Love and Other Disasters

a light-hearted and adorable romantic comedy. kind of British with a hint of Breakfast at Tiffany's (my favourite movie) and the Devil Wears Prada. It reminds me of those 90s romantic comedies, they are seriously the best and they can't make it like those nowadays. When I watched all those comedies in the 90s (Notting Hill, Pretty Woman, the Runaway Bride...) I was just around 8 or 9, but they made a big impact on me, movies, apart from those tear jerking ones, can be once in a while funny, poignant and warm.

Brittany Murphy is definitely in her best form, playing the UK Vogue intern who tries to help her friends find love. and the cameo appearance of Orlando and Gwyneth is really nice and sweet, especially when the film is ironic in a way to show the stereotypical hollywood movie everyone yearns to watch - a happily-ever-after romance with a blonde heroine.

and life is always not like a movie. but coming across a familiar scene would be interesting enough.

The Age of Innocence (1993)

Martin Scorsese's "most violent" film.
it's mentally violent, which is different from his usual physical violence.
A romance with inner turmoil of its protagonist between conformity and emancipation. What is real and what is fake? To what extent would we give up our reputation, family, fortune for love? or is it lust?



"Newland Archer: You gave me a glimpse of a real life. Then you asked me to go on with a false one. No one can endure that.
Countess Olenska: I am enduring it."

"No one could ever be jealous of May's triumphs. She managed to give the feeling that she would have been just as serene as without them. But what if all her calm, her niceness, were just a negation, a curtain dropped in front of an emptiness? Archer felt he had never yet lifted that curtain."

"He could feel her dropping back to inexpressive girlishness. Her conscience had been eased of its burden. It was wonderful, he thought, how such depths of feeling could co-exist with such an absense of imagination."

Edith Wharton's words are fascinating, subtle and inspiring.

Oscar

they say this year's Oscar was surrounded by psychopaths who got nominated. anyway it seems that each year there's a different theme for the winning pictures. there are definitely lots of romance in the 90s, but it's harmless once in a while to show blood thirsty thrillers. the genre isn't so much of a matter as long as the director, the actors and all the other working units know how to master the art of film.

this year things are making sense finally after several years of disappointment. Marion Cotillard got Best Actress in the Leading Role, Cate Blanchett in the supporting role, that guy who starred in No Country for Old Men got the male supporting role and Daniel Day Lewis got the best actor in the lead role. Now they're making some sense. at least this year they're having some sort of international appreciation for the films. seriously, that year with the Crash as the Best Picture, I don't know how they did it. that's like the worst among the 80 Best Pictures. wth. But anyway this year it showed that everyone is worthy of those little gold statues. because the coen brothers they're awesome! n' the actresses n' actors who got nominated for the leading roles are amazing people. many of them are character actors. they act.

but when you see that footage they had about the voting system... i mean c'mon... look at those people, some of them are not serious enough, and may I say they're kind of biased. There's certainly a winning formula. and some people are destined to get the award. some however, like Johnny Depp, Peter O' Toole, they got nominated for i dunno, say many times, and still couldn't get their share... what's the problem here... but anyway these people are still much loved by the audience. not taking an oscar doesn't mean those people can't act. they have substance, it's just that they're not lucky. that's all.

The Illusionist (2006)

When it came out at almost the same with the Prestige which starred Hugh Jackman, Christian Bale and Michael Caine, many have thought that the Illusionist was merely a copycat. It thrives on another storyline, to be precise. The Prestige may be more attractive in terms of star allure, but the Illusionist deals with a heavier subject, it shows the loopholes of government administration, the way of life under autocratic rule and most of all, how an illusionist could hypnotise the entire nation, as well as the audience.

The Prestige reveals rivalries and depicts how vengeance and greed could devour a man. On the other hand, The Illusionist conveys how vengeance could be done with grace. Edward Norton delivers an excellent performance as the disturbed and secretive illusionist. This film gives you the feeling of having gone through a marvelous magic show, rather than having a bit of disappointment after you knew they have revealed all their tricks in the Prestige. The Illusionist, on the contrary, gives you a sense of fascination and leaves the audience happy about his show. He just makes you wonder how he does it.

My Funny Valentine

Valentine's Day but I'm still working my ass off. sadly I haven't met mr. right watever. still have to get going with the exam.

top ten romantic films that I'd recommend (my all time favourites)

1. Breakfast at Tiffany's
2. Love Actually
3. Serendipity
4. Atonement (it's kind of tragic but still really good)
5. La Parapluise de Cherbourg
6. Kate and Leopold
7. Moulin Rouge
8. Sabrina
9. The English Patient
10. Casablanca

some are tearjerkers, but hey it's doesn't matter they're still great love stories. : )

Serendipity is really my thing. I believe in fate more than hard work sometimes. and some people are just lucky all the time. lucky in all different ways. if there's really a guy like John Cusack's character, and I really get the chance to meet him like that, and even after 7 years, that's destiny, not conincidence really. I'd really marry him in a second.

Breakfast at Tiffany's is still in my top three list cuz it's just sooo good. light hearted and heartbreaking at the same time. it's about the fear of committment.
when Paul tells Holly that he loves and she belongs to him (that'll be problematic in the 21st century... feminists will be arguing that as sth against females) Holly thinks being in love with someone is locking herself in a cage. but those aren't equal i think. ownership and love are two separate things. when you love someone you technically own them, but literally you won't cuz that'll suffocate the relationship...

these 10 are ten different love stories from ten different points of view. different relationships and teach us a lot about love. "all you need is love" that's what they say in Moulin Rouge. : )

and here's the lyrics to the song that I love. really valentine-ish.

My funny valentine
Sweet comic valentine
You make me smile with my heart
Your looks are laughable
Unphotographable
Yet you're my favourite work of art

Is your figure less than greek?
Is your mouth a little weak?
When you open it to speakAre you smart?
But dont change a hair for me
Not if you care for me
Stay little valentine stay
Each day is valentines day

things I like

On the verge of brain suffocation due to immense and uncontrollable cramming of subjects into my brain, I'm constantly getting a vision of my future. hmmm...that scares me a bit actually. I'm getting serious because life is tough and serious now. have to be sophisticated for a while. and think straight.

read a post on imdb about women being crazy and acting nuts from 18-25 while men would continue with that period into their 30s... I think i'm quite insane these two years. and i still have some more years to get wasted, so I'll start getting serious for two more months and fall into the black pit of hope/confusion/dreariness... for another 2 months and get the results. and I'll be free. but growing up isn't that fun. I haven't thought about this for a long time. Actually being a grown up you have to cope with lots of things and that's not easy, at least not like those dreams i used to picture myself as a shopaholic living in paris looking at the eiffel every day.

maybe this time I'll type out the things or people that I like ... at least they motivate me to work and remind me of my good days. : )

• the 20s and 40s are still my favourite period of time. used to dream about living in that period. i'd rather face war than face school... trying to be honest really.


• psychological thrillers, and suspense genre


• Johnny Depp and Tim Burton collaboration.


• John Cusack just made the list. suddenly have a liking for his films. i used to like him when i first saw him in America's Sweethearts. and I saw it today. not really a great movie, but reminds of me those great romantic comedies in the 90s like Notting Hill. make me smile every time. and he actually did blog in the internet about war and america and hunter s. thompson.


• everything french or british


• F. Scott Fitzgerald


• Daphne du Maurier


• movies from the 40s


• vintage


• poetry, literature


• macarons (really want to try those from lauderee)


• aston martins, mini coopers (i'll learn how to drive one day!)
  
• joe wright he's really talented.


• writing (i actually want to be an illustrator for children's books or just an author. but I'm not going to major in lit... anyway if i hv earnt enough after my 30s i'll quit my job and start writing and writing. I want to be a screenwriter as well. I can't act and I always have a thing for movies, so maybe that's the job for me. who knows? that's the good thing of the film industry, different types of talents can find their way into the business as long as they have a passion for films)

I'm a child from another period, my mum used to say. She always says you like old stuff. yes, I guess I like old stuff, and they're nice and nostalgic. maybe I'm really from another time period.

Sweeney Todd (2008)

TIM BURTON IS BACK! with long time collaborator/frd Johnny Depp n' wife Helena Bonham Carter. : )

it's a homage to the old classic horror movies. a bit like sleepy hollow n' edward scissorhands, and that brings out the best of Burton as a director of the gothic genre.

the singing is amazing. and it's johnny depp's first time to sing on screen. as well as Alan Rickman. Jamie Campbell Bower is quite fascinating too. and Jayne Wisener recalls the Christina Ricci look in Sleepy Hollow.

it's a story about revenge eating up on itself. a love story, murder and horror added up together, quite comical too, all put into a musical. really i haven't seen a musical that can make your hair jump but all the while sends out lots of messages about humanity. There's no clear line between evil or good. Frankly, everyone in the film is quite nuts about one thing or another.

hope depp could get his oscar after the golden globes. he should have got that award after so many nominations... but oh well there are still lots of competitive actors like tommy lee jones, viggo mortensen and daniel day lewis... maybe johnny depp is the dark horse... we never know.

I'm still having this gothic craze. whenever tim burton's movie's out i got this craze. lol and i got myself a black and white stripe dress today. HAHA : ) it is quite a trend this summer. i'm going to stock up on this. saw one that i really want to buy already. a halter neck. hmmm : P

overall ratings:

cinematography - 4.5/5 (the cgi opening is a bit of a turn off)

music - 4/5

casting - 5/5
art direction - 4/5

costume - 4/5