Film Review - Shaun of the Dead

Shaun of the Dead is a romantic, comedy with zombies or a (rom/com/zom), starring Simon Pegg. The story is tells of our protagonist "Shaun" being told by his girlfriend that she isn't satisfied with their current situation in their relationship and yearns for them to broaden their horizons as a couple. This results with Shaun having to try change things in order to relight the fire that was once there. However, strange outbreaks of flesh eating zombies suddenly appear endangering everyone. Now Shaun must fight for survival as well as protect his loved ones with very humorous results.

The narrative is told in a unique style; e.g there is a scene where he is making breakfast but the scene is edited with very fast cuts that just about show us enough for us to understand. This suggests that although it is important for the narration of the story to include these scenes, it isn't as important. It also suggests that these are day to day tasks that the character does everyday. This speeds up the story telling of the film allowed for more screen time for the more important scenes.

At the beginning of the film we are shown Shaun and girlfriend "Liz" having a conversation in their local pub. As they converse over their problems, other characters names are mentioned whom we are then made aware that they are sitting right beside our main characters. By merely zooming out of the shot we are introduced to all the main characters instantly and also in a comedic fashion.

I think that the film overall is very cleverly edited alongside the cast's brilliant performances. Director Edgar Wright pays homage to zombie film veterans, George A. Romero (Dawn of the Dead, Diary of the Dead) and Sam Raimi (The Evil Dead). A common theme in zombie films is for characters at one point to be trapped inside a building with hundreds of zombies attempting to enter, which Wright uses as the final setting of the film. Shaun of the Dead was initially inspired by the episode "Art" of the television programme "Spaced", which Wright had also directed. The Style of the direction from the television series can also be seen within the film.

I would definitely recommend this film to all, as it incorporates great film making techniques with great viewing entertainment.

Film Review - Leon the Professional

Leon the professional is a dramatic crime film starring Jean Reno. The basic plot of the film follows the life of title character "Leon" a professional assassin. He lives in a small apartment in New York's Little Italy, spending his free time watching Gene Kelly films, Exercising and looking after his houseplant. This life of solitude eventually comes to a halt when he meets "Matilda" a young girl living in an apartment on the same floor. After her family is murdered by a group of dodgy policemen she seeks refuge with Leon, who hesitant at first grows fond of Matilda and takes her under his wing.

The story is told in a very cool and slick way. The opening sequence is a great example for this. After the view of City the camera enters a restaurant where we are shown extreme close ups of two people discussing a target for assassination/intimidation. Introducing the main character in this manner creates a sense of mystery about him. We are shown extreme close ups of the eyes in particular in this scene to suggest the seriousness of the conversation. Immediately after accepting the job, the shot cuts to showing the target and what he gets up to. This is perhaps to give a better understanding to the audience as to why he is wanted. As the target escapes makes an attempt to escape for his life, the camera changes to freehand, following him as he is running around. Compared to the scenes prior to this which are all shot at interesting angles and very defined, the freehand camera creates tension and panic. To end this eventful introduction to the film we are finally shown a clear camera shot of our main character of the film.

The director was Frenchman Luc Besson. It could be argued that Leon the professional is an extended idea from another one of his films, Nikita (1990) also about an assassin. His visual style is part of the "Cinema du look" movement which had begun in the 1980's. This usually involved stories focusing of young, alienated characters that were intended to represent the marginalized youth of Francios Mitterrand's France. Jean Reno is flawless as both the cold hearted killer and the caring adult. Natalie Portman who plays Matilda also portrays the dysfunctional teen perfectly. This film has probably influenced a number of films such as: The matrix trilogy (The cool and slick execution, long jackets with sunglasses etc.) and Saving Private Ryan (The sniper rifle scope scene).

This film is as classic.

Modern Art Review

London is renowned for its art culture and collection of work dating centuries back. There are many galleries operating all around the city, each with their own unique array of different types of paintings, sculptures, film and architectural design. Of those art galleries the most recent addition was the Tate Modern, home to international modern and contemporary art.

Last week I visited the Tate and was not surprised by the level of brilliance in the pieces of artwork on display. Two pieces of artwork in particular had caught my attention; Loa (2007) Albert Oehlen and Peg-Top (circa 1937-52) Hans Bellmer.

Loa (2007) Albert Oehlen
This collage painting was created using Acrylic and oil paint as well as silk-screening. At first glance it may seem that it is merely random paint smeared over magazine articles but everything in the image serves to add purpose as a whole. Silk-screened onto the painting is a page from a German black metal magazine. Also included in the painting are lyrics from the techno band, "Scooter". Oehlen stated this addition was to "evoke atmosphere rather than to offer a specific message". A bar code located at the bottom of the painting is included which might imply advertising imagery. The title comes from the word "loath" meaning "unwilling", which can be found at the top corners of the painting. I think Oehlen could be suggesting that these aspects of society is what he loathes and is a representation of how he feels about them. Or perhaps he may be suggesting that society in general is what he is "unwilling" to accept or be a part of. This could be shown as the blobs of paint painted on the surface. Oehlen's art as is related to the nuede wilde/junge wilde (wild youth) movement, whose work was used with reference to politics. The uses of colour used in the painting is subtle yet at the same time not. I think the contrast between the red of the title and the blue orbs located at the bottom of the painting works very well. Incorporating so many different elements to a painting whilst not complicating the image by having too much to see makes this a very successful and amazing piece of work.

Looking at the piece of work in terms of influentual references there are a few that stand out. There are elements of Dada or dadaism in its the use of magazine page and its typographic imagery. This also gives the painting a sort of early 1900, world war I-II poster feel to it. The piece can also be categorised as graphic art in this resepect. Neasden Control Centre is a graphic artist whos work shares similiar traits to Oehlen's and may very well be as a result of influence.



Peg-Top (circa 1937-52) Hans Bellmer

This piece of artwork was created using oil paints on canvas. At face value the painting is very abstract and surreal. The image appears to consists of several different parts of the human skeleton joined together to form this construction while balancing above a spinning top. The peg-top supposedly was intended to symbolise a womans ablitity to turn the heads and hearts of men. Bellmer is probably most well known for his life size female doll works of art. He was interested in fetish, and sexuality. This can be seen in the painting at the top of the structure is a reverse image of the inside of a females vagina. Also in the centre of the painting where the two large sections of the structure meet could symbolise breasts as just below them are small nipple-like shapes. The same shape can also be interpreted as female legs viewed from below. Bellmer's intentions definantly lie within the painting. The piece is painted in the style of surrealism. Surrealism was developed from the Dada movement which is where Bellmer probably used some of his influence from. Where the spinning top meets with the surface at the base of the structure the shadow cast, if in reality would not cast in that direction. We know this because of the shadows made on the structure. The perspective of the base is distored and incorrect realistically, althought it creates depth within the painting giving it that little bit extra. Artists who were influenced by Bellmer's work include Paul Wunderlich and Horst Jansen. Wunderlich's style is very similar to Bellmer's and his work also contains sybolisms of a sexual nature.

Paul Wunderlich

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