An Important Film

I watched Traffic again last night, and it is, by the way, my new number one movie. It talks about drug trafficking between the U.S. and Mexico. It also shows us how the 'traffic' affects so many lives, especially that of the youth. We also witness corruption that in a way strenghten the 'traffic'.

Somewhere in the middle part of the film, we see Javier Rodriguez (played by the great Benicio Del Toro), a police officer in Mexico, talking with two agents from the U.S on how they can work to eliminate the 'traffic between the two countries. One of the agents tells Rodriguez that they pay for the information he can provide them, and asks if it is what he wanted, the money. Rodriguez asks them then if they like baseball, which they both say yes to. "We need lights for the parks, so kids can play at night. So they can play baseball. So they don't become burros para los malones. Everyone likes baseball. Everyone likes parks," he then said. And in the last shot of the film, we see kids playing baseball. Then we hear applause. There is Rodriguez, among others who are watching the game, clapping. He seems content, happy. In his point of view, we see, again, the kids playing baseball in the field, with lights. It may seem just an ordinary shot for others, but not for me. It is so beautiful it makes me cry.

And with that alone, the movie has shown it all. If God has seen that scene, He would have been very proud he might cry.

bloody II

There Will Be Blood.

Oh my God. Oh my God. The experience of watching this huge film is breathtaking. It's like seeing God descends from heaven with His angels while satan and his pack are waiting on earth for the final battle. It felt like the 'end'.

Oh my God.

*******

This is one of my favorite reviews for the film by MaryAnn Johanson.

"...There Will Be Blood slaps you in the face. It’s Joe Pesci in GoodFellas raging, “Do I amuse you? Do I entertain you?” in that way that suggests that it could not give two figs what you think of it. It says, “What the fuck do you think you’re doing, sitting there in the theater?” Blood is not contemptuous of you -- it just doesn’t care what you think about it. It is not there for you, for your amusement, for your entertainment. It is there for itself. It is a found object that might well have sprung in its entirety out of the subatomic froth of the universe. In the superbly philosophical vernacular of the moment that encompasses all the randomness of the world into a whaddaya-gonna-do shrug, it is what it is. "

So true.

jun-awe-some

Juno is fun (thanks to the superb screenplay by Diablo Cody) and at the same time, touching and sincere. It's definitely a feel-good movie, and more. It has a heart, a huge one, and it beats beautifully. I can't help but fall inlove with it. I watched it on mute (because I'm at work) yesterday- that's after I have read the script. Some may call it craziness (I mean, me, watching the movie on mute). I call it experience and pure pleasure.

the list

I wanted to write something interesting but I couldn't think of a topic. And since I have already become a movie addict (and I'm happy with it), I thought of coming up with a list of movies I've seen last year (or should I say, movies released last year- 2007 - that I happened to have watched, regardless the year; ones seen this year), and which I loved.

Here's the List:

There Will Be Blood (seen Jan 21)
3:10 to Yuma
No Country for Old Men
Eastern Promises
Charlie Wilson's War (seen Jan 10)
Juno (seen Jan 16)
Gone Baby Gone
Once
Atonement
Before the Devil Knows You're Dead
We Own the Night
Lust, Caution
Knocked Up
Superbad
The Namesake
American Gangster
I'm Not There
Sweeny Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (seen Jan 17)

*******

Some of the movies included on the list haven't been shown here yet, but I have my resources, you know. I'm still looking forward to seeing There Will Be Blood and a whole lot more (4 Months 3 Weeks And 2 Days, The Diving Bell And The Butterfly, Away From Her, Juno, etc.) If there's one thing I hate about living in this country, it's the fact that it takes months before movies get shown here from their released date. You end up watching movies like Katas ng Saudi and Anak ni Kumander. But I chose to live and not kill myself by not watching these crap.

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.

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.

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.

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.

in black and white

I know I have been writing a lot about movies lately, and as a matter of fact, I have been writing only about movies, and nothing else. And I understand that it can sometimes, if not all the time, be tiring to read same old stuff all over again. But I also know that no one will be tired of reading my same old stuff, because I know very well that nobody reads this. So I'll go ahead and write more about movies then, without worrying about my readers, who don't exist.

As of this very moment, I am watching Good Night, and Good Luck (2005). The movie was directed by George Clooney (and he was also in the movie). I know Clooney as a actor; I'm not a fan, but I can say that he got that it factor in him. I never thought that he can direct such an intense and gripping film as this one. I'm a bit surprised that he also got the eyes of an artist. I won't go into the details of the movie. This is not a movie review anyway. I just feel like I have to write, and let everyone know how good this movie is. It is beautiful. It's colorful despite its being in black and white. Definitely worthy of its oscars nomination.

Another must-see, though it's kinda late already.

movie marathon

I have recently seen these movies (just this week) :

1. Gladiator (my new favorite) - great acting by Mr. Crowe and Phoenix. Touching at times.
2. American Beauty - This is how cinema should be, always.
3. Braveheart - Mr. Gibson's accent is a turn on.
4. The Godfather II - Al Pacino is reason enough.
5. The Godfather III - A lot have been disappointed with it. I'm not one of them.
6. The Departed - I don't like it but the story is great. And it's a Scorsese film, for crying out loud.

These are beautiful films; film-making at its best. Such a shame it took me years before seeing these beautiful pieces of art.

guns, blood and a skinhead

First time I've seen it (this is the first movie Ive seen this week; saw it on the 21st), I was disappointed. Maybe because I expected so much from it (plus the fact that I have waited for it since last month) .

After re-watching it yesterday, I found myself respecting it. Maybe because I didn't expect so much this time. hehehe

A second look can really make a difference.

I'll do some re-reading then.

enchanted

... is, indeed, enchanting. Another must-see. Amy Adams is such a sweetheart. Love it.

crash

"It's the sense of touch. In any real city, you walk, you know? You brush past people, people bump into you. In L.A., nobody touches you. We're always behind this metal and glass. I think we miss that touch so much, that we crash into each other, just so we can feel something. "

- opening scene, crash (2004)


I love Brokeback Mountain and it's still my favorite. But i won't argue anymore that Crash, after watching it last monday with my friend Angus, really deserves the Oscars. Written and directed beautifully by Paul Haggis, this movie is a must-see.

it's superbad

Superbad is super fun.

I didn't really plan to watch this movie, or any movie shown this week, for that matter. But while i was checking Zafra's site yesterday, I thought of giving the movie a chance. In her site, Zafra wrote that if you only have to see one movie this week, make it superbad.

This movie is worth your money and time. It's super fun. But it's also super touching at some point. This movie made me appreciate my friends and the beauty of friendship.

they own the night, big time! II

After seeing it for the third time, I can say that We Own the Night is one of the best movies this year. And as for me, it's one of the best I have seen in my entire life. If this will not get any Oscars nomination, then it would already be quite obvious that The Academy sucks!

atonement

I am waiting! I want it NOW!