tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-13950766372511848412024-03-14T06:39:59.562-07:00Lucrezia's Film Lounge"Every time I go to a movie, it's magic, no matter what the movie's about." ~Steven SpielbergBlack Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.comBlogger77125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-31996829932146375812015-02-11T00:19:00.000-08:002015-02-11T00:19:00.424-08:00The Imitation Game (2014)<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>7.9/10</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Alan Turing: Are you paying attention? Good. If you are not listening carefully, you will miss things. Important things. I will not pause, I will not repeat myself, and you will not interrupt me. You think that because you're sitting where you are, and I am sitting where I am, that you are in control of what is about to happen. You're mistaken. I am in control, because I know things that you do not know.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Alan Turing: What I will need from you now is a commitment. You will listen closely, and you will not judge me until I am finished. If you cannot commit to this, then please leave the room. But if you choose to stay, remember you chose to be here. What happens from this moment forward is not my responsibility. It's yours. Pay attention.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Here lies the Enigma: What do you get when you add a British incredible actor plus an equally British talanted cast to portray the team that broke Enigma during the Second World War, alongside with an underlying backstory of the prosecution of homosexuals during the 1950s England? A profound intriguing film that shows you the trials of a homosexual who was denied to be acknowledge for his brilliance in aiding WWII, but was otherwise prosecuted for what his sexual orientation was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Imitation Game</a>' is the based on the true story of legendary cryptanalyst <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alan_Turing">Alan Turing</a>, the film portrays the nail-biting race against time by Turing and his brilliant team of code-breakers at Britain's top-secret Government Code and Cypher School at Bletchley Park, during the darkest days of World War II. (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This film goes out in the heart of the story; the streneous path that Professor Turing faced, after the end of WWII. It all boils down to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Benedict Cumberbatch's</a> performance and how provocatively ludicrous his ideas were the fundamental reason for breaking the impossible Enigma. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Cumberbatch,</a> who in recent years has proven to be somewhat of a glorified genius in his portrayal as the equally brilliant but insane <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1475582/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_7">Sherlock Holmes</a> in the BBC series, he's once again cast to portray the insane genius of Turning; the profound amazement in his performance derives from his eloquence to make you pay attention to his thought process. The portrayal takes on a different dynamics as it not only focusses on his mathematical genius to break the code, but the hidden truth that Turing was a homosexual. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Cumberbatch</a> gave the role a horrowing meaning of what it felt like to be ashamed of what he is, to be living in the shadows, long after he would be considered the catalyst for ending the worst war that his humanity has ever seen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Grasping all the messages on how horrendous it was for someone who was a homosexual to live at those times, this film lacks empathy I believe. Albeit the remarakbly sad story of Turing, the script lacks the emotional stamina to make you break down in overwhelming tears of what occurred to Turning long after the war. What's lacking though in empathy due to pacing issues, makes up for in brilliant performances that enagage the viewer of the injustice and shameful acts that were exercised upon the real Alan Turing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film engrosses the viewer only by the sadness of the true story, but it's technical and more practical logistical executions are within a mediocre standard of that of an independent film that's trying to find it's niche. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Regardless, it is without a doubt that '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Imitation Game</a>' holds its reigns high up due to the evocative performances. Hence it's also nominations for a Best Picture, Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress. A notable mention to the ever struggling growth as a serious actress of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0461136/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Keira Knightley</a>, who after years of costume drama portrayals seems to have hit the target in her portrayal of Turing's trusted friend/colleague and brief fiance in the film. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is an incredible story, a story that has been hidden in the shadows waiting to be told. It was only a matter of finding its narrative storyteller that would enfold the essence of Alan Turing's life events and what it means for humanity. The transcedance of acceptance and human justice resonate throughout the film's duration. Be sure to acknowledge Turing's brilliant work when you watch it, but be even more prepared to aknowledge the man behind the code. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Imitation Game</a>'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2014)</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-41480278727936919282015-02-09T03:16:00.000-08:002015-02-11T01:26:05.407-08:00The Theory of Everything (2014)<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>7.6/10</u></b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stephen Hawking: There should be no boundaries to human endeavor. We are all different. However bad life may seem, there is always something you can do, and succeed at. While there's life, there is hope.</b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Theory of Everything</a>" is the story of the most brilliant and celebrated physicist of our time, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Stephen Hawking</a>, and Jane Wilde the arts student he fell in love with whilst studying at Cambridge in the 1960s. Little was expected from <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Stephen Hawking</a>, a bright but shiftless student of cosmology, given just two years to live following the diagnosis of a fatal illness at 21 years of age. He became galvanized, however, by the love of fellow Cambridge student, Jane Wilde, and he went on to be called the successor to Einstein, as well as a husband and father to their three children. Over the course of their marriage as Stephen's body collapsed and his academic renown soared, fault lines were exposed that tested the lineaments of their relationship and dramatically altered the course of both of their lives.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Undoubtedly, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Stephen Hawking</a> is one of modern science's greatest minds, even perhaps the greatest. His life is not the first time that attracted filmmakers to be able to tell his story and how this brilliant mind came to be and managed to live for so many years with a fatal disease. His extraordinary life achievements and his willpower to preserve for so long, is not only ideolized but something to give humanity hope and great faith. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1016428/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">James Marsh's</a> subtle and tender approach on Hawking's story is a mere reminder of how cosmic situations can occur within a man's lifetime; from the flamboyance of the Cambridge genius onto the mehcanics of dealing with motor neuron disease. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1016428/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marsh</a> doesn't just let you into the excruciating agony that the disease upheld for Hawkings, but rather makes you a private spectator on his most intimate emotional moments once he was diagnosed. The director deviates from suger-coated the truth on how Hawking's personal life unfolded through the years as well, as this would misrepresent and misdirect the basic elements that encircled what Hawkings is; a genuine pragmatist, who never ceases to search for the truth. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Quite frankly, this is not a story that has not been known or told before, but the true challenge came about the protagonist, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stephen_Hawking">Stephen Hawkings</a> himself. In the film, Hawkins is portrayed by the skilled and tremendously unique, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519666/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Eddie Redmayne</a>. Having seen <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519666/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Redmayne</a> both on film, TV and stage, I must confess that I was intrigued when I first heard of his casting. This role is not just a challenge for any actor physically, but would Redmayne be able to prove up to the mental obligations that came along with the role? It is that glorious moment when you sit in the cinema room, and once you see Redmayne's sweet and humble face, extol that "while there is life, there is hope", it is in that moment when tears swell and roll down your cheeks without you even noticing. It is in the moment when he mechanically tells his ex-wife Jane (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428065/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Felicity Jones</a>), to "look at what we have accomplished" whilst they both look at their three children running around in the Royal Gardens. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a wondrous feeling when you get to see actors like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519666/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Redmayne</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428065/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Jones</a>,who seem to have blossomed on screen in recent years. Both share the flare of British actors, who came from small BBC roles, flourished into US TV Cable roles, then went onto do a film big budget films here and there, whilst keeping their indie Brit roles at hand too, doing a bit of stage on the side once their schedules allowed them to be back home for that too, and finally and ultimately both finding their way into their role that would give them both the Oscar nod, along with a string of many other awards to come by. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What truly is overwhelming though with '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Theory of Everything</a>' is the ability to humanize even the most hopeless of situations. The sheer and tremendous human sensitivity that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1016428/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marsh</a> fights to leave emblazed on screen, when everything else seems to be fruitless and without a reason. The film is an anthem to human existence and the single thing that keeps it alive; hope. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is not just a film about the Big Bang or black holes and Creators of the Universe, but about the human existence and the unfathomable strive to preserve. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally, I believe that <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1519666/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Redmayne</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0428065/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Jones</a>, as well as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1016428/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Marsh</a>, deserve whole heartedely the Oscar nominations, albeit it is my personal preference of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Michael Keaton</a> receiving the golden statue for the Best Actor category. Likewise, the film is a glorious one, but equally so it is also my belief that it is not as strong a contender to go over ahead '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065073/?ref_=nv_sr_6">Boyhood</a>' or '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562232/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Birdman</a>' this year. But regardless of whoever does take the statue and the glory home, this is the gem of movies for this year. A humble sensitive hymn to humanity, that everyone should get to watch.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Theory of Everything</a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2014)</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-64395098902081025272015-02-03T10:00:00.004-08:002015-02-03T10:00:57.202-08:00Selma (2014)<br />
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><u>7.4/10</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Martin Luther King Jr.: [somberly yet passionately speaking to church congregation at a funeral] Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson? Every white lawman who abuses the law to terrorize. Every white politician who feeds on prejudice and hatred. Every white preacher who preaches the bible and stays silent before his white congregation. Who murdered Jimmie Lee Jackson? Every Negro man and woman who stands by without joining this fight as their brothers and sisters are brutalized, humiliated, and ripped from this Earth.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Ava DuVernay</a> is a director who dared to speak about the historical march of Martin Luther King Jr. on Selma, Alabama in the early 1960s. Despite the Academy's omission of nominating <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">DuVernay</a> for Best Director, this film resonates the transcendent message of what Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to achieve so many decades before.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072/">Selma</a>' is the unforgettable true story chronicles the tumultuous three-month period in 1965, when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. led a dangerous campaign to secure equal voting rights in the face of violent opposition. The epic march from Selma to Montgomery culminated in President Johnson signing the Voting Rights Act of 1965, one of the most significant victories for the civil rights movement. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A bold directorial move on behalf of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">DuVernay</a> and an even bolder subject to speak about. According to many public information online, despite the strenuous and tumultuous journey this film had had so far, after 10 years in development, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">DuVernay</a> not only managed to take the reigns and achieve something worthwhile, but she re-wrote almost the entirety of the script, and edited out all the original speeches that were going to be used when this film was first developing. This however, and the numerous obstacles that the production faced along the way in making this film, is one of the many reasons why in its entirety this film is lacking in some way; from execution to development, the film is found wanting throughout its 2-hour span. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The remarkable role of Martin Luther King, Jr is portrayed by the evocative <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0654648/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">David Oyelowo</a>, who not only extols in his portrayal of the historical heritage of this man, but dignifies him by his vigorousness and his humility in the way he approached the script. Now baring in mind, what a profound significance this role has on world history, is reason enough to make any actor be in awe in the portrayal of Dr. King, Jr. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0654648/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Oyelowo's</a> monumental portrayal is one that focuses more on the abundance of raising awareness and feelings of justice and equality, rather than playing upon the physicality of the character. He manages to underlay such a capturing of the multifaceted personality that does engage with the audience enough to prove how current still the words of Martin Luther King, Jr are. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Albeit the gravity of the message being promoted through the story line, the film is lacking in its ability to engage the audience from the get go. The trouble with this, is not in the lack of empathy on the events that unraveled in 1965. The main lacking problem with the film is the long stretchy moments of hopelessnes and victimization that could make the film a lot more pacy and intriguing. Given the thematology, race issues on film are always a sore subject and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">DuVernay</a>, given the resources and the backing she had, she did justice in her approach to the historical material that gives the film a significance upon the long line of film that deal with racial equality. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The grasp of things is that after screening the film, it is only understandable why the Academy chose not to include <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">DuVernay's</a> valiant effort in directing this colossal film, and if we weight upon the film-making achievements on this year's Oscar race, it is only but fair that DuVernay was not nominated for '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072/">Selma</a>'. A worthy nod though came to this film through it's best original song, with the film '<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HUZOKvYcx_o">Glory</a>' by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1148550/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">John Legend</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0996669/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Common</a>. The track is truly glorious!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072/">Selma</a>'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-6946622846179164372015-02-02T02:27:00.000-08:002015-02-03T10:07:20.888-08:00Whiplash (2014)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u><b>8.2/10</b></u></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Terence Fletcher: You are a worthless, friendless, faggot-lipped little piece of shit whose mommy left daddy when she figured out he wasn't Eugene O'Neill and who's now weeping and slobbering all over my drum set like a fucking nine-year-old girl! Now, for the final FATHER FUCKING time... SAY IT LOUDER!</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let me just say for starters, I had do idea that drumming was so intense. But director and writer, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3227090/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Damien Chazelle</a>, sure showed me how hard this drumming world can be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last we saw, '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562232/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Birdman</a>' was reviewing the insane qualities and quantities of the actor's ego. Now, we have another kind of artistic insanity playing, or should I actually say, drumming through our screens. '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3227090/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Whiplash</a>' ladies and gentlement, is her to astound you in every literal sense. It is so horrifically amazing, it will make you sweat and drum yourself to sleep at night. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_24">Whiplash</a>' follows the story of a young and talented drummer, Andrew Nieman (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1886602/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Miles Teller</a>), attending a prestigious music academy, who finds himself under the wing of the most respected professor at the school, Terence Fletcher (J.K.Simmons), one who does not hold back on abuse towards his students. The two form an odd relationship as the student tries to achieve greatness, and the professor tries to stop him.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story is hardly sentimental or emotional to say the least, but instead it dwells on the aggressiveness of the forcing power dynamics on each other. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3227090/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Chazelle</a>, so cleverly introduces your protagonist and your antagonist within five minutes time and sets up the story line of what is about to follow. Two characters, play off each other, trying to elevate the action-reaction technique with a compelling rhythym of insensitivity and pain-stakingly high pressure. If I exercise this on him, I will have to get this as a reaction. This whole film is an action-reaction process of what the antagonist will do to get the reaction he wants out of the protagonist. A power struggle in all its glory.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For this purpose <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3227090/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Chazelle</a>, very carefully handpicked the roles of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0799777/">J.K. Simmons </a>as the professor, who taunts in every possible way the student, and for the drummer student the roles is portrayed by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1886602/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Miles Teller</a>, who seems not only to have over-performed in this movie, but to have made it so personal in how he would play the drum set that it gave you goosebumps and had you cringe at his every suffering drumming moment. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Throughout the film, there is a sense of claustrophobia, of bullying and taunting that has you feeling asphyxiated. As if the bullying especially is being exercised on you. This was achieved primarily but the non-cut-aways. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3227090/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Chazelle</a>, lets the scenes flow, lets you experience what it really feels like to be under the pressure, as if you would perform in the band yourself. He rarely let's the audience of the hook, and makes it his purpose to make us feel just like <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1886602/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Teller</a>'s character feels; the anxiety, the stress, the traumatic yelling and beating until the professor is pleased. The blood, sweat and tears in other words.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is a film that has the word 'pressure' written all over it. From the moment it starts to the moment if finishes. It does not let you breathe. But it sure gives you one spectacular jazzy ending that sways you long after you've stopped watching it. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/">Whiplash' </a></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(2014)</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-45324579325918233622015-01-28T02:28:00.002-08:002015-01-31T01:21:17.321-08:00Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>8.8/10</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mike Shiner: Popularity is the slutty little cousin of prestige.</b></span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Now imagine this: one film, one continuous take. Can it be done? Will it work/ Does it work? And if you can do it, can you follow it? Where does it lead you?</span><br>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I read on some online trivial that director Mike Nichols when he was approached by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327944/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1">Alejandro Gonzalez Iñaritu</a> days before he would begin shooting this film, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001566/">Nichols </a> cautioned and dvised that this would might very well possibly be a failure of a film. And yet, here we are, the award season of 2015 is upon us and 'Birdman' is soaring on the award boards. And not just cause of it's brilliant directiorial techniques, which are unfathomably and without a doubt skillful and masterful, but also because of the ingeniousness of what constitues '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562232/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Birdman</a>'. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story in lamest terms follows a washed up actor, who once played an iconic superhero, who battles his ego and attempts to recover his family, his career and himself in the days leading up to the opening of a Broadway play. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film starts off with the character or Riggan Thomas (Michael Keaton) as the washed up actor, who makes one final attempt to regain stardom and tries to reinvent himself as a director by staging a new adaptation of a Raymond Carver short story called "What We Talk About When We Talk About Love". The events leading up to the Saturday night premiere prove to be one disaster after another as the original lead actor is injured while on set and Riggan scrambles to find a replacement, but the replacement proves to be exactly who he needs - a method actor, Mike Shiner (Edward Norton), who takes the job way too seriously. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The plot thickens as Riggan is having a hard time juggling between the set, his replacement actor, his equally washed up daughter, and a host of other disasters that prevent a proper staging of the play. Meanwhile, a New York Times critic who Riggan has to woo threatens to shut down production of the play before it even starts with a scathing review of the opening night performance. Does Riggan have a hit on his hands or will he even make it past opening night?</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What makes this film stand out is this: hard-core neurotic performances, a pink-point and all hands-on-deck direction that never lets you gasp for breath and a killer scenario that will not only have wider audiences's brains' hammered by the ludicrousness of human vanity, but also make every artist out there reel with identity crisis as they will see a clear depiction of themselves on screen. This is not just a film; this is a canvas of absurdism, and to say I but approve would be an understatement.</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But let's speak about the actors first: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Michael Keaton</a>, who so brilliantly fits the role of Riggan Thomas, as he also in real life seems to have had a tough career after his '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096895/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Batman</a>' days, not only single-handedly spreads sarcasm and terror through his performance but also demands you look him in the eyes and recognize pieces of your own vanity and soul through him. <u>He is Birdman</u>, he is driven by chaos and soul and passion and madness and genius. And he will astound you down to your every meaningless bone for not trusting his gut from the beginning. I honestly had no idea what <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Keaton</a> was capable of as an actor up until this very fine moment. And oh boy, am I glad </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327944/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1">Iñaritu</a> chose him. He saw the light of Birdman in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Keaton</a> and he made it shine as bright and as loud as he could. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming to close this excellent endeavour come the unique talents of a Mr. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Edward Norton</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915208/?ref_=tt_cl_t6">Naomi Watts</a>. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001570/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Norton</a>, who's also known in real-life for his method acting techniques when preparing for a role, offers a sinister and yet brilliant portrayal as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Keaton</a>'s nemesis. He is there to demand attention, to become the actor you love to hate or hate to love (depends on your vantage point) and he makes sure he delivers a gripping performance through his egotistical and mutli-faceted character. Just the likes of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0915208/?ref_=tt_cl_t6">Watts </a>as well, she is as always grounded in being the washed-up actress herself, that is anything but in real life, that has you squirming for her lack of confidence in her abilities and low self esteem of how far she will stoop to make her childhood dreams come true. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The cast is completed finely by the once too often jokesters of actors <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1297015/?ref_=tt_cl_t2">Emma Stone</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0302108/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Zach Galifianakis</a>, who not only both of them prove that, man, they're capable of leaving you gasping with their foul mouths and their neurotic train of thought. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1297015/?ref_=tt_cl_t2">Stone</a> portray's <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Keaton</a>'s daughter, who's life is spiralling out of control going from one rehab centre to the other, whilst <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0302108/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Galifianakis</a>, is portraying <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000474/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Keaton</a>'s manager - and we all know that fury and angst along with a variety of foul language is a few of the traits of any well driven manager in the industry. It is rather a wonderful surprise to see fine comedic actors mish-mash their stereotypical acting skills with a dosage of sureal seriousness on screen, and </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iñaritu let's them have it all the way. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">What a brilliance. Unlike all your straight up narratives linear plot lines that are in the Oscar race this year, this film does not flinch an inch when it tries to give you it's story as a one continuous take. The pacing and rhythym within allows the viewer to follow the actor of each scene with ease, due to a carefully choreographed staging - almost stage like - a precise technique of the use of cinematography and editing, making sure that any cutaways are not distractive enough from following the plot as it goes - and a pshychological emptahy to the charachers' inner journey. Do you follow?</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523881/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr15">Emmanuel Lubezki </a>(<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Gravity</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Children of Men</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162661/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Sleepy Hollow</a>) carefully maintains an equal pacing of his camera's movements, following each central actor and acting according to their executed emotional state. The camera is a mirror for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523881/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr15">Lubezki </a>that depicts the gloriousness of the inner self; the ego of the project itself. Clever enough also of </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327944/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1">Iñaritu</a> to let his scenes breath with sky pans and various fades into time changing zones that guide you through a few days of how the scenario unfolds. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327944/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1">Alejandro Gonzalez Iñaritu</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0449467/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Babel</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245712/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">Amores Perros</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1164999/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Biutiful</a>) , who is not a first timer in the art of using the actor's psyche speak more than his words, is a glorified genius in this one; he allows the technical elements of his filmmaking have an effect on the unravelling of the emotional state of his characters. He controls the rhythym and keeps it at bay until he deems it high enough for the climatic ending. He actually plays magic tricks on screens, making you laugh with irony and cynicism, serving you a cold hard truth of what life on the other side feels like - the once almighty glitz of stardom and the insanity of grabbing onto it once more. What's it all about? This is the script that </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0327944/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1">Iñaritu</a> presents. How much is enough? How far will you go? And how far will your human ego and vanity let you fly..</span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Given opinions expressed through my reviews, the chances are for a Best Screenplay/Best Picture/Best Actor/Best Director/Best Original Score. If I could use but one word to describe this films is this: surreal. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A worthy shout out to the incredibly insane and <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rjlQOHkxK88&list=PLQCXD9Nsb1yZqmThf9wvxx5kTkd_RdKO8">addictive original drumming score</a> of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1632232/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr14">Antonio Sanchez</a>, who leaves you palpitating long after the film's ended. </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Make sure you catch this film on cinema while it's one. It is one of the good gems that don't come this often! </span><br>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">(Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-47447662350567507712015-01-26T02:37:00.000-08:002015-01-26T02:37:04.425-08:00Big Hero 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Baymax: On a scale of 1 to 10, how would you rate your pain?</b></span></div>
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"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=tttr_tr_tthttp://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Big Hero 6</a>" is based loosley on the Marvel comics of 'Man of Action' and it tells the story of a Robotics nerd, Hiro Hamada, who discovers an inflatable health care robot Baymax created in the past by his brother, Tedashi. After a terrible life-changing accident, Hiro and Baymax team up with four other nerds and save their hometown San Fransokyo from an evil super villain trying to take over with Hiro's invention.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Having seen a wide range of mediocre animation this year, viewing '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Big Hero 6</a>' was a unique breath of air. Not so much that it's advanced CGI and special effects and astounding real-life-animated technology as for the fact that the story does not bore you even for a second. It is funny, it's got action kicking all over the place, it's got witty dialogues and above all it's got a lot of heart and soul in it. Because oddly enough, it's not everyday you come across a Marvel piece of filmmaking to make your heart go all "awwwwwws" and "aaaaaaaaahs". As this is Marvel's first animated film, it is an exceptional and promising beginning. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Big Hero 6</a>" comes from the creators of "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1772341/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Wreck-It Ralph</a>" and the Disney phenomenon "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Frozen</a>" <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0930261/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Chris Williams </a>and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2320658/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Don Hall</a>, managed to create one of the most lovables, huggables and health care robots in animated history. Given the fact that this film is also partially owned by Pixar and Marvel comics, it is truly nice to see that there can be a combination of inventive robotics that are also used not only used for saving "the world" but also saving someone's world. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Albeit the resemblance to eky features of lego robotics to partial elements of "The Lego Movie", which conveniently is out of this year's Oscar race, "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Big Hero 6</a>" comes on top because of its ability to intrigue younger ages through cool techie gadget equipments, hilarious caricatures and a lot of color splashing around through modernised super-hero suits, but also deliver to make any adult laugh by the cute and logically inflatable robot that even the most demanding austere audience would acknowledge that it's got the ability to spread comic relief moments throughout the film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I won't badger anyone a lot with rumbling on and on about reasons of why anyone should watch this animation. Simply just that it's funny and smart and entertaining. Something which I did find lacking in the animated stratosphere this year. And if this is a first attempt for a Marvel animation, then by all means, keep it comin'! </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Notable to give a big credit to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0012523/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Scott Adsit</a>, who voices Baymax, who manages to hilariously portray this inflatable heatlh care robot. Had me laughing and giggling and I'm feeling the love. </span><br />
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"<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/?ref_=tttr_tr_tt">Big Hero 6</a></b></span>"</div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-75027861120360305262015-01-26T01:16:00.001-08:002015-01-26T01:16:22.723-08:00Boyhood (2014)<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbWCRJa1Kz1s0PnH4fk6CV-xo7Eto1PoVdraLCLh0ab4cYhl__r673faA4R6C2qTfI_yJaWUFcUakqjppv8_fPwJfPLU05jxWyn6niIBLg3dzywc-5td1hWAl26GwWV8OwyCP04nInB8/s1600/boyhood_xlg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJbWCRJa1Kz1s0PnH4fk6CV-xo7Eto1PoVdraLCLh0ab4cYhl__r673faA4R6C2qTfI_yJaWUFcUakqjppv8_fPwJfPLU05jxWyn6niIBLg3dzywc-5td1hWAl26GwWV8OwyCP04nInB8/s1600/boyhood_xlg.jpg" height="640" width="442" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><u>8.9/10</u></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mason: So what's the point?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dad: Of what?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Mason: I don't know, any of this. Everything.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Dad: Everything? What's the point? I mean, I sure as shit don't know. Neither does anybody else, okay? We're all just winging it, you know? The good news is you're feeling stuff. And you've got to hold on to that.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">More than 12 years ago, filmmaker <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Richard Linklater</a> had a brillitan cinematic idea: to shoot one film in the course of 12 years, with the same actors, portraying the life of a young boy (turned into a man) and how he copes with growing up. Thus came '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065073/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_3">Boyhood</a>'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This astonishing piece of filmmaking was created to remind audiences and film lovers/enthusiasts all around the world that cinema can be just as much about imagination as it can be about real life too. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Richard Linklater </a>(<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0112471/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">Before Sunrise</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381681/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Before Sunset</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2209418/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_4">Before Midnight</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0332379/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_14">School of Rock</a>), a self-made writer, producer and director, managed to shoot a film in the scope of 12 years – in all literal sense – and gift the world of this filmmaking masterpiece. The result was a 3-hour long family social teenagy/coming of age drama – along with many comical and down to earth moments – that offered not only a pleasurable screening but also it give amounts of food for thought. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However much <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Linklater</a> tried to keep it real, the reason this project truly worked, it’s the fact that he had an incredible cast to work with and share this passion for this film. “Keeping it real, keeping it simple.” This phrase was emblazing in my mind throughout the film. He made it believable. Even when things get rough, even when there were moments of uncertainty or a simple dialogue between teenagers, he kept it real. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Starring as the boy growing up, is <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1294664/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Ellar Coltrane</a>, who we view his 12 years on film through his eyes and how he experiences things and goes through some hard situations – divorced parents, moving away, mother getting re-married, alcoholic stepfather etc. These are but a few things that we are able to view through <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1294664/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Coltrane</a>’s eyes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this cinematic experiment <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Linklater</a> added the likes of Oscar Nominee and Golden Globe Winner <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000099/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Patricia Arquette</a> and Oscar and Golden Globe Nominee <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000160/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Ethan Hawke</a>, to carry through the story of Mason (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1294664/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Coltrane</a>). Both <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000160/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Hawke</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000099/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Arquette </a>manage to deliver profound and grounded performances throughout, acknowledging the rawness of reality that this film is depicting. Their awareness of what being a parent means, the struggles and sacrifices of keeping a family alive takes can be wonderfully discerned through simple family moments they seem to share separately on screen with one or both their film children. A simple dialogue of what and where life leads you is more than enough to make you appreciate the familiarity of what Linklater depicts. This story is about a family, it’s course, it’s let downs, it’s choices, it’s about the arguments and the hugs and the moments where you feel proud or alive. It’s about love and life. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When the film opens we see Mason, a 5 year old boy, gathering his toys about to move in another town with his mom and his sister. On the film’s epilogue, Mason, an 18-year-old man now, is sitting with new friends from College gazing into the horizon, into this wondrous unknown of where life will take him. The ups and the downs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Linklater</a> so eloquently manages to encompass the reality of events in Mason’s life, that it almost seems effortless on film. As if viewing these awakward or off beat moments on screen are a direct depiction of any family’s reality out there. This is what makes this film such a unique undertaking; it’s ability to connect to what’s real. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Going around with a buzz in the award season this is one of the major contenders for a Best Picture/Best Director and Best Supporting Actress/Actor award. The first 3, in my honest opinion are more likely to be had from the looks of things, as the Critics as much as the wider public seems to be in favor of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Linklater’s</a> film. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Will definitely recommend and commend this film for anyone who appreciates cinematic landmarks. This will definitely be your cup of tea. Just remember that the film might feel a lot more familiar than what you imagine them to be. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Buzz: </span></div>
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<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Linklater's daughter, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1085951/?ref_=tt_cl_t4">Lorelai Linklater</a>, as Mason's sister. A star on the rise, perhaps?!?</span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHeK0Cwr9sg">This song</a>, which will be echoed throughout this film's running time...</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065073/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Boyhood</a>"</b></span></div>
<br />Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-79405673412400821052015-01-21T00:05:00.001-08:002015-01-21T00:09:31.337-08:00Film Awards Season 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXR-kVuM0cpgPHE_x9egof-pUoq2mqcfJTngUQeqND2ifuux8iEY-D_3sbAQUcnvGhl9pJywPIBaUI8z2AOHc0sbcTXlVDfOoprQbRF91a9g9tO5Up7jKMxuDYWjhPB2IaFeWjtBIe6A/s1600/oscars+2015.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdXR-kVuM0cpgPHE_x9egof-pUoq2mqcfJTngUQeqND2ifuux8iEY-D_3sbAQUcnvGhl9pJywPIBaUI8z2AOHc0sbcTXlVDfOoprQbRF91a9g9tO5Up7jKMxuDYWjhPB2IaFeWjtBIe6A/s1600/oscars+2015.jpg" height="378" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right. So. Welcome back everyone who's everyone and who likes a good flick here and there. This year's award season kicked off with the Golden Globes awards which broadcasted on the 12th January 2015. Soon afterwards, all of the major yearly award shows started slowly giving out awards to this year's mainstream film contestants. And I'm saying mainstream, cause it is a rather universal truth that films that are Oscar/Award contenders are but the icing on the a very LARGE and hefty cake of the films being produced globaly every year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, for this year my up-coming reviews for the award season will follow these top-notch films (bear in mind I won't be reviewing them according to the list below):</span></div>
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<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1100089/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Foxcatcher</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2872718/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nightcrawler</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2267998/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gone Girl</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065073/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boyhood</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2278388/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Grand Budapest Hotel</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3442006/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cake</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2305051/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wild</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2980516/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Theory of Everything</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1809398/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Unbroken</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0816692/?ref_=nv_sr_2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Interstellar</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2015381/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Guardians of the Galaxy</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2310332/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2582802/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Whiplash</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2084970/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Imitation Game</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1791528/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inherent Vice</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2562232/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Birdman (Or the Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance)</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2179136/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Sniper</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1020072/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Selma</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3316960/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Still Alice</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2737050/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_6" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Two Days, One Night</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2180411/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Into the Woods</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2473794/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mr. Turner</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1872194/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Judge</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3169706/?ref_=nv_sr_2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pride</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1490017/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Lego Movie</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1646971/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">How to Train your Dragon 2</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2245084/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Big Hero 6</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0787474/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Boxtrolls</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1865505/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Song of the Sea</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (tbc)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2576852/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Tale of the Princess Kaguya</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (tbc)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2802154/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leviafan </a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2718492/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ida</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2991224/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tangerines</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (tbc)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3011894/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wild Tales</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (tbc)</span></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3409392/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Timbuktu</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (tbc)</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If all goes well, I will manage within a months time to review all of these. If not, the above are the major films that seemed to have made a distinct impression to The Academy, and we all know what an esteem The Academy has. Personally, I find The Academy flawed, since so many great filmmaking achievements are being produced yearly that it is only the privilaged or the handsomely marketed few that get to "taste" the spoils. But still, let's give some credit to the films above, as some of them are indeed of an excellent quality. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Can't wait to get this season rollin'....</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">See y' all soon with the first review coming up: </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1065073/">Boyhood</a>" (2012-2014) Dir. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000500/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Richard Linklater</a>. </span><br />
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Billy Boyd - The Last Goodbye </div>
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(<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUFm0N-EcL8&list=PLcu2mQ8t2yiesaTCvRtCUHyhtpDHjYKym">The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies OST</a>)</div>
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</span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-2674813912538410702014-04-23T02:32:00.002-07:002014-04-23T02:32:59.785-07:00CHANGE!!!!!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qoNEfaxvD1P4c7pME047nYzmjL82IP1YXcV1ZFURF0ynLE-HI-DwG6UF7CObP1HrcPYAOaihVh1auVCI39kkfNkZCQhrcLO_PkGcltQywx5euRAmwDnf9i6JQlTRksotKBRzlRbkkH8/s1600/movie-collage1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj3qoNEfaxvD1P4c7pME047nYzmjL82IP1YXcV1ZFURF0ynLE-HI-DwG6UF7CObP1HrcPYAOaihVh1auVCI39kkfNkZCQhrcLO_PkGcltQywx5euRAmwDnf9i6JQlTRksotKBRzlRbkkH8/s1600/movie-collage1.jpg" height="250" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This blog's url address is now the on the following page:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://lucreziasfilmlounge.blogspot.com/">http://lucreziasfilmlounge.blogspot.com</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thank you for your support and understanding. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Up Coming Movie Reviews:</span><br />
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<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1843866/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Captain America: The Winter Soldier</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2140373/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Saving Mr. Banks</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0079470/?ref_=nv_sr_2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monty Python's: The Life of Brian</a></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1343092/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Great Gatsby</a></span></li>
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<br />Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-88458465755336478802014-03-06T01:33:00.001-08:002014-03-06T02:43:47.905-08:00And the Academy Award goes to...<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Welcome to the 86th Annual Academy Awards. Sunday night it was definitely one of the most glorious nights in Hollywood, with celebrities waiting anxiously to see if they would get one of those golden Uncle Oscar statues with them. There were definitely some winners, and some not so winners, but in this industry everyone who has the courage to take a stand a follow their dream is already a winner. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, let's see in some more detail who did actually take a golden statuette. Hosted by the ever so brilliant Ellen DeGeneres the show started with the usual monologue of the presenter - sarcasm, offensive and penis jokes - <i>definitely what the Oscars</i> <i>were missing</i>.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I would say the big winner of the night was definitely 'Gravity' - <i>for all the technical awards</i> - leaving 'Dallas Buyer's Club', 'Blue Jasmine' and '12 Years a Slave' up for grabs on all the acting awards. Sadly 'The Wolf of Wall Street' and the much hyped 'American Hustle' remained unmoved, just I had predicted. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But let's not stall any longer and let's take a look at Sunday night's winners:</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><u><b>Best Motion Picture of the Year</b></u></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Captain Phillips (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dallas Buyers Club (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Gravity (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Her (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Philomena (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Just like Ellen said at the beginning of the show: "there are 2 possibilities. Possibility no.1 for '12 Years a Slave to win Best Picture and possibility no.2 you're all racists". Well, the Academy proved not so racist after all, since they indeed picked this film as Best Picture. Now, whether they picked cause they genuinely liked it or not to prove themselves as racists, we will never find out. I guess it's a little bit of both, but at the end of the day it doesn't matter.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club (2013)</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Christian Bale for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Bruce Dern for Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
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<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Despite all the jokes online regarding the Oscar not being given (yet again) to Leonardo DiCaprio, the race for this particular award was never between DiCaprio and McConaughey, but rather for Ejiofor and McConaughey. So, well deserved this award was given to McConaughey who campaigned for this film and the role alike and not for a single moment did he gave up on what he believed in.)</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (2013)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Amy Adams for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Sandra Bullock for Gravity (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Judi Dench for Philomena (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Meryl Streep for August: Osage County (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Like I said in my review of this post, she was a sheer delight to watch hoe neurotic she got. Loved her in the film, a well deserved Oscar in my opinion, although I would have liked Adams to also be given her chance to shine, but I'm hopeful she will at some point in her career.) </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club (2013)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Bradley Cooper for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Jonah Hill for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Now for this one, I was really anxious. I was really rooting for Leto from day one and I'm glad the Academy made the right choice, albeit the fact that they had to consider such actors as Fassbender and Cooper, who are equally brilliant in their own way.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Julia Roberts for August: Osage County (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">June Squibb for Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(The most single best deserved Oscar of the evening. No actor deserved this Oscar more than Lupita Nyong'o. We knew it, the Academy knew it, the whole friggin' world knew it. Brava to this girl, this Kenyan woman, who even as she first received her Oscar the first thing she said was to thank the person who albeit her sorrow offered her at that moment such joy; the woman whom she portrayed, who was based on the real life story of 'Patsey', who was described by Solomon Northup in his book of slavery. What a brilliant actress she is, and what a bright young talanted woman. Well done!!!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Directing</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity (2013)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">David O. Russell for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Martin Scorsese for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Alexander Payne for Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(The master! The triumph! The glory! WELL DONE, Cuaron finally made it. He achieved to receive the Oscar which he so deserved even from 'Y Tu Mama Tambien'. Also would have been a worthy winner for Steve McQueen to have gotten it, but alas, the statue is only one, so I'm fairly sure McQueen has plenty more chances of winning something again in the near future, as he's a brilliant director too.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Her (2013): Spike Jonze</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">American Hustle (2013): Eric Warren Singer, David O. Russell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Blue Jasmine (2013): Woody Allen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Nebraska (2013): Bob Nelson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dallas Buyers Club (2013): Craig Borten, Melisa Wallack</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(I have to admit I came to screen this film quite late in the award season, so I didn't have time to digest it and take it all in, but boy did it impress me. From the get go, it's a beautiful little story, a gem if you ask me, and it so deserved to receive an Oscar for script-writing.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>12 Years a Slave (2013): John Ridley</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Before Midnight (2013): Richard Linklater</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Captain Phillips (2013): Billy Ray</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Philomena (2013): Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Wolf of Wall Street (2013): Terence Winter</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Although I had a sneaky suspicion that the 'Wolf' would possibly win this, I'm so glad it went to '12 Years a Slave' instead.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Animated Feature Film of the Year</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Frozen (2013)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Croods (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Despicable Me 2 (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Ernest & Celestine (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Wind Rises (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(The Disney phenomenon in years. Hope Disney learns from this formula that 'Frozen' has already cast and they keep up the brilliant work. Brava to the good ol' Disney.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Foreign Language Film of the Year</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>The Great Beauty (2013): Paolo Sorrentino(Italy)</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Broken Circle Breakdown (2012): Felix Van Groeningen(Belgium)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Missing Picture (2013): Rithy Panh(Cambodia)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Hunt (2012): Thomas Vinterberg(Denmark)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Omar (2013): Hany Abu-Assad(Palestine)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Albeit it not exactly what I was rooting for, this film has come a long way and it's been quite a long time since the Italians have graced Hollywood with their presence. Well done to them and their Fellinish atmosphere.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Cinematography</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Gravity (2013): Emmanuel Lubezki</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Inside Llewyn Davis (2013): Bruno Delbonnel</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Nebraska (2013): Phedon Papamichael</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prisoners (2013): Roger Deakins</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Grandmaster (2013): Philippe Le Sourd</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(I think I called this one when I was reviewing 'Gravity'. To be fair, Lunezki is a cinematography master, in all the films they've done with Cuaron, they've excelled, so well done to him.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Best Achievement in Editing</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Gravity (2013): Alfonso Cuarón, Mark Sanger</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">12 Years a Slave (2013): Joe Walker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">American Hustle (2013): Alan Baumgarten, Jay Cassidy, Crispin Struthers</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Captain Phillips (2013): Christopher Rouse</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dallas Buyers Club (2013): Martin Pensa, John Mac McMurphy</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Not to bother with the much technical awards in the evening, but it seems that 'Gravity' nailed it in every possible way, as you will also see below it won most about every technical award there was on Sunday evening.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Production Design</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>The Great Gatsby (2013): Catherine Martin, Beverley Dunn</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">12 Years a Slave (2013): Adam Stockhausen, Alice Baker</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">American Hustle (2013): Judy Becker, Heather Loeffler</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Gravity (2013): Andy Nicholson, Rosie Goodwin, Joanne Woollard</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Her (2013): K.K. Barrett, Gene Serdena</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(A nice addition to the list to see Baz Luhrmann's extravaganzza of a film receive some kind of recognition.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Costume Design</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>The Great Gatsby (2013): Catherine Martin</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">American Hustle (2013): Michael Wilkinson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">12 Years a Slave (2013): Patricia Norris</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Grandmaster (2013): William Chang</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Invisible Woman (2013): Michael O'Connor</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Again, well done to the team of 'The Great Catsby' for their meticulous detail in stylizing the film.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<b style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Dallas Buyers Club (2013): Adruitha Lee, Robin Mathews</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa (2013): Steve Prouty</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Lone Ranger (2013): Joel Harlow, Gloria Pasqua Casny</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(A unique choice to give this award to, despite that the nominations were not very rich in this department I'm glad the team of the 'Dallas Buyers Club' got it in the end.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Gravity (2013): Steven Price</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Book Thief (2013): John Williams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Her (2013): Will Butler, Owen Pallett</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Saving Mr. Banks (2013): Thomas Newman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Philomena (2013): Alexandre Desplat</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Like I already said...wonderful, mesmerizing score by Steven Price and I was ecstatic it got its recognition that it deserved. Well done!!!)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Frozen (2013): Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez("Let It Go")</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Despicable Me 2 (2013): Pharrell Williams(<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span> "Happy")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013): Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Brian Burton("Ordinary Love")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Her (2013): Karen O("The Moon Song")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Albeit the performance of this piece during the evening went from mediocre to awful - what was that high pitch note right at the end Idina? where you ticked off by Travolta's mispronounciation of your name?, such a disappointment - it has proven to be a global phenomenon and it was a very well deserved award for this category.)</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Sound Mixing</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><b>Gravity (2013): Skip Lievsay, Niv Adiri, Christopher Benstead, Chris Munro</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Christopher Boyes, Michael Hedges, Michael Semanick, Tony Johnson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Captain Phillips (2013): Chris Burdon, Mark Taylor, Mike Prestwood Smith, Chris Munro</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Inside Llewyn Davis (2013): Skip Lievsay, Greg Orloff, Peter F. Kurland</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lone Survivor (2013): Andy Koyama, Beau Borders, David Brownlow</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Technical awards go to..............Gravity!!! Sound mixing, glorious and very precise.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Sound Editing</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><b>Gravity (2013): Glenn Freemantle</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">All Is Lost (2013): Steve Boeddeker, Richard Hymns</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Captain Phillips (2013): Oliver Tarney</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Brent Burge</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Lone Survivor (2013): Wylie Stateman</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(Sound editing, again outstanding job with this one for 'Gravity'. Well done to the post sound production. It did wonders for the big screen.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Achievement in Visual Effects</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Gravity (2013): Timothy Webber, Chris Lawrence, David Shirk, Neil Corbould</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug (2013): Joe Letteri, Eric Saindon, David Clayton, Eric Reynolds</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Iron Man 3 (2013): Christopher Townsend, Guy Williams, Erik Nash, Daniel Sudick</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Lone Ranger (2013): Tim Alexander, Gary Brozenich, Edson Williams, John Frazier</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Star Trek Into Darkness (2013): Roger Guyett, Pat Tubach, Ben Grossmann, Burt Dalton</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(No need to dwell on that. Of course it would have gone to 'Gravity'. That was the most obvious award to be received throughout the evening. So, well done of course.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Documentary, Feature</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Twenty Feet from Stardom (2013): Morgan Neville</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Act of Killing (2012): Joshua Oppenheimer, Signe Byrge Sørensen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Cutie and the Boxer (2013): Zachary Heinzerling, Lydia Dean Pilcher</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dirty Wars (2013): Rick Rowley, Jeremy Scahill</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Square (2013): Jehane Noujaim, Karim Amer</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #f9cb9c; font-family: Century Gothic;"><i>(No comment due to I have not seen the Oscar nominees for this category.)</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Documentary, Short Subject</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>The Lady In Number 6 (2013): Malcolm Clarke, Carl Freed</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Cavedigger (2013): Jeffrey Karoff</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Facing Fear (2013): Jason Cohen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Karama Has No Walls (2012): Sara Ishaq</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Prison Terminal: The Last Days of Private Jack Hall (2013): Edgar Barens</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">(No comment due to I have not seen the Oscar nominees for this category.)</span></i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Short Film, Animated</u></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Mr Hublot (2013): Laurent Witz, Alexandre Espigares</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Feral (2012): Daniel Sousa, Dan Golden</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Get a Horse! (2013): Lauren MacMullan, Dorothy McKim</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Possessions (2012): Shuhei Morita</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Room on the Broom (2012) (TV): Max Lang, Jan Lachauer</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">(No comment due to I have not seen the Oscar nominees for this category.)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b><u>Best Short Film, Live Action</u></b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>WINNER</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><b>Helium (2014): Anders Walter</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">That Wasn't Me (2012): Esteban Crespo</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Just Before Losing Everything (2013): Xavier Legrand</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Do I Have to Take Care of Everything? (2012): Selma Vilhunen</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Voorman Problem (2012): Mark Gill</span>
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';"><i><span style="color: #f9cb9c;">(No comment due to I have not seen the Oscar nominees for this category.)</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The awards this year offered minimal entertainment, with the exclusion of the tributes to the heroes in the movies montage and the tribute to the 'Wizard of Oz' with Pink's stunning performance. What did make the evenig wonderful was Ellen DeGenere's selfie (look below) and the pizza dinner which she so briliantly orchestrated for the celebrities in the crowd. Ellen was a wonderful host, having her bits and numbers - dressing up as Glinda as well, and I'm sure the Academy will definitely invite her back again to host. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Onto next year's awards. Bigger, better and uncut. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Hope you enjoyed the ride all you film junkies out there. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Now, let's get back to reality. 22 Jump Street....juuuuuuuuuuust jokin'. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Films to anticipate for 2014:</span><br />
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<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The Hobbit: There and Back Again</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Maleficent</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Into The Woods</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The Disappearance of Eleanor Rigby</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Far From the Madding Cow (remake)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Godzilla (remake)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Gone Girl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The Grand Budapest Hotel</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Guardians of the Galaxy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part 1 </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The Immigrant</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Nymphomaniac Part 1 and Part 2</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Unbroken (Angelina Jolie's first directorial debut)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Veronica Mars </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Transcendence</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Noah</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">How to Train your Dragon 2</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Sin City: A Dame to Kill</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Exodus</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Dracula Untold</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, Not Good, Very Bad Day</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Annie</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Pinocchio</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">The Wind Rises</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Belle</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: 'Century Gothic';">Paddington</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Stalingrad</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Grace of Monaco</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">In Secret</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Judge</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Green Inferno</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Janis Joplin; Get it While you Can</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Paradise Lost</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Labor Day</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Only Lovers Left Alive</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">How to Catch a Monster</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Imagine</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Before I Go to Sleep</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Third Person</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Dom Hemingway</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Blackbird</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Mortdecai</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Garden of Last Days</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Magic in the Moonlight</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Happy Prince</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Eliza Graves</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Wish I was Here</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Pele</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Congress</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Prophet</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Mood Indigo</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Two Faces of January</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">God Help The Girl</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Ex Machina</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Slow West</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Imitation Game</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">The Trip to Italy</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Serena</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Black Sea</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Manglehorn</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Men Women and Children</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Macbeth</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Mr. Turner</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Birdman</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Century Gothic;">Interstellar</span></li>
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<span style="font-family: Century Gothic;"><br /></span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-39087275291750508112014-03-01T13:22:00.002-08:002014-03-01T13:22:36.951-08:00Her (2013) <br />
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8.4/10</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Samantha:</u> The past is just a story we tell ourselves.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is probably my last pre-Oscars 2014 Ceremony but what a film did I choose to close with. On the one hand, I'm actually very glad that I happen to end this run with this film (not meaning there's not going to be any more reviews coming after the Academy Awards Ceremony), but on the other hand I have to admit that I oughtta feel a wee bit ashamed I wasn't able to screen this film sooner. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As you might have already guessed, I'm quite in awe of this film and the themes it presents. '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/">Her</a>' speaks about Theodore: a lonely man in the final stages of his divorce. When he's not working as a letter writer, his down time is spent playing video games and occasionally hanging out with friends. He decides to purchase the new OS1, which is advertised as the world's first artificially intelligent operating system, "It's not just an operating system, it's a consciousness," the ad states. Theodore quickly finds himself drawn in with Samantha, the voice behind his OS1. As they start spending time together they grow closer and closer and eventually find themselves in love. Having fallen in love with his OS, Theodore finds himself dealing with feelings of both great joy and doubt. As an OS, Samantha has powerful intelligence that she uses to help Theodore in ways others hadn't, but how does she help him deal with his inner conflict of being in love with an OS? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005069/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Spike Jonze</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0386117/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Where the Wild Things Are</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120601/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">Being John Malcovich</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3063516/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Jackass Presents: Bad Grandpa</a>) has chosen to present us a film which shows exactly how are society is evovling nowadays. The rapid evolution of technology is soon taking part of our every day lives in more ways than one could have thought of 100 years ago. The sentimentality, the humanity and the vulnerabilyt of the human psyche and the forces of the heart are purely a few of the themes explored in this social drama. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005069/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Jonze</a> is a filmmaker with a lot of soul, who wasn't afraid to write and direct a film that shows real human alienation, impossible affection and true love; albeit not the conventional kind that society has formed it to be, but definitely something totally fresh and advanced for the times which we are living in. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Brilliantly so, one of the most underrated actors of his generation and currently in Hollywood, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001618/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Joaquin Phoenix</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1560747/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_4">The Master</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0358273/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_9">Walk The Line</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0172495/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_18">Gladiator</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0395169/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11">Hotel Rwanda</a>), embodies this lonely individual who give so much growth and emotion to his character. The on-screen chemistry with an invisible OS voice (voiced by the alluring yet calming voice of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0424060/?ref_=tt_cl_t12">Scarlett Johansson</a>) is just one of the most unique and complex on-screen performances I have seen in a long while. The depth and the absurdistic scenario of this unconventional relationship seems to be endearing and at the same time raising key fundamental questions regarding the evolution of modern society; alienation, loneliness, lack of human interaction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is such a bittersweet tale that will transcend into filmmaking history for its warmth and raw truth of the human psyche. Quite notably so it's up for an Academy Award for Best Picture, Best Screenplay and Best Original Song. Let us hope that the Academy will do it justice and put it in the pedastal it deserves, alongside with the other heavy-weight for this year, '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/?ref_=nv_sr_2">12 Years A Slave</a>'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So, screen this film with an open mind and most importantly an open heart. See you after the Oscars everyone. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoyed this year's Road to Oscars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1798709/">Her</a> (2013)</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-36573768643227270632014-03-01T11:02:00.003-08:002014-03-01T11:02:32.695-08:00American Hustle (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7.6/10</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Irving Rosenfeld:</u> She was the Picasso of passive-aggressive karate.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is always a pleasure to indulge in the world of the 1970s. Especially when that world involves some clever plot narrative and an exceptional string of actors to acccompany this tale of conning. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/">American Hustle</a>' tells the story of brilliant con man Irving Rosenfeld (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Christian Bale</a>), who along with his equally cunning and seductive British partner Sydney Prosser (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Amy Adams</a>) is forced to work for a wild FBI agent Richie DiMaso (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177896/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Bradley Cooper</a>). DiMaso pushes them into a world of Jersey powerbrokers and mafia that's as dangerous as it is enchanting. Jeremy Renner is Carmine Polito, the passionate, volatile, New Jersey political operator caught between the con-artists and Feds. Irving's unpredictable wife Rosalyn (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2225369/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Jennifer Lawrence</a>) could be the one to pull the thread that brings the entire world crashing down. (source: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film starts off demanding the viewer's attention. Introducing heads on, one by one each character, letting us know throughout who's who and what's what; a technique that lets us focus more on each character's individual journey and dramatic unravelling. Everyone has it's own little story to tell; from the con-man to the corrupt police-officer sitting beside his safety desk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David O. Russell (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Silver Linings Playbook</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">The Fighter</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120188/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Three Kings</a>) is a cunning director, who cleverly popped into the filmmaking rader and made sure that we give him a chance. And boy, what a chance he got. The art of crafting visual stories is but a puzzle to him that he simply cannot wait to share with his audience. First indulging us into their lives, their small-town drama that seems to be taking on a more human note throughout the film. The intermixture between the comedic and the dramatic seems to have a key role in thickening of the plot, as it doesn't let the audience get weary of the variety of story lines. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise, just as the story interchanges from one character to another it tends to be a bit demanding of the director to keep up with who's dealing with who and what's going on when. All this trivial information tend to get entangled something which can easily make for a complex viewing, something which is not very well received from the average viewer. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the brilliance here lies in the cast as well; the thespians. The talanted Mr. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Christian Bale</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0468569/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">The Dark Knight</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0361862/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_22">The Machinist</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0482571/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">The Prestige</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144084/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">American Psycho</a>), who is the king of kings, a sort of Ozymandias to this entire expedition, portrays the key con-man, that woos and seduces his way through everything. Along the way, love seems to be his driving force, that ultimately leads him to a tone of redemption in his character. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000288/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Bale</a> is the kind of actor who put the phrase 'good acting' to shame; not because his in lack of it, but because he's in an overflow of it. His evocative presence on screen is something that we are unwilling to resist. Quite rightly so that he is also up for an Oscar of Best Actor.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Similarly so, the stunning and ever so glorious, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Amy Adams</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0461770/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_22">Enchanted</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0918927/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_18">Doubt</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_12">The Fighter</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1135503/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_16">Julie and Julia</a>) she seems to bedazzle the audience; after one stops learing from her alluring physical seduction, he is in awe of what an incredible acting performance she gives out. Her engagement with her character, the warmth and her passion into the story is but a few examples that make one rethink of this hometown sweetheart who seems to not only blossoms in front of our eyes but engross us into her character's dramatic narrative. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010736/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Adams</a> is a worthy contender of this year's Best Actress nominations, and one should not underestimate her acting skills for she has come a long way and in '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/">American Hustle</a>' she seems to be shinning as bright as she possibly can. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Likewise, it would be a terrible omission not to include the likes of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177896/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Bradley Cooper</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2225369/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Jennifer Lawrence</a>, who both seem to have been somewhat of a charm for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0751102/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">David O.Russell</a>. In all fairness, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0751102/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">David O.Russell</a> cleverly put his two most productive cast actors from his previous films together ('<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0964517/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_12">The Fighter</a>' and '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1045658/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Silver Linings Playbook</a>') and once again seems to have struck gold in the hearts of his audience and for the Academy's committee too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/">American Hustle</a>' may not be the most brilliant con-plot story in filmmaking history but it's definitely clever, if not amusing to say the least. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoy it. Make sure to take notes on how to avoid getting caught. The key is to pay attention to the details. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1800241/">American Hustle </a>(2013)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-64328359620336784102014-03-01T09:50:00.001-08:002014-03-01T09:55:16.549-08:00Frozen (2013) <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9Rr-3_kIFjLziCppRpG3g16nmIy-Y1zX4Yk1Uh0-CdhiFb70Us07Lh2H7itwPdXUaayDLw2idpDRc776f3IH9yXmRuV37DPetTEY3HhycPpaCrlhmYre5Y9qlwuB59Lcoi2SgKrkhGA/s1600/Disney-Frozen-Poster-2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgr9Rr-3_kIFjLziCppRpG3g16nmIy-Y1zX4Yk1Uh0-CdhiFb70Us07Lh2H7itwPdXUaayDLw2idpDRc776f3IH9yXmRuV37DPetTEY3HhycPpaCrlhmYre5Y9qlwuB59Lcoi2SgKrkhGA/s1600/Disney-Frozen-Poster-2013.jpg" height="640" width="448" /></a></div>
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">8.1/10</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Olaf:</u> Hi, everyone. I'm Olaf and I like warm hugs!</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's been a long time coming for this particular film, and most improtantly for Disney. From the makers of '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114148/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Pocahontas</a>', <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0118333/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Chris Buck</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1601644/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Jennifer Lee</a>, this film is everything every Disney lover was hoping for. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frozen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">' tells the story of Anna, a fearless optimist, sets off on an epic journey - teaming up with rugged mountain man Kristoff and his loyal reindeer Sven - to find her sister Elsa, whose icy powers have trapped the kingdom of Arendelle in eternal winter. Encountering Everest-like conditions, mystical trolls and a hilarious snowman named Olaf, Anna and Kristoff battle the elements in a race to save the kingdom. From the outside Anna's sister, Elsa looks poised, regal and reserved, but in reality, she lives in fear as she wrestles with a mighty secret-she was born with the power to create ice and snow. It's a beautiful ability, but also extremely dangerous. Haunted by the moment her magic nearly killed her younger sister Anna, Elsa has isolated herself, spending every waking minute trying to suppress her growing powers. Her mounting emotions trigger the magic, accidentally setting off an eternal winter that she can't stop. She fears she's becoming a monster and that no one, not even her sister, can help her. (source: </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.imdb.com</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">With an incredible voice-acting and singing cast, that which most of all the likes of a them such as </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0579953/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Idina Menzel</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0068338/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kristen Bell</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2676147/?ref_=tt_cl_t3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jonathan Groff</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1265802/?ref_=tt_cl_t4" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Josh Gad</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, this Disney masterpiece is all that an adult or a kid loving fan could have asked for. The music, the </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hans_Christian_Andersen" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hans Christian Andersen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> spin-off story of '</span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Snow_Queen" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Snow Queen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">', the moral messages, lest we forget them, the jokes, the chemistry. Take all that, mix it up together and you've got a dream film that Disney hasn't seen in years.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So dreamy in fact that '</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2294629/?ref_=fn_al_tt_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frozen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">' has warmed its way into the Academy's heart and it's most likely the biggest contender of getting the golden statue at tomorrow award's ceremony, both for Best Animated Film and Best Song. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those who are look to have a good time, a totally old-magic-Disney time this film will not in the least bit disappoint. It also teaches, finally, that Disney female characters don't need saving by a male one. Go Disney!!! </span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-80269203979013287482014-02-27T23:46:00.003-08:002014-02-27T23:46:30.033-08:00The Great Beauty aka La Grande Bellezza (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvAp-Seodx4Qp8X0tIx5TrtKaMbwnfx3yEZZ1_FvKMlUHLhNoN5Ap57dR3L1XkJZ-skPq06FatSen3s1h3auFDgKvPIz8AMXvFJUEdz51Dxd7jMQ1gC3iCD9kJUEempTRYaZHFJn-ZNo/s1600/GreatBeautyPoster+copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqvAp-Seodx4Qp8X0tIx5TrtKaMbwnfx3yEZZ1_FvKMlUHLhNoN5Ap57dR3L1XkJZ-skPq06FatSen3s1h3auFDgKvPIz8AMXvFJUEdz51Dxd7jMQ1gC3iCD9kJUEempTRYaZHFJn-ZNo/s1600/GreatBeautyPoster+copy.jpg" height="640" width="412" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u><span style="color: red;">Jep Gambardella:</span></u> <span style="color: red;">This is how it always ends. With death. But first there was life, hidden beneath the blah, blah, blah... It's all settled beneath the chitter chatter and the noise, silence and sentiment, emotion and fear. The haggard, inconstant flashes of beauty. And then the wretched squalor and miserable humanity. All buried under the cover of the embarrassment of being in the world, blah, blah, blah... Beyond there is what lies beyond. And I don't deal with what lies beyond. Therefore... let this novel begin. After all... it's just a trick. Yes, it's just a trick.</span></span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This film was made to remind us of what we all forget to appreciate; beauty. Raw, extravagant, extraordinary, magnificent, omniposcent beauty. It's all around. Just sometimes we do not stand still to glorify it. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Paolo Sorrentino</a> made this film to help us remember the beauty in everything. From the silliest of conversations to the most magnanimous piece of art. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2358891/?ref_=nv_sr_2">The Great Beauty</a>' is about journalist Jep Gambardella, who has charmed and seduced his way through the lavish nightlife of Rome for decades. Since the legendary success of his one and only novel, he has been a permanent fixture in the city's literary and social circles, but when his sixty-fifth birthday coincides with a shock from the past, Jep finds himself unexpectedly taking stock of his life, turning his cutting wit on himself and his contemporaries, and looking past the extravagant nightclubs, parties, and cafés to find Rome in all its glory: a timeless landscape of absurd, exquisite beauty. (source: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Pay close attention to the word 'absurd' in the description above, since it plays a key part in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Sorrentino</a>'s film. The film is stylized in such a way that one cannot help but make the comparison between <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000019/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Fellini</a>'s masterpiece '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056801/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">8 1/2</a>'. The visually stunning spectacle of Rome's landscape and the high society represented in both film is simply inescapable. From Rome in 1963 to Rome 2013 we see that 'the artist' is still struggling with himself to find his inner peace. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Sorrentino</a> cast <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0785842/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Toni Servillo</a> as his leading man, the tortured soul of the artist who goes from one luxury party to another, from one great hedonistic adventure to another all the while feeding us with the absurdism that surrounds still this modern society. In this journey of self discovery and inner peace there comes the brilliance in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0785842/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Servillo</a>'s acting; the haunted man, who finds little pleasure from the high end lifestyle he was so far leading, searching and yearning for a greater beauty.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Speaking in visual terms <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Sorrentino</a> has drew great imitations from <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000019/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Fellini</a>'s Roman filmmaking, '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053779/?ref_=nv_sr_1">La Dolce Vita</a>' and '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0056801/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">8 1/2</a>', all equipped with the glitz and the glamour of the decadance of the elite; the high society who circles its prey until they are left hollow and with no purpose in life, aimlessly wandering trying to find what it's all about. This point <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Sorrentino</a> cleverely gives us a glimpse of what that hollowness feels and tastes like after years of endless extravaganza. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film however, tends to become somewhat of a long and tedious journey of an artist's search of his inner psyche, that at the end concludes into a nothingness of air; in other words as sarcastic as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0815204/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Sorrentino</a> is trying to be about how vain our small little lives are, his visual eye seems to drift and strecth so much that it can easy pass on as nothing more than a story of surrealistic narrative. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despite its wombly bits, this film aims to rekindle a long forgotten bond between past and present, drawing to an open conclusion of what is real beauty in the end for each person. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An excellent submission from Italy for this year's Academy Awards and from the looks of it this might be getting the dear old Uncle Oscar in the end, since it is truly a marvel to watch the evocative restless spirit of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0785842/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Servillo</a> on the big screen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-48537519619228089142014-02-24T00:59:00.002-08:002014-02-24T00:59:16.777-08:00August: Osage County (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7.1/10</span></u></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><u>Violet Weston: </u>I'm so glad one of my girls stayed close to home. In my day, family stuck together.</span></b></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Letts">Tracy Letts</a> wrote a story about a family; a disfunctional family, a normal family. Something that resembles very close to home for anyone with a big family. Drama is of course a key ingredient, especially when you have family coming over. Do you want shouting? You got it. Do you want lying? You got it. Do you want deep dark family secrets? You certainly got it. Do you need excellent acting skills? You have it even before you think it. This film is a family symphony gone bad. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story is a look at the lives of the strong-willed women of the Weston family, whose paths have diverged until a family crisis brings them back to the Oklahoma house they grew up in, and to the dysfunctional woman who raised them. (source: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Much to our anticipation, the films starts somewhat off beat introducing us to the characters one by one, and their little quirks, up until the big family gathering at a funeral table. What a sheer delight that was. What every person is looking forward to when getting together with family after a long time. Of course script and play writght, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Letts">Ms.Letts</a>, does so brilliantly keep us entangled in each story line, reminding us, that this could easily be our family or the family next door. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Staring from the spectacular, if not inconceivable, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000658/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Meryl Streep</a>, leading a cast that one can only but dream to see all gathered up, she portrays the matriarch of the family, the one who always survives, the grumpiest of them all, the oldest psyche that never ceases to be the sting that starts up everything. She is the core of everyone, and ultimately their destruction. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her wonderful cast of fiction siblings include actors such as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000210/?ref_=tt_cl_t2">Julia Roberts</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000191/?ref_=tt_cl_t4">Ewan McGregor</a>,<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000496/?ref_=tt_cl_t9">Juliette Lewis</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001731/?ref_=tt_cl_t6">Sam Shephard</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0177933/?ref_=tt_cl_t3">Chris Cooper</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000551/?ref_=tt_cl_t7">Dermot Mulroney</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1113550/?ref_=tt_cl_t10">Abigail Breslin</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=tt_cl_t11">Benedict Cumberbatch</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0553269/?ref_=tt_cl_t5">Margo Martindale</a>. As would anyone see, we're talking about an incredible line-up of actors who not only surpass the audience's expectations, but come to make justice to the originality of the characters from the play as well. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, and as truthful as we can be, as the plot thickens, and the best kept secrets are slowly being revealed, the film oftentimes feels to become strenuous and dragged on. The absurdity in which the family dialogue operates tends to strech past its supposed duration time, thus making the viewer lose even the slightest inclanation to what's going on in their drama. For this reason, we can easily pin-point from the beginning that the film tends to feel more like a dramatization of a stage play than a film altogther. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The juice in the story is how vulnerable every character is, and the mutliple layers that they keep deep beneath. As soon as the yelling gets going, there seems to be a flare for the overexaggerated plot twist; the siblings who have fallen for each other. Oh the hubris. It happens in the best of families. Only with this one, the deterioration comes slowly and painfully at hand. But what a delight it is to see that life is so unprogrammed, that even the best of people can lose their way at some point.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One should definitely watch it with his folks, or spouse, or children, at that, and remember how it feels to not be able to stay away from your own blood, no matter the heartache and the traumas. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not much intented to say regarding the technical particulars, just to point out that the locations make it all too real to be in their family territory. Pulitzer winner playwright <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tracy_Letts">Letts</a>, offers us a truly dynamic family drama that resonates for everyone who's ever been part (or even a hint) of dysfunctional in their household. Not the best drama out there, but definitely passes across some powerful messages regarding family bonds. </span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-76190113918193687782014-02-23T22:49:00.004-08:002014-02-23T22:49:57.591-08:00Philomena (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7.7/10</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>-<u>Philomena:</u> And after I had the sex, I thought anything that feels so lovely must be wrong.</b></span><br />
<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>-<u>Martin Sixsmith:</u> Fucking Catholics.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There's always something heart-warming when you sit down to watch a film about self-discovery and atonement. And it's always equally surprising when you enjoy the film more than you initially anticipated.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431286/?ref_=nv_sr_3">Philomena</a>' tells the real life story of <a href="http://www.goodreads.com/book/show/6791212-the-lost-child-of-philomena-lee">Philomena Lee</a>, who after years of keeping mum, she went seeking for her long lost son. When former journalist Martin Sixsmith is dismissed from the Labour Party in disgrace, he is at a loss as to what do. That changes when a young Irish woman approaches him about a story of her mother, Philomena, who had her son taken away when she was a teenage inmate of a Catholic convent. Martin arranges a magazine assignment about her search for him that eventually leads to America. Along the way, Martin and Philomena discover as much about each other as about her son's fate. Furthermore, both find their basic beliefs challenged. (source: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176869/?ref_=tt_ov_wr">Steve Coogan</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0423409/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_50">Tristram Shandy: A Cock and Bull Story</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425112/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_42">Hot Fuzz</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1226774/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_32">In the Loop</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0942385/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_36">Tropic Thunder</a>), who co-wrote the script with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0691131/?ref_=tt_ov_wr">Jeff Pope</a>, also stars as the gifted yet misunderstood journalist who is trying to find himself after his horrendous dismisal from the BBC. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176869/?ref_=tt_ov_wr">Coogan</a> has proven time and time again what a brilliant comedian he is, but with this one he goes one step further in showing to the wide audience that drama suits him equally well. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The sensitivity and the humanity in which both <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0176869/?ref_=tt_ov_wr">Coogan</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001132/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Dame Judi Dench</a> treated Lee's real life story is extraordinary. Two very un-similar characters onto a journey of soul searching. The humourous blends ever so subtly with the dramatic, keeping the viewer to sympathize even, with what the characters are going through. Who said that drama can't be hilarious? This film proves that even evil nuns can have their funny side. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In all seriousness though, the genious behind the film is truly owed to the evocative story of the real Philomena Lee and the man who sought out to make her story be heard. Coming to add a little bit more of his genious is Oscar nominated director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001241/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Stephen Frears</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0436697/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">The Queen</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0146882/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">High Fidelity</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094947/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Dangerous Liaisons</a>), who makes sure that his audience does not fall into the trap of the melo-drama, but instead builds up the suspsense in sweet down-to-earth agony of where this story could end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film is beautifully shot in locations between Ireland, England and the United States, giving the viewer a travelling feast between the then and now moments, whilst at the same time raising some serious fundamental issues regarding religion and faith. Cleverly so, the writers implemented their stories with philosophical and moral questions such as 'Is there God?' or 'Should one believe in God?' or 'How do you keep your faith, even after the nuns sell your child to the Americas?'. Coming back to an age where a good Catholic girl should be pious and pure, Philomena Lee had sinned, and for her mistake, she was punished rightly so, by having her son taken away from her. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The humanity and the empathy in which <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001132/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Dench</a> operates as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431286/?ref_=nv_sr_3">Philomena</a> is remarkable. Her humility and her strength to forgive makes us realize that there are greater things to hold onto nowadays than the anger that we are taught not to let go in modern day society. This wholesome feeling of faith is what truly inspires audiences and what makes them connect to <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2431286/?ref_=nv_sr_3">Philomena</a>'s story.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very heart-warming film that it is definitely worth a watch. Albeit nominated for Best Picture as well, it rightly deserves its place in the list. </span><br />
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-10151672589184041902014-02-21T08:40:00.002-08:002014-02-21T08:43:02.699-08:00Blue Jasmine (2013)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;">7.6/10</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Jasmine:</u> Who do you have to sleep with around here to get a Stoli martini with a twist of lemon?</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Last week I happened to be in an interview and I was asked if my ambition in life would be to become <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Woody Allen</a>. My response was 'God forbid, no'. And it was absolute. My answer was not due to any dislike towards <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Woody Allen</a>. On the contrary, I relish in his filmmaking genius. How can one suppose himself that he can ever top this tiny little man with glasses and his profusion of witty dialogues and story lines? Truly this puzzles me. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2334873/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blue Jasmine</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">' is a film that speaks to every neurotic nerve in every person's body. And I mean that in literal sense. It tells the story of Jasmine French, who used to be on the top of the heap as a New York socialite, but now is returning to her estranged sister in San Francisco utterly ruined. As Jasmine struggles with her haunting memories of a privileged past bearing dark realities she ignored, she tries to recover in her present. Unfortunately, it all proves a losing battle as Jasmine's narcissistic hangups and their consequences begin to overwhelm her. In doing so, her old pretensions and new deceits begin to foul up everyone's lives, especially her own. (source: </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.imdb.com</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This time around </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Woody Allen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> chose to portray a woman who goes full circle in her journey; kind of more like a Mother Courage type of psychological journey, rather than a journey of atonement and self-discovery. The dialogue is beyond caustic, going from action-interaction in nano seconds. So brilliantly witty that one would be too ignorant or too much of a snob not to actually appreciate the hilariousness of the whole situation. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">To accompany this wonderful executed script came an equally talented actress, from the land down under, an actress whose proven more than capable to take on the role of Jasmine French. At first you would think that an eloquent name as Jasmine, would be the tale of a romantic 'flower' ahead. What </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000949/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Cate Blanchett</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> so brilliantly give us is a much more perplexing yet at the same time endearing tale of a woman going from one nervour breakdown to the next. She is the kind of actress that makes a nervous breakdown a sheer delight to watch. Her microcosmos is nothing but a blimp but nonetheless is so absurdly humaine that the viewer cannot help but empathise with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Aiding this wonderful journey of superficiality is the British born actress </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1020089/?ref_=tt_cl_t8" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Sally Hawkins</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, who portrays </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000949/?ref_=tt_cl_t1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Blanchett</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">'s sister; she is the other side of the story, the sister who was never given half the things her sister had in life but who is willing to stand by her blood. </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1020089/?ref_=tt_cl_t8" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Hawkins</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000949/?ref_=tt_ov_st" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Blanchett</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> blend so gloriously together that you get to such points as to relate with their sisterly bond, albeit the fact they are suppose to be step sisters. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Worthy to briefly mention the appearance also of such actors as </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000285/?ref_=tt_cl_t5" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Alec Baldwin</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, the liar in the plot, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0765597/?ref_=tt_ov_st" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Peter Sarsgaard</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, the false hope and the joker but ever so brilliant </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0134072/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t24" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Bobby Cannavale</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps not one of </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Allen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'s best ever, but personally I glorify the man's genius way of approaching female roles. My opinion is that he sees women as these wonderful creatures he can derive so much from and he knows as an auteur and a director, as well as a script writer how to fairly portray them on screen. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoy his humour for those who will indulge in this film. As for the people who simply do not enjoy his sense of absurdism, try to read Ibsen and compary <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000095/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Allen</a>'s female characters with his to see how much relative their treatment of female psyche is. </span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-46494250978023868522014-02-20T23:52:00.002-08:002014-03-01T11:13:50.732-08:00The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: red;"><u>Jordan Belfort:</u> Let me tell you something. There's no nobility in poverty. I've been a poor man, and I've been a rich man. And</span><u style="color: white;"> </u><span style="color: red;">I choose rich every fucking time.</span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Martin Scorsese</a> is a filmmaking legened. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000138/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Leo DiCaprio</a> is fast becoming one at that as well. This dynamic duo have proven to us time and time again, movie after movie, that they work wonders together and that when you sit down for a screening in one of their films, you should be prepared to be razzle dazzled. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So what is it that makes '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/?ref_=nv_sr_5">The Wolf of Wall Street</a>' a piece of remarkable filmmaking? Is it the snorting cocaine of a drug Wall Street addict? Is it his exessive sexcapades? Or is it his overwhelming greed for money? In my opinion, it's none of the above. Although all of the above are widely futured in this film, none of these really play a key role to what <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Scorsese</a> and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000138/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">DiCaprio</a> are trying to create; the goal is the absolute transfixion of the viewer. No more, no less.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let us not stall too much ahead and get on with what the plot's about: This is the real life story (yet again this year) of Jordan </span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Belfort, a Long Island penny stockbroker who served 36 months in prison for defrauding investors in a massive 1990s securities scam that involved widespread corruption on Wall Street and in the corporate banking world, including shoe designer Steve Madden. (source: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The admiration of this film comes from the empowring cast and crew throughout, scene in and scene out, to give us a masterful picture - if you will - of what really goes down at the other side of the grass. Despite the film running on a usual <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Martin Scorsese</a> time duration - 3 hours long - you never miss a scene where <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000138/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">DiCaprio</a> won't be flaring up his acting stamina and battle away each scene like it was yesterday's chinese leftovers. His growth and resilience in recreating Jordan Belfort is something of a mastermind genius; I'm mostly talking of course of this horrendously hilarious scene where he has to crawl from the casino place to his car, all the while being as high as the Empire Estate building (aka on cocaine as it was his vice). </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Overacting is a must in this film. Going all out and giving it, not the best but your super powers best, was what makes this film memorable. The endless dialogue about making and conning out money is an absolute thrill to wrap one's mind around. To come full circle in this bombardic cast comes as the cherry on the cake, a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1706767/?ref_=tt_cl_t2">Mr. Jonah Hill</a>, who throughout the years he's proven a most capable comedian and an actor who's not in the least bit ashamed of giving physical acting a kick in the head. Again, I'm talking about the much-buzzed about scene of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1706767/?ref_=tt_cl_t2">Hill</a> mustarbating in one of the infamous parties of Belfort, going as far as to show off his goodies to the entire filmosphere. Of course, by all means the penis was a flook but the scene got its thumbs up for its daringness and provocative attitude. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A very intriguing guest appearance comes to give another one of those <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Scorsese </a>razzle-dazzle moments, with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/?ref_=tt_cl_t4">Matthew McConaguhey</a> being the man who started it all for <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000138/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">DiCaprio</a>'s character; his first money-grabbing-lying-addict-piece-of-two-time-egomaniac-mentor, who first introduced him to this world of power and endless greed. And there again you have the brilliance of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Scorsese </a>letting his actors overpower the screen with their wit and their impending improvisation. Once more, I am talking of course of the famous scene where <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/?ref_=tt_cl_t4">McConaguhey</a>'s character first wines and dines DiCaprio's character, whilst teaching him all the tricks and turns of what it takes to make it to Wall Street. A little bit of musical humming proves none so fatal on screen, as this is - and you have my sincerest word on that - the scene that initiates it all. You're hooked after that. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Admittedely, and as I like to be as frank as possible when reviewing films out there, I will say this was not a film that I could brand as 'my-cup-of-tea'. Far from it actually. But given the history and the desperation both in the acting and the direction, I relented and really went in wanting to give this film a chance. Despite the overwhelming views and buzz this film has been receiving, both for acting and script material, I must admit that by the end of the film I was left high and dry as it did not give me the full satisfaction I went in seeking for. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's all nice and good to be wanting to be razzle-dazzled but when it's too much, it gets overbearing and overboard. This is what happened here; everything was in such an excess that it felt jaded and overstuffed at various points throughout the film. Kinda like a beef turkey on Thanksgiving; too much for just one day of feasting. I am of the opinion that, whoever said that 'toning it down' and 'simple is best', knew exactly what he was talking about. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Of course, lest we forget ourselves, this is a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000217/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Scorsese</a> film we are talking about, and toning it down, is not a phrase one might find in his filmmaking vocabulary. The passion and the zeal of treatment in this story is what truly gives it wings to take off, and it seems that it most certainly did fly as it reached all the way to the Academy Awards as a Best Picture Film and with Oscar nod nomations in categories such as Best Actor, Best Supporting Actor, Best Adapted Screenplay and last, but not at all and not in the slightest very least, Best Achievement in Directing. </span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you haven't yet indulged yourselves in this particular cup of tea, you have been warned; be prepared for most about everything!!! And most of all be prepared to witness some </span></span><span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">foxy full frontal scenes with a rising star on the go, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm3053338/?ref_=tt_cl_t3">Ms Margot Robbie</a>, who's proven that being sexy can be both by wit or by having a killer body figure. Watch out for that!</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hope you enjoy this filmmaking Colossus!</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0993846/?ref_=nv_sr_5"> The Wolf of Wall Street</a> (2013)</span><br />
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-46737955108349515792014-02-18T23:18:00.000-08:002014-02-18T23:18:28.082-08:0012 Years A Slave (2013)<div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Solomon Northup:</u> I will not fall into despair till freedom is opportune!</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are some films you just know that they will be landmarks in film history. '1<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/?ref_=nv_sr_1">2 Years A Slave</a>' is one of them. I herby herald this film as the Best Film of the Year, 2014. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">'</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2024544/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 Years A Slave</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">' is based on an incredible true story of one man's fight for survival and freedom. In the pre-Civil War United States, Solomon Northup (Chiwetel Ejiofor), a free black man from upstate New York, is abducted and sold into slavery. Facing cruelty - personified by a malevolent slave owner (portrayed by Michael Fassbender), as well as unexpected kindnesses - Solomon struggles not only to stay alive, but to retain his dignity. (source: </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">www.imdb.com</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It has been known (to me - and the rest of the film world) that </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2588606/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr5" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steve McQueen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (Hunger, Shame) is a superb director, who never ceases to amaze and leave his audience engrossed in the stories he tells. This time around, he chose a very difficult journey to embark on; slavery. This specific subject has been dealt with in films many times, but what distinguishes it among so many others it's its brutal honesty of it. The way </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2588606/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr5" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McQueen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> treats the issue of total human wretchedness comes through his established resolution that he will not beautify or scratch the edges of the negro slavery, but rather serve as cold and as harsh as it was. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In collaboration with his extraordinary cinematographer, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0090312/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr13" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sean Bobbit</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, he once more manages to transmit the raw emotional unstability which his characters are journeying through. This is wonderfully and skillfully executed by the roughness of the film's photography; those extenuous long shots that are filled with complete silence and you're left with the actor's facial expressions to convey emotions, those blistering shots of sheer brutality and that hopelessness you feel out there in the sizzling fields of the gathering crop. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's become somewhat of a director's trademark those long steady shots that has the actors either having an on-going dialogue for more than 5 minutes long or simply by letting the actor release emotional energy on screen through facial expressions, a very theatrical technique as well which seems to be working brilliantly for </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2588606/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr5" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McQueen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> as he chooses to let the camera follow the unravelling drama without flinching with editing cutaways. Personally, I believe that this is an stylized directorial achievement since it keeps the suspense elevated without losing the focus on the characters' narrative. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming to all of that is an astounding string of thespians - to merely brand them "actors" seems rather pettish - who not only offer us the unique oppoprtunity to glimpse superb acting at its finest but also refuse to let the audience leave from the filml theatre without tearing up or the very least being left silent stunned. </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252230/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chiwetel Ejiofor</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0314331/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_27" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Love Actually</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765429/?ref_=nm_knf_t2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Gangster</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0378947/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_23" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Melinda and Melinda</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/?ref_=nm_knf_t3" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Children of Men</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">) is what acting is really about; moving, gut-wrencing, all consuming, with an unbelievable strength to let his charact grow and sustain all the brewing emotions of injustice, is a most excellent example of an actor mesmerizing it's audience for all the right reasons his director called him for: marvel on the big screen! Amongst the major contenders for a Best Actor award this year is also </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0252230/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ejiofor</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">, whom I whole-heartedly wish that he receives this award (although I'm greatly torned between him and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/?ref_=nv_sr_1" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">McConaughey</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">). </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To this dedicated and engrossing cast come a great deal of actors but to name a few, the ever so entangling <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1055413/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t36">Michael Fassbender</a>, who is something more of an acting giant, he's an explosive embodiment of how to methodically and carefully execute an actor's psyche on screen. Similarly, actors such as <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0316079/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t28">Paul Giamatti</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1212722/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t30">Benedict Cumberbatch</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0200452/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t35">Paul Dano</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005299/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t37">Sarah Paulson</a> and last but not at all least, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2143282/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t38">Lupita Nyong'o</a>, who gave an excruciatingly painful but equally so brilliant performance throughout</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Worthy to also mention the gloriousness of the musical score, written by none other than the ever so great <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001877/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr12">Hans Zimmer</a>, who seems to have had some freedoms to create a brutally invented score that not only tie up really nice with the cinematography but also make sure they extract the right level of emotion at the right time in the film. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2588606/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr5">McQueen</a> raises once more the issue of equal rights, that every human life is worth the same and the on-going struggle of people in slavery and their fight for freedom. In watching him the other day receiving his 1st Bafta Award for Best Film of the Year, McQueen carefuly pointed out that "today, in 2014, there are 21million people into slavery and that his hope is that in 150 years time there won't be the need from another filmmaker to make a film about slavery". On that point, I commend and applaud this film for its ability to speak to the public about an issue every so relevant and fragile as the individual's freedom.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally this film oughtta win the Academy Award for Best Picture as it is exatly the reason why cinema still exists; to profit - and by profit I mostly mean to educate - and delight - and by delight I mean offer intellectual entertainment or in more plain words offer food for thought. In this case <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2588606/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr5">McQueen</a> offered us a whole lotta banquet to feast and act on. Let's respect that.</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-81410646427815826252014-02-16T05:44:00.000-08:002014-02-19T01:20:04.362-08:00The Hunt aka Jagten (2012)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<b><u><span style="color: white; font-size: large;">8.4/10</span></u></b></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-size: large;"><b><u>Theo: </u>The world is full of evil but if we hold on to each other, it goes away.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You know, I''ve often thought that the melancholy and the angst which the Scanddinavian films offer no other cinema will be able to surpass them. "<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Jagten</a>" is no excpeption. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The story follows a <span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0);">teacher, who lives a lonely life, all the while struggling over his son's custody. His life slowly gets better as he finds love and receives good news from his son, but his new luck is about to be brutally shattered by an innocent little lie. (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The film starts off like a serene symphony, slowly leading you into the events that are about to unravel. And just like that, without the viewer's keen or suspectful eye you begin to sympathize the lead character within those first few minutes into the film. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The brilliance in the script, co-written by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2105585/?ref_=tt_ov_wr">Tobias Lindholm</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Hunt</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1322385/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Sumbarino</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2216240/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">A Hijacking</a>) and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899121/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Tomas Vinterberg</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2106476/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Hunt</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154420/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Festen</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0273689/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">It's All About Love</a>) - also the director of the film - offer a subtle exammination into the human relationships and their limitations. As the plot thickens, and the chracters are left with all those harrowing feelings to deal with, we are also being asked ever so quietly to answer questions such as - How far are you willing to go for the people you have loved all your life? How much do you trust them? How much are you suppose to trust them, and love them? How much are you suppose to know about your neighbour? How much gravity are we suppose to give in a child's words? How are we raising our children to behave and act? Where are we going as a 'free' society? And ultimately, how accepting have we become? </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So many philosophical enigmas all thrust within this film, that one cannot but commend the excellence of how both script writers decided to approach the themes and questions being raised above. </span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">However, the key in most films is the performances, and <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899121/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Vinterberg</a> is still a winner with this one; like his so far biggest film success, '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154420/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Festen</a>', the line of actors he chose to cast was with precise consideration and precision. First up, the best Danish export in acting for the past few years - <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Mads Mikkelsen</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0381061/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">Casino Royale</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">A Royal Affair</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2243973/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_3">Hannibal</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0457655/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">After the Wedding</a>). A proper A-lister master of seductory acting, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Mikkelsen</a>, not only charms and engages intensely, but he also makes sure you understand the full reasons why you should side with his character. His powerful resilience as the scorned teacher, deflects the viewer from conlcuding into the most crude and vulgar assumptions of what really might has happened, and instead focusses in presenting us with the real issues that should be of our concern; how we treat people within a society, how far will our social norms allow us to accept people. <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0586568/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Mikkelsen</a>, is a mastermind in not losing our trust throughout the film, thus not letting us lose our way on where also the director wants us to go as well.</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In regards to directing, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899121/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vinterberg</a><span style="background-color: rgba(255, 255, 255, 0); font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is a glorious architect of the human psyche. He ever so subtly let us eavsdrop in the lives of a small Danish society, and he presented us with the issue: now it's up to us to decide how we would choose to solve it. Would we choose to solve it? Vinterberg uses long atmospherical moments to transport this eerie brokenness that the modern society is facing, the evolving deterioration of a hypocrital society and the need to trully believe in human goodness. Whether we choose to believe that there's still such a thing or not, it's not up to the characters to solve. It's up to us, yet again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It's only worthy to note the excellent collaboration of </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899121/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vinterberg</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488917/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Thomas Bo Larsen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> (previously collaborated in '</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0154420/?ref_=nm_knf_t2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Festen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">' - with similar thematology) in the supporting role; a character who chooses to believe society's opinions rather than be willing to believe a different reality. </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0488917/?ref_=tt_cl_t2" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Larsen</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> is such an evocative actor that demands your attention whenever he's present on screen, he's not an actor to turn to violent mockery to pass on the massage of sheer hopelessness and devastation in his eyes. He's there, full on, battling with his volcanic emotions which will ultimately lead him only to a silent desperation in his approach to his dilemma; a friend or a foe. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This film is breaking boundaries, is willing to break social norms and is not shy to give it to us as realistically as it possibly can; how open minded are we after all? How accepting are we with one another and how far are we willing to go to co-exist. It raises some fundamental issues that were constructed to build this modern society, which </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899121/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vinterberg</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> once again chose to show us, even in a society in Denmark - which is known to be one of the most evasive and fastest evolving societies in the world - even in a small little town, how people are still reacting and thinking in terms of sexuality and what is constituted as right and wrong. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All these </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0899121/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Vinterberg</a><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> elaborates into his long eeries shots in the forest or even in the momentous silences between the actors' interactions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my opinion this film surprasses any of this year's Oscar nominations - I shall carefully analyze in other posts as well this opinion - and it most definitely would be a worthy winner for Best Foreign Film .</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watch it with a tranquil mood, ready to feed your mind with questions and let the characters touch and humanize your soul.</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-30958526389064052132014-02-12T01:31:00.002-08:002014-02-12T01:42:26.330-08:00Dallas Buyers Club (2013)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="color: white; font-family: MS Reference Sans Serif, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>7.9/10</u></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: MS Reference Sans Serif, sans-serif;">'<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790636/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt">Dallas Buyers Club</a>' is this year's '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/?ref_=nv_sr_1">The Blind Side</a>'. The reason for this comparison is due to the unexpectingly splendid acting surrounding this film's main themes. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Just to clarify a little bit what the film's about - The story follows a Texas electrician - </span><a href="http://www.biography.com/people/ron-woodroof-21329541" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Ron Woodroof</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> - and his battle with the medical establishment and pharmaceutical companies after being diagnosed as HIV-positive in 1986, and his search for alternative treatments that helped established a way in which fellow HIV-positive people could join for access to his supplies.(<a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">This is another one of this year's big contenders which is based on true life events. As it's becoming somewhat of an epidemic for Hollywood to focus on real life stories, this one doesn't lose it's target purpose, whose aim is not to shock or amaze its audience, but engage them on a profound level in how far will society go to shield its corruption and insensitivity towards victims that need urgent medical care.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">This is a tale about a man who fought against all odds to provide for people diagnosed with HIV+. The astounding tale of this man was brought to life by screenwriters </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1258965/?ref_=tt_ov_wr" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Craig Borten</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2214893/?ref_=tt_ov_wr" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Melisa Wallack</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">. The screenwriters do not gimmick any bits in the story, but give it to us straight up, as harsh as it was, as unfair as it was, without though in the process eliminating the tantalizing drama and sorrow of people who are seeking to bend the system's hypocricy just so they can live to see another day.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Coming to add on that wrenching story is the exceptional acting. However, let me be frank and note that in my screening for this film I was sceptical for the main lead, who was none other than the all-mighty buzzing </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Matthew McConaughey</a><span style="text-align: justify;"> (</span><span style="font-family: MS Reference Sans Serif, serif; text-align: justify;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0251127/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_25">How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0131369/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_32">Edtv</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1915581/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Magic Mike</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1935179/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">Mud</a></span><span style="text-align: justify;">)</span><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, who seems recently that he has taken a turn for the serious - I call that a '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000113/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Sandra-Bullock</a>' move - and has made it into the big leagues of Hollywood thespians. Granted in the past he may have shown glimpses of what he could really do - </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0117913/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_41" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">A Time To Kill</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0118607/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_37" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Amistad</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> - but in </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0790636/?ref_=ttfc_fc_tt" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">Dallas Buyers Club</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> he seems to have surpassed every expectation regarding his acting skills. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">He grabbed this role by the horns - and I mean that in literal sense. He actually grabbed it, he held onto it, he claimed the role and fought for it like it was his life depended on it. His extraordinary will to bring <a href="http://www.biography.com/people/ron-woodroof-21329541">Ron Woodroof</a> to life gave him the stamina and the ability to centre himself on what was important to pass onto his vewers; those emotionless gut-wrenching feelings of hopelessness in the eyes of a man in desperation to hang on to dear life. All this, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000190/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;">McConaughey</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif; text-align: justify;"> brilliantly transmits and is not afraid to truly expose himself on camera full on. He just lets the story move him and guide him through this tantalizing storytelling. Hence, needless to relish in the fact that his Oscar nomination for Best Actor Award is a well deserved one.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Equally coming to that are his other two co-stars, who come complete this tale of narrowing survival chances - </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004950/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t2" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Jennifer Garner</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0285333/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_16" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Alias</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0467406/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_13" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Juno</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0337563/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_19" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">13 Going on 30</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0287978/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_21" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Daredevil</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0264464/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_22" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Catch Me If You Can</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">) and Jared Leto (</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0180093/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Requiem For a Dream</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0144084/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_12" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">American Psycho</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0137523/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Fight Club</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0399295/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_5" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Lord of War</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0485947/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_2" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Mr. Nobody</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">) , who is also up for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actor Award. Both </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004950/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t2" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Garner</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> and </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001467/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t3" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Leto</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> give out astounding performances in their support to the main character's journey. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">A note goes out especially to </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001467/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t3" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Leto</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> whose emodiment of an HIV+ transvestite heralds him as the backbone of what this story is all about; compassion, humanity, kindness, sensitivity. These undying qualities are transformed in the role of </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001467/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t3" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Leto</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, who ripped this role apart to show us how deeply open we, as a society, should be, how open we should let our hearts be, in our aid to accept and love one another just as we are. </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001467/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t3" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Leto </a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">completely bedazzles in this role, who seems to have been stitched up just for him. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Equally so, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0004950/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t2" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Garner</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> herself, provides her unique skill to support the main lead with her kind mannerisms as the doctor who will stand beside her patient and extend him the hand of kindness in his battle for survival. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">In terms of direction, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885249/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Jean-Marc Vallée</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> (</span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0962736/?ref_=nm_knf_t3" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Young Victoria</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1550312/?ref_=nm_knf_t4" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Café de Flore</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">) is a quiet traveller of cinematography as he ever so gently places us on the spot to let go all of our preconceived notions of what we know is right and what we should accept as right. The method he uses in this film, somewhat resembles the five stages of grief; denial, anger, bargaining, depression and ultimately acceptance. This journey we undergo through </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885249/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Vallée</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">'s empathetic lense as he lets us first unload any feelings of misconception and find again our humanity by the end of the film, manages not only to engage the audience but to also bring out sympathy for this story. In retrospect, </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885249/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Valee</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> reminds us that nothing is black or white; not even this film. The multi-layers he lets us eavsdrop within his characters allows us to be more patient and understanding to a person's journey. It goes as much as to prove that old saying that "you shouldn't judge someone, unless if you've walked a mile in their shoes", only with this film </span><a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0885249/?ref_=tt_ov_dr" style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Valee</a><span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;"> gives us those shoes and he lets us walk the long walk. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">Personally I believe this movie should be awarded for its humanity, for its never-ending battle to break down barriers of how we should treat people that suffer from HIV+ and of how each and everyone of us can aid in this life-long battle. This film aims to teach us, to de-anesthetize us, to make us see behind closed doors and finally to never stop fighting for what is right no matter the odds. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'MS Reference Sans Serif', sans-serif;">I definitely recommend this film, albeit heavy and admittedly sad at times, it is a worthy film to have an eye out for, which certainly does deserve all the praise and the buzz it's been getting. </span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-49135047625859955652014-02-10T23:23:00.001-08:002014-02-10T23:32:27.942-08:00Captain Philips (2013)<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace; font-size: large;"><b><u>Captain Richard Phillips:</u> Listen up, we have been boarded by armed pirates. If they find you, remember, you know this ship, they don't. Stick together and we'll be all right. Good luck.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">I'll be honest, before this film came out, I knew very little about it, I didn't even know it was in the Oscar-horizon. And let's face it, it's not a high-alert contender in this year's filmmaking battle. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">First of, let's see what <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535109/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Captain Philips </a>is all about - Captain Phillips is a multi-layered examination of the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. container ship Maersk Alabama by a crew of Somali pirates. It is - through director <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339030/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Paul Greengrass</a>'s distinctive lens - simultaneously a pulse-pounding thriller, and a complex portrait of the myriad effects of globalization. The film focuses on the relationship between the Alabama's commanding officer, Captain Richard Phillips (two time Academy Award®-winner <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Tom Hanks</a>), and the Somali pirate captain, Muse (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5831542/?ref_=tt_cl_t3">Barkhad Abdi</a>), who takes him hostage. Phillips and Muse are set on an unstoppable collision course when Muse and his crew target Phillips' unarmed ship; in the ensuing standoff, 145 miles off the Somali coast, both men will find themselves at the mercy of forces beyond their control. (source:<a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">So what is it about <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535109/?ref_=nv_sr_1">Captain Phillips</a> that makes it so appealing to the Academy Awards panel? I guess it was a little bit about the 'heroic' escape of an ordinary captain, and a lot to do with <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Tom Hanks</a>. Much less so about the Somali pirates. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">But let's recap. Let us go back and look at why this film found its place into this year's Academy Award nominess in the Best Picture category. And where else to begin than the storyline.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The script was adapted from the book "<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_Captain's_Duty">A Captain's Duty: Somali Pirates, Navy SEALS, and Dangerous Days at Sea</a>" written by Richard Philips and Stephan Talty, which was later adapted for the screen by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0712753/?ref_=ttfc_fc_wr1">Billy Ray</a> ('<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1392170/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">The Hunger Games</a>', '<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0473705/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">State of Play</a>' etc). As a story, this one seems more than intriguing...sadly, more on paper than it did on film. The story starts off bit, nothing more than an ordinary man going on about his daily routine in transporting a cargo ship through the Somalia gulf. All goes well then action hits, aka pirate attack by Somalian pirates. To the rescue comes the heroic captain, who makes it his mission not only to protect the ship but save everyone on board. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">This hyberbasis from the character of course, soon seems to backfire with dramatic results during the film. The slow paced rhythm along with the indifferent direction at various points seem to give out. They made the film tedious and its action packed climatic points seemed more like a mundane action video game that had better be called 'Save the Captain', rather an Award winning true story film. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">In all the kind respect I have for both the lead actor, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1">Tom Hanks</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120689/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">The Green Mile</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0109830/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Forrest Gump</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0120815/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Saving Private Ryan</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0107818/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_44">Philadelphia</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0114709/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_40">Toy Story</a>), and the director, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0339030/?ref_=ttfc_fc_dr1">Paul Greengrass</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0280491/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_6">Bloody Sunday</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0440963/?ref_=nm_knf_t1">The Bourne Ultimatum</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0372183/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">The Bourne Supremacy</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0475276/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">United 93</a>, I can fairly say that this film left me wanting and disappointed. I felt emotionally disconnected with the lead character, not caring as much as I should have, and worst of all wanting to wait around to actually to see whether he lives or dies at the end. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">The thumbs up for this particular film should go for cinematography by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0010096/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr12">Barry Ackroyd</a>, its film editing by <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0002582/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr13">Christopher Rouse</a>, and its <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1535109/fullcredits?ref_=tt_ov_st_sm">sound editing/mixing</a>. The technical departments seemed to try to overcompensate to fill in the gaps and holes that the plot was leaving behind, which by the end of the film seemed to be providing a miniscule effort as well in the telling of a gripping story-telling.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">It is worthy to pay notice to the actor playing the Somali pirate, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm5831542/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t3">a Mr. Barkad Abdi</a>, who from the background check the media have made on him, he seemed to have been a limo driver before being cast in this horrifying ordeal of Captain Phillips. His agonizing performance as the Somali pirate who would do most about anything, even lose his own life and the lives of his companions, seemed, in my shockingly surprise, to surpass any of the over-acting that was done by the rest of the characters in this film.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">A fair mention to the guest starring screen wife of <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1">Tom Hanks</a>, C<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0001416/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t2">atherine Keener</a>, who seemed to be more of a prop and an empathy symbol, rather than a character to even begin to establish an emotional connection with.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Bearing in mind that this tale is based on true events though, one might be a little more lenient with the events unravelling in front of our screen and even go as far as to extend a form of sympathy by the end of it, mostly for the lead character.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Personally, I found myself in excruciating agony of when the film was finally going to wrap up and gloriously exhilirated when it finally did. Likewise, I can understand why the Academy snubbed <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cl_t1">Tom Hanks</a> for an Oscar nomination this year, but equally so I seem to feel buffled with the Academy's choice to include this film into their Best Picture category.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;">Granted for anyone who is a <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000158/?ref_=tt_cl_t1">Tom Hanks</a> supporter, watch it for the tale of it but be warned, that there's not many thrills and chills in its resolution. Nothing you haven't seen before, nothing you won't see again.</span><br />
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-44027137360420048552014-01-21T01:27:00.002-08:002014-01-21T02:11:31.124-08:00Gravity (2013)<div style="text-align: justify;">
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<span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"> </span><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: white; text-decoration: underline;">8.1/10</span></b><b style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span style="color: white;"> </span></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: red; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><u>Matt Kowalski</u>: I get it, it's nice up here. You could just shut down all the systems, turn down all the lights, just close your eyes and tune out everyone. There's nobody up here that can hurt you. It's safe. What's the point of going on? What's the point of living? Your kid died, it doesn't get any rougher than that. It's still a matter of what you do now. If you decide to go then you just gotta get on with it. Sit back, enjoy the ride, you gotta plant both your feet on the ground and start living life. Hey, Ryan, it's time to go home.</b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Right, now let's get a crack-a-liking. This post was a bit long overdue, so I won't waste your time prepping you anymore. Since we've had had the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/golden-globes?ref_=rto_nb_gg">Golden Globe Awards</a>, the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/screen-actors-guild?ref_=rto_nb_sag">SAG Awards</a>, the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/producers-guild">Producer's Guild Awards</a>, the <a href="http://www.imdb.com/oscars/nominations/critics-choice?ref_=rto_nb_cc">Critics Awards</a> and the much ignored <a href="http://www.peopleschoice.com/pca/awards/nominees/">People's Choice Awards</a>, it's time we get this boat sailing and start doing some major revewing of what's in the cinemas right now and buzzing for the Oscars. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many opinions have been flying about for this particular film. Some of which were mostly (in retrospect) negative, regarding mostly the "acting" element in the film. Many people (in retrospect) were defuting that there was any acting involved in the film. It was just all floating and CGI flying over our heads for 2 hours in the cinema. But let's dig a little bit deeper, shall we?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The reason I used the word - in retrospect, twice above- is because up until the point the film was shown in the cinemas, people were too eager to go and marvel at <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Alfonso Cuaron's</a> phenomenon. 'Oh what has he achieved now? Does it work? Is it as spectacular as they market it to be?'. And so on and so forth.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So we went to watch it and form our own impressions on this space adventure. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Gravity</a> then - what's it about? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Just briefly to say the synopsis, for those who have not yet indulged in watching this film, and would like to know what's all the fuss about: "Dr. Ryan Stone (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000113/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Sandra Bullock</a>) is a brilliant medical engineer on her first shuttle mission, with veteran astronaut Matt Kowalsky (George Clooney) in command of his last flight before retiring. But on a seemingly routine spacewalk, disaster strikes. The shuttle is destroyed, leaving Stone and Kowalsky completely alone - tethered to nothing but each other and spiraling out into the blackness." (source: <a href="http://www.imdb.com/">www.imdb.com</a>)</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So let's start with emotion: was there any? Various opinions in the horizon, many have intense objections regarding emotional drama in the film. Personally I experienced goosebumps. Major ones too. Why?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">First of all, let's not forget on the conditions the two actors were asked to portray their characters in. 90% of the film was shot with green screen, having just a camera pointing to them or following them around, talking to the absolute emptiness, floating about, with heavy space gear on. And on top of that, they had to deliver lines, and extract emotion. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe so, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000123/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Clooney's</a> role may have been limited, he hardly stayed there long enough to develop any kinds of emotions with the viewers, apart from the comedic relief ones very early one in the film - and most of the female audience were sad to see him go so soon from their screen projector. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So was it enough to have a one-protagonist film for the remaining time of the film, and a female one at that?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I've never considered <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000113/?ref_=tt_ov_st">Sandra Bullock</a>, THE GREATEST actress to hold an entire film all by herself. However, she in in some ways brilliant in her own manner - as we have seen her in the past in comedies and dramas alike (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0878804/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_6">The Blind Side</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0375679/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_14">Crash</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0410297/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_11">The Lake House</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0111257/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_35">Speed</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1041829/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_8">The Proposal</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0212346/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_19">Miss Congeniality I</a> & <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0385307/?ref_=nm_flmg_act_12">II</a>). As an actress she did have her ups and downs, but looking at her acting work objectively in this film, we must grant her that she did a pretty good job in maintaining a balance in her role. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is a big deal to just float about and have the ability to convey the fear, the loneliness, the sadness of this character. Lest we forget, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/bio?ref_=nm_ov_bio_sm">Cuaron</a>, cleverly subplotted the character's backstory into the plot, and how the vast emptiness that she was experiencing in her life, would ultimately be the breaking point for her survival. It was a bold move to allow Bullock to transform this space journey into a journey of survival, but I believe it paid off for multiple reasons. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Considering the visual techniques in <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Gravity</a>, we have nothing but marvel <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Alfonso Cuaron</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0245574/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Y Tu Mama Tambien</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Children of Men</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0304141/?ref_=nm_knf_t4">Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0401711/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_5">Paris Je T'Aime</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119223/?ref_=nm_flmg_dr_8">Great Expectations</a>). He co-wrote the screen play with his son, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190861/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm">Jonas Cuaron</a>, and he made sure that he didn't spend a lot of time on trivial matters when it came to induling in his space experience. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Visually, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1454468/?ref_=nv_sr_2">Gravity</a> was an immensely challenging film to shoot due to all the various aspects he had to consider regarding what it actually feels like to be in space. Along with his cinematographer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0523881/">Emmanuel Lubezki</a> (<a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0162661/?ref_=nm_knf_t3">Sleepy Hollow</a>, <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0206634/?ref_=nm_knf_t2">Children of Men</a>, they chose to enhance their production with real-life elements that would enable the viewer to believe that whilst the dramatic action was in place so would the visual will be in a perfect coordination. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">An example of that was the use of the lighting and the sound which would indicate at exactly what time span the action was unravelling whilst the time was rapidly moving. They managed to coordinate these two key elements in this visual story, so that every time one of the actors would move or float would have the precise lighting and sound that would actually exist in real life space time. Along with their LED lighting techniques and their physical movement coordination they had to make sure that every dramatic line would not step onto the visual narrative of the film's production.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The average viewer will consider all of these make-belief techniques and undertakings trivial and unimportant to the dramatic narrative of the story, at some points even exhausting and with nothing real to convey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The true masterpiece comes from within these elements though; if we but only consider that the character is actually floating solo in space, with no mission control to actual have a guidance from, the <i><b>gravity</b></i> of the situation is a fierce one. What <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Cuaron</a> plays upon, is so skillfully to produce a unison between the psychological action going on in the character's psyche along with the external forces that penetrate the character with their visual infusion. In terms of production filmmaking, this is a visual glory at its best. And <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Cuaron</a> did not fail to produce a carefully executed story that would present a thematically challenging narrative whilst allowing the viewer to get a glimpse of this 'what would it be like out there'. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In visual terms, the production team worked marvels, thus quite rightly so it is now heralded with an overflow of nominations and awards. The filmmaking community distinguishes this work, not so much on the sympathy of the characters but for the <i><b>gravity</b></i> of the visualization of the unknown. And to this we would only be fair to admit <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0190859/?ref_=tt_ov_dr">Cuaron's</a> extraordinary directorial genuis. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Objectively so, this film is not everyone's cup of tea type of film. It is not your average <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0796366/?ref_=nv_sr_4">Star Trek</a> or outer space experience kind of film, but it is definitely a visualized conceptual piece of filmmaking you simply cannot reject by its lack of family drama. It is another piece of art, a more uknown thematically filmmaking piece, that deserves its proper recognition in its own terms. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lastly, just to briefly mention the astounding musical score of the film by composer <a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1888527/?ref_=ttfc_fc_cr8">Steven Price</a>, which is also up for an Oscar nomination. You can listen to a piece from the soundtrack <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K3-YGVb6Tbw">here</a>. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">For those that did enjoy the film, I am glad you relished in its own groundbreaking filmmaking boundaries. And for the ones that didn't, I hope it didn't drag on too long till you got out of the cinema hall. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Till next time folks. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> Gravity</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Courier New, Courier, monospace;"><br /></span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-20622849843831562282014-01-13T02:00:00.003-08:002014-01-13T02:00:23.839-08:00And the Golden Globe goes to...<b><u><br /></u></b>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So I know I promised a "Gravity" post, but since tis the season to give out awards already, let me report last evening's highlights, just for the sake of it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Not gonna bother with too much commentary, as this is kinda the warm-up of the Oscars. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Personally, in the world of great filmmaking, I believe that very few notable films see a good buzz and a worthy acknowledgement from the Academy, but hey, this is Hollywood so, the jig is up, so sit back, relax and watch ahead. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here's what happened yesterday in Hollywood:</span><br />
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></u></b>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Motion Picture - Drama</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Captain Phillips (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gravity (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rush (2013/I)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philomena (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Drama</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matthew McConaughey for Dallas Buyers Club (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chiwetel Ejiofor for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Idris Elba for Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tom Hanks for Captain Phillips (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robert Redford for All Is Lost (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Drama</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sandra Bullock for Gravity (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Judi Dench for Philomena (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Emma Thompson for Saving Mr. Banks (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kate Winslet for Labor Day (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Leonardo DiCaprio for The Wolf of Wall Street (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Christian Bale for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bruce Dern for Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oscar Isaac for Inside Llewyn Davis (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Joaquin Phoenix for Her (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amy Adams for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julie Delpy for Before Midnight (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Greta Gerwig for Frances Ha (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julia Louis-Dreyfus for Enough Said (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Meryl Streep for August: Osage County (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jared Leto for Dallas Buyers Club (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Barkhad Abdi for Captain Phillips (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Daniel Brühl for Rush (2013/I)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bradley Cooper for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael Fassbender for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Motion Picture</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jennifer Lawrence for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sally Hawkins for Blue Jasmine (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lupita Nyong'o for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julia Roberts for August: Osage County (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">June Squibb for Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Director - Motion Picture</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alfonso Cuarón for Gravity (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Paul Greengrass for Captain Phillips (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Steve McQueen for 12 Years a Slave (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">David O. Russell for American Hustle (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Alexander Payne for Nebraska (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Screenplay - Motion Picture</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Her (2013): Spike Jonze</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 Years a Slave (2013): John Ridley</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">American Hustle (2013): Eric Singer, David O. Russell</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Nebraska (2013): Bob Nelson</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Philomena (2013): Steve Coogan, Jeff Pope</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Original Song - Motion Picture</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013): Bono, Adam Clayton, The Edge, Larry Mullen Jr., Brian Burton("Ordinary Love")</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frozen (2013): Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez("Let It Go")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Inside Llewyn Davis (2013): T-Bone Burnett, Ethan Coen, Joel Coen, Justin Timberlake, George Cromaty, Ed Rush("Please Mr. Kennedy")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hunger Games: Catching Fire (2013): Chris Martin, Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion("Atlas")</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">One Chance (2013): Jack Antonoff, Taylor Swift("Sweeter Than Fiction")</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Original Score - Motion Picture</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">All Is Lost (2013): Alex Ebert</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Book Thief (2013): John Williams</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Gravity (2013): Steven Price</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom (2013): Alex Heffes</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">12 Years a Slave (2013): Hans Zimmer</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Animated Film</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Frozen (2013): Chris Buck, Jennifer Lee</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Croods (2013): Kirk De Micco, Chris Sanders</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Despicable Me 2 (2013): Pierre Coffin, Chris Renaud</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Foreign Language Film</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Great Beauty (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blue Is the Warmest Color (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Hunt (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Past (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Wind Rises (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Television Series - Drama</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Breaking Bad" (2008)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Downton Abbey" (2010)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Good Wife" (2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"House of Cards" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Masters of Sex" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Television Series - Musical or Comedy</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The Big Bang Theory" (2007)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Girls" (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Modern Family" (2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Parks and Recreation" (2009)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Behind the Candelabra (2013) (TV)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"American Horror Story" (2011)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Dancing on the Edge" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"Top of the Lake" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">"The White Queen" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Drama</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Bryan Cranston for "Breaking Bad" (2008)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kevin Spacey for "House of Cards" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Liev Schreiber for "Ray Donovan" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael Sheen for "Masters of Sex" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">James Spader for "The Blacklist" (2013)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Drama</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Robin Wright for "House of Cards" (2013)</span><br />
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></b>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julianna Margulies for "The Good Wife" (2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Kerry Washington for "Scandal" (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Tatiana Maslany for "Orphan Black" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Taylor Schilling for "Orange Is the New Black" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy</span></u></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Andy Samberg for "Brooklyn Nine-Nine" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Don Cheadle for "House of Lies" (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jason Bateman for "Arrested Development" (2003)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jim Parsons for "The Big Bang Theory" (2007)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael J. Fox for "The Michael J. Fox Show" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<u><b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy</span></b></u><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Amy Poehler for "Parks and Recreation" (2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lena Dunham for "Girls" (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Edie Falco for "Nurse Jackie" (2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Julia Louis-Dreyfus for "Veep" (2012)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Zooey Deschanel for "New Girl" (2011)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Michael Douglas for Behind the Candelabra (2013) (TV)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Matt Damon for Behind the Candelabra (2013) (TV)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Al Pacino for Phil Spector (2013) (TV)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Idris Elba for "Luther" (2010)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Chiwetel Ejiofor for "Dancing on the Edge" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Mini-Series or a Motion Picture Made for Television</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Elisabeth Moss for "Top of the Lake" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jessica Lange for "American Horror Story" (2011)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helen Mirren for Phil Spector (2013) (TV)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Helena Bonham Carter for Burton and Taylor (2013) (TV)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rebecca Ferguson for "The White Queen" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jon Voight for "Ray Donovan" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Aaron Paul for "Breaking Bad" (2008)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Corey Stoll for "House of Cards" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Rob Lowe for Behind the Candelabra (2013) (TV)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Josh Charles for "The Good Wife" (2009)</span><br />
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<b><u><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role in a Series, Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television</span></u></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">WINNER</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Jacqueline Bisset for "Dancing on the Edge" (2013)</span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Other Nominees:</span></b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sofía Vergara for "Modern Family" (2009)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Janet McTeer for "The White Queen" (2013)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Monica Potter for "Parenthood" (2010)</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hayden Panettiere for "Nashville" (2012)</span>Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1395076637251184841.post-39149879290135174682014-01-10T01:11:00.000-08:002014-01-10T01:11:00.783-08:00'Tis The Season to Be Jolly...<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht55wKcJD8Fj4l10ARNO4Qssad_MTPko6cPzLPAP8zwcfeSu-QxU1_UO5xw07JRFm1mvDMx9bxq44dmYVroI1x4CxvSQQgpdv21aclNQF7QjXxGjcQ5Ffsr3jkSNyUkz5GgG3_LT7rzak/s1600/oscarcomp0701B.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEht55wKcJD8Fj4l10ARNO4Qssad_MTPko6cPzLPAP8zwcfeSu-QxU1_UO5xw07JRFm1mvDMx9bxq44dmYVroI1x4CxvSQQgpdv21aclNQF7QjXxGjcQ5Ffsr3jkSNyUkz5GgG3_LT7rzak/s1600/oscarcomp0701B.jpg" height="426" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">So here we are again.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Another year gone by. The award season, has once more stepped threw our threshold. It is high time to start re-viewing some of this year's, or past year's more like it, films.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many worthy contenders this year, although they do look rather dreary thematologically. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">During the past year, I have delved more into the TV SERIES entity, so had very limited time to approach films. I find myself rather picky these days, and only accept to watch films that are "worth my while".</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But, really, how can you know what is worth your while, if you don't give a chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Hence, I will keep a rather open mind for this award season too. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I have seen very few of the oscar nominated (well not officially nominated yet) films for this year.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Since, the Golden Globes are fast approaching - due to broadcast on Jan 12, 2014, I had better start getting down to business.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mind you, I have watched A LOT of other notable films this year, who sadly for one reason or another have not made it into the Academy's elite-list.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Oh well. C' est la vie.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Moving on. Next order of business: GRAVITY. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Coming soon folks...</span></div>
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Black Rose Dragon Ladyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10681077557621395994noreply@blogger.com2