Yeah, what a day.

Children of Men

The apocalypse is always a compelling film topic and Children of Men's twist is very believable, which makes it so scary. This is great filmmaking from beginning to end. Alfonso Curaon creates a realistic and horrifying world with his lens, and gets a phenomenal performance out of Clive Owen as Theo, a man living in a bleak future where people cannot conceive children.

This is one of Clive Owen's best performances. He dirties himself up (literally) but still maintains his rugged good looks. He provides a bit of jaded humor in the beginning in this bleak future, but as time goes on he becomes more and more likable, as dedicates himself to his goal. He makes a magnificent shift to passive and kind of hopeless Theo to dedicated fighter Theo.

Julianne Moore, though her presence is brief, is nonetheless amazing as usual. Michael Caine is wonderful as an eccentric, pot smoking hippie. Caine is usually so prim, proper, and dignified, it's great to see him sink his teeth into something new. Truly a talent.

Though this film takes place in the future, the film's design seems to be signaling the present. The security forces and "refugee camps" look like something out of Bosnia or Africa. There's not an in your face abundance of futuristic technology saying the film is taking place twenty years from now. That adds to Children of Men's eeriness and sense of urgency. This story seems very possible, like something that could happen next month and the realism of the plot is due in large part to the set design and art direction.

Furthermore, the props in the mise-en-scene are wonderful. There's such a strong attention to detail. All the symbolic graffiti, and the "pigs flying" in the background of one scene...brilliant.

Though the two continuous shot scenes are brilliant, the most powerful moments occur when Owen leads himself, his charge, Kee, and her baby out of a building. Chaos is erupting around them until everyone fighting and hiding hears the baby's crying. Hands reach out to touch the Godsend, shooting ceases and paths are made for Theo, Kee, and the baby. The hope these cries bring graces the faces of all around; I basically stopped breathing. The peace is only momentary and the shooting quickly resumes when Theo, Kee, and the baby are away, but those few moments where all that was heard are the baby's cries are breathtaking. Without the possibility of children, there is literally no future. That's the reality these people have been living in for twenty years. Never has a baby's cries been so beautiful.

Children of Men is something that stays with viewers long after the credits have rolled. Not to be missed.

Kathy Bates in Misery

She is like the bunny in Monty Python and the Holy Grail; sweet and cute but evil and monstrous. People who are big fans of something worry about crossing the line between admiration and obsession, and Bates' character is a classic example of going leaps and bounds beyond the line. She does almost everything so innocently, genuinely believing she's doing the right thing, which is always really scary to me. She makes the whole experience for the audience claustrophobic and leaves us on edge. Bates always makes an impact on the film's she's in with her larger than life portrayals and Misery is certainly no exception. Creepy, creepy, creepy.

Netflix

The Kid Stays in the Picture-Just finished this book (Robert Evans' autobiography) and I loved it, so I must see the documentary.
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus-I haven't exactly heard good things but it's something I need to try to watch.
The Maid-Netflix Instant. Supposed to be a funny and poignant.