Archives For Films

Wow, That Was Good Casting: Pope Joan

August 28, 2010 — Leave a comment

I was thinking of adding a new set of posts highlighting good casting on films. It’s not about picking the greatest actor for a part… I mean, picking Meryl Streep for any role is not really “good casting”, it’s just that Meryl is that good — and to quote Cam on Modern Family… Meryl Streep can be Batman and be the right choice. Those are just things that simply are.

But this is more about picking the right actors to make an on-screen family, or actors that look the part for historical figures, or casting actors to play characters in different periods of their lives… and the likes.

So here we are with the troublesome film Die Päpstin, or Pope Joan — whatever your thoughts they may be on the film. How Telenovela it was, or how Pope Joan aged, but no one else did. LOL The most striking thing on the film, besides actress  Johanna Wokalek’s face as she was getting her Pope-powder on, was the resemblance between Johanna (the character) aged 10-14 played by Lotte Flack, and grown-up Johanna played by Wokalek.

With casting by Anja Dihrberg and Toby Whale.

My mom thought they were real-life sisters xD

In English, Films, Photographs, Sharing, Stills , ,
permalink

I’m Still Convinced Olivia Thirlby Should Be Lisbeth Salander

August 28, 2010 — 2 Comments

Well, we already know that Fincher chose Rooney Mara to be his American/Swedish — really? the accents? — Lisbeth Salander, but I’m still convinced Olivia Thirlby should have been chosen. Why? I just got cracking with the series, which I bought a few months ago… so mind, the Spanish translation.

[…]su investigadora estrella era una chica pálida de una delgadez anoréxica […] Lisbeth era pelirroja, pero se había teñido de negro azabache. Solía dar la impresión de que se acababa de levantar tras haber pasado una semana de orgía con una banda de heavy metal.

En realidad, no tenía problemas de anorexia;  […] Simplemente había nacido delgada, con una delicada estructura ósea que le daba aspecto de niña esbelta de manos finas, tobillos delgados y unos pechos que apenas se adivinaban bajo su ropa. Tenía veinticuatro años, pero aparentaba catorce.

Una boca ancha, una nariz pequeña y unos prominentes pómulos le daban cierto aire oriental. […] Su cuerpo no era el más indicado para triunfar en los desfiles de moda, pero, bien maquillada, un primer plano de su cara podría haberse colocado en cualquier anuncio publicitario […] resultaba … humm… atractiva, de una manera absolutamente incomprensible.

Los hombres que no amaban a las mujeres
8va edición
pg. 50

– on the go translation –

his most important investigator was a pale girl with an anorexic skinniness […] Lisbeth was a redhead, but she had died her hair pitch black. She seemed to have just woken up after a week-long orgy with a heavy metal band.

Truth be told, she didn’t have anorexia problems […] she was simply born skinny, with a delicate bone structure that made her look like a slim girl with fine hands, skinny ankles and breasts you could barely see through her clothing. She was twenty-four years old, but seemed to be fourteen.

A wide mouth, tiny nose and prominent cheekbones gave her an asian/oriental air. […] Her body wasn’t exactly made to triumph in the catwalks, but with good makeup, a close-up of her face could have been used for any ad […] she was… hmmm… attractive, in an absolute incomprehensible way.

Continue Reading…

In Books, Celebrity, English, Films, Photographs, Sharing, Spanish, Swedish , , ,
permalink

Contracorriente: Melodramatic Magic Realism

August 25, 2010 — 6 Comments

Now I understand why Undertow has been winning audience awards everywhere, it plays with your bobito (heart). And comparisons with Brokeback Mountain seem to be inevitable, since they are both dealing with a “gay” thematic in a setting not usually linked to “gay behavior” and they both have to deal with extramarital affairs, but they are little alike.

In Undertow, Miguel (Cristian Mercado) is a fisherman in the small town of Cabo Blanco, Peru, where he is having a baby with his wife Mariela (Tatiana Astengo). The model citizen, a good husband, and well-liked by everyone in town, no one knows that Miguel is having an extramarital affair with Santiago (Manolo Cardona), an artist who’s visited the place since he can remember.

As the melodrama unfolds, writer/director Javier Fuentes Leon doesn’t really take us nowhere we’ve never seen before — if you’ve seen many LGBT-themed films that is, except with that bit with Santiago’s destiny, where the Magic Realism finally kicks in. Ultimately, the film is just a love story, which on one side makes you wonder how well the story would be received if it didn’t have a gay relationship at its core, and on the other side you’re presented with a gay relationship that’s as normal as any heterosexual one.

Undertow will probably get placed next to other LGBT favorites in the following years — once more people get to watch it — right next to crowd’s faves like Brokeback Mountain, Shelter, Where the World Mine, Imagine Me & You, and Show Me Love.

The acting is strong by the three lead actors, being able to carry the whole film in its 100 minutes of running time. The strongest moment in the film was perhaps better condensed in the song by Celso Piña featuring Cafe Tacuba, Aunque No Sea Conmigo, used in the trailer and the film for the line of “Quiero que seas feliz, aunque no se conmigo” (I want you to be happy, even if it’s not with me).

Visually, the film delivers some hunting scenes — I still believe Ricardo de Montreuil (La Mujer de mi Hermano, Mancora) is visually better in his work with his advantage work on some very high profile music videos in Latin America… so how about a collaboration, guys?

3.5/5

Here’s some reading material ;P

In DVD/BR, English, Films, Posters/Artwork, Reviews, Sharing, Spanish , , ,
permalink

RIP Satoshi Kon

August 24, 2010 — 7 Comments

Another great one has gone.

Animated film director Satoshi Kon passed away from a heart attack. His animated gems included Perfect Blue, Tokyo Godfathers and Paprika. That alone with the news of Studio Ghibli wanting to close down doors, is just right down depressing.

via Fearnet.com

In Films, Japanese, Sharing , , , ,
permalink

A Scene in the Rain

August 22, 2010 — 7 Comments

Anomalous Material has posted this for the Encore Entertainment blogathon.

So here’s mine. Hopefully they’re not THAT common. Of course, you might be waiting for me to pick the Kiss in the Rain from The Notebook with sizzling Ryan Gosling and Rachel McAdams, or the Kiss in the Summer Rain from Cinema Paradiso… because even though I don’t appear to be, I’m a sucker for romance.

And tonight, I’m in the mood for some romance, so… I’ll pick, the Dare scene under the rain of Jeux d’Enfants, who by the way also made it to my list of Best Kisses, why? Because it’s got Marion, and for some reason I find that movie overly romantic in a very twisted way. LOL

Watch the scene on YouTube. Of course, spoilers.

What do I like about that scene? Maybe it’s how their twisted relationship is build up to that point where they finally realize they are meant to be after all the sick stuff they made each other do. Then you’ve got Sophie arriving after realizing that Julien isn’t really dead, and him realizing the lie he just told. Their respective partners being completely ignored because nothing else matters, and Julien singing La Vie en Rose out of tune.

Continue Reading…

In Clips, English, Films, French, Fun, Screencaps, Sharing , , , , , , ,
permalink

Things that Blow Up on Film

August 21, 2010 — Leave a comment

Surprise, made a new list. LOL

The A-Team From Paris With Love / Dupla Implacável

Because I recently watched both The A-Team and From Paris with Love, I felt I saw a lot of things blowing up. Despite my liking of District 9 and Inglourious Basterds, I don’t really consider them just films for showing things exploding – so in theory, the last film with things that blow up I liked was the first Transformers film, which I saw with Julz. LOL

The best thing for me on The A-Team was Sharlto Copley — of course, he was on D9 — and I thought the film was a lot more comedic than an action flick. And as for Paris, I don’t know if I’m being too sensitive, but it just reminded me of that KKK video game I saw on the news some time ago. Travolta, with a shaved head, and Rhys go on a shoot-em up rampage against Chinese, Pakistani… where there Arabs? and some black people. The women were either prostitutes… terrorists, or you know – that US delegate was a total b!tch. LOL

Check the list here, if you have other film additions… leave a message.

In English, Films, Fun, Posters/Artwork, Rants
permalink

Work Time Again!

August 19, 2010 — 2 Comments

After many hours installing drivers, which I shouldn’t be spending time on… because, well – I have other important software to install. I think I am finally operational. It seems… even though the Intel Audio Bus Driver or whatever it’s called still won’t install properly. But I have audio, so I dunno what that’s about.

Happy place~ Happy, Happy~~~

Flying carpet

Anyway, I’m already late for zzzzzleeping. Got an early show for From Paris with Love. I don’t know anything about the movie, except for the actors… so I might actually have a good time. xD

In English, Films, Jobs, Photographs, Spanish , ,
permalink

Black Swan Trailer

I’m sorry Jakey G. and Anne H.
but Natalie Portman in a Aronofsky film trumps all.

The trailer… is… so… freaky. By the end, it just leaves you with a chill, and a OMG, this is creepy – need to watch this now. I want this to be good so bad, I’m afraid I will be disappointed.

Maybe this trailer will make Natalie get the lead once again on The 20 to Watch?

Continue Reading…

Posted on August 18, 2010 In Celebrity, English, Films, Sharing, Trailers , , ,
permalink 6 Comments

Raiou Stills

August 17, 2010 — 5 Comments

These are the first stills of Raiou I have found. I love that Yu-chan is like the prince on this batch xD. Masaki Okada is so totally Sleeping Beauty on that second still. LOL Also, not sold on his samurai bald cap.

In Celebrity, English, Films, Japanese, Sharing, Stills ,
permalink

CinemaCafe Yu Aoi Interview

August 17, 2010 — 4 Comments

CinemaCafe has an interview [jp] with Yu Aoi about Otouto — recently released on DVD and Blu-Ray. If someone could give a proper translation of it, that would rock. In the meantime… some of what I think are interesting bits.

Title of the piece is Kotoba ni Dekinai “Kankaku” ga Kanojyo o Tsukiugokasu, which seems to be something like “It isn’t the words, it’s the emotions that motivates her”.

First sub-title, Ii Deai no Renki ni Megumaremashita, which is something like “Blessed with good encounters,” referring to the people she worked with in Otouto [Yoji Yamada, Sayuri Yoshinaga, Tsurube Shofukutei, Ryo Kase], plus I see mentions of Kyoko Koizumi [from Gakuya].

GAH! I really can’t translate more, but the following paragraphs seem interesting. Like the last one about balancing work and free time. My head hurts.

Here’s some more Yu photos =D Like the intro said something about her gentle smile.

Continue Reading…

In Celebrity, DVD/BR, English, Films, Japanese, Photographs, Sharing , , , , ,
permalink