Best Of Times (2009)

Here is the movie that Thai people proud of. At least that is what I thought by seeing so much awards for this movie. It was the Thailand official submission for Oscar.

Best Of Times is adding another bright color for movies in 2009.  After watching several comedy and cutesy Thai movies, this movie have a higher level to look for.

It's a story about Keng, a vet who couldn't help not thinking his first love, Fai. Fai involved in a relationship since highschool with Keng's bestfriend and got married, but ended in divorce. Keng met this two charming elder couple, Sompit and Jamrus in computer class, where he worked as a teacher, as part of his social service. Sompit and Jamrus have a lovely relationship but Sompit doubts her son would approve her relationship with Jamrus.

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.

3 Days To Forever (2007)

Yeah, I am very proud to finally can post movies from my own country. I should've seen this one way earlier. 3 Days To Forever or originally 3 Hari Untuk Selamanya was released in 2007 and directed by Riri Riza. It was selected to be screen in the premiere of Hong Kong International Film Festival dan Singapore International Film Festival.

The movie tells a story about two cousins, Yusuf and Ambar, who supposedly took a half-day trip and turn it into 3 days trip from Jakarta to Yogyakarta. From the beginning they both have a closeness and feel comfortable enough to do mischievousness in front of each other. It is a portrait of the life of nowadays generation of youth and the way they deal with traditional culture in their lives.


I felt the similarity of Nicholas Saputra (who played Yusuf) roles between Yusuf and Rangga (Ada Apa Dengan Cinta). Only Yusuf is more quiet and friendly. Adinia Wirasti plays Ambar very well, a mix of a spoiled, naughty and outspoken girl.

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.

Happy-Go-Lucky (2008)

To tell you the truth these days wasn't the best of my Happy-Go-Lucky days. Sure I took a holiday and glad I took it. They keep you from being stressed out. But holiday wasn't a solution, it's just a getaway, a little escape. It doesn't end your problems. Just a few days pause from your regular life.

Certain events are in my agenda. And from the holidays to the unpleasant regular days, I took it hard. There were a lot of judgements, hidden and unresolved feelings and pressures. I thought, 'wow I sure have one hectic life!' And I miss the old happy me. But in the middle of my mind trip I realize I was missing the best part of everything, to feel gratitude for my life that I had. Not everyone is as lucky.

I remembered I had this movie on my movie watch list. I'm glad I watched it now. I owe it a lot to make me feel better. Read the plot here.

Actresses (2009)

Six korean actresses get together for a photoshoot a day before Christmas. Actresses was made without a script, the director made the basis of the conflict and the actresses took it from there. Six actresses—Yoon Yeo-jeong, Lee Mi-sook, Ko Hyeon-jeong, Choi Ji-woo, Kim Min-hee and Kim Ok-bin, each portraying themselves. The director, E J-Yong said he wants to portray the charming real life of actresses. It was a feature film at the 2010 San Diego Asian Film Festival.

With different generations and work experience, the actresses mixture create a honest situation with just playing as themselves. The most intense situation was a fight between Ko Hyun-jung and Choi Ji-woo. Choi said that she was jealous of her pretty look and Ko seems to be pretty sensitive with high ego actress.

THE GROUNDHOG DAY (1993)

First time I watch Bill Murray was on 'Ghostbuster' (I love the comic, addicted to them when I was a kid). But I didn't realize until now it was the same guy I watched in 'Lost In Translation' and 'GroundHog Day'. But I gotta say GroundHog Day might be his best role I ever watched. The movie gave a very deep beautiful life lessons I might ever watch in a comedy movie. I'll tell you why.

Bill Murray plays Phil Connors, a famous weather reporter in a network. Every year he covers a report of 'GroundHog Day' (a holiday celebrated on February 2 in the United States and Canada. According to folklore, if it is cloudy when a groundhog emerges from its burrow on this day, it will leave the burrow, signifying that winter will soon end. If on the other hand, it is sunny, the groundhog will supposedly "see its shadow" and retreat back into its burrow, and winter will continue for six more weeks - wikipedia).

So he went to the biggest celebration of the day in Punxsutawney, Pennsylvania, with Larry the cameraman and Rita (Andie McDowell) the producer. Phil hated the job, mostly because he's been doing the work for years and it becomes too predictable, and that he feels he's too 'big' (as a senior reporter) to do it. But because of the blizzard, he and the team are forced to go back to the city and ends up living the same day over and over again.

THE TALENTED MR.RIPLEY (1999)

I can't really explain why I wanted to see this movie. All I know is when I went to look for movies, I look for it and the sales guy gave me a collection of Matt Damon's movies. Although I also wanted to watch 'Invictus' and 'The Informant', but I sensed that this movie is worth to watch first.

The Talented Mr. Ripley is a 1999 American psychological thriller written and directed by Anthony Minghella. It is an adaptation of the Patricia Highsmith 1955 novel of the same name, which was previously filmed as Plein Soleil (Full Sun, 1960).
 
The film stars Matt Damon as Tom Ripley, Gwyneth Paltrow as Marge Sherwood, Jude Law as Dickie Greenleaf, Cate Blanchett as Meredith Logue (a character created for the film), Philip Seymour Hoffman as Freddie Miles, Jack Davenport as Peter Smith-Kingsley (a character expanded for the film), James Rebhorn as Herbert Greenleaf, Celia Weston as Aunt Joan, and Ivano Marescotti as Colonnello Verrecchia.

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.

BREAKFAST CLUB (1985)

Breakfast Club is a teen movie, directed by John Hughes. I found out John Hughes just died in 2009, but he is known for making teen movies in '80s. He's well known work is Home Alone (1990) as a writer.

10 years ahead, there were a lot of teen movies in theaters. They made it in horror genre, drama and comedy. They exposed beauty in the lead characters and involved the geeky ones to make it more colorful. Often they made it more bold, dramatize, which is maybe OK because teens mostly overact. But they rarely made teen movie as it is (or I rarely seen one).

VIRGIN SUICIDES (1999)

I always always wanted to see this movie. Never got the chance, until I asked my friend to look for the download link (I put the link somewhere in this review). Thanks for him, I finally can enjoy the movie. The moment I want to see the movie is when Kirsten Dunst was a new hottie in Hollywood. A year before Bring It On hit the theaters. Other part is Josh Hartnett (I was a teenager then). But I may have never appreciate the movie back then, like now.

LOST IN TRANSLATION (2003)

Bob Harris (Bill Murray) and Charlotte (Scarlett Johansson) are two Americans in Tokyo. Bob is a movie star in town to shoot a whiskey commercial, while Charlotte is a young recent graduate woman tagging along her workaholic photographer husband.