Whew......after a week plus movie glut the results are in. Out of all the dozen movies I consumed this week the one that left the sweetest aftertaste was Whale Rider. This film by Niki Caro, only her second at feature length, won countless awards and received an Oscar nod for it's child star Keisha Castle-Hughes. Ms. Hughes has reunited with the director for the upcoming film The Vintner's Luck. Ms. Caro's third film and follow up to this one was North Country, which again received two Oscar nods as well as winning several others.
As the director and writer of this film, she creates a feeling from the start that mesmerized me. The color is consistent throughout and this creates the feeling of the ocean even in scenes not showing water. I was soothed as well as anxious the whole time. A combination not easily achieved.
The overall 'message' or at least idea I took from it is acceptance. She wasn't accepted as she was by her family since her birth. What a difficult place to grow up in!! Nagging, being told 'who' she was, and being shunned for her sex didn't deter this girl, however. She was determined to be who she 'was' and not who everyone expected or wanted her to be. This never failing attitude coupled with a rich sense of tradition and family is something I strive for and is something I certainly didn't uncover before I was a teenager.
Overall, a great and moving story which locks you in early on and doesn't let go. I hope that the message of hope and acceptance is past on to any viewer, and that you'll leave with a sense that "You're perfect just as you are".
June 8, 2008
May 31, 2008
Sex and the City
WOW! Is just one of the words I had to describe this movie. Before I continue I must add here that thanks to a semester of art projects requiring good tv as a distraction I am a Sex and the City addict. By itself this was a good movie. Period. However, add the excellent summation of the entire series plus a talented cast and most fans are sure to be satisfied.
BIG! There's another word. It had bigger clothes, bigger venues, bigger names, and bigger heartbreaks. The wedding dress she wears could cover a VW, the flower she's wearing in the opening scene could eat her head, and the terrible heartache she endures is epic. Granted I knew, thanks to the tell all trailer, what the plot was going to be but seeing such a tragic story unfold was difficult to watch without wide, and occasionally watery eyes. Big can also describe the length of this movie. At two and a half hours most guys won't be able to stand the romance and schmaltziness. But I for one was able to feel fulfilled with the end of an era.
LABELS! That's the last word to stand out as a description for this movie. Carrie says it within minutes of the beginning and it is a theme which continues to the end. Many different variation of the same question of 'labels' but it was all over the place. Love 'em or hate 'em they're there. The most obvious being Dior,Vivienne Westwood, Manolo Blahnik. But then there were the labels that were being paid to be on the screen. Thanks Glacéau for giving Charlotte some smartwater, and for making sure that the sweaty rich folk sitting at Fashion Week were refreshed by vitaminwater. REAL subtle folks, product placement at it's most corny.
But in true fashion, all this talk about labels couldn't help but make me wonder.....Aren't the labels that people have for themselves and others more important than those stitched in their clothes?
We have all sorts of labels in this world. The way people describe you and you describe yourself is more important than we'd like to admit. Self-description is one of the most deciding factors of self-esteem. Just think about it, if you are called lazy, label yourself lazy, than you'll probably be lethargic. Countless studies are showing that obesity is related to friendships, and inner dialogues can cure back pain. These are just three of the 'traits' that we have; all the positives and negatives. What could you change about yourself just by adjusting your label? If you change your own tag doubtless you'll find it harder for others to exert control over your emotional well being.
BIG! There's another word. It had bigger clothes, bigger venues, bigger names, and bigger heartbreaks. The wedding dress she wears could cover a VW, the flower she's wearing in the opening scene could eat her head, and the terrible heartache she endures is epic. Granted I knew, thanks to the tell all trailer, what the plot was going to be but seeing such a tragic story unfold was difficult to watch without wide, and occasionally watery eyes. Big can also describe the length of this movie. At two and a half hours most guys won't be able to stand the romance and schmaltziness. But I for one was able to feel fulfilled with the end of an era.
LABELS! That's the last word to stand out as a description for this movie. Carrie says it within minutes of the beginning and it is a theme which continues to the end. Many different variation of the same question of 'labels' but it was all over the place. Love 'em or hate 'em they're there. The most obvious being Dior,Vivienne Westwood, Manolo Blahnik. But then there were the labels that were being paid to be on the screen. Thanks Glacéau for giving Charlotte some smartwater, and for making sure that the sweaty rich folk sitting at Fashion Week were refreshed by vitaminwater. REAL subtle folks, product placement at it's most corny.
But in true fashion, all this talk about labels couldn't help but make me wonder.....Aren't the labels that people have for themselves and others more important than those stitched in their clothes?
We have all sorts of labels in this world. The way people describe you and you describe yourself is more important than we'd like to admit. Self-description is one of the most deciding factors of self-esteem. Just think about it, if you are called lazy, label yourself lazy, than you'll probably be lethargic. Countless studies are showing that obesity is related to friendships, and inner dialogues can cure back pain. These are just three of the 'traits' that we have; all the positives and negatives. What could you change about yourself just by adjusting your label? If you change your own tag doubtless you'll find it harder for others to exert control over your emotional well being.
The Red Violin
Alright, so I'll admit I'm a sucker for anything with Samuel L. Jackson in it. This was the original intent in watching this film by François Girard. However, I ended up delightfully surprised with a tense, possible 'heist' film interwoven with history, mystery, and mysticism. That is a great combination in my book.
I was amazed that I developed such emotion for wooden main character honestly. The centuries that it spans and the people's it touches was beautifully crafted. Down to correct languages even! The journey that it takes was long and yet it still endured. It has a magic about it due to the blood that stains it (giving it the obvious title). The Red Violin causes the emotions of anger, betrayal, love, and sacrifice in it's owners. All emotional properties associated this blood of course.
In each of the lives shown the melancholy echo of the main theme is played (or once hummed). It provided good continuity but also carried the weight of meaning behind it. This is the 'tune' or 'soul' if you will of the violin and it grows and changes with each century. But perhaps becomes a little better with each rest and rebirth? Something easily said of humans as well.
I think this is true and sweet metaphor. But the words are best put by the immortal Joni.
We're captive on the carousel of time
We cant return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
I was amazed that I developed such emotion for wooden main character honestly. The centuries that it spans and the people's it touches was beautifully crafted. Down to correct languages even! The journey that it takes was long and yet it still endured. It has a magic about it due to the blood that stains it (giving it the obvious title). The Red Violin causes the emotions of anger, betrayal, love, and sacrifice in it's owners. All emotional properties associated this blood of course.
In each of the lives shown the melancholy echo of the main theme is played (or once hummed). It provided good continuity but also carried the weight of meaning behind it. This is the 'tune' or 'soul' if you will of the violin and it grows and changes with each century. But perhaps becomes a little better with each rest and rebirth? Something easily said of humans as well.
I think this is true and sweet metaphor. But the words are best put by the immortal Joni.
We're captive on the carousel of time
We cant return we can only look behind
From where we came
And go round and round and round
In the circle game
May 30, 2008
Black Robe
As with the last, this film by Bruce Beresford didn't have great commercial appeal here in the United States. It's length and heavy historical presence would have made most audiences shy away. However, this is precisely what drew me to it. Being a bit of a nut for history anything that can combine two of my favorite pastimes into one is perfect! This is a shining example of what I would consider a 'good' historical film for several reasons. First, they were remarkably accurate. Second, they used actors of the correct ethnicity and third they snuck all this learning into a neat, entertaining pocket.
BUT whew.......all the education can't detract from the fact that it was a very dark film. Not that this is in anyway a bad thing but the heaviness which was conveyed throughout would leave most viewers with a profound sense of weight about them. The long shots of canoes in the wild, his deep longing, and fight with his own faith left also had a feeling of solitude that had an effect on me to be sure.
This all left me thinking about what it means to be alone, abandoned, or banished. Which best describes the good Father? What do those words really mean to the emotion of loneliness, and wanting? The only true thing I could think about was this...... In any relationship (with God, a friend, or a lover) you can only feel abandoned if you can't survive on your own. 'Wanting' to be with someone and 'needing' to be with them are two entirely different things. It is up to you, but the best relationships are built by wanting to stand next to a person not needing to.
BUT whew.......all the education can't detract from the fact that it was a very dark film. Not that this is in anyway a bad thing but the heaviness which was conveyed throughout would leave most viewers with a profound sense of weight about them. The long shots of canoes in the wild, his deep longing, and fight with his own faith left also had a feeling of solitude that had an effect on me to be sure.
This all left me thinking about what it means to be alone, abandoned, or banished. Which best describes the good Father? What do those words really mean to the emotion of loneliness, and wanting? The only true thing I could think about was this...... In any relationship (with God, a friend, or a lover) you can only feel abandoned if you can't survive on your own. 'Wanting' to be with someone and 'needing' to be with them are two entirely different things. It is up to you, but the best relationships are built by wanting to stand next to a person not needing to.
May 29, 2008
The Man Who Cried
This was a great character study, and with a cast of John Turturro, Cate Blanchett, Christina Ricci, and of course the ever handsome Johnny Depp. Why wouldn’t you want to watch these characters? It is a dreamy, beautiful film which has been crafted well. Though it didn’t hold much mass appeal it was eye and heart catching. Not to mention it has had me thinking for sometime now.
“In America, you can be anything!” This is the main statement I took from Sally Potter’s film The Man Who Cried. And I believe in those words 100%. This was supposed to be and still is be a country where prosperity is always possibility. Today, there are many of us in the 20-somethings who are post-college, job hunting, working at their first, second, third job and getting rather despondent about the options. What happened to the ‘minimum’ salaries I as promised? Why didn’t anyone tell me that all those career books I perused as a kid, sitting in the guidance counselors’ office for waaay to many hours, were relatively meaningless? (Okay maybe the last only really applies to me.)
Ahhh….but here is the second and most applicable part of that quote. “If you work hard, you can be anything.” That’s it!! A work ethic is what I feel my generation of Americans lacks. Being raised in a time of economic surplus and relative peace we’ve never been forced to sacrifice as our grandparents, and their's before them. We are generally whiny, demanding, and require the attention of others. This is not the way to fulfillment. Something everyone claims to be attempting....
But rather, if the true nature of our generation is selfishness; than our true natures should be nurtured, and embraced. The key to true prosperity is to look into the most inner part of your heart, find what makes you truely happy, and do it. If you smile, the world smiles with you. That’s so simple, yet so true! Your path in life is established by the way to travel through life, and make your way in the world. It shouldn’t be about your status, your parent’s wishes, or even your paycheck. Being prosperous can manifest in many forms. Not only in the bank. This is something which is also poignantly shown in, The Man Who Cried. Embrace that as the key to life, and there is nothing that can stop our generation from furthering a more open-minded, peaceful, AND prosperous country.
“In America, you can be anything!” This is the main statement I took from Sally Potter’s film The Man Who Cried. And I believe in those words 100%. This was supposed to be and still is be a country where prosperity is always possibility. Today, there are many of us in the 20-somethings who are post-college, job hunting, working at their first, second, third job and getting rather despondent about the options. What happened to the ‘minimum’ salaries I as promised? Why didn’t anyone tell me that all those career books I perused as a kid, sitting in the guidance counselors’ office for waaay to many hours, were relatively meaningless? (Okay maybe the last only really applies to me.)
Ahhh….but here is the second and most applicable part of that quote. “If you work hard, you can be anything.” That’s it!! A work ethic is what I feel my generation of Americans lacks. Being raised in a time of economic surplus and relative peace we’ve never been forced to sacrifice as our grandparents, and their's before them. We are generally whiny, demanding, and require the attention of others. This is not the way to fulfillment. Something everyone claims to be attempting....
But rather, if the true nature of our generation is selfishness; than our true natures should be nurtured, and embraced. The key to true prosperity is to look into the most inner part of your heart, find what makes you truely happy, and do it. If you smile, the world smiles with you. That’s so simple, yet so true! Your path in life is established by the way to travel through life, and make your way in the world. It shouldn’t be about your status, your parent’s wishes, or even your paycheck. Being prosperous can manifest in many forms. Not only in the bank. This is something which is also poignantly shown in, The Man Who Cried. Embrace that as the key to life, and there is nothing that can stop our generation from furthering a more open-minded, peaceful, AND prosperous country.
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)