Rosemary's Baby meets Ben Affleck's Argo

When the buzz initially started to surround Ben Affleck's new film Argo, I was convinced that considering he was once a part of a relationship that was dubbed 'Bennifer', that his movie would be sub standard at best. I didn't want to see this film at all until the Golden Globes where he won for Best Director and Best Motion Picture. I finally sat myself down to watch the flick with a bottle of Ribena and some chocolate in the hopes that I would enjoy the film a little more because I had snacks. It was brilliant. I loved the pace of the movie more than anything. With many films these days (Star Trek being one of them) it can sometimes feel like time is being wasted or that the action is unevenly spaced. Thankfully, Argo was well timed in a way that made me feel like there was never an unused moment. The opening was clever as it combined some of the story board for the film (the film within this film, that is) with archive footage and a calm voice over. The story centres on a feared country during its revolution as six American embassy workers find themselves trapped and unable to escape without the possibility of death by public hanging. The actors were excellent in their portrayals of fear and pressure in particular the acclaimed director. Affleck is a calm and mysterious character who doesn't really reveal much. Occasionally we discover more about his personal life and its troubles but it isn't relevant to the story itself. Based on a true story, the film had me interested in the step by step process of freeing the Americans from their impending doom. The crowd scenes were excellent in there execution as the rage and fear were palpable for some parts of the film. The score for Argo was classic late 70's and never felt intrusive or out of place. Despite my hesitation to watch the film in the beginning, I highly recommend Argo to anyone who is looking for a little bit more out of their films rather than the usual fluff. It was entertaining and at times nail bitingly tense.

Rosemary's Baby first came to my attention earlier this year in my Contemporary Hollywood Film module and then again more recently through Alli Trippy and CTFxC cinema. As it slowly but surely crept into my life from different angles I felt obliged to watch Mia Farrow, under the direction of Roman Polanski, fall deeper and deeper into the traps made by the devil. From the outset we learn that the previous tenant of the apartment was hospitalised and also grew herbs and moved a chest of drawers in front of a closet. All seemingly innocent but of course are given more meaning as the film unfolds. The talk of the 'devil' also starts from the beginning which slowly lures the audience in and intrigues them. I didn't really get the dream/rape sequence but I don't think that you are necessarily supposed to. This film is a classic mysterious thriller that puts those of the 21st Century to shame. Many films made in the last 13 years dream of the sort of slow tension and fear that Rosemary's Baby builds. What I found strange was the 'good luck' necklace because I bought my mother something nearly identical years ago. After seeing how this film turned out, I want to find that necklace and destroy it. Another great aspect of the film is all of the simply yet effective dramatic devices such as foreshadowing and more importantly the horror film favourite, pathetic fallacy. I'm a sucker for an image of a crying woman with rain beating against the window. I also enjoyed hating Guy, Rosemary's husband, more and more as the film went on. He seemed so nice in the beginning but slowly became this figure of evil. Many of the reviews I have read complain about the ending and criticise it as being anti climactic, but I enjoyed the way the story was left open and that the audience were able to contemplate the next stages in Rosemary's life and whether or not she does what the group want her to do. (Spoiler Alert) Obviously it was a little bizarre considering the character is rebellious throughout but perhaps it was mothers love that made her decide to care and love for the child in spite of what it is.

I enjoyed watching an older film this week, it was a nice change from the Hollywood films I've been watching in the run up to the Oscars. Unfortunately by the time the ceremony came around, I still had four films in the Best Picture category to watch. But other than Beast's of the Southern Wild, I saw all the films from that category that I wanted to see. Also, I have been working on a detailed review of Moonrise Kingdom because I absolutely loved it. I will likely watch the film again before I publish that post but it is definitely coming.