Attack The Block

"That's an alien bruv, believe it." Pest

"That's an alien bruv, believe it." Pest

☆ Classic 

Attack The Block (2011) is an instant cult classic.


Directed and written by Joe Cornish.


Starring Nick Frost, John Boyega, Jodie Whittaker, Alex Esmail, and Luke Treadaway.


Cornish creates an instant cult alien/horror classic by copying John Carpenters low-budget imaginative style of filmmaking in Assault on Precinct 13 (1976) and John Ford's well drawn characters in Stagecoach (1939). The tried and tested formula of Ford's classic motley group of civilians defend the fort/stagecoach or in this case a block in London works brilliantly here.

I love the way Cornish has his teenage muggers faces hidden at the start and as they become hero's defending their block from aliens their faces and lives are slowly revealed to the audience.

In the scene below we only see a second or two of the alien and yet Joe effectively conveys the drama and danger in fighting them by editing in post production. Films as well as acting performances are made during editing.





Trivia - Joe Cornish wrote this film after being mugged in real-life one night. Joe noticed his five young assailants were as scared as he was.


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Note - If you would like to view Attack The Block to rent or buy please click on the link below the comments. It is sponsored by Google, so it is the safest and most secure way to get a copy for your film library.

Gia

"I do be da pittiest, pittiest girl. I do be dat." Gia Carangi
"I do be da pittiest, pittiest girl. I do be dat." Gia Carangi

☆ Classic 


Gia (1998) comes to life by Angelina Jolie's scorching, reckless performance.


Directed and co-written by Michael Cristofer.


Starring Angelina Jolie, Faye Dunaway, Elizabeth Mitchell and Mercedes Ruehl among many others.


I saw Gia while in my 3rd year repertory season at The Actors Studio MFA Program. I had mastered and understood The Method as taught at The Actors Studio by teachers trained and certified by Lee Strasberg himself. You see The Method in brief character moments within a character action in a scene. Some Method trained actors like Marlon Brando, James Dean and Marilyn Monroe had many Method moments in their film acting careers. Angelina had so many Method moments in Gia that I sat back in awe. One moment really stood out for me as it happened. When Jolie leaps at the fence, nude I thought to myself that Angelina had gone too far and would need psychological help and time out from acting to recover her sanity and her real self. The Method frees us to go recklessly off the deep end on a characterization. Properly trained Method Actors at The Actors Studio know that they need help after losing themselves within a character.

The scene below has nudity and a Method moment. What I love about Angelina's work below and in general is that she can dazzle you more with her characterization then with her physical beauty. Not many people can be so free with their bodies while doing scenes completely nude. Nudity requires a confidence in yourself that few possess. Watch the look in Angelina's eyes as she leaps at the fence. She is completely lost in character. Also look at how confident she is when she is nude. Nudity seems to free Jolie's instrument. I'm happy that Angelina has continued to develop her instrument and expanded her craft to include writing, directing and producing films.

Jon Voight, Marlon Brando, James Dean, Marilyn Monroe, Robert Deniro, Al Pacino, Mickey Rourke, Michael Parks and John Malkovich to name a few well known Method Actors all have reached the pinnacle of The Method moment where they can with one action convey an entire characters persona and life. Jolie came close to reaching The Method Moment pinnacle in the scene below. Angelina reached that Method milestone in another movie I will review at a later date. Keep an eye out for Mercedes work opposite Angelina. Not even Angelina in full character can overtake Ruehl in a scene.

I added an interview with the real Gia Carangi. Note how Angelina captured Gia's essence. Poor Gia seems to be high in the interview, but you can see the wild tiger in her that Jolie captured in portraying Carangi.





Trivia - Mila Kunis plays Gia at age 11.










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Note - If you would like to view Gia to rent or buy please click on the link below the comments. It is sponsored by Google, so it is the safest and most secure way to get a copy for your film library.