Film Friday: Joy

It was hard to not expect a regurgitation of Silver Linings when I discovered Joy consisted of Bradley Cooper and Jennifer Lawrence starring alongside each other, but boy was I wrong. Set in 1989, the movie tells the story of Lawrence's Joy, a woman with a conventional job (an airport clerk) wishing to make more of herself.

Held back by her misogynistic father, her hypochondriac bed-ridden mother and the ex-husband who lives in her basement, Joy overcomes her hurdles in order to sit down and sketch out an invention- a self-wringing mop.

With strong feminist connotations, the picture focuses on three generations- Joy, her daughter and her ailing grandmother who inspired her to strive. The movie covers the difficulty of business, the woes of crooked persons in the business industry and gives an insight into the behind-the-scenes workings of a shopping channel.

Although at times I found Lawrence's acting rather stilted, her character of Joy is a powerful presence and sends a message of hope to many who have thought their ideas weren't good enough.

I give it: ☂☂☂

31 Nights of Horror: Modern Greats

For the past couple of years I have found the perfect way to prolong the Halloween celebrations: just like a gory advent calendar, I will be leading up to the big night by watching 31 horror films for each day in October! This year I thought of making my selection from movies that were released over the last ten years, in the hope that I could find some modern greats, or maybe some massive stinkers. 

Here is my list below, and I will be reviewing them on my blog at the end of each week. I hope I survive! For anyone wanting to get involved, email or tweet me, would love for others to join in (if you dare!)

Day 1. V/H/S (2012)

Day 2. The Skin I Live In (2011)

Day 3. The Devil's Rock (2011) 

Day 4. Tell (2012)

Day 5.Occulus (2013)

Day 6.Absentia (2011)

Day 7.The Loved Ones (2009)

Day 8. Deadgirl (2008) 

Day 9. Dumplings (2004)

Day1 0.Thirst (2009)

Day 11. Dark Touch (2013)

Day 12.Only Lovers Left Alive (2013)

Day 13. Taxidermia (2006) 

Day 14.Inside (2007)

Day 15. Nurse 3-D (2013)

Day 16. A Tale of Two Sisters (2003)

Day 17. You're Next (2011)

Day 18. The Penny Dreadful picture Show (2013)

Day 19. Dream Home (2010)

Day 20. Victim (2010)

Day 21. Panzer Chocolate (2013)

Day 22. A Tale of Two Sisters (2013)

Day 23. Howl (2013)

Day 24. Pretty Dead (2013) 

Day 25. Last Kind Words (2012) 

Day 26. Requiem (2006)

Day 27. Alone (2007)

Day 28. Babycall (2011)

Day 29. Lights Out (2013) 

Day 30. Sick Nurses (2007)

Day 31. The Human Centipede (2009)