The Spectacular Now

High school was and is still is the best time of my life. The Spectacular Now captures that daunting last moments of the most awesome teenage years leading up to graduation. The main characters of the film, the popular jokester and the nearly invisible nice girl, are aware that youth is fleeting and tries to make the most of high school by living in the NOW. While one welcomes change and the future, the other just wants to prolong the present and refuses to move on to adulthood. It depicts that scary moment trying to figure out what you want to be for the rest of your life.

Deeply affected by the disappearance of his father, Sutter hides behind a mask of pranks, jokes and hedonism. In his drunken stupor from being dumped by his dream girlfriend, he meets an impressionable nobody named Amy. Told in a brilliant pace of storytelling using cuts at just the right moments, the film shows the development of Sutter and Amy's relationship while at the same time delving into a character study of these two individuals. The plot may not be amazing, but do not be fooled. This is an astounding powerhouse film! 

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Ender's Game

I was really putting off watching this film for the simple fact that I expected it to be no different than the brainless explosion-after-explosion kind of Hollywood movie. I was very much surprised to find that I enjoyed this movie a lot. The visuals are great especially with the big atmosphere soundtracks. I love watching child actors who seem much much smarter than their years. 

I wasn't familiar with the novel from which this film was adapted. But the film does hint at more thought provoking points such as genocide, child soldiers and the morality of war. Though I would enjoy a sequel, the film reminds me a lot of "The Golden Compass" situation. The film could have done a lot better in the box office if it was given better marketing. Being that the novel was written in 1985, it didn't exactly pick up Twilight or Hunger Games fan fare. It is still a good watch though. 

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Populaire

What a delightfully charming little French film! I'm in love. Step into a time machine into the 50's. And watch a small town girl in the likes of "My Fair Lady" take on France as the typewriting champion. When has typewriting become such a suspenseful sport? The film manages to do so beautifully. From a nobody to a star, Rose Pamphyle is the ideal modern woman of the 50's. And behind her success, is a tortured mentor named Louis who won't pursue her despite his apparent love for her because of his insecurities. A story not far from the truth about most men who are too dumb to notice a good thing when they see one. Or about men who won't notice you when you're nobody and suddenly showers you attention when you're a star. Or of men who are afraid of commitment. Tell me about it, girl. 

Oh the music, the costumes, the camera work, the set, and the dance numbers bring you back to a time where films were shot in studios. It works, works and works for me. Plus there's always something indescribably chic about French films. I have nothing but praise for this film. It is such a delight. A gem of a movie which if it weren't for subtitles, I would not be able to understand. The film makes you google the romantic comedies of the 50's and watch them all. Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn, Grace Kelly move aside. There's a new sweetheart in town. 

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Filth

Drugs. Sex. Lies. Debauchery. James McAvoy is a despicable shit starter. Hallucinatory in many parts, the film spirals out of control. WTF was I watching? McAvoy shows it's not easy being bad. It takes a lot of effort and sinister planning to just fuck everyone around him up. Definitely stylish, it is a dizzying spell that is not for the faint of heart. Graphic in its' cinematography and art direction, it is surreal as surreal can get. The imagery can linger in your mind for weeks. Story wise, there is not much to it. McAvoy wants a promotion and in the process fucks up all his competitors in perversion. The film relies more on McAvoy's character as he sinks deeper in psychosis than the plot. But I do love it when characters break the wall and address the audience when they talk to camera. There are twists and turns in the film that makes one exclaim: WHAT THE HELL!!? It's one of those films which you either hate or love. A younger me would definitely fall over this art house film. Unfortunately, drugs and hallucinations lose it's charm once you get older. But to be honest, the film will get a cult following. 

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The Necessary Death of Charlie Countryman

Welcome Frederik Bond to the world of Hollywood films. As a big fan of Frederik Bond whose works I greatly reference for my own commercials, his first transition from the advertising world to the big screen isn't that bad. I think I'm quite partial since I've looked up to him since he is responsible for the great ads of this century. In the advertising world, he is a legend. 

A dark love story with not much depth. This film is a visual and audio treat. With a smashing techno soundtrack that makes me bleed coupled with the use of colored flares and lights, the effect is dizzying and beautiful. I feel like I'm punch drunk watching the whole film. And I love it. Set in a seedy but beautiful underworld of Bucharest ( not Budapest ), Charlie finds himself in love with a dangerous woman. With a psycho boyfriend, played by none other than Mads Mikkelsen, Charlie fights for love and for his life. Beautiful to look at, there's really nothing much else to it. I think I pretty much revealed everything in the last two sentences above. But gosh darn is it stylish.

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I'm So Excited

Hey, I'm a big Pedro Almodovar fan. And imagine my surprise when a small little film that takes place in an airplane in a course of a few hours wherein the plane is stuck between limbo popped up in the internet. ( I'm a big pirate. Oh shame. ) The premise is quite interesting. A plane can't land and is flying over South America burning fuel purposely. The characters on the plane are quite interesting. We have a psychic, a hitman, a bondage queen, a runaway banker, a playboy actor and a group of gay stewards and pilots. All drugged up, sexuality is one theme that pops up again and again in all of Pedro's films. So does Penelope Cruz, Antonio Banderas and Paz Vega in minor roles. I have to be honest. This is not one of my favorite Almodovar films. It does have its' funny moments here and there. But I kind of miss the dark, twisted beauty of his previous films. Not that all of Pedro's films must be like that to be considered great, but I do welcome Pedro's deviation to something light. Maybe it's just me. 

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Frances Ha

Must suck to dream of becoming a dancer if you can't dance. As the Meryl Streep of mumblecore, Greta Gerwig ( my new heroine ) plays the part to no fault. I am convinced that she and she alone could have brought the character and this film to life. Oh my god, I love you Greta. Sometimes difficult to watch, Frances' career, financial, social, and love life swan dives into the worst. But what is admirable is how Frances' optimism surpasses all this. I have to admit that this can be my new go-to-movie when life just serves you a plate of shit. It reminds me of the difficulties of growing up and figuring things out in your late 20's. It's not supposed to be simple AT ALL. It's easy to sympathise with Frances as she finally gets herself together. It is a real satisfying moment to watch her achieve a little bit of the dream she aspires. Though we know she never will become a full-fledged dancer because she is god awful, we find her settle into something somewhat close to it. And watch her become comfortable with that fact. 

Frances Ha is a charming little film shot in black and white. With cinematography made timeless by the New York buildings and streets, the film evokes nostalgia as well as modernity at the same time. It is wonderfully confusing the effect it has on me. At times, I feel like I was Frances myself. Oh man, I wish I thought of this film first. A simple and very very good film.

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The Grand Budapest Hotel

Oh my God! Are you effing kidding me? The visuals are divine. I think I can just crawl under my covers and wrap myself in Wes Anderson world. I died scene after scene as the art direction just stuns my eyes over and over again. Visuals aside, of which Wes can do no wrong, I have to put myself under the line of fire by disagreeing with most. I do not agree that this is his best film to date. I suffer from repeating myself but I just can't help it, the visuals are killer. However, I have to say that its predecessor "Moon Rise Kingdom" far surpasses this film in every aspect. Wes has put together an A-grade cast that only I can dream about working with like possibly never. But despite this killer cast, the story suffers greatly from a lack of a more complex plot or some bite of human truth. 

Sometimes funny, the film suffers from too much romantic monologues from its characters. Charming as it is, it doesn't do anything to the progress of the film. Although child-like in its depiction of the world, it would have been nice to incorporate some adult insight that would serve as the film's core and purpose. As a devout follower of all of Wes Anderson's films, I would say that this film is by far his most violent and bloody. But even so, it is treated comically and lightly. 

My most favorite characters would be the Butler played by Mathieu Amalric. Boy oh boy. Even for a few seconds of screen time, he has captured me completely. Pained and struggling with the truth of his mistress's murder, his large black eyes show the great conflict within. For that few moments he graces the screen, I've been turned into a fan girl. I've spent many hours googling the man. But that is besides the point. 

Far from perfect, this film is still pleasurable to watch. I think that it is great to have Wes around to give us films just like this. An auteur, possibly the last living one, he creates a world that we want to get lost in. We anticipate the next one he creates. And wish that his films last longer, so we can live in his world for as long as we can. 

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Don Juan DeMarco

Boy, I had no idea Johnny Depp was this dreamy once upon a time. While girls and women alike would swoon at his presence on-screen, there was a time when his cinematic roles weren't as off beat nor quirky. Well, this one isn't exactly as weird as the roles he takes on now. Playing the part of a 21-year old man seriously convinced he is Don Juan Demarco, the lover of women, Johnny nails it so sincerely. It was a pleasure to watch this film as it retreats into "Don Juan's" fantasies and deliriums. The great Marlon Brando begins to question reality and is persuaded that Don Juan is really Don Juan. But what is truth anyway? Truth is what a person believes in. For what it's worth, the film is a delight as we follow a casanova in his adventures and idealistic romanticism. We all need a little fantasy and whimsy in our lives. Whether or not Johnny really finds his one true love at the end of story, who cares? Let's just all believe that he does. 

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The Way Way Back

Tween awkwardness which is sometimes really quite unbearable to watch, this coming of age story is something so familiar to all of us who went through the transition to adolescence. The film follows the footsteps of slice-of-life films like "The Descendants" or "Little Miss Sunshine." Set in a beach town with a wicked water park, this summer tale is simple and satisfying. Though much of the film gains it awesomeness from being set in a water park, the story comes to life with a brilliant ensemble cast. A simple film with no real resolution but subtle hints of it, both mother and son find themselves in the course of one summer. One thing is clear, Steve Carrell makes one hell of a douche bag boyfriend. 

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Sound City

Watched Dave Grohl's directorial debut "Sound City" last night. Being a person with no musical talent whatsoever, the jamming sessions, music compositions and NASA-like soundboard was totally astounding. Sound City is a recording studio that young rock-and-roll dreamers pay pilgrimage to even though it resembles a hobo dump. The famous recording studio was responsible for the most epic albums and bands in musical history. Upon its' closing, Dave Grohl ( ex-drummer of Nirvana and lead singer of Foo Fighters ) retraces his steps back to the studio where it all started. Being a drummer himself, Sound City was the place to go for killer drum beats. The recording room is unchanged since the 70's for fear of altering the music quality that was specially engineered through a combination of luck alone.

What is great about the film is what Dave Grohl set out to prove... the desire to keep the human element in music. Imperfections are what makes a musical piece charming and powerful. In the documentary, you will see a myriad of music legends praising the legendary Neve soundboard ( 1 out of 4 in the world ) from Sound City that produces music so crisp. But despite featuring the Neve soundboard for a good duration of an hour or so, it is the musicians themselves who shine in the film. It shows that the musical legends whose careers were built in Sound City are where they are not just because of the soundboard itself but because of pure and raw talent.

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