"The Trip" #2

4 Potatoes

I just saw the UK movie "The Trip" (2011) by Michael Winterbottom. It was so funny and simple yet clever. I didn't even realize the movie was almost 110 mins long. The road trip to north and food critiques were very amusing to my eyes. Highly recommended.


Synopsis: Steve Coogan has been asked by The Observer to tour the country's finest restaurants, but after his girlfriend backs out on him he must take his best friend and source of eternal aggravation, Rob Brydon. (IMDb)


Official Site & Trailer: http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-trip


USA: In Theater Now

"RAPT" a MUST SEE MOVIE

3.5 Potatoes

I saw this movie "RAPT" (2009) by Lucas Belvaux at COLCOA last year. It is loosely based on an actual event. Yvan Attal's performance is very convincing and the story is very intense as you think this incident really happened!


SYNOPSIS: Lucas Belvaux’s edge-of-your-seat thriller - inspired by the 1978 kidnapping of French industrialist Edouard-Jean Empain - features a career-defining performance by Yvan Attal (Munich, My Wife Is an Actress) as a millionaire playboy who is abducted and held for ransom for 60 days. (COLCOA)


Official Selection COLCOA 2010
LAFCA Special Prize: http://www.colcoa.org/2010/films/rapt.asp


Official Site: http://www.lorberfilms.com/view-all-films/rapt/


USA: IN THEATER July 6 in New York (Film Forum)
USA: IN THEATER July 22

Quote of the Day - Spanish

La Cita del Día - Corazón

Federico García Lorca

"Mira a la derecha y a la izquierda del tiempo y que tu corazón aprenda a estar tranquilo."


- Federico García Lorca

Super 8 Not So Super

1.5 Potatoes

So finally I saw the movie "Super 8" (2011) by J.J. Abrams. Not to mention this film is produced by none other than Mr. Steven Spielberg. The man who created the unforgettable movie "E.T." (1982) and he sort of helped creating this conspiracy theory revealing movie.

The train crash in Ohio was based on the real event which was suspected of transporting something very confidential: Alliance, Ohio Train wreck of 1972

Overall, the movie was kind of the Goonies meets the Alien who ends up as a E.T.. None of the actors were too convincing and none of the kids except the main boy will be a star. And the kid's film at the end was so unnecessary.

↓↓↓SPOILER↓↓↓
The story was so identical to the movie "E.T.": a single parent home kid encounters something mysterious and cruises around town on bike... including the ending with the all of the sudden so adorable alien with the boy saying 'go home'...
↑↑↑SPOILER↑↑↑

Alliance, Ohio Train Crash 1972

The only good part of the film was the amazing train crash as my friend already told me about it beforehand, and the soundtrack. That was about it.

Official Site & Trailer: http://www.super8-movie.com/#

USA: Showing In Theater Now

Namae wo Nakushita Megami - JDrama

5 Potatoes so far

An Watanabe (center)

I am currently watching the Japanese drama called "Namae wo Nakushita Megami" (2011) - 名前を無くした女神 by Fuji Television with An Watanabe (the daughter of well known Japanese actor Ken Watanabe). The catch copy is "Welcome to Mama Friend's Hell." - 「ようこそ、ママ友地獄へ。」

Each episode I watch gives me goose bumps. The story is about the mothers of kindergarten children. They call them Mama Tomo - ママ友 - mama friend. Apparently they hangout all the time, but they compete each other in anyway possible not to mention with their childrens' grades to which elementary school they are going to apply and what type of lifestyle others have and much more. Endless jealousy and unnecessary revenge everyday. Somethings one does to another are almost criminally insane. I keep saying "can they do that???" all the time. One episode, one mother almost kidnapped another child out of jealousy. We weren't sure what she was going to do to this boy, because he was rescued just on time!

OH I wish everyone in the world can watch this! It is unbelievable!

Official Site & Trailer: http://www.fujitv.co.jp/megami/index.html

USA: DVD Available at Japanese DVD Stores Near You
Online Streaming Available if you Google

Quote of the Day - French

La Citation du Jour: Pensée

"On ne voit bien qu'avec le coeur. L'essentiel est invisible pour les yeux."

- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, extrait de "Le Petit Prince"

"One sees clearly only with the heart. Anything essential is invisible to the eyes."
- Antoine de Saint-Exupéry, extract from "The Little Prince"

Stop for a second to reflect on your life

unknown source

In the past a few days, I have been receiving a few posts by friends on FB regarding 'LIFE'. It is interesting to see these words are circulating around the world, maybe it is a sign or something is telling you to STOP for a moment and look back.

The life we live in is moving faster than the speed of light. Why are we in such a rush? Where are we going? Are we leaving something behind? There will be no reward at the end of the road as we know it, because we already missed all the valuable moments along the way.

Life is short, reflect on it while you can...

"The Trip"

Here is one movie I really want to see this week. "The Trip" (2010) by Michael Winterbottom.


Just by watching the trailer itself was already funny to me. British countryside, gourmet food and British humor, what more can I ask for!


I am just in the perfect mood for this.
Stay tuned for more comment :)


Synopsis: When Steve Coogan is asked by The Observer to tour the country's finest restaurants, he envisions it as the perfect getaway with his beautiful girlfriend. But, when she backs out on him, he has no one to accompany him but his best friend and source of eternal aggravation, Rob Brydon. As the brilliant comic duo, freestyling with flair, drive each other mad with constant competition and showdowns of competing impressions (including dueling Michael Caines, Sean Connerys and Al Pacinos), the ultimate odd couple realize in the end a rich amount about not only good food, but the nature of fame, relationships and their own lives. (IFC.com)

Official Site & Trailer: http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/the-trip


USA: In Theater Now
USA: VOD on June 22, 2011

Quote of the day - Italian

La Citazione del Giorno: Amicizia

"Quando nel dolore si hanno compagni che lo condividono, l’animo può superare molte sofferenze." - William Shakespeare

"Bestseller"

1.5 Potatoes

I went to the Summer Night in Korea event tonight at the Ford Theater in Hollywood and saw the movie "Bestseller" (2010) - 베스트셀러 (Be-seu-teu-sel-leo) by Lee Jeong-ho.


I was a bit disappointed because it wasn't too scary. There was one surprise plot though everything else was too predictable. The actress Uhm Jung-hwa's performance wasn't too convincing either.
And I think I caught a cold during the outdoor screening tonight too... Oh well...


Synopsis: Hee-soo has been a bestselling author for the past 20 years. But her reputation and fame are all butchered overnight when she is accused of plagiarizing a competition entry that she juried. She falls into despair for 2 years, but with the help of her long-time friend publisher, she dreams of a spectacular comeback. She drives to a remote pension deep in a small town with her daughter Yun-hee. At this quiet and uncanny pension, Yun-hee begins talking to an unidentified figure. Dying for a new source of inspiration, Hee-soo turns the stories that Yun-hee hears from this figure into her new book, which turns into a bestseller. But her regained fame doesn’t last long as she is again accused of plagiarizing a novel that was published 10 years ago. In order to prove her innocence, Hee-soo begins a mysterious journey to expose the truth. (Koreanfilm.or.kr)


USA Release Date Unknown

"Lily Sometimes"

3 Potatoes

"Lily Sometimes" (2010) - Pieds nus sur les limaces (2009) by Fanienne Berthaud - a winner of Art Cinema Award at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight - was shown at this year's COLCOA 2011 in April.

The story somewhat reminds me of yet another French film "The Eighth Day" (1996) - Le Huitième Jour by Jaco van Dormael. Anyway I thought it was slow at first but soon I got sucked into the story and I was stunned by the acting of Ludivine Sagnier. She is always good but this time her performance was, let's say, incroyable.

This film will be shown on TV5 this month: Sunday, June 19th at 5:30pm PST, 8:30pm EST


Synopsis (ENG): "...Ludivine Sagnier - who won a Lumière Award for her performance - is Lily, an eccentric young girl who lives with her mother in the countryside. A free-spirit who defiantly ignores all social conventions, she is determined to live according to her every whim. When her mother suddenly dies, Lily’s quirkiness veers to uncontrollable behavior and her older sister Clara (Diane Kruger) feels compelled to move in with her. Serious and conservative, Clara claims to be happy, working in her husband’s Parisian law office. But once she moves in with Lily, Clara begins to question her own life..." (COLCOA)


Synopsis (FR):Lily, drôle, exubérante et insaisissable, vit dans un univers fantaisiste en harmonie avec la nature, à la campagne, chez sa mère. Sa grande soeur, Clara, mariée et citadine, a quitté la maison familiale. A la mort de leur mère, Clara doit bouleverser ses priorités pour s’occuper de Lily. Les deux sœurs vont alors se révéler l'une à l'autre… Clara sous l’influence de Lily va remettre sa vie en question et goûter a une certaine liberté... (AlloCiné)




USA: TV5 Monde, Sunday June 19th, 2011 at 5:30pm PST, 8:30pm EST
USA: DVD Availability Unknown

NEW VIEW OPTION

I just discovered the new view option, I wonder if anyone uses it.
It looks very clean and high quality. Though all your ads and links will not show up, I shall think about the change.

new view option: ver. mosaic

"CARLOS"

4 Potatoes

I am so excited to announce that the film, well I should say TV mini-series Golden Globe-winning "Carlos" 2010 by Olivier Assayas is finally available on streaming! It is a total 5.5 hours drama based on the story of Ilich Ramírez Sánchez aka 'Carlos the Jackal' who was the most wanted terrorist since 1970's. I recall some part of the actual attacks caused by 'Carlos' in the past, but there were more events I wasn't aware of.

The Venezuelan actor Édgar Ramírez who played 'Carlos' was amazing. He used his linguistic talent to the max, playing in 4 different languages fluently: Spanish, English, French, and German. WHO else can do that!!?? 

I saw the full version of this movie in theater last year when the American Cinematheque released it for one weekend. I think there was about 10 minutes intermission during the 5.5 hour movie. Personally I didn't need any intermission because the film was edited and directed so well, I couldn't wait to see what was going to happen next.

Assyas & Ramírez at the opening night of "Carlos"

At the screening, Olivier Assayas and Édgar Ramírez introduced the film. And when the moderator asked Édgar Ramírez if there was anything he would like to add before the film starts, he simply reply "what more can I add to a 5.5 hours film?". Great sense of humor.

Totally worth 330 minutes of your life.


Synopsis: Édgar Ramírez stars as Ilich Ramírez Sánchez -- aka Carlos the Jackal -- an elusive Venezuelan terrorist who executed scores of assassination plots, abductions and bombings across Europe and the Middle East. This Golden Globe-winning biopic follows Sanchez from 1973 to 1994 as he and his cohorts wreak havoc on the Left Bank in Paris, storm OPEC headquarters in Vienna and carry out other devastating acts of politically motivated violence. 
(NETFLIX)


USA: Full version (330 mins) - Streaming Available on Netflix


*UPDATE: DVD & BD The Criterion Collection Available Sep 27th, 2011
http://www.ifcfilms.com/films/carlos

"Farinelli"

4 Potatoes

Last night I was looking for this certain song on youtube and came across this movie "Farinelli" (1994) by Gérard Corbiau. I have seen it back when the film was out in 1995-ish. Eventually this movie was nominated for the Oscar Best Foreign Language Film and won the Golden Globe Best Foreign Language Film in 1995. 
It is a good film and an amazing story, I mean an amazing story which was based on true event! Highly Recommended.


Oh by the way, the song which I was looking for.. "Lascia ch'io pianga" by Händel is also featured in this film. What a coincidence.


Synopsis: Gérard Corbiau directs this lush, Golden Globe-winning drama, based on the life of 18th-century castrato Farinelli (Stefano Dionisi) -- born Carlo Broschi -- and his tumultuous relationship with his brother and manager, Riccardo (Enrico Lo Verso), a composer of average abilities. The two share everything, but when Farinelli sets his sites on new artistic terrain, Riccardo is left behind. Jeroen Krabbé co-stars as composer George Frideric Handel. (Netflix)


Farinelli (Jan 24, 1705 - Sep 16, 1782)


USA: Available on DVD