Singin' In The Rain is a film I can't quite believe I hadn't seen. In fact, I often felt as though I had seen it because so much of it has permeated pop culture to the degree that it is not just familiar but seems almost to have become part of your cultural experience via osmosis. Despite this it still held delights that I wasn't aware of. I had thought of it purely as a musical, and so I was most taken with the unexpected and wonderfully deft comedy (especially Donald O'Connor's clowning) and by the incredibly appealing performances. However, the dance scenes remain the film's true glory, with the title number standing out, but almost put in the shade by the very funny Make 'Em Laugh sequence and the very sexy Cyd Charisse, in her green dress, dancing with Kelly. I can't believe it took me this long to get round to this film, but I'll come back to it soon and regularly.
Worst of the Month
Those stills above each encapsulate a good deal of the awfulness of I Know Who Killed Me and Homefront. They couldn't be much more different; Homefront is a deadeningly sweary and generic thriller about a schoolyard fight that gets blown massively out of proportion while I Know Who Killed Me is a smug and pretentious attempt at an artsy torture porn film with a twist so telegraphed you'll assume it HAS to be a red herring. What unites the two is the fact that both are fantastically ugly thanks to a hideous colour scheme. Homefront is drenched in the teal and orange that is the default colour scheme choice in Hollywood right now, while IKWKM reflects its hilariously on the nose theme of duality by slathering red and blue over the whole film. Two deeply unfortunate films that don't even manage to be amusing in their badness.
Best Actor: Kristoffer Joner - Next Door
Best Actress: Nina Hoss - Jerichow
Best Director: Stanley Donen / Gene Kelly - Singin' In The Rain
Best Screenplay: Christian Petzold - Jerichow
Biggest Surprise: How I Got Into College
Biggest Disappointment: The Raid 2 / Snowpiercer
Most Fucked-Up Movie: Next Door
“I’m Pretty Damn Sure No One Else Has Seen This” (and they should): How I Got Into College
Best Scene: The dance scenes in Singin' In The Rain / Hammergirl - The Raid 2
“Why Is He/She Still in Movies?”: Jason Statham - Homefront
One To Watch: Julie Estelle - The Raid 2
Movie I Finally Got to Friggin’ See: Singin' In The Rain
Coolest Title: Snowpiercer
Hottest Lady: Julie Estelle - The Raid 2
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