And the Oscar Nominees Are...

When I got home today I found out that the American Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) has just announced this year's nominees for Academy Awards.

The nominees are:


Best Picture
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree of Life
The Help
Hugo
Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Help
Rooney Mara, Girl With the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady
Michelle Williams, My Week With Marilyn

Best Actor
Demian Bachir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist
Gary Oldman, Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy
Brad Pitt, Moneyball

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week With Marilyn
Jonah Hill, Moneyball
Christopher Plummer, Beginners
Nick Nolte, Warrior
Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastain, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Terrence Malick, Tree of Life
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris

Now the objective is to watch all the nominated films for Best Picture before the actual awards night come. Let's do this self!

The Green Hornet

Britt Reid AKA The Green Hornet just so happened to be rich but he's nothing compared to his nameless sidekick Kato, who's the brain of everything.

The film was entertaining though some scenes that shouldn't be too long are excruciatingly long and Seth's voice, it's too distracting. Oftentimes I can't understand what he's saying cos it's like he's eating up the words. Too bad :(

I could think of other actors well suited to be the Green Hornet but hey, Seth Rogen got the role and I'm sure he did his best to bring justice to the role.

On a Deathly Hallows High

I reckoned it's not a great idea to read the book before watching its film version because I ended up spoiling the movie for myself counting the bits of details where they changed some details in the movie as opposed to what's to be found in the book.

But other than that, I have nothing against this film. The bleak and gray color was apt. It just makes me freaking sad every time I think that it'll be over soon. And ooh, that Tales of the Three Brothers was pretty brilliant!

Prepare for Harry Potter spam!

Who knew? But darn right!

Deathly Hallows will always have that heavy-on-the-shoulders effect on me.

LOL

Dobby owned that scene

Why not Won Won

YES!

So fetch!

The Cake Eaters

Before I watched The Cake Eaters - this little drama feature film - I didn't know what the term "cake eaters" meant or whatever it implies if it does imply something. After watching the film, I still didn't know what it meant. In fact, as simple as the film's plot is (or the lack of it), I can never for the life of me connect the title to the story.

So I asked the help of my friend Google who presented me with many options for a meaning. But still it didn't make any sense. So I tried reading some reviews. And there it was, the one line that actually made sense: "...complete lack of meaning is the whole point 'cos life is like that..."

Oh ambiguities.

But it was still an okay film. Not really good, but not bad either. I like Beagle's character. I like how the 3 relationships in this story unfolded. I was also made aware of a certain inherited disease called Friedreich's Ataxia, Georgia's character's illness.

In all fairness, the often grumpy-looking Kristen Stewart made justice to her role. I just have to constantly remind myself that I must forget for a while that I don't like her, and yeah, it kinda worked, for a while.

Chaos Theory

Say yes to whim, say yes to chance, say yes to Chaos! ~ Frank Allen

127 Hours

Will definitely watch this. Hopefully will learn a lesson or two on how to amputate yourself in case of a really, really life and death emergency. Dang!

Funeral Blues

I give credit to Four Weddings and a Funeral film for recognizing this awfully sad poem by poet W.H. Auden. It was the poem that John Hannah's character read aloud when his partner, Gareth, died.

While it may not always talk about death, I think this poem can aptly summarize any human being's emotional grief. I am seriously pondering of memorizing this beautiful piece in case I don't find the right words for my own grief.

Stop all the clocks, cut off the telephone,
Prevent the dog from barking with a juicy bone,
Silence the pianos and with muffled drum
Bring out the coffin, let the mourners come.

Let aeroplanes circle moaning overhead
Scribbling on the sky the message He Is Dead,
Put crepe bows round the white necks of the public doves,
Let the traffic policemen wear black cotton gloves.

He was my North, my South, my East and West,
My working week and my Sunday rest,
My noon, my midnight, my talk, my song;
I thought that love would last for ever: I was wrong.

The stars are not wanted now: put out every one;
Pack up the moon and dismantle the sun;
Pour away the ocean and sweep up the wood.
For nothing now can ever come to any good.

Shaun of the Dead

After watching this film, I had a serious suspicion that this movie inspired Zombieland. Nick Frost and Simon Pegg obviously have a good chemistry. In fact, they are too even behind camera. Good friends, I mean. Next on my must-watch list is Hot Fuzz, the second to what they call their Blood and Ice Cream Trilogy. The third installment I’m afraid hasn’t began production yet.

A familiar face: Bill Nighy!

Expect to hear the word exacerbate plenty of times in this film. But all in all, I enjoyed this movie immensely. Who said the Brits have dry sense of humor?

How to Lose Friends and Alienate People

After watching How to Lose Friends and Alienate People, my penchant for Simon Pegg was reawakened. I’ve seen him before as secondary characters of long-ago films (except for the most recent film he made, the Star Trek, where he played Scotty – which was my favorite character!) so I was inspired to dig up and look for his previous films. But more of that in the coming posts.

This movie was ridiculously funny it had me giggling uncontrollably even if I look like a total buffoon for doing that alone. I didn’t know that Megan Fox was here and so is Kirsten Dunst (as her leading lady). Still, it was nice overall. I love Simon Pegg’s accent for a Londoner and I love the way he crumples his face for more comedy effect. In fact, I saw a consistent sample of Pegg’s funny faces and grunts on most of his films that I can immediately identify where I’ve seen and heard it.

I also saw some short cameos of other British stars in this film such as Maurice Moss, Katherine Parkinson (both from The IT Crowd), Daniel Craig and Thandie Newton!

I’m not a freak, I’m just really observant.

Wednesday LOVE

After a couple of weeks downloading this film, I finally got to watched Millions! Damian Cunningham is such a cute kid including his religiousness, simple takes in life and how he sees day to day things in his neighborhood and country. I've to constantly remind myself that this film is fictional. UK is still using Pounds, not Euro. But it's probably a good example of what's to happen in case it become real. Everyone will most likely be hopping from one bank to another converting their old pounds to the new euros, bank robberies too, are not impossible.

Catching Up..

The Holocaust in the eye of an 8-year-old German boy. The two kids, Bruno and Schmuel, are so cute with acting skills not bad for practically beginners. It's quite heartbreaking, the central theme of this movie, how a kid can view the current events in a wholly different light. I could almost hear the shattering of the kid's mother's heart after realizing that his son is gone..


The Shape of Things, starring the cute and lovely Paul Rudd and the psycho but wonderful Rachel Weisz, made my head hurt. Literally. I feel bad for Paul Rudd's character but I don't know what to feel about Weisz character. I love the almost uninterrupted sequence of most of the film's part, like it was shot continuously (maybe it was, I wouldn't know).

Whip It

Ellen Page is so purdy. Loved her as Juno, Vanessa and now, Bliss Cavendar.

A screencap from the movie. Bliss and Oliver on a date with a cute wall doodle, nevermind the guy with the mohawk.

I like their roller derby names: Babe Ruthless. Iron Maven. Smashley Simpson. Bloody Holly. There was even a girl who auditioned that will be Jabba the Slut once she gets in. Cool.

I like their coach too, Razor. He's absolutely adorable as a coach!

For a moment Bodeen didn't sound sleepy and boring at all. Bluebonnett beauty pageant. Squealer. Jammer. Stryper. Etc.

Whip It belongs to my 2009 top movies because, well, it is a totally refreshing and one swell film. :)

French Film Fest

June 5-14. Watched 2 films cos I was too lazy to catch 'em all. Long overdue post, I know!

Can't blame her for two-timing her husband. Pero wag ka winner rin si Jo. Decided to drown and die along with her husband.

Cute kids. Story pretty much revolved around Zim acquiring a car with the help of his friends.

2010, can you come sooner?

It's that time of the year again!

No, it's not Christmas season yet beloved humans, it's the Cine Europa once again. Wow. Time is really flying so fast. I', just as excited as everyone else (especially the loyal followers). This will be my fourth year of watching Cine Europa would you believe it??? Too bad my original Cine Europa pardner isn't here to watch with me this time cos she's frolicking in chilly Baguio. No, make that bumming around haha.

See y'all!

Wednesday LOVE

With the recent death of American film director John Hughes, I am giving him an honorary space here in my unknown cyber webpage because once in my lonesome college days, I dreamed of being born in the 80s after watching Some Kind Of Wonderful in our library. It was followed by Sixteen Candles (which I saw on cable) and The Breakfast Club (watched in PC after downloading it from Limewire).




While I have watched most of his films, there are unfortunately, some important films he've done that I haven't able to watch. I really want to watch Ferris Bueller's Day Off that started Matthew Broderick's career in acting and the movie that made Molly Ringwald the official princess of the 80s (Pretty in Pink). Guess 'tis the season to catch up on it now!


I'm pretty sure this guy would be greatly missed. I find Mr. Hughes to be a really cool man for making the films he did. He popularized the normal and ordinary teenage turmoils, created the Brat Pack of 80s and made Uncle Buck and the two Home Alones!

Rest in peace Mr. Hughes!

Ice Age 3 in a Nutshell

..there were few minutes of distinctly Star Wars: The Phantom of Menace race sound fx in the background. No surprise there as it was produced by Blue Sky Studios. It has Lucas written all over it.

..T-Rachel? Now that's funny!

..this is Rudy here. The pretty huge guy who took Buck's right eye.


..and here's the wuss. Laughed my ass off, thanks Diego for that.


And ooh, the possums are still demented, but I admire their loyalty. By the way, is it me or Sid was having an identity crisis there? Not that I have a problem with that, duh. He's looking rusty but I love him nonetheless.

All in all, it has humor and dialogues not really meant for kids. Cheers!

10th Cine Europa

How 1963. Waaahhh. Boring. Super. Sayang naman ng budget na nilaan dito hehe. Pero malamang naman nung panahon nila e box office of the year to. Hooboy.

Honestly, na-bored ako dito pero in fairness sa ending. I liked it. At least makatotohanan. Mas lalo ko lang di magugustuhan kung in the end ay nagkatuluyan pa rin sina Genevieve at Guy.

Ang ganda ganda ni Clara Lago (as Carol) dito. At akalain mong may prediction akong tumama. Tomiche died waaaahh!!! Think My Girl plot sa kanilang puppy love story.

first movie we saw, kala ko nga censored. hindi naman pala. nakakatuwa pa actually!

Women rocked here! football and romance, whatta combi. nice, nice film. from the same country that brought us One Way Ticket to Mombasa (my fave film last year).

nakakaiyak. maganda. ang kyut kyut ni kolja susme!!!

eto ang pinaka-astig! si fares fares (as Roro) ay cool! Jalla, jalla means "faster, faster". si Mans (yung bestfriend nya rito) kyut kapag ngumingiti. laugh trip din 'to super. kahit anong age bracket tatawa.

Starstrucked!

When Cinemanila came to UP, syempre hindi ko pinalampas ang pagkakataon na makapanood kahit na di ko man mapanood lahat ng gusto ko dahil sa trabaho. Kung dati kaya kong magbabad sa Cine Adarna pwes, nagbago na ang panahon. huhu.

Bakit ko ba pinanood ang Pisay? Hmm.Syempre dahil kay direk Aureaus Solito! The same guy who brought us Ang Pagdadalaga ni Maximo Oliveros, where I first saw Ping (although napanood na kita syempre sa Rizal pero hindi pa ako aware nun) and look at me now, how BIG a Ping follower I am now. haha. But I'm digressing. Yun nga si direk. Cinemalaya film sya. At akala ko ay konti lang ang manonood kasi school day at medyo maaga ang screening. Big mistake. Pambihirang patis, hindi ko talaga naisip ang mga Pisay People. Ang dami nila as in supeeeeer. Wala pa naman akong ticket kasi kala ko pipila na lang ako sa window para bumili.Grabe, grabe talaga.mga 30 minutes kaming naghintay na papasukin (nakapila ngapala ko sa isang side, kasama ng mga iba pang napangakuan nung organizer, habang pinapapasok lahat ng beauty and the geeks sa theater. hehe. In fairness to them, kahit ginigyera na sila ng mga tao dahil sa tagal at kawalang kasiguruhan, nakapasok pa naman kami at thankfully nakaupo din ako, sa monoblock nga lang. dami kasi talagang tao.Nakakatuwa nandun pala yung mga cast (most of them are Goin Bulilit kids). At ang ganda ng soundtrack.Pramis!

Sa sobrang dami ng tao ay sa ibang exit na kami pinadaan para hindi na namin makasulubong ang mga papasok pa na tao for the next film, Tukso, which unfortunately I can't really watch no matter how badly I want to. huhu. But seeing Ping, Sir Pen and Bajekjek made it all okay.Well, ganun talaga ang tagahanga.

Egis erp!

Pangalawa kong napanood ay ang Best Picture ng recently concluded Cinemalaya 2007: Tribu. Pinilit bumangon kahit puyat pa 'ko and all pero worth it, as in. Yung ibang cast ay nandun, sina Makoy, Pongke at 2 pang guy na hindi ko alam ang pangalan (I'm so sorry!!!).Nagperform sila sa stage before ipalabas ang film. May short talk din si Direk Jim Libiran and a short background with regards to the film, which is actually his thesis. Dun ko (namin) nalaman na some of the cast were given a chance to study in CAL under the great Sir Almario. Grabe mga tsong, pagbutihan nyo ha! May nakitang something si direk sainyo kaya wag nyong sayangin ang chance na binigay sainyo lalo pa't kaunti na lang ang mga batang nabibigyan ng pagkakataon na makapasok sa peyups, sa mahal ng tuition.

Brutal kung brutal. dark kung dark. See our very own Tondo at its best and its worst. Bow ako kay Ms. Malou Crisologo. Sayang wala si Ghe-Ghe sa UP, gusto ko din sana syang makita. Si Sir Vim Nadera, kamusta naman ang binoculars! haha.Si Papa Dom ay dumalo sa lamay.Ayus.

"I love Thugz Angel"

Pero ang best part talaga ng gabi ay nung nakita ko si Howie Severino. Gosh. Na-starstruck ako, hence the title of this entry. Sa sobrang na-overwhelm ako na nakita ko na sya sa wakas, ay napa-"hi Sir" with matching kaway ako sa kanya. And he actually smiled and waved back!!! gosh. mag-isa lang ako niyan ha. on normal days di ko ginagawa yun. sana sunod si Jay Taruc naman. Madami na kong nakitang sikat na tao pero mas drawn talaga ako towards people na hindi super sikat. Sidekicks, kontrabida, artists, underground people, journalists and the likes. mas matutuwa pa ko pag nakita ko si Soliman Cruz, Berting Labra, Paquito Diaz, Subas Herrero, Bayani Casimiro Jr.,Kuya Bodjie at Ate Siena (wrong spelling pa ata), at marami pang iba. Pero syempre inaamin ko na gusto ko ring makita sina Marky Cielo, Sid Lucero at Shia LaBeouf (which is close to impossible!). haha!

As for Tukso, I will wait for you sa Indiesine. So long!

Next destination: 9th Cinemanila International Film Festival. Kahit isa man lang. Volver or The Namesake or Persepolis. malabo na tayong makasilip kay parang Quentin Tarantino. Come on! If I know reserved na lahat ng upuan sa mga higher people. tsktsk. Life.

paradoxically speaking..

one of the best cinemas in the country is practically in the backyard of our office building. that's why it's killing me that Luna Lovegood is having the time of her life and Sirius Black is freaking-gonna-die-on-this, but i cannot, in any condition, be able to watch it til after who-knows when. goshdarnit!

and oh, i swear i'm gonna go for a kill for anyone who's gonna divulge the happenings in Hallows. I totally agree with Chico (..and Delamar) that they would have to go to jail (at least for the time being though) for talking about it. ha!

i am so happy i was able to surf the net after a two-week hiatus.gawd. i have so many things to tell. for starters, the kid beside me is SO annoying.

and i hate Margaret "Meg" Murry. I adore Bumblebee. And looking forward to sharing a donut with our homie Homer Simpson. D'oh!