Movies Opening This Week (Week 7)

Do you want to be born old?

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

One of my most awaited movies of the year is this Brad Pitt-Cate Blanchett flick. It's about a guy who is born an octogenarian and ages backwards. He meets a young girl as he is dumped onto a retirement home by his father and they would eventually marry as their ages match.

It reminds me, somehow, of the premise of The Time Traveler's Wife.

2 French films and a third blow at the O' Connells

The Diving Bell and the Butterfly

I meant to review this after we returned from America, and that's because I watched this from a plane along with the cut version of the funny musical biopic spoof Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story. And to be honest, this film is a rather effective little illustration of a French Elle editor's bout with "locked-in syndrome"- a rare kind of disability in the aftermath of a stroke. This means that Jean Dominique-Bauby, the Elle editor, can't move any part of his body and has no ability to talk... except his left eye, that is. Thus, he develops a way of communication with just his left eye. A person can ask him yes or no questions, and if he blinks once it means yes, twice means no. Heck, this even led to a real book!

Now, I may have forgotten the name of the biopic's subject (I had to go to RT to check what it was), but I have not forgotten his story! To make it short, it's affecting, it's funny, it's uniquely presented yet... human.

You just can't ignore the fact that he can only see with one eye (they actually sewed his other eye permanently shut) and that such a sickness actually exists! This film provoked my thoughts about life-- and I swore I held back some tears by the time the credits rolled.

To be honest, my seat's entertainment system's audio (along with my parents') was defective so fortunately, there were subtitles. And so I wonder: How much more of a magnificent movie would this be if there was sound?

I can't say any more about this movie... It is hands-down something people should watch. It's compelling, it's deep, and frankly, I need to view it again because it's surprisingly, artfully poetic that I almost didn't understand the deeper meaning behind all the proceedings.

Watch this, now.
Rating: 10/10

Persepolis

Marjane Satrapi may not be French, but to experience this movie is to watch it in that language with English subtitles- basically at its purest, original form. But whatever language you're watching this, it will be sure to make you laugh and be awed at the kind of culture Iran had back in the day.

So this autobiographical movie starts out with Marjane's childhood. Everyone is rallying against the shah, including her rebellious parents, and most of her relatives are being detained and executed. This movie lets you find out how her life was during those hard times, and it eventually leads you to the various stages of her life until womanhood.

I won't spill any more than that, but what I have to say about this gloriously black-and-white animated film is that it certainly is not for the kiddies. Now, the fatalities of war are portrayed here subtly and artistically, but there is foul language used here and there in the otherwise well-written and naturally flowing dialogue. And despite it being black-and-white, there are scenes where a color palette is actually used, and the transition between them is astonishingly seamless.

Anyway, the movie is full of emotional depth, and the portrayal of growing up in this coming-of-age film is uniquely presented- it's unlike any other movie I've seen. It also details the impact of various trends to the conservative Iranian society and the flow just seems really natural and obviously personal. Marjane is practically opening all doors of her heart and not leaving one detail behind.

The pace is rather brisk, and it proves its point without over-dramatizing. Basically, it cuts to the chase.

But the film is not all seriousness for it has its funny moments. Heck, it has a spoof of Rocky! And the scene of her becoming a teen is utterly laugh-out-loud hilarious in its depiction!

And actually, this movie is relevant to our times. Okay, the Bee Gees may be obsolete, but we can replace that with our current trends, and the Revolution? You could put People Power. As for the Iraq-Iran war? You can put the MILF rebellion that's happening in Mindanao over that. People will be able to feel this movie- especially the ones who are embroiled in this war. They will be able to feel with Marjane's story, and that's because even if it's "merely animation", it contains a deeper meaning than many other movies currently being shown in the theaters. But of course, Persepolis isn't being shown in the theater anymore, so it's probably not right to compare this one to the movies currently showing.

But the way it ended surprised me. It just felt abrupt. You feel curious about Marjane's adventures as a grown woman, but of course, this is a coming-of-age story, so I guess it shouldn't be surprising at all.

Regardless of that, you should try and find a copy of this gem of an autobiography. It's unique, it's charming and it's deep but rather unsatisfying. Maybe it should've won the Oscar instead of Ratatouille!

Rating: 9.8/10

The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor

Oh God, "here we go again" indeed.

Once again, we go to the lives of the O' Connell family, but this time, Alex has grown up (AS IN) but it's like Rick and Evie didn't age. Of course, Evie has become a bit less beautiful because it's not Rachel Weisz reprising the role anymore, but Mario Bello. But except Evie, the gang's all here.

But of course, there are new characters. I mean, how could they even revive Imhotep right? Well, Alex skips school and goes to China to try to find the Dragon Emperor who was cursed by a witch (Michelle Yeoh). His army was cursed with him, and now, of course, he has resurrected from the dead because of a Chinese general who thinks the ideals of freedom are not ideal for the world.

Jet Li's character's mission is now to go to the immortality water thingy that Michelle Yeoh's character is protecting, and release himself from his crummy CGI exoskeleton and revive his army.

Of course, the O' Connells are the reason of his living, and now they're trying to stop him. As usual.

Basically, the movie is just going through the paces. The proceedings have become predictable, the humor even more stale. The special effects? Ha! Don't start with me about the special effects! Now, judging for the poster, you'd think at least that the effects of this installment is for 2008, but in the movie? Not really. There are some tolerable, still believable effects, but the others aren't. The army in the war scene? Total unbelievability. Jet Li's eventual defeat? Laughable. These effects would've been more believable 5 years ago, but nope, they're iffy in today's standards, to say the least.

Anyway, the two parents are hypocrites. In Returns, they said they love Alex, but here, it's like they ignored him anyway. Alex is a downright ass, and I hate him. And his love story? Bah. There's no emotion in it whatsoever, and the relationship, even though I'm not saying that cross-racial relationships are bad, is really awkward. And come on! The logic! Movie language usually states that if you are stripped of your immortality, your age will catch up with you. Here, it's different. But hey, I could always make this point a point that's going for the movie: it doesn't follow movie convention in only this aspect! </sarcasm>

It's actually a good thing that Rachel Weisz backed out of this project, otherwise she'd succumb to my wrath. Still, if she were in this installment and she reprised her role as Evie O' Connell, maybe the movie would actually get its human emotion. Weisz is a good actress, so if she wants to make us believe that her character is truly, madly, still in love with Rick after all those years, she could. The movie could've been better with her, but she was better off without it in her resume.

The twists are rudimentary and yawn-inducing, and Jet Li is sorely underutilized. What do you see of Jet Li in this movie? A CGI statue of him, that's what. If you wanted me to count his screen time in the flesh, it would probably be as brief as Chow Yun Fat's appearance as a Singaporean pirate in Pirates of the Carribean: At World's End. They could've used his wushu prowess! But noooo, nothing to exploit his skill.

"I hate mummies!," Rick says. Yeah, me too. But the mummies I hate are the movies. They all suck, but not Batman and Robin sucky. But still, this movie is at the top of the barrel of suck.

Rating: 3.3/10

Oscar/Golden Globe-nominee/winner review #5: No Country For Old Men

NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN

Directed by: Joel and Ethan Coen

Released by: Miramax Films, Paramount Vantage

Noms: Globes Best Picture- Drama, Best Director,Best Screenplay, Oscars Best Cinematography, Best Editing, Best Sound Editing, Best Sound Mixing,

Wins: Globes Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem), Oscars Best Picture, Best Supporting Actor (Javier Bardem), Best Director, Best Adapted Screenplay

Tomatometer: 94%

In a nutshell: The film definitely creeped me out, but not in that atypical paranormal sense (because it's obviously a Western thriller). Superior acting and technical polish will especially suck you in, though I never really got that ending (it's not much of a bad thing, though).

Ah, the Coens. I've heard of them. And this is pretty much the first film (made by them) that I've ever seen, but I feel pretty compelled to hunt for their work. Why? It's pretty obvious, no? But I'll elaborate anyway.

It all starts with a man named Llewelyn (Josh Brolin) who goes to a part of the desert just to see the aftermath of a drug deal gone awry. He looks at the crime scene, and then sees the suitcase of a dead Mexican dude that contains 2 million dollars. He would bring the satchel home and well, pretty much set to motion a series of cat and mouse races for his life. A sheriff (Tommy Lee Jones) would also try to help him, but this psycopathic killer (Javier Bardem) is unlike any other, though he kind of knows what his next move is in a sort of philosophical manner.

OK, vague description, but that's because I wouldn't want to spoil anything about this movie. All I can say about it though, is that it definitely, successfully maintains that level of fear throughout the entire movie, even in those parts where you don't have to, because you just feel that Anton (Bardem's character) would sort of just appear and shoot everybody. And those times are just so unpredictable to boot! Plus, the cat and mouse chases between Llewelyn and Anton equally thrilling and scary, so much that it will put you at the edge of your seat (luckily I was on a bed, so yeah, that screams BOOTLEG! PIRATED! DVD!). And my mother, who would normally sleep in the middle of a movie, was definitely awake here. So I'm not exactly alone.

Speaking of DVD, it just seems a fact that genres like these, whether the movie in general is bad or not, is definitely more effective in the theater. So if you can just imagine what I felt during the screening of this movie in the comfort of home, who knows what would happen if you (and I for that matter) were to view this in a theater!

Joel and Ethan Coen definitely make a terrific job in the screenplay and direction, because they execute the near-impossible with perfect ease, and makes you feel like a character even. I can't pick out the words as to how I can tell this to you in detail, but yesterday's (March 1, 08) Inquirer review pretty much said it for me.

And as a bonus, you get to witness Javier Bardem at all his sinister glory, as he kind of almost steals Brolin's presence on-screen. But in case you're wondering whether he is the very loud type of cackling villain you'd stereotypically expect, he's not. He didn't really need to act all over-the-top and all that, and was actually the contrary. Ahh, silence is indeed more evil... and scarier than the screen villains I've seen for a decade.

Oh but good things come to an end, and its ending is pretty strange in the sense that it will make you think to the point that you have to re-view it a second time. But then again, it was already 1 in the morning when we finished. And I was hella tired. But I couldn't sleep though, Anton Chigurh was still etched in my mind, looking for me, wanting to kill me. (-shiver-)

You should definitely watch this gem, though. No, really. Watch THIS. It is indeed the definitive movie of the year of 2007 for me.

Rating: 9.8/10 (My 2007 movie of the year has finally arrived.)

Golden Globe/Oscar nominee review #4: Atonement

ATONEMENT

Directed by: Joe Wright

Released by: Universal Pictures, Working Title Productions, Focus Features

Noms: Oscar Best Supporting Actress, Best Art Direction, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design, Best Original Score, Best Picture, Best Adapted Screenplay, Globes Best Picture - Drama, Best Actress - Drama, Best Actor - Drama, Best Supporting Actress - Drama, Best Director, Best Screenplay, Best Original Score

Wins: Globes Best Picture - Drama, Best Original Score

Tomatometer: 82%

In a nutshell: It's a successful adaptation of Ian McEwan's widely lauded tale of war, lies and romance in World War II. The actors, especially newcomer Saoirse Ronan, give the film good performances that match the art direction and wondrous cinematography. And I fell in love with the score, by the way.

Back from re-creating Jane Austen's arguably most famous novel Pride and Prejudice does Joe Wright adapt yet another one, this time from Ian McEwan's acclaimed Atonement. It has become one of the books that belong to the "best books of all-time" lists of many, so it's no surprise that expectations are pretty high.

The director faces the challenge, and creates a piece of art that not only gets the scattered sequencing right, but also lets the viewer feel the guilt that rages inside Briony Tallis, the main character. OK, so why is she guilty again?

It all starts with a letter. Robbie (James McAvoy) writes this as an apology for his bad behavior towards Cecilia (a VERY thin Keira Knightley) in an earlier scene and gets Briony to give it to her. But when he realizes that he has put the wrong letter in the envelope, his eyes widen in outrage and Briony reads it. She then misinterprets him for a maniac and when her cousins get lost, hell breaks loose and Robbie is wrongly accused of a crime he definitely did not commit. World War II rages, the family breaks and mistrusts the maid and her son, Cecilia runs away, and Briony finally grows up. Knowing the damage she has done to the lives of everyone concerned, she is determined to atone for that particular deed. The rest, as they say, is history.So much for that summary (which I re-wrote 3 times). Anyway, the first thing I've fallen in love with is the score which gives the film a new layer and light. Each score that plays fit the character or scene, and it just makes everything so much better. (THANK YOU, DARIO MARINELLI.) I also love newcomer Saoirse Ronan's performance as the 8 year old Briony Tallis. Yeah, the character is played by 3 different actors to represent different age groups, but Ronan's part weighs a lot heavier than the others and is therefore commendably believable.

As for the other actors, they also portray each others' characters satisfactorily. The fury that spews out of Robbie when he sees the 18-year old Briony again, the disappointment that Cecilia feels when she learns of Robbie's arrest- these are just some of the best moments you'll see and feel with the characters.
Plus, even with the fact that my eyes are more hypnotized with Sweeney Todd's art direction, the art direction you'll see in this film is nonetheless wonderful, and the cinematography is equally wonderful. And I'm not just saying that for the fact that the film's nominated for those aspects.
As a whole, Atonement is adapted with much success and the Dario Marianelli's score is just torrent-worthily hypnotizing. If you want something worthwhile, and not to mention wonderfully dark, watch this. Who knows? You might not even dare lie again.

Golden Globe/Oscar nominee review #2: Elizabeth: The Golden Age

ELIZABETH: The Golden Age

Directed by: Shekhar Kapur

Released by: Universal Pictures, Working Title

Noms: Oscar Best Actress, Costume Design; Globes Best Actress

Wins: N/A

Tomatometer: 34% (Loser.)

In a nutshell: Spell it with me! B-O-R-I-N-G. BORING! But what saves the history lesson from disaster is its lead star Cate Blanchett who gives a great performance, as usual.

Actually, even within the facade of the English-Spanish war, there is a romance story going on, and not only any ordinary affair. This Spanish pirate named Sir Walter Raleigh (Clive Owen) goes to our dear queen Elizabeth I (Cate Blanchett) when she tries to look for suitors so that she can produce an heir. The pressure of being queen sets in and because Raleigh is a Spaniard, she cannot love nor marry him. Of course, there is also the aforementioned war King Philip has waged against her for being Protestant that she has to take care of. So yeah, that's quite a lot of work.

Though the same director from the first movie (yeah, this one's a sequel) which got leading star Blanchett her first (of many) Best Actress Oscar, this one just doesn't match up. Why? Because for one, it's pretty boring and disappointing probably for those expecting more from this. But hey, the film's quite goodly shot, but Blanchett just looks like... a female drag queen. Yeah, there are the triangular love twists and such, but... they're not just very effectively presented as I would have wanted to expect... especially on a Cate Blanchett film!

Still, the fact that Cate reprises her role here (and still does it with fiery passion!) is the film's very saving grace as she effectively knows how to carry a sinking history movie such as this. Heck, it's no surprise that she's being nominated again!

But as for the movie itself... well, maybe you can stick to watching the first one (and I'm just saying sheerly for the fact that the first movie's 79% on RT). It's a pretty boring history lesson (as I have said for like, what? 3 or 4 times already?) and something I almost slept in! That is, if it weren't for Cate!

Rating: 6/10 (Zzzzz...., this one was supposed to be a 5! I like Cate's performance, though, so what the hell.)

PHOTO CREDIT: Rotten Tomatoes
Next in the series: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (tomorrow)

Golden Globe/Oscar nominee review #1: Juno

You know what? Instead of a post full of movie reviews, why not divide them one by one into bite sized bits? And better way to start the series off with...

JUNO
Directed by: Jason Reitman (Thank You For Smoking)

Released by: Fox Searchlight Pictures

Noms: Oscar for Best Actress, Best Direction, Best Picture and Best Original Screenplay; Globes for Best Picture - Musical or Comedy, Best Actress, Best Screenplay

Wins: N/A

Tomatometer: 92%

In a nutshell: It's a whip-smart, funny and affecting take on teen pregnancy. An easily recommendable comedy that belongs in a class of its own.

I guess there's no such thing a sophomore curse.

Though I have yet to watch Jason Reitman's acclaimed debut film Thank You For Smoking, his top-notch direction in his newest film Juno definitely deserves its due. Then again, first-time screenwriter and ex-stripper Diablo Cody is where the real credit is due as she provides us a whip-smart, funny and affectingly compelling take on teen pregnancy.

I actually didn't like Little Miss Sunshine much when I watched it, and though this movie is of the same vein, the movie delivers more laughs and character development. Plus, it makes you feel good in a weird way.

So how does it go? Well, Juno gets a bit "bored" and has a one night's stand with her best friend Paulie Bleeker after booze. And judging from the poster, someone didn't buy any condoms. But now that the damage has been done, she has to grow up a little bit faster and instead of abortion, she finds adoptive parents at the Pennysaver and sees the perfect couple... at least on the surface. No, they're fortunately not the type of stepparents that are generically like the devil, but they are also real people, who are good but are married too long to the extent that the love isn't present anymore. But hey, Juno likes them (and doesn't know about this until the latter part of the movie) and she consents to making them the baby's parents. She goes through the paces of pregnancy, all the while confronting the genetic father, her own parents and the revelations that come. Thankfully, everything that happens are expertly balanced and superbly acted.

I can't imagine anybody else perfect for the roles of every person in this solid cast. Ellen Page gives you a show of what she can do and nails her role perfectly and delivers her lines naturally while for the first time does Michael Cera, star of Knocked Up and Superbad, doesn't say a swear word for the first time! And I also love the fact that, though it is predictable that the parents will express shock and a bit of anger, they definitely understand, not to mention respect, their daughter's decisions, thus making a few other cliches I can spot in the heart-to-heart talk (with Juno and her dad talking about loving forever and stuff), quite affecting and so... un-cliche.

You know what? The movie would also be the thinking man's comedy because they utter comedic lines naturally. And if you don't pay attention, you won't definitely laugh. OK, if you want to test your attention span, try finding the line that says, "the pink plus sign is so unholy!". If you don't find this one, then... good luck appreciating it.

Adding even more to the movie is its perfect soundtrack. Most of them are indies, some of them are obscure, but they're fitting for the mood and atmosphere of the scenes. I mean, the somewhat moody cover of The Carpenter's Superstar is already stuck in my head. Sometimes, I would catch myself singing the thing!

This movie is definitely relevant for many audiences and it's quite easy to recommend. It's genuinely funny, intelligent and wonderful. One minor quirk, though, she kinda dresses funny. But you know what? I think I'll be watching it again now...

Rating: 9.2/10 (Superb, yet simple)

Next in the series: Elizabeth: The Golden Age (Thursday), Sweeney Todd (Friday)

JAWDROPPER: Heath Ledger dies?!

Heathcliff Andrew Ledger
Born: April 4, 1979
Died: January 22, 2008

The Oscar-nominated Australian thespian Heath Ledger has just been reported dead and was found lying naked in his New York apartment by his housekeeper and a masseuse that he was supposed to have a massage with. He was 28. When the people outside heard about it, they brought up their camera phones, their cameras and whatever else they had so that they can rub elbows with the man in a body bag. Shame on them!

And it's such a sad time for him to die, too. I mean, he's quite a talented thespian who has proved himself albeit infamously in Brokeback Mountain, and he even has a great looking part in Batman : The Dark Knight as the iconic Joker. However, this is not quite the time to worry about his projects, but again, he is a big loss to the world. Damn, oh damn. This mystery is gonna be a Marilyn Monroe of sorts (because there were sleeping pills beside his bed)... that is until the autopsy report's arrived (tomorrow).