white snails

I had a bad day today. One of the worst. All of the bad was work-related and I was mentally and physically exhausted by the time the day came to an end. "Dreams within dreams is too unstable!" I just returned from viewing Christopher Nolan's Inception and I feel awake, the most awake I've been all day. I want to write a proper review but I'm not sure I can do that just now. I need to process this film for a bit longer.

The original Predator film directed by John Mctiernan is a must see film. I recall quite vividly the first time I heard about this film. An older cousin of mine told me that it was a film about hunting and that is all he would tell me. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jesse Ventura, Carl Weathers, an alien creature who crashes in the jungles of South America that can cloak itself, such an amazing action-packed thriller. Massive machine-guns, explosions, ultra-violence, excessive cursing, and extreme machismo, it's a film very much targeted at a male audience. 

Since the original 1987 film there have been 3 films: Predator 2 (1990), Alien vs. Predator (2004), & Alien vs. Predator (Requiem) (2007). Of those three films, I have only seen Predator 2 and while entertaining, was not nearly as enjoyable or memorable as the original.

Robert Rodriguez (ala Desperado, Sin City, Planet Terror, From Dusk till Dawn, etc.) has just released what I consider to be a proper sequel: Predators, starring Adrian Brody, Laurence Fishburne, and Topher Grace.

 This film was an absolute joy to watch and considering the somewhat lousy summer screening options, the only thing I have to say is: ABOUT FUCKING TIME!

Predators flips the original movie on it's head (well it does and it doesn't - let me explain). In the original film an alien life-form lands in a jungle environment and proceeds to hunt down and eliminate humans that occupy the area. A team of military commandos under the guise of a routine military mission is caught in the cross-fire of this jungle predator. The mission abandoned, things soon turn ugly.  The violence escalates and a man versus alien battle for survival.

In this new film Predators reverses so much of the set up of the original. In this film, the aliens are the humans and they have been sent to this planet as some type of sick twisted game. The planet functions as a massive jungle reserve where the alien Predators hunt humans for sport. The foreign species that invades this jungle is not the Alien, but the human.

While this film will never replace or top the original, it is an action-packed fun-house. Full of everything I wanted and expected: violence, explosions, one-liners, a massive body count at the end of the film, and some awesome predator style battles.

The pacing in the film was dead on and the film moved very quickly. I think that some of the special effects (particularly the costume and design of the predators) could have been improved. The predators in this film did not seem as massive or fearsome as the original predator. Adrian Brody's performance was perfect and while not nearly as buff or muscular as Arnold, took center stage and holds your attention and carries the action with ease.

I think the story was a bit simple but then again it also works. My major complaint is that this film seemed a bit too short, as did the final battle sequence. It felt rushed. The original fight sequence between Arnold and the predator in the original film was a drawn out affair that built tension and let the action rise slowly into a massive explosion. This film had action sequences spaced out equally but the build up wasn't really there.

If you enjoyed the original then I suggest you go out to the theatres and sit back and relax. A fun film that is filled with old-school violence and explosions. I wish I had had a few beers before seeing this. This is the type of film you watch with a group of friends while buzzed.

So, let's get something out of the way right off. This film has nothing to do with cigarettes or the Phillip Morris company who is responsible for so many cancer-related fatalities. I am not sure why I thought this film was about smoking, but it's not, it's a dark comedy about two men who love each other. Anyways, let's begin.

The good news: I Love You Phillip Morris is one of the greatest black comedies I've seen in a long while. The bad news: unless you torrent, your chances of viewing this film are slim. ILYPM has been playing in theatres in the European markets since February but the release for North America has been plagued with difficulties. Wikipedia says that this is partly due to its explicit gay sexual content (this is surprising, I've seen much more on late night cable). The release date has been pushed several times. Currently this film is slated for release in October 2010.

Steven Jay Russell (Jim Carrey) is a life time criminal and con-artist who falls in love with Phillip Morris (Ewan McGregor) while in prison. After Morris is released from prison, Steven routinely escapes prison in an attempt to be with Phillip. At the centre of this film is a romance story between two men who love each other. It's a battle between Steven's desire to be anyone but himself and his desire to be with Phillip. The film finds a wonderful balance of both humor and drama.

My one criticism of this film is that the homosexual relationship of Steven and Phillip borders on mocking. While Steven and Phillip both revel in their camp, the film seems to intentionally play up their homosexuality as if that is where the humor should be found (it's not, it's found in the ways that Steven escapes from prison).  But I guess it's a bit much to expect the hollywood film industry to play a homosexual relationship fair at this point, much of society is still uncomfortable with these types of scenes on the big screen.

The reason you should see this film though is for Jim Carrey's phenomenal acting skills. This is a far cry from The Mask. If you enjoyed The Truman Show or Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind then this film is the perfect way to spend an evening. Ewan McGregor brings back some of the charm and subtlety that we last saw with Tim Burton's Big Fish.

The film starts off with quite a bang and in my opinion slows down a bit too much towards the end. I just recalled something that is worth noting: if you do watch this film, be on the lookout for one of the most hilarious references to The Shawshank Redemption that you'll ever see, absolutely hilarious.  Despite this somewhat subdued pacing, I Love You Phillip Morris ultimately pays off because of the fine acting skills of Jim Carrey (never thought I'd ever say that about him), and the sweet romance that Steven and Phillip experience.  

Watching The Shining with my sister who has never seen it and I love that she's so afraid that she has to keep a pillow in front of her. 

Preethi: "When you say the ending is violent...what type of violent do you mean? Like makes you want to commit suicide violence?" 

20 minutes later. Stanley Kubrick's The Shining

Preethi: "Maybe we shouldn't be watching this, this late at night."

I love my sister and her fear of scary movies. This is just too much fun. Cheers.

Preethi: "Don't go in that room...don't go in there." 

Update on Monday, May 10, 2010 at 11:36PM by G

My sister was only able to watch the first 108 minutes. 

Preethi: "I don't want to watch anymore, I won't be able to sleep."

She said she'd watch the rest tomorrow morning while it's bright and sunny. Oh Preethi, how I love you. 

So prior to yesterday evening my only exposure to Jean-Pierre Jeunet was Aliens: Resurrection. I know, not the greatest film in that franchise, and while I would say that much of that is a result of Joss Whedon's horrid writing (how very odd from his normal work), what is great about this film is what is great about all of Jeunet's other work: artistry and style as well a flair for the fantastical. 

I viewed Delicatessen and Amelie in one sitting. It was a unique visual and emotional experience. 

First Delicatessen. I think the best way to describe this film is to steal from my good friend Emi whose very first blogpost was on the film: 

In the context of an ambiguously bleak, yellow-tinged post-apocalyptic world, Gilles Adrien, Marc Caro, and Jean-Pierre Jeunet present a small community of oddballs, living in a derelict apartment building, brought together by a common, desperate hunger. Despite that the world they present has been left infertile, unable to support plants or animals, despite that the main source of food in the movie, for the tenants anyway, is human flesh, Delicatessen (1991) maintains a peculiar and funny atmosphere. - "the absurd man says yes"

Emi hits it dead on, this is a film that is both "peculiar and funny".  The film is an obvious commentary on an authoritative state: a world where war is common and fear is rampant amongst the masses. This war is not defined and the greatest threat in the story does not come from any physical threat outside of the tenant building where the story is set, but from the very fact of surviving. To live in this type of barren post-apocalyptic landscape is the greatest offense that one can make.  I think my new found love for Jeunet is found primarily in a theme that populates much of his work (at least the three films I've viewed thus far), small moments.  In a world so shitty, Jeunet provides the viewer with small moments of beauty and greatness. This is what makes the barren landscape and destruction of Delicatessen bearable.  Maybe we can forgive a madman who is driven to cannibalism because we are given these small moments of beauty and hope. If there is anything better than a sad clown performing tricks and playing the piano with his monkey partner? I have yet to see it.

And what can I say about Amelie. It is a wonder that I went this long in my life without having viewed such a film. I honestly am at a loss for words. The film is beautiful and heart-breaking. Wikipedia has the following summary, though I do not think it does justice to the film:

The film is a whimsical depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story of a shy waitress, played by Audrey Tautou, who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own. 

While Delicatessen seems to thrive on small artistic moments set against a bleak and horrid landscape. Amelie thrives primarily because of Audrey Tautou's performance. She is simply gorgeous and wonderful to watch. Something about the very way she carries her self in this film that makes you smile simply because we have the pleasure of seeing her on screen in front of us. The film is an idealized snapshot of how we all want Paris to be. Old wizened men who smoke cigars and paint, torrid love affairs filled with passion and intensity, bicycles, and chasing after people in train stations; and even though we know that the scenes that play before us are far too fantastical to be real, we're willing to go along with the lie because it's such a damn pretty one. If you have never seen this film, do yourself a favour and seek it out. Enjoy. 

I've been working on an essay for most of the day and I've also been at work since 8:00 a.m. this morning. And I probably won't be going home until 10 or 11 p.m.  So I'm not in the best of moods. 

Taking a break from my essay, I turned on Evan Almighty, just a bit past the half way mark. And I have to say that the film was very pleasant and I found myself smiling. Sometimes all you need is a good comedy to cheer you up. 

Just watched Ghost Dog: The Way of the Samurai directed by Jim Jarmusch one of my favorite directors. There is something wonderful about his minimalist style. If you've never seen the film, I highly recommend it. It is also a film that I recommend you view while alone. The film follows an african-american hitman played by Forrest Whitacker, who works for a New Jersey mafia-boss. Ghost Dog as he is called follows the ancient code of the samurai, to the letter. It is a film that revels in quiet moments and introspection. It is about the little things, the way he walks, how he views the world around him. The soundtrack is also an amazing work of hip-hop artistry. Well worth your time.

Watching a film by Jim Jarmusch is akin to reading a short novel in the space of 2 hours. That sounds odd but Jim Jarmusch makes it work somehow.

I've seen a number of films recently and here are my reflections.

The Young Victoria

The Young Victoria picks up with the young royal just prior to her ascension to the Royal Throne and carries through to her eventual marriage with Prince Albert. The young Victoria played admirably by Emily Blunt, is a film that delights the senses. I was reminded of Sophia Coppala's Marie Antoinette. Just like Marie Antoinette, this film revels in the lavish set design and costuming of the period. The story is rather simple as it follows a young Queen Victoria surrounded by people who wish to use her as a game piece in order to achieve their own political and social ends. Victoria is shown to be a character who is unafraid of the challenges that are set before her and yet we see Victoria very often in a place that is fraught with loneliness and isolation. The relationship between Victoria and Prince Albert is 'played up' a bit and leans more towards the romantic but its a pleasant experience and doesn't dominate the entire focus of the film. Other notable performances: Paul Bettany and Jim Broadbent. All in all the film balances the political and the romantic very well. What you will primarily be seeing this film for though is Emily Blunt's outstanding performance as the Queen herself. The lush and lavish set design and costuming also provide the eye with plenty of candy. 

 Avatar

I have struggled with the best way to provide a review for this particular film. So much has already been said because of the media hype surrounding this mega-blockbuster. If you have seen Kevin Costner's western-epic Dances with Wolves then you have seen a modified version of Avatar. A human soldier visits the alien "other", becomes invested in their culture and finds his loyalties divided. Let us be honest, you do not view this film for its quality writing or story. This is a film that revels in vivid imagery and loud sounds. The 3D technology used in this film is indescribable and should be experienced in the theatre. The film will not translate as well onto the small screen without these features so find a theatre while you can. This is an enjoyable action packed thriller that will reward your senses. If you're expecting a solid story line and/or stellar acting performances, move along. 

The Fantastic Mr. Fox

Wes Anderson's adaptation of Roald Dahl's classic children story can be summed up in one word: FANTASTIC! The stop motion design is beautiful and performances by George Clooney, Jason Schwartzman are spectacular. If you are familiar with Wes Anderson's opus you will recall that Wes Anderson frequently uses animation throughout his films. It is a wonder that he went this long in his career without directing a film entirely in this style and form. Wes Anderson is perfectly at home with this form of story telling, more so than any other film I've seen. I would be hard pressed to choose between Rushmore and The Fantastic Mr. Fox as my favourite now. The tale is set around Mr. Fox whose desire to steal causes him and his family to become involved in a ruthless war with three vicious farmers who want nothing more than his pelt on a wall. This film is perfect for children as well, full of subtle humour that will bring smiles to their faces. If I have one complaint it is that this film might bore those who are not familiar or well versed in Wes Anderson's distinct style of humor and social interaction. There are a certain way that actors in his films engage with one another. It can be slightly estranging if you do not appreciate this type of dialogue. All that being said, this is one of the best films I've seen in a long time. I have a long time passion for Wes Anderson films, I own them all and I am constantly discovering nuances between characters as I view his films over and over. This will be a welcome addition to my collection and yours. 

The Princess and the Frog

It has been a very long time since Disney has hand drawn an animated film. I recall those glory days of The Lion King, Aladdin, & Beauty & the Beast. While I appreciate the crisp and life like quality achieved with CGI, there is something beautiful about hand drawn animation. The story of a young African American girl growing up in New Orleans is fairly standard in its 'Princess' trope. You won't be surprised with the nice and tidy ending. What struck me as the most pleasant aspect of the film were the visuals and more importantly the sounds. The songs that make up this soundtrack are a delight to listen to and I found myself humming them for several days after viewing. The design of an older and more rustic New Orleans is also gorgeous. While there is plenty for cultural critics and feminists to analyse in this film it was nice to set that aside and go back to your childhood when animation was simple and clean and the songs were more prominent. Enjoy. 

John Woo's epic historical drama of China based on The Battle of Red Cliffs (a real historically documented event) during the end of the Han Dynasty and just before the period known as the Three Kingdoms, well there is no other way to say this, it is FUCKING AWESOME! 

Many people hiss and boo when the name John Woo is mentioned, known more for his stylized intense action and fighting martial arts and less as a storyteller or director. While to some degree this is a fairly accurate assessment of his directorial skills, I would argue that he has managed to silence his critics with the release of this film. 

With an all-star cast (at least for those who view Chinese/Japanese cinema) this film has already won numerous Asian film awards. I would love to list a series of foreign names but to be honest I am not too familiar with them. I am more familiar with the actors faces as I mentioned, many of the actors in this cast have been seen in the following well known films: House of Flying Daggers, Hero, Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. 

The film summary is as follows:

The Imperial Army is being led by a corrupt Prime Minister/General who wishes to do battle with two Southern Warlords. The Southern Warlords now find themselves on the brink of devistation and thus agree to a temporary alliance to battle this Prime Minister/General. 

I could go into more detailed specifics but its best if you just find this film on your own and enjoy. 

Oh I should also mention, that when I cited this film as epic, I mean it. It is released in 2 parts totally over 4 hours in length.  And here are some fun statistics from Wikipedia that you might appreciate:

Outside of Asia, a single 2½ hour film was released in 2009,^[1] though the two-part version was later released on DVD and Blu-ray in the UK.^[2] With an estimated budget of US$80 million, Red Cliff is the most expensive Asian-financed film to date.^[3] The first part of the film grossed US$124 million in Asia^[4] and broke the box office record previously held by Titanic in mainland China.^[5]

Have I convinced you yet? How about a trailer, enjoy.