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Bright Star starring Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw and Paul Schneider

Posted on June 29, 2010 Written by ripitup

Bright Star starring Abbie Cornish, Ben Whishaw and Paul Schneider. Written and directed by Jane Campion. Image from http://theoscarboy.files.wordpress.com

So I kept hearing so much about The Piano all these years. You probably have heard of it, even if you haven’t seen it. Critically acclaimed, Oscar-winner and all that. And I thought it was time I should watch this popular Jane Campion film. Since I was going to watch it, I took the chance to watch Bright Star before. It was directed by Campion as well, rated at 7.2 on IMDB, a period drama starring Ben Whishaw and Abby Cornish. How could they go wrong? Beautiful leads, romantic setting and me- someone belonging exactly to the targeted audience: romantic female with a weakness for period films. My favorite movies include Pride and Prejudice and I have written articles about the period movies to watch (Period Movies: The Costumes, The Settings and The Romance).

But watching to movie, I failed to be intrigued by any character or line. In fact, I hated Mr. Brown and Paul Schnedier’s interpretation of him. The scenes are mostly too long, boring and/or mundane. This is not how an engaging drama should work. The movie did not have one fun moment in its body. And what on earth did they get the talented Thomas Sangster for? His character barely spoke and added nothing to the story. That boy is talented and he is often seen in fun roles- that have lines and action. Remember the kid in Love Actually? And Ceasar in The Last Legion?

You can bet I am a little concerned about watching The Piano now. While I love Harvey Keitel, and the premise sounds very interesting, I am not sure if it will be a worthwhile experience. But of course I will watch it anyway.

The plot? Oh that:

England, 19^th century. Young and beautiful Fanny Brawne (Abby Cornish) is fascinated by fashion and clothing and designs and makes all her clothes.

Young poet John Keates is striving to make money with his work and is often working with Mr. Brown. As much as Mr. Brown and Fanny hate each other, a romance eventually blossoms between Fanny and Keats. The fact that he can’t support himself , that he is mostly dependent on Brown as a writing mate and more, complicate things. Love would probably conquer all but then Keats falls terminally ill…

Yes, Keats is a real poet that lived in that period. And his real life couldn’t have been this boring, could it? Yes, there are many who enjoyed this film, hence the 7.2 rating but I am just not one of them. 4-5/10.

Sex and The City 2: It rocked. Forget the negative reviews.

Posted on June 19, 2010 Written by ripitup

Sex and The City 2 starring Sarah Jessica Parker, Kim Catrall, Cynthia Nixon and Kristin Davis. Co-starring Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler, Jason Lewis and John Corbett. Image: beyazgazete.com

Sex and The City 2: It rocked. Forget the Negative Reviews!

The girls are back!!! If you want to know what went around in the show, check out the tv show trivia and if you need to remember what went on in the first movie, visit Sex and The City The Movie

Now, the second film:

Carrie (Sarah Jessica Parker) and Big (Chris Noth) are about to celebrate their wedding anniversary. Charlotte (Kristin Davis) has always gotten the family she wanted-she has two beautiful daughters and she is happy with her husband Harry (Evan Handler). Miranda (Cynthia Nixon) and Steve (David Eigenberg) are back and happy together. Samantha (Kim Catrall) is…well… Samantha.

Of course things are not as smooth as they first might seem:

Carrie is afraid Big is getting too comfortable in their marriage. She starts to freak out that they will turn into a boring old married couple. After all, Big is too fond of watching TV, ordering and staying in. She is now working on her new book and this time it is about marriage.

Samantha is over 50 and she is dealing with the side-effects of menopause in a very Samantha way: taking as many pills as she can so that she can “trick her body into thinking it is younger” and it seems to be working. Her libido is back and her hot flushes are under control. She is in fact the happiest of the bunch.

Miranda and Steve are great as a couple but Miranda’s now asshole of a colleague is giving her nightmares. For the first time in her life, Miranda is dreading her office and hating her job. It doesn’t seem worth the trouble that she is missing out on all of her son Brady’s important moments.

Charlotte is about to have a nervous breakdown. Her baby won’t stop crying. In fact she is so relentless and loud, she could have been a perfect commercial for promoting birth control. And despite being a mild child, her oldest Lily is sick of all the attention Rose is getting. Thankfully, her nanny (Alice Eve) is a godsent, She is sweet, lovely and really great with the kids. But one problem: She is a young, pretty blonde with big breasts. And she doesn’t wear bras….

So when Samantha meets her ex Smith’s (Jason Lewis) movie producer, a very rich man from Abu Dhabi and the gets a job offer, the girls are presented with the chance to an all expenses paid vacation. They will have a chance to get away from it all and there will be 4 of them- without the kids and the men. Just what they all needed. However, how smart is it really for Samantha to be in a Muslim city where most of the population doesn’t consist of modern, new generation Muslims but old-fashioned, ultra-traditional and conventional people? Where women mostly cover all of their bodies and hair and so do men? It gets much worse when she meets an attractive Danish architect (Max Ryan) and well…wants to do him.

But the greatest yet the worst thing happens to Carrie when he runs into Aidan (John Corbett), the second love of her life. The guy she almost married… Are they truly over each other? Will it be a reunion for “two old friends” or is she actually playing with fire as Charlotte suggested?

The expectations, The IMDB rating and the criticisms

The TV series are rated at 7.1 on IMDB. An HBO series, Sex and The City was the first show on TV where people-women-talked so openly and “shamelessly” about sex. While Britain’s highly successful sitcom Coupling’s characters talks just as freely about sex and the issues related with it, Sex and The City dared to “show” everything. And no issue was ever out of boundaries. Any type of sex, any awkward/hot/conventional/unconventional thing about sex was welcome. It was set in New York. It was all about glamour, sex, dating, love, relationships, friendship and well…shopping.

I was surprised that the first movie was only rated 5.4. Many people seemed to be disturbed by the fact that there was less sex and less sex talk. But it was essential to the story and it made sense. Because Miranda and Steve did have a dry spell going on. Miranda was too busy working and she was tired and well, Steve screwed up. Carrie and Big were happy at first but it is Carrie Bradshaw we were talking about. And Sarah Jessica Parker. She never once showed her breasts or butt in the 6 years of the show. And yes, she had hot moments with Big but remember Big was elusive and commitment-phobic He was also in his 40s when the show aired. In the movie, he was now in his mid-50s, in a steady relationship. He also screwed up a wedding and they broke up. Carrie and Big were separate for a good portion of the movie. And after 10 years of being desperately in love with Big, did anyone expect Carrie to go out there and act like single again? Seriously. Charlotte and Harry were happy and had a good, healthy sex life but nothing to write home about. Even Samantha was steady in a relationship with Smith. But hey, it didn’t stop her from wanting more, talking all dirty and fantasizing about her next door neighbor whose body and sexcapades we really got to see. There was of course a little less of Manhattan. But then again, Samantha was in L.A. and Miranda lived in Brooklyn. I watched all the episodes of the series and enjoyed the experience. I got to relate to the characters and even though there is usually one character you relate the most, there was a part of each character in me. I was never the same age with the girls. I was 14 when the show started and al little older when I discovered it.

Now, I am 26. Still, I find the show, the characters and the movies very relatable, very fun and just as true to life.

You should see the message boards and the movie reviews. The characters are called sexist and superficial. Hello??? When in the series were they deeper or more intellectual? They were who they were and we loved them for it. It was all about New York and shopping and sex and dating but it was more about friendship than anything else. Some – and I am guessing men- said the leading women were plain ugly or just got too old. Hello??? They got older, got more wrinkles. It is a fact of life. Shit happens. They may not look just as great. Deal with it!

Now, I actually laughed at the 3.8 rating for the second film. If anything, it was funnier and a lot more pleasant than the first. No one was in depression Samantha was single again as she was always meant to be. But hell, she can’t always be that active at 52, dealing with menopause.

Well, you can’t expect Steve and Miranda to bang each other every time they are in the same room together. And how is this not nice or good enough? Do people expect Miranda to talk about “skid marks”?

The characters are where they are meant to be. They grew older, but they are still who they are. Adding Abu Dhabi was a great idea because it was a great and rare opportunity for the girls to be away from all other distractions. Plus, Carrie got to run into Aidan. I don’t know about you, but Aidan was my favorite male ever to have appeared on the show. He was actually too good to be true: Nice, fun, funny, sweet, romantic, loyal, interesting. He also didn’t smoke and he loved rocknroll. And all this package had came in the shape of the tall and handsome actor John Corbett.

Aidan and Carrie had one-OK two-passionate, loving relationships that ended in disasters. The first time they were together, Carrie had screwed everything up by cheating on Aidan with Big. When she told Aidan, he naturally left. When they got backtogether and Carrie earned back his trust, Aidan wanted to marry her but she wasn’t ready. So he left. Aidan was never over Carrie. And as a fan, I was definitely not over Aidan….

It was good seeing him again, even though I thought he acted a little out of character.

I don’t know about you but I got exactly what I was looking for. And after the ceremony, I cared about what would happen to these four girls and I thought Michael Patrick King-writer/director/producer got things right. It is a journey. And it is a fun one.

I related to this women and it is nice to see how they grew up. Pluse they threw in interesting cameos in the form of Penelope Cruz, Lisa Minelli and Miley Cyrus.

It is for fun. I went to see the movie with three girlfriends of mine and we all had a great time. Even though, the story probably finished for good, I wouldn’t mind a 3^rd film. Not that nothing much is left to say. But hey, I just like the characters. Maybe the reason so many people didn’t like the film(s) is that they felt things lost the charm when everyone got their happy ending. After all we watched Big being elusive for 6 years and never knew his name until the last episode. Now we know his name, surname and he is mature and sweet and reliable. There was an episode in the 3^rd season where Carrie felt uneasy because things were so smooth with Aidan. Maybe people are just hooked on seeing drama for drama’s sake. The episode is called Drama Queens. Maybe some fans should revisit it?

Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig

Posted on June 16, 2010 Written by ripitup

Cairo Time starring Patricia Clarkson and Alexander Siddig. Image from: http://www.reelworld.

Juliette (Patricia Clarkson) has two grown children that both left home. Her husband Mark (Tom McCamus) is working for the UN and they haven’t seen each other for a while. So while he is working in Gaza, Juliette flies to Cairo. The idea is to meet in Cairo is soon as Mark is done with his work. In the meantime, Mark has asked his old friend Tareq (Alexander Siddig) to take care of Juliette until he arrives.

Tareq used to work for UN with Mark and he is now retired, running a typical café in the city. While her first days are a little bit boring for Juliette (well, she gets bored most of the time when she’s not around Tareq, she realizes that the person she can get along with them most is Tareq. They both know a little about the other one’s culture and they are both intrigued and amused by it at the same time. Their relationship is a very sincere and naturally-progressing friendship. It is not long before they realize they have feelings for each other. But it is one thing being attracted to another person and it is another to act on it…After all, Juliette loves Mark and Tareq respects his friend…

This movie gives a lovely opportunity to explore Cairo- with its streets and cafes, restaurants and pyramids, the crowds and the dessert…It is a beautiful city. Watching this movie is incredibly serene and comforting experience. It might be the subtleness of the acting, the use of music and the setting or the combination of all these, but I felt like I meditated afterwards. Yeah, this is a good thing.

While Tareq and Juliette got to know one another, walking through Cairo,I was reminded of Before Sunrise starring Ethan Hawke and Julie Delpy, and of course the lovely sequel Before Sunset. Of course in many ways, these movies are very different. In Before Sunrise, the characters are both young and single. And there is also the fact that Celine and Jesse didn’t have time to be friends. They just had 24 hours together. Here, in Cairo Time, we do get a beautiful love story but the love here includes and starts from friendship. There is a bond and it is even stronger than the chemistry and attraction.

Now, obviously the movie is not everybody. The pace is really slow. Now, the pace works perfectly for the film but it might not be your thing to watch mainly two characters hang out. And if you are expecting explicit sex scenes (or sex scenes of any nature), you will be disappointed. This is not The English Patient. In fact, I’d say that this movie is safe even for a three-year-old. But with all the action and the nudity the movie world loves so much these days, it is nice to get something that is deep and has such an innocent level to it. I love my action and fast movies. But this movie is a very nice, escapist from all that. I am just warning you about what to expect and what not to.

Both Alexander Siddig and Patricia Clarkson are lovely together. And while Mark is essential to the story, he doesn’t have much screen time. But after hearing all about Mark throughout the movie, I think it is safe to say Tom McCamus fits the “hype”.

There is a big chance some things are exaggerated. So what? Relax and enjoy the experience. Written and directed by Ruba Nada. 8/10.

Love Happens starring Aaron Eckhart and Jennifer Aniston

Posted on June 15, 2010 Written by ripitup

Love Happens starring Jennifer Aniston and Aaron Eckheart. Co-starring Martin Sheen, Dan Vogler and John Carroll Lynch. Image via thorunnsteins.files.wordpress.com.

Burke Ryan (Aaron Eckhart) has lost his wife a couple of years ago. He has written a book about coping with loss and to his surprise, the book has become a bestseller and made Burke a household name and a hero for anyone who has ever lost a loved one. Now, it is all about book tours and workshops. His current city is Seattle. The problem? This is the city where his wife’s parents lived, the city where she lived and died. It is also the city where she meets a beautiful and intriguing woman named Eloise (Jennifer Aniston).

Eloise runs a flower shop and is in the depressive and pessimistic post break- up mode. She also has an unusual interest in really long and not so typical words in the English language.

When they two meet, it is not exactly sparks and irresistible chemistry. It is full of misunderstandings, misjudgments and then well, sweet awkwardness. However, as Eloise and Burke begin spending time together and develop a close friendship, and along with one particular participant in the workshop, Burke will have to face the fact that he hasn’t come to terms with his wife’s death. And despite all the useful and genuine advice he is giving out, he hasn’t yet taken them himself…

Now, this is not a romantic comedy. It is a drama with some romantic elements . Sure, there are feelings between Eloise and Burke but this is not the story of Burke and Eloise falling in love. This is Burke’s journey and it is a really emotional, fun and interesting one at that. The premise is really good. Even though you hate Jennifer Aniston (which I don’t), and hate the idea of a romantic drama (which again, I don’t), this movie is about one love story. Burke’s story isn’t merely in the background; it is not there to help serve and enhance his relationship with Eloise. Eloise is there to help move Burke’s story forward. Now, it is amusing that how people condemn the movie saying it is predictable. Well, the only thing predictable here is that he will, at some point, move on and give it a shot with her. And? How would it make a better story if he didn’t develop feelings for Eloise at all? Why would it make a better movie if he didn’t move on? Seriously?

Yes, Burke will get to be happy. Yes, Eloise will help. If you despise the idea so much, don’t see the movie. But this is a good movie. In my subjective yet humble opinion, Aaron Eckhart is a terrific actor. I have been following his work ever since he took the backseat to Julia Roberts’s Erin Brockovich as the long-haired, bearded biker who loved rock n’ roll and was a softie who loved kids. I was only bored with two Aaron movies: Nurse Betty and Conversations with Other Women, but his other movies more than made up for it: Thank you for Smoking, Neverwas, Molly, Erin Brockovich and Bill. It is a shame that his character and its development were totally rushed in Batman The Dark Knight. And his romantic drama with Catherine Zeta Jones- No Reservations- is a typical comedy/romance/drama. But despite the typical elements, it is a feel-good-movie that will please the lovers of the genre. And it is rated 6.3 on IMDB.

And why do people love bashing Aniston so much? Well, people love saying her roles lack diversity. They might be right. She may not play very different roles but then again the criticisms are not that creative either. She is branded as Rachel. Well, I don’t know how people watched Friends and how they watched Love Happens but Eloise isn’t Rachel. The only thing they have in common is Aniston. And while her roles may not be radically different, why should she not play those roles? It represents an important segment of the world population: Single women in their 30s, with some bad luck in romance, good friends and careers. I am that girl, only I am in my 20s. So you can’t just say she is Rachel every time she plays anyone. She may not be the greatest actor out there but she is a good enough actress.

This movie has its some really funny moments but it is no comedy. So don’t expect one. And don’t expect it to focus on romance. It is about loss and love, moving on and being stuck. It might also strike a chord on how humane, vulnerable and genuine Burke is. In between enjoying his success and resenting how it happened, he might also remind you, well… you. After all we give advice on a regular basis but it is much harder to stick to our own advice in our own lives. Practicing is much, much harder than preaching. I also loved Martin Sheen’s presence in the film and the significance of both his and John Carroll Lynch’s (he plays the mourning father) characters.

5.5/10 on IMDB. 7 from me. And I just rated I love you Philip Morris. At the end of the day, it all comes down to whether you can relate to the characters and I did. Written by Brandon Camp and Mike Thompson. Directed by Brandon Camp.

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Derailed

Love Happens on amazon.com