Movies and TV series to check out (that you might never heard of)

Circle of Friends

Circle of Friends is a sweet British movie set in conservative 1950's Ireland, which introduced Minnie Driver to wider audience.  Its a coming of age story, which follows the paths of three girl friends, who come from different social background. The theme of the movie revolves around strict moral demands of catholic church, and society in general after WWII, which burdened young people looking to explore their bodies, minds and souls. It falls under romantic drama category, with lots of humorous parts, but diversity comes from the fact that the main character is not typically extremely beautiful woman who men cannot resist, which is a stereotype repeated throughout movie history. The movie focuses on the relationship between Benny and Jack, which represents, in fact, its main flaw, cause the supportive characters (ex. Aidan Gillan and Geraldine O'Rawe as Aidan Lynch and Eve Malone, not to mention the Colin Firth cameo) give a true spark to the story.  The movie somewhat seems unfinished, but that may not be as bad as it sounds, because the lack of the true Hollywood-like happy ending,can leave room for imagination. Still Aidan Gillan (Littlefinger in Game of Thrones) should have been given more screen time.  :P

Movies and TV series to check out (that you might never heard of)

 

Dangerous Beauty

Dangerous Beauty, a movie from 1998, is based on the non-fictional novel The Honest Courtesan by Margaret Rosenthal. The movie is set in the 16th century Venice and it's revolving around Veronica Franco, a courtesan. It's interesting to mention that Renaissance Venetian society recognized two different classes of courtesans: the cortigana onesta, the intellectual courtesan, and the cortigana di lume, let's say, a lower class prostitute. Veronica Franco belong to the former, and was probably the most celebrated member of that circle. She was not only a pretty face, but a witty, compassionate woman and poet. If you want to see how she managed to become both a hero and a witch, be sure to give this movie a chance. The scenography is stupendous, so much it seems that the director of photography wanted  the colors to resemble the historic period and the place of this story. The film almost looks like a proper Renaissance painting. Catherine McCormack, who plays the main heroine, is probably one of the most underrated actresses of past time, and you perhaps saw her in  Mel Gibson's blockbuster film, Braveheart, where she plays the love of his caharacet's life.

Favourites of the Year: Actress of the Year

English actress Carey Mulligan knew since early age she's gonna be an actress. Her parents disapproved of her career choice, but despite everything, thanks to her strong will and love for acting, she managed to land a role as Kitty Bennett in Pride and Prejudice (2005), her film debut. She had theater and TV experience as well,  but she got worldwide recognition for her role in An Education (2009), for which she was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actress in Leading Role, while the critics compared her performance to Audrey Hepburn's. Today she's probably recognized the most for her role of Daisy Buchanan, in movie adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel, The Great Gatsby. Both the film and her role received mixed reviews, but we think that if a movie made you feel or if it had moved you in any way, that it is a success. We're looking forward to her next projects, because she certainly has a lot to offer.

Movies and TV series to check out (that you might never heard of)

 

 

 Tamara Drewe

Tamara Drewe is a British so-called dramedy released in the year of 2010. It is set in a fictional village in Dorset and follows the lives of local residents, especially the one of the titled heroine, Tamara Drewe, a beautiful journalist who comes back to sell her mother's house. Tamara's grand come-back, with slight alterations in comparison to her 10-years-ago-self, of course, has a huge impact on every single character. The cast of the movie is stupendous, the humor is so very British, and one of the main character is played by charming Luke Evans, which you might or might not noticed in a "little" movie called The Hobbit. The movie's opening sequence contains a sight on this beautiful English countryside and half-naked Luke Evans. What more do we need, honestly?

Beautiful Gemma Arterton as Tamara Drewe

Luke Evans, OH, DEAR LORD

Movies and TV series to check out (that you might never heard of)

 

  The Lover

The Lover is a drama movie based on a semi-autobiographical novel by french writer Marguerite Duras, set in French Indochina, about a love affair between a very young girl and Chinese businessman, engaged to be married to another woman. Because of quite explicit sex scenes, some critics are setting the movie in the realm of erotic ones, which is, you will agree, very close to giving it a scarlet letter. In fact, it is nothing but a beautiful story about growing up, which is magnificently presented both in the novel and the film. Since it is based on Marguerite's words, and she didn't spare them in descriptions of the female protagonist's fist sex experience, as she was really there, the movie simply can not be regarded as shameful. Further on, considering that all of us go through the experience of first love and love making at some point, criticizing the film for the reality of it would make us hypocrites. To conclude, the sex scenes have the purpose, unlike in many Hollywood A films, and are extraordinary done at the same time. Enjoy! :)

Jane March and Tony Leung

Movies and TV series to check out (that you might never heard of)

 

 

Tiberio Mitri-Il Campione e la Miss

Il campione e la miss is a biographic Italian mini-series, set in the 50's, about, as you can imagine, highly beloved romantic couple, Italian sportsman Tiberio Mitri and the love of his life and Miss Italia 1948, Fulvia Franco. It' s a very charming, beautifully filmed story, with scenography, costumes and typical Italian humour that will bring you back the time gone with the wind, leaving you breathlessly in love with Italy, 50's and two main protagonists.

Martina Stella as Fulvia Franco

Luca Argentero as Tiberio Mitri

Why so hot? And underrated?

  Here's a list of today's male actors, who we find extremely hot (we couldn't find more appropriate word, you'll see why), and surprisingly underrated.

The list is not in any particular order, except for the first two  :P

1. Richard Armitage

Marron's allowed sin. Mostly known for his role in the Hobbit series, but he stole her heart as John Thornton, in BBC's drama North and South. This mini series contains the best ever onscreen kiss, trust us. Or see it for yourselves.

2. Misha Collins

Currently Margarite's number one celebrity crush. You may know him as Castiel from Supernatural. A brilliant, generous man, who, despite a large number of minions, has a lot more to offer to the movie industry,  and the world in general.  Check out Random Acts.

3. Alexander Skarsgard

4. Tom Hardy

5. Matthew Macfadyen

6. Alessandro Preziosi

7.  Joel Edgerton

8. Daniil Strahov

9. Lee Pace

10. Dragan Mićanović

I think I have been typecasted

     

   This is a list of actors and actresses who, throughout their careers, suffered some serious typecasting, meaning, they very often played same characters, more or less, and some of them were quite displeased about it. Here are our thoughts, but the blog is always opened for suggestions and discussion. 

Episode 1 featuring the Golden Era of Hollywood   

 Marilyn Monroe

  The queen of typecasting... She, herself, desired more serious roles, but the studio, unfortunately, saw her only as a blond sex goddess, with quite limited brain capacity. The image she created, with the help of the studio, unabled her to take her talent to its limits... And she did have quite a talent. 

Greta Garbo

    

  The divine Garbo always played women with cold looks, yet quite warm hearts, often torn between desires and duties... The first Anna Karenina.

Mae West

 "When I'm good, I'm very good. But when I'm bad, I'm better." Mae West will always be perceived as a witty blond maneater.

Errol Flynn

 

 The best Robin Hood ever in the history of cinematography did not drift in his career too much from what he was like in real life- adventure loving, handsome to die for, witty Don Juan... Thank God. This is probably one of the rare typecasting we approve. :)

Rita Hayworth

 

 Similar to Mae West, Rita, thanks to her roles, created the image of extraordinary seductress, but slightly more feminine, we would say. "The Love Goddess" once said that men went to bed with Gilda and woke up with Rita. 

 

 

 

 

 

Shirley Temple

 

  Typecasting that ruined a career. She was never as successful as when she was a golden-hair moppet tap-dancing. Though, she is considered one of the most popular child stars in history

 

 

 

 

 

 

Olivia de Havilland

 

The good girl of Hollywood and Errol Flynn' s onscreen girlfriend. Olivia did get 2 Oscars, but she will always be known as the other half of the most famous love pair in the early cinematography. She herself admitted that they had an amazing chemistry, although nothing ever happened between them. "He never tried his wicked ways with me."

 

 

 

 

Simone Signoret

Not exactly a Hollwood star, but acknowledged French actress was considered Monroe for men with brains and often played women with suspicious morality and quite interesting lives. Ironically, her husband cheated on her with M.M, but they did stay together.

 

  The idea for this entry came from Marron's own list made on Listal earlier this year.

Stay tuned for more!

Peace and love,

Marron & Margarite