monica belluci | pinartarhan.com

Wicker Park starring Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne & Matthew Lillard

Posted on December 9, 2010 Written by ripitup

Wicker Park starring Josh Hartnett, Diane Kruger, Rose Byrne & Matthew Lillard

Plot

Matthew (Josh Hartnett) has a promising career in advertising and a beautiful girlfriend named Rebecca (Jessica Paré). However he is unsure about proposing, as deep down, he has never gotten over the love of his life, Lisa (Diane Kruger). She has left him without saying anything 2 years ago. When he thinks he saw her at a restaurant, he decides to ditch his business trip and look for her. The clues take him to a hotel and then an apartment. There he gets a real surprise, because the woman living there isn’t his Lisa but a brunette who claims that her name is Lisa (Rose Byrne). She also happens to be wearing Lisa’s clothes and shoes…

Matt has also run into his old friend Luke (Matthew Lillard) who runs a shoe shop and knows what Lisa meant to him. But he thinks that Matt’s quest for Lisa is crazy and he is more concerned with his love life. Despite pretending to be a player, he is actually a nice and decent guy with a huge crush on Alex, a theater actress. Alex’s behavior is highly unpredictable for reasons Luke might never find out. Alex can be the key to everything mysterious about Lisa’s disappearance. But will Matt be able to find out?

Wicker Park is a really solid mystery/romance. It is just different. It is very emotional and revolves around the 4 characters, especially Matthew, Alex and Lisa. It is a gripping drama romance with some thriller-like elements and its characters are just deliciously flawed. All of the main characters make bad choices, act stupidly and/or naively and/or selfishly. They also have redeeming qualities that make us feel for them. The music is really good (feat. Stereophonics, Coldplay, The White Stripes and more). I’d say that it is one of those rare romance movies where cynics and romantics will both have a good time.

The bad things? Oh, the characters are sometimes so monumentally stupid that it makes you want to smack them. And there is this whole string of (bad) coincidences that don’t always feel natural. And Matt is the right guy for only Lisa. For any other girl, he is one of the worst choices. So this is not a romance film where I will just talk about how unrealistically awesome the protagonist is. Because he is a very real character. So yes, the movie has its flaws but character development and a decent dose of realism are definitely not among them.

Background

Yes, the script is not technically original as It is based on the 1996 French film L’ Appartment starring Star Romane Bohringer, Vincent Cassel, Jean-Philippe Écoffey and Monica Belluci. It was written & directed by Gilles Mimount.

This 2004 American version was written by Brandon Boyce and directed by Paul McGuigan (Push, Lucky Number Slevin). I’ll see the original French film but if you haven’t already seen it, this version is pretty good.

Currently rated 6.8 on IMDB. L’ Appartement is rated 7.6. For Wicker Park, my vote is a solid 7, and in some aspects even 7.5.

Fun note: Vincent Cassel and Monica Belluci, the two starring actors of L’ Appartement,got married in 1999, 3 years after the making of the film. They have 2 kids together.

Other Diane Kruger Movies

The Hunting Party starring Richard Gere, Jesse Eisenberg & Terrence Howard. Feat. Kruger

Copying Beethoven starring Diane Kruger & Ed Harris

40 Days and 40 Nights starring Josh Hartnett & Shannyn Sossamon

Hollywood’s Tall Actors feat. Hartnett, Ben Affleck, Ryan Reynolds& more

Rose Byrne

Damages TV Show Review – starring Rose Byrne and Glenn Close

Adam starring Hugh Dancy and Rose Byrne

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice starring Nicholas Cage, Monica Belluci, Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer

Posted on July 23, 2010 Written by ripitup

The Sorcerer's Apprentice movie poster, starring Nicholas Cage — The Sorcerer's Apprentice starring Nicholas Cage, Jay Baruchel, Alfred Molina, Monica Belluci and Teresa Palmer. Directed by Jon Turteltaub. Image via disnology.com

Balthazar Blake (Nicholas Cage), Veronica (Monica Belluci) and Horvath (Alfred Molina) are sorcerer apprentices to Merlin. They are all very powerful and are supposed to use magic for humanity. When Horvath makes a deal with the evil sorcerer Morgana (Alice Krige), steals a powerful magic and attacks them, Veronica imprisons Morgana in herself ;and herself in a “grimhold” to save Balthazar and the world. Before Merlin dies, he tells Balthazar that he needs to find ther “premerlinian” (I have no idea how to spell that!!)- a sorcerer so powerful that he will be able to destroy Morgana. So Baltahazar searches for this special person for over a thousand years, with no avail.

Come 2000 and by coincidence, the child he is looking for walks into Balthazar’s shop. His name is David Strutter, he is 10 and he is in love with his classmate Becky. Just when Balthazar gives him his special ring and tries to explain his purpose, David accidentally sets Horvath free. This ends in Balthazar imprisoning himself and Horvath in a grimhold and David running away.

Come 2010,David (Jay Baruchel) is a total physics nerd, working on a Tesla related thesis. When he runs into Becky (Teresa Palmer) at the university, he can’t believe his luck. But just when he believes he has a shot with her, Balthazar and Horvath reappear. Balthazar starts training David and involuntarily lets him date as well. In the meantime, Horvath is trying to find himself other sorcerers who can help him with his mission.

Of course Horvath can’t be trusted, Balthazar has a hard time convincing David he is the one and we find about the real reason why Horvath betrayed them.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is an absolute summer fun. This summer gave us totally entertaining action/adventure films with romantic subplots on the side and really good jokes. After Iron Man 2, Prince of Persia The Sands of Time and Knight and Day, we get another fun movie that totally entertains. I couldn’t have cared less if Inception topped this one at the box office. The script is really well-balanced, Nicholas Cage is totally lovely and funny as Balthazar, Alfred Molina makes a fine villain (Chocolat, Spider Man 2) and Monica Belluci is gorgeous as always.

I really liked Jay Baruchel and Teresa Palmer’s performances as well. The comic timing, action sequences with magic , special affects and chemistry between the cast complement each other perfectly. I laughed a lot and had a great time. This movie is directed by Jon Turteltaub, and I have always loved his directing, regardless of the genre. He has also directed the National Treasure films starring Nicholas Cage, While You Were Sleeping and Phenomenon.

The Sorcerer’s Apprentice is a Jerry Bruckheimer production. It was written by Lawrence Konner, Mark Rosenthal, Matt Lopez, Doug Miro and Carlo Bernhard.

But of course keep in mind I love the combination of action/comedy/romance and I am not that into magic.I don’t likethe Harry Potter series. But I am a fan of Cage and Molina and they deliver, big time.

Trailer 1

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9VZllR44gdA[/pro-player]

Trailer 2

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7ZL3XjwL0E[/pro-player]

8/10. Perfect escapism!

4 Good Movies with Awesome Soundtracks: Shoot ’em up, Jerry Maguire, Reality Bites and Vanilla Sky

Posted on April 16, 2010 Written by ripitup

Both movies and music have been my addictions. It is always great fun to watch a good movie or a solid album. But sometimes, these two come together to double the pleasure. Below are some of the best soundtracked-movies.

Shoot ‘Em Up (2007)

Shoot 'Em Up starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci and Paul Giamatti — Shoot ‘Em Up starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci and Paul Giamatti. Sex, guns and rockn’roll! Image from: http://www.firstshowing.net

Not one of the most serious movies you will watch. It is non-stop action but it is so cool in its irrational and impossible scenes. But it works. Clive Owen at his best form as the mysterious Smith. Co-starring Monica Belluci. Wondering what the movie is about? Here’s the review. Wondering more about the soundtrack?

Featuring:

Kickstart my heart by Motley Crue

Ace of Spades, Motorhead

Breed, Nirvana

If you want blood, you got it- AC/DC

Oh of course, this isn’t it. They are just the songs I have loved long before the movie. Yes, the soundtrack is all about rock: grunge, rock, hard rock, alternative and classic rock. More on the movie and trailer: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/shoot-em-up/

Jerry Maguire (1996)

Jerry Maguire starring Tom Cruise, Renée Zellweger and Cuba Gooding Jr. Co-starring Kelly Preston and Jay Mohr. Watch out for the most adorable kid on screen: Jonathan Lipnicki. Image from: http://3.bp.blogspot.com/

Tom Cruise has been one of my favorite actors. Because more often than not, I know I can trust him to make good movies. And Jerry Maguire is my absolutely favorite Tom Cruise. It is also one of my favorites in general. It is funny, poignant, emotional, original and just lovely!!! Which reminds me I haven’t done an individual post on J.M. Shame on me.

Soundtrack featuring:

Pocketful of Rainbows, Elvis Presley

Oh Well, Fleetwood Mac

World on a String, Neil Young

Magic Bus, The Who

Freefallin’, Tom Petty

Burning Sky, Bad Company

And my absolute favorite: Bruce Springsteen’s Secret Garden. The video is below. Includes scenes from the movie.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lx_x6jMCxAY[/pro-player]

Movie Trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bFs-E-FSkJU&feature=related[/pro-player]

Reality Bites (1994)

Delightful romcom, smelling 1990s. I love the 90s, the movie and well, obviously the ost. Now this movie id delightful in its own little way with characters trying (or refusing) to fit in. Ethaw Hawke’s character is singing in a band so there are also songs sung by him. More on the movie and photos: https://pinartarhan.com/blog/reality-bites-always/

Featuring:

Rock’n’ Roll Part II, Gary Glitter

Locked Out, Crowded House

Story Of My Life, Social Distortion

Something So Strong, Crowded House

School’s Out, Alice Cooper

All I Want is You, U2

Absolute favorite: My Sharona by The Knack. The video is below:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g1T71PGd-J0[/pro-player]

Vanilla Sky (2001)

Another Tom Cruise movie and just like it written and directed by Cameron Crowe.

Too complicated to tell the story (again one of my fav. Cruise-its post will come) but in a nutshell:

David Aames (Cruise) is handsome, rich and in demand and despite to the inconvenience to the board members, he is the head of the business he inherited from his parents. And he has a friend with benefits- hot Julie (Cameron Diaz). But something remarkable happens to David when he meets Sofia (Penelope Cruz) at a party and falls head over heels. Of course this doesn’t go down with Julie -who has wanted David to be more than her bed buddy. An accident ruins David’s face and psychology. From that moment on, the audience has a lot to digest and interpret. Based on the Spanish movie also starring Penelope Cruz. But I dare say, this one is better. Great movie, great soundtrack.

Featuring:

Everything In Its Right Place, Radiohead

Vanilla Sky, Paul McCartney

All the Right Friends,REM

Last Goodbye, Jeff Buckley

Sweetness Follows, REM

Fourth Time Around, Bob Dylan

I Might Be Wrong, Radiohead

Wild Honey, U2

Absolute favorites: Good Vibrations by The Beach Boys and Solsbury Hill by Peter Gabriel

Movie trailer:

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CHtF8PADoN0[/pro-player]

Shoot ’em Up! starring Clive Owen, Monica Belluci and Paul Giamatti

Posted on January 29, 2010 Written by ripitup

Clive Owen and Monica Belluci in Shoot 'Em Up. Fast, cool, sexy and hard rock all around.

This movie kicks ass. It is exciting, fast, sexy, funny, clever and as exaggerated as a computer game but it just works. Imagine a roller-coaster ride. Only, it is better, because the movie just never loses momentum.

Smith (Clive Owen) is a lone ranger minding his own business. The guy is so cool, he makes eating carrots look cool. So he gets annoyed to see that a heavily pregnant woman is being chased by gun men. He just has to get involved. There are many shooters but he takes care of them as if they are merely still targets. He even kills a guy with a carrot. Oh ,yeah. And you thought the carrot wouldn’t come in handy?! The shooters just keep coming and Smith takes care of them all the while help deliver the baby. He gets to save the baby and all the shooters come after him. So from that point on, we embark this uber-cool journey as this 6’2” stranger takes care of a newborn, gets assistance from his hooker friend (Monica Belluci), shoots men tens at a time as the audience gets to watch with a big grin on their faces.

It is absurd and totally unrealistic. But Clive Owen plays Smith to such perfection and you think: That guy is like smarter, cooler, faster and better than we have ever seen on screen and he can pull that off. He is also full-of one liners. You so wish you could know a guy like Smith and have him watch your back (and I am thinking if you are a woman, you would want to take him to bed too-the guy can shoot up everyone all the while continuing to give the woman an orgasm. And no, it is not my fantasy, it is a scene in the movie)

Paul Giamatti plays the ultimate psycho and Smith’s main enemy. His motives aren’t all that clear but his acting sure adds to the movie’s coolness.

The baby is fantatic. It smiles when Smith talks about guns and sleeps when he hears heavy metal.

Oh, and if by any chance you love rock music, the soundtrack is awesome. It includes Motorhead, Motley Crue, Nirvana, AC/DC, Wolfmother, Iggy Pop and more.

Fun as hell. See it. I take a movie this fun over any serious film or a light chick-film any day.

[pro-player width=’530′ height=’253′ type=’video’]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jlx4n_ibNZE[/pro-player]

Posts on Clive Owen:

* Clive Owen Trivia: 21 Facts about Clive Owen

* Duplicity Movie Review – Duplicity also features Paul Giamatti

* The Boys Are Back Movie Review

* Beyond Borders Movie Review

* Closer

* Elizabeth The Golden Age

* The International

* Derailed

*Inside Man