Told in chapters as if from a non-fiction book, and intermittently narrated by a deadpan Alec Baldwin, The Royal Tenenbaums is an aesthetically delightful and brilliantly conceived film.

Wes Anderson is a director who is very interested in style and atmosphere. Anderson’s films (i.e. Bottle Rocket, Rushmore, The Life Aquatic) show a preoccupiation with the charms of bygone eras, they all have an old school feel to them. Every shot in The Royal Tenenbaum’s has clearly been well deliberated to achieve this visually.

There is a 70s feel to the film, due in part to the thoughtful use of costume. The individuality and personality of each character is captured in a visual way. For example, Ben Stiller’s character Chas and his two sons’ consistently wear matching tracksuits, and Owen Wilson’s Eli Cash is head to toe cowboy. Though they may appear like caricatures, all of the characters are still interesting and well played.

The dialogue is intelligent, and portrays a clumsy humanity. The ensemble cast is pretty much flawless, the Wilson brothers are each at their best, and this is possibly the only film to date in which I find Gwyneth Paltrow believable.

Through his use of soundtrack at crucial points, Anderson achieves film-clip poignancy. The placement and choice of music is the glue that holds this film together. From Nico’s These Days to The Ramones Judy is a punk, to Elliott Smith’s Needle in the Hay, every track is used to maximum effect.

The Royal Tenenbaums is a smart and humorous film, but there are a few serious moments which are done just as well. This film isn’t heavy on plot, or attempting to be profound, but its combination of dry wit and visual whimsy make it a film that I like to watch over and over, because it always leaves me with a smile.

Check it out: 3.5/5

” To be in the cinema and experience
A world that others have created
- With wide open senses-
To lose oneself
And gain a real treasure in turn
Is one of the most vital experiences
One can have.
An experience - perhaps - more vital than love. “

Erica Joy Obert (2000)

Ah, the magical world of cinema…..Movies can work the most wondrous of wonders, as anyone who has sat in a dark cinema and been transported from the real world into a fantasy one, knows. I’m Mara, or as I’ve fondly and cheekily nicknamed myself- Little Miss Applebox- and I’ve just joined the team here at Railway Place. Attempting to compile and review classic films of the 20th century is no small task in a century when movies became an art form in their own right, a part of our societal fabric, and a huge business. I do, however, endeavour to give it a go…

Over the next few months my ambition is to share with APPLEBOX members my love of film, my favourite classics of the 20th century and to offer readers the opportunity to take a look, enjoy, and perhaps contradict……Above all though, I hope to share with you my most memorable movies of the 20th century- those movies II think are the most beautiful, most important, most moving, most artistic and most daring…….I may even give my very own apple- rating…….

Breakfast At Tiffanys, USA, 1960…
Directed by Blake Edwards
With: Audrey Hepburn, George Peppard, Patricia Neal, Mickey Rooney…

One of Lil Miss Applebox’s all time favourite films, this classic film was definately Audrey’s best role. I’m a huge Hepburn fan and am continually mesmerised by Audrey’s portrayal of New York escort Holly Golightly- her fragility, child like innocence and quirky waywardness is endearing and inimitable. I can watch this film over and over again for the sheer pleasure of Audrey. I dont want to say too much about this film -for if you havent seen it, I want you to rent it, and enjoy it.. however, what makes this a classic? Definately the quirkiness of Holly- a bohemian who takes her brekky at, or rather, in front of Tiffany’s ( how gorgeously charming). The way she hails a cab, calls every one darling, gracefully wields a cigarette, and keeps her shoes in a fruit bowl is undeniably unforgettable. In a few words, this film is a bitter sweet love story full of mischievousness, humour, sensuality and wonder. Quite simply, a girl looking for happiness. And arent we all? I definately give this film 5 apples….If you’ve never seen it, you must! if you have seen it, hire it again for sheer pleasure.!

Two quick facts….Before Hepburn was given the role of Holly, Marilyn Monroe turned it down feeling it was too risque.
Hepburns wardrobe, designed by Givency and intended to resemble ready to wear clothing in its simplicity launched a fashion trend that is still popular today.
Oh yeah, I went to the Audrey Hepburn exhibition in Florence about 8 years ago and saw a lot of her original costumes from this film, as well as diaries and numerous memorabilia. I guess you can tell, I wish I was Audrey Hepburn…..

More coming soon…

Art School Confidential has a fairly impressive cast, including John Malkovich, Jim Broadbent and Anjelica Huston, and is led by respected director Terry Zwigoff. Like Zwigoff’s previous film Ghost World, this is an adaptation from a comic book by Daniel Clowes (who also wrote the screenplays for both).

At the beginning of this film, the protagonist proclaims that he aspires to be the world’s greatest artist. His ambition is quickly crushed in this pessimistic depiction of life at an Art School. The theme of artistic integrity versus fame and fortune is explored, and the vapidity of the art scene is the backdrop as Jerome and his aspirations rapidly descend into disillusion. Soon Jerome’s disenchantment leads him to forsake his morality for what he desires.

What went wrong with this film was that it was trying to hard to be cool and just ended up as boring. In attempting to be different by presenting a more jaded worldview, and by presumably trying to be ironic, Clowes and Zwigoff forgot about plot and characterisation.

Art School Confidential has various subplots that go nowhere, thinly developed characters who the viewer feels no sympathy for, and basically a series of loosely linked events that substitute a narrative.

There is no real insight into any of the characters or their motivations, and as a result their actions or their plight don’t hold much significance to the viewer. We briefly meet a multitude of supporting actors who play out various stereotypes for a few scenes each, to no real end. The viewer is not really engaged in the story, mainly because it is too hard to follow, as it jumps from one scenario to the next too quickly and without clear rationale.

Max Minghella plays the part of the increasingly morose Jerome convincingly, as do most of the cast with the little they are given to work with. Perhaps if Clowes had taken more time to flesh out his characters and simplify his narrative, this could’ve worked. However, as it is, what was intended to be a witty satire of the art world and its pretensions just comes across as an inane teen movie with an aggressive tone.

At times during this film, I honestly didn’t know whether it was trying to be dramatic or comedic. It felt like they were making it up as they went along. This film is not funny or illuminating; Art School Confidential just appears to be an overly self-conscious and lazy attempt at trying to recreate the misanthropic delight that was Ghost World.

Hmmm: 2/5

This did make me want to see Ghost World again though…

Dear happy APPLEBOX users,

We are trying to get together some testimonials from happy customers. If you like the service tell us why! You can respond to this blog, email it to admin@applebox.com.au if you would prefer it were not published on the website or come on down and do some handwriting in the book on the counter.

Thanks!

For those of you who enjoyed Once Were Heroes and didn’t catch Summer Heights High on the box. It’s in store now. I had a marathon and watched the whole thing at once!

Chris Lilley has been slated as this decade’s Australian Comic genius, hailed as Australia’s own Ricky Gervais for his edgy work on We Can Be Heroes and Summer Heights High. Although this series has received mixed review I thought it was better than his first. What struck me with this series was the interaction with the kids around him, totally believable.

I would love to know more about his rehearsal techniques and the making of the show, how he made the kids look that natural I do not know…not to mention the animals! The special features unfortunately do not reveal any of this as we never see the man out of character.

See for yourself but a big thumbs up from me.

Richard MacManus over at Read Write Web has written, Let’s Focus on Web Innovation Again!. Absolutely! The last few years have been completely manic in development pace on the World Wide Web. Driven by the early hits of hits of Ebay, YouTube, Flicker & MySpace, there’s now IM platforms, VOIP applications, Email services, online photo editing, task managers, 3D worlds and more social networks than you can poke a stick at.

But it’s become harder to see the innovation*, because now most of it’s been done. So, at the risk of hubris, I put my hand up to say APPLEBOX innovates it’s ass off!! Check it out:

1. Our Model
We’ve taken an existing model of the local video store (typified by Video Ezy), and completely turned the economics of it on it’s head. We’re fully integrated with the Internet, and leverage the strength of both local store, immediate pickup and online browse, search and reserve. Hard to believe, but nobody’s done it before.

2. Our Technology
We run Serverless AJAX with a complete Web Service back end. Without descending into too much jargon, our way of delivering APPLEBOX is new. We take Single Page apps to the extreme, and house multiples SPAs within a JavaScript controller that moves between each SPA as the application requires it. This is standard MVC, but the C and the V are in the browser, rather than on the server. I get a lot of comments on how well our storefront works; this is largely due to the Serverless AJAX techniques.

So you want innovation? Look this way. And we’ve only been open 2 months. Give us another 12 and watch out!

* My dictionary says to innovate is to introduce something new, or make changes in something established, especially by introducing new methods, ideas or products.

Finally got a chance to watch some of our incoming stock last night.

Fab film in the way that only the French seem to be able to do, cute and funny without being cheesy. Great characters, the simple tale of a hen pecked Luis who is the only male in a large female brood; the matriarch, five sisters and daddy dearest has passed away. Luis is determined to get his interfering siblings off his back and remain the happy bachelor. His plans to outfox the women in his life of course takes one disastrous turn after another creating an often hilarious web of lies and deceit. For those of you a little disappointed in Knocked Up I think you will find this film will make up for it. Laugh out loud? I did a lot! A great choice which will appeal to both sexes, something for everyone.

Simon and I actually left the 3070/3078 postcode last night! We travelled to the Astor Theatre for a special event screening of Blade Runner The Final Cut put on by Popcorn Taxi. So glad we went, not only is Blade Runner a fave of both of ours but we got to see the Final Cut before anyone else and in a format that was incredible.

I need to do more research on it but it was a new High Definition Digital format called Sony CineAlta4 that even impressed me. Normally I don’t get too involved in the new forms of film, am a little bit of a traditionalist I like the scratches and depth a blurred background 35mm gives you. Working in the Art Department we have a term - “don’t worry too much about that it’s in “Blursville”. “Blursville” refers to the deep background of a shot where you can not really make out that blurry coloured shape so for example you don’t need to remove that non period light fitting or street sign. With the advent of Digital “Blursville” is disappearing!

However, last night I was blown away by the remastered Blade Runner with the crispest picture I think I have ever seen on screen. And what a movie to screen it with. Sony had come in and set up the projection equipment specially for the screening so I don’t know how quickly this will be in mainstream cinemas but when it comes you will be impressed. The hype on this one is true.

Blade Runner The Final Cut is on at the Astor over the weekend, I highly recommend you go if you are a fan of the movie. We will of course be getting the DVD in as soon as it is available in December.

Sarah

For those of you who haven’t been in for a while you will see some new faces in store. Mine and Mara’s! I am back from an overseas trip and Mara started with us just over a week ago.

Mara is a Melbourne actor who loves film, she is regularly hosts special event film nights for Popcorn taxi www.popcorntaxi.com.au. We are very glad Mara has joined the team, she’s lovely, got a great film knowledge and if you were wondering …..yes she’s the original philadelphia cream cheese angel! We have also quickly ordered the aussie flick, Holy Smoke that Mara acted in, shamefully didn’t have it in stock! Welcome aboard Mara.

Hi there blogging world. Simon has been at me for about um…. 6 months to start blogging and here I finally am.

Pretty funny to have a reluctant technology user as a business partner in a technology based business but hey I figure I represent the normal person out there who doesn’t get excited about technology unless it is simple (REALLY simple) and makes the tasks in my life easier… unless it creates more selfish me-time I don’t buy in to it! APPLEBOX does all of this so I buy into it. Rest assured everyone you have a tester who is supremely impatient with technology bugging Simon all the time, although I think the system is far superior to most search/browse programs.

Railway Place is planning a party. It seems that Fairfield is brimming with talented artists and we want everyone to share. We are putting on an exhibition called “ART IN PLACE” showcasing Railway Place locals. The Bean Counter Cafe, David John’s Gallery, Silver Fine Art Printing, APPLEBOX and Carlo’s Upholstery are a few of the businesses on Railway Place getting involved. We will all be exhibiting works of local painters, photographers, fabric artists and sculptors.

Opening night will be on Thursday the 6th of December at the Bean Counter Cafe 15 Railway Place Fairfield (opposite APPLEBOX) and spreading across to APPLEBOX.. hey the streets will be ours! 6.30 - 8.30pm Drinks and Light Refreshments provided. The art will be exhibited until January 27 but be there for the opening, for those of you who came to APPLEBOX’s launch party you know that Railway Place is a magic spot for a twilight street party.

We think our local community rocks and are very pleased to be involved in spreading the good word about the talent that surrounds Railway Place.

Lots more coming but thought I’d let you all know to keep the date free in your diaries.

Wow my first blog… and that wasn’t so painful!

Cheers
sarah (and yes I am Simon’s sister not his wife!)