FILMS AND MOVIES SEEN 2014 (me at 21-22 y.o.)
Films watched from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014. ALL GENRES, COUNTRIES OF CREATION, and FILMMAKING STYLES included. Includes commentary and ratings. Audited July 2019, November 2019
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- DirectorNoah BaumbachStarsGreta GerwigMickey SumnerAdam DriverA New York woman apprentices for a dance company and throws herself headlong into her dreams, even as the possibility of realizing them dwindles.Watched January 2014.
- DirectorSofia CoppolaStarsBill MurrayScarlett JohanssonGiovanni RibisiA faded movie star and a neglected young woman form an unlikely bond after crossing paths in Tokyo.incomplete 2014
- DirectorRoger KumbleStarsBrendan FraserBrooke ShieldsRicky GarciaIn the Oregon wilderness, a real-estate developer's new housing subdivision faces a unique group of protestors: local woodland creatures who don't want their homes disturbed.
- DirectorRupert WyattStarsJames FrancoAndy SerkisFreida PintoA substance designed to help the brain repair itself gives advanced intelligence to a chimpanzee who leads an ape uprising.Watched January 2014.
- DirectorBenh ZeitlinStarsQuvenzhané WallisDwight HenryLevy EasterlyFaced with both her hot-tempered father's fading health and melting ice-caps that flood her ramshackle bayou community and unleash ancient aurochs, six-year-old Hushpuppy must learn the ways of courage and love.
- DirectorTony Y. ReyesStarsDolphyVic SottoCarmi MartinDobol Trobol is about Macario, an aging chef/security officer in an exclusive resort. Macario left his home due to frustration from his nagging wife, Gabriela. With the help of his best friend, he stayed at his resort to be a chef. Along came Arthur. He joins a gang hoping for a job. But to his surprise, it's a job set for robbery. The entire sequence is odd. Imagine a businessman in full professional attire, holding an attaché case. He walks out of a grill restaurant, not even a bank, being eyed for robbery by a gang. Suddenly, just like any other superhero, Arthur rescued the businessman against the thieves. Then he offered Arthur a job in the resort as a security guard. If you hated this premise, then you might have brought your brain. When Arthur arrived in the resort, he was mistaken as a guest by Mac. Arthur took advantage of the situation, asking for incredible demands. Mac was furious upon realizing that Arthur is a fellow worker. Worse, they will share one room. Then the rumble
- DirectorWenn V. DeramasStarsVice GandaLuis ManzanoGloria RomeroPeter Kasimsiman was once a submissive son to his parents. But losing his mother at a tender age, left him with an abusive father who only knew of tending to his carriage horse, Brown Beauty. Peter is eager to win the love and attention of his indifferent Tatay. But an unfortunate incident forces him to run away from home. His horrible life starts to change its course when he meets the nurturing haciendera Helena who provides him shelter and unconditional affection he knew his father would never be able to give. Helena teaches Peter love and kindness, grooming him as the sole heir to the hacienda in the event of her death. Albeit fueled with the guidance of the good-natured foster mother, who's known for her passionate concern for her employees, Peter has an intolerable bad temper especially towards her mother's loyal servant, Maita and the latter's beautiful and gifted daughter, Samantha. Peter's almost perfect life is threatened as people from the hacienda adore the beauty and goodwill of Samantha. These include the estate's striking horse trainer, Erickson, the good-looking veterinarian, Dickson and even the trusted estate horse, Sylvester. Add the unwanted presence of his long-lost sister, Peter's life seemed like an everyday living hell. Little did Peter know that Diobayo, the Goddess of Horses, watches every move he makes as he grows oblivious to other people and the surrounding horses' needs. To teach Peter a painful lesson, Diobayo cursed him transforming him into the horse, Petra, whenever he acts surly and proud. Will Peter choose to continue his grumpy personality? Or will he be able to use his 'horse instinct' to change for the better?
- DirectorLuciano B. CarlosStarsMaricel SorianoIce SeguerraEric QuizonTHE PROVERBIAL GOOSE THAT LAYS THE GOLDEN EGG ACTS AS AN AMULET AND FAIRY GODMOTHER TO A SCREWBALL WHO USED TO BUY AND SELL EMPTY CONSUMER BOTTLES. THIS IS A FANTASY-COMEDY MOVIE,
- DirectorJoselito AltarejosStarsAngelo IlaganBoots Anson-RoaShamaine BuencaminoOn Christmas Day, DAVID, 15, finds out that his boyfriend, JONATHAN, 17, has taken another lover. The discovery leads him on the brink of depression making him think of ways to have him back at all cost. He has invited Jonathan to see him on this day for the last time. And through the frenzy of his preparations prior to meeting Jonathan, we will discover his traits and personality; the 'worlds' he lives in - virtual and real; and, we will witness how he prepares for his most unique shout-out that he will make not only on his Facebook wall, but, in his life.Watched February 26, 2014 with Adrian Mendizabal, Archie Del Mundo & Epoy Deyto.
- DirectorOlivia M. LamasanStarsPiolo PascualToni GonzagaIza CalzadoA pair of exes run into each other again years after a breakup that left them with plenty of questions.Watched March 1, 2014 with Cameron Haduca.
- DirectorPaul W.S. AndersonStarsKit HaringtonEmily BrowningKiefer SutherlandA slave-turned-gladiator finds himself in a race against time to save his true love, who has been betrothed to a corrupt Roman Senator. As Mount Vesuvius erupts, he must fight to save his beloved as Pompeii crumbles around him.Watched March 6, 2014 with Andrei.
- DirectorSteve McQueenStarsChiwetel EjioforMichael Kenneth WilliamsMichael FassbenderIn the antebellum United States, Solomon Northup, a free Black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery.Watched March 7, 2014 with Andrei.
- DirectorJohn SchlesingerStarsDustin HoffmanJon VoightSylvia MilesA naive hustler travels from Texas to New York City to seek personal fortune, finding a new friend in the process.Watched March 8, 2014 with Andrei
- DirectorLeos CaraxStarsJuliette BinocheDenis LavantKlaus-Michael GrüberAlex, who's homeless and addicted to alcohol, and Michèle, who's losing her sight, form a relationship while sleeping rough on Paris's Pont-Neuf bridge.Watched March 15, 2014 with Adrian, Epoy, Donna, Joshell, etc, for Chris's Cinephiles tribute.
- DirectorLuis BuñuelStarsCatherine DeneuveJean SorelMichel PiccoliA frigid young housewife decides to spend her midweek afternoons as a prostitute.Watched March 15, 2014 with Adrian, Epoy, Donna, Joshell, etc, for Chris's Cinephiles tribute.
- DirectorFrançois TruffautStarsJeanne MoreauOskar WernerHenri SerreDecades of a love triangle concerning two friends and an impulsive woman.Watched March 15, 2014 with Adrian, Epoy, Donna, Joshell, etc, for Chris's Cinephiles tribute.
- DirectorSebastián CorderoStarsSharlto CopleyMichael NyqvistChristian CamargoAn international crew of astronauts undertakes a privately funded mission to search for life on Jupiter's fourth largest moon.Watched March 2014 with Drei, Leo and Eric Mauricio
- DirectorChris BuckJennifer LeeStarsKristen BellIdina MenzelJonathan GroffFearless optimist Anna teams up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven in an epic journey to find Anna's sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter.Watched March 2014 with Nicole P.
- DirectorNeil BurgerStarsShailene WoodleyTheo JamesKate WinsletIn a world divided by factions based on virtues, Tris learns she's Divergent and won't fit in. When she discovers a plot to destroy Divergents, Tris and the mysterious Four must find out what makes Divergents dangerous before it's too late.Watched March 2014 with Drei
- DirectorHayao MiyazakiStarsKirsten DunstMinami TakayamaRei SakumaA young witch, on her mandatory year of independent life, finds fitting into a new community difficult while she supports herself by running an air courier service.
- DirectorBobby RothStarsCari ShayneBrigitta DauPaul Anthony StewartA 19th-century woman, companion to a blue-blooded New England girl, falls for an aristocrat.
- DirectorJ.C. ChandorStarsRobert RedfordAfter a collision with a shipping container at sea, a resourceful sailor finds himself, despite all efforts to the contrary, staring his mortality in the face.
- DirectorWes AndersonStarsRalph FiennesF. Murray AbrahamMathieu AmalricA writer encounters the owner of an aging high-class hotel, who tells him of his early years serving as a lobby boy in the hotel's glorious years under an exceptional concierge.
- DirectorMartin ScorseseStarsLeonardo DiCaprioJonah HillMargot RobbieBased on the true story of Jordan Belfort, from his rise to a wealthy stock-broker living the high life to his fall involving crime, corruption and the federal government.
- DirectorBen StillerStarsBen StillerKristen WiigJon DalyWhen both he and a colleague are about to lose their job, Walter takes action by embarking on an adventure more extraordinary than anything he ever imagined.NOTES:
-Ben Stiller as Walter Mitty- a daydreaming, always-zoned-out negative assets manager (photographic department)
-cinematic trope of ordinary, life-less guy discovering himself, eventually becoming more "out there" and adventurous
-Kristen Wiig as Cherly -a Manic Pixie Dream Girl-lite (with child)- ready to give the ordinary and lifeless guy a second chance at living- more aware, earthier... happier
-soundtrack courtesy of Jose Gonzalez (Heartbeats)
-song playing while the sherpas were playing soccer?
-song during the credits?
-funny punchlines: Walter ditching the wallet and finding out the negative was there and having it back through her mom, the clementine cake, Todd from eHarmony salvaging him through airport security, "'I'm Lovin' It?', is from McDonald's, Papa John's, etc.
-really slow and uninteresting in the first half but picked up well after an hour
-themes: dreams, hope, adventure, finding yourself through past experiences, destiny/fate/serendipity, romance - DirectorBryan SingerStarsPatrick StewartIan McKellenHugh JackmanThe X-Men send Wolverine to the past in a desperate effort to change history and prevent an event that results in doom for both humans and mutants.
- DirectorRobert StrombergStarsAngelina JolieElle FanningSharlto CopleyA vengeful fairy is driven to curse an infant princess, only to discover that the child could be the one person who can restore peace to their troubled land.
- DirectorSam HancockStarsAlanna UbachMichael NavarraPatrick RussellWhen a woman with multiple personality disorder finds herself uncontrollably chasing danger in the form of one-night stands with abusive men, she's ready to end it all. Can a relationship with one good man change her mind?
- DirectorRob CohenStarsBrendan FraserJet LiMaria BelloIn the Far East, Alex O'Connell, the son of famed mummy fighters Rick and Evy O'Connell, unearths the mummy of the first Emperor of Qin -- a shape-shifting entity cursed by a witch centuries ago.
- DirectorEmmanuel MouretStarsJoeyStarrVirginie LedoyenJasmine TrincaIn the South of France, internationally-famous pianist Aurore collapses one night during a performance,over-exhausted from too many concerts. Tired of music, she believes that she no longer has anything to offer her public. Then she meets Jean, an electrician who installs residential security systems. Despite their differences, they immediately fall in love and plan a new life together. Jean intends to leave his long-time partner Dolorès, but she will stop at nothing to keep him.
- DirectorZoe R. CassavetesStarsParker PoseyMelvil PoupaudGena RowlandsSince college, Nora hasn't had much luck with men. Now in her 30s, she works in a NYC hotel going nowhere. That is, until she meets Julien.
- DirectorHenry SelickStarsDakota FanningTeri HatcherJohn HodgmanWandering her rambling old house in her boring new town, an 11-year-old Coraline discovers a hidden door to a strangely idealized version of her life. In order to stay in the fantasy, she must make a frighteningly real sacrifice.
- DirectorBarry SonnenfeldStarsWill SmithTommy Lee JonesJosh BrolinAgent J travels in time to M.I.B.'s early days in 1969 to stop an alien from assassinating his friend Agent K and changing history.
- DirectorBen AffleckStarsBen AffleckBryan CranstonJohn GoodmanActing under the cover of a Hollywood producer scouting a location for a science fiction film, a CIA agent launches a dangerous operation to rescue six Americans in Tehran during the U.S. hostage crisis in Iran in 1979."Argo *beep* yourself!" The 2012 Best Picture Oscar Winner, Argo, is definitely a crowning achievement from JLo's ex, Ben Affleck, AKA Jenny From the Block's boy toy. On a more serious note, "Argo" is especially extremely relevant now, and possibly forever, dealing with the universal themes of alienation, political and religious divide (and extremism?), escape, freedom. As humans, we are all entitled to freedom- it's practically our inalienable right. And so it's somehow shocking to realize that in other, foreign parts of the world, there is such a thing as violence because of religious difference, and an almost horrific fear and rejection of anything "outside".
Who can blame them (the Saudis, the Iranians, etc.)? In our perception they are alien as they come: clothing, language, appearance. The fear that breeds as you walk about the foreign city is almost palpable in this film. There's also the sense that this film could reinforce negative stereotypes about the Middle East: miseducated, poor, dirty, chaotic, etc.
Set that aside, and take in the adrenalin, the subdued kind, this film offers. Realize the importance of risk, or of taking chances, or of political and religious freedom and freedom of CHOICE, and you'll appreciate the film. Take note as well of the prod. design, the sets, the music, and you'll almost feel like you're really in Iran/LA/DC ca. 1980.
NOTES
-Carla Gallo!!!
-Ben Affleck's body
-The themes are relevant until now: politics, sci-fi, Hollywood, America, Middle East, violence and war. - DirectorJun LanaStarsEugene DomingoEddie GarciaIza CalzadoNewly-widowed Marilou inherits from her husband the town's only barbershop--a business that has been passed down by generations of men in his family. With no other means of support, she musters the courage to run the barbershop. But--as to be expected--she fails to attract any customers. But a touching act of kindness she extended to Rosa, a prostitute who works in the town brothel, leads to an unexpected opportunity. Rosa, who now considers Marilou a friend, urges her prostitute friends to pressure their male clientele into patronizing Marilou's barbershop. The men have no choice but to grudgingly oblige out of fear that Rosa will expose their infidelity to their wives.NOTES:
-every Filipino should watch this film
-feminist, communist/NPA movement, rural/provincial/simple living
-1970s Philippines- corruption, greed, scandal
-revenge/violence; sex/sexuality - DirectorJake KasdanStarsJason SegelCameron DiazRob CorddryA married couple wake up to discover that the sex tape they made the evening before has gone missing, leading to a frantic search for its whereabouts.NOTES:
-watched with Melvin Bautisa, August 23, 2014
-crass/overdone humor
-Rob Corddry!
-funny moments: going to their friends' house to get the iPad
-JackBlack in the YouPorn headquarters
-the basic "fail" of cloud syncing (hooray, iOS devices!) - DirectorJose Javier ReyesStarsCarla AbellanaMatteo GuidicelliJason AbalosThis Filipino film is made up of different stories depicting that everyone, no matter who they are or what their status in life may be, is looking for that "special someone". In a single week, the lives of a group of people whose existence intersects in one way or another will change. It's all because of their desire for love.
- DirectorLuc BessonStarsScarlett JohanssonMorgan FreemanChoi Min-sikA woman, accidentally caught in a dark deal, turns the tables on her captors and transforms into a merciless warrior evolved beyond human logic.
- DirectorBeyoncéEd BurkeIlan Y. BenatarStarsBeyoncéIlan Y. BenatarEbony KnowlesA look at the life and music of singer Beyonce Knowles.
- DirectorRyan MurphyStarsMark RuffaloJonathan GroffFrank De JulioIn the early 1980s, the onset of the HIV-AIDS crisis in New York led to an emergence of homosexual activists. With support from the medical community, they try to raise awareness about the disease.
- DirectorElia KazanStarsVivien LeighMarlon BrandoKim HunterDisturbed Blanche DuBois moves in with her sister in New Orleans and is tormented by her brutish brother-in-law while her reality crumbles around her.NOTES:
-Blanche DuBois (Vivien Leigh): classic case of histrionic / narcissist personality- delusions of grandeur, beauty; obsession with youth and looks; deceit, etc.
-Marlon Brando as Stanley Kowalski is incredibly sexy and masculine
-filmed in a Hollywood set - gritty, urban setting of Downtown New Orleans, LA
-themes of class difference, relationships, mental health issues, marriage, etc. - DirectorWilliam WylerStarsAudrey HepburnShirley MacLaineJames GarnerA rebellious student at a girls' school accuses two teachers of lesbianism.
- DirectorLena DunhamStarsLena DunhamLaurie SimmonsGrace DunhamAbout a recent college grad who returns home while she tries to figure out what to do with her life.
- DirectorRaul GarciaManuel SiciliaStarsDavid RoblesCecilia SantiagoConchi LópezA group of animals look for a way off of an eccentric billionaire's own personal Noah's Ark.
- DirectorDominique DeruddereStarsJosse De PauwEva van der GuchtWerner De SmedtJean is a family man and factory worker who dreams of becoming a songwriter. Pinning his hopes on his teenage daughter, Marva, he takes her to singing contests in which the awkward and overweight girl struggles to belt out a tune. When Jean is suddenly fired because of cut backs, he is ashamed and even more desperate to have his daughter succeed. In a chance meeting Jean kidnaps the most famous pop star in the country and holds her hostage demanding to be heard by the music industry. Catching the attention of the media and the eyes of the nation, Jean and Marva realize that the show must go on until everyone is famous.
- DirectorFrancesco BruniStarsFabrizio BentivoglioBarbora BobulovaStefano BrunoriThe life of a melancholy professor is turned upside down when he discovers that a rebellious teenager he is tutoring is actually his son.
- DirectorJean-Marc ValléeStarsMatthew McConaugheyJennifer GarnerJared LetoIn 1985 Dallas, electrician and hustler Ron Woodroof works around the system to help AIDS patients get the medication they need after he is diagnosed with the disease.
- DirectorLav DiazStarsSid LuceroAngeli BayaniArchie AlemaniaAn embittered law student commits a brutal double murder; a family man takes the fall and is forced into a harsh prison sentence; a mother and her two children wander the countryside looking for some kind of redemption.NOTES:
-watched with Dad, September 15, 2014 in Glorietta
-directed by master auteur and long-take famous Lav Diaz
-key people: Raymond Lee (whom I introduced myself to), Hazel Orencio, Angeli Bayani, Sid Lucero.
-themes: existentialist crises, the dark side human nature (murder, death, poverty, betrayal, rape/incest, cheating, etc.), communist/leftist philosophy, Philippine society and history and the breakdown of it, loss of youth, wealth and social divide, prison system, family, friends, religion, etc.
-four and a half hours of constant bombardment of sights and sounds of the Filipino spirit- Ilocos landscapes, shanties, urban landscapes, water, sand, beach, dream sequences, ambient sound, quiet moments - DirectorTim BurtonStarsMia WasikowskaJohnny DeppHelena Bonham CarterNineteen-year-old Alice returns to the magical world from her childhood adventure, where she reunites with her old friends and learns of her true destiny: to end the Red Queen's reign of terror.NOTES:
-finally watched this film after 4 years
-paragon of British children's mythology
-fantasy, fate, decisions
-visuals: whimsy, royal, classic fairytale
-standout performances from Helena Bonham Carter and Mia Wasikowska, also Johnny Depp as the Mad Hatter; Anne Hathaway a bit distracting;
-directed by Tim Burton - DirectorChris MartinezStarsAnne CurtisCristine ReyesSam MilbyChildhood best friends who are both geniuses in school eventually become bittersweet rivals for campus athlete Mark Ferrer. Zoe Tuazon is a rich, overweight and aggressive mestiza; Aica Tabayoyong is a poor, nerdy, nearsighted student with a bad case of teenage acne. In an effort to outsmart and outclass each other, Zoe and Aica each undergo cosmetic surgery and become ravishing vixens engaged in ugly confrontations.NOTES:
-Chris Martinez-penned film starring Anne Curtis, Cristine Reyes and Sam Milby
-verbal/physical comedy- witty one-liners, cinematic cliches, commentary on class, beauty, achievement, attraction and relationships
-surprising and satisfying twist at the end- proving and emphasizing that outward appearance isn't all what it's cut out to be - DirectorSpike JonzeStarsJoaquin PhoenixAmy AdamsScarlett JohanssonIn a near future, a lonely writer develops an unlikely relationship with an operating system designed to meet his every need.
- DirectorLav DiazStarsPerry DizonRoeder CamanagHazel OrencioThe Philippines, 1972. Mysterious things are happening in a remote barrio. Wails are heard from the forest, cows are hacked to death, a man is found bleeding to death at the crossroad and houses are burned. Ferdinand E. Marcos announces Proclamation No. 1081 putting the entire country under Martial Law.NOTES:
-set in the early '70s against the backdrop of the Marcos era - a dark and ominous, but hugely significant event in the history of the young republic of the Philippines
-actors: Hazel Orencio as Pacita/Itang, Miles Kanapi as Heding (military spy disguised as a loony household goods vendor), Roeder Camanag as Tony (winemaker slash rapist)
-social commentary: war between leftist movement and conservative/Old government, poverty, mental illness, death and dying (suicide, infanticide), religion
-themes: small town culture, Philippine society and history, secrecy, delusion, truth, meaning of life
-visuals/auditory: typical L. Diaz-style of still, long takes of people walking, landscapes, ambient sounds (cocks crowing, wind, water, droplets), shots of the rugged, raw landscape (waves crashing into rocks, swaying trees, wet earth, mud, dirt), walking along path, boatrides, etc. - DirectorJoseph L. MankiewiczStarsBette DavisAnne BaxterGeorge SandersA seemingly timid but secretly ruthless ingénue insinuates herself into the lives of an aging Broadway star and her circle of theater friends.NOTES:
-Oscar-winning 1950 drama dir. by Joseph L. Mankiewicz
-starred Bette Davis as an aging theatre superstar, although still beautiful and at the peak of her career
-featured the young, radiant and beautiful Marilyn Monroe in a bit role as an aspiring actress (Miss Casswell)
-themes: ambition and drive, the star system, the entertainment business (values of youth, beauty, "freshness", newness), jealousy and betrayal, drive to fame and recognition
-chilling last 20 minutes where Eve (Anne Baxter) is sent to the throes of shame when her deeds are revealed, but still experiences success- and her fate repeated in another young, ambitious woman - DirectorSeth MacFarlaneStarsMark WahlbergMila KunisSeth MacFarlaneJohn Bennett, a man whose childhood wish of bringing his teddy bear to life came true, now must decide between keeping the relationship with the bear, Ted or his girlfriend, Lori.NOTES:
-first major feature film written and directed by Seth Macfarlane
-classic Macfarlane humor: pop culture oddities, throwbacks to the eighties, sex and drugs, crude and borderline misogynist "guy" humor
-Mark Wahlberg as a 35-year-old car rental employee and Mila Kunis as the "perfect hot girlfriend": nice, sweet, accepting of who the guy is, always made up and well-dressed
-Ted, the character, is utterly genius: juxtaposition between the classic cudliness of teddy bears with the crassness and overall behavior of the plush toy
-fun cameos: Ryan Reynolds and my longtime crush Giovanni Ribisi
-funny mentions of Brandon Routh and Taylor Lautner
-other actors: Joel McHale as Mila's character's *beep* boss - DirectorDavid FincherStarsDaniel CraigRooney MaraChristopher PlummerJournalist Mikael Blomkvist is aided in his search for a woman who has been missing for 40 years by young computer hacker Lisbeth Salander.NOTES:
-strong sense of Swedish/Nordic culture- people, landscapes, aesthetic; obviously painstakingly studied and observed Stockholm
-a different side of the "polished" Sweden that we know: urban gritty environments, psycho-killers, barren landscapes, etc.
-cold / winter romance aesthetic - soft light, shadows, low sunlight, snow, trees and shadows
-as expected, Daniel Craig is excellent; however, Rooney Mara- the girl from "The Social Network" and "Her"- is a revelation- she completely transforms into Lisbeth, and is perhaps a notch better Lisbeth than Noomi Rapace: authentic, lived-in, studied but brilliant costuming and makeup, voice, accent, swagger- all had it in place
-Stellan Skarsgard is also great as Martin Vanger: creepy confrontation scene with Enya playing
-Swedish version is better in some respects: tighter, quicker pace
-American version is better in terms of setting up mood, aesthetic- this is a Fincher film after all - DirectorPierre CoffinChris RenaudStarsSteve CarellJason SegelRussell BrandGru, a criminal mastermind, adopts three orphans as pawns to carry out the biggest heist in history. His life takes an unexpected turn when the little girls see the evildoer as their potential father.NOTES:
-French-animated movie is endearingly sweet and cute, refreshing without being too saccharine
-Gru's, the main character voiced by Steve Carrell, transformation from a hateful villain to doting dad is just precious
-standout character: Agnes- puppy dog eyes, the baby voice
-voices: Kristen Wiig as the mean orphanage administrator, and surprisingly, Jason Segel
-over-the-top but funny premise of villain stealing and shrinking the moon - DirectorPierre CoffinChris RenaudStarsSteve CarellKristen WiigBenjamin BrattWhen Gru, the world's most super-bad turned super-dad has been recruited by a team of officials to stop lethal muscle and a host of Gru's own, he has to fight back with new gadgetry, cars, and more minion madness.
- DirectorRidley ScottStarsSusan SarandonGeena DavisHarvey KeitelTwo best friends set out on an adventure, but it soon turns around to a terrifying escape from being hunted by the police, as these two women escape for the crimes they committed.NOTES:
-directed by the great Ridley Scott and written by Callie Khouri (born 1957, same age group as Geena Davis who plays Louise in the film)
-Khouri won an Oscar for Best Original Screenplay for this one, and rightly so: it's a classic film, and groundbreaking in the sense of presenting women, not in the domestic or "feminine" light, but as real people- murderin', stealin', lyin' cheatin' people- on the same plane as men, or even worse
-the whole film itself is incredibly funny- ridiculous situations abound- Thelma killing Louise's to-be rapist, hiding in a motel and having Louise's money stolen by a rogue cowboy played by Brad Pitt, Louise's "liberation" from the boring world of housewivery, Louise robbing a convenience store, the tandem kidnapping a cap and keeping him in the trunk of a car, driving off a cliff, etc.
-obviously a feminist film and will continue to be talked about as a watershed of feminist cinema- gender roles are obliterated, the women are fierce, aren't tied down; almost man-hating: dealing with issues of rape and sex, domesticity, relationships in a non-condescending way
-fresh visuals, way ahead of 1991: American landscapes, the diner scene, etc.
-a new favorite film of mine, basically - DirectorRoberto GuerraEila HershonWibke von BoninStarsHayden HerreraFrida KahloSada ThompsonFrida Kahlo: declared a symbol of Mexican national heritage, made into a cult figure by the women's movement, praised by the likes of Picasso and Breton, this film uses images and music to reveal the soul of an icon. At the age of 18 she suffered an accident that would forever change her life, resulting in pain, numerous operations and childlessnesss. Insdie you will visit the Blue House in Coyoacan, the place of her birth and the last years of her life. Today, the house serves as a museum dedicated to the charismatic artist. Haunting self-portraits and a stirring world of images tell of her life and passions, her thoughts and feelings, her exhausting love for Diego Rivera and her deep connection to Mexico.NOTES:
-watched this documentary narrated by Sada Thompson on YouTube
-definitely a must-watch for me; besides the film, haven't really gotten to in-depth with Frida's life as a painter- I was actually more interested and infatuated with the way she lived her life: passionately, full of gusto, despite of the incredible pain she's gone through: miscarriage, abortion, having her spinal column braced, etc.
-besides physical pain she's also gone through the horrors of infidelity, with Diego cheating on her with her sister Cristina
-can't help but compare her life to Beyonce's, in a way that Beyonce is a bonafide world superstar and Frida was technically unknown, but as women (here lies my fascination with feminine energy) are both amazing artists (Frida with her oils and canvas and Beyonce with her voice and body), loved their men deeply (Diego and Shawn), loved life passionately and had an appreciation for the finer things in life, and loved their families a lot (Cristina = Solange, for example)
-reaching aside, the TV documentary also taught me a lot of nuances regarding Frida's paintings- her art isn't something that should be taken only at face value- every object has a meaning, every line and stroke full of message
-themes in her paintings: loss and isolation, love for her family, love for Diego, her bodily and emotional pain, industrialized landscapes depicting her disdain for American "progress", her respect for Mexican culture and history- the reverence for the dead, the acceptance of the afterlife, the mystical and the magical
-Frida's paintings are in its totality completely devoid of deceit- they present as stunning truths- about her, about life- truths about being female, about being human- we all bleed and die, we all like to be loved, we all feel loss and alienation
-felt like I was watching an Art History course and made me want to study more deeply Frida Kahlo's art and Diego's art as well
-makes me want to revisit the "art" side of me- do paintings, write and paint in journals, express my feelings, etc.
-would be great if there was a Frida Kahlo university course; we would talk about her life, her art, her philosophy (socialist philosophy, feminist philosophy, her leanings toward the surreal and the dream-like)
-Frida Kahlo is an icon- icon for artists, for women.
-I truly admire this woman and would like to live a life that rings true to her philosophies - DirectorLav DiazStarsHazel OrencioSigrid Andrea BernardoEvelyn VargasA woman from the end of the 19th century visits modern day Philippines and observes three interwoven stories: that of a prostitute, a group of criminals and a musician.NOTES:
-watched in the UPFI theater 10/10/2014 alone
-met Liryc Dela Cruz (guy who works for Lav who accompanied the director in Cagayan to shoot the film "Mula Sa Kung Ano ang Noon")
-apparently, this a first of ten parts (this film running at 1.5 hours x 10 = 150 hours = 6 days of straight black and white film noir in the classic Lav Diaz sense of long takes and sensitive themes of sex, murder and nationalist alienation)
-film starts in a common urban setting: with a prostitute smoking and lazing around for the whole time looking for customers
-a kidnapped man is abused, and eventually murdered, after being accused of stealing money
-shots of a faceless bassist/guitarist in a bedroom
-scenes of an 19th century (ca. Rizal and Bonifacio) woman played by Hazel Orencio wandering in a river-like, stream-like setting- looking for something?
-this above-mentioned prostitute, while talking to a man (boyfriend? friend?), reveals that she's been having recurrent dreams about this old-era woman, along with the faceless musician
-recurrent L. Diaz visuals: running and gushing water, faces, people looking far and away, black and white, solemn people, serious people, artists, renegades, the unsaid and unseen
-themes: woman as nationalist symbol?, woman as the cum-rag? widespread corruption and greed? the unhealing wounds of the Philippines?
-the film ends in black, and we'll continue to live our lives while Diaz films the rest of the series, nine remaining - DirectorLav DiazStarsHazel OrencioErwin RomuloErwin Romulo, the best friend of the late film critic Alexis Tioseco, recalls the events after the critic and his girlfriend Nika Bohinc's murder during a buglary in their home in Quezon City. Lav Diaz makes use of one long take to allow Romulo an uninterrupted narration of the events.Pagsisiyasat sa gabing ayaw lumimot (2012), is basically a plain recording of Erwin Romulo (of Esquire fame, friends with RockEd’s Gang Badoy) narrating his experiences and expressing his (often rumbled and disorganized) thoughts on Alexis Tioseco’s death. Tioseco, in 2009, was murdered along with his Slovenian girlfriend Nika for (still unclear) reasons. Romulo is pretty well-versed in written form (he won a Palanca for chrissake), but the way he narrates Alexis’s story--underpinning his point of view is exasperation over the neglectful justice system and police force that we have here in the Philippines, unanswered questions, lies, deceit, greed--it’s all full of pauses, and uhms and ahs that the full message of what he’s trying to say gets lost in the totality of the video. It was a good try though.
- DirectorLav DiazStarsHazel OrencioArchie AlemaniaNoel Sto. Domingo'Prologue To The Great Desaparecido' is an introduction to Lav Diaz's most important upcoming feature film, 'The Great Desaparecido', which questions Truth and History around Philippine Revolution and Independence. It had been 325 years that the Philippines was under Spanish rule when the Revolution, led by Andres Bonifacio, exploded on August 21, 1896. But on May 9, 1897, Bonifacio was charged with death sentence by rival revolutionaries led by Emilio Aguinaldo. Bonifacio's body has never been found. His wife, Gregoria De Jesus, searched for his body in the mountains for thirty days, calling for Andres and even spirits to help her find her husband.Prologo sa ang dakilang desaparacido (in English: Prologue to the Great Desaparecido/Lost One), is a 2013 short film that was shown in Rotterdam, illuminating, in Lav Diaz’s inimitable style of slow takes and black and white sepia frames, the story of Andres Bonifacio’s death, and his wife Gregoria De Jesus’s (played by Hazel Orencio- a Lav Diaz mainstay) desperate search for the lost revolutionary. Diaz’s themes of loss and isolation, neglect in the Philippine context of politics and history (parallels: the oppressive regimes Marcos in the seventies and eighties and the Spanish conquerors in the 19th century), man’s interaction with nature (images of Gregoria De Jesus, portrayed in the short as a beautiful young woman drenched in the rain, wading through mud and grass and bearing the tropical humidity), despair, violence, cruelty, political struggle.
- DirectorNicholas RayStarsJames DeanNatalie WoodSal MineoA rebellious young man with a troubled past comes to a new town, finding friends and enemies.NOTES:
-the iconic and handsome James Dean as Jim Stark, an outcast high school kid with a knack for rebellion and histrionics- the exact reason why, we're not sure as an audience (hence the title, "...Without A Cause")
-subjective depiction of the 1950s American high school culture - cool kids wore leather jackets, played hooky, active and proud bullies - some things never change
-acute adolescence: running away in fast cars, pointless violence (drifting, knife fights, what-not): expression of out-of-control youth: hormonal overflow, discontent over how their parents raised them- either too involved and soft (ex. Jim) or cold and distant (ex. Judy)
-definitely a classic film in the sense that its themes of youthful rebellion, finding ones place in the world, generational differences and clique culture will always be discussed and dealt with (see: The Breakfast Club, Mean Girls, etc.)
-important character: Plato (played by openly gay actor Sal Mineo, tragically died at 37 due to a stabbing), a boy of around 14-16, classically handsome and personable, but extremely shy and with separation anxiety (mom and dad separated, raised by a black maid)- looking for parental figures in Jim and Judy
-shockingly depressing with multiple deaths and an ending where Plato dies (unknown source of gunshot?)
RATING: 5/10 - DirectorJoseph CatesStarsSal MineoJuliet ProwseJan MurrayIn New York, a disco hostess is stalked by a sexual predator and she requests help from a vice squad detective who takes a personal interest in the case.NOTES:
-1965 cult classic starring the uber-sexy Sal Mineo (around 25-26 when this was filmed)
-iconic and memorable health club scene where Sal's character (a sexually depraved busboy / hotel attendant) works out in the gym and sees Norah (a struggling young actress and his obsession) by the pool-- "You have a nice body.... I don't like it when men let themselves get fat!"
-themes of: fantasy, sexual obsession and desire, hidden personality, female agency, rape / sexual control
-haunting ending where Sal's character runs wildly along the wet streets of Manhattan-- obviously guilty at the carnal sins he just acted out.
RATING: 9.5/10 - DirectorShekhar KapurStarsCate BlanchettLiz GilesRod CulbertsonThe early years of the reign of Elizabeth I of England and her difficult task of learning what is necessary to be a monarch.NOTES:
-grand and regal re-telling of a young and innocent woman's transition to a full-fledged leader: the body of a woman and the heart of a man
-excellent, nuanced performance from Cate Blanchett: she was definitely robbed of an Oscar in 1999 for this one
-top-notch production: cast, art direction, photography, music: everything looks lived-in, 16th century authentic
-Chris Eccleston (Dr. Who) as the Duke of Norfolk is incredibly sexy as a bad guy (Duke of Norfolk)
-cameos: Vincent Cassel as a flamboyant cross-dressing French duke, Daniel Craig as another bad guy
-Elizabeth as a feminist icon: unmarried, decisive, strong, can play with the boys
-themes: power and responsibility, the role of women in society, the influence of religion to unite or divide a people, deceit and treachery, honest leadership
RATING: 9/10 - DirectorShekhar KapurStarsCate BlanchettClive OwenGeoffrey RushA mature Queen Elizabeth endures multiple crises late in her reign including court intrigues, an assassination plot, the Spanish Armada, and romantic disappointments.NOTES:
-equally excellent sequel to the 1998 film with Blanchett reprising her role as The Virgin Queen
-Queen criticized for being am antithesis of a "normal" woman in England in the 16th century: unmarried, childless, a Protestant
-the ultimate royal rebel
-Clive Owen as Raleigh, Abbie Cornish as a lady-in-waiting
-retelling of the war between Spain and England- fight for power exacerbated by the beheading of Mary Stuart- a devout Catholic with eyes on Elizabeth's throne
-time when Spain was at its peak and almost-ready for downfall: King Philip's rule- the Philippine islands were in Spain's hands
-massively important battle between the two kingdoms where Spain endures a humiliating loss: symbolic of England's victory and inevitable rise to power and ushering in an era of peace and prosperity
-Raleigh- "new city" -- predicting Raleigh, NC perhaps?
-Elizabeth as the "mother of the people"- symbolic scene where she carries Raleigh's infant child with a white light behind her- images of the Virgin Mary/Madonna come to mind
-themes: womanhood, decisive leadership, role of luck in political history (?), power and religion
RATING: 9/10 - DirectorMatt ReevesStarsGary OldmanKeri RussellAndy SerkisThe fragile peace between apes and humans is threatened as mistrust and betrayal threaten to plunge both tribes into a war for dominance over the Earth.
- DirectorChristopher NolanStarsMatthew McConaugheyAnne HathawayJessica ChastainWhen Earth becomes uninhabitable in the future, a farmer and ex-NASA pilot, Joseph Cooper, is tasked to pilot a spacecraft, along with a team of researchers, to find a new planet for humans.
- DirectorDean DeBloisStarsJay BaruchelCate BlanchettGerard ButlerWhen Hiccup and Toothless discover an ice cave that is home to hundreds of new wild dragons and the mysterious Dragon Rider, the two friends find themselves at the center of a battle to protect the peace.
- DirectorJay AbelloStarsJericho RosalesMercedes CabralNico AntonioRed, a legendary fixer in the underground world of Visayas, is called to patch things up-but he soon finds himself framed for the very thing he was asked to repair, forced into decisions that put his life at stake.
- DirectorPiedro de San PauloStarsJebong SoBrian OlaivarAndrew JimenezA mountain boy seeks a better life in Manila and finds love.
- DirectorJoselito AltarejosStarsKenjie GarciaJiro ManioNino FernandezAntonio is a 15-year-old boy coming to terms with his sexuality in Manila, where his uncle comes to stay with him and his mother.NOTES:
-directed by Joselito Altarejos ("Unfriend") and written by Lex Bonife (another collaboration of theirs: "Ang Lalake sa Parola")
-examination of a 15-year-old's burgeoning homosexuality - coincidentally, I was 15 as well when this film came out in UPFI
-"secret" - his sexuality, the eventual gruesome murder by his mother of his uncle raping him
-psychoanalysis: we gay men growing up fantasizing about our male elders: uncles, kuyas, titos- the film turning this fantasy on its head
-actors: Shamaine Buencamino as Tere, Antonio's (Kenjie Garcia in a nuanced performance as an adolescent boy) doting mother, Josh Ivan Morales in an intensely erotic role as Uncle Jonbert
-set and filmed in Marikina City
-typical Filipino middle-class household: OFW parent, computer shop trips, video games
-themes: adolescent sexuality, coming of age, fantasy and desire
RATING: 8/10 - DirectorAndrew HaighStarsTom CullenChris NewJonathan RaceAfter a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what's expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.NOTES:
-written, edited and directed by Andrew Haigh ("Looking")
-has been one of the most talked-about quintessential gay movies of the 2010s, have only come around to watching it now via an upload on YouTube
-set purely in the city of Nottingham, United Kingdom (kept thinking throughout the whole film how much they sounded like Amy Winehouse!)- typical British city streets- probably really cold and lonely if you're alone
-story starts with Russell, a "masc" gay man departing a friend's house party and ending up in a city gay bar somewhere (isn't this how gay men usually end their nights, alone and looking?)
-meets Glen, a gay-er, probably older man- who he chases down into the bathroom; they eventually hook up and spend the whole weekend together
-Glen about to leave the UK for America to study "contemporary modern art" in Portland- we discover that Glen- the more extroverted and confident of the 2 of them- is an artist- he records Russell's thoughts of their getting-to-know, with Russell thinking he's out of Glen's league
-Russell working as a lifeguard in a random swimming pool facility- we get his loneliness and introvertedness
-conversations: on coming out to family, on Glen's art and past relationship (with a guy named John- his cheating, lying, etc.), on being bullied for being gay, on loneliness, on the heteronormative Glen is trying to rebel against and take back, on gay marriage and partnership, on singlehood (Glen the more rebellious one- doesn't believe in having a boyfriend 'right now', Russell the more traditional one)
-themes: romantic interest, loneliness in the 21st century, the neuroses and pains of being gay in the 21st century (dysfunctional relationships, feeling "alien" amongst the straight crowd and happily-married-and-partnered-domestic crowd- so obvious in Russell's scenes, dealing with the repercussions of coming out or being repressed, dealing with the scars of childhood bullying and being misunderstood), transitory relationships
-good concept over-all but the feeling of the whole film felt flat- what exactly does Russell feel for Glen when they've known each other for only 2 days? What do they have in common? What do they connect over? Hasn't really been answered or fleshed out more clearly- add to that the muddled dialogue and "awkwardness" of some scenes (lighting, blocking, etc.)
RATING: 3/10 - DirectorAng LeeStarsChow Yun-FatMichelle YeohZiyi ZhangA young Chinese warrior steals a sword from a famed swordsman and then escapes into a world of romantic adventure with a mysterious man in the frontier of the nation.
- DirectorGreg FrancisStarsHeath BrandonMatt CannonJosh GoodmanUsing rare, personal photographs, writings and first person interviews with family, friends and fellow adventurers, Back to the Wild brings to life Christopher McCandless' epic and profoundly tragic journey into the Alaskan wilderness.
- DirectorMoby LonginottoStarsNoah HuntleyDanny AustinAlexa CruzThree British porn addicts, Kevin, 20, Danny, 26, and Jonathan, 40, go to America to meet their favourite stars, and witness the harsh realities behind the factories of fantasy.
- DirectorMark RydellStarsBette MidlerJames CaanGeorge SegalTalented USO entertainer Dixie Leonard and comedian Eddie Sparks deal with their relationship over the course of 5 decades from World War II to the Vietnam War era to their twilight era in the 90's.
- DirectorErik GandiniStarsJohn ZerzanGeorge W. BushFidel CastroLooks at the arguments for capitalism and technology, such as greater efficiency, more time and less work, and argues that these are not being fulfilled, and they never will be.
- DirectorRob VanAlkemadeStarsAdetola AbiadePaul AllenPaul Norman AllenAn examination of the commercialization of Christmas in America while following Reverend Billy and the Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir on a cross-country mission to save Christmas from the Shopocalypse (the end of humankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt.) The film also delves into issues such as the role sweatshops play in America's mass consumerism and Big-Box Culture. From the humble beginnings of preaching at his portable pulpit on New York City subways, to having a congregation of thousands - Bill Talen (aka Rev. Billy) has become the leader of not just a church, but a national movement.
- Join Pria Viswalingam in this six-part series as he considers whether we are now completely bogged down in a mire of meaningless self-indulgence, and whether we do really need iPods, plasma screen TVs, Brazilian waxes and self-navigating 4WDs to achieve happiness. Pria also reflects on how Western modern life was viewed by the East when he was growing up in Asia, and how this has changed over the last several decades, by focusing on the elements of money, sex, democracy, education, family and God.
- DirectorNeil CrombieStarsAlain de BottonStephen BayleyLes BrownInvestigation about modern life's side effects: stress, anxiety, peer envy.
- DirectorDavin TjenStarsJason BerrentBrett GirardStefano Meier"It Gets Better" is a gay love story between Adam, a closeted jock, and Pierre, an openly gay boy, that revolves around peer pressure, bullying and acceptance.
- DirectorMiko LiveloStarsKim Aerok LlonoJohn Jude Lei JunioArmando Laput Jr.Seven-year-old Jolo is a fanboy of wrestling icon Ultimate Warrior. When rumors started to spread the champion wrestler died from a match, the kid's world started to collapse.
- DirectorBrian SulicipanStarsRonnie QuizonIsaac Cain AguirreWhat if we could see the effect of our actions, would we be more careful in making them? What if our small and simple actions like talking to a stranger turn our lives into something else? Kit is a high school senior still undecided with what course to take for college. On a bus stopover on the way home he shares a conversation with a distant classmate. During the course of his conversation, we see his past and future selves passing the same bus stopover, looking forward and looking back at that particular conversation.
- DirectorPetersen VargasStarsEarl PolicarpioRoss PesiganChad De GuzmanTib Apostol, guided by a map his best friend in high school made for him, retraces the memories of their friendship before he leaves their hometown for good.
- DirectorArild AndresenStarsAsk von der HagenSusanne BoucherJostein BroxJo (13) is a smart thinker with a vivid imagination, but is bothered by classmates, and is a rather hopeless soccer goalie. He does what he has to survive this difficult time in life.NOTES:
-being 13/14, the awkwardness of everything: middle school, puberty, bullying, school, detachment from parents, first love / crush
-childhood/adolescent politics and imagination - humorous situations
-certain sort of innocence in their youth that you can't replicate in adulthood
-songs:
The Killers - Spaceman
10 cc - I’m Not In Love
Ingrid Olava - You’ll Never Walk Alone
Ida Maria - Oh My God