Tag Archives: Lea Seydoux

FRANCE (2021): The Thing I Liked…

Sometimes I roll the dice and decide to watch a random foreign language film. I recently chose France (2021) for three reasons; I’ve been trying to improve my French, I don’t mind Lea Seydoux, and I found the premise interesting.

Written/directed by Bruno Dumont, France stars Seydoux as France de Meurs, a celebrity journalist who’s having trouble balancing her career and personal life. Little does she know that things are about to get worse before they get better.

The acting in France is not terrible. But, sadly, the story edit is quite disappointing. There are shots that are held for so long that you start to wonder whether the powers that be were attempting to break a record.

The good news for me is that there is one thing that stood out in a positive way, and that is France’s costume design. I adore the colours, textures and silhouettes of Lea’s character’s outfits. And now that this post is published, I can selfishly revisit all the looks at my leisure.

I’m still very much into France the country as a wonderful place to visit, but France the film? I cannot say I recommend it for the story execution. But the fashion? Decide for yourself.

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

Classic and angelic, but is she, angelic?

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

Camel on cream… gorgeous.

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

Ciao, blue… looking all rich and well-hued.

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

The words are ‘stunning while sad’.

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

Hello, arresting jewel tone!

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

Sequinned and moody.

France (2021), Lea Seydoux
France (2021), Lea Seydoux

The deep fuchsia, yellow, brown and blue tones that I couldn’t look away from.

Sometimes one just needs a single reason to keep watching a less-than-great film. Glad I stuck with it. And in case you’re wondering, I’m almost certain that all these outfits are courtesy of Louis Vuitton.

Happy Film Loving,

G

KURSK (2018): New Trailer From Colin Firth, Matthias Schoenaerts, Léa Seydoux…

Kursk (2018), Matthias Schoenaerts
Kursk (2018), Matthias Schoenaerts

Directed by Thomas Vinterberg, Kursk is a historical drama about the 2000 K-141 Kursk submarine disaster and the governmental negligence that followed.

Colin Firth, Matthias Schoenaerts and Léa Seydoux star.

The trailer makes me eager to watch Kursk because of Schoenaerts, Firth and Seydoux. I’m only slightly hesitant because I feel as though it’s going to make me mad. You know, on account of all the reasons the ending won’t be as happy.

Michael Nyqvist, August Diehl, Steven Waddington, Zlatko Buric, Matthias Schweighöfer and Joel Basman also star.

Kursk Release Dates

Happy Film Loving,

G

ZOE (2018): New Trailer From Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, Theo James, Rashida Jones…

Zoe (2018), Léa Seydoux, Ewan McGregor
Zoe (2018), Léa Seydoux, Ewan McGregor

Directed by Drake Doremus of Like Crazy (2011), Zoe is a new sci-fi/romance story centred around two colleagues working on technology to improve and perfect romantic relationships.

Starring Ewan McGregor, Léa Seydoux, Theo James and Rashida Jones, as the colleagues’ work progresses, their discoveries become more interesting.

The subject matter definitely has my attention.

Before the trailer ended, I was already having quite a time with the question of who I’d choose if I were in Seydoux’s character’s shoes. I’m now looking forward to learning about all the variables that will help with the final choice of man or ‘machine’.

Zoe Release Dates: July 20th, 2018 (US & UK)…

Happy Film Loving

G

THE LOBSTER (2015): It’s Good & You May Be Surprised…

The Lobster (2015), Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz
The Lobster (2015), Colin Farrell, Rachel Weisz

Starring Colin Farrell and Rachel Weisz, The Lobster is a sci-fi/comedy/romance set in a world that looks like Earth but there are very different rules that govern how to live. One rule is that you have to live in a couple. If single, you’re sent to a hotel where you’ll have 45 days to find a partner. Should you fail to do so, you get turned into an animal of your choosing.

Delightfully nuts’ were the words that came to mind when I first saw the trailer for The Lobster. After finally experiencing it, I’d say that my words were accurate.

There is one thing I didn’t expect and that is just how dark the film actually gets. I found myself very happily amused from the start to around halfway through. Then the darkness set in and I didn’t laugh again until very close to the end.

The Lobster (2015), John C. Reilly
The Lobster (2015), John C. Reilly

The film’s trailer led me to expect more humour than the horror I soon found myself confronted with. As such, I found myself somewhat disappointed with the end result. Not to say that The Lobster isn’t good because it’s true what many critics have said, the writing and the concept is original. The film is generally well executed and the movie is funny. I simply just had more fun during the funny moments and much less fun during the dark phase.

The people who love horror and comedy, maybe in equal measure are the ones who will have the best time. My favourite thing about writer/director Yorgos Lanthimos’ movie is that you can hardly accurately guess where the plot will take you next and that, as I’m sure you know is very rare indeed.

Also starring John C. Reilly, Lea Seydoux, Olivia Coleman, Ben Whishaw and Ashley Jensen, watch The Lobster for the humour and the element of difference. Just don’t expect to laugh throughout. And if I’m really honest, there actually isn’t that much stopping me from properly labelling The Lobster as a ‘comedy/horror’ film. Then again, I am generally quite the wuss, so…

Have you seen The Lobster? If so, what do you think?

Happy Film Loving,

G

SPECTRE (2015): The Things I Loved Most…

Spectre (2015), Daniel Craig
Spectre (2015), Daniel Craig

I’ll start this post by saying that my favourite James Bond film of all time remains the massively thrilling Casino Royale (2006). How does this bode with the fact that this is a post about Spectre? Not exactly very well but not absolutely disastrous either.

As the second Bond film directed by Sam Mendes, Spectre succeeds in providing most, if not all of those wonderful thrills synonymous with Craig’s Bond. Thrills that include great action sequences, beautiful cinematography, style, a wonderful sense of Britishness, a great musical score, camera work, dialogue, etc. The only downside is that Casino Royale and Skyfall both do all of those things, but better.

Spectre (2015), Lea Seydoux
Spectre (2015), Lea Seydoux

Overall, I enjoyed Spectre, even though it did feel a little odd without Judi Dench as M.  I won’t be forgetting the very raw and intense fight sequence on the moving train any time soon

There’s also the moment in the beginning where Bond is walking across the rooftop in Mexico City. I just love the music used here and the way it builds up with every step Bond takes towards his target. This is  the moment the famous ‘Bond is back!’ feeling took over; resulting in a prolonged, joyous and silent scream – much to the relief of my fellow cinema goers.

I do wonder though, whether I’d love the rooftop scene as much as I do if Daniel Craig’s physique, especially the way he moves and holds a gun wasn’t so arrestingly appealing? Probably not – and thankfully I know that I never have to find out.

Happy Film Loving,

G