Scaredy Cat

Paranormal Activity
Director: Oren Peli
I cant sleep. I keep waking up at 3am. I've been in Byron Bay and sleeping in a giant blue bed with crisp icy blue sheets. Sound nice? Well its terrifying. I keep imagining the sheet moving and something grabbing my feet and dragging me out of bed.
I never ever learn my lesson with scary movies. I test the waters time and time again and then one really gets me and I cant sleep for weeks. This time it was Paranormal activity. I have been dying to see this film for ages. I went to see it in London a while back but changed my mind last minute as I was by myself. I saw 'The Time Traveller's Wife' instead. That was scary but more scary that someone let it be released. The less you know about this movie the better so I'll leave the (thin) plot to your viewing displeasure. It's a good old simple ghost story that makes going to bathroom, darkness, general night time and 3am unbearable.


For about a decade I didn't watch any scary movies. I have very specific memories of the first horror films I watched.
My Mum didn't let me watch anything scary. I didn't see Elm Street or Friday the 13th or Halloween, I was a horror virgin!
I was 13 and went to a pal's slumber party. We decided to watch Candyman. Oh the sheer terror!! I can still see Helen strapped into a straight jacket screaming as Candyman levitates above her. No one believed her and that really got me. If you dared me to say candyman 5 times in a mirror now, I just wouldn't do it. A man in an overcoat with a hook as a hand has been used time and time again but for me, Candyman is one of the original iconic boogymen.
The next film I managed to see without Mum knowing was 'The Silence of The Lambs'. Another sleep over and another bunch of girls with no idea what they are about to watch. A 13 year old girl should not watch The Silence Of The Lambs. Hannibal Lector didn't scare me. His charm was both disturbing and disarming, even to a young girl. As for Buffalo Bill, he made me feel ill. The final scene where Clarence Starling finds herself in Bill's house is a killer! Clarence is in complete darkness, while Bill (The still scary Ted Levine) watches close by with night vision goggles. He reaches out to stroke her face, and almost caresses her as she shakes with complete fear. It's such a brilliant film.
After that I didn't see anything scary until I moved out of home at 19. I remember sitting in my new flat and deciding to hire a really scary film. Perhaps it was a mark of independence, Mum wasn't there to say no! I chose The Texas Chainsaw Massacre.
I had a crush on a beautiful boy who used to visit me at my work. I invited him over after a big night out and settled in to watch it. Not a good date film, not for me anyway. Some girls might work the scary angle well, snuggle up to their date and seek refuge in their safe arms. I just got a migrane from the stress of it all and had to lie in a dark room (next to beautiful boy mind you) with a flannel on my face. Polly and Scary don't mix. My Mum was right to be so strict. Oh and dont get me started on Jaws.xxx

Luc Besson Joy.

Can't WAIT to see this. Check out the trailer
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d0389lPZdGU

Devastating Dillon

Platoon
Director: Oliver Stone
Is it because I'm a woman that I found this film unbearable? I'm not cut out for war. Willem Dafoe was incredible as the likeable Eli. Actor Kevin Dillon who plays Johnny Drama on TV show Entourage is in it. It is said that his character in Entourage mirrors his real life as he was and is the lesser successful brother of Actor Matt Dillon. I think that his role in Platoon may have been a career killer. He may well be a good actor but there is a scene in Platoon that involves him terrorising a mentally ill vietnamese boy before bashing him in the head. I turned it off at that point. Horrible. I watched the rest a bit later once composed, only to see Eli shot down in an epic scene. It is a very good war film. A little too real for this soft touch.

I can't go all my life waiting to catch you between husbands.

Gone With The Wind
Director: Victor Fleming.
Costume Designer: Walter Plunkett.
Oh Vivien Leigh. Oh Scarlett. Oh Rhett.
I have been revisiting a few classics and with time on my hands, I watched this absolutely Beautiful film. Every frame is beautiful and dreamy. The classic sunset shot. It always makes me think of Interview with A Vampire. I remember being obsessed with Vampires as a teen (weren't we all) and loved the Anne Rice books and films. I remember in the film Louis sees a sunset for the first time as a vampire when he sees Gone with The wind. What a sunset to see. Vivien Leigh is formidable. I love her in A Streetcar Named Desire. She must have been a feisty woman. And as for the costumes. The ruffles, the Lace, the Velvet....the dress made from her curtains. I love every outfit she wears. Such a great film. A grand soap opera. Clarke Gable..... Clooney has been taking notes.

I heart Mickey

Movie: Barfly
Director: Barbet Schroeder
Costume designer: Maria Cananero
Great film. Based on semi-autobiographical short story by Charles Bukowski. Mickey Rourke reminded me of Brando, his lower lip permanently busting out. Gosh he was a good looking man. He's a different beast now. I kind of like the new Mickey but Jeepers he has changed. Large part of film takes place in Wanda's apartment. Wanda (The always beautiful Faye Dunaway) and Henry (Rourke) decide, after meeting in a bar, to pool together their resources. They discover they both have similar goals in life: Drink and be. The apartment was one of those great dilapidated run down pads that I love in films.I think of the set decorators searching through op shops and garage sales for things that fit perfectly. Some of my favourite film apartments.....
Annie Hall

Requiem For A Dream

Rosemary's Baby

Johnny Suede

Pollywood's a go go

Hello. My First Blog. I guess I should start with how and why I decided to write one. Last week a friend of mine informed me that she was setting out to watch as many brilliant films as she can before upping her life, moving to L.A and trying her hand at making it in good ol' Hollywood. She asked me to add any films I deemed Rad (Rad is my favourite word...I use it a lot). I began to make a list. I got so excited. It was a joy to revisit so many of my favourite films and the thought of my pal watching them all gave me a genuine thrill. It got me thinking about all the films, I have seen, all the films I am excited to see and how obsessed I truely am with movies. I am a movie geek. No question. I instantly feel the urge to list my hundred favourite films now, just to give you an idea of what Im about but I'll leave it to the blog. I work in Film, in costume. I live breathe and dream cinema and am a collector of figurines (Geeeeeek). So I decided to write a journal/log of every film I see for the rest of my days! It's more a record for me, something to look over, remember directors, remember costume designers and just look back on. I still plan to write a real journal. The idea of having a pile of worn out notebooks filled with all my films appeals to me, but as I said, that will be more of a log. This blog will allow me to digress a little, add pics, random thoughts and films relating to whatever I watched. Im officially starting it now. I watched 2 films last night (well one and a half) so here we go.......