The Help (2011)
I'm so glad I can say that I loved this film so much! Unfortunately its rare to come across films that I really do think are amazing but The Help is definitely one of them. Firstly the cast which includes Oscar Winner Octavia Spencer, Oscar Nominated Viola Davies, Emma Stone, and Allison Janney was fantastic and all of the award nominations and wins were well-deserved. The script, based on the book by Kathryn Stockett, is also brilliant although I can't comment on how well the story has been adapted as I haven't read it yet (I would love to once I've finished The Hunger Games!). The film is funny, smart, heart-warming and generally very entertaining. Another little thing about this film that may have swayed me was the fact that one of my all time favourite songs Jackson, by Johnny Cash & June Carter, was part of the soundtrack. I will definitely be adding The Help to my DVD collection in the future (when it gets a little bit cheaper!) and I can't wait to watch it again. If you rent one film this month make it The Help.
The Rum Diary (2011)
Sadly this is where the love stops with this month's roundup post. I was so disappointed in The Rum Diary which I shouldn't really be surprised about as the book, which didn't seem to really have a plot, disappointed me too. Being written by Hunter S Thompson who wrote the fantastic Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (also turned into a film starring Johnny Depp) I had expected so much more. Back in 2006/7 when I first saw and read Fear & Loathing there was already talk about The Rum Diary being a possible future film project for Depp which sparked my initial interest in it. I had waited a long time for it to finally be made and released but in the end it wasn't worth the wait. Although I don't remember the book in great detail there were several noticeable changes made when adapting it into a screenplay which confused me a little as I was expecting things to crop up but they never did. I did quite like the opening credits of the film but I got bored very quickly, about ten minutes in, and it was downhill from there. The casting wasn't all bad; Giovanni Ribisi is a pretty great actor and I can't say that Johnny Depp isn't either although I personally don't think he's done anything particularly notable since Sweeney Todd in 2007. The casting of Amber Heard as Chenault did seem a little strange to me after being familiar with the character from the book but I don't think any changes in casting could have made the film more enjoyable. Unfortunately I won't be recommending The Rum Diary.
My Week With Marilyn (2011)
Another highly anticipated and widely praised film My Week With Marilyn was released on DVD this month and I was quick to rent it as I'd been frustrated to miss it at the cinema. To be honest I was disappointed with it overall and found it slightly boring at times although that is probably due to the fact I hadn't heard a negative word about it beforehand and was expecting it to be great. I actually anticipated the disappointment after enjoying The Help so much and knowing that finding two films I loved in such a short space of time was almost impossible. Although I didn't love My Week With Marilyn I did think the casting was mainly great, particularly performances from Michelle Williams, Eddie Redmayne and Kenneth Brannagh. I did end up watching the film twice but I really didn't enjoy it the second time around and became bored earlier than halfway through. I won't be rushing out to buy My Week With Marilyn but I'm not ruling out a third viewing in the future either.
Also this month:
Pass: What Happens In Vegas
Rent:
Hard Candy, The Ides of MarchBuy/Already in Collection:
Bend It Like Beckham 