Blind Spot: Memento

Memento concludes my blind spot list for the year. Unlike the others, I’ve attempted to watch this a couple of times but have failed to finish until now. I have since determined that Memento, while making Christopher Nolan’s name known to the world, is a work of his that could only be viewed with people who really like movies (and would go beyond blockbuster stuff), or at least people who want more pre-Batman Nolan. Told in a backward narrative, it shares the story of Leonard and his quest to find the man who raped and murdered his wife.

Blind Spot: The Shawshank Redemption

*This post contains spoilers*

This is the penultimate choice for this year’s blind spot series. And not a bad one at it. Rather, I found it difficult to compartmentalize coherent paragraphs about this film. I think the film has triggered something, that even when I’m looking at graphics and lines from the film, there this sense of joy and sadness that overcomes me. I think that is what the film is about. That culmination of joy and sadness, of hopelessness and optimism that surrounds the characters, and the harsh realities of the worlds they are pushed in.

Blind Spot: His Girl Friday

While I was making my blind spot list for the year, I decided to put movies that everyone deemed to be a “must-see”. Some of these are famous works, works that are so intimidating because of the stigma already set to them by the film society. There are some that are declared masterpieces, or cult classics. In other words, these are really well known pieces that I chose. Looking back at my list, I had no idea how His Girl Friday had come to mind. Was it because of Roman Holiday? Somehow it found its way on the list, I watched it, and liked it - until I got to the final scene. 

Blind Spot: The Godfather

As I wrote the title of the post, I could still hear the film's opening score playing in my head. That was how intriguing the film is, that the mere mention of its title, one can conjure up Marlon Brando staring at you, his calm demeanor hiding the ruthless truth of what happens in a mafia community. With the mafia, every move is a strategy, every word a hanging threat, and every ally a service. In a glance, The Godfather shows the dealings that occur in the world of organized crime, but also exhibits the inner turmoils of the members involved in such dealings.

Blind Spot: Pulp Fiction

As I sit here and try to rummage through my mind for words, I come up with none. Not because there's nothing to say, but rather, every word seems to be swirling around that I risk writing an incoherent review about it. Nonetheless, I was very impressed with Pulp Fiction, and how a film like this could still be impressive years after its release. If I didn't know this was released back in 1994, I would have thought that it was released recently. Maybe it's because the writing style of Tarantino could still be applied today, that it still moves with the time. Besides the iconic scenes, it was the script, and the manner the film is presented, that makes it all worth while to see.

Blind Spot: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial

If I was to make a list of children's films people my age have probably seen during their childhood, E.T. would have been one of them. As a child, I was never really coerced into watching a brown, strange looking thing point his finger and then makes it glow (hence, this blind spot). But I wasn't unaware of E.T.; I think it would be slightly improbable that people not recognize E.T. After all, he is an iconic character himself, and the film is considered to be one of Spielberg's finest. Beside the iconic shot that's used in all promotional items, or anything regarding the film, E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial displays a powerful friendship in the eyes of its characters.

Blindspot: Rear Window

It’s hard not to be familiar with Alfred Hitchcock, even if you haven’t seen his work. He’s a well-known director, and has worked with various actors and actresses in the industry. The man’s work has been referenced in time and time again in other works, whether in cinema or in television shows. It’s hard not to be familiar with such works as Psycho or Vertigo. Rear Window is one of his famous films, referenced in different pop culture mediums. I went to the movie knowing its premise, but I never did find out the ending, hence the suspense wasn’t really spoiled for me. Was this the best movie as an introduction to Hitchcock’s work? Maybe. I’m not familiar with his overall style as this is the first of his work I’ve seen, but it did live up to a suspenseful take.

Blindspot: Casablanca

I was looking over the choices I had left for the year's blind spot, thinking over what film to watch for the month. Seeing that I've been running through most of the "light" films on the list, I opted to dive in what I thought was a very dramatic, heart-wrenching film. When people clamor praises over Casablanca, it can't be helped that there will be some stigma attached to it. I was a bit intimidated with it at first because of the high praises, and if it doesn't deliver the way I've imagined it to be. Needless to say, the film was very worthy of its praise - and I've already watched it twice in a span of a week! The film was timeless, and it still breaks my heart when I think of Rick and Ilsa.

Blindspot: Pan's Labyrinth

I think I found a suitable family film. Not only does it introduce children to a different, darker fairy tale, but it's set in a war period, so there's guns, violence and drama for the adults. Also, despite the bloodshed (and areas of bloodshed and ample slashing), I find myself wanting to watch the film over again - primarily due to the tale that's embedded in the fight. While I'm not quite versed with Guillermo del Toro's work, Pan's Labyrinth make a great recommendation in finding out more from the director, as it offers a fantastic tale that doesn't go short of getting you fascinated.

Blindspot: Carrie

The remake of Carrie was making headlines last year, and while I wasn't a fan of the Moretz remake (nor do I have the inkling to see it), it did prod me to add the 1976 Carrie to my blindspot list. Despite my dislike of horror films, I should at least cross off a classic. Suffice to say, this might have been my favorite so far. Why this was even bothered to be remade is beyond me. Seriously, Hollywood should stop touching perfect films and tainting them with remakes. This one is simply perfect.

Blind Spot: Roman Holiday

Two down, ten to go! I was torn between this and Casablanca for my Feburary blind spot, but I decided on a lighter tone, considering my jam-packed February. Needless to say, this did not disappoint and was a delight. Besides knowing Hepburn for her fashion (as she is a style icon), I haven't seen an entire film of hers - until this one. It helps that the first work of hers I saw was her award winning performance - and she was relatively new in the industry at the time. Now I'm pretty much inspired on having a Hepburn marathon, with the likes of Charade and Breakfast at Tiffany's on the list.

Blade Runner

One down, eleven to go. I sort of cheated here; I didn't have the copy of the original film, but I watched the 2007 digitally remastered one. In the future, the world has replicants, robotic creatures that could not be distinguished from human beings. Because of their act of rebellion, they were banned from earth, and had assassins called Blade Runners to terminate the rebels. The film starts with four rebels landing to earth in order to find a way to prolong their lives, with retired Blade Runner Deckard on their tale.

Blind Spot Series 2014

I recently stumbled upon Ryan McNeil's site, where he was running a feature called Blind Spot. It's basically listing down 12 films you must see that year, one for each month. I thought it was a great and challenging idea, considering that I barely write much reviews. Also, despite being a fan of motion pictures, I haven't seen a lot of movies. This is a great way to expand my movie horizon, and to finally watch some classics I've been meaning to see. Here is my list, and I hope I get to accomplish this by next year! I'll be updating this as I post my reviews, so feel free to check back once in a while!