Thursday, October 13, 2011
Drive
Sunday, July 3, 2011
The Housemaid (2010)
Bedevilled (2010)
It is difficult to describe the movie. Actually to describe what is attractive and/or exciting about the movie for me. You could say that it begins more than slow, but will build up and be very disturbing toward the end. I'm not gonna give anything away from the story, but if you have seen some Korean movies, you might know what you are getting yourself into here!
It is sort of a character study and a very weird and dark social commentary to (if you want it to be). I liked the group dynamic, I liked the grey tones, I liked that it was different. I can't guarantee though that you will like it. And it might not be the ideal choice to start getting to know Korean cinema.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
Epic Day
Sunday, June 19, 2011
The Banana Tree
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Omg I can't believe I wasted two hours of my life over this. Ok, the middle part (where there was actual ACTING and a STORY) was bearable - but all that crap in the beginning and the end and those stupid whispers. All the "artsy" pretentious crap really made me want to move to the next door theater where the Hangover 2 was showing.... |
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Yeah, too bad he didn't put "Omg" in the modern part of the film. That wouldn't have been pretentious. Pretentious is the kneejerk word every collegeboy tool uses when something goes for the mind and not just the genitals. Once in a while it is the right word, in this case, given the true definition, it's quite inappropriate and again merely a kneejerk word. Terry Malick was translating Heidegger when most people are consumed with how to score a six pack and where to park their uglies for eight or ten seconds. He has a proven track record of taking on big questions with vision, artistry, tenderness and courage. Like other magnificent artists, artists who take risks to find something new under the sun, he is not for everyone or for all times and situations. Tree Of Life in particular takes risks, has embarrassing moments, and could have been better given more time than the film business ever allows anyone. The mere fact that so many people, including many with decades of discriminating taste, are finding so much good and special in this film, whatever the nitpicks may be, more or less removes the massively overused word of pretentious from being a helpful or useful or anywhere near correct critique. Ponderous? Of course, in part. Enigmatic? Maybe. Need more viewings before you could ever decry that. Bombastic? I thought the music was in the beginning parts, but I withhold judgment until I see it more times. We have that rare filmmaker who really wants to take on the very and ultimately unknowable mysteries of creation, incarnation, family, love, deity and soul. That rare artist who goes beyond language and typical cinematic tools of inquiry--who really wants "acting" all the time, it's rank fakery in the end--to seek meaning and guidance during an increasingly tragic era of inestimable loss and suffering when the very species itself is on the brink of collapse or some new, perhaps even more compromised survival. Yes, you wasted your time. Yes, the whispers and tree shots have become too rote in Terry's films and no one has yet explained why this supremely talented and intelligent man and the great geniuses he works with have not disabused him of the notion that he should use such tropes so often. Yet, he has the courage of his own convictions and vision. He isn't trying to please us first, this is anything but a work of entertainment--which confuses and perplexes and baffles those who really only want that, even when they think they are taking in a more highbrow film or piece of music or work of literature. Malick wants us to experience his journey with these questions so that we might have something resembling a more aspected roadmap for our own journey up Calvary or out into the Cosmos, for most of life doesn't offer any such thing, just junk food and deceptions and the products of greed and mindless titillation. This film is a means, not an end. There will be many who don't appreciate it for that reason alone. Pretentious will be the word used most. Our schools and churches and even most of our art just doesn't offer any real help with the mysteries anymore, but you needn't like the film, and complaints and criticisms can be valid. Yet to damn the film on IMDB with near-meaningless and arguably incorrect cliches like "artsy" and "pretentious" while very barely providing one single minor example of the spoken tone of a fragment of dialog probably reveals a lot more about your pretensions and faculties than Terry Malick's. Forgive if I seem ad hominem, that's not the case, but I'm just tired of jejune observations and the obvious, worn out cliche words used to advance them over and over again. They waste time. My advice is never to attend another Malick film as long as you live, don't read Heidegger or Wittgenstein, avoid Ezra Pound and T.S. Eliot like the AIDS, and try not to listen to anything beyond 4/4 time and without a partially clad singer. There's a whole ton of what any Tom, Dick or Harry might term pretentiousness out there waiting to defile your sensibilities. To put it all another way: Omg, whatEVER, better luck with Hangover 2! + User Reviews7 June 2011 | by ruiresende84 (ruiresende84@gmail.com) (Porto, Portugal) – See all my reviews How do you watch such a film? You've got to lower any defenses you have. You've got to not allow yourself to try to make a sense out of everything you see. You've got to take it all, and let it enter you, just as smoothly as the film enters dinosaurs, cells, planetary evolution, or a simple living room of a troubled family. Make no judgements, consider nothing except the pure experience of being there, wherever the film takes you. Search no explanation, for there was no real rational reason other than intuition for images to be as they are. |
Friday, June 10, 2011
Martyrs (2008)
On the very simple level a horror film that makes you sweat and hold on very tight!
Yet the first half of it can be a complete wash or at least shortened by a lot.
Well, the whole film can be a short feature.
Because there is only one topic and it all unravels in the ending.
Good question (answer) raised by the director. But it is nothing new to me personally. Although i am very glad it made me think a little deeper.
Made me immune to about 99% of horrorfilms.
Saturday, June 4, 2011
i love this game
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Night Time May 21st, 2011
Monday, May 16, 2011
I Saw the Devil (2010)
Whenever I see a negative review of "I Saw the Devil", the critic always mentions (scornfully) that the movie is ultra violent and portrays women in horrifying circumstances. Yes it is, and yes it does.
But this isn't a Hollywood slasher flick. The kills in this movie are not gratifying and aren't meant to be. The women being killed are not scantily clad models running through forests from men wearing masks. There is nothing pleasant or "cool" about these scenes; they make the viewer uncomfortable, they unsettle, they bring one's mind into very dark places. It gives us a peek into the madness that every man is capable of, and does so realistically and without pulling its punches. This brutal realism makes people uncomfortable, and prompts negative reviews. This is understandable, but unfortunate. I believe that a movie should be judged on more than the amount of blood the viewer is comfortable seeing on-screen. To these people, please, do not watch Korean revenge thrillers if you are uncomfortable with torture or blood.
But enough of that rambling. This movie is excellent. Beautiful cinematography contrasts the stark, dimly lit scenes where the murders, or gritty fight scenes, occur. The camera work is simple but effective; the viewer is often treated to close-ups of both Byung-hun Lee and Mik-sik Choi, and their facial expressions tell us more than dialogue ever could. There is also contrast between Lee and Choi. Lee, clean and stoic, and Choi, filthy and madly expressive. They compliment each other very well, and play off of each others strengths effectively.
The story itself is typical of revenge films, but fantastic in its execution. Lee's character experiences a profound loss at the hands of Choi's character, and in the process of seeking revenge begins to resemble the man he so hates. The line between "victim" and "aggressor" becomes blurred between both characters. This is where the film shines. There is no black and white in "I Saw the Devil"; the viewer is left with shades of grey.
As for the acting, it was all done very well. As I mentioned, Lee and Choi work well together, and all supporting cast members did an excellent job. Choi portrays his character in an incredibly convincing manner, shifting suddenly from calmness to manic anger, but never in a way that feels unnatural or forced. Lee's character is quiet and much less expressive, but he does very well in showing immense amounts of emotion through just his eyes or subtle movements of his body. A memorable performance from them both.
As for flaws, the only thing I can think of is the strange, perhaps unrealistic behaviour of the police. Lee is a member of the NIS, and is very skilled when it comes to remaining hidden, but that shouldn't make him untouchable when directly provoking police officers or driving on the wrong side of the street. Still, though, it's a very trivial complaint that isn't worth a deducted point.
A confident 10/10 from me. If you are comfortable seeing serial murder portrayed realistically, and are able to appreciate more than just gore, please, do yourself a favour and watch this film.
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Saturday, April 23, 2011
Friday, February 11, 2011
v.v.zhuk
it is February the eleventh, two thousand eleven.
days run on each other as a sweet blur of weightlessness.
one could see his own life going by this way with a smile on his deathbed.
(to be continued)
Monday, February 7, 2011
e.e.cummings
who pays any attention
to the syntax of things
will never wholly kiss you;
wholly to be a fool
while Spring is in the world
my blood approves,
and kisses are a better fate
than wisdom
lady i swear by all flowers. Don't cry
- the best gesture of my brain is less than
your eyelids' flutter which says
we are for each other; then
laugh, leaning back in my arms
for life's not a paragraph
And death i think is no parenthesis
Monday, January 31, 2011
I am a dreamer, and there is two (+) of us...
Thursday, January 27, 2011
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
Higher Level of "Like"?!?
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We'll be together with a roof right over our heads;
We'll share the shelter of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread.
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
I wanna know - wanna know - wanna know now!
I got to know - got to know - got to know now!
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I - I'm willing and able,
So I throw my cards on your table!
I wanna love you - I wanna love and treat - love and treat you right;
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We'll be together, yeah! - with a roof right over our heads;
We'll share the shelter, yeah, oh now! - of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! - for Jah provide the bread.
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Is this love - is this love - is this love -
Is this love that I'm feelin'?
Wo-o-o-oah! Oh yes, I know; yes, I know - yes, I know now!
Yes, I know; yes, I know - yes, I know now!
I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I-I - I'm willing and able,
So I throw my cards on your table!
See: I wanna love ya, I wanna love and treat ya -
Love and treat ya right.
I wanna love you every day and every night:
We'll be together, with a roof right over our heads!
We'll share the shelter of my single bed;
We'll share the same room, yeah! Jah provide the bread.
We'll share the shelter of my single bed -
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Sunday, January 16, 2011
The xx
Friday, January 14, 2011
Every Day Is a Present!
The One And Only I.M.
Start wearing purple for me now
All your sanity and wits they will all vanish
I promise, it's just a matter of time...
So yeah, ha
Start wearing purple wearing purple (he)
Start wearing purple for me now
All your sanity and wits they will all vanish
I promise, it's just a matter of time...
I know you since you where at twenty, and I was twenty,
but thought that some years from now
a purple little little lady would be perfect
for dirty old and useless clown...
So yeah, ha
Start wearing purple wearing purple
Start wearing purple for me now
All your sanity and wits they will all vanish
I promise, it's just a matter of time...
So yeah, I know it all from Diogenes to the Foucault
from Lozgechkin to Passepartout
I ja kljanus obossav dva paltza - chto ty!
shto muzyka poshla ot "zvukov moo"
Start wearing purple wearing purple (da da da da da)
Start wearing purple for me now
Start wearing purple for me now!
All your sanity and wits they will all vanish
I promise, it's just a matter of time...
So Vio-Vio-Violetta! Etta! Va-va-va-vaja dama ti moja!
Eh podayte nam karetu, vot etu, i mi poedem k ebenjam!
So yeah, ah start wearing purple wearing purple
Start wearing purple for me now
All your sanity and wits, they will all vanish
I promise, it's just a matter of time!...
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
In 2 Deep
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
For Musika Lovers
Sunday, January 9, 2011
Down Time
Thursday, January 6, 2011
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"WORST"
Some girl in the twinkling of an eye
Dem ah ready fi come pull down mi Karl Kani
Oh, come on now tell me how can I
Love ah, one dat really don't deserve me?
Natural fi keep and natural preserve me
Me is ah boy, could get a whole heep ah girl, ya heard me
Many are called but only few deemed worthy
Body have ta physically strong and sturdy
Spiritually balanced fi clean and purge me
Mentally advanced fi always urge me
Read couple books and challenge the clergy
Read a couple psalms up inna the morning early
Could you be so kind then show me a sign
I've been searching and it's so hard to find
Decent values with a decent wine
Decent jubee running it down the line
Maybe it's my mind, maybe I'm blind
Maybe it's the way that I've been spending my time
I'm still searching for a fine peace of mind
Decent jubee running it down the line
A little child has grown and he's got love on his mind
But what he'll never know a virtuous woman is hard to find
And dat's when she said she feels the pain
And she'll never fall in love again
So if you is a gal with whole heep of value
What a valuable nice and decent gal you
When I get you I'll be glad I got you
Then stand firmly inna your life like statue
Seen some old tings seen some young tings
Seen some little silly go and come tings
Seen some one night just for fun tings
What a indecent piece ah, some ting
Be so kind den show me a sign
I've been searching and it's so hard to find
Decent values with a decent wine
Decent jubee running it down the line
Maybe it's my mind, maybe I'm blind
Maybe it's the way that I've been spending my time
I'm still searching for a fine peace of mind
Decent jubee running it down the line
Some say that love is blind
But he keep saying, not this time
So all he need is love to keep his heart in line
But dat's when she said, "Lord I feel the pain"
And she'll never fall in love again
You have some gal ah, come 'pon man premises
And ah, fling up the ting that's between di knees
And ah, full up man head with false promises
Oh, dutty bungle please, couldn't want to run that
So fast wid ease been there dun that my main
Squeeze is natural, simply natural
Could you be so kind then show me a sign
I've been searching and it's so hard to find
Decent values with a decent wine
Decent jubee running it down the line
Maybe it's my mind, maybe I'm blind
Maybe it's the way that I've been spending my time
I'm still searching for a fine peace of mind
Decent jubee running it down the line
A little child has grown and he's got love on his mind
But what he'll never know a virtuous woman is hard to find
'Cause that's when she said she's feeling pain
It seems they have fallen in love again
That's when she said, "Lord I feel the pain"
And now they're standing in love again
So tell me ah, when price tag gone pon annany
Gal ah, love man for Benz and Ferrari
Little one eyed brethren weh name Omari
Couldn't get no loving since him start sell stary
Some girl in the twinkling of an eye
Dem ah ready fi come pull down mi Karl Kani
Oh, come on now tell me how can I
Love ah, one dat really don't deserve me?
Saturday, January 1, 2011
Passenger of Life
An Nou Fericit
שנה טובה
नया साल मुबारक हो
明けましておめでとうございます
Gott Nytt År
Ευτυχισμένο το Νέο Έτος
새해 복 많이
Glückliches neues Jahr
Szczęśliwego Nowego Roku
С Новым годом
It seems to be the case nowadays that film audiences, particularly at this time of year as the summer winds down, are left with a choice of seeing the latest broad appeal movies filling the multiplexes, or venturing to the local independent cinema in search of more intellectual fare. Very rarely will a film transcend these boundaries and offer a mix of Hollywood-style action and art-house flair, which is what makes Nicolas Winding Refn's Drive so unique and something to be celebrated.
Drive tells the story of an unnamed stunt driver (Ryan Gosling) moonlighting as a getaway driver for a crime syndicate run by Bernie Rose (Albert Brooks). Seemingly a loner, the driver becomes involved in the life of his neighbour Irene (Carey Mulligan) and her young son Benicio (Kaden Leos). After agreeing to drive for Irene's newly paroled husband Standard (Oscar Isaac), and finding himself on the wrong side of assassination contract, the driver embarks on a mission to protect Irene from the vicious gangsters who would seek to harm her to get at him. It's a well-worn plot line which in the hands of someone less adept than Refn would likely be nothing more than a forgettable thriller, yet the massively talented director, who picked up the Best Director prize at Cannes this year for Drive, crafts an engaging and thrilling throwback film elevated by masterful performances across the board.
Refn, previously known for the fantastic Bronson, and the lesser known but equally excellent Pusher trilogy, is a man who has very clearly studied his Kubrick. Certainly most modern directors could do worse than imitate the style of one of history's greats like Stanley Kubrick, but rarely does one pull it off with the skill of Refn. In Bronson, the influence was a little more obvious, with the resulting film seeming like something of a spiritual successor to A Clockwork Orange. With Drive however, the traces are a little more subtle, visible in the impeccable technical touches, and the use of dissolves, pensive long takes, and slow zooms, a hallmark of Kubrick's catalogue. Drive is a flawlessly crafted film, filled with beautiful imagery of the Los Angeles underworld seen more often in the work of Michael Mann.
The technical achievements of Drive are more than matched by the acting of the entire cast, and Refn shrewdly selects a wide variety of performers to populate the story. Top notch support comes from Bryan Cranston, Christina Hendricks, the ever dependable Ron Perlman, and particularly Brooks, who jettisons his familiar comedic persona in a truly frightening and villainous performance, which will surely be on the radar of voters come awards season. Mulligan shows characteristic heart in a largely overlooked role, yet the film unquestionably belongs to Gosling. Often heralded as one of the finest actors of his generation, in Drive Gosling delivers his best work yet as the driver; a quiet role that is all the more effective due to the subtlety of the performance. He displays an ability to ratchet up the tension using just the slightest widening of his eyes and tensing of his jawline, and when the character is pushed to act more forcefully, Gosling transitions from almost silent observer to brutal aggressor so swiftly that it leaves one breathless. It's work that he makes look easy, yet it's the most focused performance seen in an action film in quite some time.
There's something undeniably retro about Drive, with its neon opening titles and 80s infused soundtrack, but the film seems remarkably fresh. Smart action filmmaking is so hard to come by these days, so Drive delivers refreshing variety, beginning the time of year when the so-called prestige pictures are released with a bang.