The Painted Veil (2006)

 

 

Director: John Curran

Probably, one of the saddest and the most emotional films I have seen in a while.  I almost burst into tears at the end of the "The painted veil". It is one of those films, you know, which you want to watch again and again, and again. You might have understood that I love history and I love romance but when both collide - it is a perfect combination.

Kitty was from the upper-class, Walter - kind of in the middle, doctor. He fell in love from the first sight, she - thought love will come by the time (younger sister could not marry to someone before her). Walter went crazy for Kitty, she - crazy for Charlie Townsend. Nothing to do, scandal was not needed, everything had to be just fine, like nothing had happened. They went to a small, cholera ridden village (in China). Walter - to fight off the deadly pestilence, Kitty -  to fight off her feelings for Charlie. Eventually they find their way back to each other, but, what a pity, too late.

"The painted veil" is a must-see film for all of you who believe that true love can overcome any difficulties. Beautifully captured, invincible emotionals, historical background. Despite everything, it is a love story - magical and romantic. Edward Norton reveals all the hidden emotionals of Walter in a very good way, nothing to add. Naomi Watts would keep up with him, if only she did not hold her mouth open always when Kitty had nothing to say.

I definitely recommend watching this film for those who are like me - hopeless romantics and history lovers.

The Lucky One (2012)

 

Director: Scott Hicks

Guess who has grown  up, huh? The Disney star Zac Efron has finally turned to serious things. From a high-school singer-basketball player he has become a soldier who is not afraid to kill or fight against the bad guys. Who would have thought that it might happen one day?

The film is based on another successful Nicholas Sparks novel (the same author for the number one love story "The notebook", "A walk to remember" and "Dear John"). Yes, another romance that actually portrays the current situation - so many brothers, husbands and just friends have gone to Iraq to fight....for nothing. 

At first, everything seems like in all this kind of films - the girl is  suspicious and do not like the guy at all, but as time goes by and Logan helps Beth with every day works, no wonder, she eventually falls in love with him. Things are going pretty well, until a major secret comes out.

This film would be fine, even very good, if there were not so many deaths and tragedies - too much for rather short footage. I know that Sparks likes to play with characters, throw them under the rocks and then bring them kind of happy ending after all. I can honestly say that I am not fan of this film and I do not wish to watch it one more time but still if you like simple romantics without a deep byplay, than "The lucky one" is not a bad choice.

The torrents of spring (1871)

 

 

 


Author: Ivan Turgenev

I have turned to classics as you may have guessed...

I have just read the book and cannot express how much the main character Sanin has filled me with disgust. He is not a man, ok, he is, but he does not deserve to be called so because Sanin's way of thinking is made for young boys not for grown ups. I do not think that any gentleman ever would leave his fiancée without saying a single word. Just disappear for no apparant reason... He is gone, that is it.

At first I was like - oh, how nice and sweet, and helpful Sanin is and he and Gemma, this young and beautiful Italian, would make a great couple. But...after reading the last chapter, I thought, thank God, it did not happen, Gemma should have felt very lucky and full of happiness.


Why did I change my mind? Go and find by yourself. "The torrents of spring" is definitely a book that is worth reading. Not only does it has a great language but also there are used many sayings and words from Italian, German and French. So it is a good way to learn many languages at the same time, to kill two birds with one stone ( reading with delight and learning).

Actually I chose to read "The torrents of spring" not because I had heard good reviews before but because I saw the book in the book store the other day, read the annotation and felt that this was for me. If you, just like me, like romantic novels with a little bit of melancholia (Not the one Lars von Trier talked about.) and a surprising ending, then "The torrents of spring" is a must for you.

Bleak house (1853)

Author: Charles Dickens

The last lines, the last words and I have finished. I have read the book I have never believed I would. About 900 pages is not something little. When I started reading, I really was not sure whether I chose the right book or not. I have always been a very romantic person, I like love stories with happy or sometimes unexpected endings, but this book "Bleak house" was something completely different from what I have read before. I am interested in history but did not know that the judiciary in England was so ridiculous and at the same time painful for so many people that were indrawn in it. 

This work can be divided into 2 parts (it is actually in two parts, but I will talk about something different) - 1. The story from Esther's point of view 2. The story from the author's point of view. The first one I loved more although in the beginning I thought that Esther was too naive and innocent (she did not change as the story went by) but as I was reading further and further, I used to that. Esther was a really good girl, a true friend that would never stab in the back, rather sacrifice her own wishes and feelings just to know that her beloved ones got all they wanted or needed. No wonders everyone loved her. She was the good spirit at the Bleak house and everywhere else. I know that I could never be like Esther as well as I do not believe that there is such a good, no, great person on Earth. She really deserved a good ending for her story and eventually got it. I honestly never thought that Esther would marry Mr. Jarndyce. That would be too weird without saying even more.

Talking about the second part, I have to admit that at first I was bored , I thought I would never finish this book because I had to push myself very hard to read even a single line. But, but...As there were more and more characters involved, I become interested in it, especially when the detective side of the plot brightened it. Then I just could not put the book away.

Amazing and old language is what will make you love "Bleak house", as well as the bright and colourful characters (each of them had his/her own special way of talking because of which you could not mistake him/her for somebody else).  After reading this novel I strongly believe that Charles Dickens is one of the greatest writers of all the time, let alone the ones whose works I have read.

Bel ami (2012)

Directors: Declan Donnellan and Nick Ormerod

Before I start discussing this film I have to tell you that I was really frustrated when I found out it was Robert Pattinson who got to play Georges Duroy. Yes, I had read the book by G. de Maupassant years ago and that is why I just could not imagine, I could not portray how the leading star of Twilight (I think it is one of the worst films, because of the plot,  I have ever seen) would play a man who is using women to gain success in the 19th century Paris. Now I have to admit I was wrong thinking that Robert is a bad actor. He is good but only when he plays in good films.

I have always been fascinated by history and I really want to go to France someday therefore Bel ami is the film exactly for me. I never thought that there was such dissoluteness at that time (the end of 19th century), wives cheated on their husbands and husbands cheated on their wives. But it was not so easy to do back then. Everything had to be a secret otherwise you would lose your status and would be ashamed in front of all society.

Georges Duroy was a free man who never really cared about his partners feelings, he cared only about himself, about what he can gain from this and that connection (many at the same time). Although this action is blameworthy, you can also understand why Georges did so. Ever since he remembered himself, Georges was always poor. Of course when you can smell money, when you feel that it is so close like never before, you just cannot resist the temptation to try and get it. Neither could Georges.

I have to adjudge that I waited something more from Bel ami. After reading the book with such a stormy plot this film was only a weak reflection. But, but... I still rated it very good because of the actors and my beloved historical/romantic theme. Christina Ricci, Uma Thurman, Kristin Scott Thomas and, yes, Robert Pattinson - that is a great actors company. If only the plot could reach their level...

My Week with Marilyn (2011)

Director: Simon Curtis

Marilyn Monroe was and still is a woman who is admired by so many girls and ladies and

desired by uncountable number of men all over the world.Colin Clark was not an exception. Though he was a newbie in the cinematography and did not know much about how to work with celebrities, Colin earned Marilyn's attention quite fast, he was one of few who she could trust. At first shy and intent on other girl, soon Colin realizes that he cannot resist temptation (like many of his colleagues) spending more time with Marylin.

My week with Marilyn is a biographical film that focuses not as much on filming "The prince and the showgirl" but more likely on Marilyn's character and personality. Michelle Williams deserved an Oscar for such performance. She embodied Marilyn to its fullest and just the difference in looks made me think back again and again that she is not the real showgirl.

But it is not only Michelle that brings us an outstanding performance. You cannot deny that experienced Judy Dench and Kenneth Branagh as well as not so famous Eddie Redmayne (who we all will be able to see in the new version of Les Miserables, premiere on 14th of December 2012) are on the right time and in the right place because their acting is believable. But that happens almost every time. If you have seen the film, you cannot imagine that that role could have played someone else.

With all my heart I suggest (no, I demand) you to watch this film. Even if you are not fascinated by Marilyn's life, you just do not care or do not like biographical films, watch it any way. Simply imagine that it is not Marilyn in the leading role but a girl who has achieved her dreams but still is not happy with her life. It is quite a sad story actually.

My blueberry nights (2007)

 

Director: Kar Wai Wong

You know that life likes to play games with us. One day you have everything and the other one - nothing you really cared about. This film is about a girl named Elizabeth whose life turns upside down after she finds her boyfriend cheating on her. There is no other way how to forget that except for leaving NY and going the farther the better.

I once read a novel by a well-known Latvian writer (but I will not tell her name because you do not know her anyway) and there was a good saying: "A person always gets the right companion whose importance he realizes only afterwards. In order to learn how to live." This quote can really be related to Lizzie's story. A policeman who drinks every night until he cannot walk because his wife has left him, a woman who realizes how painful it is to lose someone loved even if you seem not to care about him lately and finally a girl who teaches not to trust any one because she has failed so many times before - these are the people who Elizabeth meets while she is thousand miles away from NY. They really teach her different life lessons, in other words - what not to do.

And then there is Jeremy... The man who understands Lizzie and still makes a blueberry pie even though no one seems to like it (except for her).

My blueberry nights is the film that will make you relax and forget about your life problems or maybe the other way round will make you think over about it. Beautiful voice of Norah Jones will take you into a dreamy mood. You will definitely like this film if you like drama and romance united as well as happy ending.

The iron lady (2011)

Director: Phyllida Lloyd

You might like to know, what made me watch this film. The answer is easy - first of all, Meryl Streep has won the Oscar for playing the Iron lady Mrs Thatcher and, secondly, I have heard good reviews. As a history lover I had to watch it, I was so ashamed I did not know almost anything about Margaret before except for that she was the Prime Minister from the conservative party. This film made a lot of things clearer for me.

You cannot deny that Meryl is an awesome actress (and that make-up!!!! In some episodes it is hard to recognize her) but I would give Oscar to Michelle (My week with Merilyn - read here ). It is impossible to compare these 2 films as well as the main characters (both Margaret and Merilyn have made history only in a different way. Both' names start with "M"!!!)  but maybe I am just not that keen on Politics and prefer something playful, although either of them have quite a serious story.

The Iron lady tells us that you have to work hard to achieve your goals and always dream big because nothing is impossible. Margaret was not a party animal, instead she learned a lot and finished Oxford University, one of the best and the most prestigious university in the world. Margaret knew that she would not be like any other women who do the washing up, make dinner and take care of her children every day. It was not for her but Politics and especially Prime Minister position was.

This film follows the best and the most unpleasant moments of her carrier and also shows the modern Margaret, woman who is not the iron lady anymore, can be vulnerable and cannot control everything anymore. She is like many other elderlies just with bright past.

A dangerous method (2011)

 

 

 Director: David Cronenberg

Have you ever thought about what made you do this or that? Was it because you wanted or because some kind of power inside you made you do that? I have always believed that nothing happens without a reason and we cannot control everything we say or do. When we came into the world, mother nature had already given instincts to help us act right in the simple life situations. These instincts are lead by our subconsciousness.

Sigmund Freud and Carl Gustav Jung were the fathers of psychoanalysis theory. This is film is about them, how they competed with each other and became those men we all know. And of course about Sabina Spielrein, the patient of Carl, woman who was initially shown as insane and with rather sick desires (she was actually a masochist), but as time went by, she conquered her subconsciousness and became the first woman - psychoanalyst.

You will totally love this film because of its actors and their outstanding performances as well as if you like history with a bit of drama and romantic (relationships between Carl and Sabina).

I have to say that I was not sure if I understand this film, before I started to watch it, I am still not sure. But that is the power of good films - you want to watch them again and again and you never get bored because every time you find something you have not noticed before.

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind (2004)

 

Director: Michel Gondry

This was one of those films you want to see ever since you saw the trailer or commercial on tv. I was not so lucky because every time it was shown it was either too late, I had to go to bed (I was rather young then) or I simply did not have the opportunity to see this film. Now I can say that really good things come to those who wait. I have no regrets that I could not watch it until now because maybe I was not grown enough and would not understand everything at that time.

Clem and Joel, Joel and Clem... Who would have thought that such a shy person like him could fall in love with such a spontaneous and crazy person like her. 

It was hard to understand the plot in the very beginning of the film. I did not understand why Joel was so sad about breaking up with Clementine if had just met her. And then everything became clearer. I am not sure whether it is possible in real life or not, but, you know, in films nothing is impossible, so maybe you can erase memories from your brain. Oh well. Clem did it first, Joel did it afterwards. What a strange feeling has to be waking up in the morning and not remembering a part of your life. They both wanted to change something, one of them more then the other (one - 100%, other- 10%?).

Joel could not live without Clementine, but what do to do if she does not remember him and flirts with another guy? 

Flashbacks helped me to understand the whole story and made me realize that Clem was really happy living together with Joel, she was just a way too impatient and wanting to solve each problem as fast as possible. (If that was not true, why would then Clem help Joel to run away from the memory cleaners?) 

Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind is one of the best romantic - drama films I have seen and clearly one of the extraordinary ones. (Something like Camille) You will definitely like it if you believe in true love and the fact that you can erase a person from your brain but not from your heart.