High-Rise

Written by JG Ballard, released in 1975. High Rise is an fictional insight it to the function and decay of a society crammed in to the concrete four walls of a forty-story new tower block development. Where shops swimming pools, restaurants and even schools sit within this new age visionary of luxury living of the Late 1960s- early 1970s.

Where the residents enjoy night after night of cocktail parties and orgies, fuelled with drink, drugs, hormones and lust. Until their high life, life style begins to crumble around then. 

As power cuts, and water outages run though out the building. as the rubbish shouts fill and waist becomes uncollected and the food in the supermarkets and restaurants begins to run low the residents divided by floors turn on each other, conducting raids for food and water, even animals, fighting for space, survival and power. 

( Image No. 1 My copy of the book and DVD )

I started reading this book when the film by Ben Wheatley was released in cinemas (in 2016), for the first time in a while i was hocked on the book from the first page. ( a lot of the time it takes 3 or 4 pages before I get in-grossed)Which meant by the time the DVD came out I had not finished the book and the film had to sit on the shelf until I finished the book.

( Image No. 2 First page of the book. )

The book follows doctor and medical school lecturer Robert Laing (played by Tom Hiddelston), whom has moved in to an apartment on the 25th floor of the high rise complex on the out skirts of London after his divorce on the recommendation of his sister who already lives in the building with her husband three floors bellow him. when the environment around them beings to descend in to madness he then takes his sister who has been left by her controlling husband, and another women in to his apartment to care for, and protect - him becoming more of the alpha male. 

In the film Alice his sister is dead along with is parents, creating a loner character, self obsessed dry man with baggage, Ready to let off some steam, with drink, drugs and sex.

Helen Wilder

“Well, Charlotte's right about one thing.

You are definitely the best amenity in the building.” 

As the power outages begin, sprits rise, and parties in full swing women from find them self attacked and some raped and on of the top floor resents jumps.

In the book it is the Jeweller from the 40th floor. In the film it is one of Laing’s students, Munrow, from the 39th floor. Who was sent for scans after passing out in a class. After he and others insult Laing at one of Royal’s parties, he tells Munrow that they found some thing during the scan, when all was good. Its an attack fuelled by the building. Yet no police arrive to investigate the incident, you can only asume that the body was taken away by a coroner and was not the first to end up in the 10th floor swimming pool.

Dr. Robert Laing: [voice over] 

"One thing was certain, Laing would surrender to a logic more powerful than reason."

You quickly start to see a divide in buildings residents social standing, with families, the working class occupying the lower floors,

The 10th floor homes of a supermarket, bank hair dresses, swimming pool, gum, liquor store,  and a junior school, which represents the first divide in building residents of working class and middle class in the middle of the building. (In the film this is moved up to the 15th floor. squash courts on the 20th) 

The 35th floor again has a swimming pool, sauna, and restaurants this is the divide between the middle and aspiring middle class -between 10th and 35th, and the elite on the floors above. The penthouse on the 40th floor of this world, Anthony Royal. (played by Jeremy Irons) The building's architect, the over seer of the building  and the surrounding complex’s ( and refereed to by others as the ‘architect’) 

Helen Wilder

“Don't worry, people don't usually care what 

happens two floors above or below them. “

The film directed by Ben Wheatley is a beautiful adapted from the novel, capturing the life with in the building.

The book its self could easily have been made in to a two part TV film, to include other other events, but doing this it would have lost its self in its own chaos.

In the book on the 40th floor there is a sculpture garden. designed by Royal as a playground for the chidden. it almost sounds like a sensory garden. This I was looking forward to see, but in the film the garden is Royals where his wife rides her horse. I was little disappointed not to she this, But having it as it is in the film shows how the higher floors see them selfs, better then the lower residence, living with these luxuries.

Concept art, on display At the Barbican Centre. Exhibition: In To The Unknown, A Journey Through Science Fiction.
( Visited on 16th June 2017. )

The film posters and DVD cover echo the architecture of the building and a kaleidoscope design. A kaleidoscope which one of the children,Toby has. As well as the effext is reflected in the elevator scenes.

Laing: What have you got there?

Toby: A kaleidoscope.

Laing: What can you see through that thing?

Toby: The future.

 (Image From trendland.com/high-rises-brutalist-architecture/ )

( Image From www.imdb.com )

( Image From www.irishnews.com )

kaleidoscope: 

noun: kaleidoscope; plural noun: kaleidoscopes

A toy consisting of a tube containing mirrors and pieces of coloured glass or paper, whose reflections produce changing patterns when the tube is rotated.

A constantly changing pattern or sequence of elements.

"the dancers moved in a kaleidoscope of colour”

        early 19th century: from Greek kalos ‘beautiful’ + eidos ‘form’ + -scope.

Chaotic shapes and colour that create beautiful forms. 

It is the event that take place with in this community that create some thing more wonderful then what they already had. Residence stopped going to work and concentrated on their dysfunctional life's in the high rise.

Dr. Robert Laing: [voice over] 

"For all it’s inconveniences, Laing was satisfied with life in the High-Rise. 

Ready to move forward and explore life. How exactly, he had not yet decided."

A kaleidoscope camrea effect is used near the end of the film where Wilder is killed, the event is watch by Toby through his toy. Creating beauty out of chaos and anger.

A human trait, looking for the good and beauty in life and people, searching for some thing better. When sometimes we look to hard and do not see what we have in front of us is what want and or need, missing the beauty in these moments.

( Above 3 Images Are Stills From The Film On You Tube )

( Screen Short From Nick Gillespie's Twitter. )
The Camera Rig Used To Create The Kaleidoscope Effect.

The 1975 novel was first published when the Barbican Estate towers were being built in London (towers completed 1973, 1974 and 1976). Designed in the late 1950s by young architects Chamberlin, Powell and Bon, spent 10 years in construction until its grand opening in 1982. And was granted Granted Grade II listing in September 2001.

There is a strong influence of these there buildings in the book. A land scape that was not yet completed with its sister high rise’s still under development. These buildings can be seen in the film and its posters. 

Concept art on display At the Barbican Centre. Exhibition: In To The Unknown, A Journey Through Science Fiction.
( Visited on 16th June 2017 )

( Image From TheGuardian.com )

The towers are (east to west):

Cromwell Tower, (completed in 1973 – named after Oliver Cromwell). Shakespeare Tower,(completed in 1976 – named after William Shakespeare)  and Lauderdale Tower, (completed in 1974 – named after the Earl of Lauderdale)

At 42 storeys and 123 metres (404 ft) high. The top two or three floors of each block comprise three penthouse flats.

( Image From www.bdcnetwork.com )

The Barbican Estate also contains the Barbican Centre (an arts, drama and business venue), the Barbican public library, the City of London School for Girls, the Museum of London, barbican conservatory and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. The similarities are there but the fiction has never became reality.

Dr. Robert Laing: [voice over] "Ever wanted something more? Ever thought there could be a better way to live free from the shackles of the old, tired world? This development is the culmination of a lifetimes work by esteemed architect, Anthony Royal. The High-Rise has forty floors of luxury apartments filled with every modern convince. Onsite we have a fully stocked super-market, gym facilities, swimming pool, spa, school. There is almost no reason to leave. People from all walks of life are here too. There are many opportunities to make new friends, possibly fall in love. So why not join us? Joins us at the High-Rise."

Film Review: Crimson Peak.

Written by: Guillermo del Toro, Matthew Robbins and Lucinda Coxon

Directed by: Guillermo del Toro
Staring: Mia Wasikowska, Jessica Chastain, Tom Hiddleston, Charlie Hunnam.
Release date: 16th October 2015 (uk)
DVD release date: 15th February 2016 (uk)

Set in 1891, Crimson peak is a gothic romance, horror, staring Mina Wasikowska as Edith Cushing, Tom Hiddleston s Thomas Sharpe and Jessica Chastain as Lucile Sharpe. 
After the death of her father Edith moves from Buffalo, N.Y. to Cumbria England with her new husband Thomas Sharpe, where she is meet with ghosts, murder and incest. 

I'm a bit of horror film addict weather it's a Hollywood movie with a budget or a b movie with pocket money, the darker the better, and the stranger the better.
I got the book "Crimson Peak, The Art Of Darkness" for Christmas and I put off properly reading it until I watched the film, I didn't want to many spoilers.
There was a part of me that was expecting something a little more darker. Had this film been from the the 1980s/90s it would be there.
At different points in the film it had me think, 'are Lucile and Thomas not brother and sister' and then 'Maybe its a bit of a Dorain Grey twist' Not a bad thing that if it keeps you thinking.
But it turned out to be neither.  Instead its a brother and sister how at a young age, well early teens  become sexually involved. You soon see that it is Lucile that has a psychopathic lusting control over Thomas, Having him marry a rich girl once mverd in to their home they slowly pisin them and then when her money or dalry is in their hands she then kills them.
There is a conversation between Lucie and Edith regarding butterflies

EDITH: Is it a butterfly?

LUCILE: No. But it will be soon.

EDITH: Oh, I hadn't seen them. They're dying.

LUCILE: They take their heat from the sun and when it deserts them, they die.

EDITH: That's sad.

LUCILE: No, it's not sad, Edith. It's nature. It's a savage world of things dying or eating each other, right beneath our feet.

EDITH: Surely there's more to it than that.

LUCILE: Beautiful things are fragile. At home, we have only black moths. Formidable creatures, to be sure, but they lack beauty. They thrive on the dark and the cold.

EDITH: What do they feed on?

LUCILE: Butterflies, I'm afraid.

She's almost talking about herself. For she is the black moth that kills the inercent beauty of Thomas's wives. She is the one that thieves in the cold and dark of there world feasting on these who thrive in the warmth.
In one of the final scenes you see that she keeps black moths on her dresser in jars, even though the whole floor where her room is, is surrounded buy them. (she is one) She also has butterflies on a what looks like a bead tree bunch. She keeps a souvenirs form his wives that she has killed and their mother, A lock of hair in a dresses draw. 
When arriving Allerdale Hall in Cumbria Thomas and Edith are greater by a small dog which Thomas says is not theres and it could be from the town as it is a days walk, Yet he is happy to let her keep it, to please his new wife. It then turns out that he used to belong to his late wife. You soon find out that he had left the dog out in the cold to die rather then killing it with his own hands. Nearing the end of the film you hear Lucile kill the dog, before ordering her brother to kill Dr Alan McMichael, ((Charlie Hunnam) Who has traveled to England to warn and save Edith.) Thomas asks the doctor where he should stab him to give him a chance to live, Showing that Thomas has compassion and is not as messed up as his older sister.

The cinematography is good but what struck me was that the film starts in Ameracia, the new world, filled with new opportunities and new money, yet it is film slightly darker then in England which is the old world, old money, (and its Cumbria). Yes its the start of Edith new life with her husband, leaving behind the death of the father, but to me it just seams the wrong way round, considering that it is england that all the ghosts walk. even though it is almost winter and there is snow on the ground, it just seams why to bright.

The first time that you see Sir Thomas Sharpe Baronet, it is the office of Edith's father, Carter Cushing. Where Edith is typing up a story that she has wrote, with in seconds he has notice and read it. I hate this scene it feels as if it is just being read from a page and after thought to add to the film.

THOMAS: Good morning, miss. Forgive the interruption. I have an appointment with Mr. Carter Everett Cushing.

SECRETARY: Goodness. With the great man himself.

THOMAS: I'm afraid so.

EDITH: ---Reading form his card--- "Sir Thomas Sharpe, Baronet."

SECRETARY: He'll be here shortly.

THOMAS: Thank you.

---Edith getting up from the desk and walks around to he other side of the desk---

EDITH: You're not late, are you? He hates that.

THOMAS: Uh, not at all. In fact, I'm a little early.

EDITH: Oh, I'm afraid he hates that, too.

THOMAS: I'm sorry, I don't mean to pry, but this is a piece of fiction, is it not?

EDITH: Yes.

THOMAS: Who are you transcribing this for?

EDITH: It's to be sent to New York tomorrow, to The Atlantic Monthly.

THOMAS: Well, whoever wrote it, it's rather good, don't you think?

EDITH: Really?

THOMAS: It's certainly captured my attention.

EDITH: I wrote it. It's mine.

THOMAS: Ghosts?

EDITH: Well, the ghosts are just a metaphor...

THOMAS: They've always fascinated me. You see, where I come from ghosts are not to be taken lightly.

The ghosts of the wives and the mother are these rich red apparitions half broken bodes and deformed. The red colour comes from the red ore front the mines below the house that these women have died trying to fullfilll the dream of the two Sharpe's to restore their home where the two of them can live. Away from the world.
Other times you see mist shape ghosts walking in the background in the house.

I just kept expecting something more to happen for there to be a darker twist. Pans Labyrinth was a beautify film by  Guillermo del Toro, more of fairy tail for adults, where at the end of Crimson Peak one of my thoughts was it was a bit of teenage horror chick flick. Don't get me wrong its a good film its just lacking something. more fear, darkness, may be a little deeper acting as some times it really did seam as if it was reign read form a book from all of them.

"Ghosts are real. This much, I know. 
There are things that tie them to a place, very much like they do us.
Some remain tethered to a patch of land. A time and date.
The spilling of blood. A terrible crime. But there are others. Others that hold onto an emotion. A drive. Loss. Revenge. Or love. Those, they never go away." 
--- Lady Edith Sharpe.

Film Review: Only Lovers Left Alive.

First aired at the Cannes on 25th May 2013, and released in UK on 21st February 2014.
Staring, Tom Hiddleston, Tilda Swinton, Mia Wasikowska, Anton Yelchin, Jeffrey Wright, Slimane Dazi, and John Hurt.
Writen and directed by Jim Jarmusch

And music by Jozef van Wissem.

This has defiantly become one of my favourite  films for sure, and one of my favourite vampire films.

I have been a fan of Tilda Swinton for a long time. (The white witch of Narnia was lovely and enchanting and the twisted angle Gabrielle in Constantine).

What I love about this film is that it is not like any other vampire story. It dose not have the Dracula influence of lost love and vampire hunters. Its just to true lovers that neither time nor distance can come between them.

This film shows a different state of of vampire life. They don't kill to eat, hey pay doctors at blood banks to quench their thirst. they appreciate everything, art music nature, architecture, the world.

Eve (played by Tilda Swinton) travels for Tangier to Detroit to see her husband Adam (Played by Tom Hiddleston). You see her packing for her flight. Two pieces of hand luggage in each case she is only packing books. You see her choosing from a vast collection through her home, smiling as she looks through each of them, creasing each ageing page that she opens, admiring it. She is the optimist.
Adam’s passion is music an science. Creating his own music, building his own generator, and a web cam out of old dis-used technology. He has a goring collection of string instruments with a knowledge of the history of each. He is the pessimistic one un trusting of even his own wife at times.
John Hurts character Kit or Christopher Marrlow describes Adam as “suidicial romantic scoundrel”
The first time that you see Adam and Eve on screen together there is a reserved want and passion between them.
They refer to the human race as zombies. In a way you could say hat we are compared to these characters. Walking through life regretting, un-realising anything and everything.

When Eve’s sister Ava (played by Mia Wasikowska) turns up you see a completely different energy in her. while Adam and Eve are these reserved couple Ava is almost a rebelling teenage party rebel (even though she is hundreds of years old. After she kills Ian, Adams assistant, and destroying some of his she is thrown out and Adam and Eve are left to make a quick exit form Detroit to Tangier. The sadness of Adam when he has to leave all his instruments behind is almost heart breaking. The way that Eve looks after him is mothering almost.
When they reach Tangier they go to Kit for blood to find that he is dying and that they are now left alone and no way to get blood. they have to result to killing a young couple.

Adam and Eve’s age is never mentioned, apart form they have lived though the middle ages the french inquisition, the why that Adam speaks it is believed that they knew Pythagoras, Galileo, Copernicus, Newton, and Tesla. Eve, when looking a photo of the two of them, she says that it was their third wedding. Every thing suggesting that they are as old as time and that they where the first.
The idea of a vampire can not enter unless invited to them is but a superstition of bad luck, along with garlic. (holy water and crosses are not mentioned but I assume that these are the same), And as for day light, they sleep during the day and travel only at night, keeping with the traditional night dwelling creatures.

It may be another vampire love store but this one, to me is not a teenage vampire film, even though it might seem it due to Tom Hiddleston playing one the leads, its not. The film is deep, almost dark in some ways. It is depicting a single moment in these two lovers existence. showing their passion for the world and each other. The sound track is almost the kind of music you might listen to while high. The sound track I find amazing, almost hypnotising, and relaxing, its beauty.