Saturday, February 6, 2010
BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE (OSCAR 2010)
For the category of BEST PERFORMANCE BY AN ACTRESS IN A LEADING ROLE, my personal favorite category in any award-giving bodies, two veterans, two novices and one "underdog" will compete for the golden statue. Helen Mirren got chosen for her sizzling performance in The Last Station as an aged but still passionate wife of Leo Tolstoy. And of course, the Oscar favorite with her 16th Academy Awards nomination, Meryl Streep for bringing luminous humor in Julie and Julia as the very charming Julia Child. However, these two have been proven to be two of the most pre-eminent actors of our generation and it’s kind of dreary of having them as the winner for this year’s Oscar.
On the other hand, we have other three actresses who are new in this class and this what makes this category really exciting. We have two neophytes who come from very different cases. First, it is Carey Mulligan, as the smart and sprightly, yet naïve and wide-eyed 16 year old teenage girl Jenny who is a target of a sophisticated seduction in this very stylish drama An Education. She is now hailed as the next “Audrey Hepburn” though I think the main reason of resembling her to Hepburn is that at one point in the film, she sported a Hepburn-style hairdo which doubtless most of the young women did in the 60’s. The film by the way is set in 1960’s London. Nonetheless, her performance in this movie blooms before our eyes and proves to be highly promising making the character luminous when it could end up being sad and awkward. She never failed to exude variation of emotions especially her character highly demands it; she has to play an exceptionally quick-witted 16 year old teenage girl yet remains to appear naïve and fragile. She maybe is not the next Hepburn for me, but perhaps the next Keira Knightley.
On the other hand, we got Gabourey Sidibe who broke the audiences’ heart with her powerful performance as an obese and illiterate, abused black teenage girl in the riveting movie Precious. Based on a novel called Push by Sapphire, the movie is about this teenage girl of while being in the most utterly disturbing and terrible CRAP life situation learns how to hold her head up high, dust off herself and continue walking forward. The film is a relentless one in radiating pain; but this is not a problem movie. Despite of the entire landscape of despair, this one actually delivers the message of optimism and it redeems this work of art from beginning so bleak yet ending so inspiring. And Gabourey Sidibe, being the centre, gives an incredibly striking performance, so realistic one would feel so useless of just sitting there and unable to help this girl in struggling in a very harrowing harsh life condition.
And lastly, we have SANDRA BULLOCK as the underdog, who appears to be leading the pack as the very feisty Leigh Anne Touhy in this highly lovable, feel good real life fairy tale The Blind Side. It is no doubt that the film is mostly carried by the tough love performance of Bullock, the wild card and backbone igniting every scenes she was in. Sandra Bullock delivers a performance that is millions of miles away from her typical portrayals in such films like Miss Congeniality and with it; this has positioned her as an Oscar favorite. The film evokes a roller-coaster ride which started seemingly as a trite one but after a few minutes of prologue, amazingly turns 360 degrees and has become one the great movies I have seen at the start of this year and probably the entire 2010. Bullock here was at her absolute finest scorching with an exceptionally shrewd piece.
THE BLIND SIDE
So that is what the Blind Side is, the opposite side obstructed by the attacked person’s view. In football, the blind side refers to the side opposite the direction a player (usually the quarterback) is facing; it’s up to the tackle to protect the quarterback’s blind side. However, I was thinking more deeply why this is the title of Sandra Bullock’s latest flick and I come to think of this after watching the movie: the blind side in this film is actually the point of view of Sandra Bullock’s character that is blindsided by the harsh judgmental standpoint of our society. And when everyone in our world has this kind of blindside, I think it will be more a peaceful place to live in.
The beauty of this movie lies in the fact that the story is actually a real-life one. It is a true-to-life depiction of an All American football player and first round NFL draft pick, Michael Oher, who was blessed to be warmly accommodate by a loving Christian Family, the Tuohy’s, after going a rough childhood, being homeless and badly traumatized by his separation from her mom. It’s actually a huge thanks to Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock), the unstoppable force, who took notice to poor Michael one chilly night who was wandering around looking for a warm place to stay in. From that night, Michael Oher’s life has never been the same again.
Though I am huge admirer of Sandra Bullock since I first saw her in Speed, I was kind of apprehensive to see this film when I watched initially the trailer; it’s simply because I was thinking it’s going to be a hardcore football sports movie who tries to show off instead of inspiring. However, after learning that Sandra Bullock actually won a Golden Globe for being the outstanding lead actress in a drama and later on bagging the SAG Best Actress award, I finally came to decide and watch it. And thankfully, I was pleasantly surprised as this one unfolds beautifully. It’s been quite awhile since I experienced of something you get out of the movie house feeling good about yourself and the world you live in.
The Blind Side is a charming and heart-warming family drama; a tear-jerker not because of sadness but simply by being good and wonderful to everyone. It may not end up as one of the greatest drama movies or an epic one; but at least it does not trying to be. It simply tells you about how love can be given at any time of the day of anyone in this world to anyone beyond colors, shapes and sizes; no more, no less. The movie has the right amount of drama with a pacing enough to let you not to drift away. All performances from the supporting are greatly conveyed with no sense of gaudiness. And with the humor sprinkled evenly all around the movie, this is a delightful one to see and highly recommended for the entire family.
But the real heroine of this film is SANDRA BULLOCK. She has charmed me in Speed co-starred with Keanu Reeves and I have already seen her in many romantic comedies where she rightfully belongs such as While You Were Sleeping, Two Weeks Notice and the latest cute one, The Proposal. Three years ago, I was mesmerized by her acting in Paul Haggis’ CRASH, the best picture for Oscar in year 2007, as a racist wife of a business tycoon who finds herself always angry especially with her Mexican maid. The movie contains a powerhouse cast so I was thinking she was kind of overlooked.
And now, the right time finally came for Sandra Bullock of showing everyone that she can really act (like Cameron Diaz in Vanilla Sky). One of the touching scenes here is where her character Leigh Anne introduces the new bed room especially prepared for Michael. Michael was gratified and told Leigh Anne that he had never had one. Out of her humor and wittiness, Leigh Anne said “What, a room to yourself?” and Michael replied, “…a bed.” It was dead on silence and notice how Sandra Bullock taking it all in, with every pin in this world you know pricking her heart, still delicately managed her calm demeanor. With this one, tears flowing from my eyes; not because of the tragic lives Michael has in his past; but the present goodness that equates the hardship in his life. And Sandra Bullock triumphantly delivers that goodness with no tawdriness.
The movie could have ended up with full of emotional garishness; however, it is Bullock’s levelheaded acting of Leigh Anne Tuohy that primarily helped it to sidestep that spot. She’s hardly delicate; however, she’s not showy either. She was dead on throughout the entire movie and it never fails to make you smile when the last word is always hers. Sandra Bullock’s Leigh Anne is part Erin Brokovich who knows accurately where to stand that is pitch-perfect to voice out of what she believes in. Her performance genuinely shines and it makes you wanting of knowing more about this woman named Leigh Anne Tuohy. Bullock is the real relentless force delivering Leigh Anne into big screen with the precise amount of composure, humor and poignancy.
Since she has bagged two of the prestigious awards in Hollywood, it is no doubt that everyone is expecting that Bullock will scored a nomination from Oscar. As for Best Actress, Oscar favorite Meryl Streep was probably in the lead for “Julie and Julia.” But now Bullock has the heat, and since Streep has been nominated 15 times and won twice, Bullock takes the lead. (Also for sure: Gabourey Sidibe for “Precious” and Carey Mulligan for “An Education.” If Zoe Saldana is nominated for “Avatar,” it would be the first nomination for a character presented entirely in CGI.)
Wednesday, January 20, 2010
EMMA WATSON - BURBERRY SPRING/SUMMER 2010 AD CAMPAIGN
Emma Watson - how can you be that sooo effing fierce. These are the spread of Burberry for their Spring/Summer 2010 Ad Campaign featuring the very lovely Ms. Watson. In this ultra chic spread also includes her brother Alex Watson and was shot by renowned photographer Mario Testino. Emma Watson reprises her role as the face of this quintessential British brand and effortlessly again, she looks stunning wearing selection of the pieces highlighting both sexy and classic Burberry trenches. This girl definitely captured the ultimate Brit elegance. (photos courtesy of justjared.buzznet.com)
Sunday, January 10, 2010
SPIRITED AWAY
HAYAO MIYAZAKI IS A TRUE GENIUS. I just watched this animated feature from probably one of the most proficient filmmaker/cartoonist in the world; Spirited Away will surely take your breath away. Just open your mind and let the genius himself take you to a world that will leave you breathless. Everyone's gonna love her little heroine Chihiro, a 10-year old girl who started as a whiny and pessimistic daughter and yet, as she was trapped in this magical scary world of ghosts ruled by the obnoxious witch Yubaba and with the help of a boy that can turn into a dragon named Haku, her real strength came out being a loving, sincere and determined person as she is. Miyazaki's Spirited Away is visually enthralling as it is imaginatively permeating in delivering the plot that is highly entertaining, scary, poignant and adorable all at the same time. This film has a true sense of wonderment; a very thoughtul one that will leave the audience jaw-dropped because encountering of rather new and ultimately amazing makes one think of the world differently. Spirited Away won an Academy Award for being outstanding anim ated feature; the very first anime film to win an Oscar. In Japan, Spirited Away surpassed the box-office success of the movie Titanic as the highest grossing film in the Japanese History. A highly engrossing film from the same director who made other m asterpieces like Howl's Moving Castle and Ponyo. THIS IS AN ANIMATION AT ITS BEST!
AND YOUR MAMA, TOO.
Y Tu Mamá También (And Your Mother, Too) is one of the fascinating films I've seen in the past that redefines summer season in a most sensuous, clever and magnificent way. This movie, splendidly directed by Alfonso Cuaron, was pleased to be advertised as a teen drama. Technically speaking, the surface of the movie can be depicted as such; however, beneath it lays the heart and courage that enables this film to bypass the dumbness of the usual mentioned genre. The unflinching few scenes in the beginning were shocking; at least, that was the normal reaction of people who was raised in an orthodox ways. However, unlike the ones usually dished out by the rampant smutty teen flicks, analyzing those scenes essentially gives one a healthier and franker visions of how sex being made. No questions asked, the movie deserves an R-rating for being too mature, too honest and too sumptuous; but definitely, those were not in a pornographic way.
The story is about two teenage boys whose raging hormones led them to invite an older woman in a pleasure trip bound to a fictitious place called Boca del Cielo (Heaven's Mouth). Two Mexican teenagers, Tenoch and Julio, were in a wedding when they encounter the wife of Tenoch’s distant cousin, a ten-year older Luisa from another Latin-speaking country Spain. Being sexy and playful, the two boys were mesmerized by her and mischievously agreed to do something to hook up with her. As the two buddies were free in that summer from their respective girlfriends who went to Europe, Tenoch and Julio hastily designed a weekend trip that would attract Luisa who at that time was also in a plan to go around Mexico and be a tourist. Luisa was initially delighted by their invitations but then becomes apprehensive. However, when she found out that her husband cheated on her, she unthinkingly decided to go on with the trip and together, the three set out on a lark.
Along the journey, secrets were unfolded, boldness rise along unhappiness, and the end of this one eventful sexy summer trip transcends tenderly into something that nothing would ever be the same again. The plot could simply be translated into rather conventional; but Alfonso Cuaron did a magnificent job of driving the story of a blithely road trip by undertaking the serious level of life and its delicateness and inevitability of death. And having Mexico with its countryside as the grand backdrop, the movie fundamentally utilized the vividness, fluidity and exuberance of this country and its inhabitants in dealing with the counter-parallelism of the characters’ life. On the other hand, the more significant tools applied in this film was the narration. As the journey pushes through, an occasional narrator voiced over providing simple details about the current situation; the soundtrack went muted and it appears that a celestial message has to be announced. The words from the narrator were plain as it seems but the fine points of the recitation enthrallingly absorb the audience more into its heart.
Diego Luna and Gael Garcia Bernal conveys an impressive performance as Tenoch and Julio; not only being wittily rugged but also disarmingly natural. However, the key performance in this film was from Maribel Verdu as the sensuous and clever Luisa. In the progress of their trip, Luisa kids the two boys with their lives particularly about sex, their girlfriends and their “charolastra” or their so-called mischievous manifesto. The tease made by Luisa were in a jocular yet resolute way; leaving Tenoch and Julio with no much further secrets not only to her, but significantly to each other. The tension rises between the two boys regarding what has been revealed and what could be still concealed; and alongside with this, the erotic possibilities with Luisa have been developing. But whether Luisa will end up having sex with either of the two boys was not the point; down the journey, she has become an erudite teaching Tenoch and Julio that the unison of men and women are sacred and that women are not prizes of their bets or targets of their savagery; but the other divine half of that celestial unison. She has become as delighting as she can be being the seemingly impatient sage working into a task of turning the two boys into a real man themselves. Maribel Verdu delivers Luisa effortlessly from both sides of the spectrum which is sexy, wise and complex yet fragile, sad and simple. The movie seemingly starts about the two teenage boys; however, it was her Luisa that serves as the engine driving the film to its poignant conclusion.
They finally arrived at their destinations, with the two boys surprised that their imaginative beach actually existed in a form of an unspoiled paradise. Here, the sexual intrigues brimming along their journey will finally fulfill; having Tenoch and Julio with their friendship turning in an unexpected route. At the end, finally depicting the conclusion, one can revisit some of the circumstances in the film and be haunted on how delicately life summoned to an end. This one will leave you breathless.
Friday, January 8, 2010
AVATAR continues to set new box office record.
According to Bloomberg.com,
“Avatar,” has become the top film in the U.S. and Canada for the third straight weekend with $68.3 million in sales, and will cross the $1 billion mark in domestic and international receipts today (Jan 3).It was reported that Avatar cost around half a billion dollar; now, it is clear that the money funded in making this epic is on its way of taking a higher and higher revenues.
The James Cameron film will have taken in an estimated $1.02 billion overall for News Corp.’s Twentieth Century Fox since its Dec. 18 release, according to Hollywood.com Box- Office. Time Warner Inc.’s “Sherlock Holmes” was second this weekend with $38.4 million, and Fox’s “Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel” was third with $36.6 million.
“Avatar” becomes only the fifth film to cross the $1 billion mark, Hollywood.com said. Another Cameron film, 1997’s “Titanic” is the highest-grossing film ever with overall sales of $1.84 billion. Others which have reached the milestone are “The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King” ($1.13 billion), “Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man’s Chest” ($1.06 billion) and “The Dark Knight” ($1 billion).
“It’s the fastest movie in history to break the $1 billion mark,” said Gitesh Pandya, editor of Box Office Guru. “We’ve never seen a movie make so much money so fast.”
“Avatar” will probably surpass “Return of the King” to rank No. 2 worldwide by the end of this week, giving Cameron the top two spots, Pandya said. To date, “Avatar” sales in the U.S. and Canada total $352.1 million and $670.2 million in international markets.
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