Uncle Boonmee Who Can Recall His Past Lives (2010) Loong Boonmee raleuk chat (original title): On his deathbed, Uncle Boonmee, recalls his many past lives. (6.8)
Director: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Writer: Apichatpong Weerasethakul
Stars: Thanapat Saisaymar, Jenjira Pongpas and Sakda Kaewbuadee
Language: Thai (w/ English subtitles)
The first several scenes and sequences of the movie set the theme and the pace for me. I knew right away that this is a deliberately slow paced movie with minimal dialog. This is not one with an ordinary flow. I think, the deleted scenes and the interview with the director that's included in the DVD cast a lot of insight. The director admits that this is a very experimental movie with a lot of things from his own perspective. (Apparently, this is also a part of an art project involving many different media.) A lot of sequences are not linear, even some that may seem that way. I like it a lot for yet another reason that no one else may be able relate to; that is that the scenes and the whole theme are very nostalgic to me evoking many memories of growing up in Sri Lanka. I didn't realize that rural Thailand looks a lot like SL. And, of course, both societies have the same Buddhism underpinning wide acceptance of reincarnation and spirit worlds. Surreal, yet so familiar. My Rating: 7.5
Sunday, July 24, 2011
Saturday, July 23, 2011
Timer (R) 6.0
TiMER (2009): If a clock could count down to the moment you meet your soul mate, would you want to know? (6.6)
Director: Jac Schaeffer
Writer: Jac Schaeffer
Stars: Emma Caulfield, John Patrick Amedori and Michelle Borth
A very interesting and original idea for a story, a bit sci-fi in that we don't have such a countdown clock. Makes one think about the various implications. The movie, however, took the route of being a romantic comedy (thereby, as all such movies, losing a bit on both counts) and only scratches the surface. I enjoyed the movie, but something intangible is missing and I can't give a high score. My Rating: 6.0
Director: Jac Schaeffer
Writer: Jac Schaeffer
Stars: Emma Caulfield, John Patrick Amedori and Michelle Borth
A very interesting and original idea for a story, a bit sci-fi in that we don't have such a countdown clock. Makes one think about the various implications. The movie, however, took the route of being a romantic comedy (thereby, as all such movies, losing a bit on both counts) and only scratches the surface. I enjoyed the movie, but something intangible is missing and I can't give a high score. My Rating: 6.0
Last Train Home (PG) 7.5
Last Train Home (2009): A family embarks on an annual tormenting journey along with 200 other million peasant workers to reunite with their distant family, and to revive their love and dignity as China soars as the world's next super power. (7.6)
Director: Lixin Fan
Stars: Changhua Zhan, Yang Zhang, Suqin Chen, Qin Zhang
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)
This is a must-see documentary for anyone who has consumed Chinese made products. It is heartbreaking to see what millions of Chinese migrant workers have to go through so those of us in the industrialized world can have cheap consumer goods. There are several messages in this documentary film. There are some others in the Travelers and Magicians movie. It would be an interesting discussion to talk about what is happiness and how best to achieve it; and do we in the West even know it. My Rating: 7.5
Director: Lixin Fan
Stars: Changhua Zhan, Yang Zhang, Suqin Chen, Qin Zhang
Language: Mandarin (w/ English subtitles)
This is a must-see documentary for anyone who has consumed Chinese made products. It is heartbreaking to see what millions of Chinese migrant workers have to go through so those of us in the industrialized world can have cheap consumer goods. There are several messages in this documentary film. There are some others in the Travelers and Magicians movie. It would be an interesting discussion to talk about what is happiness and how best to achieve it; and do we in the West even know it. My Rating: 7.5
Thursday, July 21, 2011
Black Swan (R) 7.0
Black Swan (2010): A ballet dancer wins the lead in "Swan Lake" and is perfect for the role of the delicate White Swan - Princess Odette - but slowly loses her mind as she becomes more and more like Odile, the Black Swan. (8.3)
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel
The acting is superb. While I can't directly relate to the story of the leading ballerina in a major production in a big city, in my head, I understand the euphoria and the pressure she is under simultaneously. It is the unique storyline that doesn't connect with me, emotionally. Yet, the thrilling sequences, the roller-coaster she goes through, and most importantly the super good acting holds this movie together from beginning to the end. My Rating: 7.0
Director: Darren Aronofsky
Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel
The acting is superb. While I can't directly relate to the story of the leading ballerina in a major production in a big city, in my head, I understand the euphoria and the pressure she is under simultaneously. It is the unique storyline that doesn't connect with me, emotionally. Yet, the thrilling sequences, the roller-coaster she goes through, and most importantly the super good acting holds this movie together from beginning to the end. My Rating: 7.0
Wednesday, July 20, 2011
Rabbit Hole (PG-13) 8.0
Rabbit Hole (2010): Life for a happy couple is turned upside down after their young son dies in an accident. Based on a play by David Lindsay-Abaire. (7.2)
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Writers: David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire (play)
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest
"It changes though ... the weight of it, I guess. At some point, it becomes bearable. It turns into something that you can crawl out from under and carry around like a brick in your pocket. It's kind of ... Not that you like it, exactly, but it's what you've got instead of... So, you carry it around. And, it doesn't go away. Which is ... fine, actually." Hmm... Fits perfectly! The parallel universes, too. "And, this is just the sad version of us." [Sorry to be cryptic. Just a few direct quotes.] My Rating: 8.0
Director: John Cameron Mitchell
Writers: David Lindsay-Abaire (screenplay), David Lindsay-Abaire (play)
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart and Dianne Wiest
"It changes though ... the weight of it, I guess. At some point, it becomes bearable. It turns into something that you can crawl out from under and carry around like a brick in your pocket. It's kind of ... Not that you like it, exactly, but it's what you've got instead of... So, you carry it around. And, it doesn't go away. Which is ... fine, actually." Hmm... Fits perfectly! The parallel universes, too. "And, this is just the sad version of us." [Sorry to be cryptic. Just a few direct quotes.] My Rating: 8.0
Monday, July 18, 2011
Hot Summer Days (PG) 5.5
Hot Summer Days (2010) Chuen sing yit luen - yit lat lat (original title): Hot Summer Days is a romantic comedy which takes place in Hong Kong, Beijing, and Shenzhen, consisting of seven intertwined love stories in the middle of the hottest summer on record ever. (6.4)
Directors: Tony Chan, Wing Shya
Stars: Nicholas Tse, Jacky Cheung and Rene Liu
Language: Mandarin | Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)
A romantic comedy with a considerably less romance and marginal comedy plus quite a bit of bad acting. I'm not sure why Netflix recommended this with a 3.9 score. Yeah, the intertwined stories try to find some meaning with some soapyness towards the end, but falls far short of something like Ju Dou in romance, sentimentality and pure emotions. The only saving grace for this movie, at least for me, was that it had a lot of modern day scenes of Hong Kong and Beijing. My Rating: 5.5
Directors: Tony Chan, Wing Shya
Stars: Nicholas Tse, Jacky Cheung and Rene Liu
Language: Mandarin | Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)
A romantic comedy with a considerably less romance and marginal comedy plus quite a bit of bad acting. I'm not sure why Netflix recommended this with a 3.9 score. Yeah, the intertwined stories try to find some meaning with some soapyness towards the end, but falls far short of something like Ju Dou in romance, sentimentality and pure emotions. The only saving grace for this movie, at least for me, was that it had a lot of modern day scenes of Hong Kong and Beijing. My Rating: 5.5
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Intacto (R) 7.0
Intacto (2001): An enigmatic tale of four people whose lives are intertwined by destiny are subject to the laws of fate. They discover that luck is something they cannot afford to be without as they gamble with the highest stakes possible in a deadly game from which only one of them will emerge intact. (6.8)
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Stars: Max von Sydow, Eusebio Poncela and Leonardo Sbaraglia
Languages: Spanish and English (w/ English subtitles)
This is movie about luck. (How appropriate that I watched this right after seeing Japan win the Women's world cup against a much better US team with what appears to be pure destiny.) It is a different kind of a story. The viewer has to piece it together in the latter part of the movie. The cinematography is a bit different too. The main premise of the story is not too unreal; as such you wonder what people wouldn't do under such circumstances. My Rating: 7.0
Director: Juan Carlos Fresnadillo
Stars: Max von Sydow, Eusebio Poncela and Leonardo Sbaraglia
Languages: Spanish and English (w/ English subtitles)
This is movie about luck. (How appropriate that I watched this right after seeing Japan win the Women's world cup against a much better US team with what appears to be pure destiny.) It is a different kind of a story. The viewer has to piece it together in the latter part of the movie. The cinematography is a bit different too. The main premise of the story is not too unreal; as such you wonder what people wouldn't do under such circumstances. My Rating: 7.0
Friday, July 15, 2011
Dear Zachary (NR) 8.0
Dear Zachary: A Letter to a Son About His Father (2008): A filmmaker decides to memorialize a murdered friend when his friend's ex-girlfriend announces she is expecting his son. (8.6)
Director: Kurt Kuenne
Writer: Kurt Kuenne
Stars: Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby
This movie tells a remarkable story. It is a real story; so, it is a documentary. Parts of the documentary are filmed while the story is evolving, and as such, it is done in real time. Other parts are done with very good use of archive footage. Ultimately, it is a story about quite a remarkable set of people. Quite Moving. (Don't read about the story if you are going to watch it.) My Rating: 8.0
Director: Kurt Kuenne
Writer: Kurt Kuenne
Stars: Kurt Kuenne, Andrew Bagby, David Bagby, Kathleen Bagby
This movie tells a remarkable story. It is a real story; so, it is a documentary. Parts of the documentary are filmed while the story is evolving, and as such, it is done in real time. Other parts are done with very good use of archive footage. Ultimately, it is a story about quite a remarkable set of people. Quite Moving. (Don't read about the story if you are going to watch it.) My Rating: 8.0
Wednesday, July 13, 2011
Travelers and Magicians (PG) 7.0
Travelers and Magicians (2003): The two men embark on parallel, if separate, journeys. Their yearning is a common one--for a better and different life. Dondup, delayed by the timeless pace of his village, is forced to hitchhike through the beautiful wild countryside of Bhutan to reach his goal. (7.4)
Director: Khyentse Norbu
Stars: Tshewang Dendup, Sonam Lhamo and Lhakpa Dorji
Language: Dzongkha (Bhutanese w/ English subtitles)
The theme is somewhat similar to the previous movie "The Drummer" in that the young, rebellious, westernized kid finds traditional values. But this one is slower paced; uses a different technique. I was more interested in what Bhutan looked like; what people looked like. The snow-capped mountains as the backdrop is stunning. People's features are a mixture of East Asian and Indian as is the case with Tibetans and Nepalese. Beautiful! Story makes you ask what is happiness. Interestingly, Bhutan is consistently ranked near the top of the list of happiest countries on earth. (Ashamed to say that while growing up in SL, I didn't know about Bhutan for a long time even though it is another small predominantly Buddhist country close to SL.) My Rating: 7.0
Director: Khyentse Norbu
Stars: Tshewang Dendup, Sonam Lhamo and Lhakpa Dorji
Language: Dzongkha (Bhutanese w/ English subtitles)
The theme is somewhat similar to the previous movie "The Drummer" in that the young, rebellious, westernized kid finds traditional values. But this one is slower paced; uses a different technique. I was more interested in what Bhutan looked like; what people looked like. The snow-capped mountains as the backdrop is stunning. People's features are a mixture of East Asian and Indian as is the case with Tibetans and Nepalese. Beautiful! Story makes you ask what is happiness. Interestingly, Bhutan is consistently ranked near the top of the list of happiest countries on earth. (Ashamed to say that while growing up in SL, I didn't know about Bhutan for a long time even though it is another small predominantly Buddhist country close to SL.) My Rating: 7.0
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
The Drummer (PG-13) 6.5
The Drummer (2007) Zhan. gu (original title): After offending a powerful triad boss, young Hong Kong rebel Sid (Jaycee Chan) is sent by his father to hide out in Taiwan. Under the protection of Chiu (Roy Cheung) and in rural isolation, Sid encounters a group of Zen drummers, whose powerful art speaks to him. But to become a member of this inspiring ensemble, the cocky and selfish Sid must learn the important values of discipline and hard work. (6.7)
Director: Kenneth Bi
Stars: Jaycee Chan, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Angelica Lee
Languages: Mandarin | Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)
A nice blend of modernity in Hong Kong with the traditional isolation in the mountains of Taiwan. The storyline is somewhat predictable. I enjoyed the drum-beats, the mountain scenes; and frankly what seems like a glimpse into the daily life in another society (not all that different). The rural scenes reminded me of SL. The beating of the drums mixed with a bit of martial arts (Shaolin?) was nice. The story gets a bit soapy at the end, but meh, the drum music was good. My Rating: 6.5
Director: Kenneth Bi
Stars: Jaycee Chan, Tony Leung Ka Fai and Angelica Lee
Languages: Mandarin | Cantonese (w/ English subtitles)
A nice blend of modernity in Hong Kong with the traditional isolation in the mountains of Taiwan. The storyline is somewhat predictable. I enjoyed the drum-beats, the mountain scenes; and frankly what seems like a glimpse into the daily life in another society (not all that different). The rural scenes reminded me of SL. The beating of the drums mixed with a bit of martial arts (Shaolin?) was nice. The story gets a bit soapy at the end, but meh, the drum music was good. My Rating: 6.5
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