Somewhere (2010)

After long await, I finally can enjoy this latest Sofia Coppola movie. It's a bit late now, but better late than never. Why the excitement? I love her previous movies and I also a fan of Phoenix, a french indie band where Thomas Mars is the leading vocals. Phoenix is doing the film score in this movie.

Somewhere tells a story about a hard-living Hollywood actor re-examines his life after his 11-year-old daughter surprises him with a visit.(imdb) The newborn actor, Johnny Marco appears to suffer anhedonia; a mental condition of feeling nothing or he believes he's nothing. It does seem the theme of celebrity ennui is still is Coppola's interest after Lost in Translation.

The whole appeal of this movie is the life of celebrity, the fame and glamorous life of living in a celebrity hotel, the ladies and travel overseas. It should be most appealing for Johnny Marco, but it seems he feels bored or empty inside, unable to feel the pleasure he's having in his life.

Tangled (2010)

Tangled is a computer-animated movie produced by Walt Disney Pictures. Original titles were Rapunzel, as the original German fairy tale Rapunzel by Brothers Grimm. They changed the titles as the marketing strategy. Eventhough the changing title caused critics, but it seems the marketing strategy is working.


The story is about the magically long-haired Rapunzel has spent her entire life in a tower, but now that a runaway thief has stumbled upon her, she is about to discover the world for the first time, and who she really is.(imdb)

Flipped (2010)

It is interesting when a teenager movie wrapped in a wiser point of view. The result is an easy to digest but full of wisdom kind of way movie. Flipped is a love story, to sum up, but tells the story with two point of view. From the girl, Juli and the boy, Bryce. Two eighth graders start to have feelings for each other despite being total opposites. Based on the novel "Flipped" by Wendelin Van Draanen.(imdb)

I have a fondness with old vintage things. This movie set in the '50s and use old tunes like my mother's favorite tunes. Madelinne Caroll plays a strong character as Julie. Deep impression also felt by John Mahoney who plays Bryce's grandfather, Chet. Using narration with back and forth plot does not felt confusing. It makes us learn more from both characters.

As a kid, we act like what is is. Spontaneously do things according to our personality. So right from the beginning we could see the difference between Juli and Bryce personality. From the start Juli is straightforward and stubborn but Bryce is still easily influenced from his surroundings.

The Kids Are All Right (2010)

In LA, Nic and Jules are a couple with a daughter, Joni, on her way to college and a son, Laser, at 15 a good athlete but maybe hanging out with the wrong pal. Laser wants Joni, who's now 18, to find out who their biological father is - a sperm donor. Without initially telling their moms, they meet him. He's Paul, a cool guy with a motorcycle, a restaurant, and an organic garden. Although Nic doesn't like the idea, the five of them get together a few times and the kids spend time with Paul. He hires Jules, who's had many brief vocations, to landscape his back yard, and Nic, who's an OB/GYN, decides to be a good sport and get to know Paul better. Can a family add a new member?(imdb)

This movie almost completes my task to see the 2010 Oscar nominee movies. This one might be the most unique family movies I have ever seen, because it is included a two women as a parent. But to me it is just a different outer skin but same content inside.

It's refreshing to see Mia Wasikowska not doing her Alice In Wonderland, being just a normal teenager. Mark Ruffalo doing a great job being a long lost father a.k.a sperm donor. It is interesting to see the comparison from his thing to jump to right to his profession rather than take college with the family that think the opposite. But Annette Bening is pretty much being the best deep impression in this movie. I could feel her strong character as the head of the family and in the couple.

Hello Stranger (2010) >> Fashion and Locations

So many movies sometimes took advantage of overseas locations but did not explore it so well. But traveling movies are a big bonus if the story is great as well. Hello Stranger is no exception.  It tells two people for the first time traveling in South Korea during Songkran Festival. They both have adorable characters, great street style for wardrobe with beautiful scenes behind. I like learning new cultures, so those traditional food in the street and other details are interesting to me. In the mean time, this is some of the stills with some of the places in South Korea.

Secretariat (2010)

I've marked this movie to be on my watch-list, because I read in some movie blogs that it is recommended. Secretariat is based on a true story of Penny Chenery and her winning race-horse Secretariat back in the 70s. I couldn't help but comparing the movie with Seabiscuit, who received awards for a heartwarming story. Sometimes no matter how good or inspiring the true story is, it is the packaging of the movie that's people going to see.

It tells a story about a housewife and mother, Penny Chenery, agrees to take over her ailing father’s Virginia-based Meadow Stables, despite her lack of horse-racing knowledge. The film is based largely on William Nack's book Secretariat: The Making of a Champion. He was also a consultant for the film. (wikipedia)

Human can do have a connection with animals with their minds and interactions. Diane Lane plays Penny Chenery who looked up to be a devoted wife and a classy owner of a race-horse. She appear to be a perfect, well-together and dedicated woman. At some point I felt the movie got monotonous, until John Malkovich (who plays Lucien, the eccentric horse trainer) is in the picture.

127 Hours (2010)

It was just a matter of time for me to put the movie in this blog. I was afraid that it's going to be surviving movie that focused on the pain leading to frustration in the end making the viewers depressed, much like Into The Wild's pitied story. As I read that the director, Danny Boyle, has directed Slumdog Millionaire, no wonder it has the same fast paced time movie and not at all boring.
 
127 Hours is the true story of mountain climber Aron Ralston's remarkable adventure to save himself after a fallen boulder crashes on his arm and traps him in an isolated canyon in Utah. Over the next five days Ralston examines his life and survives the elements to finally discover he has the courage and the wherewithal to extricate himself by any means necessary, scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before he can be rescued. Throughout his journey, Ralston recalls friends, lovers, family, and the two hikers he met before his accident.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love (2010)

Okay, I know when you take a look at the poster it seems like a usual ordinary teenager love movies. I am not going to lie, because yes it is. But I am not here to shoot them down because there is some values I see in this movie, despite its regularity.

I don't think I ever, as I recall watch any romantic Thai movies. But I watched this and I loved the cinematography. It's clean and sharp. The cast are great, except maybe the leading actor who as described could only look pretty. It was helped a lot by having Nam (Pimchanok Lerwisetpibol), the leading actress, who transformed like an ugly duckling to a beautiful girl and the silly English Teacher, Inn (Sudarat Budtporm).

Summary : The life of Nam, an ordinary girl as a freshman in her school who secretly had a crush with her senior high school mate. The story surround itself with her friendship with her childhood friends and the opponent on impressing her crush.

Never Let Me Go (2010)

Never Let Me Go is a movie based on Kazuo Ishiguro's 2005 novel with the same name and directed by Mark Romanek. Starred by Carrey Mulligan, Keira Knightley and Andrew Garfield. The novel was a big success, Time magazine said it is the best novel in 2005.

It tells a story about the life of three students in Hailsham, an idealistic boarding school who taught their students to be prepared for what they are born to be, for the sake of healing people who in need of a donor. Kathy, Tommy and Ruth are friends since child as they are attending the boarding school together and involved in a love triangle. As they grow into young adults, they find that they have to come to terms with the strength of the love they feel for each other, while preparing themselves for the haunting reality that awaits them (Fox Searchlight Pictures).

The King's Speech (2010)

Like any other movies that has been nominated in prestigious awards, this movie has been on my watch-list. Fortunately, I don't have the opportunity to read other reviews about The King's Speech. I've discovered that reading other review might give you high expectation but still it's you to decide what's good and what is not. But still, you can sense whether the movie have depth or not from the director, the cast, the movie title and the poster.

The story : Biopic about England's King George VI (father of present day Queen Elizabeth II) and his lifelong struggle to overcome his speech impediment. Suffering from a stammer from the age of 4 or 5, the young Prince Albert dreaded any public speaking engagement and history records that his speech at the closing of the 1925 Commonwealth exhibition in London was difficult for both him and everyone listening that day. He tried many different therapies over many years but it was only when he met Lionel Logue, a speech therapist, that he truly began to make progress. Logue did not have a medical degree but had worked as an elocution coach in the theater and had worked with shell-shocked soldiers after World War I. Through a variety of techniques - and much hard work - he learns to speak in such a way so as to make his impediment a minor problem and delivers a faultless speech heard around the world by radio when England declared war on Nazi Germany in 1939. The King and Logue remained lifelong friends.(imdb.com)

The Fighter (2010)

I for one, not a fan of boxing. If there's nothing on television and I'm on the state of boredom, I will watch it and maybe even liked it eventually. But it's not my favorite type of TV program or sport. One thing that made me drawn to The Fighter first of all, is the depth feeling of the poster, as I use in the left. And so I heard that the movie got nominated in 7 categories in Oscars. I was not going to let my subjectivity in boxing made me pass the movie, of course I have to see it.

The Fighter, is a drama about boxer "Irish" Micky Ward's unlikely road to the world light welterweight title. His Rocky-like rise was shepherded by half-brother Dicky, a boxer-turned-trainer who rebounded in life after nearly being KO'd by drugs and crime. (imdb.com)

The movie felt like a winner, because it portrays a definite contrast between the basis of older and younger brother treatment from their mother and how Mark Wahlberg, who plays Micky Ward, after feeling down by losing 7 times tries to get back in the game. Micky was managed by his mother and trained by his former great boxer brother, Dicky.

Happythankyoumoreplease (2010)

 

 Finally, a heartwarming movie. Couple movies I picked this several days have been out of expectation. I may have expected too much. But this movie I had no clue. One thing I know is Josh Radnor, known for a romantic big hearted guy from the famous serial How I Met Your Mother, directed, written and played the lead character on this movie. He still is feels like Ted this movie, but shows more fragility.

Six New Yorkers juggle love, friendship, and the keenly challenging specter of adulthood. Sam Wexler is a struggling writer who's having a particularly bad day. When a young boy gets separated from his family on the subway, Sam makes the questionable decision to bring the child back to his apartment and thus begins a rewarding, yet complicated, friendship. Sam's life revolves around his friends-Annie, whose self-image keeps her from commitment; Charlie and Mary Catherine, a couple whose possible move to Los Angeles tests their relationship; and Mississippi, a cabaret singer who catches Sam's eye. (imdb.com)

This is not that highly praise hollywood movie, more of a heartwarming simple movie that could keep you on track in life. Though it has nothing that could make you jumped for amazement. But I have to say this; it has a lot of heart, it gave input for self-improvement. I personally recommend this for someone who's looking for a serious relationship.

Black Swan (2010)

Ballet and Natalie Portman, two attractive things that made me want to watch this movie so much. I'm glad I open the year watching this movie. When I was a little girl, I use to read a comic book about little ballerina called Mari-Chan. The comic was funny but also taught a lot about competition. In those comics I also knew about Swan Lake and her twin sister, Black Swan, and that hard 32-turns (fouettés en tournant) of it's role. Not that the book has any comparison with the movie other than ballet, but hey, most little girls wished she could be a ballerina ^^.

Black Swan is a 2010 American film directed by Darren Aronofsky and starring Natalie Portman, Vincent Cassel, and Mila Kunis. Variously described as a psychological thriller or a psychological horror film, its plot revolves around a production of Swan Lake by a prestigious New York City ballet company. The production requires a ballerina to play both the innocent White Swan and the sensual Black Swan. One dancer, Nina (Portman), is a perfect fit for the White Swan, while Lily (Kunis) has a personality that matches the Black Swan. When the two compete for the parts, Nina finds a dark side to herself. (wikipedia)

my top 10 movies in 2010

Noted : these movies are the ones I watched in 2010. For some reason, I was more blown away with 2009's movies. Haven't watch Black Swan, Hereafter, Somewhere, For Colored Girls and all. I guess I'll see them in 2011. This list is inspired by moviesandsongs365.

1. Shawshank Redemption (1994)

Of course this movie would make the number one.
There aren't enough stars to rate this movie.

Not just about life in prison, or convicted crime. But willpower.

2. Up In The Air (2009)

I remembered I never really interested to see this, but it's a mind opener.

You rarely see Clooney with fragile side.
The movie encourage us to follow our dreams.

3. Ground Hog Day (1993)

This comedy movie is full of things to taught about self-improvement.
Recommended by moviesandsongs365.

4. Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

A break-down family goes on a trip.
It's pretty messy for a family movie, but worth to watch.  


5. Up (2009)

I watched Toy Story 3, and I still like this movie better.
The movie is a perfection, both in animation and the heartbreaking story.

6. Lost In Translation

Two stranger stuck in another country, sharing loneliness.
Didn't know much but in need of each other.
Coppola made it look so cool, I admire her more and more.

7. Driving Miss Daisy

Two friends with different class, background and skin.
Morgan Freeman does it again. I may like this movie because
Jessica Tandy's character reminded me of my grandmother.

8. An Education

A girl falls in love with a wealthy man and forgets her education.
It's a recommended for teenage girls.

9.  Amélie (2001)

Audrey Tatou plays this quirky imaginative french girl
that helps people with her own way.
This movie has its own impression that I did not find in other movies.


10. Yes Man 

Jim Carrey unable to say 'No' is hilarious but also open to any opportunity.
This comedy had a self-improvement message much like 'GroundHog Day'.
Have you ever thought to say 'Yes' all the time?



So I have Morgan Freeman and Bill Murray in 2 movies.
I'm inviting you too to write your own Top 10 movies in 2010.

501 Must-See Movies : Books

I've got a lovely present, the book '501 Must-See Movies' second publish, out in 2010. It's an updated version from the same title out in 2004. I feel like a little girl receiving a barbie or something :) Thanks a lot yongkek for your gift, it's very very valuable.

I am very excited to see the various titles, although there were a lot of classic movies I haven't watched. I thought I could challenge myself to watch them all, but I doubt I could find the classic ones, and I don't really interested to see the horror, war or western ones. Instead I mark the ones I thought I could still find and eager to see. After I receive this, I watch Juno and Shawshank Redemption.

In case you haven't seen inside the book, this is the list of movies :
*) I mark movies I want to see with bold, already seen in grey

Going The Distance (2010) : The Boxer Rebellion

The Boxer Rebellion has been accompanying me all week. It's been a part of my personal video project, due to recommendation of my best friend. At the same time, my sister was watching Going The Distance. I decided to check the movie myself later, and there they were, the hook band in the movie. It must be fate then, because the band's music is something to look for.

Go to their website and download their EP track for free http://theboxerrebellion.com/

from the movie Going The Distance

EASY A (2010)

This is one of the movies I'm interested to see, but afraid it was gonna be one of those no-meaning teenage drama. Once a friend recommend it, so I was eager to watch. I was watching it in not a very convenient condition, but still thought it was a smart and funny teenage movie.

Read the plot here.

TAIPEI EXCHANGES (2010)

I am writing this review very excited. I finally found an Asian movie worth reviewed here! Not that there's no movie from Asian is good, but I just haven't found the Asian movie references yet.

Several days ago I found a web for Asian festival movies and write some of the movie titles to look for. But, I don't know if Taipei Exchanges is there. I just look at the movie's cover and decided to watch it.

The movie tells a story about a girl named Doris who starts to own a coffee shop in Taipei, where she runs it with her younger-tomboy sister, Joise. On the opening day of the coffee shop, her car crash a flower truck. Instead of cash compensation for the damage to her vehicle, the lady is offered the van's load of calla lilies.

Eat, Pray & Love (2010) : Music

I find the movie's soundtrack is easy to listen, relaxing and soothing. Like having a trip to exotic place. Eddie Vedder, Pearl Jam's frontman, contribute 2 songs in the movie's soundtrack. One I found in You Tube is 'Better Days'.

TEMPLE GRANDIN (2010)

Temple Grandin is a 2010 biopic directed by Mick Jackson and starring Claire Danes as Temple Grandin, a woman with autism who revolutionized practices for the humane handling of livestock on cattle ranches and slaughterhouses.