8/10. Starting this months Film and TV post with the much anticipated new Elvis movie! I went to see it on opening night, the first showing! I've been looking forward to this movie since the trailer came out! I love Elvis, his music, his movies... I mean he's iconic for a reason! My mom is also a big fan and grew up watching his movies so we were really excited to see it.
Right off the bat I just want to say that Austin Butler did an AMAZING job! He better win an Oscar for his performance. The voice, the mannerism, he even got Elvis's general bigger-than-life presence, he NAILED it, it was spot on! I remember being obsessed with Austin Butler when he was in The Carrie Diaries, I thought he was so cute lol. But OMG seeing him as Elvis! *swoon*. You know all of those photos of girls screaming and fainting at Elvis concerts, and we all make fun of them because it's so dramatic? I UNDERSTAND NOW. Truthfully he was the best part of the movie and thats why I gave it a 8/10... if it wasn't for him my rating would be much lower... let me explain.
I might be alone on this but the movie itself was underwhelming. I know it got rave reviews at the Cannes Film Festival, and I want to believe it was because of Austins performance. It's a Baz Luhrmann movie so I was hoping for more The Great Gatsby but it was more Romeo and Juliet. It's a very distinct style and I don't think it's for everyone. I don't think there was much of a story? at least it didn't feel like there was? For the first 30 minutes of the movie I thought I was watching a trailer, it was like a long montage. Very fast paced and not many interactions between characters. It was like being on a rollercoaster the entire time.
I also really didn't like Tom Hanks performance. Thats why I didn't include photos of him in my review even tho he's a main character (Thats how much I didn't like it lol) Tom Hanks is an amazing actor so I'm sure it was the direction he was given but it honestly felt like a joke. I couldn't take it seriously and all I could see was Tom Hanks in a costume. He annoyed me the entire movie and I wish that character would be written out and we focused more on Elvis. I know that doesn't make much sense because the whole movie revolves around him. The movie focuses on Elvis's relationship with his manager Colonel Tom Parker. But I thought it would be more of a biopic of Elvis. It just wasn't what I expected, the movie is not told from Elvis's perspective its from his managers. I don't want to give any spoilers so thats all I'll say about it. I do think its worth watching for Austin Butlers performance alone, I'm still in awe at how perfectly he played Elvis.
10/10. Ah a 90s classic! I have a handful of movies that I like from the 90s and this happens to be one of them! I mean its Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe ! 6 months after the movie premiered they were married! and of course it also stars the ICONIC Sarah Michelle Geller. You might recognize Sarah Michelle Geller and Ryan Phillipe from I know what you did last summer (1997), Another one of my favourite 90s movies... but I'll save that for another day.
The movie depicts two step siblings, Katherine and Sebastian. They make a bet to see if Sebastian can "deflower" the new principals daughter before school starts. A girl who happens to write an article for a magazine talking about virginity and saving herself for marriage. Katherine also takes a girls named Cecile "under her wing" essentially using her as a toy for her entertainment. Cecile is played by Selma Blair, who would later star in Legally Blonde with Reese Witherspoon!
The movie takes place on The Upper East Side... and if you haven't noticed, the parallels are pretty similar to Gossip Girl. Not sure if it was actually used as source material for the books/show but if you are a fan of Gossip Girl you'll love this! It's filled with amazing preppy 90s fashion, manipulation, seduction and twisted relationships. I love this movie and watched it a lot growing up, the characters are so interesting and I love the chemistry between Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe.... although It's probably an awkward movie for their kids to watch.
8/10 I think this is the only new movie I watched this month (Except Elvis) and I really enjoyed it! I watched it while sipping a big cup of coffee. Staring Fred Astaire (Who you all know I love!) and Ginger Rogers! Two big names from the golden age of Hollywood.
It was exactly what you would expect from a musical of the 1930s... pure elegance! It tells the story of a woman wanting to getting a divorce from her husband, but the only way to do that is for her to have an affair. So with the help of her lawyer she cooks up a plan to fake an affair. It was tremendous fun! I highly recommend it to anyone interested in musicals or movies from this time period.
Of course there was magnificent fashion, Ginger Rogers could wear a plastic bag and look fantastic but there were a lot of beautiful outfits in this movie, I feel so inspired to find some 1930s pieces!
I even got inspiration from The dancers in the musical numbers! especially this one with the bathing suits! However I think my favourite scene in the whole movie is when Ginger Rogers has her dress stuck in the suitcase. it was perfect!
And as a side note- I am OBSESSED with these ballerina finger puppets!! The legs are your fingers! if anyone knows where I can find one let me know! I'm so obsessed I'm tempted to make one myself!
7/10. This is a new Netflix Documentary focusing on the FLDS and Warren Jeffs. I think we are all fascinated by cults. How can someone fall into a cult? or worse... not realize they are in one? Some people could argue that all religions are cults, they are just more accepted in society and its less controlled so you are free to be a part of it or not (Not saying I agree or disagree). However in the case of the FLDS it does stem from religion but its a much more controlled. It's a smaller group of people all living in one general area, you can't come and go as you please. The members can't have opinions on the teachings, they just follow what the "prophet" says, no questions asked.
In the documentary they talked about the previous "prophet" Rulon Jeffs, and how things changed for the FLDS once he passed away and his son Warren Jeffs took power. The FLDS always believed in Polygamy, The more wives a man has the higher up he is in society and the closer he is to God. (Wild I know... ). *TRIGGER WARNING* But things took a turn for the worst when Warren Jeffs became the new prophet. underaged girls started being married off to the men in the community which sparked questions of trafficking and abuse. It's crazy to see that communities like this still exist which such backwards beliefs. And it's sad to see all of these women having no value in their community other than for sex.... and as a ticket for the men to go heaven. It's even worse to see these woman putting their own daughters in the same situations. If you re interested in these types of topics I highly recommend it! it was really interesting and its really short, only 3 episodes!
And that pretty much wraps this months Film and TV round up! There is a little bit of something for everyone lol my interest in what I watched this month was all over the place. I didn't watch many new movies the past two months because I've slowly been watching Mad Men. I've tried to watch it 4 times and its taking me a while to get through it. I'll do a review with all of my thoughts once I finish it! If you have any Movie recommendations let me know!