Quote #3

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''When you develop an infatuation for someone you always find a reason to believe that this is exactly the person for you. It doesn't need to be a good reason. Taking photographs of the night sky, for example. Now, in the long run, that's just the kind of dumb, irritating habit that would cause you to split up. But in the haze of infatuation, it's just what you've been searching for all these years''

Causing Trouble



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Love this image of Leonardo DiCaprio and Mark Wahlberg in the film Basketball Diaries (1995). One of my favourite films of DiCaprio's and a must watch if you are a fan or not.  Both actors are great in this film and there are some powerful scenes here - tear jerkers for sure!

What a Geek

I am officially the geekiest owner of all of Leonardo DiCaprio's films - from Critters 3 to J.Edgar! As soon as the new films come out I am sure I will own them too! Unhealthy I know but I am sure all of you have obsessions too!

Django Unchained 2012

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Django Unchained has a rating (18) and rightly so, directed by Tarantino so you can expect a lot of unnecessary bloodshed. To be honest, it is a far too lengthy and self indulgent film from him. The actors of this film - Jamie Foxx (Django), Lenorado DiCaprio (Calvin Candie) and especially Christoph Waltz (Dr. King Schultz) really make this film entertaining. Set in pre-civil war America this films western flair does have it's good and bad points.

The topic is a sensitive one but it is delivered with wit and humour, so I have to give Taratino some credit for his dialogue and plot. Many have said this film is the 'best' they have ever seen and although it is a good film, it is far too repetitive regarding the rescuing of Django's wife from the plantation. The film could have ended a whole 45 mintures before it did!

Leo plays the vile character of Candie - the plantation owner extremely well and Foxx is a great hero, while Waltz is superb at being the sympathetic and humorous bounty hunter. There are some truly funny parts of the film mixed with serious elements of slavery, I think it is balanced well and it really is a good action film as well. There are some good and realistic fight scenes and I find the way Dr King always ties up his killing with a warrant for the person dead or alive to be a funny touch.

I think it is a good but overrated film. I did find myself checking my watch and I never do that in DiCaprio films! I recommend it but I wouldn't say highly. I will watch it again as maybe sitting in the cinema with my butt going numb was a downside for me! When I get a second viewing I will be adding to this!

Thumbs to the side people! Let me know your comments!

Quote #2

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Revolutionary Road (2008)

I really enjoyed this film, watched it last night for the first time and I was in awe at how Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio played the inverse of their characters in Titanic (1997) 11 years ago. This is the only film since then that they have acted alongside each other. Fantastic portrayal of the breakdown of a relationship and of love. It was a whole different perspective of the pair and it really hits a nerve with me. Brilliant film but such a shame Leo didn't win the award for Best Actor here as his performance was top class.

Obsessions, ramblings and other (most probably) irrelevant news from my life!

Lately I have been slacking in the film department. I haven't made the time to follow up on my film obsessions to see films such as The Avengers Assemble (12A), What to Expect When You're Expecting (12A) or Prometheus (15). I have been wanting to see a number of films but I have also been trying to read up on some classics and get in touch with my poetry!

I have been writing for a poetry blogspot - FluidLanguage -for a few months now and I have realised I have not read enough poetry to help inspire me for future work. So I have been reading the likes of Emily Bronte, Sappho and Homer as well as some classic books I purchased in a quaint antique store in Weymouth.

PHOTO: Property of Patricia Hilton

I have also been focusing on building my loving collection of DVDs. My main aim is to collect every film that stars Leonardo DiCaprio because as most people who know me, they know I am a massive fan of his work. So far I have 11 of his films:

PHOTO: Property of Patricia Hilton

But the last remaining ones that I need are as follows:

• The Quick and the Dead
• Total Eclipse
• Marvin's Room
• Don's Plum
• Gangs of New York
• The Departed
• Body of Lies
• Revolutionary Road
• J.Edgar
• And eventually The Great Gatsby

Now for me, films are a memory of my childhood where I sat up late with my Dad being allowed to watch films my friends probably didn't even know about. I allow myself to escape from the real world by watching them and I like to learn about them and collect them. This is the same for my writing and poetry. I like to read up and learn more so that I can improve.

I have neglected my blog in the last month or so but in that time I have read some amazing books and poems. One of my favourite's is by Sappho:

He is more than a hero

He is more than a hero
he is a god in my eyes--
the man who is allowed
to sit beside you -- he

who listens intimately
to the sweet murmur of
your voice, the enticing

laughter that makes my own
heart beat fast. If I meet
you suddenly, I can'

speak -- my tongue is broken;
a thin flame runs under
my skin; seeing nothing,

hearing only my own ears
drumming, I drip with sweat;
trembling shakes my body

and I turn paler than
dry grass. At such times
death isn't far from me

However I do miss the cinema! I have missed out on some films I really need to see so I will be making a few necessary trips to catch up!

Hope the rambling's put all my readers in the mood to stick on a film! I watched To Wong Foo (1995), Con Air (1997) and Tucker and Dale vs Evil (2010) last night in a movie marathon and I realised how much I missed sitting and watching movies on the sofa with friends and popcorn. The Bank Holiday was the perfect excuse but I need to start doing this more often, it saves me money but also allows me to brush up on my movie knowledge for the film game a twitter pal @Ant_Wright_ and I came up with called #NameThatFilm.

Follow me on @Trishaaa_ if you are interested in testing your movie quote knowledge! Hit me up with a quote and I have to guess which film it is and vice versa! Remember to hash tag me with #ntf.

Love a bit of movie fun!

Enjoy the rest of what is left of the Bank Holiday!

J.Edgar 2011 (15)

Sorry for the lateness in this post but I have had work commitments that made me put this post on the back seat! But never fear, the post is now here and I hope you enjoy this review!

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Director: Clint Eastwood

Cast: Leonardo DiCaprio (J.Edgar), Armie Hammer (Clyde Tolson), Naomi Watts (Helen Gandy)

Plot: This biographical film focuses on the life and work of J.Edgar Hoover, the director of the FBI. It examines his personal life that he kept hidden as this exposure could have ruined his career developments. It explores the difficulties this bureau had in it's beginnings in 1935. It highlights the impact J.Edgar had in developing the technologies we are now familiar with in today's society i.e. finger printing but his controversial actions in and out of office were what made him a figure to be remembered.

Trailer:

J.Edgar for me was an utter joy to watch. Many who know I have an obsession with Leonardo DiCaprio will assume it is just because he is the leading man but alas, my thoughts on this film stem deeper than that alone. I loved this film because it not only gave me an understanding of a historical figure but also because it gave me and insight into his personal life and allowed DiCaprio to fully engross himself in this character's troubled life.

This film highlights the career of a great yet controversial man who was the founder of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and remained the director until his death in 1972.Through this time he battled his conflicting personal life and this film beautifully exposes the stigma and trauma he must of experienced.

DiCaprio really submerged himself into playing J.Edgar which is what makes him a great actor. He had the accent, the ticks and the subtle looks that made the homosexual element of this film not too obvious yet just about readable before it was made apparent.

The three main influential figures in J.Edgar's life were his Mother, played by Judi Dench, Clyde Tolson, his right hand man and Helen Gandy, his secretary. All three impacted his life and decisions in various ways and made him the man he became.

His loving Mother wanted him to always remain strong and not let anyone walk over him in his career. He took her words very seriously and always wanted to please her. When she knew his feelings towards men were not what she had expected, she defiantly said she would not want a 'daffodil' for a son which he took on board until her death, where he had a brief meltdown in her closet! Dench played this role to perfection, as expected. She was strong yet vulnerable towards her later years but never let her guard down when it came to her sons inner yearnings.

Her words rung through his mind and stopped him from fully expressing his adoration and love for Clyde but there was one emotional scene where he does expose his weakness for him. On a vacation the two spend together the love between them is explored after a fight about a woman Edgar is considering for marriage. Tolson is not happy and does not hold back in letting Edgar know about this. They have their dispute and share a kiss which Edgar is shocked by. When Tolson threatens to leave, Edgar begs him to stay. Tolson agrees on the condition that a woman is never discussed again.

For me this scene was so poignantly real and it made me shed a tear. Edgar knows he cannot have his personal thoughts exposed as this could threaten his career and to an extent he doesn't want them exposed to shame him Mother but deep down he knows he cannot live without Clyde in his life. They then both go on living a secret as keeping it hidden is better than not having it at all.

Armie Hammer, previously known for his role as the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network, truly shone in this film for me. He was charming, caring and intellectual, everything you believe Edgar would fall for. He played his part with ease and has really claimed his place within the acting arena.

Helen Candy also influences Edgar's life as she is the only woman he can trust other than his Mother and she supports him to the very end. He has her like he would have a wife only this is a platonic friendship that is essential for Edgar's survival in this industry as she keeps him grounded as well as being the protector of his 'personal and confidential' files.

Edgar was effectively married to the FBI, he developed and enhanced it in so many ways and refused to let this go even when his health slipped. He did reluctantly have visits from his Doctor but ultimately the strain of this position in his later years effected his health greatly, eventually ending in a heart attack.

There are many elements to this film that highlights Edgar's exaggerated involvement in the hands-on element of the job, as well as his controversial use of the evidence he collected and the bribery that he attempted.

The film flashes between past and present day and really goes into the depths of the inner workings of a great but troubled man. It is a must see for all people interested in films of this nature, American history and also to see how well acted all the major parts are.

My view: Being a lover of Leonardo DiCaprio, I say this is a a film worth adding to your list. It is historical, thought-provoking and above all, emotional. You would not think you would cry at a film like this but I was balling at many parts concerning the caring and subtle relationship between Clyde and Edgar. The film runs on truths and rumours concerning Edgar's life from the beginnings of his career to his death but it gives a greater understanding of this historical figure.

Rating: 8/10




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My No1 Actor

Leonardo DiCaprio has been one of my favourite actors for a very long time. Actually scratch that, he IS my favourite actor of ALL time. I first watched him in ‘Titanic’ and I was amazed by his good looks and charm on screen. He has a genuine and likeable character that I adored as a young teenager, and obviously his natural good looks did do him favours. After that film I was a lover of DiCaprio and began following his work and back-tracking his previous films to be up-to-date with all that he had done.

I still have a few films of his to get through but what I love about DiCaprio is his choices in films. Not one of his films was a bad choice; they are all good quality in script, characters and effects for their time. Least of all he has the ability to hold his own on screen. From the beginning he gripped movie lovers with his believable performances and worked alongside some fantastic and well known actors.

In his very early career, he was seen in commercials and teen soaps such as ‘Growing Pains’ in the early 1990s but was soon making his name known in the films he first starred in.

DiCaprio’s films:

·         Critters 3 (1991)– his first film debut

·         This Boy’s Life(1992)– handpicked by Robert De Niro out of 400 young actors and received his first critical praise within the film industry for his fantastic performance as a trouble young boy with an abusive stepfather

·         What’s Eating Gilbert Grape (1993) – Dicaprio supported Johnny Depp  in this emotional and thought provoking film where he played a young boy with learning disabilities

·         The Quick and The Dead (1995) – western based film where he played ‘The Kid’, real talent shown here even as a young actor in a supporting role

·         Basketball Diaries (1995)- leading role in this disturbing teenage thriller that opens your eyes to the world of drug addiction

·         Marvin’s Room (1996) – supporting role as a young boy in a mental institution helping his mother, played by Meryl Streep, come to terms with her father and sister’s illnesses

·         Romeo and Juliet (1996) – Fantastic as lead in this adaptation of Shakespeare’s original romantic-tragedy, using the original dialogue in a modern day film. Interesting and original concept

·         Titanic (1997) – The film to bring him international fame. Another lead role and perfectly suited as the worldly Jack Dawson. Please see my post on this for a more in-depth review

·         The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) – Played dual roles as a the villainous King Louis XIV and his locked up twin brother, again showing diversity in his roles and the ability to capture audiences

·         The Beach (2000) –Played a backpacking American who searches for a secret island commune with fellow friends to discover that all is not so serene

·         Catch Me If You Can (2002) – worked alongside Christopher Walken and Tom Hanks as a young impersonator who travelled the country for free and committed countless amounts of fraud, all before his 19^th birthday. He played a less dark character here, showing a varied acting ability

·         Gangs Of New York (2002) – Territorial gang warfare set in the mid-19^th Century of the Five Points district of New York, DiCaprio played the protagonist of the Irish faction, Amsterdam Vallon

·         The Aviator (2004) –Played Howard Hughes, the aviation pioneer who battled with OCD. Worked along Cate Blanchett and received 5 Academy Awards

·         Blood Diamond (2006)-Played diamond smuggler from Rhodesia and successfully mastered the south African Afrikaner accent

·         The Departed (2006)- played a state trooper who went undercover for an Irish mob in Boston and his role in this film earned him a Satellite Award for Best Supporting Actor

·         Body of Lies (2008) – paired with Russell Crowe for a spy film based around terrorist organisations and Revolutionary Road (2008) –  reunited with Kate Winslet where he portrayed a cowardly and un-heroic character than his previous films and his role in ‘Titanic’

·         Shutter Island (2010) –Fantastic in this film as an FBI investigator searching for the truth behind a missing inmate, it gets you thinking, plays on your mind and has a lot of twists. DiCaprio makes you want his character to succeed and discover the mystery of this institution as well as deeply sympathise with him

·         Inception (2010) – a film based around implanting or extracting ideas from dreams. Brilliant concept and excellent CGI effects, it is beautifully realised and just how one would imagine it. DiCaprio holds the film as the ‘extractor’ in this ‘dream-heist’

I am impressed by DiCaprio’s wealth of films as well as the quality of his acting. He doesn’t rush into playing a character, he truly realises them and almost becomes them. He learns the twitches, characteristics and accents for them and he suits every role he has played. Even with his youthful looks he has played some dark characters and made them his own.

Leonardo DiCaprio certainly knows about variety in his roles. He has played dark and disturbing characters, become a light-hearted comedian in some of his films to then acting in action-packed films or being the romantic everyman. He truly deserves the spot in Top 10 actors for me and with his skill, film choices and natural screen presence he is definitely my number 1!

Follow him on twitter as he is an active philanthropist: @LeoDiCaprio

His website: http://www.leonardodicaprio.com/

My favourite photos (just to indulge myself really):