Erm.

Hectic, hectic, hectic in deed for me, since I got back from my great escape to Singapore and Kuala Lumpur, which in fact, from the beginning of the trip, it has been sort of like an endless race with time, you know, like the show Amazing Race, which of course I'll go into details only if I have time, and I've got gazillions of photos from the trip to go with that.

Anyhow, it's end of the year, and tons of blockbuster flicks are coming out, basically on weekly basis, and wow, since I got back, I've been watching 3 movies in the past 3 nights, Warlords, I am Legend and National Treasure: Book of Secrets respectively. Again, it's end of the year, I've got plenty of lists to sort out and I'm currently digging every single flick I've watch in 2007 from my memory, and right now, I have about 52 movies in my 2007 list, which is my all time high and I'm just refreshing my memories which one really did it for me in 2007.

Film: The Invasion [2007]

Directed by Oliver Hirschbiegel, James McTeigue
Written by Dave Kajganich, The Wachowski brothers
Starring Nicole Kidman,Daniel Craig
Music by John Ottman

The Invasion opens when a space shuttle crashed and it's pieces landed back on earth bringing some sort of extraterritorial organism back with it, and caused chaos, as pandemic spreads, and human turns into alies, that look like human that is, and it spreads fast overnight, people who are infected change into unemotional aliens, or zombies, wandering around, looking for more real human to infect. Nicole Kidman plays a psychiatrist Carol Bennel, in which it reminds me a lot of The Forgotten - whose ex-husband is one of the first one to become aliens. Once she and her status-unknown friend, Ben Driscoll played by Daniel Craig began to uncover the mysterious virus that infects people, it began a race to save her child from her ex husband, in which, her son, is so ironically, immune to the infection.

The first released poster is as shown above, which I quite dig, and was mislead to think it's a psycho-thriller kind of movie, which turns out to be about some ET invading earth, in the most cliche kinda way. I swear to god the final poster (below) looked exactly like a rip off from X-Files, was it just me, that Daniel Craig looked like David Duchonvy, and Nicole Kidman looked just like Gillian Anderson?



Movie, was hmm... like, totally whatever. It was a really weird movie - like a really bad breed of The Forgotten, X-Files and some other Zombie movies (Dawn of the dead, 28 Days/Weeks Later). It's not half as ridiculous as The Forgotten but lacks the whackiness of 28 Days/Weeks Later. If had the human turn into zombie, like I mean with make ups and shits, it would've been more compelling.

Director James McTeigue was hired at later stage of the production to perform uncredited re-shoots of some of the scenes in the movie, resulting some very noticeable sloppy editing in the movie, which could be mistakenly read as 'artsy editing'.

However, not everything about this movie is bad, some scenes are actually really suspenseful, and manage to keep me jumpin' off my seats. Much of the reason the movie was not so much of a pain to watch is because Nicole Kidman and Daniel Craig is driving the storyline. Have they been some other actors, this movie won't be able so sustain the lack of pretty much everything in the movie.

* * * * * * * * * *

The Invasion Original Movie Score by John Ottman

1. Live Goes On / Dance of the Cells (3:46)
2. Escape with Ollie / Basement (3:30)
3. All Aboard (2:15)
4. Mid-Transformation (3:49)
5. Subway / Blending In (4:04)
6. Census Taker / Search on a Whim (2:32)
7. Carol and Ben Plot (3:36)
8. Warning Wndy / Taster's Choice (1:45)
9. Hit and Sit / Dropping Off Ollie (2:04)
10. Under the Microscope / Call for Help (1:50)
11. Trick or Treat / Bad Boy (1:51)
12. Family Bliss / It's a Pickle (2:33)
13. Carol's Wild Ride (3:24) MP3
14. I Need You / I Already Slept (2:40)
15. Falling Asleep / We Touched It (3:49)
16. Wake Up! / A Better World? (3:31)
17. Final Escape (1:58)

Film: Disturbia [2007]

Disturbia

Directed by D.J. Caruso
Written by Christopher B. Landon and Carl Ellsworth
Starring: Shia LaBeouf, Sarah Roemer, Carrie-Anne Moss, David Morse, and Aaron Yoo
Genre: Thriller

Shia LeBeouf plays Kale, a teenager who have attitude problem since his father's death in a car crash when they were driving home from a fishing trip. Kale who assaulted his Spanish teacher, was then put to home arrest with an electronic ankle bracelet device which prevents him from going anywhere further than his front yard. Imprisoned in his own house, he began spying on his neighbors with his naked eyes. A series of intense voyeurism with camcorders and cellphone and ugly events unfolds as he grew suspicious of his other neighbor (played by David Morse) for killing women in his house.

The movie spend a big first half on building up suspense, unveiling storyline and developing characters leaving the boiling point to the last quarter where the film took a rough and inexplicable turn. One might find the first half a little bit too slow, but as the plot unfolds, it's all understandable, building tension needs time, and the director have a very good grip at timing.

Storyline is uber cliched teen thriller one might mistakenly placed this along-side with I Know What You Did Last Summer, but thankfully it's not, credits to the brilliant casting of Shia Lebeouf as Kale and his super-horny asian friend, Ronald played by Aaron Yoo. Shia Lebeouf proves he has the credibility to carry a movie, his acting, is spot on, and he has a very good control over his character making Kale - the troubled teenager a relate-able character.

* * * * * * * * *

Disturbia Original Soundtrack



1. Always Love - Nada Surf
2. Don't Make Me Wait - This World Fair
3. One Man Wrecking Machine - Guster
4. Whoa Now - Louque
5. Gangsta Boogie - Love Stink
6. Next To You - Buckcherry
7. Because I Got High - Afroman
8. We Love Reggae - Noiseshaper
9. Dream - Priscilla Ahn
10. The Great American Napkin - The Summer Skinny
11. Lovin' You - Minnie Riperton
12. You'll Never Find Another Love Like Mine - Lou Rawls

*shivers*

2006 Auckland Film Festival :: Documentaries

An Incovinient Truth [2006]


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Director: Davis Guggenheim
Runtime: 100 min
Country: USA

Photography:
Bob Richman
Davis Guggenheim
Editors:
Jay Cassidy
Dan Swietlik
Music:
Michael Brook

With: Al Gore

Film Festival:
2006 Sundance Film Festival
2006 Cannes Film Festival

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The story of An Inconvinient Truth is plain and simple, a lecture in Environmental Science 101, given by the guy who lost to Bush on presidental election by 1 percent.

I would have to say, this documentary surprises me for it's simple but yet accessible presentation. Movies and documentaries about environmental is nothing new - and it's definitely worth your two hour time sitting in the cinema learning some facts that currently treating our generation. An Inconvinet Truth does it's job just fine as an environment concerned documentaries, especially when it is presented by someone who is powerful.

This documentary is based on science facts, yes hard, cold facts that has been presented in a rather fascinating way that probably made it so effective. It's not rocket science, and you don't necessarily need to have any sorts of science background to understand the facts here because everything is just plain and simple. The issue addressed here is rather compelling - it's a truth that most of us have probably take for granted for, or choose to deny it; our environment today is fragile, and from what I learnt from the movie is that if nothing is done - we are going to suffer the consequences.

One thing though, although this movie manifests itself as an movie about global warming, Al Gore is constatly being presented as a lone warrior trying to get that messege out and I truly believe that there are many people out there who take actions more than words. Another thing is, Al Gore + Global Warming - what can I say, Do I smell some political stance here? Definitely. Although I believe Al Gore has been very environmentally conscious, but I really can't help but to draw a relation to political issues here. Isn't it quite contradictory while Bush is declaring war against Iraq and fighting terrorism, Al Gore, in another hand is delivering issues about global warming?

Nevertheless - Republican or democrats, this movie is worth attending to.



Sketches of Frank Gehry [2005]

------------------------------------
Director: Sydney Pollack
Running Time: 83 Minutes
Country: Germany/USA

Photography:
George Tiffin
Claudio Rocha
Marcus Birsel
Editor: Karen Schmeer
Sound: Jon Oh
Music: Sorman & Nystrom

With
Frank Gehry
Sydney Pollack
Craig Webb
Michael Ovitz
Ed Ruscha
Charles Jencks

Festival:
2005 Toronto Film Festival
------------------------------------

From childhood wooden bags given by grandmother to the gigantic curvy-awkwardy Disney Music Hall, Sketches of Frank Gehry is a study of this architect's journey and achievemnts, with nonetheless the not so impressive hand-held camera, the soaring aerialsm and the slideshow glipmses omg-my-hang-is-shaking-so-bad sketches of Frank Gehry.

The documentary was pleasently entertaining (in a way for those who have some sorts of connection with this profession) and genuinely beguiling; most of the funnies are generated by the honesty for Frank Gehry himself: like when he said the memorable "This is so stupid looking it's great!" or the part where Gehry is deciding how many corrugation they should have on the facade. But the best quote in the movie would have to go to the amazing Bob Geldof, and I quote "If you meet an architect at a party, the best thing you can do is hit them"

What I really find interesting in this movie though is the process that Gehry goes through when designing building, those moments of uncertainties, those moments of "I hated it", those moments when you play around with the models, and the jokes about "why not have it here instead of there, why not do this instead of that" - I guess you really have to go through the pain of a design process to truly appreciate, and relate to the movie.

There's one thing I'm not too sure about this documentary though - it seemed a little too indulgent, it's like Gehry is trying to make a statement about his architectural style but in a blatant and subtle sort of way. But either way, it's a movie about him anyway.

In the end, Frank Gehry is still not my cup of tea.

2006 Auckland Film Festival :: United 93

United 93 [2006]

------------------------------
Director: Paul Greengrass
Runing Time: 111 Minutes
Country: USA

Screenplay: Paul Greengrass
Photography: Barry Ackroyd
Editors:
Claire Douglas,
Christopher Rouse,
Richard Pearson
Music: John Powell
CinemaScope
M violence, offensive language

With:
David Alan Basche,
Richard Bekins,
Susan Blommaert,
Ray Charleson,
Christian Clemenson,
Khalid Abdalla,
Lewis Alsamari
------------------------------

I guess I must have forgotten how I felt when this event occured almost five years ago. I remembered, coincidentally I was watching CNN when the first plane hit the tower. Then I stayed up all night, following the news, constantly switching between CNN and BBC (thanks to Astro), befuddled and dumbfolded by the surreal sensation of it.

The first showing of the United 93's trailer aroused some controversy from viewers who felt that it is still too early to make a movie about September 11 - resulting the trailer being pulled out from several cinemas in New York. It's not hard to understand all the press about this kind of movie. To chronicle the events of the morning of Spetember 11 on film is to accept a set of inescapeable constraints. It is a dounting burden of responsibilities - to the facts, to the sentiments of immediate families, to the Americans and the political issue revolving around the subject matter. Prior to it's release, both the film and director Paul Greengrass were accused of exploiting real-life tragedy, not least because the events portrayed took place less than five years ago.

This film was shot with the usual Greengrass docudrama style - that relies on building up suspense and increasingly fragmented as the film accelerates. United 93 can be devided into two major interwoven parts - it's first half is primary concerned with depicting what went wrong on the ground, potrayed by mostly real-life characters. Devoid of any sensationalism, the second half speculates and re-enacts the hijacking of United Airlines Flight-93 by the Muslim terrorists - while the passengers struggle to retake the aircraft by force. The scene on the plane is probably the hardest part to watch. I can't help but quitely sobbing as the events unfolds - that is where I understood now why Americans think it is too soon. The scenes were brutal but at the same time convincing, it was a very successful real life portrayal that I think most of us, the spectators won't be able to understand, but at the same time, we could really relate to.

A lot of credits must go to the editing people. Some of the most disturbing scences were the subtle but sudden dissapeareance of one of the plane from the radar, and the disturbing murky voice that came out of nowhere saying "We have some planes". But I have to say, no matter how many times I have watch the plane hitting the tower, it still haunts me, and I still gasp everytime I see it.

Dramatic reconstructions of this kind tends to contain elements of advocacy on certain sides, but there are no shock discoveries on any conspiracies or accusatory revelations in United 93 - the geo-political dimensions are largely left in the background. Greengrass depicts this event strictly as a series of abstractions unfolding on the radar screens and monitors of air traffic controls. The 91 minute real-time re-enacting onboard United 93 was also improvised entirely based on known facts and deliberately avoids exaggeration of the events. Having said that, the scences on the plane are well considered and respectfully handled by Greengrass.

However, throughout the film, I can't help but wonder what is the intention of United 93, what is Greengrass trying to achieve with this. It's obvious that this film does not carry any sort of political statement, and I am sure this film is not intended as a commercial entertainment eiter. It is until the end of the movie I came to understand the idea of the United 93. Now it was speculated that the original postscrip for the film was "America's War On Terror Had Begun" which was taught to be too political minded. The final version that made it on screen was the rather sober and appropriate "Dedicated to the memory of all those who lost their lives on September 11th 2001". United 93 intends to dignify those on the flight, ordinary men and women who decided to fight for their live - it captures, without being either manipulative or maudlin, what 9/11 was like. Paul Greengrass has successfuly tells a profoundly emotional story, that is unflinching, and with little dramatic embellishment - which results in a powerful account that is not effected by any sentimentality that often Hollywood tends to do when it comes to depiction of their own history.

This movie will profoundly alter the mood of anybody who live in this generation and has witnessed the September 11 event.

2006 Auckland Film Festival :: Thank You For Smoking

Thank You For Smoking [2005]

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Director: Jason Reitman
Running Time:92 Minutes
Country: USA

Casts:
Aaron Eckhart as Nick Naylor
Maria Bello as Polly Bailey
Cameron Bright as Joey Naylor
Adam Brody as Jack
Sam Elliott as Lorne Lutch
Katie Holmes as Heather Holloway
David Koechner as Bobby Jay Bliss
Rob Lowe as Jeff Megall
William H. Macy as Senator Ortolan K. Finistirre

Screenplay: Jason Reitman.
Based on the novel by Christopher Buckley
Photography: James Whitaker
Editor: Dana E. Glauberman
Music: Rolfe Kent
CinemaScope
M sex scenes, offensive language

--------------------


Thank You For Smoking would be the first movie that I watched for this year's Auckland Film Festival, and I have to say, what an opener.

"Thank You For Smoking" - the ambiguous title suggest many different ways to interpret the movie. It could literally meant Thank You For Smoking, or you can read it in a more sarcastic way, intended as a punch line to attack smoker, or you can read it as another documentary slash fictional movie that is aimed in sending out messages about the danger of tobacco. But after watching the movie, the latter one cancel itself out.

Adapted from the same title novel by Christoper Buckley, first time director Jason Reitman delivers an impressive effort - "Thank You For Smoking" revolves around the character - Nick Naylor, the silver-tongued spokesperson for "Big Tobacco" whose gift of the gab and creative use of statistics help him rebrand smokers right as a casualty of political correctness. However, when his young son is getting more interested to find out about what his dad does for living, Nick finds it hard to justify his morally questioned work.

The movies strengh has a lot to do with Aaron's Eckhart's flawless performance. Echkart presents the spin doctor as an obnoxious jerk who you can't help but root for mainly thanks to his slick double speak - He is the perfect leading man who is edgy and has impeccable comedic timing. You can't help but being charmed by his charismatic and wickedly funny sense of humour.

This is unmisakeably a single issue comedy, however it's not one of those conventional comedy that stray blindly into the sentimental. The approach to "Thank You For Smoking" is stylish, dark and smart - it avoids unnecessary emotional tripe. Most of the funnies is not the wordplay itself but rely mostly on the use of rhetorical skills that is often dark and cynical.

One thing that might gave the wrong impression about the movie is the subject matter - the tobacco industry. People are more likely to think that this movie is made to remind people of the harzards of smoking, and targeted mainly to attack smokers. But that subject has been totally avoided by Director Reitman. "Thank You For Smoking" avoids sermonizing about the dangers of smoking or the flaws of political process. This is a rather smart plot - the assumptions that everyone is imformed of the danger of smoking, but the question lies in the choice of smoking or not.

I don't want to give too much away, but I have to say "Thank You For Smoking" is brilliant. It's wickedly funny and relatively fast-paced, which you won't find a single frame in the movie dull. Being smart, but at the same time keep the viewers laughing 80% of the time is not an easy pairing you'll find these days. "Thank You For Smoking" provides thought provoking content delivered through a network of great acting performances that made the film hilarious. It might be one of the best satire out there, and it is unquestionable one of best comedy you'll watch this year. You'll probably put all your assumptions and judgemental aside to watch this movie. You'll be surprised - it's addictive stuff.