Alexandre Desplat

Hello, my name is Crystal, and I am addicted to film soundtracks and scores.
It all started with Disney. How can you not love musicals when there are some darn good sing-alongs that I just so happened to grow up in the (rather long) golden era of. I mean, come on. I was doomed from a young age.

And just so you know, I don't mean the Hannah Montana, High School Musical Disney, I mean The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, The Jungle Book, Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Aladdin Disney. So, in other words, the good Disney.

I grew up in one of those households. My mother was a singer (and still is, I suppose), so you kind of grow up with this habit of breaking out into song mid-conversation. We watched old films, where song and dance were regular occurences, and slowly, I guess it permeated my sub-conciousness.

Now, there was a time when this addiction of mine was dormant, and I kidded myself to believe I was finally sane. I thought I was getting better, getting past it all. I would secretly watch Tim Burton films, trying to delude myself that it was normal to watch 'The Corpse Bride' on repeat. But all in all, it was tame, just recreational musicals, nothing more. I was fine.

That's when I met Alexandre Desplat. It was through a film of course, but I might as well say, he was my downfall, back into the world of of film soundtracks. Now, anyone who has watched The Painted Veil should understand. It's hard to resist. I found myself watching the film perpetually, trowling the internet for the score, learning it on piano. After a few weeks of this, I succumbed, and shamefully sought out my local CD dealer to get me some of that fine music.

That's when I started getting serious. I'd watch a film, find myself in love with the score, and next thing you know, I was buliding a collection. But thoughout it all, Alexandre has always been my first love, I still squeal when I find out that he's done the music for a film I love, and I will go out of my way to watch something he's composed.

I have no intention of ever quitting this addiction. I just thought it needed to come out into the open. It will make us all better people for knowing it.

I remember reading the Twilight series whilst listening to The Painted Veil soundtrack, because it suited it so well. Next thing you know, he's done the score for New Moon.
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button? Coco Avant Chanel? Girl with a Pearl Earring? Don't think less of him for doing something Twilight related, he's too brilliant for that. And it is a darn good score, even if you do have to buy it covertly to avoid scandal.

Uh, and also, news flash. He's doing the score for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, Part 1. It just cements him as my all time number one favorite composer.

Now, be off and fill your ears with beauty!

Bright Star

Bright star, would I were steadfast as thou art —

Not in lone splendour hung aloft the night

And watching, with eternal lids apart,

Like Nature's patient, sleepless Eremite,

The moving waters at their priestlike task

Of pure ablution round earth's human shores,

Or gazing on the new soft-fallen mask

Of snow upon the mountains and the moors —

No — yet still stedfast, still unchangeable,

Pillow'd upon my fair love's ripening breast,

To feel for ever its soft fall and swell,

Awake for ever in a sweet unrest,

Still, still to hear her tender-taken breath,

And so live ever — or else swoon to death.

John Keats, 1818

This is my most favorite poem ever. Alongside 'Annabel Lee' by Edgar Allan Poe, I believe this is one of the most heart-breakingly beautiful poems ever writ.

Now, I'm a sucker for poetry. It all started back in high school when my english teacher, Mr. Tidey, introduced us to the topic. Most people hated it, but I fell in love with the lyrical rhythm, etc., etc.

In grade 11 we studied Romantic poets, and Keats' Bright Star was the first. I was hooked. Since then I have been, for want of a better term, mildly obsessed with his life and poetry. Sure, there have been others (Edgar Allan Poe, Tennyson, you know the rest...), but Keats has always been my favorite.

So with that in mind you can imagine how I jumped for joy after reading an article about how Jane Campion was making a film about him and his love, Fanny Brawne. (I was in class at the time, so my exclamation did cause quite a scene). Even more so when I found out that Ben Whishaw and Abbie Cornish would be playing Keats and Fanny.

For those who don't know who Ben Whishaw is, a quick introduction. The 2008 film reproduction of Brideshead Revisited (for those who haven't read the book, read it, or at least watch the 1981 BBC series), he played Lord Sebastian Flyte. Grenoille in Perfume (A film rendition of Patrick Suskind's book, which is absolutely brilliant), and one of the Bob Dylans in the 2007 biopic 'I'm Not There'. Basically, he is a brilliant actor who deserves more credit than he gets. It should also be noted that he is probably my favorite actor.

So, for those who can add one and one (and another one) together would see that a film about John Keats, with Ben Whishaw, titled Bright Star is bound to be a favorite film. Correct! Also note, Abbie Cornish is divine, and Australian, so extra points for that, too.

Being in Australia, we had to wait a whole EIGHT months from it's debut at the Cannes Film Festival in May. This almost killed me. You could almost have a child in that time. I did yell out a few unpatriotic things when I found out Australia would be basically the last country ON EARTH to get it. At least I didn't cry. Okay, I cried. You would too.

It is such a beautiful film. And the overlay of poetry and I could go on about this for hours. Days even. But I won't. Just watch it. Listen to the soundtrack. Look at these pictures from the filming. Go onto Jane Campion's production website. Be obsessed.

Don't try tell me it's not heavenly.

Until next time, my dears, fall in love.

Photographs from Jane Campion's production scrapbook, www.brightstarthemovie.com/default.aspx

Excuse me for a minute while I gush...

Well, well, well. Recently I have decided to watch the films that I've been meaning to watch for goodness knows how long, but never have gotten around to it.
What I've learned from this is that not all Quentin Tarrantino films are good (Take Inglourious Basterds, for example, whose innacurate spelling and over the top violence just makes me queasy. Don't get me wrong, I liked some parts of it, and usually I have nothing against blood and gore, but it was so...) But some are good. Like Pulp Fiction. Which is brilliant. I mean, Uma Thurman, with that hair, the lipstick, the shirt, the everything, divine. But enough about Tarrantino, we all know what his films are like, and it's all a matter of opinion.

Now, after watching a whole melange of films I now have to add some to my ever-growing favorites list. (I like lists. Just look in my date-planner, it's full of them. But I'll get to that another day). In order to understand the sort of films I like, I need to warn you that I have a split personality when it comes to taste.
First off, Star Wars is the greatest set of films that have ever graced the universe. As is Lord of the Rings. And Harry Potter. (Though in LOTR and Harry Potter I did like the books so much better, but the films are pretty darn good.) (I might also add that John Williams did the score for Star Wars and Harry Potter. Make what you wish of it.)
Now, for the lovely side. Amelie. Okay, who can not love Amelie. It will make you happy. Then there is Funny Face, or should I just say, the best sort of fashion film. Watch it. See for yourself. A Good Year, despite Russel Crowe, it has Marion Cotillard AND Abbie Cornish, and is set in France, and is beautiful. I also have a soft spot for Thumbelina, which was the first film I saw at the theatres, and has some darn good songs in it. And lastly, because it make me almost miss my HSC Art exam, (Which is saying something, because I don't miss anything art for nothing), The Painted Veil. Utterly beautiful.


Now, back to what I intended to talk about...
1. Coco Avant Chanel. First off, Alexandre Desplat, Chanel, shirts and good things. I was meant to love it.
2. Julie and Julia. The score was also done by Alexandre Desplat. And Meryl Streep. And the food! It made me smile. Alot. Having said that, It's a fun film, but not really a favorite.
3. 500 Days of Summer. Now, I did see this at the theatres, but I just had to see it again. It's like a modern, American version of Ameile, and I LOVED IT. Love, love, love, loved it. The music (The Temper Trap, Regina Spektor, Hall and Oates, need I say more?) Joseph Gordon Lewitt, Zooey Deschanel, MATTHEW GREY GUBLER, and Chloe Moretz, who is brilliant. This has been on my favorite list since I saw the advertisement for it.
4. Bright Star. Okay. This is going to take a little time, so I'll go into more detail later. Summary. Favorite Poet. Favorite Actor. Favorite poem. Gush, gush, gush, gush.
5. (I don't have a job anymore, and uni holidays go for a LONG time, don't judge me!) A second Jane Campion, The Piano. Okay, a little intense. And I'm still not sure.

And now, what I meant to get to...

6. THE YOUNG VICTORIA. The Head of fashion at my college (Melissa, she's lovely) has been gushing about this film for months now. I can see why. Rupert Friend, the love story, the interiors, the costumes, Prince Albert, Emily Blunt as Victoria, EVERYTHING. I watched it twice in a row, and could have watched it again and again and again, if I didn't have to return it. But I adored it beyond most films I've watched. Gush, gush, gush.

I'm sure I had more, but now I'm boring you.
Go dance in the streets, adeiu.

Isn't it Novel? My Family and Other Animals

My Family and Other Animals, written by Gerald Durrell in 1956, was the first book I read this year.
It all started when I was op-shopping back in early december, and of course, after skimming over the clothes, my arms became piled high with old books. It was at this moment, leaden with aged tomes that I came across a whole section of REALLY old books (not just 1950's and 1940's, but 1890's and such. I actually found an 1895 collected works of Lord Tennyson for $3 there which almost gave me a heart attack of joy). But it was in this section that I found this little yellow hardcover book practically screaming at me to buy it. Upon closer inspection I saw the title was 'My Family and Other Animals'. That did it, really. I take things so literally so I found it hilarious, and decided to purchase it immediately. (I also re-bought Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, which had unconveniently gone missing a few months back).

It appeared to be such a happy little book that I was kind of wary of reading it, lest it turn out less than jovial. Fortunately, it exceeded my expectations with flying colours.

Gerald Durrell, related to Lawrence Durrell (Author of the Alexandria Quartet), is a naturalist, and My Family and Other Animals is the first of three autobiographical works. It documents (hilariously) the period of 1935 to 1939, in which his family spent on the Greek Island of Corfu. Gerald, also known as Gerry by his family, depicts each moment with such honesty and attention to detail. For those who like nature, you will love this. Even if the natural world doesn't interest you in the slightest, Gerald's portrayal of his family is well worth the read. I found myself laughing out loud in more than one section, and even having to put the book down to collect myself. (When this happens in public, and no self-restraint happens to work, you know it's a pretty darn good book).
Without wanting to raise your expectations too much, which may (unfortunately) dissapoint, I will have to quietly give this book the highest accolade that I can give by saying it is one of the more entertaining books I have ever read.

My Family and Other Animals has also been made into a BBC television series in 1987, and into a 90 minute BBC film in 2005. When I watch them, I will glading let you know if they are as good as the book.

Until next time, try Jarlsburg.

Ahoy-hoy!

In the 1870s, Scottish-born inventor Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone. What many people don't know is Graham Bell's preffered greeting when answering the telephone was ahoy-hoy!
Isn't that delightful?!

Now, after my brief (but in reality quite long) sojurn from the world wide web (I ran out of my pre-paid internet, and wasn't bothered to fix it up) I am back! And with a whole package of resolutions to achieve this jolly year.
You may ask why I determine these resolutions in February? That's a good question. You see, I am a hoarder. Now, horders all know how hard it is to stop collecting things once you've started, and it is the same with resolutions. Now, it takes about a month after making resolutions to finally stop making new ones and start doing them.

And this brings me to now. This year I am going to go through my resolutions, hopefully with as much adventure and disaster as possible. (because you have more fun when things go awry). I'll list most of them as I go along, because then I can leave out the ones I didn't achieve you won't be dreadfully overwhelmed with the sort of goals I give myself. Though in the name of good measure I might as well name a few.

1. Meet someone with a Salvador Dali moustache. Do I have to explain here?

2. Befriend someone named Spencer. Because everybodys lives would be better if a Spencer was around.

3. Finish my read-list. Now. For those who don't know about me or my read-list, I tell you, this thing is legendary. Every year I compile a list of all the books I want to read in the span of a year. Last year's was a slight disaster, what with there being more books than days of the year. But this year will be different. I swear. (And 150 books by February really isn't THAT difficult to achieve... Is it?). But I have decided to write about the books I read, because most of my friends (and family) get sick of hearing about the books that I read. But you, my dear reader, can just skim over what you don't want to read, and I will not be in the slightest offended. (I'm not sure I can guarantee that).

4. Get some form of taxidermied animal. Or animal head mounted on my wall. Because I really enjoy masculine style furniture and interiors, and I so have a thing for taxidermy.

5. Find out strange hob-nobs of facts to share with strangers. Share them with strangers, and people I have just met. And anyone who will listen, or will not listen. Because, let's face it, it's always fun to know that Uncle Sam was actually a butcher and the second full moon of a month is called a blue moon. Point proven.

6. Wear more hats. Every year, I decide my life is in dire need of hats. And rings, but that boat sailed after I realised I fidget enough to wear the skin from my fingers. So every year I resolve to wear more head gear. It works, to an extent. It's just that the southern hemisphere doesn't help much, with all it's heat. But this year I'm really going to TRY. When it gets colder.

And that's all you'll get for now, I'm sure your minds could be filled with other, more interesting stuff.
Go, be interesting!