MONEYBALL

As promised, I have seen MONEYBALL! Before I review this fantastic film, and Brad Pitt's perfect blue eyes, I NEED to discuss the 'Snow White' films' trailers. Snow White and Huntsman looks rather superb with the beautiful and sexy Charlize Theron (as the evil queen) and hearthrobe Tom Hardy (obviously the huntsman), I'm in too good a mood to mention the 'actress' playing Snow White; the fact that Snow White is supposed to be more beautiful than the queen just ADDS insult to injury. Anyway, this looks like a seriously enjoyable fantasy/action flick, and let's be honest, those don't come very often. The other Snow White film looks like a farce. Julia Roberts is ever so charming and Lily Collins is a GREAT Snow White, and the overly stylish set is really quite perfect for a farce... it's supposed to be FUNNY, and satirical, peepsicles, GET THE JOKE! How does it look 'atrocious'? Earthlings these days...

ANYWAY, MONEYBALL is great. As the plot thickens, the pace increases and the drama develops convincingly; the second half of the film is particularly suspenseful and captivating. The script, co-written by Social Network's Aaron Sorkin, is superb. The dialogue is witty and humorous, and REALISTIC. The film itself is not an OVER-THE-TOP, HOLLYWOOD 'underdog' story, it is a simple story of how real people struggle and STRUGGLE to defy the odds and, in may ways, 'change the face of baseball'. There are no melodramatic 'inspirational' speeches, the script is powerful as it doesn't dramatize the story - Brad Pitt and Philip Seymour Hoffman don't have a scene where they kiss and make up - it's all explicitly implied (see what I did there?).

Please put your hands together for OSCAR WINNING ACTOR Brad Pitt... well I hope that's the case anyway. Brad Pitt shows us how underrated he is as  DRAMATIC actor (as in, someone who can do serious dramas). I mean, it's understandable, he's SO GORGE (gorgeous)! Throughout the entire 133 minutes - he NEVER looks bad, which is saying A LOT, considering he wears track pants for most of the film. He displays an extensive range of emotions without ever OVER-ACTING; when he's frustrated he throws something or breaks something (usually a radio) and when he hears his daughter sing, his watery eyes... well, is there a sight as lovely and emotional? And even though his blue eyes pierce through you, you don't see Brad Pitt - you see a manager desperate to win a 'losing' game (and haven't we all been there once... or twice.. or more). The superSTAR disappeares completely and that's why he should take the Oscar home.

BY THE WAY, the girl who plays his daughter has such a clear and sweet voice, neat sub-plot, LOVE IT when a film introduces quirky little details; like Roger Ebert once said, "The more specific a film is, the more universal, because the more it understands individual characters, the more it applies to everyone".

The film is about Baseball, and how Baseball players are like commodities - the most popular players get the highest wages. Brad Pitt's character uses the loop holes of this system and forms a team that includes great, undervalued players. So of course it's a story about defiance, having faith and fighting for what you believe in, but for me - it is so much more. Like Baseball players, the things that matter in life only matter because we care about them and is that really so bad? I mean, yes, the system works - the stastical way of choosing players changes Baseball, but no team gets to hog the championship year after year. So really, the BEST may not be the most popular, but then again, what is the best?

P.S. Jonah Hill is quite charming as the nerdy economist/analyst.... actually, the whole cast is wonderful (and oh don't forget the 'players' hehe). ALSO, I adore the use of real footages -sweet touch! OMG WHAT THE HUNTSMAN IS CHRIS HEMSWORTH, ok now the movie just went down a few places on my list... thank you  HOLLYWOOD, thanks!

CONTAGION

Greetings!
Yes, as promised, I have seen CONTAGION, and my god... I LOVE it! I tend to like these 'civilisation in crisis' films (for example, THE DAY AFTER TOMORROW), but they're usually not well made. I mean, they tend to be melodramatic and not very 'involving'. CONTAGION, with its superb cast, is THRILLING and emotionally involving... we actually care about the characters, especially Kate Winslet's character... that woman!

UNFORTUNATELY, I did miss the first 20 minutes or so... not that it matters too much, but apparently I missed an interesting montage and an autopsy, DARN! Also, I would like to say that the WATER bottle that I bought was WAY over-priced... seriously, we need to do something about this! Okay, back on track. It's not that Contagion does anything 'new', it's that the director has deadly precision and the film is well paced. As the film progresses, we become more and more involved, and whilst we are enticed by every scene - we can't help but wonder 'what will happen next?' I think the film is 'scary' in that it hits close to home, we (well, I) have lived through the H1N1 and the Swine Flu outbreaks... I still remember how paranoid I was... it's justified - I was In Asia during the H1N1 outbreak.

There is really no point in discussing the plot, which is actually EXTREMELY tight and the 'exposition' scenes are cut short - ensuring no boredom. Whilst the film is about an EPIDEMIC, the dim lighting makes us feel claustrophobic and trapped, and the 'rumbling' music further carries this tension and momentum. As said,  the film is very well casted, oh AND some people have been slamming Jude Law for his Australian accent, yes, it is half British- Half Australian, BUT some people do speak like that (I would know, I live in Australia). The cast manages to forge an emotional connection with the audience (we empathise with and worry for MOST of them) within relatively short screen time, and that is another feature that DISTINGUISHES this 'disaster' film [from others].

Lastly, the film has a great balance of the good, the bad and even the ugly. No melodrama here.

I think if I had to rate it I would give it 8/8.5, but if I based this rating on how much I enjoyed it... probably a 9 or a 10... yes, I'm indecisive, DEAL WITH IT!

P.S. when was the last time you washed your hands? Actually, has anyone touched you or coughed in your presence in the last ten days? If yes... oooh. Be afraid, be very afraid.

Shining... shining... shining

FREE AT LAST! Well hello BEAUTIFUL READERS, it is time to start posting again! AND NOW THAT I AM FREED OF MY HUMAN BONDS... I'm kidding, I'm not CALYPSO, but I am FREE! Now, hopefully, in the next few weeks - I will be able to watch MONEYBALL and CONTAGION (AT LEAST), and if I'm fortunate... perhaps IDES OF MARCH and who knows... that's about it. A VERY BUSY 2 WEEKS.

I need to CATCH UP with all my 'pet projects'. I believe I am two months behind with the PSYCHO project and I don't know... I'm totally lost! ANYWAY, let me think of some 'cinematic' psychos... I would name myself, but I haven't really done anything THAT psychotic yet. Or have I? Hehe. Okay, can't. SO, let's just talk about something else.

OH  I just want to say that I was TOTALLY RIGHT, Viola Davis and Octavia Spencer are on EVERY critic's predictions' list... I can hear the bells, OSCAR bells are ringin'... now I'm quoting Hairspray, I need to be sedated. OKAY, we need to find a topic and STAY ON IT... THE SHINING.

The SHINING is a thriller/horror adapated from Stephen King's novel of the same name (I feel so WIKIPEDIA, except reliable... or am I?). Stephen King says that it's the ONLY [cinematic] adaptation of one of his novels that he remembers 'hating'... yeah, well I see why. NO, THE FILM IS GREAT. OVERWHELMING, like Misery, but quite great. However, I see why he hates it. It's 'unfaithful' to the source material and, in my opinion, is superior to the novel. I haven't actually read it, I can't even finish CARRIE... his writing style isn't super compelling for me, but from my 'research' (yes I don't just pull things out of my back pocket) the gist of the novel seems to be 'family haunted by the OVERLOOK hotel and one of them is driven to madness [and befriends an axe]'. The film is more complicated and multi-layered. It's not just a ghost story or perhaps it is...

I really hate talking about the plot, but in this case WE HAVE TO. Basically, a family is hired to take care of the hotel over Winter (five months in an empty hotel... oh yeah, what a WARM holiday). The Dad has a history of acoholism and the son has an imaginary friend - very normal family. There are things that we KNOW to be true, because one of the characters can be considered quite reliable. So the boy has 'psychic' powers... so what, doesn't mean that everything he sees is TRUE. They see things because, well, they EXPECT TO. The hotel has a rather dark history... empty hotel associated with a dead axe-murderer, wouldn't living in a place like that drive you a little crazy, just a LITTLE. I mean it's SPACIOUS, it's quiet, it's isolated... it's eerie and creepy, maybe you'd imagine a few ghosts just to fill the space. Once again, I don't know, I stay away from places like that.

See what I mean? Questionable, questionable images. I mean honestly, how many people would you need to kill to get that MUCH blood. HONESTLY.

So if you haven't guessed, the film is about 'external forces' stirring our inner evil, yes very MACBETH. I mean that ties very well with the acoholism theme, and it builds upon Stephen King's original idea. I mean, yes, being haunted could actually drive you mad... but isn't it more interesting to look at JACK TORRANCE (wonderfully psychotic, and of course who is MORE creepy than Jack Nicholson) swinging his axe around and REALISE that he exists in all of us. Though I do support Stephen King in questioning the casting of Jack Nicholson, because twenty minutes in and  his eyes are already lit with murderous intentions. I mean, it's not his fault - he's naturally creepy, but someone more 'ordinary' would have strengthened the story. Though, he did the 'creepily silent' and overly 'psychotic' scenes well, I mean he brings so much conviction to the 'psychotic' side of the character.

Of course my favourite line in the film is 'Come play with us danny... for ever, and ever, and ever.' ... not creepy AT ALL. Okay I'm going to stop, I keep feeling like a hand is going is stretch out from under my bed and GRAB me...

P.S. Oh readers, come play with me... and stay for ever, and ever, and ever...

IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY trailer AT LONG LAST

Can't sleep. So I'm on Youtube, watching TRAILERS and then I thought 'hehe, let's type in IN THE LAND OF BLOOD AND HONEY' for fun. It's funny, really. I've been tracking it for months and just when I stopped... it's a JOLIE miracle! Jolly, get it... oh never mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dU0Gx3ArJg

That's the link if you haven't seen it!!! I'll just briefly note my impression of it. For some reason, there's a hint of 'Clint Eastwood', which is plausible - he did direct one of her best films (CHANGELING). Also The trailer is quite classy, in terms of the set up. Red writing , white background... you can't go wrong (unless the words say Twilight Saga). The music is great too, and it varies quite extensively over the 2 minutes (or so), projecting different shades and atmospheres. So, naturally, the film seems, THANK GOD, complicated and provocative. There's that RAW, GRIM and MORALLY AMBIGUOUS layer, and then there's the 'SIMPLE' LOVE STORY... lots of pain and a hint of joy. If the film is as the trailer advertises, it will be great... if I'm right, which I doubt I'm not, the film will show the MACRO scope of war, but really accentuates the intimate emotions. Basically, the perfect formula. If done right we will hear this  'and the Oscar nominations for best director include ... ANGELINA JOLIE'.

FINGERS CROSSED! Another thing is it really doesn't look like a melodrama, and I hope it isn't. Sure there's crying and screaming, but there are 'subtle' and 'quiet' moments where an expression tells you everything. The performances are quite compelling... so far... and the English is perfectly understandable (the accent is actually rather nice).

Anyway, I LOVE Angelina Jolie and I TRULY HOPE this will be a great film. I have a feeling it will divide opinions, as truly provocative films should. Bottom line, loving the trailer and ULTRA SUPER PROUD of Angelina Jolie (we're not friends HUHU, but might as well be hehe).

The Help

Touching. Quite touching, indeed.

Some critics have critacised the film for glossing over its racial themes. I disagree. Although these themes are not EXPLICITLY explored, they are not omitted or sugar-coated, well, not SIGNIFICANTLY glossed. Some scenes made me feel quite uneasy - the film can be morbid, especially in the early scenes. Bryce Dallas Howard's confident portrayal of the COCKY ringleader constantly reminds us of the context, Jackson, Mississippi, circa early '60s. The coloured were powerless and that cocky witch (give and take a letter) held the power. This film runs for ONE HUNDRED AND FORTY SIX minutes, no one is going to sit there and watch hopeless tales of coloured maids for that amount of time... not even me.

So naturally, this film is inspirational. I'm very glad that it isn't IN YOUR FACE inspirational, and this can be credited to the script and the superb cast. The lovely Emma Stone is great as the generous, intelligent and rebellious journalist. Viola Davis is perfect as the reserved Aibileen - maid of an AIR head, who doesn't love her OWN daughter just because she isn't beautiful, BOO. I love Octavia Spencer! She is divine as the outspoken MINNY (her comic timing is SPOT ON). Though I would have liked more time with STONE, I hear the OSCAR bells ringing... what is it... VIOLA DAVIS. Oh yes, her much needed kartharsis at the end... "you're a godless woman!" AMEN!

Needless to say, the supporting cast is effective. Sissy Spacek (SPARK-ET) brings a spicy, edgy spark to her character... pun intended. Jessica Chastain with her Marilyn Monroe-ness is adorable as the naive Celia, the only one with a decent ... let's say aesthetically pleasing... husband, proving that aside from Skeeter (Stone) there are other decent white people.

Celia is naive and Skeeter is intelligent, but they're both generous to the coloured because they are not trapped in the typical white mindset [of the time]. They are ACTUALLY grateful for THE HELP from these people. This is why the film is great, it's not simply WHITE VERSUS COLOURED where WHITE is the villain; it's a misunderstanding. Hilly (Howard) truly believes in what she is fighting for... even though her concern is rather illogical; basically, she wants to preserve her way of living and frankly we all want that stability. HOWEVER, stepping on the backs of others and treating them as sub-human... I don't know. And that, ladies and gentlemen, is in NO WAY 'glossy'.

At the end of the day, Skeeter's best-selling novel is insignificant. It reminds her mother of courage, and liberates Minny and Aibileen, but it is not a major milestone for social equality. Of course, we can't help but feel inspired because somethings ARE worth fighting for. However, we NEVER forget that this was only a patch of sunshine [for several characters] and that there were many [others] still trapped under the shadow of Jackson, Mississippi.

P.S. I really wanted to cry but I couldn't, although I almost did... someone with a heart would have cried.

Psychotic Angelina Jolie

Yes, this is the August instalment of the PSYCHO PROJECT. This month I will discuss Angelina Jolie's LISA ROWE (Girl, Interrupted). The film is quite good and [thought] provocative, but Angelina Jolie steals the spotlight and the audience simply waits and yearns for HER compelling presence. I'm not sure if Lisa Rowe is really insane or psychotic, but she is wild and too truthful (yes, lies are necessary sometimes). Let's say she has an affair with INSANITY and she lives on the edge, but we can't help but be absolutely enthralled by this lifer. She loves attention, but can you blame her???

 Of course ANGELINA JOLIE won an Oscar for this fascinating role; she was born to embody Lisa Rowe. Actually she's excellent with these 'extreme' characters (GIA is amazing). Anyway, this character has GREAT quotes [and since she wears her heart on her sleeve, her quotes tell us EVERYTHING], and here are the EXTRA SPECIAL ONES:

"You know, there's too many buttons in the world. There's too many buttons and they're just- There's way too many just begging to be pressed,they're just begging to be pressed,you know? They're just - they're just begging to be pressed, and it makes me wonder, it really makes me f****** wonder, why doesn't anyone ever press mine? Why am I so neglected? Why doesn't anyone reach in and rip out the truth and tell me that I'm a f****** whore, or that my parents wish I were dead?"

Quite the potty mouth isn't she? Another reason why Angelina Jolie is perfect, her swearing is indescribably expressive and effective.

"Help me understand, Dais 'cause, I thought you didn't do Valium. Tell me how this safety net is working for you. Tell me that you don't take that blade and drag it across your skin and pray for the courage to press down. Tell me how your *daddy* helps you cope with that. Illuminate me."

"Playing the villain, baby, just like you want. I try to give you everything you want."

"You wanted your file, I found you your file. You wanted out, I got you out. You needed *money*, *I* found you some. I'm f****** consistent-I told you the truth-I didn't write it down in a *f****** book*! I told you to your *face*. And I told Daisy to her face - what everybody knew and wouldn't say, and she killed herself. And I played the f****** villain, just like you wanted."

"Look, she gave your husband a rim job. Big f*****' deal! I'm sure he was begging for it, and I heard it was like a pencil anyway."

OKAY I think that's enough. Even if she isn't TRULY psychotic, she sure does ACT it. At the very least, she wants to pretend as though she is as CRAZY as they come, it's a great way to attract attention. I would know.

 She is a breath of fresh air that we are afraid to inhale, but we're too captivated to turn away. She's naturally intimidating and we fear her, especially in the scene where she chases Susanna (Winona Ryder) OR the one where she jams the door [with a chair] and attacks Susanna... is it wrong that I find her somewhat inspirational? Only a GREAT actress could make the audience admire (rather than just PITY or FEAR) Lisa Rowe, and yet Angelina Jolie DOES NOT have a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Who's the insane one? HUH?

P.S. Watch GIA. Hauntingly beautiful and beautifully haunting.

Jane Eyre

An alluring/seductive adaptation of the novel.

It's a shame that this film has only raked in thirteen million dollars at the box office; I feel that this adaptation of Jane Eyre could be somewhat mainstream. It's directed with a fiery, modern touch and yet manages to seduce us with the authenticity of a by-gone era. The cinematography and set-designs are not gloriously beautiful, but rather naturally beautiful. I mean, you could examine all the features of the gothic castle without feeling as though your eyes are under attack (that's the best way I can describe it, don't understand? GO WATCH IT YOURSELF... not online, at the CINEMAS... yeah remember that place with... I digress).

The casting is simply superb. Dame Judi Dench is perfect as the hospitable housekeeper, who I reckon has a bit of a 'crush' on Mr. Rochester, but who can blame her. This great performance paints not ONLY a chirpy, old English housekeeper, but rather a faithful servant with true HUMAN desires and concerns. Marvellous.

Mia Wasikowska (made in Australia), you'll remember her as the leading lady of Tim Burton's Alice In Wonderland, is quite likeable as Jane. She isn't radiantly gorgeous and the make-up in this film makes her 'plain', as it should be, but she seems quite intelligent... her eyes subtly hint the vulnerability charactersistic of a mistreated orphan. Her popularity, inside-joke- makes perfect sense. Some people, I can't remember who, think she's not passionate enough as Jane, just because she's not melodramatic, it doesn't mean that her dialogue/portrayal lacks emotions.... in fact, on the contrary, she hits the dramatic arc.

Anyway, to my favourite feature of the film... MICHAEL FASSBENDER as the peculiar Mr. Rochester. He is simply dreamy. He is so DREAMY! I could barely breathe in some scenes. His eyes and his deep, warm voice... oh that gaze! I'm dying, yes I am!!! His sarcastic/hurtful lines are well delivered, his corny lines are seriously delivered, yes, you may laugh, but you NEVER doubt his sincerity... his ROMANTIC lines... I mean Mia Wasikowska deserves some sort of award for her ability to not faint in these scenes! I mean I'm absolutely jealous of her, but they have EXPLOSIVE chemistry... okay, no spoilers...

Another accessible feature of this adaptation is its wonderful sense of humour ,sometimes, not necessarily intentional. I'll let you find out for yourself.

To conclude, the film hints a 'darker' side [to it], but never trails into this rocky path, and risk falling into the genre of MELODRAMA. Oh ALMOST FORGOT! Final praise for the director, he knows exactly what this film should be, and when the film's creepy/eerie atmosphere loses its effect, he casually tosses it in the trash (unlike some... *cough cough* SHUTTER ISLAND... I'm kidding, sort of, I haven't finished watching it). This adaptation is as accessible to the audience as the great new show DOWNTON ABBEY ... maybe even more so, as Jane Eyre has an undeniable fire that compels us (no pun intended, although not a bad pun).

P.S. You can see that I've included MANY photos; it's obvious that I'm one of the film's advertisers (KIDDING... wish I was).

THE DARK KNIGHT

Yes, I know I KNOW that everyone has seen the DARK KNIGHT, loves it and worships CHRIS NOLAN. Point is, it's the best film yet in the BATMAN franchise! Was it nominated for Oscars? Of course. Was it nominated for Best Picture? WHY NOT?

It was a VERY TIGHT YEAR; you know it's crowded when CHANGELING and DOUBT weren't even nominated for Best Picture. Even in the Best Actress category, it was crowded. Of course it was really down to Kate Winslet (The Reader) and Angelina Jolie (Changeling), not that Meryl Streep's portrayal of a strict Catholic nun wasn't pitch perfect (I'm serious, I've seen DOUBT a million times... it's amazing). I haven't seen Melissa Leo's FROZEN RIVER and Anne Hathaway's RACHEL GETTING MARRIED, but their performances look quite riveting. POINT IS, crowded year, and guess who won... SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE (BOO)! I'm sorry but I've never 'warmed' up to that film, and CHANGELING is one of my all time favourites (but it wasn't... I DIGRESS). Point is (I keep drifting off the darn point, gosh), I thought BENJAMIN BUTTON should've won. PERIOD.

Back to my ORIGINAL POINT, The Dark Knight missed out (as many other great films did). After that year, the Oscars extended its Best Picture's nominees list to 10 slots (instead of 5), but now they're changing the rules again. So poor Harry Potter may not be able steal a nomination, BUT I SWEAR TO GOD IF ALAN RICKMAN ISN'T NOMINATED... good air in, bad air out.

Anyway, this POST is about the greatness of THE DARK KNIGHT. Since everyone has seen it, I'd like to highlight three things that affected ME most (I'm egocentric that way... suck it up)!

Heath Ledger's (R.I.P) performance as the maniacal JOKER is simply perfect. He lives to see the world burn, and aside from the make-up and those lips *shudder* you can SEE the FIRE in his eyes. Ledger truly embodies this crazy clown, and him wearing a NURSE's uniform... too funny. Even his accent is in character and the way he enunciates words... and how could I forget, his forced laugh 'oh hee ha ha oh hee'. I'm glad that Oscar went to him or I would have to write a whole other post to express my... 'displeasure'.

The scene of the two ferries restored my hope in humanity, what little hope the film's 'terrifying' atmosphere had initally SQUASHED.

Lastly (OF COURSE), the wonderfully shot action scenes. Chris Nolan has a REAL talent for filming adrenaline-inducing action scenes, his chase scenes are quite authentic and thus VERY enjoyable. I mean when I watched it last night, I had to STAND and watch (when it came to these scenes). The Batmobile and all those gears... they never lose their lustre do they? I think that's why Batman is my favourite superhero. Needless to say, the cast is superb. Especially since they replaced Katie Holmes with Maggie Gyllenhal, thank god or I would have had to simultaneously watch and vomit. Oh Heath Ledger WOW, oh Katie Holmes WHERE'S MY BAG? I NEED A BAG!

P.S. I don't care what people say, CHRISTIAN BALE is the perfect batman. Why? Have you seen him with a shirt off (and not just that)? Point is, if the new Batman film (coming out next year?) is just as great, I'll be very very VERY pleased.

AND ALL THAT JAZZ!

YES, I am aware that CHICAGO was released way back in 2002 (prior to the loss of my innocence... long story), but I NEED TO REVIEW THIS MUSICAL. YES, I love it THAT much! MOULIN ROUGE! is the only other musical film in the same league, of course I haven't seen Cabaret, the Sound of Music and Mary Poppins... MY GOD, shame on me. Dream Girls... delightful, love Jennifer Hudson, but er... not in the same league.

ANYWAY, this review is all about CHICAGO! As per usual, I will first praise/trash the cast. This cast is DIVINE, SUPREME and ALL THAT JAZZ. Renee Zellweger is perfect as the 'pretty blonde' who is obsessed/infatuated with fame and 'performing'; it's sad that I can intimately connect with her... only says too much about me, hehe. Richard Gere is SPOT ON as the cocky and manipulative lawyer and the sexy CATHERINE ZETA JONES is only too great as the one and only VELMA KELLY (no wonder she won an oscar for this role). Queen Latifah's pitch perfect (in everyway) delivery of 'When You're Good To Mama' deserves a special mention; oh she is definitely the "biggest mother hen"!

The musical numbers and the choreography truly set the BENCHMARK for musicals; exciting and, when appropriate, sombre. The film simultaneously illustrates Chicago, circa 1924, and Roxie's (Zellweger) glamourised version of life; the great thing is that in both worlds, life is fickle and no one can independently scab more than fifteen minutes of fame... it seems things never change.

The costumes are beautiful and the cinematography pleasures and seduces the eyes. Oh almost forgot, John C. Reilly's rendition of 'Mister Cellophane' succintly conveys his humiliation and vulnerability; it is indeed effective acting. I think that's why I love this film, it is able to mesmerise us with the sparkles, but touches us (not in a weird way, well... I digress) as it emphasises the vulnerability that lives within each and everyone of us. Even the glamorous Velma Kelly has her moments of 'ripped stocking' (no, not in a good way). The line 'nothing stays in fifty years or so it's gonna change, you know', from the wonderfully catchy song NOWADAYS, pin-points the film's message - life is fragile and ever-changing. Yes, APPRECIATE IT!

Taye Diggs' occasional commentary (in Roxie's version of life, where she perceives life as an on-going act... I hope I'm CLEAR) is a nice touch, reminds me of the 'master of ceremonies' in Cabaret... yes I've at least seen the trailer.

Bottom line: before you rush out to LEGALLY rent/purchase the OFFICIAL DVD, be prepared to be RAZZLE DAZZLED!

P.S. please do take notice of my the song titles that I implemented as part of my review!

No EMMY LOVE for Sandra Oh!?

I know this blog is supposed to be about films, so I'll make this post short.

OMFG ARE YOU SERIOUS? COME ON! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU VOTERS!? OMG DID YOU ALL FORGET HOW TO TICK THE SANDRA OH BOX OR WRITE HER NAME!? What is wrong with you people!?

This is TWO YEARS in a row that Sandra Oh's Cristina Yang (GREY'S ANATOMY!!!) has been snubbed by the EMMY! In this season, Sandra Oh does not only portray her original Cristina (witty, BAD-ASS and sarcastic, but somewhat LIKEABLE); she EXCELS at conveying a scared and 'ruined' Cristina that suffers from PTSD (post traumatic STRESS disorder). A TERRIFYING DISORDER, even if the EMMYS keep going like this... it won't be traumatic ENOUGH for me to get PTSD. YES, It is THAT terrifying!

I AM TRULY DISGUSTED AND HORRIFIED THAT... THAT TRUTHFUL CONVEYANCE OF PTSD COULD BE SNUBBED AND FORGOTTEN BY EMMY VOTERS! Not many actresses TODAY could give such a refined and accurate depiction that is neither TOO NUMB nor TOO MELODRAMATIC.

Once again I'm horrified and VERY VERY VERY VERY SAD that the Emmy voters do this to me A SECOND TIME. THIS IS WHY I STICK TO THE FREAKEN OSCARS! UGHHH
ARGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

P.S. I AM EXERCISING SELF CONTROL... ALL THE UGH SELF CONTROL THAT I POSSESS, OR ELSE THE SCREEN WOULD BE LIT WITH THE MOST INCREDIBLE AND PAINFUL INSULTS!

Harry Potter, goodbye?

Out of the eight films, this one is BY FAR the darkest and most brutal; it stirs our minds and overwhelms us with a mixture of grief and satisfaction.

Before we do anything, you must know that I LOVE the Harry Potter novels. This is probably why it's especially difficult to 'critique' this film, because I can't judge the film ON ITS own; its loyalty to the novel is EVERYTHING to me. That being said, I am quite 'pleased' with this final instalment.

Warning: this review will be quite long (not tedious)... so IMPERIO! [I'm FORCING you to read the whole review, just so you know]

Alan RICKMAN's portrayal of the morally ambiguous Severus SNAPE has always been excellent, and his final scenes are simply perfect; his eyes and voice are indescribably emotive. His screen time is limited, but time isn't that great a factor when you're the great Alan Rickman; a simple "always" conveys emotions as great as ... I don't want to spoil anything for those who don't read the novels. My point is, Alan Rickman is the perfect Severus Snape; I'll be thrilled if this fascinating character grants Rickman his FIRST Oscar nomination! Yes, he'll definitely be the NEXT to join my HOW AM I OSCAR-LESS? list.

Back on track with... Maggie Smith! Do I need to elaborate? The camera somehow finds its way back to her... her grim expressions... her childish laughter... her undeniable authority. McGonagall, in some ways, has been Harry's 'safety net' [especially in the novels] and she's here till the end; in the same way that Harry turns to McGonagall [for help], the audience turns to her for her emotive response. We love Maggie Smith because she EMBODIES McGonagall, and because... well you know (and this film will truly remind you)!

Helena Bonham Carter is obviously perfect as the perfectly bizarre Bellatrix (yes that creep that kills everyone). OH MY GOD, I know why she has so little screen time-they cut a huge part out! Moving on, Carter playing Hermione pretending to be Bellatrix is WOW-absolutely SPOT ON [in character] and WILDLY entertaining. PERHAPS, if she has MORE screen time... I digress. HOWEVER, the BELLATRIX VS. MOLLY scenes(s) are WAY TOO SHORT... seriously, the Voldemort vs. Harry showdown isn't the only one people want to see!!!

Now... time to discuss the scenes! The 'King's Cross station' scene is quite superb, even though they forget to highlight THAT Pettigrew used Harry's blood to resurrect Voldemort (even so, he's missing huge chunks of his nose hehe). Michael Gambon is actually IN the reserved and cheerful character of Dumbledore in this scene, HALLELUJAH! This film truly brings out the best in the actors, especially Daniel Radcliffe (who is especially great in the 'King's Cross' scene and the few scenes prior to that). Oh, Emma Watson...yes, let's say she stimulates my tear ducts . Actually, A LOT of scenes stand out... so I will stop naming examples.

HOWEVER, I have to mention the Narcissa-Harry scene, for some strange reason the 'maternal instinct' that Narcissa displays really affects me. Strange.

Similar to the Deathly Hallows: Part 1, this film is SUPER theatrical (which maximises the suspense). Though, I must say, dramatisation of certain scenes is 'a little too much'. I think this is my problem with the film, it's so EPIC that sometimes it forgets the 'small and intimate' scenes. HOWEVER, those 'small and intimate' scenes still play a major role in this film, which is why I'm 'pleased'. Do I have to mention the special effects? There's really no point mentioning an element that's been perfected, which is why there is no need to mention the music and cinematography.

Like I said, the film is EPIC and the pace is VERY FAST, which makes us appreciate the power of those 'quiet' scenes. The film is quite overwhelming, but it shows us the war that this is. It is a war, people (in this case, wizards and witches) die and there is nothing triumphant about that. The film's solemn tone is relieved by the perfect 'implementation' of humour, but it never lets the audience forget that this is a war, and when the war ends... we are simply satisfied, not overwhelmed with joy.  

ONE FINAL THING is the final showdown between Voldemort and Harry, these scenes are dramatised to THE MAX (so to say). THAT being said, the 'final' wand duel is quite intimate and is marvelously powerful. I would like to mention that it is VERY VERY VERY VERY DISAPPOINTING that they omit the scene where harry repairs 'pheonix feather' wand, I AM DISGUSTED! That scene would take... 30 seconds... UGH!

Yes, they do omit scenes and some scenes are TOO dramatised and theatrical, BUT the great lines [from the novel] are not omitted (they may have omitted a few, I'm not sure). Also, this 'blood bath' is not glorified... some of those characters that we hold in our hearts die; this end is not in anyway WONDERFUL, it is simply APPROPRIATE. Harry Potter doesn't go out with a BANG, it ends with the RIGHT bangs.

This isn't goodbye, not really. I'll grow old, but I'll never grow up and Harry Potter will never die. NO MATTER how many no-nose Voldermorts 'growing old' will bring.

J.K. Rowling, thank you for painting our hearts with this world and these characters.

P.S. Even with the film being extremely 'BUSY', some scenes still manage to draw drops of tears from my eyes, and that deserves a round of applause.

DEADLY scenes!

I'm sure (well, pretty sure) that everyone enjoys a well co-ordinated fight scene; a scene that is exciting and adrenaline-rushing! THE BEST FIGHT SCENE EVER (in my opinion) is the one between Michelle Yeoh and Ziyi Zhang in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon, the stunts are clear and easy to follow, and the 'sword' play is absolutely compelling! I say 'sword' because Michelle Yeoh changes her weapon every minute or so, which is why this scene is so original, authentic and EXTRAORDINARY.

See for yourself!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9OxQ-2gR1DU

Spoilers Alert? I guess... NOT IN THE ACTUAL REVIEW, but in the links...

What people also love are bad-ass KILLS! And this is why Angelina Jolie's Salt truly entertains me:

The first scene is an example of 'extreme glassing'... oh yeah!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3OAzr_YnA1Q

The second... the most DEADLY use of a hand-cuff! This is (once again, in my opinion) THE BEST KILL... AHHHHHH love Angelina Jolie SO MUCH!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CrzdB0ickqc

P.S. IF YOU INTEND TO FULLY ENJOY SALT... maybe you shouldn't see those scenes!

Bi Oi, Dung So (Bi, Don't Be Afraid)

Bold, beautiful and provocative.

This film aims to draw emotions and it does EXACTLY that... the ending is strangely inconclusive, but who cares. The cinematography and the setting [of the natural beauty of the countryside of Vietnam] are simply perfect, and they force the audience to FEEL.

Unlike traditional Vietnamese films, this one is fearless, it isn't afraid to show 'flesh' to create the desired effect. The intimate scenes are quite explicit, but their purpose (to provoke) is always fulfilled. Unlike the intimate scenes, the 'truly' sombre scenes are subtle; that is, the sadness is conveyed by quiet expressions and soft cries NOT melodramatic tantrums. I say 'truly' because the 'grey-blue' lighting that persists throughout the film establishes a 'constant' sombre atmosphere.

To wrap it up, the film honestly portrays life, a family and its constituents (three of which are VERY sexual beings). I wonder why it's named 'Bi, Don't Be Afraid', perhaps he has nothing to be afraid of because he's 'emotionally' oblivious to the 'terrors' of the world.

Once again, one of those films that I can't rate.

P.S. You'll ONLY enjoy it if you enjoy films that FORCE you to FEEL. Otherwise the plot and the potentially powerful romance feel completely incomplete.

A QUICK review: PRINCESS MONONOKE

Everyone knows Miyazaki? Well, for those few that DON'T, Miyazaki is one of the greatest and most influential animators of OUR time; two of his MANY great films: Spirited Away (2001) and Howl's Moving Castle (2004), which I still need to SEE, were each nominated for an Oscar (for best animated feature) and Spirited Away actually WON! Phew.. thank heavens! 

Princess Mononoke (1997) is another one of Miyazaki's visionary films. The animation, needless to say, is divine... especially the 'forest spirit' [and its transformations]. A great thing about Miyazaki is that his DEMONS actually freak me out, in this film demons are covered in worm-like things that constantly wriggle... gross; also, he's not afraid to 'use' blood to give the audience that extra 'thrill' that we are thirsty for! 

It is AN imaginative and out-of-this-world film that captures the strange relationship between US and the ENVIRONMENT! Oh forgot about the characters... the protagonists are simply likeable (and BEAUTIFULLY drawn) and that's all you need to know (thank HEAVENS, the romance was not a big storyline... very cute though... and not at all 'Disney' or 'Titanic'). LASTLY, not a BLACK and WHITE story because if we hate the humans then we'd be hating ourselves... and most of us are too proud to do that. Great 'food for thought'!

Final Verdict: I can't rate it; it's just one of those movies you don't rate. It's too unconventional to be framed in a score out of ten. WATCH it with a FRESH mind and you'll love it!

P.S. Think of it this way, it's the THREE-DIMENSIONAL version of AVATAR (not that I don't love AVATAR for what it is). IT'S TRADITIONAL ANIMATION... don't get confused... I'm referring to the storyline not the visual!

BRIDESMAIDS

Simply HILARIOUS!

I guess the humour is 'crude' and sex-oriented, but it's really funny!

Kristen Wiig is truly fabulous as the awkward and inappropriately truthful Annie, who is both smart and very likeable! Her 'physical' comedy (I think can be called slapstick) is so funny, espescially the scene on the plane. 'Drunk' women are funny, but this woman when drunk just makes you laugh extremely loud! She BAKES, in all the reviews that I have read (yes, I do read other people's reviews) I do not recall anyone mentioning her BAKING SKILLS, personally I think that's a nice touch to her character.

Two other performances that REALLY stand out (I say REALLY because the whole ensemble is quite great) are given by Rose Byrne and Melissa McCarthy. Helen (Rose Byrne) is that OVERLY nice person who flaunts her wealth and connections and tries SO HARD to please everyone, and somehow... I like her! Megan (Melissa McCarthy) is just likeable, she's frank and she's inappropriate... when she crudely said 'I'm going to climb that like a tree' I cracked up!

This film has a plot! Yes, what a miracle. This is a romantic-COMEDY with a heart or whatever, so you'll be sucked in. OH FORGOT TO MENTION, Jon Hamm (from the great show MAD MEN) plays a perfect douche that is so douche-y that you just want to... I digress, point is, he's very funny!

If you can take a bit of swearing and you enjoy those 'dirtier' jokes AND physical humour cracks you up OR you just like an ORIGINAL romantic-COMEDY. This film is for you!

Final Verdict: 8.5 OR 9/10 I'm indecisive that way!

P.S. If you LOVED HangOVER you'll love this too...

Kung Fu Panda 2!

An action-packed sequel that manages to sustain the warmth and humour of its predecessor.

Now... I LOVED the first KUNG FU PANDA, it's one of my favourite animated films, it's fast-paced, hilarious and 'tear jerking' (well, I started to tear up in certain scenes). The sequel is similar. However, its extremely fast pace can be rather draining, which is why we greatly appreciate the calmly paced scenes [of character development]. I'm glad, the film allocates time for the 'emotional journeys'; the 'expected' adoption [of Po] storyline is especially well handled and my eyes definitely got watery in ALL those parent-child bonding scenes (no point denying that). The 'inner peace' issue is a rather nice touch, and is nicely integrated with the demise of lord SHEN, who obviously is a stranger to peace.

Every 'adventure' film NEEDS a villain and Gary Oldman's Lord Shen (the evil peacock) is an interesting villain; he's ruthless, scarred, and 'dead inside', but unlike Tai Lung (of the first film) Shen is NOT a Kung Fu prodigy. All that he has are flashy 'moves', SHARP metal talons, a band of barbaric minions (wolves and gorillas), a secret weapon, which is really just gun powder, and a bunch of hilarious and rehearsed lines; so, I'd say he's your typical sinister war lord... a nice surprise indeed!

Another interesting addition to the cast is Michelle Yeoh (the soothsayer); her 'chemistry' with/ hunger for Shen's silk robe is rather funny and she is essential in binding the destinies of our hero, Po, and lord Shen. In a way, she helps her prophecy come true... so YAY!

Other great voices are from the original cast... Jack Black, Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman obviously get the BULK of the lines, but Lucy Liu (viper)'s line 'Po has DADDY issues' is just too funny to not mention. On another note, Po (Black) and Tigress (Jolie) are 'getting to know' each other... oh yes.

The film is a perfect blend of spectacular computer animations and beautiful [traditionally] drawn animation (for the flashbacks). The action sequences and humour become even more 'accessible' (especially the humour) as the film progresses, and that is 'greatness' indeed.

To wrap this up, if you haven't already seen it... do go watch it; Kung Fu Panda 2, although may not be as GREAT as the first one, is thoroughly enjoyable to both adults and children, and OMG I did not see the cliff-hanger coming... seriously (and I usually do)!

Final verdict: 8.5/10

P.S. DID NOT watch it in 3D... it was AWESOME!

PSYCHO's psycho (JULY)

Okay... if you haven't seen Alfred Hitchcock's PSYCHO, you may not understand why that snap shot is creepy, but I can barely look at it!

Norman Bates (creepily portrayed by Anthony Perkins) is a psycho. Now for those of you (those few) that may have not heard of OR watched the Simpson's parody of PSYCHO... Norman Bates has serious 'Mommy' issues. He takes the term 'Mommy's boy' to a whole new level, which explains his obsession with taxidermy (reproducing dead ANIMALS for display); being a true 'Mommy's boy', Bates is quite handy with stitches and KNIVES!

Similar to Kathy Bates' Annie Wilkes (last month's psycho), Anthony Perkins' Norman Bates shifts 'modes' with ease. However, 'he' only has two 'modes', and [once again] these 'modes' reflect his undying love for his 'Momma'; notice UNDYING. Why is this psycho special? First of all, anyone living in an 'empty' mansion adjacent to his virtually non-existent motel business... definitely needs to see Dr. Phil. So obviously, even in his 'natural' mode, he unsettles the audience with his strange hospitality and his unexpected outbursts of RAGE. Okay, this is giving me chills... bottom line is... he's psychotic; Perkins' performance is compelling and at times you will be forced to cover your eyes with the remote (especially at the end).

*Shudders*... thinking of 'his' two distinctively different 'voices' and his direct stare... GASP

AH!

O.M.G... How am I OSCAR-less?

Okay, this blog has been NEGLECTED for too long and now it's time for some serious T.L.C. Inspired by my pet project PSYCHO, I have decided to nurture another 'pet project'. It is appropriately named O.M.G... How am I OSCAR-less? Pretty self-explanatory... I will blab on about wonderful actors or actresses that have never won an OSCAR!

The first ACTRESS to make the list is the delightful Helena Bonham Carter!

Any Harry Potter fan (that is, anyone who is truly living) would know H.B. Carter as the iconic and EVIL Bellatrix Lestrange; she employs every ounce of her creepy persona for this character... can't name an actress that would give a creepier or more compelling portrayal. Can't wait for the final instalment where she ...; you can't help but LOVE hating Bellatrix and that's why you can't help but LOVE H.B.Carter. Maybe her Oscar luck will change with the final instalment? No? C'mon OSCAR VOTERS!

If you're someone who knows what the cinema IS, then THE KING'S SPEECH is no stranger to you. This film is brilliant in every way that a film should be brilliant, which is why it's absolutely inspiring without being too sentimental. H.B. Carter gives another inspired performance as Queen Elizabeth; Carter is a 'natural royal' (being an 'acting royalty' herself) and her dignified grace is seen in this illustration of an intelligent and assertive queen. Her subtle sense of desperation [to cure her husband's stammer] is simply tear-jerking... and how charming is she when she utters "It's 'Your Majesty' the first time. After that, it's 'ma'am', as in 'ham'. Not 'ma'am' as in 'palm' ". She was OF COURSE nominated for countless awards, including an Oscar nomination (her second)... I'm glad that [at least] she sccoped the BAFTA!



Alice In Wonderland. There's really NO NEED for elaboration... 'EVERYONE' has seen this visual spectacle. Sure, it isn't WOW script wise, but the cast truly saves it and H.B. Carter steals some of the spotlight as the BIG HEAD queen. Her strange and original 'take' on this arrogant and cruel red-head STANDS ON ITS OWN and everyone has seen it... so I rest my case



Sweeney Todd. Yes, in some ways, this is my favourite H.B. Carter performance. Why? HUNGER, HUNGER, HUNGER! The film IS GREAT, don't let the narrative-telling (rather than beautifully melodic) singing repulse you... the film is gothic and appropriately tragic (not to mention, a visual sepectacle). Carter is Mrs. Lovett... I'm sure you all know she's the pie-maker with the special ingredient HUMAN MEAT! Oh yes, and she's blindly in love. Some might call her selfish and stupid, but I can't. There's this sense of hunger for love, for happiness... for a 'picket fence' fantasy (that almost comes true) in her beady black eyes, and you can't help but pity 'this villain', and this truly marks Carter as one of the 'GREATS'!

Of course, her other Oscar nomination was for 'The Wings Of The Dove', which I will watch once I get my hands on the DVD. Her quirky performance in FIGHT CLUB is also quite riveting, but the four 'profiled' performances has 'MORE THAN' QUALIFIED her for this list. It's not that I think that EVERY ONE of those performances should have won her an Oscar; just, they were all excellent. She's quirky. She's witty. She's a versatile actress. So in case I haven't made it clear... I LOVE HELENA BONHAM CARTER, and I don't know why she's OSCAR-less!

P.S. Please comment and nominate actors/actresses YOU want to see on this list!