messages and couldn't understand the symbolism.
As a matured adult I experienced the film very differently. On the surface level, this film is about the brutal murder of two young girls which led a black man to be falsely accused of the crime and sentenced to death. The film delves into the relationships formed between the prisoners and the officers in charge, and the realization that he may be innocent of the crime. However, beneath the surface, the film is riddled with deep symbolism that makes it incredibly difficult to watch.
The selection of cast members for this movie was expertly chosen - each one bringing a new layer of humanity to the overall story. Tom Hanks was breath-taking in his portrayal of Paul Edgecomb, the head guard on the mile who was greatly affected by the magical presence of John Coffey. Tom captured Paul's inner struggles beautifully and brought the character to life.
The late Michael Clarke Duncan, who played John Coffey was mesmerising and I could not take my eyes off of him. His muscular physique and rough exterior made him perfect for the role but it was his ability to embody the mysterious and often naive nature of John Coffey's character that should have won him an Oscar. His character's growth throughout the film and his ultimate realisation that the only way to escape this unpleasant life is to go through with his execution are what made him so heart-wrenching to watch.
Moreover, the underlying symbolism in this movie was expertly hidden and handled with care. Most notably was Mr Jingles, the little grey mouse who befriended inmate Edward Delacroix and offered him some relief from the pain he was facing as his impending execution was fast approaching, symbolising the child-like nature of the human spirit and our longing to cling to life. I found their interactions very heart-warming but it was his brutal execution that awoke a sense of hopelessness and sadness in me.
Another example of this was evident in the scene where John Coffey is being led out of the prison to be taken to the house of the Sheriff who's wife was dying of brain cancer; he stops for a moment to look up at the stars and tries to share a story with the officers. Later, as he is being led to a wooded area outside the prison walls, he stops for a moment to smell the leaves on the floor and then offers them to the officers to smell. In both scenes, he portrays both the child-like wonder so many of us have lost and the lack of gratitude that we have for simple things like being able to smell leaves or look up at the stars.
Finally, John Coffey epitomized three of the most beautiful characteristics any person could have: love, compassion and empathy. As I watched his character unfold, I felt drawn to the pain that he was experiencing. If I had to describe my own experience with this life, it would be through John Coffey's famous line: "I'm tired, boss. Tired of being on the road, lonely as a sparrow in the rain. I'm tired of never having a buddy to be with, to tell me where we's going to, coming from or why. Mostly, I'm tired of people being ugly to each other."
Helen (2009)
Astounding Portrayal of Depression
So I watched Helen today and cried from beginning to end. It is downright the most authentic portrayal of depression that I have ever seen, in a movie that is. Ashley Judd was brilliant in her role as Helen and seemed to bring the story to life as you watch her transform from a fun loving, open and seemingly happy woman into a woman battling many of the most painful moments depression has to offer. I felt like I was watching myself unfold on the screen. Her transformation was breathtaking and yet invoked the most haunting moments of my own struggle. It moved me to tears.
And Goran Visnjic, who played Helen's husband was just as brilliant. He portrayed the role of the devoted husband and loving stepfather flawlessly. As I watched his character go through the many trials as a loved one of someone who suffers from such a debilitating illness, I saw my own family and friends and found myself wondering if they also struggled the way David did, though my family and friends weren't as interested in understanding what I was going through as David was with Helens' struggle. At least not from my perspective.
To bring you back to the film; there is a scene where David asks Helen to explain to him what's going on with her and she lashes out at him but you can see she wants to tell him... she just doesn't know how to. It's a constant struggle and it can be very tiring to go through the motions day in and day out.
I've read many reviews about this film and even though I agree with many of the things that have been said, I feel this is possibly the most honest depiction of depression I have ever seen. It makes you take that journey with her - brings you to the darkest moments of human suffering and explores the feelings of utter despair and hopelessness. If you want to understand depression, this is the film to watch.