marswelsh

[marswelsh]

Seth Rogan: why he maybe the most under rated director is the last ten years.

One of the most essential bits of Seth Rogan’s work is that it is meant to turn your brain off. His work is often mindless – and it is that mindlessness that is essential and what his films great. If I could sum up Rogan’s work in one world it would be: Immature. This may seem like a bad thing, but I see it as a plus. The humor in Rogan’s films never feel like humor written by a big film studio. Nothing in Rogan’s films come across like ‘movie jokes.’ They all come across like jokes that would happen in real life when you are hanging out with your friends.

It is clear that Rogan makes films that are less about what is joke is and is more about where the joke is coming from. Comedy is a genre that thrives on consistence. Most comedy films clock in around the 100 minute mark, I believe this is the more time you spend with a joke the weaker it gets. However, Rogan’s three most successful films (Pineapple express, This is the End and Superbad) all last nearly two hours. The safest way to write comedy is to start with story and structure, then building out characters and writing the jokes around these two things. It is creating an outline and added the color afterwards, however, Rogan’s most successful films all start with the color. His films start with jokes and the plot and characters are built around this, instead of the other way around.

The biggest flop of Rogan’s career – financially and critically – was The Green Hornet. I feel like this is because, when he wrote it, there was outside interference for a large studio. In the film it is  clear they focus more on setting up a world and characters than setting the tone and humor of the film. You almost feel like the joke is interfering with the plot.

When plot does interfere with humor you get something like Super bad or Pineapple Express. You establish the tone of the film early on as a world where nothing is taken seriously. So, when something important happens it acts as a punch line. When you set a film up like that – anything can be funny.

Rogan has stated his films starts with him making lists of ideas and building from there. He has also stated that it has sometimes takes him years to write. In those years of writing Rogan’s personality is injected straight into the film. You almost get a documentary style value to the characters you see on screen. This is never been clearer than it was in the film Superbad. Rogan has said he started writing super bad when he was 14-year old. He was not able to make the film until his early 20s, so he lived through the high school experience while being in high school while writing the film. Therefore, Superbad resonates with so many people. The film perfectly captures the craziness everyone experiences in their lives around the time the film is set.

Years later, with his newfound celebrity, comes a new kind of craziness – this is when he wrote This is the End. A film so self-aware of the ridiculousness of the lifestyles of people who live in Hollywood. It is an incredibly unique, self-aware and most importantly self-deprecating film. It works well and would be impossible to remake.

The great thing about watching a Rogan film is that it feels real. His films show people in their natural habitat along with showing how people joke around in real life. At just 38 years old – it feels like Rogan is just getting started and I am exited to see where he goes next.

[marswelsh]

Isolation: Everything I have watched in April.

Spoiler Free. 

Old Boy – 2004

5/5

After years of people saying I should watch Old Boy, I finally did.  

All I have to say it – wow. This film keeps you on edge up until the twist in the film act that brings everything together. It is probably the most I have ever gasped at a movie and I can’t wait to watch it again. 

The fault in our Stars - 2014

1/5

I will say I was a massive John Green fan as a teenager. I still have a soft spot for looking for Alaska, but this film. Yikes. 

Tiger King - 2020

2/5

Like everyone else in lock down, I watched Tiger King on Netflix. I would be lying if I said I didn’t watch it just to understand the Tiger King memes all my friends have been sharing recently. I think I am in the minority when I say: it isn’t all that good. I will not deny that it is entertaining at points, but is that because of the film making or the subject it cover? The subject, I will admit, is pretty interesting but I feel like the film makers aren’t really doing anything. I didn’t really feel any kind of voice behind it. It feels like a bunch of Youtube videos that have been edited together and not very well.  

It’s such a beautiful day - 2013

5/5

This film appeared on Netflix. I have said previously it is one of my favorite films. I will say this is one of the most emotionally draining films I have ever seen. I felt beaten up by the end of it. It is poetic in both it’s narrative and visuals, yet it manages to not be pretentious.

Wicker Man - 1973

4/5  

I watched this film via Netflix party with my friends, after not seeing it for about ten years. It is clear this film inspired Midsommar, though Wicker Man is no where near as disturbing or gory. It certainly ends in a way that leaves you shocked. I enjoyed this film and it certainly is effective in it’s presentation even though at times it does feel a bit repetitive.

Blue Velvet - 1986

5/5

This is a film I have been meaning to watch for a long time. Now I have finally watched it I can say it is a fantastic film. Lynch is a film maker who I have admired from a far for a while but never fully appreciated until recently. I have always been a passing fan of his work but I have never been sucked in to a piece of his work as much as I was with this film.  

Big Fish - 2004

2.5/5

If I had seen it as a child I would have a huge soft spot for it now. I can imagine this film means a lot to a lot of people. It is one of Tim Burtons most underrated films. The constant movement of the camera makes the whole film feel like a dream. However, as I seen it as an adult, I don’t think the film is that deep or good.

Obvious Child - 2004

4/5

I am a pretty big fan of Jenny Slates stand up, so I was interested in seeing what she was like starring in a film and it is pretty much exactly what you would expect.  

What I will say about this film is if you are not enjoying the first 15 minutes of this film it probably won’t win you over. By the end I found this to be a pretty charming story with tones of jokes about a pretty serous topic.  

[marswelsh]

I, Daniel Blake

Light spoilers ahead  

This film follows the character Daniel Blacke and his struggle while trying to claim benefits after suffering a heart attack. His doctor has told him he can’t work. Despite this the government refuse to give him the benefits / welfare that he is rightfully entitled to. As a result of this he is forced to go on a benefit called Job Seekers Allowance meaning he is sent out to find a job that he cannot do because of his poor health.

The most tragic things about this story this that the main character comes across as a really decent human being. He has no criminal record, no addiction to fund and it is clear he cares for the community around him. Despite living a good life, and paying his taxes for over 30 years, the state gives him nothing in return when he needs it most. 

Something I think this film tackles really well is the ‘digital divide’ we are seeing currently. The rate technology has advanced has left some elderly people alienated and unable to use technology as easily as young people can. This is really well explored through the job center and it’s ‘paperless policy’, which in the long run does save on costs for paper and over all helps protect the environment, but it can slow down the prosses of application process for people who, through no fault of their own, cannot use computes as easily as others can.

Despite the doom and gloom of this film the kindness of individual people will warm your heart. Daniel help a woman, Katie, and her children settle in to Newcastle after moving from London. He vounteer’s his spare time helping out in the local food bank. Daniel is over all a selfless and well rounded human, which makes the fact that the government won’t help him even more heartbreaking.  

I watched this film for the first time on the 11th of December 2019, the night before the election, which made this film all to real for me.  

I recommend this film because it tells the angry truth about how unfair the welfare state is under the currently Conservative government. Although, Daniel Blake is not a real person his story represents a very real issue we have in Britain. The issue being that people are being told they are fit to work, and dying as a result of this being untrue. There is a huge connected between what this film shows on screen and what is happening in Britain currently.          

If my review was not enough of a push to watch it - this film has also been recommended by members  of parliament – three times.  

This film will make you sad, it will make you angry but most of all it will make you aware.

You can watch the trailer here.

[marswelsh]

Comfort films (and what you should be watching while you are in self isolation)

Do you have a comfort movie? One film you go and watch over and over? Right now, more than ever, we should be offering our self breaks from reality. Comfort films are the perfect way to do that, but why, do we keep going back to the same films over and over again?  

Guilty Pleasure films 

I would define a guilty pleasure as an imperfect film that has been over looked by critics. The acting is always questionable, the story is full of plot holes and the dialogue is cheesy. It could be a ‘so bad it is good’ film, an unrealistically violent action film or an absurd comedy. Regardless of how bad these films are you still have the blue ray shelve for your friends to see.

Guilty pleasures are films that we love but we are hard pressed to find anyone who agrees with us or will admit that they like them as well. These are mindless, but fun, films that promise us a good time regardless of occasion.  

Good, or bad, examples of these films are:   

The Wicker Man – 2006. Directored by: Neil LaBute. 

The Room – 2009. Directed by: Tommy Wiseau

Mrs. Doubtfire – 1993. Directed by: Chris Columbus

Nostalgic films

There are films that we watch and re watch, films that we automatically go and watch on bad days. Films that become tied to a tradition like films we watch around the holidays with our family. With these films there is a certain level of intimacy, because they were introduced to us during formative part of our lives. These could be films we watched while forming our identity as teens.

These films will follow us through any significant changes we have in our lives. With every watch they evoke feelings that bring us back to a time when things were easier, or different. They may also remind us of the people we might have shared these films with, such as friends or family. They makes us feel right at home, filling us with a sense of security.

One of the more recent, and most notable, nostalgic films are the Harry Potter series. As each movie was released the viewer was growing up at the same rate as the characters they saw on screen.

There can never be a definitive list of nostalgic films, because it depends on when and where you were born and personal lived experience but here are mine:

Submarine – 2010. Directed by: Richard Ayoade

Electrick Children – 2012. Directed: Rebecca Thomas

500 days of summer – 2009. Directed by: Marc Webb

Feel good films

In times like these we need films that are concrete and uplifting. Something that you don’t need too think about to much but films that make us feel good and that are visually refreshing.

An example of this is the colorful and symmetrical world of Wes Anderson. The over edited and almost comical world of Edgar Wright, that makes you feel like you are hanging out with a couple of your friends. Or, Taika Watit. His films invite you in to a world of delight and kiwi humor.  They are simple, but effective, and never fail to lighten the mood:

Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World – 2010. Directed: Edgar Wright

What we do in the Shadows – 2014 Directed by: Taika Waititi, Jemaine Clement

The Grand Budapest Hotel – 2014 Directored by: Wes Anderson

[marswelsh]

Isolation film club: Uncut Gems

Light spoilers ahead  

Uncut Gems was directed by Josh Safdie and Benny Safdie and was released in early 2020. It stars Adam Sandler, who plays a jeweller who comes across a rare gem. The film follows Sandler’s characters over the course of a few days of his life, in which he loses this gem and goes on a search to try to get it back. While doing so he gambles with his life, his money and his family.

I do like Adam Sandler over all as an actor, however, I do prefer him in more serous roles. He is a great actor when he is given the right material to work with. Uncut Gems is definitely the right material and is arguably his best work to date.  

Sandler in the lead role makes the character so much more likeable than if he was played by anyone else. On paper Sandler’s character might be really irritating and reckless, but with the casting of Sandler there is automatically charm added. This is an actor we know and love. We grew up watching in less serous roles, like Little Nicky and 50 First Dates. While we watch him make bad choice after bad choice we feel empathy for him, while if he was played by anyone else we probably wouldn’t. 

The sound mix in this film is interesting. Everyone talks over each other throughout the whole film. People are yelling over each other constantly and because of this film, in parts, does not feel scripted. It  feels improvised. Without this I think the film would feel less fast pasted and would not keep you at the edge of your seat the way it does currently. 

The Safdie brothers clearly have a knack for fast pasted films that keep you on the edge of your seat. Along with that they also clearly have a good eye for obscure casting. An example of this is their choice casting Julia Fox. This was the first film Fox has ever been in and that really shocked me as she seemed like a natural.  

The film is so fast pace when it ends it feels like a weight has been lifted. You feel like finally breath again. Though it is not the type of film I would watch normally I over all enjoyed it.  

Over all I rate Uncut gems 7/10.