#Amanda Tremblay

[quirkycatsfatstacks]

Review: Saga of the Dark Prince: Book 1 by Amanda Tremblay

Series: Saga of the Dark PrinceAuthor: Amanda TremblayPublisher: Tellwell TalentReleased: March 21, 2021Received: Reedsy Saga of the Dark Prince: Book 1 is Amanda Tremblay’s debut novel (I believe), and if you’re a fan of fantasy with dark and dark depths – this is going to be the perfect read for you. There is no middle ground when it comes to the Dark Prince. One either loves him or hates…

[blighted-elf]

Vampire: The Masquerade - Choice of Games Titles

[ad-j]

WATCHLIST 2023: Room

[halflingkima]

I'm doing a reading challenge next month and one of the prompts is a rec from someone who doesn't read for fun. I live among a community of teachers, academics, and librarians, so I thought I'd ask the internet. (the social media poll prompt isnt on the list this time, so this feels like a legal loophole.)

I'm also not gonna read something like game of thrones or atomic habits, so here's what's on my 2024 tbr.

If you don't read for fun, what book should I read next month? If you do read for fun, you can also vote, how would I tell? (propaganda/synopses & covers under the cut)

There You Are: Octavian, a Black man, and Mina, a white woman, were childhood sweethearts in St. Louis, but grew estranged in adulthood. During the awakening of the Black Lives Matter movement, both are drawn back to their hometown as the record shop where they first fell in love in the 90s is closing. (I would like to read it because I have not read many Black stories involving the emergence/birth of the Black Lives Matter movement, which was a very formative time in my life.)

Mortal Follies: In an 1814 England full of fairies and sorcerers, Miss Mitchelmore attempts to enter society and is faced by a frustrating curse. Lady Landrake – who is rumored to have killed her family to inherit her title – may have the magic Miss Mitchelmore needs to survive. (I would like to read it because it's the first sapphic romance from my favorite romance author.)

Chain-Gang All-Stars: In a dystopian near-future where prison convicts star in reality-style television competition shows, two women – a couple – must fight each other for freedom. (I would like to read it because it seems like a unique approach to social-issue sci-fi, and I have not read many stories directly critical of the US prison system.)

Wordslut: A nonfiction linguistic exploration of how language has been used throughout the history of English to oppress, degrade, and subjugate women. (I would like to read it because I find linguistics fascinating, and I get very passionate about gender equality.)

Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism: A spirited, deeply researched exploration of why capitalism is bad for women and how, when done right, socialism leads to economic independence, better labor conditions, better work-life balance and even better sex. (I would like to read it because the author seems both extremely educated and funny, and I get very passionate about gender equality.)

The Pallbearers Club: Art started an after school club for volunteer pallbearers at poorly attended funerals, and makes a friend who seems fascinated by the resulting death that surrounds him. Strange things happen when this friend is around, but he brushes it off in the name of friendship. As an adult, Art is writing a memoir, attempting to make sense of everything that happened when they were teens; but this friend got her hands on the manuscript, and she has some notes. (I would like to read it because I have a deep fascination – perhaps obsession – with meta-texts, or books about books, or books involving books, particularly if they lean in a horror/thriller direction.)

10 Things That Never Happened: When Sam's boss Jonathan schedules a difficult meeting, Sam's nerves lead to him tripping and bumping his head – and then accidentally implying he's lost his memory. Faking amnesia started as a plan to avoid getting fired, but now Sam has to deal with Jonathan's guilt and figuring out how to break the truth to him. (I would like to read it because it's in the London Calling universe, which is my favorite books from my favorite romance author.)

Black Sun: In a high fantasy world, the celestial phenomenon of a solar eclipse aligns with the winter solstice. A cast of characters are poised at the start of a journey. (I would like to read it because I haven't read a Rebecca Roanhorse before.)

The Child Thief: A re-imagining of Peter Pan from the mind of the horror artist Brom. (I would like to read it because I love Peter Pan as a horror story, and I've not read a Brom book before.)

Maurice: As a young man in Edwardian England, Maurice struggles into adulthood, grappling with unrequited love and coming to terms with his homosexuality. (I would like to read it because I find the movie achingly beautiful, and I have seen quotations from this book that feel the same.)

White is for Witching: Twins Miranda and Eliot – along with their father Luc – mourn the loss of their mother Lily, who simply disappeared one day. The house is also unhappy, trapping visitors and forcing plants into overgrowth. Miranda is more attuned to the ghosts of women in the walls than she is to her brother & father, and one day, vanishes altogether. (I would like to read it because I've enjoyed other works by this author, and this one seems sufficiently spooky.)

[bekah-reading]

2024 Mid Year Book Tag

Best Book of the Year so far

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

Best Sequel of the Year so far

Murtagh by Christopher Poalini

Six Gun by Winter Travers

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

Along the River of Flesh by Kristopher Triana

Best New Release You’ve Read So Far

The Warm Hands of Ghosts by Katherine Arden

What Feasts at Night by T. Kingfisher

The Midnight Feast by Lucy Foley

New Release You Haven’t Read Yet But Want To

Horror Movie by Paul Tremblay

Not in Love by Ali Hazelwood

Ghost Station by SA Barnes

Leather and Lark by Brynne Weaver

You Like It Darker by Stephen King

My Darling Dreadful Thing by Johanna van Veen

The Familiar by Leigh Bardugo

Most Anticipated Releases for the 2nd Half of the Year

The Queen by Nick Cutter

Hexed by Emily McIntire

The Eyes are the Best Part by Monika Kim

Biggest Book Disappointment of the Year so far

Edenville by Sam Rebelein

Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow

Most Surprising Book of the Year so far

The Princess Saves Herself in this One by Amanda Lovelace

The Most Beautiful Book You’ve Bought so Far this Year

What Books do You Need to Read Before the End of the Year

Morbidly Yours by Ivy Fairbanks

Sundial by Catriona Ward

Leviathan Wakes by SA Corey

Leech by Hiron Ennes

How Many Books Have You Read This Year So Far

52 books

What Have You Been Reading This Year So Far

Horror, Gothic, Historical Fiction, Romance,

Dark Romance, Sci-Fi, YA Fantasy, YA,

Audiobooks, Fantasy, Westerns, Extreme

Horror, Splatterpunk, Poetry

Out of Comfort Zone

Urban Fantasy Romance- Spring’s Arcana by Lilith Saintcrow

Books that Made you Happy

The Princess Saves Herself in this One, The Warm Hands of Ghosts, re-reading The Black Badge series, The Ritual, Off Season

New Favourite Author

Jack Ketchum

Katherine Arden

T. Kingfisher

New Favourite Crush

Sin- The Sinner

Ryat- The Ritual

Damien King- Myers

Enzo- Does It Hurt?

Sean- Flock

Lowe- Bride

Newest Favourite Character

Winter- The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Laura Iven- The Warm Hands of Ghosts

Sean- Flock

Misery- Bride

Murtagh and Thorn- Murtagh

Books that Made You Cry

I have been a heartless bitch this year- I don’t think I’ve cried over a book this year yet. The closest might have been The Warm Hands of Ghosts.

[cld-n]

Currently Reading: Silver Nitrate by Silvia Moreno-Garcia, Penance by Eliza Clark

Books I’ve Read in 2023

We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

In the Watchful City by S. Qiouyi Liu

The Cabin At The End of The World by Paul Tremblay

Cultish: The Language of Fanatacism by Amanda Montell

Kisscut by Karin Slaughter

The Last Guests by J P Pomare

[ulkaralakbarova]

A boy with an active imagination faces his fears on an unforgettable journey through the night with his new friend: a giant, smiling creature named Dark. Credits: TheMovieDb. Film Cast: Orion (voice): Jacob Tremblay Dark (voice): Paul Walter Hauser Sweet Dreams (voice): Angela Bassett Adult Orion (voice): Colin Hanks Sleep (voice): Natasia Demetriou Unexplained Noises (voice): Golda Rosheuvel Insomnia (voice): Nat Faxon Quiet (voice): Aparna Nancherla Light (voice): Ike Barinholtz Orion’s Mom (voice): Carla Gugino Orion’s Dad (voice): Matt Dellapina Tycho (voice): Nick Kishiyama Hypatia (voice): Mia Akemi Brown Adult Hypatia (voice): Shannon Chan-Kent Richie Panici (voice): Jack Fisher Narrator (voice): Werner Herzog Lisa (voice): Sky Alexis Woman at the Drive-In (voice): Hira Ambrosino Man at the Drive-In (voice): Yoshi Ando Mrs. Spinoza (voice): Larisa Asuaje Irene’s Boss / Cucumber Dentist / Soda / Insomnia Guy 1 (voice): Sean Charmatz Stray Cat / Insomnia Guy 2 (voice): Walt Dohrn Adult Sally (voice): Ren Hanami Irene (voice): Amy Hill Irene’s Daughter / Insomnia Girl (voice): Alyssa Lee Scared Child (voice): Noah McCown Sally (voice): Shino Nakamichi Irene’s Coworker / Mom / Juice Box / Insomnia Teacher (voice): Aliki Theofilopoulos Insomnia Man (voice): Toru Uchikado Film Crew: Writer: Charlie Kaufman Book: Emma Yarlett Director: Sean Charmatz Producer: Peter McCown Executive Producer: Walt Dohrn Executive Producer: Bonnie Arnold Production Designer: Tim Lamb Art Direction: Christine Bian Head of Story: Adam Rosette Head of Animation: Hans Dastrup Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Tim Nielsen Supervising Animator: Nik Ranieri Supervising Animator: Shawn Krause Supervising Sound Editor: Steve Slanec Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Brandon Proctor Sound Re-Recording Mixer: Nathan Nance Original Music Composer: Kevin Lax Original Music Composer: Robert Lydecker Editor: Kevin Sukho Lee Story Artist: Leah Artwick Story Artist: Alex Avagimian Story Artist: Joe Bernados Story Artist: Lyle Nagy Story Artist: Kent Osborne Story Artist: Jordan Rosato Production Coordinator: Janie Kahan Associate Editor: Michael Pedraza Assistant Editor: Dylan Stayman Assistant Editor: Keith Bodmer Assistant Editor: Eric Hendricks Production Coordinator: Claire Liu Production Designer: Timothy Lamb Character Designer: Jesse Aclin Character Designer: Elaine Choi Character Designer: Ryan Matias Character Designer: Joe Pitt Visual Development: Guillaume Fesquet Animation: Emily Tetri Visual Development: Miho Tomimasu Matte Painter: Kevin Turcotte Production Coordinator: Mallory Quagliato Production Assistant: Brittany Ramirez Animation Supervisor: Carla Lutz Animation: Julien Bocabeille Animation: Greg Sharp In Memory Of: Meghan Noyes Production Assistant: Amanda Lennes Line Producer: Ashley Laidlaw Production Manager: Kyle Hancher Finance: Robert Dudban Production Accountant: Mila Montano CG Supervisor: Ryan Munk Animation Supervisor: Ernest Chan Line Producer: Brent Hutchins Production Manager: Candice Ray Production Manager: Kristin Risinger Production Coordinator: Zachary Joel Johnson Production Coordinator: Emily Ryker VFX Supervisor: Brent Tyler Modelling Supervisor: Steven Tarin Rigging Supervisor: Belal Ballout Generalist: Natalie Jimenez Effects Supervisor: Ross Gibson Compositing Supervisor: David Lee-DuVoisin Executive Producer: Andrea Miloro Executive Producer: Adrianna A.J. Cohen Executive Producer: Russell Tracy Jr Line Producer: Natalia Lasota Line Producer: Murali Chinnappa Producer: Ravi Kiran Nunna Production Manager: Charan Paruchuri Production Manager: Kartheek Dugyala Production Manager: Guru Gnasasambandan Production Coordinator: Rahul Gattu Production Coordinator: Sandra Geiben Production Coordinator: Swati Pattnaik Production Assistant: Bandana Panigrahi Production Assistant: Masool Afreen Production Assistant: Neelam Kishan Creative Director: Manoj Menon Modelling Supervisor: Francis Rajeev A. Modelling Supervisor: Rakesh Acharya B. Modeling: Robin Bharat Modeling: Samir Rout Modeling: Suraj Kumar Raut Rigging Superv...

[cineastua]

Simon Leoza - La Nuée from Vincent Rene-Lortie on Vimeo.

JUNO Nominee for Best Music Video of the Year.

A young girl takes her first step from childhood into adulthood by deciding to flee her abusive father with her newborn sister in tow.

With Eve Dupuis, Frédéric Lavallée & Félix Giguere

Directed by Vincent René-Lortie Music by Simon Leoza

Produced by Telescope Films Executive producer - Samuel Caron Producer - Élise Lardinois Production Manager - Félix Cayer 1st assistant director - Clara L’heureux Garcia Production Coordinator - Marjorie Gauvin Prod. assistants - Jonathan Verreault & Jeremy Gagnon

Cinematographer - Alexandre Nour 1st camera assistant - Kevin Gourvellec Loader - Laure Boyer Key grip - Alain Tremblay Grips - Xavier Boisvert & Danik Gollain

Production designer - Geneviève Boiteau Make up artist - Carole Methot Art assistant - Laurence Perreault-Brière

Sound recording - Samuël Jodry Larouche

VFX - Olivier Masson Editor - Vincent René-Lortie Sound designer - Nataq Huault Color - Simon Boisx Storyboard artist - Simon Dubois Casting - Casting VTB & Brittney Canda

Label - Rosemarie records Violin 1: Gabrielle Richard Violin 2 : Amanda Gibeau Viola : Marilou Lepage Violoncello : Anne-Louise Gilbert Produced and arranged by Blaise Borboën-Léonard and Simon P. Castonguay Engineered by Blaise Borboën-Léonard Mixed by Blaise Borboën-Léonard, Studio Makina Mastered by Richard Addison, Trillium Sound Studios

Special thanks to MELS, Shane Patrick, Nancy Grant, Janet Lang, Robert Warrington, Tony Lermiri, Janie Patenaude, Myriam Julien, The City of Harrington, The Lost River Community Center

[byneddiedingo]

Jacob Tremblay and Brie Larson in Room (Lenny Abrahamson, 2015)

Cast: Brie Larson, Jacob Tremblay, Sean Bridgers, Wendy Crewson, Matt Gordon, Amanda Brugel, Joe Pingue, Tom McCamus, Joan Allen, William H. Macy. Screenplay: Emma Donoghue, based on her novel. Cinematography: Danny Cohen. Production design: Ethan Tobman. Film editing: Nathan Nugent. Music: Stephen Rennicks. 

As emotionally affecting as Room is, and as brilliant as the performances of Oscar-winner Brie Larson and the equally worthy Jacob Tremblay are, the film left me dissatisfied. The premise is an intriguing one: Joy (Larson) was abducted at the age of 17 by a man (Sean Bridgers) who locked her in a shed, where she gave birth to Jack (Tremblay), who has just turned 5 when the film begins. Left alone together for all this time, with only periodic visits by the captor for sex and to bring supplies, mother and son have bonded uniquely. She has allowed Jack to believe that the shed, which they call "Room," is the only reality -- even the people they see on the television set the captor has supplied are just colorful shapes; they are "TV." The sky they can see through Room's one window, a skylight, is "outer space." The only other entity Jack knows about is "Old Nick," the captor, and Joy keeps the two of them separated as much as possible, shutting Jack in the closet when the man visits. We are in Plato's Cave here, and to follow up on that fable, which is beautifully established in the first part of the film, we need an awakening to reality that is both dramatically and thematically powerful. We get a good start on that when Joy, thinking that Jack is old enough for the truth, begins to break down the myth of Room and suggest to him that there is in fact a world outside. Jack responds with something like the Kübler-Ross stages of grief: He denies what she is telling him, grows angry and depressed, but finally accepts it as truth, which then allows Joy to enlist Jack in an attempt to escape. Unfortunately, after the excitingly suspenseful escape succeeds, the film begins to disintegrate into an often sketchy and unconvincing tale of recovery, and concludes with a tenuous "happy ending." Jack, a doctor tells Joy, is still "plastic," a word that Jack overhears and indignantly rejects: He's real, not plastic. But Joy sinks into a deep depression, partly aided by the fact that the world is going to test the bonds she has formed with Jack, and by the fact that things are not what they were before her abduction. Her parents, for example, have divorced and her mother (Joan Allen) has remarried. Her father (William H. Macy) has moved far away and can't bring himself to accept Jack as his grandson. She and Jack move in with her mother, Nancy, and stepfather, Leo (Tom McCamus), but the tensions of the household grow as they are besieged by reporters, and when an interviewer awakens feelings of guilt and responsibility she has repressed, Joy attempts suicide and is hospitalized. The problem with this part of the film is that there are no easy solutions to the crisis it has created. Moreover, we don't know enough about the characters it introduces to understand their behavior: Why, for example, is it so hard for Joy's father to accept Jack as his grandson? As brilliant an actress as Joan Allen is, she doesn't quite make the loving, gentle grandmother much more than a stereotype. How much hope can we hold out for Joy's full recovery and Jack's successful integration into a world he had previously never envisioned? I haven't read Emma Donoghue's novel, so it's possible that this part of the story is better developed and the characters are more plausible on the page than they are on the screen, although Donoghue also wrote the screenplay. There is, however, a scene at the end, in which Joy and Jack return to Room, now about to be demolished, that provides a kind of closure to the film that's satisfying artistically -- if not psychologically.

[amxndareviews]

'Knock at the Cabin' Review

#KnockAtTheCabin Review: "It shows how having faith or being a realist can have pros and cons. Shyamalan’s visual style and pacing of this film create so much tension that have you glued to the screen throughout."

By: Amanda Guarragi In Paul Tremblay’s novel “The Cabin at the End of the World,” he explores religious themes and how compassionate humanity is. When four people knock on their cabin door while on vacation, they speak on Judgement Day, and the apocalypse is near. Tremblay explores two sides of faith in this novel, and M. Night Shyamalan follows through in the adaptation of Knock at the Cabin.…

[linguistlist-blog]

TOC, Journal of French Language Studies Vol. 32, No. 2 (2022)

ICYMI: Introduction to Special Issue on French Variation in Digital Media Amanda Dalola 115-119 Écrire son vernaculaire: variation et normes communautaires dans les messages textes en français québécois Hélène Blondeau, Mireille Tremblay 120-144 Official new terms in the age of social media: the story of hashtag on French Twitter Gyula Zsombok 145-164 Phonological variation on Twitter: Evidence from letter repetition in three French dialects Jeffrey Lamontagne, Gretchen McCulloch 165-196 Reflection http://dlvr.it/SgCV02

[halflingkima]

End of the Year Reading Check-in

This year has been............... rough, reading-wise so I thought I'd use another booktube tag to do an overview and recenter myself for the rest of the year before I have to round stuff up for my favorites.

1. Are there any books you started this year that you need to finish?

Unfortunately, and against tradition in an odd way, there is. I preordered Here We Go Again by Alison Cochrun. I started reading it at some point in the spring (summer maybe?). I LOVED it. I loved it so much. I loved it in a way that made my heart ache. And then I started spiraling: best case, it was gonna end and the book would be over. worst case, it would disappoint me somehow before the end (especially with the hints being laid for the 3rd act conflict). So I put it down to take a little break, calm down, etc. And I never picked it back up. And I have been kicking myself every damn day since.

Also my 24 in 24 is not looking too hot :// (Only have 13 down).

2. Do you have an autumnal book to transition into the end of the year?

No?? I'm blatantly ignoring that it's autumn. It's still like..... april in my head. If I don't think about it it's not happening :))

3. Is there a new release you're still waiting for?

Funny this question is on here bc I rarely every preorder, but I just got the email that it shipped yesterday :D It's the rerelease of Pansies by Alexis Hall, which I have already read and is my least favorite in the series so far BUT it'll be pretty :)) and match the other ones :))

That aside, I don't pay attention to publishing dates, but rather when my library gets stuff. That being said, I am still waiting for Intermezzo by Sally Rooney. And also Heavenly Tyrant by Xiran Jay Xiao, but aren't we all.

4. What are three books you want to read before the end of the year?

THREE?? I think I have like, 30. Uhh let's say of the ones I'm staring at right now...

Running Close to the Wind by Alexandra Rowland

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

One for my Enemy by Olivie Blake

5. Is there a book you think could still shock you and become your favorite book of the year?

Yeah for sure if the reason I put Here We Go Again down is anything to go off of. And uhh storygraph tells me I've only had nine 5 stars this year (NINE?? jesus christ). By god I HOPE there's still a chance I find a favorite.

6. Have you already started making reading plans for 2025?

bitch i'm still struggling with my reading plans for 2024!! (ie: no lmao)

And now an overview of my yearly reading challenges thus far

From my 24 in 24, I still need to read:

White is for Witching by Helen Oyeyemi (unlikely)

The Child Thief by Brom (unlikely)

Why Women Have Better Sex Under Socialism by Kristen Ghodsee (unlikely)

Wordslut by Amanda Montell (unlikely)

There You Are by Mathea Morais

Bookshops and Bonedust by Travis Baldree (unlikely)

Black Sun by Rebecca Roanhorse

Mortal Follies by Alexis Hall

10 Things That Never Happened by Alexis Hall

Chain Gang All Stars by Nana Kwame Adjeh Brenyah (unlikely)

The Pallbearers Club by Paul Tremblay

In pure luck, I'm up to day in my Year in Aeldia challenge for the magical readathon but the next months are gonna put me to the test

November: an epic fantasy (recs welcome)

December: a weapon on the cover (recs also welcome)

And to finish the magical readathon sidequest For Real (tho i've just been progressing like i did it lol) I need

a translated book (recs welcome)

Return to the Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz

Isle of the Lost by Melissa de la Cruz (since its a series lol)

So in conclusion. I have at least 18 books to read before the end of the year. And none of them are the 12 library books I have out or the two holds currently awaiting me :)))

[atwaba]

((This picrew is incredibly fun, as you can see by the time I had with it today.))

From left to right:

Nathan L. Cameron. Only son of America. Literal ray of sunshine. Would live on a beach and do nothing but surf if allowed. Speaks 16 languages but still forgets common English words. Head over heels for Svetlana and will smother her with affection anywhere, anytime.

Svetlana Iconova. Only daughter of Russia. Always snacking and forgetting English grammar rules. Will steal your car keys and throw them in a fountain if you piss her off. Possibly unable to get drunk. Head over heels for Nathan but is much more hesitant to act on it in public.

Kazu Sato. Youngest son of Japan. Extrovert fueled solely by caffeine and chaos. Constantly wears a mask to compromise between his fear of cameras and his need to join in with social media fads. Seems like the quiet one of the group but will drop more curse words than Nathan knows languages.

Wyatt Ottoman. Only son of Canada. Stand-up comedian who seems chill but can and will snap when angry. Speaks Canadian and Quebec French, and sometimes combines them when tired. Has been banned from every Starbucks in Montreal. Once snapped a hockey stick in two out of pure frustration while watching a Senators game.

Vaquero Peréz. Only son of Cuba. The actual chill guy in the group who just wants to hang out and play Wonderwall. Flirts aggressively with everyone but melts as soon as someone flirts back. Phenomenal skateboarder but doesn’t jive with the ‘skater’ aesthetic. Met Nathan when they collided at the bottom of a hill with Vaquero going full speed on his board.

Abigail Tremblay. Only daughter of Canada. Amputee who makes too many ‘give me a hand’ jokes. Doesn’t often wear her prosthetic because it doesn’t ‘look cool’. Very bitter that the circumstances of her limb loss prevented her magical heritage from just growing a new one. Loves her service dog and has thrown hands in her honor.

[ebbyscrooge]

NOW IF THEY DID A SWEENEY TODD BROADWAY MOVIE OR LIKE TIM BURTON BUT REALLY SCARY...

((HERE IS WHO I WANT TO PLAY THE CHARACTERS))

GUY PEARCE AS SWEENEY TODD/ BENJAMIN BARKER

ANNE HATHAWAY AS MRS. LOVETT

AMANDA SEYFRIED AS LUCY/ BEGGAR WOMAN

DOVE CAMERON AS JOHANNA BARKER

HUGH JACKMAN AS ADOLFO PIRELLI

JON MOSES AS BEADLE BAMFORD

JACOB TREMBLAY AS TOBIAS RAGG

JAY ARMSTRONG JOHNSON AS ANTHONY HOPE

VICTOR GARBER AS JUDGE TURPIN

THAT’S IT! THAT’S THE POST!!! THANK YOU FOR COMING TO MY TED TALK!

[cinemadrunk]

RecentWatch + Netflix #406 (6/11)

The Clapper 2017 [Netflix]

3/10

 Good Boys 2019

Watch it. Just watch it.

s6 (5.7)/10

[s-soft, S-solid]

[leighlim]

What’s one of the worst things that can happen to you as a teen?

-

-

-

-

(Hopefully by this point you’ve finished all 118 minutes of 'Room’, the kind of person who isn’t bothered by spoilers, or are just deciding if you still want to keep watching.)

-

-

-

-

-

The film actually combines two of those scenarios:

Kidnapped and held prisoner indeterminately

Have a child with the worst person you could imagine.

Is it time for you to watch this?

I did recently realise that this film needs a mindset when watching it. In my case the mindset was a decision that I’m ready to watch it.

The first time I saw it...the only knowledge I had was the press surrounding both Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay. It’s funny how that helps sometimes. Not that I know their names...but that the best part of their personalities were being celebrated.

Eventually I found out about ‘Room’ and....since I went in blind....I got the impression that it was one of those vanity projects. It felt really rambling. There was also the issue that I wasn’t interested in the topic (after it became apparent): a long-term hostage situation.

Would it have been better if the film started with both Mother and Son free? Then flashes to what they escaped from? I couldn’t tell you....as no film pops up as an example (at least one that I would rate higher than a 5). I think it just comes down to knowing those key information...and somehow...I got to the point in deciding: I’m going to watch this.

So before settling in...I actually went through different sections of the film to find out at which point they get out. Another assumption I had was they were actually rescued. It was a surprise that it was actually something actively sought....that there wasn’t really any Stockholm Syndrome towards their captor.

I mean...I can here the naysayers now: Well....why didn’t they escape earlier!? Why didn’t she fight back in those two years before Jack was born? The bit to be reminded of is that it’s a story of a Mother providing a safe environment for her child. All her actions were so he would have some semblance of safety (which is why she put him to sleep in the closet, then moves him after their captor leaves).

Though I think my biggest issue was: the assumption that it was some sort of story written in a language for 5 year olds.

What I like best about the film though: the events leading up to Jack’s Mother deciding to hatch a plan for their escape. Again....would I have wanted that moved earlier? Kind of like a similar pace to ‘Children Of Men’? I mean...would that even work?

Note to parents: It’s going to be a difficult decision for you. I mean...even the actual violence is a blip (there is a scene...which I wish wasn’t there ---- but it’s necessary to give the story gravitas).

PS: Also...the answer if I wanted to watch ‘Taken’ again....is of course a resounding no. So that might have contributed to it (and...in a way...there is a bit of that element when we find out how the kidnapping was orchestrated).

--------

HIGHLIGHT:

INT. ROOM - DAY

JOY and JACK are in the middle of a meal.

JOY Where do you think that Old Nick gets our food?

JACK From TV by magic.

JOY There is no magic. What you see on TV, those are pictures of real things, of real people. It's real stuff.

JACK absorbs this.

JACK Dora's real? For real?

JOY No, that's a drawing. Dora is a drawing.

JACK tries to make the connection.

JOY But other people, they have faces like us. Those are pictures of real things and all the other stuff you see on there? That's real too. That's real oceans, real trees, real cats, dogs---

JACK No way! Where would they all fit?

JOY They just do. They just fit. They just fit out in the world.

JOY surveys her son. Time is of the essence.

JOY Jack, come on, you're so smart. I know that you've been wondering about this.

It's too much for the five year old.

JACK Can I have something else to eat?

JOY rolls her eyes and throws her head back. They'll never get things done at this pace.

She notices something on the skylight and points.

JOY There's a leaf. Do you see that?

JACK Where?

JOY Look.

JACK I don't see a leaf.

JOY Come here, I want you to see.

She scoops him up and stands on the chair.

JOY You can have a closer look. You see that?

A solitary leaf on the skylight. It probably has been on the groud for a while and been blown up on the roof of the shed.

JACK Dumbo, Ma. That's not a leaf. Leaves are green.

JOY Yeah, on trees, but they fall and they rot. Like salad in the fridge---

JACK Where's all the stuff you said? Trees and dogs and cats and grass?

She puts him down.

JOY We can't see it from here. Because skylight looks upwards instead of sideways---

JACK You're just tricking me.

JOY No, I'm not.

JACK Liar! Liar! Pants of Fire!

JOY Jack, I couldn't explain it before, because you were too small --- you were too small to understand. So I had to make up a story...but...but now I'm doing the opposite, OK? The opposite of lying, I'm 'unlying' because you're 5 now.

JACK shakes his head.

JOY You're five and you're old enough to understand what the world is.

No budging. Another shake.

JOY You have to understand. You have to understand. We can't keep living like this. You need to help me.

JACK I want to be four again.

A long silence. Is that it? Will she have to wait another year before an attempt?

She spots a book on the table.

JOY Do you remember how...do you remember how Alice wasn't always in Wonderland?

JACK She fell down, down, down, deep in a hole.

JOY Right, well, I wasn't always in room. I'm like Alice.

JACK considers this.

JOY I was a little girl named Joy.

JACK Nah!

JOY And I live in a house with my mom and my dad. You would call them Grandma and Grandpa.

JACK What house?

JOY A house. It was in the world. And there was a backyard and we had a hammock and we would swing in the hammock. And we would eat ice-cream.

JACK A TV house?

JOY No, Jack, a real house. Not TV. Are you even listening to me?

The defiant boy is back. Not wanting to 'buy in' to this new 'story'.

JOY When I was a little older, when I was 17. I was walking home from school---

JACK Where was I?

JOY You were still up in Heaven. But there was a guy. He pretended his dog was sick---

JACK What guy?

JOY Old Nick. We call him 'Old Nick'. I don't know what his real name is. But he pretended his dog was sick---

JACK What's the dog's name?

JOY massages her forehead.

JOY Jack, there wasn't a dog! He was trying to trick me, OK? There wasn't a dog. Old Nick stole me.

JACK I want a different story!

JOY No! This is the story that you get.

JACK just stands there. Still defiant...but listening.

JOY He put me in his garden shed. Here. Room is the shed. He's locked the door, he's the only one that knows the code. You know the secret numbers that open the door?

JACK is worried now. This can't be reality. He glances at the door with a keypad next to it.

JOY He's the only one that knows and I've been locked in here for seven years. I've been in here for seven years. Do you understand?

JACK THIS STORY'S BORING!!!

JOY Jack, the world is so big. It's so big you wouldn't even believe it. And room is just... (her voice breaks) ...one stinky part of it.

JACK Room's not stinky! Only when you do a fart.

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My verdict of the film: 9/10

Link to the timestamp commentary: TBA