Category: Drama

Before I even landed in Singapore, I have already messaged our Movie Review Squad member TK to book three tickets to watch “My Blueberry Nights”. It is rather unusual to have a Hong Kong director to write, direct, and produce an English film that is packed with big names such as Jude Law, Rachel Weisz, and Natalie Portman. I am a big fan of Jude, Rachel, and especially Natalie. Besides, how can I miss an International film created by someone who is brought up in Hong Kong? For all I know, he could be my hero and role model and a testimony that we too can make a mark in the International scene.

“My Blueberry Nights” falls under the category of films having a main storyline that strings together a few other sub-stories – the type of films that I particularly enjoy watching. The main story evolves around the love story of Norah Jones and Jude Law. While Elizabeth (Jones) takes the long route to meet up with the man she loves, she encounters a couple in separation (Rachel Weisz and David Strathairn) and later on, a girl at a casino (Portman). Within these two sub-stories, there are elements of addiction on alcohol and gambling. Each character is introduced as someone whom you probably don’t really care in the beginning due to negative behaviors – to borrow Cynthia’s words – and slowly developed into characters who you do care and relate to in the end. Slow is the key word here as I can imagine, not many people can stand the pace of this film (111 minutes). Though I agree that this film can trim down a fair bit in order to fasten the pace, I can certainly admire the art within. Cynthia, to my surprise, enjoys “My Blueberry Nights” while TK does not like it at all. I am surprised that Nona Jones can act (by the way, need not to say, the tracks sang by her are marvelous). My favorite scenes still come from Natalie Portman. She is such a talented actress.

So, what the verdict? Low in entertainment value perhaps but high in artistic value I would say.

A well reviewed film written, acted, directed, edited, co-produced, and scored by Julie Delpy – I had no idea when I booked the seats for the Movie Review Squad. Being such a huge fan of Julie Delpy, I really don’t need any other reason to watch “2 Days In Paris”. It was a nice surprise that this film is very much like “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset”. The characteristic lively dialogues are still there. The only difference is that the individual scenes are relatively shorter in “2 Days In Paris” rather than a series of long takes.

In “2 Days In Paris”, French photographer Marion (Julie Delpy) traveled with her American boyfriend Jack (Adam Goldberg) to Paris and took the opportunity to introduce him to her family. During this brief stay, Jack was overwhelmed with the country of a different language, different culture, and perhaps meeting too many of Marion’s ex-boyfriends may not be such a good idea after all.

One thing you should agree with me after watching the movie would be: the chemistry between the actors and actresses is amazing. Then I realized that Marion’s parents in the movie are Julie Delpy’s real life parents. The cat in the movie also belongs to her. And most amazing of all, her boyfriend in the movie is her ex-boyfriend in real life.

There are lots of quality scripting in “2 Days In Paris”. Julie Delpy is such a talent and unfortunately she prefers to release her work as independent films. The critics love her works but somehow that doesn’t translate to box office results. You really can’t miss this one if you enjoy watching “Before Sunrise” and “Before Sunset” or you enjoy watching the genre of romantic drama. The following trailer may not do the film justice but you’ll get an idea what the film is about.

I like watching split reviewed movies. You either get it or you don’t and I love to read how the two sides debate. “Lions For Lambs” is definitely not about another American war initiative (though that’s what the main storyline hinders upon) nor how three different stories gel perfectly together (it would have been had it meant to be some sort of thriller or drama). It is a 90 minutes of intense and rather intellectual dialogues between different characters – a senator (Tom Cruise) and a reporter (Meryl Streep) he invited for a 1 hour exclusive interview on a topic the reporter has yet to find out, a college professor (Robert Redford) and his most promising student who has lost faith on political science, and a pair of good friends heading to Afghanistan for a battle because someone in the White House has created a new strategy that would change the world.

“Lions For Lambs” attempts to expose certain inconvenient truth that unfortunately is nothing new to many people. The politicians who defend their ideals with plastic faces, the media companies that work with the government on the war of propaganda, the soldiers (lions) who fight for the country that does not even take care of them in the first place, and the officers (lambs) who sit inside the command center having no idea what it is like at the actual battlefield. Of course, there are the academics who look into the history of mankind and wonder why we keep making the same mistakes again and again.

The acting of Meryl Streep is superb, what a contrast to “The Devil Wears Prada” – a movie that I coincidentally watched on cable just days ago. And I do enjoy watching Robert Redford and Tom Cruise’s acting performance. It is rather unfortunately (again) that even with such heavy weight stars, I suspect a good portion of the audience may find the movie rather boring. I personally had a hard time trying to follow the movie. Not because the script is badly written, but rather there are so many at times fascinating conversations and to absorb them and internalize them at the same time is hard. Many may not have that patience I can imagine. What you may take away from “Lions For Lambs” is not the storyline, but rather the questions raised.

I don’t know if that one intense and realistic rape scene of Monica Bellucci’s “Irreversible” is more painful to watch or the series of rape and violent scenes of “Your Name Justine” is instead. One thing for sure though, our Singapore’s Pleasure Factory is mild compare to that poor Poland girl who got sold into the sex industry in Germany.

The movie is inspired by the fact that 200,000 women are sold into brothels every day – 15,000 of them are Polish women. The fact itself is depressing. And the most depressing thing is the process of how the pimp breaks down a girl from someone innocent into a willing party to whore herself to men after being abducted from her hometown, her loved ones. That is what the majority of “Your Name Is Justine” is about. Some of the scenes are awfully hard to watch like suffocating a person with a plastic bag. That particular scene looks real to me and it seems that the actor and actress have practiced that scene for a long time. I sincerely hope that the main actress was not harmed in any way during the filming of the movie.

Is this movie worth watching? To me it is a definite yes because not everything in life is as rosy as the typical Hollywood stories. It is nothing pornographic nor erotic about this movie. It is a pure intense picture-house style of movie that tells a facet of life most of us are oblivious to. You will sympathize with the subject and even when the movie has ended and the plot has resolved itself, you will not feel as though anything has ended. Human trafficking still continues worldwide, even at this very moment you read this blog.

The Movie Review Squad is giving “The Brave One” another miss because this time round, TK could not make it. We picked “Moliere” instead because Cynthia suddenly has this craving for a high dosage of picture house type of art movie – in French.

I was prepared to fall asleep over watching the life story of a French playwright and actor who, by the way, is considered as one of the greatest masters of comedy in the Western literature on screen. Seriously, do we need another “Shakespeare In Love”? And I was wrong. “Moliere” is entertaining from the beginning to end filled with witty well crafted scripts, superb acting, beautiful costume, and a playful soundtrack to go along with the drama. The story “Moliere” itself is fictional inspired by some of Moliere’s (his real name is Jean-Baptiste Poquelin) significant works as well as real people that existed around him during 1600s. If you subscript to the concept that an artist’s work is inspired by his or her real life events, you may buy the idea that from the artist’s work, one may be able to reconstruct what has inspired him or her in the first place.

The movie “Moliere” is segmented in two parts – Moliere’s triumphant return to Paris after touring the countryside for 13 years and what happened to him 13 years ago. It is the latter that takes up much of the entire movie’s length. A good portion of the movie is comedy. I could not stop myself from bursting into laughter scene after scene. Despite the fact that “Moliere” entertains the audience through comedy, the underlying mood of the movie – in my opinion and true to Moliere’s own preference – is a tragedy. It is so well crafted that it makes you laugh and cry at the same time. (Cynthia did shed some tears over the movie.)

Out of all the wonderful actors and actresses of “Moliere”, I wish to single out Romain Duris as my favorite actor in the movie – quite possibly my favorite French actor of all time. The first movie I noticed Romain Duris is “Peut-etre” (1999) when I was working in Paris. A classic sci-fi movie by the way that has a bizarre story of a man at the year 2000 party emerged into the future from an attic meeting his future family members and his future-self. Since then, I enjoy watching “L’Auberge Espagnole” (2002) – English title as “The Spanish Apartment” – and the sequel “Russian Dolls” (2005) when he played against my all time favorite French actress Audrey Tautou. In “Moliere”, Romain Duris’s acting is convincing.

Not to be missed if you are into French movies or art movies in general. “Moliere” is not one of those over exaggerated romantic comedy nor one that is full of dramatic twist and turn. You have to appreciate the beauty of the scripts and the amount of acting poured in in order to enjoy this.

When a friend needs help, a friend gets help. And when a friend needs companionship just because he is having a tough time at work, friend gets companionship. Especially when he is one of our own – Movie Review Squad that is. This time, my turn to choose a movie. Think without thinking (blink!), I insisted on Keri Rusell’s “Waitress”. I LOVE the TV series “Felicity” where the character of Felicity Porter was acted (brilliantly) by Keri Rusell. Just how much I love “Felicity”? If you run out of ideas what to get for me as Christmas gift, I want this and this and this and this. Thank you. Beat the Christmas crowd. Do it today!

Now, back to business and no more beating around the bushes. When the movie first started, Cynthia screamed: oh no, not another movie in the kitchen. You really can’t compare “Waitress” with “Ratatouille” … because “Ratatouille” is an animated film meant to entertain. Between Catherine Zeta-Jones’s “No Reservations” and Keri Russell’s “Waitress”, the former one is a typical Hollywood production – entertaining with lots of feel good factors. Predictable romance drama with a happy ending like any typical Hollywood film. The latter one has lots of character development opportunities, sharp and memorable scripts, hint of depression with loads of humor that kept the audience entertained in a different way. A more personal feeling with a slice of life that may not be pretty to look at but is real enough to engage the audience at the emotional level. For those who may not enjoy dramas and witty conversation and rather have a Hollywood treatment, “Waitress” may not be your cup of tea.

From the plot perspective, we have Jenna (played by Keri Russell) – a waitress at a small restaurant off the highway who creates hundreds of different pies with somewhat bizarre themes – having an unwanted pregnancy with her obnoxious husband Earl, a man whom she dreams of getting away from day after day. At work, his boss Cal constantly barks at the waitresses and Jenna’s co-workers Becky and Dawn seems to share every secrets with one another – almost. Then comes Doctor Pomatter that suddenly reminds Jenna of what passion should be like. To me, it is as though “Waitress” is a condensed version of a TV series. Lots of drama and lots of emotions. It lifts up your spirit and yet make you want to cry at times.

For those who have watched the TV series “Felicity”, you must have heard of “Dear Sally” thousands of time. In “Waitress”, it is “Dear Baby” or “Dear Damn Baby” instead. Kind of cool if you were to ask me. Can’t think of another actress to better fit that role.

To kick start the “Cynthia is out of town for 2 weeks and I shall keep myself occupied”, I called upon the remaining member of the Movie Review Squad for an evening outing. I texted TK this morning and asked him if he was interested to join me for “The Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes” and he replied yes – without knowing what he got himself into, I later realized. Poor TK. So much faith in me, eh?

Why did I pick that movie? Advertised as the winner of the Locarno International Film Festival helped. The beautiful poster helped. And the fact that I like foreign films helped too. But why did I pick that movie?!

Sigh.

TK was asleep, I would say, 75% of the duration of the movie. In fact, he was snoring halfway and I have to give him the elbow. Duh … I felt a bit embarrassed … ha ha ha.

To be fair, this movie does have the trademark of the European movies … when the ending is revealed, you will get that … ah-ha feel. It is like the entire movie is made to mislead you to somewhere only to tell you otherwise towards the end. In fact, this movie gave me the illusion of two possible endings. When I told TK what I thought the endings could be, you should see the sparkle in his eyes.

The storyline is simple. There is a beautiful opera singer, there is an evil doctor, and there is a piano tuner. The questions throughout the movie are (at least to me) … did the opera singer die and where is the focal point? The filming is somewhat abstract, borderline artistic. Most of the time I was trying to figure out what the scenes mean. And there are lots and lots of disjoint scenes. I can safely say, I have not seen anything like “The Piano Tuner Of Earthquakes” before in my life. Not necessary means that it is good … just that it is different.

For those who are a big fan of Picture House movies, you may be able to appreciate the art within. As for me, the process is indeed too painful for what the reward is worth.