Rabu, 24 Juni 2015

Thursday Movie Picks: Sibling Movies (Biologically Related)


I hope you're in the mood for watching movies 'cause it's Thursday Movie Picks! Thursday Movie Picks is hosted by the wonderful Wandering Through the Shelves and if you want more information or start writing for TMP, you can click here. 

As you can see, this week's theme is biologically related sibling! I'm kinda nervous because I thought it should be from different sexes. Turns out, it's okay from the same sex. I'm neither excited nor unhappy about this week's theme. Maybe because I'm an only child, my feeling toward sibling films is indifferent. 

Grave of the Fireflies (Isao Takahata, 1988)



Siblings: Seita (older brother) and Setsuko (younger sister)

1988 must be a great year for Japanese animation. Akira, My Neighbor Totoro, and Grave of the Fireflies in a year. All of them are animations but none of them tell us about talking animals or princesses who need to be save.

Grave of the Fireflies is the first film that makes me crying in less than 20 minutes. I don't understand why, because I know that GOTF can be too dramatic. After questioning myself again, I think it's because Seita and Setsuko are crushed slowly. They're not given a bullet straight to head, but in places that painful, yet not deadly. 

The thing that makes me depressed is the fact that they are so young. They are not in the age to understand war and suffering. Playing dolls and eating sweets are what they should do. 

The Others (Alejandro Amenabar, 2001)


Siblings: Anne (older sister) and Nicholas (younger brother)

Frankly, I think The Others is one of the most boring film I've watched. FILM, not just HORROR FILM. Even I, who usually worship films with twist, dislike this film. But, I think the characters are quite interesting and worth to be psychoanalyzed.

Anne (Alakina Mann) is a rebel and critical girl while Nicholas (James Bentley) is a wimp who accepts anything their mother (Nicole Kidman) said. I think the contrast between them is interesting because it's "gender-switch" or "gender-reversal" or whatever. Usually, it's the annoying older brother who tries to challenge tradition while the younger sister who either doesn't have guts or worship the tradition.

I love Anne's character. It makes the dynamic between her mother and herself interesting. Anne is also the key to the mystery, even though her mother ignores her and think that she's delusional. There's a chance that Anne is a symbol of modern and critical feminist, while her mother is an old-fashioned woman who is ironically, holds back her own "kind".

Shame (Steve McQueen, 2011)


Siblings: Brandon (older brother) and Sissy (younger sister)

Once upon a time, a girl fell in love with Michael Assbender, sorry, Fassbender. Then she watched Shame. She died in happiness after a few minutes.

Here's a fact, I only like Shame because Fassy. I know that Shame has great cinematography and story, but it's a boring film according my standard. I'm rarely a fan of a film with slow-build or a slow pace, especially with little exciting dialogue. Fortunately, Shame has the magnificent Mr. Michael Fassbender who is flowing with sexual appeal everywhere he goes. But, don't be tricked by my shallow comment. Fassy is not only flowing with sexual appeal, but also raw emotion and talent. Sigh, I can't believe George Clooney won over him in Golden Globes.

Luckily, Carey Mulligan is a very talented actress too. She doesn't let Fassy overshadow her in their scenes. The fight scene in sofa is the best scene in this film. It's even better than the marathon scene in my opinion.

14 komentar:

  1. I still have yet to see Grave of the Fireflies...really should do so but I have seen The Others however I enjoyed that and didn't find it boring. Very creepy.

    Haven't seen Shame yet,

    BalasHapus
    Balasan
    1. I'm not a fan of psychological horrors with slow pace. They always make me yawning, lol.

      Hapus
  2. Haven't seen your first two picks, but been meaning to watch Grave of the Fireflies. I'm with you on Shame - loved the cinematography and the performances, but it was a bit slow-moving for my taste.

    BalasHapus
    Balasan
    1. Really? Wow, I thought I'm the only one who think so :)

      Hapus
  3. The Others is a good pick, I'm not a Nicole Kidman fan at all but this is the one film where I thought she was pretty good and the children are disturbing. I didn't enjoy Shame despite the excellent performances from both leads but it fits well here. I haven't seen Grave of the Fireflies.

    BalasHapus
    Balasan
    1. Sometimes, a film needs more than quality to steal it's viewers' hearts.

      Hapus
  4. I just added Shame to my Netflix queue. Thanks for reminding me of how I still need to see it. The Others is one I don't think I ever saw. I remember all my friends going to see it when it came out, but I don't think I went. Grave of the Fireflies I've heard of but never got to. Good picks!

    BalasHapus
    Balasan
    1. Thanks. Well, if you're not a fan of slow pace psychological horror, I think The Others isn't for you. And if you don't have any patience to watch observational or character study movie, Shame isn't for you.

      Hapus
  5. I...hate you. Grave of the Fireflies!!! How could you!?!?!?!

    I'm crying now...thank you very much.

    But...all three of these are great movies, for sure. Very good picks, even if I am crying.

    BalasHapus
  6. I LOVE The Others. Excellent psychological/gothic/haunted house horror flick with great performances from Nicole Kidman and Fionula Flannagan (the old housekeeper). I disliked Shame as well. I didn't think it really have enough to say to justify the terribly slow pace.

    BalasHapus
  7. I think you're right about the performances in Shame being much more interesting than the film itself.
    It's been so long since I've seen The Others that I can't even remember the brother-sister story.

    BalasHapus
  8. Shame is a phenomenal movie. Great pick with that one. Haven't seen the others. Been meaning to watch The Others forever.

    BalasHapus
  9. I never would have thought of Shame for this, but that definitely was an...interesting dynamic!

    BalasHapus
  10. Shame is not boring at all because we can see Fassbender naked!

    BalasHapus