The movie challenge continues. If you want to find out what this challenge is about, you can read up on the introductory post here. If you need a reminder on all the films that have been featured, you can choose to look at part 1 and part 2.
We're halfway through this movie challenge and this middle segment was not as easy as I expected. Keep reading to see what films made the cut...
M) M (1931)
My choice for the letter M was more complex than I thought originally. There were not many films starting with this letter that I had not seen or had a desire to watch (a recurring theme in this segment, it seems). I finally settled on
M, a German thriller from the 1930s, which delves into the way a killer is found. The film centres around Berlin at a time when young children are disappearing. It's soon concluded that a killer is on the loose and the city becomes on high alert. After the eighth murder is committed and leads still have not been made, the city's criminal underworld decides it is up to them to rid the streets of such a monster. They organise a neighbourhood watch, using the local homeless network as the lookout. This works in their favour, and soon the killer is captured and tried in their makeshift trial (which is actually termed 'kangaroo court', who knew?). Before they can settle on the punishment, the law enforcement arrives and arrests everyone present. The film concludes at the real trial, while the grieving mothers of the children give the audience a powerful message.
I quite enjoyed this film; it did seem confusing at times, mostly due to the limited technology in this era not making it clear how the scene progressed. However, despite this, I was taken aback by not only the effects, but also the manner in how the characters acted. It seemed fairly modern and you could imagine the same storyline being used in today's films with no thought that it originated in the 1930s. It is always a treat to see how cinemtaic techniques begin to take shape.
N) No Country For Old Men (2007)
A film that I had wanted to watch for a while and not having the opportunity, until it presented itself for this challenge.
No Country For Old Men is another crime thriller, this time taking place in Texas during the 1980s. A hunter, by the name of Llewelyn Moss, stumbles across a drug deal gone wrong: all involved have been murdered in the middle of the desert. Soon on Moss's tail is Anton Chigurh, a ruthless hitman who appears to have no mercy for others and will not stop until he has successfully completed a job. Moss not only has to avoid getting caught by Chigurh, but also the local sheriff who quickly figures that Moss has gone on the run with money found in the drug deal disaster. A dog-cat-mouse chase can only conclude tragically for more than one character involved.
I have to admit that I was quite disappointed with this choice. The way that critics raved about this film, the fact that it was a big awards winner, I was expecting so much more, but instead I found myself to be bored. The storyline did not seem to go anywhere and all of the characters had no pull for me to be rooting for them. Perhaps if the pace was slightly quicker, it would have held my interest more. I really wanted to be impressed by this film but to me, it was fairly forgettable.
O) Orphan (2009)
Another letter I really struggled with; I tried resisting watching this film, mainly because I knew the ending and the concept sounded ridiculous. Alas, my mind went blank when it came to films beginning with the letter O and I settled in for the ride that was
Orphan. The plot revolves around Kate and John, a couple who had experienced a stillborn in their recent past. John yearns for another sibling for their two children and Kate finally agrees to adoption. They adopt 9 year old Esther, a Russian child from the local orphanage. Soon after bringing Esther home, Kate notices odd events occurring around the family. It becomes obvious to the audience that Esther is like a female Damian from
The Omen, torturing her new siblings along with animals, while graduating to murder when she kills the nun from her orphanage. Due to Kate's past as an alcoholic, these claims go unheard and Kate is made out to be having a mental breakdown due to her inability to cope with the loss of her daughter in birth. The film builds up to a startling revelation about Esther, and Kate is proven to be right with dire consequences.
I had the opposite reaction to this film than I did the last film on my list: a film I had no desire to watch turned out to be quite enjoyable. To be fair on me, this was mainly to do with the performances given by Vera Farmiga (Kate) and Isabelle Fuhrman (Esther). Even though Vera Farmiga has starred in a lot of film and television where she is the mother of a troubled child, she does it so convincingly and always brings a new approach to each character. Isabelle Fuhrman has a quality which allows her to play a 9 year old and a 33 year old (I did say the concept was ridiculous) without it seeming too far-fetched. Without these performances, the film could have become outlandish and audiences may not have been able to suspend their belief for the twist.
P) Pan's Labyrinth (2006)
This choice was a film that I was going to watch and feature in last year's Halloween Movie Challenge. However, I could not fit it into any categories chosen and never got around to viewing it. Hence why Pan's Labyrinth has now turned up in this challenge. Guillermo del Toro's masterpiece follows Ofelia, a 10 year old girl growing up in Francoist Spain, who, along with her mother, moves to live with Captain Vidal - her mother's new husband. Vidal turns out to have been ordered to hunt down the republican rebels and is not the easiest guy to get along with (read: he's a monster). Luckily for Ofelia, to escape from the grim life she's thrown into, a faun appears to her to inform her that her true identity is as princess of the underworld. All Ofelia needs to do, the faun explains, is complete 3 tasks to ensure her immortatilty and return to the underworld. Trying to complete these tasks while looking after her sick mother and trying to avoid her stepfather is not as easy as originally thought and Ofelia must face the consequences for trying to please everyone.
I obviously have heard a great lot of Pan's Labyrinth and I didn't realise how dark it would actually get. It reminded me of the films that I grew up with: Labyrinth (1986) and Neverending Story (1984), though Pan's Lbyrinth was probably more harrowing than them both. The visuals were stunning and Ivana Baquero as Ofelia gives a mesmerising performance throughout. The film definitely had a heightened sense of tension and kept me on the edge of my seat to find out what happens to the sympathetic characters involved.
Q) Queen & Slim (2019)
With the letter Q comes
Queen & Slim, a film that follows two people on their first date. After leaving the diner they were eating in, the guy - Slim, drives the girl - Queen, back home. Unfortunately, they are pulled over by the police for 'erratic' driving and Slim is ordered out of the car. As Queen is a criminal defense attorney (and is used to being treated unfairly because of her race), she objects to the treatment of Slim, prompting the cop to pull a gun on them both, resulting in him shooting Queen in the leg. As Slim goes to tackle the cop, the gun goes off and the cop is killed. Queen convinces Slim to run and from there they go on a journey to escape the law, while being supported by the black community for their actions. A love story develops and the couple try to survive while heading to their final destination of Cuba, avoiding obstacles along the way.
This film had me gripped from start to finish, I found myself rooting for the characters of Queen and Slim; Queen, with her unwavering confidence and majestic presence, as played by Jodie Turner-Smith and Slim with his boy-like wonder, a kind of innoncence that leaps off the screen, as portrayed by Daniel Kaluuya. My heart actually sank at the ending and for once I found myself wanting the fairy-tale ending for the couple. But alas this film doesn't have it, making it a more realistic portrayal of life. Of all the films featured on this list, this one is definitely the most memorable one for me and one I will rave about for a while now.
R) Ready Or Not (2019)
The final film on this list was actually a no-brainer. Ready Or Not is
a film that I've been wanting to watch since it came out and got
surprisingly good reviews. I love horror films and I love those that are
a fun twist on the genre. The film follows Grace as she prepares to wed Alex and embrace his family and their strange traditions. As the family had obtained their wealth and success from building a boardgame empire, they hold a games night every time a new member joins their clan. Unfortunately for Grace, this is a games night with high stakes and because she draws the card to play hide and seek, she soon finds herself trying to quite literally survive while being hunted by her new family. It turns out that the family had made a pact with the devil several years ago, hence why they are so wealthy now. Due to this pact being made, the family are convinced that a sacrifice has to be given to satisfy the devil, with the sacrifice in this case being Grace. Throughout the 'game', Grace has to strive to survive a family who has no soul and hopes she gets to leave unscathed.
Ready Or Not was a highly enjoyable, fun movie. I was eagerly awaiting Grace's fate and was urging her on to survive. The family are all unsympathetic characters, with perhaps the exception of Grace's brother-in-law Daniel (Adam Brody) who seemed to have some redeemable qualities to him. The film was full of dark humour and the pace remained fast throughout; Samara Weaving gave a convincing performance of someone who may have landed in deep water with their in-laws. I am so glad I listened to those raving about this film, it was definitely founded.
Phew, that's it for this part of the challenge. Even though I found this one a struggle, I'm still glad I viewed the choices listed. Stay tuned for more!
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