Life and the Movies

Ikr, sometimes you just wish life is just like the movies. And during times of distress, your knight in shining armor- may be in the form of Richard Gere-comes in to rescue you. Perhaps your dream girl saves you from frantically drowning ala Pamela Anderson of Baywatch. (Ooooh)

Or when you are gloomy, tired and alone and stranded in the streets during an unforgiving downpour, the Amazing Spiderman enters the frame, albeit inverted, to comfort the lady with a wet kiss. (U huh)

Dont you just wish you can get lost in the mystery and magic of the movies: where lighting creates an ambiance, music sets the mood and makeup covers the imperfection.

Voila! Perfect!

But it is all staged. And everyone acts.

You know, in life, it is pretty much the same. The world is our stage and we are all actors. But there's no Academy Award.
Too bad, we would have won for the Best and Worst Version of Us. Depending on the scene.

MUSINGS: The Great Gatsby (2013)

Known for his spectacular and flamboyant style, Baz Luhrmann does not disappoint us for an eye-candy treat with THE GREAT GATSBY.

But it's also this excessive and over-the-top trademark that messes the subtleties that are masterfully offered by F. Scott Fitzgerald's classic.

It's a dead give-away, spoonfeeding viewers with every move rather than letting them relish and explore the bittersweet masterpiece. Alas, everything is spelled out for you-- the visuals, the dialogue (whatever happened to minimal VO rule?)

Fans of the book would perhaps be horrified how the screen adaptation reduced the characters into mere caricatures, making them emotionally flat or how the story was endlessly romanticized, going a bit overboard and melodramatic.

And though I get it that in Hollywood, they hype movies by teasing the public with astounding and lavish visual effects (now in 3d!!!), there are times that it just didn't work for me especially when the scenes call out for intimacy and mystery. I think it ruins the moment.
 

As for incorporating a well-loved classic with a modern twist, it can be tastefully exotic but also quite baffling and yes generally odd, especially when you see 1922 New York while Jay-Z and/or Beyonce music is blaring in the background. (why use such? See credits

Yes, Luhrmann establishes his anachronistic style once more. Remember Moulin Rouge?

(I have a theory Jay-z is inspired by Gatsby. If you've watched his Bio or read his Wiki page, then you'd know why)

This screen version is probably designed for the young audience (hello, #throwback generation!!!)

We do appreciate innovation and spectacle but as they say, sometimes, simplicity works just fine.

Ramblings: Meryl wins @ NYFC 2011

And so, the awards season has officially begun! Thanks to the Twitter updates courtesy of the New York Film Critics awards! I was on my way home, about to start writing scripts for our episode when my dear friend Streeper updated me through SMS that Meryl won for her Margaret Thatcher portrayal in The Iron Lady. What a spazz! In fact, I'm now writing about her instead of doing that script. Haha.

On another note, this seems to be a terrific sign for Meryl's journey to finally get her third Oscar, seeing that she has been robbed of this honor, too many times already!

Anyway, I also found out that Brad Pitt and Jessica Chastain also won Best Actor and Best Supporting Actress, respectively, for their performances in Tree of Life (not just that though for Jessica... No wonder. Anyway, remember this: "Where were you when I laid foundations to the earth?")

Gah, anyway, here's the list of winners:

Best Foreign-Language Film: A Separation
Best Actor: Brad Pitt (Moneyball, Tree Of Life)
Best Actress: Meryl Streep (The Iron Lady)
Best Supporting Actress: Jessica Chastain (Tree Of Life, The Help and Take Shelter)
Best Supporting Actor: Albert Brooks (Drive)
Best Nonfiction Film: Cave Of Forgotten Dreams
Best First Feature: Margin Call


Here's where I got the info.

WISH LIST 2011 (as of today)

Hmm, call me materialistic, but yes, these are just some of my guilty pleasures... soon to be enjoyed...if you gifted me with them...! Haha.

Let's set aside wishing for world peace and economic stability... (though I always include those in my prayers! - plastikkkkkkk)

Really, I wasn't thinking of a wish list until I checked out my money and got reminded, "Hey, may be you could have other people buy THAT THESE for you?!"

So, since Christmas is looming and the spirit of gift-giving is in the air and might probably haunt you by now,  I'd like to share my wish list to you.

DVDs
Meryl Streep DVDs (...and to name a few of which I don't have in my collection:)
- Plenty
- A Cry in The Dark
- Heartburn
-The French Lieutenant's Woman
-Ironweed
-Silkwood
-She-Devil
-Music of Regret
-Sophie's Choice
-The House of the Spirits
-Kramer vs. Kramer
-Secret Service
-Holocaust

BOOKS
-Haruki Murukami books (besides After Dark as I've read that already)
-Anna Quindlen books (besides One True Thing, Blessings, Rise and Shine)
-Elizabeth Berg (besides Open House, The Last Time I Saw You)
- Elizabeth Buchan books (besides Revenge of the Middle-Aged Woman and The Good Wife Strikes Back)
-Gabriel Garcia Marquez books (besides Memory of My Melancholy Whores)
- Bossypants by Tina Fey


Some more:
Mamma Mia! in Manila 2012 tickets (How can I resist it?!)
Katy Perry in Manila 2012 tix (The Teenage Dream!)


Wildest Dream:
A meet and greet and some more with Meryl Streep(!!!! Haha)

Musings: OST- Breaking Dawn Part 1 (Deluxe edition)

I have been hearing rave reviews about the original soundtrack of the last part of the Twilight saga- Breaking Dawn, well in this case, part 1. Admittedly, I haven't watched the movie yet. Why? Because a) I am not a fan b) I haven't read the book c) I haven't watched all of its film adaptations d) all of the above? Hmmm. You know right? ;]

Well, even if I'm not a fan, or like any of the things stated above, there's no denying that I crave for good music. So, I might as well check this one out. Track listing anyone? Here ya go!

So, you see pop kids like Bruno Mars and Christina Perri are also on the OST. Interesting! While we don't initially think that they'd be included in the roster of artist who would be included in this soundtrack, they obviously have the pulling attraction for their fan base to go and grab a copy, regardless if they worship this film or not. Turns out, both the fans and not-so fans, love their It Will Rain and A Thousand Years. These songs have the unmistakable, sentimental melodies and lyrics that are sure combos to win the heart of the Twilight fans and romantics out there- cheesy and catchy altogether.

Kevin Teasley's Eclipse (All Yours) is light music for the ears. Relaxing! Aqualung and Lucy Schwartz's Cold is haunting and the harmony/slash/blending lingers so as Imperial Mammoth's Requiem on Water. While some of the tracks are slow, the others were upbeat: Theophilus London's Neighbors, The Belle Brigades' I Didn't Mean It, Noisette's Sister Rosetta (2011 version) among others.

It makes you want to sit back, and lets your mind wander and drift into the fantasy - the vampiric love affair and bloody melodrama- that are only seen during Breaking Dawn.

P.S.

There were times when this reminds me of the Grey's Anatomy OSTs

Oh and I know, we absolutely dread the Edward on the cover!! Haha