Pitch Perfect (2012)

Pitch Perfect is just that, perfect. I wasn't really sure what to expect before I sat down to watch it, all I really knew about it was from a few GIFs I had seen floating around Tumblr. To be honest, for what I had seen/heard/read about it, was a bit too 'Glee' for my liking. Not that there's anything wrong with that if that's your cup of tea, but I thought Hollywood was maybe taking the piss a bit if they did decided to make a cinematic version of Glee. But boy, was I wrong.

Let's start at the beginning. A prestigious collegiate a capella competition (because that's a thing now? Where have I been?), and the first all-girl singing group to make it to the finals, the Barden Bellas, lose out on a victory to their male rivals of the same university, the Treblemakers (get it? TREBLEmakers - like a treble clef?), after a very... erm... unfortunate incident, making them the laughing stock of the a capella world and sinking them to the bottom of the pile. So in the new term, it's time for the group's veterans Chloe (Brittany Snow) and Aubrey (Anna Camp) to recruit some new Bellas and get their rep back. Enter Beca (Anna Kendrick), except not really, because she doesn't really want to be at college, and is only there because her dad is a professor at Barden University, so she gets to go for free. Plus, he won't help pay her way to LA to become a DJ and music producer.We also get introduced to the fabulous Fat Amy, portrayed by the equally, if not more, fabulous Rebel Wilson.

First off, Anna Kendrick is kind of awesome. I wasn't really sure what to make of her, because the only roles I've ever seen her play is bitchy and two dimensional Jessica in The Twilight Saga and a sweet yet slightly dull therapist in 50/50. But she really came through in this film. I don't quite know how to describe it, she was funny without being over the top, sassy without being bitchy, and moody enough without coming across as just another angsty teen. And most of all, she knew when to hold back to let all the other kooky lasses get their gags in too. Author of the screenplay, and resident writer on 30 Rock and New Girl, Kay Cannon ticked all of the boxes for all the funnies in this one.



This film saw some other pretty great ladies. Rebel Wilson, who we all know and love from her role as the weirdo flatmate in Bridesmaids, just makes an already funny script even funnier. Horizontal running, vertical running... this may not mean much to you right now, but just watch her in action and I will guarantee that you will see the effortless hilarity she exudes. I see big things for her in 2013. Brittany Snow took me by surprise slightly as well. I had only ever seen her in the infamous John Tucker Must Die, where she plays a bland and generally not very likable loner, and in general she has a very stand-offish aura about her away from the screen, but she actually managed to add some personality to her character. And you know what? I didn't hate it, in fact, I was pleasantly entertained. And, even though he's not a lady, can I get a "hell yeah" for Christopher Mintz-Plaase? His role may have been small, but no one can get tired of seeing this McLovin' on the screen.

All the plot summaries and film reviews describe Kendrick's character, Beca, as an 'alt-girl', but that's not all I like about her. I mean, sure, I like the fact that she's a DJ and wears a ton of piercings on her ear, but I also like how relatable she is. Beca admittedly has more friends who are boys, but not in a 'whey look at me I'm one of the boys', in-your-face kind of way, is smart and funny and quirky, and also has weird emotional baggage just like the rest of us. Plus I also love her on-screen pairing with fellow a cappella group rival Jesse (Skylar Astin).

Pitch Perfect is musical comedy at its finest, celebrating your failings and your flaws and embracing diversity and change. But in a completely non-cheesy way, of course. Beca's right though, movie endings are predictable, but somehow, I'm okay with that. Because I have a complete and utter toner for this movie.

The Perks of Being a Wallflower (2012)

(What's this, two posts in two consecutive days? Madness!)

It's happened, I've finally been able to watch The Perks of Being a Wallflower in all its cinematic glory. I've been wanting to see it since it came out in UK theatres in October, and even more so since I finished the novel only last month. When I sat down and started watching it, excited wasn't the word.

I know I've already written a review of the book on this blog already, but here's some quick background information on the film. It's directed by the original novelist Stephan Chbosky, stars Logan Lerman (Percy Jackson & the Lightening Thief), Emma Watson (Harry Potter series, duh!) and Ezra Miller (We Need to Talk About Kevin), and is a coming-of-age film about a timid freshman who is taken under the wing of two seniors who welcome him to their "island of misfit toys."

The thing about film adaptations of books is that no matter how good it is, you're constantly making even the smallest comparisons to the book. The movie itself was actually quite true to the book, which is the benefit of having the director also being the authour - everything is how is how it was intended to be. A large chunk of the dialogue was taken straight from the book and any new addition didn't feel strange or forced, which is particularly important, especially in Lerman's narration to his mysterious 'friend'. The only real criticism I have with the film is that it is a bit too choppy at parts, meaning that it missed some scenes from the book that I would have loved to have seen in this movie. Perks is a very character-driven novel, with a lot of key bonding moments between characters, and some of the missing bits from the films I felt would have made the audience understand them better.It would have tied up the film nicely, but I guess you can't exactly fit every single detail of a book in just under two hours, so I can look past it (just).

Being set in the 90's, the film has a great, old-school nostalgic feel about it. They hung out at diners, made mixtapes on cassettes and listened to them on their walkmans, and wrote essays and letters pen to paper (or in some cases, a typewriter). Don't get me wrong, I like living in today's digital age, but it's refreshing to be taken back to basics, and seeing a high school movie where groups of friends actually spent time together in person rather than over instant messaging or Facebook. There's nothing like the company of others, and simply just watching people interact and grow and change and make memories, especially when it's paired with a killer soundtrack. It's also nice to watch an American high school movie where the plot doesn't involve popular kid and unpopular kid falling in love and facing the social adversity from their peers. In fact, it's refreshing to see a film where the popular kids aren't being worshiped full stop. It's a film about outsiders and I think everyone can identify with at least one person in this film that way.

I also need a moment to gush over the brilliant cast in this ensemble. First of all, I think Logan Lerman is a perfect depiction for Charlie, not overly exaggerated and brilliantly subtle, he fully embodies his character just as how I imagined him when reading the book. Emma Watson was also great, but what it being her first role outside of the Harry Potter franchise, it's going to be hard (for me at least) to see her out of her 'Hermione' shell. She's a wonderful actress, of course, and I can't imagine anyone else playing the role of Sam, but I'm looking forward to her really wowing us in the future like I know she can. I almost squealed in my seat when Paul Rudd appeared on screen as Charlie's English teacher, Bill, but I really wish Chbosky would have given him more attention in the film. Bill (or Mr Anderson, as he is better known in the picture) is such an integral part of Charlie's life in the book, and it was such a shame to see Rudd's character so underdeveloped to make room for everything else. But was we did see of him was great, because Paul Rudd is brilliant. Ezra Miller is also inspiring, playing the non-conventional Gay Best Friend and all round funny guy. I wish I could say more about him other than he's great, but I haven't seen We Need to Talk About Kevin, so I have no frame of reference on his past works. Honourable mentions to Nina Dobrev, Miss Vampire Diaries herself playing the role of Charlie's sister, parents Kate Walsh and Dylan McDermott (who could have also used a bit more character development, especially the father), and Joan Cusak's brief but well-acted role as the psychiatrist.

Films-from-books always pose the same age-old question for me: should we always read the book first? Does it really matter? I always try to read the book before watching a film adaption where possible, but sometimes I wonder if I watch the film first, I'll still experience those really great feelings when watching something for the first time, and still get to enjoy the book later. But then when it comes to reading the book, you already know what's going to happen, and the only new discoveries you experience are the ones they didn't include in the motion picture. But it goes the same for reading the book first, you still get all those really great feelings, and when it comes to watching the film, you get really nit-picky over the smallest things (like I'm being right now). I guess there's really no right answer when it comes to these things.

Nonetheless, it's a fantastic film, with great great music and a top cast. Despite the faults I see, it's not going to stop me from watching it again and again for a long time.

I Heart Benefit

Different kind of post than usual today, but it's something I've been wanting to write about for a while now. You can blame all the beauty gurus I've been watching on YouTube and following here on Blogger!

A couple of months ago I was wandering around Meadowhall on one of my days off from uni when I decided to take a gander inside the giant Boots they have in there, and as usual, I got attracted to the bright colours and general prettiness that is the Benefit counter. I had been wanting to use foundation in my make up routine for a while now, but as I had never gone near it before, I had no idea what shade would suit me or how to even apply it (sounds silly saying that now!) I got talking to the make-up girl and so she sat me down and tried some of their products on me. I've had my make up done at the Benefit counter before (I must admit though, they do go a bit crazy and slap it on you sometimes) so I already had an idea of what I wanted, but it was great seeing a range of their products and how they looked on me.

I stuck with my mission of wanting to buy a foundation, but I also wanted a primer as well, so this is what I ended up with:

The foundation is Hello Flawless Oxygen Wow Brightening Makeup (that's a mouthful!) in the shade 'Honey'. It's not the lightest shade but I think it's the second or third along, and I was quite surprised that my skin has gone so pale. I think it's all these years living in England, I need a couple years in warmer, brighter climes to get my olive skin back! But I digress, the foundation is a perfect match for my skin tone, it has great coverage and, the best part, it brightens my eyes up so much! I know it's got 'brightening makeup' in the title, but I was still amazed at the results. I have a naturally quite dark eye area, not to mention prominent bags and lines, so this foundation does wonders in making me look more bright and awake, especially on days where I've had little or disrupted sleep, making the whole eye situation even worse.

Coupled with this I also bought The POREfessional PRO Balm Primer. I'll admit, I don't really have that visible pores, on the whole I think I actually have some pretty good skin, but as I've mentioned before I have quite a few lines under my eyes, and this does the trick. Though it doesn't eliminate them completely, it does give the appearance of a much smoother finish which you can't go wrong with. Not to mention that it really makes the make up stick, which is great since I'm a big fan of bronzer.

how it looks on (apologies for the vacant expression)

Two months down the line, and I am extremely happy with my purchases. In fact, I even know what my next one from Benefit will be! The make up girl used an amazing moisturiser on me before applying my make up, and slipped a sample of it my bag when we were at the counter. It's the b.right Triple Performing Facial Emulsion with SPF 15 (what is it with Benefit and their long names) and I must say, it's amazing. It feels so refreshing on my skin and not at all oily. Even under my make up it felt so fresh and wonderful, I was sad to see my sample run out. I really can't wait to finish my current moisturiser so I can run out and buy this!

The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky

Left: original cover published in 1999, Right: new cover 2012

"And in that moment, I swear we were infinite.

Love always, 

Charlie"

All the best books have a line where they ponder infinity (see: The Fault In Our Stars), and this one is just something else. The Perks of Being a Wallflower is a coming-of-age story written in an epistolary narrative, told through letters through the narrator to an anonymous person. The narrator in question, who goes by the alias 'Charlie', is a shy, introspective misfit who is about to embark on his freshman year of high school. And he is anxious to say the least, considering his only friend, Michael, committed suicide only a few months before. Charlie is our wallflower, standing by and watching others live their lives from the sidelines.

One thing I really loved about this book is Charlie's innocence. Surprisingly, I was unsure about it at first. All throughout the first part of the book I kept thinking, 'how can someone, who is nearly sixteen, be this sensitive and so... naïve?' I understood that Charlie was different from his peers, being someone who didn't fit in very well at school herself, I could relate to him, but I just couldn't wrap my head around how someone could be so mature, yet so child-like at the same time. But as I progressed through the novel and got to know Charlie, I started to 'get' him. I started to understand that he just thought differently to everyone else - he was kind, introspective, completely selfless, and just down right positive about life. I will admit that at certain points of the book, I started to question the way I looked at certain things in my life, mostly about the things I got angry at, and how there is no reason to hold onto anger.

As we reach the end of the novel, we start to realise why Charlie is the way he is, why he thinks and feels the way he does, and why he is not all that well. Reading this book was like going on a journey, and at various point I felt like I was living Charlie's life right with him. It was a pleasure watching him grow and adapt and 'participate' during this year of his life, and after a while, it kind of felt like the 'dear friend' he was writing t was me. That may sound completely pathetic and cliched but it did. In many ways, I felt like I connected with Charlie the way I haven't connected with other characters from books I love, but in other ways, I felt the complete opposite. I still haven't figured out if I have become 'a filter or a sponge' towards this book yet.

The supporting characters were all great too, although some were slightly forgettable even when I was glued to the book. Another thing Charlie and I seem to share in common is that we seem to connect better with older people, in his case seniors and step-siblings Sam and Patrick, and Charlie's English teacher Bill. Charlie's friendship with Sam and Patrick is the kind of friendship I wan to have in my life (minus the unrequited love, perhaps. And I really loved Charlie's relationship with Bill, it's not your standard student-teacher relationship, but they're not friends to the extent that it becomes weird or suspicious. We have to credit Bill for pushing Charlie to participate in life and to push him to think and write differently in his essays (and Chbosky for educating us with some fantastic literature).

The ending made me feel sad, yet happy at the same time, which is quite confusing but I kind of like it. You really have to hand it to Chbosky, not every writer can make you feel content yet sad yet hopeful all at the same time. It takes a skilled writer, one who truly loves and cherishes his characters, to stir such emotions.

Perks is a tumultuous account of love, loss, family, sex, drugs, homosexuality and friendship. It's easy to read, thought-provoking and not too pretentious. It's definitely a book that caters to a more youthful market (perhaps 14 - 18/19), but I don't think that will stop someone who's a bit older from enjoying it too. I would recommend it to anyone who's looking for a good read. And I will definitely go see the film and write a review in comparison (is it even in cinemas anymore? I haven't been in ages!)

Lastly, on a completely unrelated note, I'm so so sorry for the lack of posts! I keep meaning to update this blog but I've been so unbelievable busy in the past couple of months that it's overwhelmed me a bit. But writing this review (as an escape from all the work I should be doing and the stress I'm under, might I add), I've remembered how much I really love blogging, and actually how relaxing it is, so I will definitely be updating with new posts soon! I can't promise how regular they'll be (you know me), but Christmas holidays are just around the corner, so you never know!

Film Review - Like Crazy (2011)

Like Crazy, winner of two awards at Sundance, is a romantic drama film directed by Drake Doremus about a British and American couple who are thrown into an emotionally straining long-distance relationship after problems arise with visas.

We are introduced to Anna (Felicity Jones), a British girl studying English in a college in Los Angeles, and Jacob (Anton Yelchin), a design student and LA native, and watch them meet and fall in love the only way an indie movie couple can: with a romantic montage of intense stares and hand holding accompanied by soft piano music being played over the top. They bond over their love for Paul Simon, Anna writes him letters and poems and complies scrapbooks of their relationship, Jacob designs and makes her a chair for her desk, and he even meets her parents when they come over to visit from the UK. Everything is blissful and effortless, until Anna decides that she doesn't want to spend the summer apart from Jacob, ends up overstaying her student visa and is in turn denied entry back into America after a quick trip back to England for a wedding.

The film feels so authentic when you watch it, like you're watching a real life couple in a documentary rather than two fictitious characters. Upon further research, I learned that a lot of the dialogue was improvised, which is why the whole thing felt so natural. Jones (who took home a Sundance special jury price) and Yelchin's performances were very believable, nothing appeared fake or forced and there was some real natural chemistry between the pair. The soundtrack was especially impressive, guiding you through the various emotional scenes of the film and picking you up when you needed it to.

What I liked about this film is how realistic it is of its portrayal of relationships. It's not like a Hollywood film, where boy meets girl, fall in love, problems arise, but then they live happily ever after. There's no special formula, just an accurate depiction of how relationships in the real world actually work. It's quite similar to (500) Days of Summer in that way, light in the right places but keeping you grounded on the reality of things. Things don't always go according to plan, sometimes you really have to fight hard for the person you love, and it does pay off, however it doesn't mean that cracks won't appear when things go wrong.

The only negative aspect I can really talk about is Anna's nonchalant approach to her visa. I know we all make mistakes when we're young, and love tends to cloud our judgement, but I don't see how someone can be so casual about something as serious as overstaying a visa. Did she not think about the implications? Visa laws are very strict, especially these days, and surely it would have been better to be apart from her boyfriend for three months, and then come back and apply for a work visa, rather than take the risk that she did and, consequently, hardly get to see him at all apart from a few sporadic visits from him over a couple of years. But that's just my opinion.

Regardless, I really did enjoy this film, and I really liked the appearances from Jennifer Lawrence (The Hunger Games), Oliver Muirhead and Alex Kingston (Doctor Who). I understand why it wouldn't be to some people's tastes, but I would definitely recommend anyone to give it an open mind and watch it.

Coincidentally, this review also ties in with Song Friday, with a song from the film's soundtrack. The song is called IMpossible by Figurine, and I haven't been able to get it out of my head since watching Like Crazy! I just love how upbeat and dancey it is without it being too in-your-face.

'Born To Die' Album Review

Lana Del Rey's highly anticipated debut album has finally been released. Del Rey says of her album, "I think it’s beautiful. This album is my self in song form," with the Telegraph backing her up, describing it as "a literate, emotional collection of beautifully crafted, pithily memorable songs."

The first track, fittingly, is Born to Die, the album's title and second released single. With haunting vocals and profound lyrics, the song speaks of a relationship doomed to fail, as well as hinting at some religious undertones. But mostly, it's about sitting back and enjoying the ride, because in the end, we are all 'born to die'. The next track, Off to the Races provides a refreshingly different sound. It is full of attitude and as the beat builds up, almost sounds like new-age 'white girl' rap. Having said that, she still manages to maintain her Old Hollywood in the sound, living up to her 'gangster Nancy Sinatra' image.

Blue Jeans, one of her more well-known songs that she performed at the infamous SNL show, has a very western feel to it, especially the opening guitar riff at the start. It has a quality that wouldn't be out of place in a Quentin Tarantino movie soundtrack. The lyrics highlight a quiet desperation, not wanting to lose the one see loves and wanting to wait it out ("I will love you till the end of time/I would wait a million years"), and yet still remaining true to her style and ("Love you more/Than those bitches before"). This song remains to be my favourite of hers. Fourth track, Video Games, is the song that catapulted her into the limelight, the video racking up over 21 million views on YouTube to date. The song is completely striped down in order to show off her vocals, with soft strings accompanying her in the background as she sings nostalgically about happier times.

Diet Mtn Dew is very reminiscent of hip hop, which is strange to hear after listening to Video Games, but it works surprisingly well. Having listened to the original demo, you can tell that Lana has become more daring with her sound. Her lyrics, however, remain true to herself, as she sings of the bad boys that she lusts after ("You're no good for me/But baby I want you"). You can tell that hip hop has been a big influence on Del Rey as National Anthem takes a similar turn in terms of the 'white girl rap' theme, but with a pleasant twist of a string procession (which is very 'Bitter Sweet Symphony') at the start of the song. Heavy themes of the American Dream and 'nouveau riche', with dark undertones and reckless abandon.

Dark Paradise is melancholia at its best. The combination of orchestral strings, rhythmic drums and haunting lyrics makes for a strong song which is both melodic and heartbreaking. Her songwriting really shines through and shows her off as the talent she really is. Next is Radio, which to me sounds like a bit of a 'fuck you' to those hating on her, vilifying her, and who didn't believe she would make it. "Now my life is sweet like cinnamon/Like a fucking dream I'm living in/Baby love me 'cause I'm playing on the radio/How do you like me now?" It's like a love song for chasing your dreams.

Carmen is a dreamy ode to a woman every girl wants to be, but with hints of dark secrets and emphasised with Lana's sultry voice. Towards the end of the track, you can hear a woman speaking French in a low voice, which adds to the mysterious quality of the song and who it is about. Another heartbreak ballad, Million Dollar Man, is another track that showcases Del Rey's soaring vocals. As always, her lyrics are sincere and melancholic, as well as reminiscent of Old Hollywood. "You're screwed up and brilliant/Look like a million dollar man."


Summertime Sadness differs from its live version, sounding a lot like Blue Jean's younger sibling in the opening refrain, then switching up to military inspired drums in the first verse. There is very strong lyrical imagery going on throughout, and also sounds like it should be its own film. It is definitely up there as one my favourite tracks on the album that haven't already been released as singles. This Is What Makes Us Girls recalls Lana's boarding school days in Connecticut when she was fifteen, and is a song about teenage rebellion and the feeling of being able to do anything ("Remember how we used to party up all night/ Sneaking out looking for a taste of real life").

The next few tracks are found on the Deluxe version of the album. Without You probably has my favourite opening verse out of all the songs on the album: "Everything I want I have/Money, notoriety, and rivieras/I even think I found God/In the flash bulbs of the pretty cameras/Pretty cameras, pretty cameras/Am I glamorous? Tell me, am I glamorous?" Beautifully written, this song fits very well with her general theme of nostalgia and 'what once was'. It's a poignant reach for something lost as she sings, "All my dreams and all the lights mean/Nothing without you." The penultimate track, Lolita, is much more upbeat as we head to a close. The lyrics are fun and lighthearted, and shows how versatile Del Rey can be while still being true to her 'Old Hollywood' style. Last but not least is Lucky Ones. Optimistic and heartfelt, it is definitely a great way to close a great album.

Born To Die is a brilliant album, which is sure to start off a great year for both Lana Del Rey and the music industry itself.

The Fault In Our Stars by John Green

Cassius:
"The fault, dear Brutus, is not in our stars,
But in ourselves, that we are underlings."


Julius Caesar (Act 1, Scene 2)


The Fault In Our Stars is a poignant tale about sixteen year old cancer-suffer Hazel Grace Lancaster, who enjoys life's simple pleasures of reading poetry and watching trashy TV. All she wants is to be normal, and to not have others look at her like a 'cancer kid'. But since this is not possible, over the years she becomes somewhat of a homebody, staying indoors as often as possible, reading her favourite novel, An Imperial Affliction, over and over again. It is when she is encouraged to attend a Cancer Kid Support Group where she meets the mysterious and alluring Augustus Waters, who changes Hazel's life and perspective of it in the most wonderful ways.

John Green uses humour and philosophy to swiftly carry us through this journey of self-actualization, engaging the reader with his quick-witted dialogue, Venn diagram humour and profound outlooks on how we view the universe. He is one of those authors that can write the kind of books that make you feel ALL OF THE THINGS. You may not necessarily cry (I did), but you will certainly laugh, think and feel deeply for the story and all of the characters in it (which I certainly did). It is very rare to find a book that you want to read as soon as you finish it, and that stays with you long after the final page.

Whenever I read a John Green book, I always hear his voice narrating in my head, which made reading the first couple of chapters slightly challenging. But Hazel's voice becomes so clear throughout the story that it wasn't long before Green's voice slowly dissolved away (although I sincerely hope it comes back when reading his other books). Both Hazel's narration and dialogue, along with Augustus's, was real and unpatronising. I felt so invested and wrapped up in both Hazel and Augustus's lives, so much so that I felt as if I were a part of it all. I felt as I knew them as friends. Green paints such a brilliant picture throughout the novel, that I felt like I was right there with them, sitting with them at picnics, on Hazel's couch watching TV, amongst the circle in the Literal Heart of Jesus.

It's hard for me to pinpoint my favourite part of the book, because I think the whole thing is simply a work of genius, but I have to say, I did really like the philosophies and questions that were raised throughout the novel. John Green is a smart man, and unlike some adults out there, he acknowledges that teenagers are smart too, and therefore he isn't afraid to throw at us big topics such as death and oblivion and 'what happens after'. I find with some YA authors, they are maybe slightly afraid of overwhelming their readers, therefore simplifying things and and keeping it light. That is not to say that their books are not enjoyable, but it emphasises how much Green values his readers and does not undermine their intelligence.

The Fault In Our Stars is so much more than just a book about cancer. It's about a journey, both literal and metaphorical. It's about being realistic without being pessimistic. It's about wanting to be noticed by the universe, and noticing it back. It's about acceptance, longing and understanding. It's about family, friendship, love, and all of the things in between. It's about living your best life today.

Find out more about John Green through his twitter, website, and Vlogbrothers project on YouTube, where he collaborates with his brother, Hank, to create fun and informative videos with prevent the world from suck, and to make us laugh.