Guillermo Del Toro tries being Bronte

Visually Guillermo Del Toro’s Crimson Peak is a big sumptuous meal. So visually full at all times that it masquerades a thin plot and uninteresting lead character and almosts gets away with fooling us into thinking it a great film. Jessica Chastain full on Mrs Danvers mode might be the best part. Read my full review at The Film Experience.

Best of 2014 First Half

While compiling this list I discovered that there is not a lot that I loved in the first half of the year. It was hard to come up with a few titles. However these are what I responded to the most. All the films mentioned below I've liked very much.

Best Film

Under the Skin

(review)

Best Actress

Marion Cotillard - The Immigrant

Best Actor

Ralph Fiennes - The Grand Budapest Hotel

Best Supporting Actress

Mia Wasikowska - The Double & Only Lovers Left Alive

Best Supporting Actor

Peter Sarsgaard - Night Moves

Best Cinematography

Under the Skin

Most Enjoyable Summer Movie

Begin Again

Plus Suzanne, Grand Central, Love is Strange and The Imitation Game which I saw at an assortment of festivals and early screenings but they don't count since they haven't been released yet.

What were some of your favorites? Tell all in the comments.

Jane Eyre - Fassbender and Wasikowska Edition

Fassy and Mia in love

With news coming that Michael Fassbender is getting Marion Cotillard as his Lady Macbeth and Cary Fukunaga directing a movie with Idris Elba let's revisit their 2011 masterpiece.

How is the 2011 Jane Eyre not a bigger film in the culture? It received good reviews but seems to have vanished after a short run in theaters despite the presence of rising stars (at the time) and megawatt talents Michael Fassbender and Mia Wasikowska.

I can't claim that it's the best version of Jane Eyre because I haven't seen them all. But it stands on its own as a beautiful, lyrical, emotional cinematic telling of a great love story with 2 very compelling lead characters. And those 2 characters are vividly brought to life by 2 fantastic actors.

I will share 3 scenes here. Needless to say major spoilers coming your way:



How was she able to let go? Fassbender at his sexiest and most intense.




While Fassbender, of course, smolders this scene is all Mia's. Watch her find her strength through her broken heart and go from desperate to happy. All through the spirit in the character shines through and you understand why Rochester fell for her.

And now the finale :



Tell me you are not shaking from all this intensity!!