Save the nanny, save their world
The ever lovely (and of course, curvaceous) Scarlett Johansson stars in this light hearted comedy of a nanny taking care of a naughty little young boy. Pretty straight forward right? Well, in some ways yes. However, the nanny (Johansson) is not your typical lowly educated middle aged woman. So please throw your stereotypes away as we explore deeper into her diary.
Annie, the nanny (a wonderful name for a nanny), graduates not long ago from University. Armed with a degree and her mom's nagging, she sets off, albeit reluctantly, to a career in the field of finance. But, she backs out in the last minute due to an identity crisis.
Her dream as an anthropologist helps to dismiss the notion of working in the finance sector too. And as fate would have it, she starts to receive offers from many rich families to be their nanny after a chance episode with Mrs. X's (Laura Linney) son, Grayer. What a chance for her to use her anthropology skills on a high class society. She takes up the X family offer and starts on a roller coaster ride as the tyrant's nanny. After many trials and tribulations, the anthropologist in her discovers that being rich isn't the answer to everything.
The chemistry between Johansson and Linney helps keep the movie entertaining and watchable. It is also interesting to look at things at an anthropologist point of view. The experimental tone of this movie is certainly refreshing and at a personal note I wouldn't mind Johansson as my nanny at all.
3/5
txq
Tuesday, October 02, 2007
Thursday, July 26, 2007
The Simpsons (2007)
They are finally here! D'oh!
Simpsons fans can now rest easy. After like an eternity of waiting, our favorite family from Springfield has finally arrived on the big screen. (Yes, with loads of laughter, wit and sarcasm in tow).
I hope I need not do any introduction on the family (if I must, then please click on the extreme right corner for PC users and the extreme left corner for Mac users). So let me go to the story straight.
Springfield is on the verge of an environment meltdown and just when things are starting to look up, Homer (of course its Homer, who else?) puts the future of Springfield on the line with his selfish act. Can he redeem himself and save Springfield? Or will he fry Springfield like a piece of donut?
Though not as tight as a regular episode, The Simpsons easily make the audiences laugh hysterically with their straight talking and no holds barred sense of humor.With a good mixture of crass and intelligent humor, this movie justifies the admission ticket.
Snacks to be consumed while watching: Donuts, what else?
4
txq (D'oh!)
Simpsons fans can now rest easy. After like an eternity of waiting, our favorite family from Springfield has finally arrived on the big screen. (Yes, with loads of laughter, wit and sarcasm in tow).
I hope I need not do any introduction on the family (if I must, then please click on the extreme right corner for PC users and the extreme left corner for Mac users). So let me go to the story straight.
Springfield is on the verge of an environment meltdown and just when things are starting to look up, Homer (of course its Homer, who else?) puts the future of Springfield on the line with his selfish act. Can he redeem himself and save Springfield? Or will he fry Springfield like a piece of donut?
Though not as tight as a regular episode, The Simpsons easily make the audiences laugh hysterically with their straight talking and no holds barred sense of humor.With a good mixture of crass and intelligent humor, this movie justifies the admission ticket.
Snacks to be consumed while watching: Donuts, what else?
4
txq (D'oh!)
Disturbia (2007)
There is a voyeur in all of us
You feel bored at home. You don't want to do your work. You are sick of watching the re runs on TV. You light up your cigarette and stare outside the window. Then, a moment of eureka. Who needs TV when you have so many families 'playing' out their daily lives for you? This is reality without the TV and this is happening around you.
What if you witness something sinister?
Something dark, something dangerous. What if you see murder?
What if...
What if the killer is staring back at you?
What would you do?
Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) stars as Kale, a student under house arrest after punching the living daylights out of his Spanish teacher. With nothing to do at home and all of his favorite activities being restricted by the law and his mum (Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix), he resorts to voyeurism. After a few days of surveillance, he suspects one of his neighbor, Mr. Turner (David Morse, 16 Blocks), is a wanted serial killer. His suspicion heightened after a chain of events led Kale to believe that Mr. Turner is indeed the serial killer. Is it a case of paranoia or is it the truth?
Another teen slasher movie? Not quite. Disturbia cleverly mixes voyeurism and the sense of helplessness. A good plot and cast adds credibility to this movie. With suspense at every corner, you might just want to give up your hobby of looking at the opposite apartment already.
3.5
txq
You feel bored at home. You don't want to do your work. You are sick of watching the re runs on TV. You light up your cigarette and stare outside the window. Then, a moment of eureka. Who needs TV when you have so many families 'playing' out their daily lives for you? This is reality without the TV and this is happening around you.
What if you witness something sinister?
Something dark, something dangerous. What if you see murder?
What if...
What if the killer is staring back at you?
What would you do?
Shia LaBeouf (Transformers) stars as Kale, a student under house arrest after punching the living daylights out of his Spanish teacher. With nothing to do at home and all of his favorite activities being restricted by the law and his mum (Carrie-Anne Moss, The Matrix), he resorts to voyeurism. After a few days of surveillance, he suspects one of his neighbor, Mr. Turner (David Morse, 16 Blocks), is a wanted serial killer. His suspicion heightened after a chain of events led Kale to believe that Mr. Turner is indeed the serial killer. Is it a case of paranoia or is it the truth?
Another teen slasher movie? Not quite. Disturbia cleverly mixes voyeurism and the sense of helplessness. A good plot and cast adds credibility to this movie. With suspense at every corner, you might just want to give up your hobby of looking at the opposite apartment already.
3.5
txq
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
Goal 2 (2007)
Clearly offside, no doubt about it.
Welcome back to the world of Santiago Munez. The creators promised that this 2nd edition of the Goal! Franchise will return during World Cup 2006. Well, Goal 2 is one year late and the film is caught miles offside.
Don’t know what is offside? Let me explain. According to Wikipedia, Offside is a law in association football which effectively limits how far forward attacking players may be when involved in play. With a credible story in Goal!, there is a lot of room for improvements in Goal 2. However, the creators certainly limit how far this movie can excel.
The story picks up from Goal!. Munez (Kuno Becker) is a hit at Newcastle United and it is a matter of time before the biggest football club in the world, Real Madrid, enquires about him. Without a second thought, Munez agreed on the transfer (who needs a second thought anyway?).
Once he reached Spain, the story decelerates and becomes very predictable. While Munez is coming to terms with his new found fame, the lure of women and fame is too hard to subdue as he is being sucked into a downward spiral. Threatening his relationship with his fiancée Roz (Anna Friel) along the way. Oh, the trials and tribulations of a football star.
As you have guessed it, things suddenly are on the up and everything falls in place perfectly. Results are going Munez’s way and his future at Real Madrid looks brighter. To be fair to the creators, the movie has a smooth blend of fiction and fact (Munez playing alongside David Beckham and co.). However, the goals Munez scored are too good to be true. Well, I can only hope the director can save up on the CGI, and spend the time and energy on a better plot in Goal 3.
2/5
txq
Thursday, May 17, 2007
28 Weeks Later (2007)
Counting down the days, now the weeks.
28 Weeks Later is the sequel to the 2002 sleeper hit, 28 Days Later. How can a normal zombie flick ever be a hit? Well, this isn't some normal zombie movie. While zombies are naturally portrayed as slow and erm well generally slow, the zombies in 28 Days Later are fast and very furious. 28 Days is a very graphic horror show with dark underlying meanings. Can 28 Weeks Later keep the franchise alive?
28 Weeks picks up with a small part of London being successfully vaccinated and the U.S Army is helping London to repopulate. As the title suggest, it is already 28 weeks after the first outbreak of the Rage Virus. Thus, the Infected are likely to have succumb to starvation.
Though the area has not totally recovered from the wrath of the Rage Virus, the English are already being transported back to rebuild their lives. However, they come back with memories of what the Rage Virus can do and what it did to their loved ones still firmly etched in their minds. Of course, they are skeptical about coming back. And hell yeah, it pays to be skeptical sometimes.
To understand about the latest outbreak, one must understand the story of Don (David Carlyle). Not to give anything away, I only can say that Don's actions are totally unacceptable and they make me ashamed to be a part of the male species. His eventual decision decides the outcome of the England or, perhaps, the entire world.
This movie, like its predecessor, has plenty of underlying meanings. The scariest part of the movie is not the ruthlessness of the zombies or the brutality of the movie. It is the darkness of the human heart. At least zombies are less complicated than us, humans.
3.5
txq
28 Weeks Later is the sequel to the 2002 sleeper hit, 28 Days Later. How can a normal zombie flick ever be a hit? Well, this isn't some normal zombie movie. While zombies are naturally portrayed as slow and erm well generally slow, the zombies in 28 Days Later are fast and very furious. 28 Days is a very graphic horror show with dark underlying meanings. Can 28 Weeks Later keep the franchise alive?
28 Weeks picks up with a small part of London being successfully vaccinated and the U.S Army is helping London to repopulate. As the title suggest, it is already 28 weeks after the first outbreak of the Rage Virus. Thus, the Infected are likely to have succumb to starvation.
Though the area has not totally recovered from the wrath of the Rage Virus, the English are already being transported back to rebuild their lives. However, they come back with memories of what the Rage Virus can do and what it did to their loved ones still firmly etched in their minds. Of course, they are skeptical about coming back. And hell yeah, it pays to be skeptical sometimes.
To understand about the latest outbreak, one must understand the story of Don (David Carlyle). Not to give anything away, I only can say that Don's actions are totally unacceptable and they make me ashamed to be a part of the male species. His eventual decision decides the outcome of the England or, perhaps, the entire world.
This movie, like its predecessor, has plenty of underlying meanings. The scariest part of the movie is not the ruthlessness of the zombies or the brutality of the movie. It is the darkness of the human heart. At least zombies are less complicated than us, humans.
3.5
txq
Thursday, April 26, 2007
The Hills Have Eyes 2 (2007)
Have Eyes, No Plot
Turistas bombed and I'm afraid that The Hills are going down too. Let's just cross our fingers and hope Hostel 2 will have the cutting edge (pun fully intended).
2.5/5
txq
We know that the hills have eyes, but do you know that the hills have a mineshaft, and crates of dynamites? Sounds like the hills are pretty much equipped isn’t it? Well, like fishes need water to survive, movies are pretty much run by a plot. What the hills sorely lacked, in this case, is a storyline.
Of course, one cannot expect a Academy Award nominated script in movies of explicit and graphic violence, like in this case The Hills Have Eyes 2. But hey if you want to glorify gore, display severed limbs and pride yourself with the wonderful skill of decapitation, by all means show it to us. But you might do better if you add a little more story into your gore. I'm sure it will work wonders. Its predecessor, The Hills Have Eyes, has a good blend of gore and a credible plot.
Just like Murphy's law, whatever can go wrong in this movie, will go wrong. So much for the National Guard's weaponry and tactics., the mutants seem to be tactically more superior than the Guards. Well of course, the mutants are stronger and as this 'game' is based in their backyard, let us pray that the Guards die a quick death.Turistas bombed and I'm afraid that The Hills are going down too. Let's just cross our fingers and hope Hostel 2 will have the cutting edge (pun fully intended).
2.5/5
txq
Sunday, April 15, 2007
Turistas (2006)
Of booze, babes and body parts
First, there is The Hills Have Eyes. Then we have Hostel. What’s next for the hardcore sadistic moviegoers? Well they can wait for The Hills part 2, which is opening next week by the way, or they can satisfy their fetish of watching people get cut up in Turistas, touted as a better version of Hostel. Or so it seems.
Although there are a lot of eye candies, the first half of the show is a boring affair. It pretty much stretches the audiences’ patience to the max as we see how absurd (or coincidental, for you romantics) events unravel. A group of tourists arrived at a beautiful coast of Brazil via a roller coaster bus ride, which nearly ended in disaster. Overwhelmed by the openness and friendliness of their local hosts, they partied real hard and got wasted equally hard. Talking about hard, I find it hard to remind myself that this is a twisted horror movie (It is equally hard for me to shake off (no pun intended) those bouncing chests).
Back to the story. After they found out that they were being robbed, they began to wander about the local village, in search of a police station. A case of broken head, led to the villagers baying for their blood. Soon, a local they met at the beach managed to get them ‘out of trouble’ by leading them to a ridiculous 10-hour hike in the dense jungle! To cap it off, they were all bare footed! I know movies can ignite the imagination but I seem to misplace my spark plugs here. The arrival at a deserted mansion finally signaled the end of the holiday.
Cue Dr Robin Hood, the psychotic surgeon who carved up tourists for their organs to save the locals. Driven by the fact that foreigners kept invading their land and now their organs, he wanted eye for an eye (Or rather a kidney for a kidney). “ It is not personal,” he proclaimed. But it was every bit personal (Long live the Michael Corleone spirit!) as the tourists began their fight back.
Turistas isn’t a very gory and violent shows. It does have its own scary moments but it doesn’t have the impact of Hostel or Saw. Actually, it looks more like medical school training with all the analgesic and operating theatre. Perhaps, one can watch it as a prelude to a more violent show, just to prep the guts up.
Show us the saws not the scalpels!
2/5
txq
Freedom Writers (2007)
For peace
After a long lay off, Hilary Swank comes back strongly with, not one, but two offerings this month. First up is Freedom Writers and subsequently, The Reaping. Critics panned her choice of those movies and likened her to Halle Berry, who suffered the post-Oscars syndrome of picking movies worthy of winning the Razzies (remember Catwoman?).
But, I beg to differ.
All right, its true that Freedom Writer is nothing to be wowed at. You throw an idealistic teacher into an integrated school full of gangs that demand ‘respect’ and you… yeah you know the story. A simple diary writing activity uncovers the painful confessions of each student. Everybody has a heart-wrenching story to tell. Dreamer teacher turns the students’ lives around and things get chummy in the end. A simple movie but its never simple in its morality.
Yes, it is a bland performance from Hilary Swank. She stars as the idealistic Ms. G. People might expect more from her acting caliber, considering she is the recipient of 2 Academy Awards for Best Actress. To be fair to her, it is a safe performance from her and she doesn’t deserve the criticisms for her participation in this movie.
Freedom Writers showcases the trials and tribulations of the students and the racial tension in the States. Gangs from different minorities fight for territory in the school, all in the name of respect. Maybe this is something we, Singaporeans, can never understand. We are lucky to be in a tolerant society. I don’t want to be judging here because I’ve never been through what these students went through. But we need to see beyond the color of our skin pigmentation, for I know that the color of our hearts is definitely not black or white.
We have the same beating heart and let us beat as one.
3.5
txq
Friday, March 23, 2007
Music and Lyrics (2007)
Writer's Block!
Will be up soon! Come back later!
Very sorry people for the super late entry. This blog is still going on strong despite the lack of funds. I just needed a break. You know like those song writers who encounter a block and wander off alone just to find inspiration? Yeah that is what I am going through. To my haters: Sorry, but I'm back!
I guess the person that I can relate to is Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore). In Music and Lyrics, Sophie plays a bubbly girl who has a penchant for talking to herself and unknowingly sprouting beautiful poetic sentences.
One day, when she is substituting her friend to water some plants for the has-been pop singer, Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), she begins to blurt out sentences upon hearing the tune played by Alex. Although raw and unpolished, Alex immediately appoints her as his lyricist and both of them set out to write and compose a new hit single for Cora (Haley Bennett), the biggest singer on Planet Earth at that moment. Expect plenty of sparks and humour to come out of this one.
One thing that surprises me is that both Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore can sing and they actually sound quite good! As usual, Hugh Grant is at his charming best and few women can resist his drooping eyes . On the other side, Drew Barrymore looks stunningly delicate and sweet in this movie. No more Charlie's Angels tough chick persona, just plain old sweet girl-next-door look.
Jokes are in abundance here but beware of Hugh Grant's humour, sometimes it gets too English for my liking and I fell short trying to get some of his jokes. If you are looking for romance and laughter, I will recommend this movie to you. Besides, whats not to like when we, guys, can see Drew Barrymore in a sizzling red dress?
3.5
txq
PS: I seriously hope Zouk can include the song "Pop goes my heart" into their song list for their Mambo nights. That song is wicked!
Will be up soon! Come back later!
Very sorry people for the super late entry. This blog is still going on strong despite the lack of funds. I just needed a break. You know like those song writers who encounter a block and wander off alone just to find inspiration? Yeah that is what I am going through. To my haters: Sorry, but I'm back!
I guess the person that I can relate to is Sophie Fisher (Drew Barrymore). In Music and Lyrics, Sophie plays a bubbly girl who has a penchant for talking to herself and unknowingly sprouting beautiful poetic sentences.
One day, when she is substituting her friend to water some plants for the has-been pop singer, Alex Fletcher (Hugh Grant), she begins to blurt out sentences upon hearing the tune played by Alex. Although raw and unpolished, Alex immediately appoints her as his lyricist and both of them set out to write and compose a new hit single for Cora (Haley Bennett), the biggest singer on Planet Earth at that moment. Expect plenty of sparks and humour to come out of this one.
One thing that surprises me is that both Hugh Grant and Drew Barrymore can sing and they actually sound quite good! As usual, Hugh Grant is at his charming best and few women can resist his drooping eyes . On the other side, Drew Barrymore looks stunningly delicate and sweet in this movie. No more Charlie's Angels tough chick persona, just plain old sweet girl-next-door look.
Jokes are in abundance here but beware of Hugh Grant's humour, sometimes it gets too English for my liking and I fell short trying to get some of his jokes. If you are looking for romance and laughter, I will recommend this movie to you. Besides, whats not to like when we, guys, can see Drew Barrymore in a sizzling red dress?
3.5
txq
PS: I seriously hope Zouk can include the song "Pop goes my heart" into their song list for their Mambo nights. That song is wicked!
Saturday, March 10, 2007
300 (2007)
Slash. Block. Kill. Repeat.
Most of us probably don't know anything about the Battle of Thermopylae (480 BC) or who is Leonidas, Spartan King during that war torn era. Suddenly, 300 comes along. And holy s***, we don't know what hit us.
I write this review with a feeling of being just run over by those 300 fit (fit is seriously an understatement) men. But the after effect of being mowed down is not of pain. Instead I felt an overwhelming sense of determination after I left the cinema hall.
300 loosely tells the story of the Battle of Thermopylae and is the brainchild of Frank Miller, the creator of Sin City. So expect to be embraced by a very visual kind of cinematic experience. Prepare for stylish shots, elaborate acting, great fight choreography, superb one-liners and a heart pounding sound track.
The king of Persia, Xerxes is planning to conquer Greece, and later, Europe as part of his plan to be the 'king of kings'. Many small Greek cities bowed down to Xerxes but not Sparta, for the king of Sparta is one tough nut to crack.
Without the consent of his blind and corrupt cabinet, he leads a small army of 300 men towards Thermopylae. The 300 men show great courage and determination even though they are facing certain annihilation. This is masochism at its very best. 300 against the entire Persian army? You must be kidding.
Though not historically accurate, the main gist of the story is still intact. The figures are real, the characters are real and most importantly the fighting spirit of the 300 Spartans is real. The fantastical part of the movie will be the strange creatures fighting for the Persian Army. But hold your horses, this movie is after all an adaptation of a comic book. When is Spider man and the X-Men real? They are merely the result of human imagination. Yes, we pay to be the fool, but I would rather be a fool for 2 hours and enjoy the picture than be a genius that keeps whining over every single mistake.
4
txq
Friday, March 02, 2007
Rocky Balboa (2006)
The last hurrah
I knew it. I know there is still some life in those old and rugged boxing gloves. Mind you, those gloves are not your normal Everlast boxing gloves. They belong to the boxing champion of the world, or to put it bluntly, the ex boxing champion of the world, Rocky Balboa. Old and slow, but he is definitely not out.
It is amazing to see Sylvester Stallone back as Rocky for the 5th, i mean 6th time. Man, it has been a wild ride. To think that I wasn't even born when the first installment of Rocky was flashed across the screen on 1976! Exactly 31 years later, Rocky is back. And he isn't taking old as an excuse to do what he does best.
After a computer generated 'fight' between the 'has been Rocky Balboa' and the current world champion Mason 'The Line' Dixon ends with a convincing win for the former, the public is curious whether the old warrior really has what it takes to beat the current unbeaten champion. Meanwhile, Rocky still grieving over the loss of Adrian, decides to give it one more shot. One last shot to prove to the world he is not history and that there is still something left in the basement.
Will it be glory or ridicule for Rocky?
The answer is so obvious. Unless, you are totally oblivious to the world of Rocky; Rocky never quits and it is as simple as that. Damn, Stallone's body still looks fabulous (that's professional for you). That being done, what else makes a Rocky movie? Is it the famous soundtrack? Check. Is it the under dog spirit? Check. Is it the running scene that ends up with Rocky scaling that flight of steps? Check. Looks like everything is in place. All Rocky needs is you to be there for his swan song fight.
Though the dialogue could be better, it is still a heart warming film of the under dog for the under dogs. What a way to end the Rocky franchise. For now, i guess it is really over.
3.5
txq
Thursday, March 01, 2007
Little Children (2006)
Adults with child like naivety.
After the Oscars were presented on Monday morning, I was pretty disappointed. Firstly, I was puzzled how The Departed won the Best Picture award. It is good, no doubt, but it is definitely not Scorsese's best work. I thought Little Miss Sunshine deserved the award. It is a simple movie that simply makes you cry, laugh and cry again all in two hours.
Secondly, which relates more to this review, is Jackie Earle Harley losing his Best Supporting Actor award to Alan Arkin. Harley's role as a sex offender is nothing short of amazing. His performance is one of the reasons why this movie is named Little Children.
The story Little Children tells the tale about a group of adults living in a small neighborhood. Though they are adults, they still have the cravings and desires like a nine year old craves for sweets; only the objects of attraction here are not sweets but something darker and more sinister. Sarah (Kate Winslet, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind) is a lonely and unattractive housewife who takes a liking for the charming house husband, Brad (Patrick Wilson, Hard Candy). Meanwhile, Ronnie (Jackie Earle Harley) a former sex offender moves back to the neighborhood and causes much hoo hah among the community. Larry (Noah Emmerich) an ex police officer with a troubled past is stalking Ronnie, thinking that he is still capable of committing those heinous crimes against kids. Everyone here has an object of fantasy going on in their minds. The problem is, will those fantasies turn sour and destroy the serenity of the neighborhood?
Based on a novel of the same name by Tom Perrotta, Little Children explores the darker side of humans. Adults are fully capable of behaving like little kids; yearning for something so much that they pursue it without thinking much about the consequences, even though the consequences can be destructive not only to them but also the ones around them. Its as though the kids have exchanged identities and roles with the adults. With a witty running narration, it seems like the narrator is explaining the story to the audience, as though it is too difficult and profound for them to comprehend. Overall it is a good simple story but the running time can be shorter (130 mins).
What is your ultimate fantasy? Dream all you want but remember this: reality bites.
3.5
txq
Wednesday, February 21, 2007
Protege (2007)
Every Chinese new year, there will be a torrent of movies cashing in on the festive season. With stars like Andy Lau, Daniel Wu and Louis Koo at its helm, its no surprise that Protege is a leading picture for the coveted red packet.
The theme of the movie, however, clashes with the joyous mood of the new year. Protege is about drugs; something you will not associate with the new year. The story evolves around an undercover, Nick, (Daniel Wu), who was sent to infiltrate Kwan (Andy Lau), the kingpin of the drugs industry in Hong Kong. It sounds familiar isn't it? It is easy to mistake Protege as another Infernal Affairs, but the focus of this film is not on the undercover but on drugs.
The effort director (Yee Tung Shing) puts in is for all to see. Through this film, we can understand the process of manufacturing the drugs and their different names.Be prepared to be amaze by the lingo used in the picture. It gets a bit documented at times, especially the part when Kwan and Nick visit the Golden Triangle. Surprisingly the rating for this movie is only NC16 and not M18, it might be due to the fact that it is here to educate not corrupt.
Not only do we know more about the drugs industry, the ill effects of drugs are shown in a straightforward and strange way. The demented performance by drug addict, Jane (Zhang Jing Chu), puts a touch of horror into the show. Not as queasy as Requiem for a Dream, definitely, but Protege still succeeded in injecting the fear in you. Safe performances by the other actors, nothing stellar and out of this world.
The last scene, though i thought was a tad disturbing, epitomizes the entire show. Because in times of adversity and misdirection, hope still prevails.
3.5
txq
Thursday, February 15, 2007
The Last King of Scotland (2006)
Me Oscar, no?
There was a movement in the shadows. I could not make out what it is. I began to make full use of my under used imagination. A bear? It must be. Those big arms, black fur and the imposing figure. As i inched closer, with my already small eyes in Sandy Lam mode, i gasped at what i had just seen. The figure was Forest Whitaker?
No offence to Mr. Whitaker. That was a reference to his character in his new movie, The Last King of Scotland. Whitaker stars as Idi Amin, a real figure back in war torn Uganda back in the 70s. Amin was a tyrant, a cannibal, but albeit all these, he was a passionate and an amazingly good speaker. Think among the lines of a certain German warlord. Amin could command you to dig out the last bit of popcorn you have just eaten if he wanted to. And you will be too hypnotized to think twice before plunging your fingers into your throat.
Whitaker is like an exact carbon copy of Amin. If there was email back in Uganda then, you might want to send an email to Amin and cc it to Whitaker, or vice versa. Just in case, you see. You don’t want to be at the receiving end of their bear hugs.
The ferocity of Whitaker made me nearly peed in my pants when I saw it last week. Why the late entry then? Well, as a matter of fact, I’m worried that what I write will provoke Amin. I don’t want to be balanced by 2 hooks pierce across my chest you know? Oh no, is it Amin or Whitaker?
With the Golden Globes already in his captive, I can easily see the golden little statue joining Golden Globes inside the cell. Give that man the Oscar, you don’t want to be in the bad book of the last king of Scotland.
4
txq
Monday, January 29, 2007
Babel (2006)
Misinterpretation, miscommunication
In the world of that is overdosing with the number of popcorn flicks, comes an unforgiving movie, Babel. Folks, discard your buckets of popcorn and nachos. This movie demands attention. Any single lapse of concentration will result in dire consequences. Se préparer, because like a stack of dominoes, there is no turning back.
According to Genesis 11:1-9, mankind tried to reach Heaven by building a Tower of Babel. However, God had other plans. He made people speak different languages and thus caused miscommunication to the people building the Tower of Babel. Mankind failed and was thus segregated forever.
An American couple still grieving over their lost child, a sheep herding Moroccan family, a deaf and mute Japanese girl and a Mexican babysitter makes up the cast of this movie. 4 different countries, 4 different languages and 4 very heartbreaking stories. How do they integrate together? How do they communicate? How is Babel going to end? Can they build another Tower of Babel?
So many burning questions, but so little time. Director Alenjandro Gonzalez Inarritu brings us to a seemingly simple world. But as the clock ticks, the plot thickens. Though slow paced, Inarritu showcases his directing forte. After the much lauded 21 Grams, his flair for story telling is still there. His story though convoluting, is easy to comprehend. Peaceful scenery in a chaotic world seems like the message he is trying to convey.
Look out for Japanese actress, Rinko Kikuchi. Her role as a girl yearning for love is especially heart wrenching. Her body language and her angst filled eyes make up for the lack of lines in the movie. She earned her Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress with a touch of class.
A long tracking shot of Japan ends the movie. Skyscrapers with blinking lights seem to reach out for mankind. Are they laughing at us? Are they the Tower of Babel we are searching for?
donde está la contesta?
4
txq
In the world of that is overdosing with the number of popcorn flicks, comes an unforgiving movie, Babel. Folks, discard your buckets of popcorn and nachos. This movie demands attention. Any single lapse of concentration will result in dire consequences. Se préparer, because like a stack of dominoes, there is no turning back.
According to Genesis 11:1-9, mankind tried to reach Heaven by building a Tower of Babel. However, God had other plans. He made people speak different languages and thus caused miscommunication to the people building the Tower of Babel. Mankind failed and was thus segregated forever.
An American couple still grieving over their lost child, a sheep herding Moroccan family, a deaf and mute Japanese girl and a Mexican babysitter makes up the cast of this movie. 4 different countries, 4 different languages and 4 very heartbreaking stories. How do they integrate together? How do they communicate? How is Babel going to end? Can they build another Tower of Babel?
So many burning questions, but so little time. Director Alenjandro Gonzalez Inarritu brings us to a seemingly simple world. But as the clock ticks, the plot thickens. Though slow paced, Inarritu showcases his directing forte. After the much lauded 21 Grams, his flair for story telling is still there. His story though convoluting, is easy to comprehend. Peaceful scenery in a chaotic world seems like the message he is trying to convey.
Look out for Japanese actress, Rinko Kikuchi. Her role as a girl yearning for love is especially heart wrenching. Her body language and her angst filled eyes make up for the lack of lines in the movie. She earned her Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress with a touch of class.
A long tracking shot of Japan ends the movie. Skyscrapers with blinking lights seem to reach out for mankind. Are they laughing at us? Are they the Tower of Babel we are searching for?
donde está la contesta?
4
txq
Sunday, January 28, 2007
.45 (2006)
The opening credits of .45 do not give anything away at all. The credits starts rolling with no soundtrack and images. A dead silence is bestowed upon the theatre. But before you know it, wham, it hits you hard in between your eyes.
An image of Kat (Milla Jovovich) flashes on the screen. The camera pans so close to her face, it seems like you are having an intimate conversation with her. She seems friendly with you, too friendly for comfort actually, as she begins to talk about the size of her current squeeze’s anatomy. A series of jarring primitive lovemaking then interrupts her.
Her boyfriend, with an equally huge name and ego, is called Big Al (Angus Macfadyen). He made his name as the kingpin of the streets as a violent arms dealer. He is ruthless to everybody, even towards Kat. Yet, Kat is attracted to his devil-may-care attitude. Together, they are the Bonnie and Clyde of Hell’s Kitchen. But nothing lasts forever, even the most endearing relationship.
The attraction officially ends one day when Kat is at the receiving end of his punches. After the tormenting abuse, all Kat is left with is her freshly cut hair, a swollen and bloody left eye and a shattered heart. Not one to take things lying, Kat begins her ploy to make sure Big Al pays Big time. No she is not going to do him in, he deserves worst. But she is not going to do it herself. What are friends for? A web of deceit and seduction ensues.
It is interesting to see this new technique of ‘interviewing’ the characters throughout the movie. Bits and parts are scattered here and there and they accompanied the whole story telling process. Pay extra attention as the characters are slowly developed here. A brave move by the director, Gary Lennon, as not many moviegoers will appreciate this confusing story telling technique. However, the story is a huge let down. After leading the audience on for so long, the ending falls flat. And like a stack of dominoes, the absurd story causes the already limited pluses of this movie to fall too. The whole movie is being dragged into dark abyss and the only savior of the show is the chemistry between Macfadyen and Jovovich.
Macfadyen is convincing as a psychotic man. The ferocity in his eyes is hard to conceal, especially in scenes involving Jovovich. Jovovich, at times, looks really intimidated by his sheer presence. You will never know when Big Al is going to explode, and that is downright bloodcurdling. Being the more accomplished actor, it seems Macfadyen is leading Jovovich into her character. Credits must go to Jovovich too, she is still as stunning as before but what she really needs is a stunning movie, like The Fifth Element, one of her better movies.
Not a fan of Jovovich? Please keep away from this flick. However guys might want to watch it to learn a lesson or two. Don’t mess with the ladies, because hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
2.5
txq
An image of Kat (Milla Jovovich) flashes on the screen. The camera pans so close to her face, it seems like you are having an intimate conversation with her. She seems friendly with you, too friendly for comfort actually, as she begins to talk about the size of her current squeeze’s anatomy. A series of jarring primitive lovemaking then interrupts her.
Her boyfriend, with an equally huge name and ego, is called Big Al (Angus Macfadyen). He made his name as the kingpin of the streets as a violent arms dealer. He is ruthless to everybody, even towards Kat. Yet, Kat is attracted to his devil-may-care attitude. Together, they are the Bonnie and Clyde of Hell’s Kitchen. But nothing lasts forever, even the most endearing relationship.
The attraction officially ends one day when Kat is at the receiving end of his punches. After the tormenting abuse, all Kat is left with is her freshly cut hair, a swollen and bloody left eye and a shattered heart. Not one to take things lying, Kat begins her ploy to make sure Big Al pays Big time. No she is not going to do him in, he deserves worst. But she is not going to do it herself. What are friends for? A web of deceit and seduction ensues.
It is interesting to see this new technique of ‘interviewing’ the characters throughout the movie. Bits and parts are scattered here and there and they accompanied the whole story telling process. Pay extra attention as the characters are slowly developed here. A brave move by the director, Gary Lennon, as not many moviegoers will appreciate this confusing story telling technique. However, the story is a huge let down. After leading the audience on for so long, the ending falls flat. And like a stack of dominoes, the absurd story causes the already limited pluses of this movie to fall too. The whole movie is being dragged into dark abyss and the only savior of the show is the chemistry between Macfadyen and Jovovich.
Macfadyen is convincing as a psychotic man. The ferocity in his eyes is hard to conceal, especially in scenes involving Jovovich. Jovovich, at times, looks really intimidated by his sheer presence. You will never know when Big Al is going to explode, and that is downright bloodcurdling. Being the more accomplished actor, it seems Macfadyen is leading Jovovich into her character. Credits must go to Jovovich too, she is still as stunning as before but what she really needs is a stunning movie, like The Fifth Element, one of her better movies.
Not a fan of Jovovich? Please keep away from this flick. However guys might want to watch it to learn a lesson or two. Don’t mess with the ladies, because hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.
2.5
txq
Thursday, January 25, 2007
Apocalypto (2006)
Run, Jaguar, Run
Mel Gibson seems to have a talent of evoking the audiences' senses. The pain after watching Passion of the Christ and the grandiose battle scenes in Braveheart felt so real and the memories are still fresh with the aftermath of these 2 films. To describe it more comprehensively, try thinking among the lines of our sensory system. The former takes on the sense of touch and the latter, the sense of sight.
Integrate those two senses together and you will probably get Apocalypto, a raw and brutal story of the Maya race. Set in the Mayan era, the story evolves around a certain village in the vast jungle they call their own. That is until one day when the hunters of the village notice a large population of a different tribe abandoning their village. Sensing fear in their eyes, young Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) immediately senses something amiss.
His fears are realized when a group of headhunters announce their arrival by destroying and wiping out most of the village. Being the main hero of the film, Jaguar successfully hides his heavily pregnant wife and his son from the predators. If that is the perk of being a hero, then the downside will be kept captive by those mercenaries. Not only that, he will face the biggest challenge of his life; to escape and save his family before it rains. Rain? Watch it and you will understand.
The lush greenery of the forest is breathtaking and thankfully for that, it manages to take some of the bad taste off the plot. It is a truly magnificent rain forest and to top it off, there is a equally majestic waterfall scene. The entire movie reminds me of Discovery Channel, albeit on a much larger screen.
Truth is, this movie is brutal. It gives the viewers a very raw feeling. The brutality transcends many violent movies. Not because of its gore, but because of the barbaric manner of how the villages die. The movie truly captures the essence of barbaric brutality. Though amateurish, the actors provide something missing from most Hollywood actors; sincerity. It might be the way they convey the message of the movie from their own mother tongue that struck a chord with the audience. And though not handsome nor pretty, their facial expressions seems to suggest that they are eager to tell the audience the story of their history and ancestors.
Though not excellently scripted but Gibson got the senses and feelings right. And who knows? This might be a start of a great run of movies by Mel Gibson.
3.5
txq
Mel Gibson seems to have a talent of evoking the audiences' senses. The pain after watching Passion of the Christ and the grandiose battle scenes in Braveheart felt so real and the memories are still fresh with the aftermath of these 2 films. To describe it more comprehensively, try thinking among the lines of our sensory system. The former takes on the sense of touch and the latter, the sense of sight.
Integrate those two senses together and you will probably get Apocalypto, a raw and brutal story of the Maya race. Set in the Mayan era, the story evolves around a certain village in the vast jungle they call their own. That is until one day when the hunters of the village notice a large population of a different tribe abandoning their village. Sensing fear in their eyes, young Jaguar Paw (Rudy Youngblood) immediately senses something amiss.
His fears are realized when a group of headhunters announce their arrival by destroying and wiping out most of the village. Being the main hero of the film, Jaguar successfully hides his heavily pregnant wife and his son from the predators. If that is the perk of being a hero, then the downside will be kept captive by those mercenaries. Not only that, he will face the biggest challenge of his life; to escape and save his family before it rains. Rain? Watch it and you will understand.
The lush greenery of the forest is breathtaking and thankfully for that, it manages to take some of the bad taste off the plot. It is a truly magnificent rain forest and to top it off, there is a equally majestic waterfall scene. The entire movie reminds me of Discovery Channel, albeit on a much larger screen.
Truth is, this movie is brutal. It gives the viewers a very raw feeling. The brutality transcends many violent movies. Not because of its gore, but because of the barbaric manner of how the villages die. The movie truly captures the essence of barbaric brutality. Though amateurish, the actors provide something missing from most Hollywood actors; sincerity. It might be the way they convey the message of the movie from their own mother tongue that struck a chord with the audience. And though not handsome nor pretty, their facial expressions seems to suggest that they are eager to tell the audience the story of their history and ancestors.
Though not excellently scripted but Gibson got the senses and feelings right. And who knows? This might be a start of a great run of movies by Mel Gibson.
3.5
txq
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Blood Diamond (2006)
The bigger, the bloodier
I know I am late (nope I'm not talking about period). By the time you read this, you might have realized that Leonardo DiCaprio lost (once again) the Golden Globe Best Actor award to Forest Whitaker. Even with 2 nominations, he was defeated by Whitaker. Tough luck, Leo, better luck at the Oscar. Well, tougher luck for the Africans, and luck has apparently left them.
The African continent is plagued by misfortune after misfortune. We have heard of their uphill battle against AIDS, poverty and famine. And now, thanks to this hell of a movie, we understand another menace; war over diamonds.
As we know, diamonds are precious stones. Indeed they are, right girls? The amount of money generated by these diamonds is huge. When there is a demand, the prices go up. And when the prices go up, people kill each other just to get their hands stuck into the money pie. Everybody wants a piece of the action. Hence, everybody starts to form their own rebellion army and, all of a sudden, everyone is a Colonel.
These self proclaimed Colonels terrorize the people and train children to be their next killing machine. Watching these kids butchering the innocents reminds me of Cidade de Deus. Its not the violence that makes one tick, its watching those juveniles smiling away while pumping lead into people. This film sends out an in-your-face message of such intensity, it is almost impossible to ignore it.
Intense is a key word. It is a good word to describe the cast. DiCaprio performs the tormented protagonist superbly. His role here is similar to the one in The Departed. Both characters are constantly fighting against their demons. While the accent is debatable, his performance is worthy of his Golden Globe Best Actor nomination. Jennifer Connelly is no doubt an excellent actress , but somehow her role is not as challenging as DiCaprio's. Finally, there's Djimon Hounsou. He plays his role of a suffering fisherman well and sometimes its depressing to experience his character's misfortune.
The moral issues completely overshadows the plot. The audiences' conscience is constantly engaged with these social issues.
On a final note, yes, we the consumers can make a difference. How? By ensuring the diamonds we bought are conflict free. Stop the funding and the killing, Africa needs to recuperate.
You want your 'bling bling'? Stop the 'bling bang' first.
3.75
txq
I know I am late (nope I'm not talking about period). By the time you read this, you might have realized that Leonardo DiCaprio lost (once again) the Golden Globe Best Actor award to Forest Whitaker. Even with 2 nominations, he was defeated by Whitaker. Tough luck, Leo, better luck at the Oscar. Well, tougher luck for the Africans, and luck has apparently left them.
The African continent is plagued by misfortune after misfortune. We have heard of their uphill battle against AIDS, poverty and famine. And now, thanks to this hell of a movie, we understand another menace; war over diamonds.
As we know, diamonds are precious stones. Indeed they are, right girls? The amount of money generated by these diamonds is huge. When there is a demand, the prices go up. And when the prices go up, people kill each other just to get their hands stuck into the money pie. Everybody wants a piece of the action. Hence, everybody starts to form their own rebellion army and, all of a sudden, everyone is a Colonel.
These self proclaimed Colonels terrorize the people and train children to be their next killing machine. Watching these kids butchering the innocents reminds me of Cidade de Deus. Its not the violence that makes one tick, its watching those juveniles smiling away while pumping lead into people. This film sends out an in-your-face message of such intensity, it is almost impossible to ignore it.
Intense is a key word. It is a good word to describe the cast. DiCaprio performs the tormented protagonist superbly. His role here is similar to the one in The Departed. Both characters are constantly fighting against their demons. While the accent is debatable, his performance is worthy of his Golden Globe Best Actor nomination. Jennifer Connelly is no doubt an excellent actress , but somehow her role is not as challenging as DiCaprio's. Finally, there's Djimon Hounsou. He plays his role of a suffering fisherman well and sometimes its depressing to experience his character's misfortune.
The moral issues completely overshadows the plot. The audiences' conscience is constantly engaged with these social issues.
On a final note, yes, we the consumers can make a difference. How? By ensuring the diamonds we bought are conflict free. Stop the funding and the killing, Africa needs to recuperate.
You want your 'bling bling'? Stop the 'bling bang' first.
3.75
txq
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Confessions of Pain (2006)
Hits you at the most painful place - your heart
Most of us will probably understand the pain of a paper cut or a swollen ankle. Physical pain aside, not many of us can understand the pain of losing someone dear. It is a feeling that is hard to describe and fathom. Confessions of Pain is one such movie that tries to infuse a world of pain and heartbreak into our world of bland cinematic emotions.
At the background is a gloomy portrait of Hong Kong. Permanently cast in gray skies, the Hong Kong landscape seems to be an additional character to the already impressive cast. The endless rain and the dark clouds surrounding the Hong Kong skyline make this character 'speaks' volume.
It somehow provides an eerie feeling of irony to the film.
The 2 leads, Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro provide more despair to the mourning city. Leung is a cop that is haunted by his past. It is a pleasure to see how Leung acts. His tormented soul last seen in Infernal Affairs is back, albeit it is a more suppressed one here. Gone is his unshaven and rugged demeanour. His unkempt hair is neatly gelled back, and his latest accessory, his tinted spectacles, makes us view him in a different light. Notice how the spectacles provides an additional dimension to his character; a very unnerving one.
On the other hand, Kaneshiro portrayal is a more forthright character. It appears that Kaneshiro has taken on Leung's character in Infernal Affairs; unshaven and desolate.The death of his girlfriend brings him to his knees and subsequently, he loses himself into a world of alcohol. If Leung's character is being viewed as a tormented one, then Kaneshiro's one must be a godforsaken one.
Xu Jing Lei and Shu Qi act as the pillars of strength for Leung and Kaneshiro respectively. Both of them inspires to lift the gloom out of the 2 male protagonists, Xu as Leung's wife and Shu as the bubbly girlfriend of Kaneshiro. They provide a much needed respite for the movie.
While the script is more or less predictable, what makes this film worth the weekend price ticket is the exception directing of the movie. Both directors (Andrew Lau and Alan Mak) successfully paint a sad and moving story rather than an action thriller. Lau's trademark camera angles are prominent in the movie. Again, they adapt a Buddhist kind of story telling and morals. Not forgetting its superb soundtrack too. A disturbing tale of sorrow and pain.
I can feel it. Hope it haunts you too.
4
txq
Most of us will probably understand the pain of a paper cut or a swollen ankle. Physical pain aside, not many of us can understand the pain of losing someone dear. It is a feeling that is hard to describe and fathom. Confessions of Pain is one such movie that tries to infuse a world of pain and heartbreak into our world of bland cinematic emotions.
At the background is a gloomy portrait of Hong Kong. Permanently cast in gray skies, the Hong Kong landscape seems to be an additional character to the already impressive cast. The endless rain and the dark clouds surrounding the Hong Kong skyline make this character 'speaks' volume.
It somehow provides an eerie feeling of irony to the film.
The 2 leads, Tony Leung and Takeshi Kaneshiro provide more despair to the mourning city. Leung is a cop that is haunted by his past. It is a pleasure to see how Leung acts. His tormented soul last seen in Infernal Affairs is back, albeit it is a more suppressed one here. Gone is his unshaven and rugged demeanour. His unkempt hair is neatly gelled back, and his latest accessory, his tinted spectacles, makes us view him in a different light. Notice how the spectacles provides an additional dimension to his character; a very unnerving one.
On the other hand, Kaneshiro portrayal is a more forthright character. It appears that Kaneshiro has taken on Leung's character in Infernal Affairs; unshaven and desolate.The death of his girlfriend brings him to his knees and subsequently, he loses himself into a world of alcohol. If Leung's character is being viewed as a tormented one, then Kaneshiro's one must be a godforsaken one.
Xu Jing Lei and Shu Qi act as the pillars of strength for Leung and Kaneshiro respectively. Both of them inspires to lift the gloom out of the 2 male protagonists, Xu as Leung's wife and Shu as the bubbly girlfriend of Kaneshiro. They provide a much needed respite for the movie.
While the script is more or less predictable, what makes this film worth the weekend price ticket is the exception directing of the movie. Both directors (Andrew Lau and Alan Mak) successfully paint a sad and moving story rather than an action thriller. Lau's trademark camera angles are prominent in the movie. Again, they adapt a Buddhist kind of story telling and morals. Not forgetting its superb soundtrack too. A disturbing tale of sorrow and pain.
I can feel it. Hope it haunts you too.
4
txq
Monday, January 01, 2007
Borat: Cultural Learnings of America for Make Benefit Glorious Nation of Kazakhstan (2006)
You need the open mind to see this film! Niice!
Hello. My name XQ . I from Singapore. I watch Borat and were amaze by how Borat speak and his sexy time adventures in USA. Niice! Therefore, I am excite to talk about this film to you! I am so excite!
Borat (Sacha Baron Cohen) come from Kazakhstan. He send by the government of Kazakhstan to learn the USA way of living. He come with Azamat and his camera man. They arrive at New York and after watching Baywatch in hotel room.
Borat fall in love with C.J (Pamela Anderson). He decide to go California and marry her. With no time left, he set out with his crew and buy the ice cream truck and drive to California. Along the way, Borat encounter many a funny thing. Mostly of a America culture.
I must say to you, this not a movie. But a very funny part documentary part movie thing. Another thing, there is a many racial and religious jokes. If you easy offend, please do go watch the movie. Oops, I mean please do not watch the movie.
Funny part aside, this film talk about issue in the America. Racial tensions, religions, gay society and guns culture in the America. It is the very important to understand these is still happening in the America. A very cruel and crude view of USA but important for us to learn. So everybody will not make mistake again. Hiii 5! Hope people not do these mistake again. Finally, I has to say Borat is a lousy film... NOT!
P.S: Sorry for the short entry, I cannot write in Borat's language any longer. Guys, I tried and I hope you understand what I am talking about. Nevertheless, watch him and be entertained!
4
txq
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