Movie Night: The Way Way Back

I just rewatched The Way Way Back and it didn't disappoint one bit.

Maybe because I like Jim Rash and Sam Rockwell.

When I first watched it, I didn't know who would be acting in it. All I knew was that Jim Rash from Community (Dean Pelton FTW!) wrote it with his friend and that it was a must-watch. I didn't even know he would be in it as well!

To my surprise, it was quite a star-studded cast. Or at least a talented bunch of actors. Steve Carell (what?!) and Toni Collette, Allison Janney (my first encounter with her craft was in 10 Things I Hate About You, her performance stuck with me to this day), Sam Rockwell (I hated his character in Matchstick Men, that's how good he is) and Maya Rudolph (she does anything well, really).

Liam James did well playing the main character, 14-year-old Duncan. You'll be rooting for him from beginning to end.

I don't like to spoil the story for people who haven't watched a movie or TV episode that I've already watched, so I'll just say that it's a nice balance of drama and comedy. It's just great. Go watch it, please.

 

Movie poster and screenshot via IMDB

x,

D

Life philosophies

Woody Allen can just talk for hours. If I were in his company I would fall asleep right in front of him. Okay so I actually won't. Because I'd be in Woody Allen's company. I'd be bug-eyed and probably a little high (mentally and maybe physically). But damn he talks too much. Maybe it's not the most attractive personality trait to me because I'm a total opposite (I talk too little). But I wouldn't mind, for a while. Kinda like the way he talks, really. Plus, I might learn a few things. 

Just watched this clip from Broadway Danny Rose. Now I just need to watch the whole movie. (thanks to even*cleveland for sharing it -- I'll be forever grateful)

"You know what my philosophy of life is? It's over quick, so have a good time"  -Tina Vitale (Mia Farrow)

peace+love

Robot Love

(source: Contagious Magazine)

I just came across this short film by Spike Jonze (sponsored by Absolut Vodka, oh yeah) called I'm Here. He made it after doing Where the Wild Things Are. I just thought it to be quite a sweet coincidence because I just decided to get off the internet and start reading some old magazines I bought a while back (old as in more than a year ago so I bought it for 5 bucks). This particular one I bought, Dazed & Confused, had Tilda Swinton on the cover and I just thought it would be really interesting. And I was right. There're some awesome stuff to read in this magazine.
Anyway, there was an article about I'm Here and I thought to myself, damn I forgot to watch this the other day. So I did this ugly thing I usually don't do and that is to read a sort-of review of a movie/short film before actually watching it. It turned out to be not too bad.
About the film, I felt like it was a world where robots were made but weren't appreciated enough. I guess it's just like how some of us are today, with mobile phones and computers. We just take them for granted and when they're broken we just buy another. Maybe it could be the same for people as well. Taking others for granted because you get too comfortable with them and expect them to 'perform' a certain way, at a certain level.
I think Andrew Garfield (mainly his voice) was the perfect fit. Just perfect.
Sometimes I prefer not to over think on the message of a movie/short film.
I'm Here is about love. Robot love.

peace+love

Desire awaits

Oh God. I'm finally done and to commemorate that fact, I actually started my part-time job yesterday. Good way to let reality sink in. Deep. Anyway I was just bumming online and I stumbled upon this movie trailer, La Belle Personne by Cristophe Honoré.

Oh, also check out Dans Paris which Honoré also directed.

Watching these trailers left me in a state of withdrawal. I'm just dying to go back to Paris. But I guess right now I need to suck it up and save money since I'm starting to earn some. I need more jobs. More fun jobs. I wanna write for something. Maybe I'll start working on a short story. I think it's harder for me now because I feel like my vocabulary is somewhat narrowed down from lack of writing since I've been focusing on playing instead. It's a lame excuse I know. So I'm going to have to work harder now. Somehow I feel like I can. 

I always fantasized about how it'd be once I did my recital. But it doesn't come close to this. 

I'm still telling myself that I'm finally done with school. And I keep forgetting because it's a little unbelievable. 

These things take time. 

In the mean time.

peace+love

flashback.

I just watched Breakfast at Tiffany's yesterday. It was nice. Suddenly I'm into movies made in the 60s. (I think I developed this interest after watching Hitchcock's Psycho). I liked the directing style. The cinematography. So simple. Of course, it can't be compared to movies today, but it's definitely different, neither better nor worse. I can't get enough of Holly Golightly's hairstyle. It's amazing. I think Carey Mulligan's character in An Education copied Holly's hairstyle for awhile. Who wouldn't? And she is so charming and friendly and fearless and also self-sacrificing. Making friends with a mobster without realizing the consequences. Or maybe she did but just couldn't care. With her extra-long cigarette holder and a nameless cat and an apartment with minimal furniture. She made Tiffany & Co. look so good and welcoming. And I love the script. So straight forward. I love how they talk. So polite, even when they're angry. 

Holly told Paul (but she preferred to call him Fred because he looked like her brother Fred) after a small argument : "It should take you exactly four seconds to cross from here to that door. I'll give you two."

And damn, Audrey Hepburn was tiny! It was kinda unsettling. But you'd get over it eventually.

she's so cool

and crazily gorgeous

peace+love

Educated, thanks.

{Paris building & sky, taken by me}

So, I've just watched An Education (yes, a little late but better late than never). Wow. I have to say I'm a little like Jenny (the loving-Paris part) except for being exposed to art history and a good opportunity to study at Oxford. I do feel bad though because for one who loves Paris, I can't, for the life of me, make a full sentence correctly. Except, maybe, to tell you my name. Atrocious. This movie has taught me one thing; action means character. I stole it directly from the movie. That's what Jenny was told by her teacher and she was coming to realize what it meant. By not doing anything you were nobody. That is a little bit scary, no?

I have this complex (let's just call it that, shall we..) whereby I'm stuck in my degree so I feel that if I were to start doing other things, like learn French or actually cook every night (I watched a bit of Julie & Julia on TV yesterday), might just mess up the whole equilibrium of my "situation". I sound like a coward. Maybe I am admitting to myself that I am. Finally. So now I can do something about it. I have no idea where to start. Women are said to be good multitaskers. Where does that leave me? I may be the one of the biggest embarrassments of my sex. So many people are working while studying, but not me.

Yeah, I guess I'm in self-loathing mode. And no Happiness Project nor anything else can stop it. I'm gonna have to work through it by myself and by my own principles and rules.

Recently, I just read Steve Job's Commencement Address at Stanford University. And again I felt bad for myself. I wish I had read it in 2005 (on my birthday, no less!) and not 2011. I hate to talk about how I wish I did something else, but I can't help it. I hate to talk about how much I hate it. And I hate to talk about how it's no use looking back because it's ridiculous, really. I also hate it with a passion when people keep asking me what I am doing and when am I graduating or whether I was working. I'm just waiting to finish my degree and start to change my life. Oh, and I'm terrible with making new friends, absolutely terrible. I need to do something about that too.

Basically I'm having a shitty year so far. Though it's nothing external. Everything's mostly internal. Stupid feelings and thoughts cramming my head. I know it has something to do with it being my final year of uni, but I don't want it to affect my entire year. It is after all the year of the Rabbit and I'm one hopping bunny. It's said to be a good year for those born in the Rabbit year. I certainly hope so. NO. I know so.

p.s. Sorry this post turned out like this. Apologies.

Something to make up for this+lighten the mood: Blind Melon's No Rain. Guaranteed pick-me-up (who can resist the adorable bee girl?). Oh, and Happy Birthday to my lovely friend Shivz :)

peace+love

Where The Wild Things Are

{credit: here}

Or 'Where Imagination Comes To Life' but I guess Where The Wild Things Are does it. It is, after all, adapted from a book by the same title by Maurice Sendak so who am I to change a movie title. Anyway, I think Spike Jonze did a terrific job at making this movie. Though, I haven't read the book yet. I just love the colours, mostly muted. Earthy colours. And the story. I've yet to figure out the underlying meaning of it. Definitely a good watch. love love love it.

Just Read: The Kite Runner

It's been a while since I last read a good book. The Kite Runner ended the dry spell. It's a really heartbreaking story. But it was very very well-written. Only one thing was a little confusing.. the timeline. Maybe I wasn't paying enough attention. But it's very very very minor, really. You'd be more interested in the story and what happens next than the year.

and Just Watched: The Kite Runner movie (which was badly adapted)

The movie really wasn't necessary, if you asked me. Anyone could have imagined a better movie than this. I was basically disappointed. I didn't shed a tear. The script or screenplay was bad. This is apparent to me because I was crying like a baby reading the book. But I guess not all books are meant to be adapted and most books are always, always interpreted badly.

peace + love

Obsessing over...

3 words: Joseph. Gordon. Levitt. 3 letters. O. M. G.

I'm really not a fan of having videos in posts much, because I myself am just too lazy to wait for them to load. Yes, impatience, I know. But I'm gonna be a bit of a hypocrite and go on to put another one here.

Oh OK, last one. I promise.

There. Much better.

peace+love

p.s. There's really not much to say about this actor. It's all there. Inception. Oh yeah. Plus, he's nice to look at. ;)

of shrews and good covers

{one of the various movie posters of 10 Things I Hate About You}

I just watched 10 Things I Hate About You for what I think is the 30th time (or more, but who's counting). And it always makes me laugh and leaves me smiling to myself like an idiot. Yup. This is the movie that got me into Julia Stiles because I felt like she was her character and I wanted to be like her so very badly (as pathetic as it sounds). I just loved her suave character and basically everything about her. Also, this was my first time watching Joseph Gordon-Levitt on the big screen and I was uber-hot for him. Ah. Last but not least, Heath Ledger. I fell in love with him instantly. And I wished he and Julia were a real couple everyday after that. I think Heath Ledger is the only actor of whom I would hate to talk about. I just cannot talk about him. Anyway, here's a little something I stole from this awesome movie that took my 'virginity' in terms of teen movies. And this is the best first time anyone would want to have had.

-10 things i hate about you-

I hate the way you talk to me,

and the way you cut your hair.

I hate the way you drive my car,

I hate it when you stare.

I hate your big dumb combat boots,

and the way you read my mind.

I hate you so much it makes me sick,

it even makes me rhyme.

I hate the way you're always right,

I hate it when you lie.

I hate it when you make me laugh,

even worse when you make me cry.

I hate it when you're not around,

and the fact that you didn't call.

But mostly I hate the way I don't hate you,

not even close,

not even a little bit,

not even at all.

Ahh..I will never tire of this movie. Never. Including its soundtrack. Just makes me fall in love with the 90's all over again. I'm a closet hopeless romantic but I guess not so 'closet' any more. You got me, I surrender. I long for old movies nowadays. The lucky people in the US and probably everywhere else have a special TV channel dedicated to old movies. That is my idea of paradise, definitely. Yes I'm a movie addict. And I probably need help and that's OK.

I wish we had paintballs that didn't require guns. damn

{snapshots of the movie from my player}

peace+love

I met the Walrus

Check this out guys :)

oh the joy

It's officially Thursday, so I'll have to say that I just watched 500 Days of Summer on Tuesday :)

Wow it was really 'real', as cuz Meena put it.

It's not your typical love story fairy tale nonsense. I think that's a good thing because people should wake up and realize it's not all happy everyday. Plus, there were lotsa funny parts, funny things and quotes...overall, it was simply awesome :)

And don't get me started on the soundtrack! Meens was right, Fox Searchlight Pictures make the some of the BEST movies. With good music! scratch that, with freaking Awesome mind-blowing music!! it's like getting a 6-star spa massage treatment..for your ears...I can't explain it..I guess I'm just drawn to indie and folk..a lot..wouldn't have, without the help from Meens of course..she was my first source. :)

Here are some of the tracks you will encounter while watching this super movie

1. Sweet Disposition - The Temper Trap

2. Us - Regina Spektor

3. Mushaboom - Feist

4. Bad Kids - Black Lips

5. She's Got You High - Mumm Ra

6. Vagabond - Wolfmother

ok, that's enough, I might as well copy down the whole soundtrack already haha..

enjoy it as much as i did :)

xo,

di

Blue Days Blue

its been awhile eh..
It's the hols for now, until the 1st of September fer me..
what have I done so far, since exams were done with? hmmm...practiced piano (not half enough as i should be...), watched movies, started watching Bleach (anime), washed my car, spent quality time with cousins (not ALL of em but a fair share :D )
yeah, thats basically it.. haven't done recording with daphne yet..hmm
and..i have to go back to uni every monday for piano class..which i am thankful i have because if i didn't, there would be like a 78% chance of me failing next semester (at piano).. so that's good..
I'll be going to Paris (yes.....Paris!!!!!! a bit too early than expected, but nevermind) in December! wooohoo~! good news: mum will be coming with. bad news: joachim can't come :(
but it's ok because i plan to go back there with him.. i don't think ONE trip to PARIS is enough...less than 14 days..totally NOT ENOUGH
so yeah..and Paris is one of the places i hope to settle down in..yeah..dreaming big.. XP
anyways, yesterday was cousin's day out :)
yogz, hemz, arvind, sucin, meens, shubz and joachim :)
it was good! we walked around in The Curve, watched a movie (The Orphan), and had dinner at TGI Fridays (first time for me!)..the orphan was awesome..its a thriller not a horror movie..was good although i was flinching most of the time...sometimes its good to scare yourself i guess..the movie was filled with so much tension, i was close to getting emotional...but thats how i am with any movie you throw in my face..so yeah..the story was really good! quite original actually..to my surprise, Leonardo diCaprio was one of the producers! he wouldn't just decide to co-produce a movie if he didn't think it would be good right?? so yeah, if you can, check it out for kicks :)
-deez out