Starred by the two-time Academy Award winner Hilary Swank, the film was based on the true story of Amelia Earhart – the most legendary American aviatrix.
Here, we see a promising film that didn’t live up to its hype. Not even the trio of Swank, Richard Gere and Ewan McGregor could salvage the it. For one, the predicament of the story is well – very much shallow and predictable that made Amelia un-relatable. Second, the film was borderline heinous. And for a film about aviation – it feels like I’m watching a slow-motion period film that does not require speaking lines at all because it was so bad.
In all fairness to Swan, I still think that she gave a pretty decent performance here but it wasn’t enough to carry the film altogether. The costume and production design was rather nice but really, nothing will matter if you don’t have a good story to tell – and to think that Amelia Earhart was considered a heroine of some sort – the film was, as they say an utter and complete failure.
Movie Title: Amelia Year: 2009 Genre: Drama Rating: 4/10
Director: Mira Nair Starring: Hilary Swank, Richard Gere,Ewan McGregor, Christopher Eccleston
Coach centers on Nick (Hugh Dancy) who took up a job (a first in his life) to get his girlfriend back. He landed a job as the coach of a fledgling high school football team. There he learned the value of money, responsibility (growing up) and finding love in the process.
I love how this film isn’t incredibly written but was adequately acted. I also love the cool vibe of it. A single guy who needs to learn a lesson or two about life, with three varied friends. An actress for an ex-girlfriend, wooing a doctor and teaching football and a great deal of lessons to some kids.
Overall, Coach is a feel good film that doesn’t need an intelligent analysis. It has a simple storyline and linear sequences that complimented its simplicity. Here, there was enough drama, comedy and some believable candor.
Director: Will Frears
Starring: Hugh Dancy, Jonathan Gutierrez, Liane Balaban, Mamie Gummer, Michael Chernus, Benjamin Walker, Gillian Jacobs, David Zayas, Bill Camp
Movie Title: Coach
Year: 2010
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 8.5/10
Based on true events, the film’s a narrative of two very interesting and fascinating women whose passion for cooking taught them more in life than tasting and enjoying the food. Meryl Streep plays chef Julia Child who “taught America how to cook” and Amy Adams, as Julia Powell, a young writer in New York who lives with his husband. Powell with the encouragement of his husband took on the challenge to cook every recipe that Child has published and recounts her progress through a blog. This attracts the attention of many including the media and Julia Child herself.
The film also recounts Julia Child’s experience in France with his husband who works for the US government – as she was introduced to the art of cooking thus producing Mastering the Art of French Cooking and introducing French Cuisine in America.
As usual, La Streep was at her best – yet again. Like how does she do it? Meryl’s a different kind of artist – I mean she’s UP UP there. Like who could even rival her greatness? She’s very enigmatic on the screen and playing Julia Child, it’s like we’re really watching the real Julia Child. I even thought that she should’ve won the Oscars for her performance. Amy Adams on the other hand was equally stunning, this girl simply complimented Streep’s screen prowess. She’d some moments in the film but obviously, it was THE Meryl Streep who carry the film altogether.
Year: 2009 Genre: Comedy Rating: 9 out of 10 Director: Nora Ephron Starring: Meryl Streep, Amy Adams, Stanley Tucci, Chris Messina, Linda Emond, Jane Lynch
“Just because I talk with an accent doesn’t mean I think with an accent.” – Alberto Aragon
From director Alfonso Arau, A Walk In The Clouds stars Keanu Reeves as Paul Sutton, who after the war returns to San Francisco to reunite with his wife Betty (Debra Messing) expecting a warm reception from her. It turns out that most of the letters that he sent her were unopened which causes a little misunderstanding but he still decided to forgive her thus continuing his plan to engage in a new career. Betty however, convinced him to go back to his former career of selling chocolates so he set forth to sell chocolates in Sacramento. On his way to Sacramento, he met Victoria Aragon who’s on her way home from college after getting herself pregnant by her professor. Coming from a very traditional family, Victoria’s in a very serious trouble until Paul offered to help her by posing as her husband to meet his family, especially her very strict father.
Alberto Aragon wasn’t happy about this but he eventually conceded realizing that Paul “really” loved his daughter. Knowing that it was all a lie, both Paul and Victoria had to end it even after realizing that they’ve come to truly love each other.
I am supposed to write a review about this film in a different category but I decided that Senor Alberto Aragon’s quotation “Just because I talk with an accent doesn’t mean I think with an accent” aptly speaks volume and I just loved it because I feel that at some point it applies to me having worked in the BPO industry where I was criticized here and there about my accent.
Anyway, this film is probably Keanu Reeves’ second best movie (in my opinion) after The Matrix (start the LOL-ing now). He provided here a subtle approach to his role as a vulnerable and well-grounded man of honor complimenting the performance of his leading lady, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón. I also appreciated the beautiful vineyard scenery that feels like I’m being transported in a beautiful dream – what a beautiful cinematography! The scoring was also superb coming from Maurice Jarre who also did the the scores of Lawrence Of Arabia, Messenger Of God and Ghost. The story of the film was that of a sweet romantic one – a couple who found themselves in a beautiful place where they could just be in love forever – much like what the audience (moi) feels like – walking in the clouds.
Movie Year: 1995 Movie Genre: Drama Movie Rating: 9/10 Director: Alfonso Arau Starring: Keanu Reeves, Aitana Sánchez-Gijón, Anthony Quinn, Angelica Aragon, Debra Messing, Giancarlo Giannini, Freddy Rodriguez
You guys may have heard about the upcoming film adaptation of The Maze Runner – based on the novel of James Dashner. I actually just finished reading the book and I’m just thrilled about its coming movie adaptation. I already know that a film was coming up that is why I decided give the book a go and I got so engrossed and now – aside from the film, I’m also looking forward to read the rest of the trilogy.
Dylan O’Brien will be playing the lead role, Thomas
For starter, (atleast) for those of you who haven’t read the book or what the movie was about. The Maze Runner focused on Thomas, a young guy who find himself mysteriously delivered to a place they called Glade without remembering anything from his past aside from his name. It so happened that each week, a boy was sent out to this place surrounded by giant walls or if you go beyond those walls – they happen to be a set of confusing Maze. Here, the boys along with Thomas set to find an escape from the maze – an escape from the place that would either keep them safe or deliver them to their demise.
Set in the 60’s, the film takes us to the journey of Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhaal) and Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger), two country boys hired to herd sheep through the summer at the Brokeback Mountain. There, they discovered some kind of connection that ultimately awaken something about themselves. As their lives goes on after their Brokeback Mountain stint, the two men realized that truly, absence makes the heart grow fonder. Over time, despite having individual families – they still see each other knowing that what they had is something that is far more important than any forces in their lives.
With the screenplay written by one of my favorite authors, (Larry McMurtry who wrote it along with Diana Ossana) my attachment with this film goes beyond being a fan of the story. The mood of the movie was as melancholic as its characters accompanied by its absolutely haunting musical score. The subtle approach of Ang Lee in delivering a controversial yet heavy emotional narrative allows its audience to weep with the character – such instance happen when the distraught Ennis Del Mar broke down while hugging Jack’s bloodied clothing. That for me was the highlight of the film. This film was short of a stunning portrayal of love loss and eternal questions of what-if. Ang Lee truly is a master of his craft.
Year: 2005 Genre: Drama Rating: 9 out of 10 Director: Ang Lee Starring: Heath Ledger, Jake Gyllenhaal, Randy Quaid, Michelle Williams, Anne Hathaway, Linda Cadellini, Anna Faris, David Harbour, Roberta Maxwell, Peter McRobbie, Kate Mara
Nine Months is the story of Samuel Faulkner (Hugh Grant,) a child psychologist who’s gotten her girlfriend (Julianne Moore) pregnant that turns his life into oblivion. Fearing the responsibility and the thought of raising a family, Sam gets advises from different people that led to one thing – he’s got to face the inevitable. Soon enough, he finally realized that it’s not just about him – but also his girlfriend, his child and the responsibility that comes with it. This was the first movie that I’ve seen from Hugh Grant and I was like less than ten then. Hugh Grant’s just extremely funny here and extremely charismatic as well. The story isn’t that much to chew on as it’s just clearly a flat out story but I guess the main selling point here is its actors. The actors esp Hugh Grant and Robin Williams are just hilarious. I guess, when the film makes you laugh – either the “good laugh” or the “ridiculous laugh” – there’s still a part of you that enjoys it. Nine Months was my childhood favorite, though not extremely good, watching it over and over – it takes me back to that place. If the movie ain’t worth a thing, I don’t think it would have that effect.
Year: 1995
Genre: Comedy
Rating: 6.5 out of 10
Director: Chris Columbus
Starring: Hugh Grant, Julianne Moore, Tom Arnold, Joan Cusack, Jeff Goldblum, Robin Williams
Published in 1993, The Giver is a children’s novel with a considerably thought-provoking theme. I’ve just heard about this book because of its upcoming movie adaptation. I was checking out Meryl Streep’s upcoming movies and got curious about them. It’s a shame that in the public school where I studied, we never had materials like this to read; mostly, they were academic books that were just related to our eight-subject curriculum. This feels like I’m defending myself from not reading this during my earlier years, but yes, I guess I am. I didn’t have the adequacy then to find the best books to read; I’m trying, though, but enough about my blahblahblah of a childhood. lol
my copy of the book with my Gohan toy from my childhood 🙂
Prior to reading it in its entirety, I already found it interesting based on its summary and the reviews I’ve been reading on the net. The book focuses on Jonas, who lives in a community they call Sameness. Here, everything is in order, from the creation of a family unit to the educational system, jobs, and even deaths. It’s a seemingly utopian world where everything seems to be running fine until Jonas is selected to be the receiver of memories. They are memories of the world’s past—color, emotions, animals, etc.
After learning or receiving these memories from the Giver, Jonas gained the wisdom to really see beyond his eerily orderly community and decided to seek change. Knowing this was close to impossible, Jonas asked for the help of The Giver, but the only way he could create change was to escape from his community.
The book was surprisingly fast-paced and thoroughly concise. The idea of this utopian society was well dissected. Published several years before The Hunger Games, I could say that there are some sort of similarities, or at least a feeling of similarities, between the two. For one, you could easily compare Sameness to the Capitol and its districts. Perhaps it’s the strict compliance of its law? The advance technology? and even the distribution of jobs. And what’s so profound about the two is the fact that in The Giver, the community was made to forget the memories that they deemed unpleasant or unnecessary, while in The Hunger Games, people in the districts were always reminded of a revolution against the Capitol’s oppression through a cruel game, and its people were deprived of something that they had “the right to” in the past. There is some sort of ironic parallelism between the two that ultimately symbolizes a lot of things that were happening then and now.
Incidentally, the book has three accompanying novels entitled Gathering Blue, Messenger, and Son, which are all set in the same timeline.
It was a nice read that will make you eager to learn more, to continue with the journey with Jonas and Gabriel, and to see what has become of them.
I fervently wished that this book would find its way to the schools here in Pampanga (my province) because this could really set out a great deal of discussion amongst our youth here.
From Director Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris of Little Miss Sunshine comes Ruby Sparks that centers on once-famous novelist Calvin Weir-Fields (Paul Dano) and his struggles to come up with another novel worthy of talk. Advised by his therapist to find inspiration, Calvin created Ruby Sparks (Zoe Kazan,) his fictitious girlfriend who mysteriously came to life. With Ruby, Calvin changed both for the better and for the worst.
I love the thought of Ruby popping right up tp Calvin’s life ins’t mind-nagging at all. I mean, despite it’s impossibility, it still created a realistic narrative of the relationship between them.
Kazan who also wrote the screenplay was really good in this. She provided subdued and funny, also annoying moments that adequately complimented Dano’s sublime performance.
Overall, the film sparks enormous creativity, although boxed by an impossible premise, its persistent storyline consistently developed from start to finish.
Director: Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris
Cast: Paul Dano, Zoe Kazan, Annette Bening, Antonio Banderas, Steve Coogan, Elliott Gould, Chris Messina
Awwee. Look how grown up Hiccup is 🙂 This is just so cute and I can’t just wait for it! I wrote a review about the first one in 2010 and it’s one of the few films that I find flawless!!! Just amazing!! Basing on the trailers, this one looks equally promising! 🙂
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