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I DON’T KNOW IF WE HAVE MANY LIVES OR IF I WILL BE REINCARNATED INTO A NEXT LIFE, BUT I REALLY DO THINK THAT WHEN YOU DIE, IT DOESN’T STOP.— MARION COTILLARD interview magazine |
April 30, 2011
Marion Cotillard for Interview Magazine
April 29, 2011
April 28, 2011
Michelle Williams for Interview Magazine
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Michelle Williams was born in Montana in 1980. Her first major acting role was on the television show Dawson’s Creek from 1998–2003. Even while the show was still running, Williams was being cast in films. It seems directors (she’s worked with filmmakers such as Wim Wenders, Ang Lee, and Martin Scorsese, among others) recognized her ever-evolving talent from the start.
source INTERVIEW MAGAZINE
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April 27, 2011
A Jon Stewart Crusade
Last night I was going through some old magazines and newspapers, searching for usable pictures and articles for yet another collage. And besides realizing that I may very well be a classified magazine hoarder, I also found an article rather... itching.
These days I avoid any kind of entertainment-related opinion articles, and I try exceptionally hard not to look at those damn red stars. But while I was going through a respectable portuguese newspaper I came across a picture of Jon Stewart, from The Daily Show - something so unlikely to happen, that I had to read the article. It was a very short announcement, saying that Jon Stewart's bio would air on the Biography Channel that week. Nothing tricky, really, just an old objective statement. Or at least that's what any sane mind would think - but clearly not the journalist's.
He/she thought it was absolutely crucial to share his/her thoughts on the matter at hand, that is, Stewart's life. And so, in fifty-something words this journalist managed not only to insult the host by dismissing his importance - while Stewart was being considered the most influential man of the year - and bringing back his lack of acting skills - it's been nearly ten years, get over it - but also managed to insult the show's viewers, stating that they are not faithful, but rather compulsive.
Now, let's not get ahead of ourselves and think the journalist is a hateful person. We ought to stop for a minute, and see it from his perspective - nearly anonymous aspiring journalist writes a two inch article about one of the most renowned journalists/comedians of the decade, for a not-so-renowned portuguese newspaper. I think he secretly loves Jon.
Small Talk: Never Let Me Go
NEVER LET ME GO (2010) ★★
Quite the disappointment. I had great expectations for this one, not only for being an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's great novel, but also for its interesting trailer and of course, Carey Mulligan's and Keira Knightley's part. The plot's promising, and the childhood part is engaging, but once it gets to adulthood is becomes this never-ending cycle of cold, emotionless scenes, and frankly, annoyingly redundant dialogue, and at times painfully clichéd. It's just impossible to connect.
Quite the disappointment. I had great expectations for this one, not only for being an adaptation of Kazuo Ishiguro's great novel, but also for its interesting trailer and of course, Carey Mulligan's and Keira Knightley's part. The plot's promising, and the childhood part is engaging, but once it gets to adulthood is becomes this never-ending cycle of cold, emotionless scenes, and frankly, annoyingly redundant dialogue, and at times painfully clichéd. It's just impossible to connect.
April 25, 2011
April 21, 2011
James Dean on Rebel and Youth
Since I’m only 24 years old, guess I have as good an insight into this rising generation as any other young man my age. And I’ve discovered that most young men do not stand like ramrods or talk like Demosthenes. Therefore, when I do play a youth, such as in Rebel Without a Cause, I try to imitate life.
The picture deals with the problems of modern youth. It is the romanticized conception of the juvenile that causes much of our trouble with misguided youth nowadays. I think the one thing this picture shows that’s new is the psychological disproportion of the kids’ demands on the parents. Parents are often at fault, but the kids have some work to do, too. But you can’t show some far off idyllic conception of behavior if you want the kids to come and see the picture. You’ve got to show what it’s really like, and try to reach them on their own grounds.
You know, a lot of times an older boy, one of the fellows the young ones idolize, can go back to the high school kids and tell them, "Look what happened to me! Why be a punk and get in trouble with the law? Why do these senseless things just for a thrill?" I hope Rebel Without a Cause will do something like that. I hope it will remind them that other people have feelings. Perhaps they will say, "What do we need all that for?". If a picture is psychologically motivated, if there is truth in the relationship in it, then I think that picture will do good. I firmly believe Rebel Without a Cause is such a picture.
- JAMES DEAN
April 20, 2011
Small Talk: Exorcism Codes Attached to Sweet Birds on the Terrace
Though not innovative, the documentary style it's a good choice for it does give that sense of veracity, which works well in terms of making it scarier. However, the little monster at the end was completely unnecessary and it is just a reminder that it's just a movie - typical hollywood move that ruins everything.
SOURCE CODE (2011) ★★★
It's a thrilling film but it won't blow your mind. I'm afraid the plot is easily forgettable. Only good things about Jake Gyllenhaal's work, and I suppose it is a feat that they keep you interested when the same scene is being played over and over again. It's like a ride, similar to Unstoppable, in that sense.
It's a thrilling film but it won't blow your mind. I'm afraid the plot is easily forgettable. Only good things about Jake Gyllenhaal's work, and I suppose it is a feat that they keep you interested when the same scene is being played over and over again. It's like a ride, similar to Unstoppable, in that sense.
NO STRINGS ATTACHED (2011) ★★½
It's better than anyone probably expected from the trailer. There are some funny and rather creative scenes, and overall it is reasonably engaging. Though there's really not much to say, is there?
It's better than anyone probably expected from the trailer. There are some funny and rather creative scenes, and overall it is reasonably engaging. Though there's really not much to say, is there?
SWEET BIRD OF YOUTH (1962) ★★★
It was pretty late when I watched this, so perhaps I wasn't blown away because I was tired. One interesting thing about it that I'd like to emphasize is having Paul Newman play a character that I for once despised, both because of it's initial superficiality and for the way he crawled for Alexandra, despicable character flaws. For this, it is not a crowd-pleasing character, something that I respect and adore. One to re-watch.
It was pretty late when I watched this, so perhaps I wasn't blown away because I was tired. One interesting thing about it that I'd like to emphasize is having Paul Newman play a character that I for once despised, both because of it's initial superficiality and for the way he crawled for Alexandra, despicable character flaws. For this, it is not a crowd-pleasing character, something that I respect and adore. One to re-watch.
April 19, 2011
April 7, 2011
Black Swan (2010)
Directed by DARREN ARONOFSKY
Starring NATALIE PORTMAN and VINCENT CASSEL
We've all had the opportunity to witness Darren Aronofsky's creativity, despite his short resumé. We know his darkest and most controversial side from Requiem for a Dream, as well as the miracles he gets from his actors in The Wrestler. In Black Swan Aronofsky combines the best of both - a disturbing thriller with powerful performances.
The film revolves around the newest version of Swan Lake, in which the visionary man behind it (Vincent Cassel) decides to merge the two main characters - the White Swan and the Black Swan - into one performance. Nina (Natalie Portman) is the ballerina who will have the privilege and the challenge to embody the two opposite forces, while struggling to maintain her own psychological balance.
Along with his usual cinematographer, Matthew Libatique, Aronosfky achieves wonders while exploring the delicate beauty that defines both the art of ballet and the lead actress, chocking us as well with such small yet horrifying details. He explores the world of ballet without sugarcoating it, and easily avoiding clichés - muscle lesions are recurrent, skins bleed, bones crack, fingers are stuck down the throat. A world where your body is tortured, but not as much as your mind - and so Nina falls. But she does so with such seductive vulnerability that it only enthralls us even more. And it was that very same vulnerability that got Natalie Portman the much deserved Academy Award for Best Actress.
The soundtrack is a radical approach to Tchaikovsky's orignal songs, making it ineligible for any award. Which is only fair of course, but when we listen to it, it doesn't seem so - Clint Mansell had to have an equal amount of talent and courage to change in such an innovative way the original melodies. With Mansell's work the movie gains rhythm and energy, in an epic spectacle where team effort is clearly the key. Illusion and reality blend in increasing suspense - jaws will drop.
Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I (2010)
★★★★
Directed by DAVID YATES
David Yates shared his own take on Harry Potter for the first time with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix. A more complex and mature film than its predecessor (the overall average Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire), for its darkness and blueish tones, much like Alfonso Cuarón's experience in one of the best movies of the saga, Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban.
Yates kept his directing chair not just for his undeniable talent but also due to his concern for its viewers: we must not forget that the first Harry Potter movie premiered nearly ten years ago - meaning it's original viewers aren't eleven years old anymore. Keeping this in mind, the movies have steadily grown in every aspect, just like its audience and its actors, whose acting skills have also improved. Mystery, drama and suspense have increased, characters are more complex, dialogues gained depth.
In Deathly Hallows Part I, the book's story is admirably synthesized - however, in order to understand it, one must watch the previous films. The relationships between the many characters are the main focus here, as the plot develops slowly and quietly. This calmness doesn't hold for very long though, for there are too moments of pure horror that remind us of such classics like The Exorcist.
April 4, 2011
April 2, 2011
Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean
Joshua Tree, 1951: A Portrait of James Dean allegedly explores what they say it's Dean's most controversial side, his homosexuality. It's said to be a portrait of the icon like you've never seen before, meaning: think twice before believing a word they say.
Few dare to make a biopic of such an iconic figure. You may recall the 2001 movie James Dean, a low budget TV film that relied mostly on its leading actor to make it exceptional - who was actually James Franco, one of his first roles. No comparisons must be made between the two movies or leading actors, no matter how tempting and eventually inevitable that may be. We should only compare two things now: James Dean and James Preston.
Preston is the courageous actor who got the role of James Dean - you may recognize him from the ABC series The Gates. Not even considering the way he looks, there is nothing about Preston that reminds us of Dean. We shouldn't judge a film by its trailer, but assuming they did their best: Preston doesn't look, walk or talk like an angel. But we'll wait for the premier.