#75 Dear Rocky - The Breakfast Club

Dear Rocky,

In 1985 when The Breakfast Club enjoyed its Australian release, I entered my first year of high school, still a twelve year old.

I'd already met Molly Ringwald in 16 Candles the year before, I had only one more year to wait until Pretty in Pink enhanced my adolescence in a way on Hollywood can.

My teenage years were defined by movies like these - they helped shape us and introduce us to so many aspects of life - I'm sure many of them passed right over my head.

In the past few weeks, one of our television stations has been playing back-to-back Molly Ringwald films and I'm so happy to say, I stumbled across The Breakfast Club one cold wintery night.

Not only did I sit down to watch an iconic film from my past, I flew back in time to 1985 at a time in my life when I discovered boys and the importance of fitting in with my peers.

Those themes are still so important and maybe even more so in some ways for teenagers today. Goodness knows, teenagers today have more technological challenges than we ever had to face - but the themes are the same.

The Breakfast Club is about teenage roles and relationships - the Athlete, the Princess, the Brain, the Criminal and the Basket Case. We might use different terminology now, but the moulds are the same.

I want to share some of my favourite quotes and lessons that continue to resonate today:

I can only rate a film that meant so much in my life at the time a 10/10.

I can't wait to read your thoughts Rocky. Read Rocky's review here.

Which movie will we tackle next?

Jodie

#74 Dear Rocky - 84 Charing Cross Road

 

Dear Rocky,

 

I am so glad you chose this film for us to review, my only wish being that I wish I knew about it a couple of weeks ago while I was in London so I could go looking for the iconic address.

 

Well, if nothing else, this is a film about relationships. And books. You know, there are so many similarities between the friendship that is struck between Anne Bancroft's character Helene and Anthony Hopkin's FDP and ours! The friendships were both created through correspondence stemming from a mutual love of the written word. We've sent packages (you more than me!) and supported each other through life and although we have never met face-to-face, the friendship is real and enduring.

 

In the film, Helene forms deep friendships with all of the staff at the book shop and they with her. She sends them lifelines of food at times of hardship and they send her a lifeline through the English classics she is unable to source in New York.

 

She spends her life longing to see her England - the England of English Literature - and although her friends are able to travel and visit the shop, she does not until it is too late.

 

Judi Dench, whose blue eyes are not shining in this film, calls her Helen. Why is that? I was curious about how she saw this friendship between the American and her husband, but just like everyone else, they formed a connection that saw Nora (Dench) comfort Helene when Frank died - through written words.

 

My favourite scene was of Helene dusting her book shelf, surrounded by the numerous books the shop had sent her over the decades and her voiceover, describing their importance.

 

Not sad, the ending had Helene walking through the abandoned book store and instead of us regretting the timing, she showed us her connection to the place was as real as ever - letting Frank know, she made it.

 

To tell a story through the two sided correspondence is one of my favourite ways of watching a film. This movie is gorgeous. It made me miss London. And New York. More importantly, it reminded me to write.

 

I give this movie 8/10. Can't wait to hear your thoughts and your stories about this film.

Jodie

 

Read Rocky's Review here.



 

 

84 Charing Cross Road

A scene from the film when the staff at 84 receive a care package from Helene.

#73 Dear Rocky - Hector and the Search for Happiness

Read Rocky's review here!


Dear Rocky,

Thank you so much for indulging me with this film that was recommended to me by my ex-husband - he knows me well.

I loved this film. Everything about it. Firstly, I identified with Hector, not because I'm a psychiatrist, but as a psychologist I have at times found myself opposite my clients, feeling involved in their lives at times when I haven't felt so involved in my own. So I understood Hector's research, especially since I think I've done my own versions of that over the past few years.

The second part I loved was Hector's notebook. He writes and draws and it's simply divine. I would buy that book!

I know you struggled with it in the beginning and I have to agree that it was pretty far-fetched, especially in Africa. But... and it's a big BUT... Hector's note book saved all of those moments for me.

When Hector finds himself in China with the immediate temptation and excitement, at first I felt disappointed that he could so quickly move on, which detracted from his relationship with Rosamund Pike even though it appeared bland and mundane. But I found the fact the young woman was a prostitute organised by the sceptical businessman from the plane very poignant and a real learning curve for Hector.

Of course I agree with you about the profoundness of the scene on the aeroplane with the dying woman and her line "listening is loving" made me again consider what it is I do everyday and reminded me not to minimise the importance of that in other people's lives.

I know you loved Toni Collette's character, as did I, and I think we can all relate to the daydreaming about the one that got away - what if...? I also think this storyline was handled so beautifully and played wonderfully by Toni Collette who seemed so, well, happy.

But of course, my favourite storyline was that of the Buddhist monks and the prayer flags - happiness is all of the colours - which of course tied in with one of your favourite parts of the movie, and mine too. They are all there.

So maybe I'm a bit more taken with this one than you Rock, but I'm a sucker for so many of the things they've included in this film.

I loved your comparison to the Wizard of Oz by the way. But how true is it that "there's no place like home."

I give this film a 7.5/10.

What next Rock?

Jodie

#68 Dear Rocky - The Imitation Game

Dear Rocky,

I am not a Sherlock Holmes fan - let's just get that out there. I can't say I have been captivated by Benedict Cumberbatch - but what a name!

This is a true story, an amazing story, about World War II. But that is not the fascinating part for me - although I did have a great history lesson. I love it when that happens.

What fascinated me mainly was the portrayal of this character who is clearly a genius, and obviously on the autism spectrum, lacking all social skills and possessing an inability to read social cues. He seemed oblivious to the impact of his behaviours on others - check. So then, what I found most brilliant were the reactions to him by the other characters. They couldn't read him. They couldn't understand him. They resented him and found him rude and obnoxious. Arrogant.

Flashbacks to school, to the horrendous bullying and torture and to his first love, provide us with all the background and understanding we need. So well done.

And then along she came. I'll leave most of the character names and actors to you - but can I just say, this is the first movie I've ever enjoyed watching Keira Knightly in. They fumbled through their friendship come relationship and highlighted his sexuality. This character not only had to struggle through his genius, his difficulty in living in the world, not to mention surviving World War II, but he also had to cover up his sexuality.

One could be forgiven for lying in the foetal position, rocking back and forth, but instead, Alan Turing cracked the enigma code using a machine named after his first love - Christopher - and won the war. Okay, a few other things happened in between, but that was essentially it. 

Finally, human nature. A story of his time. Rather than be admired for thriving despite all of his adversities, he is persecuted because of his sexuality and treated with hormone therapy. What? Thank goodness for living in 2015.

The end of his life, we read about. Alan Turing killed himself in 1954 after a year of the treatment. It took until 2013 for the Queen to pardon him. Too little, too late.

Is it any wonder this true story made it to the big screen. It tells a tale of the extremes of the human experience and sadly, of intolerance.

What a movie. I'll be interested to see how it fares at the Oscars Rocky. I give it a 9/10. What about you?

Jodie

You can read Rocky's review here.

#65 Dear Rocky -Calvary

Dear Rocky,

Well, it's better late than never, wouldn't you agree? I apologise for the huge space in time between reviews but am happy to be writing one more at least before the end of 2014.

You'll remember that we spent some time working through Graham's Top Ten Movie suggestions earlier in the year. Did we ever finish those? Well, the other day I stumbled across a post Graham put on his Facebook page asking people for their favourite films of 2014. One that kept coming up was Calvary.

I hadn't really heard much about it, I'm embarrassed to say, so I took myself off to the video shop and picked up a copy for Saturday night.

The cover had a photo of a priest on it, so I gathered the film had something to do with religion. What I wasn't prepared for was such a dark look at human nature.

The opening scenes are spine tingling. A threat to kill the priest "because he had done nothing wrong" - Sunday, by the water.

I found the conversation with the senior priest afterward about the rules of confidentiality so fascinating. What an incredible concept. I also found the role of the priest within the town to be no different to that of a psychologist - albeit in different clothes. The additional storyline of the priest's suicidal daughter to the already desperate stories within the town was genius. As was the modernisation of the priest's role in the town, juxtaposed with his old fashioned religious attire.

The more we saw the town's folk resist his help, and the closer we got to Sunday, the darker the movie became. I almost couldn't stand it anymore when the priest's dog was killed and as he stood atop the cliff with Dylan Moran (who I always see as Bernard Black no matter who he plays) I almost willed him to jump off. Life couldn't get much worse, could it?

Throughout the entirety I played the "who is it" game, and I was wrong. I was surprised to see Chris McDowd (is that his name?) show up on the beach. I was more surprised he shot the priest and then finally killed him, when I guessed he'd turn the gun on himself.

The final scene in the jail with the daughter - genius. I'm so glad they didn't speak, although I was sure she would say "I forgive you" after her final conversation with her father.

The only time I was confused was when the priest went to Dublin - but that was a flash forward? Was that his coffin. I'm still confused.

I felt sorry for the priest. And I thought the film was brilliant.

I'm giving it 10/10.

How about we review "To Kill a Mockingbird" next?

What did you think Rocky?  Read Rocky's review here.

Jodie

#54 Dear Rocky - American Psycho

 

Christian Bale as Patrick Bateman.  Sorry.  Couldn't resist.

 Read Rocky's review here.

 

Hi Rocky, 

 

Brent recommended American Psycho to us.  Brent, you owe me an hour of my life back!!  Why only an hour?  Well, because that's all I watched.  I literally sat there watching it resenting the time it was sapping from my life.  The rest of the time I spent trying to diagnose Patrick.

 

Was he a narcissist and a sociopath?  Did he have anti-social personality disorder or was he just a psychopath?  What happened to him as a child?  Did he meet criteria for autism spectrum disorder because of the attention to detail and routine nature of his functioning?

 

Problem was, even that didn't entertain me enough.  Initially, I thought I would love it.  It seemed over the top funny and I loved the 80s soundtrack.  I must admit, watching Christian Bale naked most of the time was not too hard to take!  Then, American Psycho just became bizarre.  I didn't get it either.

 

Is it true that this 'cult film' is also a musical stage production?  Honestly, who would waste their time?  

 

I read somewhere that our favourite Leo DiCaprio was cast in the role of Patrick. Hmmm.  Dodged a bullet there Leo!

 

Having read your review, I see I must have missed the most action-packed 30 minutes of the movie.  Will I regret my decision to stop watching?  I don't think so.

 

I give it a 2/10.  Sorry America.

 

Jodie

#39 Reply to Rocky

On Sunday, my friend Rocky posted a letter to me on his blog Tales of the Rock.  You can read
Rocky Hatley's post to me about his experience with the movie August: Osange County starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts.

Here is my reply:

Dear Rocky,

I saw August: Osange County on New Year's Day.  Ever since seeing the preview a couple of weeks earlier, I'd been anticipating the film's release.  I'm always drawn to 'human' stories and this one looked like it offered it all up. 

I can't recall it being described as hilarious and it certainly didn't find it hilarious.  It's interesting as an Australian to hear your description of the kind of discrimination that occurs at times between the different states in the US. 

This film didn't sit well with me though, despite an exceptional performance by Julia Roberts.  It does deal with extremely dark themes, as you pointed out.

The main point that stood out for me from the movie was that certain personality traits are inherent, despite all of our best efforts to change them, or live our life in spite of them, they endure.  As Julia Roberts discovered she had remained completely unaware she even possessed many of her mother's qualities until it was so poignantly pointed out by her own daughter.

It made me think about the concept of change and the potential for change and the nurture versus nature debate.

In my job and in my life, I believe that people can change and that film really challenged that for me.

Can't wait to review another movie with you!

We can be the Blog World's David and Margaret - Google that...

Warm wishes,

Jodie

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