Films that have stood out personally for me are often shocking and emotional.They seem to have left an impression that will be embedded in my memory for years to come and I can categorise them as a favourite due to this reason. My top 3 favourite films for this list have been chosen for different reasons. I will first start with my "guilty pleasure".
1) Die Hard.
Die Hard is my most watched film of all time, it is by my definition a guilty pleasure. Now I know what you're thinking, "die hard is a film watched and beloved by millions". Yes this may be the case but it's a guilty pleasure of mine due to the unhealthy amount of times I have watched it. Being an admirer of films and progressing onto a degree in this field, some might question the reasons why Die Hard is among my most respected films of all time. The simplistic narrative, cheesy catchphrases and typicality of the whole film are the reasons why I am so fond of it. It doesn't have to be clever or emotional in order for it to be appealing but it rather does what it says on the tin. "Action, action, action". This high concept formula is one replicated time and time again (hence why there are currently 5 in the films series) and has proved to be popular with audiences.
The 1988 blockbuster set in L.A follows the footsteps of Police Officer John McClane (Bruce Willis) who sets off on a plane journey to get back to his separated family for Christmas. The story sets off with the short reunion of McClane and his wife Holly at her works Christmas party at Nakatomi Tower. The party is soon disrupted when a believed terrorist organisation, lead by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman), ransacks the building in an attempt to steal the money located in the building's vault. The action packed film offers continued action involving rocket launchers, TNT and even a police car being shot to "Swiss cheese".
Die Hard stands out for me because of two reasons: Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman. Bruce Willis has been sitting nicely on the action/thriller genre for quite some time now but personally Die Hard is where it all began and where he shines brightest. His character of John McClane becomes so glorified that we are left we no other choice but to love him as anything else seems almost like a crime. He destroys several floors of a multimillion corporation, eliminates an entire group of terrorists, single-handedly and gets his girl back at the end of it, all whilst bare foot. Now come on that's just showing off but you can't help but sit back and smile throughout. Bruce Willis or rather John McClane is like Die Hard's structure. Simple but effective.
Alan Rickman on the other hand is nothing short of a magnificent. He can somehow pull off being the most sinister, cold hearted bastard in the film but you don't resist the warmth you feel towards him. His smooth yet cunning style in which he reads his lines may have rewarded him with roles in which he has been most successful to date. Roles such as Professor Snape in the Harry Potter series and Judge Turpin in Sweeney Todd are clear examples of his style. By my standards he is the definition of an evil genesis.
So yes, Die Hard is my guilty pleasure because I can watch it time and time again, enjoying every last minute and still enjoy it as much as the first time. Its action packed package is enough to keep the most enthusiastic gun nut going. It has earned the right to be called a classic film over the past two decades. It is up there with the great action films such as Rambo and Rocky and McClane's character is certainly on a similar status as the two role models. It truly is everything you expect it to be and gives you exactly what you want. Even when it's not Christmas.
2) The Rum Diary
The Rum Diary is a drama conjoined with elements of playful humour, based on the self entitled novel by Hunter S. Thompson. The film boasts one of the most critically acclaimed actors Johnny Depp, who is joined by other noticeable stars such as Aaron Eckhart (The Dark Knight), Giovanni Ribisi (Gone In 60 Seconds) and upcoming beauty Amber Heard. Depp himself is familiar with Thompson when incorporating his novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas onto the big screen in 1998. With this in mind we were certain to expect elements of surrealism with maybe the odd drug usage now and then.
The story is set in the 1950's and follows Depp through the character of Paul Kemp who moves to Puerto Rico as a journalist who is in search of work, a good story and possibly something more. With his new job comes new friendships, utter absurdity, vast amounts of alcohol all topped off with a blonde bombshell.
The Rum Diary displays beautiful visual strategies in stages throughout the narrative. Being based on the island of Puerto Rico the camera work certainly captures the natural beauty of the island in the same way in which beauty Chenault (Amber Herd) is surveyed. Her blonde hair and blue eyes offer the same satisfaction as long stretching beaches and deep blue oceans. The visual strategies are very creative and often juggle between the states of mind that Kemp and others alike are under. This being most apparent in a scene between Kemp and co-worker Sala, when experiencing an unknown drug, which is taken as eye drops. Similar visuals between this scene and ones in Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas can be matched, and anyone who is familiar to the film knows that experiences of intoxication are to be had. The hazy and slow motion camera work have been closely thought-out to create these effects over us, the audience, so we are able to be a part of these actions.
One thing that is highly impressive is the script itself; people have mentioned that The Rum Diary has not lived up to expectations and could have been better. However, this is not my personal opinion and I will offer a different outlook on the matter. My expectations of the film were not high due to these reviews but I am an individual who likes to make my own assumptions. The storyline offered, in my opinion, intriguing characters that all offer special characteristics in the narrative. They have been well thought of and are strong and understood rather than being weak or pointless. Moberg, played by Giovanni Ribisi, is a violent, black mailing, alcoholic who works in the newspaper with Kemp and Sala but rarely shows up to work and on the odd occasion he does he is drunk. The character is built to represent the pointlessness of the newspaper and seems to have worked out what Kemp has yet to learn already. His far fetched logic and actions all add up to a comic effect in the story which present light relief to a dramatic storyline. Scenes involving Voodoo witches and Nazi uniforms add to the surreal yet humorous conventions The Rum Diary offers.
As I mentioned, my expectations of The Rum Diary weren't at all particularly high but because of this aspect I think I enjoyed the spectacle more and was pleasantly surprised. The storyline keeps on going and I was never left with the feeling off it dragging on but left wanting more, which the film could have easily done without becoming numb. The characters are entertaining as well as fresh and the surreal aspects certainly are not typical in everyday Hollywood blockbusters. The film is defiantly worth watching in terms of its originality as well as the comical moments and strong storyline.Defiantly a film worth seeing and remembering. You don't have to be under the influence to enjoy this ride.
3) Cinderella Man
Cinderella Man is a hard hitting boxing drama set around the time of the depression in 1930. I know what immediately comes to mind, "Rocky with a 30's twist" Well for the moment we will let Rocky have a day off so he can listen to the rest of the Survivor album which he seems to have failed to get through. Instead we're going to dabble through the true story of James Braddock (Russell Crowe) and see if Cinderella Man deserves to gain its own title and come out on top.
The film is directed by Ron Howard who has worked on successful productions such as Apollo 13 and A Beautiful Mind. Howard has reunited with Russell Crowe from previous work on A Beautiful Mind (2001) and been partnered up with Renee Zellweger (Bridget Jones's Diary). The story follows the Braddock family of James (Crowe), Mae (Zellweger) and their three children in the time of The Great Depression in America. James, better known as Jimmy in the film, has an up and down boxing career which causes problems for him and his family throughout the narrative.
So here's a question for you, how does a marriage between the once supreme Gladiator fighter and an ex-Granny pant wearing enthusiast work? Well as it turns out it works pretty damn good. Crowe and Zellweger's performance is truly magnificent and creates a roller coaster ride of emotions the audience are hurled through. Jimmy is the protective, admirable, role model that almost has a super human quality due to the support and recognition gained from other characters in the storyline. Mae is the constant stay-at-home housewife who is constantly worrying about her husband and family's well being. The roles played by both actors are sublime, helping recreate the once lived story of the Braddock family and bring the performance to life. The actors are so believable that we feel every emotion they deal with and take every punch along with them, making the filmic experience of Cinderella Man all the more impressive.
The film doesn't just boast some of the best acting but impresses with the technical aspects it has incorporated. Scenes where Jimmy is fighting utilise quick paced cuts between punches and movements to really help the adrenaline flow through our system. I was certainly on the edge of my seat, weaving and dodging fists that were thrown Jimmy's way and gritting my teeth together when his punches are set in motion. The witty way shots from Jimmy's fights move from family and friend's reactions are successfully fashioned. The flash photography from the journalists in one scene particularly impressed me as with every flash it seems to jump to a different camera angle and with heavy punches that seem to knock down the camera then cuts to the bar where friends are listening on the radio are almost unnoticed due to the tightness in continuity editing. This all smartly links to what is going through Jimmy's mind when fighting and the interpolation linking back and forth in his mind and through scenes really help us be a part of the film.
Cinderella Man for me really deserves praise and recognition and for anyone who hasn't seen it should highly consider doing so. You don't have to be a fan of boxing to enjoy this spectacle as there are many elements and angles that the film portrays, opening itself to a wide range of audiences. Going back to the theme of Rocky I feel is a way in which I can best explain the effect and success of Cinderella Man. Any fan of the Rocky series is sure to love this production and personally it stands out above it in terms of acting competence and its technical capability. I made my brother watch this with me, who is a fan of Rocky and I explained to him my thoughts before watching, he seemed unconvinced so I let the film do the talking for me. I think it was safe to say that his jaw was nicely dropped to the floor as though he'd just gone toe to toe with Jimmy himself. He too found himself being caught up in the moment the film wants you to and was shouting out just like the crowds watching the events. For me, Cinderella Man not only packs two hard punches to make it a huge hit but earns two thumbs up and my highest approval.
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