Kate Beckinsale, Matt Dillon, Angela Bassett and Alan Alda (MASH yeah)
The movie was so-so. If you only watch 4 movies a year, this should definitely not be one of them.
The message /cause is admirable...integrity of journalism, protection of identity of informers for good of nation etc but the acting was mediocre, rather disappointing for good cast. No dramatic high and lows, no cliff hanger, predictable informant...
Wednesday, December 16, 2009
Capote - 2005
True story of Truman Capote's journey writing the famous 'In Cold Blood'....senseless murder of family of 4 in 1959 in Kansas.
Philip Seymour Hoffman gave a fantastic portrayal of Capote. Initially I found it hard to stay focused on the movie cause of his speaking style, pitch and irritating giggling (thought it was a bad copy dvd, maybe poor sound adjustment on my tv, maybe i was too tired to pay attention!!) But I soon found out that it was an accurate portrayal of Capote. So I sat up and payed attention.
Nell Harper Lee, the lady who accompanies him....the name rings a bell? Yes, 'To kill a mocking bird'. Capote and Harper Lee were neighbours and good friends. The character Dill in Harper Lee's book is a portrayal of Capote apparently...a bit of trivia!
Lots of smoking and drinking. I felt quite intoxicated watching all the martinis and whiskeys that were drunk.
Anyway, the best bit for me was the dynamics between Capote and Perry. It was apparent to me that Capote used Perry to write a great book and he wanted a dramatic end for his book...death by hanging. Explains all the drinking!
Hoffman won an Academy for his part... he's worthy of it as it was brilliant acting.
Philip Seymour Hoffman gave a fantastic portrayal of Capote. Initially I found it hard to stay focused on the movie cause of his speaking style, pitch and irritating giggling (thought it was a bad copy dvd, maybe poor sound adjustment on my tv, maybe i was too tired to pay attention!!) But I soon found out that it was an accurate portrayal of Capote. So I sat up and payed attention.
Nell Harper Lee, the lady who accompanies him....the name rings a bell? Yes, 'To kill a mocking bird'. Capote and Harper Lee were neighbours and good friends. The character Dill in Harper Lee's book is a portrayal of Capote apparently...a bit of trivia!
Lots of smoking and drinking. I felt quite intoxicated watching all the martinis and whiskeys that were drunk.
Anyway, the best bit for me was the dynamics between Capote and Perry. It was apparent to me that Capote used Perry to write a great book and he wanted a dramatic end for his book...death by hanging. Explains all the drinking!
Hoffman won an Academy for his part... he's worthy of it as it was brilliant acting.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Lost in Translation (2003) - Sofia Coppola
My second viewing of this movie. Liked it a lot the first time and love it even more this time round.
Brilliant performance by Bill Murray Bob Harris)and Scarlet Johansson's (Charlotte) first adult role (at 18 playing a 25 year old) is good.
Jet lag...a bummer!
Loneliness...a bummer too.
Thrown together by circumstances in Tokyo, a 25 year old and a 40 something year old. Where are the boundaris?
Who decides the boundaries?
What decides the boundaries?
Does one have possession over a relationship with a stranger (scene with the other woman, yet another stranger).
Bob Harris said, " The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you". Couldn't agree more Bob.
What did Bob Harris whisper into Charlotte's ear that made their encounter and separation alright??
Great movie with lots to ponder about - relationships, boundaries, sexual energies, loneliness, lifeless marriages, arrival of children into couple relationship, young supporting wife etc etc. Some might call it a slow moving movie..yes, it is but it needs to be or else the message will be lost in translation!
Brilliant performance by Bill Murray Bob Harris)and Scarlet Johansson's (Charlotte) first adult role (at 18 playing a 25 year old) is good.
Jet lag...a bummer!
Loneliness...a bummer too.
Thrown together by circumstances in Tokyo, a 25 year old and a 40 something year old. Where are the boundaris?
Who decides the boundaries?
What decides the boundaries?
Does one have possession over a relationship with a stranger (scene with the other woman, yet another stranger).
Bob Harris said, " The more you know who you are and what you want, the less you let things upset you". Couldn't agree more Bob.
What did Bob Harris whisper into Charlotte's ear that made their encounter and separation alright??
Great movie with lots to ponder about - relationships, boundaries, sexual energies, loneliness, lifeless marriages, arrival of children into couple relationship, young supporting wife etc etc. Some might call it a slow moving movie..yes, it is but it needs to be or else the message will be lost in translation!
The Banana Leaf Men
OK. I've come to page 142 and I am raising the white flag.
Boring, boring. My earlier optimism ran out. The style is school girlish....bad school girlish as i know and knew some fantastic writers in school. Language is very simple...no word clearing was necessary. Reading it was like listening to a boring friend give updates on her even boring life.
Reading Abandoned!!
Boring, boring. My earlier optimism ran out. The style is school girlish....bad school girlish as i know and knew some fantastic writers in school. Language is very simple...no word clearing was necessary. Reading it was like listening to a boring friend give updates on her even boring life.
Reading Abandoned!!
Thursday, December 10, 2009
The Banana Leaf Man - Aneeta Sundararaj
Ok, I was given this book by my niece with a comment, "Ayo, so boring.Could not go beyond first few pages". So I undertook to explore the book to give the author a chance to speak to me. Plus she's Malaysian Indian and I have to allow her the chance as I've just read 2 other works by Indian authors, White tiger and Q & A and simply loved their writing.
Started the book...ayo, so boring. It was no exageration by my niece. Layout of paragraphing is not condusive for reading. Will perservere.
Day 2 proved boring too but I will perservere.
Day 3 Lots of references to chinki this, chinki that, which I take offence to. Why I don't know as I'm really ok with "Chinaman!" I think the writing lacks richness and depth of language based on simple observations. Page 63...He had 2 thick long straight hairs growing out of the one black mole on his chin. How about....i just could not take my eyes off the 2 thick...or the 2 thick long..just mesmerised/hynotised me. Aneeta is describing a generalised percularity (racist, yes but adds to richness i guess)of a Chinese man. She needs to weave it into the narrative, not mere descriptions.
Page 68...Loved this section on Aunties to Aunties. So true and I love the Manglish, "also can", "not nice", " anybody...as long as Hindu".
Page 69 Aunties conclusion..Loved this too cause it's so true...."you're too fat but at least you are fair!" Typical Malaysian blatant rudeness which many Malaysians feel they have a right to and certainly don't think it's offensive.
Page 81 Great Anneta. Great retort to Christian zealots..."
I am a creature of the tropics. I love heat. From what you tell me Hell is quite warm....Here on earth I have to put up with listening to people like you..in Hell, I'm sure there will be no Christians. I will be so happy."
I'm beginning to enjoy the book.
Started the book...ayo, so boring. It was no exageration by my niece. Layout of paragraphing is not condusive for reading. Will perservere.
Day 2 proved boring too but I will perservere.
Day 3 Lots of references to chinki this, chinki that, which I take offence to. Why I don't know as I'm really ok with "Chinaman!" I think the writing lacks richness and depth of language based on simple observations. Page 63...He had 2 thick long straight hairs growing out of the one black mole on his chin. How about....i just could not take my eyes off the 2 thick...or the 2 thick long..just mesmerised/hynotised me. Aneeta is describing a generalised percularity (racist, yes but adds to richness i guess)of a Chinese man. She needs to weave it into the narrative, not mere descriptions.
Page 68...Loved this section on Aunties to Aunties. So true and I love the Manglish, "also can", "not nice", " anybody...as long as Hindu".
Page 69 Aunties conclusion..Loved this too cause it's so true...."you're too fat but at least you are fair!" Typical Malaysian blatant rudeness which many Malaysians feel they have a right to and certainly don't think it's offensive.
Page 81 Great Anneta. Great retort to Christian zealots..."
I am a creature of the tropics. I love heat. From what you tell me Hell is quite warm....Here on earth I have to put up with listening to people like you..in Hell, I'm sure there will be no Christians. I will be so happy."
I'm beginning to enjoy the book.
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