"Fates Intertwined, Cosmic Coincidence" (Collateral review)



* * * *

Collateral is one of the most brilliant action movies I have ever seen. I might be a little biased on this because we studied this movie in our film class, so that is why I only gave it four stars. It is still a wonderfully made movie or otherwise we would have picked the norm, Citizen Kane.

Collateral is a Michael Mann movie about a cab driver named Max (Jamie Fox) who one night picks up a man like any other by the name of Vincent (Tom Cruise). He takes him to his destination and gets an offer he can’t, that is to drive him to several stops throughout the course of the night. While he waits for Vincent to come out of his first stop, a body suddenly falls on top of his car. Soon we learn that Vincent is a hit man, and that he has four more stops to make.

There is a grater quality to this film than just action. We come to know the characters as if we ourselves were on the cab with them making every stop. I loved Tom Cruise’s character, he is a hit man but a likeable man. He sees the world in a much different way than Max, and finds his job to be nothing more than just that. At some point he makes a comment that the people he kills are insignificant compared to how large the universe is. A true point he makes, that one death, from over 6 billion people is nothing at all. We see Tom Cruise as this silver fox, with a wisdom hardly attained by someone his age. By far this is his best action movie I have seen, and could not help but like him even more than Max.

Max on the other hand is this man with a dream to one day have his own limousine business. In a way though he is this man who hides in his cab which is an excuse to after his dreams. As the movie progresses he has to face a choice, whether to let Vincent make him do what he says, or stand up to him. In a way Vincent gives him the strength to make a stand. So our initially weak character gathers courage and makes the stand.

There are many beautiful aspects in this film. Master editing, and wonderful cinematography. The setting of Los Angeles at night is by far my favorite. There is suspense, and great action, including a wonderful crash scene. Collateral stars Tom Cruise, Jamie Fox, Javier Bardem, Jada Pinkett Smith, and Mark Ruffalo. With this film, which obviously now is in my top 100, Tom Cruise becomes my favorite actor of all time. I don’t care if people don’t like him I like him, he is a brilliant actor, and no wonder he is one of the highest paid actors. He has earned his fame, there is no doubt he is talented.

I would recommend this film to everyone. I think you would all like it, for it is a brilliant film with a great plot, and superb character development. In fact I don’t just recommend this movie, I urge you to watch this movie. It is the best action movie I have ever seen. Go rent it or buy for you’ll want to watch it over and over again.

Collateral

collateral fever club scene

A brilliant scene from Collateral.

Portrait Of A Ruthless Family (The Family Stone review)



* * * *

The Family Stone is cool comedy that goes further than making us laugh. It is the story of a dysfunctional family and one that is quite unconventional. It is a family nonetheless, and with family come many problems.

Everett Stone (Dermont Mulroney) is taking his girlfriend and the woman he will marry to his parents home for the holidays. Her name is Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker). Before they arrive we see the family starting to gather at the home, and like any good family the topic of the day is pointing out every flaw in Meredith. They talk about her from every angle and before we get to see more of Meredith, we simply, thanks to the family, come to know her as an uptight bitch. Whether this is entirely true or not, the whole family seems to feel that way about her.

All in all they arrive, she is welcomed more or less, and the conflicts begin. The mom (Diane Keaton) is expecting her son to ask Meredith to marry him. Her and most of the family members do not approve, and sooner than later, Meredith becomes aware of this. She calls her sister Julie (Claire Danes), but at the Christmas eve dinner things take a bad turn when the subject of homosexuality, since Everett’s brother is gay, is brought to the table. The mom makes a comment that no ordinary mom would ever make, and Meredith questions this only to make things turn ugly, and compels Meredith to leave the table in tears.

Soon the other brother, Ben (Luke Wilson) goes to comfort her, they get drunk, Julie and Everett look for them, and we come to find out that there is more going on than we expected. More arguments, a proposal, fights, and sad news later the family comes to understand the value of having each other. They in the end open their hearts to Meredith who has merely desperately tried to make them like her.

The story is very well written, and there are many laughs without it being stupid. You know how much I hate stupid movies. We get to see into a family that is very critical, yet open about things. We feel sorry for Meredith, but we also sympathize with Sybil the mother. I loved this movie for it’s realism, and the performances are genuine.

Sarah Jessica Parker has recently become one of my favorite actresses, while Rachel McAdams as the mean sister is nothing short of delightful. Claire Danes is also great for she always has that feel to her that makes one like her no matter what. Luke Wilson is made for his role as the laid back brother with a charming quality. Diane Keaton is an actress that to my great surprise embodies everything a mother is. She is wonderful in this, and gives an amazing performance. I think I liked her character best because she reminds me of my own mother, one who is strong, yet vulnerable, but always seeking the best for her children. Her potty mouth is a quality that greatly reminded me of my own mother, and she didn’t make excuses for it which was even better.

I recommend this film to anyone, it is a fun wild family ride. This is a ruthless family that makes for the most memorable and crazy holidays. A memorable film this is. One of the best and most surprising comedies I have ever seen.

The Family Stone

The Family Stone Trailer (2005)

Terrible Acting, Great Film! (Notorious review)

Notorious

* * * *

Notorious comes from The Classical Hollywood Era, and really I probably would have never watched it if it wasn’t for class. While to me this is not my taste for a good movie, the film is good nonetheless.

This is the story of Alicia (Ingrid Bergman), a woman who is trying to redeem herself by serving as an undercover spy for a greater cause. She marries a man she does not love, and seems to almost loose the man she does, professional spy Devlin (Cary Grant). As she tries to uncover what it is that her false husband, who is by the way a Nazi, is hiding she gets discovered. As the whole cover up falls apart she get’s poisoned, and is incapable of letting anyone know she is in danger. The ending is for you to find out.

This film is filled with the mastery of Hitchcock, and one truly understands why he was the master of suspense. He goes deeper than just telling a story, he tells it in the most exciting possible way. This film while it may have some issues, like being a classical conventional movie, with a conventional ending, still makes for a very entertaining movie.

One thing I would like to point out, what the hell is up with the acting. I know this film is came out way before my time or that of even my parents, so I’m not used to how different films were back then, but boy is the acting cheesy. I guess no one really knew how to act for a film yet. I’m used to seeing the Kate Winslets, and Meryl Streeps loose themselves completely in their roles. Well either way, that doesn’t mean Ingrid Bergman is not astonishingly beautiful. While she doesn’t act well, she sure kept me transfixed by her beauty.

The best part of the film is a great scene in which Alicia has to get a key to the wine cellar, but her husband is just a couple of fee away in the bathroom out of sight. It is so suspenseful because we know she takes the key, and there is just so much danger in her getting discovered. Ah that scene is brilliant and a key part of the film.

This is in black and white but don’t let that stop you from watching it. There are lots of laughs from this, but there are also some very suspenseful moments filled with dramatic music. So give it a try, and I promise you, your time will have been well spent.



Notorious containing the key scene

A Beautiful Dream (Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind review)



* * * * *

From the brilliant writers Michael Gondry (Be Kind Rewind) and Charlie Kaufman (Adaptation) comes Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. The film is wonderfully written, and filled with things that will raise a brow. There is a flowing quality to this film, and while it may seem complex, it is not confusing. Some films are too much for some, but trust me when I tell you this is as clear as a film can get. Perhaps that is what makes this such an effective film.

This is the story of a solitary man by the name of Joel Barish (Jim Carrey) who happens to fall in love with the complete opposite Clementine Kruczynsky (Kate Winslet). Joel is quiet, reserved, shy, and not impulsive. Clementine is free spirited, talkative, and very impulsive. Still they manage to find a connection, but soon they start getting tired of each other. Joel makes a comment that breaks their relationship beyond repair, and Clementine leaves. Soon Joel realizes he misses her, and wants to reconcile only to find out Clementine has had a procedure erasing him from her memories.

Then he goes and gets the procedure done too, but during this, in his dreams he comes to understand that he truly loves her and can not do without her. So as his memories of her disintegrate he desperately uses his mind to save one last bit of her.

What I described above will not appear on the film conventionally. This film starts one way, moves another, and ends back the same way. This is not your grandmother’s narrative, but it works on many levels. This is a clever and innovative movie. I don’t think I have quite seen anything like it.

One thing this movie does so well is making us feel something for the characters. We fall in love with them, and as the last fragment of Clementine is being erased from Joel we sympathize for him. We too become engulfed in the dream, and reach for Clementine. That is one thing Kate Winslet is so good at, creating characters that are in many ways real people. With Clementine she brings a charisma and charm. I had a crush on Clementine. I wanted to be with her as much as Joel did. This is the most lovely role I have seen Kate Winslet take on, still with all her acting skills used to the maximum.

Also, I think it is safe to say that this is Jim Carrey’s best performance I have ever seen. The funny man is not only funny and great, but he can take on a serious role too. He is perfect for this role, he is the only Joel I could have imagined. He is awkward, and looks the part of the semi depressed lonely man that gets no amusement from life.

There is a dream quality to this film that makes it soar in beauty. I could not get it out of my head, and felt like I had dreamed everything. Yes, I felt like this movie was all just a dream. Not one that shakes you in your sleep and wakes you in the middle of the night, but one that leaves you wanting to stay in it more time. Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless mind is a dream of a movie, one that takes you on a simple yet lovely journey. This is the most unique and wonderful love story I have ever seen.

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind

Kate Winslet-Oscars 2005 Nominee for Best Actress

The Conspirator Trailer 2011 HD

Let me just start by saying that there is Oscar written all over this. Yes it takes this much to see how great a film will be. To make things clear, everything, and everyone about this film makes me excited beyond belief. Robert Redford is a legendary actor, but a damn good director as well. A true force in the film industry. Oscar nomination, and perhaps a win for Robin Wright anyone? Seems like all she needed was to get away from Sean Penn in order to stretch her wings. She is brilliant in this, and I don't have to see beyond the two minutes in this trailer to know that. Tom Wilkinson is a hero of mine, and one of the best actors I have ever witnessed on-screen. James McAvoy is a rising star that one day will be a force of an actor to be reckoned with. Oh, and finally did anyone see Alexis Bledel, all I can say is that she is a beauty not to be taken for granted. Perhaps also an actress not to be underestimated. Also in this is Oscar winner Kevin Kline, and Justin Long. Not only is the cast to die for, but the story as much as it may be historical makes for a damn good film. Good story, good actors, and a legend of a director. What else could anyone like me ask from 2011?

"Does It Ever Go Away?" (Rabbit Hole review)

Rabbit Hole

* * * * *

Rabbit Hole is my kind of movie in every aspect. It is simply a film about a point in people’s lives. The point happens to be the hardest moment a person, a couple, could face. Here we have two people facing life after the death of their only and infant son.

Becca (Nicole Kidman) is a distant woman, or at least has become distant since the death of her son, and with no blame, I would become distant as well. She puts on a face of strength and hates talking about her son, specially with her mother who constantly compares the situation to Becca’s brother whom died of a heroin overdose. Though Becca acts strong, one quickly learns that this is just a face, and she really is struggling with moving on, but how can one move on? One simply can’t but as Becca’s mother puts it, “at some point it becomes bearable”. It never goes away.

On the other side of things is Howie (Aaron Eckhart), Becca’s husband. He unlike his wife is willing to work with it, and even attend the group sessions with other parents facing the same hardship. Still, even as Howie is willing to work on moving on, he holds on to a video of his son on his phone. He watches this often, and therefore is also facing the great challenge of letting go.

There are conflicts between all the character’s but it is only reasonable with such an incident. How does one let go? That is what this film is about. Letting go can be painful, but what our character’s have to realize is that one can not let go of something like this completely.

Rabbit Hole is a beautiful film highlighted by strong performances from both Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. It is great to see Nicole Kidman take on such a demanding role once again, and I was delightfully surprised by the compelling and intense performance by Aaron Eckhart. They blew me away, and it was also great to see Diane Weist in this film playing Becca’s mother.

This is perhaps not a film for everyone. My favorite part of movies aside from the stories are performances, but this story is not surprising or action packed. For me the best subject are people. I love watching movies about people and their problems. Having said this, I would to add that I like real scenarios, and real outcomes, so that is what I mean by movies about people. This is what Rabbit Hole is, it doesn’t move fast, or shock us with something we didn’t expect or haven’t seen before.

Rabbit Hole is a resonant piece of work. A brilliant study on two characters who struggle to live normally. This is one of my favorite movies of 2010 that most people haven’t seen or even heard of. I know now that if ever I become a director I will become an actor’s director, constantly seeking to create daring roles that will bring out the best performance an actor can give. Nicole Kidman can act damn well, and Aaron Eckhart is equally wonderful. This truly is a piece of work that I one day hope, and strive to achieve.



Rabbit Hole - Official Trailer [HD]

A trailer from the recently film I watched, Rabbit Hole.

Enunciate! (The King's Speech Review)

The King’s Speech

* * * * *

The King’s Speech is by far the best movie of 2010 I have seen. One might wonder before walking into the film, how entertaining can a movie about a king with a speech impediment be? That was my first impression upon seeing the trailer, and even though I knew Colin Firth would give a wonderful performance, I wasn’t sure if this would be all that interesting.

Well let me tell you that not only is this movie highly entertaining, it is one of the best pieces of filmmaking I have seen in my entire life. Everyone is on their top game in this movie, and that makes the story the much better.

Colin Firth gives us not only a magnificent performance, but one that is highly consistent throughout the entire film. He also shows he’s got what it takes to play a king with a temper, and a thing for cursing. I tell you there is a scene in this movie in which Firth’s character has to start letting loose in order to speak clearly, and his therapist played by Geoffrey Rush, notices that he only speaks clearly when cursing. In turn he tells Firth’s character to just curse all he wants and to get angry. Well the outcome is a wonderful symphony of f*&%, sh*^, and others curse words that worked like music to my ear. That scene alone made me love this movie the much more.

Another great surprise, aside from the expected brilliant performance by Geoffrey Rush, was the performance given by Helena Bonham Carter. She is a great actress not only in the Potter series, or Burton’s films, but in anything she does. I know she previously turned an Oscar worthy performance in The Wings Of The Dove, and though I have not seen it, I can now say I have seen one of her Oscar nominated roles, for she is bound to get an Oscar nod for The King’s Speech.

Perhaps one of my favorite things in this films besides the acting, set design and editing was the costume design. The costume design in this film was brilliant, and though this is not entirely a period piece, the costumes still have that same sophistication, without it being over the top. Specially Queen Elizabeth’s (Bonham Carter) wardrobe which just blew me away with the details invested in her costumes. I liked the costumes even better than those in Black Swan which are designed by famed fashion brand Rodarte.

The best part about this movie was how different it was from all the other films out there this time of year, yet also very relatable. I mean who doesn’t despise speaking in public, it is a commonality shared by more than a few. It was also great to see such flaw on a man of stature and power, I mean who would have thought that royals could have such problems. This films can really be seen by everyone because even in it’s moments when some might frown, one only laughs. By that I mean the cursing our lead character does in order to be able to speak, and really that is nothing, so everyone go see this film. Like I said before this is by far the best movie I have seen so far this year of 2010.



The King's Speech Movie Trailer Official (HD)

How Come?

You know one thing that has been bugging be a lot is how come Jesse James is slammed and completely hater for cheating on Sandra Bullock while Tiger Woods seems forgiven entirely when he cheated on his wife with many women. Yes his wife is not Sandra Bullock, but what's the difference anyway. Is there is a double standard here. Are celebrities forgiven more easily then more down to earth normal person? I don't know what to make of it, but I don't think is right. To me Tiger Woods is as much of an ass hole if not more than Jesse James. 

Gnomeo & Juliet Movie Trailer Official (HD)

This actually looks pretty good, I'm excited about it. It looks fun, and kind of reminds me of Toy Story, but I don't expect it to be as good as Toy Story. Still I won't mind seeing this once it comes out in theaters.

The Best Of The Best (My Top Five Actresses To Date)



Top 5 Favorite Actresses

1) Julianne Moore

Up until recently Kate Winslet was my favorite actress, but upon seeing Magnolia, Julianne Moore quickly rose to number 1. The main reason is that I have seen more of Julianne Moore’s movies than perhaps any other actress, and all of them are just magnificent movies. To me Julianne Moore is perhaps one of the best actresses of our time. She is currently 50 years old, but boy can she do any role. I don’t quite remember what was the first movie I ever watched from her, I’m pretty sure it was Assassins. I don’t really remember much of her role because I watched the movie about ten years ago. Others works that I have seen from her include: The Lost World: Jurassic Park, Boogie Nights, Psycho, An Ideal Husband, Magnolia, Hannibal, Evolution, Far From Heaven, The Hours, The Forgotten, Children Of Men, A Single Man, and The Kids Are All Right. I have yet to see other great films from her, but this is an actress that I have seen the most. I do say that in just four of any of the films I have seen from her you will notice an incredible range. This is a fearless actress that is not afraid to take a risk. Of her films the one’s that hold spots in my Top 100 are Magnolia, Far From Heaven, A Single Man, Children of Men, The Hours, and The Kids Are All Right. Julianne Moore has been nominated for four Academy Awards. She was first nominated for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Amber Waves, the motherly porn star in Boogie Nights. Talk about a risky role. She made every bit of it count, and to me she was the best part of the film. Later she garnered another nomination for Best Actress In A Leading Role in the film The End Of The Affair where she plays Sarah Miles. I have yet to see this film. Then in a feat the few actresses have achieved she garnered two more nominations both in the same year. Best Actress In A Leading Role for her work in Far From Heaven, and Best Supporting Actress for the film The Hours. In Far From Heaven she plays the suburban housewife Cathy Withaker whose life goes from picture perfect to complete crumbles. In The Hours she plays a depressed housewife who eventually abandons her husband and children called Laura Brown. Her roles in Magnolia, A Single Man, and The Kids Are All Right are too deserving of Oscar nominations. We have yet to see if she picks up another nod and maybe even an Oscar for her work in The Kids Are All Right. Julianne Moore like many of my favorite actresses, but unlike most actresses is not afraid to take risks, and roles that many would think twice about. She is beautiful, and brilliant, and can not wait to see the day when she finally becomes not just an Academy Award nominated actress, but Academy Award Winning.

2) Kate Winslet

What can I say about Kate Winslet? Well perhaps that she is not only the most beautiful woman I have seen on the face of the earth, but also one of the greatest actresses that has ever lived. To me she will one day be equally matched to Meryl Streep, and this is just a matter of time. She is currently 35, and already she has starred in a wide variety of roles that one can only wonder what her next film will be. She has so much ahead of her, and I personally can’t wait to see how many more critically acclaimed roles she tackles. Kate Winslet is perhaps the most fearless actress, because not only is she too not afraid to take risks, she constantly does so. Her roles are those that no actress would want to do, and with good reason. Either way Kate Winslet as put by Marion Cotillard at the 2009 Academy Awards “she continues to push the boundary of what’s possible”. Yes, Kate Winslet does the impossible when it comes to acting. She has starred in a variety of films, of those I have seen: Sense And Sensibility, Hamlet, Titanic, Little Children, The Holiday, The Reader, and Revolutionary Road. She has also received a staggering six Academy Award nominations. Her first nomination came, for Best Supporting Actress, when she played Marianne Dashwood in the Jane Austen film adaptation of Sense And Sensibility. Two years later she picked up another nomination for Best Actress in A Leading Role for playing the rich girl who falls in love aboard the Titanic in James Cameron’s Titanic. By then she was only 22. Four years later she picked up another nominations for Best Supporting Actress in the film Iris, where she plays the young novelist Iris Murdoch. In 2004 she picked up yet another nomination for perhaps her most unconventional and charming role as Clementine Kruczinsky in Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind. Even more daring was her role as the suburban housewife, Sarah Pierce, who has an affair with a stay at home dad in Little Children based on the novel of the same name by Tom Perrota. She didn’t win for any of those roles, but a terrific year, 2008 to be exact, she had two critically acclaimed roles going for her in both The Reader, and Revolutionary Road. Though she picked up two Golden Globes as Best Actress In A Drama, and Best Supporting Actress for each film, she only received an Oscar nod for her work in The Reader as Best Actress In A Leading Role. That year she finally took the Oscar home after six nominations. Most of her films just blow me away. She is timeless, beautiful, and extremely talented. If one day I become the director I want to be, I would assure you that she would get first choice on all my female roles.

3) Meryl Streep

I could not go any further without mentioning perhaps the greatest actress that ever lived, Meryl Streep. Why she is not at the top of my list is simply a matter of time, for I have yet to see many of her films. You probably know this already, but she holds a record for most Oscar nominations. The number is 16. Most actors go through their careers without a single nomination. An Oscar doesn’t make an actor though, but they are the greatest measure of talent. They are the highest accolades in the film industry. Kind of like the Nobel prize of film. Meryl Streep is more than just a great actress, she is a perfect embodiment of class. Constantly she has been described as kind, and with a great sense of humor by all her colleagues. I don’t doubt her good persona for a second, she never takes the spotlight knowingly, and is always very private about her personal life. She has been married to the same man longer than perhaps any other celebrity, which says a lot about her. She is legendary, and timeless. She is the greatest of all, Meryl Streep. Films I’m familiar with are Death Becomes Her, The River Wild, A. I. Artificial Intelligence, Adaptation, The Hours, Lemony Snicket’s A Series Of Unfortunate Events, The Devil Wears Prada, Doubt, and Julie & Julia. She picked up her first Oscar nomination at the age of 29 for her role as Linda in The Deer Hunter for Best Supporting Actress. A year later she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role as Joanna Kramer in the film Kramer Vs. Kramer. In interview she did for her role in that film she confessed that it wasn’t very hard to dislike Dustin Hoffman for the first time they met at a party he burped on her and touched her breast. Talk about a bad first impression. Two years later she picked up her first nomination for Best Actress In A Leading role for her role as Sarah in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. Just a year later she won another Oscar for her demanding leading role as Sophie in the holocaust movie Sophie’s Choice. The next year she picked up yet another Oscar nomination for Best Actress for her role in Silkwood. Later she received Best Actress In A Leading Role nominations in 1986 for Out Of Africa, (1988) Ironweed, (1989) A Cry In The Dark, (1991) Postcards From The Edge, (1996) The Bridges Of Madison County, (1999) One True Thing, (2000) Music Of The Heart, (2003 for Best Supporting) Adaptation, (2007) The Devil Wears Prada, (2009) Doubt, and most recently 2010 for Julie And Julia. Of all her films my favorite is Doubt in which she plays the iron fisted nun, who goes head to head with the priest at a catholic school, Sister Aloysius Beauvier. That films if filled with great performances, and a magnificent screenplay by John Patrick Shanley. Meryl Streep has yet to beat Katherine Hepburn for the most Academy Award winning actress, who holds the record for four wins. I think she will soon surpass that, and I too can not wait for her next film, or to see her past work. She is one of the persons I would most like to meet before I die.

4) Cate Blanchett

Another brilliant actress with such great elegance and class is the very talented Cate Blanchett. She is wonderful in everything she does. She is not only extremely graceful and elegant, but beautiful beyond measure. Not like an overtly sexual beauty, but just an incalculable beauty all around, inside and out. The first film I ever saw her in was The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring where she plays the mysterious Lady Galadriel. Of her films I have seen Elizabeth, An Ideal Husband, The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring, The Lord Of The Rings: The Two Towers, The Missing, The Lord Of The Rings: The Return Of The King, The Aviator, Babel, Notes On A Scandal, Hot Fuzz, Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull. Of her roles my favorite one is that of Queen Elizabeth in Elizabeth: The Golden Age. Every time I think of Queen Elizabeth I, I picture her, for she represents everything the Queen might have been and looked like. It was a perfect role for her, and one she portrayed with great skill. She too is an Academy Award winning actress. She won her only Oscar to dater for her role as the Academy Award winning actress Katherine Hepburn in the Scorsese film The Aviator. Her first Oscar nomination came for her portrayal as young Queen Elizabeth I, in Elizabeth. In 2005 she won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in The Aviator. In 2007 she picked up another Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actress in the film Notes On A Scandal, where she plays the bohemian art teacher who has an affair with a high school student, Sheba Hart. A year later she did the same thing Julianne Moore did that very few achieve which is to receive two nominations in the same year for both Best Actress and Best Supporting Actress. She got Best Actress for reprising her role as Queen Elizabeth I, in Elizabeth: The Golden Age, and Best Supporting Actress for her role as Jude in I’m Not There. Cate Blanchett will only get better and better, and like the other actresses above mentioned she will go on to become a legend in the world of acting. Decades from now she will be remembered as one of the greatest most talented actresses in history.

5) Milla Jovovich

Milla Jovovich is perhaps the most different from any of the actresses I have so far mentioned. She has never been nominated for an Academy Award, yet makes this list without me even thinking twice about it. Oh, and did I mention she is one of the most beautiful women I have ever seen in my life, and that I would marry her in a heartbeat. Unfortunately she is already married. Milla is best known for her roles in action movies where she constantly has to train to prepare for her physically demanding roles. To me she is the daredevil actress, and the coolest one at that. She has commented that she collects weapons from the movies she does. By that I don’t mean just guns, but all sorts of knives and blades. Milla would kick mine and anybody’s ass any day of the year. I have no chance against her. She is not only my favorite actress for her beauty, and daredevil persona, but for her cool roles that have entertained me for years. Of her films I have seen: Return To The Blue Lagoon, The Fifth Element, Resident Evil, No Good Deed, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, Ultraviolet, .45, Resident Evil: Extinction, A Perfect Getaway, The Fourth Kind, Resident Evil: Afterlife, and Stone. Just recently in her role as Lucetta, the fetching wife of convict Stone in the movie Stone, I saw her take on a role that was very different than anything she had done so far. In a good way she stole the movie, and gave perhaps the best performance I have ever seen from her. So much that it deserves an Oscar nomination, but have yet to see if that happens. My favorite franchise of movies is the Resident Evil franchise, and really without Milla, Resident Evil would not be good at all. The films are not critically acclaimed but I love the crazy storyline. She is a wonderful actress, and I believe she will soon be taking on roles that expand her range to the point of even winning an Academy Award. She is another one of those people that I will do anything to meet before I die. If I become a director, she too will appear in a lot of my films. Milla Jovovich is cool, and kicks ass in everything she does. We will see a lot more from her in years to come. Oh and she makes better action flicks than Angelina Jolie, I can tell you that.

"George and Charley" - Clip from A SINGLE MAN

A scene from A Single Man with Oscar nominated actors Julianne Moore and Colin Firth.

Scene from Magnolia:"Shame on you!!!"

A perfect scene from Magnolia starrin Julianne Moore.

Little Children - Best Actress - Kate Winslet

A scene from Little Children with Oscar winner Kate Winslet and Patrick Wilson.

The Reader - Official Trailer [HD]

Kate Winslet in her oscar winning role as Hanna in The Reader.

Doubt - Confrontation (HD 1080p)

A clip from Doubt with Meryl Streep and Phillip Seymour Hoffman.

Elizabeth: The Golden Age Trailer 1

Cate Blanchett as Queen Elizabeth I in Elizabeth: The Golden Age.

Notes On A Scandal - Trailer

Cate Blanchett stars in Notes On A Scandal.

Stone - Official Trailer [HD]

Milla Jovovich stars alongside Robet DeNiro, and Edward Norton in Stone.

A Perfect Getaway Movie Trailer HD

Milla Jovovich stars in A Perfect Getaway.

"When It Rains, It Pours" (Magnolia review)

Magnolia

* * * * *

If asked to describe Magnolia in one word it would be, perfect. If asked to describe Paul Thomas Anderson I would simply say, brilliant. From the wonderful mind of director Paul Thomas Anderson comes this complex, and intricately embroidered work of art. Magnolia is simply one of the greatest films I have ever seen. So far this year has started well, for Magnolia has been rightfully placed above Babel in my 100 Favorite Movies ever. Yes, you heard me, that is number 3, just below The Piano.

One thing I had trouble with going into this film was the time. At first I observed that the film ran an exhaustingly three hours and eighteen minutes. I sort of didn’t want to watch it, but of course having seen other films by Paul Thomas Anderson I had to give it a try. Previously I had seen There Will Be Blood, and Boogie Nights. Another thing I noticed and could not wait to see in this film were the actors who I didn’t for a second doubt to give top performances. Among the cast were my favorites Julianne Moore, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman. So with all this in mind I watched it, hoping the time wouldn’t be an issue.

At first the opening sequence is one that I held in high regard. I immediately considered the opening sequence of this film to be one of the greatest in a movie if not the best. It had humor, creativity, and just flat out brilliance. From the beginning I could tell this movie would be one of my type, which is something powerful, and mostly about life.

I sat in awe at every minute of this film. Not only were the performances just amazing, but the plot was more complex than I would have ever expected, yet still not too much. The stories in this film were so real, and there was something for every one to relate to. Perhaps the most relatable issue and central theme of the movie was, trying to escape the past. All the characters were trying to somehow forget about something that had happened in their lives. Every character was just so…beautiful. I loved everyone, and just could not contain myself in some of the most crucial scenes.

I think of my top fifteen films ever, perhaps this is one of the most appealing in terms that it could be watched by many. It has strong language, but it’s completely part of the characters, so it only makes the film much more real.

My favorite thing from this film besides Julianne Moore’s performance was that of Tom Cruise’s. He plays Frank T.J. Mackey who goes through life giving man arrogan macho advice on how to get women whenever they want. He puts on a mask of an extremely confident guy, but when it rains on him as it does to all the other characters in this film we all of a sudden discover that there is much more to this guy than meets the eye. He takles this role with great ease, I couldn’t help but wonder how he did it this time. I knew Tom Cruise was a good actor despite what anyone said, but was never aware that he was better than just good. He is amazing in this film. He is brilliant. He is touching. He is everything actors aspire to be, and I can say that this role, this particular one is my favorite supporting role of all time. I loved Frank for his vulnerability. I loved how human he was. Tom Cruise I hope to one day meet you and thank you for such an inspiring performance.

Magnolia more than anything is a film about life, and the hardships that may come when it rains. Yes rain is another central theme of the movie, but it is symbolic of life’s unexpectedness. Magnolia is everything a film should be. It is what I hope to one day be able to make. Stories like this might go unnoticed, but not in my book. Magnolia is one for the ages, and one I will look back to for guidance and inspiration.

I would recommend this film to everyone. I dare you not to like it. Out of words and things to say, I simply want to end by saying that Magnolia is beautiful beyond measure, beyond belief.

Don't Leave - Magnolia

My favorite scene from Manolia.

Scene from Magnolia:"Shame on you!!!"

A brilliant scene from Magnolia, with the legendary Julianne Moore.

Movie Trailer - 1998 - Magnolia

Behind Closed Doors (The Lives Of Others review)

The Lives Of Others

* * * *

I had never seen a German film until The Lives Of Others, and I can easily say that great films can come from outside Hollywood. This film takes place in East Germany in 1984 before the fall of the Berlin Wall. The secret police monitor almost everyone by wiring their homes and spying on everything they say and do. A man, a loyal socialist writer is starts being monitored, but things slowly change as Wiesler (Ulrich Muhe), the agent in charge of carrying out the mission, becomes emotionally involved in the case. A woman, the writer’s girlfriend Christa-Maria (Martina Gedeck) is the main reason for causing the agent’s change of heart (you’ll know what I mean by change of heart when you see the movie). It isn’t clearly stated, but through instinct one can infer that the agent liked the woman, and therefore the writer too. All in all while the mission is being carried out, to find incriminating evidence on the writer Georg Dreyman (Sebastian Koch), things take a turn and the ending is quite a surprise.

I’m glad I watched this film, it doesn’t move very fast, in fact it is quite long, but worth every bit of it. At first I wondered if it was just that I didn’t speak any German, but then I realized that this film is one of those that requires your undivided attention. Everything in the end makes sense. The fact that it’s two hours long, and a foreign film might keep people from seeing this. Believe me this is a movie that not only has a gripping story, but provides a glimpse of the history of a country, one we are all too familiar with in terms of global affairs. That was perhaps one of my favorite parts of this film. The blending of historical facts with the story of a couple of people works amazingly well for a foreign film. I didn’t have trouble following anything, and found this films extremely fascinating.

What really did it for me in this film was the ending. I loved the touch at the end when agent Wiesler, several years after his last mission, buys Georg Dreyman’s latest book Sonata For A Good Man (you’ll know what I mean when you see the film). It was a bittersweet kind of ending, but delightful nonetheless.

I don’t know a lot of the German cinema, but if their films are half as good as The Lives Of Others, then I don’t doubt they will perhaps one day be a force to be reckoned with in the world of cinema. I can’t wait to explore more foreign films out there, but for now I highly recommend this film. It has a bit of nudity in it, but it’s brief, and doesn’t really make a big enough impression to draw one away from this film. This film is fascinating, strange, touching, and very original. This is my favorite foreign film so far, and with good reason since it picked up an Academy Award for Best Foreign Film back in 2007.

The Lives Of Others Trailer HD

Who Said Women Can't Play Ball? (A League Of Their Own review)

A League Of Their Own

* * * *

It is rare to see such a good sports movie. I myself hate the genre, for it is way too overdone, and they are all the same. This one is different though. A League Of Their Own is a film about the first All American Womens Baseball Team. The team is filled with women that didn’t have men around due to World War II. The women struggle at first to get the team running, but eventually being women they used their assets in a creative way to attract the crowds mainly composed of men not in the war.

My problem with these type of films is that they are all meant to be inspirational, but they all do it in the same way. The sales pitch is usually a team facing many challenges whether between its team members or just being the underdogs against other teams. Sometimes it’s just a single protagonist who against all odds and expectations manages to do the impossible and succeeds in a team. A League Of Their Own is similar in that the women face the challenge of gaining the respect of the men. They are treated like, “women can’t play ball”, and that is the similarity with all the other sports movies. The one thing that saved this movie from me throwing it in the trash with all the other sports movies was the fact that the characters were women. I hadn’t or at least didn’t remember seeing such a scenario.

A League Of Their Own is more than just a sports movie. It goes beyond the sport and creates this wonderful feeling of friendship at the best time of the character‘s lives. The movie is filled harmless humor, and moments that would make one laugh many times over and over again. The film was released the year I was born, 1992, and all I can think of is “why can’t comedies and sports movies be like this?” Show us something we haven’t seen, and make us laugh without offensive language and other stupid acts used to define humor now a days. Is it too much to ask? No I don’t think so, still even as funny as A League Of Their Own may be it goes further than being a comedy.

This film has funny moments, it has delightful moments, unkind moments, and then it has it’s sad moments. Funny was that kid that annoyed everyone on the team. A horrible little monster I would call him, yet lots of fun. As for delightful, one word only, Madonna. She was great and perhaps one of my favorite scenes was at the bar where she just dances the night away. I loved Madonna in this, and sorry but I do have to say that I had never seen her in a movie before. She plays the free spirited Mae Mordabito. For the unkind, I could only go back to the rude and disgusting manager Jimmy Dugan played by Tom Hanks. He was very mean to the women of the team at the beginning, and of course he changed his feelings about them, but still made a bad first impression. The film finally also had it’s sad moments like when one of the players gets the terrible news that her husband has died in war. It was a moment that clearly elevated the film from just any sports movie. It made it real.

Perhaps the greatest thing about this movie that deviates from all other sports movies and conventional Hollywood movies is the ending. When after a wonderful streak our heroines, The Peaches, make it to the first ever women’s world series we only expected one thing, for them to win. In any other movie they would have, but here they didn’t. I loved the touch that a movie was finally made about the loosing team. I’m sure there are other out there, but this one is special. The ending was inspiring, yet unconventional. No one want’s to see the protagonists fail. Everyone wants to see a completely 100% happy ending. Well, I don’t, for life is not just complete happiness. I loved how real the ending was, and how the characters handled it.

I loved this movie all around, and even if it is not a cinematic breakthrough or the best movie ever, I would recommend it to anyone. It’s one of those feel good movies without being the typical feel good movie. I like to think of A League Of Their Own as a movie that is timeless, one that no matter how many years pass by, it will never get old, it will never loose its charm.

A League Of Their Own - No Crying In Baseball

Is That Willem Dafoe? (Shadow Of The Vampire review)

Shadow Of The Vampire

* * * *

Shadow Of The Vampire is perhaps one of the strangest movies I have ever seen. Don’t get me wrong it’s not like entirely sexual or disturbing in a bloody way, it’s just flat out strange. I think it’s the most original movie based on something that happened in real life (sort of). I can’t quite make out what this film really is, but it’s almost safe to say that it is a realistic take on a director’s journey to make the most realistic vampire movie of all time. In doing this the director hires a method actor that to an extreme does the role by living the role. He only appears to everyone in full character, and we too only get to see him in full character. Everything becomes weird when crew members start to dissappear, and the actor playing the vampire (Max Schreck played by Dafoe) causes many problems for both the director and the producer. All in all the film covers a timeline from the beginning of shooting the film Nosferatu, to it’s end.

I had heard before of Nosferatu, but was not aware that there was a film based on the story of the making of Nosferatu. John Malkovich is our lead character playing the obsessive director Friedrich Wilhelm Marnau. John Malkovich is so good at playing obsessive people that come off as rude and selfish. I loved his character, and that character’s will to finish the movie at all costs.

Perhaps an even better character in this movie is that of Max Schreck played by Willem Dafoe. If anything just watch this movie for him. Dafoe is brilliant in this film. He completely looses himself in the role and does it in a very fun theatrical way. I couldn’t have recognized him if I hadn‘t read the titles, so that goes without saying that the make up in this film is also top tier. I had so much fun watching how strange Max Schreck was, and at times was so lost as to whether this guy was for real acting like a vampire (to an extreme) all the time. I loved his strangeness, yet charming creepy persona. This performance is so good I might just call it the best supporting performance I have ever seen in films so far.

Mark my words, Shadow of The Vampire doesn’t have any of that Hollywood story line or action. It is more like a documentary, but it’s such an enjoyable movie. It is filled with humor, and the best part of the whole film is that it would appeal to many even with its R-Rating. Perhaps the best group to appeal to would be anyone who has been in theater and enjoyed it, for this is a very theatrical film in the way the performances are carried through and the make up along with costumes are applied. If you are not a fan of Willem Dafoe watch Shadow Of The Vampire and you will instantly fall for this magnificent actor.

Shadow of the Vampire Trailer

The End Of The World Has Never Been More Fun (2012 Film Review)

2012

* * * *

2012 is a rare film in my list of Top 100 Films Of All Time. Why? Well, there are many reasons for this.

I love realism, and films that often make one feel something, but of course those films don’t require any special effects. Hollywood is often now a days a special effects extravaganza, and 2012 uses that brilliantly to create shocking and unbelievable scenes. So, after watching all kinds of dramatic films with emotional intensity, I every now and then like to sit back and enjoy a visual movie that doesn’t ask me to feel much aside from excitement.

2012 could be best described as a roller coaster ride, and a damn good one at that. This film doesn’t have any fully developed characters, the acting is not so good, and the plot is simply ludicrous. Still, it’s a good movie for the sole reason that it is extremely entertaining. As one would expect from a film like this, my favorite part are the special effects.

The special effects on this film have got to be the best special effects I have ever seen in my entire life. Forget all the blue in Avatar, these special effects are so much fun. Roland Emmerich is like a god of destruction. He takes a world we are very familiar with and twists it at his own will. Everything that is familiar to us is destroyed in this movie, and most of his movies. This film is so cool in the sense that one finds oneself driving through a suburban neighborhood in California, but doing so as the world literally falls apart all around.

Clearly 2012 falls under the category of a disaster epic, but if you ask me the only director who can constantly get away with it is Roland Emmerich. He is not your critically acclaimed director, but still stands out as one of the greatest directors in my book. To be able to orchestrate such a big scale movie like 2012 is just unbelievable. Roland is spectacular, he brings us things that are so mind blowing, and just very damn entertaining. This guy is just having fun, and gives us such a good time as he does.

I would recommend 2012, a movie about the end of the world, and really there is not more that needs to be said to describe the premise of the movie. This is a movie that everyone can enjoy, and just relax and have fun with. I love this film. I just enjoyed sitting back and looking a this piece of art. I mean there is nothing more fun than watching California get sucked up by the Pacific ocean. This is a completely ridiculous film, but I loved every bit of it. If the end of the world is anything like this, than I wouldn’t mind sticking around to see it fall apart.

"2012" - Official Trailer [HQ HD]

Black Swan (Review)



 

* *

I don’t quite know where to start with Black Swan, but perhaps it is best to say that it fell short of what I expected. There are great things going for it, but there are also many turn-offs, well at least for me. So let’s start with the good things, and well end with the bad stuff.

My favorite part of the film has got to be the score. I loved Darren Aronofsky’s The Fountain, and it was mainly due to the very powerful score by Clint Mansell. They team up again for this film, and the result is another masterpiece soundtrack. The music was never over the top, and always worked well with what was going on on-screen. It was a subtle score, and very gracefully placed throughout the film, which goes well with the ballet theme of the movie. Clint Mansell might go as far as to win an Academy Award this year, and with good reason.

Lighting was a huge factor for this picture, and I do say that it worked magnificently with the camera movements and angles. One scene in particular, when Nina (Portman) is practicing by herself on-stage, and there is one round light fixture alone in the center. That scene worked beautifully because of it’s wide shot, and somehow alluded to how isolated Nina was becoming in her obsession of being perfect. The camera moved well for most part of the film, but the lighting made ballet more than art, and elevated the beauty of the body’s movement to incalculable measure. I felt like I was in a dream.

The acting is always a huge part for movies, and can often make or break the entire movie regardless of the amount of work put into the whole production. In this film there are several outstanding performances. One of course is the centerpiece of this movie, and perhaps the only reason many might go see this movie or even enjoy for that reason. Natalie Portman plays Nina, a perfectionist dancer who becomes obsessed with getting right the black swan character she has to play in a production of Swan Lake. In then end becoming too much for her own sanity. Portman is completely transformed for this role, and shows an extreme range. I loved her performance, and though most of the performance is rather physical than emotional, she triumphs overall. This could truly be called the performance of her lifetime. I could not believe the stunts she performed in this and the way she portrayed innocence at the beginning of the film which just blew me away. Still she should not win the Oscar for Best Actress this year, but should come close to it, simply because most of her performance is physical.

Another performance that was well put was that of Barbara Hershey. She plays Erica Sayers, the mother who in my own opinion was just as crazy as her daughter, which that in way reminded me immediately of Carrie. Hershey is a ruthless mother, yet caring and perhaps too over protective. Thought I wished the writers had given her more in the film, Hershey still gives a performance worthy of recognition.

Perhaps another shorter part in the film was that of Beth Macintyre played by Winona Ryder. In my opinion she captivated me more than Portman when on-screen. Again for some reason I wished I had seen more of her and less of Nina. Winona plays a retired dancer who struggles to accept the end of her career and in part also inspires Nina to get the role of the Swan Queen right. Winona is back and thank God for she was much missed in the world of good filmmaking and acting. I loved her presence, and to me stole the movie.

Going back to the characters, I hated the fact that all the characters were very unreal except for Beth, who plays a minor part in the film. They all seemed to be on some sort of medication and had forgotten to take it throughout the entire course of the movie. I love realism and horror films, but Black Swan fell awkwardly in between, and therefore didn’t impress me as much as I wanted. All the characterd were very disturbed, and wished they had been a bit more real, or maybe I’m confused since the film could have just been through Nina’s perspective. I don’t know, either way it was kind of unclear, and that didn’t appeal to me like it has in other films such as Inception.

All the supporting characters are very minor and the writers didn’t do enough with them, specially the mother who could have had a bigger role and maybe even made the movie better.

I won’t say that the movie didn’t make me jump once, but it only did so once. So what is this movie classified as? A psychological thriller? Well, it felt like the movie was trying to be a horror movie, and a drama, but just didn’t quite reach either territory. Also the direction in some of the scenes was very cheap and not skillful at all. I mean why was groping shown more than needed throughout the entire movie? Why was the self-mutilation there, just like that, when it could have been played, with, differently? How about the masturbation scenes? Did we really need to see Nina masturbating more than once to get that she was loosing her innocence? I don’t think so, and the way those things (like the sex scene between Lily and Nina) are what I like to call cheap. Just place a camera still and show everything. Doesn’t call for much skill from the director or anyone besides the actors.

Throughout the film Nina goes crazy and looses herself and what she initially believes in. She literally becomes the black swan, and (spoiler alert) kills herself. But one knows this before even watching the movie, in fact nothing is surprising in this film. Oh, and the ending was very disappointing. Then again they probably couldn’t have ended it any other way.

This film is good for the sole reason of Portman, and other technical aspects, but would not recommend it to anyone besides people who are into ballet. This is a very ineffective movie in the sense that it is made to appeal to a very narrow audience, so not everyone will enjoy it. In my opinion don’t go see it unless you absolutely love everything Natalie Portman has done, because what she does here might be the best part of the entire movie.

All in all Black Swan just fell short of all the hype, and didn’t work for me.

Black Swan

BLACK SWAN - Official HD trailer

Rating System

Unlike most other critics, my rating system will be out of five stars instead of four, which is better because it gives more room to know how good a movie really is.

Thoughts On: Sex And The City (series)





A while back, a couple of years to be exact, I watched a movie that had long called my attention thanks to it’s successful box office receipts. Sex And The City was clearly something designed for women to watch, and while I normally don’t classify any movie as a chick flick, I knew this one thrived all over that heading. I had seen a couple of episodes before, but none of the very first episodes. I do admit that they were mainly giving advice to women about relationships, and the sex in those couple of episodes didn’t hurt either, for I’m always up for something sexy. Sarah Jessica Parker had been an unknown to me up until that point. Even stranger were the other actresses in the cast, but after seeing a couple of episodes I had my first glimpse of the fabulous four: Samantha, Charlotte, Miranda, and Carrie. I liked every bit of those characters even if the movie didn’t quite leave a strong impression, and made them out to be very superficial.
Being an avid watcher of E, I have now started 2011 watching it more than ever. Only one reason has attracted me now more than ever to this channel: Sex And The City. Not the movie, but rather something better. They are replaying all the episodes of the original series from the very beginning every night at the awfully early time of 7 pm central time. I would have normally liked to watch them later for that is when I will usually have time to watch them, and still I wasn’t sure if I would like them enough to get through the whole series. Last night I watched the first episode of the entire series, well at least about half of it. After an unwelcome interruption (picking my sister up from a soccer game) I was only able to watch the first twenty minutes and the last ten of the first episode. I know that’s not a great way to start watching a brand new (to me) show, but those few minutes had made an impression far more fetching than the later episodes or the movies did.
After spending the later hours of the night hoping to see a rerun of the first episode, I sadly went to bed expecting a better turnout today. Now that I have unwillingly woken up earlier than usual, I do find to like the channel even better at this time of day. As I ate breakfast after dropping off my sister at school, I decided to turn on the television and take my muffin to the living room. Out of norm the first channel I turned to was E, and the clock having recently turned 9 am, to my surprise, I was in for an entire rerun of that first episode. I couldn’t believe it, waking up early had actually been a benefit, even if my sleep was slightly deprived. Still, it was ok for I wouldn’t be able to get more sleep either way. So I sat enjoying that first episode which was by far so much different than the movies and those later episodes I had seen.
Fortunately they also played two more episodes and found myself spending more time than planned watching television at such and early. The timing was actually perfect for I didn‘t have any interruptions that I knew of. After watching all three of those first episodes I wondered why it was that I liked them, and then it dawned on me.
Sex And The City was not appealing to me for the beautiful lead characters or the sex or even the fashion while those, are reasons why the show is more appealing. No, it was that the main subject, at least from those three episodes, which was, a study on men. I love studying and observing human behavior. This show was a take on men from the point of view of a journalist, which in a way is similar to what I intend to do with my films one day, but study broader subjects than just men. Doubtful that all those categorizations of men were completely true, I found out a great deal about the things that might come to mind in the social world of relationships and sex. It was great to see how these women viewed certain men, and while I don’t know if those stereotypes of men apply to all places but New York, I did know that this show was exactly what I try to do on a daily basis, except my observations include everyone.
The show may appeal mostly to women, for it is women who might benefit from watching such a show, but I loved every bit of it. Maybe the characters were puzzling in that they behaved outside the norm, or at least my norm. I had never before seen women act like men, but I guess perhaps that was the purpose of the show, to elevate women to maybe not a higher but the equal pedestal men. That makes this show feminist in a fun and sexy way. I am now hooked on Sex And The City, and mock me as you please, but I know why it is. I think I not only will learn about men on this show, but about women as well. Here women (the lead characters) are not typical, but larger than life, and that makes for damn good show.
All in all I give Sex And The City my praise, and you can count on me to watch the entire series. In a way, the show too has made me get off my ass and write without fear for the first time in my life. You could say that I’m trying to be Carrie, but not for the reasons others would look up to such a character. She writes in an observational manner, and that was enough inspiration to pull out my laptop and write this brief thought on the show. Clearly she made an impression on me. In an unstated way she commented that a trick to writing was keeping thoughts long enough to put them to paper, and now I realized that I had all the tools needed to finally write without hesitation. Thank you Carrie, and I’m happy to say that I don’t normally watch television shows, but this one I will. I’m also not ashamed to say that Sex And The City is bloody brilliant.

Rubber teaser trailer HD

This trailer opens with a simple yet wonderful tracking shot. The premise is quite unclear, and the trailer overall is very abstract in a good way. The first thing that came to mind when I realized that the tire is a character and not just an object, and upon seeing that tire stop to sort of stare at others (tires) being burned in a big pile was the holocaust, and for some strange reason Inglorious Basterds. I don't know if this film will make a splash or even become known to more than a very select few who actively seek independent films. The film looks like it will definetely have some symbolic meaning to, but what specifically is still quite unclear.

A Tought On Celebrity Marriage

Recently it was announced that Reese Witherspoon was engaged with Hollywood agent Jim Toth. I wonder how long this one is going to last?

My opinion on marriage as it is has become very pessimistic. Is there such a thing as until death due us apart anymore? I don't think so, and specially in the celebrity realm.

I don't quite understand why celebrities are unable to commit to a long relationship. Well that is not the case for all of them, but trust me it is for most of them. It is rare to find a celebrity that has remained married for over 20 years. As that number increases the number of people in that pool decreases.

Perhaps the little that marriages last in Hollywood has to do with exactly that. Celebrities are rich, famous, and most of them (over 90%) are extremely good looking. With that in mind I believe it is safe to say that such privileges make celebrities extremely independent, and somehow egotistical. I mean everything around them is about them. The world revolves in a way around them because they are an image projected to masses of people. This I think would make it hard for them to remain in a relationship for many reasons.

First they don't need to depend on anyone economically. Normal people don't count with the millions that celebrities make so when in a relationship there is much more at stake than there is with a celebrity. Celebrities are in many ways set for life, and therefore marriage is irrelevant and somewhat uneeded.

Secondly like I mentioned before, celebrities are full of themselves. Most of them don't admit it, but come on if you are honest with yourself deny that you don't enjoy when people talk about how great you are and how much they love you. Even if the talks are not necessarily good one still enjoys hearing one's name. I know I do. So with this in mind celebrities are not used to thinking in terms of "us", but rahter "I". That also contributes to marriage being irrelevant to celebrities.

Money is a big issue for celebrities when it comes to relationships. The money allows them to aquire almost anything they want, and this creates a belief that they can get anything. So when they get tired of their other half, they probably think "well if I can get a $500,000 car, then I can get a divorce". Divorce has perhaps become part of the material, that can simply be attained by simply thinking about it.

It is quite sad, but this are my thoughts on celebrity marriages and relationships as a whole. If celebrities spend more time living like normal people than perhaps they would be more able to commit to something. These observations are possibly quite true for the most part, but there are a few exceptions like in many other things in life.

If ever I were to become a celebrity, and even if I don't, I will seriously think more than twice before getting married. In a way I don't really feel like I will ever need to be married. Could it be that maybe it's not something everyone really wants? Who knows, but hopefully Reese's marriage lasts until death. Well it doesn't hurt to dream big.