The V&A's Hollywood Costume Exhibition

Amidst a dark and wintery South Kensington lay a mesmerising collection of iconic Hollywood costumes at the V&A.

The closing night of the phenomenally successful Hollywood Costume exhibition provided a perfect insight into the awe-inspiring world of film costumes.  Set across three galleries, the secrets behind the designs and the relationship between the costume, character and plot were delved into.  Around every corner was a new and beautiful piece to be examined.  Timeless dresses such as Audrey Hepburn's classic black dress and diamond necklace, from the opening of Breakfast at Tiffany's, stood across from Marilyn Monroe's floaty white dress in The Seven Year Itch.   Screens illuminated the walls and ceilings, bringing to life the costumes as they starred in the films.

The stunning collection also included Jack's Sparrow's rugged pirate attire; Anna Karenina's divine burgundy silk gown; Indiana Jones' iconic worn ensemble in Raiders of the Lost Ark; Satine's sparkling, feathered dress from Moulin Rouge; Keira Knightley's gorgeous green silk dress from Atonement and the famous gingham pinafore from The Wizard of Oz.  The open layout of the displays allowed each costume to be viewed up close and every exquisite detail to be treasured.  The exhibition furthermore featured precious costumes from Black Swan, The Matrix, Titanic, The Artist, Gone with the Wind, Sherlock Holmes, Marie Antoinette, Camelot and Star Wars, amongst many other great films.  The stunning ensemble of costumes produced a flawless gateway into each of the films: marking an amazing homage to the artistry of costume design.

"We all want to be the hero of our own story, of our own great passion, but Anna thought love would allow her to break all the rules."

Keira Knightley on Anna Karenina

Amour

"C'est beau."

"Que?"

"La vie."

Amour is the story of an elderly couple, Anne (Emmanuelle Riva) and Georges (Jean-Louis Trintignant), who are each other's world.  When Anne suffers a stroke and begins to show symptoms of both physical and mental deterioration, they are thrown the greatest test.

The leads' performances are outstanding: perfectly capturing the heartache, struggle and disintegration of a couple within their difficult position.  This produces an account that is at once convincing and uncomfortable.  The film's realism is further heightened by long, lingering scenes that create an intimate, but intrusive, portrait of Anne.  There is no doubt that Amour is worthy of each its Academy Award nominations.  But as the situation unfolds, it becomes increasingly difficult to watch and it is impossible to draw pleasure from this perfectly crafted film.

Stylistically and technically, Amour is an incredible piece of cinema, driven by its exceptionally strong leads.  However, Michael Haneke's blunt and uncompromising filmmaking produces an indisputably bleak and depressing picture.

To Catch a Thief (1955)

Alfred Hitchcock presents a romantic thriller, set against a Mediterranean backdrop of the French Riviera which is pierced by sinister tones.

A master thief known as 'The Cat' (Cary Grant) is forced to defend his innocence when a series of jewel thefts that closely resemble his style throw him back into the spotlight.  With the plan of ensnaring the thief, he draws a rich American and her daughter (Grace Kelly) into his elaborate ruses.

Grace Kelly stars as the controlling yet charming Frances Stevens.  Her costumes, by Edith Head, are gorgeous; from her ice blue chiffon gown to her elegant white dress.  Her character is the personification of class and sophistication: leading a high-speed car chase in a stunning sapphire blue Sunbeam Alpine, white driving gloves and heels.  Intuitive and confident, Stevens is a strong leading lady who challenges fashion and indulges in her affluence.  To Catch a Thief also relishes in Hitchcock's effective use of light and shadow, with an iconic firework scene that features beautiful cinematography.  Concluding in a lavish costume party of Marie Antoinette-esque decadence, the film is underlined by deception, suspense and mystery.

A glamorous and intriguing thriller from Alfred Hitchcock.

The New Year's Most Anticipated Films

THE GREAT GATSBY  

17 May

Baz Luhrmann's magical and musical flair promises to produce a contemporary take of the classic novel.  The mysterious Jay Gatsby (Leonardo DiCaprio) throws glamorous parties, but he is haunted by the girl across the bay, played by Carey Mulligan, who he loves and has lost.  Told in the glitzy 1920s, The Great Gatsby is a story of love, lust and betrayal.

CATCHING FIRE  

22 November

The highly anticipated sequel to The Hunger Games returns to the dystopian districts in which Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and Peeta Mellark (Josh Hutcherson) are confronted with the consequences of defying the Capitol.  Forced to compete in a second Hunger Games, they find themselves in a deadly game of revenge and rebellion.

THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG  
13 December

The second part of The Hobbit trilogy continues Tolkien's timeless story, set in the depths of Middle-earth.  Led by the excellent Martin Freeman and Richard Armitage, the dwarves proceed on their quest to the Lonely Mountain to reclaim what has been lost.  With the return of the elves and a greater presence of the dragon Smaug, the second part is set to be a promising continuation.

MAN OF STEEL  

14 June

Zack Synder's new interpretation of Superman returns to the origins of the character; telling the story of a young man struggling with his identity.  Henry Cavill stars as the title hero, who is defined by his iconic cultural presence and eternal idealism.  Christopher Nolan is a producer, which perhaps promises to raise the film to a Dark Knight-esque caliber.  

STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS 
17 May

The return of Star Trek by JJ Abrams delivered a film that perfectly balanced both the classic canon and a fresh originality that won over both new and old audiences.  This year's new film promises to be darker, with identifiable futuristic landscapes and deadlier politics.  Benedict Cumberbatch joins the returning cast of Chris Pine and Zachary Quinto as the deadly and sophisticated villain, who turns on them from the inside.

Rise of the Guardians

Rise of the Guardians is a beautifully animated film about identity, imagination and festive charms.

Jack Frost (Chris Pine) is a young and somewhat lost boy, who leads an invisible existence commanding the elements of winter.  When he is chosen to join the prestigious ranks of the Guardians, the iconic characters of legends who protect the children that still believe in them, Frost finds himself unwillingly drawn into conflict with the villainous Pitch (Jude Law), a dark parallel of Frost's own character.

The film is visually captivating, with showers of sparkling ice and snow beautifully captured with stunning detail.  From the frosting on Jack's hoody through to the glittering sand that is used to both construct and shatter dreams, the outstanding level of animation at once heightens escapism and produces a sense of realism.  This level of detail is also carried throughout the landscape, such as the ice covered lakes, swirling northern lights and the Easter Bunny's rainbow burrow, producing a world that is at once highly engaging and enchanting.

The characters are each confronted with a sense of loss, as their identities are threatened by the children's loss of faith.  This perhaps produces a social critique of children within contemporary society who grow up too soon, while inviting the audience to indulge in a blissful state of youthful innocence and imagination.  The supporting cast of highly entertaining confused elves (who don't actually make Santa's presents... they're just left to think that they do), fluttering baby fairies and eager walking eggs facilitate this by constructing a world that is both entertaining and enchanting.  The sophisticated artistry and themes of childhood imagination will therefore produce nostalgia in an adult audience, allowing the film to have resonance for audiences of all ages.

A very enchanting family film, which will evoke the nostalgia of childhood while drawing you into a fantastical festive landscape; perfect for Christmas.