Blog-a-Day May: Day Eleven: A Movie Meme (with jobs)

The only way I am going to get all my jobs done as well as get this blog written today is to blog a meme question and then do a job. With an imminent flat inspection and me returning to work tomorrow that's the deal. Do a job, do a question.

That's a good trade off.

Questions courtesy of Sunday Stealing who do some of the best memes in the business.

Right, here we go.

(Jobs: Load of washing done, shopping done.)

1. What is your all-time favorite "costume" movie or period piece?  

I have a love Robert Altman's "Gosford Park". Set in the 1930's at a shooting party at a grand country house it has wonderful costumes. It's an upmarket "Downton Abbey" in many ways - made even better with the inclusion of Clive Owen and Helen Mirren. Well worth a look.

I love that era. "Atonement" is another favourite of mine, party because of "that green dress" which part of me would love the body and occasion to pull off (though I don't think I'd want the accompanying anorexia nervosa that would allow me to get into the dress.



(Image from www.fashionandpower.blogspot.com)

(Jobs: Dishes done, bed stripped, hot lemon drink made)

2. What classic film would you nominate for a remake?  

Part of me says don't mess with the Classics. Anybody who dares touch "Casablanca" or "North by Northwest" needs to be dealt with severely.

However, part of me would love to see what could be done with "Citizen Kane" - maybe Charles Foster Kane could be transposed into Rupert Murdoch...What would Rupert's "Rosebud" moment be? How would you work in the "News of the World" phone tapping scandal? What about the wives - though most of them are alive. (*Saying this, David Williamson did something of a good job of this in his last play."Rupert". It was very well done - especially the Packer family.)

I'd also be interested in seeing what they might do with a revamp of "The Godfather". I've started watching them but the first thing that comes to mind is that they've really dated.

( Jobs: Bed remade. Dishes put away, counters cleaned)

3. Name your favorite femme fatale.  

Hands down, Jessica Rabbit. She's just wonderful.

Think about what makes a good femme fatale - derived from the French meaning "Deadly Woman".. Out there sexuality. A penchant for trouble. Looks that have been the envy of men and women since they hit puberty. Often with a fractured soul. I love Jessica Rabbit because despite not being bad, just being drawn that way, she has a heart of gold.

Also-Rans will include - Isabella Rosselini in"Blue Velvet", Anne Bancroft in "The Graduate", Michelle Pfieffer in "The Fabulous Baker Boys".

(Jobs: Clothes put away, shredding half done)

4. Name the best movie with the word "heaven" in its title.  

Had to go to IMDB.com for this one and oh my, how many bad films are there with the word heaven in the title.

The two that stood out as good. 

First, the 1957 film, "Heaven Knows, Mr Allison," starring Robert Mitchum and Deborah Kerr. Watched this numerous times as a kid on wet Sunday afternoons when they used to have old movies on a Sunday afternoon. IMDB describes it as "In 1944, in South Pacific, the castaway Marine Corporal Allison drifts in a raft to the Tuasiva Island, where he meets Sister Angela. She tells him that she is the only person in the island and was left behind by the runaway boat to Fiji Island while seeking the local priest. Stranded in the island, but with water, fish and fruits, their paradisiacal life ends when the Japanese arrive to build a base, forcing Allison and the nun to hide in a cave. The crude marine provides the necessary supply for their survival and falls in love for the nun."

I remember loving this film. Full of honour and challenges.


The other one that stuck out like was "Heavenly Creatures", one of Peter Jackson's first films set in New Zealand. It was the film that gave Kate Winslet her first break. Magnificent.

(Jobs: More shredding, had lunch, bedroom dusted, gym clothes folded)

5. Describe the worst performance by a child actor that you’ve ever seen.  

This will be a bit contentious, as I'm giving this to Emma Watson in the first Harry Potter film. In the words of her character in a later book, she's got the depth of a teaspoon in this film. Also in her defence, she got a lot better as time went on and she's a reasonable actress now. Okay, I wouldn't like to see her Lady Macbeth, but in recent times she's been quite good. However, in this film, it was the one performance that let down the film.

(Jobs: More Shredding, clothes put away)

6. Who gets your vote for most tragic movie monster?  

I'm not one for monster movies, tragic ones especially. The only one I can think of that cuts any mustard is "The Shadow of the Vampire", an arthouse classic starring John Malkovich and Willem Dafoe. Not that it's really tragic, and not that a vampire is a real monster.

(Jobs: More shredding. Wiped down telly stand.)

7. What is the one Western that you would recommend to anybody?  

Again, not my genre but I'll give the guernsey to Clint Eastwood's "Unforgiven". Clint Eastwood makes great movies, but this is one of his very best. Brutal, unflinching, gloriously shot with a fantastic story. Definitely worth a view.

(Jobs: More shredding, half the ironing.)

8. Who is your ideal movie-viewing partner?  

That's easy. Anybody who doesn't ask questions throughout the film or whine incessantly when they don't like the film.

I've been going with Teddy, Jonella and Stav a bit lately. They don't do crap like that.

(Jobs: Dropped shredded paper at pet store so the puppies have something to piss on. Taken out the rubbish. Spent a bit of time cuddling Golden Retriever Puppies at the pet shop.)

9. Has a film ever made you want to change your life? If so, what was the film?  

A couple come to mind.

The newer version of "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" is the first one - break free from your dull life and get moving on things. Time is short.

There are a couple of documentaries that have made me look at things in different lights. "An Inconvenient Truth", "Food, Inc", "Supersize Me" and "Bowling for Columbine" all left a deep impression and have made me modify a few behaviours.

(Jobs: Ironing finished and put away)

10. Think of one performer that you truly love. Now think of one scene/movie/performance of theirs that is too uncomfortable for you to watch.  

Easy this one, Clive Owen is my favourite actor. I walked out of "Sin City" as it was far too violent for me to watch. I don't even want to try watch it again - it's the stuff of nightmares.

Other examples of this. Morgan Freeman in "Se7en". Couldn't watch that. I love David Thewlis, but I there were parts of "The Boy in the Striped Pyjamas" that were too uncomfortable to watch. Great film, great actor but so close to the bone. 

(Jobs: Bedroom hoovered. Shoes put in away)

11. On the flip side, think of one really good scene/performance/movie from a performer that you truly loathe. 

Normally, I can't stand Will Ferrell when he's not being Ron Burgundy. I think Ron Burgundy was written for Will Ferrell. Everything other role except this one has been enough to keep me away from the cinema.

He was, however, fantastic in Woody Allen's "Melinda and Melinda".

(Jobs: Washed the kitchen and bathroom floors. Cleaned the loo)

12. What movie has the best soundtrack?  

Another hard one:

Here are a couple of favourites.

Michael Nyman's music to "The Piano". Haunting.
The whole of "The Breakfast Club" is brilliantly set.
"Pulp Fiction". Purely, sublime joy.
"The Graduate", mainly because it was Simon and Garfunkel at their best.
"Trainspotting." The best of British. Lager, lager, lager, lager, lager.
"Pretty in Pink", The Smiths, Echo and the Bunnymen - what more do you need.
"Donnie Darko". Mostly for the Tears for Fears songs, but it's perfectly pitched at the eighties.

(Jobs: Masonic paperwork ready for collection tomorrow night)

13. Favorite actor with a mustache? (i.e: Charlie Chaplin, William Powell)  

As a rule, I don't like moustaches.

I was rather taken with Ralph Fiennes in "The Grand Budapest Hotel". His tash made him even more camp. Just wonderful. Also loved how his "Lobby Boy" drew his in the morning. Great film. Piss funny.


(Photo courtesy of www.thewalkmagazine.com)


(Jobs: Bag packed for tomorrow. Clothes out for tomorrow)

14. Shadowy film noir from the 1940's or splashy colorful musicals from the 1950's?  

Splashy, colourful musical from the 50s for me, but only just. Guys and Dolls, The King and I, My Fair Lady, The Sound of Music, Gypsy... Okay, some of these only came out in film in the sixties - I still like the era. Not that I'm a true fan of musicals, some of these are pretty good.

(Jobs: Hoover the spare room. Find the couch)

15. Favorite classic Disney?

Ah, this is a loaded question. Animated or film Disney.

Seem, my favourite classic animated Disney film is "The Jungle Book." We are talking classic here, though modern animated films such as"WALL-E" "Up", "Monsters Inc" and "The Incredibles", made in conjunction with the Pixar Studios are going to be classics.

How can you not love Mowgli and the gang? (With the help of Louis Armstrong)

Disney also makes some great kids films. It made a heap of films that were my favourites as a child. "Freaky Friday", "Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo" and of course, "Mary Poppins". There's a lot out there, but these ones stick out.

Well there you go. My flat is nearly ready to meet my real estate agent for it's annual inspection - just have to do the lounge room floor and we're pretty much right to go.

Oh, and do another load of washing.

Thanks for helping me do the chores. Writing this blog has helped me get through the day.