Movie #16 - The Social Network

It's been a while since I've written something in this blog and that I posted something about a movie. Well, yesterday I felt the urge to comeback to the blog to write about the new David Fincher's movie: the social network, the movie about the beginning of facebook. If you're one of the two or three people who usually check this blog, you know that one thing I really value and really determines whether I like a movie or not. The social network presents great acting. Jesse Eisenberg has a great part impersonating Mark Zuckerberg even though I suspect that the real Mark is not quite as fluent as Jesse's character. But two other things made me feel pretty good about this movie: one was the editing and the other was the music. Editing here is very dynamic and it really determines the way the story is told and what we can take out from each scene. The music is very good both the original created for the movie (where Trent Reznor from the NIN is involved) and the songs chosen. About this particular aspect, I love it when I'm reaching the end of the movie feeling that I've just watched a great movie and all the sudden a great song starts to carry us to the final credits. That also happened with this movie. It was great to end this experience listening to "Baby, you're a rich man" of the Beatles.

Honest R&B song

Where was this picture taken?

Tomorrow I'm off to this place to spend a week. Just as a little game, I want to see who is the first person that can guess where am I'm going to.

Movie #15 - El Secreto de sus ojos (2009)

Saw it last friday. The Secret in their eyes (2009) won the oscar for best picture in a foreign language in this last edition of the oscars. It's from Argentina and includes several well know argentinian actors and actresses. I was very impressed by the movie. As always when a movie has good acting employed to create good characters for me that's more than half a movie. That is definitely true in this case. The dialogues are amazing and are impecably acted upon by a group of actors that make the characters seem to exist in real life. But it's not just that. The storyline is very good and the pace is amazingly taken care of. And here may lie for me the only big flaw of the movie. I felt (and this was something shared by the other people who saw the movie with me) that I was being too guided. I guess there could be something that should be left out to make the movie more subtle and to let the viewer take part in the interpretation of the scenes. It feels like you're being told exactly what to feel in each given moment and that everything is very well explained (for example, by using repetition of past dialogues in the background sound). But this flaw was not enought to impede my impression of the movie has a great one that opened my eyes for Argentinian cinema. Definitely a very good movie that deals with a very strong story in a serious way but mingled with great humour (I burst out laughing several times mostly because of the character Pablo Sandoval incredibly interpreted by the famous argentinian comedian Guillermo Francella). Enjoy.

tan hon ming in love

I'm back

Ever since I got back from the Netherlands, I stopped writting on this blog. It wasn't on purpose, it was just simple and utter sloth. I couldn't find the time or the energy or both to writte something new here.
Now that I got back from my holidays, I feel a new energy to write here. So let's see if reasons to write here also emerge, namely good books, good movies, good artists and good wines. I can say this already: I gave a chance to that Twilight saga in the holidays. I read the first three books and saw the two first movies and I'm definitely not impressed. It's pretty basic adolescent stuff. Depressed girl meets vampire, vampire falls in love for depressed girl, vampire struggles not to suck the life out of depressed and ridiculously clumsy girl. Then some werewolves appear, yada yada yada, Dakota Fanning is like Darth Vader and that's all the effort I'm giving to Twilight.
In terms of music, I've been hearing to Marvin Gaye a lot. "I heard it through the grapevine" and "Got to give it up" are two really good motown songs. Check it out if you don't know those classics yet.

The future of economy

Why can't there be love?

Great songs make great commercials. I feel like a whore, but the fact is I feel like buying some adidas after watching this commercial.

A beatiful song/discovery

Strolling through a new blog, I've stumbled upon a reference to a Joni Mitchell's song: Both sides now. I've heard about Joni Mitchell many times before, and I even tried to listen to it once but I remember that the couple of songs I heard did not captivate me. But I decided to give it another try and looked up this music on youtube and I felt peaceful. I hope you enjoy it too.

The 70's in Movie History

Last time I mentioned a movie here was to talk about Chinatown and I mentioned how great the 70’s were for movie history.
A great part of my favourite movies were made in the 70’s. Here’s just a few:

A Clockwork Orange; Jaws; Star Wars; The Godfather (Part I and II); One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest; Chinatown; Apocalypse Now; Alien; Sleeper (one of Woody Allen’s most hilarious movies); Taxi Driver… and much more….

Movie # 14 - Chinatown

Another movie entry. I saw Chinatown yesterday. It’s another movie from that wonderful decade (the amazing 70s). It was the last movie from Roman Polansky to be shot in the US (so, before he escaped the American justice for committing statutory rape in Jack Nicholson’s place). The film stars Jack Nicholson and Faye Dunaway. Jack Nicholson is a pleasure to watch. He is the true slick “Know it all”, incapable of asking innocent questions, always thinking ahead but who can still captivate you when he shows us that he has principles and a good moral fibre deep down inside. The screenplay is great (awarded with an Oscar). It’s the typical noir movie, even though it appeared 30 years later than the first ones. The recreation of the period (the 30s) is very well done.
Another great aspect in the movie is the appearance by John Huston. Though familiar to his movies (the best movie from the noir genre belongs to him: The Maltese Falcon), I had never seen him and so, when I saw him in the movie I loved the character even though I had no idea who he was.
Just for the acting and the wonderful script alone, the movie is worth it.

If you've seen one, you've seen them all

The ballad of John and Yoko

For days now, this song keeps going in my mind, so I decided to mention it in this blog. I'm fascinated by it. I think it's the way John Lennon shouts Christ when entering the chorus that really gets me. Because he shouts it the same way one would shout when looses his patience but at the same time it really fits the melody. And also the way he makes it sound poetic so common bits of life that he described in this such straightforward autobiographical portrait. Enjoy.

Sophie's Choice

Yesterday, I saw another classic: Sophie's Choice. A film by Alan J. Pakula with Meryl Streep whose performance ranked #3 on Premiere Magazine's 100 Greatest Performances of All Time (2006).
The film is good. Not great. For me it looks too much of a stage play. The acting is definitely the best thing in the movie. Kevin Kline in one of his first roles is really good, although sometimes falls on the overacting error in my opinion. But the reason why I'm mentioning this movie here is very simply because of Meryl Streep's performance. I think it's probably the best performance I've seen in a film ever. Besides speaking two or three languages fluently in the film, the emotional range she shows to be capable is probably unique. And in the most dramatic scene of the movie (where the title comes from) is one of the most moving scenes ever.
Though the film does not make the list, I definitely recommed people to watch it just to see a master at work.

60% accuracy

Let's see how did I do:

Best Picture

My bet: Avatar
Reality: The Hurt Locker

Best Director

My bet: Kathryn Bigelow
Reality: Kathryn Bigelow

Best Actor

My bet: Jeff Bridges
Reality: Jeff Bridges.

Best Actress

My bet: Sandra Bullock
Reality: Sandra Bullock

Best Supporting Actor

My bet: Christoph Waltz
Reality: Christoph Waltz

Best Supporting Actress

My bet: Mo'Nique
Reality: Mo'nique

Best Original Screenplay

My bet: Inglorious Basterds
Reality: The hurt locker

Best Adapted Screenplay

My bet: Up in the Air
Reality: Precious

Best Animated Feature

My bet: Up
Reality: Up

Best Foreign Language Film

My bet: The White Ribbon
Reality: The secret in your eyes

So, I got 6 out of 10. A 60% score is not very good.
At least is above chance.
Better luck next time.

oscar night

Oscar night is about to start. Here are a few predictions and personal favorites.

Best Picture

Nominees:

Avatar
The Blind Side
District 9
An Education
The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
Precious: Based on the Novel Push by Sapphire
A Serious Man
Up
Up in the Air

I've seen 6 out of 10, and of those 6, the one I definitely enjoyed more was Inglorious Basterds. However, I don't think the movie stands a chance. With the nem voting system, I guess The Hurt Locker has good chances. I definitily liked it more than I liked Avatar. Avatar promises to save the industry. And it has a bit of a green message too. It's very easy to win. So, my favorite: Inglorious Basterds; My bet: Avatar

Best Director

Kathryn Bigelow- The Hurt Locker
James Cameron- Avatar
Lee Daniels- Precious
Jason Reitman- Up in the Air
Quentin Tarantino- Inglorious Basterds

Once again, Tarantino is my favorite and once again, doesn't stand a chance. Kathryn Bigelow has one great strenght, besides the movie obviously: She's a woman in a category where no woman has ever won. And it's about time. However, James Cameron is definitely the man behind the movie. Avatar would be nothing without Cameron and the Academy may want say something about that.
My favorite: Tarantino
My bet: Bigelow


Best Actor
Jeff Bridges- Crazy Heart
George Clooney- Up in the Air
Colin Firth- A Single Man
Morgan Freeman- Invictus
Jeremy Renner- The Hurt Locker

Morgan Freeman was very well but it was not a demanding role. Jeremy Renner was really good but I think he will de dismissed this year. George Clooney is just himself. The fight is between Jeff Bridges and Colin Firth. Last year, a man portraying a gay won. Since the academy has a tendency to compensate for political correctness, Firth will probably not win. And Jeff Bridges is exactly what the americans love. I dont have a favorite. My bet: Jeff Bridges.

Best Actress

Sandra Bullock- The Blind Side
Helen Mirren- The Last Station
Carey Mulligan- An Education
Gabourey Sidibe- Precious
Meryl Streep- Julie & Julia

I only saw Carey Mulligan and I wouldn't mind at all if she won. But it's not my best. Meryl Streep has been nominated 12 times since 1982 and never won since then. It may be her night. But I heard Sandra Bullock was really good. My bet: Bullock ( don't mind losing this one).

Best Supporting Actor

Matt Damon- Invictus
Woody Harrelson- The Messenger
Christopher Plummer- The Last Station
Stanley Tucci- The Lovely Bones
Christoph Waltz- Inglorious Basterds

Christoph Waltz is 70% of Inglorious Basterds. My favorite and my bet.

Best Supporting Actress

Penelope Cruz- Nine
Vera Farmiga- Up in the Air
Anna Kendrick- Up in the Air
Mo'Nique- Precious
Maggie Gyllenhaal- Crazy Heart

Mo'nique and Gyllenhaal are the only dramatic roles. Since Crazy Heart will get best actor. Maggie Gyllenhaal cannot win. Mo'nique is my bet.

Best Original Screenplay

The Hurt Locker
Inglorious Basterds
The Messenger
A Serious Man
Up

My favorite: Inglorious Basterds. My bet: Inglorious Basters

Best Adapted Screenplay

District 9
An Education
In the Loop
Precious
Up in the Air

An Education is wonderfully written by Nick Hornby. I would say it's my favorite. But my bet is for Up in the Air, specially if it doesn't get any other oscar.

Best Animated Feature

Coraline
Fantastic Mr. Fox
Up
The Princess and the Frog
The Secret of Kells

Up will win.

Best Foreign Language Film

Ajami
El Secreto de Sus Ojos
The Milk of Sorrow
The White Ribbon
Un Prophète

Unfortunately, I haven't seen none. From the hype of it, The White Ribbon is my bet.

And now the Oscars are about to start. Enjoy

Movie #13 - An education

By this time of the year, this blog turns into an almost exclusive movie blog. And that is because when it's Oscars time, if you live in Europe, it means that's when most of the nominated movies are showing in theaters. So, I always go to movies very often in these weeks surrounding the oscars. Last night, I went to see "An Education" which is nominated for best picture. What a refreshing movie. I really enjoyed it and I felt passionate about the movie, the same way I felt it when I was watching Inglorious Basterds (also nominated).
The best thing about the movie is called Carey Mulligan, the young actress portraying Jenny, the main character. Peter Saarsgard also goes along very well, very smoothly I would say. But Carey Mulligan is absolutely unforgettable in the role of a bright, interesting and sweet young student trying to get into Oxford who meets David, an older man who seems to be able to provide her with the life she always dreamed of. I did not see any of the other movies where the other nominees for best actress were, but I could easily see this girl getting the Oscar. My only doubt could be that I don't know her from other movies. I know she was in another movie that I saw (Public enemies) but I just don't remember her there. So, this person that she was in the movie could simply be the person she is in reality, which would make it a lot easier for her. But I just saw some information about her and realized she won several awards already (despite being only 24 years old). So, her performance in An Education was not a fluke and therefore it is oscar deserving. Whether she is the one who deserves it more, I don't know. But it's not a wrong attribution if she gets it.
The movie is also good for other aspects: the secondary characters. Alfred Molina and Rosamund Pike, provide some very funny moments in the movie. The expressions that Rosamund Pike makes as a dumb blonde are priceless. Emma Thompson shows up for a total of less than 10m and almost steals the movie. The songs chosen are good. The recreation of the 60's in England is also well made. I don't like the fast pace of the ending, but all in all is a good nominee for Best Picture.
Tonight is Oscar night, and I'm now deciding whether to go ser A serious man or A single man. The first is nominated for best Picture and the second is nominated for best actor. I can't even use the title as a criterion for choice...

Movie #12 - The Hurt Locker

From the movies nominated for Best Picture, so far I've seen Inglorious Basterds, Avatar, Up in the air and (last night) The hurt locker.
The Hurt Locker is a Kathryn Bigelow's movie and it follows the everyday life of an American bomb squad in the war in Iraq.
It won the Bafta for Best Film and some people seem to think it will take the Oscar too.
I'll leave any discussion out for now about who I think will take the oscar and who I think deserves it.
In any case, this movie does deserve to be on this list. Basically, because of the performances. Jeremy Renner is great and is nominated for an Oscar too. Anthony Mackie is also impecable and maybe should have had an oscar nod with this movie.
The story is pretty basic but it is powerfully captured. Cinematography is great too. There is one scene in particular with Jeremy Renner with a fire in the background which I really thought it could stand alone as a beatiful picture.
I've never been in a war nor have I have ever been in Iraq, so I couldn't say whether the movie is accurate or not, but it sure felt realistic. And here lie two aspects that for me made the film less enjoyable. First, I thought that the choice of camera angles and editing make it too much of a documentary and less of a film. And that, along with the second aspect, which is the fact that I felt that the soundtrack was often absent, made me feel less involved in the film. So, even though it's a very good film, very well done, it is not one of those movies that in the end I was completely taken by it. Nonetheless, it is a great movie that I do recommend.

There is still a couple of movies I'd like to see before the Oscars, namely A Single man (by the former main stylist at Gucci, Tom Ford) and A Serious man by the Cohen brothers.

Since I'm sure the movies list will have new entries this month, here's an update on how things are now.

1) Slumdog Millionaire
2) 2001 Space Odissey
3) Dr Strangelove
4) It's a wonderful life
5) JFK
6) In the Valley of Elah
7) In Bruges
8) The graduate
9) The Godfather
10) Inglorious Basterds
11) Garden State
12) The Hurt Locker

Roadtrip!

Tomorrow, I'll start the ride back to Nijmegen. It's 2500 kms in two days.
As soon as I arrive, I'll have to catch up in terms of movies. The Oscars are here soon and this year, there are 10 nominees for Best Picture.
I'll write more in the Netherlands.
Tot ziens.

February in Portugal

I apologize for the long silence. This time I was in Nijmegen for a very short time, and it was a period of a lot of work. I'm now in Portugal again and here I will be for the next couple of weeks.
February is always a great month for movies in Portugal, because that's when most of the movies that were nominated for the Oscars premier.
In the last month I saw Avatar, Up in the air, and Invictus. They all deserve some comments but not now. I also read the last book of the Millenium trilogy (which was interesting but not exciting).
More to come soon.

A new wine in a new place

While in Portugal for the holidays, I spent 24h in a wonderful place in Alentejo (a region on the south of Portugal) called Herdade da Malhadinha Nova. This place serves both as a country house (with Spa) and a winehouse. The 24h spent there were amazing, even though it rained as much as in the Old Testament. The food was great, the scenery was amazing, and the wines they make are fabulous. One in particular gathered my affection: Malhadinha, 2007. It´s a red wine (from Alentejo obviously). It uses five types of grapes: Aragonês, Alicante Bouschet, Cabernet Sauvignon, Syrah, Touriga Nacional. Some tasting notes (in portuguese can be found here.

One particularly great thing about this wine (and the other wines from Herdade da Malhadinha) is that it has a very family-like management. And, in accordance, even the children of the family who runs the place have a task in the wine process. They are responsible for creating the labels of every bottle. So you'll easily recognize this wine in the gourmet stores (and they can be found in lots of places in the world, in over 20 countries), because they are filled with tender lovely drawings, like the one of Malhadinha 2007. Enjoy.

Back in Nijmegen