bloody

I hope the movie won't disappoint me. I'm really expecting a lot from it, although I'm really trying not to.

The movie was written (for the screen) and directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, and was based on the first part of Upton Sinclair's novel Oil! (1927). Original music was by Jonny Greenwood (Radiohead). I heard a little of it (music/score) and I became an admirer right away. The music/score is so sick, and I love it. It makes me sick. This is a compliment, ofcourse. A big one. When I found out that Greenwood (or his original composition for the film) was not nominated for Best Original Score for next year's Golden Globes, I asked my self, Why? The movie stars Daniel Day-Lewis, Paul Dano, Kevin J. O'Connor, Ciaran Hinds, Dillon Freasier. I admire Day-Lewis, especially after seeing him in The Gangs of New York. He had been nominated a couple of times for Oscars, and had won the Best Actor award for his portrayal in My Left Foot.

The movie was presented by Paramount Vantage and Miramax Films (well, what's new?). There Will Be Blood will, I can feel it, be my movie this year (the movie will be shown here not until next year though.) And yes, certainly, There Will Be Blood comes the time.

just once?

Music can act. Watch Once, one of my favorite films, to know how. But it's not just the music that makes this movie engaging, blame it to its very simple yet beautiful story and its naturally gifted actors. The movie is a natural. It makes me feel guilty of watching it in pirated copy. I'm not sure if this had been shown here already. If not yet, then I'll certainly watch it again, and I'll buy a dvd of it- by that time, an original- once it becomes available.

I consider this movie special because before I became a movie and book addict, I was a music lover. I thought I have forgotten it, but I guess first love, really, never dies. You just need to be reminded of it once in awhile to know that it really doesn't.

Tagline: How often do you find the right person? ONCE

So it's really up to us, huh? Sigh.

dust to oscars

I shouldn't be doing this because I have promised myself to only write about sensible stuff from now on. But I can't help it. After re-watching it yesterday, I can't seem to get 3:10 to Yuma out of my mind, and heart too. If you have fallen inlove before, you would certainly understand me. It's awesome and fucking beautiful. And it's my new favorite (But there's still There Will Be Blood).

The movie evolved with Dan Evans (Christian Bale), a struggling farmer who will be forced to leave his house and land if he will not be able to pay his debt (with this guy whose name I have forgotten), and the outlaw Ben Wade (Russel Crowe), who is referred as boss by his men and who needed to be taken to Yuma to be trialled and hanged. Dan, desperate to fight for what is due for him and for his wife and two sons, volunteered to accompany the other guys (don't mind them; watch the movie to get to know them better) to get Ben to a 3:10 to Yuma train for $200. That evening, the group had supper in Dan's house, where Ben met Dan's family. Later that night Dan's older son Will (Logan Lerman) followed the guys to where they were heading, despite his father's will not to. Along the way, lives have been lost and characters have been unfolded. Ben has been persuading Dan to set him free for a $1000, a larger amount than what was offered to Dan for taking him to the train station. Dan, being a man he is, decent and principled, refused the offer, though you can tell he was thinking about it. Along the way, respect has been earned (this applies to all). In an unfortunate event, Ben's men were able to follow Dan's pack in the town where they stayed for awhile, waiting for the train to arrive. Now, these men, Ben's men, were like animals. They were ready to kill and die whenever necessary, especially for their boss. Ben warned Dan about this. Dan was very firm with his decision to get Ben on the train, that he was still willing to do it inspite being offered by the man who will be paying him for this job even if he decides to walk away, and even if his son persuaded him that it was the safest choice he needed to choose. So came the time when the 3:10 to Yuma train arrived. Bullets and blood flooded, lives ended and respect, once again, was earned.

Writing on how the story ended would just spoil the whole essence of the movie and may just take away your want to see it, so I'll not go there. Rest assured that it ended beautifully.

What I like about this movie is that fact that it made me appreciate its genre, which normally I wouldn't like. I also admired how the movie depicts the idea that inspite of the world's harshness, one can still live as a better person and respectable life and that there's goodness in each and everyone of us, whether you're a criminal or a saint. It's unfortunate though that our being bad, most of the time, overshadows that goodness in us.

And sometimes, we really have to know the person to really know him/her. First impression doesn't work all the time.

whine up

I was born a whiner. I complain a lot. Sometimes I just keep it to myself, the whining. It's not that I am afraid people will hate me for it, it's because I find it a bit tiring already. Most of the time I feel so fucked up by life that all I can do is just let it fuck me some more, I end up enjoying it. But really, if you think about it, I'm not the only one in this world whose life has been a mess since the very day of existence. There are those who had endured much than I have. There are those who were deprived of education, a home, a right, love or even parents. Yet, inspite of these, I still have the nerve to complain about my own life. Only this time I not only complain about mine but those of others as well. This is how life humors me.

for You

The Long and Winding Road
The Beatles

The long and winding road
That leads to your door
Will never disappear
I've seen that road before
It always leads me here
Lead me to you door

The wild and windy night
That the rain washed away
Has left a pool of tears
Crying for the day
Why leave me standing here
Let me know the way

Many times I've been alone
And many times I've cried
Any way you'll never know
The many ways I've tried
But still they lead me back

To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here
Lead me to your door
But still they lead me back

To the long winding road
You left me standing here
A long long time ago
Don't leave me waiting here

Lead me to your door...

that thing

I am inlove. Not exactly inlove with a person though. I think (or feel) I'm inlove with the idea of falling inlove, of being inlove. Do you get what I mean? I guess this is one gets from watching a lot of romantic films, just like what I've been doing lately. I even bought a 20-in-1 DVD of the biggest romantic movies. It's pirated, ofcourse. I've seen Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, Sense and Sensibility, Four weddings and a Funeral and yes, even My Best friend's Wedding. I must admit that I had a great time watching these movies, especially the first two. I even bought original copies of both. And I feel so fucking blessed to have been given the opportunity of watching these movies.

I thought I have given up the idea of, you know, us, at some point in time, being able to find that one person we will love for the rest of our lives- our soulmates; the one born for us and we were born for- the person that will complete us. I thought that after all the heartbreak I had been through, this idea would, and will forever remain, just be an idea.

And then I have watched these said films. Now I worry. What if that really how it goes? What if you are really meant to meet that one person who will hold your heart forever? And after all this sabbatical years you had yourself believed that none of this is true, you actually have met that person along the way. Since you have never expected for that person, and you don't believe that such a magic exists, you have ofcourse never realized that he or she is the one for you (I really hope I am making myself clear on this). The saddest part is the idea that you were meant to meet that time, and that time should have been it; that it's your one and only chance and you just blew it away. Just like that.

Then you end up being married to someone else. You know you love him or her, but you realize that there's something missing. And the shitty part is that you wouldn't be able to figure out what it is that's missing. Or probably you would. But what's the point, right? It's too late. Well, you'd tell yourself, what the fuck. I know I love this person I married. I can live with this (the situation). We have wonderful kids (if you already have any). I have a wonderful job (if you have any). And that missing thing is just bullshit. You have decided to love that person. Afterall, love is a decision (My bestfriend, and ex-girlfriend, told me this. I don't really believe it though.) But then again, you still feel it- that missing part of you. You thought you had yourself fooled but you thought wrong. What else can you do, huh? What else can you do?

Okay, I'll end this now. I'm not really sure if I am able to capture what it is I want to capture. I'm not good in writing, you know. This I have already accepted. But I just feel like I have to write about this. Actually, the truth is that I feel something I can't handle. So here I am, trying to get away from it (by writing). And no, I don't exactly know what it is I am feeling.

I guess this is one gets from watching a lot of romantic films, just like what I've been doing lately.

youtube-ing

Yesterday, I bought 3 pirated DVDs (Knocked Up, The Devil Wears Prada and Little Miss Sunshine) and 2 originals (Brokeback Mountain and Schindler's List). And I have finished watching those in less than 24 hours. It makes me proud. Now, expect the worst from me, because I'll certainly write something about each film (except Brokeback, because it had been done already). This time though, I'll not only write how beautiful I find the movie but the things I'll learn from the experience of watching it. I would want to start now, but I can't. Mariah Carey's version of one of my favorite songs is playing: You and I by Stevie Wonder. I not only cry and shudder when I see pure talent, I also do when I hear one.

possession

Since I realized I've become addicted to movies lately, and actually like the feeling of it, I decided to buy myself a portable DVD player. This would certainly prevent me from overbuying books (I have 14 books I bought that I haven't read yet) and getting enough sleep.

westernized

Another Oscars-worthy: 3:10 to Yuma. Beautiful. A must see. Russel Crowe and Christian Bale were amazing in this movie, and beautiful too (wink).

But I'm still waiting for There Will Be Blood. Can't wait to see the film, and Daniel Day-Lewis flaunt his stuff. I have a feeling that this movie will make me cry. Not because I think it's so touching (or maybe it is, who knows) but because of Day-Lewis and Paul Dano. I cry and shudder when I see pure talent.

movie and a book

Have seen Eastern Promises yesterday. The movie promises us simplicity, brilliance, beauty and intelligence. Something I can't really say my all-time favorite, but would certainly recommend to someone, instead of recommending those I consider my favorites. Weird. It is worth your P110, that is if you watch it in SM North Edsa, which is not a good idea.

Just finished reading Strange Pilgrims by the master himself, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and damn it (excuse me), he really is deserving of that Nobel. Consists of 12 wonderful stories, this book proves Mr. Marquez to be a master of writing.

Q&A

Me 1: Why the hell write in English if you find it difficult, and you actually think (doesn't mean your not) your not good at it?

Me 2: Because I am worse in Filipino.

Gone Baby Gone

Gone Baby Gone has gone a long way as far as filmmaking is concerned. As thrilling and haunting as its predecessor Mystic River, if not better, this movie definitely deserves a two thumbs-up, or whatever form of recognition you can give it. Based on the novel of Dennis Lehane, this movie has already proven itself to be one of this year's bests.

Realization/observation(s) while/after watching Gone:

1. Dennis Lehane is a fucking good writer.
2. Ben Affleck is better off as a director, more than anything else.
3. He doesn't look like his brother, Casey Affleck, who acted very well in the film.
4. You can actually smell Oscars while watching it (let's wait and see).
5. That I want, someday, to become a director and make films that will awe, and at the same time, break the audience's heart.

Great story + great acting + how Affleck ended the movie = must see.

the good and bad

Arrgg.. I haven't gotten myself any sleep since yesterday morning. For this reason, I feel very sleepy right now. I hate it. I hate it because I have to be a blabber at work (you know, call center life), and I am not really that kind, plus I'm really sleepy. I can't wait to go home and just enjoy the comfort of lying down and not think of anything. How lovely it must be.

The reason why I wasn't able to sleep last night was because of my new schedule at work. My shift was moved from 2am to 10:45pm. It isn't really that bad, but I think I'm already used to sleep a little late most nights. And it would certainly take days or weeks for me to be able to adjust with this new change.

On a lighter note, I was able to finish reading two novels last night. Michael Cunningham's The Hours (1998) and Michael Shaara's The Killer Angels (1974). So in a way, I'm still thankful to have not been able to sleep the whole day yesterday.

I have been reading The Killer Angels for months already; I had it since October. I had never read a novel about civil war before, thus I'm not a fan of the genre. The first part was somewhat boring. But how Shaara gave life to the characters in this book made it a good one. The story didn't just concentrate about the war and all the bloody fight stuff, but also with the people who got caught in it- their 'human' qualities. Cunningham's The Hours, on the other hand, is haunting. I have always admired this author, especially after reading his Flesh and Blood (which is very good as well). In The Hours, he interpreted emotions in a way it seems almost real you can actually feel them rather than just being able to read (see) them in print. And this makes the book and the author stand out.

Both novels won the Pulitzer Prize for Literature, by the way.

And I still want to sleep though.

idiot box with morons

I hate politics and politicking that when I am about to see news with politicians on it, especially someone from the opposition side, I would normally want to throw up. I hate it when they lambast the current administration, as if they have done something worthy themselves. Shame. But worst thing they can do is to display their stupidity on national television. Just like what your Senator Trillanes and his colleague have done just recently. That particular incident when they invaded The Pen (which is in Makati). I understand that you want the government to know how much an unsatisfied citizen and government official you are. But do you really have to take control of the whole hotel - the same thing you did before with another, which is also located in Makati - where there are a lot of people, whose safety might be jeopardized of a possible forced take over of the military of the said building? Did you know that the whole Ayala Ave. has been closed because of what you and your guys did, and the hassle it caused the public? I also understand your hunger for media exposure. Everybody understands that. But if you really hate the President and the people who work for her, hire someone to kill them, because I assure you nothing will happen if you just stick with your stupid tactics. At least you will have a better reason to be jailed by that time, and your superiors might surely become very proud and fond of you, for that matter. Now, about the media exposure thing, why not ask your equally stupid acquaintance, Jamby, to divorce his husband and make sex videos together. That would surely be phenomenal. But is divorce already available here? Is she married in the first place? Or you guys can do it in Luneta, just to add a shade of patriotism to it.

And Senator, being patriotic is different from being moronic. Just a reminder. Although they sound almost alike.