[2011] 100 Films Project! Apr 11th - May 1st
+8 Films: #046. Incendies (2010), #047. Country Strong (2010), #048. Adventureland (2009), #049. No Strings Attached (2011), #050. Burke And Hare (2010), #051. Planes Para Mañana (2010), #052. Puccini For Beginners (2006), and #053. La Double Vie De Véronique (1991).
The pretty celebs battle has made me put the films project on hold... but no more! Here's the much needed update :)
incendies (2010)+
7/10 *******
Plot: A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.
Wow! Just wow! Very, *very* powerful stuff. Will stay with you hours, nay, *days* after you've seen it. It's a rather gripping story-telling style, and its narrative is quite fascinating. This is the type of film that if you say the wrong thing, you end up spoiling for others. So, on that note, I'll just be enigmatic when I say that the reason I didn't give it an 8 or a 9 it's because I'm not very keen on coincidences. I just have trouble believing in them. That's all. Watch it!
country strong (2010)+
4/10 ****
Plot: A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter who sparks with a fallen star. Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager and a beauty-queen-turned-singer.
Well, where to begin? From the start, I suppose. First things first, I *must* say that someone ought to tell -- or rather remind -- Gwynnie that absence really does make the heart grow fonder. The woman is everywhere lately. And I really mean *everywhere*. Acting, "gooping", singing, dancing, parading around Spain going on-and-on about food... Jeez! I'm not one of those many people who have an irrational beef with her (like my own sister has), but it *does* seem like she is force-feeding herself on us. And I ain't liking it! That aside, this film is tolerable. The story is weak, and seems to come straight off of the news, well, the tabloids. Although country music is not really my favourite genre -- even 'though I don't seem to mind when, let's say, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals go slightly down that route -- the songs didn't completely suck. Ok, I'm babbling now, and I should stop.
adventureland (2009)+
5/10 *****
Plot: A comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent college grad who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to find it's the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.
Better and more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Plus, the soundtrack sounded like my very own playlist. So, that's always very nice. The story has its ups and downs, but nothing too revolting. Didn't know Wiig was in it; that was a plus also. Which reminds me I can't wait to watch Bridesmaids.
no strings attached (2011)+
4/10 ****
Plot: A guy and girl try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it's not long before they learn that they want something more.
Typical and dead-predictable, but also enjoyable and sweet (at times). Had trouble to visualize/accept/buy Portman and Kutcher as a couple, 'though. Sidenote: the period mix was a highlight.
burke and hare (2010)+
3/10 ***
Plot: A black comedy about two 19th century grave robbers who find a lucrative business providing cadavers for an Edinburgh medical school.
I expected sooo much more. Maybe that's why I was extra harsh. I mean, I usually *love* british humour, especially black humour. However, I failed to find much of it in this film as promised. The acting was good, but the material too weak.
planes para mañana (2010)+
4/10 ****
Plot: Three stories intertwined which occur in a single day. The day Ines discovers she is pregnant, Antonia decides to abandon her family and Marian realizes she is going to die. The film comprises an urban portrait of daily life, an extraordinary moment when the characters find they are able to remake their lives.
So much promise, and a fail to deliver. The film isn't bad, in fact I wanted more of it. It felt to me like they barely scratched the surface of the issues, and the characters. Which rendered it superficial and unfulfilling.
puccini for beginners (2006)+
6/10 ******
Plot: Allegra, an opera-loving writer in New York, eschews commitment, so her girlfriend, Samantha, leaves her. Allegra misses Sam, and resents the accusation that she's afraid to say "I love you," but she's soon involved with two people - Grace and Philip - who, unbeknownst to her, have just broken up with each other. Allegra juggles the two affairs, telling neither about the other; each likes her more and more as her old fears start making her itchy.
Nice, very nice. Wholesome characters, compelling/charming storyline, fine, *fine* acting... What can one ask more? It helps that I have a soft spot for neurotic characters with commitment, or any other phobias. It reminded me of Goldfish Memory, which I also enjoyed very much.
la double vie de véronique (1991)+
7/10 *******
Plot: Veronika lives in Poland. Véronique lives in Paris. They don't know each other. Veronika gets a place in a music school, works hard, but collapses and dies on her first performance. At this point, Véronique's life seems to take a turn and she decides not to be a singer.
This film, well, I spent some time trying to think of something apt to describe it. After a while I decided it would be best to say it is "lyrically gorgeous". The softness, the spirituality, the beauty, the nuances, the effortlessness, the score paired with the images... everything combines perfectly. Granted it is a bit unusual, enigmatic, open to many takes on it... one could say odd even; but, come to think about it, the best things in life are just so.
The pretty celebs battle has made me put the films project on hold... but no more! Here's the much needed update :)
incendies (2010)+
7/10 *******
Plot: A mother's last wishes send twins Jeanne and Simon on a journey to Middle East in search of their tangled roots. Adapted from Wajdi Mouawad's acclaimed play, Incendies tells the powerful and moving tale of two young adults' voyage to the core of deep-rooted hatred, never-ending wars and enduring love.
Wow! Just wow! Very, *very* powerful stuff. Will stay with you hours, nay, *days* after you've seen it. It's a rather gripping story-telling style, and its narrative is quite fascinating. This is the type of film that if you say the wrong thing, you end up spoiling for others. So, on that note, I'll just be enigmatic when I say that the reason I didn't give it an 8 or a 9 it's because I'm not very keen on coincidences. I just have trouble believing in them. That's all. Watch it!
country strong (2010)+
4/10 ****
Plot: A drama centered on a rising country-music songwriter who sparks with a fallen star. Together, they mount his ascent and her comeback, which leads to romantic complications involving her husband/manager and a beauty-queen-turned-singer.
Well, where to begin? From the start, I suppose. First things first, I *must* say that someone ought to tell -- or rather remind -- Gwynnie that absence really does make the heart grow fonder. The woman is everywhere lately. And I really mean *everywhere*. Acting, "gooping", singing, dancing, parading around Spain going on-and-on about food... Jeez! I'm not one of those many people who have an irrational beef with her (like my own sister has), but it *does* seem like she is force-feeding herself on us. And I ain't liking it! That aside, this film is tolerable. The story is weak, and seems to come straight off of the news, well, the tabloids. Although country music is not really my favourite genre -- even 'though I don't seem to mind when, let's say, Ryan Adams & The Cardinals go slightly down that route -- the songs didn't completely suck. Ok, I'm babbling now, and I should stop.
adventureland (2009)+
5/10 *****
Plot: A comedy set in the summer of 1987 and centered around a recent college grad who takes a nowhere job at his local amusement park, only to find it's the perfect course to get him prepared for the real world.
Better and more enjoyable than I had anticipated. Plus, the soundtrack sounded like my very own playlist. So, that's always very nice. The story has its ups and downs, but nothing too revolting. Didn't know Wiig was in it; that was a plus also. Which reminds me I can't wait to watch Bridesmaids.
no strings attached (2011)+
4/10 ****
Plot: A guy and girl try to keep their relationship strictly physical, but it's not long before they learn that they want something more.
Typical and dead-predictable, but also enjoyable and sweet (at times). Had trouble to visualize/accept/buy Portman and Kutcher as a couple, 'though. Sidenote: the period mix was a highlight.
burke and hare (2010)+
3/10 ***
Plot: A black comedy about two 19th century grave robbers who find a lucrative business providing cadavers for an Edinburgh medical school.
I expected sooo much more. Maybe that's why I was extra harsh. I mean, I usually *love* british humour, especially black humour. However, I failed to find much of it in this film as promised. The acting was good, but the material too weak.
planes para mañana (2010)+
4/10 ****
Plot: Three stories intertwined which occur in a single day. The day Ines discovers she is pregnant, Antonia decides to abandon her family and Marian realizes she is going to die. The film comprises an urban portrait of daily life, an extraordinary moment when the characters find they are able to remake their lives.
So much promise, and a fail to deliver. The film isn't bad, in fact I wanted more of it. It felt to me like they barely scratched the surface of the issues, and the characters. Which rendered it superficial and unfulfilling.
puccini for beginners (2006)+
6/10 ******
Plot: Allegra, an opera-loving writer in New York, eschews commitment, so her girlfriend, Samantha, leaves her. Allegra misses Sam, and resents the accusation that she's afraid to say "I love you," but she's soon involved with two people - Grace and Philip - who, unbeknownst to her, have just broken up with each other. Allegra juggles the two affairs, telling neither about the other; each likes her more and more as her old fears start making her itchy.
Nice, very nice. Wholesome characters, compelling/charming storyline, fine, *fine* acting... What can one ask more? It helps that I have a soft spot for neurotic characters with commitment, or any other phobias. It reminded me of Goldfish Memory, which I also enjoyed very much.
la double vie de véronique (1991)+
7/10 *******
Plot: Veronika lives in Poland. Véronique lives in Paris. They don't know each other. Veronika gets a place in a music school, works hard, but collapses and dies on her first performance. At this point, Véronique's life seems to take a turn and she decides not to be a singer.
This film, well, I spent some time trying to think of something apt to describe it. After a while I decided it would be best to say it is "lyrically gorgeous". The softness, the spirituality, the beauty, the nuances, the effortlessness, the score paired with the images... everything combines perfectly. Granted it is a bit unusual, enigmatic, open to many takes on it... one could say odd even; but, come to think about it, the best things in life are just so.