Movie Review: Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close(2012)

Oskar Schell: Can't you even tell me if I'm on the right track?

Thomas Schell: *Shrugs his shoulders* 

Oskar: But if you don't tell me, how can i ever be right?

Thomas: Well, another way of looking at it is...how can you ever be wrong?

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Oskar Schell: But it wasn't working... because people aren't like numbers. They're more like letters... and those letters want to become stories... and dad said that stories need to be shared.

I have read a lot of different points from a series of critics for this movie. There are some(most of them really) who wrote that it was immaturely put together in sequence; and some say that the enigmatic sense of connection to the characters and how it was related to the current events have pulled it off. I honestly think that the cinematography is pretty good and oh the music is somehow..hhmm..ineffable. Sandra Bullock was even in the movie (I only felt her presence in the latter part).

Based from the adapted book with the same title written by Jonathan Safran Foer, the whole catch evolves when a child who has Aspergers Syndrome (a condition similar to autism wherein the nature of social interrelationship is impaired. However, cognitive and motor abilities remain intact.), Oskar Schell, tries to decipher the biggest unsolvable mystery according to his challenging father, Thomas Schell, which eventually turns the course of their lives, in general, to a different route. Furthermore, in the process, he discovers an array of people's lives from different walks of life with the use of his camera; and he understands what brings the society of any boroughs together, LOVE.

For me, one thing's for sure-It moved me.

P.S: It was the debut movie of the kid who played the character of Oskar Schell. He was discovered during his cameo as one of the players in Jeopardy!. He's good.

Personal rating: 7/10

Here's the trailer: 

Must-see: Sleeping Beauty(2011)

Circa midyear of 2011, I have watched Zack Synder's Sucker Punch which was created in a very promising style similar to 300 and Watchmen. Having said that, the combination of blue and orange in the screen of these films has been a plus for a moviegoer like me. 

 

See?

Pleasing to the eyes, I never wonder why Zack Synder's original style of painting a movie has helped him strolled his way to the best directors of 2011 effortlessly. (I apologize for digressing from the subject of this entry).HAHA. 

Emily Browning, a leading actress in Sucker Punch, has been changing character's clothes from a perky child actress to a full-grown and matured goddess actress. Again, she consistently showed this new skin to another masterpiece entitled, Sleeping Beauty. This independent film took a different perspective in portraying a classic story excluding the usual happily-ever-after, prince charming, and evil witch. Nevertheless, the concept of an innocent lady sleeping has been retained, I think. Surprisingly, this movie was even submitted as an entry to THE Cannes Film Festival. Yeah, BIG. Also, it means some scenes are NSFW to watch. 

Here's a movie info from Rottentomatoes.com:

"Lucy (Emily Browning) is a young university student possessed by a kind of radical passivity. She lets a flip of a coin decide the outcome of a random sexual encounter and she displays an uncomplaining patience when facing the repetitions of her various menial jobs that fund her studies. One day she answers an ad in the student newspaper and interviews for a job to be a lingerie waitress. But she is secretly being initiated into a world of strange new work; one where she will have to give into absolute submission to her clients by being sedated; becoming a Sleeping Beauty. Eventually this unnerving experience begins to bleed into her daily life and she finally develops the will to break the spell by discovering what happens to her while she sleeps."

MOVIE TRAILER:

Must-see: Moonrise Kingdom(2012)

Aside from the awesome stop-motion animation, Fantastic Mr. Fox, Wes Anderson yields another peculiar, yet comical story of a dynamic journey full of joys and mishaps dedicated to children of the new generation and children-at-heart of OUR generation.

 I always enjoy movies that give me quirky nostalgic feeling of childhood. The barred never-growing  innocent child inside me jumps with bliss as my eyes are glued to the screen exhibiting psychedelic textures and colors, and funny childish acts. This child will love the movie for sure.

Rottentomatoes.com, the only all-movie guide website I visit, has given the film a fresh tomatometer of 94% and an average rating of 8.2/10. I have also read positive reviews from film critics admiring its charming-ness.

Movie info from Rottentomatoes.com:
"Set on an island off the coast of New England in the summer of 1965, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of two twelve-year-olds who fall in love, make a secret pact, and run away together into the wilderness. As various authorities try to hunt them down, a violent storm is brewing off-shore -- and the peaceful island community is turned upside down in more ways than anyone can handle. Bruce Willis plays the local sheriff. Edward Norton is a Khaki Scout troop leader. Bill Murray and Frances McDormand portray the young girl's parents. The cast also includes Tilda Swinton, Jason Schwartzman, and Jared Gilman and Kara Hayward as the boy and girl. "

MOVIE TRAILER HERE:

Minsan May Isang Puta

Tingin ng mga bobong kapitbahay ko, puta daw ako. Nagpapagamit, binabayaran. Sabi nila, ako daw ang pinakamaganda at pinakasikat sa aming lugar noon. Di ko nga alam kung sumpa ito, dahil dito naletse ang kinabukasan ko.

Tara, makinig ka muna sa kwento ko, yosi muna tayo.

Alam mo, maraming lumapit sa akin. Nagkagusto at naakit. Ang hirap pag lahat sa iyo, virgin eh. Tinanggap ko naman silang tao, bakit kaya nila ako ginago? Hindi ko maintindihan ang mga nangyari sa akin. Bukas palad ko naman silang pinakitunguhan, ni hindi ko nga itinuring na iba. Iniisip ko na nga lang na kasi di sila taga rito kaya siguro talagang ganoon.

Tatlong malilibog na foreigners ang nagpyesta sa katawan ko. Sabi nila na-rape daw ako.

Sa tatlong beses akong nagahasa, ang pinakahuli ang di ko makakalimutan. Parang maski di ko ginusto ang mga nangyari, hinahanap-hanap ko siya. Kasi, ibang-iba ang hagod niya. Umiikot ang mundo ko sa tuwing ginagamit niya ako. May mga pagkakaton na nasusuka na ko sa mga nangyayari sa aming dalawa. Parang ‘pag humahalinghing siya, nararamdaman ko na nalalason ako.. Gusto ko mang umayaw, hindi ko makuhang humindi. Hindi ko din alam kung bakit. Ibang klase din kasi siya mag-sorry eh, lalo pa at inalagaan niya ako at ang mga naging anak ko.

Alam mo, parating ang dami naming regalo – may chocolates, yosi at ano ka! May datung pa! Nakakabaliw siya! Alam kong ginagamit niya lang ako pero pagamit naman ako nang pagamit. Sa kanya namin natutunan mag-inggles, di lang magsulat ha! Magbasa pa!

Nung kinasama ko siya, guminhawa buhay namin. Sosyal na sosyal kami! Ewan ko nga ba, akala ko napapamahal na ako sa kanya. Akala ko tuloy-tuloy na kaligayahan namin, yun pala unti-unti niya akong pinapatay.

Punyetang buhay! Sa dami ng lason na sinaksak niya sa katawan ko, muntik na akong malaspag. Ang daming nagsabi na ang tanga tanga ko. Palayasin ko na daw. Taon ang binilang bago ako natauhang makining sa payo. Iniisip ko kasi na parang di ko kakayanin na mawala siya sa akin… Sa amin! .

Sa tulong ng ilan sa mga anak ko, napalayas ko ang demonyo pero ang hirap magsimula. Hindi nga ako sigurado kung nabunutan ako ng tinik o nadagdagan pa. Masyado na kasi kaming nasanay sa sarap ng buhay na naranasan namin sa kanya, kaya eto nabaon kami sa utang. Lubog na lubog kami sa pagkakautang, kulang yata pati kaluluwa namin para ibayad sa mga inutang namin.

Nakakahiya man aminin pero hanggang ngayon, sa tuwing mabigat ang problema ko, siya ang tinatakbuhan ko. ‘Yun nga lang, kapit sa patalim sabi nga nila. Para akong isang aso na nangagat ng amo, na bumabahag ang buntot at umaamo kapag nangangailangan.

Usap-usapan ako ng mga kapitbahay ko. May nanghihinayang, namumuhi at naaawa. Puta na kasi ang isang magandang katulad ko. Ang dating hinahangaan at humahalina ay nabibili sa murang halaga. Alam mo maski ganun ang mga nangyari sa akin, nilakasan ko pa rin ang loob ko. Kailangan makita ng mga anak ko, na masasandalan nila ako maski ano pang mangyari.

Maski ano pa ang sabihin ng iba, sinisikap namin na maging maganda ang buhay namin. Nag-aambisyon kami at nangangarap. Ayun, may mga anak ako na nasa Japan, Hong Kong, Saudi. Yung iba nag-US, Canada, Europe. ‘Yung iba ayaw umalis sa akin. Halos lahat, wala naman silbi. Masaya daw sa piling ko, maski amoy pusali ako.

Sa dami ng mga anak ko na nagsisikap na tulungan ang kalagayan namin, siya din ang dami ng mga anak ko na nanamantala sa kabuhayan at kayaman na itinatabi ko para sa punyetang kinabukasan naming lahat. Eto na nga ang panahon na halos di na kami makaahon sa hirap ng buhay. Napakahirap dahil nasanay na kami sa ginhawa at sarap.

Alam mo, gusto ko na sanang tumigil sa pagpuputa kaso ang laki talaga ng letseng utang ko eh. Palaki pa ng palaki! Paano na lang ang mga anak kong naiwan sa aking puder? At paano na lang ang mga anak kong nasa abroad? Baka di na nila ako balikan o bisitahin man lang? Hindi na importante kung laspagin man ang ganda ko, madama lang ng mga anak ko ang pagmamahal ko. Malaman nila na ibibigay ko ang lahat para sa kanila.

Sa tuwing titingin ako sa salamin, alam ko maganda pa rin ako. Meron pa din ang bilib sa akin. Napapag-usapan pa din. Sa tuwing nakikita ko ang mukha ko sa salamin, nakikita ko ang mga anak ko. Tutulo na lang ang mga luha ko ng di ko namamalayan. Ang gagaling nga ng mga anak ko eh, namamayagpag kahit saan sila pumunta. Mahusay sa kahit anong gawain. Tama man o mali.

Sa dami ng mga anak ko, iilan lang ang may malasakit sa akin. May malasakit man, nahihilaw pa.

Mabigat dalahin para sa akin, ang katotohanan na ni minsan ay di kami naging isang pamilya. Halos lahat ng mga anak ko, galit sa isa’t isa. IIlan ang gusto magtulungan, naghihilahan pa. Madalas kong itinatanong sa sarili ko kung naging masama ba akong nanay para magturingan ng ganito ang mga anak ko?

Kanino bang similya ng demonyo nanggaling ang mga anak kong maituturing mong may mga pinag-aralan pero nakakadama ng saya at sarap sa paghihirap ng kapatid nila? Di ko lubos maisip kung saan impiyerno nanggaling ang kasikiman ng ilan sa mga anak kong ito. Sila pa naman ang inaasahan kong magbabangon sa amin. Nakakabaliw isipin na natitiis nila ang kalagayan ng kanilang mga kapatid na halos mamatay sa hirap ng buhay. Parang di sila magkakapatid sa tindi ng pagkaganid at walang pagmamalasakit.

Ang di ko akalain ay mismong mga anak ko, ang tuluyang sisira sa akin. Kinapital ang laspag na ganda ko. Masaya sila sa mga nabibili nila mula sa pinagputahan ko. Buong angas nilang pinagyayabang ang mga pansamantalang yaman at ang kanilang hilaw na pagkatao sa mga makakakita at makikinig. Talaga bang nakakalula ang materyal na kayamanan at mga titulong ikinakabit sa pangalan? Hindi ko maintindihan.

Minsan sa pagtingin ko sa salamin, ni hindi ko na nga kilala sarili ko.

Dadating na naman ang pasko, sana maalala naman ako ng mga anak ko. Ilang linggo pa, magbabagong taon na. Natatakot ako sa taong darating. Ngayon pa lang usap-usapan na ang susunod na pangbubugaw sa akin. Gagamitin pa nila ang kahinaan ng mga kapatid nilang alipin sa kalam ng tiyan. Sa tagal ng panahong ganito ang sitwasyon namin parang eto lang ang sulok na gagalawan ko. Sana may magtanggol naman sa akin. Ipaglaban naman nila ako. Gusto kong isigaw: “Ina ninyo ako! Pagmamahal nyo lang ang kailangan ko!”

Sensya na, ang haba na ng drama ko. Masisira na ang make up ko nito eh. Salamat ha, pinakinggan mo ako. Malaking bagay sa akin na nakausap kita. Ang tagal nating nag-usap, di man lang ako nagpapakilala.

Ay sorry, di ko nasabi pangalan ko.

Pilipinas nga pala.


"Minsan may Isang Puta" is an article originally published by Mike Portes in 2007. The story was chosen to be adapted in a movie trilogy entitled "Ganap na babae"(Garden of Eve), directed by Sara Roxas. The said film has been shown during the Cinemalaya 2010.


from http://antipinoy.com/minsan-may-isang-puta-2007/

First movie review: Sarong Banggi (One night)

This is my first movie review (as seen in the title above). I hope I will nail this one:D

Well, I’m not really a fan of watching Pinoy movies because I look at it as cheesy and dull. I guess 80% of these films are created for television with fancy love teams and predictable premises just to satisfy the fix of the mass. It happened that I saw this movie from a pile of DVD’s my aunt has sent from abroad (I didn’t know that there are retailers of filipino movies outside the country). This may be the first and the last movie of its kind that will be featured in this blog (except for deserving independent tagalog films). haha

 Lahat ng tao ay may kwento.Naglalakad na kwento. (Everyone has a story. Stories that walk)

The story is about a narrated night of a middle aged masseuse (Jacklyn Jose) and how it changed her life.  The first few takes reveal a group of adolescent boys driving their way to the lighted streets of beachwalk to celebrate the birthday of one of their friends (Angelo Ilagan) and transform him from boyhood to a fully grown man.  The movie progresses as it discloses the twisted fate of the two characters.

In conclusion, The movie has poignantly moved me. However, the first thing that I didn’t like is the slow pacing of the story. I even forwarded some scenes. You know the feeling of watching a movie and there are scenes that you want to scrape out from it or take a nap instead. The second thing that I noticed is the poor acting skills of some casts except for Jacklyn Jose who proved that she is a versatile and timeless actress despite her age. The plot, which is similar to the Oedipus tragedy, is uncanny and interesting. Nevertheless, the ending is a bit of disturbing.

Personal rating-6.5/10

My first entry YEY :D

Readers, welcome to my blog!

This is my first time to try writing entries about movies I adore, puked-on, have-seen-a-couple-of-times, and dying-to-see. I will be posting brief reviews, spoilers, and random movie rants to this blog. This may not be the quintessential movie journal in the whole blog world, albeit this blog will best capture every angle of a featured movie , from scenes to outtakes, from casts to the production team.

Please bear with the progress of the entries that will be posted. I intentionally created this blog to spare myself from being unproductive now that I’m part of the unemployed world. I may also use this blog to escape from the  unkempt reality.

Again, Enjoy!