Happy Birthday Tim Burton

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Happy 55^th Birthday to Tim Burton today! 

To celebrate the director’s special day, here are my top favourite Tim Burton films that you should definitely check out...

1. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

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"Hold me" "I can't"

I adore this film. It was probably the first time I was conscious of Danny Elfman’s beautiful compositions – he has continued to collaborate with Burton throughout his career and is one of my favourite film composers. Speaking of collaborations, this was the beginning of the Depp-Burton partnership which has lasted for 23 years so far, with the most recent collaboration on the movie Dark Shadows (2012)

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

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"What's this? What's this?"

  Although this is often called ‘Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas’, Burton did not direct. Henry Selick directed and since went onto direct James and the Giant Peach (1996) and Caroline (2009). Burton was in fact producer and writer on The Nightmare Before Christmas. I had only previously seen stop motion with the comical duo Wallace & Gromit but this film had a darker approach and really captured my imagination. My favourite moment has to be when Jack sings ‘What’s This’ as he arrives into Christmas Town.

3. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

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"No, you must believe me. It was a horseman, a dead one. Headless"

This movie definitely introduced me to the dark side of Burton’s directorial vision which I instantly fell in love with (even though the headless horseman freaked the hell out of me when I was younger).  Another thing I fell in love with? Of course, it’s Johnny Depp playing Ichabod Crane.

4. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

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"At last! My arm is complete again"

My final top favourite is Sweeney Todd. I’m a big fan of musicals and pairing Tim Burton with this film made perfect sense to achieve the dark and gory nature of the demon barber. The only thing I wish the film had is the prologue from the original stage show, ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd’. I truly think it could have worked over the top of the end credits.  However, the casting is fantastic with fabulously haunting performances by Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen and Alan Rickman.

Trailer Thursday: The Book Thief (2013)

Due to a few busy days, Trailer Tuesday has been changed to Trailer Thursday for one week only! And Thursday’s recommended trailer is The Book Thief.

I have to confess that I have not read the book (it is in fact on my long list of ‘to read’ books). However, I was rather intrigued with this trailer. I am a big fan of Geoffrey Rush, which is always a bonus, and the story does look gripping.

The only thing I don’t like about the trailer itself is the cheesy American voice over with stupidly over 

dramatic phrases: “Words will inspire her... Courage will guide her...Hope will define her...”

Have you read the book? If so, what do you make of this trailer? Will it do the book justice?

The Book Thief will be released in the UK on the 31st January 2014.

Apologies for the short post, the regular Trailer Tuesday will return next week!

Quote of the Day #2

"I carried a watermelon....I carried a watermelon?"

Dirty Dancing (1987)

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Soundtrack Saturday: Up (2009)

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"Adventure is out there!" Up (2009)

We’re carrying on with the Disney theme this week after Tuesday’s post on Saving Mr. Banks...this week’s Soundtrack Saturday is Pixar’s Up.

Up tells the astonishing tale of Carl, a 78 year old who wishes to fulfil his and his late wife’s dream of reaching Paradise Falls in South America. From meeting as kids, Ellie and Carl dream of being adventurers, and share a passion for the explorer C.F. Muntz and his ‘Spirit of Adventure’ to reach the Falls. Once Ellie dies, Carl realises that they never made that dream trip to Paradise Falls. He therefore decides to tie thousands of balloons to the house he built with Ellie, as you do, and sets off on a fantastical journey with a young stowaway named Russell. Along the way they encounter Dug, a dog who can talk via a special collar, and Kevin, a rare tall bird that Muntz has been trying to capture for decades.

This soundtrack is an original score by Michael Giacchino, who has composed for films such as Star Trek, Mission Impossible III and other Pixar movies including Ratatouille and The Incredibles. The reason I love this soundtrack is how it captures childhood dreams of adventure. This is certainly true with the track ‘Carl Goes Up’ as Carl releases the balloons and the apt title ‘Seizing the Spirit of Adventure’ at the climactic end of the movie. However, the most memorable track is found right at the beginning of the film and is full of emotion. Tissues at the ready...

I had to share this soundtrack just for one piece of music. ‘Married Life’ displays Carl and Ellie’s life together from marriage, building their house and dreaming of moving to Paradise Falls. They save money, but life gets in the way. I won’t describe every detail because this moment is cinema in its purest form – image and music, no dialogue. And it works. For me, it is arguably one of the greatest sequences not just in animation but in cinematic history. You may think that’s over dramatic, but it is quite a feat to achieve this kind of emotion within a short sequence of 4/5 mins and, more importantly, displaying it through animation. I’m not going to lie, I cry nearly every time I watch it. I AM NOT ASHAMED. If you do not listen to the whole soundtrack, at least watch this clip. The music will break your heart. Plus, it is a better love story than you’ll ever find in any romantic comedy.

Best track? Married Life

Available on Spotify? Yes

Trailer Tuesday: Saving Mr. Banks (2013)

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I have wonderful memories from watching Mary Poppins when I was growing up. Especially with the opening overture up in the clouds as the credits begin and the unforgettable chimney sweep scene on the rooftops of London. (We’ll ignore Dick Van Dyke’s infamous “cockney” accent though). So why is this relevant to Trailer Tuesday? Is there going to be a sequel to this classic?

Thank God, no there isn’t a sequel. Saving Mr. Banks stars Emma Thompson as P.L. Travers (the author of the magical nanny) and Tom Hanks as Walt Disney. The film is the back story to how Mary Poppins was made or how it nearly wasn’t, since Travers objected to nearly everything that Disney suggested as he tried desperately to get the rights. But there is a reason why Travers is so protective over her character and Walt has to seek out what it is to understand her story and make one of the most treasured films in history.  

This trailer is charming and hearing the songs on the piano instantly makes me want to reach for the DVD and watch Mary Poppins all over again. Tom Hanks is a genius piece of casting and I am a massive fan of Emma Thompson’s work. I expect it will be rather cheesy – hey, that’s Disney – but if the film is as delightful as the trailer then I’m sure it will be thoroughly enjoyable.

There’s certainly a positive buzz and the word ‘Oscar’ has been associated with this movie – I suspect for Tom Hank’s performance. Saving Mr. Banks will be closing the London Film Festival in October but won’t be released in the UK until 17^th January 2014.

Seen any exciting trailers that you think I should check out? 

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog

Sunday Classics: Some Like It Hot (1959)

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“Look at that! Look how she moves! It’s like Jell-O on springs. Must have some sort of built in motor or something. I tell you it’s a whole different sex!” Some Like It Hot (1959)

Another first edition post – this week it is Sunday Classics. We had a heat wave in July and the August sun is just about hanging around in the UK so I thought I would keep the hot theme running with a Hollywood classic, Some Like It Hot.

The movie sees musicians Joe and Jerry escape Chicago after accidently witnessing the St Valentine’s Massacre. They’re on the run from the gangster responsible, Spats Colombo, and are desperate to get work out of town. The only jobs going though are for a saxophonist and bass player in an all female band. Disguised as women, they join the band but there are complications when they meet the attractive blonde bombshell, Sugar, played by the iconic Marilyn Monroe.

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If you haven’t seen this film, you’ve most certainly seen the moment where the brilliant Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon strut down the station platform masquerading as rather convincing women with legs that any female would kill for. Of course, you can’t help but stare at the beauty of Monroe in this film, just as Joe and Jerry do before they get on the train and during the number ‘I Wanna Be Loved By You’, where her costume leaves very little to the imagination.

It’s a screwball comedy of mistaken identity that makes me laugh out loud no matter how many times I see it. It also holds one of my favourite last lines of a movie ever. Don’t worry, I won’t spoil it for you – just go watch it.

Dir. Billy Wilder

Starring: Tony Curtis, Jack Lemmon, Marilyn Monroe

Genre: Comedy/Musical

Running Time: 122 mins

Trailer Tuesday: Blue Jasmine (2013)

As you will soon come to discover on this blog, I love Woody Allen films. After studying his work at university, I am forever interested in what his next film will be, who will star and where it will be set. So, for the first edition of Trailer Tuesday, I have selected Blue Jasmine.

The film sees upper class Jasmine (Cate Blanchett) as her marriage and life is falling apart. The New York socialite travels to San Francisco to stay with her working class sister in a not-so-elegant abode to try and piece her life back together again.

The film has won rave reviews in America since its release on 26^th July, with David Denby from The New Yorker claiming that it is the ‘strongest, most resonant movie Woody Allen has made in years’ and Rotten Tomatoes giving the film a certified ‘Fresh’ rating of 87%. There’s already an Oscar buzz around Blue Jasmine for Cate Blanchett’s performance which looks tremendous in this trailer.

After I was left rather disappointed with Allen’s last film, To Rome with Love (2012), I’m looking forward to seeing this new film. Hopefully I’ll be raving about it when it’s released in the UK on 27^th September.

Seen any exciting trailers that you think I should check out? 

Comment below or tweet @TicketStubBlog

Quote of the Day #1

"I tried to think of the most harmless thing. Something I loved from my childhood. Something that could never ever possibly destroy us. Mr. Stay Puft!"

Ghostbusters (1984)

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Soundtrack Saturday: Garden State (2004)

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“You gotta hear this one song. It’ll change your life, I swear” Garden State (2004)

To kick off the first edition of Ticket Stub's Soundtrack Saturday, I have picked one of my favourite films with undoubtedly one of the most outstanding soundtracks. It is Garden State. 

Starring, written and directed by Scrubs star Zach Braff, this indie movie sees Andrew Largeman return back to New Jersey after the death of his mother. Although it may sound like a typically depressing indie film, there are many comedic moments along with incredibly moving drama. Natalie Portman is hilariously adorable, the script is slick and there's a young looking Jim Parsons, of The Big Bang Theory fame, briefly seen in a knight costume. But above all, the music is one of the main reasons why this film stands out as one of the best.

Mr Braff even won a Grammy for this album which sees the likes of Coldplay (one of my favourite bands) and the legendary Simon and Garfunkel complementing the distinctive sound and look of Garden State.

Other highlights include The Shins and Cary Brothers - who will be part of the soundtrack on Braff’s new project Wish I Was Here. You’ve probably heard about his KickStarter campaign for Wish I Was Here which reached its target of $2 million within an unbelievable three days. The total is now at $3,105,473. Raising money on the site means that Zach is now in the process of making the film in a similar way to how Garden State was – having control from casting to filming and, most importantly, final cut. There is no big studio pointing and screaming about how the film should be made and putting restrictions on his artistic freedom. I personally cannot wait to see the end result and if the soundtrack is anything as good as Garden State we’ll be on to a winner.

Best track: Only Living Boy in New York by Simon and Garfunkel. 

The track is played towards the end of the film with Andrew, Mark and Sam screaming on top of the infinite abyss in the torrential downpour. Check out the clip below.

Available on Spotify? Yes, although two tracks are unavailable.

Welcome to Ticket Stub Film Club

Love watching, talking about and recommending films? Well, that’s me. 

I’ve been wanting to create a fun and engaging blog about films for a long time. However, this is not just a blog about all the new films that came out last Friday – let’s be honest, I’m on a budget here - but movies from way back when that you may have forgotten about, never seen or want to revisit for old time’s sake. As well as regular posts, I’ll be having weekly and fortnightly features including:

• Trailer Tuesday – sharing the best up and coming trailer of the week for future release
• Soundtrack Saturday – I love music, especially movie soundtracks. I’ll recommend one for you to sink your ears into
• Sunday Classics – Looking back at an old movie classic that you would be bonkers not to see
• Top Ten Lists - Picking my top ten films/scenes/moments, all usually within a theme with no ranking. I also ask for your suggestions to be featured in a follow-up post

Be part of the Ticket Stub Film Club and follow my blog for free

“Louis, I think this is the beginning of a beautiful friendship” Casablanca (1942)