New look. New attitude. New experiences.
Honestly, I had been neglecting this blog the past few weeks because of my awfully hectic schedule. Work had Read more
Heaven is where the cooks are French, the police are British, the mechanics are German, the lovers are Italian and everything is organized by Read more
This morning, ABS-CBN launched their new Lupang Hinirang video. As usual, Kapamilya stars participated in this effort. The video was produced by Star Cinema.
To be honest, I love it. I’m not sure whether I love it better than the previous version but this one was well-shot, well-executed. I also liked that it’s short and simple.
The only comment I have is this: On the map of the Philippines shown at the end, where the hell is the Negros Island? I’m sure it was just an oversight but I hope that they fix it asap. After all, Negros Oriental and Negros Occidental are major players in Philippine history.
Anyway, here’s the full video. Lookie here. No Negros on the map.
Genre: Drama
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Stars: James Franco
127 Hours is about mountain climber Aron Ralston (James Franco) who goes on a journey to a remote Utah canyon but finds himself trapped in a lonely crevasse after a boulder falls and pins his arm. What happens next is 127 hours of trying to survive and get out of the earthy prison.
So wait, wait, wait a minute, does that mean you’re gonna have to watch a man struggle to set himself free through the duration of the movie?
Well, yes. But thanks to Danny Boyle’s filmmaking precision and James Franco’s brilliant performance, what could have been a stagnant material becomes a journey to the soul of an individual who had been imprisoned in his solitary ways far longer than 127 hours — most of his life — and we see him break free and realize he has reasons to reach out to life, albeit with one arm.
James Franco‘s performance is central in the storytelling because there’s not much of a story. He is almost in every scene and without going anywhere, he has to win the audience over by creating a character that is distant and carefree but adorable enough for us to want him to get out of that solid rock predicament. And the Academy-nominated actor did not disappoint. He gives the performance of his life in this film, giving life to a brave character in the brink of desperation. His Ralston is real and believable as he delivers a performance overflowing with power and rawness. His face radiates the strength, the terror and the despair — all at the same time.
But Franco does not single-handedly carry this film. Danny Boyle was able to put the audience in Ralston’s shoes and see the world through his eyes. Although it is not always comfortable (or even bearable), the film encourages us to ask ourselves what we would do had we been in that situation. This kind of first-person approach works magically. Moreover, the guy sure knows how to tell a story, breaking the “trap tedium” with beautiful shots of the landscape every now and then and injecting enough humor to keep us entertained. The cinematography and editing make up for the absence of movement.
Genre: Drama
Stars: Nicole Kidman, Aaron Eckhart, Dianne Wiest
Directed by: John Cameron Mitchell
A couple struggle to go on with their lives eight months after their young son was killed in a tragic road accident. Cliche? Maybe. But that’s what is beautiful about Rabbit Hole. It tells the tired story of loss and grief in the most unusual yet true-to-life manner — silent, devoid of histrionics, and occasionally humorous. It’s a simple story made complex by the characters’ emotions.
Rabbit Hole revolves around Becca and Howie Corbett, played by Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart, and their difficult, almost impossible battle with grief, brought about by the death of their son after he chased his dog onto the street and get ran over by a speeding car.
While Howie comforts himself with memories of his son by watching old videos on his iPhone, Becca seems to be dealing with the loss differently. Becca seems to be determined to banish anything that reminds her of her child one step at a time, while being annoyingly critical of anyone that offers her a shoulder to cry on. She dreads support groups and refuses to talk about her feelings.
In one of the support group sessions they join, a couple try to console themselves by saying that the reason their child died is that God needed another angel. Becca, totally disgusted, spoils the moment by raising the question, “If he needed another angel, why didn’t he just make one. He’s God, after all. Why didn’t he just make another angel?”
Becca is seemingly strong. Seemingly, the operative word. And these differences between them are starting to take a toll on their marriage.
Genre: Suspense, Thriller Director: Darren Aronofsky Stars: Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel
The moment she broke her toe nail, it was on.
Directed by Darren Aronofsky (the same man who gave us The Wrestler and Requiem for a Dream), Black Swan is a passionate, tension-filled suspense drama about a ballerina named Nina (Natalie Portman) who is chosen to play the much coveted lead in New York Ballet Company’s production, Swan Lake.
The role calls for not just a perfect portrayal of the innocent White Swan, but also the much more difficult Black Swan. Although Nina performs the White Swan part faultlessly, she needs more time to perfect the more demanding role — the Black Swan. But as she struggled to get lost in this dark character and receives unsolicited help from the sexually charged Lily (Mila Kunis), she discovers more about her own dark side.
Without a doubt, Natalie Portman nailed the role as if the film was made so she could have her first Academy Award. She was convincing as the innocent Nina, wanting to meet her mother’s expectations and proving she deserves the part. She was also able to successfully transition to the rebellious woman, who would do everything to keep the role.
Almost exactly eight years ago, Christina Aguilera‘s sophomore album “Stripped” was released. This record was said to be Aguilera’s first attempt to break free from her tired bubblegum image and take control of her career. With a newly found artistic freedom, Aguilera introduced to us music that was very different from songs from her Genie in a Bottle days. And hoping to generate buzz, Dirrty was chosen as the first single.
It generated buzz, alright. But the wrong kind. Dirrty, the song and the music video, and the album Stripped were released to a not very welcoming market and critics. Although an international hit, Dirrty failed miserably in the US. They say it was too provocative, too daring, too desperate. Likewise, the album Stripped was slammed by critics.
But despite warning from critics, I clearly remember being at a local record store in my hometown and grabbing a copy of this album, wanting to give it a shot, hoping it was worth it. I also remember coming home, playing the record and getting amazed by the album. Screw the critics; to me, it was a beautiful album.
And it wasn’t long before the public realized that it was actually a great album. You know word of mouth was at work when, despite debuting at no.2 at the Billboard 200, the album stayed on the chart for, like, forever and was declared one of the best-selling albums of that year. Not only that, the album slain by critics was nominated for a Grammy for Best Pop Vocal Album. Crazy world, indeed.
I wouldn’t pick Dirrty as the carrier single had it been me but the entire album was an auditory piece of heaven. I fell in love with the album. I thought it was raw, feisty and hard-hitting. It spoke to me. The album would be my companion and therapist. It would prove to be emotionally helpful in the years to come.
And although I know what I’m about to say will sound like a total cheeseball, one song in particular saved my life. Beautiful was released in December 2002, around Christmas.
It was written by Linda Perry. The first time I listened to the album, I decided that it was the best track for me and I knew it would be the most successful. Beautiful is just beautiful. It speaks for everyone who has been down and trampled on. It is an inspiring song and I know I was not the only one whose life was touched and moved by this song.
This year, Tonet and Chinggay are at it again! They now call themselves Witty Will Save the World, Co and this time, they are going hopeless romantic!!!
From the crazy girls who brought you the I-was-supposed-to-get-that-coffeehouse-planner-but-I-got-fat-and-broke-on-the-10th-frappe planner, presenting this year’s perfect Christmas gift. (Click on the image to enlarge.)
Above is the cover art. It’s 6″x6″ hardcover, springbound.
Below is one of the first pages. A disclaimer.
I’m telling you guys, this is the wittiest, funniest thing you can ever give or want to receive this Holiday Season! And I’m not saying that because they’re my friends. It’s just really hilarious! And to prove that, here’s a glance of the inside pages
It also comes with a LET GO MOVE ON tracker. Here are the pages of this very useful feature:
“…The thing about Aguilera is that she’s used to zig when everyone else was zagging. And now, it seems like she decided to zag along with everyone else.” -EW.com
EW.com closed its review of Not Myself Tonight with these sentences. I wouldn’t blame them for thinking like this but I guess they were deceived by Not Myself Tonight. I love the single, don’t get me wrong, but this just didn’t represent the album in any way. Not Myself Tonight is like everything we have heard from today’s recording artists, except Christina can sing. I understand why they picked this track to be the first single — of all the tracks in Bionic, Not Myself Tonight is easily the most familiar and it is on this track that her voice is most recognizable.
But Bionic is more than that. Listen to Bionic and you’ll find Xtina going against the grain yet again, pushing the envelope harder, and yes, zigging while everyone else is zagging.
When Christina Aguilera said in an interview that she was experimenting more with her voice and exploring new ways to make music with it, she was not kidding. The album is unlike anything she has done before. It’s not even like anything other female performers and divas today have done before. Bionic is a big risk for an artist of her stature. It is not conventional. Yet, Aguilera was able to mesh her five-star voice with the different instruments that contributed to the genius that is Bionic.
To be honest, Bionic isn’t as futuristic as she sells it but it is indeed superhuman. And as you listen to it, subconsciously you are taken on a journey of a superhuman — opening with a big bang that is Bionic (track), taking you on a wild ride with Woohoo and Elastic Love, going deeper to the heart and soul of the album that is the four ballads at its core, and ending with a fun, wild, not-to-be-taken-seriously track that is Vanity.
I especially loved its row of ballads co-penned by Xtina’s long-time collaborator Linda Perry and new found ally Sia. It is the core of the record. It is as if Aguilera sheds of her metal armor, getting naked and revealing her heart and soul.It is Christina at her most vulnerable.
Most of all, Bionic successfully cements Christina’s status as probably this generation’s most versatile vocalist. She does urban, club-bangers, ballads and soul and does them well.
Genre: Romance, Drama Director: Cathy Garcia-Molina Stars: John Lloyd Cruz, Bea Alonzo
When I first heard that John Lloyd Cruz and Bea Alonzo would be doing a movie together after three years, my first reaction was “How in the world are they gonna top One More Chance?!” Not that One More Chance is a perfect film. But it was perfect for John Lloyd and Bea. It was one of the best mainstream Pinoy romantic drama movies I’d seen in recent times — well-acted, well-directed, well-shot, mature and surprisingly solid.
That said, Miss You Like Crazy is bound to be compared to its predecessor. But looking at the new movie as is, this has a lot of refreshing things to offer.
First, there was a deliberate effort to deviate from conventional Star Cinema movies and it was pretty apparent. The treatment is way different from other Cathy Garcia Molina films. For instance, there was an attempt to play with the timeline. We all know how formulaic studio romantic movies are and they seldom mess up the narrative flow. Also, how they “sectionalized” the film was not something that usual mainstream romance does. Each section is set in a different time and has its own premise, conflict and closure (but not really a resolution). These sections feel like incomplete short films but weaved together make up a good, insightful movie.
Second, the narrative veers away from the explain-it-all/show-it-all school of storytelling. When one section ends and another starts, the audience is left in a vacuum. A long time has been skipped and the audience is left wondering how much time has passed and what happened in between. It doesn’t assume that you are too stupid to assume or to discover for yourself what you missed. There’s a downside, though. It has a happy ending, yes, but that’s not the problem. The issue is how it gets there comes out of nowhere. It’s not established enough; it felt forced. It felt thought out in the last minute just so they could give the audience a happy ending. That’s the problem.
If you don’t understand why everyone is going ga-ga over that certain planner a certain coffeehouse is selling or giving away after you’ve turned fat, broke or insomniac, welcome to the club.
Well, there’s nothing wrong with it actually. If you always buy coffee, then it makes perfect sense to avail of the planner in question. In fact, I admire the passion and determination of others to the point of skipping lunch or dinner or both just to grab their copy of that planner every year. (I even know a couple of kids who ask money from their parents and claim it’s for a project for their Social Studies class. Social, alright.)
It’s a cool planner I must admit. If I were that into overpriced coffee, I’d probably get myself one, too. But I’m happy with my Kapeng Barako so, thanks, but no thanks.
Anyway, just as that coffeehouse everyone is ga-ga over releases their planner that everyone is ga-ga over, a couple of friends came up with a brilliant idea of producing their own planner that could give that “coffeehouse planner everyone is ga-ga over” a run for its overpriced life. It’s more like my friends’ personal project but they printed 498 more, so you might want to buy a copy. LOL.
So what is this ingenious planner that threatens the order of the society?
Well, it’s called the “I-was-supposed-to-get-that-coffeehouse-planner-but-I-got-fat-and-broke-on-the-10th-frappe planner.” Sorry for its quite lengthy name, but there’s no other name more suitable.
This mocking planner talks to you in Tagalog and treats you as a real friend, the kind you always suspect of being gay or schizophrenic. It does not give you boring inspirational quotes every page. Heck, it might even insult you, like a real friend. And on top of it all, like a real friend, it’s the one you’d like to use as much as you can.
It has art, it has wit, and you don’t have to buy 30 frakkin’ cups of coffee just to get it. You just have to shell out P320. See? Like a real friend, it’s cheap.
The picture above is the cover. Now, take a look at the inside pages:
Genre: Drama; Director: Gus Van Sant
Stars: Sean Penn, Josh Brolin, Diego Luna, James Franco
Harvey Milk was the first openly gay man to be elected to public office in the United States. Well, the film is about that. Oh yeah, it’s so timely. With Obama now the President (not that Obama is gay) and the Proposition 8 issue and all. And since it’s a biopic, you know what to watch out for — acting performances. And man did Sean Penn deliver a divine one. It’s probably his best ever. His every twist and turn is so swishy convincing, even the dormant gay alter-ego inside Mr. Oscar will come to life. Oh wait, The Oscars is gay. Hehe.
Director Gus Van Sant’s decision to narrate this familiar story with exuberance and gaiety is impressive. He managed to tell an inspiring story of a social movement and a man who started it in a manner that is awakening, compelling and touching at the same time. It’s like watching a propaganda film except it’s not irritating. Hehe.
Although the emotion and tension levels are flat throughout the film until the last few minutes, the movie keeps your attention in an almost hypnotic way. It’s amazing — it’s not exactly a visual treat nor a plot wonder but you’re just sucked into Milk’s world and you don’t wanna get out of it. Maybe it’s just Sean Penn. Maybe the film itself. Who cares? 4.7
On May 31, 1985, tragedy struck when 41 tornadoes hit Canada and the US, leaving 76 people dead. At the same time, a doomed couple in the Philippines were having the best orgasms of their lives. Nine months (280 days) later, a healthy baby boy was brought into this world by normal delivery. That was exactly a week before Microsoft had its initial public offering.
Today, Yoshke Dimen resides independently in Mandaluyong City. He got a degree in Film from a university in Diliman but is now pursuing a career in Social Media.
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You can reach the author by sending an email to yoshke (at) philippinebeaches.org
4.7
