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The International Writers Magazine: What you might have missed
Tabytha
Towe's Film Round Up 2005
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'05
Movie Diary of the Vancouver Girl
Me, you
and everyone I know - Dir Miranda July
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Great
pace, story, bizarre and awkward relationships between all characters
that somehow all relate (6 degrees of seperation theory). Funny,
sad, almost shameless, you feel like you should feel dirty for laughing
at it, but the humour is rancid but somehow sweet . Back and Forth...
Back and Forth.... |
Grizzly
Man
One of the best documentarys I have ever come by, especailly because
it shows these magnificant animals in the wild and that we should respect
them, but the filmmaker, wow, Timothy Treadwell is AMAZING! Crazy, pushes
his boundaries far beyond any other filmmaker in history. This
was made from a non-filmmakers point of view, of a man looking towards
these bears in harsh and lonely conditions to find himself, and lives
with them wholeheartedly and with soul. He is not a professional, nor
a government activist or even an animal researcher or scientist, he
is simply a man that hates human socitey. We don't blame him either,
of course. The 100 hours of footage has been edited into what they (the
producers) want you to see, but the perspectives are annoying, charming,
humourous and you just want to watch more of what he or the bears will
do next. Was it selfish or selfless of him to do what he did, protect
the creatures in his eyes, or interfere with nature?
March
of the Penguins
We might as well note the other fantastic animal documentary. Who would
have thought these silly, fat bird-like mammals would be sooooo
devastatingly beautiful? They are the most sincere and devout creatures
of all. Thay march in single file, wobbling without legs in cruel weather,
with stoic patience. Their mating ritual is riveting, so lovely, you
really feel for them. I won't give away what they do afterwards to maintain
the parental roles of caregiving and survival, you have to see for yourself
and fall in love with them for being such stubbornly wonderful creatures.
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Kiss
Kiss Bang Bang- Dir Shane Black
That one speaks for itself. Two of my favorite actors, Robert Downey
Jnr and Val Kilmer (playing a gay private eye no less). Sharp dialogue
by Shane Black, clever, highly entertaining and has no flaws that
I can think of. Brilliant!Brilliant! Brilliant!
(Hackwriters favourite movie of the year too- Ed)
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Brokeback
mountain - Winner of Four Golden Globes Jan 2006
Ang Lee's cinematography is captivating. There need not be any dialogue
in fact. The pace was perfect, and the intiamcy between the two
pretty boys( whom also happen to be a couple favorite actors) is
extremly intense. I think every man and woman would have wanted
to be in the tent with them, homosexual or not. Heath Ledger's
portrayal is the best of his work yet, and I left the theatre thinking,
"was he like every man I went after? Or was he like my father?"
He was incredible. Jake Glynenhal was good too, but I couldn't take
him seriously with that mustache as an older man. He looked like
a spoiled little gay man with a mustache. I still loved him in it
though and still think about the film. |
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King
Kong
A big surprise for me. I wasn't into remakes at the time, nor big box
office projects at that, but I have to admit, Peter Jackson has great
vision and I enjoyed all the Lords of the Rings, so I gave it
the benefit of the doubt and ended up hugging my knees to my chest with
excitement. I even squealed!? The CGI is amazingly realistic, and it
doesn't take away from the story or the actors (Adrian Brody another
fav, and Naomi Watts is immaculate as the melancholic interest.) Kong
himself was the most beautiful. Every girl cried I swear, you really
fall in love with him. Someone please give Andy Serkis an award, it's
all his own expressions and movements damnit!
Water
You will choke on your tissues. About widows as young as 7 years old
to 80 living the rest of their lives in ghetto neighborhoods in
India from the 1920's. Moving, overwhelming, heartfelt and depressing.
Without a husband, you are a nuisance, another mouth to feed, why not
dispose of you to the streets and let you live your life miserably while
making you feel guilty for it, as if you were responsible.
It's
all gone Pete Tong
I am a huge fan of biography flicks. This one about a DJ who goes deaf.
At first you despise the protagonist in a way, almost don't feel sorry
for him when he loses his hearing. All he did was get fucked up anyway,
not much of a life, I mean partying is fun, but for some odd decades
straight, come on. He loses himself is his self wallowing pity, but
then he decides it's a blessing in disguise when he actually tries to
turn his life around and finds love for himself and of course a woman
(who else would have changed his attitude) and in the end you feel like
it was a happy fairy tale and you like him as some hero. * PS. The "Coke
Badger" is the funniest. You will pee yourself!
Memoirs
of a Geisha
Geisha means artist, which certainly these woman are a piece of. Such
discipline and elegance, it's nice to finally be exposed to this part
of culture and learn about it. If you read the book it is obviously
better, although I was actually not blown away by it, it was still very
strong. I doubted the movie would be true to the story, but it was in
fact very close to the book. Visually stunning scenes, the cast especially,
all beautiful Chinese woman (portraying no other than Japanese woman)
and the kimonos alone are worth watching it for. Recommend as a good
date flick or chick flick. Ziyi Zhang and Gong Li are gorgeous as always,
but I find that like a fine wine Michelle Yeoh gets better with age
and steals the accuracy of geisha.
Layer
Cake
A criminal thriller drama, I suppose you could say. Wheelings and dealings
of a somewhat nonchallant - when it comes to being so rightfully threatened
- business man who comes out as stronger than you assume. Dog eat dog,
who gets who first. I thoroughly enjoyed it, and I am glad that Daniel
Craig will be the new Bond (though I still would have preferred the
sinister charms of the Clive Owen characteristic.)
Kung
Fu Hustle
Wowie! This is pure fun and entertainment. It takes the piss out of
martial arts movies at the same time being artsy, sort of takes the
pie too. Great action, I loved the gangster bit, you can't help but
laugh and awe at it's silliness yet magnificence.
Ong Bak
- The Thai Warrior
Speaking of wowie! This one is non stop fighting throughout, no strings
attached. An innocent man seeks to find his poor and religious village's
Buddha head that has been stolen. Boy will he stop at nothing to get
it back. Incredible choreography.
The Constant
Gardener Golden Globe Winner for best supporting actress
Rachel Weisz
It really gets to me still, because conspiracies such as this are existential
everyday within our shitty politians, but the truth of suffering in
Kenya (and other countries with problems we leave behind closed doors)
is that we never really fathom what is happening, nonetheless do anything
to help the situations or aid the sick properly. I highly wish everyone
to see this film, it is deeply sensational and Ralph Fiennes shows yet
again another performance of perfection as the meek widower trying to
reveal his late wifes work to the public. Based on John Le
Carre novel.
My summer
of Love
I might have had higher expectations of it. I was rather disappointed
by this (and suddenly remembering Jarhead) with anticipation
to feel... well, more compelled than I did. I hoped for more convincing
intimacy between the girls, the supposed lovers who were never in love
just using each other for either companionship because she was miserable
and lonely or as someone to pass the time with because she was spoiled
and bored. If it played more on that it would have been more interesting
to watch. The story seemed to carry rather weightless. I wanted more
depth. Overall it was not half bad, but not as half good. Same feelings
as with Jarhead I'd have to admit.
Chronicles
of Narnia, the Lion, Witch and the Wardrobe
I vaguely recall the childhood story, but watching this brought back
some memories. I am happy to see it remade as a Disney production to
keep it innocent. Tilda Swinton, love her, love her, is desolately astonishing
as the nemesis Queen. Liam Nesson, appropriate voice for the proud Lion.
The cute, British children are as one imagines them to be.
2046
Exquisite cinematography. Asymmetrical shots with subtle, vivid lightingflirting
with romantic vibrance, corresponding with a great musical score. The
writer/director Wong Kai Wai did a fine job with this one, same guy
who wrote In the Mood for Love surely sets the dark mood of this
creative, drastic, romantic lingering love story. A writer, no less,
a seductive man at that, always has woman yearning for him that he just
cannot accept, perhaps a private man who cannot commit, but indeed a
heart breaker. Based in the early 60s he writes a story in the
theme of loves kiss and misses, intertwined with both personal and fictional
experiences. Set in the year 2046, a hotel room number of significance
youll come to find, where people find erotic refuge in humanly
immaculate android lovers.
Sin
City
I absolutely adore the comic book syndrome in movies. Sad protagonist
a secret hero that no one can appreciate the duties of, how intriguing.
This is the best comic book turned movie ever made. The shots are
astounding, black and white with hints of red are so amusing to
the eye, such prevailing imagery. Mickey Rourke, I nearly forgot
about him and now I look in the video store for his work. It was
done so well and all the actors, both up and coming celebrities
to been around the Hollywood block a long time celebrities, to old
black listed re-inventing themselves, its wondrous how Roderigez
and Tarantino can bring them all together and bring to life a colorful
not in a literal sense- sexy, humorous and violently engaging
tale of dirty scum bags in a fascinating world of underworld champions.
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Others
to see:
Syriana
- (powerful, strong cast ) also see Good night and Good Luck (another
George Clooney movie)
Golden Globe Winner
Lords
of War - (scary how business can be so mercenary)
Murder
Ball - (an inspiring documentary of a dangerous sport for
paraplegics)
Chicken
Little - (endearing for the kiddies)
Proof
(Wasnt as nerve wrecking as I thought it would
be, but it was enjoyable to watch. Gyneth Paltrow gives good neurotic
performance, and of course Sir Anthony Hopkins as the geniuos gone mad
as her father.)
I walk
the Line - (oh good old bio pics, its about time Johnny
Cash got one about his life) Golden Globe Winner
Crash
- (why are we still practicing racism instead of together-ism? a really
thoughtful movie and Matt Dillion is great as the cop.)
Nouvelle
France - (who doesnt like French films? Im not
even very fond of the French but this is cool))
Batman
Begins - (again a fan of comic book stories, this was my
fav of the dark, winged hero series. Christen Bale, Gary Oldman, Morgan
Freeman and Liam Neeson all together, such a treat!)
Also checking out Squid
and the Whale & Capote,
this week. I have another list in my head so I will keep you updated,
but I also have to pee now and these minutes cost me my coffee dosages
for the day. Please do yourself a favor and watch these. Ciao, Tabytha
Others
to avoid:
Dukes of Hazard - (I have no desire to see an anorexic, even ditzier
Jessica Simpson with a southern accent)
Cheaper by the Dozen 2- (Ok I will never gave it a chance, even as a
family orientated movie, does Steve Martin need money or what? I cant
watch anything with Hilary Duff in it either)
Breakfast on Pluto - (in the adverts it looked awesome and enchanting,
but apparently I hear it goes no where and becomes a nuisance, unfortunately)
Charlie and the Chocolate Factory - (much to my dismay as Jonny Depp
is a fine actor, usually, and the original is so good, I was almost
hurt. I can see why Gene Wilder was upset, and Im sorry they had
to use that little Mexican man as all of the Oompa Loompas. The songs
were irritating and so was looking at a million CGI duplicates of that
eerie man!)
PS. Films to miss:
Broken
Flowers - Bill Murray plays the same character
from Lost
in Translation and it just isn't the same, not bad, have
to be in the right mood for it. Awkward scenes with the ladies, make
you feel icky.
© Tabytha Towe Jan 2006
tabythat@hotmail.com
Taking
the Hard Way
Tabytha Towe (April 2004)
The
Return of Tabytha Towe (Oct 2005)
I did my whole ludicrous cleanse wrong actually...
All
of Tabytha's Diary here
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