Missed Deadline

Lack of sleep for a couple of days, and barely had a quality time to sit and write (as if i had some considerable skills in writing that justified me, needed so called 'quality time' to write a lousy article. But like it or not, i DO need a quality time to sit and write), i missed my deadline for today, and hence, i had to force myself to squeeze something out of my tiny brain. So, here goes nothing, the last two films i saw at this year's Jiffest.

Bushi no Ichibun / Love and Honor (2006)
Whoever never heard of Samurai and its renowned honor should really get out of whatever confined space he was in. Love and Honor was yet another Japan film that dealt and highlighted the relationship between Samurai and their honor. A Samurai, who was a food taster at the castle, poisoned. He was spared from death, yet, he lost his sight due to its poison. Unable to support his family, he felt that he was a dishonor and tried to kill himself. His wife, of course, had anticipated it and hid her husband's samurai sword. To support the family, the Samurai's relative suggests the wife to ask for help from the higher authority who happened to know her. Reluctantly, the wife agrees and seek for this higher authority for help. We, of course, know what would happened next.

There's no mistaken about the quality of the film's production. Its beautiful scenery, color shows exactly what state-of-the-art film equipments were capable of. The characters varies, from the ever loyal, comic-relief servant, a magnificent scene-stealer gossiping aunt, a beautiful (a very beautiful, i MUST add) wife, an ever good Samurai (Takuya Kimura), to a vile, poisonous antagonist Samurai.

I was whispering to my gf at one point and said, "if i direct this film, this is where it ends". After the said scene, i was confused. Because clearly, i think the Love part outweighs the Honor part, and when i thought about it, ironically, in the end, the poisonous antagonist Samurai had more honor than the protagonist Samurai. All in all, it was an uplifting film, a feel-good film that made you at least smile a little when you leave the theater. My gf loved the film. On the other hand, i loved the film up to a point where i whispered to my gf, "If i direct the film, this is where it ends".

Elizabeth: The Golden Age (2007)
So, how do you spell overhyped? Probably this film's title one of how. I was wary about the film even before i purchased the ticket to its screening at Jiffest. More because the film has garnered nothing but at best, a mediocre reviews, and none that i know of, not even a single gleaming review save for the main lady part which was rested on the shoulder of Cate Blanchett, shouldn't be any surprise. In short, i was prepared to NOT enjoying the film save for Ms.Blanchett's performance. I found out later, after the film ended, that i held a simple glimmer of hope that i would enjoy the film. A hope that wasn't satisfied, and thus, leaving me with some unwanted feeling that left a vile, bitter taste on the tip of my tongue. The film was too crowded to my taste, too many chanting-orchestra-whatever-was-that-supposedly-be-called-scores that very much distracted me and left me trailing (and subsequently lost) in the dusts that resulting from the pace and its rather jumpy (to my taste) montages. I was probably needed another viewing, because as was Elizabeth (the first film), the first time is not really a pleasant experience.

Jiffest 2007: No Country for Old Men (2007)

The name Coen brothers might not be familiar to most. But, as it turns out, and was generally agreed, expecting normalcy in Coen brothers work was pointless. Nobody (that i know of) could mix thriller, drama, and quirky humor the way they did. I was introduced to them through Fargo, and quickly wound up my way obtaining their other works (so far, Barton Fink, Blood Simple, Miller's Crossing, Intolerable Cruelty, The Ladykillers, and my personal favorite, The Big Lebowski). No Country for Old Men put the Coens back on their track (after the relatively pop-ish, big-star studded flicks of The Ladykillers and Intolerable Cruelty). It has zero box-office potential, but you'd certainly need to question yourself about your film taste if you can't sense any brilliance in it.
He's got a bad weird hairdo. But really, you don't want to get on his bad side. As one of the character said about him, "You met him? And you still alive, that's something". Javier Bardem is Anton Chigurh, and he is one hell of a bastard. He never hesitated to kill, he had his principles, weird and twisted as they are, these principles of his were never violated, he never said a word out of necessity, he's got a very lethal weapon of choice, a high-pressure gun, he's seemingly inperceptible to pain and those eyes and small smile framed in forementioned weird hairdo cut could easily gave a sensation of uneasiness to those who watch. And clearly, the full-house theater had this common appreciation that every time - every frickin' single time - he appears on screen, you could hear people gasping and say 'ooohhh..'. He's the star of this violent drama about three characters that involved in an Mexican drug deal went wrong. Llewelyn Moss (a highly memorable Josh Brolin) an ex-welder, a Vietnam veteran (by veteran i means he's been there. He was a guy of mid-thirties in the film) went hunting, and he stumbled upon a drug deal went wrong. He leaves the drug behind and took a suitcase full of money. The owner of the money, Chigurh, of course, wants it back. And a local sheriff (venerable Tommy Lee Jones) drawn into the drama because the deal has been done in his territory and Chigurh had killed practically everyone he met in his territory.

The film won't be my most favorite Coen brothers work, at least yet, (the honor would still goes to The Big Lebowski), but it was certainly their better effort for the last several years (compared to Intolerable Cruelty and The Ladykillers, that doesn't say much, actually). Moreover, this film also added itself to my shortlist of the best film of 2007. Did i say that this year has been a very good year for film? Well, I believe i did.

The Coens (i believe it was Ethan who is invovled more in the writing area) were a great storyteller. The way they introduces one after another character without really over-describes each of them, interweaving with the storylines, provides us with some sort of involvement and teasing to the game these characters playing. Take Chigurh for instance. Who is he? Who is he, really? We saw him caught on the road by a deputy, and before we even get his name or his purpose in the fiasco, he killed two men already. One with a choke, and the other via his wicked-weird weapon of choice. Or, our alleged protagonist, Moss. We learnt about his past only in a fragment of conversations with strangers. Both were introduced in a similar but entirely different manner. Chigurh easily killed a man with a single stroke, but Moss couldn't even killed a deer. From here we could see the difference between the two. And it should've been no doubt who'd you put your money on should they engaged in a combat. In a way, most of the characters in this film, including Tommy Lee Jones' had their own shares of past, and each would only shared their past with us, the audience, not unlike that of a bar-conversation over the half-empty glass of beer with a total stranger.

The film was quiet, almost no soundtrack playing, and the characters really doesn't have much to say to anything. But the unmistakable tension was there. However, as usual, the way Coen brothers choose to conclude the film might be a turn-off for some. For me, after the initial head-scratching and "what the f*?" moment, i was smiling whole-heartedly and again applauded the brothers for their geniuses. Nobody would've done the film in a way they did with the No Country for Old Men. And like it or not, it's brilliant.

Jiffest 2007: A Mighty Heart (2007)

This is strictly my personal opinion. But i think that A Mighty Heart (based on a true story) might be this year's most pretentious and overrated film. Care to correct me? Read on.

Meet Angelina Jolie who is now tried to act as Mariane Pearl, a dark skinned, half French - half Cuban, with curly brown hair, and an accent that well, doesn't freed her of her usual Jolie-ness. Not with that signature lips of her. Anyway, She is a journalist and with her husband, Daniel Pearl, a fellow journalist, they live in Pakistan to pursue interesting news. Mariane was pregnant and the entire film devoted to the event of Daniel kidnapping, and how Mariane, and several other people tried as they might to locate Danny. Thus, the title A Mighty Heart could easily refers to how our Mariane had a mighty heart while waiting any news whatsoever about Danny's whereabout.

However, i feel that the title itself was misleading. Tried as i might to look, i couldn't find any mighti-ness in Mariane's heart or in overall of the film. Ironically, somewhere in the film, where she did an interview with CNN, one of the crew commented that she doesn't look like one whose husband was missing for six weeks. Excatly the point. I found that the film spent mostly on Mariane's team's effort to locate Danny, piecing clues of Danny kidnappers rather than contemplating on Marine's emotional side or feelings that should entitled her to a definitive mighty heart as the title suggests. Further, i had an utter complete lack of interest to all the ordeals involved with the search for Danny kidnappers (probably becuase i know what would happen to Danny, but that's not really the case), most likely because the way Winterbottom chooses to present this film with a touch of semi-documentary flavor. It would seems to me that the filmmakers tried to spark a controversy, riding with the infamous event of 9-11, about how the Pakistani's Islam left-faction terrorrizing the foreigners, especially American. Well, i say, aren't we had too many of that kind of things already? I don't know about anyone, but i really really tired with these kind of films. Worse, the film constantly reminding us by playing the adzan scenes over and over again when jumping between scenes. Come on, we know already that Mariane is in Pakistan, that Mariane is amongst the muslims community, that inevitably she had a target's mark on her back simply because she's an American. You don't have to remind us every time, it grows tedious and boring quickly, you see. Alas, when i tried to return my attention to Mariane, i found nothing that could gave me more sympathy with her. Therefore, when the film reaches its conclusion and we had a treat of breakdown a la Mariane, to me, it was more agonizing and annoying than anything. Ah, probably it's just me, and probably i had seen too many films that day. But, i wouldn't stand corrected. I didn't like the film.

This film ultimately lengthen the list of Angelina Jolie's films that didn't amused me a bit. As much as i liked her as a person (since she is a humanitarian an all), i had never seen her worthy enough to mention as an actress. Oh, i do like to give her a chance. But, if you happen to know the film in which she performs moderately well, above average that is, let me know, i may haven't seen that film. I could see her as a vixen, a seductress, a youngsters with a passion, but as an average wife who had to deal with the anguish of not knowing the whereabouts of her beloved husband? From what i've seen in this film, i couldn't believe it.

When the film ends, i sit for a while at my seat while the lights brighten and the seats were emptied all around me, contemplating about why i didn't like the film. I may wanted to look deeper to search for forgotten clues that may changed my prespective on the film. However, I couldn't find any. So i sighed, get off of my seat, went to the men's room, and ad libbed what would now, become this very written words.

Jiffest 2007: Into the Wild (2007)

Into the Wild. Film review. I've heard nothing but great things about this film way before the festival. Be it the praise for Sean Penn or for the overall of the film itself, it was ever hung in there, ever present. And with all those praises, this film might well be one of the best film in an already very very good year of film.

However, i proceed into the film with cautious manner. Because even if it had already harvested many praises from critics and general viewers alike, based from what i read of the synopsis of the film, it was a rather straight-forward road trip to adolescence. A young boy gets fed up with life and decides to leave everything behind, into the wilderness solitude to look deeper into the meaning of life. And Sean Penn hasn't been giving anything worthy to remember in the acting department (his last film that i saw, All the King's Men, left me embarassed with his acting) for a couple of years.

Based on a true story, young Christopher McCandless - the link may contain spoiler to the film - never liked his life. He felt that going into college was more of an obligation to his parents rathern than a choice. Therefore, when he had completed his college, he donates all his saving (a hefty sum of 24,000 dollars) and left his family and all life he has known to escape, escape Into the Wild, so to speak. I had guessed that somehow in the road, he met with someone old enough to be his grandparent that later shares his wisdom and shares his belief. Therefore, i hadn't expected anything much. I was wrong though, he did met someone old enough to be his grandparent. But he was only one of many new people he met in the road and each of them had in a way shared their belief and wisdom to young and angry Chris. I was drawn into the film, and blown that i trickled a tear at the end and even went as far as giving the film a standing ovation - which looks stupid, by the way, since i had seen the film alone.

The film ran long. 140 minutes. But it sucks me in, and ever growing into me, magnified by beautiful landscapes that looks more like a spawn from an episode of National Geographic. Chris had decided to go to Alaska where he found an abandoned bus - which he later called, 'magic bus' - in the middle of nowhere. While he enjoyed his freedom and trying to survive in the wilderness, he recounts the events that had happened for two years after he graduates, ran away, and found the 'magic bus'.

I'm not entirely approve of Chris' decision to ran away from his parents after he has fulfilled his 'duty' by graduating the college (an egoistic point of view, if you asked me). However, i had not also entirely approve or sympathize with the parents. For me, it's like a tug-of-war between the two. And i couldn't decide whence my sympathy lies even after the film had ended.

Further, i think that Chris had undergone a journey we all ought to take, and probably, unconsciously had been doing for all of our life. A journey to seek for a purpose, and further a happiness. Chris' last inscribe in the film (which quite probably could easily become one of the most memorable quote from the film) had implicitly said that he had done so and had finally found his.

Into the Wild was also richly casted. Led by Emile Hirsch who drove Chris' character greatly and superbly, his growing emotions (and physically reformation from a cutish boy to a grown haggard man in a matter of 140 minutes) were clearly shown. Catherine Keener was lovely, as always. And Vince Vaughn, man, i love this guy! Who wouldn't? A talented comedian who never overdid himself (*cough*Jim*cough*Carrey). And Hal Holbrook who was giving the warmest performance in the film. But most of all, since quite probably that 70% of the film relies on Hirsch's shoulder, all the attentions would be deservedly went into his direction. I'm not surprised if he gets nominated in acting at the awards. Although of course, i'm also in a firm opinion that should anyone get recognized for their acting, it should've gone to Hal Holbrook.

I could see how the film garnered good reviews all over the world. Because simply, it is a great film. Combining the youth in search of adolescence genre and a road trip genre, the film doesn't think of itself too importantly, and Sean Penn manages to balanced things between the two, weaving a story that creeps and grows into you, and since i'm eligible to call myself a youth, i would say that as a youth, this film sparked my dull thought. As if with watching this film, i found a long lost buddy whom i called 'passion'. Yet another possible entry to my list of best film in 2007. Well well, this year really is had been a very good year in film.

I went immediately to see A Mighty Heart (with Angelina Jolie after seeing this film. And probably because of the length of this film and how i'd reacted to it, the film (A Mighty Heart) might not deserved my review. Because some of the guy i know i loved it, yet, i found almost no love toward it.

Jiffest 2007: 4 Luni, 3 Saptamani si 2 Zile (2007)

Or, 4 Months, 3 Weeks, and 2 Days is a Romanian film which had won this year's Cannes Film Festival's Golden Palm, and could be well through to win next year's Academy Awards for Best Foreign Language Film. What best to describe the film was probably the word 'disturbing'. Depressing is another. In short, the film was dreary and bitter to taste. But that of course, doesn't mean that the film was lifeless and unenjoyable. I found it as yet another one of the best film i've seen in 2007. It just not a film for everybody.

Otillia and Gabita is two friends, they were roomate in a student's dorm somewhere in Romania during the final days of Commnunism in 1987. Beforehand, I know that the film was about pregnancy of sort. A 4 months, 3 weeks, and 2 days old pregnancy to be precise. But the way the film weaves itself, nevertheless, put me in a sort of state of confusion by guessing here and there about when the film would actually started. It worth the shot though, when finally the film reveals the reasons behind Otillia's wandering all over town looking for a hotel and an unknown man, i was taken by delight surprise about the difficulty and the mounting problems with the authority when one did an abortion. From there on, it was all Otillia's. And it was easy, so easy to sympathize with what she must have gone through. Even if the one who did an abortion was Gabita. Not Otillia.

I liked the Christian Mungiu's way of shooting static scenes. Oft at times the camera just point in one angle and didn't move for several minutes. The approaches were daunting especially, in my perspective, where Otillia did her monologue (she was in fact doing a dialog with Gabita, but all we see was Otillia's expression, close-up). I could see her trembles, start to falling down, but eventually manages to grip to her last sane crevice and found her strength. The scene where Otillia had a family-dinner was also a great scene. Otillia by the way, was portrayed by - i believe, a Romanian actress, correct me if i'm wrong here - Anamaria Marinca who was magnificent and gave an all-out performance that surely would be remembered by those who seen the film.

It was a wonder, actually, because you see, Otillia did almost everything to help Gabita. And we could see that she was the one who suffered more from the ordeals. I mean, check the final bathroom scene! If it didn't at least sparked your anger toward Gabita, do let me know. While Gabita, almost didn't do anything helpful. In fact, what she had 'thought' would be best for her, turns out ruining their plan instead. I was wondering how come Otillia who could easily walk away and didn't look back, thus saved her from the prospect of dealing with the authority, would willing to sacrifice so much to help Gabita, who was - perceptibly - ungrateful, weak, and could be easily imagined as one who would walked away without a moment hesitation should their positions were reversed. I had thought that the film tried to unwind the strength of friendships among women. But is it really all? And finally, when the film abruptly ends, and i had to stare at the black blank screen several seconds before the end-credit rolls, i suddenly realized, that an abortion is never a thing to take lightly, and i was realizing that what Otillia did to Gabita, sacrificing all and more, was somekind of an atonement, somekind of a redemption, somekind of an understanding, somekind of woman's empathy, that us, men, could never really understand. But Otillia understood, she felt Gabita's pain, and probably more. I personally thought that at the final scene of the film, Otillia looked more disturbed, more than Gabita. Even if the fact still remains, Gabita did the abortion. Not Otillia.

I'm not very good at words, nor i'm practically able to capture Otillia's feeling in written words for that matter, thus, any word i used to describe her feeling won't do her justice. Otillia's journey and feeling would be best if you experience and observe for yourself. And maybe, if you're a woman, you could really describe her feeling. All i know is, that hers was already strong enough to drawn me in sorrow and contemplation.

One of my best in 2007? Probably, this year's harvest has been good. Really good.

Badly Written Reviews

When one decides to express one of his feelings toward something with utter clarity and could be read (or heard) publicly, one should be prepared to face with the turmoils sparked from the difference between the expressions written (or spoken) from the author (or speaker) and other's who reads or listens to it. In my opinion, that's the way free-speech should've worked. But of course, we're living in a world where ideals are often ignored. There'd be times when you just can't accept other's opinions because simply you refused to acknowledge the truth behind what (s)he said or because you had a firm opinion that you are right and therefore everybody else is wrong, and they should know that. Oh, i was guilty at that as well. More than once, i simply ignored one's opinion because i thought that (s)he was a lesser person than me. Although, of course, i was wise old enough to not making any attacking comments on other's opinion should i felt that his/her opinions are an utter rubbish.

In short, not everyone like Jan Doense who surprised me earlier today by making a comment in this blog under the post where i was straight-forwardly bashed his short work, Ver Weg. I wouldn't change my opinion, though. That would be a lie. But, had i the one whose hard works bashed by a complete stranger who did nothing but talk, there's a fair change that i would be furious. His complete respect toward my opinion merely shows that he's a greater man than i. Well, anyway, i think it could be said that, the bashings, the indifferences, and the harsh critics were what should've been expected by someone whose line of works requires pleasing others, such as writers, painters, and for a man like Jan Doense, a film director. Now, that makes me wonder, how would Uwe Boll, a generally agreed one of the worst film directors working today would react to critics which as far as i know, hasn't been really kind to him and his works?

But again, not everyone like Jan Doense.

For one, i'm writing a review as a hobby. English is clearly not my mother's tonuge language, and i had no background whatsoever on a film-making theory et cetera. I merely wrote what i felt toward a film. And true enough, that sometimes i based my dislike to a film upon a simplisistic and rather ridiculous reasons. There's no two men alike. Even if they had been identical twins, some difference ought to sprout. And again, i merely wrote reviews as i see it, based on my own reasonings and taste, and more or less, as a hobby and to hone my writing skills. Afterall, these guys whose i aimed my reviews at, had achieved something that i had only dared to dream for a very long time. Film-making. In a way, now that i think of it, i only made a fool out of myself by pretending that writing reviews would take me somewhere. Somewhere i had wanted for a long time.

Anyhoo, it's clear that my writing style needs to be re-worked. For instance, i felt very very guilty that i had used the word 'terrible' a couple of times when i reviewed Ver Weg. No, really, Mr.Doense, i want to apologize. I would tried to soften the word and adding several more literary words into my vocabulary next time i wrote a review.

Oh, and it's Friday already, already got a weekend booked by films as the 9th Jakarta International Film Festival (Jiffest) kicked-off tonight. Gotta get home earlier today, grab some quality rests, as tomorrow and Sunday, promises a loooonnnngggg day. Expect the Jiffest reviews starting next Monday.

9th Jakarta International Film Festival 2007

The 9th Jakarta International Film Festival. December 7th - December 16th, 2007. A couple of days ago, i emailed jiffest's event organizer regarding the event and the full fixtures of the scheduled film to be screened. I received a reply just this afternoon advised me to check their website instead. I grumpily obeyed because really, when i sent an email a couple of days ago, the website had yet received an update since last year's jiffest.

To my delight, the website has been updated.

I immediately checked the membership info. Hm, apparently the membership hadn't opened yet. So i checked the film lists instead.

As a fan of Coen Brother's. No Country for Old Men is of course, automatically, and immediately went into my shortlist. Elizabeth: The Golden Age is definitely another one that went into my shortlist despite its negative reviews, i won't missed any of Cate Blanchett's film. I had hoped that I'm Not There was screened as well, but i think i was hoping a little bit too far.

Into the Wild, Atonement, Persepolis, Sicko, and Bushi no Ichibun were among my list as of now. Probably more, because it's almost 6 p.m right now, the office is almost deserted, and i'm barely able to concentrate. Now if only they would tell me when we could buy the membership for the festival. I would be very disappointed if i run out the ticket for No Country for Old Men. I had really really wanted to see it.