Novel Ideas on Film |
A few thoughts on great (and not so great) movies and the novels that inspired them... From a girl who reads like a lit major, but talks like a film kid (the mostly unpretentious kind). |
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Notes The Help: How to Make Your Enemies Eat Sh*t
I wanted to write this post weeks ago but, unfortunately, technical difficulties kept me from it. By now, the 84th Annual Academy Awards are long over. It was a good night…full of Billy Crystal’s return to hosting, stars’ memories of their favorite films…and lots and lots of French people.
(Side note: congratulations to Jean Dujardin, Michael Hazanavicius, and the rest of The Artist cast and crew! You can see my thoughts on this year’s Best Picture winner here.)
But the award for the most tearful and heartfelt acceptance speech of the evening undeniably goes to Octavia Spencer, who won Best Actress in a Supporting Role for her performance as Minny Jackson in The Help.
In honor of Octavia’s win…along with the many nominations the film received, including Best Picture…I figured it was about time I reviewed The Help.
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Some Observations on “The Artist”
Okay, so The Artist is not based on a book. BUT…as a classic movie nerd I just can’t keep silent about this movie. (See what I did there?)
At first, it may seem like The Artist has been nominated for Best Picture for two reasons:
1. As a silent, black and white film made in 2011, the sheer novelty of it would make it seem special next to all the extremely loud and incredibly close 3-D movies out there. (Ha! See what I did there? I am just cracking myself up tonight.)
2. The Weinstein Company is involved.
Now, I can’t prove or deny the validity of the second reason; but I do think it’s unfair to think of the film’s silence as a cheap trick to appear artistic. There’s a lot of really great symbolism, history, and storytelling going on here, and I’d like to point some of it out.
Homage to Old Hollywood
Clearly, a black and white, silent film set in 1927-1931 is going to pay its respects to the Silent Era of Hollywood.
For one, it can’t be a mistake that the protagonist’s name is George Valentin. When you think of silent movie stars—and even just the general notion of a Hollywood STAR—a name that immediately comes to mind is Rudolph Valentino.
If that’s not the case, you should probably stop reading right now.
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In honor of tonight’s premiere, we humbly present this list:
10 Reasons The Walking Dead Should Just Kill Carl This Season.
- Carl, stay in...
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Michael Jordan, failed film star of “Space Jam”
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Letter Of Note of the Day: In 1939, William Patrick Hitler fled Nazi Germany to join relatives in the U.S. He attempted to enlist with the U.S....
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“At this hour the melancholy intelligence of the assassination of Mr. Lincoln, President of the U.S, at Fords Theater was brought to this office,...
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When I was 17, it was a very good year—but that’s a completely different song by a completely different person.
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Jhumpa Lahiri
I went to California this morning. Not sure where I’ll be this afternoon.
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It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World by in23h
