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.

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).

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)

One Hour Photo (2002)

While waiting Never Let Me Go, I realize I have one Mark Romanek's movie I have never watched. It's One Hour Photo, psychological thriller written and directed by Mark Romanek and starring Robin Williams. The movie's been sitting in the cupboard for years and I buy it again *pat forehead*.

The movie is about lonely photo lab technician having a obsession in young family. Sy (Robin Williams) have been developing pictures of the Yorkin family since their only son Jake were in the womb. He's been imagining to be Jake's uncle and collecting their photos in his apartment wall. One day Sy discovered Will Yorkin, Jake's dad is having an affair to another woman, which he figure out from the another woman's picture. Sy decided to take Will and his other woman to his own justice.

PIECES OF APRIL (2003)

Honestly, I never thought the movie will end up in my blog. Lately it's been so rainy that I end up getting sick and overwhelmed with my daily life. So I was not ready to watch a heavy and lots-of-thinking kind of movie (there were some movie I bought, but I end up ignoring them). I am ready to watch Family genre movie. I was seeing an article in imdb.com about Best Fall movies. There's no fall here, but it feels gloomy with a lot of rain. One of the list is Pieces of April. I remembered my sister bought it when it first came out. I never saw it, I have to admit I kind of underestimated it.

Back in 2003, Katie Holmes was still linked a lot to Dawson's Creek, which she plays Joey, a struggling smart girl who ends up in love with her childhood friend. Back then I thought Katie Holmes can only play related kind of character of Joey. Maybe if I saw this movie in 2003, I would say 'Eh, she's still Joey.' Now, it doesn't matter. I just think the movie has a lot of values.

Learning from : Seabiscuit (2003)

It's a safe movie. Safe means I find it in a festival movie section in dvd store, and lots of awards listed in front of the cover. So it's safe to say I know the movie will blow me away.

When I was a child, I find horses are elegant and tough, and so beautiful. I have a little miniature of them made of wood. I like it so much, when it's feet is broken I attach it again with a tape and keep playing with it. So when I see the movie, I remember I use to adore the beautiful creature.
Seabiscuit (May 23, 1933—May 17, 1947) was a champion Thoroughbred racehorse in the United States. From an inauspicious start, Seabiscuit became an unlikely champion and a symbol of hope to many Americans during the Great Depression. Seabiscuit became the subject of a 1949 film, The Story of Seabiscuit; a 2001 book, Seabiscuit: An American Legend; and a 2003 film, Seabiscuit, which was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. (wikipedia)

DRIVING MISS DAISY (1989)

Driving Miss Daisy is a 1989 American comedy-drama film adapted from the Alfred Uhry play of the same title for Warner Bros. The film was directed by Bruce Beresford with Morgan Freeman reprising Hoke's role and Jessica Tandy playing Miss Daisy. The story defines Daisy and her point of view through a network of relationships and emotions by focusing on her home life, synagogue, friends, family, fears, and concerns. Hoke is rarely seen out of Miss Daisy's presence, although the title implies that the story is told from his perspective.(wikipedia)