The James Dean Trilogy

Having admired the iconic aura left behind by James Dean's death and all that his life gave to the film industry as a whole, I felt the need to watch his feature films: Rebel Without A Cause, East of Eden and Giant.

Whilst Rebel Without A Case will no doubt be Dean's defining role, giving an outlet and a powerful mainstream voice to the generation of frustrated teenagers who simply wanted to get away and make a name for themselves, not to be held back by society and authority figures. In Rebel Without A Cause, Dean plays Jim Stark. Feeling oppressed by his parents who want nothing but the best for him, he seeks love and to give himself and a young local boy the life his parents couldn't give either of them. This iconic role made Dean a Hollywood star at 24, opening at cinemas a month after his death.

The puzzling aspect of Dean's popularity though, other than his youthful good looks and role as Jim Stark, is that his acting throughout his mainstream career was far from perfect. In films East of Eden and Giant, he plays contrasting characters but is portrayed as foolish, overly sensitive and immature. Whilst he plays the naive yet charismatic rebel as Jim Stark, this seems to be the role which suits him best, cast as an arrogant but emotionally shallow tycoon in Giant and a frustrated and emotionally confused young man in East of Eden.

Perhaps it is best that he is remembered for his rebellious icon, rather than the warbling drunkard in Giant, or the hapless and weak teenager in Eden.

New York City

Having returned - with only 3 hours sleep in the past 24 hours - to Heathrow on Tuesday morning, i completed what was my first holiday abroad. Full thoughts ahead.

Having wanted to go to New York for as long as I can remember (since about the age of 16), staying there for any period of time would have been a dream come true. Thanks to a generous financial input from the parents, I was able to finally book this dream holiday and March 1st was the day I would leave.

The decision to go alone was seemingly huge. Admittedly, it made the experience more overwhelming than going with a friend but getting around was a lot easier as i didn't want to be held back in my travelling around nor my exploration of the vast city.

The biggest deal about travelling to New York was initially that it was my first flight anywhere which made the takeoff and landing so much more spectacular. The rattling of the plane as it gains forward momentum is absolutely incredible, knowing you're taking off into the skies in a lump of metal weighing several tonnes is not only terrifying but also jubilating. The views as we left England, and presumably flew over Wales were fantastic. From afar, bland towns and lakes form wonderful patterns and shapes on a canvas.

Arriving at JFK was a non-event though taking a cab into the heart of New York - on the way to my hotel, situated a block and a half from Times Square - made for great entertainment. Flying past hundreds of cars on the freeways and emerging into a minefield of oversized billboards and an approaching skyline of dazzling lights from world-famous skyscrapers brought the realisation to the forefront of my mind, I was actually in New York. The glitz, the glammer, the ghetto. They were all here, in front of my very eyes.

My exploration of the vast roadways and sidewalks of the world's most famous city took me to several bigname locations: The Empire State Building, Rockerfeller Center and Plaza, Madison Square Garden, Central Park, the UN Headquarters, Chrysler Building, the Ellis Island Immigration Museum and last but certainly not least, the Statue of Liberty.

Of note were the Rockerfeller Center, Empire State Building and Statue of Liberty, each of whom carries an enough weight as worldwide iconic landmarks.

The Rockerfeller Center provides the Top of the Rock Observation Deck, which allows visitors a spectacular view of the vast landscape that surrounds New York City, in particular areas like Brooklyn, Queens and about a quarter of a mile away...Central Park. I went here at night as i was promised brilliant views, and quite frankly i was not disappointed. I managed to capture some amazing shots of the Empire State Building, one of which i'll add to this blog post later.

The Empire State Building in comparison is a bigger building and a bigger landmark but the lack of space allowed on its lower deck meant it was hard to get decent pictures, though i'm sure had i returned at night, it would have been more empty and i would have managed to get some fantastic shots of the millions of lights that glitter around the grand city.

The Statue of Liberty was a bit of anti-climax though this was not helped by the blustery winds which did nothing to aid the experience. The ferry trip which took about half an hour in all (from Southern New York City to Liberty Island to Ellis Island and back again) allowed me to get some great shots of the financial district's towering structures but i would have preferred a quicker mode of transport.

The Statue itself is incredible up close, and whilst up close only means several hundred feet away, it's still a mesmerising sight to behold. Admiring the sheer size of the structure, appreciating the efforts that went into building and transporting its various parts, as well as the eerie giant human features make it an incredible experience in person and whilst it was not the be all and end all i had hoped for, it was still worth the cost of the entire trip just to say i had witnessed the masterpiece in person.

Other matters aside, the trip was marvellous. If anything, i now want to move on and see other parts of the world, though California remains another area i would like to visit should the opportunity arise.

All in all, a fantastic chance to explore the world's most famous city, and there was little complain about in earnest. People warn of the crime, the pollution and the rudeness of the people of New York City. During my stay, i saw nothing to support the crime scares, pollution is present anywhere with vehicles, and despite the worrying large number of people talking to themselves and the impatient nature and poor driving of various cab drivers around the city, the people i met were very friendly and made the holiday pleasant.

Ghost Adventures

During my month-long stay in Guildford in December, i was treated to a somewhat surreal albeit entertaining tv show. Titled Ghost Adventures, it follows Zak Bagans, Nick Groff and Aaron Goodwin, three adults who travel the globe in the search of genuine footage and/or soundbites of ghosts or spirits.

Whilst many would scoff at the sheer idea that ghosts exist, the show does its best to make the whole sensation enthralling and entertaining. Sure, ghosts may not exist and we still don't seem to have any concrete evidence to suggest either way, but the very idea that spirits of those now dead walking among us is certainly an interesting and exciting prospect.

Being a cynic myself, i found it hard to take on board what Bagans and Co were trying to drill into my mind. They clearly feel that ghosts are a genuine phenomenon so who am i to take that away from them?

Using EMF detectors to trace spiritual evidence and EVP recorders (Electronic voice phenomenas), as well as other high-tech equipment such as UV and nightvision cameras, they are locked in some of the most haunted locations on the planet in the hope of provoking spirits to speak to them or even film their subtle movements. Their style of ghost hunting has been criticised for being disrespectful for they actively look to antagonise whatever it is they believe inhabits these locations, and they go out of their way to provoke whatever response they can garner.

As much as i am on the fence with regards to ghosts existing or not; for i would love to believe they are here among us but i'm also sceptical as to just how people can prove either way, this programme not only provides light-hearted entertainment but also often fascincating footage and soundbites. Of course, there are many occasions where crew members could easily be faking sounds and over acting to make it seem like ghosts are present, but trying to find flaws in this show would be to take away any fun it seems to want to concoct.

Recommended to cynics and believers alike, Ghost Adventures is certainly something else.

Adventureland

In the mould of Juno and 500 Days of Summer comes this 1980s slant on the rom-com genre.

Jessie Eisenberg stars as James - the nerd - who is lost in a mess of life opportunities but clueless on how to act on them. When he finds work at Adventureland, a lame small-town theme park, he meets Em (played by Kristen Stewart) who is in a whole world of confusion herself. As the two become close, it is clear that their backgrounds have impacted their lives more than they would care for and as outside factors do their best to ruin their relationship, it is up to the two of them to finally make something positive happen in their complicated lives.

Setting the film in 1987 seems odd for a style of film better suited to modern times, what with the Indie scene so thriving with films like Juno and 500 Days of Summer being such prominent examples of pop culture dictating relationships. Whilst the soundtrack certainly provides a familiar edge here, it doesn't exactly complement the story or any particular scenes as well as in the aforementioned titles.

The premise is yet another 'nerd falls in love with cute girl' piece and Stewart's brooding aura certainly helps create a barrier for her man to break down if he is to win her over, passed her dark and broken past but there rarely seems to be any doubt as to the film's outcome but that could be said for any in the same field.

No performances stand out, perhaps due to the goofy nature of the piece or because there is never any real depth to any of the characters, instead all that is presented is a set of archetypal teen figures, none of which would really benefit from an exhaustive back history. Whilst this is not necessarily a negative notch against the film as a whole there is a lack of depth to the characters and the audience rarely feels a bond with any of players on display.

For what it's worth, Adventureland is an enjoyable fare. The only real problem is that it never excels in any department and thus suffers as a result.

7/10

Whip It

Whip It

Drew Barrymore’s directorial debut provides a limp but inoffensive tale of triumph and love in back-alley America.

Stepping into the Indie film role once again, Ellen Page plays Bliss Cavendar, a small town girl whose banal life takes a turn for the better when she discovers the world of Roller Derby, a fast-paced and aggressive sport involving competing roller blading teams. Bliss finds that she is a rollerblading natural and soon becomes a first team star, though keeping it from her parents is harder than she realises and tensions arise. Meeting a young man along the way, Bliss is forced to juggle her relationship with him and that of her best friend, resulting in a breakdown of its own. It ultimately becomes apparent that Bliss' happiness is the most important thing, and her roller derbying provides her with a release she has never experienced before.

The only real criticism here is that the roller derby aspect provides little actual appeal or interest. Whilst providing the core story catalyst in the finale and through Bliss’s motivations for moving things on in her life, the sport is somewhat unorthodox and not as simple to appreciate or acknowledge as a story parallel as, say, football.

That aside, the film does little wrong but also fails to sparkle. Acting for the most part is solid – though Eve’s one liners are hard to take seriously – and the sentiments on display are standard to that of any slushy Indie film . There is nothing here of note and the film will undoubtedly be lost amongst the many similar better titles within the genre, as bigger and better films dominate the cinema landscape.

6/10

Up In The Air

Up In The Air

A tale of shallow physical affairs and finding the values behind the meaning of life, Up in the Air demonstrates the hardship of being made redundant, whilst retaining the qualities that can make and break a relationship.

George Clooney plays the man with the routine, Ryan Bingham; employed by a corporate human resources department, his career consists of flying around the USA and informing people that they are no longer in work. When he finally meets a woman who seems to share his values and casual interests, he sees behind the callous nature of his work and believes his purpose in life has taken new meaning and that settling down is the only way to guarantee ultimate happiness.

For all of Clooney’s charm and elegant grace on screen, his performance here offers more ambiguity. His initial casual relationship with Alex reinforces the very shell of his work; he is emotionally detached and clinical in separating his sexual path with the cold and unnerving task and job terminator. But it is his ability to detour from his usual uninspiring Romeo archetypal character which opens the audience’s eye. Where he lectures of the importance of removing all baggage (physical and emotional) in order to make one’s career more efficient and easier to manage, he realises how isolated he has become from forming any genuine relationships, including that of his family.

Meeting Alex along the way, a fellow workaholic and unattached traveller, Ryan believes he has met the woman of his dreams. Mature, attractive and seemingly committed to no-strings sex, it appears to be the perfect woman. However, all is not as it seems, as he discovers that she has kept true to her word, keeping her personal life separate from her work much to Ryan’s shock and bemusement.

Whilst Up in the Air tells a poignant tale, the values and beliefs it delivers are straightforward and pack a punch. The acting across the board is decent, especially from Jason Batemen (playing Bingham’s boss) and Clooney himself as the lone traveller. The only real criticism is that of the film’s final few scenes, which lack any real inquisition from Bingham and if nothing else, drive home the sense of detachment that his life brings with it.

A thoroughly enjoyable albeit sombre fare, tightened up by fine acting and a solid structure.

8/10

Extract

From the creator of King of the Hill, Office Space and 'Beavis and Butthead', Mike Judge, Extract is the story of a successful married man whose life is shaken up when he finds his company in jeopardy following a lawsuit initiated by a new-in-town femme fatale.

Starring Jason Bateman (Smokin' Aces, Hancock, Arrested Development) as the lead and Mila Kunis (Family Guy) as the forbidden fruit, Extract presents a set of scenarios which not only seem to defy logic but also any realism.

The premise presented to us by Mike Judge, known for his immature but altogether brilliant observations of different aspects of everyday society, is that of a husband who in order to sleep with the new girl, must incriminate his wife by having her seduced by a gigolo fronting as a pool boy. Should she, Suzie (Kristen Wiig), resist the temptations, their marriage is solid and he has no reason to be worried. However, should she take up the offer of extramarital sex, Joel (Bateman) has no reason to feel guilty for coming onto his new employee, unaware that her sexual advances hold an ulterior motive; she wants his money.

This in itself is a storyline that is hard to consume. Not only is Kunis in reality almost half the age of Bateman, bringing into the fray an uncomfortable age-gap but the very premise set out presents many unrealistic complications in a film which doesn't seem to be of a set genre. The core plotpoint involving a lawsuit brought about through an employee losing half a testicle effectively demonstrates the ludicrous nature of the film. The real problem is the poor standard of acting from Wiig, better known as a comedian. Her lines lack any sincerity and she simply doesn't play the role of a bored housewife convincingly. That aside, Bateman is once again solid as the concerned and bewildered authority figure at a loss as to how he should tackle the various obstacles facing him in his normally unspectacular job, as owner of an extract factory.

Extract is a hard film to judge, for it isn't a terrible film nor does it do anything especially well. Acting for the mostpart is par for the course, and whilst it won't be winning any awards, there are colourful exchanges which brighten up otherwise dull and largely unspectacular scenes. Destined to be missed by mainstream audiences everywhere.

6/10