Ten Years of Film Interpretation

In Metaphilm, and in these books . . .

Saturday, October 27, 2007

Shaun of the Dead

’The movie, often referred to as a “rom zom com” (romantic zombie comedy), actually serves as a sort of cinematic relationship guide, comically instructing us about dealing with commitment issues. Look at the order in which the members of Shaun’s party are killed (killed dead, not undead): #1: his stepfather (Bill Nighy); #2: his mum (Penelope Wilton); #3: the other guy who loves his girl (the underrated Dylan Moran, who must be seen in Run Fatboy Run); #4: his roommate (Peter Serafinowicz); and finally, #5: his immature best friend (Nick Frost). These are the people that have to die in order for Shaun (Simon Pegg) to devote his full attention to Liz (Kate Ashfield). In real, non-lethal terms, they are the people Shaun has to let go of before he can fully connect in a relationship.’ Christopher Campbell, Cinematical.

Monday, October 22, 2007

Stardust

Neil Gaiman, on the adaptation of his fairy tale, in an article worth reading: “Still, the people who wanted fairytales found the book, and some of them knew what it was, and liked it for being exactly that. One of those people was film-maker Matthew Vaughn.

A star still falls, a boy still promises to bring it to his true love, there are still wicked witches and ghosts and lords (although the lords have now become princes.) They even gave the story an unabashedly happy ending, which is something people tend to do when they retell fairytales.” ("Happily Ever After”, The Guardian)

Thursday, October 18, 2007

We Are No Longer Doing Movies With Women In The Lead

The current state of Hollywood’s gender war, courtesy of Salon’s Rebecca Traister. 

Tuesday, October 16, 2007

Once

”The movie is an exemplar of Gen X dramas in which the story doesn’t end in a happy ending, but rather in a firm resolution to tough out life and face up to one’s responsibilities. In this aspect it reminded me of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind and Lost in Translation.” Barbara Nicolosi, Church of the Masses. She likes the film.

The Outlaw Josey Wales

”Thinking about the story, and about Forrest Carter’s life story (which remains in large part a mystery), I came up with a theory about this white supremacist and speechwriter for George Wallace who turned himself into a renowned New Age Cherokee wise man. I think Gone To Texas (the novel on which The Outlaw Josey Wales is based) is to a large degree autobiographical.” Lars Walker, “The real Josey Wales: my theory.” (H/T Patrick O’Hannigan)