Just had the chance to catch Kick-Ass, and let me tell you. Forget about Kick-Ass, we need more Big Daddy and Hit Girl~~~ Better yet, we need more girly potty-mouthed super heroes.
In a movie too centered on the insipid Kick-Ass — mind you, the film is title with his name — Hit Girl rocked my world.
Based on the manga by Fumi Yoshinaga, Ooku — refering to the quarters of the Shogun’s female companions — tells the story of a fictional Edo era in Japan where women have become the dominant members of society, and males are sought after to reproduce.
Actress Kou Shibasaki will be playing the female shogun.
[iframe width=”560″ height=”349″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/Kdujx_5jPQw?rel=0″]
This made me think of the comic Y: The Last Man, which was the first ever comic I got into due to my roommate wanting me to read it. If you haven’t read it, do give it a look. You can be blown away.
As for the movie, the trailer kinda game me chills. Kou Shibasaki as the Shogun, such a marvelous idea. What’s Kazunari Ninomiya to do? xD
Entre a Luz e a Sombra (2009)
Genre: Documentary
Directed by: Luciana Burlamaqui
Between Light and Shadow is a documentary that spans 7 years into the life of a Brazilian actress, who devotes herself to working with the prisoners in Carandiru — which was the largest penitentiary in South America [there’s even a movie about the 1992 massacre there]– A couple of the prisoners, Rap duo 509-E members Dexter and Afro-X, who were there for different sentences, are encouraged to create music.
The documentary shows that even though the actress [whose name escapes me, and doesn’t show up anywhere] and the guys from 509-E were born in the same city, but where born in different parts of town and in different families, there’s a disconnect. This is why The Actress spends 20 years of her life working with prisoners on theater workshops, dancing, encouraging them to create music, or paint, while also supporting 509-E in their rap careers in and outside prison. The rap duo is granted permission to perform at events outside prison while still doing their sentences because the judge granting these permissions is convinced that this is a good way to give prisoners a second chance.
Of course politicians and police enforcement officers are against prisoners going out and commenting on political issues. And of course the duo, young at that time, was against “The Man” so they didn’t waste any time to speak up.
There are problems in Carandiru, the prisoners take over the prison with hostages — “We have women and kids” read one of the messages they hung — and the situation got out of control. The prison was closed down, the prisoners transfered, and Carandiru was demolished. With terrorist groups running rampant in and out of prison, government officials stopped letting prisoners do public events… even when 509-E was winning big in the Rap festivals and awards.
Finally, as time passed by, Dexter and Afro-X split after Dexter was transfered to another prison, and Afro-X was given probation because he was fathering a child with singer Simony.
In a telling ending, both Dexter and The Actress — who were a couple in the beginning of the documentary — tells us what we’ve known all along. Maybe it’s just better to put your best effort in keeping children out of the prisons. Because once people live “the life” and feel proud of it, there’s never going back.
2.75/5
COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – DOCUMETAL
Screenings:
Tuesday 10 @ 4pm in Centro Cultural Catolica – Sala Azul
La Yuma (2009)
Genre: Drama, Comedy
Starring: Alma Blanco
Directed by: Florence Jaugey
La Yuma — don’t ask me what Yuma means, but La Yuma is the boxing nickname of the character — tells the story of a girl from the poor neighborhoods of Managua, Nicaragua, who wants to become a professional boxer. One day she sees her brother mugging a young journalist who loses a disc with his work, so she decides to return it to him, and decides that she likes him. As she deals with her possible love life, as well as her family life with her younger siblings, good-for-nothing mother with her good-for-nothing boyfriend, she finally gets the chance to train under renown boxing trainer Polvorita.
La Yuma pretty much reminded everyone of Girlfight — which launched the career of now the familiar Michelle Rodriguez — for their “tough girl who wants to box” theme, but ultimately La Yuma distances itself from boxing, and focuses on what Alma Blanco’s character has to do for her and her siblings to survive.
Since the story starts out as a boxing film, and then distances itself from it… La Yuma seems a bit disjointed, as if you were watching 2 or 3 different films. However, the film’s protagonist is interesting — she’s tough and sassy with a sense of humor — she keeps bringing you back into the story. The acting is a bit uneven, especially from Ernesto (Gabriel Benavides) the “love interest” and you wonder why La Yuma feels attraction towards him, but characters like Doña Scarlett (María Esther López), or La Cubana (Juan Carlos García) are enjoyable and memorable enough.
3/5
COMPETENCIA OFICIAL – FICCION
Screenings:
Monday 9 @ 5.15pm in Cineplanet Alcazar – Sala 1
Tuesday 10 @ 7.30pm in Centro Cultural Catolica – Sala Azul
Thursday 12 @ 9.45pm in Cineplanet Alcazar – Sala 1
Finally watched Polanski’s The Ghost Writer. In short, very well done. Loads of thrills, melodrama, some humor… loads of politics. Having said that, Olivia Williams needs more attention. She was pretty great last season with An Education — and was completely snubbed –, and she’s always been interesting on screen.
Every time I bring up her name, people say “who?”
And you must know her for sure! I mean, she was on Dollhouse~~~ and she had a cameo on X-Men The Last Stand, She was Mrs. Darling on Peter Pan. She was also on The Body with Antonio Banderas, she started out as Bruce Willis’ wife on The Sixth Sense, and was on Wes Anderson’s Rushmore. WTF, she’s been a working actress for almost 20 years~
On The Ghost Writer? She pretty much blew me away. The question is, should she be going for Best Actress, or just go for Best Supporting? Supporting acting always gives good results.
Oh yeah, sweet baby beegesus.
You know you can picture it already.
Ryan Murphy announced that Glee will have a Rocky Horror Picture Show themed-episode, and Chris Colfer said he’d like to sing Time Warp. Among other news, Brittany [dumb as a rock, but funny as hell] will get her own episode, as well as Mercedes — poor Tina, we need her around.
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Oh man, this is one of the last silly films I actually laugh with. I don’t know what is it about Zoolander, and its silly humor, but it still makes me laugh more than anything Jude Apatow has come up with [40 Year Old Virgin, Knocked Up]… or even Sacha Baron Cohen with Borat or Bruno.
Yup, yup – Zoolander still cracks me up… and Mugatu. OMG, MUGATU~ and Katinka Ingabogovinanana [omg, the way Will Ferrell introduces Milla Jovovich there kills me]. What is THIS! A CENTER FOR ANTS!?!?!? and Hansel, he’s so hot right now~ AND!!! Orange Mocha Frappuccino!!!!!! Wake me up before you go-go! xD
The first few stills for Aronofsky’s Black Swan have been released, as well as confirmation that the film will be opening the Venice Film Fest. *Excited*
My film count this 2010 is… atrocious. Can’t wait for this movie.
I specialize in a very specific type of exploration~
exploracion subconsciente xD
you talking about dreams. sueños.
Very good! xD
Can you say BRRRRRRRRR?
“BRRRRRRRRR”
Very good!!!
Beginning August 6th until August 14th, exhibiting 4 local pieces — Contracorriente (Undertow), Octubre (October), Paraiso, and Chungui Horror Sin Lágrimas — as well as hundreds of other films from across Latin America.
Highlights not in competition? The Cove (ok, no… not really), A Single Man (!!), Ghost Writer (!!), and okay… The Young Victoria.
Director Mikael Windstrom will be giving lectures in the Festival’s workshops.
More info at the Festival de Lima Website.
