We Need To Talk About Benedict

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Back in September I wrote a post (*cough* love letter *cough*) about my acting spirit animal, Ben Whishaw. I wanted to continue this saga of [love] posts about all my favorite actors. It’s kind of romantic when you discover an actor that inspires you. The connection between an actor and their audience is so powerful; the art of an actor can make such a profound impact on an viewer that it can change their perspective on life. I think Hollywood has lost sight of the importance of an actor. Actors get hired because they are beautiful and sexy or they have a big name. It’s hard to find an actor nowadays that has a genuine talent for this craft. Yet, these actors, to me, have talent far beyond the realms of Hollywood’s stereotypes. To me, this post’s actor is the epitome of actors. He brings back the art of storytelling, which is extremely rare in today's Hollywood.

So, we need to talk about Benedict Cumberbatch!

Sorry, ladies...

Since the release of The Fifth Estate, I have had Cumberbabe fever, and it’s not going away anytime soon. Now, I’m not here to talk about that handsome face… Or those cheekbones… Or that cheeky grin… Mmm… No, compared to contrary belief, the Cumberbum is far more than a piece of meat. Benedict’s talent is far beyond anything I’ve ever seen. He becomes a chameleon when he acts, completely loses his inhibitions, and becomes someone entirely new.  

Like many, my first encounter with Benedict was watching a little show called Sherlock. You may not have heard of it (if you have been living under a rock), but it’s a modern day retelling of Sherlock Holmes. Sherlock Holmes is one of the most iconic characters in literature, and everyone knows him as the clever, narcissistic detective who uses the art of deduction to solve crimes. Benedict portrays the customary traits of Holmes to perfection, but what really sets him apart is his modern twist to a classic character. He masters the character of Sherlock Holmes like Sherlock masters a crime scene (… Ooh, sorry. I had to do it). 

Between the mischievous glances and a hundred miles per hour dialogue, Benedict fully embraces the sociopathic qualities of Sherlock Holmes. But simply watching only allows you to see the surface of Benedict's character development. Yes, he is amusing and clever and charming and annoying, but it is when you stop and observe (“You see, but you don’t observe,” as Sherlock would say) that you can truly appreciate the extent and work Benedict puts into this role. The little glances and slight pauses add more to the character than you could ever get with just dialogue. His expressions and vocal inflections create even more layers to a character that is already complex; he creates a character that isn’t as cold hearted he wants the world to think. Benedict brings the shows brilliant script to life. He has this wonderful ability to turn a simple phrase into a phrase that is alluring and griping. 

The Sherlock fandom on Tumblr analyze about every movement Benedict makes… It’s quite impressive how much they find. Once you've seen these analyses you will never watch Sherlock the same again. May I just add, those deduction scenes are incredible... And I thought I talked fast.

Most people know the Cumberbum for his work from the past few years, but even before Sherlock, Benedict was a scene stealer. I recently watched Fortysomething, a series he was in in 2003, and even as a supporting character, I was drawn to his presence on screen. He has an easy when he acts; it’s completely effortless. It isn’t histrionic or melodramatic, but it’s natural and REAL (crazy to think an actor is supposed to make a character feel real). His comedy is naturally funny, and his dramatics never feel fake.

But for me, Benedict shines in biopics. He has played real life character like Stephen Hawking, Vincent Van Gogh, and Julian Assange. The way he imitates people and completely becomes them is unbelievable. The manipulation of his body and voice as Hawking is so realistic that you forget you're watching an actor. Benedict as Julian Assange is probably the best acting I have seen in my entire life; it was the performance of a lifetime (so far, of course). Even after watching the film for two hours, I was still caught off guard by how convincing he was. I literally gasping at the final scene because I truly thought it was Julian on screen. His technicalities are beyond anything I have ever seen. He focuses on every aspect of the person, down to their hand gestures and laugh. Imitation is an extremely hard act to conquer, yet Ben makes it look effortless. To be able to imitate that flawlessly is more than enough talent in and of itself.   

Most actors specialize in a certain genre; for example, I am great in dramas, but rubbish in comedies. But the Cumberbabe can literally do everything. He is absolutely hysterical as the nerdy team captain in Starter for 10, creating spot on comedy that left me in stitches. Yet, can give me the shivers as the “chocolate factory creep” in Atonement. He’s heart wrenching in Wreckers, and sly and compelling in Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (one of my absolute favorite movies, by the way). Benedict has the ability to turn even the dullest of characters into potent and influential individuals. Benedict’s range of abilities is what sets him apart as one of the greatest actors of all time.

I really admire Benedict for immense talent. He is a hard worker, as seen by the six projects he released this year. He compels the audience; even in the background, you can’t help but to watch him. He creates characters that are dynamic with so many layers. He has a genuine love what he does, and stays humble while doing it. Overall, the Cumberbeauty is a pretty cool dude.             

Upcoming Benedict Cumberbatch projects: August: Osage County, Little Favour (now available for pre-order on iTunes), Sherlock, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, The Hobbit: There and Back Again, and The Imitation Game. The Fifth Estate and 12 Years a Slave are in cinemas now!  

Photo Credit: telegraph.co.uk, businessinsider.com, bleedingcool.net, digitalspy.co.uk, thesun.co.uk, fanpop.com, dearje.tumblr.com, benedictcumberbatch.co.uk

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Beach Day!

Happy Wednesday!

I thought I would do a little mid-week check in! How are you? Good? Great!

So a few days ago my puppy (well, she's not really a puppy anymore, but she shall still be referred to as one) and I went on a little beach day. You may be asking, "Isn't it autumn? Isn't it cold?" Well, yes it was, but autumn is my favorite time to go on the beach. I hate being hot and sticky during the summer, so the cool fall breeze makes the beach much more enjoyable. We went right after a storm so the beach had an ominous, beaten vibe to it. It's very quite and peaceful on the beach during autumn making it the the perfect time to go. Here are my favorite snaps!

Yes, my puppy does have a cheetah collar... She's fabulous! 

My absolute favorite "perfectly timed" picture!

Bat Dog: Protecting Bethany Beach from harm! 

Leave no trace, only [paw]prints!

Bye bye birds! 

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Movie Review | The Fifth Estate

The Fifth Estate is a dramatized depiction of Julian Assange and his website WikiLeaks from its first major story in 2007 to the leak of the Afghan War Logs in 2010. Out to destroy lies and secrets, WikiLeaks is an organization for whistle-blowers to reveal the corruption of governments and political figures alike.   

Firstly, the directing. On the positive side, the cinematography and camera handle was excellent. I personal love a bit of a in-motion camera. I think it adds depth to an intense scene, placing you in the action itself. I also appreciated Bill Condon’s choices of location. The gritty German setting brought a lot to Julian and Daniel’s characters, allowing the viewer to be transported into their chaotic, grim lifestyle. From the clubs to the house where Collateral Murder was released, Condon had a good grasp on atmosphere these people surrounded themselves with. Having Julian appear in different locations throughout the film, from Kenya to London to Germany, permitted the viewer to see Julian as a true nomad; he never settles, and is always on the move. 

Unfortunately, now for the negative. I was not a fan of the text used in this movie. A scene that really put me on edge was with Julian and Daniel talking through a chat room. Not wanting to speak about the information he had, Julian persuaded Daniel only to talk to him in the safety of the WikiLeaks chat. Obviously, a whole scene can’t be spent with the main characters just typing away to each other, so Condon compensated by adding on scene text and narration. This did not turn out well. It quickly became very awkward with the text splattered on the screen, overarching dialogue, and a new scene panning out. I can appreciate why Condon felt strongly as to have the text, because Julian and Daniel spent most of the relationship in chat rooms, but from a movie stand point, it did not translate well. The “techy” editing and montages were also used to convey the importance of technology, but regrettably was poorly executed.

Next, the screenplay. I’m not going to lie, I was very confused watching this movie. Too much was happening to quickly. The first hour or so was spent cramming everything WikiLeaks has done down the viewers throat. As the average viewer, with the basic knowledge of WikiLeaks, I was having a hard time keeping up. There was never a chance to breath. I never got a chance to process one piece of information before they threw another at me. The release of Collateral Murder was when the plot really began to fall into place for me. At this point I really got intrigued, the pace began to slow, the tension built, and I could finally follow what was happening. Subsequently because of the massive plot, there wasn’t much room for character development. A lot of Daniel Burg’s personal story was told (obviously because the creative team had direct access to Daniel), and he serves as the moral center of the organization; he's not blinded by hatred like Julian is. Julian was evidently the center of attention with this story; the crazy, blonde haired genius bringing down governments and exposing corruption through a website. We got small glances into Julian’s personal life, something he keeps very guarded from the world. Could this personal information be why Julian has such a vendetta against the film? Because he wants to keep his secrets hidden, as alluded to in the film.

But, the rest of the WikiLeak members were left in the dark. What drew me to this film and this topic in general, was the people. I wanted to know more about the people involved in this institution, their thinking, and the part they served in these events. Instead we got a lot of plot that left me confused and disjointed. But I must say, I very much enjoyed the last scene. Personally, one of the best endings to any movie I've seen. It was very cheeky!

I was very pleased with the production of The Fifth Estate. I loved the locations and sets used. Like I said, the atmosphere was very gritty and tense. The locations gave great life to the story and to the characters. I also loved the costumes and makeup. They dressed Benedict perfectly as Julian; the cargo pants, loose shirts, and parka with the multiple backpacks helped to bring Julian to life even more. Plus, I didn’t think the wig looked bad at all; I actually quite liked the blonde. 

I was also in love with makeup, or should I say lack of. Today in Hollywood, movie stars are plastered with makeup to look flawless on camera. What I loved about this movie was the actors were very natural, especially the men. There was no perfectly dewy skin or flawlessly sculpted cheekbones, but there were under eye bags and uneven skin tone. The makeup artist didn’t try to hide the actor’s blemishes, but let them be free; let them be human. It made the characters feel real, which is what a movie is supposed to achieve, am I wrong? I must say I was not a fan of the score. I loathed it actually. The rock music soundtrack fit well, but the soothing instrumental was out of place and distracting.

Last, but most definitely not least, the acting: the real reason I was so very excited for this movie. Wow! Benedict Cumberbatch is an acting god. Benedict becomes a chameleon when he acts, leaving all traces of himself behind.  His Julian was intriguing, and he never wavered in his performance. Benedict has gone on the record saying that Julian’s letter to him before filming played a big part in how he interpreted Julian. After reading the letter from Julian, you can definitely see what Ben means. His Julian is selfish, controlling, and paranoid, but he’s also caring and protective of his organization. He truly does want to help the world and do what he thinks is best for the greater good, even though he does falter and crash because of some questionable actions. Benedict understands Julian perfectly. His accent and body language were on point, and even the smallest action, from his laugh to rubbing of his lips, illustrates Julian. The final scene in particular really caught me off guard; Benedict’s acting was so great that I truly thought it was Julian on screen. An Oscar nomination better be in Benedict’s future.

Overall, I rate The Fifth Estate 5.5 out of 10. Some questionable decisions regarding directing and screenplay is saved by the fantastic cast. 

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Beauty Review | L'Oreal's Miracle Blur and Dark Spot Corrector

Hello My Darlings!

This week I thought I would review a couple new beauty products for you. Enjoy!

L’Oreal RevitaLift Miracle Blur

I was really excited to use this product. From beauty magazines to celebrities, I have been seeing this product all over the place, so naturally I had big expectations for Miracle Blur. Unfortunately, this product did not live up to my anticipation. Firstly, I felt it didn't do what it promoted. I have a few wrinkles around my mouth and on my forehead, so I have been looking for something that will fill in those wrinkles and make them less noticeable. Miracle Blur made barley a difference, virtually none around my mouth. My wrinkles were still there, and my foundation still settled in them. I also found the texture of the product strange. Every time I put it on, little balls of… stuff… formed on my hands. I’m not sure what it was (Built up product? Dead skin?), but it was really weird and got everywhere. The product is thick and hard to spread; it’s even hard to get out of the tube. The only thing I liked about this product was it’s fragrance free. I was sadly disappointed with this product. I really wanted it to be a holy grail for me, but it’s nothing but a dunce.

L’Oreal Youth Code Dark Spot SPF 30 Day Cream

This second product is the complete opposite of Miracle Blur! I love this product! Also from L’Oreal, Youth Code Dark Spot daytime moisturizer is perfect for my problematic skin. This cream is meant to even skin tone and discoloration which is just what I need. I have really bad redness from acne, so I have been looking for something that will help get rid of that discoloration, and, boy, this product does it. My skin is far less red, and more of a light pink. I have only been using this product for about week and half so I can’t wait to see what my skin will look like in a month’s time. The texture is thick, but not overbearing. It goes on smoothly and doesn't leave a sticky residue. The thick formula helps to fill in those dreaded acne pits that I have, which is always a super plus in my book.  A little definitely goes a long way with this product as well; just a quarter size dab will cover the whole face. The only problem I encountered with this product is the fragrance. Because it has SPF protection, this moisturizer is loaded with sunscreen which leaves that awful sunscreen smell. Not only is irritating to my nose, but is extremely irritating to my eyes. The first time I used it I made the mistake of putting it near my eyes. Needless to say, my eyes became irritated and wouldn't stop watering—I couldn't even put my makeup on it was so bad. But because it is such a good product, I think I can forgive the smell. Overall, this is definitely my favorite Youth Code product.

Shirt: H&M

Leave a comment below to let me know what you thought of these products… Did Miracle Blur work for you? Also, if you liked this post, please follow me on Bloglovin’!

P.S. The Fifth Estate comes out this Friday, and I am so excited! I’m going to put a review up either Friday night or Saturday morning so keep an eye out! Have you seen the crazy stuff going on between Benedict and Julian? Things are getting intense! Also, if you are lucky enough to live in New York or LA, Kill Your Darlings comes out Wednesday. For the rest of us sorry people, we have to wait until “coming soon”. So, I will have to sit here and wait in agony until I can see this beautiful film. Ugh! Let me if there are any other films you want me to review! I always need an excuse to go to the cinema!

Bye, lovelies! 

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